《My Two-sided Cultivation: Starting From Collecting Experiences》 Chapter 1 Great Yue Dynasty, Pingnan City The blazing sun was high in the sky, and corpse Qi filled the air. In the three narrow alleys, people squatted in the corners of the walls. They were skin and bones, and their ragged clothes swayed in the wind. On the right side of the alley, there was a ditch that flowed in the right direction. The thick water from the corpses was mixed with the muddy yellow water. There were also a few open toilets with a pungent smell around them. The smell of the alley was even worse when mixed together. However, no one cared. They scooped up water to cook, washed their bodies, and cleaned their farming tools. There was a short man in the crowd. He had dark skin and was shirtless. His lower body was wrapped in a short brown sackcloth, and he was wearing a pair of straw sandals. The only difference between him and the people around him was that his eyes were bright and full of energy. Qin Huai tried his best not to breathe too much. Although he had been here for half a month, he still couldn¡¯t stomach the smell. It wasn¡¯t that he was pretentious, but the stench made his body strongly resist. At the end of the alley, a notice was hanging in front of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary, which was recruiting apprentices. On Changlong Street, people were scrambling to be the first. Qin Huai licked his dry lips, feeling a little restless. ¡°I¡¯ve been in this world for more than half a month, and I¡¯ve finally found one.¡± He was a transmigrator, and in his previous life, he was a social animal who had just graduated from university. His boss had promised he¡¯d make him a regular employee after their project was completed, so he made Qin Huai work overtime for 29 days in a row. On the day he became a regular employee, he heaved a sigh of relief, and before he knew it, he had arrived here. In this world, martial arts were respected, demons ran wild, and there were many powerful people. Cultivators who could not practice martial arts were like floating duckweeds, and their lives were like grass. He was a refugee who had escaped to Pingnan City because of the demons. Along the way, they had seen too many tragedies of people robbing children and losing their families because they were weak. This made Qin Huai decide that he had to practice martial arts in order to live well in this world. It just so happened that the Liu family¡¯s apothecary was recruiting apprentices, and there was no registration fee for the opportunity to learn cultivation techniques. That was why the queue for registration was as long as a street. Qin Huai also came to try his luck. ¡°There are already around forty people in front, but I don¡¯t see any of them.¡± ¡°Is the shopkeeper of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary choosing a husband?¡± Everyone was anxious and restless, and Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but feel the same. The registration fee for the martial arts centers in Pingnan City alone was dozens of taels of silver, and a refugee like him couldn¡¯t afford to pay this money. Did this apothecary take in apprentices for free because they had some special talent? Finally, Qin Huai reached the front, and before him was a young girl with a mature expression. ¡°Do you have any special skills?¡± The young girl looked up. ¡®This guy would look pretty good after washing his face and changing his clothes,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Does literacy count?¡± Qin Huai was serious. This world¡¯s language was almost the same as Chinese characters, so Qin Huai, who had gone through nine years of compulsory education, was very confident. In this world, where everyone had to go through education, literate people were a huge blow to others. Well, except for the town where he had escaped from. It didn¡¯t matter if he could read or not, as long as he could help. Therefore, Qin Huai, who couldn¡¯t find an opportunity to display his skills, achieved nothing in the first half of the month. ¡°Oh?¡± The young girl was surprised. She took out a reference book and placed it in front of Qin Huai, nodding. ¡°Angelica, wolfberry, ginseng, snake gall, Chinese creeper, and octagonal lotus root.¡± Qin Huai flipped open the table of contents and read out the names according to the places the girl¡¯s finger pointed at. Qin Huai was already confident. Pingnan City was indeed a big city. ¡°He really can read!¡± The young girl was shocked, and the smile on her face instantly brightened. The people behind him were even more incredulous as they looked at Qin Huai, who was dressed almost the same as them, in surprise. ¡°There¡¯s no need to line up anymore. We¡¯ve found enough apprentices!¡± The young girl shouted at the top of her voice. The people at the back dispersed faster than the young girl had shouted. When they heard that Qin Huai could read, they scattered while cursing. ¡°No matter which world I go to, it¡¯s good to be cultured.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh when he saw how easily he stood out. ¡­ The girl brought the three apprentices to the backyard. There was a middle-aged man with a goatee, who was slender and elegant. He wore a gray-black robe with vertical stripes and was sitting at the stone table sipping tea. This was Liu Changyue, the owner of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary. ¡°From now on, the three of you will be apprentices in my apothecary. You will follow me to memorize some prescriptions, buy medicinal herbs, clean the shop, and do other chores. If you learn it well, I will also teach you a cultivation technique.¡± Liu Changyue rolled up his sleeves. Everything was prepared. Qin Huai and the other two perked up. The reason why there was such a long line in front of the apothecary was that the cultivation techniques taught here were free of charge. ¡°What does it take to be considered good?¡± Gao Cheng, who was the first to arrive, was curious. ¡°There are two types of apprentices in our apothecary, the chores apprentice and the internal affairs apprentice.¡± The young girl walked up to the three of them. ¡°For the first one, you usually do a series of chores such as grinding herbs, buying meat, transporting medicinal herbs, picking medicinal herbs up the mountain, and so on. You have two meals a day, food and accommodation included, but you don¡¯t have a salary. You have to be a chores apprentice for two years. ¡°The second one involves refining medicines, writing prescriptions in the front hall, and attending to patients. You¡¯ll have three meals a day, half a jin of meat, 500 wen a month, and can learn the Qi-nourishing skill of the apothecary. The three of them listened carefully and nodded. ¡°Then, is there any way for me to become an internal affairs apprentice sooner?¡± Gao Cheng smiled. Two years was too long. ¡°There is. If you can learn how to distinguish herbs in a few months, understand the properties of more than 50 herbs, and formulate at least three out of ten herbs that are different from the apothecary¡¯s prescription but have similar effects, you can be promoted.¡± Gao Cheng felt a headache just by listening to this long list of requirements. It was the same for Qin Huai, but he had no other way out now, so he could only endure it for now. ¡°There will be a test once a week. If the results of the test are not ideal, you will be fired. So, don¡¯t be lazy. Work hard.¡± After that, Liu Changyue gave some simple instructions, and the three of them acknowledged him as their master. Liu Changyue didn¡¯t have any rules when it came to accepting a master. The three of them served tea according to the order of recruitment, and they were considered disciples. Qin Huai was the youngest junior brother. The girl who was shorter than Qin Huai was called Liu Xiaomei. She was their master¡¯s only daughter and the eldest senior sister of the three of them. After the ceremony, the three of them were brought to the backyard and given their own living quarters. The courtyard of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary was extremely large, with a total of 2,000 square meters. There were five medicine rooms alone. Qin Huai and the other two weren¡¯t the only apprentices. The place would accept apprentices every other month. Qin Huai saw that there were about 30 to 40 people living in the backyard, but he didn¡¯t know how many apprentices were in the chores and internal affairs departments. ¡­ The next morning, Qin Huai and the other two had changed into short brown clothes with the word ¡°Liu¡± embroidered on the chest, as well as a pair of long pants. After coming to this world for half a month, Qin Huai had his first pair of pants. ¡°I finally have pants.¡± Qin Huai sighed. There was no longer the feeling of wind and rain pouring in from below, and he felt especially at ease. Soon after, he was called to the pill refining room. In the apothecary, more than a dozen similarly dressed youths had already started to fiddle with things in full swing. The small wooden stick knocked on the wooden bowl, and the clattering sounds rose and fell in the refining room. ¡°Grind all these red ginseng into powder and fill these twenty jars.¡± The tall man pointed at the medicine jars beside him. Qin Huai glanced at the fist-sized brown earthen jars and didn¡¯t say anything. He rolled up his sleeves and started grinding silently. After hammering it twice, Qin Huai saw a white ball of light fall out of Gao Cheng¡¯s body. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes hard. It was indeed a ball of light, and the others didn¡¯t seem to be able to see it. He stretched out his hand toward the white ball of light, and it actually flew over by itself. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Potion Essence (White) ], [ Potion ] Experience +1.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s vision darkened, and something suddenly appeared in his mind. ¡°Red-eyed ginseng, roots used as medicine. It has the effect of dispelling blood stasis, regrowing new blood, promoting blood circulation, and regulating meridians,¡± Qin Huai muttered in his heart. Information about the red-eyed ginseng and some of its effects actually appeared in his mind as his experience increased. ¡°The experience points are not vague numbers or progress bars, but actual knowledge. When my experience points are full, it also means that my alchemy skills have reached a certain level.¡± The next moment, a panel appeared before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation method: none ] [ Skills ] [ Medicine (unlearned, 1/100) ] [ Stage: none ] The golden opportunity had finally arrived. Qin Huai looked at the personal panel in front of him and was overjoyed. While he was thinking, the other people around him also started to drop white light balls. Chapter 2 ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Potion Essence (White) ], [ Potion ] Experience +1.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Potion Essence (White) ], [ Potion skill ] Experience Points ¡± Qin Huai did not reject anyone and swept his hand at all the white experience points that dropped around him. In the blink of an eye, [ Medicine ]¡¯s experience had reached 29/100. In an instant, the harvesting methods and uses of several herbs appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. However, after everyone had picked up a round of experience, Qin Huai waited for a long time, but no white experience balls dropped from them. The next day, though, Qin Huai had collected another round of experience from everyone, 60/100. Among them, there was also the little bit of experience he gained from grinding medicinal powder for a day. ¡®It seems everyone can only collect experience once a day. Although it¡¯s a little less, at this rate, I can become an internal affairs apprentice in the next test.¡¯ Qin Huai had a relaxed expression. Under normal circumstances, according to his one and a half day of experience, it would take him two hundred days, or more than half a year, to learn the skill of pharmacy. Now, he only needed three to four days, which was forty to fifty times faster. How could Qin Huai not be happy? ¡°A week is good.¡± Qin Huai was full of energy. Once he learned the art of medicine, he would be able to become an internal affairs apprentice. ¡°When that time comes, I¡¯ll have meat to eat, money to earn, and even martial arts skills.¡± ¡­ In the blink of an eye, a week had passed. In addition to grinding medicinal powder and picking herbs in the mountains every day, Qin Huai would also do some work like cleaning the toilets and slaughtering pigs and sheep. When he had time, he would be called to the study by his Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei to help note down some of the prescriptions Liu Changyue had figured out. Of course, there were very few prescriptions, and most of them were about the medicinal properties of herbs. But even so, Qin Huai still took the opportunity to learn a lot. Every time he memorized something, he would gain more experience. This was something his master, Liu Changyue, had acquiesced to. It was also one of the benefits of being literate. There were more than forty people in the medicine shop, and only five of them were literate. One of them only knew how to write his own name and the words ¡°Yang Family Apothecary.¡± It could be said that it gave Qin Huai a deeper understanding of this cultural desert. It was also because of this that Qin Huai stood out among the apprentices. Eventually, he took over the recording work in the study. Liu Changyue would gather some medicinal herbs and prescriptions for daily use, compile them into a book, and send them to the big house in Pingnan City. This week, Qin Huai also wanted to find his senior brother who practiced the nurturing Qi to see if he could collect some experience points. But unfortunately, these senior brothers seemed to have a special courtyard and time for their daily practice. Qin Huai could not enter at all, so he could only give up. Fortunately, he could enter today. ¡°I¡¯ve finally completed my alchemy.¡± Qin Huai finished collecting the experience balls for the day. With a thought, his personal panel appeared before his eyes. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method: none ] [ Skill: Alchemy (Beginner, 0/200) ] [ Stage: none ] In his mind, a large number of medicinal herbs, medicinal properties, and combinations flowed rapidly in front of his eyes like a stream. ¡­ ¡°Everyone, gather around!¡± Liu Xiaomei, the eldest senior sister, hit the gong and woke up everyone who was taking a nap. ¡°Today is the examination. Everyone, go to the small room and say a prescription for kidney Qi or stomach disease.¡± Liu Xiaomei¡¯s hair was in braids, and she was wearing a blue robe with white flowers embroidered on it. As she spoke, she walked into the small room. A fierce-looking senior brother was left in the courtyard to supervise. ¡°Qin Huai, you¡¯ll be the first. Wait in the study after you¡¯re done.¡± Liu Xiaomei had a casual look on her face. She usually watched Qin Huai jot down things. Even a fool would be better at copying all day than others. Therefore, he wasn¡¯t worried that Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t pass the exam. ¡°1.5 grams of maidong, 1.5 grams of raw yellow ginseng, 1.5 grams of fresh lotus root, 1.5 grams of gorgon fruit, 1.5 grams of golden cherry, 1.5 grams of jackal meat. The lotus roots were mashed to get the juice and then fried with the other ingredients to get the juice. Two doses a day. It nourishes Yin, lowers fire, soothes the mind, and soothes the spirit. ¡°It¡¯s effective for short-lasting symptoms such as amnesia, tinnitus, palpitations, fatigue, and lower back pain,¡± Qin Huai blurted out. ¡°This isn¡¯t my father¡¯s recipe, right?¡± Liu Xiaomei raised her head, her face full of surprise. She was also proficient in medicine, so she knew that it was definitely feasible after hearing Qin Huai¡¯s prescription. ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been making copies in the study these few days, and I¡¯ve gained some insight.¡± After learning the art of medicine, it was as if there was a machine in Qin Huai¡¯s mind, operating at high speed to arrange the medicinal herbs he knew. There weren¡¯t many that could be combined, but it was definitely enough. ¡°There are still a few formulas that can be used.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more?¡± Liu Xiaomei couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. She quickly walked to Qin Huai. This week, he had two meals a day. Although there was no meat or fish, Qin Huai still grew a lot taller. His entire body was like an inflated balloon, becoming much stronger. Liu Xiaomei, who used to be almost the same as Qin Huai, was now two centimeters shorter than him. ¡°Ginseng is three Qian, tea leaves are one Qian. Boil it in water and take it once a day. Take it twice to supplement Qi and yang.¡± Qin Huai was indifferent. Ignoring Liu Xiaomei¡¯s dazed look, Qin Huai gave her two more prescriptions that were good for the liver and spleen. ¡°You comprehended all of this on your own?¡± Liu Xiaomei finally spoke. Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Senior Sister, can I become an internal affairs apprentice now?¡± ¡°You wait here. I¡¯ll go get Father!¡± Without waiting for Qin Huai¡¯s reply, Liu Xiaomei dashed out of the small room. The apprentices outside were stunned and began to whisper. After a while, they saw Liu Changyue walking into the courtyard in a hurry. ¡°Good day, master!¡± Everyone shouted in unison. Unfortunately, Liu Changyue didn¡¯t even take a look and walked straight into the small room. ¡°What can you treat with Osmanthus?¡± Liu Changyue asked as soon as she saw Qin Huai. ¡°It nourishes yang, warms the stomach, removes cold, and clears the blood vessels. It cures the weakening of the vital door and the weakening of the cold meridians in the limbs.¡± ¡°Scutellaria?¡± ¡°Clearing heat, drying dampness, cooling blood, and birth control. It¡¯s mainly used to treat fever,¡± Qin Huai blurted out. Liu Changyue asked a few more questions, some of which Qin Huai could answer, some he couldn¡¯t. Although Qin Huai, who had the support of beginner-level [ alchemy ], knew a lot, the amount was limited. Despite this, Liu Changyue¡¯s expression became more and more excited as time passed. ¡°Good! Good! Good!¡± Liu Changyue patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder heavily after asking. Qin Huai felt as if a large stone had hit his shoulder. His legs went soft, and he almost knelt on the ground. His master looked elegant and thin, but he was actually so powerful? Was this what a martial arts practitioner was like? ¡°From now on, you¡¯re an internal affairs apprentice!¡± Liu Changyue smiled kindly as he sized up Qin Huai and then looked at Liu Xiaomei. ¡°How old are you, by the way?¡± ¡°Fourteen.¡± ¡°Oh, okay! Good!¡± Liu Changyue was relieved as he was the same age as Xiaomei. ¡°Work hard and don¡¯t be arrogant. In the future, you can take a look at the prescriptions in the study. You can also use the brush and ink as you wish. Try to make your own prescriptions.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s talent was definitely unquestionable, but his character and personality needed time to be considered. When it came to taking in disciples, talent was usually secondary. The most important thing was still character. Thus, Liu Changyue was not in a hurry. There was still a long way to go. Liu Changyue left the room and announced his decision. ¡°It¡¯s good to be literate. You can memorize fast and remember fast.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a week, and you¡¯ve already become an apprentice in housekeeping.¡± Gao Cheng and the others were envious. ¡°This world is really unfair.¡± One of them felt a little bitter. He was short and had a pockmarked face. He was usually not welcomed in the apothecary and took two years to become an internal affairs apprentice. In addition to him, many of the old apprentices who had been here for a few months or even a year also had mixed feelings of jealousy, bitteress, and various other emotions. When Liu Changyue left, Liu Xiaomei tiptoed and put her arm around Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. Suddenly, there were waves that stacked up and crashed down. Qin Huai was shocked. He didn¡¯t expect this young Senior Sister to be so aggressive. He couldn¡¯t tell at all. ¡®You really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover.¡¯ ¡°My father already has the intention to take in a disciple. If you do your best, you might be able to become my father¡¯s disciple in one or two years.¡± Liu Xiaomei smiled. ¡°Then when can I learn the Qi cultivation technique?¡± Qin Huai thought to himself. ¡°Tomorrow at seven o ¡®clock, you can go to the backyard and wait.¡± Liu Xiaomei tiptoed again, wanting to touch Qin Huai¡¯s head. In the end, she gave up helplessly and left the small room while rubbing her feet. ¡°Anyway, from now on, you will be an internal affairs apprentice. Move to the backyard.¡± Chapter 3 ¡°Qin Huai will be our junior brother from now on.¡± Song Jia patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and brought him to the backyard. He had a full beard, a strong body, and a hearty laugh. He shouted and called everyone over. There weren¡¯t many internal affairs apprentices, and Qin Huai was the eleventh. ¡°Call me Senior Brother!¡± Song Jia patted Qin Huai¡¯s back. ¡°Greetings, Senior Brothers!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s body trembled. This palm force was like a drum. He was indeed a martial arts practitioner. ¡°Although we apprentices cannot be considered as master¡¯s official disciples, we are still considered half disciples. ¡°We are different from the chores apprentices outside. We are also the face of the apothecary. We have to pay attention to our words and actions when we walk in the city. Don¡¯t cause trouble for Master. ¡°The business of apothecaries has always been about making peace with others, and peace is precious,¡± Song Jia instructed earnestly. ¡°Then what makes one an official disciple of Master?¡± Qin Huai was curious. ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s to become a martial artist. Master only has two official disciples. The two senior brothers often travel between the villages and towns under the city to save people and spread their names. When they are busy, they will only come back once or twice a month. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to see Second Senior Brother after tomorrow¡¯s practice,¡± Song Jia added. Then, he brought Qin Huai for a stroll in the backyard. The backyard was wide, and the long corridor from east to west was sixty to seventy meters long. The fragrance of flowers and willows, the rockery, and the streams were like the boudoir of a delicate young lady, making people feel relaxed and happy. It was different from the large shared house in the front yard, where a room could fit five to six people, or even seven to eight people. The environment was stinky and hot. Two apprentices of the internal affairs department shared a room, and there was no longer the deafening snoring. There was also no pungent foot odor, and the outhouse that they had to line up every morning for a seat was gone. Each room had a separate small room, which was called a private bathroom in the words of his previous life. They also had a maid to do their laundry and cook for them. Therefore, it could be said to be a world of difference. As Qin Huai was an odd number, he was allocated a room of his own. ¡­ At dawn the next day, Qin Huai was woken up by the crow of a rooster. He had just pushed the door open when¡­ He discovered that Song Jia and the others were already standing on the fake mountain. When Qin Huai got closer, he realized that the rockery, which he thought was just for decoration, had more than a dozen spots that had been polished. That whatever Qi nurturing technique actually needed to be practiced on the fake mountain? Qin Huai¡¯s heart was filled with question marks. After a while, Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei and Master Liu Changyue also arrived. There was also a tall man who was as refined as Liu Changyue. ¡°Greetings, Master! Senior Sister! Second Senior Brother!¡± Everyone cupped their fists and saluted. Qin Huai followed suit. ¡°This must be our Little Junior Brother.¡± The second brother, Gao Ruyang, smiled warmly. He walked to the side of a large rock and suddenly exerted his strength, directly lifting up the stone that weighed at least two hundred Jin. Then, he walked to the side of the rockery with ease and put down the stone. ¡°This will be your position in the future.¡± Gao Ruyang smiled at Qin Huai. ¡°Second Senior Brother is so fierce!¡± Gu Erwa cried out in surprise. He had become an internal affairs apprentice two days earlier than Qin Huai. ¡°Is this what a martial artist is like?¡± Qin Huai was serious. It was effortless to lift a stone like that. The key was that Second Brother was not too strong, like a Confucian scholar. ¡°The cultivation technique I¡¯m teaching you is called Qi cultivation. It¡¯s not the kind of cultivation technique that martial arts centers and gangs use to kill. After cultivating the Qi cultivation technique, it only has the effect of extending one¡¯s lifespan.¡± Liu Changyue stroked his beard. ¡°Use the body to nourish Qi, clear the eight extraordinary meridians, and remove impurities.¡± ¡°Then can I become a martial artist by practicing this Qi cultivation technique?¡± Gu Erwa asked hurriedly. ¡°Yes, but even if you become a warrior, you¡¯ll still be the weakest among them. After all, the effect of this cultivation method is only to prolong life.¡± Liu Changyue stroked his beard and took a sip of tea. After hearing Liu Changyue¡¯s words, Gu Erwa¡¯s expression was obviously desolate. Qin Huai didn¡¯t mind it too much. He would take one step at a time and at least cultivate martial arts first. ¡°Although the Qi nurturing technique isn¡¯t good at attacking, it doesn¡¯t have any requirements for talent and comprehension,¡± Liu Changyue mumbled to himself. ¡°You only need to cultivate in the morning at seven o ¡®clock, breathing in and out purple Qi. Nine deep and one shallow breaths form one cycle. After 2,000 cycles, you can cultivate the first level. At the tenth level, you can be a martial artist,¡± Liu Changyue patiently explained to Qin Huai and Gu Erwa. ¡°Those with talent might be faster.¡± ¡°Then, according to Master¡¯s speed, he can only practice thirty rounds a day. Just the first level of the Qi-nurturing stage would take more than a month, and it would take a year to become a martial artist?¡± Gu Erwa spoke. He was good at math, and his brain worked quickly. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Liu Changyue nodded. ¡°When you become a martial artist, the qi and blood in your body will undergo a transformation. Your qi and blood will suddenly double or even multiply. This is also one of the most important differences between martial artists and ordinary people. ¡°In addition, martial artists will be given different abilities according to the characteristics of the cultivation method. For example, my Qi cultivation technique can prolong one¡¯s life.¡± Liu Changyue smiled before adding, ¡°It¡¯s also like the stone-breaking Fist of the North Mountain martial school, which has the power to break.¡± Qin Huai and Gu Erwa suddenly understood. After giving a few more instructions, Liu Changyue led the group into the purple Qi, nine deep and one shallow. Qin Huai silently recited the mantra and followed Liu Changyue¡¯s indifferent voice as he breathed in the purple Qi. In his mind, his personal panel also quietly appeared. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (Level 0, 0/100) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (beginner, 0/200) ] [ Stage: none ] The cultivation technique had appeared on his personal panel. After a few rounds of breathing, Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. The Qi-nurturing technique¡¯s experience points on the interface still did not change. However¡­ As the group of senior brothers swallowed and spat, white experience balls continuously appeared. Qin Huai didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately collected these white experience balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (White) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +3!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (white) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +2!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (White) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +6!¡± ¡®What¡¯s going on? The experience points given by this white experience ball are different.¡¯ After a moment of thought, Qin Huai recalled what Liu Changyue had just said. One could only become a martial artist after reaching the tenth level of the Qi-nurturing technique. In other words, there were ten levels in the top of a martial artist. The experience orbs were probably given according to the level of these senior brothers ¡®cultivation technique. Suddenly, Qin Huai looked at Liu Changyue, his Second Senior Brother Gao Ruyang, and his eldest Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei, who were at the front. The three of them actually dropped green experience balls. ¡®As expected, it must be because they¡¯re already martial artists. The green experience ball will give more experience.¡¯ With a thought, Qin Huai collected all three green experience balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +10.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +27.¡± In the end, Qin Huai picked up Liu Changyue¡¯s experience ball and unexpectedly gained 29 points. ¡®Master is indeed master. He¡¯s twelve levels higher than Second Senior Brother.¡¯ Qin Huai was speechless. ¡®But wait¡­ Why is Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei¡¯s experience ball almost the same as Master¡¯s?¡¯ He remembered that Liu Xiaomei had once said that they were all at the same cultivation level. Qin Huai tried to recall the differences between himself and the two of them. It was probably because his Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei was closer to him, so they had been together a lot these days. It was the first time he met his Second Senior Brother, Gao Ruyang, and he didn¡¯t have much interaction with his master. With a thought, his personal panel appeared in front of his eyes again. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (Level 1, 3/200) ] [ Skill ] [ Alchemy (beginner, 1/200) ] [ Stage: none ] Chapter 4 ¡°This is already the first level?¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself, his heart filled with joy. The higher his realm, the more experience he could collect. He calmed his heart and condensed his Qi, feeling the changes in his body. There was only a trace of ¡®white line¡¯ swimming in his eight extraordinary meridians and five viscera and six bowels. ¡®This is called ¡®nourishing Qi and expelling poison.¡¯ In layman¡¯s terms, this wisp of Qi is a needle and thread that clears the impurities in the body, removing the burden on the body and thus achieving the effect of prolonging life,¡¯ Qin Huai muttered to himself. He felt that his breathing was much smoother than before, and he was more sensitive to the smell of medicine in the apothecary. ¡®This wisp of Qi is too thin now. The efficiency is too low.¡¯ ¡°As the number of levels increases, this wisp of Qi should gradually increase in size.¡± Qin Huai pinched his fingers. At this rate, he would only need ten days to become a martial artist that everyone envied. After dawn, Master Liu Changyue, Senior Brother, and the rest dispersed. Qin Huai began to follow the routine, cultivating on the rockery in the backyard at seven o¡¯clock every day and going to the apothecary to gain experience. During the day, he would go back and forth between the main hall and the backyard to buy and sell medicinal herbs. On the first day of each month, Qin Huai would take half a pound of his meat and cook a small barbecue in the courtyard. Now that he had become an internal affairs apprentice, he could eat his fill for every meal even though there was not much oil in his three meals a day. In addition, there were not many entertainment activities in ancient times. With five hundred wen a month, Qin Huai could only spend a few dozen wen for snacks at most, and the rest was impossible to spend. Because his senior brothers ¡®cultivation level wasn¡¯t low, Qin Huai was able to pick up a lot of experience every time. The Qi cultivation skill¡¯s experience bar only increased by 100 points each time. Therefore, he was on a level in the two heavens, three heavens, and four heavens. In a short two months, Qin Huai¡¯s Qi-nurturing technique had already reached the tenth level. Qin Huai sat cross-legged on a fake mountain. The morning sun shone down, and it was as if holy light had descended upon the world. The clear sky gathered around him, and the Qi and blood in his entire body began to boil. His entire body was red, and his Qi and blood began to transform under the light, like a silkworm chrysalis turning into a butterfly. Qin Huai was in high spirits. ¡°Martial artists, ah, ah, ¡± Qin Huai said, hot air coming out of his mouth and nose. ¡°Although there¡¯s not much change in my physique, my body has obviously become much lighter.¡± Qin Huai tried to punch from the backyard. The sharp sound of the wind accompanied his fists, and his strength was no longer the same. He lifted the big rock he was sitting on and was as relaxed as his second brother, Gao Ruyang. ¡°I¡¯ve finally broken through.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred as he looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (level 10, 4/1000) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (intermediate, 296/400) ] [ Stage ]: Level 1 Blood Refinement Realm ¡°It seems like the experience increase from the Qi cultivation technique has stopped.¡± Qin Huai looked at his Qi cultivation experience bar, which had stopped increasing, and he was delighted. He felt the Qi in his body. It had changed from a wisp two months ago to a ¡®white snake¡¯ swimming in his body. When it was ¡®fine¡¯, it would coil around his dantian. Qin Huai could control the white snake to devour the residue of the food they ate every day, as well as the impurities that were produced for no reason. This was the profoundness of the Qi cultivation technique. ¡°If I were to cultivate the Qi strengthening technique to the 30th or 50th level, how strong would this ¡®white snake¡¯ be? Will my body really be able to hold it then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity that ever since alchemy was upgraded to beginner level, the experience that can be obtained from prescriptions has been very little.¡± Qin Huai frowned. It was probably because the apprentices¡¯ alchemy skills were too poor and could not provide the experience needed to level up to beginner level. Qin Huai was also relieved. In any case, beginner-level medicinal skills were enough for him. It was not a problem for him to take care of small disasters and illnesses every day and prescribe medicine for himself. In the past two months, Qin Huai had also tested it when he was collecting the experience balls. Gao Cheng, who had entered the door with him and had a better relationship with him, had given much more experience than the others. The scores of the senior and junior brothers who had not interacted much with each other were very average. However, there was a person called Gu Erwa, whose experience points had been low for a long time. Although he didn¡¯t know what the problem was, this guy probably didn¡¯t like him very much. ¡°This kind of life is really good, stable, and leisurely.¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. He lifted the big rock he was sitting on and felt the power surging in his body. ¡°Huai ¡®er has broken through the realm?!¡±Liu Changyue suddenly walked up from behind and saw Qin Huai casually lifting a big stone. ¡°Master!¡± Qin Huai quickly put down the stone. ¡°No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite!¡± Liu Changyue was excited and not as elegant as she usually was. ¡°I was just lucky. As I practiced, I felt like I was transforming.¡± Qin Huai was honest. ¡°Hehe, stop pretending with your master. Every time you reach a higher level in your Qi-nurturing technique, the ¡®white snake¡¯ in your body will grow stronger. It¡¯s impossible that you didn¡¯t notice it.¡±Liu Changyue smiled and shook his head. ¡®He became a martial artist in two months, a martial arts genius. Unfortunately¡­ Hehe¡­ ¡® ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Qin Huai asked. Liu Changyue¡¯s expression was desolate as he explained, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the cultivation technique is only an incomplete technique. Ordinary techniques can break through a realm after every ten levels, but the cultivation technique can only be cultivated to the first level of blood refinement. After that, no matter how profound your cultivation technique is, it will be useless even if you cultivate it to the thirtieth level.¡± Realization dawned on Qin Huai. No wonder the experience bar for the eleventh level did not increase after he had reached the tenth level of his Qi-nurturing technique. ¡°But it¡¯s also thanks to this that our Liu family¡¯s apothecary can stand firm in Pingnan City. With us martial artists here, we are not threatened by gangs, and we have a good relationship with the eight major martial arts centers. With the help of the Qi cultivation technique, you¡¯ll have a bright future!¡± Liu Changyue smiled and stroked his beard. ¡­ The next morning, Liu Changyue announced the news that Qin Huai had become a martial artist in the backyard. ¡°From today onwards, Qin Huai will be my fourth disciple!¡± Liu Changyue patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. Liu Changyue had four disciples in total: Liu Xiaomei, Qin Huai, Gao Ruyang, and Zhang Gongcheng, the third senior brother who had been running around Pingnan City all year round and had not met Qin Huai yet. ¡°I¡¯ve only been calling him Little Junior Brother for two months, and he¡¯s already calling me Little Senior Brother?¡± Song Jia was stunned. Teaching Qin Huai how to handle matters in the medicine hall and how to communicate with patients seemed to have just been yesterday. No, yesterday, he was still teaching Qin Huai how to deal with a patient who was a barbarian. ¡°Ai, the difference between people is really too great.¡± Song Jia could only sigh. Gu Erwa, who had become an internal affairs apprentice only two days earlier than Qin Huai, had a bitter expression on his face. He stood in the corner gloomily and did not say a word. He had entered the sect two years earlier than Qin Huai and had finally become an internal affairs apprentice. He had only reached the third level of his cultivation technique. But this Qin Huai¡­ He became an internal affairs apprentice in just a few days. How many days have passed? He had become a senior brother? In the middle of the night, Gu Erwa grabbed a doll with the word ¡°Qin¡± on it and stabbed it with a silver needle. ¡°Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell!¡± ¡­ A week after his master had informed the entire apothecary that Qin Huai had become a martial artist¡­ Eldest Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei came to the door with a bowl of medicine. ¡°Little Junior Brother, it¡¯s time to drink your medicine!¡± Liu Xiaomei said softly. ¡°I¡¯m not sick. Why should I take medicine?¡± Qin Huai was confused. The bright red medicinal soup in the bowl seemed strange. ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone tell you? Here, look at my brain!¡± Liu Xiaomei patted her head.¡±This is vitality soup. It¡¯s a medicinal soup that can increase a martial artist¡¯s vitality. ¡°You should have felt it as well. When you break through to become a martial artist, your Qi and blood will transform. We call this the blood refinement realm. ¡°Every time I break through, the Qi and blood in my body will transform once.In other words, the stronger your vitality is, the higher the benefits you¡¯ll obtain during the transformation,¡± Liu Xiaomei said patiently. Qin Huai came to a realization. ¡°What¡¯s the price of this medicine?¡± He knew that this medicinal soup was definitely precious. ¡°Five taels a bowl.¡± Qin Huai was shocked. He had guessed that the vitality-increasing medicinal soup would be expensive, but he did not expect it to be that expensive. After he became Liu Changyue¡¯s disciple, he could only earn two taels of silver a month. ¡®It takes two and a half months to drink a bowl?¡¯ The ingredients for the blood Qi soup were precious. Even the apothecary could only prepare one bowl for apprentices who were about to break through to the martial artist realm. Liu Xiaomei explained, ¡°You¡¯re an exception because you broke through too quickly. It¡¯s beyond our expectations. That¡¯s why your two senior brothers are down there all year round, transporting medicine.¡± She sighed. ¡°How much money can the senior brothers get for transporting the medicine?¡± Qin Huai asked. He definitely had to buy the blood essence soup. He would not let go of the opportunity to improve his strength. Moreover, everyone else was drinking it, but he didn¡¯t. Didn¡¯t that mean that he would be weaker than others in the same realm? In this case¡­ In the future, when he fought with others, how terrible would it be if he was killed by someone who crossed the border? ¡°It¡¯s a 40-60 split with the apothecary, and the apothecary gets 60,¡± Liu Xiaomei explained. Qin Huai nodded. This was not bad. He immediately expressed his thoughts to his senior sister and went to deliver the goods. ¡­ In less than two days, Master Liu Changyue came to visit. It was time to inform them to deliver the goods to Bo Feng town. Qin Huai took out some healing medicine from his own pocket in the main hall and personally ground some poison. After hesitating for a moment, he used his own medicinal skills to get a few packets of strong aphrodisiacs. If one were to encounter a poison antidote that was immune to all poisons, an aphrodisiac could mess up the Qi and blood of a person. It was the best choice. ¡°It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t need it, though.¡± With a clap of his hands, Qin Huai hid several packets of aphrodisiacs in his sleeves. He had a few taels of silver on him, but it was not enough for a bowl of Qi and blood soup. He might as well use them for life-saving things. The more aphrodisiacs and poisons he had, the better. He could use them at any time. Qin Huai was ready and listened to his master explain the process again. It was probably because of the customer¡¯s family background, personality, the price of the medicine, and the bottom line if the other party suddenly lowered the price. Then, Qin Huai took the two carriages that his master, Liu Changyue, had prepared and the six ordinary bodyguards he had hired to Bo Feng town. Chapter 5 The first mission¡­ It was his second senior brother, Gao Ruyang, who had helped him complete it. Qin Huai sat in the carriage, leaning against the window and looking at the scenery outside. He had been in Pingnan City for more than two months. This was the first time he had left the city. The land was already barren, and weeds were everywhere. Many skinny people leaned against the city wall with listless eyes. The people who wanted to enter the city lined up three miles away from the city gate. They were all bare-chested, dirty, bare-footed, and in ragged clothes. When Qin Huai saw them, he seemed to see himself in the past. However, things were different now. He was wearing a silk robe and sitting in a carriage, and he was a martial artist with vigorous Qi and blood. ¡°More and more people are fleeing,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°That¡¯s right. The demons have swept through sixteen states, and the imperial court¡¯s demanding taxes are getting higher by the day. The people are having a hard time with the mountain bandits running rampant.¡± Li San, who was walking by the window, shook his head. His senior brother, Gao Ruyang, didn¡¯t say anything. He had long been used to this. ¡°There¡¯s a mountain road ahead. Please sit tight!¡± Li San shouted and walked to the front. Suddenly, the horses neighed, and the convoy suddenly stopped. Immediately, a wave of arrogant shouts could be heard. ¡°I opened this mountain and planted this tree. If you want to pass through, leave some money to buy your way through!¡± It was a familiar tone, but there was no sense of relaxation in the atmosphere. It was filled with a murderous aura. Qin Huai immediately clenched his fists. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Gao Ruyang patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and got out of the carriage with him. Outside, there were more than ten mountain bandits dressed in black and holding long sabers. They surrounded the carriage. ¡°I¡¯m a disciple of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary in Pingnan City. My master is Liu Changyue! I hope all of you will give me face!¡± Gao Ruyang cupped his fists and looked around. ¡°So it¡¯s the Liu family¡¯s carriage.¡± The leader of the mountain bandits came to a realization, and his ferocity decreased. ¡°I can reward you with face, but the premise is that you have to give me enough silver. The rules of the underworld can¡¯t be broken, you know. Our brothers also need to eat!¡± The mountain bandits were arrogant and didn¡¯t put Gao Ruyang and Qin Huai in their eyes at all. ¡°Naturally!¡± Gao Ruyang respectfully handed over the ten taels of silver. The mountain bandit weighed the silver bag in his hand, then waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Get lost! Get lost!¡± The group set off again. In the carriage, Qin Huai was puzzled. ¡°Who are those people? I don¡¯t think they¡¯re martial artists. Why did Senior Brother pay them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the Blackhawk Gang, the famous mountain bandits who occupy the Ghost Slope Mountain outside Pingnan City,¡± Gao Ruyang explained. ¡°There are many experts in there. The chief, Black Eagle, has been at the peak of the first refinement for a long time, and his Qi and blood are at their peak too. ¡°The second leader, Black Tiger, and the third leader, Black Fist, are also experts who have entered the first refinement realm for many years. Other than that, there are seven other martial artists in the gang. Their strength cannot be underestimated,¡± Gao Ruyang said solemnly. Qin Huai calculated that there were only five martial artists in the apothecary, including himself. Not to mention that the Qi cultivation technique wasn¡¯t good at attacking, the difference in strength between the two sides was huge. No wonder Gao Ruyang would lower himself to a few ordinary mountain bandits. He really couldn¡¯t afford to offend these people. But they¡¯d usually let you go as long as you pay the money, so there wouldn¡¯t be any problems. ¡°In the future, try not to get into a conflict with them,¡± Gao Ruyang reminded him several times. ¡°Well said!¡± Suddenly, a voice exploded beside the two. Qin Huai¡¯s hair instantly stood on end. He rolled a few times out of the carriage and looked up in the direction of the carriage after he was several meters away. He saw a big man in black standing at the carriage¡¯s driver¡¯s position. It was almost right behind him. When he spoke, Qin Huai could clearly feel his breathing. But¡­ Qin Huai didn¡¯t notice anything before he spoke! ¡®He¡¯s an expert!¡¯ Qin Huai¡¯s expression was grave. The surrounding people were also scared out of their wits that they could not say a word. ¡°May I ask if you¡¯re Black Eagle, the chief of the Blackhawk Gang?¡± Gao Ruyang¡¯s voice was also shaking. ¡°You have a good eye, kid.¡± Black Eagle sneered. ¡°What can I do for you, sir?¡± Gao Ruyang became more respectful after he got the answer. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just heard you guys talking about the Blackhawk gang, so I came to join in the fun.¡± Black Eagle acted as if there was no one else around. It seemed as if he was not taking Qin Huai and Gao Ruyang, the two martial artists, seriously. ¡°Continue on your way. After you pay the toll, the Blackhawk gang will not make things difficult for you.¡± Black Eagle waved his hand. ¡°Many thanks, sir!¡± Gao Ruyang could only cup his fists and thank him. After that, Black Eagle flashed past and quickly disappeared into the forest. When he left them, only then did Qin Huai dare to take a deep breath. The two of them sat back in the carriage with lingering fear in their hearts. ¡°Senior Brother, didn¡¯t you say that the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s leader is also in the first refinement realm? How come we didn¡¯t even notice him when he walked behind us?¡± ¡°The Blackhawk gang¡¯s signature technique is the breath control technique. When it¡¯s complete, it can be done without making a sound. Moreover, there is still a difference within one refinement. ¡°They have a lot of gold and silver in their hands, and they drink vitality soup every day. The difference between our vitality and mine is naturally like heaven and earth,¡± Gao Ruyang explained. Qin Huai came to a realization. In his heart, his impression of the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s strength was raised to another level. The difference between their combat strength and the Blackhawk gang¡¯s was definitely not as simple as the number of people. Luckily, he had thought that the first escort mission would be a big one, but it turned out to be a close one. Qin Huai finally heaved a sigh of relief. Excluding the cost and his master¡¯s share, he and his senior brother Gao Ruyang would share the rest. Qin Huai had earned two taels of silver in one go, which was a month¡¯s salary for him. Unfortunately, this kind of work was not available every day. ¡­ In the following days, Qin Huai took on an average of one escort job every five or six days. Every time, he would spend and save some money. That was 20 taels of silver and four bowls of blood Qi soup a month. Fortunately, the effect was remarkable. Qin Huai felt enriched every time, and his Qi and blood surged. As for his Qi-nurturing technique, it stabilized at one level every ten days, and as the days passed, it became more and more profound. In the blink of an eye, a year had passed. Qin Huai sat cross-legged in his private room with his eyes closed. He immersed himself in the internal world. Qin Huai looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi-nurturing technique (level 48, 813/1000) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 247/1600) ] [ Stage ]: Level 1 Blood Refinement Realm ¡°Because of the skills of the junior brothers in the apothecary, my alchemy has been advancing slowly. Now, there is no improvement. ¡°As for the Qi cultivation technique, it¡¯s still maintaining its initial momentum and is very stable.¡± The ¡®white snake¡¯ in his body had now grown into a white flood dragon. Qin Huai¡¯s body was already filled to the brim, and the flood dragon wriggled as if the sky and earth were being overturned. Fortunately, this white flood dragon seemed to have form, yet was invisible. It did not hurt the five internal organs and even had a pushing effect. Otherwise, he would have been blown up by the white flood dragon. ¡°I feel that it¡¯s not that the Qi cultivation technique can¡¯t break through to the second refinement, but that the level required is too high,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. He had a feeling that the 50th level of his cultivation technique would be the time for him to transform. His master, Liu Changyue, had not changed at all after reaching the twentieth level. It could only be said that his cultivation level was still not high enough. Qin Huai stood up and struck forward with his palm, activating the white flood dragon in his body. The next moment, a huge amount of Qi burst out of his body, and the waves of Qi surged along his palm. Bang! Bang! The porcelain jar several meters away shattered. ¡°Although the Qi cultivation technique isn¡¯t good at attacking, once it reaches a certain level, it will still have amazing effects.¡± Qin Huai slowly retracted his palm. This move of his was completely unexpected, and its killing power was astonishing. It was so powerful that it could kill enemies within seven steps. The forty-eighth level of the cultivation technique had already undergone an incredible change. Even an ordinary first refinement martial artist would not be able to withstand his palm. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I drank too little vitality soup. The growth of my vitality is too slow.¡± Qin Huai felt regretful. In the past year, the prices of commodities had been increasing. For example, the price of rice had increased from ten wen per jin to fifty wen per jin. Originally, one wen could buy four white steamed buns, but now it became one wen for one. The most important thing was that the blood Qi soup had also increased from five taels to fifteen taels. Qin Huai could not afford to drink it. Nonetheless, the increase in vitality this year was better than nothing. Everything was increasing, but his salary was not. The maidservants assigned to each room in the apothecary¡¯s backyard had also been dismissed. Also, more and more mountain bandits appeared on the way to deliver the medicine, and the price they demanded was different each time. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, lunch is ready!¡± A knocking sound came from outside the door. ¡°Many thanks.¡± Qin Huai pushed the door open. Outside was his Little Junior Sister, Luo Ya. She had an innocent and beautiful face, and her figure was also very impressive. She was not inferior to his eldest Senior Sister, Liu Xiaomei. She seemed to be the legitimate daughter of the Luo family. She was well-behaved and very likable. And the most important thing was that this Little Junior Sister was not a martial artist yet. He gave himself the most experience points, 19 points each time, which was the upper limit for aspiring martial artists. Therefore, every time Qin Huai saw Luo Ya, he couldn¡¯t help but feel happy. He usually took care of her. ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re too polite to thank me!¡± Luo Ya was a little shy and handed him a black robe. ¡°I see that Senior Brother hasn¡¯t changed his clothes for a long time. I¡¯m not as busy as Senior Brother. When I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll take a stroll. ¡°Anyway, I had nothing to do, so I made a big robe. Actually, it was for Father, but you two have the same size. Here, try and see if it fits you.¡± Luo Ya said a bunch of things that did not make sense. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Junior Sister to be so talented.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s body fit perfectly with the robe. ¡°This robe is beautiful, and the workmanship is great,¡± he said with a pleasant expression. After the maidservants in the courtyard left, most of Qin Huai¡¯s food was brought over by this Little Junior Sister. ¡°What a coincidence! It actually fits Senior Brother so well!¡± Lou Ya was ¡®shocked¡¯. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give this robe to you, Senior Brother.¡± ¡°How can this be? Didn¡¯t you make this for your father?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°I¡¯ll make more for Father, so don¡¯t worry!¡± Luo Ya did not wait for Qin Huai¡¯s refusal and turned to run. ¡°This little girl¡­¡± Qin Huai shook his head helplessly. ¡°By the way, Senior Brother Qin, don¡¯t forget that Master wants you to escort him tomorrow.¡± Luo Ya peeked out from behind the tree and immediately ran away after she finished speaking, as if she was afraid of being caught by Qin Huai. ¡°I know.¡± Qin Huai stretched out his hand, but he put it down helplessly. Chapter 6 On Haunted Slope Mountain, the Blackhawk Gang The young man was lying on the tiger skin carpet, holding a jar of wine in his hand and drinking it. ¡°Lord Black Wolf.¡± Some soldiers ingratiated themselves. ¡°What is it?¡± Black Wolf was impatient. He was the nephew of the chief, Black Eagle, so his status in the gang was extraordinary. ¡°The chief said that you have to go down the mountain every month to practice.¡± One of the soldiers hesitated. ¡°Are there any women? I¡¯m not going without a woman!¡± ¡°There are! I¡¯ve already found one for you!¡± ¡°After your practice, there¡¯s a hunter less than half a li away. His daughter was very attractive!¡± Black Wolf immediately sat up. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go if there are women!¡± ¡­ On the way to Bo Feng Town, more and more emaciated people appeared on both sides of the road, and more and more people were heading in the direction of Pingnan City, escaping their original hometown. Their eyes were listless, and they were wandering on the road like zombies. Their destination was Pingnan City, but it didn¡¯t seem to be. Qin Huai seemed to be like Gao Ruyang a year ago, a little numb to this scene. ¡°The most powerful mountain bandit in town is the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s chief.¡± Qin Huai sat in the carriage and told his junior brothers and sisters what Gao Ruyang had told him in the past. His voice stopped abruptly. There were clamoring sounds outside. ¡°Stop! All of you stop!¡± Qin Huai calmly walked out of the carriage, followed by Luo Ya and the others. ¡°Fellow heroes, this is the toll.¡± Qin Huai was very familiar with this and took out some silver from his pocket. But this time, the other party didn¡¯t take it. The leader of the mountain bandits stared at Luo Ya, who was standing behind Qin Huai. The look in his eyes was obvious. ¡°You can leave, but leave this girl behind!¡± The eyes of the mountain bandit, Black Wolf, were filled with lust. ¡°Hero, we are the disciples of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary in Pingnan City. Our master is¡­¡± But before Qin Huai could finish, he was interrupted by Black Wolf. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are! Leave the little girl behind and get lost! If you don¡¯t want to, then you won¡¯t pass.¡± Black Wolf looked fierce. ¡°My master is Liu Changyue.¡± ¡°I said, get lost! This is your last chance!¡± ¡°In the past, I gave you face because of the silver. What kind of apothecary are you?¡± Black Wolf laughed and wagged his finger. ¡°Other than the eight martial arts dojos, none of them are of any use to the Blackhawk Gang!¡± Luo Ya¡¯s face was pale, and she could not say a word. The others were also at a loss, not knowing where to look. They all knew that the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s reputation was well known in Pingnan city. ¡°Senior Brother, why don¡¯t we leave first?¡± The junior brother, Gu Erwa, tugged at Qin Huai¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Go back and tell Master. Let him handle this matter.¡± Gu Erwa was anxious as he added, ¡°Besides, Junior Sister Luo¡¯s family is well-off. Her family will have their own means.¡± The others didn¡¯t say anything, but their meaning was self-evident. In fact, they all knew that if they left Luo Ya alone, they would not be able to return. They were just thinking about the best side of things and convincing themselves of their guilt. Luo Ya looked at the group of fierce mountain bandits in front of her, her face drained of blood. ¡°Master always taught us that doctors should have a kind heart and save the dying and heal the wounded. Now that I have martial arts, how can I watch my junior sister be taken away by the mountain bandits?¡± Qin Huai was expressionless. ¡°You guys go first, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± His junior sister had treated him well, so how could he abandon her at this time? If he left now¡­then what¡¯s the use of practicing martial arts? ¡°Let¡¯s go! Why are you still standing there?¡± Gu Erwa wailed, his heart bursting with joy. If this Qin Huai wanted to court death, he would definitely not stop him. He could not wait for Qin Huai to be dismembered by the Blackhawk Gang. Once Gu Erwa spoke, the crowd did not dare to disobey. They stopped persuading Qin Huai and returned with the carriage. Only Qin Huai and Luo ya were left behind to face the group of mountain bandits from the Blackhawk Gang. ¡°A drug seller wants to rebel against the Blackhawk Gang?¡± Black Wolf sneered. ¡°It¡¯s really true that since ancient times, heroes can¡¯t get past beauties. No, not even a bear can!¡± Black Wolf gave him a look. The next moment, one of the mountain bandits circled to Qin Huai¡¯s blind spot and stabbed him. Qin Huai¡¯s spirit jolted. He reacted quickly, turned around, and grabbed the blade. His right hand clenched into a fist and struck out with all his might. Pfft! A mouthful of blood splattered all over Qin Huai¡¯s body. Qin Huai was stunned. There was no one in front of him, but he was holding a soft arm in his hand. ¡®What great strength!¡¯ The mountain bandit¡¯s arm was broken by Qin Huai¡¯s punch, and he fell limply to the ground. There was a depression in his chest that was several inches deep, and he was no longer breathing. This was the first time he had attacked someone since he had entered the martial warrior realm. It also allowed Qin Huai to have a clear understanding of a martial artist¡¯s power of Qi and blood for the first time, and he was filled with confidence. Although the Qi cultivation technique wasn¡¯t good at attacking, the transformation of Qi and blood when he became a martial artist was still too terrifying. He looked at the corpse under his feet and saw several white experience balls. ¡°You have experience in killing people?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled and immediately collected the experience balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +13!¡± A breath control technique? Wasn¡¯t this the martial arts that the Black Eagle gang cultivated? Furthermore, a mountain bandit actually had 13 experience points. These mountain bandits were of a higher realm than the internal affairs apprentices of the apothecary? Something was wrong, and Qin Huai realized the problem right away. This was the experience ball that he had gotten from killing people. It was different from picking up the experience balls of his fellow disciples. The experience ball that dropped from killing people would give more experience. ¡°He¡¯s a martial artist?!¡± The remaining four mountain bandits gulped. Qin Huai strode toward the four of them. He punched out with both fists, and no one could block him. He exchanged a punch with a mountain bandit, and their fists collided for an instant. The crisp sound of bones breaking was heard. The mountain bandit¡¯s arm was instantly twisted, and he knelt on the ground in pain. ¡°Die!¡± One of them had a fiendish look on his face as he sneaked an attack on Qin Huai¡¯s waist from behind. Buzzzzzz! Qin Huai suddenly exerted his strength and used his vigorous Qi and blood to clamp down on the long knife the moment it entered his flesh, preventing it from moving in the slightest. Then, he turned around and threw a punch. His opponent¡¯s chest caved in. It was as if he was punching each of the mountain bandits to death. A martial artist¡¯s power was a dimension-lowering attack to ordinary people. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (Ehite) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +16!¡± ¡°[ Breath Control ] Experience +30! ¡°Wait! Wait a minute!¡± Black Wolf cried out in fear. He had not expected Qin Huai to be a martial artist! ¡°The Blackhawk Gang has always sought revenge for the smallest grievance. If you kill me, you will never be a businessman again!¡± ¡°If I kill all of you, no one will know that I did it, right?¡± Qin Huai was serious. ¡°My uncle is the chief of the Blackhawk Gang!¡± Black Wolf roared. ¡°And the reason why our gang is called the Blackhawk Gang is that we have the black hawk to send messages. Nothing in this land can escape our eyes.¡± Black Wolf¡¯s eyes were sharp, and his hands were quick. He did not know why, but his hands were fluttering. A black hawk flew out of his arms and into the air. By the time Qin Huai reacted, it had already flown more than ten meters high. ¡°I¡¯ve already spread the news about this. If you kill me, you¡¯ll have to take another path in the future!¡± Black Wolf¡¯s face was ferocious, and his heart was in a panic. He had not had the time to write the report in such a short time, so he had only released the messenger bird to scare Qin Huai. ¡°Don¡¯t think that you¡¯re great just because you¡¯re a martial artist. You can kill three to five people, but what about thirty to fifty? My gang has fifty men!¡± Black Wolf continued to press on. ¡°My uncle is the chief of the Blackhawk Gang! Let me go, alright? Let¡¯s have a good talk.¡± Bang! Bang! Without a word, Qin Huai killed Black Wolf with a punch. ¡°As a mountain bandit, why are you looking for trouble with me? I just want to live a good life and earn some money.¡± Qin Huai took the mountain bandit¡¯s clothes and wiped the bloodstains off his body. Then, he stabbed another group of mountain bandits. In the end, the guy even revealed that his uncle was the big boss of the Blackhawk Gang. If he was so stupid, then all the more he couldn¡¯t let him live. As for the message¡­ Although the black bird was not caught, Qin Huai could still see it clearly with his warrior¡¯s vision. There was no letter tied to it. Unless the black bird could speak human language and retell everything that had happened¡­ However, if the Blackhawk Gang had such a divine bird, Pingnan City would have to change its surname to Black Hawk. ¡°[ Breath Control ] Experience +70!¡± This Black Wolf actually gave him 70 experience points? Qin Huai was puzzled. He could sense that Black Wolf¡¯s martial arts attainments were even inferior to those of the others. He was just a good-for-nothing mountain bandit. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s probably caused by his evil deeds.¡± Qin Huai came to a realization. Killing him could be considered as getting rid of the tyrants and bringing peace to the good. It was some kind of ¡°gift from the Heavenly Dao.¡± ¡°This person is very familiar with taking advantage of women. He must be a repeat offender.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred as he looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (level 48, 923/1000) ], [ Breath Control technique (level 1, 51/200) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 247/1600) ] [ Stage ]: Level 1 Blood Refinement Realm Qin Huai sensed that even his breathing had become lighter. When he activated his breath control technique, he felt a light breeze under his feet, which weakened the sound. ¡°This martial art is really useful.¡± Qin Huai sighed. If his breath control technique were at a higher level, he would be on the same level as the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s chief. He walked silently, like a ghost. The guild would be much more convenient. However, this cultivation technique was not good at attacking. ¡°Senior Brother, what should we do next?¡± Lou Ya¡¯s entire body was trembling. ¡°Keep this matter to yourself and never mention it again,¡± Qin Huai instructed. Luo Ya was already at a loss and could only nod her head. The two of them buried the bodies of Black Wolf and the others on the spot, then covered the scene with soil, trying to remove traces as much as possible. After that, they returned to Pingnan City. Chapter 7 Qin Huai suppressed his fear and buried Black Wolf and the others. As for Luo Ya, her legs turned to jelly from the sudden turn of events, and she fell to the ground. She couldn¡¯t even get up, let alone walk. Her whole body twitched, and cold sweat drenched her short robe and the ground. One of the reasons was that she had been pampered since she was a child. More importantly, the fierce reputation of the Blackhawk Gang had been pressing on the heads of Pingnan City and the surrounding people for too long. The Blackhawk Gang will seek revenge for the smallest grievance. They will target whoever kills their people like dogskin plaster, not to mention that he killed his nephew this time.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, it¡¯s my fault.¡± Luo Ya¡¯s face was pale. ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying that now?¡± Qin Huai was calm. It didn¡¯t matter if he killed such an evil person. He wanted to live a peaceful life, but it didn¡¯t mean that he had to compromise and tolerate everything. Just because he didn¡¯t cause trouble didn¡¯t mean he was afraid of trouble. There were really evil people who bullied their superiors and forced them into a desperate situation. Qin Huai didn¡¯t mind risking his life to let those evil people know that people who were born with Qi use it for the sake of survival. Otherwise, what was the point of living in this world? Qin Huai grabbed Luo Ya with one hand and put her on his shoulder, taking big steps forward until they entered the city. Once they reached the city, Luo Ya seemed to have found support and could walk on the ground. Walking into the apothecary, the two people¡¯s steps couldn¡¯t help but become much lighter. However, she realized that the atmosphere in the medicine hall was not quite right. Their master, Liu Changyue, and the others saw that Qin Huai and Luo Ya had returned safely, but there was no joy on their faces. All of them were silent, filling the atmosphere in the backyard with an invisible heaviness. ¡°Don¡¯t mention this matter anymore.¡± Liu Changyue gathered everyone who knew the situation in the backyard and spoke concisely. Qin Huai and Luo Ya¡¯s safe return meant that all the members of the Blackhawk Gang had been killed. He had offended the powerful and vengeful Blackhawk Gang. To the Liu family¡¯s apothecary, it could be said to be a big hidden danger. Qin Huai was in big trouble! ¡°Qin Huai, you don¡¯t have to escort anymore in the future. Let¡¯s do the consultation in the lobby,¡± Liu Changyue ordered. He had also changed the way he addressed Qin Huai from ¡®Huai¡¯er¡¯ to his full name. His Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei, who had always cared for him, was now standing in the same place, not daring to look at him. Qin Huai had an idea of what was going on, and his heart sank. ¡°For the time being, everyone in the apothecary is not allowed to go to the city and out of it!¡± Liu Changyue ordered everyone to lay low. That night,Qin Huai¡¯s door was knocked open. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t have to escort me. I¡¯ll always support you!¡± Luo Ya¡¯s entire body was trembling. Obviously, she was still in shock after what had happened today. Yet, she still came to comfort Qin Huai. ¡°Although the blood and Qi soup is expensive, my family still has some money. It¡¯s not a big problem for Senior Brother to cultivate.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded and temporarily agreed. He didn¡¯t have a better idea now. He could only wait until his cultivation technique broke through level 50 and see if he had the chance to enter the second level of blood refinement. Moreover, only the people in his apothecary knew that he had killed Black Wolf. There was no surveillance in this world. The so-called divination and deduction techniques, even if there were, would not be in this small Pingnan City. This was because, according to Qin Huai¡¯s observations, this world was obviously a world with a low-level martial world or a mid-level martial world. Although the killing power of cultivators was shocking, it was by no means to the extent of destroying the heavens and earth, reversing yin and yang. ¡°I¡¯ll continue to escort them after the storm has passed.¡± Qin Huai was calm as he said this. After his Qi cultivation had reached a profound level, it would not be too late for him to kill his way to the top of the mountain to get rid of this disaster for the apothecary. These two days, he had been living off of his junior sister, and he had a clear conscience. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +17.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +12.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +29!¡± Qin Huai was stunned when he saw the last notification. This was because this wasn¡¯t his master Liu Changyue¡¯s experience ball, but his junior Luo Ya¡¯s. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Junior Sister to give me so much experience. Not only did I break through level 20, but I¡¯ve even caught up with Master.¡± Qin Huai sighed. It seemed that he had saved his junior sister¡¯s life and caused Luo Ya¡¯s trust and closeness to him to break through the limit. Hu~ Qin Huai heaved a sigh of relief as he felt the white flood dragon in his body grow stronger. ¡°I¡¯ve entered the forty-ninth level of my Qi strengthening technique,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. The feeling that he was about to break through became more and more obvious. He was certain that he was going to reach level 50 soon. ¡°There seems to be no wind or rain in the city these two days. Everything is fine,¡± Qin Huai mused. Other than cultivating, he had already been cooped up in his room for two days. ¡°Senior brother!¡± Luo Ya ran over again. In the past few days, it seemed that the only person who was close to him was this Little Junior Sister. When the others faced Qin Huai, they all seemed to be distant and awkward. ¡°Is there any news from the city?¡± Qin Huai guessed that it was most likely the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s wanted murderer. ¡°The man we killed that day was indeed Black Wolf, the nephew of the chief of the Blackhawk Gang.¡± Luo Ya was a little flustered. ¡°The Blackhawk Gang has put out a reward of 100 taels for your information.¡± ¡°In other words, I haven¡¯t been exposed.¡± Qin Huai understood. ¡°As long as there¡¯s no traitor in the apothecary, ¡± Luo Ya said, panicking. ¡°Many people in the apothecary know about this. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s only a matter of time before the news gets out. ¡°Senior Brother, please follow me to the Luo mansion. Father knows people from the eight big martial arts centers. Although the matter of killing Black Wolf won¡¯t be resolved, at least they won¡¯t dare to send people into the city to kill people.¡± ¡­ In the backyard of the apothecary, the crowd looked at each other with an arrest warrant in their hands. ¡°Find the murderer who killed the nephew of the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s chief. As long as you provide any clues, you will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver!¡± After Gu Erwa finished reading, everyone started to grumble. ¡°Qin Huai, why did you provoke the Blackhawk Gang?¡± ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t even eat our fill now.¡± ¡°The meat of the month is gone~¡± ¡°A hero saving a beauty, sacrificing our entire apothecary!¡± ¡°Master said not to mention that matter again!¡± someone reminded them. ¡°I know, I know.¡± Gu Erwa nodded his head vigorously, but his eyes could not help but drift to the wanted order. Although this year¡¯s grain prices had soared and money was not valuable, it was still a very good thing. However, one hundred taels was still not a small amount. ¡°Qin Huai is here.¡± It was unknown who said this, but everyone immediately scattered. All that was left was the bounty notice. Qin Huai looked at the bounty notice on the stone table and was silent for a moment. Then, he left to take a stroll. ¡°I still have to hurry up and improve my strength.¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. The level of the Qi cultivation technique was infinitely close to level 50, and had now stopped at level 49 (802/1000). In other words, as long as he had two more days and two more waves of experience, he would be able to enter level 50 Qi cultivation technique. Furthermore, the feeling that he was about to welcome the second transformation of his blood Qi and body was getting stronger. This was probably the intuition of a martial artist. There was no mistake. That night, Master Liu Changyue gathered everyone together again. He had repeatedly emphasized that this matter was not to be disclosed. Those who disobeyed the order would be expelled from the apothecary. Chapter 8 ¡°According to the information I gathered today, the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s leader, Black Eagle, has left the mountain with nine warriors.¡± Gao Ruyang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°They massacred several small forces outside the city in one day, many of which were martial artists.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the government do anything? If we let the Blackhawk Gang do what they want, how can we calm the people down?¡± Liu Xiaomei was angry and scared. This aura-concealing technique has given the Blackhawk Gang, who was in the forest, an advantage. ¡°It¡¯s still possible if we annihilate them all in one go, but if we can¡¯t, with the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s style of doing things, they¡¯ll definitely think of ways to seek revenge.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t touch the entire Pingnan City, but it¡¯s easy for them to take revenge on one or two of them. No one wants to be that person¡¯s puppet,¡± Gao Ruyang analyzed rationally, feeling quite helpless. ¡°The powerful eight martial arts centers did send people to kill him, but the news had already spread before they even left the city. By the time they arrived, the Blackhawk Gang had already been deserted.¡± He could only leave it at that. ¡°New information! The shopkeeper of the iron shop in Pu province was killed on the way back, and his head is hanging on the city wall!¡± Song Jia ran in. ¡°The shopkeeper of the iron shop in Pu province only killed an ordinary member of the Blackhawk Gang half a year ago. This matter was resolved at that time. They gave 300 taels of silver as compensation, but we didn¡¯t expect the Blackhawk Gang to take the opportunity to bring it up again.¡± The atmosphere in the courtyard grew gloomier. Qin Huai looked at his master, Liu Changyue, with a calm expression. The latter picked up the teacup, but the cup kept shaking and couldn¡¯t be stabilized. In the end, he quietly put it down. Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Although his master had the strength of a martial artist, he was still an apothecary manager. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +19.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +10.¡± It was a quiet night. Early in the morning, Qin Huai followed his usual routine and picked up a wave of experience. He looked at the experience points of the Qi cultivation technique increasing again, reaching level 49 (921/1000). He was only one step away. Suddenly, Luo Ya knocked on Qin Huai¡¯s door with a pale face. ¡°Senior Brother, something bad happened!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Someone has sold the news that you killed the nephew of the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s chief!¡± Luo Ya had just arrived. Soon after, Senior Sister Liu Xiaomei came to the door. ¡°Junior Brother, Master wants everyone to gather in the hall.¡± Liu Xiaomei¡¯s expression was extremely ugly. When Qin Huai and Luo Ya walked to the main hall, they found that it had been cleared out, and the door was closed. On one of the two chairs was his master, Liu Changyue. Gao Ruyang and his fellow disciples stood behind him. On the chair opposite him, there was a tall and thin man dressed in a black robe. He had one foot on the chair and a bowl of wine in his other hand. His eyes sized up everything in the apothecary with disdain. ¡°This is the messenger from the Blackhawk Gang,¡± Gao Ruyang introduced in a low voice. In fact, there was no need for an introduction. Qin Huai could tell from the other party¡¯s attitude that he was from the Blackhawk Gang. He knew that the Blackhawk Gang was powerful and arrogant, but he didn¡¯t expect this group of mountain bandits to send people into the city openly. ¡°You¡¯re Qin Huai?¡± Black Dog of the Blackhawk Gang sneered and looked at Liu Changyue. ¡°Personally break Qin Huai¡¯s four limbs and tie him up. Just leave the rest to me.¡± Black Dog was domineering. He was also a martial artist. However, the reason he was so arrogant was that there were nine powerful martial artists on the mountain behind him. If he died here, the Liu family¡¯s apothecary would not be able to continue operating. These people would die as soon as they left the city! If they never left the city, they would only starve to death. Liu Changyue¡¯s face turned green with anger, but he suppressed his anger. ¡°At least five martial artists are in charge of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary. If I let you cripple him and take him away¡­how can my Liu family apothecary still have a foothold in the city?¡± His voice was resounding. ¡°Then what does shopkeeper Liu want to do?¡± Black Dog sneered. ¡°As long as Qin Huai is here, he is one of my people!¡± Liu Changyue said loudly. Black Dog only smiled, and then actually stood up and left. ¡­ As soon as Black Dog left, Liu Changyue called Qin Huai to a room alone. ¡°Qin Huai, the person who told on you was Gu Erwa. That kid didn¡¯t come back after he went out this afternoon.¡± Liu Changyue¡¯s face was red with anger. ¡°The Blackhawk Gang¡¯s chief has already sent someone to send me a message. He wants me to hand you over to pay for his nephew¡¯s life. If not, I have to cut off all business of my Liu family¡¯s apothecary outside the city!¡± Liu Changyue¡¯s expression became unnatural. ¡°You also know that the majority of the apothecary¡¯s profits are in the towns below the city. In addition, food prices are changing every day. It¡¯s not easy for me to raise you and your fellow disciples.¡± Liu Changyue¡¯s voice was getting softer and softer. He claimed to be a scholar, but in the end, he had to sell out his disciple to survive. ¡°I understand what you mean, Master!¡± Qin Huai was expressionless. He had understood it two days ago. As long as something happened, his master would definitely abandon him and protect the apothecary business. ¡°I won¡¯t disclose your whereabouts, but you have to think about the rest of us!¡±Liu Changyue said. ¡°I¡¯ll leave tomorrow morning.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s words were concise. ¡°I definitely won¡¯t be a burden to Master!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists, then turned around and returned to the house. His heart had already turned completely cold. No wonder Liu Changyue was so unyielding in front of everyone today. Now that he thought about it, he must have been in cahoots with Black Dog of the Blackhawk Gang. He knew that Liu Changyue would kick him out. The person who betrayed Qin Huai was easy to find. It was Gu Erwa. This person had disappeared the day before Black Dog¡¯s arrival and had not returned until now. It was obvious there was no chance that he would return. As soon as Qin Huai left, Liu Changyue summoned his second disciple, Gao Ruyang. ¡°Release the news that Qin Huai has been expelled from the apothecary. From now on, the apothecary will not be responsible for his life and death! Also, add the tri-flower poison powder to Qin Huai¡¯s meal tonight.¡± The tri-flower poison powder would cause a martial artist to lose all his strength once he circulated his Qi and blood after consuming it. ¡°What?¡± Gao Ruyang looked troubled. He liked this junior brother of his very much, but he had to choose between his master and Qin Huai. He still chose the latter without any hesitation. ¡°This is a death sentence to a martial arts practitioner, but Qin Huai must not die in the apothecary. If that happens, the apothecary¡¯s reputation will be ruined. ¡°Unless¡­he can become a second refinement warrior overnight. Otherwise, he would not have been able to escape from the hands of the Blackhawk Gang.¡± Liu Changyue¡¯s eyes flashed with a never-before-seen ruthlessness. For the sake of his family¡¯s apothecary¡­ If a disciple died, then so be it. ¡­ The next day at dawn, it was as if nothing had happened. Everyone carried out everything step by step. Qin Huai felt a little uncomfortable, but he didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it. He faced the purple clouds in the morning sun and quietly collected the experience balls that Liu Changyue and the others dropped. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +10.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Nurturing Qi Essence (Green) ], [ Nurturing Qi ] Experience +17.¡± Qin Huai suddenly let out a long sigh. He walked back to his room silently. Just as he sat down, his entire body felt as if it was on fire, and the familiar boiling feeling once again swept through his body. However, this time, the boiling sensation was even more intense. At this moment, Qin Huai felt that his perception of the world had become clearer. After a long time, Qin Huai¡¯s red skin returned to its normal color, and his hair seemed to have grown longer. He looked into the distance. He could even see the body structure of a mosquito on the three-meter wall clearly. Qin Huai thought to himself and opened his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [ Breath Control technique (level 1, 51/200) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ] [ Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement ] ¡°I¡¯ve finally broken through. As expected, level 50 of the cultivation technique is the opportunity to enter the second refinement.¡± Qin Huai peeked into his own body and saw that the white flood dragon in his body had already transformed into a true dragon. It had five sharp claws, shining dragon scales, towering dragon horns, and sharp dragon eyes. All of them were very lifelike. ¡°The discomfort in my body has also disappeared,¡± he remarked when he stood up. He only took the poison and aphrodisiac that he had concocted and left the Liu family¡¯s apothecary silently. He didn¡¯t greet anyone. Liu Changyue and the others, who were hiding in the dark, heaved a sigh of relief when they saw Qin Huai leave. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed of Qin Huai!¡± Liu Changyue cried out in pain, but no one replied. He then handed a note to his second disciple. The latter understood tacitly and immediately went out of the backyard. The words on the note were to inform Black Dog that Qin Huai had already left. ¡­ At the entrance of the apothecary, Qin Huai was stopped by Luo Ya. ¡°Why don¡¯t you seek refuge in my Luo residence? This matter started because of me. My family will definitely do our best to protect you!¡± Luo Ya¡¯s expression was firm. ¡°No need. I have my own plans for this.¡± Qin Huai was silent and didn¡¯t say much. ¡°No! They had people lying in ambush outside. He might kill you on the street!¡± Luo Ya grabbed the door frame with both hands, blocking Qin Huai¡¯s way. She was just a little girl who was not a martial artist. How could she be Qin Huai¡¯s match? Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything and just gently pulled Luo Ya to the side. He walked out of the apothecary. In the lobby, Liu Changyue and the others appeared in the originally empty place. It was obvious that they had been secretly observing for a long time. ¡°I¡¯ve let Qin Huai down!¡± Liu Changyue¡¯s voice was sad, but there was no comfort in it. All of the disciples were silent as they looked out the door, not knowing what to think. Luo Ya bowed to Liu Changyue. ¡°Master, I won¡¯t cause any more trouble for you. From today onwards, I will leave the apothecary!¡± After saying that, she ran after Qin Huai without looking back. Chapter 9 As soon as Qin Huai left the apothecary, he sensed that something was wrong. There seemed to be gazes all around him. This was the instinct of a martial artist. It was like the realm-breaking cultivation Qi. ¡°It¡¯s the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s breath control technique.¡± Qin Huai understood. This kind of cultivation technique was definitely the most difficult to deal with when it came to sneak attacks in a busy city. Although Qin Huai also had the breath control technique, the enemy was in the dark while he was out in the open. He could only find a few enemies who were not martial artists. Qin Huai had no idea where Black Dog, who had already cultivated to the first refinement realm, was. ¡°I can only use Qi,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself, and the white dragon in his body instantly expanded. The astonishing air current actually formed an invisible defense on the surface of his body. In the crowd, Black Dog looked at Qin Huai, who was looking around cautiously, and sneered. ¡°If the breath control technique of my Blackhawk Gang could be avoided with caution, how could we stand in the mountains and make all the forces in the city fear us?¡± He quietly stepped forward. One step, two steps, three steps¡­ He walked directly to a distance of only two meters behind Qin Huai, and the other party didn¡¯t even notice. Black Dog slowly took out the dagger hidden in his chest, his eyes revealing a fierce light. His breath control technique was one of the best in the gang. He had completed many assassination missions in the city. Their hands were already stained with the blood of eight martial artists! ¡°The abandoned disciple of an apothecary who practiced the art of nourishment¡­ This is going to be an easy shot.¡± Black Dog¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely as he aimed at Qin Huai¡¯s heart. The saber in his hand flashed with a cold light! Buzzzzzz! He paused, and the dagger in his hand stopped an inch in front of Qin Huai. No matter what, he was unable to advance any further. ¡®An inner armor? No!¡¯ His dagger didn¡¯t even cut his clothes! It was as if there was a wall that was blocking him. ¡°Ah!!!¡± Black Dog growled, fully focused, and used all his strength. His head was covered in a cold sweat. One blade! Clang! Black Dog exerted all his strength, and his face turned red. They were dumbstruck by the scene before them. This was because Qin Huai didn¡¯t even react to his attack! In the past, this was proof of his breath control technique¡¯s strength! But now¡­ This was definitely a naked humiliation! What kind of art was this? Could it be that this Qin Huai wasn¡¯t human? Thousands of thoughts flashed through Black Dog¡¯s mind. ¡®I don¡¯t care. I¡¯ll try again!¡¯ But then, he saw Qin Huai looking at him. ¡°What a pity.¡± Qin Huai reached out and grabbed Black Dog¡¯s neck. Like a vice, Black Dog was unable to move. ¡°The breath control technique is very powerful, but you¡¯re too soft.¡± Qin Huai was a little scared. When the first slash landed, he did not react in time. He had thought that his life was hanging by a thread. Who would have thought that Black Dog could not even break through his own Qi wall? If the white dragon had not propped up the Qi wall, he would have been in deep trouble. But there was no ¡®if¡¯. Qin Huai had wanted to continue testing the limits of the white dragon Qi wall. However, he gave up after some thought. It was better to be safe than sorry. It wouldn¡¯t be good if he got careless and fell. ¡°Don¡¯t kill¡­¡± Before Black Dog could finish his sentence, Qin Huai had already exerted his strength. Snap! Qin Huai immediately broke Black Dog¡¯s neck. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +131!¡± Qin Huai looked at the notification that flashed before his eyes. Black Dog had actually gained him 131 experience points. As expected of a martial artist. He¡¯s so valuable! Because he had cultivated the breath control technique, Qin Huai could clearly see the unskilled members of the Blackhawk Gang in the crowd. He chased after them, of course. He didn¡¯t give them a chance to escape at all. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +31!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +29!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +34!¡± Qin Huai did not let any of the three people off. After a while, he glanced at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [ Breath Control technique (level 2, 33/300) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ] [ Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement ] His breath control technique had reached level 2! Qin Huai was pleasantly surprised. He could now breathe even more lightly. It should be more than enough to deal with the Blackhawk Gang. He looked in the direction of Ghost Slope Mountain. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± Behind him, Luo Ya came out. ¡°Senior Brother, what are you doing?¡± Luo Ya looked at the blood on Qin Huai¡¯s body and quickly took out a few bags of herbs. He wanted to take off Qin Huai¡¯s clothes on the spot. ¡°It¡¯s not my blood!¡± Qin Huai hurriedly grabbed Luo Ya¡¯s hand and stopped her from moving. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t yours, why did you kill all the people from the Blackhawk Gang?!¡±Luo Ya was surprised. Qin Huai just nodded. Luo Ya was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t speak. She had many questions. ¡°Senior Brother, come home with me. The Luo residence will definitely not abandon you!¡±Luo Ya was determined. ¡°No, I still have important things to do.¡± Qin Huai patted Luo Ya¡¯s shoulder. He had just taken two steps when he activated his breath control technique and quickly disappeared into the crowd. Luo Ya looked in the direction that Qin Huai had left, but she couldn¡¯t see anything. Suddenly, she froze. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s Ghost Slope Mountain in this direction? Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s¡­¡± The street suddenly became chaotic because the bodies of Black Dog and the others had been found. ¡°This is the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s martial artist, the sixth leader, Black Dog!¡± Someone in the crowd recognized Black Dog and instantly retreated three meters away. ¡°Who¡­ Who killed Black Dog?!¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s Qin Huai. I just saw him run away¡­¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be. He¡¯s just a Qi cultivation practitioner. How is he strong enough to kill Black Dog?! ¡°I saw it with my own eyes! But I didn¡¯t dare to make a sound.¡± The butcher with the knife slammed the table. ¡°I saw Black Dog sneak behind Qin Huai, but he didn¡¯t react at all. I thought this kid was dead for sure. Who would have thought that Black Dog would stab Qin Huai three times in a row?!¡± The surrounding commoners perked up their ears. ¡°And then?¡±someone shouted. ¡°Then, Qin Huai was fine! Not a single drop of blood!¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± ¡°Black Dog is a martial artist! Three stabs without a drop of blood? Could it be that Qin Huai is wearing an invincible divine armor?¡± Some people scoffed. ¡°Then, tell me, why did Black Dog die?!¡± The butcher¡¯s eyes widened. The other party immediately shut up. ¡°Qin Huai turned around and grabbed Black Dog¡¯s neck as if he was pinching a chicken. Then, snap! Just like that, Black Dog died, waah!¡± the butcher said excitedly. ¡°Where did Qin Huai go?¡± ¡°He probably ran away. After killing Black Dog, the Blackhawk Gang will never let him go again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± the butcher snorted. ¡°I think he¡¯s going up the Ghost Slope Mountain! ¡°Huh? Go up the mountain? Could it be that he still wants to slaughter the gang?¡± The butcher nodded. ¡°Your guess is as good as mine!¡± The surrounding people burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha, butcher, aren¡¯t you the one who was robbed of half a fan of pig by the Blackhawk Gang last year? Even if you want the Blackhawk Gang to die, you shouldn¡¯t be fantasizing about it!¡± ¡°If the Blackhawk Gang is exterminated, at least one of the eight martial arts centers will send a heaven¡¯s favorite to kill them!¡± ¡°Hmph! If you don¡¯t believe me, just wait and see!¡± The butcher was unhappy. ¡°In any case, I saw Qin Huai¡¯s killing momentum just now. He¡¯s not any weaker than those martial arts school disciples!¡± Chapter 10 Luo Mansion. ¡°Nonsense! Isn¡¯t it ridiculous to ask me to attack the Ghost Slope Mountain?¡± Father Luo was furious. ¡°That Qin Huai can¡¯t take down the Blackhawk Gang by himself! They have many experts. Even if we add the entire Luo mansion, it won¡¯t help! ¡°If the Blackhawk Gang was so easy to exterminate, how could they have survived until now?! They practice breath control. Even the people from the eight martial arts centers would find it hard to find them.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, they¡¯re well-informed. As soon as soldiers or martial arts schools want to touch them, they can immediately receive the news and move their territory.¡± Luo Ya¡¯s father was pacing around the house as he explained. ¡°I believe in Senior Brother!¡± Luo Ya was serious. ¡°Just like how I believed that Senior Brother would definitely save me from the Blackhawk Gang.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so silly!¡± Luo Ya¡¯s father was speechless. After all, he had saved his daughter¡¯s life. ¡°If he can take down the Blackhawk Gang, I¡¯ll give him the Luo mansion!¡± he said in a fit of anger and then waved his hand. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll send out all the experts in the house to protect him in secret. If he¡¯s trapped on the mountain, I¡¯ll have them do their best to save him! It¡¯s also to repay him for saving my daughter¡¯s life.¡± ¡­ At the foot of Ghost Slope Mountain. Qin Huai¡¯s speed was extremely fast, and he walked through the mountain forest as if it was flat ground. Against the Blackhawk Gang, who had the breath control technique, it would be too passive to just run away. He would live in fear of being assassinated all day long. Therefore, if he wanted to live a stable life, he had to take the initiative to go out. That was why he came here. The Blackhawk Gang practices the breath control technique and is good at stealth and assassination. ¡°Although I have the advantage of cultivation level, if the other party sneaks into the forest, not only will I have a high chance of not being able to kill Black Eagle, the chief of the Blackhawk Gang, but I might also be exhausted to death in the forest,¡± Qin Huai muttered as he constructed the situation. ¡°My only chance of winning is to fight them fair and square, hehe.¡± The opportunity lies in him sneaking into the Blackhawk Gang and defeating his men and the other martial artists one by one. Qin Huai activated his breath control technique and began to climb the mountain. He walked briskly and brushed past two brown bears who were a few meters away. The bears did not seem to notice him and walked straight past him. Several wolves did not notice anything strange. Their own auras were sealed around their bodies, and they were not detected by wild beasts with a keen sense of smell. As long as he could avoid the other party¡¯s line of sight, his breath controltechnique would be able to achieve noiseless effects. ¡°If I kill everyone in the Blackhawk Gang, my breath control technique should be able to reach level 5 or 6. I wonder if it¡¯ll cause another blood essence transformation.¡± Qin Huai pondered. In his thoughts, the Blackhawk Gang came into view. There wasn¡¯t even a wooden observation tower, only a dozen simple wooden houses on the ground. There were also some straw ropes around the house, which were a kind of strong rattan vegetation in the forest. They could wrap the wooden house up at any time and take it away in batches. ¡°These guys don¡¯t plan to stay here for long.¡± Qin Huai observed. That¡¯s right. With their breath control, these Blackhawk Gang members could change places every time they fired a shot. In addition, this deep mountain forest was a good place to hide. Even if the government wanted to kill them, it would be difficult. In addition, no martial artist would actually become a bandit and live in fear all day long. Because martial artists were precious, it was easy to find a leisurely and rich job in Pingnan City as long as one revealed their identity. Most of the mountain bandits outside the city were a motley crew. They either didn¡¯t have enough to eat or were persecuted. The few vicious and evil people didn¡¯t know how to coordinate with others. It was also common for people to be thin as a match. However, the Blackhawk Gang was obviously an exception. With ten first refinement martial artists guarding this place, it could be said to be impregnable. Qin Huai touched it and, with the advantage of breath control and second refinement of his body and soul, easily took down the few sentries outside. He skillfully picked up the experience balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [ Breath Control Essence (White) ], [ Breath Control ] Experience +19!¡± ¡°As expected, you guys have a lot of killing experience.¡± Qin Huai looked at the experience points that were completely different from Qi-nurturing techniques. He then changed into the shabby short brown clothes of a mountain bandit and walked into the village. From afar, Qin Huai could hear that it was extremely lively inside. Many people were slaughtering sheep and pigs, and there were even people with wildflowers on their heads. ¡°There¡¯s a big banquet tonight. Slaughter all the pigs and sheep and put all the fruits on the table. We¡¯re going to change places tomorrow anyway!¡± a small leader ordered loudly. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re having a banquet.¡± Qin Huai was hiding in the dark. ¡°This was a good chance.¡± The distribution of the village was very simple. The outermost ring was a simple wooden fence. He walked inside. It was a simple wooden house built by the Blackhawk Gang members like a fence. Qin Huai saw the bedding and clothes inside, so it should be used for accommodation. Further in, there was a large open-air stove and a simple toilet. There were also quite a few animal skins spread on the ground, and they looked quite decent. The innermost part of the house was next to the mountain slope, and the entire house was in the shape of a fan. The Blackhawk Gang members chatted and laughed as they walked towards the center. Qin Huai saw the bright light and turned around to walk toward the large stove and grill. He tried to avoid eye contact with people as much as possible. Perhaps it was because of the power of breath control that he had a smooth journey. He walked around the kitchen and the area where the meat was roasted, spreading the poison and aphrodisiac that he had concocted on the meat. ¡­ Night fell. The bonfire on Ghost Slope Mountain was blazing, and the sound of laughter could be heard. On the wooden platform built in the open space, the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s leader, Black Eagle, raised his wine bowl and waved it in front of the crowd. The audience immediately quieted down and looked at Black Eagle. ¡°Everyone, the Blackhawk Gang has only been established for two years, but we¡¯ve grown from the initial five members to the current sixty-two members. We rely on the secret technique of breath control. That¡¯s why the government can¡¯t catch us, and the martial artists can¡¯t find us. ¡°But it¡¯s more because of the loyalty of the Blackhawk Gang! I will never abandon a brother! I won¡¯t sit by and watch a brother die in vain! ¡°I will avenge my nephew! We will also take revenge for our brothers! ¡°That¡¯s why we can eat roast pig and roast lamb today! Right! Next year, we¡¯ll still eat roast pig and roast lamb!¡± Black Eagle laughed heartily. ¡°Let¡¯s eat roasted pigs! Let¡¯s eat roasted lamb!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat roasted pigs! Let¡¯s eat roasted lamb!¡± A group of people below shouted. ¡°I¡¯ll do it first!¡± Black Eagle finished the bowl of wine and shook his head fiercely. ¡°Ha! What a strong wine!¡± His cheeks instantly turned red. In the crowd, a lean man suddenly stretched out his hand. He caught a black bird that was falling from the sky. He then took out the note from the black bird¡¯s ankle, and his expression suddenly changed. He hurriedly rushed to the side of Black Eagle and whispered, ¡°Great Master, something has happened.¡± Black Eagle¡¯s dazed eyes immediately focused. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Black Dog, who went to deal with that apothecary kid, was killed instead.¡± The man¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Is the information reliable?¡± Black Eagle¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°It¡¯s true. Many people saw it. He was beaten to death on the street.¡± Black Eagle¡¯s eyes flashed with grief. ¡°It¡¯s my fault! I was the one who asked him to spread the name of the Blackhawk Gang! It¡¯s probably because he didn¡¯t display the power of breath control and capsized in the gutter¡­¡± Then, Black Eagle¡¯s eyes glowed with a murderous light. ¡°How about that apothecary boy? Any news about him?!¡± ¡°None yet, but someone said that¡­¡± The man was a little hesitant. ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°Someone said that the kid went up the Ghost Slope Mountain!¡± ¡°Go here?!¡± Black Eagle was stunned. ¡°Has there been any movement from the eight major martial arts centers and the City Lord¡¯s mansion? ¡± ¡°No! We¡¯ve spent a lot of money on this, so we¡¯ll definitely keep a close eye on it.¡± Black Eagle was finally at ease. ¡°If he dares to come up the mountain to die, then let him come. Don¡¯t tell me that he can exterminate my Blackhawk Gang all by himself?¡± He took a big gulp of wine and suddenly smashed the wine bowl. There was a kind of nameless fire rising in his body and rushing straight to his head. ¡°Women, women, women, women, women!¡± Black Eagle looked around but could not find a single woman. The Blackhawk Gang had strict discipline. In order to prevent women from dragging them down, there was not a single woman in the entire gang. But now¡­ ¡°This wine is poisoned!¡± Black Eagle immediately realized that something was wrong. ¡°Everyone, be on guard!¡± he roared, but he saw the torches around him fall one by one like butterflies. A large area had already been extinguished. By the time he came back to his senses, the mountain had already fallen into darkness. Chapter 11 It was nighttime at Ghost Slope Mountain, and it was so dark that one couldn¡¯t even see their own fingers. ¡°Light the fire!¡± Black Eagle roared, suppressing the throbbing in his heart. ¡°Everyone, evacuate!¡± he shouted again. Many people wanted to rush into the darkness and display the advantage of their breath control skills, but as soon as they moved, they heard a scream. ¡°Ah!¡± Puchi! Screams of pain and the sound of bones cutting into flesh rose one after another. In the dark, Qin Huai relied on the wide field of vision and breath control of a martial artist to block the crowd in the fan-shaped ¡°banquet hall,¡± killing people in all directions. He turned into a ghost in the dark night, and every time he attacked, his opponents would die without any warning. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (White) ], [Breath Control] Experience +30!¡± ¡°[ Breath Control ] Experience +28!¡± ¡°Experience +29!¡± ¡°¡­+17!¡± As Qin Huai killed, he picked up the experience balls. The level of the breath control technique was constantly soaring with the passage of time. Qin Huai¡¯s breath control technique was also used more smoothly, and his strength seemed to be more abundant. As he killed, his physical strength seemed to be endless. Hu! The flames suddenly rose. Finally, someone lit a fire. ¡°Everyone, gather to me!¡± Several torches were lit at the same time, calming the flustered people. Black Eagle gathered the remaining people and hid under the light. He roughly counted once, and his heart turned cold. In such a short time, sixty people had been killed, and only twenty remained. Fortunately, the second and third leaders were there, and a few elite martial artists were also by his side. They didn¡¯t dare to rush in rashly for fear of dying without knowing why. ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± Black Eagle looked around but could not detect any movement. He only knew that there was probably only one person. If there were too many of them, they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape his hidden sentries. Moreover, the other party probably also had a stealth technique. ¡°May I ask how my Blackhawk Gang has offended you? Maybe it¡¯s a misunderstanding?¡± Black Eagle clenched the knife in his hand. There was still no reply in the dark. Black Eagle was furious and roared, ¡°Do you think you can defeat us just because you¡¯re a second-refinement martial artist?¡± He had already roughly estimated the strength of the other party. ¡°You were just using a sneak attack. Now that the torch has been lit, if you want to take down ten first-tier martial artists and more than twenty elites, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to pay with your life!¡± Black Eagle snorted. He stared into the night, but he did not dare to look at his men. This was because when he looked at a human-shaped object, he could imagine it to be a graceful woman. To put an aphrodisiac in a camp full of men, this person had a vicious heart. And its effect was so powerful! Black Eagle reached out to wipe the saliva from the corner of his mouth, but he smelled the stench of blood. He lowered his head and saw that his hands were covered in blood. ¡°No, this medicine is poisonous!¡± Black Eagle was shocked. If this continued, even if the other party didn¡¯t make a move, they would die from the poison. ¡°What did I do for you to do such a vicious thing?¡± Unfortunately, there was still no response from the dark. The word ¡®Qin Huai¡¯ appeared in his mind, but he instantly rejected it. Because that guy had only been in the apothecary for less than a year, and he was practicing the Qi-nourishing skill, which had no offensive advantage and even less ability to hide his aura. And the person in front of him¡­ The strong killing power was evident from the corpses on the ground. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Some people who were already weak began to fall to the ground one after another, foaming at the mouth and twitching on the ground. More people were in a daze and could not even hold their knives under the double blessing of the aphrodisiac and poison. Qin Huai saw that the time was right and started to approach. He was covered in blood, and his eyes were full of murderous intent. The ¡®banquet hall¡¯ had already been reduced to about ten square meters. The group of people squeezed into the corner of the mountain wall, staring at Qin Huai¡¯s exposed shadow. The two mountain bandits who couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore rushed over. Qin Huai relied on his second refinement realm to punch the two of them to death on the spot and collected the experience balls at the same time. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (White) ],[Breath Control] Experience +30!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (White) ],[Breath Control] Experience +27!¡± Black Eagle and the others were curled up in the fire, looking at the figure that slowly appeared. This was the first time they had been so humiliated since they started cultivating the breath control technique. Under such circumstances, they couldn¡¯t even display the advantage of their breath control techniques. They were reduced to an ordinary martial artist. ¡°Boss, what do we do now?¡± The mountain Bandit tried his best to suppress his desire. ¡°Let¡¯s fight it out with him!¡± Black Eagle did not hesitate even if the effects of the medicine were almost out of control. ¡°The Blackhawk Gang has never abandoned the rules of brotherhood!Furthermore, he killed 40 of our men. Even if we go to the netherworld, we¡¯ll still have to take revenge!¡± The Black Eagle¡¯s voice was sonorous. ¡°If one person can¡¯t beat a second refinement, then two. If two can¡¯t beat it, then everyone attacks together! ¡°Even if we have to use our teeth to bite him, we have to bite him to death and avenge our brothers!¡± Black Eagle¡¯s voice became louder and louder, raising the morale of the remaining members. ¡°Kill the murderer!¡± ¡°Kill the murderer!¡± The group of mountain bandits shouted in unison, and they charged at Qin Huai with an aura that was as loud as a tsunami. However, half of them had already fallen to the ground and died before they could even reach him. Qin Huai acted decisively without the slightest hesitation. He wanted to stab everyone. In the dark, Qin Huai also felt his body¡¯s condition. The white dragon that was coiled up in his body had only shed the fur on its back, and its size didn¡¯t decrease at all. His level 50 Qi cultivation technique gave him an astonishing amount of stamina. ¡°According to this situation, the cultivation technique should be enough to support me for a day and a night.¡± Qin Huai felt at ease as he thought, ¡°If it¡¯s an ordinary technique, the level would already be at level 5 blood refinement realm. I¡¯m only at the second level of blood refinement realm now, so it¡¯s reasonable for my aura to be longer.¡± The remaining nine were all martial artists! ¡°He should be out of stamina by now!¡± one of the bandits analyzed rationally. As he spoke, a few martial artists pressed forward. Qin Huai¡¯s punches were unusually swift and fierce as he looked at the martial artists that were coming at him. He didn¡¯t dare to show any mercy when facing a martial artist. The majestic aura in his body gushed out from his fist. Before the martial artist could even get close, he was sent flying by Qin Huai¡¯s punch. His chest caved in, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Seeing his comrade die, the third-in-charge, Black Fist, shouted, ¡°We¡¯re warriors. How hard can it be for us to kill you together?!¡± ¡°If he pounced, he wouldn¡¯t have the strength to resist!¡± someone shouted and decided to approach. They were all experienced mountain bandits. They didn¡¯t give Qin Huai any room to move as they attacked at the same time with astonishing momentum. It was almost like a wall that pressed down in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. ¡°Die!¡± Qin Huai took his time and activated the white true dragon in his body. His fists were like cannonballs, and he pushed forward. Half of the white true dragon in his body was immediately consumed, but the effect was shocking. Bang! The air wave rumbled and pushed forward three meters in front of him. The grass was lifted by Qin Huai¡¯s punch, and a mark several inches long was plowed on the ground. The five people in the lead crashed into the wall of energy. They flew backward and spat out a mouthful of blood. In the darkness, a large blade fell from the sky, and it stopped right above Qin Huai¡¯s head. His hair flew backward and wrapped around the blade. Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that Qin Huai had practiced an evil technique and used his hair to block the knife. That was close! However, his level 50 Qi cultivation technique combined both attack and defense! Qin Huai grabbed the man with a backhand and smashed him to the ground. Bang! Bang! Bang! More than ten punches poured down in a row, all hitting his face. He had beaten someone to death. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ],[Breath control] Experience +103!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ],[Breath Control] Experience +132!¡± ¡°[ Breath Control ] Experience +111!¡± Qin Huai was pleasantly surprised when he saw the sudden surge in his breath control skill¡¯s experience. He quickly glanced at his personal panel. His breath control skill had actually reached level 6 (507/700). Chapter 12 The remaining three people were the three leaders of the Blackhawk Gang. Although they had the advantage in numbers, they were poisoned and had aphrodisiacs, so their Qi and blood were unstable. Black Fist and Black Tiger looked at each other. ¡°Big Brother, get out of here now!¡± Just as they finished speaking, they charged forward from both sides! Qin Huai¡¯s eyes sharpened, and the wind around him rippled. Clang! The two leader¡¯s attacks slowed down in front of Qin Huai. In an instant, his fist struck out like lightning, smashing into their faces. ¡°What kind of technique is this?! Why do we feel like we¡¯re hitting a wall?¡± Black Tiger and Black Fist wanted to go all out and fight for their lives. However, they realized that they didn¡¯t have that ability. They were filled with doubts, but how could Qin Huai explain? Qin Huai was using his realm to suppress others. He was too overbearing. In a short while, the two of them were beaten to death on the spot. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +140!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +136!¡± Now, the only one left was Black Eagle, who did not listen to his two comrades¡¯ words to escape. Instead, he was in a recuperating state. However, Black Eagle, who was only at level 1 blood refinement realm, was no match for Qin Huai. He was the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s chief, who had left a shadow on Qin Huai¡¯s back in the past. In Qin Huai¡¯s hands, he was just another lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Qin Huai closed in, complementing the blood on the ground. He was like a god of death. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Black Eagle roared and charged forward. However, under Qin Huai¡¯s Qi-nurturing technique that combined both attack and defense, he had nowhere to use it. Pfft! In just an instant, Black Eagle¡¯s face was flushed red as he grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s foot that was stepping on his neck. ¡°May I ask why you massacred the entire Blackhawk Gang? At least let me die with a clear understanding!¡± Black Eagle roared, his eyes almost popping out. Until now, he had never thought that the person in front of him was the ¡®apothecary boy¡¯. ¡°I¡¯m using Qi cultivation.¡± Qin Huai was indifferent. ¡°It really is you!¡± Black Eagle¡¯s face was filled with endless astonishment. He couldn¡¯t understand how a kid who had only been practicing Qi cultivation for a year would be able to survive. How did he manage to slaughter the entire Blackhawk Gang? ¡°Can you tell me how you¡¯re doing this¡­¡± Black Eagle did not even finish his sentence. His neck was crushed by Qin Huai¡¯s foot. ¡°You guys attacked me first. I was only defending myself,¡± Qin Huai muttered, but no one could hear him. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +200!¡± ¡°As expected of a gang leader, you¡¯re just different.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in admiration as he looked at his experience points that had suddenly skyrocketed. The Blackhawk Gang¡¯s first master¡¯s breath control technique was definitely not low. If the two of them were to fight in the forest, he would probably be defeated. Fortunately, he had made the first move. He looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Cultivation Method ]: [ Qi nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [ Breath Control technique (level 7, 201/800) ] [ Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ] [ Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement ] His breath control technique has actually reached level 7. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue when he saw the obvious words behind the breath control technique. Unfortunately, he was still three levels away from breaking through the tenth realm of his martial arts techniques. ¡°But it¡¯s better than nothing.¡± The trip to Ghost Slope Mountain had given him an additional stealth skill. It was not in vain that he had seen the ¡®sincerity¡¯ of the human world in the apothecary. Qin Huai held up a torch and searched all the members of the Blackhawk Gang on the mountain. He only got 23 silver taels. It was not much, but not little either. ¡°I think he spent all the money for this banquet.¡± Qin Huai felt regretful. If he had come earlier, he might have earned a few hundred taels. Bandits were bandits. Once they had money, they would squander it crazily. In the end, it was because they got money too quickly and didn¡¯t know how precious it was. However, 23 taels of silver was not a small amount. After he became Liu Changyue¡¯s disciple, his monthly salary was only two taels of silver. This money was almost a year¡¯s worth of his salary. Qin Huai fumbled around again and finally found a small wooden house that was only a meter tall. Torches were lit all around, like an altar. ¡°Strange, this house is so small, and it¡¯s even built in the middle of the Blackhawk Gang.¡± Qin Huai frowned. He gently pushed the wooden door open. There was only an altar inside, and a scripture was placed on it. Qin Huai took it out. It was an ancient yellow book that emitted a strange fishy stench. ¡°What a disgusting smell.¡± Qin Huai sniffed it carefully, but he couldn¡¯t tell what it was. It was strange. His medicinal skills had already reached a high level. Even if the smell of many strange and rare medicinal herbs and poisons had been engraved into his body, he could not identify the smell of this scripture. He wiped the dirty cover. On the cover was written ¡°Breath Control Technique,¡± and at the bottom were the words ¡°Jiang Ling¡¯s Jiang Family.¡± ¡°It must be the blood that flowed from the fight for the secret manual.¡± Qin Huai guessed, but he still felt uneasy. He had never heard of the Jiang family, but he thought it should be a big clan. He took the secret manual back to the bonfire and found that the content was no different from the breath control technique he had cultivated. After a little hesitation, he threw it into the fire. He was afraid that this strange smell was a method used by the Jiang clan of River Tomb to find cultivation techniques. So, it was better to burn this kind of thing that was stolen by killing people if it could not be converted in time. Moreover, selling it to others might get him into unnecessary trouble. Too many people had gotten themselves killed because of their greed. Besides, he had already learned the breath control technique. Keeping it in his hands would do more harm than good. ¡°Eh?¡± Qin Huai stopped in his tracks. This was because he found that an experience ball had appeared in the fire. No, to be precise, an experience ball appeared in the breath control skill book. And it was purple! Qin Huai quickly picked up the purple experience ball. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Purple) ], [Breath Control] Experience +3000!¡± ¡°3,000 experience points?¡± Qin Huai was shocked and quickly rubbed his eyes. He looked at it a few times before he was sure that he was not mistaken. He had massacred the entire Blackhawk Gang, yet he did not even get 3,000 experience points. He had gained 3000 experience points just by burning a manual! ¡°Could it be that it¡¯s best to burn secret manuals and cultivation techniques in the future?¡± Qin Huai was speechless. He stood still. This was because he could feel the subtle Qi and blood boiling in his body. ¡°Oh, yeah. My breath control technique has also reached level 10. If it were an ordinary person, this would be a transformation.¡± ¡°Although the level 10 breath control technique didn¡¯t bring my realm to a higher level, my Qi and blood are stronger now.¡± Qin Huai experienced the changes in his body. It was many times more effective than the Qi and blood soup. He glanced at the breath control technique and saw that his experience was at level 10 (501/1000). Qin Huai then wrapped a pile of silver and tied it to his body. He even broke off two roasted pork legs to fill his stomach. ¡°Too bad I can¡¯t take all this food with me.¡± Qin Huai looked at the feast longingly, then immediately went down the mountain under the cover of night. ¡­ Qin Huai had just descended the mountain when two men in leather shirts climbed up the other side. The men smelled the blood and found the bodies of the gang members. ¡°Looks like there was another fight.¡± ¡°Your method is really good. You only used breath control as bait, and we didn¡¯t need to do it ourselves. We only needed to wait for the right time to pick up so much blood food.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve avoided the risk of being exposed.¡± If someone was there, they would have noticed that the two men seemed to have long tails wagging on the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t just focus on eating. Take a sniff and see where the breath control secret manual has been taken.¡± The man opened Black Fist¡¯s head and split his attention. Their breath control technique had a potent smell, so they could track them at any time. Humph! Humph! Humph! Humph! Humph! The man frowned, stood up, and walked around the gang. Finally, he walked to the bonfire. Looking at the breath control technique manual burning in the flames, his face sank. ¡°Our bait has been burned! Which cowardly bastard did this? He doesn¡¯t even know that holding the breath control secret manual can increase the speed of cultivation?¡± The two of them stood by the campfire in a daze. ¡°Whoever he is, I¡¯ll really tear him into pieces!¡± The two of them roared angrily, revealing their sharp fangs. Chapter 13 In the forest of Ghost Slope Mountain, several wolves advanced in the dark, their sharp eyes emitting a dazzling silver light. They stared at the rabbit that had just emerged and quietly approached. ¡°Pa! Pa! Pa!¡± One of the wolves was lightly patted on the back a few times. It immediately jumped up in fright and turned around to look. The fur on his body instantly stood up when he saw a person standing beside him. He could even see a few specks of dust on this human¡¯s face. ¡°Awoooo!¡± Several wolves howled without hesitation and ran into the distance without looking back. ¡°The breath control technique is indeed useful.¡± Qin Huai walked out of the darkness into the moonlight, his face full of relief. He was testing the breath control technique in the forest. He had walked around the wolves several times, but they didn¡¯t notice him. ¡­ Luo Mansion. Bai You and the others, who were covered in dirt, sat in the lobby, drinking water. At the side, the anxious faces of Luo Ya and her father, Luo Fei, could be seen. ¡°Uncle Bai, where¡¯s Senior Brother?¡± Luo Ya paced back and forth. However, the few warrior uncles just drank water like crazy. ¡°Kaah~¡± Bai You slammed the water bottle down. ¡°I lost him.¡± ¡°You lost him?!¡±Luo Fei was surprised. Bai You and the others were the pillars of Luo Mansion, and they had been in the first refinement realm for many years. Even the leaders of the gang might not be a match for Bai You, so how could he have lost them? ¡°He was still fine when we left the city. My brothers and I chased him all the way, but we didn¡¯t see anything unusual. But as soon as he entered the mountain, this kid disappeared.¡± Bai You was vexed. Losing track of a fifteen-year-old brat, he was also embarrassed. But as he thought about it, a look of fear suddenly appeared on his face. This naturally didn¡¯t escape Luo Fei¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is it related to the mountain fire?¡± He looked out the window. In the silent night, a raging fire shot up into the sky from the deep mountains dozens of miles away, disturbing many people. ¡°The location of the fire is Ghost Slope Mountain. We rushed there and searched, and we found a large number of charred corpses,¡± Bai You said in a low voice. ¡°Could it be that he really massacred the Blackhawk Gang?¡± Luo Fei was shocked. ¡°It¡¯s definitely him!¡± Bai You was certain. A scene flashed through his mind as he recalled, ¡°When I went up the mountain, I saw a figure in the fire. His entire body was covered in blood, and his eyes were filled with a baleful aura. He was extremely terrifying. Now that I think about it carefully, he was exactly the same as the portrait of Qin Huai.¡± Bai You¡¯s eyes flashed with a faint fear. ¡°Then where is he? He should be back by now!¡± Luo Ya asked. Qin Huai slaughtered the entire Blackhawk Gang by himself, so he¡¯s probably injured quite badly. Bai You guessed that Qin Huai¡¯s condition was not very good. However, he couldn¡¯t say it out loud when he saw the concern on Luo Ya¡¯s face. In the hall, everyone was silent. He had slaughtered the Blackhawk Gang alone. What a great achievement! Outside the hall, the servants who were eavesdropping by the wall dispersed. ¡­ Outside Pingnan City. It was already the next morning when Qin Huai returned. After a night of killing, he was physically and mentally exhausted. In addition, there was no place for him in the city, so he spent the night in the cave outside. It was almost noon when he woke up. He followed the group of refugees and moved forward leisurely. Qin Huai suddenly frowned. In front of the city gate, there was a group of well-dressed martial artists with solemn faces. ¡°Who¡¯s the big shot today?¡± A gentle breeze blew past, and a piece of rough paper was quickly pulled down from the air by Qin Huai. It was actually his own face. ¡°If I have news of this person, can I receive a hundred taels of silver?¡± Qin Huai subconsciously wanted to cover his face, but he realized that it looked like a missing person notice. It was probably Junior Sister Luo Ya¡¯s doing. The only person Qin Huai could think of was her. ¡°Qin Huai? You¡¯re Qin Huai?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve caught Qin Huai!¡± Someone suddenly grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s sleeve and shouted. Qin Huai was shocked and attacked instinctively. A burly man, who was a head taller than Qin Huai, was suddenly pulled up by him and suspended in mid-air. There were more than a dozen people around, and they were either stunned or swarmed over. They squeezed onto Qin Huai, directly sealing off his chance to exert his strength. ¡®This is bad! I was too careless!¡¯ Qin Huai was shocked, and before he could react, he was thrown into the air by the crowd. He was even mumbling to himself. ¡°Oh, our hero!¡± ¡°Hero Qin!¡± Qin Huai only came to a realization when he heard the overwhelming shouts. It was unknown how these people had found out that he had exterminated the Blackhawk Gang. They were celebrating and cheering for themselves. He had actually been transported into the city by these enthusiastic citizens. Firecrackers were set off in the city, and many large families were wearing red clothes and smiling as they opened their doors to serve porridge. The poor man, who had no time to care, also had a happy expression on his face. One of the butchers slammed his knife on the chopping board, his saliva flying everywhere. ¡°If the Blackhawk Gang dares to put up a bounty for me, I¡¯ll dare to charge up the mountain alone! This is called blood!¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s an outstanding person?! It¡¯s a fifteen-year-old who went to Ghost Slope Mountain alone to slaughter the Blackhawk Gang! This is called a hero!¡± ¡°Compared to Qin Huai, those proud sons of heaven from the eight major martial arts centers are not even worth mentioning.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that Qin Huai¡¯s current strength and state are inferior to those so-called proud sons of heaven. He¡¯ll be a waste of time in ten years. You¡¯ll notice it after five years.¡± ¡°Qin Huai is definitely better than the eight major martial arts centers!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because of talent, it¡¯s just because of Qin Huai¡¯s courage.¡± ¡°Good! Well said!¡± The commoners squatted at the entrance of the meat shop, and thunderous applause sounded. ¡°The Blackhawk Gang¡¯s poison is truly remarkable.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help sighing when he saw such a grand scene. Qin Huai was only put down after an unknown amount of time. In front of him were the martial artists who had been standing in front of the city gate. Now that they were close, Qin Huai took a closer look at their clothes. Those people were roughly divided into two groups. One group was wearing short brown clothes with the word ¡®Tyrant¡¯ embroidered in gold on the chest. It was similar to the style that Qin Huai had worn in the apothecary. The few martial artists had bulging muscles and were tall and strong. The pressure that could be seen with the naked eye made it so that no one dared to approach within three to five meters of him. ¡°We are the martial artists of the Tyrant Fist Dojo. The dojo master knows that you slaughtered the Blackhawk Gang alone and is very much in awe of your bravery. He has specially asked us to wait for you to join the dojo!¡± Whoosh! The crowd burst into an uproar. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear wrong, did I? The people from the eight martial arts centers are actually waiting here to recruit Qin Huai?¡± ¡°My goodness, my impression of the eight big martial arts schools is that they are all high and mighty. People will always go to their doors to beg them to take in disciples.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen a martial arts school come to visit me personally.¡± The other was dressed in a plain robe with no embroidered words on the chest. The few martial artists were not as strong and imposing as the people from the Tyrant Fist Dojo. He was just like an ordinary person. ¡°I¡¯m a disciple of the Changshan Dojo. I¡¯m here for the same reason as you guys from the Tyrant Fist Dojo.¡± The person had a calm expression and a smile on his face. Hiss~ The surrounding people gasped again. ¡°Amazing, truly amazing.¡± ¡°Two martial arts centers are fighting for one person?! I¡¯ve really learned a lot today.¡± Among the jubilant crowd, there were also people who were not so happy. One of them was the shopkeeper of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary, Liu Changyue, who had been Qin Huai¡¯s master just yesterday. Looking at the young man who was being held in such high regard, he felt bitter. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this shopkeeper Liu?! You¡¯re really amazing. A small apothecary actually managed to cultivate a flood dragon like Qin Huai!¡± Someone noticed Liu Changyue and quickly complimented him, but his tone was a little sharp. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that this flood dragon was personally driven out by shopkeeper Liu~¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! That was shopkeeper Liu¡¯s last resort in order not to delay Qin Huai¡¯s future!¡± ¡°Having a disciple that two big martial arts centers are fighting over is enough for shopkeeper Liu to brag about for a few years.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that doctors are benevolent. I¡¯ve seen shopkeeper Liu¡¯s actions, so I¡¯m impressed!¡± Strange voices rose and fell around them. Liu Changyue couldn¡¯t say a word as he listened to everyone¡¯s ridicule. His face was flushed red, and his legs were shaking. How could he not regret it? Little did he know that Qin Huai had only used a year to cultivate his Qi-nurturing technique to the second refinement realm, which he had thought was impossible. ¡°If Huai¡¯er didn¡¯t leave and married Xiao Mei, our Liu family apothecary would have a second refinement martial artist,¡± Liu Changyue fantasized. His business would grow even bigger. Other than the eight great martial arts centers, there would be very few people who could restrict him. But now, everything could only be a fantasy. Chapter 14 ¡°I¡¯m from a humble background and haven¡¯t seen much of the world.¡± Qin Huai is overwhelmed by the favor of the two major martial arts centers. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to choose. ¡°Can you give me two days to think about it?¡± Qin Huai looked at the people from the two dojos and couldn¡¯t make a decision. ¡°Of course, you can. For a young talent like you who has contributed to Pingnan City, the Changshan Dojo will always welcome you to participate in our small test.¡± Gu Shengcai looked pleasant. The man from the Tyrant Fist Dojo was obviously unhappy, but he still nodded.They¡¯re in the same boat as Skinny Gu! ¡°But, kid, let me remind you that there¡¯s a huge gap between the eight big martial arts centers and the Pingnan City you know. Don¡¯t think that you can be arrogant just because you destroyed a small gang!¡± The voice of the man from the Tyrant Fist Dojo rumbled. ¡°Thank you for your guidance!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. Then, he took the token from the two of them. One of them was a piece of straw paper with ¡®Changshan¡¯ written on it. It had a unique charm, and Qin Huai could faintly see the flow of Qi and blood on the black ink. It was the work of an expert, and Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He wondered what realm the person who had used such a mysterious thing was at. The token of Tyrant Fist Dojo was a piece of metal. The word ¡®Tyrant¡¯ was also engraved on the metal piece, but there was no charm to it. In fact, the engraving was extremely rough and full of holes. ¡°I¡¯m so envious. The two dojos are recruiting for free.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve saved fifty taels of silver just like that.¡± ¡°If you give me this money, I won¡¯t have to work for two or three years.¡± ¡°Look at you, he¡¯s a martial artist. What¡¯s fifty taels!¡± The people around looked at the token in Qin Huai¡¯s hand with burning eyes. Qin Huai didn¡¯t know much about the eight major martial arts centers. He only knew that an ordinary family of three would only have one tael of silver for their monthly living expenses. In fact, Qin Huai¡¯s days as Liu Changyue¡¯s disciple in the apothecary were already quite good. However, compared to the 50 silver registration fee, it was still a huge loss. Liu Changyue had mentioned it to him before. The rest of the disciples were the descendants of wealthy merchants, dignitaries, and landlords in Pingnan City and the nearby villages. Moreover, the eight major martial arts centers were not in Pingnan City. They were building their own residences outside the city. ¡°Huai¡¯er, this is your master¡¯s congratulatory gift.¡± Liu Changyue squeezed through the crowd and took out a hundred taels of silver. ¡°I know I was wrong. I only made this decision as a last resort because of the apothecary. I don¡¯t expect you to return to us, but I hope that you can return home often on account of the master-disciple relationship that has lasted for more than a year.¡± Liu Changyue held the silver notes, his face full of affection. ¡°Tsk, tsk, a hundred taels of silver! So many of them!¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s enough to pay the registration fee for two martial arts centers!¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing to let two people learn martial arts. I forgot that Qin Huai is already a second-refinement martial artist.¡± The surrounding people were all enigmatic. ¡°You keep calling yourself ¡®Master.¡¯ Those who don¡¯t know better might think that you brought your disciple to Ghost Slope Mountain to kill bandits with Senior Brother!¡±Luo Ya walked out from the crowd. She was dressed in a bright red robe and looked rather festive. Her words were also sharp, and she did not have a good impression of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary. ¡°When Senior Brother killed those bandits to save my life, I didn¡¯t get any sympathy and happy words when I returned to the apothecary. Instead, you blamed Senior Brother and locked me up. If I were shopkeeper Liu, I wouldn¡¯t have the face to call you ¡®master.''¡± ¡°Well said!¡± The crowd cheered again. Liu Changyue¡¯s face quickly turned red. Luo Ya wasn¡¯t done, though. ¡°The one year of master-disciple relationship you mentioned was when Senior Brother needed you the most, and you kicked him out? You let the Blackhawk Gang do whatever they want with him? If it wasn¡¯t for Senior Brother¡¯s outstanding talent and superior strength, I¡¯m afraid there would be another corpse of a hero who dared to attack the bandits on the streets of Pingnan City! ¡°You still want Senior Brother to return to the apothecary? Will he be kicked out of it again? Moreover, this 100 taels of silver may be a small amount to a second refinement martial artist, but is it worthy of the master and disciple¡¯s kindness? ¡± Luo Ya emphasized the words ¡°master and disciple.¡± ¡°If I were you, I¡¯ll just secretly put it on Senior Brother¡¯s bed when there¡¯s no one around, and then I¡¯ll wait for a month or two for the news to die down before continuing my business as if nothing happened. ¡°You¡¯re saying all this in public. Are you trying to make things difficult for Senior Brother and leave a bad name?¡± Luo Ya was not even panting. Her words were like pearls. Now, the people around them looked at Qin Huai in a new light. Qin Huai¡¯s impression of his little junior sister was that she was lively and active. She had never shown this female scholar¡¯s face before. ¡°Yeah! What¡¯s the meaning of you doing this in public, old man?¡± ¡°The doctor¡¯s benevolence that¡¯s hung in the hall of your apothecary has been eaten by dogs?¡± Hearing Luo Ya¡¯s words, everyone who had come back to their senses began to mock Liu Changyue again. As Liu Changyue listened to the curses from all directions, the redness on his face suddenly disappeared. He vomited a mouthful of blood on the ground and fainted. Qin Huai shook his head. He had mixed feelings about the unconscious Liu Changyue on the ground, but he didn¡¯t help him in the end. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go,¡± Qin Huai said. Luo Ya pulled Qin Huai away from the unconscious Liu Changyue and said, ¡°Senior Brother, are you alright?¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m in trouble?¡± Qin Huai spread out his hands. ¡°But don¡¯t mention the apothecary again, alright? By the way, when did you arrive?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting at the city gate since last night. I couldn¡¯t squeeze in just now, so I just watched from outside.¡± Luo Ya leaned close to Qin Huai¡¯s ear.¡±Senior Brother, you didn¡¯t agree to the small test invitation from the two dojos, right?¡± ¡°Not yet. I can¡¯t embarrass the other family in front of so many people, right?¡± In his previous life, although Qin Huai was just a social animal who had just graduated, he still understood the basic ways of the world. ¡°Senior Brother is wise!¡± Luo Ya rejoiced. ¡°My father told me that to show his gratitude for saving my life, he will help Senior Brother get a place in the preliminary test of the Thunderbolt Dojo, the top of the eight major martial arts centers.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up, but he was also a little puzzled. ¡°Is there a huge gap in strength between the eight major martial arts centers? ¡± ¡°The eight major martial arts centers can be roughly divided into three classes. The Changshan Dojo and the Tyrant Fist Dojo are in the third class. There¡¯s also the Crane Dojo and the Six Harmonies Dojo. They¡¯re both third-class, and there are three second-class dojos. I don¡¯t know much about them, though. ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo is a unique existence. If one masters the Thunderbolt skill, they can shoot out thunderbolts with just a raise of their hand. The killing power is amazing.¡± Luo Ya seemed to be reminiscing, and her body trembled. ¡°In comparison, the techniques of the Changshan Dojo are very ordinary. Their killing power is very weak, and the threshold of cultivation is not high. That¡¯s why the Changshan Dojo has the most disciples among the eight major martial arts centers. However, their only advantage is probably that they have many disciples,¡±Luo Ya muttered. ¡°Also, the Changshan Dojo and the Thunderbolt Dojo both have mines outside the city. Our family is in the forging business, so we have a good relationship with both martial arts centers.¡± Qin Huai understood. He naturally wouldn¡¯t reject the opportunity to choose the top of the eight martial arts centers. If he was able to reach such a level of power with the cultivation technique that had no offensive power, wouldn¡¯t it be even more shocking if it was the rumbling Thunder technique that could produce thunder fire? However, the Changshan Dojo was not bad. With so many disciples, didn¡¯t that mean that he could pick up more experience? Qin Huai was conflicted. Suddenly, there was an uproar in front of the city gate. ¡°Reihom has returned!¡± Upon hearing this name, the crowd that had been surrounding Qin Huai dispersed and rushed to the city gate. ¡°Who is Reihom?¡± Qin Huai was confused. ¡°He¡¯s the most talented young man in the current generation of the Thunderbolt Dojo. It¡¯s such a coincidence that he did the same thing as Senior Brother when he was fifteen years old. ¡°It¡¯s just that Reihom left the city from the south gate and killed his way out for 30 kilometers. All the mountain bandit gangs along the way were wiped out by him. About a thousand people, I guess. I heard from my father that the road outside the south gate was filled with vultures and hyenas for seven days. ¡°Senior Brother, let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± Luo Ya¡¯s face was filled with anticipation. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He also wanted to see what the number one person among the younger generation of the Thunderbolt Dojo, which was the top of the eight major martial arts centers, looked like. Chapter 15 The two of them wanted to squeeze through the city gate, but they couldn¡¯t squeeze into the sea of people. Luo Ya pulled Qin Huai and ran out. She turned around and ran to a small restaurant near the city gate. ¡°Young miss!¡± The manservant greeted them with a smile from afar. ¡°Liu Zi, do you have a private room with a good view?¡± Luo Ya was very proud. ¡°Of course there is! This way, miss!¡± The manservant led the two of them to the second floor. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Luo residence a blacksmith?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. ¡°My main business is obviously blacksmithing. Thirty percent of the blacksmiths in the city belong to my family, but my father said that eggs cannot be put in one basket. That¡¯s why we also opened a few restaurants, inns, farm equipment shops, and so on.¡± Qin Huai was silent. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much money his little junior sister¡¯s family had. But one thing was certain, Little Junior Sister really liked medicine, at least in the past. The two of them sat down, and the manservant served them a plate of peanuts and a ¡®drink¡¯ made with goji berries and chrysanthemum with sugar. Qin Huai looked out the window. Weng! Weng! Weng! Weng! Weng! The city gate of Pingnan City, which weighed several thousand jin, was slowly pulled open by the guards. A man and a mount entered his eyes. The war horse was covered in black armor, and its steps were like drums. The sound could be heard even from hundreds of meters away. He only saw it clearly when it was close. The warhorse was as tall as two people, and its muscles were thick and strong, sticking to the skin. It advanced in armor like a monster. On the mount, Reihom¡¯s upper body was bare, revealing his terrifying bronze-colored muscles. His lower body was covered by a black cloth. Compared to the warhorse he was riding on, he did not feel small at all. He had a tough look, short hair, and a black gun that was several meters long on his shoulder. Hanging from the spear was a bloody monster that looked like a human but had a pig¡¯s head and was covered in fur. A demon! This word popped up in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. It was one of the two demons who had slaughtered his town. They had killed hundreds of people in their town and two martial artists. Fur and blood were mixed together, and half of the intestines were exposed. A strong stench rushed into Reihom¡¯s nose as he approached. Its huge pig head was as big as the flag of a fortune-telling stall by the roadside, and it weighed at least four to five hundred pounds. Just like that, Reihom used his black spear to carry it over his shoulder. Wherever the war horses passed, they left several inch-deep hoof holes in the ground. Everywhere they passed, it was silent. It was as if his five senses had been crushed by the heavy hooves. ¡°The strongest talent of the Thunderbolt Dojo¡­ What a strong sense of oppression.¡± Luo Ya sighed. It was her first time seeing it. ¡°The black spear in Reihom¡¯s hands was personally forged by Grandpa using three hundred jin of silver snake iron,¡± she murmured. This was also the reason why the Luo family and the Thunderbolt Dojo had a good relationship. ¡°This man and horse probably weigh a ton.¡± The guests at the surrounding tables sighed. Their temples were bulging, and their bodies were covered in crisscrossing scars. They were clearly competitive people, but in front of Reihom, they didn¡¯t show any temper at all. Hmph! A pig¡¯s cry suddenly sounded. The next moment, Reihom¡¯s black spear trembled, and the demon pig on the spear let out a crack, allowing the spear to sweep through half of its body. The pig demon stomped on the ground and rose up. The direction he was flying in happened to be where Qin Huai was. The bloody large intestines and internal organs were scattered all over the sky, and the blood and the ferocious pig head suddenly enlarged in his pupils. The speed was so fast that Qin Huai stood up immediately. The ¡®white dragon¡¯ in his body was steaming and pouring out from his fists. However, it was a little awkward. The ¡®white dragon¡¯, which had always been successful on Ghost Slope Mountain, did not slow down in the face of the pig demon and was instantly crushed. What a monster! Qin Huai was locked in place by a pair of demonic eyes. His head was covered in a cold sweat, and he couldn¡¯t move his body. Roar! The pig demon opened its bloody mouth and bit through the entire wooden window. Was he going to die like this? Ka! In the next second, the tip of a spear emerged from the pig demon¡¯s mouth. To be more precise, it was the black spear that had pierced through the demon pig¡¯s head. The terrifying power changed the pig demon¡¯s path toward Qin Huai, and it whistled past his ears with a strong wind. Hualalalalalalalalala! The sound of tables and chairs being crushed was heard. The pig demon fell to the ground and could no longer move. Gulu~~ On the second floor of the restaurant, the sound of people swallowing their saliva rose and fell. Everyone was hiding far away from the demon pig that was nailed to the ground by the spear. Then, Reihom strode up to the second floor of the restaurant with steady steps. Only then did Qin Huai see clearly that Reihom was more than two meters tall. ¡°Many thanks for Senior¡¯s rescue!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists at the crowd. Reihom ignored everyone and pulled out the black spear that had pierced through the pig demon. With a twist of his wrist, it was as if there was a flash of lightning. He thrust the spear into the pig demon¡¯s head again, and red and white matter flew everywhere. ¡°I¡¯ve underestimated the tenacity of a pig demon,¡± Reihom murmured. He carried the gun in one hand and the demon pig¡¯s corpse on his shoulder with the other. He went downstairs and left. Qin Huai, who was in the crowd, suddenly couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it. He saw a green experience ball on the ground. His heart moved slightly as he put away the green experience orb. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +100!¡± In his mind, there seemed to be a flash of stone stakes and the sound of thunder. His wrist was also slightly sore. After a year of Qin Huai¡¯s tests, the maximum distance for the experience ball to appear should be within 20 meters. Apart from that, each person could only get one experience ball per day. It was only today that Qin Huai realized that he could actually get experience balls by watching others fight. Of course, it was a nice surprise. Then why didn¡¯t he gain anything when he was fighting with the members of the Blackhawk Gang? Qin Huai quickly figured it out. They had probably died too quickly. If he could torture to buy some time, he might be able to get two experience points. But Qin Huai quickly rejected this idea. Life and death were no joke. When encountering an enemy, it was best to kill them quickly. Qin Huai looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Cultivation Methods: Qi cultivation (level 50, 7/1000), Breath Control (level 10, 501/1000), Thunderflash Movement (level 0, 100/1000)] [Skill: Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°Huh? Level 1 Thunderflash Movement already requires 1,000 experience points?¡± Qin Huai was greatly shocked. Both the Qi-nurturing and breath control techniques started from 100 points and gradually increased, finally stopping at 1,000 points. ¡°Looks like this is the so-called high-level cultivation technique. It¡¯s even more difficult to practice, so the experience required is also stronger. And this also meant that the power would be stronger.¡± Qin Huai walked to the big hole in the broken window and looked at the figure in the distance. ¡°I¡¯m still too weak. I can¡¯t even move when I¡¯m faced with that pig demon with just a single look. ¡°No, it¡¯s not a matter of my courage. It¡¯s the ¡®aura¡¯ of a high-level warrior. Level 2 blood refinement realm is just the beginning. If I want to survive in this world, I¡¯m still far from being strong enough,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. If a heavily injured pig demon was able to make him lose his ability to fight with just a single look, then just how powerful was Reihom, who could kill a pig demon so easily? ¡°I must go to the eight big martial arts centers.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was determined. Behind him, a middle-aged man with a beard, glasses, and a gray robe jogged to Luo Ya and whispered a few words into her ear. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ve settled the entry quota for the small test of the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± Luo Ya ran to Qin Huai¡¯s side. Chapter 16 ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Qin Huai that the Luo family¡¯s bloodline is preserved.¡± In the Luo residence, Father Luo hosted a banquet for Qin Huai at noon. He sat in the main seat, and on his left was a beautiful woman in elegant clothes. On her right was Luo Ya, and next to her was Qin Huai, who had changed into clean clothes. He washed his face and had his hair cut by the craftsmen in the Luo residence. Now, he had delicate features and was no longer as dark as he was a year ago. Even if he was only wearing a plain robe, he had the air of a young master. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to be able to slaughter the Blackhawk Gang all by yourself.I even said that I would give you the entire Luo mansion if you could do it.¡± Luo Fei laughed. ¡°What a pity. The world is too chaotic now. My Luo mansion is not worth much.¡± As Luo Fei drank his wine, he began to stray from the topic. ¡°Now, the disaster of the demons has affected sixteen states. Fertile land has been destroyed, and the territory has melted. Many of the people in the villages and towns below don¡¯t even have clothes, much less food.¡± Qin Huai was silent. These were all facts. The inflation of prices in Pingnan City was also caused by the demon disaster and the turmoil of various forces. ¡°Recently, there have been rumors from the martial arts centers that traces of demons have been discovered a hundred li away from Pingnan City. In the future, even ordinary cultivators won¡¯t be able to live a stable life. ¡°In this world, one can only survive by constantly advancing to higher realms. In Pingnan City, martial arts represent the eight major martial arts centers.¡± Luo Fei¡¯s expression was solemn, and he looked at Qin Huai with a profound look. Qin Huai¡¯s heart jolted. If traces of demons were discovered a hundred miles away, it meant that they could appear in Pingnan City at any time. Given his current strength, if he were to go up against Reihom¡¯s demon pig, the consequences would be unimaginable. ¡°Uncle Bai, why don¡¯t you tell Senior Brother about the rules of the dojo?¡± Luo Ya shook Bai You¡¯s hand. ¡°Anyway, didn¡¯t we already get the spot for the small test?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! I almost forgot about the important thing. Bai You was a brilliant disciple from the Thunderbolt Dojo in his early years!¡± Luo Fei complimented with a smile. ¡°What brilliant disciple? I¡¯m just an abandoned disciple.¡± Bai You waved his hand, but there was still a flash of arrogance between his brows. ¡°However, the young miss is wrong about one thing. Just because we have the quota, it doesn¡¯t mean that Little Brother Qin Huai has already entered the dojo. ¡°There are two ways to enter the dojo. The first is to pay 50 taels of silver to the eight martial arts centers to test your root bone, check your Qi and blood, and test your talent. If you can enter the sect within three months, you¡¯ll be considered to have entered. ¡°There¡¯s another way. If you want to enter the dojo, you¡¯ll have to take the test. We call it a small test. Compared to those without cultivation, the test also requires someone in the dojo to recite it. ¡°But no matter what, it all depends on innate ability and talent.¡± Bai You¡¯s eyes were filled with reminiscence, as if he had returned to the past. ¡°The tokens of Changshan Dojo and the Tyrant Fist Dojo are valuable then.¡±Qin Huai suddenly realized. Bai You nodded. ¡°It¡¯s also a kind of memorization. However, according to Miss, this token should allow you to enter the dojo directly and become an apprentice. After all, you¡¯re in the limelight now. I¡¯ll get a good impression of you if I accept you. But the test of innate ability, talent, and vitality strength should be an indispensable test.¡± After lunch, Qin Huai was quietly taken to a corner by the beautiful woman, Yu Xin. ¡°Madam, I can¡¯t do this!¡± Qin Huai was stunned as he looked at the silver notes that Yu Xin stuffed into his hands. It was a total of two hundred taels. Even if he was a second-refinement martial artist now, it would still take a long time to return the money. ¡°If there¡¯s a problem in the small test, give 200 taels to the main examiner, and you¡¯ll probably pass.¡± Yu Xin wanted to provide Qin Huai with a layer of insurance. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to repay such a great favor.¡± Qin Huai felt that it made sense, so he didn¡¯t reject the money. Yu Xin smiled, but her smile had a deeper meaning. ¡­ As soon as Yu Xin returned to her bedroom, she saw the father and daughter sitting upright, waiting for her. ¡°Mother, what did you say to Senior Brother just now?¡± Luo Ya pretended to be serious, and she even held a small leather whip in her hand. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to tell you about how my precious daughter anxiously begged her father to save the person she loves last night,¡± Yu Xin retaliated. Luo Ya¡¯s face turned red, and she was speechless. ¡°Mother!¡± She was furious. Yu Xin then explained the entire sequence of events. ¡°You only gave Senior Brother two hundred taels? What if it¡¯s not enough?¡± Luo Ya was worried. This caused Luo Fei to feel a sense of melancholy. ¡°My dear, you really don¡¯t know how expensive rice is. Even if your senior brother in the second refinement realm were to earn 200 taels of silver day and night, it would take almost a year. I think you really want me to give the Luo residence to your senior brother, don¡¯t you?¡± Luo Fei was jealous. ¡°What?!¡± Luo Ya was speechless. ¡°However, this Qin Huai is not bad looking, and he is also loyal and righteous. He dared to attack the Blackhawk Gang for Ya¡¯er. Also, he¡¯s at the second refinement realm. He¡¯s good enough to be her husband.¡± ¡°Most importantly, Ya¡¯er likes him too.¡± ¡°Indeed. I¡¯ll train his business skills in the future. In about three to five years, he¡¯ll be able to take over the Luo family¡¯s business.¡± The couple chimed in. Their words were so shocking that Luo Ya, who was standing at the side, could not say anything but blush. Was it so obvious that she liked her senior brother? ¡­ Both the Thunderbolt Dojo and the Changshan Dojo are in charge of the mines. Their disciples and apprentices earn money by mining and forging iron, in addition to collecting security fees from the families in Pingnan City. The next day, Luo Fei led Qin Huai around his family¡¯s blacksmith shop. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a waste for martial artists to mine and forge iron?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. ¡°Besides, how can a martial artist not have resentment?¡± Luo Fei chuckled. ¡°Martial artists are more efficient, and the quality of refined iron forged by martial artists is higher. The thousand refined iron forged by them is several times better than the thousand refined iron forged by our blacksmith shop, so the price is naturally several times higher. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the scarcity of martial artists, the smithing business wouldn¡¯t have fallen into our Luo family¡¯s hands. Therefore, if these two martial arts centers recruit apprentices who know blacksmithing, it will definitely be a huge advantage. ¡°As for the grievous energy you mentioned, these two martial arts centers have been divided into different levels using the blacksmithing technique. Different levels can receive a lot of vitality soup and even vitality pills every month!¡± ¡®Oh, soup and pills!¡¯ Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard those words. The soup and pills could increase a martial artist¡¯s qi and blood, and breaking through a supporting cultivation skill could also increase the effect of the qi and blood. After drinking enough blood and Qi soup, it was equivalent to cultivating a technique. No cultivator could refuse such a condition. In front of the blazing furnace, the clanging of iron hammers was heard. It was accompanied by a white experience ball that only Qin Huai could see. Of course, Qin Huai didn¡¯t reject them and picked them up. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Smithing Skill Essence (White) ], [Smithing Skill] Experience +1.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Smithing Skill Essence (White) ], [Smithing Skill] Experience +2 ¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Smithing Skill Essence (White) ], [Smithing Skill] Experience +1.¡± The small test of the Thunderbolt Dojo would start in a few days. In the meantime, Qin Huai was waiting at the Luo residence. Of course, he had not been idle these few days. He would go to the Luo family¡¯s blacksmith shop every day to collect the smithing experience balls. Qin Huai also took the opportunity to see the scale of the Luo family. There were seven medium-sized Luo family smithies in Pingnan City. In just a few days, he had raised his blacksmithing skill to beginner (43/200). On this day, Qin Huai finally received the notice of the small test at the Thunderbolt Dojo. He took the token given by Luo Fei and followed the map all the way out of the city from the north gate. Although the eight martial arts centers were all built outside the city, they were not far from each other. After all, their daily needs, desires, and the families of many disciples were all in the city. The eight Martial Arts Centers were also the first city wall of Pingnan City. The two complemented each other. After some time, Qin Huai found a valley, and he looked down. The continuous stretches of wooden buildings were connected vertically and horizontally, spread out in the wilderness of the valley. The stone tablet in front of him had the words ¡°Thunderbolt Dojo¡± on it. It was vigorous, powerful, and domineering. ¡°It¡¯s like a small city,¡± Qin Huai was shocked. This martial arts center was one-tenth the size of Pingnan City. He quickly walked down and was stopped by someone. After showing the token, he was brought into this ¡®wooden city¡¯. Qin Huai was then brought to a large hall. There were two middle-aged men with waistbands sitting in the hall. There were a total of ten people who participated in the test with him. Some were dressed like hunters, some had the air of bandits, and there was even one who was wearing strange animal skins. In any case, other than Qin Huai, none of them looked like they were from the city. This was probably the so-called rogue cultivator. ¡°Come in.¡± The two middle-aged men didn¡¯t waste any words and walked to the left and right sides of the hall. Qin Huai was the last to enter. He looked at the people walking in and out of the building. There were some disappointed, some happy, and some expressionless faces. Finally, it was his turn. When Qin Huai walked in, there was only a table and a chair in the side hall. There were two blood-colored stones on the table. One was the size of an egg, while the other was about the size of a goose egg. The one sitting on the chair was the main examiner, Gu He. He smiled and waved at Qin Huai. Then, a pair of hands pinched Qin Huai¡¯s hand bones and moved up. Gu He¡¯s brows were tightly locked together. He shook his head after he touched it, and only a polite smile remained on his face. ¡®His root bone is too weak. He has almost no talent for cultivation.¡¯ Chapter 17 Gu He was surprised. How did this guy, who could be said to have no cultivation talent, cultivate to become a martial artist? Not only that, he was a second refinement martial artist. Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained the same when he heard this. He had always known that his cultivation aptitude was not good, and this was what the warrior in the town had said. Gu He picked up a small blood-colored stone from the table, then put a drop of blood on it. Qin Huai followed his instructions and bit his finger to squeeze out a drop of blood. The next moment, the stone glowed with a red light for a second or two before it slowly faded away. Gu He raised his head and looked at Qin Huai with a cold expression.¡±You¡¯re at the second refinement, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°His vitality isn¡¯t strong either,¡± Gu He said coldly. This stone can detect vitality. Qin Huai pondered deeply. The strength of one¡¯s Qi and blood, other than one¡¯s realm, was related to the Qi and blood nourishing treasures such as Qi and blood soup and Qi and blood pills. He hadn¡¯t had much money for the past year, and his salary had not increased, not to mention the prices of goods had soared. So it was no surprise that the amount of blood and Qi soup he drank was very little. Naturally, his vitality was barely satisfactory. If you don¡¯t have enough talent, you have to have money. Gu He pushed the huge rock in front of Qin Huai and said, ¡°Put another drop of blood.¡± The blood dripped onto the rock, and its light flashed three times. Qin Huai looked at Gu He. The latter¡¯s face was as cold as ice. ¡°In this world, it¡¯s not always better to have more cultivation techniques. The Qi and blood cultivated by each cultivation method are different. The more cultivation methods you practice, the stronger your Qi and blood will be, but it will also make your Qi and blood more mottled. ¡°Many cultivation techniques will make you strong for a while, but they will also cut off your path to breakthrough, making your martial Dao bottleneck like a tower, unbreakable. Not to mention, your talent is extremely poor!¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t expect that there would be such a thing about cultivation techniques. He had cultivated Qi-nurturing technique, breath control technique, and the thunderflash technique, which he had yet to master. He had to admit it was indeed mottled. However, he relied on gaining experience to become stronger, and there was no so-called martial Dao bottleneck. But, he couldn¡¯t enter the dojo. ¡°Hehe, but it¡¯s not like there¡¯s no room for negotiation.¡± Gu He¡¯s tone changed. ¡°I like people like you who punish evil and promote good. You are a young man with youthful ambition.¡± He continued, ¡°You have a good reputation for slaying evil, so I¡¯m willing to give you this opportunity. However, the decision to enter the dojo will be made by the examiners, and they don¡¯t have a good temper¡­¡± Gu He¡¯s words stopped abruptly. Qin Huai understood the other party¡¯s hint. He took out two silver notes and handed them to Gu He without a change of expression. ¡°You are indeed thoughtful. These two hundred taels will be really useful.¡± Gu He nodded in satisfaction. ¡°As the saying goes, hard work can make up for one¡¯s shortcomings. It¡¯s the same on the path of martial arts. You¡¯ve cultivated to the second refinement realm with your talent, so you¡¯ve obviously suffered a lot. ¡°Go back and wait for my news. I won¡¯t let the Thunderbolt Dojo lose a hard-working young man.¡± He then patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder before turning to leave. ¡°Many thanks, Senior!¡± ¡­ Thunderbolt Dojo Gu He and the other head examiner sat down at the wooden table with a few pieces of paper in their hands. There were two more people in front of him, wearing long robes and velvet clothes from the Thunderbolt Dojo. They each picked up their rice paper. On them was information on Qin Huai and the others. ¡°Qin Huai¡¯s whereabouts are unknown. Chu Chengping fled to Pingnan City three years ago. He entered the Liu family¡¯s apothecary in the city because he could read. I remember that their previous shopkeeper was a disciple of the Changshan Dojo. In the end, he was tricked by a female medicine gatherer and left the dojo. The woman even ran away, making that fellow a laughingstock in the city.¡± Fang Ruo recalled the past and continued reading. ¡°And he cultivated to the second refinement realm in one year and two months. You¡¯re a genius, Old Gu.¡± Fang Ruo was pleasantly surprised. ¡°I remember that this kid even exterminated some bandit gang. His reputation in the city is also not bad.¡± ¡°Old Fang, look down.¡± Gu He said slowly. Fang Ruo continued reading and frowned. ¡°Root bone, lower bones, Qi and blood strength, lower bones, Qi and blood mottled, the blood stone flashed three times¡­ That¡¯s impossible, right?¡± Fang Ruo was suspicious. According to what was written on the paper, it was already a miracle for Qin Huai to be able to cultivate a technique to the beginner level, let alone to cultivate it twice in a year. Old Gu¡¯s bone sensing was second to none in the Thunderbolt Dojo. He hadn¡¯t missed it all these years. ¡°As for the blood stone results, I¡¯m even more certain. It¡¯s most likely compatible with the Liu family apothecary¡¯s yang Qi art. His luck is better.¡± The old man who spoke closed his eyes to rest. Fang Ruo knocked on his pipe. ¡°Ahem, ahem, ahem. I think since he can cultivate to the second refinement, why don¡¯t we give him a chance?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to try? Root bone is everything. Moreover, the blood stone has flashed three times, which means that he has already cultivated three skills. If you add thunderflash to the equation, he will be able to cultivate three skills. ¡°With Qi and blood that cultivates four cultivation techniques at the same time, in addition to such innate ability, I think I don¡¯t need to say what the upper limit of that person¡¯s martial arts is.¡± This time, the one who spoke was actually Gu He, who had taken Qin Huai¡¯s money. He only believed in innate ability and talent. The so-called ¡°hard work can make up for one¡¯s lack of talent¡± was just a modest saying of the strong. At the very least, he had never seen a martial artist who succeeded solely through hard work. Therefore, he would definitely not let Qin Huai in. As for the 200 taels, if the fool was willing to give him money, what reason did he have to refuse? Fang Ruo also nodded. ¡°He can destroy his cultivation technique and re-cultivate it, but with his talent, without the previous opportunities, it¡¯ll be difficult for him to cultivate it in this lifetime. ¡°However, this Qin Huai has just exterminated the Blackhawk Gang, so he has quite the prestige among the commoners.¡± Fang Ruo changed the topic. He liked children who were more moderate and made it to the top through hard work. In addition, Qin Huai¡¯s act of killing a gang had won his heart. Therefore, he subconsciously sided with Qin Huai. Just as he finished speaking, a tall figure walked into the hall. ¡°If we reject him, then we can show the harshness and standard of our Thunderbolt Dojo. Moreover, our dojo is the head of the eight major martial arts centers. Why would we need to add flowers to a brocade?¡± The person who spoke was the leader of the younger generation of the Thunderbolt Dojo, Reihom. ¡°Haha, what are you doing here, kid?¡± The cold old man looked at Reihom, and a smile appeared on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look along the way,¡± Reihom said calmly. This made the old man¡¯s enthusiastic handshake come to an abrupt end, and he awkwardly retracted his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this person before. He¡¯s nothing special, and I¡¯m sure he¡¯s managed to get to where he is by seducing women from the Luo family. He¡¯s got a good way to get to the top by seducing women, but it¡¯s impossible for him to get into our dojo. The Thunderbolt Dojo only recognizes talent!¡± Reihom seemed to have made his final decision. ¡°Indeed.¡± Fang Ruo nodded. The other person also nodded in agreement. They were all old instructors of the Thunderbolt Dojo, but in front of Reihom, they could only obey. There was no other reason. Reihom was simply too powerful. ¡°I also agree with Reihom¡¯s words! Only then can we show the fairness of our Thunderbolt Dojo. Also, I suggest we secretly leak this news out, hehe!¡± Gu He laughed. He raised his brush and drew a big cross on the paper with Qin Huai¡¯s name. ¡­ Black Iron Forging Technique (Beginner, 91/200) Black Iron Forging Technique (Beginner, 147/200) Black Iron Forging Technique (Beginner, 195/200) Black Iron Forging Technique (Intermediate, 27/400) Three days had passed. Qin Huai had been waiting in the Luo Manor. However, even after his iron forging skill had reached the intermediate level, he still did not hear anything back from the Thunderbolt Dojo. Chapter 18 At the Snow Flower House, in a private room, Qin Huai and Luo Fei sat in the second seats. Sitting on the main seat was the main examiner of Qin Huai¡¯s exam, Gu He. As they toasted, the three of them laughed continuously, as if they were good friends who had not seen each other for many years. ¡°Your son-in-law¡¯s aptitude is really a bit poor, so it¡¯s hard to explain in a few words. That money really can¡¯t get those guys to talk. I¡¯m naturally too embarrassed to talk about it since I didn¡¯t get it done.¡± Gu He held his wine glass and punished himself by drinking it. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, you know. If I had known that Qin Huai was manager Luo¡¯s son-in-law, I would have paid for those old fogeys with my own money!¡± Gu He was remorseful. ¡°Is there any chance of turning things around?¡± Luo Fei asked. He naturally did not believe in Gu He¡¯s ¡®regret¡¯. From the other party¡¯s words, it seemed that he had not given enough money. ¡°The name list for the test is still in our room, but what if we pry the mouths of the others?¡± Gu He suddenly stopped. As expected. Luo Fei then asked, ¡°How much do you think is appropriate?¡± ¡°There are four people in total who are going to be assessed. Each of you will have to take a¡­¡± Gu He made a gesture. Luo Fei looked at Gu He¡¯s outstretched fingers with some pain. ¡®2,000 taels of silver! That¡¯s the Luo family¡¯s income for half a year!¡¯ However, he still decided to bid two thousand taels of silver. Although Qin Huai could still go to the Changshan Dojo and the Tyrant Fist Dojo, he naturally had to work hard if he had the opportunity to go to the best martial arts center. On the path of martial Dao, a slight difference could lead to a huge difference. He couldn¡¯t miss this. ¡°Brother Luo, don¡¯t worry! Leave the matter of your son-in-law to me!¡± Gu He patted his chest and kept the two thousand silver notes. Then, he left after eating and drinking. ¡­ This journey took another five days. Not only did Gu He not reply, but the news of Qin Huai being rejected for the small test at the Thunderbolt Dojo had also spread throughout Pingnan City. And like a whirlwind, it became the topic of gossip in the entire city. ¡°Tsk, tsk. I didn¡¯t expect this. The qi and blood are mixed under the root bone. It doesn¡¯t seem to work.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that so? This Qin Huai¡¯s talent is extremely poor. He¡¯s not even as good as me!¡± ¡°I wonder how he managed to cultivate to the second refinement.¡± ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo is indeed the number one martial arts school. This Qin Huai is also considered a young hero in our Pingnan city. How many people will he win if he is accepted?¡± ¡°Tsk, they¡¯re the Thunderbolt Dojo, so justice comes first! Number one in talent! You have a conscience~¡± ¡°According to my sources, Qin Huai has already reached the end of his second refinement.¡± ¡°What a pity. You¡¯re at the peak when you¡¯re out of the Dao~¡± In the tea stalls, restaurants, and apothecaries, ridicule, delight, and pity, could be heard. All sorts of people were discussing this matter with different states of mind. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Luo residence was heavy. Now, even a fool would know that they had been played by Gu He. ¡°This guy from the Thunderbolt Dojo took the money but didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Luo Ya clenched her fists in anger. ¡°The instructor of the Thunderbolt Dojo is not fair at all.¡± Luo Fei¡¯s face was filled with anger. Qin Huai¡¯s expression was also cold. Two thousand taels of silver was something that he would have to work as an apothecary disciple for ten years to earn. But now, Gu He had slandered him. ¡°Not only did he take the money, but he also spread the news and used Senior Brother to promote the nobility of the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± The more Luo Ya spoke, the angrier she got. However, although they were angry, they could only stare at him. After all, no one would dare to cause trouble for the Thunderbolt Dojo. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the Tyrant Fist Dojo and the Changshan Dojo to try again.¡± Qin Huai stood up, put away the tokens of the two dojos, and ran out of the city again. He first went to the Tyrant Fist Dojo, which was the closest to the Luo residence. In the end, after the other party had tested Qin Huai¡¯s talent, he had been kicked out on the spot. ¡°Even if you are kicked out of the Thunderbolt Dojo and your body is weak, my Tyrant Fist Dojo would still not want you.¡± As for the promise and token, naturally, he would treat them as if they didn¡¯t exist. Qin Huai had no choice but to go to the Changshan Dojo with his last hope. The Changshan Dojo was located halfway up the mountain. The entire place was inclined at a 50-degree angle on the White Flow Mountain. This was the dojo with the most apprentices among the eight major dojos, and it was also the dojo with the lowest threshold. Qin Huai stood at the foot of the mountain and looked into the distance. He had also tried to practice the Qi-nurturing technique, the thunderflash technique, and the breath control technique in the past few days at the Luo residence. The results were extremely bad. Even if he was given another ten years, he might not be able to reach the third refinement. ¡°If the Changshan Dojo doesn¡¯t accept me, I can only go to the mountains around Pingnan City and wipe out the mountain bandit gangs guarded by martial artists. I¡¯ll use their lives to improve my cultivation. I¡¯ll find other ways later.¡± The only trump card he could think of was to slaughter the bandits. ¡°But it¡¯s too risky. If we don¡¯t handle it well, we might be wanted by the mountain bandits for revenge. I definitely can¡¯t choose it unless I have no other choice.¡± There was another point. The more cultivation techniques one had, the more blemished one¡¯s Qi and blood would be. Therefore, the difficulty of entering the dojo or other forces would increase. Qin Huai touched his chest. Inside was a map of more than ten kilometers around Pingnan City. On it were the approximate locations of the bandit gangs of all sizes on the mountains around the city. He had found out about them one by one with his breath control technique over the past few nights. ¡°I hope we can succeed this time. I don¡¯t like to be too high-profile, nor do I like to kill too many people,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. He had wanted to keep a low profile when he massacred the gang last time. However, he didn¡¯t know how the people in the city found out about it. Before he even entered the city, he was carried in as a hero. ¡­ Changshan Dojo. It was still a small test. The main examiner was considered an acquaintance of Qin Huai, Gu Shengcai, who had given him the token. Qin Huai watched nervously as Gu Shengcai finished touching the bone. He shook his head in a familiar manner. Then, it was the strength of vitality and the mottled vitality. They still had the same expression as the previous two. Qin Huai¡¯s mood suddenly fell to the bottom of the valley. It still wasn¡¯t enough? ¡°By the way, you learned the cultivation technique from the Liu family¡¯s apothecary, right?¡± Gu Shengcai suddenly spoke. ¡°Yes. I practiced the Qi-nurturing technique at the Liu family¡¯s apothecary and broke through to the second refining realm with this,¡± Qin Huai answered honestly. But Gu Shengcai¡¯s expression became strange. ¡°You must be joking. The Liu family¡¯s apothecary¡¯s yang Qi technique is a simplified version of my Changshan Dojo¡¯s long breath technique. The previous shopkeeper of the Liu family¡¯s apothecary was a slightly famous genius in our Changshan Dojo. Unfortunately¡­¡± Gu Shengcai sighed and immediately changed the topic. ¡°Master is kind and allowed him to simplify the breathing technique. He left behind a Qi-nurturing technique that can only be cultivated to the first refining realm, and now you¡¯re saying that you¡¯ve reached the second refining stage by cultivating Qi? My Changshan Dojo doesn¡¯t need people who are full of lies.¡± ¡°Every word that I said is true.¡± Qin Huai was determined. ¡°At first, I also thought that my Qi would not be able to break through to the second refinement. It was only when I cultivated the Qi to level 50 that I suddenly welcomed the second blood Qi transformation.¡± ¡°How many levels?!¡± Gu Shengcai¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Fifty.¡± Qin Huai was calm. He knew that this might be his last chance to join the dojo. ¡°Try activating your cultivation technique.¡± Gu Shengcai stood up, his eyes full of interest. With a thought, the white dragon in Qin Huai¡¯s body overflowed from his palm. An invisible wave of air was pushed in front of Gu Shengcai, blowing his hair back. ¡°He¡¯s actually able to form the ¡®white dragon¡¯ with his Qi cultivation technique. This is the sign of a martial artist entering the first stage of the breathing technique. You won¡¯t be able to cultivate a white dragon with the Qi cultivation technique.¡± Gu Shengcai was surprised and happy. He didn¡¯t know if Qin Huai¡¯s Qi cultivation had really reached level 50, but the second refinement and the white dragon couldn¡¯t lie. Gu Shengcai sighed. ¡°Come to the dojo and try, but you have to start as an apprentice.¡± He though that Qin Huai might have a unique compatibility with the breathing technique. ¡°Hu, Hu, Hu.¡± Qin Huai heaved a long sigh. No matter if it was an apprentice or a disciple, it was considered a success to be able to enter the dojo. There were nineteen people in the small test, and in the end, ten people passed on the spot. The passing rate was more than half. As expected of the dojo with the lowest threshold. This also meant that he had a lot more opportunities to collect experience balls. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll bring you to your living quarters.¡± Gu Shengcai led the group into the depths of the dojo. ¡°The eight major martial arts centers cannot be compared to Pingnan City and the mountains. In your eyes, the second-level martial artists who can run around and act unscrupulously are just ordinary existences in these martial arts centers.¡± Gu Shengcai was obviously implying something. Deafening shouts reverberated in the sky above the Changshan Dojo. The few of them stopped at the edge of a drill ground. There were about twenty to thirty bare-chested people inside, waving their fists. ¡°There are twenty-seven people in this branch field. Half of them are in the first refinement, and the other half are in the second refinement.¡± Gu Shengcai played it down. Qin Huai and the others behind him couldn¡¯t help but gasp. It was as if the place they had just been to was not the same world as this martial arts center. There were more than a dozen second-tier martial artists in a small drill ground? ¡°If the dojo is so powerful, why don¡¯t they go and exterminate the bandits?¡± Sun Ziyao asked. He was also a rookie wild cultivator who had passed the test. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to kill all the bandits. Any of the eight martial arts centers of the bandit gangs within a hundred miles of Pingnan City can be wiped out within a month. But after that, more bandits will definitely appear. That¡¯s why it¡¯s useless for us to make a move,¡± Gu Shengcai explained. Qin Huai was also silent, feeling the same way. After the Blackhawk Gang was exterminated, it was said that their original territory was taken over by other mountain bandits. However, Qin Huai didn¡¯t need to consider these things now. His eyes swept over them one by one, picking up all the experience balls that could be seen on the field. Qin Huai could clearly see the range where the experience balls were dropped and collected. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +50!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +41!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +65!¡± Chapter 19 Non-existent memories flashed past Qin Huai¡¯s mind like a slideshow. The mantra of the breathing technique also appeared in his mind. Qin Huai used a special breathing method to punch on the drill ground in the ¡®dream.¡¯ Each breath lasted for a long time. ¡°It seems like I¡¯ve already broken through,¡± Qin Huai thought to himself as he looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Cultivation Methods ]: [Breathing technique (level 1, 136/1000) ], [Qi nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [Breath Control technique (level 10, 501/1000) ], [Thunderflash skill (level 0, 100/1000)] [ Skills ]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] As expected, he had reached the first level of the breathing technique. The experience points that martial artists lost were just too much. Qin Huai praised. He was also excited. ¡°Coach Gu, how many drill grounds do we have in our dojo?¡± Sun Ziyao asked. ¡°A total of five.¡± When the ten rookies heard this number, they couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°Five drill grounds with twenty-seven to twenty-eight people each. Does that mean there are one hundred and fifty to sixty fighters in our Changshan Dojo?¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s face was filled with shock. Gu Shengcai nodded, causing the pupils of the ten people around him to widen. No wonder Gu Shengcai dared to say that any one of the eight major martial arts centers could wipe out all the mountain bandits within a hundred miles of Pingnan City. There might not even be a hundred mountain bandits on a mountain. For example, the Blackhawk Gang that he had slaughtered only had about seventy to eighty people in total, and the only ten martial artists were still in the first refinement realm. Qin Huai calculated in his heart. Even if the Changshan Dojo had the most people, the other martial arts schools would not have less than a hundred martial artists. In addition, there were the City Lord¡¯s mansion and the scattered martial artists. In this way, there were at least a thousand martial artists in Pingnan City! ¡°As expected of a big city.¡± Gu Shengcai led the ten people to a small courtyard. The courtyard was rather desolate and was overgrown with weeds. The rooms were all single rooms, but there was only a stone bed and a grass bed inside. The walls were covered in cobwebs, and there were ants, cockroaches, and other insects all over the ground. This scene reminded Qin Huai of the time when he had just entered the Liu family apothecary as an apprentice. When the others saw the accommodation, they frowned. ¡°From now on, this will be your residence,¡± Gu Shengcai said. ¡°Although you are all martial artists in the first and second refinement outside, in the Changshan Dojo, your attainment in the eternal Qi art is the standard to measure your strength. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve been living a comfortable life outside, but it¡¯s different here. If you can¡¯t stay here, you can leave at any time. ¡°Of course, if you can¡¯t reach breathing technique level 10 within half a year, you¡¯ll have to leave as well!¡± Gu Shengcai¡¯s voice was calm. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to experts like Qin Huai, who were in high demand outside. And those who had seen the ¡®grand occasion¡¯ on the drill ground naturally knew that Gu Shengcai was not bluffing. Everyone remained silent, tacitly agreeing to this courtyard. ¡°However, if you succeed in cultivating the breathing technique, the welfare of the dojo will be quite good.¡± Gu Shengcai changed the topic. ¡°As long as you can cultivate the eternal Qi technique up to level 10, you can drink a bowl of qi and blood soup every three days.¡± Everyone could not help but swallow their saliva. Sun Ziyao¡¯s eyes were wide open. ¡°Coach Gu, I¡¯m from the town. You can¡¯t lie to us if I don¡¯t know much.¡± he clearly didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°This bowl of blood essence soup is now worth 15 taels.¡± Qin Huai also felt that it was a bit of a dream. Although he had long known from Bai You that there would be qi and blood soup, he still felt that it was a bit of a dream. But he didn¡¯t expect him to be so generous. If the Changshan Dojo could provide a bowl of blood Qi soup every three days, wouldn¡¯t they have to give a disciple 150 taels a month? Those 150 to 160 martial artists would need more than 20,000 silver taels! ¡°Hehe!¡± Gu Shengcai chuckled. He liked to see this group of ignorant cultivators. ¡°The vitality soup is not that expensive in the dojo because we have all the ingredients,¡± he explained. ¡°May I ask, Coach Gu, what are the raw materials for the Qi and blood soup?¡± Qin Huai asked. His medical skills had already reached a high level, and he knew a lot of recipes for replenishing Qi and blood. However, compared to Pingnan City¡¯s blood essence soup, it was a completely different type. He still didn¡¯t know the recipe for the Qi and blood soup, but he knew the most important ingredient in making Qi and blood soup is the meat of a demon! ¡°Demons are born with strong vitality. Eating their meat can strengthen your vitality. ¡°It¡¯s just that because the demons are powerful, the price of flesh and blood has also risen. In order to benefit more martial artists, there was the emergence of the blood Qi soup,¡±Gu Shengcai said. ¡°In the entire Pingnan City, only the eight major martial arts centers have the ability to hunt demons. Qin Huai understood. No wonder he could taste the medicinal herbs in the Qi and blood soup. It turned out that the main ingredient, the flesh of demons, was missing. Or rather, other than the demon meat, the other herbs were dispensable. ¡°That¡¯s great! I must stay in the dojo!¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s fists were raised in the air, looking a little childish. He wasn¡¯t very old, only about eighteen or nineteen years old, so he still had the childish look of a teenager. Gu Shengcai smiled and dropped another bombshell. ¡°If you cultivate the eternal Qi technique to level 10, you¡¯ll only be a black-plate disciple. One bowl of blood Qi soup every three days. ¡°Eternal Qi technique level 20, bronze plate disciple. In addition to the above, you will receive one Qi and blood pill every month. ¡°Longevity technique level 30, silver medal, two Qi and blood pills per month. ¡°Level 40, gold medal, a bowl of blood Qi soup a day, and five blood Qi pills a month. ¡°Other than that, there¡¯s also blacksmithing. You¡¯ll be able to learn it according to beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, starting from the breathing technique level 10. However, you¡¯ll have to stay in the Changshan Dojo first. Qin Huai and the others¡¯ eyes burned with passion. He knew the pain of insufficient Qi and blood all too well. One of the reasons why he was rejected by the Thunderbolt Dojo and the Tyrant Fist Dojo was because his vitality was not strong enough. To put it bluntly, the strength of a blood-refining martial artist lay in their powerful vitality. The strength of vitality could be described in a more direct way: great strength. One force breaks all techniques, and absolute power was enough to destroy all problems. These martial artists from dojos and aristocratic families can drink vitality soup and take vitality pills frequently. Their vitality is probably far beyond mine. ¡°In the same realm, my Qi cultivation technique level 50 might not have any advantage against the disciples and might even be at a disadvantage,¡± Qin Huai thought to himself. He then thought of Reihom and the pig demon. The shock that the heaven¡¯s pride expert and the demon had towards him was like a dark cloud that had quietly arrived, shrouding his heart. ¡°I have to improve my realm and vitality!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were firm. Gu Shengcai then gave Qin Huai and the others a black wooden tablet as thin as a leaf with their names engraved on it. There was also the breathing technique. Unlike the Qi nurturing art, the breathing technique didn¡¯t have the harsh conditions of cultivating when the purple Qi came from the east and the sun was born. He just had to follow the manual. ¡°You can go back to the city later to inform your family and friends and settle the chores.¡± ¡°Do I still need to return this manual?¡± Sun Ziyao pressed on. ¡°I¡¯m a little forgetful, so I¡¯m afraid of losing it.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± No one dared to pass on the long breath technique in private, because they would face the wrath of the entire dojo. Even the other seven dojos wouldn¡¯t touch this bad luck. Gu Shengcai left after giving his instructions. Qin Huai turned around and returned to his small room. He looked at the manual in his hand and hesitated. Then, he picked up two wooden sticks with sharp edges from the ground and a handful of weeds. He started a fire. Hu! The flame rose, and Qin Huai lit up the manual in his hand. He had already imprinted the breathing technique in his mind, so there was no point in keeping it. He held the burning manual in his hand and could only watch helplessly as the flames gradually burned his fingers. No reaction? Qin Huai looked at the manual that had been burnt to nothing. ¡°Does it have to be the original?¡± Something was wrong. Qin Huai carefully recalled that it was the breath control technique that had a special smell. That technique also gave Qin Huai a strange feeling. It seemed that when one was close to it, the circulation of breath control would be smoother. ¡°It should be a problem with that cultivation technique,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. There was most likely an unspeakable story behind that cultivation technique. He then kept this matter to himself. The most important thing now was to improve his strength and vitality. After tidying up the overgrown house, Qin Huai decided to return to the Luo residence to report his safety and good news. He walked out of the small courtyard. Qin Huai didn¡¯t return to the city directly. Instead, he deliberately went in circles to find the other drill grounds in the dojo. He followed the sounds, then leaned on the wall and stared at it. After a while, the martial artists in the courtyard began to drop experience balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +39!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +60!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Blue) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +100!¡± ¡­ ¡°Hey! What are you doing?¡± A burly man grabbed Qin Huai and pulled him down from the wall. ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯m watching you guys practice martial arts. I want to gain some experience.¡± ¡°Is that so? You look unfamiliar. Are you a new apprentice?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m Junior Brother Qin Huai. May I know your name, Senior Brother? ¡± Qin Huai was very respectful. This man was extremely strong, and even his second refinement physique was easily caught by him.He was definitely not simple. ¡°I¡¯m Fang Han. I came in five years earlier than you.¡± Fang Han grinned and patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Nowadays, there aren¡¯t many junior brothers like you who are so eager to learn.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Qin Huai was humble. ¡°Not bad. I like you very much. If you have anything you don¡¯t understand in the future, you can come and ask me!¡± Fang Han smiled and left. He was so happy that he even forgot to leave his address. Chapter 20 - Five Levels in One Day Chapter 20 Five Levels in One Day ¡°Senior Brother Fang, you¡¯re the one in charge of this batch of newcomers.¡± Gu Shengcai found Fang Han. ¡°You don¡¯t know, but these brats really pissed me off today.¡± Fang Han complained. ¡°A bunch of pampered young masters and young mistresses. They complain that they¡¯re tired after only a few minutes of boxing practice. They can¡¯t even master the basic skills no matter how many times they¡¯re taught.¡± Gu Shengcai smiled and did not say anything. Fang Han was a well-known strict instructor, and the ¡®few minutes¡¯ that he said had to be treated as a few hours. Even the black-plate disciples in the dojo couldn¡¯t handle his training method, let alone the apprentices. ¡°By the way, I just met an unfamiliar little brat earlier. He was actually leaning on the courtyard wall and watching others cultivate. He¡¯s really working hard.¡±Fang Han praised. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t Senior Brother Fang take him in as a disciple? Why don¡¯t you personally train him?¡± Gu Shengcai was puzzled. Senior Brother Fang was an apprentice who liked to work hard. ¡°I¡¯ve touched his bones, and it¡¯s not just a little bit lacking. Also, that brat already has a cultivation realm. He¡¯s probably an apprentice who entered through a small trial.¡± Fang Han shook his head in regret. ¡°Not only did he have poor aptitude, but he had also cultivated other cultivation techniques with a mixture of Qi and blood.¡± As long as he had one less of the two, he would have snatched him over and personally trained him. ¡°What a coincidence. The person I wanted to talk to you about is also a little brat who came in through a trial.¡± Gu Shengcai chuckled. He then handed Fang Han a list. ¡°Qin Huai established the Liu family¡¯s apothecary. Isn¡¯t that the kid who slaughtered the Blackhawk Gang? He actually used the Qi cultivation technique to reach the second refining.¡± Fang Han looked at Qin Huai¡¯s information on the list, feeling both surprised and regretful. ¡°His talent is too poor. Maybe it¡¯s because it¡¯s compatible with the Yang Qi Gong.¡± Fang Han had the same judgment as Gu Shengcai. Talent and cultivation techniques were two choices. Some seemingly useless guys might have an extraordinary affinity with a certain cultivation technique. ¡°He has fifty levels of the Qi-nurturing technique. He¡¯ll definitely be faster when he starts to practice the breathing technique.¡± Gu Shengcai instructed, ¡°Senior Brother, you should be mentally prepared. Also, inform the apprentices. Don¡¯t let your state of mind become unstable and your will become weak because of Qin Huai.¡± ¡°Alright, I know.¡± Fang Han nodded, then sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that such a handsome boy is a weakling.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Fang, don¡¯t jump to conclusions so quickly. What if this kid has a good affinity with the breathing technique?¡± Gu Shengcai dissuaded him. The two of them looked at each other and smiled, not thinking much of it. The compatibility of Yang Qi skill was good, but that didn¡¯t mean that it was compatible with the breathing technique. Although the two were from the same sect, they were worlds apart. Moreover, compatibility was pure metaphysics. No one could tell. However, if one person had good compatibility with two cultivation techniques, the probability was so small that it could be ignored. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, a real pity,¡± Fang Han mumbled, shook his head, and left. ¡­ At this moment, the main character, Qin Huai, had already visited all five drill grounds of the Changshan Dojo. He had a thought and looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Cultivation Methods: Breathing Technique (level 5, 495/1000), Qi nurturing Technique (level 50, 7/1000), Breath Control Technique (level 10, 501/1000), Thunderflash Technique (level 0, 100/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°I¡¯ve reached eternal Qi technique level 5 on the first day.¡± Qin Huai heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°At this rate, will I be able to reach level 10 by tomorrow?¡± Qin Huai felt that happiness had come too suddenly. He had collected about 5,500 experience points for the breathing technique in a day. Actually, he was glad that the Thunderbolt Dojo had rejected him. Only then could he enter the Changshan Dojo, which had the most apprentices among the eight major martial arts centers. Although Luo Ya had said that the Changshan Dojo was ranked at the bottom of the eight major martial arts centers, it had a lot of people. The more people there were, the more experience points he could gain. By that time, even if the Changshan Dojo was ranked at the bottom, he would still be able to increase his strength. He could also soar to the sky. ¡°At first, I was confused by the so-called strongest dojo and Reihom. Now, it seems that the Changshan Dojo is more suitable for me. ¡°No matter how strong the cultivation technique is, it can¡¯t resist the suppression of the realm. If I can¡¯t beat the people from the other dojos at the same level, then I¡¯ll beat them at a higher level. ¡°If one realm can¡¯t do it, then let¡¯s try two realms. There will always be realms that they can¡¯t cross.¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. Moreover, the high-level martial artists in the Changshan Dojo could drink more Qi and blood soup and Qi and blood pills. To him, this place was heaven. ¡°Although the experience points I can gain will decrease as my breath enhancement technique levels up, with the support of a few hundred people, I think I¡¯ll be able to reach level 3 blood refinement realm much faster than the geniuses in the dojo.¡± As for Gu He, there was still a lot of time. He would slowly settle this score. Qin Huai returned to the Luo family and told the good news to Luo Ya and the others. Luo Fei was overjoyed and held another big banquet for everyone in the house to eat. ¡°Now that the prices of goods in Pingnan City are soaring, the surrounding villages and towns are also suffering from disasters. You can¡¯t see it, but I, your father-in-law, am well-informed. ¡°The world is in danger, so we must be extremely careful. But you don¡¯t have to worry. The Luo residence has been in business for so many years, and it still has some savings. ¡°The martial arts center is not like the city. There are crouching tigers and hidden dragons there, and there are many experts! You must be careful in your daily life.¡± Luo Fei was holding a wine pot, and his face was already red. ¡®Even those apprentices who are not as good as you are mostly descendants of rich and famous merchants. You can¡¯t underestimate them. ¡°But! Our Luo family won¡¯t cause trouble, and we¡¯re not afraid of trouble! ¡°If there¡¯s really someone who wants to attack us, you can go all out! As long as his father is not the city lord of Pingnan City or the head of the eight major martial arts centers, father-in-law can help you!¡± ¡°Father!¡± Luo Ya blushed. ¡°Master, you¡¯re drunk.¡± Yu Xin pulled the drunk Luo Fei and got up to make him some soup. ¡°Nonsense! I¡¯m not drunk!¡± Luo Fei waved his arms wildly. ¡°Even if his father is the city lord, we can just run overnight and live in another city. ¡°But there¡¯s a condition for us to move. You have to marry my daughter first.¡± Bang! Bang! Luo Fei¡¯s voice hadn¡¯t even faded when he collapsed on the dining table. In the next second, his snoring was already deafening. ¡°My father¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll carry Uncle back.¡± Qin Huai stood up silently and carried the chubby Luo Fei into the bedroom. After that, he went to the side room. It was a harmonious night. Early the next morning, Qin Huai was about to leave the house. He saw Mother Luo, Yu Xin, anxiously holding some beddings, pots, pans, and ladles. She then gave them to him and said, ¡°Entering the dojo is like entering a new world. You must live in harmony with your fellow disciples, eat more, cultivate seriously.¡± Yu Xin rambled on as she checked the things Qin Huai had brought. Qin Huai was in a daze when he saw her. It was as if he was seeing his mother when he first went to university in his previous life. ¡°If anything happens at home, you must come to the Changshan Dojo to find me!¡± Qin Huai left a message. After coming to this world, this was the first time he felt the warmth of home that he had not felt for a long time. Whether it was Luo Ya or the Luo couple, they were all very good to him. Especially after Father Luo¡¯s drunken words last night and Mother Luo¡¯s intimate actions. ¡°I will keep protecting this peace and keep getting stronger,¡± Qin Huai secretly swore. Chapter 21 - One Step at the Door, the Strongest Cultivation Technique? Chapter 21 One Step at the Door, the Strongest Cultivation Technique? ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +52!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +47!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +77!¡± Qin Huai walked into the Changshan Dojo and collected all of today¡¯s experience points. Only then did he return to his own small room and set up the bed, pot, and bowls that Yu Xin had prepared for him. The color of the bedding was red, full of all kinds of flower embroidery. Qin Huai was stunned, and he could not help but laugh. In his previous life, his own set of bedding was the same, and his parents seemed to be using his grandparents¡¯, which was also a little similar. He focused his mind and looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Cultivation Methods ]: [Breathing technique (level 9, 1236/2000) ], [Qi-nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000)], [Breath Control technique (level 10, 501/1000) ],[Thunderflash skill (level 0,100/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°What a pity. Just a little bit more.¡± Qin Huai looked at his experience bar, which was only slightly more than 700 points away, and felt a little regretful. He had thought that he would be able to reach level 10 breathing technique by today, but he did not expect that the experience bar for breaking through would double. ¡°It seems that as the level of the air circulation technique increases, the experience bar will also increase. It¡¯s roughly calculated by the 20th to 30th levels, the nodes of the Qi and blood transformation,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. The reason why the cultivation technique had stopped at level 10 was probably because normal people could only cultivate it to the first refinement. His was purely an accident. Not long after they had packed up their things, the dojo had people gather them at a drill ground. Other than Qin Huai and the other ten apprentices who had joined through the trial, there was also a group of young faces. All of the youths were about the same age as Qin Huai, but their faces were ruddy and full of energy. His eyes were bright, and his lips were red. It was a sign of exuberant Qi and blood. These should be the apprentices who had just joined the dojo. ¡°It seems they all have extraordinary backgrounds.¡± Sun Ziyao clicked his tongue. ¡°These guys haven¡¯t even cultivated to a high realm, but their Qi and blood are already so full. I wonder how rich their families are to have fed them so much Qi and blood soup. The gap between people is really big.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but agree. Before he started cultivating, he had always been a malnourished, short, and dark-skinned boy. It wasn¡¯t until he started practicing martial arts that his condition improved. Now, he was already a first refinement warrior. It was time for his face to be ruddy, full of energy, and to look human. And these young apprentices seemed to be from a different world from what he knew. Qin Huai and the others weren¡¯t proper dojo disciples. Most of them were born in poverty and had gone through many twists and turns to reach where they were today. The first meeting was cold and distant, but with these well-dressed apprentices in front of them, the relationship between the ten people instantly became closer. Qin Huai immediately recognized the person standing at the forefront of the drill ground. ¡®It¡¯s Senior Brother Fang Han who I met the other day. So he¡¯s actually an instructor.¡¯ Qin Huai had a deep impression of this person, even though he had only pulled him down from the wall that day. However, he could still feel the terrifying Qi and blood of the other party. Even in the Changshan Dojo, he should be an important figure. Fang Han gave a simple self-introduction and began to explain. ¡°The people of Pingnan City all say that our Changshan Dojo¡¯s breathing technique is the last of the eight centers. It¡¯s not as domineering as the rumbling thunder skill and not as strong as the six directions skill. ¡°But in fact, the breathing technique is both offensive and defensive, and it has a long history. You¡¯ll cultivate a white dragon, which can attack and kill people from a distance. It can even create waves of air around the body to defend, and in turn, extend one¡¯s life. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have a high requirement for one¡¯s root bone. It¡¯s the most powerful technique among the eight!¡± ¡°Then why do I hear that our Changshan Dojo¡¯s martial artists of the same realm are rarely a match for other dojos?¡± a chubby boy in the first row piped up. ¡°Because they haven¡¯t reached home in their cultivation! The breathing technique¡¯s level is too low!¡± Fang Han said with confidence. ¡°When you reach level 10 breathing technique, your body will nurture a white dragon formed from Qi that can both attack and defend. ¡°From now on, one will be added for every ten levels. As the number of white dragons increases, the combat power of the martial artists who cultivate the Qi circulation technique will also increase. ¡°Starting from the four white dragons, the breathing technique can be on par with any dojo¡¯s martial arts. Its attack is no weaker than the thunderflash skill, and its defense is comparable to the six directions skill. ¡°Five white dragons, one for each of the same realm. With six white dragons, no one in the same realm in Pingnan City can defeat them!¡± Fang Han¡¯s voice grew louder as the number of white dragons increased. The apprentices¡¯ eyes glowed as they listened to Fang Han. Qin Huai listened to Fang Han¡¯s words thoughtfully. His Qi-nurturing technique had already nurtured a white dragon, and he would have to wait until he reached level 10. Would the white dragon from the Qi cultivation technique disappear, or would he have two white dragons? ¡°Come, I¡¯ll get someone to demonstrate to you.¡± Fang Han rolled up his sleeves and glanced at the crowd. ¡°Has Qin Huai arrived yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Qin Huai walked out quickly. ¡°Oh?¡± Fang Han¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw Qin Huai. ¡®What a coincidence, so it was this kid.¡¯ ¡°Qin Huai? The name sounds familiar.¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s the one from the Slaughter Gang a few days ago.¡± || ¡°Yes, yes, yes, that¡¯s him. I heard he went to the Thunderbolt Dojo first to participate in the test and was rejected.¡± ¡°Why? He¡¯s a hero, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of his poor root bone! He¡¯s even worse than ordinary people.¡± A group of apprentices whispered among themselves, pointing at Qin Huai, who was walking past them. ¡°Then how did he get into our Changshan Dojo?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s steps were steady, as if he had not heard anything. Fang Han smiled. ¡°Qin Huai once cultivated a technique with an extremely high level, and this technique is of the same origin as the longevity art of Changshan Dojo. That¡¯s why Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation is faster than all of you here. That¡¯s why you don¡¯t doubt your own talent and affect your Dao heart.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± The apprentices immediately understood. ¡°No wonder he was able to enter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he got in through connections.¡± Fang Han smiled and did not care about the noisy crowd in front of him. ¡°Next, Qin Huai and I will show you the power of the breathing technique.¡± Fang Han then looked at Qin Huai and said, ¡°Attack me with all your might.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He instantly urged the white dragon in his body to break out. It was a windless courtyard, but Qin Huai¡¯s long robe fluttered in the wind, and his hair was raised. Fang Han was not far off either, and the two exchanged blows in front of many apprentices. The sound of the drum being blown could be heard, but their legs had never touched. After witnessing that astonishing force, Sun Ziyao and the others were dumbfounded. Qin Huai had no intention of being ostentatious, so his attack was reserved. As for Fang Han, he only made a few casual moves, and the two men retreated. ¡°His breathing is long. Has he made some progress in his cultivation of the breathing technique?¡± Fang Han was surprised. A long breath was one of the characteristics of the initial stage of the breathing technique. As for the specific level, he really didn¡¯t know. Only when the white dragon was raised to level 10 would there be a transformation. ¡°It seems you¡¯re beyond level 1. With the foundation of the Qi cultivation technique, it was no surprise that you¡¯ve cultivated faster.¡± ¡°You have a good eye, Instructor Fang,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°Look, as you can see, Qin Huai has only been looking at the cultivation technique for a day or two. I think he has already reached level 2 breathing technique.¡± Fang Han looked at the crowd. ¡°So don¡¯t be impetuous just because Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation progress is a little faster than yours. Do you understand?!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± the apprentices responded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the training. All those who were whispering and gossiping about Qin Huai just now will have an additional four hours of training!¡± Fang Han suddenly changed the topic. ¡°Ah?¡± the apprentices immediately wailed. ¡°Don¡¯t test my patience, or I¡¯ll add an additional eight hours of training! I¡¯m telling fellow disciples should help each other! We¡¯ll support each other! I don¡¯t care what you, others think. As long as they are my students, if you attack your fellow disciples or slander them in private¡­I¡¯ll personally cripple you! Do you understand?¡± Fang Han¡¯s fiendish look instantly made the atmosphere on the drill ground depressed. The crowd took a long time to come back to their senses and quickly agreed. ¡°Understood!¡± Chapter 22 - Fang Hans Decision! Chapter 22 Fang Han¡¯s Decision! The so-called dummy training was a training method created by the head of the Changshan Dojo based on the characteristics of the breathing technique. It could increase the cultivation speed of the breathing technique. Qin Huai cultivated under Fang Han¡¯s guidance for an entire day, and in the end, the long breath technique¡¯s experience points only increased by five. At the same time, he picked up the experience balls from the new apprentices, Sun Ziyao, and the others. It was a lot of people¡ªthere were more than thirty of them. However, they were all apprentices, and it was their first time cultivating the Qi circulation technique. Out of those people, the highest one gave Qin Huai two experience points, and the rest only had a pitiful one experience ball. This was probably the lowest value for an experience orb. ¡°If I were to cultivate step by step, just from level 9 to 10, I would have to spend two hundred days, so if I want to cultivate all ten levels, I¡¯ll need a few years.¡± Qin Huai sat by the window, watching the rising sun. ¡°The stupid bird flies first. I need to continue working hard.¡± He folded the bedding and pushed open the door. He would go and collect five experience balls. Huu~ A cold wind suddenly gushed into his collar, causing Qin Huai to shiver. ¡°It¡¯s only autumn, and it¡¯s already so cold.¡± Qin Huai wrapped his long robe tighter around him. The autumn and winter in this world were exceptionally cold, and the bone-chilling wind was too much for even a warrior to bear. It was better last year. This year¡¯s autumn seemed to be only slightly better than the previous winter. ¡°The weather is getting weirder and weirder. I wonder if it¡¯s related to the demons,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. Pingnan city did not produce cotton, so even those rich merchants and aristocrats might not have a cotton-padded coat in their families. Ordinary people could only chop down large amounts of trees and firewood to keep warm. They would stock up on food at home and survive the long winter as if they were in hibernation. ¡°Many more people will die this winter.¡± Qin Huai rubbed his hands and immediately activated his Qi-nurturing technique. The qi and blood in his body churned, and his face turned red at a visible rate. In just a few moments, the cold air was forced out by him. ¡°Luckily, I¡¯m already a second-tier martial artist. Adding on the fact that the Qi of the Qi-nurturing technique is long, I can maintain it. This can be considered a different type of cultivation. But it¡¯s still not enough. It¡¯s far from enough.¡± As usual, Qin Huai strolled around a few drill grounds and climbed over the walls to collect experience orbs. While he was focused, not far away, Fang Han, who was doing his morning exercise, happened to see Qin Huai lying on the wall. ¡°You¡¯re so hardworking.¡± ¡°I know that my root bone is not good enough, so I will observe the methods and learn their strengths.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Fang Han praised, ¡°I think you must have had a good foundation to be able to reach such a high level in the Qi-nurturing technique.¡± He reflected on it and started to frown. ¡°Practicing martial arts is indeed a matter that requires the use of the brain. Not bad, not bad.¡± Fang Han¡¯s admiration for Qin Huai grew. ¡®I¡¯ll teach him well in the future. He¡¯ll definitely be a genius!¡± Fang Han thought that from today onwards, his sparring partner would be Qin Huai. He wanted him to comprehend his own breathing technique, and the fastest improvement was to experience it personally. He made up his mind and left the place after his morning exercise. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +61!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +46!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ],[Breath Control] Experience +74!¡± After Qin Huai walked through two drill grounds, he stopped at a hidden corner. He sat cross-legged on the ground, feeling the increasingly powerful Qi and blood in his body. ¡°Compared to the increase in vitality brought by level 10 breath control, the effect of the breathing technique seems to be better,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. This was probably the difference between a good cultivation technique and an ordinary cultivation technique. Qin Huai let out a light breath, and white mist poured out. It lasted for a full twenty to thirty breaths. There was a breeze blowing around him, and his clothes and hair fluttered. He peeked at himself and noticed there were two white dragons in his dantian. As expected, the white dragon formed by the Qi cultivation technique didn¡¯t disappear. A white dragon was also born at level 10 long breath technique. With a thought, two white dragons burst out of Qin Huai¡¯s body. On the edge of the fist, the waves of air became clearer and more compact. Not to mention its power, the sense of oppression was also getting stronger. ¡°In other words, I have one more white dragon than others in the same realm. To reach what Fang Han said, the thunderflash skill¡¯s offense is no weaker than it, and the defense is comparable to the six directions skill. I only need to practice it three times.¡± Qin Huai added. Even if their vitality was slightly weaker, they did not need to worry about being suppressed by the martial artists from other dojos. Qin Huai went around to the other drill grounds and collected the remaining three sets of experience balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +30!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +27!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +103!¡± As expected, the experience points of these first-grade martial artists have decreased sharply. The experience orbs given by the second-grade martial artists have not changed much. Qin Huai looked at his personal panel with a calm expression. Name: Qin Huai [Cultivation Methods]: [Breathing technique (level 10, 1766/2000) ], [Qi-nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [Breath Control technique (level 10, 501/1000) ],[Thunderflash skill (level 0, 100/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°After getting level 10 breathing technique, the five drill grounds can only provide me with 2600 to 2700 experience points a day, which is a little more than one level.¡± Qin Huai estimated. In about eight or nine days, he would reach level 20 Qi cultivation technique and catch up to his current realm. ¡°Level 10 breathing technique makes one a black-plate disciple, and they¡¯ll get a bowl of blood Qi soup every three days.¡± Qin Huai remembered it very clearly. However, he didn¡¯t intend to reveal his realm today. After all, he had only been at the Changshan Dojo for two days. The other apprentices were given half a year to enter the breathing technique, and it would be too shocking to reach level 10 breathing technique in two days. ¡°In half a month, I have the foundation of the Qi cultivation technique, so it¡¯s about the same time. It¡¯s not that shocking.¡± Qin Huai wanted to keep a low profile and not attract too much attention. When he walked into the small courtyard for cultivation, he heard Fang Han say, ¡°You¡¯re just in time!¡± However, Sun Ziyao and the rest of the young apprentices were already cultivating. ¡°Qin Huai, I can¡¯t breathe properly when I¡¯m using the breathing technique. Can you help me take a look?¡± Sun Zi Yao ran over the moment he saw Qin Huai. Qin Huai didn¡¯t refuse and passed on the details he had worked hard to obtain.Sun Ziyao was so good at it that all the problems he raised were easily solved. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re really a god!¡± Sun Ziya praised. ¡°M-Me too. I-I have the same problem.¡¯ || The few of them asked one after another, and Qin Huai answered most of them easily. Even the young apprentices swarmed over. ¡°It¡¯s just a foundation. What¡¯s there to be proud of?¡± Li Zhang looked sourly at Qin Huai, who was the center of attention. ¡°In a few months, we¡¯ll surpass him in the realm of our breathing technique!¡± the few of them vowed. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you that fellow disciples should help each other?!¡± Fang Han¡¯s voice was like thunder behind them. It made the hair of the few people stand on end. ¡°Instructor Fang!¡± Fang Han¡¯s face was serious as he spoke. ¡°You must be good at discovering other people¡¯s strengths and stabilize your Dao hearts. You¡¯ll all train for two more hours after the normal training!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± They naturally did not dare to resist. ¡°Qin Huai! You, come over here!¡± Fang Han waved his hand. ¡°You¡¯ll be my sparring partner today.¡± Seeing Qin Huai¡¯s diligence, Fang Han also decided to teach him seriously. In the path of martial arts, one¡¯s body would never be out of date. Chapter 23 - Senior Brother Qins Cultivation is Faster Than Ours Chapter 23 Senior Brother Qin¡¯s Cultivation is Faster Than Ours Fang Han had short hair that went past his neck and a full beard, but he was wearing a white robe. There were also terrifying muscles that filled up his white robe, making him look extremely strange. It was like in a bar where one met a 300-pound courtesan who was dressed up. Fang Han first called Qin Huai to his side, then looked at the crowd. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching at the gate for a long time just now. Many of you are perfunctory when it comes to practicing the stance. You¡¯re not putting in any effort at all! ¡°In your daily training, never treat the pole-training in front of you as a dead object. You have to imagine him as a living thing. This is the only way to maximize the effect of the training.¡± Fang Han added with a serious face, ¡°But a dead object will always be a dead object. ¡°That¡¯s right. The killing stake is definitely not as good as practicing with a living person. ¡°That might not be the case. Li Han, when you stole the 16-person erotic scene from your father¡¯s bedroom, I felt that the inanimate object might not be an inanimate object.¡± ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± The group of young men in front laughed out loud. ¡°Shut up!¡± Fang Han was furious. ¡°Did you all just ignore what I said earlier? Focus on your training and don¡¯t interrupt me. You¡¯re the messiest group of apprentices I¡¯ve ever taught.¡± The apprentices in front of him suddenly fell silent. In the distance, Sun Ziyao and the others remained silent. ¡°After that, train for another four hours! The hard work you¡¯ve put in during your daily training will save your lives in the future. Therefore, you must be on your guard every time you practice your driving.¡± Fang Han returned to the main topic after setting the daily additional training quota. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll dismantle the long breath technique¡¯s offensive and defensive abilities for you. ¡°I¡¯ll use a white dragon first, and I¡¯ll gradually improve it later. I¡¯ll remind you when the time comes, so don¡¯t be distracted.¡± Fang Han stared at Qin Huai. Qin Huai nodded. All he had to do was wait for it to show that it was in pain when he activated the two white dragons. Fang Han¡¯s lips curled up. How could he really only use one white dragon? He would use the two white dragons to directly break through Qin Huai¡¯s defense and accurately hit the point where Qin Huai¡¯s long breath technique was exerted. He wanted to use pain to carefully experience the feeling. Hu! Fang Han¡¯s fist whistled along with the wind. The wind was gentle, but there was still power hidden behind it. The two white dragons, one in front and one behind, instantly attacked Qin Huai¡¯s waist. The angle was tricky, and the attack was strange. ¡®So fast!¡¯ Qin Huai focused his attention, but he was still unable to defend against this tricky punch. Before he could react, the two dragons in his body seemed to sense the danger and formed a Qi wall to block it. ¡®As expected of the long breath technique. The white dragon seems to have gained intelligence. This Qi is like my muscles, merging into my ¡®muscle instinct.¡¯ It will automatically react when in danger.¡¯ Qin Huai praised in his heart. However, the white dragon¡¯s energy consumption had also increased. He tried it again and found that this ¡®automatic mode¡¯ could be switched on and off at will. As an instructor, Fang Han¡¯s experience in fighting was really shrewd. In an instant, he caught his own gap. Bang! Bang! The punch landed, and a confident smile appeared on Fang Han¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the first lesson. Never trust a cricket when fighting.¡± The next moment¡­ The smile on his face stopped. This was because Qin Huai, who was standing in front of him, was actually standing in the same spot without moving an inch! ¡°You¡¯re fine?¡± Fang Han was surprised. Qin Huai staggered and took three steps back. Fang Han¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool?¡± He had cultivated the Qi circulation technique for many years, so how could he not know what kind of reaction his punch would have? According to common sense, Qin Huai should be lying on the ground already, rolling a few times. His punch should have made Qin Huai remember the point of force in his heart. He had also shown these kids the terrifying power of the white dragons and established his prestige. It should be killing two birds with one stone, but¡­ there was something strange about this kid! ¡°I used two white dragons for that punch.¡± Fang Han¡¯s expression was solemn, but he could not hide the joy in his eyes. He had sensed the familiar power in Qin Huai¡¯s body from the punch just now. ¡°I¡¯m lucky. I just raised two white dragons today.¡± Qin Huai could only admit it. Fang Han was obviously going to get to the bottom of it, so he might as well tell him about his breakthrough. However, he felt a little helpless. Why did Fang Han lie about sparring? ¡°Two white dragons?!¡± Fang Han raised his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve already cultivated the long breath to level 10?! Qin Huai nodded. Gulp~~ Behind him, the apprentices could not help but swallow their saliva. ¡°This Qin Huai! Senior Brother Qin, has only been here for a few days, yet he¡¯s already cultivated the long breath technique to level 10?¡± ¡°Did he already cultivate the Qi circulation technique before this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. If outsiders find out they¡¯re cultivating the Qi circulation technique, they¡¯ll die! Do you really think the dojo is weak?¡± ¡°Then, even if Senior Brother Qin enters the dojo for three days, he¡¯ll be ten times stronger after that.¡± The apprentices discussed among themselves, looking at Qin Huai with respect. Sun Ziyao and the rest, who were not far away, were not any better. ¡°Qin Huai, show me your breathing technique!¡± Fang Han¡¯s eyes widened, afraid to miss a single detail. Things had already come to this, so Qin Huai didn¡¯t refuse. He activated the breathing technique and performed a set of fist techniques on the training stance in front of him. ¡°It really is level 10! Good! Good!¡± Fang Han¡¯s face was ruddy, and his excitement was beyond words. ¡°Instructor Fang, is this what you meant by Senior Brother Qin¡¯s cultivation speed being a little faster than ours? Can you tell us how much of Senior Brother Qin¡¯s cultivation speed we have?¡± Li Zhang tried to find joy in his suffering. He had mocked Qin Huai before and had even been given extra training because of his enigmatic tone. But now, he no longer had such thoughts. Competing with a level 10 genius of the three heavens? Wouldn¡¯t that be courting death? ¡°Get lost!¡± Fang Han cursed angrily, but the smile on his face did not disappear. ¡°Come with me, we¡¯ll go find the head.¡± Fang Han took Qin Huai¡¯s hand and then let it to drink the Qi and blood soup and eat Qi and blood pills earlier, so in the end, it would be a good thing for him. Qin Huai remained calm. No matter how this matter developed, it would definitely be beneficial to him. ¡°Level 10 in three days! Level 10 in three days! Our Changshan Dojo will prosper!¡± Fang Han hummed and bumped into Gu Shengcai halfway. ¡°Senior Brother Fang, why are you so happy? You found a genius?¡± Gu Shengcai joked. ¡°Indeed! I¡¯ve found a genius! Kid, you¡¯ve done a good job too!¡± Fang Han laughed, grabbed Gu Shengcai in his arms, and spun him around. Gu Shengcai was so tired that his face turned red. It was not easy for him to break free. ¡°What happened?¡± Gu Shengcai was full of doubts. ¡°Is it Qin Huai?¡± He suddenly remembered that the only person he had recruited recently was Qin Huai. Fang Han nodded and kept him in suspense. ¡°He¡¯s only been in the dojo for three days, but he¡¯s already at level 3 breathing technique?¡± ¡°No, Senior Brother, I think you¡¯re wrong. It¡¯s level 5 or 6.¡± Gu Shengcai smiled. He had also seen Qin Huai peeking at the other martial artists cultivating on the drill ground from the courtyard wall this morning, so it must be the same person Senior Brother Fang had mentioned a while ago. ¡®Such hard work, in addition to the foundation of the Qi cultivation technique¡­Level 5 in that realm is a little shocking, but there¡¯s still a slight possibility¡­ ¡°No wonder Senior Brother is so happy.¡± Gu Shengcai could not help but laugh. The Changshan Dojo had always been the last of the eight centers. However, the quality was still not up. There had never been any top-notch good seedlings. So, if there was really a genius who could reach level 5 or 6 in three days, there was indeed a chance for the dojo to be promoted. ¡°It¡¯s level 10 in three days.¡± Fang Han replied. ¡°But, Senior Brother, those three days of leveling up might also be due to the foundation of the Qi-nurturing technique. Why don¡¯t you observe first?¡± Gu Shengcai¡¯s voice stopped, and his expression changed. ¡°Senior Brother, what did you just say?¡± ¡°Qin Huai, that kid, used three days at most to cultivate the long breath technique to level 10. He¡¯s already raised two white dragons in his body!¡± Hiss~! Gu Shengcai could not help but gasp. ¡®Level 10?! Is he really a human?¡¯ In any case, it¡¯s impossible to explain the speed of his cultivation just by having the foundation of ¡®Qi cultivation.¡¯ ¡°Then, Senior Brother, where are you going?¡± ¡°To find Master!¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯ll come with you!¡± The two of them didn¡¯t say anything and ran to the mountain behind the dojo. Chapter 24 - The 80-year-old Dojo Master and Senior Brothers Gifts Chapter 24 The 80-year-old Dojo Master and Senior Brothers¡¯ Gifts The Changshan Dojo¡¯s master was located halfway up the mountain. It was the mountain behind the dojo. Climbing up along the winding path in the forest, they could see a broken platform at the end. The broken platform was 200 square meters and surrounded by a fence. Next to the wooden fence, there was a wooden sign. It was crooked like a child¡¯s scribble, with the words ¡®Changshan Ancestral House¡¯. There was only a simple thatched hut. In front of it, an old man with white hair and a ruddy complexion stood at the edge of the broken platform in a white robe. His long hair covered his waist. He was Sun Yuanshan, the master of the Changshan Dojo. Below his feet was a cliff that was hundreds of meters high. The cloud and mist floated and quietly arrived at the old man¡¯s feet. He was like an immortal, looking at the dojo under the mist. The burly man behind him was Rong Li. He was dressed in short grayish-brown clothes. His head was twice the size of the others, and he had shaved his head. He looked quite funny, but in the past, almost no one dared to laugh at him when he went out, because he was Sun Yuanshan¡¯s eldest disciple and also the great instructor of the Changshan Dojo. ¡°Master, we¡¯ve lost miserably again in this year¡¯s competition between the eight great centers. Among the top ten, Qi Yangbing is the only one who managed to secure tenth place. ¡°Reihom from the Thunderbolt Dojo is only 23 years old, but he¡¯s already been at the top for two years. He has the potential to suppress the elites of Pingnan City and become the true number one of the eight martial arts centers. Once that happens, we might not be able to keep our iron mine.¡± Rong Li frowned, his face full of worry. The dojo only got tenth place in the contest, so losing face for the dojo was secondary. The key was that if the ranking was low, the number of apprentices that could be recruited would be fewer. Those good seedlings that had long been eyed by the eight big martial arts centers would rarely choose the weakest among them. If this continues, the Changshan Dojo would only become weaker and weaker. ¡°We¡¯ve been guarding the gate for three years. If this continues, I¡¯m afraid our low threshold conditions won¡¯t attract too many people.¡±Rong Li sighed. Sun Yuanshan said calmly, ¡°The fourth refinement realm of the breathing technique is good at both attack and defense. It¡¯s not weaker than any other technique. ¡°To put it bluntly, the four white dragons can only be considered average. They are not strong in offense and defense. Compared to the other seven, they are indeed a little worse. ¡°If he has five white dragons, Yangbing might be able to fight for first place.¡± Rong Li sighed again. ¡°If Qi Yangbing could cultivate the five white dragons, I wouldn¡¯t have to complain to Master.¡± ¡°Haha! There¡¯s no hurry. Our technique can also extend one¡¯s lifespan. We¡¯ll definitely be able to kill those in first place.¡± Sun Yuanshan touched his long beard and laughed. Rong Li rolled his eyes at his master. He really didn¡¯t respect his elders. But his master was not lying. His master had been the dojo master for fifty years, while the other seven dojo masters had changed for two or three generations. Now, his master was already eighty years old, and he was still one of the top three masters of the eight big martial arts centers. It had never been a lie that the more one cultivated the long breath technique, the stronger one would be. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the young people today don¡¯t have the patience. The world today doesn¡¯t allow them to wait, ¡°Rong Li said faintly. ¡°Things are different now compared back then.¡± Sun Yuanshan was silent as he slowly recited the breathing technique. ¡°Master! Master!¡± Suddenly, urgent shouts broke the silence. Fang Han pulled Gu Shengcai and quickly ran to the highest point of the dojo. ¡°Fang Han, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Rong Li frowned. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± Fang Han quickly cupped his fists when he saw Rong Li. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve found a talent!¡± The joy in Fang Han¡¯s eyes did not diminish. Fang Han didn¡¯t wait for Sun Yuanshan to ask about it. He told him everything about Qin Huai. ¡°Is this true?¡± Rong Li¡¯s eyes also lit up when he heard this. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, why would I joke about this?¡± Fang Han pulled a long face. ¡°Master, there¡¯s a change in our Changshan Dojo¡¯s momentum!¡± Rong Li looked at Sun Yuanshan and said, ¡°Master, I suggest that we directly raise Qin Huai¡¯s treatment to that of a gold disciple. We¡¯ll supply him with Qi and blood soup and Qi and blood pills. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry?¡± Sun Yuanshan waved his sleeves and glanced at Rong Li with dissatisfaction. ¡°He¡¯s only at level 10 of the breathing technique. I can¡¯t tell what his talent what will Qi Yangbing be like?¡± He continued, ¡°If something happens to Qin Huai, and the so-called compatibility is only up to level 10, how will we explain it to all our disciples? Should we continue to maintain Qin Huai¡¯s special privileges? Or should we remove them all at once and leave the disciples with a mean image of only caring about benefits?¡± Sun Yuanshan unhurriedly explained the pros and cons one by one. ¡°At that time, how are we going to gather people¡¯s hearts and survive in this chaotic great world?¡± He walked to Rong Li¡¯s side and patted his shoulder. ¡°I didn¡¯t think about it.¡± Rong Li¡¯s face turned green and white when he heard this. ¡°Rong Li, you must think twice before you act. Don¡¯t be anxious. How are you going to take over the Changshan Dojo in the future with such an impatient personality?¡± Sun Yuanshan lectured. ¡°Your disciple understands.¡± Rong Li¡¯s face was serious. ¡°Master, Qin Huai has cultivated his breathing technique to level 10, but the white dragon he raised with his Qi-nurturing technique hasn¡¯t disappeared. This matter has greatly increased his battle prowess in the same realm. Can this method be imitated?¡± Gu Shengcai suggested, bowing very deeply. ¡°He¡¯s right. The Qi-nurturing technique and the breathing technique are of the same origin. Is there a chance to do so?¡± Fang Han agreed. Rong Li didn¡¯t say anything, but he also looked at Sun Yuanshan. The meaning was self-evident. If the martial artists of the Changshan Dojo had a white dragon of the same realm, they could instantly rise from the bottom of the eight schools to the top three or even the top two. ¡°I was the one who altered the Liu family brat¡¯s Qi cultivation technique. The two techniques can be considered to be of the same origin, but there¡¯s no shortcut. ¡°Cultivating two techniques at the same time might increase your battle prowess at the same cultivation level, but your cultivation level will also increase slowly because of this. ¡°When the time comes, you¡¯ll have the upper hand in the second refinement, but most of them will be in the third or even fourth refinement. What should you do? ¡°Don¡¯t pick up a watermelon and lose an even bigger one.¡± Sun Yuanshan explained slowly. ¡°It can only be said that Qin Huai is lucky to be able to cultivate two techniques at the same time. As for Qin Huai¡¯s treatment, we¡¯ll still follow the rules. Level 10 is black plate.¡± Fang Han and Gu Sheng were about to speak when they heard Sun Yuanshan add helplessly, ¡°But you can take care of these apprentices with potential in private.¡± The eyes of the three people immediately lit up. ¡°As expected of Master!¡± ¡°Alright. I don¡¯t need to teach you the rest. If you want to see results in Qin Huai¡¯s matter, it will probably take about half a year.¡± Sun Yuanshan counted on his fingers, then waved to the crowd and left. ¡°Qin Huai, you will be promoted to a black-plate disciple. You¡¯ll receive a bowl of Qi and blood soup every three days.¡¯ Fang Han, who had rushed back in a hurry, || only gave Qin Huai a black waist token after informing the crowd. He then disappeared in a hurry. ¡°Huh? That¡¯s it?¡± Qin Huai was confused. ¡°Level 10 of the breathing technique is equal to level 10 treatment. It¡¯s very reasonable if you think about it.¡± Sun Ziyao, Li Zhang, and the others mumbled to themselves. They were also baffled. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Blue)], [Breathing Technique] Experience +99!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +32!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breathing Technique] Experience +33!¡± ¡­ The next morning, Qin Huai collected the five experience balls. He had just arrived at the courtyard, and it was packed with people. Li Zhang, Sun Ziyao, and the rest surrounded him, while Fang Han and Gu Shengcai whispered to each other. ¡°Qin Huai is here!¡± someone shouted, and the crowd immediately parted to make a path. Thye let Qin Huai in. He took a closer look and saw that Fang Han and Gu Shengcai each had wooden bucket by their feet. ¡°Qin Huai, our dojo¡¯s senior brothers heard that you reached level 10 in three days, so they specially gathered two buckets of blood Qi soup. Congratulations!¡± Chapter 25 - Rival: Qi and Blood Bar Chapter 25 Rival: Qi and Blood Bar ¡°Two buckets¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the two wooden buckets on the ground, and his heart stirred. He had been practicing martial arts for more than a year, but he had only had a few bowls of soup. He had never seen a scene where blood and Qi were calculated by buckets. ¡°Wow, two buckets. My family is rich, but I¡¯ve never been so extravagant.¡± Li Zhang was drooling as he watched from the side. ¡°How many bowls does a bucket hold?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Everyone was at a loss, even Li Zhang and the other young master¡¯s apprentices. Only the eight big martial arts centers could afford such a generous gift, but it was not common. ¡°These two buckets are not just a matter of how many bowls of blood and Qi soup. We boiled them overnight and added in two demon legs.¡± Fang Han chuckled. Hiss~ Li Zhang took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from the old man that demon meat is more effective in replenishing Qi and blood. If you make it into Qi and blood soup, you¡¯ll achieve significant improvements. The reason why the Qi and blood soup is like that is that demon meat is too expensive. Ordinary people, or even ordinary wealthy merchants, can¡¯t afford it. Anyway, this is only to allow more people to increase their vitality.¡± The others came to a realization, and their gaze toward the wooden buckets became more and more passionate. ¡°You guys should practice hard. When you break through the realm with lightning speed, we senior brothers and sisters will also prepare a generous gift for you!¡± Fang Han put his hands on his waist, invigorating everyone¡¯s fighting spirit. After hearing those words, the crowd seemed to be on steroids. For the entire morning, they did not even need Fang Han¡¯s urging, and they were all fully focused on their practice. Fang Han pulled Qin Huai to the side. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve reached level 10, you¡¯re no longer an apprentice. You¡¯re now an official disciple of the dojo¡± ways He chose his words carefully. ¡°There are three for a martial arts center to make money. The first is to collect registration fees from examinees from all over the country who wish to learn martial arts. ¡°The second is to deliver goods for the shops in the city, big and small, and guard the restaurants to prevent them from being harassed by gangs and mountain bandits. Or someone will hire us to move out of the town and collect protection fees. ¡°The third is the main source of income for the dojo, mining, smelting iron, and making weapons and armors to sell to all parties. Behind the dojo, which is also the White Flow Mountain, is a huge mine. The disciples will go to the mine to mine and refine iron.¡± Qin Huai listened to Fang Han¡¯s words with a calm expression. This was because he had already heard about the mine from Luo Fei. ¡°But this mine doesn¡¯t belong to the dojo alone. It¡¯s divided equally with the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± Fang Han¡¯s eyes turned cold as he spoke. ¡°The disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo also learn blacksmithing, so we share this business equally. ¡°But even though it¡¯s said to be evenly divided, there¡¯s actually no clear boundary. It¡¯s okay to make iron. Most of the time, it¡¯s just business fights. There¡¯s not much blood. ¡°But even though mining in the mountains is easy, the disciples of the two dojos have conflicts almost every day.¡± Fang Han continued, ¡°You¡¯ll be going into the mountain for the first time at six in the evening today, so be careful of the Thunderbolt Dojo¡¯s disciples who will attack you. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°The other six dojos should have similar businesses, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Han¡¯s expression relaxed a lot when he said this. ¡°There are three most profitable businesses in Pingnan City: ironware, prostitution, medicine, and blood Qi soup. Our Changshan Dojo and the Thunderbolt Dojo are fighting for the White Flow Mountain and the iron mine. ¡°The Crane Dojo, Tyrant Fist Dojo, and Six Harmonies Dojo are fighting for the medicine fields in the Small Medicine Mountain and the medicine shop business in the city. ¡°The remaining three are the Yao Mountain Saber Dojo, Three Tassels Spear Dojo, and White Wave Fist Dojo, which are known as the second class of the eight great martial arts centers. They often deceive women who would escape to Pingnan City and send them to brothels to earn money. ¡°The final one is the blood Qi soup. All eight big martial arts centers are making it.¡± After listening to Fang Han¡¯s words, Qin Huai had a clearer understanding of the eight major martial arts centers. As for why the third-class Changshan Dojo dared to compete with the unique Thunderbolt Dojo, he could roughly guess the reason. After the second white dragon, he could clearly feel that his abilities, be it in terms of attack or defense, had greatly improved. Fang Han said, ¡°It might be an exaggeration to say that the breathing technique was the strongest technique among the eight dojos, but it was definitely not a lie.¡± It was probably because the Changshan Dojo¡¯s master is a very powerful existence that could make the Thunderbolt Dojo afraid. In addition, although the first few stages of the breathing technique were low in combat power, the first few stages were the weakest. Fortunately, the Changshan Dojo had the advantage in numbers. With the two added together, they dared to compete with the Thunderbolt Dojo for business. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t eat too much blood and Qi soup every day. Do it according to your ability,¡± Fang Han remembered and quickly explained. ¡°Although you won¡¯t die suddenly if you drink too much, the Qi and blood will overflow, and the blood from your nose will cause the Qi and blood soup to be wasted. So, just take an appropriate amount every day.¡± The day¡¯s training ended. Qin Huai carried the two buckets of blood and Qi soup back to his small house. Fang Han told himself that these wooden buckets were special and had excellent sealing effects. The soup was also long-lasting, so there was no need to worry about the loss of vitality. He lifted the lid of a wooden bucket, and a rich meaty aroma assaulted his senses. The plump meat was soaked in the scarlet soup, which greatly increased one¡¯s appetite. Qin Huai scooped up a strip of demon meat with one hand and scooped up a bowl of soup with the other. When the meat and soup entered his stomach, a burning sensation instantly engulfed his entire body. His skin also turned red as if it was on fire. ¡°This blood and Qi soup is much more effective than the ones I used to drink.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone. The soup from before was definitely diluted. They were even selling it to him for 15 taels. Sure enough, there was no shortage of black-hearted vendors everywhere. However, it was all good now. He had already drunk the Qi and blood soup without any impurities. He then put the demon meat into his mouth. It was strong and smooth, fragrant and delicious. Even if it was simply processed, it was already delicious enough. Moreover, after the demon meat entered his stomach, Qin Huai¡¯s body was trembling and boiling. ¡°Eh?¡± He suddenly looked at his personal panel. There was an additional column on it. Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 23.413 [ Cultivation Methods: Breathing technique (Level 11, 1821/2000), Qi-nurturing technique (Level 50, 7/1000), Breath Control technique (Level 10, 501/1000), Thunderflash technique (Level 0, 100/1000) ] [Skills ]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°After I ate the demon meat, a vitality column showed up.¡± Qin Huai was curious, so he tried to drink another bowl of blood Qi soup. Immediately, the number after [ Vitality ] changed from 23.413 to 23.414. ¡°A bowl of soup only increased my vitality by 0.001.¡± He ate another 500 grams of demon meat and saw that his vitality had increased by 0.005. ¡°If a black-plate disciple gets a bowl of blood and Qi soup every three days, his blood and Qi will increase by 0.122 a year. Too bad I can¡¯t compare the effects of this blood Qi soup yet.¡± Qin Huai was slightly regretful. For the time being, it was impossible to compare the effects of Qi and blood soup and cultivation method advancement. ¡°But we¡¯ll know in eight or nine days,¡± Qin Huai muttered. The speed at which he was improving his breath enhancement technique had slowed down. He could only increase his speed by one level a day, so it would take eight or nine days to reach level 20. At that time, he should be able to see some changes. He ate two catties of demon meat and two bowls of blood Qi soup in one go. Just as he was about to refill the bowl, his nose started bleeding. ¡°It seems like this is my limit.¡± Qin Huai quickly wiped the blood from his nose and saw his vitality increase from 23.414 to 23.425. With his current body, he could only eat this much a day. In the words of medicine, this was to make up for his mistakes. He calculated that the two buckets of blood and Qi soup were about 20 catties of demon meat and 60 bowls of blood and Qi soup. A 0.16 increase in vitality was equivalent to more than a year¡¯s worth of a black-plate disciple, so this gift could be considered generous. ¡°Qin Huai, let¡¯s go. Prepare to enter the mountain.¡± Fang Han knocked on the door and opened it. ¡°It¡¯s your first time entering the mountain, so I¡¯m worried. I¡¯ll accompany you to get familiar with it.¡± Chapter 26 - A Bad Encounter in the Mine! Chapter 26 A Bad Encounter in the Mine! White Flow Mountain Qin Huai followed Fang Han, carrying an iron pick and a bamboo basket on his back, walking on a narrow path. Because they were going down the mountain, the two of them were walking very fast. Thus, in less time than it took an incense stick to burn, the two of them had reached the flat ground. Qin Huai looked into the distance and saw that the ground was covered in lush vegetation and dense forests. However, there were many potholes in between the weeds and shrubs. He bent down and picked up a piece of ¡®black stone.¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t this an iron ore?¡± Behind him, Fang Han just smiled and said nothing. Qin Huai walked for more than ten meters, and the ground was full of these iron ores. He bent down and used his hand as a knife and instantly stabbed it into the ground. However, he could only go in two inches and could not continue. Qin Huai pushed away the soil on the surface, then saw black iron veins and lodes. Many shrubs and roots grew on iron ore. ¡°Wow, this is amazing.¡± Qin Huai clicked his tongue in wonder. It was the first time he had seen vegetation growing on an iron mine. ¡°This White Flow Mountain is actually a huge iron mine. This place is also interesting. We call these plants iron trees, iron shrubs, and iron earth flowers. This wood is also quite solid, so it¡¯s often cut down to be used for training in the dojo,¡± Fang Han explained to Qin Huai as they walked. ¡°That¡¯s a good place with good feng shui,¡± Qin Huai continued. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s just that this place doesn¡¯t belong to our family alone.¡± As Fang Han spoke, the two of them stopped at a bush. Fang Han pushed aside the dense bushes, revealing the entrance to the mine before Qin Huai. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Fang Han took the lead. After walking down the iron steps for three to four meters, the two finally landed safely. At the end of this vision was a three-way fork. ¡°The mine began more than fifty years ago. For the past fifty years, countless people of all sizes have come to visit it. Therefore, there are a lot of forks in here, and the terrain is complicated. In addition, there are still a lot of bold people who try to mine here. Whether it¡¯s the Thunderbolt Dojo or us, we can¡¯t draw a detailed and complete map of the mine. ¡°Down here, you can encounter mountain bandits, thieves, and even the men of the Thunderbolt Dojo. You can even see people from the other six dojos from time to time.¡± Fang Han sneered. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re mining underground. Be careful.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Where there were benefits, there would be disputes. Armors and weapons had always been essential for those who wanted to dominate. And the iron ore needed to produce them was even more important. ¡°Then who are we going to sell the ironware to?¡± Qin Huai had wanted to ask this for a long time. This world advocated martial arts and allowed people to practice martial arts, but they were not allowed to wear armor on a large scale. Although the existence of martial artists could suppress ordinary people, they were still brave and invincible with heavy armor and soldiers. If they privately stationed a hundred armored soldiers, they could kill the entire family. ¡°Our biggest buyer is the city lord¡¯s mansion of Pingnan City. We also sell a small number of weapons to other cities.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qin Huai came to a realization. He had almost forgotten about the existence of the city lord¡¯s mansion. This was because the city lord¡¯s mansion in Pingnan City had a very low sense of existence. Normally, on the streets of the city, it was rare to hear people mention the existence of the city lord¡¯s mansion. He had not even seen the people from the city lord¡¯s mansion when he had massacred the gang and returned to the city. Only two dojos had come to recruit him. Over time, even Qin Huai had somewhat forgotten that there was still a city lord in Pingnan. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, although the eight major martial arts centers in Pingnan City are famous, the Pingnan City Lord¡¯s mansion can never be underestimated.¡± Fang Han seemed to have noticed Qin Huai¡¯s confusion, so he reminded him with a deeper meaning. ¡°From what I know, the Lord of Pingnan City has two thousand armored soldiers, not to mention the many mercenaries and death warriors kept in captivity.¡± Qin Huai understood. With just a little imagination, he could imagine the magnificent picture of thousands of steel torrents standing in front of him. It was beyond the reach of human power. ¡°The city lord of Pingnan City has a large number of troops in his hands, but he is so low-key¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. ¡°Hiding one¡¯s strength in the dark, one must have ambition.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Qin is smart.¡± Fang Han ended the conversation with a simple sentence, and the two of them tacitly stopped talking about it. Qin Huai was even more determined to be more cautious in the future. If he wanted to kill, he would definitely not leave any traces or eliminate them completely. The two of them walked for a while more, and they didn¡¯t know how many forks they passed. There were no hanging coal lamps in the mine, so Qin Huai lit a coal lamp. Despite the light, the visibility was only one or two meters. After a long time, Fang Han took off his iron pick and touched an iron mine wall. ¡°The deeper we go into this mine, the better the quality of the iron. There¡¯s no need to mine it and refine the impurities. That¡¯s why most people will go deep to mine iron ore. Not only does it save time and effort, but the price is also high.¡± He picked up the iron pick and knocked down a piece of iron ore with two moves. Qin Huai followed suit. He picked up the iron pick, and his Qi and blood gushed and gathered in his arms. ¡°Who dares to mine in the Thunderbolt Dojo¡¯s territory?¡± a loud shout came from behind. The footsteps were like the beating of drums, each more powerful than the last. Under the dim light, it was as if a cold light flashed in front of his eyes. Buzzzzzz! The broadsword slashed down toward Qin Huai. The coal lamp in Qin Huai¡¯s hand fell to the ground, and he instantly activated his breath control technique to hide in the darkness. The mine suddenly fell into silence. Next to his ear, the wind whistled, and the clanking of fists slowly sounded. The sound of wind and drums intertwined, and the strong fist force made Qin Huai feel uneasy. He retreated into the darkness. Then, he saw two blue experience balls fall to the ground in the dark. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Technique Essence (blue)], [Breathing Technique] Experience +199!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thundering Skill Essence (Blue) ],[Thunderflash Skill] Experience +173!¡± They were at least in the fourth refinement, so his experience points were almost the same as when he had encountered Reihom. Qin Huai looked at the experience points he had gained and calculated in his heart. ¡°I was wondering who it was. So it¡¯s you, Sixth Brother Qin, who¡¯s stealing the mine.¡± Fang Han was full of hatred. ¡°It¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t bring more people with me. I can¡¯t keep you, my great-grandson who stole the mine.¡± Sixth Brother Qin¡¯s words were filled with malice. ¡°Your grandson is getting more and more shameless as he gets older!¡± The two of them were equally matched in terms of their words, but their punches and kicks were also ruthless. After dozens of moves, the two had knocked down a lot of the iron ore. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll fight with you again. You¡¯ve broken our Thunderbolt Dojo mine.¡± Sixth Brother Qin cursed as he retracted his hand. However, the arrogance in his words did not diminish in the slightest. ¡°San¡¯er, pick up all the iron pieces on the ground and throw them into the big pot to refine.¡± Old Qin said while suppressing his anger. ¡°Yes.¡± The thin and weak youth, Hong San, quickly lit the coal lamp, picked up the scattered iron pieces on the ground, and threw them into the bamboo basket on his back. Just two steps behind the young man¡­ Qin Huai stood there quietly. He watched as Sixth Brother Qin and the young man left. Then, he lifted the coal lamp and immediately frowned. Under the weak light of the lamp, Qin Huai saw that Fang Han¡¯s hand was shaking. ¡°In the mines, we must try to avoid fighting one-on-one with the disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo. Otherwise, we will be the only ones suffering.¡± Fang Han taught him with words and actions. He wanted to let Qin Huai see the difference between the breathing technique and the rolling thunder skill. No wonder Fang Han had just swallowed his anger and did not attempt to fight Sixth Brother Qin for entering his own dojo¡¯s territory. He just couldn¡¯t win. ¡°That Sixth Brother Qin is the one you need to be most careful of.¡± Fang Han continued. ¡°He¡¯s sinister and cunning. In his early years, his lover died in a battle to invade our iron mine, so he hates us very much.¡± ¡°All year round, he ordered his disciples to cross the border and wander around our mine to destroy and kill. I just didn¡¯t expect him to step over it personally this time. Damn it. I must get revenge.¡± Fang Han gritted his teeth. ¡°What¡¯s his cultivation base at?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°Fourth refinement! Hong San beside him is his capable disciple. He¡¯s only around sixteen years old, but he¡¯s already a master of the second refinement realm,¡± Fang Han said in a low voice. ¡°He is said to be one of Reihom¡¯s disciples who have a chance of catching up to him.¡± Qin Huai silently noted this down. He knew that he was still far from being his opponent. The so-called ¡°four white dragons¡± being on par with the rumbling thunder skill was probably not true. The Changshan Dojo was still at a disadvantage against the Thunderbolt Dojo. However¡­ ¡®I have a great advantage in a pitch-dark place like the mine pit with my breath control technique. With this, I can participate in the fights between the disciples and my senior brothers in the Thunderbolt Dojo. If I can gather experience, I can cultivate the thunderflash skill and the breathing technique together.¡¯ Qin Huai pondered in his heart. At that time, there would be no more saying that he couldn¡¯t defeat the disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo because of his weak breathing technique. Chapter 27 - Three White Dragons! Spirit Eye Technique! Chapter 27 Three White Dragons! Spirit Eye Technique! ¡°Pay more attention to that little lamp, brat.¡± In the tunnel, Sixth Brother Qin walked for a long time before he slowly spoke, ¡°I didn¡¯t even notice his breathing or movement when he was hiding. He must¡¯ve practiced some breath control technique. This kind of person is the most difficult to deal with in the mine. If there¡¯s a chance, remember his face and observe his style and movement.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Hong San cupped his fists. Sixth Brother Qin¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold glint. Those who could be brought into the mine by Fang Han alone must be talents that the Changshan Dojo relied on. It was another unfamiliar face that he had never seen before. Most likely, he was a new recruit or a hidden genius of the Changshan Dojo. Anyway, it could be said that he had earned a lot on this trip. If he could figure out his identity, he would definitely find an opportunity to get rid of him! ¡­ After Qin Huai left the mine, he returned to the courtyard to continue his training. The first time he entered the mine, he had bumped into a sinister person like Sixth Brother Qin, who dared to bring a few people deep into the Changshan Dojo¡¯s territory to ¡®loot.¡¯ Qin Huai became even more cautious. For the past few days, he had only been digging for low-quality iron ores near the Changshan Dojo. Fang Han and the others had not given him any forging tasks. He had also picked some useful herbs to make a few bags of iron poison powder. This iron poison powder could even corrode iron and stone, and it was the best choice to destroy a corpse. Qin Huai woke up in the morning as usual and ate his fill of demon meat and Qi and blood soup. After that, he went to collect all the experience balls in the drill ground and then immersed himself in practicing martial arts. Even though his aptitude was pitifully poor, every bit of experience he gained was still a bit of experience. Time flew by. Eight or nine days passed by in a flash. After Fang Han returned that day, he immediately gathered a group of senior and junior brothers and rushed across the ¡®middle line¡¯ between the two dojos. Finally, yesterday, the two sides, which were already filled with the smell of gunpowder, immediately started a great battle. In the end, both sides suffered casualties. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Blue)], [Breath Control] Experience +99!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Blue)], [Breath Control] Experience +111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +35!¡± ¡­ Qin Huai sat cross-legged in the courtyard and finished the last remaining stock of the first barrel of blood and Qi soup, including the demon meat. It was a total of 20 catties of demon meat and 20 bowls of blood Qi soup. His vitality increased from 23.425 to 23.533, but of course, this was not the most important thing. The most important thing was that Qin Huai¡¯s breathing technique had finally reached the critical point-he was only two experience points away from level 20. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect I was only two points away.¡± Qin Huai shook his head and started cultivating with the breathing technique. After a full four hours, the last two experience points were added. Qin Huai immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, calming his heart and concentrating his Qi. In his dantian, countless streams of air gathered and collided with each other crazily, slowly forming the third dragon. ¡°My breathing technique is finally at level 20.¡± Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 25.533 [Cultivation Methods]: [Breathing technique (level 20, 1/3000) ], [Qi-nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [Breath Control technique (level 10, 501/1000) ],[Thunderflash skill (level 0, 273/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°My vitality has increased by two points.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up. He then picked up a stone that was used for training in the yard. The several hundred jin rock that was still a little difficult to lift a few days ago was now easily lifted by Qin Huai. And the most important thing was that his Qi and blood had become richer, and his skin had a light red glow. This was a sign of exuberant Qi and blood. ¡°As expected, compared to eating demon meat with blood and Qi soup, cultivating is much faster!¡± Qin Huai was excited. The blood and Qi soup and demon meat could only be considered as external forces, and the increase was minimal. At this moment, Sun Ziyao and the others returned from the school grounds. ¡°Brother Qin, we¡¯re going to the mine later, do you want to come?¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s face was full of smiles. This was a young man who was very familiar with others, and he had only been in the library for a few days. He became close with everyone. Whether it was Li Zhang and the others who were his apprentices, or Fang Han who always found excuses for them to practice more, they all got along well with Sun Ziyao. During this period, he had also invited Qin Huai to various gatherings he had organized. However, Qin Huai had rejected all of them with the excuse of cultivating. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Qin Huai agreed this time. According to past experience, the experience orbs provided by his fellow disciples would decrease even more after level 20, and it would take at least a month for him to advance to the third refinement. Moreover¡­ In a sense, the conflict between the two dojos had become useful for Qin Huai. This battlefield was practically a ¡®training ground¡¯ specially prepared for him to collect the experience balls of the disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo, so how could he refuse? Moreover, the two dojos were in a dispute, so Fang Han did not come to the drill ground for two days. He didn¡¯t have the chance to check the progress of his martial arts realm. He had a chance to delay the matter of cultivating his third white dragon, and he still did not plan to announce it immediately. After all, it took him eight or nine days to break through. It was simply too shocking. That was why Qin Huai would try his best to hide his edge. Even if he hid it for one more day, it would also help to reduce the level of ¡°shock.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great!¡± When Sun Ziyao heard Qin Huai agree, the smile on his face became even brighter. ¡­ Qin Huai followed Sun Ziyao and the others into the White Flow mine area again. At the entrance, there were more than a dozen small white tents. There were injured disciples and some doctors in the dojo who were bandaging their wounds. ¡°Why do I feel like there are more people?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s sharp senses detected the difference. There should only be 150 or 160 martial artists here. ¡°The two dojos have called their apprentices out these two days to occupy the land and mine,¡± Sun Ziyao said. He had many friends and was well-informed. ¡°It seems like they¡¯re competing to see who can mine the mine first to gain more.¡± These words sounded childish, like a child throwing a tantrum. But in the mine, every word reeked of blood. ¡°I feel that if this trend continues, the two parties will have to fight to the death to determine who is stronger.¡± A few of the cultivators who had just started out as small tryouts were all a little eager to try. ¡°Forget it. After all, the Thunderbolt Dojo is the number one dojo. I¡¯ll try not to fight if I can,¡± Qin Huai muttered. He had seen Fang Han and Sixth Brother Qin fight the other day, so he knew that the fighters from the Changshan Dojo were definitely weaker than those from the Thunderbolt Dojo. Once a large-scale battle broke out, it would probably be a disaster. ¡°Ziyao, you¡¯re here too. When you enter the mine, try not to make a move first. You have to restrain yourself. It¡¯s not a problem to beat them back or injure them, but try not to kill them. But, of course, if the other party wants to kill, then kill!¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s acquaintance ran over and gave everyone a few words of advice. ¡°Alright, why don¡¯t we part ways first?¡± As soon as Qin Huai and the others entered the mine, Yue Shuihan and the others proposed to leave by themselves. These martial artists had all cultivated other cultivation techniques before and were unwilling to reveal their trump card. ¡°Then I¡¯ll walk around by myself too.¡± Qin Huai also left the group. After walking for about a kilometer¡­ ¡°You guys from the Thunderbolt Dojo are too arrogant! How dare you act so atrociously in our Changshan Dojo¡¯s territory?¡± ¡°What do you mean by your territory? Is White Flow Mountain your clan¡¯s property?¡± ¡°Then just accept your death!¡± Qin Huai then heard the sounds of quarrels and fighting. He extinguished the coal lamp and activated his breath control technique to completely merge with the darkness. He touched the iron wall as he walked. Soon, he saw the two groups of people fighting. A few of them had rough techniques, weak vitality, and no order in their fights, so they were most probably apprentices. However, the few people leading the group were all first refinement experts, and their attacks were quite fierce. Qin Huai waited quietly. After a while, an experience ball that only he could see fell to the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Green) ], [Spirit Eye Technique] Experience +11!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Green) ], [Spirit Eye Technique] Experience +48!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Blue)], [Breath Control] Experience +65!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control] Experience +50!¡± Seeing all these experience balls, Qin Huai was speechless. Chapter 28 - The Strange Cultivation Technique of the Plum Blossom Split Open Twice! Chapter 28 The Strange Cultivation Technique of the Plum Blossom Split Open Twice! Qin Huai looked at the increase in his experience points and was speechless for a moment. These two groups of people kept saying ¡°Thunderbolt Dojo¡± and ¡°Changshan Dojo¡± but none of them were telling the truth. They were all pretending to be powerful. They should be mine thieves who came in from a mine tunnel that was connected to the White Flow Mountain. If it wasn¡¯t for the experience ball that allowed him to see through these people¡¯s disguises, he might have been ambushed by the two waves of people. However, forget about the spirit eye technique. Why did a wave of people with breath control appear around Pingnan City? He had watched as the breath control secret manual was burned, and the breath control technique had always been the Blackhawk Gang¡¯s symbol. He had never heard anyone mention any other forces that knew breath control techniques. That cultivation technique was indeed strange. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t burn the cultivation technique for small gains. Otherwise, he would definitely cause trouble for himself. Qin Huai quietly retreated, trying to distance himself from these unidentified people. He would go back and ask Fang Han and the others for information before making any plans. But who would have thought that a pair of lights suddenly appeared in the darkness? ¡°There¡¯s someone there!¡± Another pair of eyes flashed in the dark night. ¡°It¡¯s the uniform of the Changshan Dojo.¡± The two groups of people instantly gave up on fighting each other and headed straight for Qin Huai. A wave of coal lamps gathered, instantly leaving Qin Huai with nowhere to hide. Qin Huai could also see that the people on both sides had changed their clothes, but he couldn¡¯t tell which sect they were from. That¡¯s right. Snatching food from the mouths of tigers at the Changshan and Thunderbolt Dojos could be considered bold, but if one dared to show their identity and come so brazenly¡­that would mean that they didn¡¯t know what was good for him. ¡°Boss, he¡¯s alone,¡± someone said. ¡°He¡¯s new face. He¡¯s not on the list of the two dojos.¡± There were also people holding paintings in their hands. When the intruders heard this, their expressions calmed down and also became arrogant. ¡°Boss, can¡¯t you leave a complete body for such a delicate little brat?¡± ¡°Haha! What a pleasant surprise!¡± Ghost Nine¡¯s face was ferocious. ¡°Too bad, kid. You¡¯re out alone and you met us. You¡¯re really unlucky~¡± Ghost Nine brandished his strange long whip-like weapon, which was covered with blades, and instantly rushed toward Qin Huai. The blade whip in his hand suddenly swung. Like a silver snake, it whistled and exploded in the air. It sped forward with a strong wind and slashed down with a loud bang. Pa! The arrogant voice in the mine cave stopped. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open as they looked at the scene in disbelief. Qin Huai stretched out two fingers. He caught the sharp blade whip, and he didn¡¯t move at all. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Someone¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Wha¡­ Ugh, ugh, ugh¡­¡± Before Ghost Nine¡¯s voice had died away, a gust of wind poured into his mouth. It blocked his throat and made him unable to make a sound. In the next moment, Qin Huai was already in front of him. He clenched his fists and used all his strength. The three white dragons attacked together. Before the fist arrived, the white dragons had reached Ghost Nine, and the terrifying force seemed to turn into a fist of Qi, penetrating his body. Ghost Nine spat out blood on the spot, and his eyes cracked. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Blue)], [Spirit Eye Technique] Experience has increased by 162!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s feet stirred up the wind as if he had divine help. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯ll fight it out with him!¡± ¡°There are so many of us, and we can¡¯t even kill him?!¡± ¡°Yeah, if we run, none of us will survive!¡± The two groups of people cursed and charged toward Qin Huai with their fists and weapons in hand. Qin Huai didn¡¯t put on airs. The three white dragons didn¡¯t hold back at all. They formed a solid and invisible wall of air on the surface of their bodies. Bang! Bang! Bang! He was fighting one against many. Although two fists were no match for four hands, Qin Huai had the Qi wall to support him. It could be said to be a 360-degree three-dimensional defense with no dead angles. The blades of the punches and kicks came crashing down, but Qin Huai was unscathed. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± ¡°What kind of cultivation method is this guy practicing?!¡± The group of people was shocked and angry. They could not break through Qin Huai¡¯s defense no matter how they attacked him. They didn¡¯t even cut his clothes. They might be ¡®soft-hearted¡¯, but Qin Huai would not be soft-hearted. The white dragon wrapped around his fists, and he punched one of them with each punch. From the names, one could tell that the breath control technique and the spirit eye technique weren¡¯t cultivation techniques that focused on attacking. From the moment Ghost Nine and the others had charged forward, it was destined to be a one-sided slaughter. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Blue) ], [Spirit Eye Technique] experience has increased by 162!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience has increased by 22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Green) ], [Spirit Eye Technique] experience has increased by 41!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Blue)], [Spirit Eye Technique] experience has increased by 33!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Blue)], [Spirit Eye Technique] experience has increased by 22!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes seemed to clear away the clouds. The range of visibility increased as the experience points of spirit eye technique increased, and it became further and further, finally stopping at one meter. ¡°This spirit eye technique is just as its name suggests, it can increase one¡¯s range of sight in the dark,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. With this technique and the breath control technique, he could easily escape. It was simply tailor-made for the terrain of the iron mine. ¡°I don¡¯t need to use the gas lamp anymore. I can move freely in the mine. In this terrain, as long as I don¡¯t cultivate a martial art with similar effects, I¡¯ll definitely have the upper hand in the same realm as long as I destroy the lantern first.¡± Being blind was too deadly for anyone. Even if he were to face a third refinement martial artist, Qin Huai would definitely be able to retreat easily, let alone defeat him. But of course, Qin Huai only thought about it. never take this risk unless he had no He would other choice. There were a total of eleven people in the two groups, and he had killed one first refinement martial artist each. ¡°Where did your cultivation method come from?¡± Qin Huai held a lamp and looked at the two of them with a cold expression. ¡°If I tell you, will you not kill us?¡± The man¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°If you speak any slower, you¡¯re really going to die.¡± ¡°I bought my spirit eye technique from a woodcutter.¡± ¡°I got my breath control technique from digging for treasures.¡± The two of them had long been scared out of their wits by Qin Huai¡¯s beating. ¡°From digging for treasure?¡± Qin Huai raised an eyebrow. ¡°A month ago, I snatched a treasure map in Songkou town and dug out this breath control technique according to the route on the treasure map,¡± the bandit said as he trembled and revealed a cultivation technique book in his arms. Qin Huai looked at the cultivation technique, and a strange smell hit him in the face. It was the same smell! Could one really dig out a cultivation technique from a treasure map? Qin Huai felt that something was amiss. ¡°Wait, you mean you¡¯ve cultivated breath control to level 10 in a month?¡± With this kind of cultivation speed, he would be considered a genius in the eight big dojos. ¡°Well¡­¡± the man stammered. ¡°Ah!¡± The crisp sound of his finger bones breaking made the man scream in pain. ¡°Yes, yes. If you keep this cultivation method in your arms and cultivate, it will increase cultivation speed by a lot.¡± your ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai was shocked. There was such a thing? ¡°What a coincidence. Me too!¡± The man who cultivated the spirit eye technique looked at the other person as if he had seen a ghost. Could it be that obtaining the original copy of the cultivation technique really had such a miraculous effect? Something was wrong. This was already the second breath control secret manual he had come across. Qin Huai thought about it and ended their lives. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Blue), [Breath Control] experience has increased by 133!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Blue)], [Spirit Eye Technique] Experience +162!¡± He bent down to search the bodies, stripped them of their clothes, and piled them in the corner. He found a total of thirty-seven taels of silver, as well as a spirit eye technique manual and a breath control technique manual. Other than that, he found nothing else. Qin Huai poured the iron poison powder on the faces of all eleven people, then evenly spread it on the pile of clothes. He was afraid that would follow the clues or accidentally implicate him. That was why he destroyed the someone corpses. As the name suggested, the iron poison powder was a drug that could poison and corrode iron. It was a poison recipe that Qin Huai had learned when he was promoted to an advanced alchemist. Even though he was calculative, destroying all of these also used up a bag of iron poison powder. Unfortunately, he could have made plans after he understood everything. He didn¡¯t expect that Ghost Nine and the others would force him to change his plan. He finally understood the ancient saying that plans could not keep up with changes. Now, he could only kill and disfigure, erasing all traces that might expose him. Then, he saw the breath control technique manual with a strange smell. Letting him know about this strange secret manual was bound to be a huge risk. ¡°If it¡¯s a blessing, it¡¯s not a calamity. If it¡¯s a calamity, it can¡¯t be avoided. If there are more people who cultivate breath control and spirit eye techniques, I will take them all in.¡± As long as he killed everyone, no one would disclose his information. He took the two secret manuals and put them in his arms. Then, he began to practice under the lamp. After half an hour, Qin Huai looked at the experience points of the two cultivation methods, which had increased by one each. ¡°Why is there no effect when I practice with the secret manual?¡± Qin Huai reflected on himself. It was probably because he was too lacking in talent. And now, he was no longer as sensitive to the fact that his aptitude was poor. He was a little calm and accepted the fact naturally. ¡°Since this strange secret manual has no effect on me, I¡¯ll just burn it.¡± He first walked out of the mine pit and started a fire to burn both secret manuals. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Purple), [Breath Control] experience has increased by 3,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Spirit Eye Technique Essence (Purple) ], [Spirit Eye Technique] experience has increased by 162!¡± Chapter 29 - Absolute Advantage! Which Idiot is Burning Cultivation Methods Again? Chapter 29 Absolute Advantage! Which Idiot is Burning Cultivation Methods Again? A huge amount of memories and ¡®martial arts experience¡¯ rushed into Qin Huai¡¯s mind, such as breathing rhythm and how to hide one¡¯s presence and footsteps. Qin Huai also saw from his ¡®experience¡¯ that he could use red-hot iron sand to temper his eyes and improve the progress of his spirit eye technique. It was as if the myriad of experiences were vivid in his mind, as if they had truly existed in another world. The bright fireworks flashed past, and he disappeared into the endless darkness. Qin Huai looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 25.533 [Cultivation Methods]: [Breathing technique (level 20, 1/3000) ], [Qi-nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000) ], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000)], [Thunderflash skill (level 0, 273/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 73/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°My vitality has increased by a little bit.¡± Qin Huai looked at the number of his vitality. He had a slight understanding of the pattern of vitality growth. Other than the realm-breaking techniques, the other techniques would increase one¡¯s vitality by one point at level 10 and two points at level 20. As for whether it would be a multiple of two or an increment, it still needed to be confirmed. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯ll definitely rise faster than drinking qi and blood soup.¡± He had the huge advantage of gaining experience, so he could rely on his cultivation techniques to break through to the next realm without any worries. Also, it greatly reduced his reliance on things like blood and Qi soup and demon meat. Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred, and there was a flash of green light in his eyes. In the next moment, the world in front of him suddenly changed. He focused slightly and could clearly see the patterns and insects on the trees a hundred meters away. He could see two praying mantis mating, and the scythe on the female praying mantis¡¯s mouth wriggled, eating every bite of the male praying mantis from the beginning. Qin Huai found an entrance to an iron mine and walked down. The darkness within a five-meter radius was not an obstacle for him. It was as if the world in front of him was like a mayfly. ¡°With the level 10 spirit eye technique, even without the help of the lamp, I can walk in the mine as if it¡¯s flat ground. I don¡¯t need to grope or worry.¡± Although he could only see five meters, if it were outside, it would be comparable to a blind man. However, in the mine, these five meters were enough to determine a person¡¯s life and death. Furthermore, the power of the three white dragons has already allowed him to completely crush these ordinary first refinement martial artists. Once the Qi wall was opened, they could not even break the corner of his own clothes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that even the second refinement powerhouses of the eight big dojos would be suppressed by me.¡± This was Qin Huai¡¯s conservative estimate. In the same realm, the second white dragon might not be a match for the second-stage martial artist of the Thunderbolt Dojo. However, if he were to refine three white dragons twice, the situation would be completely different. Moreover, his Qi and blood had been improved by the breath control technique, the spirit eye technique, and the long breath technique. Even if the children of the rich families in Pingnan City drank a bowl of Qi and blood soup a day, it would take them ten years to catch up with his progress. Just based on Qi and blood, he should not be at a disadvantage. Qin Huai continued deeper into the mine. He would never forget that his main goal for this trip was still to collect experience for the Thunderflash skill. He walked into the mine. Qin Huai, who had completely given up on the lamp, wandered around the mine like a ghost. After an unknown period of time, he could faintly see the lights and the sounds of fighting. He quietly approached. He heard the intense fighting and cursing. The conversation was not very meaningful. It was nothing more than the continuous greetings of eighteen generations of women. Qin Huai stood a few meters away and watched the two sides fight with cold eyes. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White)], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +11!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +13!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +9!¡± A weak numbing feeling filled his head and spread throughout his body. All the muscles in his body seemed to have been electrocuted, and there was a strange sense of stimulation. Qin Huai picked up seven experience orbs in a row, and the total did not even exceed a hundred. As for his own dojo, he had already collected experience points earlier, so no experience orbs dropped. Both of them were apprentices and had not even reached level 10. Moreover, the two sides were only fighting each other, and there was not much blood. Qin Huai didn¡¯t care. After collecting the experience points, he silently disappeared. Haunted Slope Mountain After the raging fire swept through, the grass It and trees withered and were charred black. was completely devoid of the lively scene of the past, so naturally, no one cared about it. But in the center of the scorched earth, there was a newly built wooden house standing alone in the ruins. In front of the wooden house, a tall man in a long robe looked into the distance. His skin was as white as snow, even whiter than the women in the brothels who had their makeup on. He was tall and slender, looking exactly like the three-meter-tall wooden house. He raised his hand and looked at his fair palm. There were six fingers on the palm, and each finger had four joints, allowing it to move as nimbly as a fish. He took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°I can feel that the new fish are strengthening their team. They¡¯re also very diligent in their cultivation, much more diligent than the trash of the Blackhawk Gang.¡± Inside the house, another tall man with a hunched back came out. ¡°They¡¯re quite talented and very ambitious, constantly looking for blood and flesh to kill. I think we¡¯ll be able to eat again soon.¡± The smiles on their faces were very bright, and they were very excited. ¡°As expected, that brat called Qin Huai is an anomaly. No normal person would burn such a cultivation method that can increase their cultivation speed.¡± The hunchback rejoiced. ¡°It¡¯s a pity he joined one of the eight big dojos, so we can¡¯t find him to settle the score.¡± ¡°Forget it. There¡¯s no need to take such a risk. It¡¯s enough to just quietly eat this blood food.¡± The black-robed man waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say. Do you know how much offerings and blood essence I need to spend to make a cultivation method?¡± The hunchback man snorted coldly. The black-robed man chuckled. But in the next moment, his expression changed drastically. ¡°Shit! The smell of the cultivation technique is gone again!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± The two of them couldn¡¯t sit still. The black-robed man sniffed hard and ran out, while the hunchback man followed closely behind. After a long time, the two of them stopped outside the White Flow Mountain. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the misty White Flow Mountain?¡± The Hunchback¡¯s face darkened. ¡°How did those bastards think of coming to this place? Aren¡¯t they courting death? And it¡¯s two groups of completely unfamiliar people who came to this place together.¡± ¡°Should we go in?¡± The black-robed man looked over. ¡°No, the sect has already given orders. Now is not the time to act.¡± The Hunchback was deep in thought. ¡°The White Flow Mountain is the territory of the Thunderbolt Dojo and Changshan Dojo. Did that kid find her and burn her down again?!¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be. How can there be such a coincidence in this world?¡± The black-robed man was puzzled. ¡°And if that little brat found it, it¡¯s fine if he rashly burned it the first time, but won¡¯t he be suspicious if he sees it again?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s suspicious, why doesn¡¯t he try to cultivate? After trying it out and knowing the wondrous uses of this technique, how could he not keep it?¡± The black-robed man asked several questions. ¡°It should be another silly guy. It can¡¯t be that two groups of people crashed into each other and died in an internal fight, right?¡± The hunchbacked man felt lucky. ¡°That would be better. The cultivation method will be preserved and the smell won¡¯t disappear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really an unlucky year.¡± The black-robed man gritted his teeth. ¡°Which idiot is burning the cultivation method again?!¡± The hunchback suddenly roared, but then he calmed down. ¡°What do we do next?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try one last time!¡± The black-robed man gritted his teeth. ¡°There¡¯s only one left,¡± the hunchback muttered. Hearing this, the black-robed man instantly fell silent. Chapter 30 - Bad Luck and Secret Promotion Chapter 30 Bad Luck and Secret Promotion In a small house near the wall of the Thunderbolt Dojo, Hong San crossed his legs and sat leisurely on the wooden chair, sharpening his nails with a knife. ¡°Tell me, who are the more talented guys in the Changshan Dojo?¡± In front of him was a young man, Gao Leya, who was covered in blood. Gao Leya endured the pain and squeezed out a smile that was covered in blood. ¡°Yes, yes, Master Hong. Recently, the only person whose name I can call out is someone called Qin Huai. He managed to reach level 10 breathing technique in three days!¡± When Gao Leya spoke, his mouth was bubbling with blood. He had been an apprentice of the Changshan Dojo for five months. Today, he was just mining and refining iron as usual. As for the dispute between the two major dojos, he only wanted to fool around a little. He walked toward the middle line symbolically and then returned. He didn¡¯t think. He had just walked out when he bumped into Hong San. And so, he was immediately brought up with a series of strict questions. ¡°Level 10 in three days?!¡± Hong San¡¯s eyes twitched. ¡°What kind of cultivation speed was this?¡± Gao Leya opened his mouth and explained the entire situation in one go. ¡°It¡¯s that guy from the Slaughter Gang. I was wondering why he sounded so familiar. It turns out there¡¯s such a relationship between the two techniques. If that¡¯s the case, then level 10 in three days is still acceptable.¡± Hong San patted Gao Leya¡¯s blood-stained face, his expression cold. ¡°If you had told me the truth earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have to suffer this beating.¡± Gao Leya bowed his head and didn¡¯t say anything. He also wanted to be more unyielding and be a loyal hero of the dojo. However, Hong San¡¯s attack was too painful and he couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°You are the son of Scholar Gao from Pingnan City, right?¡± Hong San seemed to remember suddenly. Gao Leya¡¯s heart suddenly quivered. He already understood that this was Hong San¡¯s threat. In Hong San¡¯s hands, his family could be destroyed easily. ¡°Gao Leya will be at your beck and call from now on, and will follow all of Master Hong¡¯s orders!¡± Gao Leya did not hesitate at all. As for Hong San, who had caused him such injuries, he didn¡¯t dare to have any hatred. He had heard of Hong San¡¯s reputation. He was gloomy and unscrupulous. ¡°You¡¯re so smart. Send me a letter every two days to report the movements of Changshan Dojo¡¯s disciples. If there are any good seedlings, you must give me an explanation.¡± Gao Leya could only nod. ¡°I¡¯ll send more silver to the Gao mansion later as medical expenses.¡± Hong San was expressionless. Gao Leya gritted his teeth. This was to prove that he was guilty of colluding with the Thunderbolt Dojo. He might not be able to explain it clearly if he went back. Even if he explained it clearly, there would definitely be a gap between the brothers. ¡°I promise you that the Thunderbolt Dojo will be your secret backer. If something happens to the Gao residence in the future and the Changshan Dojo can¡¯t solve it, you can come to me,¡± Hong San continued. When he heard this, the ferocity on Gao Leya¡¯s face had completely disappeared. ¡®The two big dojos, one in the light and one in the dark, are protecting me.¡¯ As long as Hong San didn¡¯t expose himself, he would be able to enjoy this protection for free. ¡°Thank you for the beating, Master Hong!¡± After Hong San said a few more words, Gao Leya was rewarded with medicine to treat his injuries and swelling, and he quickly left. ¡°Here¡¯s the chicken soup ~¡± Outside the door, Gu He and Gao Leya brushed past each other. Gu He placed a bowl of chicken soup on the table, and Hong San hurriedly got up and scooped a bowl for each of them, drinking a mouthful of it happily. ¡°Ha~ Uncle¡¯s chicken soup is still so amazing!¡± Hong San¡¯s face was expressionless, only his tone was fluctuating. As the two of them drank the soup, Gu He pushed a long black box in front of Hong San. It was a Qi and blood pill box. Gu He¡¯s younger sister died in her early years, leaving behind only her son, Hong San. Gu He, on the other hand, did not have any children, so the relationship between the two was particularly close. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯ve earned so much this month?¡± Hong San¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. The price of a vitality pill had now soared to five hundred taels, which was already a gold price. There were five of them in the long box, so that was two thousand five hundred taels. He knew that his uncle could usually make a lot of money as the chief examiner of the dojo, but this time, the amount of money was really surprising. ¡°Haha! It has something to do with the Qin Huai that the brat just mentioned.¡± ¡°That little brat is delusional. He wants to enter the gate of my Thunderbolt Dojo and be taught a lesson by me~¡± Gu He laughed and explained the entire situation. ¡°He wants to enter a dojo with such a poor root bone?¡± Hong San couldn¡¯t help but show a mocking expression. ¡°Then you¡¯re saving him. If he enters with such innate ability and finds out that his progress in a year is less than that of others in a month, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll go crazy.¡± ¡°I think so too!¡± The uncle and nephew clinked their glasses with satisfied expressions. ¡°That may be true, but I still have to do what Master has instructed me to do.¡± Hong San raised his eyebrows. ¡°And knowing who Fang Han had brought with him would make things easier. It just so happens that there¡¯s been a conflict between the two dojos in the mine these past two days. I¡¯ll have that kid keep an eye on Qin Huai and find an opportunity to kill him in the mine without anyone knowing.¡± Hong San had planned everything in the blink of an eye. Besides, he still had people from the Luo residence in the city who were worried about him. Even if he escaped, he still had backup plans. The two of them clinked their bowls of chicken soup. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +33!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White)], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +55!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +51!¡± Qin Huai kept moving around in the mine and collected a few more waves of experience. He realized the higher the realm of the warriors on both sides, the angrier they were, and the more ruthlessly he attacked. Although there were rarely any deaths, they were all covered in wounds and blood. However, there were not many people on both sides who had broken arms and legs. If Qin Huai encountered a fellow disciple who was about to be in danger, he would also lend a helping hand and resolve the crisis. After a few hours of strolling, Qin Huai¡¯s thunderflash skill had rapidly increased to Level 2, 231/1000. He earned a total of 2000 experience points. ¡°The unique thing about the thunderflash skill is its vibration. Through a unique force-exerting technique, you can complete a high-frequency vibration in the instant of an attack and release a unique force to penetrate the enemy¡¯s defense.¡± In the darkness of the pit, Qin Huai was slowly practicing the Level 2 thunderflash skill. He threw two punches at the iron ore wall to get a taste of it. ¡°It is indeed full of offensive power.¡± He compared the breathing technique and the thunderflash skill. The white dragon of the breathing technique was obviously a combination of attack and defense, but the offensive power of the white dragon¡¯s Qi wave was far less powerful than the penetrating power of the thunderflash skill. The latter was purely offensive, and its defensive power was entirely dependent on its offensive power and exuberant vitality. ¡°At this rate, I¡¯ll reach level 10 thunderflash skill in four days. My attack power and Qi and blood will both go up another level. By then, I won¡¯t be at a disadvantage when I fight against the same-level martial artists from the Thunderbolt Dojo,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. He could use the power of the thunderflash skill to offset the penetrating power of the martial artists from the Thunderbolt Dojo. With the breath control technique and the spirit eye technique, he would be overwhelmingly powerful. ¡°When I go back today, I¡¯ll tell everyone about my intermediate forging and get my hands on the blood Qi soup and blood Qi pill.¡± Putting the level 20 breathing technique aside, he would use the forging technique to fill the gap in the qi and blood soup. After all, cultivation techniques might be useless, but qi and blood wouldn¡¯t. A strong vitality was advantageous, and so was the intermediate forging technique against a silver disciple. In addition to a bowl of vitality soup every three days, there were also two vitality pills every month. ¡°I¡¯ll raise my vitality to level 30, so I won¡¯t be at a disadvantage even if it¡¯s a competition of vitality.¡± He guessed that every time he advanced through blood refinement, his vitality would increase by ten points. Thirty points of vitality were already the standard of a third refinement martial artist. His vitality, which was close to twenty-seven points, was enough to deal with most of the second refinement martial artists. As Qin Huai thought about this, he walked toward the forge on the left side of the dojo. Chapter 31 - Thousand Refined Steel! Qi and Blood Treasure Medicine! Chapter 31 Thousand Refined Steel! Qi and Blood Treasure Medicine! The smithy of the Changshan Dojo was huge. It was a caved-in area in the middle of the mountain, a piece of land that the dojo had carved out. The mountain was filled with the sound of metal clanking. Qin Huai carried the iron ore he had mined and walked to the old master who usually collected his iron. The high temperature of the furnace caused the air in front of him to distort. Although it was called a furnace, it was actually a hollow cylinder made of clay. There was a side door at the bottom, and beside the side door was a wooden drum that looked like an accordion. The fuel was naturally charcoal. ¡°Master Song, this is today¡¯s ore.¡± Qin Huai pushed the bamboo basket over. Master Song¡¯s hair had already turned white, and the wrinkles on his face were as old as a withered tree. However, the muscles on his body were not any weaker than that of a strong man like Fang Han. He held a big iron hammer in his hand, and every strike was powerful. Sun Ziyao had once gossiped that this Master Song had been on the mountain for twenty to thirty years. It could be that he was like a sweeping monk in wuxia novels, and he was the strongest person in the Changshan Dojo. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t be sure either, but Master Song was definitely a martial artist. ¡°The quality is not bad. A lazy brat like you is actually going deep into the mine at this time. It¡¯s not that easy, you know.¡± Master Song was multitasking. While forging iron, he sized up the ore. Old masters like them didn¡¯t need to use the precise instruments from his previous life. They could roughly tell the amount of iron and impurities in an iron ore with their naked eyes. ¡°Still not leaving?¡± Master Song looked up. ¡°I still have to take the exam today.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s build a furnace first.¡± Master Song was already used to this process. Qin Huai rolled up his sleeves and started to pile up the furnace using the intermediate forging skill in his memory. The creation of a furnace was also a delicate work. First, use pure clay to sieve out all the stones and impurities. After soaking it in water for a long time, it was beaten into a paste and mixed with crushed grass. After that, he repeatedly hammered and rubbed it until it was even. The purity of the clay and the water retention completely guaranteed that the walls of the furnace would be heated evenly during the smelting process, and the addition of crushed grass was to form tiny holes in the walls so that the furnace would have anti-expansion properties. All of these were to prevent the furnace walls from cracking and collapsing, so every step of filtering, soaking, and kneading could not be sloppy. After that, there was still the drying and testing process, and it would take a day. Luckily, setting up a furnace was just a test to skip the step of drying and testing. There were many ready-made furnaces on the mountain. Once Qin Huai made his move, Master Song could immediately tell what level he was at. ¡°Your skills aren¡¯t bad.¡± Master Song was surprised. He raised his eyes and looked at Qin Huai. He thought he was a handsome young man. He didn¡¯t notice it the previous time. When I was young, I learned blacksmithing from someone in town. After the demon disaster, I ran away.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s reason came out immediately. Anyway, the town was indeed gone because of the demon disaster, and the dead could not testify. The intermediate forging skill was not as easy to fool as a cultivation technique. ¡°Oh, do you know your own level?¡± ¡°The blacksmith master said that I¡¯m talented. I think I¡¯m at the intermediate level?¡± ¡°Intermediate? Why don¡¯t you try forging a thousand refined steel and I¡¯ll give you an evaluation?¡± Master Song was skeptical. Such a small kid had intermediate forging skills? Those blacksmiths who had been blacksmithing for ten to twenty years could only reach the intermediate level. ¡°Go to the furnace over there to start a fire and forge.¡± Grading was a matter of treatment, and Master Song was the one who personally graded the martial arts centers. In addition to his high skills, Master Song was also a fair person. He was never biased. Without another word, Qin Huai aimed the wooden drum at the side door of the furnace, then sealed the side door completely with clay. Only the drumming air flowed in. Then, he stuffed the charcoal in from the top until it was full, and then blew the air to light the fire. He kept blowing wind and adding charcoal. For several hours in a row, Qin Huai had been working. Thanks to the body of a second refinement martial artist, he did not feel tired at all. When the iron was burned red and white, it became soft iron. Qin Huai took it out instantly. ¡°Quick, strike it! The hammer must be fast and accurate! Thousand refined steel needs to be repeatedly heated and forged hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times. Every time, it must be steady, accurate, and ruthless!¡± Master Song couldn¡¯t help but ask. He couldn¡¯t help but feel excited when he saw a talent in blacksmithing. ¡°Forging doesn¡¯t just rely on brute force. The judgment of the iron¡¯s quality, the control of the hammer¡¯s landing position, and the control of the flame¡¯s temperature¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but ask. He had forgotten that it was a test. Bang! Bang! Bang! Sparks flew in all directions as Qin Huai¡¯s hammer smashed onto the red-hot iron block again and again. Another few hours passed. Qin Huai¡¯s forged steel was almost done. ¡°Very good. It¡¯s thousand refined steel.¡± Master Song couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°Hu~ Hu~ Hu~¡± Even Qin Huai, who was a second refinement martial artist, could not help but sweat profusely after forging this piece of steel. And this was under the premise that the eternal Qi art could last longer. ¡°You¡¯re indeed at the intermediate level.¡± Master Song looked at Qin Huai with a gentle expression. It was no longer as sharp and cold as before. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Fifteen.¡± ¡°Hiss, his future is boundless.¡± Master Song seemed to have something in his eyes. ¡°Martial arts is important, but it¡¯s not bad to have many skills. If you have time in the future, come to my place often. I¡¯ll give you some pointers.¡± Master Song became more and more enthusiastic. Qin Huai nodded and accepted Master Song¡¯s invitation. Master Song took out a wooden plate with a pleased look. Then, he carved the word ¡°intermediate¡± on it with an iron plate. The technique was extremely crude, and the only difference was the signature. ¡°What weapon do you use?¡± ¡°Ah? Weapon? What do you mean, Master Song? ¡°Qin Huai asked. ¡°I¡¯ll use your thousand refined steel to forge a weapon for you. Take it as a gift.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t use weapons, and I don¡¯t like to fight with people. Master Song, why don¡¯t you make me some armor?¡± Qin Huai thought about it seriously. ¡°Alright! Remember to come and get it tomorrow!¡± Master Song lowered his head and continued forging. ¡°Many thanks, Master Song.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and bowed. Intermediate forging skill against a silver disciple, and he could earn a bowl of blood Qi soup every three days, plus two blood Qi pills every month. Including the ¡®salary¡¯ of his own black-plate rank, it was fifteen bowls of blood Qi soup and two blood Qi pills every month. After that, he didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he went around the mountain where the sounds of forging could be heard. Receiving experience points for forging took a long time. By nighttime, there were not many people left on the mountain. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White)], [Forging Skill] experience +3¡å ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White)], [Forging Skill] experience +3¡å ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +2¡å ¡­ The forging skills of the dojo were much better than the blacksmiths in the Luo residence. Qin Huai had collected more than 30 experience points in one go. Although it was not much, it was better than nothing. He returned to his own courtyard. After sleeping for two hours, he was woken up by the crow of a rooster. After collecting the experience points as usual, only then did Qin Huai take the wooden token to the Qi and blood room of the dojo. As the name suggested, the Qi and blood room was the place to receive Qi and blood soup and pills. When Qin Huai arrived, he saw a crowd gathered in front of the room, and they were chattering excitedly. Once he got closer, he saw an elegant young man in a white robe standing in the crowd. His long hair fluttered in the wind, his eyebrows and eyes were like flowers, and his fair face and skin made him look more feminine than a woman. Who was this person? ¡°Who is this guy?¡± Li Zhang¡¯s voice sounded in his ear, and he had the same confused look as Qin Huai. ¡°You don¡¯t even know Senior Brother Qi?¡± The people around were surprised. ¡°Senior Brother Qi, Qi Yangbing, the number one genius of our Changshan Dojo in the past ten years. He¡¯s only twenty-four years old and is a fourth refinement martial artist. He¡¯s also ranked tenth on the eight martial roll.¡± The senior brother talked on and on, his eyebrows dancing with joy. It was as if he was the creator of the eight martial roll and he knew everything about it. Qin Huai, who was at the side, also roughly understood what was going on. The eight martial roll was a ranking competition organized by the eight big martial arts centers. It was held once a year to select the twenty strongest geniuses under the age of twenty-five from the eight big martial arts centers. Those on the list were all favored by the high officials and nobles in Pingnan City. The most important thing was that the first place on the eight martial roll could not only receive a Qi and blood treasure medicine jointly brewed by the eight major martial arts centers, they could also get a recommendation to go to the county city and join a higher class dojo. That medicine is comparable to hundreds of Qi and blood pills, so naturally, it was priceless! Chapter 32 - Senior Brother Qi Yangbing, An Unexpected Surprise Chapter 32 Senior Brother Qi Yangbing, An Unexpected Surprise ¡°It¡¯s a pity that our Changshan Dojo¡¯s breathing technique isn¡¯t good at attacking. Every year, we¡¯re ranked at the bottom of the eight martial roll.¡± ¡°Fortunately, Senior Brother Qi Yangbing is here. That¡¯s how we managed to secure a spot in the top ten. Otherwise, we¡¯d be dead.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, that Reihom from the Thunderbolt Dojo is really terrifying. He¡¯s a fourth-level fighter who dominated the eight martial roll for two years at twenty-three years old. Even the old instructors of the eight big martial arts centers are not his match.¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s already been favored by the important people of the county city. Who knows when he¡¯ll rush into the county city and become a very important and influential person?¡± ¡°Along with Reihom, there were two others named Little Hong and Hong San, who aren¡¯t bad either. They¡¯re considered Reihom¡¯s successor by the people in their dojo.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the second refinement at sixteen. His Qi and blood are strong, and he¡¯s a vicious person. He even defeated one-third of the second refinement martial artists in the eight big martial arts centers.¡± ¡°Correct. The difference between people is really too great.¡± The man shook his head in regret. Qin Huai listened carefully to the introduction of the eight martial roll. But he didn¡¯t notice that Qi Yangbing, who was not far away, was actually walking in this direction. Finally, he stopped in front of Qin Huai. ¡°You must be Junior Brother Qin.¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s face was full of joy. ¡°Hello, Senior Brother Qi!¡± Qin Huai hurriedly bowed. ¡°No need to be so polite. Senior Brother Fang and Senior Brother Gu have been praising you for many days. You¡¯re hardworking, humble, and eager to learn. You¡¯ve been leaning on the wall every day to learn and observe the other senior and junior brothers ¡®cultivation. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re good at learning, but Junior Brother¡¯s appearance does make people feel relaxed and happy.¡± Qi Yangbing was humorous and easy-going. He didn¡¯t have the arrogance of a senior brother. ¡°Compared to Senior Brother, Junior Brother¡¯s appearance can only be considered ordinary.¡± ¡°Hmm, that makes sense.¡± Qi Yangbing actually nodded, which made the crowd laugh. ¡°Junior Brother, are you here to confirm your forging skill level?¡± Qi Yangbing saw the sign in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. He didn¡¯t see the level clearly, but he didn¡¯t think it was high. Qin Huai seemed to have been an apprentice of the apothecary. Qin Huai nodded. ¡°This forging skill is divided into four categories: beginner, elementary, intermediate, and advanced. They correspond to our wooden tokens, bronze tokens, silver tokens, and gold tokens.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, Master Song said that I¡¯m a genius in both martial arts and forging. I¡¯ve been forging for four years, and now I¡¯m only one step away from the intermediate level. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, you must come and ask me.¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s voice was powerful. Qin Huai opened his mouth and looked at the kind face in front of him. There was also a crowd around him, so it wasn¡¯t a good time to take out his intermediate forging badge. If he took it out now, wouldn¡¯t he be slapping Qi Yangbing in the face? ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯re going? Why are you so shy?¡± Qi Yangbing looked at the unmoving Qin Huai and was a little puzzled. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about having a low level. Who didn¡¯t start from nothing, step by step?¡± Qi Yangbing ¡®saw¡¯ through Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Senior Brother is right.¡± Qin Huai was still holding onto the wooden tablet. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you take care of it.¡± Qi Yangbing reached out to take the wooden badge from Qin Huai¡¯s hand, but halfway through, he saw the word ¡®Intermediate.¡¯ The smile on his face suddenly froze. This Junior Brother might have a high talent in cultivation.How could he be an intermediate at such a young age? He looked at Qin Huai. The latter had an innocent expression. Qi Yangbing laughed bitterly. ¡°So Junior Brother was thinking of me. It¡¯s all my fault for being too confident.¡± He even bent down to make way for Qin Huai. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The group of junior brothers craned their necks in curiosity. Qin Huai walked up to the counter and handed over his wooden badge. The next moment, the surrounding disciples and apprentices were in an uproar. ¡°Damn, an intermediate badge?¡± ¡°This is to ridicule Qin Huai?!¡± The people around them looked at Qin Huai in shock. ¡°This guy can¡¯t be compatible with forging, right?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as compatibility in blacksmithing! This is called talent!¡± ¡°It¡¯s so unfair. Where does Qin Huai live? I¡¯ll go over tonight and have a chat with him.¡± ¡°Forget about it.¡± Under everyone¡¯s shocked and envious gazes, Qin Huai took the Qi and blood pill, drank the soup, and left quickly. In the small courtyard, Qin Huai swallowed the two red pill pills in one go, and his vitality increased from 26.533 to 26.575. ¡°One pill has increased my vitality by 0.02 points. The effect is twenty times that of the soup.¡± ¡°But I actually didn¡¯t get a nosebleed, hehe. I understand now. The Qi and blood soup and demon meat will cause a nosebleed and cause Qi and blood loss. Therefore, you can only take a certain amount every day, but the Qi and blood pill will have better tolerance. It can be integrated with the body very well.¡± In this way, after getting the benefit of the intermediate forging skill, he would be able to use the skill. The speed at which his vitality was increasing had increased by at least four times. An increase of 0.5 in vitality in a year was equivalent to half of the tenth level of a supplementary cultivation technique. ¡°Wait a minute, then how much does a blood Qi treasure medicine that¡¯s as effective as hundreds of blood Qi pills increase in strength? Could it be that it¡¯s equivalent to a supplementary cultivation technique?¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare to think too deeply about how strong the first of the eight martial roll, the proud son of heaven, Reihom, was. The strong sense of danger made him want to become stronger. Qin Huai was just about to practice martial arts when Sun Ziyao ran over excitedly. ¡°Qin Huai, I organized a tea party today, and many senior brothers and sisters will be there. Do you want to come?¡± Sun Ziyao didn¡¯t wait for Qin Huai to speak and continued, ¡°Although you¡¯re talented, you¡¯re learning martial arts at the dojo. It¡¯s not just about practicing martial arts. There¡¯s definitely no harm in getting to know the senior brothers and sisters. Anyway, you¡¯ve already rejected me twice. You can¡¯t do it three times. Oh, and some senior sisters would like to thank you for saving them in the mine earlier.¡± He had just come back for less than an hour, and the news of intermediate forging skills had already spread so quickly. Qin Huai was stunned. His wish to keep a low profile as much as possible was shattered. It was a good thing that the news of him reaching level 20 breathing technique had yet to be exposed. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement. After all, Sun Ziyao¡¯s words made sense. However, this kid¡¯s communication skills really made Qin Huai sigh in admiration. He couldn¡¯t help but admire him. In the dojo, martial artists like them, who had entered through small trials, were usually not welcomed. They were like a pack of dogs that suddenly had a few wild dogs. They would definitely be ostracized. Although the analogy wasn¡¯t very appropriate, it was roughly the situation in the dojo. Sun Ziyo was an exception. He didn¡¯t rely on money. He got along with everyone with his glib tongue and his face that was full of smiles every day. It was a tea party. In fact, it was just that a few senior brothers had gone to the city to buy some crushed tea leaves and started a fire in a forest in White Flow Mountain to boil tea. Even the wooden stool was cut on the spot, and it was very rough. There were more than twenty people at the tea party, including apprentices and martial artists. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, it¡¯s all thanks to you that you saved me in the mine during the day. If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have lost this arm.¡± A senior sister with a good figure was holding a teacup and offering tea to Qin Huai. She was wearing a green robe with a high slit, and her actions were somewhat flirtatious. Qin Huai only took the teacup and said that it was nothing. Then, two senior sisters and one senior brother came to thank him. They must have been saved by him in the mine during the day. However, Qin Huai really had no impression of these people. The mine was too dark, and his attention was not on their faces at the time, so he did not recognize them. Normally, he would always climb over walls to gain experience, but he couldn¡¯t even recognize them. Therefore, he could only nod and echo with ¡®Yes, yes, yes,¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re all family, ¡®It was nothing,¡¯ and so on. He silently took note of the names of his senior brothers and sisters. Halfway through the party, Qin Huai had no choice but to leave in a hurry. This was because many people were flattering him, and some of them went too far with their words. Even Qin Huai himself couldn¡¯t bear to listen. He wasn¡¯t good with words and was usually introverted, so he really wasn¡¯t suitable for this kind of occasion where he was being held in high regard. ¡°I won¡¯t participate in such tea parties in the future,¡± Qin Huai thought to himself. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +28!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +50!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +33!¡± ¡­. ¡°Eh?¡± The next day, when Qin Huai was collecting experience points, he found something strange. There were a few experience orbs that gave much more experience. Moreover, the owners of those experience orbs were the senior brothers and sisters he had talked to at the party yesterday. ¡°The senior brothers and sisters I¡¯ve talked to gave me five or six experience points on average.¡± A person¡¯s experience ball, without counting the increase in their own realm, would not fluctuate more than two points. But this time¡­ it was obviously not normal. It was the same when he was in the apothecary. higher than Liu Xiaomei¡¯s realm was not high, but the experience she gave him was one or two times that of his fellow disciples. There was also Luo Ya, who had a good impression of him. The experience she had given him back then was also very shocking. The memories mind. He had noticed it at the time, but too much time had passed and there were too of the past resurfaced in his many people in the dojo, so he had forgotten about it. Now that he thought about it again, the memory was even more profound. ¡°I understand. People who are close to me and have a good impression of me will give me more experience.¡± Qin Huai was suddenly enlightened. He thought about it carefully. When he was collecting experience in medicine, it was also the people who came in at the same time who gave him more experience. He pondered for a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t be introverted all the time. I have to learn to break through and grow. So, I have to attend more of Sun Ziyao¡¯s tea parties in the future.¡± Chapter 33 - Meeting Hong San in the Mine Chapter 33 Meeting Hong San in the Mine Qin Huai re-evaluated the characteristics of the goldfinger he knew. The amount of experience points one could get from the experience ball was not only related to the strength of the other party, but also affected whether the other party was close to one. However, it didn¡¯t take up much of a percentage. It was still based on one¡¯s cultivation level, and there were slight fluctuations on this foundation. ¡°And the time when the experience ball appeared was about ten breaths after I saw them practice. The largest range of the experience ball is still 20 meters around me. I wonder if it will expand a little when I break through to the third refinement or higher?¡± Qin Huai pondered for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve been too low-key and introverted since I came to the dojo. I forgot about this. Otherwise, I would have been able to earn more experience points.¡± ¡°But this way, I don¡¯t have to worry that I can only take a little experience from each person in the future because of my high realm.I can increase my experience points by pulling in relationships. ¡°In the future, if there¡¯s a top dojo with the breathing technique, there¡¯s a way to increase the speed of cultivation so that it won¡¯t take too long to enter the realm. ¡°Wait a minute. If getting close to me increases experience, what about those I¡¯m disgusted with?¡± Qin Huai thought of Gu Erwa from the apothecary, who had not provided him with much experience. Could it be that he hated that he would lose experience? That wouldn¡¯t be good. Wouldn¡¯t the progress of the thunderflash skill be delayed? ¡°I¡¯ll go to the mine tomorrow and see if the experience for the thunderflash skill has decreased.¡± ¡­ The next day, Qin Huai went to Song Yinhe¡¯s place to get his steel armor. Master Song was indeed the number one blacksmith in the Changshan Dojo. His steel armor was a good fit to his body, and it didn¡¯t affect Qin Huai¡¯s actions at all. It had the same effect as chainmail. However, it was different from chainmail, which could only defend against arrows. Master Song¡¯s steel armor had small holes and could even defend against spears and swords. Qin Huai was ready to go. He entered the mine with a slight apprehension to collect experience. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White)], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +54!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +56!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +49!¡± A third refinement martial artist was already at the level of a head instructor in the big martial arts centers and was considered an elder. If there were no accidents, they all had a tacit understanding not to participate in this fight. Just like the day before, Qin Huai and Fang Han, Old Qin and Hong San were all unexpected situations. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the second refinement realm was already the ceiling. That was why Qin Huai was a little unbridled. After he collected all the items, he quickly looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 26.578 [Cultivation Methods]: [Breathing technique (level 20, 1366/3000) ], [Qi-nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000)], [Thunderflash skill (level 4, 236/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 199/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°The thunderflash skill has increased from 231/1000 at Level 2 to 236/1000 at Level 4. Not only did my experience not decrease, it even increased by 5 points.¡± Qin Huai felt at ease. The amount of experience points he could earn would not be affected by his hatred for himself. ¡°I think that Gu Erwa gave me very little experience. It¡¯s purely because his own cultivation is too weak. He had probably betrayed the apothecary because his cultivation speed was too fast, causing him to lose his balance.¡± At night, Sun Ziyao invited Qin Huai to another tea party, which Qin Huai gladly accepted. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re really amazing. Others are mining in the mine, but you¡¯re saving people in there.¡± Sun Ziyao laughed. ¡°I was planning to hold a tea party every three to four days or a week, but those senior brothers and fellow disciples were too enthusiastic. They all wanted to thank you for saving their lives. They¡¯re not familiar with you and were afraid of disturbing your practice, so they wanted to thank you through the tea party.¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration. From the bottom of his heart, he felt that Qin Huai was not ordinary. Every day, he would observe others learning martial arts. Even if those martial artists¡¯ realms and strength were inferior to his, Qin Huai would still watch seriously. He was also meticulous in his training, and when he entered the mine, he would face difficulties and save his own people. ¡°I¡¯m far from being as good as you.¡±Sun Ziyao sighed. ¡°I just happened to be there. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand and was very calm. He was the same at the tea party, and he was already starting to get used to the crowd¡¯s gratitude. However, when no one took the initiative to talk to him, he continued to curl up in the corner and drink tea. ¡®So many of them are brewing tea, but they didn¡¯t drop any tea art experience.¡¯Qin Huai pondered. ¡°Yes, Ran Ran just casually makes tea. She doesn¡¯t have any tea skills. Compared to Junior Brother Qin, who is kind and charitable and saves people from danger, that little Hong San of the Thunderbolt Dojo is simply an animal!¡± As the party reached its climax, someone mentioned Hong San¡¯s name. Qin Huai also perked up his ears. He had met this person on his first day with Fang Han, and Fang Han had a very high evaluation of him. ¡°That guy was extremely arrogant and ruthless in the mine. He completely destroyed the tacit understanding between the two dojos.¡± ¡°Yeah, he has already broken the limbs of several senior brothers.¡± ¡°He even publicly announced that he would challenge all the second refinement martial artists in the Changshan Dojo. He even signed a life-and-death contract and pasted it on the big tree in the center of the White Flow mine.¡± ¡°As long as a martial artist within the second refinement can kill him, the Thunderbolt Dojo will not cause us any trouble.¡± ¡°Hmph! So what if they find trouble with us? Our Changshan Dojo is not to be trifled with!¡± Li Zhang roared, his face red. ¡°It¡¯s just that this Hong San¡¯s strength is indeed too strong. The senior brothers of the second refinement don¡¯t even have much confidence in beating him,¡± Yu Liao said in a low voice. He was a second refinement martial artist. ¡°I¡¯ve fought with Hong San before. I¡¯m ashamed to say this, but I only managed to withstand ten moves from him.¡± Everyone fell silent. ¡°This person has an uncle in the third refinement called Gu He. He¡¯s in charge of the examination in the Thunderbolt Dojo. I heard he plundered a lot of money to get Hong San Qi and blood pills. ¡°Hong San¡¯s Qi and blood is already at the peak of the second refinement, second only to ordinary third refinement martial artists. It¡¯s said that his thunderflash skill has also reached level 29, and he¡¯s only one step away from the third refinement.¡± Yu Liao kept talking about Hong San. ¡°Moreover, the thunderflash skill is domineering and is ranked first among the eight great skills. If you don¡¯t reach the third refinement realm, you¡¯ll probably be in trouble.¡± Everyone was depressed. ¡°He¡¯s also a disciple of Sixth Brother Qin, who¡¯s also a madman. When he was young, he once challenged his peers from the eight big martial arts centers. In the end, he overturned six families, so he¡¯s known as the Sixth Brother.¡± Sun Ziyao revealed another secret. ¡°Is that so? I thought he was called Sixth Brother Qin because he¡¯s the sixth brother in the family.¡± Many people exclaimed. However, they were even more shocked that Sun Ziyao knew about such gossip. One had to know that none of the senior brothers present knew about this. ¡°I think Hong San wants to follow his master¡¯s path and pick all eight dojos.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°But who¡¯s going to dispel his arrogance? Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re going to just let him hang that life-and-death contract on White Flow Mountain?¡± Li Zhang was furious. But the senior brothers were all silent, because they knew they really couldn¡¯t win. Qin Huai, on the other hand, was more concerned about Gu He¡¯s news. Was that guy in the third refinement? Furthermore, he did not expect that Hong San was actually Gu He¡¯s nephew. It really could be said that they were one family. Neither of them was a decent person. ¡­ Another day passed, and the experience points given by his senior and junior brothers at yesterday¡¯s tea party had indeed increased steadily by a few points. Qin Huai was completely convinced of his conjecture. Then, he entered the mine as usual. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +34!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +46!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White)], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +33!¡± He continued to steadily collect experience points for the thunderflash skill. At the same time, he was still steadily saving lives. He had only encountered a small accident, and that was when he met Hong San. Chapter 34 - Orange Experience Ball! 2 in 1! Chapter 34 Orange Experience Ball! 2 in 1! In the mine, Yu Liao¡¯s eyes were filled with ferocity as he shielded his junior brothers and sisters. His eyes were fixed on Hong San, who was carrying a lamp and leisurely entering everyone¡¯s field of vision. Not far away, a junior brother groaned with blood all over his face. He was dragged to the ground by Hong San, leaving a deep and bright red trail of blood. ¡°Hong San, let go of Junior Brother Liu, or else I¡¯ll make you pay for it!¡± Yu Liao looked at Hong San, who was approaching him, and retreated. ¡°Such big words.¡± Hong san¡¯s expression was calm as he squinted at Yu Liao.¡±I remember you. At the beginning of this year, I defeated you with ten moves.¡± Yu Liao¡¯s face turned red at the blatant humiliation. However, he still didn¡¯t dare to act rashly and risk his life to fight Hong San. That was because the difference between him and Hong San was like the difference between a third refinement martial artist and a second refinement martial artist. He wanted to stall for time. When the other apprentice brothers discovered this place and gathered over, they would use their advantage in numbers to force Hong San to retreat. As for escaping¡­ He had a chance to escape, but the first refinement disciples behind him would fall into Hong san¡¯s evil claws. One second, two seconds, three seconds¡­ After fifteen seconds, the reinforcements had arrived. However, they were not from the Changshan Dojo, but Hong San¡¯s subordinates. Although there were only three or four of them, they were enough to stall Yu Liao and give Hong San space to kill. They blocked off Yu Liao and his team¡¯s escape route from two different intersections. ¡°Fang Tong, you will be the sword¡¯s edge and charge out from the left. I will block Hong San from the back.¡± Yu Liao said in a low voice. ¡°Senior Brother Yu!¡± The young man called Fang Tong was stunned. He was the strongest among the first refinement martial artists present, and he had the most combat experience. ¡°Don¡¯t grumble here. No one will be able to escape later,¡± Yu Liao said and kicked Fang Tong¡¯s butt. Fang Tong staggered and then rushed toward the tunnel in front of him. The two martial artists held hands and began walking. ¡°Ji Datou, Cripple Gu, help me!¡± The people behind him immediately responded and rushed out with Fang Tong. ¡°You¡¯re stalling for time? Good idea.¡± Hong San looked coldly at Yu Liao, who was at the back of the group. The next moment, there was a loud explosion in the mine. Yu Liao¡¯s vision blurred, and Hong San appeared in front of him out of thin air. Heavy punches poured down, carrying with them the clear sound of the wind whistling. Yu Liao took a deep breath. The astonishing air current instantly caused his lower abdomen to bulge. It was as if a piece of iron had been embedded in his abdomen. The white dragon had transformed into an ¡®armor¡¯, adding layers to Yu Liao¡¯s body. Bang! Bang! ¡°Pfft!¡± Yu Liao spat out a mouthful of blood. His face was twisted, and his body was completely frozen. His eyes were filled with disbelief. The pain had made him lose control of his body, and only his thoughts were spinning wildly. At the beginning of the year, he could clearly take ten moves from him. Why did this happen? The second white dragon armor was broken by his punch. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m getting stronger too quickly.¡± Hong San seemed to have read Yu Liao¡¯s mind. ¡°You might have a chance to fight me at some point in your life, but you must remember that it will be the only chance you have in your life. This is the difference between a genius and a mediocre person. Hong san¡¯s calm voice rang in Yu Liao¡¯s ears. It was the same for the rest. He allowed Yu Liao to fall to his knees behind him. The terrifying punch stunned even Fang Tong, who was constantly paying attention to the battle situation behind him. ¡®What kind of monster is this?¡¯ After a moment of distraction, the mine trembled again. As dust flew, Hong San ran at a godly speed. In the blink of an eye, he had already arrived in front of Fang Tong and the others. ¡°I¡¯m going to die.¡± These words flashed through Fang Tong¡¯s mind. Then, he watched helplessly as the pair of fists covered in scars came crashing down. Bang! The strong wind lifted his bangs, and they fluttered in the wind. One second, two seconds, three seconds¡­. Fang Tong opened his eyes. The two fists collided less than three inches in front of his eyes. ¡®Huh? Evenly matched?¡¯ Fang Tong looked at the owner of the fist. It was Qin Huai, who had recently been called the divine doctor of the mine. From his hands, he had saved the limbs of several senior brothers and sisters. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡± Hong San looked at Qin Huai, who had suddenly appeared, and his expression remained calm. ¡°Your vitality is only a hair¡¯s breadth away from mine. I¡¯m really impressed.¡± Qin Huai remained silent. He was also surprised. His vitality was close to 26.5, and he was even slightly suppressed by Hong San. In way, his vitality should be around 27 or 28. this A second refinement martial artist¡¯s vitality was close to the third refinement. No wonder Hong San dared to be so arrogant. Hong San didn¡¯t use any cultivation techniques. He attacked Qin Huai with his Qi and blood like a ferocious beast. Qin Huai kept retreating, and as time passed, he gradually fell into a disadvantage. ¡°Take Senior Brother Yu Liao and leave!¡± Qin Huai roared. Fang Tong picked Yu Liao up and continued to rush out. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to escape.¡± Hong san¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and his wrist instantly crackled. His fist shook, as if there were tiny afterimages. His long robe fluttered in the wind, and his fists rang like thunder. He used all his strength in this punch, using the thunderflash skill. The time between the two punches seemed to be a short moment, but in reality, it was less than a breath away from Hong San¡¯s last punch. It was a seamless connection. ¡°How can your Changshan Dojo¡¯s breathing technique compete with my thunderflash skill? The so-called eternal Qi art will break with a touch!¡± Hong San was disdainful. Qin Huai¡¯s feet suddenly rooted to the ground, and his fists pushed forward like a cannon! The three white dragons did not hold back. BOOM! Dust and dirt instantly flew up in the mine, and half of the surrounding lamps were either snuffed out by the falling dust or shattered. The entire mine suddenly dimmed. Many people quickly tried to remedy the situation, but it was to no avail. Despite using a third refinement technique to fight against a second refinement¡¯s thunderflash skill, Qin Huai was not at a disadvantage. He also took the experience ball from Hong San. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue)], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +234!¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare to use his thunderflash skill and breath control technique, which were not even at level ten, here. Because he wasn¡¯t sure if he could kill everyone here. Once exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, it was already not bad that he could compete with Hong San even though his combat strength had been reduced. ¡°The second white dragon isn¡¯t this strong. I¡¯m no match for it? You¡¯ve cultivated the third white dragon?!¡± Hong San, who was fighting, instantly saw through Qin Huai¡¯s strange behavior. ¡°Damn, a third white dragon in the second refinement!¡± Hong San sensed a strong sense of danger and began to chase after Qin Huai. However, Qin Huai had the three white dragons on him, which made Hong San¡¯s swift and fierce thunderflash skill unable to gain any advantage. ¡®Hong San is like a venomous snake. If I show any weakness, he will use a technique similar to a death coil to strangle me.¡¯ Qin Huai acted as if he was facing a great enemy. Ever since he started cultivating, he had never fought against such a difficult opponent. He was fully focused at all times, and the three white dragons were also rapidly consumed. After all, the breath control technique was not a good cultivation technique. It could only be considered to be on par with the thunderflash skill, which was the most powerful cultivation technique among the eight martial arts centers. ¡°My vitality and attack were much weaker. I can¡¯t kill him.¡± A moment later, his three white dragons began to dim and fade. ¡°Qin Huai, how much longer can your Qi last? I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t even be able to last a quarter of an hour.¡± Hong San launched a verbal attack. He had fought with many martial artists from the Changshan Dojo and had a good understanding of the breath control technique. ¡°When one¡¯s Qi is exhausted, one¡¯s life will be exhausted. The long breath technique can extend one¡¯s life but also shorten it. Martial arts are really profound,¡± he muttered to himself. He was frantically adding pressure to Qin Huai. Qin Huai ignored Hong San, though, even though he couldn¡¯t defeat him now. However, if he really had no choice, he could still escape by extinguishing all the lamps and using breath control. However, Yu Liao and the others were still being held back by the martial artists from the Thunderbolt Dojo. Suddenly, Qin Huai realized that an experience ball had dropped from his body. And it was orange! With a thought, he picked up the orange experience ball. (Orange)], ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence of Qi Cultivation [Long Breath Technique] experience +10,000!¡± A whole 10,000 experience points? Qin Huai¡¯s eyes trembled as he quickly looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 26.578 [Cultivation Methods]: [Breathing technique (level 23, 2366/3000) ], [Qi-nurturing technique (level 50, 7/1000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000)], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Thunderflash skill (level 4, 470/1000)] [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 199/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°The Qi-nurtuting technique has disappeared?¡± Qin Huai looked at the panel that had lost the Qi-nurturing technique and connected it to the shocking Long Breath Technique 10,000 points. ¡°I understand now. The Qi-nurturing technique is a simplified version of the breathing technique. When the breathing technique and the Qi-nurturing technique reach the same level, after the second practice, the two will attract each other and naturally merge together. It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t do anything earlier, so that I can master it. Now that I¡¯m fighting with Hong San, I¡¯m using all my strength to merge the two into one.¡± This was what Qin Huai thought. The Qi-nurturing technique and the breathing technique were like the low-level max-level equipment in games, which were sacrificed to the same type of high-level equipment as part of the experience. What made Qin Huai even more glad was that the three white dragons in his body didn¡¯t disappear because of the Qi cultivation technique. This can be considered a unique one. Also, the time to break through to the third refinement has been shortened by another seven or eight days. More importantly, the ¡®Qi¡¯ in Qin Huai¡¯s body was instantly filled to the brim because he had advanced three levels of the breathing technique. Chapter 35 - Dark Blue Experience Ball Chapter 35 Dark Blue Experience Ball ¡°How much more can your Qi last?¡± Before Hong San finished his sentence, Qin Huai¡¯s three white dragons, who had been in a disadvantageous position, suddenly raised their heads again. The solid wall of air once again blocked his attack. ¡°Open!¡± Qin Huai roared. The three white dragons that had returned to their peak were instantly poured out of their bodies. Even Hong San was caught off guard by the terrifying blast and was flipped to the ground on the spot. Qin Huai seemed to have withered a lot in an instant. However, he didn¡¯t stop at all. He immediately broke through the defense line of the Thunderbolt Dojo. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Fang Tong and the others carried Yu Liao and quickly followed. In the blink of an eye, Qin Huai and the others had already disappeared into the dark tunnel. ¡°What are you all doing? Go after them!¡± a warrior from the Thunderbolt Dojo shouted. ¡°Forget it!¡± Hong San climbed up from the ground, his face covered in dust and no longer the invincible little Reihom of the past. Blood seeped out from the corner of his mouth. The three white dragons made it difficult for him to attack or defend. Hong San squinted his eyes at the endless darkness. It was as if he could see Qin Huai. ¡®If this person is not eliminated, he will definitely be a thorn in the heart of my Thunderbolt Dojo!¡¯ With the foundation of the Qi cultivation technique, it was still acceptable to reach level 10 in three days. However, reaching level 20 in ten days was something that the Thunderbolt Dojo could not accept. That wasn¡¯t something that could be explained by compatibility. Therefore, this kind of must be eliminated! ¡°It¡¯s time for Gao Leya to make some contributions,¡± he muttered. guy ¡­ ¡°What a monster!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Qin is simply too handsome!¡± Yu Liao and the others carried their lamps and looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back in admiration. ¡°Three white dragons¡­ Senior Brother Qin is really special. He only had two white dragons before.¡± ¡°Now that he has three white dragons, does it mean that Senior Brother Qin¡¯s breathing technique has reached level 20?¡± When Yu Liao, Fang Tong, and the others talked about this, the respect in their eyes when they looked at Qin Huai was self-evident. At the front of the crowd, Qin Huai walked silently, ignoring the fervent gazes behind him. This was because he knew that he could no longer hide the fact that his breathing technique had reached level 20. Even if Yu Liao and the others didn¡¯t say anything, Hong San would reveal the details. Furthermore, if someone walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side, they would realize it. His hands were shaking like crazy. It was just like when Fang Han faced Sixth Brother Qin that day. ¡®I finally understand Senior Brother Fang Han. The best of the eight, the rumbling thunder skill, is indeed amazing.¡¯ It was the kind of cultivation technique that came in waves after waves, becoming more and more ferocious. It was too terrifying. The main thing was the electric current-like numbing feeling. Just like the white dragon, it was a kind of strange power that he had obtained after his cultivation technique became more profound. It made him feel even more strained. The three white dragons and Hong San, who is at level 29 of the rumbling thunder skill, can only be considered to be equally matched. ¡®I have to wait for my thunderflash skill to reach level 10. Only when I can offset the penetrating numbing force can I kill Hong San.¡¯ Qin Huai thought that when the time came, he would use his breath control technique and spirit eye technique to drag him into his advantageous area. It would be much easier to kill him then. But of course, the safer way was to wait until he broke through to the third refinement. [ Today, you obtained an unexpected surprise by merging your Qi nurturing technique with the breathing technique. You have contributed 10,000 experience points. ] At this rate, it would only take half a month to break through to the third refinement. ¡­ ¡°Yu Liao, what¡¯s wrong with you guys? Why are you so badly injured?¡± On the way, an acquaintance saw Yu Liao. ¡°We¡¯ve met Hong San.¡± Yu Liao¡¯s face was gloomy, but there was also a hint of joy on it, which made the people around him confused. However, when they heard the name Hong San, everyone¡¯s eyes clearly became a little hazy. ¡°Then you guys are really lucky to be able to run back. You guys are really lucky.¡± ¡°What? If it wasn¡¯t for Junior Brother Qin, I¡¯m afraid all of us would have died there.¡± ¡°Qin Huai?¡± The man was confused. ¡°Junior Brother Qin¡¯s breathing technique is already at level 20! The three white dragons fought against Hong San without being at a disadvantage. Even Hong San was surprised. He didn¡¯t see it coming at all.¡± Yu Liao was beaming with joy as he spoke. He even seemed to be adding oil to the fire. ¡°Wow, level 20! It¡¯s only been a few days since I started cultivating.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a genius! Senior Brother Qin is definitely the strongest genius in our dojo in the past ten years.¡± Everyone was amazed. The news of Qin Huai reaching level 20 in ten days spread like wildfire, sweeping through the entire Changshan Dojo. ¡­ Fang Han¡¯s strong body jumped lightly on the path in the forest. He was even humming an unknown little tune from his hometown, feeling extremely happy. ¡°What¡¯s the matter that made you lose your composure? It can¡¯t be about that Hong San injuring people again, right?¡± Sun Yuanshan was facing the cliff, slowly punching. He felt helpless, but he couldn¡¯t use his strength. In a fight between people of the same realm, the elders would not make a move. This was the tacit understanding of the eight major martial arts centers, so he could not say anything. The first three stages of the breathing technique were at a great disadvantage, and they were completely helpless against the number one skill, the rumbling thunder skill. ¡°It¡¯s indeed about Hong San,¡± Fang Han replied. ¡°Invite the famous doctors of the Crane Dojo, Tyrant Fist Dojo, and Six harmonies Dojo to treat the children. For those who died, according to the rules, give their families double the compensation. Don¡¯t worry about the money.¡± Sun Yuanshan waved his hand and was very generous. ¡°Master, we¡¯ve already started on this.¡± Fang Han¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°But there¡¯s one more important thing.¡± Fang Han¡¯s serious face was instantly washed away by joy. The smile on his face was almost overflowing. ¡°Qin Huai has reached level 20.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s smooth fist technique suddenly froze. It had only been ten days. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. He saved Yu Liao and the others from Hong San. According to Yu Liao, Qin Huai and Hong San are equally matched.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Sun Yuanshan, who had always been calm, couldn¡¯t help but shout. He was full of Qi and had a majestic aura. Fang Han, who was not far away, was shocked. One had to know that people who refined blood would inevitably have their Qi and blood weakened after the age of thirty. ¡®The longer one¡¯s age, the more demonic and alluring one¡¯s vitality would become. Master was already past his eightieth birthday, but his vitality had not decreased. On the contrary, it has become stronger.¡¯ ¡°He has one more ¡®Qi¡¯ than the average person. With such an amazing cultivation speed, our Changshan Dojo will be able to hold our heads high in the eighth martial arts competition next year.¡± Sun Yuanshan looked into the distance. ¡°Who said it wasn¡¯t?Fang Han suddenly laughed out loud. ¡°Speaking of which, I have to thank the examiners of the Thunderbolt Dojo. If they hadn¡¯t rejected Qin Huai, our Changshan Dojo wouldn¡¯t have been able to welcome these geniuses.¡¯ ¡°I do need to thank you. Go to the city and buy a few jars of good wine to send to the examiners,¡± Sun Yuanshan ordered. ¡°Especially that Gu He. I remember he was the one who said that Qin Huai¡¯s root bone was weak. Buy him two more jars. Also, find a scholar with good literary talent and write a letter to express my gratitude.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Fang Han accepted the order. His master was the one who was being sarcastic. ¡°Also, call Qin Huai over.¡± After a while, Qin Huai arrived in front of the ¡®Changshan ancestral house¡¯ halfway up the mountain. He had not seen the head of the dojo since he joined the school half a month ago, so he was rather apprehensive. He looked at the figure in the courtyard. His hair was white, but his qi and blood were surging! In his eyes, the person in front of him was not an old man, but a tiger that was stretching its back. As expected of the head of the Changshan Dojo. ¡°Disciple Qin Huai pays his respects to Master!¡± Qin Huai was very respectful. ¡°That brat from the Thunderbolt Dojo did whatever he wanted in the mine. He was so arrogant and had hurt so many of my disciples. But today¡¯s battle has boosted the morale of our dojo, which is a good thing!¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s words were firm, unlike the elders in the city. ¡°This is my duty.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. Sun Yuanshan sighed. ¡°On the eight martial arts ranking, our Changshan Dojo has been at the bottom for years. We are no longer favored by the rich and powerful in the city. We are no longer the first choice of young talents. In the long run, our Changshan Dojo will no longer be able to establish itself here. ¡°However, your breathing technique is different from others. Having one more breath means that you¡¯ll be able to make up for the lack of offensive power and defense in the first few realms of the breathing technique. ¡°This is a great opportunity and the hope of the Changshan Dojo. In the future, when it¡¯s past seven o¡¯clock, come to the mountain and practice with me. You will be my fifth personal disciple.¡± Qin Huai hurriedly kowtowed in greeting. ¡°Disciple greets Master!¡± ¡°You may rise.¡± Sun Yuanshan said as he slowly formed a fist. Qin Huai sat up straight and watched Sun Yuanshan perform his martial arts and punch. Sun Yuanshan¡¯s punches and kicks were soft, like Tai Chi from his previous life, but it was only a stretching process. When all the energy in his body was transferred to his fists and there would be an astonishing explosion. legs, The howling wind was like a cannon! It exploded in an instant, and it was just one punch. Qin Huai was shocked. He had never had such an experience before. ¡°Have you gained any enlightenment?¡± Sun Yuanshan stopped and turned to look at Qin Huai with anticipation. Qin Huai shook his head, his expression magnanimous. He only felt that it was amazing, but he had no enlightenment. Sun Yuanshan¡¯s expression did not change, but he felt a little regretful. That¡¯s right, no matter how much of a genius he was, how could his breathing technique improve just from one punch? In the end, he was still impetuous. He didn¡¯t expect that his decades of cultivation would be broken by a little brat. Sun Yuanshan smiled and felt even happier. On the other hand, Qin Huai sat quietly, calm and composed. He watched Sun Yuanshan continue to practice and counted the time silently. One breath, two breaths, three breaths¡­. Ding! Ding! Eventually, a dark blue experience ball fell from Sun Yuanshan¡¯s body. Chapter 36 - Smashing Gu Hes Signboard Chapter 36 Smashing Gu He¡¯s Signboard ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Dark Blue), [Breath Control] experience +636!¡± As expected of the head of the Changshan Dojo, he actually gained more than 600 experience points in one go. One had to know that the amount of experience points he collected in a day was only around 1,300. And now¡­ His master had helped Qin Huai generate half of his income by himself, bringing his daily experience to nearly two thousand. His breathing technique had also successfully broken through the level 23 barrier and reached level 24 (2/3000). ¡°I only need ten days to reach the third refinement.¡± Qin Huai did the mental calculation-the rumbling thunder skill was only three days away. ¡°I think you just experienced a life-and-death battle today, and your mind is still unstable. Go back and have a good rest.¡± Sun Yuanshan said as he looked at the absent-minded Qin Huai. ¡°I will obey Master¡¯s orders!¡± Qin Huai could only nod. His talent was too poor, and he could not see the slightest bit of skill in Sun Yuanshan¡¯s moves. After picking up the experience ball, he could only watch helplessly. ¡°Also, don¡¯t go to the mine for the next few days. That Hong San will definitely think of ways to find you in the mine. With the tacit understanding of the eight dojos, we, the third refinement and above, won¡¯t make a move.¡± Sun Yuanshan said. ¡°Dare I ask Master, is the tacit understanding between the eight dojos only followed by the other seven dojos?¡± ¡°Of course, all eight dojos have to abide by it. Although the Thunderbolt Dojo is first, it¡¯s not even at the top.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s voice came to an abrupt end as he looked at Qin Huai with a smile. He already understood what Qin Huai meant. ¡°Hong San killed our Changshan Dojo¡¯s martial artists without any scruples because of the tacit understanding between the eight big martial arts centers and the benefits of the rumbling thunder skill. Although I can¡¯t stop him from killing people, I can kill his people too. When we kill until everyone¡¯s flesh hurts, there will naturally be a new tacit understanding.¡± Qin Huai stated his thoughts with a calm expression. To put it bluntly, the conflict in the mine this time was because the strength of their own dojo was too weak. That was why the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo bullied him without any hesitation. ¡°You can try.¡± Sun Yuanshan did not stop him. ¡°In the same realm, it would be fine even if you killed him. When the big ones come, your senior brothers will help you fight them back. When the old ones come, Master will still be here. ¡°In any case, there is no old man older than me in Pingnan City. I¡¯m still quite good at taking advantage of my seniority,¡± Sun Yuanshan said with a smile. This disciple¡¯s way of thinking was a little unconventional, but it was also a brilliant move. ¡°Many thanks, Master!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists again. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank? Isn¡¯t it the dojo¡¯s duty to protect their disciples from being bullied? If you keep retreating in the face of a strong enemy, what¡¯s the point of practicing martial arts? Where do we find the human heart? ¡°Our Changshan Dojo is not as strong as the Thunderbolt Dojo, but we still have the courage to fight. It¡¯s within the rules. Don¡¯t worry and just do it boldly.¡± Sun Yuanshan said all this in a calm voice, which made Qin Huai value the name Changshan Dojo even more. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯d like to ask Master for help with.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about the Luo mansion, right? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get your eldest senior brother to send someone to keep an eye on the Luo mansion.¡± Sun Yuanshan had already guessed what Qin Huai was thinking. ¡°Disciple thanks Master!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists heavily before turning around and descending the mountain. Since Hong San had discovered his uniqueness, he would definitely think of ways to kill him when he returned. ¡°Then why don¡¯t I make the first move and kill all of his men? Then I won¡¯t have to worry about the safety of myself and my fellow disciples.¡± Besides, if he allowed Hong San to continue killing without restraint, how long would it take for him to reach the third, fourth, or even fifth or sixth refinement of his breathing technique? For the past few days, he could clearly feel that the experience gain of the long breath technique had decreased by more than 100 points. Sun Yuanshan touched his beard and looked at the back of the strong man who was going down the mountain. He carefully observed his breathing and footsteps. ¡°This kid has indeed comprehended something!¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai¡¯s aura and footsteps. It was obvious that he was much more profound than when he had come. Only a grandmaster of the breathing technique like him could notice such a small detail. ¡°At such a young age, he¡¯s already learned how to hide his talents in front of his master.¡± Sun Yuanshan couldn¡¯t hide his smile anymore. ¡°Good comprehension, good comprehension! I finally have a chance in the eighth martial competition this time, hehe.¡± The night was dark and the moon was bright. The Green Moon brothel was one of the most famous restaurants in Pingnan City. At this moment, there was a hubbub of voices, and all the guests were wearing silk and gold, looking very extravagant. Everyone talked loudly, and in the time it took for them to exchange cups, they had already consumed a day¡¯s worth of food for an ordinary person. At the entrance of the restaurant, Gu He walked in with his head held high. ¡°Gu He~ Master Gu is here~¡± The servant boy saw a familiar face and shouted towards the building with his clear throat. At that moment, many customers at the door stood up and went up to Gu He. This was because an expert at the third refinement was not rare in the eight major martial arts centers, but in Pingnan City, he was a rare expert. With a smile on his face, Gu He stopped the servant and made a gesture. The manservant¡¯s eyes lit up and he shouted loudly, ¡°Master Gu will pay for all the drinks today! Hualalalalalalalalala~ At this moment, all the customers upstairs and downstairs stood up and complimented Gu He. ¡°What kind of fortune did Master Gu make this time? Why are you so generous today?¡± ¡°Could it be that Master Gu has finally broken through the threshold of the fourth refinement? You¡¯ve become a top expert?¡± The crowd raised their glasses and toasted. ¡°He¡¯s happier than me, Master Gu, for breaking through!¡± Gu He found the best seat and sat down. || ¡°Hehe, you know my nephew, right? ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know the famous Hong of the Thunderbolt Dojo?!¡± the big-bellied rich merchant blushed and complimented. ¡°Among the geniuses in Pingnan City, other than Reihom, who is fully deserving of the first place, I only recognize Third Young Master Hong!¡± ¡°Correct! I have the same thoughts!¡± Gu He listened to everyone¡¯s flattery and was extremely pleased. ¡°My nephew signed a life-and-death contract with the Changshan Dojo at the White Flow mine! He¡¯s going to challenge all the second refinement martial artists in the Changshan Dojo! ¡°Three days after the life and death declaration, Changshan Dojo lost three people, so no one in the entire dojo dares to accept the challenge! In that mine, all I do is hide from my nephew and dig for some leftover ore. Hahaha!¡± Gu He laughed out loud as he drank. ¡°Third Young Master Hong is so domineering!¡± ¡°It is! In the next five years, I¡¯m afraid that the younger generation of Pingnan City will be trampled under the feet of Third Young Master Hong!¡± Gu He was also enjoying the endless stream of people who were trying to flatter him. ¡°That¡¯s right. Hong San is so overbearing. I would be happy to have such a nephew.¡± Bang! A rough voice rang out, followed by a jar of wine being smashed on the table. Gu He frowned and was about to say something when he saw the face of the owner of the wine. It was Fang Han! ¡°Brother Fang, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Gu He narrowed his eyes, his body tensed up. The muscular man in front of him was not someone who used his brain more than his muscles. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯m here on my master¡¯s orders to bring you some good wine to thank you.¡± ¡°Thank me? Thank me for what?¡± Gu He said slowly, ¡°The eight major martial arts centers have a tacit understanding. As the elders, we can¡¯t interfere in the fight between the younger generation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our Changshan Dojo is not as despicable as your Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± ¡°Then why have you come?¡± Gu He was confused. Fang Han was calm and composed. ¡°I told you that I¡¯m here to thank you. It¡¯s all thanks to you, the chief examiners of the Thunderbolt Dojo, who are blind and black-hearted, for rejecting Qin Huai. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to find such a good junior brother.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gu He was getting more and more confused. Qin Huai¡¯s root bone and Qi and blood were personally tested by him, and they couldn¡¯t be any worse. There was no possibility of turning the tables. ¡°You still don¡¯t know?¡± Fang Han¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Qin Huai has only been in the library for three days, and he has already cultivated the long breath technique to level 10.¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± When the surrounding customers heard this, they all gasped. Gu He only sneered. He has a disciple who practices Qi nurturing technique. It¡¯s normal for him to be faster in the beginning. ¡°If he can reach level 20 breathing technique in a month, that would be shocking. It would be a blow to your reputation.¡± Fang Han shook his head regretfully. ¡°He didn¡¯t manage to do that.¡± The smile on Gu He¡¯s face grew colder. He knew it. ¡°Junior Brother Qin was faster than you said. He only spent ten days.¡± Chapter 37 - Everyones Panicking! The God of Death Is in the Mine! Chapter 37 Everyone¡¯s Panicking! The God of Death Is in the Mine! ¡°Come to think of it, it¡¯s only been thirteen days since Junior Brother Qin¡¯s breathing technique started from nothing. It hasn¡¯t even been half a month.¡± Fang Han counted with his fingers in a slightly exaggerated manner. However, Gu He¡¯s face had already turned ashen. ¡®How is this possible?!¡¯ The smile on Gu He¡¯s face froze. In less than half a month, he had gone from nothing to level 20? Even if he cultivated using those street goods, he would definitely not be able to do it. Not to mention Hong San¡­ Even a genius like Reihom couldn¡¯t advance so quickly. Unless¡­unless this was fake! ¡°Fang Han, even if you want to make a name for yourself, shouldn¡¯t you at least make up a decent reason?¡± Gu He sneered. ¡°Even though your breathing technique is really bad, there¡¯s no need to use such a lie to attract students.I know your Changshan Dojo has suffered many setbacks in recruiting disciples in the past two years, but don¡¯t be too impatient and ruin your last bit of reputation.¡± Gu He tried to persuade with good words. This was the only explanation that could make sense. As for how the Changshan Dojo would cover up this lie, they would use the next lie to cover it up. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to believe it, but if you told a hundred people, a hundred and one would not believe you! It must be fake in that case. With this thought, Gu He also felt much better. However, it was a little awkward. Why did Fang Han smile even more happily? ¡°I have a witness, actually. He¡¯s your precious nephew, Hong San. Speaking of which, I have to thank your nephew. If he hadn¡¯t hurt people, my Junior Brother Qin, who likes to hide his weakness, wouldn¡¯t have helped. Even now, we didn¡¯t know that our junior apprentice brother had such talent.¡± Fang Han said unhurriedly. He was enjoying the process. It was especially comfortable to watch Gu He slowly break through his defense. No wonder those scholars liked to play with people slowly until they died. Now, he could be considered to have some understanding. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Gu He furrowed his brows again. ¡°Today, Junior Brother Qin saw Hong San assault someone in the mine, so he stopped him. As for the result, they were equally matched.¡± ¡°This is impossible! How¡¯s your breathing technique? My rumbling thunder skill can fight against you all.¡± Gu He suddenly recalled the information from Gao Leya that day. This Qin Huai was special, and he had one more ¡®white dragon¡¯ than the others. If he really cultivated the three white dragons, he might really be able to compete with Hong San. Pa! ¡°Bill please!¡± He bought a few silver notes and was no longer in the mood to drink. He just wanted to make things clear. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry~¡± Fang Han looked at Gu He, who was running away in anger, and laughed. As for the surrounding guests who were drinking, they had mixed feelings and their thoughts were spinning. Many of them had ridiculed Qin Huai when the ¡°rumor¡± had first spread, but now they couldn¡¯t even drink good wine. Immediately, more than ten customers rushed out of the door to inquire about Qin Huai. ¡­ ¡®How is this possible?! How is this possible?!¡¯ At the Thunderbolt Dojo, Gu He was pacing back and forth in front of the table. And on the chair, Hong San¡¯s expression was not any better. ¡°My bone-sensing is definitely not wrong. Did this guy eat some kind of elixir to reach twenty levels in half a month? Right! There must be a secret to this kid.¡± Gu He suddenly stood still. ¡°San¡¯er, Qin Huai must die! When the time comes, let¡¯s see what he¡¯s hiding. As long as you can keep this secret for yourself, it won¡¯t be a problem for you to surpass Reihom!¡± Hong San nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle. I¡¯ve already made the necessary arrangements.¡¯ He was very surprised that Qin Huai had three white dragons, but not by much. Because he knew that Qin Huai would soon die by his hands. The three white dragons were powerful, but they could only fight against him for a while. If Qin Huai had not run away quickly, he would have died at that moment. ¡­ At the back mountain of the Thunderbolt Dojo, the half-naked Reihom waved the training equipment in his hands. The two-meter long iron rod was connected to a stone millstone with a diameter of one person at the end. His bronze-colored muscles bulged with blue veins, and the direction of his muscles changed with every swing of the exaggerated training equipment. ¡°Three white dragons? And he¡¯s on par with Hong San?¡± Reihom listened to his subordinate¡¯s report and let go of the training equipment. BOOM! There was a muffled sound, and the earth trembled. The drill ground was covered in dust, and the training equipment was stuck in the ground. The outside world has probably exaggerated. The gap between the early stage of the rumbling thunder skill and the breathing technique was not something that the three white dragons can erase. ¡°That Qin Huai might be able to fight for a short time, but if he drags on, he will definitely die,¡± Reihom said with conviction. Whether it was his own dojo or the dojo¡¯s old rivals¡¯ cultivation methods, he had a deep understanding of them. ¡°Then what should we do next?¡± the subordinate asked. ¡°I believe Hong San will handle this matter well.¡± Reihom didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°If he can¡¯t even handle such a small matter, then he should just take back his title as my successor. He doesn¡¯t deserve to be as famous as me.¡± After Qin Huai left the mountain, he made another trip to the mine. He picked some iron vine flower, solitary thread herb, and boiled them into iron poison powder, as well as some medicinal herbs with spicy effects. Although he was already unafraid of anyone in the second refinement realm, he still needed to prepare more life-saving measures such as poisons. After he was done with his preparations, Qin Huai picked up some scattered medicinal herbs from the periphery of White Flow Mountain. With just a little thought, he had concocted several small poisons that could take effect immediately. His high-level medicinal skills could only be put to use at such a time. When he returned to the courtyard, he took off his long robe and sat on the bed, half-naked. The day¡¯s fatigue seemed to have melted away at this moment. He looked at the chain mail that Master Song had made for him. Cracks had already appeared on it. ¡°The domineering nature of the rumbling thunder skill is indeed eye-opening.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for this chainmail, he might have been seriously injured. But of course, he did not forget to write a letter to the three people in the Luo residence. The general meaning was to remind them to be more careful in the future, and that there would be senior brothers secretly protecting the dojo. He also asked about the recent situation in the city. It was a silent night. The next morning, Qin Huai received a reply from Luo Ya. In just half a month, the prices of goods in the city had risen again. There were also more and more refugees coming from other towns. It seemed that there were many refugees with unfamiliar accents at the entrance of the Luo family¡¯s restaurant. There were simply too many refugees. Pingnan City was already overcrowded. Forced to do so, the city implemented a strict entry policy, and even the refugees were not allowed to enter. Thousands of refugees were either curled up outside the city gate or directly going up the mountain to become bandits, causing Pingnan City and its surrounding areas to be in chaos. ¡°It¡¯s getting more and more chaotic. I just don¡¯t know where these people are escaping from. How far is it from Pingnan City and where did the disaster sweep to?¡± Qin Huai read the contents of the letter and was deeply worried. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll need to be at least on Reihom¡¯s level in order to have the ability to protect yourself.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Dark Blue), [Breath Control] experience +636!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +117!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (White), [Breath Control] experience +36!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +39!¡± Qin Huai first went to the various drill grounds to collect experience as usual. After seven o ¡®clock, he went up the mountain to learn from his master, Sun Yuanshan. The ancestral house on the mountain was very spacious. In addition to the excellent scenery, there was a lawn or field not far from the place where his master practiced. It was growing well. Sun Yuanshan would always water the plants with a wooden bucket during his break. However, the fertilizer in the wooden bucket was not the usual fertilizer. Instead, it was a sticky, scarlet liquid. It was like blood Qi soup and demon meat. become However, Qin Huai did not ask. He had just Sun Yuanshan¡¯s disciple and was still unclear about his temperament. It would be inappropriate if he were to ask any questions and touch some taboos. Therefore, in the ancestral house, Qin Huai said less and saw more. ¡­ In the afternoon, Qin Huai was ready to set off, and he entered the White Flow mine. Because of the chain mail and poison, he had gained a lot of weight. In the pitch-black mine, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up. As soon as he activated his spirit eye technique, the world in front of him instantly regained its brightness. The breath control technique followed closely. The sound of breathing that was amplified several times also disappeared quietly. At this moment, Qin Huai had completely turned into the god of death in the mine as he headed in the direction of the Thunderbolt Dojo. Chapter 38 - Crazy Killing! Chapter 38 Crazy Killing! In the mine, a few disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo walked in the direction of the Changshan Dojo with their lamps lit. ¡°That Qin Huai is really too disgusting. He always sneaks up at the crucial moment and breaks our attacks.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for his interference, how could those Changshan Dojo trash last until now? We would have killed them long ago.¡± ¡°If I meet him, I¡¯ll definitely tear him into pieces.¡± Ao Zi snorted coldly. He was also a second refinement martial artist of the Thunderbolt Dojo, although he had just entered this realm and was not as strong as Hong San. However, in Pingnan City, where the average age was in their twenties, one would only step into the second refinement realm. This year, Ao Zi, who was only nineteen years old, was worthy of being called a youth with a promising future. Therefore, this caused Ao Zi to be quite arrogant in his daily actions. ¡°Forget it. That Qin Huai is someone who can exchange blows with Third Senior Brother Hong,¡± the man at the side persuaded. Ao Zi¡¯s expression froze for a moment, and then a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth. ¡°If he can¡¯t do anything, how about we do something to the Luo residence?¡± ¡°I heard that the lady of the Luo residence is extremely beautiful. If I can get close to her and then use this opportunity to teach Qin Huai a good lesson, wouldn¡¯t it be a one-shot¡­¡± Whoosh! The sound of something breaking through the air could be heard. The lamp in Ao Zi¡¯s hand was instantly extinguished. Before they could react, several more air-piercing sounds flew over. In an instant, the entire mine turned dark. ¡°Light up!¡± Ao Zi roared. However, there was no light. Instead, a scream exploded in his ears. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue)], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +271!¡± In the dark, Qin Huai looked at the panicking Ao Zi and the others with satisfaction. He activated his breath control skill so that no one in the Thunderbolt Dojo could hear his breathing. He also controlled his landing and made no sound. Qin Huai was like a ghost in the dark, floating among the crowd. There were a total of five people. Other than Ao Zi, two first-grade and two second-grade cultivators could not do much. Qin Huai¡¯s Qi and blood were at their peak, and he almost walked to the front of a few martial artists from the Thunderbolt Dojo. With the support of the breath control technique and the spirit eye technique, he could clearly see the pores on the female martial artist¡¯s face a few inches away. Hu¡­ His breath came out from the tip of his nose. Qin Huai watched as the female martial artist¡¯s pores instantly expanded. Then, he raised his hand and punched! The female martial artist¡¯s chest was pierced through by Qin Huai. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +255!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +100!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +87!¡± Qin Huai killed all four people around Ao Zi with each punch. He even threw a packet of spicy powder in Ao Zi¡¯s direction. It could stimulate one¡¯s sense of smell and eyes, causing them to temporarily lose their function. It had the same effect as lime, but it was stronger. Hu! The coal lamp lit up again. With the help of the faint light, Ao Zi finally saw everything in front of him. The bodies of the four senior brothers and his other companions who had been talking and laughing together earlier were now riddled with thousands of holes. They were all dead. ¡°You¡­ Who are you?¡± Ao Zi¡¯s voice trembled. He had killed people before, and he had killed many. However, this was the first time he was facing a life-and-death situation. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you wanted to kill me?¡± Qin Huai walked toward Ao Zi. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­ Ah! My eyes!¡± While retreating, Ao Zi rubbed his eyes hard. ¡°Don¡¯t come over! I¡¯m a descendant of the Ao family in Pingnan City, the young shopkeeper of the Three Willows building, and the Wild Jade Garden¡­¡± Ao Zi¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. ¡°You¡¯re full of nonsense.¡± Ka! Qin Huai pulled out his arm from Ao Zi¡¯s body, bringing out a large pool of sticky red and yellow substance. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +491!¡± Qin Huai looked at the five people who couldn¡¯t be more dead, his expression indifferent. ¡°The effects of breath control technique and spirit eye technique are even better than I imagined. The moment a person loses his sight, even a martial artist will fall into boundless fear, causing his body to be full of flaws. And adding flowers to the brocade of these poisonous things is an even more exquisite stroke.¡± Qin Huai summarized the battle just now. The facts have proven that the only difficult second-tier martial artist to deal with was Hong San. The others couldn¡¯t even resist his three white dragons. Just now, Ao Zi had activated the rumbling thunder skill before his death, but it had been shattered by Qin Huai¡¯s three white dragons punch. His heart, Qi and blood, profound cultivation techniques¡­ He was far from it. Qin Huai was also constantly deducing more efficient methods in his mind. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been too stingy with the spicy powder and poison. Every time you attack, you should bring along spicy powder and poisonous substances to make all your opponents fall into absolute chaos and lose their senses. This is the only way to ensure that we won¡¯t fail miserably in an easy task. Qin Huai concluded that he had enough poisonous substances. By directly covering the enemy in a fight, it could reduce consumption of one¡¯s physical energy to the maximum. the He turned around and groped for the next tunnel. After a while, he saw the light again. Qin Huai did the same thing and smashed the other party¡¯s lamp with a flying stone. ¡°Who¡­¡± As soon as the man shouted, a large amount of spicy powder poured into his mouth. Then, a violent coughing sound was heard. Qin Huai took his opponent¡¯s life with a punch. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +91!¡± ¡°As expected, it¡¯s safest to cover it with poisonous substances first.¡± Qin Huai looked at his combo that was gradually becoming more and more perfect with satisfaction. He continued walking. In the pitch-black mine, miserable screams rang out continuously. Because he was deep in the enemy¡¯s belly, he couldn¡¯t see any martial artists from his own dojo, so he didn¡¯t need to save them or hide. As long as he killed everyone who saw him using the power of his cultivation technique, it would be fine. The narrow mine was dark to begin with, and screams of pain echoed continuously on the iron ore walls. The echo was endless, slowly spreading throughout the entire mine. It also made the warriors of the Thunderbolt Dojo in the mine anxious. Rub, rub, rub¡­ A few warriors of the Thunderbolt Dojo couldn¡¯t stand the screams from time to time and quickly climbed out of the nearest mine. In the iron forest, the two warriors of the Thunderbolt Dojo looked at each other with their faces covered in dirt. ¡°It¡¯s haunted. Why is one dead every now and then?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me someone is having fun.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? Who would do this kind of fun? Do you want to be punished? ¡°Could it be that the Changshan Dojo sent a third stage martial artist to cause trouble?¡± The two of them were confused, but no matter what, they had no intention of going into the mine again today. ¡­ In the mine, Qin Huai was bathing in the corner where blood was dripping. It might have been two hours, or even several hours. Qin Huai could not remember clearly. However, he could clearly remember that he had killed two second refinement martial artists, eight first refinement martial artists, and twenty to thirty apprentices. ¡°This should be enough to give the Thunderbolt Dojo a good beating.¡± Compared to the Changshan Dojo¡¯s martial artists who had died at the hands of the Thunderbolt Dojo, Qin Huai¡¯s killing today was just a little more interesting. The Qi and blood in his body once again gave off the familiar boiling feeling. He looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 27.581 [Cultivation Methods]: [Eternal Qi technique (level 24, 2014/3000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 10, 34/1000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 199/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°My vitality is approaching the 28 point mark.¡± Qin Huai looked at his own Qi and blood, feeling even more gratified. His thunder skill had broken through to level 10, and his Qi and blood had also increased a little. He stretched out his fist and palm and struck the iron wall. Bang ~! It was like the sound of muffled thunder, reverberating in the mine and spreading far away. ¡°It¡¯s full of force.¡± Qin Huai could not help but exclaim in admiration when he felt the power of the rumbling thunder skill. ¡°Compared to the tremor at level 4 and 5, level 10 rumbling thunder skill has indeed welcomed a qualitative change. Only with this power can it offset Hong San¡¯s thunder skill. Qin Huai stood up and disappeared into the darkness again. He began to search for Hong San. Chapter 39 - No Matter How Much Planning Is Done, Its Not as Good as Qin Huais One Glance Chapter 39 No Matter How Much Planning Is Done, It¡¯s Not as Good as Qin Huai¡¯s One Glance Qin Huai walked for a while more, but he still didn¡¯t see any martial artists from the Thunderbolt Dojo. ¡°It¡¯s almost enough.¡¯ He didn¡¯t continue to explore as he was afraid that the Thunderbolt Dojo would send people to attack him. Hence, he returned the way he came. Halfway through, Qin Huai suddenly heard a call for help from the front, so he hastened his footsteps. After passing through two exits, Qin Huai saw the two of them fighting. His cultivation techniques were crude, and his Qi and blood were also weak. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] experience +21!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (White), [Breath Control] experience +24!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he picked up the two white experience balls that had fallen to the ground. They were all apprentices. Qin Huai came to a conclusion in his heart and quickly walked into the fire. ¡°Senior Brother, help me!¡± The man in Changshan Dojo¡¯s long robe roared. The apprentice was shocked and was about to run away, but Qin Huai¡¯s fist had already landed on his face. Bang! Bang! With a muffled sound, the apprentice¡¯s head was deformed, and he died. ¡°Thank you for saving me, Senior Brother.¡± Gao Leya still had a lingering fear. He had originally received Hong San¡¯s letter and had hurriedly taken advantage of the night to meet at a certain location in the mine. He explained to him the plan to deal with Qin Huai. Everything was going well, but he didn¡¯t expect to meet two apprentices from the Thunderbolt Dojo on his way back. They had chased him for two to three miles. If it weren¡¯t for this senior brother, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to enjoy the benefits that Hong San had promised him. ¡°May I ask for Senior Brother¡¯s name?¡± In the quiet mine, the light of the lamp made it difficult for Gao Leya, who had just escaped from death, to see the face of his savior. ¡°Qin Huai,¡± Qin Huai spoke. ¡°Gao Leya thanks Senior Brother Qin¡­¡± Gao Leya¡¯s voice paused for a moment before he quickly continued, ¡°Thank you for saving me, Senior Brother.¡± He suppressed the shock in his heart as he took a closer look at Qin Huai¡¯s face. It was him! It was him! Oh my god, how could he have been saved by Qin Huai? ¡°I can¡¯t accept the title of Senior Brother Gao. I joined the sect late, so you can just call me Junior Brother Qin.¡± Qin Huai had some impression of Gao Leya, but he knew that he was an old apprentice. If he didn¡¯t break through this month, he would be kicked out of the dojo. ¡°Then I will be bold and call you Junior Brother Qin. Junior Brother Qin saves people in the mine all day long. I really admire your virtue.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s only right for fellow disciples to help each other, so please don¡¯t take it to heart, Senior Brother Gao.¡± Qin Huai had attended many tea parties with Sun Ziyao, and he was already at the point where he could speak words of flattery and modesty whenever he opened his mouth. Gao Leya had a guilty conscience, so he had to say a few words to praise Qin Huai. But his praise was also from the bottom of his heart. Qin Huai¡¯s reputation had long spread throughout the dojo as he saved people all day long. Especially today, when Qin Huai saved his life again. The more he chatted with Qin Huai, the more he felt that this person was not bad. He was humble, powerful, and most importantly, he had saved his life. He actually wanted to help Hong San kill him? They left the mine. Alone, Gao Leya asked for leave and returned to the Gao mansion in the city. Thirty years ago, the Gao family was a well-known family in Pingnan City. But now, all that was left was a dilapidated ancestral home that had not been maintained for many years, and an old father with a crippled leg. ¡°Tooth boy, did you meet a benefactor?¡± As soon as he entered the house, his crippled father rushed over with a smile. ¡°Look, look, look, these two big boxes of silver! There¡¯s five hundred taels in a box!¡± He was dragged to a side room by his father. Two large boxes were opened, and they were filled with silver. At the side, there was also a small box. Inside it was a box of Qi and blood soup that had been sealed. ¡°With this medicinal soup, my Qi and blood will definitely surge, and my cultivation will also be faster. I¡¯ll definitely become a martial artist this month!¡± Gao Leya¡¯s face was full of excitement. But in his mind, Qin Huai¡¯s face appeared again. He turned around and walked quickly to an empty corner. Pa! He gave himself a solid slap. ¡°The world is big, but my own future is still the biggest. If I can become a martial artist, it would be worth it even if a thousand more Qin Huais were to die.¡± ¡°A good person? Aren¡¯t the lives of good people used to exchange for money and status for others?¡± Gao Leya¡¯s thoughts were clear in an instant. He turned around and returned to his side room, then plunged into the pile of silver. Hong San, Sixth Brother Qin and the others stood at the entrance of the mine with gloomy faces, watching as the corpses were carried out of the mine. ¡°You¡¯re too much! This Changshan Dojo is simply too much!¡± A white-haired old man angrily slapped the wooden cane in his hand. ¡°Investigate this! We must find out who did it!¡± ¡°Is it possible that it¡¯s Fang Han and his people?¡± one of the disciples asked carefully. ¡°Impossible. The big is bullying the small, and he killed so many people. He¡¯ll be killed by the other dojos.¡± ¡°Although many of their people died in the mine, it¡¯s not worth the trouble.¡± The few of them suddenly looked at each other. In other words, the person who did this is also a second refinement martial artist. A second refinement martial artist who cultivated the Qi circulation technique could kill a second refinement martial artist with rumbling thunder skill. ANd so, the few of them already had an answer in their hearts. ¡°The first time I saw Qin Huai that day, I knew that he would become a major threat to the Thunderbolt Dojo!¡± Sixth Brother Qin sneered. ¡°Now, my words have come true.¡± ¡°How many years has our Thunderbolt Dojo been the head of the eight big dojos? I¡¯ve never suffered such a great loss before.¡± ¡°This kid must die. If he continues to fight with Hong San, the consequences will be unimaginable.¡± A few senior instructors of the Thunderbolt Dojo were already filled with killing intent, because many of the disciples who died were their own disciples. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, uncles. My plan is already in progress.¡± Hong San spoke at the right time. ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow I will bring Qin Huai¡¯s head to pay tribute to the spirits of my fellow junior brothers and sisters in heaven.¡± ¡°Kid, you¡¯re quite fast,¡± the white-haired old man praised. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Master¡¯s good teaching.¡± Hong San was very humble and calm. ¡°If you bring his head tomorrow, I¡¯ll give you a set of Qi and blood medicine from the dojo.¡± A voice came from afar. It was like rolling thunder, rippling the air and setting off waves. The burly man with a full beard walked over, causing everyone to bow in greeting. ¡°Greetings, Master!¡± Even the arrogant Sixth Brother Qin had a solemn expression when he saw this person. Bai Bashan waved his hand and said with a calm expression, ¡°Bring Qin Huai here tomorrow and hang him on the Thunderbolt tree. We will use the blood of the strong to improve the luck of our Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Hong San cupped his fists. Everyone looked in the direction of the Thunderbolt tree. Its thick purple branches were covered with heads. Some were still dripping blood, some had already dried up, and some had only a skull left, which had become a nest of flies. These were the strong enemies and geniuses that the Thunderbolt Dojo had encountered since its development. Qin Huai sent another letter to the Luo residence, asking if there was anything unusual about today¡¯s trip. He received a reply the next morning. He said that Senior Brother Fang Han had sent a few martial artists to guard them, so there was no danger. Only then did Qin Huai relax and place the letter under the mattress. As usual, he went out to collect today¡¯s experience. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +94!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (Green), [Breath Control] experience +29!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Essence] (White), [Breath Control] experience +21!¡± Qin Huai suddenly heard this. He looked at the owner of the experience ball, Gao Leya. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I saved his life yesterday and even chatted with him all the way here, but his experience didn¡¯t increase at all?¡± Qin Huai pondered. This Gao Leya had clearly shown a grateful expression yesterday, and according to the usual practice, he should have gained five to ten experience points. ¡®Acting one way on the surface and another behind the back? I can¡¯t be friends with this person.¡¯ Qin Huai shook his head. He was about to leave after collecting the experience points, but unexpectedly, Gao Leya jogged over with a big smile on his face. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, I have a secret to tell you.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he followed Gao Leya to the side. ¡°Yesterday, I went deep into the mine and found a secret treasure house. There were three big boxes of silver and jewelry, and I think there¡¯s a huge chance that someone is hiding here.¡± As he spoke, he took out an ingot of silver from his chest. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, I have no way to repay you for saving my life. After thinking about it, I might as well give this treasure to you as a form of thanks for saving my life!¡± ¡°If Junior Brother Qin¡¯s cultivation is successful in the future, it would be even better if you could guide me a little.¡± Gao Leya¡¯s voice was full of emotion. It was as if all the loopholes had been blocked. If Qin Huai couldn¡¯t see the experience in the experience ball, he would have believed it. What a pity. Gao Leya¡¯s previous experience ball did not move at all, so he could only say that this person was cold and unscrupulous, and one could not have a deep friendship with him. But now, an ungrateful person was currying his favor, which could only prove that there was a conspiracy behind it. The mastermind behind the scenes could be easily guessed. Hong San finally made his move. ¡°We¡¯ll leave after we finish our training?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm. It saved him the trouble of looking. Chapter 40 - This Child Is Like Me Chapter 40 This Child Is Like Me Qin Huai and Gao Leya agreed on a time. Then, he continued to collect his own experience. ¡°Good morning, Senior Brother Qin!¡± ¡°Hello, Senior Brother Qin!¡± All the martial artists and apprentices who saw Qin Huai on the drill ground would take the initiative to stop and greet him. ¡°Junior Brother Qin is so handsome.¡± A few senior sisters looked at Qin Huai with infatuated eyes. ¡°Not only is Junior Brother Qin handsome, but he¡¯s also a good fighter. Most importantly, he¡¯s kind. I don¡¯t know how many people in our dojo have been saved by him these days.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s popularity was very high now, and he had collected more experience than usual. As the saying goes, when there¡¯s a happy event, people are in high spirits. Qin Huai looked at the experience points he had earned, and the smile on his face became more bright. Suddenly, someone blocked Qin Huai¡¯s path. Li Bowu was thin and had a slightly acrid face. He was wearing a blue robe and holding a folding fan in his hand. There was a bit of scholarly air about him, but not much. The third refinement martial artists in the dojo were the least experienced and were also the most talented group in the Changshan Dojo. They were twenty-five years old and barely ranked 19th on the martial rankings. He was also one of the candidates to be Sun Yuanshan¡¯s direct disciple. As Qin Huai looked at the person who had arrived, this piece of information popped up in his mind. It was all thanks to Sun Ziyao¡¯s tea party. Although he didn¡¯t speak much, he had a deeper understanding of the dojo than others by listening to the senior brothers and sisters ¡®conversations. For example, the apprentices, first and second refinement in the eight major martial arts centers were equivalent to servants. Not only did they have to practice martial arts every day, but they also had to go to the mine to mine and forge iron. If there were tasks for the higher-ups, they had to run around Pingnan City. Being an escort and picking herbs were both good. However, it was different at the third refinement. The third and fourth refinement would be upgraded to an instructor. They taught the apprentices and the first and second refinement disciples how to practice the fist technique, and also took care of the recruitment assessment of the disciples, just like Gu He, who had refused to let Qin Huai in. Most of them were in charge of management and could be considered to be involved in the management of the dojo. They even had the right to mobilize a small number of martial apprentices to work for him. There were some small martial arts dojos in the city, and their owners were only at the third or fourth refinement. At the fifth refinement, one would be at the level of the Deputy Dojo Master or even the Dojo Master of the eight big dojos. He was truly below one person and above a thousand people. As for the sixth refinement¡­ In the entire Pingnan City, there were only a few of them. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, I have something that is not worth saying.¡± Li Bowu coughed lightly. ¡°Senior Brother, please speak.¡± Qin Huai was silent. ¡°Your performance in the mine was extraordinary, and you saved the lives of many of our fellow disciples. Senior Brother just wants to praise you, but¡­ Junior Brother¡¯s actions are a little too deliberate. You are very talented and very ambitious!¡± Li Bowu put on the attitude of a teacher. With a serious face, he lectured. ¡°I can see that you want to rise to the top in a single bound. You want to use the reputation and good name of your fellow disciples to become master¡¯s fifth direct disciple. But everything still has to be done in an orderly manner. ¡°You¡¯re still inexperienced, and you¡¯ve only been in the dojo for half a month. It¡¯s still too early for you to become a personal disciple. There are still many senior brothers waiting for you. ¡°As the old saying goes, the gun hits the bird that takes the lead. ¡°You care too much about the title of personal disciple. Be careful of the dissatisfaction of those senior brothers. In the end, they¡¯ll leave you. That¡¯s why I advise you to restrain yourself. Focus on your cultivation~¡± Qin Huai listened to Li Bowu¡¯s long speech and finally understood what the latter meant. This was a hint that he shouldn¡¯t snatch his position of ¡®fifth personal disciple.¡¯ But unfortunately, he had already become a personal disciple the day before yesterday. It was just that this matter had yet to be announced. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Huai only cupped his fists, unwilling to explain further. Then, he quickly left to continue his experience-gathering journey. After collecting the experience points, he did not practice. Instead, he returned to his courtyard to replenish the poison he had used. He went up the mountain at dawn. Sun Yuanshan was still facing the cliff as usual, practicing a slow fist technique. Wearing white robes, it was as if a banished immortal had descended to the world, making people feel relaxed and happy just by looking at him. Qin Huai silently followed behind his Master Sun Yuanshan and practiced, gaining some experience in passing. ¡°How¡¯s the progress of your plan?¡± After the punch, Sun Yuanshan turned around and said. ¡°As expected, Hong San has already made his move.¡± Qin Huai told him about the murder in the mine and his guess about the treasure map. In the middle, he naturally omitted the strong evidence of his own experience to confirm the conjecture, and only said it was a guess. ¡°How confident are you in going up against Hong San?¡± ¡°About fifty percent.¡± Qin Huai was humble. ¡°Should we bring our brothers and give him a counter-encirclement?¡± Sun Yuanshan suggested. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s a mole. It wouldn¡¯t be good if we beat the grass and alert the snake, causing Hong San to escape.¡± Qin Huai voiced his concerns. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go according to your plan.¡± Sun Yuanshan was pleased. There was still a chance to defeat Hong San with the three white dragons, but to kill Hong San¡­ However, Sun Yuanshan did not ask why Qin Huai was so confident in killing Hong San. Qin Huai¡¯s goal was to kill Hong San. He was massacring wantonly to put pressure on him. He asked the higher-ups of the Thunderbolt Dojo to force Hong San to take the initiative to fight him. After all, Hong San was the only one who had the chance to kill him within the second refinement. dojos, As long as the ruthless and radical Hong San died¡­ Under the tacit understanding of the two regardless of whether it was the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo or the Changshan Dojo, they would restrain themselves in the mine. There would not be any scenes of life and death. That way, he would be able to calmly collect experience points from both sides and gradually improve. And this time, Gao Leya¡¯s involvement was a heaven-sent opportunity. He had an absolute advantage in the mine. His spirit eye technique, breath control technique, and the poisonous substances he had meticulously concocted could all play their greatest roles in the mine. ¡°I see you¡¯ve put on more weight than two days ago. It means you¡¯re in a good mood and don¡¯t have any psychological burden. That¡¯s good.¡± Sun Yuanshan sized up Qin Huai. Then, he patted his chest. ¡°I can¡¯t help much this time, so just take this.¡± Qin Huai looked at the bag of gray powder that had hit his chest. ¡°This is bone-softening powder. After ordinary people inhale it for five breaths, they will be powerless. A second-refinement martial artist would last for twenty breaths before their physical strength would decline, and their Qi and blood would be sealed. It can reduce Hong San¡¯s combat power by quite a bit.¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai, who was holding the gray powder and did not move for a long time, and began to persuade him. ¡°Don¡¯t think that using poison to win is unfair. Martial arts are the result of practicing a certain method to the extreme in order to kill people. Poison and martial arts are the same thing. Winning and surviving is the true skill. ¡°Otherwise, do you think that the reason I could live to eighty years old was because of the longevity art and my cultivation? ¡°Quick, put it away and keep it in your chest.¡± Qin Huai raised his head and looked at the serious Sun Yuanshan in a new light. He had thought that this sage-like Dojo Master would be a rigid person. He didn¡¯t expect¡­ His master¡¯s views were actually similar to his own. ¡°Master, I can¡¯t fit anything in here.¡± He untied his robe, revealing his body. His chain mail was already filled with the poison that he had prepared after collecting the experience points. Qin Huai was afraid that Hong San would call for a siege, so he had specially prepared a large dose. At that time, in the cramped mine, his poison could attack and retreat, and he would be invincible. ¡°But Master¡¯s bone softening powder¡¯s ingredients are really hard to find.¡± ¡°I asked your eldest senior brother to find this after going through several mountains outside Pingnan City,¡± Sun Yuanshan said with a smile. The master and disciple then discussed the usage and order of the poison in Qin Huai¡¯s body, which made Qin Huai feel like he had obtained a treasure. ¡°You¡¯re a quick learner.¡± Sun Yuanshan touched his beard with a gratified look. He watched as Qin Huai descended the mountain. He muttered, ¡°This child is like me. He has almost all of my demeanor when I was young. ¡­ Qin Huai found Gao Leya, who had been waiting for a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Senior Brother Gao.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Gao Leya¡¯s face was full of smiles, and he was even holding a map in his hand. He took the lead and walked toward the mine. ¡°Warrior realm, oh warrior. I, Gao Leya, am coming soon!¡± Chapter 41 - 41 Caught a Turtle in a Jar 41 Caught a Turtle in a Jar The cold wind howled, accompanied by the rustling of the unique iron plants of the White Flow Mine. It was as if Qin Huai was in the middle of a battlefield, and goosebumps rose all over his body as he followed Gao Leya into the cramped mine. The latter was carrying a lamp and a rough hand-drawn map from the dojo. He frowned and carefully moved forward. After walking for a mile, Gao Leya finally spoke, ¡°Senior Brother Qin, this place is close to the side of the Thunderbolt Dojo. It might be dangerous to cross the middle line.¡± ¡°Wealth comes from danger. It¡¯s fine.¡± Qin Huai pricked up his ears and listened to the sounds. He also activated his spirit eye technique, and his qi and blood surged into his eyes as he looked around. ¡°If I encounter any danger, Junior Apprentice Brother, you have to protect me.¡± Gao Leya was nervous, and he had always wanted to chat with Qin Huai. However, Qin Huai was indifferent. ¡°Don¡¯t talk so much, Senior Brother. You might attract the attention of the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Talk less, talk less¡­¡± Gao Leya nodded repeatedly, looked at the map, and continued to walk in silence. It was true that the map belonged to the dojo, but it did not belong to the Changshan Dojo. It was given to him by Hong San of the Thunderbolt Dojo. On the map, a unique stone powder was used to mark the slaughterhouse of the ¡®pig slaughtering plan.¡¯ It was a very small mining room, and Hong San and his men had long been waiting inside. As soon as Qin Huai entered, they would swarm forward. The narrow space would not give Qin Huai any room to move or dodge. He would be stabbed to death in an instant. As for the so-called one-on-one fight, to prove who was the strongest second refinement martial artist, Hong San wasn¡¯t an idiot who only used his muscles to think. He would directly get rid of Qin Huai. He was still the strongest in the second refinement, so he didn¡¯t need to prove anything. ¡°Only by following such a person who is both intelligent and brave will you have a bright future,¡± Gao Leya thought to himself. However, he did not realize that Qin Huai, who was behind him, had been staring at the map in his hand. Following his finger, he saw the unique mark that Hong San had made. They probably used silverwater grass, ground into a powder that can be mixed with paper and ink. It was brown with a slight tinge of white and had the smell of raw potatoes. A phrase flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s mind. These were all things from the high-level medicinal techniques. To be precise, the characteristics of silverwater grass were already in the mid-level medicinal techniques. Hong San¡¯s display of this small amount in front of him was like showing off a big knife. When Qin Huai saw the map, he instantly understood Hong San¡¯s plan. Soon, the two of them arrived at a place not far from the ambush circle. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, it¡¯s that opening in front.¡± Gao Leya deliberately raised his voice. But the next second, his mouth was suddenly covered, and a piece of iron pierced his throat. Gao Leya¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at that calm face. He had a thousand words in his heart, but he could not say them out loud. He could only feel his body being slowly lowered to the ground and watched as Qin Huai silently put on a mask. Qin Huai began to unload his things. The autumn and winter wind whistled like an ice blade, pouring into the mine through an unknown hole. Qin Huai stretched out his hand to feel the wind. It was just nice. Next, he poured the things he had prepared into that ¡®pocket.¡¯ With the right time and place, his own people were also ready. Of course, he was not stingy. He opened up half of the bone-softening powder prepared by his master, the iron poison powder, spicy powder, and lime powder on the ground and scattered them toward the entrance of the cave. But he didn¡¯t dare to pour it all out. Although he had chosen poisons that were almost colorless and tasteless, too much would still have a strange smell. He could only do it step by step. The ¡®pocket¡¯ was pitch black. If one could see it, white, gray, and red powder were pouring into the cave like a wave. ¡®Strange, what the hell is Gao Leya doing? Why isn¡¯t he coming in?¡¯ Hong San frowned and was puzzled. It had been at least twenty breaths since he had heard Gao Leya¡¯s hint. What was he dawdling for? Could it be that he found his conscience and went back on his words? Hong San instantly swept away this thought. He was a good judge of character. Gao Leya definitely had a conscience, but it was definitely not much. The price he offered was enough for him to be determined to walk this path to the end. ¡°Hmph, hmph¡­¡± Hong San suddenly sniffed hard. The air was as cold as a knife before, but why was there a burning smell now? No, he had to wait. If he went out rashly at this moment, Qin Huai would notice, and today¡¯s plan would be in vain. He would also lose Gao Leya, the chess piece. One second, two seconds¡­ The uneasiness in Hong San¡¯s heart grew heavier and heavier. His legs were a little numb from squatting. Wait¡­ Something¡¯s wrong! Something¡¯s definitely wrong! If Gao Leya was at the door, why didn¡¯t he continue to talk? In an instant, Hong San immediately stood up. ¡°Light up! Kill our way out!¡± Hulalala~ Out of the seven people in the cave, four of them stood up in an instant, while the other three fell to the ground with a thud. It was obvious that their qi and blood were not strong enough, so they could not withstand the long period of soaking in Qin Huai¡¯s various poisons. ¡°It¡¯s poison!¡± The four of them were shocked and quickly rushed out of the narrow cave. However, the hole was only as wide as three people, and only two people could rush out at a time. The two first refinement martial artists ran quickly with a gas lamp in their left hands. However, the moment he reached the entrance, he saw a pair of cold eyes. Qin Huai took a deep breath. The next moment, three white dragons burst out of his body! With the help of the cold wind, the three white dragons were like fish in water. His fists were like heavy cannons, and his attacks were like rolling thunder. Boom! Qin Huai threw out a punch. If there were outsiders present, they would not be able to tell which of the two sides was the proud disciple of the Thunderbolt Dojo. Bang! Bang! Just as the two martial artists saw Qin Huai¡¯s face clearly, they were sent flying by the white dragon heavy fist. Qin Huai¡¯s sudden burst of wind blew out the coal lamp. At the same time, blood splattered in the air, but no one could see this scene. When Hong San heard the muffled sounds of the two people falling to the ground, his mood took a turn for the worse. ¡°Qin Huai! Everything that happened before was caused by the grudges between the two big dojos. I personally admire you, but how about we stop here? As the saying goes, out of blows, friendship grows. Let¡¯s just treat it as being friends!¡± Hong San roared. At this moment, he was dark and deeply poisoned. If he went out rashly, something might happen. The situation was too disadvantageous for them. Outside the cave, Qin Huai continued to take out the poisonous substances from his body. He untied them, scattered them, and quickly sent them into the cave with his white dragon power. In response to Hong San¡¯s shout, Qin Huai pretended not to hear him. One breath, two breaths¡­ ¡®This grandson!¡¯ Hong San cursed in his heart. This Qin Huai didn¡¯t even say a word? ¡°If you kill us, you won¡¯t have a good time in the future. My master is Old Qin the sixth, an important figure who has refined his blood four times. I believe your senior brothers must have told you about his ruthlessness. ¡°If you kill me, with my master¡¯s personality, he will definitely chase you to the ends of the earth. Even if you hide inside your dojo all day, won¡¯t you care about your woman and her family?¡± Hong San started to threaten. ¡°Let me go, and I swear to the heavens that I will never trouble you again after I leave this place!¡± Hong San sat cross-legged on the ground and began to channel his energy in an attempt to reduce the poison in his body. Meanwhile, Qin Huai, who was outside the cave, just continued to scatter all the poisonous substances in his body and sent them out with the White Dragon. In his vision, the powder in the cave had almost solidified. Chapter 42 - 42 Qin Huai Poisoned Himself to Death? 42 Qin Huai Poisoned Himself to Death? Hong San sat in a corner of the mine. His qi and blood were boiling, causing his skin to turn red. His hands did not stop. His hands turned into several palms, and with the unique tremor of the rumbling thunder skill, he quickly slapped his body. If someone could see in the dark, they would definitely discover that there seemed to be some poisonous powder being quickly slapped out of his body. However, such a method was like a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood in the vast poisonous sea. This kind of delicate work consumed a lot of spirit, qi, and blood. It was clear that Hong San was using his vitality to exchange for time. The ambush location he chose was also very close to the Thunderbolt Dojo. If they were fated to receive reinforcements, they could also successfully turn the tide of the battle. Qin Huai would not charge in either, because he would be poisoned if he did. Everyone was poisoned, which meant that he still had the advantage. Thus, he could only wait outside. In short, he was at a slight disadvantage in the current situation. However, when he looked at it from a broader perspective, he had the advantage. In a life-and-death battle, the last thing one could do was be impatient. ¡®Such a huge amount of poisonous substances must be all that Qin Huai has¡­¡¯ Hong San¡¯s thoughts stopped abruptly. If he could go back to the previous moment, he would not have thought of such a hypothesis. This was because the smell in the air intensified again. The frequency of Hong San¡¯s palms hitting his body increased, but this time, it was like a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood. He couldn¡¯t get rid of the poison now. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to handle it if this drags on.¡¯ He had to kill his way out! ¡°I must stay alive¡­ Cough, cough ¡­¡± Hong San had just opened his mouth and wanted to fight his way out of the claws of death. However, a large piece of gravel-like substance was instantly poured into his mouth. What kind of poison was this? How could it still be poison powder? It was as if he had stuffed the poisonous ore into his mouth. The moment he noticed the poison, he had been holding his breath. Now that he opened his mouth, he knew how much poison was hidden in this dark mine. ¡°Die!¡± He squeezed out a word from between his teeth, but he still ate a lot of poisonous dust. Hong San didn¡¯t expect there to be any other living people. He suddenly jumped up and rushed out of the cave. He took three big steps forward and stomped on the ground. Like a giant elephant, it carried Hong San¡¯s anger as he rushed toward the cave entrance. But he didn¡¯t have a lamp, so he couldn¡¯t see the road ahead. He could only rely on the stronger senses of a martial artist to follow the wind flow. Although he could still identify the direction, his movements were still greatly limited. But, if he was already in such a state, how much better could Qin Huai be? In a battle between two ¡®blind people,¡¯ it was still unknown who would win! At the same time, Qin Huai watched as Hong San charged toward him with precision. His fists suddenly stopped. The wind suddenly stopped as well, and the darkness was dead silent. The three white dragons returned and circled around, and Qin Huai draped them over his fists. The white light was blinding, like the sharp edge of a knife. Qin Huai didn¡¯t show any mercy and gave Hong San a heavy punch. The direction of the fist was pointed at Hong San¡¯s throat. Hong San felt the sharp wind whistling toward him and instantly turned pale with fright. The muscles in his entire body burst out with unprecedented potential at this moment. His entire body shifted for a moment, and the wind blast brushed past his shoulder. Blood and flesh were instantly torn apart and scattered on the ground. The white bones were exposed to the air, as the cold wind that was as cold as an ice blade cut through them. Another punch came, aiming at his throat. He did a quick forward roll, enduring the pain of his back being torn apart by the wind from the punch, and rolled for six to seven meters. But the fist behind him still followed like a shadow. Hong San was like a spider, using his hands and feet to crawl around on the ground, embarrassingly avoiding the attack from behind. ¡°It looks like this Qin Huai can see in the dark.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s accuracy made Hong San¡¯s hair stand on end, and he felt fear in his heart. He didn¡¯t know how many times his life was on the line just now. The past ten years were probably less than the few breaths he had just now. Fortunately, he should have pulled away by now. ¡°Ah¡­ Hu. Hu. Hu ¡­¡± Hong San greedily breathed in the air and leaned against the wall. His left arm was almost crippled. It wasn¡¯t his throat that was hit. He had also escaped from the hole alive. On the other hand, Qin Huai, who was not far away, was shocked. He saw that Hong San was rolling very quickly and had actually increased the distance between them in an instant. He didn¡¯t immediately chase after him. That was because the few people who were still alive in the cave had also rushed out when they heard Hong San¡¯s noise. However, they didn¡¯t have Hong San¡¯s abilities. Qin Huai watched as they charged at him, his fists repeating the same thing he had done earlier. He killed both martial artists with a single punch. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +236!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +211!¡± The two blue experience balls merged into Qin Huai¡¯s body with a single thought. ¡°Qin Huai, without the advantage of the terrain, I managed to dodge your sure-kill chain of attacks. Now that we¡¯re in this cave without any light and you can¡¯t even see your fingers, what do you think your chances of winning are?¡± Hong San laughed and raised his five senses to the maximum. He was afraid to miss any sound. ¡°I¡¯ve learned the listening strike technique from my master before. Although I can¡¯t say that I¡¯ve reached a higher level, I still have the upper hand when dealing with you.¡± After Hong San escaped death, he was now full of confidence. Qin Huai turned around. He looked at Hong San, who was sticking to the corner of the wall and constantly stretching out his hands and feet to measure and explore the surrounding terrain. He let out a light breath and then took another quick breath. Then, his breathing became lighter and lighter. Only the sound of Hong San¡¯s breathing remained in this dark space. The special characteristic of the breath control technique was to reduce the sound of breathing to the minimum, and at the same time, it also had some unique steps to eliminate sound. Thus, it could achieve the effect of stealth and invisibility. Without a doubt, this dark world without any light was the breath control technique¡¯s favorite battlefield. Everything was eliminated. Qin Huai slowly walked toward Hong San like a ghost. Hong San still had some confidence earlier. But at this moment, everything was gone. ¡®Why is Qin Huai no longer breathing? Did he inhale the poison he brought and die from his own poison?¡¯ This ridiculous thought suddenly flashed through Hong San¡¯s mind. He had never placed his hopes on such an absurd conjecture because he felt it was the behavior of a weakling. However, it was different today. He suddenly felt that absurdity was also a part of life. Even the strongest, the heaven¡¯s pride experts who had overcome all obstacles on their way, also needed a certain amount of luck. Qin Huai might have died just like that. It couldn¡¯t be that this kid had cultivated a cultivation method to conceal his whereabouts and that he had even achieved some success, right? Oh right. That famous bandit gang seemed to cultivate a breath control technique, which was good at assassination and stealth. It had only been slightly more than a month since he had annihilated the gang. He couldn¡¯t possibly master another cultivation technique in this short period of time. His uncle¡¯s bone-sensing skills were superb. In all the eight martial arts centers, no one would dare to claim to be the first if he claimed to be the second in bone-touching. If Qin Huai really had such heaven-defying innate talent, then uncle¡­ No, all the bone sensors in the city might as well just chop off their hands. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Hong San continued to deduce in his heart. His uncle¡¯s bone-sensing technique could not be wrong, so Qin Huai would definitely not be able to master the breath-concealing technique in more than a month. Even if he did, it would be impossible for him to achieve something in a month. After eliminating the possibilities, the possibility of Qin Huai being poisoned was still the highest. With such a large dose of poison coming down from the air, it was too difficult not to hurt himself accidentally. As he thought about it, Hong San was even more convinced that his deduction was correct. The corners of his mouth rose, and he was overjoyed. ¡°I, Hong San, am indeed destined!¡± However, at this moment, Qin Huai was only three meters away from Hong San. Chapter 43 - 43 Hong Sans Miserable Death! 43 Hong San¡¯s Miserable Death! Qin Huai silently approached Hong San. Three meters, two meters, one meter¡­ He quietly raised his hand and suddenly struck out. In an instant, the three white dragons climbed onto the tip of Qin Huai¡¯s fist and poured out. At a distance of half a meter, Hong San suddenly felt Qin Huai¡¯s presence and his sharp fist. Ka! The sharp white dragon streaked across, and the white bones on Hong San¡¯s left shoulder that were already exposed were crushed instantly. Weng~ The white dragon and Qin Huai¡¯s fists struck the iron ore, producing a buzzing and shattering sound. Hong San dodged the punch by a hair¡¯s breadth. ¡°With the advantage of breath control, I can only sneak up to about half a meter away from Hong San.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s punch could be considered to have tested the limits of breath control. It was enough. A distance of half a meter could greatly reduce Hong San¡¯s reaction time. In addition, the advantage of the spirit eye technique in the dark could raise Qin Huai¡¯s threat to Hong San to a new level. ¡°You can see! You can see me?¡± Hong San, who had just escaped death, cursed. He could not help but lose his composure. At this moment, not only did Hong San realize that Qin Huai could see him, but he was also convinced that Qin Huai definitely knew the breath control technique. His previous fantasy of being the ¡®chosen one¡¯ was completely shattered. What replaced it was the fear of death. This was a natural battlefield created for Qin Huai. He had the advantage here. ¡°You¡ª¡± But before Hong San could finish his sentence, another punch came from the side of his body. Qin Huai was like a ghost. After the punch, he went into hiding again. Then, he looked for an opening and threw a second punch. Hong San gathered his qi and blood, crossing his hands to block Qin Huai¡¯s punch. He could only rely on the direction of the wind to determine the direction of Qin Huai¡¯s attack, which made him extremely passive. He was almost unable to avoid Qin Huai¡¯s attack and could only take it head-on. The speed at which Qin Huai restrained his breath became faster and faster, and the speed of his punches also became faster and faster. His fists and feet were connected with the white dragon, and the sharp fist accurately hit Hong San¡¯s vital point. Even though Hong San managed to dodge or block it every time, Qin Huai¡¯s advantage was expanding visibly. Fresh blood slowly filled the mine, where only the crisp sounds of fighting could be heard, like a monk striking a wooden fish. It made people feel uneasy. Qin Huai looked at Hong San, who was still putting up a stubborn resistance, and couldn¡¯t help but praise him in his heart. Under such a disadvantage, he was still able to resist for so long. No wonder this person could be called the big and small Hong by the number one genius of the southern city, Reihom. Countless people praised him as the number one heavenly pride of the next generation in Pingnan. Indeed, this tenacity was worthy of praise. As Qin Huai thought about it, he suddenly increased the speed of his fist and attacked the left side of Hong San¡¯s shattered shoulder bone. Bang! Bang! Bang! The violent blasting disc, accompanied by the white dragon, smashed down like a heavy cannon. It caused Hong San¡¯s already weak and slow left arm to be further injured. Ka! Hong San¡¯s left arm was completely scraped, accompanied by a crisp breaking sound. ¡°I, Hong San, will become the number one person in Pingnan! I won¡¯t die in a place like this!¡± Hong San suddenly roared. Then, after that¡­ He turned around and ran! He ran against the wind, and the end of the wind must be the ground. As long as he was on the ground, he would have a chance to live. He ran faster and faster, not even daring to turn around to check on Qin Huai¡¯s condition. In this life-and-death situation, he seemed to have opened up his meridians. He seemed to have learned some movement technique. A dazzling light suddenly shone into his eyes, and Hong San¡¯s speed increased. ¡°I¡¯m out!¡± He took a step and was about to jump into the light. However, a heavy blow came from behind him, hitting his kidney hard. Pfft! A large mouthful of blood spurted out on the spot. Hong San¡¯s initial step turned into a roll. He rolled over a dozen times on the ground, and his entire body was scratched by the iron plants. In an instant, it was as if there was a red carpet at the entrance of the mine. However, this red carpet had an extremely strong smell of blood. ¡°You can run.¡± Qin Huai stepped on the ¡®red carpet¡¯ and walked out of the mine. He looked at Hong San, who was staggering as he stood up, clutching his kidney. But now, there was no need to worry about Hong San running away. If this guy showed his back to him again, the next punch would be his death. ¡°Qin Huai, are you really not willing to give me a way out?¡± Hong San drooped his left arm and covered his kidney with his right hand. He was in an extremely sorry state. ¡°You will definitely become the head of the Changshan Dojo in the future. At that time, you will also have the ambition to unify the eight martial arts centers and become the one and only existence. ¡°I¡¯m willing to be your spy in the Thunderbolt Dojo. I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know in the future. I also have a mother-child iron gu worm, so you can control my life and death at any time!¡± Hong San started to make empty promises. He was stalling for time, waiting for the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo to come and save him. Plus, the conditions he offered were definitely tempting. He was sure Qin Huai would believe him¡­ ¡°Your Grandpa!¡± Hong San looked at Qin Huai, who had rushed over without any hesitation, and cursed. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to consider it? There is nothing in the world that cannot be solved¡ª¡± But the wind created by the three white dragons directly suppressed Hong San¡¯s voice. Hong San was forced to take a deep breath. Qin Huai¡¯s punches hit Hong San¡¯s flesh, causing him to spit out a few mouthfuls of blood. He was indeed tempted by Hong San¡¯s offer, but not by much. Qin Huai just wanted to silently gain experience, have a happy family in this chaotic world, and live a stable life. ¡°What you said is too troublesome. It¡¯s easier to kill you.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s actions became even more decisive. ¡°Qin Huai! Even if I die, I¡¯m going to drag you down with me.¡± The veins on Hong San¡¯s forehead bulged. He suddenly borrowed Qin Huai¡¯s force to retreat several steps, then took out a gray pill from his pocket and threw it into his mouth. The next moment, his skin was red. The blood flowing out of the wounds on his body had obviously increased. Or rather¡­ Hong San¡¯s qi and blood were boiling. ¡°This medicine allows me to recover to my peak state in half a quarter of an hour! In this half an hour, I¡¯ll let you know the reason why the Thunderbolt Dojo can suppress the other seven big dojos!¡± Hong San roared. This medicine was the trump card that his master had given him. Once consumed, one could return to one¡¯s peak or even be stronger than it. However, once the effects of the medicine wore off, his qi and blood would cause an irreversible decline, and his future in martial arts would be completely destroyed. However, Hong San couldn¡¯t care less at this moment. He only wanted to kill this grandson, Qin Huai! His thoughts only lasted for a moment. Hong San raised his hand, and there was a faint vibration in his palm. ¡°Die!¡± He rushed toward Qin Huai like an arrow. Qin Huai didn¡¯t dodge or back off. He fought Hong San head-on. When their fists met, the thunderbolts and the white dragon intertwined, like thunder dancing with the tide. ¡®How arrogant. My rumbling thunder skill will continuously stack the vibration force in the enemy¡¯s body. As time passes, the power of this force will become stronger and stronger. From numbness to the shock of the internal organs and, finally, the destruction of the internal organs¡­¡¯ Hong San sneered in his heart. He wanted to use Qin Huai¡¯s arrogance to make him pay the most terrible price. With his understanding of the rumbling thunder skill and the breath control technique, Qin Huai would definitely be at a disadvantage within thirty punches. Fifty punches should be the time when the two of them would die together! One, two, three¡­ Seeing that Qin Huai didn¡¯t change his fighting style, Hong San felt even more at ease. Twenty-seven, Twenty-eight, Twenty-nine¡­ Hong San frowned slightly. What was going on? Why didn¡¯t Qin Huai¡¯s attack slow down in the slightest? His own power should have already entered his body. Even the breath control technique could not neutralize this force at all. Thirty-seven, Thirty-eight, Thirty-nine punches¡­ The blood flowing from Hong San¡¯s body was getting less and less. However, he did not have the advantage. Instead, it was because Hong San¡¯s vitality had begun to decline! The medicine¡¯s effects are about to wear off! ¡°But why is Qin Huai still fine?! What¡¯s happening?! Why didn¡¯t the rumbling thunder fist force have any effect on him?¡± Hong San¡¯s voice began to tremble. It was as if he could already see the god of death beckoning to him. Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, a faint vibration appeared in his hand, and the thunder fist force was brought to the surface. ¡°What?! You actually know the rumbling thunder skill?¡± When Hong San saw that extremely familiar thing, his eyes widened like copper bells! ¡°No! Impossible! That¡¯s impossible! You don¡¯t even have the chance to come into contact with the rumbling thunder skill! With your aptitude, how is it possible for you to be proficient in the breath control technique, the ability to see¡­ You¡¯ve even reached the beginner level of the thunderflash skill of our dojo?¡± Hong San¡¯s heart was filled with confusion. He couldn¡¯t understand it. His uncle¡¯s bone-sensing was never wrong. How could Qin Huai¡¯s broken root bone be so strong¡­ ¡°It¡¯s probably because I¡¯m working hard enough.¡± Qin Huai finally answered one of Hong San¡¯s questions. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t tell Hong San the real reason, even if Hong San¡¯s legs were already soft. The more he fought, the more he fell to the ground. ¡°Ha¡­ Hehe¡­¡± Hong San laughed bitterly, as if he was crushed by the last straw. He fell to the ground, mumbling, ¡°You used the rumbling thunder fist force to offset my thunder fist force¡­ No wonder¡­ No wonder¡­ But I¡¯m not convinced! I refuse to accept this¡­ I wanted to become¡­¡± Bang! Bang! Qin Huai¡¯s punch broke Hong San¡¯s emotional sigh before his death, and he also broke his neck. ¡°You should¡¯ve been gentler and let me pick up experience points in peace so that I wouldn¡¯t die. Why did you have to kill?¡± Chapter 44 - 44 Shock! 44 Shock! ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Dark Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +566!¡± Qin Huai looked at Hong San, who was already dead. He went forward and touched the corpse up and down, finding only a hundred silver from the Pingnan bank. There was nothing else. ¡°¡®What a pity. They didn¡¯t bring anything of value with them when they went to the mines.¡± Qin Huai said, then glanced at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [ Vitality ]: 27.581 [Cultivation Methods]: [Eternal Qi technique (level 24, 2014/3000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 10, 1047/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 199/400)] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°If I want to improve my thunder skill, I¡¯ll have to see the reaction of the Thunderbolt Dojo. But a few days ago, I saw Master¡¯s reaction when he heard about my plan. There will be some friction, but I think I¡¯ll get back on the right track soon. After all, the common theory of the villains was that a dead genius was no longer a genius.¡± These words were very suitable here. ¡°The only two people we need to be wary of are Hong San¡¯s uncle, Gu He, and his master, Qin Laoliu. Gu He is on the third refinement¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at his breathing technique. According to the usual practice, the experience points required for each bottleneck at level 10 would increase by 1,000 points. Level 30 required 4,000 points, and he would need 20,000 points to break through the third refinement. He could earn 2,000 experience points a day, which was equivalent to ten days. ¡°It seems I¡¯ll have to ask Senior Brother Fang Han and Master for help.¡± If it really didn¡¯t work, he would see if he could find a job for the three of them in the dojo to avoid the limelight. Qin Huai stood up and ran in the direction of the Changshan Dojo. This place was still within the middle line of the Thunderbolt Dojo, so it was not good to stay for long. ¡­ Changshan Dojo Ever since Sun Ziyao started organizing this tea party, many people in the dojo followed suit and gathered their good friends to organize similar gatherings. They could use this opportunity to exchange news, experiences, and martial arts in the dojo. Among the group of senior and junior brothers, the most ¡®virtuous and respected¡¯ and the most ¡®approachable¡¯, was Li Bowu, who was ranked 19th on the eight martial roll. Today, Li Bowu was teaching martial arts to everyone on the drill ground. A Senior Brother Hao simply asked everyone to stay after he finished practicing, then they held a tea party on the spot. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the dojo for around five years, and I¡¯ve realized there¡¯s a pattern to our master accepting personal disciples,¡± said Senior Brother Hao. In the Changshan Dojo, the most eye-catching topic was none other than who could become the master¡¯s disciple. ¡°What pattern?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Hao, tell us more about it!¡± The disciples perked up their ears. Not far away, Li Bowu was also sitting upright and still, holding a teacup as if he was thinking about the philosophy of life, but also seemed to be in a trance. However, those who were more observant would notice that when he heard Senior Brother Hao mention the words ¡®personal disciple,¡¯ his ears had obviously moved. ¡°Our head instructor, Senior Brother Rong Li, was the first personal disciple Master took in twenty years ago. The second was a deceased senior brother who was accepted by Master fifteen years ago. The third one is Senior Brother Fang Han. He was accepted ten years ago. As for the face of our Changshan Dojo¡¯s younger generation, Senior Brother Qi Yangbing was from five years ago¡­¡± When everyone heard Senior Brother Hao¡¯s words, they suddenly came to a realization. ¡°You mean, this year it¡¯ll be¡­¡± Senior Brother Hao coughed lightly. ¡°Every time Master takes in a disciple, it¡¯s still in this cold autumn. There¡¯s a high chance that these five autumns have some special meaning to Master.¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Everyone responded, and Li Bowu¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s definitely a barrier to this. For example, the age of entry, the talent for martial arts¡­ Of course, the most important thing is still to make contributions to the dojo. Although our master is not young, the way he does things is extremely¡­ You don¡¯t have to stick to one pattern. ¡°Two years ago, when Qin Laoliu from the Thunderbolt Dojo was making a scene in the mine, Master gave Senior Brother Fang Han five bags of bone-softening powder and aphrodisiacs, asking him to go to the mine to teach Qin Laoliu a lesson. ¡°I seem to have some impression of this matter. Sixth Brother Qin barged into the immortal fragrance tower in a hurry for a year and didn¡¯t come out for a full seven days and seven nights.¡± ¡°Hiss¡­ That¡¯s not right. How did you know about this?¡± some people questioned. ¡°I was the one who grabbed the medicine for Master! They said it in front of me!¡± Senior Brother Hao confirmed. ¡°Then according to what you¡¯re saying, if Master is going to take in a personal disciple this year, who will it be?¡± someone asked. Senior Brother Hao thought for a moment. ¡°I think¡­ There are two candidates. One of them is Qin Huai, who has recently become very famous. Let¡¯s not talk about talent. His breath control technique reached level 20 in half a month. You can¡¯t find another person like that in the entire Changshan Dojo in the past ten years. ¡°There are at least twenty to thirty people who went to the mine. He¡¯s also popular among the senior and junior brothers. He¡¯s hardworking and climbed the wall to observe and learn all day long.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. Li Bowu, who was not far away, frowned when he heard this. Senior Brother Hao seemed to intentionally or unintentionally glance at Li Bowu. He then changed the topic. ¡°Although Qin Huai is talented and popular, he is still too inexperienced. I think the second candidate is our Senior Brother Li!¡± ¡°Me?¡± Li Bowu looked at everyone¡¯s gazes, his face full of ¡®shock¡¯ and humility. He waved his hands and said, ¡°I¡¯m not worthy, I¡¯m not worthy. What can I offer?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Li is a genius ranked 19th on the eight martial roll!¡± ¡°The tenth place Senior Brother Qi Yangbing was a personal disciple five years ago. It should be Senior Brother Li¡¯s turn now!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Senior Brother Li has been working hard and conscientiously for so many years¡­ Two years ago, he was also someone who had a fierce battle with Reihom¡­¡± The man¡¯s voice suddenly lowered. ¡°Although we¡¯ve never fought.¡± Li Bowu¡¯s expression was obviously unnatural. He was in the second refinement, so he didn¡¯t have any impressive achievements against the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo. ¡°But who is Reihom? You can¡¯t say that Senior Brother Li is useless if you can¡¯t beat him. It¡¯s just that that grandson Reihom is too abnormal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right ¡­¡± Everyone agreed. This made Li Bowu¡¯s face flush red, and his heart felt as if it had eaten honey. Didn¡¯t he think the same way? Li Bowu also took note of the person who spoke up for him. When he became his master¡¯s fifth personal disciple, he would guide him well. However, he still appeared very humble. ¡°I think Junior Brother Qin is better than me.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Li, you have good eyes. We think so too.¡± Suddenly, a travel-worn figure walked in. It was Qi Yangbing. In the past two days, he had gone out of the city to eliminate a group of bandits who had dared to rob the Changshan Dojo. As soon as he returned, he saw a group of people sitting together and chatting, so he went to them. However, he didn¡¯t hear the first part, only the last part of Li Bowu¡¯s praise for Qin Huai. ¡°Senior Brother Qi!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Qi is back!¡± The group stood up and greeted Qi Yangbing. ¡°Sit, sit.¡± Qi Yangbing waved his hand and motioned for everyone to sit down. ¡°Senior Brother, what did you mean by that?¡± Senior Brother Hao suddenly reacted. ¡°Who¡¯s the ¡®we¡¯ you mentioned earlier?¡± ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, Senior Brother Fang¡­ You can say we¡¯re all giving advice on who¡¯s going to be Master¡¯s next personal disciple.¡± Everyone looked at Qi Yangbing in confusion. Qi Yangbing looked at the confused eyes and suddenly understood. ¡°Master hasn¡¯t said anything about this?¡± Li Bowu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Qin Huai had really become a personal disciple? ¡°What is it?¡± he asked, unwilling to give up. ¡°Nothing, nothing ¡­¡± Qi Yangbing got up and was about to leave. However, he was stopped by a group of senior and junior brothers. ¡°Senior Brother, please tell us. We promise not to tell anyone.¡± Qi Yangbing looked helpless, knowing that it was too late to continue lying. ¡°Qin Huai is already Master¡¯s personal disciple. Master took him in before I left.¡± ¡°On what basis?¡± Li Bowu almost blurted out. He was filled with dissatisfaction. Qi Yangbing looked at Li Bowu¡¯s reaction and felt a headache. He also knew the reason why his master wanted to hide it for two days. Li Bowu had talent and experience, but he was petty and pretended to be kind. In short, he was a hypocrite. In the past few years, when they had conflicts with the Thunderbolt Dojo, this kid had never put in any effort and only took advantage of the situation. He was also a little perfunctory with the apprentices of the dojo. He thought he had concealed it very well, but his master and his senior brothers had seen it all. That was why his master had been unwilling to accept him as his fifth personal disciple. ¡°If you want to be my master¡¯s direct disciple, you must at least kill a few of those bastards from the Thunderbolt dojo, right?¡± Li Bowu wanted to force himself to calm down, so he also began to find excuses to suppress Qin Huai. However, the resentment on his face was almost irrepressible. ¡°Something big has happened! Something big has happened!¡± An apprentice barged into the courtyard in a panic. ¡°The news from the city says that more than twenty people from the Thunderbolt Dojo died in the mine. It¡¯s all over the place!¡± Chapter 45 - 45 Hong San is Already on the Way with Qin Huais Head 45 Hong San is Already on the Way with Qin Huai¡¯s Head ¡°Ah?¡± The sudden news shocked Qi Yangbing. On the side, Li Bowu had also forgotten the pain and anger that Qin Huai had brought to him. ¡°Who are the ones who died?¡± ¡°The twins of the Wang family, the precious daughter of the manager of Ji Feng restaurant¡­ There¡¯s so many that I can¡¯t quite remember.¡± The junior brother frowned and thought hard. ¡°Anyway, there are two second refinement, eight first refinement, and around twenty apprentices¡­¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there around forty people there?¡± ¡°Is that so? In any case, many people died, so those cultivators must be the right ones. I didn¡¯t have time to count the rest, so I rushed back to report.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ll leave Senior Brother Li behind to watch. If there¡¯s any follow-up news, Senior Brother Li will know.¡± Everyone looked at each other. It must be known that the average number of fighters in the eight major dojos was only slightly more than a hundred. Who could bear the death of ten martial artists in one breath? Qi Yangbing was deep in thought. Over twenty people died in the White Flow Mountain. This was definitely not something that the small bandit groups could do. It seemed only his own comrades were left. He looked up and swept his gaze over the crowd. Who could have killed them? Could it be a third refinement martial artist or Senior Brother Fang Han? This was simply breaking the rules. ¡°Junior Brother Qin! Qin Huai?¡± Some suddenly stopped at the door and waved. It was Qin Huai. ¡°Senior Brother Qi! Greetings, senior brothers!¡± When Qin Huai saw Qi Yangbing, he took the initiative to walk over. When he passed by, he glanced at Li Bowu, who was full of resentment, and did not say anything. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, did you just come back from the mine?¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s face was covered in dirt. There was still some red and white powder on his head and face. Oh, it should be a five-colored face. ¡°Yes, I picked some good ores and sent them to Master Song. I even ran into the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo and ended up in a bad state,¡± Qin Huai explained casually. ¡°Tsk, tsk. As expected of Master¡¯s direct disciple. He¡¯s so diligent!¡± Li Bowu¡¯s voice sounded faint, and anyone could hear the dissatisfaction in his words. Qi Yangbing laughed and changed the topic. ¡°Junior Brother, have you heard that around forty people from the Thunderbolt Dojo died in the mine? Now, their families are all in the city, planning to cause trouble. There are ten of them.¡± ¡°I heard a few of my senior and junior brothers mention it on the way here.¡± Qin Huai told the truth. He had never heard of this. But after hearing Qi Yangbing¡¯s description¡­ These people should be the ones who died at his hands. They had all become his nutrients. ¡°According to my guess, these people should be killed by one of the instructors of our dojo¡­¡± Senior Brother Hao made a bold guess. ¡°It¡¯s most likely that it¡¯s Instructor Li. His son¡¯s legs were broken by that grandson Hong San, so it¡¯s reasonable for him to take revenge.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Instructor Li has been taking care of Senior Brother Li at home. He hasn¡¯t even stepped out of the courtyard,¡± someone immediately clarified. Everyone started to look at each other and guess who had such ¡®great achievements.¡¯ ¡°No matter what, only a person with such courage is worthy of being Master¡¯s direct disciple.¡± Li Bowu suddenly began to point the spearhead. ¡± I, Li Bowu, have been restrained in the past few years. Although I barely have some achievements in saving the dying, helping the injured, and teaching my junior brothers, I didn¡¯t kill many grandsons of the Thunderbolt Dojo. I am indeed ashamed. ¡°If this person becomes Master¡¯s direct disciple, I¡¯ll be convinced. But if we don¡¯t have this achievement, we won¡¯t be able to make our Changshan Dojo¡¯s name and reputation! Then I, Li Bowu, will be the first to disagree!¡± Li Bowu pointed out. Or rather, he was about to point at Qin Huai¡¯s nose and scold him. ¡­ Pingnan City Gu He was standing in front of the Thunderbolt Dojo¡¯s entrance in the city, in front of the dojo¡¯s iron shop. This was the biggest shop of the Thunderbolt Dojo in Pingnan City. It was also the place where many people came to pay for the examination. But now, it had become a place for the families of the dead to cause trouble. Gu He took the initiative to take on the task of calming down and mediating the situation. In front of him was the family of the deceased in the mine. Many of them were ladies in gold and silver, looking elegant and graceful. The more elegant ones cried like raindrops on a pear blossom, while the more boorish ones pointed at the sign of the Thunderbolt Dojo and cursed. ¡°You are the number one martial arts school and the head of the eight major martial arts centers. How do you protect your disciples?¡± ¡°You said that the life and death of the people in the dojo are common, but this is forty people! They¡¯re all gone in one night!¡± ¡°And my son has been dead for two days, and you didn¡¯t even inform me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°You still want to hide it? If we hadn¡¯t gone to visit our relatives and found out that our son hadn¡¯t returned for a long time, how long were you planning to hide it?!¡± Gu He looked at the crowd in front of him and coughed lightly. He circulated his qi and blood to make his voice loud and clear. ¡°Everyone, the path of martial arts is an extremely risky thing to do. Life and death are common. But we, the Thunderbolt Dojo, will not mistreat or treat those who die for the martial arts school half-heartedly. The compensation for the apprentices is five hundred taels. If the family has children, they can test their talent in the dojo for free. If they fail, they can find a job in the dojo.¡± As soon as he said this, the women¡¯s cries in front of him instantly decreased by half. There were still some exquisitely dressed women who managed to maintain their dignity. They were all people who didn¡¯t lack money and jobs, and their eyes were filled with fear and anger. Gu He continued, ¡°A first-tier martial artist will be compensated with a thousand taels, and a second-tier martial artist will be compensated with two thousand taels. If your family has a business to take care of, the dojo can provide protection. One year¡¯s protection fee will be waived, and the protection fee will be reduced to 70% for three years.¡± This time, the women in front of him stopped crying. They also knew the risks of practicing martial arts, not to mention that in today¡¯s world, there was no such thing as an undead. The poor would die, the rich would die, and so would the martial artists. Moreover, the dead could not be resurrected. It was impossible for them to overturn the Thunderbolt Dojo. This was the best way to deal with it. ¡°Everyone, the dead cannot be brought back to life.¡± Seeing this, Gu He¡¯s face revealed a satisfied and even proud smile. It was indeed tricky to kill so many people at once. But fortunately, the head had already thought of a countermeasure. It was nothing more than bleeding a little and using benefits to fill the gap. ¡°Then¡­ Who killed them? You guys should at least tell us clearly and avenge our child, right?¡± A woman took the lead. ¡°Indeed! We can¡¯t just let things go like this, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So many people have died. Isn¡¯t this a slap to the face of your dojo?¡± The women were not easy to deal with, and they all shouted. ¡°Naturally! This is only natural! We, the Thunderbolt Dojo, will definitely take revenge! And it¡¯s already being reported!¡± Gu He¡¯s voice became even louder. ¡°According to our intelligence, the person who killed your beloved sons and daughters is Qin Huai from the Changshan Dojo! That kid is ruthless and bloodthirsty, and he¡¯s long gone astray while practicing martial arts. ¡°Furthermore, that person has cultivated three white dragons in the second refinement realm, which is a rare sight. His strength is not something that ordinary martial artists can compare to. But¡­¡± The smile on Gu He¡¯s face grew wider. ¡°Hong San of the Thunderbolt Dojo, who is also known as Big and Small Hong like Reihom, has personally entered the mine. We must kill the evil Qin Huai and avenge our fellow disciples!¡± ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, Hong San should be on his way here with Qin Huai¡¯s head in his hand.¡± Gu He counted with his fingers, his face full of confidence. Chapter 46 - 46 Forbidden Technique, Rising Dragon 46 Forbidden Technique, Rising Dragon Changshan Dojo While Li Bowu was being sarcastic, a black pigeon suddenly hovered in the sky. After a few seconds, it suddenly dived and landed on Qi Yangbing¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Senior Brother Li¡¯s black pigeon has intelligence. It can recognize the people of our dojo. It¡¯s usually used by Senior Brother Li to send letters. It¡¯s very convenient,¡± the disciple who had sent the message earlier explained. Qi Yangbing caught the pigeon and found a letter bucket tied to its leg. ¡°It should be news from the Thunderbolt Dojo in the city.¡± Everyone looked up and saw Qi Yangbing take out the note from the bamboo tube. After that, Qi Yangbing¡¯s expression became strange. ¡°What does it say?¡± ¡°Senior Brother, why don¡¯t you read it out~¡± Qi Yangbing didn¡¯t say anything and silently handed the note over. ¡°The Thunderbolt people were all killed by Qin Huai. All forty of the¡­¡± one of them mumbled. Hiss~ The drill ground was filled with gasps of shock. ¡°These two and three¡­ No, the forty disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo were all killed by Senior Brother Qin?¡± ¡°Oh my God, when did this happen?¡± The group of disciples instantly surrounded Qin Huai in the middle. Even the ¡®public idol¡¯ Qi Yangbing was overshadowed at this moment and was squeezed out of the ¡®core circle.¡¯ However, it was different from Li Bowu¡¯s eyes, which had already overflowed with jealousy. Qi Yangbing, who had been squeezed out, only had relief in his eyes. ¡°Not only does Junior Brother Qin know how to save people, he also knows how to kill people. Not bad.¡± These two things sounded simple, but they were even simpler in his imagination. But doing the action itself would be even more difficult as many people were indecisive. When they saw the wicked begging for mercy, they would feel pity and be overcautious. In the end, they died a tragic death. And how many people were so bloodthirsty and brutal that they fell into unorthodox groups? No matter how simple the principle was, it would be difficult to carry it out. Otherwise, there would not be ¡®heroes¡¯ in the world who drank, ate, and hid in a crowd to talk nonsense. ¡°Senior Brother Li, according to what you said earlier, Junior Brother Qin now deserves his title and is worthy of the title of master¡¯s disciple, right?¡± someone in the crowd said awkwardly. Li Bowu¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Those twenty people are just ordinary disciples. What¡¯s the difference between them and women and children who don¡¯t have the strength to truss a chicken?¡± His shocking words made Qi Yangbing¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°What¡¯s an ordinary disciple who can¡¯t even truss a chicken? So you¡¯re saying that those Thunderbolt disciples are worse than women and children?¡± Qi Yangbing couldn¡¯t take it anymore. They would turn a blind eye to Li Bowu¡¯s little schemes and calculations, but he wouldn¡¯t this time. Li Bowu had publicly suppressed and targeted his fellow disciples. He had even intentionally or unintentionally trampled on the Changshan Dojo. Qi Yangbing could not just stand by and watch. ¡°Senior Brother, how much are you looking down on our breath control technique?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Even the top martial arts dojo¡¯s thunder skill has become a woman and child? Second-refinement martial artists have become ordinary disciples? If we go any higher, aren¡¯t we instructors?¡± Everyone fired their cannons. No one was a fool. Usually, who was sincere and who was fake? Everyone had a scale in their hearts, and their dissatisfaction with Li Bowu had long been accumulating. However, because he was a genius and ranked 19th on the eight martial roll, he had to pretend to be polite. Even with Qi Yangbing leading the way, there was only a small group of people who spoke. More people just remained silent. ¡°In your opinion, what kind of achievements does Qin Huai have to be worthy of the position of personal disciple?¡± Qi Yangbing asked. ¡°Well, he has to kill Hong San at least before it counts!¡± Li Bowu opened his mouth. To kill Little Hong in the second refinement was simply a fantasy for the disciples of the Changshan Dojo, because he himself had once fought against Little Hong. As long as Hong San entered the third refinement realm, Qin Huai would lose without a doubt. With Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®quick success¡¯ in the second refinement, he could still rely on the advantage of the three white dragons to deal with ordinary second refinements. However, to kill a heaven¡¯s favorite like Hong San, who had vigorous qi and blood and profound cultivation techniques¡­ It would be impossible for him! Hearing Li Bowu¡¯s exorbitant demand, everyone revealed a look of disbelief. ¡°Senior Brother Li really dares to ask to kill Hong San? Can I ask if you were able to kill Reihom?¡± The person who spoke was Li Zhang. In the dojo, other than Sun Ziyao, he was one of the closest fellow disciples to Qin Huai. Li Bowu¡¯s face suddenly turned red when he heard this. ¡°Although I didn¡¯t kill him, I fought with him for a long time. During the second refinement, they were barely on par. That¡¯s why I¡¯m not a personal disciple! If Junior Brother Qin wants to get past this, he definitely has to kill Hong San!¡± It was a suicide attack for Li Bowu, trying to drag Qin Huai into the water. However, when he looked at Qin Huai, the latter¡¯s face was expressionless. Qin Huai was neither sad nor happy. He just looked at him calmly. It was like¡­ It was as if he was looking at an ant by his feet. Qin Huai was not very interested in Li Bowu¡¯s stomping. He stayed here only to find out what the Thunderbolt Dojo would do after they found out the truth. ¡°It¡¯s bad! Something big has happened!¡± Sun Ziyao ran over, rolling and crawling. He wanted to look for the head instructor, but after he saw his Senior Brother Qi Yangbing when he passed by the drill ground, he quickly barged in. ¡°What now?¡± Qi Yangbing looked over. ¡°It¡¯s Brother Qin! Qin Huai is dead!¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s face was filled with sorrow. ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo sent Hong San to the mine to kill Brother Qin, and now Hong San is already rushing to Pingnan City with Brother Qin¡¯s head! This Thunderbolt Dojo is simply too much!¡± After Sun Ziyao¡¯s sorrow, his face was filled with anger. However, when he looked at the people around him, there was no anger on their faces. On the contrary, there were all kinds of strange and puzzled expressions. Only Brother Qin¡¯s face remained calm. ¡°Wait a minute! Brother Qin?¡± Sun Ziyao focused his eyes. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re still alive! Pei Pei Pei, Brother Qin, didn¡¯t you die? Brother Qin, you¡­¡± He was incoherent for a moment. ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo wanted Hong San to kill Junior Brother Qin. But now, Junior Brother Qin is safe and sound, while Hong San is still on the way?¡± ¡°Which road is he on?¡± Qi Yangbing touched his chin. ¡°It might be the yellow springs road,¡± Qin Huai suddenly said. The moment he opened his mouth, the entire drill ground was in an uproar. ¡°Qin Huai, don¡¯t tell me you¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Bowu. ¡°Senior Brother Li, do I have the right to be a personal disciple now? ¡± Li Bowu¡¯s face turned from red to green, and he held it in for a long time without saying a word. Hong San was actually killed by Qin Huai? He sized up Qin Huai¡¯s sorry state. The powder in his hair seemed to be poisonous, and the clothes on his body were tattered like a spider¡¯s pattern. Those were the unique marks left behind by the rumbling thunder skill. All kinds of indications point out that¡­ Qin Huai wasn¡¯t lying! And this kind of thing couldn¡¯t be a lie! Meanwhile, outside the door, a white-robed man with white hair and a white beard walked with great vigor. Everywhere he passed, everyone cupped their fists and saluted. It was Sun Yuanshan, the master of the Changshan martial arts school. ¡°Good boy! He actually had the ability to kill Hong San! This old man was right about you!¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s eyes were like stars, bursting with a charm that didn¡¯t belong to his age. He stepped over Li Bowu and walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°You¡¯ve really brought honor to our Changshan Dojo this time!¡± As soon as he opened his mouth, all the disciples in the drill ground came. The courtyard, the walls, and the entrance were filled with people. Li Bowu looked at the courtyard, not daring to say a word. Sun Yuanshan looked around and said slowly, ¡°Today, I officially announce that Qin Huai is my fifth personal disciple. ¡°First, Qin Huai can freely enter and exit the back mountain from today. Second, Qin Huai¡¯s order is my order. He can mobilize all the disciples in the third drill ground. Third, in addition to the normal disciple treatment, he will also enjoy the treatment of a gold medal disciple. ¡°What are you still standing there for?¡± Sun Yuanshan suddenly shouted. Only then did the people in the courtyard come back to their senses. One by one, they cupped their fists at Qin Huai. Even Li Bowu could only grit his teeth and lower his head. ¡°Hello, Fifth Senior!¡± All of Sun Yuanshan¡¯s personal disciples were senior brothers, regardless of their age or realm. ¡°Huai¡¯er, come with me.¡± Sun Yuanshan waved his sleeves and led Qin Huai to the Changshan ancestral house. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve killed Hong San and silenced everyone, you¡¯re officially my personal disciple.¡± Sun Yuanshan turned around and looked at Qin Huai with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s time to teach you something. It¡¯s a secret that only the direct disciples of our Changshan Dojo know. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai immediately perked up. ¡°Although my breathing technique is not good at attacking, the world is dangerous now. My breathing technique is weak, and it is difficult to travel in the martial arts world. Thus, I devoted myself to research for thirty years before I came up with a forbidden killing technique.¡± Sun Yuanshan slowed down. ¡°It¡¯s the Rising Dragon technique.¡± Chapter 47 - 47 Rising Dragon 47 Rising Dragon ¡°Rising dragon¡­¡± Qin Huai mulled over these two words. The white dragon was already a dragon. What would it become if it ascended? Without waiting for him to continue thinking, Sun Yuanshan continued, ¡°The cultivation method is created by people, and it is born according to the creator¡¯s thoughts and uses. ¡°The Crane Dojo¡¯s martial arts was created by its founder by observing cranes. If you succeed in cultivating it, you can cross the water and slide down the mountain. It¡¯s an impressive movement technique. ¡°The White Wave Fist Dojo has a killing technique derived from watching the waves in the ocean. The attacks are like waves, continuous and stronger than before with every breath. ¡°The breathing technique isn¡¯t good at attacking. In the end, it¡¯s a technique to nourish one¡¯s qi and health. Grandmaster created it to prolong one¡¯s life.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s light steps suddenly stopped. ¡°But as the saying goes, where there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way. Cultivation techniques are the same.¡± ¡°Grandmaster created the breath control technique for the sake of health. Although I can¡¯t imitate Grandmaster and create a powerful killing technique, I can still make some changes to its foundation.¡± As they spoke, the two of them had already arrived at the Changshan ancestral house. Sun Yuanshan turned around with a serious face. ¡°The long breath forbidden technique that I created is essentially another way of using the long breath technique. The breath control technique has a long breath, but it¡¯s not powerful enough. Then, I¡¯ll accumulate ¡®qi¡¯ and shoot it out in one breath. Using a unique way of control, the rapid circulation of ¡®qi¡¯, and all the qi will be sent out in an instant. And the key to qi¡­ I think you should know, right?¡± Sun Yuanshan didn¡¯t finish his words. ¡°Is it the white dragon?¡± Qin Huai blurted out. Both the qi-nurturing technique and the breathing technique were unique in their ability to nurture qi. The endpoint of qi cultivation was to cultivate an aura dragon. It was the essence of qi. After Sun Yuanshan¡¯s explanation, Qin Huai had a bad association with the words ¡®forbidden technique¡¯ and ¡®rising dragon.¡¯ This was because he had managed to defeat the three white dragons more than once in battle. However, it was far from the activation method his master had mentioned. Its power had indeed increased, but it was still far from the level of a forbidden technique. In the understanding of ordinary people, the word ¡°forbidden technique¡± was a technique that was powerful but would cause harm to the body. It was a technique that could kill 1,000 enemies at the cost of 800 of one¡¯s own body. Then this forbidden technique, rising dragon¡­ ¡°If you have anything to say, you can speak boldly.¡± Sun Yuanshan encouraged Qin Huai when he saw the strange look on his face. ¡°Master, this forbidden technique, rising dragon¡­ Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to detonate the white dragon?¡± ¡°Not bad! You¡¯re bright!¡± Sun Yuanshan was relieved. ¡°Yes, the rising dragon is to detonate a white dragon.¡± ¡°How powerful is this?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°The white dragon will become thicker and stronger as the level increases. The ¡®qi¡¯ will be more abundant, and the power will naturally be greater. That¡¯s why the power of the rising dragon is almost the same in every realm, and it can seriously injure a martial artist of the same realm! Even if it¡¯s a cultivator one minor realm higher, it can still cause considerable damage. ¡°If I detonate several in succession¡­ It¡¯s not impossible to kill an enemy one minor realm higher than you. Speaking of which, Huai¡¯er, your cultivation is unique. You will have one more white dragon than others, so you are more suitable for this forbidden technique. ¡°If you detonate all the white dragons, you¡¯ll definitely be able to kill an enemy one minor realm above you!¡± Sun Yuanshan said with a smile. ¡°Then the white dragon will be gone after the explosion?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Naturally. However, you can cultivate it again through subsequent cultivation. It will take a long time, and it will delay the progress of my martial arts. So, if I don¡¯t have to use the rising dragon, I¡¯ll try not to use it,¡± Sun Yuanshan explained as he began to move his muscles and bones. Sun Yuanshan did not have a strong body like Rong Li and Fang Han. The white robe was quite loose on him, but Sun Yuanshan was quite tall. He was a tall old man of about 1.9 meters. ¡°Today, I will show you the power of the rising dragon.¡± ¡°This¡­ This can¡¯t be! Master, your age. No, this qi¡­¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t know how to persuade him. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for fifty years¡­ Oh, I was already a famous genius more than sixty years ago. Anyway, the matter of nourishing qi varies from person to person. Those with high talent and fast cultivation speed will be able to raise dragons much faster after using the rising dragon. ¡°Like your eldest brother, Rong Li, he¡¯s not very talented and usually only relies on brute force. He needs seven or eight months to raise a dragon. Fang Han¡¯s condition is slightly better, about half a year. As for Qi Yangbing, he¡¯s the best. Three months is enough.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s voice suddenly stopped as he looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Then what about Master?¡± Qin Huai immediately understood. ¡°I think one month is enough.¡± Sun Yuanshan touched his long beard with a calm look. Then, he walked to a huge rock, which was about the same height as him. He gently pressed his hand on the huge rock. ¡°Ha!¡± Sun Yuanshan suddenly shouted. BOOM! There was a sonic boom, and that huge rock actually shattered into dozens of pieces on the spot. Qin Huai was dumbfounded as he watched the huge rock shatter in an instant. ¡°This power should be enough to blow three to five of me into pieces¡­¡± Qin Huai mumbled. He was truly shocked by the power of this forbidden technique, rising dragon. How was this a forbidden technique? It should be more appropriate to change its name to ¡®explosive dragon.¡¯ On the ground, there was a gray experience ball. Qin Huai only took a glance, and the experience ball automatically flew over and merged with him. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breathing Control forbidden skill (Grey)] and received [Breath Control technique: Rising Dragon ].¡± ¡°Here, this is the experience I¡¯ve written on the forbidden technique. Take a look.¡± Sun Yuanshan threw him a randomly bound sheepskin book. Qin Huai flipped it open to take a look. On it were the secrets to circulating qi and the practice method. Actually, it wasn¡¯t that difficult. Just like what his master had said, it was just an extreme method of activating the breath control technique. This forbidden technique was like a layer of window paper. It broke with a single stab. It was just that the loss was a little big. ¡°Practice a few more times, and you¡¯ll understand how to use it. But remember, every time you practice, you have to hold back at the last moment before the explosion. You have to swallow back the impulse that¡¯s about to burst out. ¡°Otherwise, if you waste one white dragon every time you practice, you won¡¯t be able to survive even if you have nine lives,¡± Sun Yuanshan reminded him carefully. ¡°Will the rising dragon consume vitality?¡± Qin Huai asked again. ¡°That won¡¯t happen, but with all the white dragons gone, you¡¯re just a tiger without claws and fangs. It¡¯s too disadvantageous for you to fight with only your qi and blood. As long as it didn¡¯t hurt your qi and blood, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Master, I have another question. You said that raising a white dragon again depends on the speed of cultivation? In other words, the faster I cultivate, the faster I can raise the white dragon again?¡± ¡°Of course. The cultivation of the breath control technique is to raise dragons. If you lose a white dragon and raise it again, it will naturally depend on the speed of cultivation. ¡°According to my many years of experience from your senior brothers, I think I¡¯ll be able to raise a mature white dragon in about two or three layers of the breath control technique in the second refinement realm. ¡°So, for someone like you¡­ You should be a bit faster than me.¡± Sun Yuanshan didn¡¯t dare to guarantee anything. Qin Huai suddenly thought of a crucial point after receiving affirmation. Raising dragons was linked to the speed of cultivation. Didn¡¯t that mean that if he used up a white dragon¡­ After that, every time he picked up an experience ball, the newly raised white dragon would also grow up. With the speed at which he was collecting experience points, he would be able to reach one level in a day, far surpassing everyone else. According to his master¡¯s speculation, in the second or third level of the second refinement realm, one could raise a white dragon. This meant that he could release an explosion once every three or four days¡­ Rising dragon. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Killing a thrice-refined martial artist seemed to be within reach. At that moment, Gu He¡¯s figure appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Chapter 48 - 48 Demonic Cultivation Technique, Sacred Heart Sect 48 Demonic Cultivation Technique, Sacred Heart Sect Seeing that his master had started to practice, Qin Huai walked to the empty space by himself. When he picked up the gray experience orb, Qin Huai already had the method to use the forbidden technique, rising dragon, as well as some small tricks in his mind. Qin Huai instantly understood everything. However, he still chose to experiment with the forbidden technique. ¡°The white dragon moves through the meridians, the wind carries the qi and blood, and stops at the mouth¡­¡± Qin Huai controlled a white dragon to move quickly through his meridians according to the circulation path of the breath control technique. The qi and blood in the surroundings were also brought up by the white dragon. Qin Huai¡¯s dantian started to turn red at a visible rate. Like a wave, the ¡®red sea¡¯ spread to his arm as the white dragon in his body moved. In an instant, the white dragon was already at the tip of Qin Huai¡¯s finger. It was only a layer of skin away from the outside of his skin. However, Qin Huai forcefully stopped it, allowing the white dragon to crash into his skin. Under the high speed, the white dragon was slowly compressed into a white ball of light under the skin of his fingertip. Qin Huai extended his hand, and he slowly pointed to the front. He could clearly feel that as long as he willed it, the white dragon that was compressed into a light spot would break out of his skin and explode outside his body. Fortunately, Qin Huai managed to hold it in and kept the white spots under his skin. He tried to move the white dot again. His fists, palms, toes, and even his chest felt like they could be shot out. ¡°The rising dragon doesn¡¯t have a specific output path. Any part of the skin can be used as an output point, so this might be a surprise attack point,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself as he pondered and experimented with the white spots on the open space. After a long time, with a thought, Qin Huai opened his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Vitality]: 27.581 [Cultivation Methods]: [Eternal Qi technique (level 24, 2014/3000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 10, 1047/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 199/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 3/3] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] ¡°As expected, there¡¯s an additional column.¡± Ever since he had unlocked the ¡°qi and blood¡± column with demon meat, Qin Huai realized that the data column displayed on the personal panel before him was not all that existed in this world. In the future, all sorts of things would definitely appear. In other words, there were still many things that his golden finger could pick up. After experimenting with the rising dragon, Qin Huai began to practice in the Changshan ancestral house. He still had a lot of questions to ask Sun Yuanshan after he finished his practice. Although his aptitude was pitifully poor, it was better to have as much as possible. ¡°Eh, why aren¡¯t you practicing the forbidden technique?¡± Sun Yuanshan ended his training for the day and looked at Qin Huai in surprise. ¡°Although this forbidden technique is only one of the many uses of the breath control technique, if you can¡¯t get used to it, you¡¯ll be at a great disadvantage in battle.¡± Sun Yuanshan reminded him that he couldn¡¯t be careless about this. ¡°Master, your disciple has already gained some insight.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. ¡°Eh? How many hours has it been?¡± Sun Yuanshan squinted his eyes. ¡°Give it a try and let me see.¡± With his hands behind his back, he watched as Qin Huai used the forbidden technique. This time, Qin Huai did not hold back. Having completely absorbed the gray experience ball, he was very familiar with the process. He gathered the white dragon into a light spot and let it roam around under his skin. Sun Yuanshan, who was watching from the side, nodded. ¡°Kid, how did you do it?¡± He was gratified but also felt that it was unbelievable. Although this forbidden technique wasn¡¯t particularly difficult, it shouldn¡¯t have been something that could be learned in just a few hours. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s just as Instructor Fang said. I¡¯m very compatible with the breath control technique. In addition, it might also be related to my comprehension.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t plan to hide his strength anymore. After all, the person in front of him was Sun Yuanshan, who had lived for eighty years. He was not an ordinary disciple of the Changshan Dojol. Furthermore, he had only been at the dojo for less than a month, yet he was already in the second refinement realm and had even killed Hong San. In another ten days, he would enter the third refinement. It was too tiring to hide like this, so he might as well go with the flow and give himself the name of a vitality genius. Besides, he wanted to make everything more reasonable. ¡°Indeed, compatibility and comprehension are both illusory and mysterious things¡­ It seems that our Changshan Dojo has really picked up a treasure this time. It would be great if all the disciples of our dojo could cultivate as fast as you,¡± Sun Yuanshan joked. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve come across a kind of secret cultivation method. That secret cultivation method seems to have some kind of magic. As long as you get close to it and cultivate its cultivation method, your cultivation speed will greatly increase,¡± Qin Huai said in all seriousness. He had wanted to beat around the bush and ask tactfully. However, after thinking about it carefully, his master had lived for eighty years and had long become a spiritual person. His little schemes would definitely not escape his eyes. It would be even worse if there were a misunderstanding. That was why it was better to be direct. ¡°Where is this cultivation technique now?¡± Hearing that, Sun Yuanshan¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°I found it on a few bandits in the mine. I thought it was strange, so I burned it on the spot,¡± Qin Huai said honestly. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s burned?¡± Sun Yuanshan confirmed it again. Qin Huai nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve burned it. There¡¯s nothing wrong with your intuition, kid. That cultivation technique is a big problem! It¡¯s the seed that the Sacred Heart sect uses to cultivate blood food.¡± Sun Yuanshan frowned. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect?¡± Qin Huai perked up and listened carefully to Sun Yuanshan. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before that there are thousands of paths in the path of martial arts. For example, the eight dojos all have different techniques and characteristics. It¡¯s because their founders had different goals. ¡°The people in this world are divided into good and evil. The good created cultivation methods for peace, the mediocre created cultivation methods to avoid the world, the brave created cultivation methods for conquest, the fierce ones created battles, and the evil ones created killing¡­ But there were still some people in the world who were very strange. It¡¯s very extreme. ¡°The sect master of Sacred Heart sect is one of them. Under the banner of ¡®All living beings are equal, everyone can be a heaven¡¯s favorite,¡¯ they created all kinds of strange cultivation techniques. Most of them feed on the flesh and blood of living creatures as a way of cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s said that talent and family background don¡¯t matter. As long as you want to practice martial arts and become an expert, the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s cultivation techniques can help you advance rapidly. ¡°By relying on this method and purpose, the Sacred Heart sect has accumulated a huge force in just a few years. Sun Yuanshan stopped talking. He looked sad and helpless. ¡°I¡¯ve only learned a little about the Sacred Heart sect when I traveled around the cities in my early years. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know the specific cultivation methods of the Sacred Heart sect, I¡¯m sure that the conditions for their cultivation methods are extremely bloody and cruel. They are built on human lives. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t look at talent or family background. In addition, the Sacred Heart sect also has many demonic and evil means to delude people¡¯s hearts, which are impossible to guard against. ¡°Therefore, most of the places where the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s believers appear will be plunged into misery and suffering¡­ The damage caused by their disciples is no less than that of the demons.¡± Sun Yuanshan seemed to be reminiscing about some unpleasant memories. Then, he looked at Qin Huai with a serious expression. ¡°Where did you find that cultivation technique?¡± ¡°White Ore Mountain¡­ Also, the group of mountain bandits on the Ghost Slope Mountain all had this technique, but I burned them all.¡± Qin Huai understood the severity of the matter from Sun Yuanshan¡¯s brief explanation. Using human lives as cultivation, wasn¡¯t this the same as the demonic cults in the wuxia fantasy novels from his previous life? It was not an alarmist talk to see such cultivators in the vicinity of Pingnan City, causing great misery and suffering. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Sun Yuanshan wanted to confirm again because this matter was of great importance. Being targeted by the Sacred Heart sect meant that the entire Pingnan City was likely to fall into a crisis. ¡°Everything I said is true.¡± Qin Huai also realized that this was no small matter. ¡°Remember to keep this matter to yourself and never tell another person.¡± Sun Yuanshan patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m going to build the city lord¡¯s mansion. You can cultivate in the dojo for the next few days.¡± After saying that, Sun Yuanshan left the mountain in big strides and walked in the direction of Pingnan City. Qin Huai still wanted to ask about the situation of the guards at the Luo residence, but Sun Yuanshan had already walked hundreds of meters away in the blink of an eye. ¡°It seems that Master has no time to care about this matter. I¡¯ll go back and take a look myself.¡± Qin Huai was worried about the Luo family, afraid that they would be implicated by him. People like Gu He and Qin Laoliu might not give up so easily. He also went down the mountain and followed his Master Sun Yuanshan in the direction of Pingnan City. Chapter 49 - 49 Secret News, Race Against Time 49 Secret News, Race Against Time Thunderbolt Dojo When Hong San didn¡¯t return until noon, everyone realized that something was wrong. Therefore, a large number of apprentices and disciples were sent to the mine by Old Qin. Two hours, four hours, six hours ¡­ Sixth Brother Qin had already sensed something. The instructors, Reihom, and even the head of the dojo, Bai Bashan, had sent people to wait for the news. Finally, Hong San¡¯s body was carried out on a stretcher by a group of disciples. Behind him were the men he had brought to ambush Qin Huai. No one was spared. Sixth Brother Qin walked forward and looked at the miserable state of his beloved disciple. All the bones in his body are broken, especially his arms and ribs. ¡°He used the classic breath control technique. He didn¡¯t have enough killing power, so he used the white dragon qi to break it.¡± Sixth Brother Qin touched Hong San¡¯s corpse. His chest caved in, and his arms were twisted. Both his kidneys had been blown up. ¡°He also inhaled a large amount of poison.¡± Hong San¡¯s entire body was already stiff. His entire body was white, but it still had a tinge of green and red. ¡°Qin Huai did well.¡± Sixth Brother Qin narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, the veins on his temples bulging. ¡°That person¡¯s not bad.¡± Reihom was calm and unperturbed. He then turned around and left. ¡°Senior Brother, you have to avenge your fellow brothers!¡± one of the warriors shouted at Reihom. ¡°If you¡¯re not as good as me, how can you talk about revenge? However, if he were to participate in the eighth martial competition, I would be a little more serious,¡± Reihom said casually. His eyes had never been on Pingnan City. The so-called heaven¡¯s favorites were no different from ¡®everyone¡¯ in his eyes. The dojo disciples behind him had long since grown used to Reihom¡¯s arrogance. In addition, every time they saw Reihom, they would feel a bit more at ease. Even if Hong San was killed, as long as Reihom was here, the Thunderbolt Dojo would always be number one. ¡°Go to the city and inform Instructor Gu to come back¡­¡± An instructor waved his hand and ordered his disciples to go to the city to call for people. ¡­ Qin Huai followed his master, Sun Yuanshan, and entered the city with him. ¡°Master, what kind of cultivation techniques does the Sacred Heart sect have?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°How powerful is the Sacred Heart sect?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Regarding Qin Huai¡¯s question, Sun Yuanshan answered that he didn¡¯t know and added, ¡°My understanding of the Sacred Heart sect is limited to a few words from other people. I¡¯ve only seen the tragic state of the village they passed by once¡­ Most of them are active in the west of Great You. This is the first time I¡¯ve heard of their traces in Pingnan City.¡± Qin Huai understood and changed the question. ¡°Master, in your bone-softening powder, there is a three-heart grass, right? There¡¯s no such thing in the market of Pingnan. Where did you get it?¡± ¡°How did you know that there was a three-heart grass in my bone-softening powder?¡± Sun Yuanshan was surprised. He modified and improved the bone-softening powder, but this kid knew about it. ¡°The three-heart grass has a sweet smell. Even though most of the smell has dissipated after being ground into powder, people who use medicine and collect medicine all year round can still smell that unique sweet smell. ¡°Didn¡¯t I once work as an apprentice in an apothecary? I¡¯m quite talented in medicine,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°Tsk, tsk, who knows how many more talents you¡¯re hiding in your stomach.¡± Sun Yuanshan finally revealed a smile. ¡°Behind the cliff of the Changshan ancestral house, there are a few mu of medicinal fields I have planted. They are all poisonous seeds I have carefully selected. I have melancholic flower, hundredfold root, three-heart grass¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up as he listened. These poisonous substances were all great poisons, and they could be used to concoct medicinal herbs that could take down high-refined martial artists. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that there aren¡¯t many disciples who are proficient in medicine. In the past, I have to take care of them by myself, but it¡¯s a good time now. After you finish your daily training, help me take care of these medicinal fields. You can have twenty percent of the harvest.¡± Sun Yuanshan stretched out three fingers and quickly put away one. ¡°Then this disciple will accept this task.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and was overjoyed. He had high-level medicinal skills, but no good medicine for him to use. He could only sacrifice his good medicinal skills and use some low-grade poisons. Now, it was all good. Helping his master manage the poison field would allow him to obtain top-grade poisonous substances. This was definitely not a bad deal. As he spoke, the two of them had already walked to the front of Pingnan City. The number of city guards seemed to have increased by quite a bit, and the refugees along the way were also becoming more and more crowded. Qin Huai looked into the distance at the lower terrain. It was like a long gray-black dragon that stretched into the distance. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the emperor of Great You care about the people¡¯s lives?¡± Qin Huai retorted. It was as if ever since he came to this world, he only knew that the land beneath his feet was Great You¡¯s territory. However, he had never heard of any interesting news about Great You¡¯s officials or rumors about Great You¡¯s Emperor. It was as if Great You had died. ¡°The emperor of Great You seems to be just a child. He doesn¡¯t care about anything,¡± Sun Yuanshan said slowly. ¡°It seems there are some thirteen ministers in charge of the overall situation¡­ I¡¯ve only heard of it, so I can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s true. I¡¯ve lived for eighty years, but I¡¯ve never seen the emperor even once. I¡¯m destined not to have the chance to see him in this lifetime¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan shook his head with a smile, and the topic was over. When the two of them entered the city, Sun Yuanshan, who was like an immortal, and Qin Huai, who was a little famous in Pingnan City, did not need to go through any checks at all. They did not even need to show their Changshan Dojo waist tokens. The city guard hurriedly opened the door for the two of them. Just as he entered the city, Qin Huai saw a figure running crazily on the street. ¡°My son! My son! You died so miserably! The man cried so miserably that the whole street turned to look at him. Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan walked closer and were surprised to find that the person was actually the head instructor of the Thunderbolt Dojo. He was also the main examiner of Qin Huai¡¯s exam, Gu He. Qin Huai¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but in his heart, he was thinking about who Gu He¡¯s son was. Suddenly, Gu He¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. His gaze was like that of a hungry wolf as he stared at Qin Huai, who was walking through the crowd. At this moment, it was as if Qin Huai was the only person left in his world. ¡°Qin! Huai!¡± Gu He seemed to have squeezed out the words from between his teeth, but it also seemed like he had already swallowed Qin Huai alive. The next second, Gu He charged toward Qin Huai. ¡°Hand over your life for my son!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes even saw an electric arc flash across Gu He¡¯s hands. He also reacted instantly and stretched out his palm. The three white dragons that were entrenched in his dantian followed his meridians and leaped out of his palm. They instantly compressed into three white light spots, all aimed at Gu He. Unfortunately, Sun Yuanshan, who was beside him, stepped in front of Qin Huai. His white robe waved, and it was as if there were huge waves howling and setting off strong gales. With a single blow, Gu He was sent flying. Gu He rolled several times on the ground in a sorry state, only coming to a stop after smashing through the door of a restaurant. The surrounding onlookers didn¡¯t even dare to breathe loudly as they quietly watched the two sides of the conflict. ¡°Gu He, have you lost your mind? I only killed your nephew, Hong San, but not your son.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was solemn. He wouldn¡¯t admit to something he hadn¡¯t done. ¡°Hong San is my son!¡± Gu He seemed to have been awakened by Sun Yuanshan¡¯s slap. He stopped approaching and only stared at Qin Huai. ¡°Isn¡¯t Hong San your sister¡¯s son?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. The surrounding commoners were also dumbfounded. ¡°Hong San is the son of my sister and me! You killed my son, so I¡¯ll make you¡­ No, I want everyone you care about to pay with their lives for my son!¡± Gu He¡¯s voice was hoarse. Qin Huai¡¯s expression was cold. The difference between the death of a nephew and the death of a son was not small. Previously, he still had doubts about whether Gu He would carry out some crazy revenge on him for Hong San. After all, he was considered to be in a high position and had a certain amount of wealth. They might take into account his current identity and status in the Changshan Dojo and swallow their anger. Even if they wanted to take revenge, it would be more of a face-saving project. But now, it seemed he had to race against time to deal with this hidden danger. Chapter 50 - 50 A Predicament 50 A Predicament ¡°I won¡¯t take revenge! I, Gu He, swear I¡¯m not a human!¡± Gu He raised his head and let out a long howl. The hissing sound made the surrounding people take a few steps back. No one knew what Gu He would do at this moment. ¡°Brat, think before you speak,¡± Sun Yuanshan said slowly. He did not care about Gu He¡¯s life-and-death threat. ¡°The grudges of the younger generation should be resolved by the younger generation themselves. They should be responsible for their own life and death. This is the rule of the eight big martial arts centers. If you want to break the rules now, I¡¯m afraid that before I can do anything¡­ That little brat Bai Bashan will probably kill you with his own hands.¡± ¡°You f*cking¡­¡± Gu He almost blurted out in anger, but when he saw that old face, his survival instinct made him swallow the curse. He still had to take revenge and couldn¡¯t die here. He had heard of Sun Yuanshan. In his early years, he had beaten his enemies, poisoned them, and smashed the doors of other people¡¯s houses in the middle of the night to ¡®torture the eagle.¡¯ He had done almost everything he could. He was definitely not the kind of sage-like and transcendent master he appeared to be. In Pingnan city, Sun Yuanshan was definitely at the level of a grandmaster when it came to playing the most inferior tricks. It hadn¡¯t been heard of in recent years. However, there were rumors in the dojo that Sun Yuanshan might be the one who incited people to plot against them. He had probably switched from being in front of the stage to behind the scenes. Gu He stopped talking, but the killing intent in his eyes grew stronger. He glared at Qin Huai, as if he wanted to engrave the latter¡¯s face into his mind. Then, he quickly walked in the direction of the Thunderbolt Dojo. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t worry and go. As long as that guy is in the Thunderbolt Dojo, he won¡¯t dare to attack you.¡± Sun Yuanshan patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. He then pointed at Gu He¡¯s back and added, ¡°Do you see that? The two people following him are from the Thunderbolt Dojo too. They¡¯re more afraid of Gu He killing you because if you die in his hands now, their dojo will have to pay a lot.¡± Qin Huai now knew that although the eight major martial arts centers didn¡¯t have any written agreement, they were still in a state of chaos. But there was a lot of tacit understanding in private. For example, in a fight between peers, one would be responsible for their own life and death, and the elders of the sect would not pursue it. Personal grudges would stop at a personal level, and they did not implicate family. This was because they were afraid that a single person would cause a huge disturbance and cause a massacre that would result in dozens of casualties. It was also to prevent the conflict between the two dojos from escalating, which would eventually lead to a life-and-death battle. After all, all the rules were set so that the eight major martial arts centers could develop better, not run toward destruction¡­ ¡°Take care of him at the Luo manor. We¡¯ll travel together when I return from the city lord¡¯s mansion,¡± Sun Yuanshan instructed. ¡°Many thanks, Master!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and bowed. ¡­ Before Qin Huai had even entered the Luo manor, the firecrackers were already set off, and the guards and maidservants were waiting at the door. Luo Huatian and Luo Ya were surrounded. ¡°Nephew!¡± ¡°Uncle!¡± ¡°Huai¡¯er!¡± ¡°Auntie!¡± ¡°Senior Brother¡­¡± When everyone met, there was another round of hugs and greetings. Another banquet was held at the Luo manor tonight. However, this time, it was not as grand as the previous two times. Including a few servants and senior brothers from the dojo who came to help guard the yard, there were only three tables. The dishes on the table had also changed from freshwater seafood, beef, mutton, and exotic wild game to chicken, duck, and some vegetarian food. ¡°Did something happen at home? Is it the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo who are trying to sabotage us?¡± Qin Huai looked at the dishes on the table. The Luo manor¡¯s power in Pingnan City was neither big nor small. ¡°Sigh, it has nothing to do with the Thunderbolt Dojo. It¡¯s just that the world is getting worse.¡± Luo Huatian picked up a glass of wine. Qin Huai hurriedly stood up and raised his cup, downing it in one gulp with Luo Huatian. ¡°It¡¯s only been a month, and there are more refugees outside the city¡­ They¡¯re not allowed to enter the city, so they all go up the mountain to become bandits. The name and connections of an escort won¡¯t work on those foreigners. ¡°The cost of hiring bodyguards has increased, and they can¡¯t guarantee the safety of the goods. That¡¯s why it¡¯s not good for our business to transport goods outside.¡± When Luo Huatian spoke of this, he frowned. Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything either. He just ate and listened quietly. ¡°It¡¯s safe to find the eight big martial arts centers to protect the goods, but the cost is too high. The price of rice has increased from 50 wen per jin to almost 100 wen, almost doubling the price. What kind of expansion was this? Not to mention the wheat, which was transported in from the outside. In addition, it¡¯s particularly cold this autumn, so the wheat and carrots are not good enough. The price of goods will naturally rise, and only the wild vegetable dumplings are left¡­¡± ¡°The friends I know in Pingnan City¡­ They¡¯re not having a good time either.¡± Luo Huatian complained as he poured another bowl of wine. ¡°Although we still have some savings at home that are enough to last us for a long time, there are dozens of people in the house who need to eat. Naturally, we have to save as much as we can. For the past two years, Great You¡¯s wars have been in the south and the west. Why is the east so unstable?¡± Luo Huatian was extremely depressed. Qin Huai didn¡¯t like what he heard. A few days ago, he had read about it in the letter Luo Ya had sent him, but after hearing it from Luo Huatian in person¡­ only then did he realize that the current situation was worse than he had imagined. The dojo¡¯s food didn¡¯t change much, but his master must have been under a lot of pressure. ¡°Could it be that no one asked these refugees where they came from and why they fled?¡± Qin Huai tried to think of a solution. ¡°I did. Why didn¡¯t I? In the end, they all said they didn¡¯t know anything. It seemed like there was no food for no reason. The originally stable place suddenly started to have red and white knives cutting each other¡­ It¡¯s a demon¡¯s trick, but none of them have seen any trace of the demon.¡± Listening to Luo Huatian¡¯s words, the figure of the Sacred Heart sect appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Could such a large number of refugees have been caused by the Sacred Heart sect that Master had mentioned? Master said that their cultivation method was strange, and they had some evil arts that could manipulate people¡¯s hearts, which could make the local people suffer. Listening to Luo Huatian¡¯s description, the possibility of it being the Sacred Heart sect was extremely high. Furthermore, Qin Huai had his own plans for the Sacred Heart sect. It was the strange aura that could increase the cultivation speed of the user. He had originally thought that those cultivation techniques were all things of chance. Now, it seemed it was very likely that the Sacred Heart sect had mastered the production method. If he could get his hands on this method, he could burn it to himself. He wanted to improve his cultivation realm. If he could master it, it would be much more stable than collecting other people¡¯s experiences. It was to take the initiative into his own hands. However, Qin Huai was only thinking about it now. After all, a colossus like the Sacred Heart sect was definitely not something he could covet. ¡°Uncle, you should have heard about me killing Hong San. For the next few days, I want you to come with me to the Changshan Dojo and stay there for a few days¡­¡± Qin Huai hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ve already offended Hong San¡¯s uncle, Gu He. Uncle, you know about the grudge between the two of us. He might do something bad to you guys next, so he¡¯s forcing me. That¡¯s why I want you to go to the dojo first and lie low for a while.¡± As soon as Qin Huai finished speaking, Luo Huatian waved his hand. ¡°This won¡¯t do, nephew. You¡¯ve heard what I¡¯ve said just now. This business isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°Our family¡¯s voice is not only related to the food of the dozens of people in the manor, but also the blacksmiths, restaurants, inns, and hundreds of people who need to eat. All of these require me to stay in the city. If I go to the dojo outside the city, it will be inconvenient¡­¡± Just from the dojo to the city, it would take an hour. It would take more than two hours to send a message back and forth, so it was indeed a waste of time. Qin Huai looked at his aunt, Yu Xin, and Luo Ya. ¡°Your uncle and I haven¡¯t been separated for decades. If he¡¯s not leaving, I¡¯ll stay at the Luo manor. You should bring Luo Ya to the dojo. This child is asking to see you every day. You should get closer to her¡­¡± Yu Xin gave Qin Huai a chicken leg. ¡°No, I want to stay at home!¡± Luo Ya¡¯s head shook like a rattle. She did want to get closer to her senior brother, but she wanted to be with her parents more. If something happened, she would definitely regret it. Qin Huai held his wine glass and continued to pester them, but the family of three refused to go to the dojo with him. ¡°Alright, then you guys stay at home and try not to go out. The senior brothers in the dojo will protect you,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Give me a few days. I¡¯ll settle this matter.¡± He had to go back to the dojo because he had to collect experience points to break through the realm, and then he could get rid of Gu He. And according to his master, as long as Gu He was in the Thunderbolt Dojo, the people there would not allow him to attack him and the people of the Luo manor. ¡°Huai¡¯er, you have to think twice before you do anything. Don¡¯t be impulsive,¡± Yu Xin urged. ¡°Your life is the most precious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so cold today. I¡¯ve seen many martial artists who can¡¯t stand the thick robes on the boat. You should remember to put on more clothes¡­¡± Auntie Yu Xin also drank some wine and started to nag like an old mother. Ever since Qin Huai had saved his daughter¡¯s life from the bandits, the couple had already treated Qin Huai as half their son. ¡­ The sun set in the west. Sun Yuanshan stood at the entrance of the Luo manor and looked at Qin Huai carrying three of his own sackcloth packages. ¡°Did you go back home to restock?¡± Sun Yuanshan complained. ¡°These are some autumn and winter clothes and bedding, and some snacks. Let Huai¡¯er bring them to the senior brothers.¡± Yu Xin smiled and stood in front of the door with dignity. ¡°Then I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of those little kids,¡± Sun Yuanshan said as he cupped his hands. Yu Xin, Luo Ya¡¯s father, and the others were shocked, and they waved their hands. ¡°Little brat, cherish it.¡± Sun Yuanshan patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, his eyes filled with emotion. ¡°I know.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s words were concise and comprehensive. He had his own scale in his heart. As for the Luo family of three, they had quietly become as powerful as Mount Tai. ¡°What did the city lord mansion say about the Sacred Heart sect?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°You¡¯ll know in a few days.¡± Sun Yuanshan kept him guessing. Chapter 51 - 51 White Dragon with Lightning! He Left the Dojo! 51 White Dragon with Lightning! He Left the Dojo! ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +3¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +3¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +2¡± ¡­ As soon as Qin Huai returned to the dojo, he went to Master Song¡¯s place to collect experience points and repair his chain mail. In his battle with Hong San, the three white dragons were all used in the attack, and the chain mail had made a great contribution. He had blocked quite a bit of damage for himself. Because of this, the chainmail on Qin Huai¡¯s body was already in a miserable state, almost unable to protect the important parts of his body. Master Song glared at Qin Huai as soon as he asked for the repair fee. He threw down a sentence, ¡°If I¡¯m going to make armor for the young hero of my dojo, how am I going to lead the blacksmith shop in the future if you charge me?¡± and then sent Qin Huai away. And so, Qin Huai just returned to the courtyard. When he arrived, he was stopped by Sun Ziyao. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, let¡¯s go to the tea party tonight.¡± Qin Huai hesitated for a moment before carrying the oily star meat he had brought from the Luo manor and some of mother Luo¡¯s cooking to the back of the mountain. ¡°Senior Brother Qin!¡± ¡°Senior Brother Qin, you can come as you wish, but why did you bring so much food?¡± When the group of senior and junior brothers saw Qin Huai, they all stood up with a whoosh. And when they saw Qin Huai bringing a pile of food, he was even more bewildered. ¡°These are the food I brought from home. Auntie specifically told me to bring some for my brothers to try. It¡¯s not worth anything, just a kind thought.¡± As Qin Huai spoke, he sent out the things. Everyone received it with both hands, their faces flushed. This was their fifth senior brother. This was a gift from the genius of the Changshan Dojo who killed Hong San. He really treated them as his own people. They had heard that their senior brother, Qin Huai, would occasionally come to the tea party, but they didn¡¯t expect this senior brother to be so easy to approach. ¡°Many thanks, Senior Brother!¡± The group of people was extremely excited. A few of the junior brothers and sisters were holding Qin Huai¡¯s hands when they took the items, unwilling to let go for a long time. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. We¡¯re all brothers,¡± Qin Hua said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother Qin. Many of the senior and junior brothers here will run into the city to collect protection fees, escort, and look after stalls.¡± ¡°There are quite a few well-informed people in the family. We¡¯ll definitely keep an eye on Gu He. If there¡¯s any sign of trouble, we¡¯ll report it to you immediately.¡± Sun Ziyao took the meat patties from Qin Huai and patted his chest. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. My family¡¯s shop is right next to the blacksmith¡¯s shop in the Thunderbolt Dojo. I¡¯ll write a letter to my old man and ask him to keep an eye on it.¡± ¡°My big brother is working under the Thunderbolt Dojo. If there¡¯s any news, I¡¯ll send it to him immediately.¡± Everyone chimed in and worked together. Qin Huai patted Sun Ziyao¡¯s shoulder heavily and looked at the crowd. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll thank everyone here first.¡± After the simple tea party, Qin Huai and his grandson Yao returned to the courtyard together. Although he had been promoted to a personal disciple, he did not move out. Every day, he would walk out of the courtyard to the various drill grounds. After that, he would go up the mountain to learn martial arts from his master and take care of the medicinal fields. It was all a matter of the same dragon, so it was quite convenient. ¡°I¡¯ll organize a few more tea parties in the next two days so that all the senior and junior brothers will be on their guard.¡± Sun Ziyao smiled faintly. ¡°I have some friends in the Thunderbolt Dojo who can help me.¡± ¡°You have acquaintances in the Thunderbolt Dojo?¡± Qin Huai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Before I entered the dojo, I had some friends who went to the Thunderbolt Dojo and the three middle schools. I¡¯ve met a few of them in the mine before, and we can be considered to be friends after a fight¡­¡± Sun Ziyao touched his nose. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists at his grandson Yao solemnly. He now knew why his grandson Yao had such good friends. He had a high EQ and was willing to do things. Who didn¡¯t like it? ¡­ With the death of Hong San, who was extremely vicious and always saw blood when he attacked, the conflict between the two dojos in the White Ore Mountain suddenly dropped by several levels. Not to mention the dead, even those with broken arms and legs could be counted on the fingers. Most of them stopped at the bleeding level. However, the conflicts between the two dojos did not decrease. On the contrary, they had subtly increased. Qin Huai guessed that the two groups probably wanted to use each other as free sparring partners. There weren¡¯t many great enemies who were so cheap and could attack as much as they wanted without harming their lives. Everyone was having a good time fighting, and Qin Huai was also very happy to collect experience. The experience points of the rumbling thunder skill had increased from 1,000 to 1,500, while the breath control technique was unmoved by the two thousand. As for Gu He¡¯s movements, every two hours, someone would send a letter to Qin Huai in an envelope or by pigeon. It was the black pigeon that Senior Brother Li raised, which traveled day and night without any fatigue. Perhaps it had some spiritual bird bloodline. ¡°On the 22nd of the eighth month, at a quarter past seven, Gu He slammed his hands on Hong San¡¯s coffin and wailed for several hours.¡± ¡°August 23rd, 7:00 am. Gu He told the love story between him and his sister. Hong San seemed to be the fruit of love between Gu He and his two sisters. It¡¯s a little complicated, and I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± ¡°On the 23rd of August, at midnight, he had a secret conversation with a few of his trusted aides. After that, those trusted aides all entered the city.¡± ¡°August 23rd, five o ¡®clock. Senior Brother, there are many new faces around the Luo manor.¡± ¡°August 23rd, five o ¡®clock. Senior Brother, the unfamiliar faces are all small gangs from outside the city. They can¡¯t even be considered as having practiced martial arts, so they¡¯re not a threat¡­¡± These letters were all big and small, from when Gu He got up, when he was resting, and who he met. ¡°Who are those trusted aides¡­¡± In just a few days, Qin Huai had already figured out Gu He¡¯s connections and whereabouts. He looked at these letters as if he had x-ray eyes and could clearly see Gu He¡¯s every move. There were many sources for these letters. There were some in the Thunderbolt Dojo, as well as the waiters in the restaurants, prostitutes, shopkeepers of apothecaries, and senior brothers in the city. They were either related to the disciples in the dojo or the disciples themselves. ¡°If this loose information is already so powerful, then the leaders of those intelligence organizations, like those who controlled the ¡¯embroidered uniform guards¡¯ in the previous world¡¯s dynasty¡­ Just how well-connected would they be?¡± Qin Huai sighed. For five consecutive days, Qin Huai paid attention to Gu He¡¯s news every day. That guy had been in contact with all kinds of people in the Thunderbolt dojo. He was obviously planning his revenge. At the same time, he also collected the experience points step by step and watched the experience points of the breath control technique and the rumbling thunder skill increase steadily. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Technique Essence (White) ], [Breath Control Technique] Experience +26!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Technique Essence (White) ], [Breath Control Technique] Experience +26!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control Technique] Experience +96!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +55!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +100!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +87!¡± ¡­ Name: Qin Huai [Vitality]: 27.688 [Cultivation Methods]: [Eternal Qi technique (level 28, 135/3000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 14, 511/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (intermediate, 344/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 3/3] [Stage: Level 2 Blood Refinement] Qin Huai received five vitality pills and seven bowls of vitality soup, which he had received as a gold medal disciple, increasing his vitality by more than 0.1. The breath control technique and the rumbling thunder skill had also advanced to the fourth level. Also, the three white dragons inside his body became even more muscular, and the scales on their body became clearer and more vivid. As for the rumbling thunder skill, Qin Huai had finally noticed something strange. Electric arcs would flash in his dantian from time to time, but they were extremely fast and difficult to notice without careful inspection. Qin Huai was aware of the electric arc because he had observed the white dragon¡¯s transformation. He found that one of the white dragons was actually covered in lightning, which surprised him for a long time before he realized that it was a special feature of the thunder skill. ¡°It¡¯s almost the third refinement.¡± Qin Huai counted the days, and it had only been three days. Flap, flap, flap¡­ Outside the window, a black pigeon descended from the sky. It landed on Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder affectionately. Qin Huai touched the black pigeon¡¯s head and then took out the note on its foot. When he opened it, his expression became much more indifferent. ¡°Gu He, with thirteen trusted aides, has left the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± Chapter 52 - 52 The Master and Disciple Who Share the Same Sentiments! 52 The Master and Disciple Who Share the Same Sentiments! ¡°Senior Brother Qin, Gu He has left the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± Sun Ziyao ran in a panic. Behind him was a group of martial artists from the same courtyard. As a personal disciple, Qin Huai could mobilize a portion of the disciples in the dojo. And these nine people from the same courtyard were the main force within his scope of mobilization. They were three second refinement and six first refinement. Li Zhang¡¯s apprentices were also under Qin Huai¡¯s control. If there were more people, they would have to find their master, Sun Yuanshan. ¡°You go and find out where Gu He is. I¡¯ll go and find Senior Brother Fang Han,¡± Qin Huai instructed. ¡°I sent someone to do it before I came. I might get a reply later.¡± Sun Ziyao was a little out of breath. He had just run to many places to gather manpower for Qin Huai. He thought that he could use it no matter what happened. ¡°Alright!¡± Qin Huai found Fang Han on the drill ground. ¡°Senior Brother, when a person has left the eight major martial arts centers, we don¡¯t have to abide by the tacit understanding between them anymore, right? ¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re not thinking of quitting the dojo, are you?¡± Fang Han¡¯s expression changed. ¡°It¡¯s Gu He who has left with his trusted aides. There¡¯s a high chance that he¡¯s here to deal with me,¡± Qin Huai explained. ¡°Oh¡­ If he retires, then the tacit agreement between the eight big martial arts centers will naturally not need to be followed. Anyway, what do you mean?¡± Fang Han asked. ¡°Since I¡¯m no longer bound by the rules of the eight martial arts centers, I would like to ask you to help me, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were sincere. ¡°Gu He left the dojo because he wanted to take off the shackles and take revenge on me without any scruples. In that case, why don¡¯t I make the first move and get rid of him?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was low. He never liked to be passive. He had originally wanted to wait until after he had completed the third refinement before thinking of a way to kill him. Now, he had delivered himself to his door. Besides, he had Fang Han and a few other martial brothers with superb martial arts skills, so it would be a waste not to use them. This wasn¡¯t the eighth martial competition. Since he could call for help to get rid of a big problem, he naturally wouldn¡¯t be stingy. ¡°Junior Brother, you¡¯re really smart. You have Master¡¯s charm back in the day.¡± Fang Han couldn¡¯t help but praise. If he had heard that his enemies were doing this, he would have thought of strengthening the defense of the Luo manor. As for his junior brother¡­ Instead, he wanted to eliminate the hidden danger from the source directly. ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re too kind. Master must be more farsighted than I am.¡± Qin Huai hesitated for a moment. ¡°I wonder if Senior Brother Qi and Senior Brother Rong are around?¡± He didn¡¯t know the two of them well, so he might need Fang Han to ask for their help. ¡°Unfortunately, Eldest Senior Brother and Yangbing left the city. The previous batch of goods from the city lord¡¯s mansion was heavy, and Master was afraid that something would happen, so he asked the two of them to deliver it to the military camp outside the city.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the city lord¡¯s mansion has been playing dead for so many years. It¡¯s about time for some commotion.¡± Fang Han sighed, feeling that things were getting more and more out of hand. ¡°What a pity. I remember Master didn¡¯t go out, right?¡± Qin Huai suddenly thought of this great god. ¡°Master is still here, but I¡¯m afraid he can¡¯t go¡­ As soon as Master leaves, Bai Bashan of the Thunderbolt Dojo will definitely catch a whiff of the fishy smell and follow us.¡± Fang Han shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll go ask.¡± Qin Huai pondered. ¡°Then, Junior Brother, I¡¯ll have to trouble Senior Brother to come with me first. We¡¯ll set off after Sun Ziyao and the others have found out where Gu He is.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡­ Qin Huai and Fang Han quickly climbed up the Chanshan ancestral house. His master, Sun Yuanshan, was humming a Pingnan tune in the medicinal field, taking care of his herbs. ¡°Master¡­¡± Qin Huai explained his intention. ¡°No, this brat Bai Bashan is overbearing but smart. If I make a move, he¡¯ll definitely follow. Think about the masters of our eight big martial arts centers. How many pairs of eyes are watching them? If I go, I¡¯m afraid Gu He will hear the wind and run away the moment I step out.¡± Sun Yuanshan was both regretful and pleased. ¡°But your idea is good. It¡¯s more flexible and quick-witted, just like me when I was young.¡± ¡°Then, Master, can I borrow some medicine from the field?¡± Qin Huai looked at Sun Yuanshan. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem.¡± Sun Yuanshan paused. ¡°You¡¯ve been thinking about my medicinal field since the beginning, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a spur-of-the-moment idea.¡± Qin Huai was determined. Sun Yuanshan only smiled and shook his head. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and walked to the medicinal field with Qin Huai. ¡°If you want to defeat third refinement martial artists, ordinary poison is not effective.. Rough method of mixing won¡¯t work either. Although some poisons have the same ingredients, there¡¯s a slight deviation in the amount. Even if it¡¯s just one point, the difference is like heaven and earth¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan lectured. ¡°The modified bone-softening powder I gave you last time can still be used. Five maces of white bone root, three maces of long-haired scallion leaves, one pound of pig¡¯s ear grass, six maces of mute flower¡­ Lastly, I¡¯ll just add a qian of three-heart grass.¡± Sun Yuanshan opened his mouth. He had already memorized these things by heart. ¡°Master, I have an immature suggestion,¡± Qin Huai piped up. Sun Yuanshan raised his head and looked at Qin Huai with the herbs in his hand. ¡°Your modified bone-softening powder has an additional pound of three-heart grass, so the toxicity has changed from cartilage and brittle bones. I think there¡¯s another approach to this. We can add more three-heart grass, remove the white bone root, and use the three-heart grass as the main body. After that, the toxicity will change from fragile bones to fragile hearts. ¡°When the enemy¡¯s vitality is pushed to its peak, their fragile hearts will stop for a moment to save their lives. Their vitality will also temporarily decline, and they will not be able to exert their full strength. If he tries to force his qi and blood to its peak, his heart will definitely explode, and he will die,¡± Qin Huai spoke frankly. He wasn¡¯t making things up, but high-level medicinal techniques were being arranged in his mind. From the time he killed Hong San, he had been deducing the feasibility of various poisons. ¡°You brat.. Alright, let¡¯s try that.¡± Sun Yuanshan was also very excited. He ran out of the field and caught a palm-sized rat not long after. Qin Huai followed the recipe and mixed the medicinal herbs with the medicinal juice. Then, he dried it with fire and crushed it again. Once it was done, he carefully took a little and fed it to the quiet rat in Sun Yuanshan¡¯s hand. As soon as Sun Yuanshan let go, the dead rat instantly bounced up and rushed into the distance. The master and disciple both looked on nervously. Bang! Within five meters, the rat¡¯s speed dropped drastically. After another five meters, the rat trembled and took a few steps before falling to the ground. ¡°Sure enough! It works!¡± Sun Yuanshan and Qin Huai were both excited. They dug up the rat¡¯s body, but they couldn¡¯t find any trace of the heart. ¡°Huai¡¯er, you really bring surprises every day.¡± Cultivation talent, forging skills, and now a medicinal skill¡­ Sun Yuanshan was very fond of this disciple. ¡°Although this poison only changed the amount of each medicinal ingredient, it¡¯s already a completely different kind of poison. Since it affects the heart, let¡¯s call it the heart-softening powder.¡± Sun Yuanshan was very excited. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a few more poisons I¡¯ve kept hidden in the martial world when I was young. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll work on Gu He.¡± The master and disciple pair squatted in the medicinal field, picking one stalk here and one flower there. The former was still talking nonstop, occasionally bursting into exclamations. Fang Han, who was watching from the side, had mixed feelings. This father and son were really stinky¡­ What a kindred spirit. Not long after, Qin Huai stood with a full load. His body was filled with poisonous substances. It was different from the spicy powder that only pursued quantity and wasn¡¯t poisonous. Right now, the poison on his body was carefully selected, and it could take down martial artists. It was the fruit of the wisdom of the master and disciple. Hundred crying powder, heart-softening powder, intestine-breaking bloating powder, five viscera qi-rising powder¡­ That¡¯s almost enough,¡± Sun Yuanshan muttered. Qin Huai suddenly had an epiphany. ¡°Oh! I also want a strong aphrodisiac. This thing is a perfect match for the heart-softening powder.¡± ¡°Right, right, right. How could I have forgotten about this treasure?¡± Sun Yuanshan took out a small bottle. ¡°Uh¡­ I made this for your eldest senior brother. I¡¯ve asked a friend to try it, and it¡¯s not a problem to do it nineteen times a night. It¡¯ll definitely have a miraculous effect if it¡¯s paired with heart-softening powder.¡± Qin Huai was also very satisfied. The master and disciple had concocted combined poisons, and their power complemented each other. Moreover, they were all powder-like poisonous substances, which could be used to drug or find opportunities to attack in battle. Fang Han felt even more embarrassed as he watched from the side. ¡°I think Junior Brother and Master will become a story to tell in Pingnan City in the future.¡± ¡°Master, I still have one more thing to ask. Can the three white dragons use the rising dragon to kill a third refinement martial artist?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°If it¡¯s a surprise attack, it¡¯s completely possible. The power of three rising dragons was definitely enough. It¡¯s hard to say if it¡¯s a direct confrontation since it¡¯s all based on your combat intuition.¡± Sun Yuanshan was very cautious. After all, there were three white dragons in the second refinement, and Qin Huai was the first one. ¡°But with your Senior Brother Fang here, these things probably won¡¯t be of any use. It should be left for the people behind.¡± ¡­ After some time, Qin Huai bade farewell to his master and went to Master Song with Fang Han to get his brand-new armor. This time, in addition to the chain mail, there was also a heart-protecting mirror and waist armor, which could block attacks from both sides of the waist and abdomen. After everything was ready and waiting for another two hours, Qin Huai finally got Gu He¡¯s place of residence. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Senior Brother Fang.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. Behind him were Fang Han, Sun Ziyao, and a group of nineteen people¡ªall martial artists. Chapter 53 - 53 The Moral Conduct of a Person Who Practices Health 53 The Moral Conduct of a Person Who Practices Health-preserving Kung Fu On the outskirts of Pingnan City, Donkey Grass Valley. Smoke rose from the kitchen chimneys of a courtyard that was leaning against a small stream and a small hill, where Gu He and his thirteen subordinates gathered together. ¡°Thank you for thinking so highly of me, brothers, and for supporting me with my revenge! I, Gu He, will not mistreat you.¡± Gu He picked up a jar of wine and exclaimed, ¡°After this, I might die. However, I¡¯ve already discussed this with the dojo master. As long as Qin Huai is killed, everyone will be able to return to work in the dojo. All of my assets will also be distributed to everyone!¡± He wanted to kill Qin Huai to avenge his son, and the dojo master also felt that this kid was a major threat to the Thunderbolt Dojo. Therefore, the two of them hit it off, and that¡¯s why today¡¯s matter happened. Out of his thirteen trusted aides, only one was a second refinement martial artist, three were first refinement, and the rest were apprentices. They were not strong, but they had close relationships with the small martial arts dojos, small gangs, and restaurants in the city. They were purely there to provide him with information. He was more than enough to kill a second refinement martial artist like Qin Huai. ¡°Qin Huai must be hiding in the martial arts club to cultivate. He doesn¡¯t dare to come out. We¡¯ll send people to surround the Luo manor,¡± Gu He remarked, then recounted the plan. ¡°You guys keep an eye on the Changshan Dojo. From tonight on, I¡¯ll kill a person from the Luo manor every half a day after I enter the city! This will force Qin Huai out, and then we¡¯ll kill him on the way. ¡°Remember, the information must be fast and accurate! Don¡¯t give Sun Yuanshan, that old man, any chance to react.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Gu, I¡¯m a little tired. I¡¯ll take a rest first.¡± One of his trusted aides held his forehead, feeling a little groggy. ¡°Me too. I can only do things after I¡¯ve rested and stored up my energy.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have to trouble you all!¡± Gu He was helpless, and his subordinates could not even lift their eyelids. Even he was also a little sleepy. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± Gu He suddenly shouted. ¡°It¡¯s poison!¡± His words made his trusted aides shiver. The next second, Qin Huai, Fang Han, and the others rushed out of the courtyard. Qin Huai clenched his fists and took the lead, charging straight at Gu He. When the latter saw Qin Huai¡¯s face, killing intent burst forth from his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts!¡± He waved his fists, and a muffled thunder rumbled. Meanwhile, the white dragon in Qin Huai¡¯s body surged, and the three poisonous substances in his hand were suddenly thrown out. The poison borrowed the dragon¡¯s power and was lifted by Qin Huai to Gu He¡¯s face. The green and white powder shot through the air. Gu He accidentally lost his sight, but he held his breath and focused. He stared at Qin Huai with his fiery and bloodshot eyes, his steps not slow but faster. Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he watched Gu He do the exact opposite. As he slowed down, Fang Han took over his position. ¡°Senior Brother Fang, I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Alright, Junior Brother.¡± Fang Han raised his fists, and the four white dragons moved. Muffled sounds rang out at the edge of the poisonous fog. The two of them did not test each other¡¯s strength, and they threw more than ten punches and kicks at each other. Fourth refinement versus third refinement, a higher cultivation against a lower cultivation. The long breath technique¡¯s offensive and defensive abilities were fully displayed. In addition, Gu He had been poisoned by Qin Huai¡¯s three poisons, so he was instantly at a disadvantage. Fang Han was surrounded by an ¡®air wall¡¯ formed by the four white dragons, and he could easily switch between attack and defense. He seized the opportunity to get close to Gu He and hugged him. The huge muscles on his body showed their divine might at this moment. With a surge of qi and blood, these muscles that were filled with blood instantly swelled up by two times, making Gu He¡¯s breathing difficult. After that, he leaned back and smashed him! A hug throw! Gu He¡¯s head hit the ground again. Pfft! Gu He immediately spurted out a mouthful of blood. The heavy blow and Qin Huai¡¯s heart-softening powder caused him to be severely injured in an instant. He rolled a few times on the ground in a sorry state, but he couldn¡¯t stand up. He shouted toward the distance, ¡°Senior Brother Qin, save me! The next second, from the nearby forest, Old Qin the Sixth was running over. The ground beneath his feet was filled with holes, and there were faint electric arcs on his body. Fang Han didn¡¯t dare to be careless, so he let Gu He go and turned around to collide with Old Qin. The two fourth refinement martial artists exchanged several moves in a row, but it was only a blink of an eye. ¡°Old Qin, this Gu He is no longer a member of your Thunderbolt Dojo, right?¡± Fang Han frowned. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m not saving him. I just happened to be strolling here and happened to meet you, who I consider a nuisance.¡± Sixth Brother Qin naturally wouldn¡¯t admit to it. ¡°With a fourth refinement martial artist like Old Qin here, I¡¯m afraid Gu He won¡¯t die today.¡± Fang Han retreated to Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°Then let¡¯s retreat first. Anyway, Gu He¡¯s injured quite badly. He shouldn¡¯t be able to cause any trouble in the next two days.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the experience balls all over the ground. The next moment, the experience balls flew over and merged into his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +55!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +187!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +353!¡± ¡­ Inside the house. ¡°Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Qin.¡± With a pale face, Gu He cupped his fists at Old Qin. He didn¡¯t expect Qin Huai to hear the news of him leaving the dojo. He didn¡¯t want to hide in the dojo and didn¡¯t come out. Instead, he invited a few senior brothers to come and kill him. ¡°The head was afraid that Sun Yuanshan would play dirty tricks, so he asked me to follow him. Now it seems the head knows the character of the Changshan Dojo better.¡± Sixth Brother Qin also sighed with emotion. Why did this person who practiced health maintenance skills have so many tricks up his sleeve? Back then, he had been tricked by Sun Yuanshan into entering the immortal fragrance tower for seven days and seven nights. Since then, he had been rumored to be the sixth-ranked ¡®golden spear¡¯ in Pingnan and had been ridiculed by people as the Sixth Brother Qin. ¡°This kid is vicious. We have to get rid of him!¡± Gu He was filled with hatred. He was injured before he even finished his apprenticeship. ¡°You should recuperate for the next two days. It¡¯s just in time for the city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s big move. You can take advantage of the distraction of the Changshan Dojo¡¯s people to make your move,¡± Sixth Brother Qin said in a low voice. ¡°Is there any big movement in the city lord¡¯s mansion?¡± ¡°I heard that two days ago, the head was called to the city lord¡¯s mansion for a meeting.¡± Gu He¡¯s curiosity was also piqued. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the dojo for so many years, but the city lord¡¯s mansion has never summoned the masters of the eight major martial arts centers. ¡°They said that they found traces of the Sacred Heart sect in the west and wanted to use this opportunity to win over the hearts of the people and give us a warning¡­¡± Old Qin narrowed his eyes. ¡°Perhaps that city lord still has some unrealistic ambitions.¡± ¡°The position of Zhulu County¡¯s governor?¡± Gu He said carefully. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡± Sixth Brother Qin shook his head. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ll be recuperating here for two days. Fang Han and the others have been defeated by me this time, so they won¡¯t cause you any trouble in the short term. But you¡¯d better change your place tonight or tomorrow morning.¡± After saying that, Sixth Brother Qin left in a hurry. Separated by a wall, Qin Huai squatted at the foot of the wall and listened to their conversation. Gu He had been poisoned and was injured by Fang Han, so it was impossible for Qin Huai to let go of such a great opportunity, lest a long night brings more trouble. As a result, he turned back halfway and used breath control to make a big circle to avoid everyone¡¯s line of sight before returning to the back of the courtyard. Then, he squatted in an inconspicuous corner and waited for the night to fall. Chapter 54 - 54 Fusion Skill? The Might of the Heart 54 Fusion Skill? The Might of the Heart-softening Powder Dark clouds hung in the sky, covering the moon. Crows cawed in the dark sky, and the cold eyes of wild wolves glimmered in the night. In the deep forest, comfortable snores rhythmically sounded. Qin Huai woke up from his nap and stretched out his hand to check the wind direction. Then, he placed the various medicinal powders on his body at the specific air vents and waited for them to drift into the doors and windows. Another half an hour passed, and only then did Qin Huai slowly stand up. He quietly walked to Gu He¡¯s room. The room was not big, and Gu He¡¯s bed was right next to the window. ¡®What a great opportunity!¡¯ Qin Huai activated the breath control technique, and the white dragon in his body instantly soared and condensed in his palm. Through the window, Qin Huai aimed at Gu He, who was lying on the bed a meter away. Bang! Bang! He pounced, smashed the window, and rushed into the house. He used the forbidden technique, rising dragon! The moment the white dot of light was pushed out by Qin Huai, it exploded in the room. Gu He¡¯s eyes widened when he opened them. He slapped his hands and jumped up from the bed, but it was too late. He only saw a white light flash in front of him, and the terrifying air wave instantly drowned him. Bang! Bang! The entire room trembled. Wood splinters flew everywhere, and a hole had been blasted open in the mud wall by Qin Huai¡¯s attack. Gu He stood up in a sorry state in the dust. His whole body felt like it was being roasted, and blood was dripping from it. Not to mention his clothes, even the skin and flesh on his chest could not be seen clearly. Blood flowed down his body and onto the floor. His hands were also trembling. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Show yourself!¡± He looked around, searching for the figure in the dark. Hu. A gust of air blew in his face, and a hand was magnified in front of his eyes through the dust and smoke. Gu He saw the face clearly. It was Qin Huai! His eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Just as he raised his hand, another burst of air pressure gushed out in front of him, accompanied by an electric arc. The shocking power instantly sent Gu He flying. His arms were trying to protect his head, but the explosion also exposed his white bones. He rolled in the air, spiraling while splattering blood on the ground of the courtyard. Qin Huai used another forbidden technique, but it was a little different from the last time. His palm was slightly numb. He instantly sensed that it was the white dragon cloaked in lightning that he had struck out. The slight numbing effect came from this. A lightning dragon? A fusion skill? Qin Huai didn¡¯t have time to think about it. The lights around them lit up one by one, and the others rushed out of the courtyard with their lights on and their clothes in disarray. They saw Gu He lying on the ground in a bloody mess. At this moment, only Gu He¡¯s head was still clean. Below the head, his body was covered in blood and exposed flesh. The bones of his arms were exposed, and his lower body was not much better. Blood gathered under Gu He like a stream and slowly flowed down to the lower ground. ¡°It¡¯s Qin Huai! Kill him!¡± Gu He screamed and actually forced himself to stand up from the ground. Roaring, he activated all the qi and blood in his body, and his heart suddenly beat faster like a water pump. The skin on his entire body also turned ruddy, and his blood qi instantly reached its peak! He staggered. The veins on his forehead bulged, as if he was gathering all his strength to break through some kind of obstacle. He gritted his teeth and charged at Qin Huai again. After that¡­ Gu He groaned and fell to the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Dark Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +853!¡± The rest of the people were at a loss. They didn¡¯t even know what had happened, and their boss had already died? They were dumbfounded, but Qin Huai didn¡¯t accompany them in the stalemate. He exerted strength in his legs and charged toward the crowd. The first to bear the brunt was the remaining second refinement martial artist. His eyes were cold and sharp. When he saw Qin Huai rushing over, he waved his hands, and several flying daggers suddenly flew out from his sleeves. In the moonless night, these cold blades were like the Grim Reaper¡¯s scythe to ordinary martial artists. But this did not include Qin Huai. A green light flashed in his eyes. His spirit eye technique allowed him to clearly see the several flying daggers that were aimed at his vital points. He stepped on the ground with the tip of his foot and twisted all the flying daggers away with a few light movements. ¡°Ha!¡± the second-refinement martial artist shouted in anger. With a shake of his hands, another ten daggers appeared in his hands. After that¡­ His legs went soft, and his eyes became empty for a moment. Qin Huai picked up a dagger on the ground with a kick, pinched it with two fingers, and threw it out with a spin. It instantly pierced through the second refinement martial artist¡¯s forehead. Only the hilt of the knife was exposed. The second refinement martial artist¡¯s stiff body kept his arms crossed and fell forward with ten flying daggers in his hands. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Blue) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +366!¡± After Qin Huai collected the experience points, he turned around and rushed toward the others without any hesitation. The two first-refinement martial artists who were poisoned and the other apprentices had no chance of resisting Qin Huai. There were even many people who had died before Qin Huai had even arrived. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +179!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +199!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +89!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +77!¡± ¡­ After dealing with Gu He and his team, Qin Huai¡¯s thunder skill had also reached level 15, 1748/2000. He deftly searched everyone¡¯s body for silver. Gu He had quite a lot on him, more than six hundred taels of silver in banknotes, but they were all blown up by Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique, leaving only a few corners that could not be exchanged. Qin Huai found more than three hundred taels of silver on the remaining people, as well as some loose silver. ¡°The heart-softening powder is indeed useful.¡± Qin Huai picked up a small knife from the ground and cut open Gu He¡¯s chest. There was an inch-long crack in his heart. It wasn¡¯t big, but it was enough to kill a fragile and fatal organ like the heart. He then cut open the second refinement martial artist¡¯s chest, and more hearts were shattered. It was his first time doing this. After Qin Huai had dug it open, he could only find fragments of his heart. Clearly, his entire heart had exploded. Finally, it was the apprentices¡¯ turn. After Qin Huai dug them open and rummaged through them, he found some tiny particles. The effect of this heart-softening powder was similar to that of the rat used in the experiment¡­ It was obvious the effect of the heart-softening powder would gradually decrease as the strength of the poisoned person increased. ¡°Although this heart-softening powder focuses on the heart and qi and blood, causing the poisoned person to die when the qi and blood are at their peak¡­ For people with sufficient vitality, they can still use their vitality to suppress the spread and entry of the poison powder. ¡°The heart-softening powder is definitely fatal to third refinement martial artists at this stage. However, if it¡¯s a fourth refinement, they might only be able to suppress the poison with a portion of their qi and blood. ¡°As expected, the battle between martial artists ultimately still boils down to vitality. Or rather, a battle of cultivation levels. ¡°But this is definitely not the limit of the heart-softening powder, and it¡¯s not even my limit. There¡¯s still room for improvement¡­¡± Qin Huai silently concluded. He had also killed two white dragons in this battle. He originally wanted to control the light spots to form a straight line and try to compress them into ¡®light rays¡¯ to increase their penetrating power. However, the moment he broke out of his body, Qin Huai realized that he could no longer control the ¡®light spot¡¯ that the white dragon had transformed into after leaving his body. He could only let it explode. ¡°No wonder Master still used the explosion method even though he has been researching the rising dragon for decades.¡± Qin Huai felt that with his master¡¯s ¡®flexibility¡¯ and ¡®carefulness,¡¯ he would have done it long ago if he could. ¡°But I still have a chance¡­¡± Qin Huai thought of his lightning dragon. He didn¡¯t do it on purpose. It was obvious that the two cultivation techniques and their characteristics had mutated in his body. Moreover, the rising dragon that was shot out by the white dragon with the lightning cape was clearly different from the ordinary white dragon. ¡°Perhaps when my two cultivation techniques become more profound, the power and effect will welcome a transformation. ¡°Others will be worried that their qi and blood will be mottled when they practice too many cultivation methods, causing their cultivation speed to slow down. Even if they discovered this phenomenon, they would not be able to plow deeply. ¡°A lower realm with many tricks, compared to a higher realm¡­ Even a fool would know what to choose if he could. But I don¡¯t have this kind of trouble. I can have it all. ¡°In the future, if I can cultivate five, six, or even eight to ten cultivation techniques at the same time, they¡¯ll affect each other, and my battle prowess and ability will definitely reach an unprecedented level.¡± These were just Qin Huai¡¯s wild thoughts. The details would need to be studied and explored in the future. Qin Huai wandered around the house again, but he didn¡¯t find any other valuable items or clues. After gathering the corpses together, he laid some dry grass on the ground and set them on fire. Then, he turned around and left. Chapter 55 - 55 The Four 55 The Four-directional Tiger-Wolf technique, One-day White Dragon Qin Huai was halfway there when he saw Qi Yangbing, who was running toward him. ¡°Junior Brother, are you alright?¡± Qi Yangbing grabbed both of Qin Huai¡¯s arms, his face overflowing with joy. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The matter has been resolved.¡± Qin Huai immediately understood Qi Yangbing¡¯s intention. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Senior Brother Fang? You said you wanted to try, and he really dared to let you try.¡± Qi Yangbing sighed. ¡°What if something happens? How am I going to explain it to Master?¡± He added, ¡°Senior Brother¡¯s brain is still not active enough. I didn¡¯t know that I had also made a detour and met you at a further place. If something happens, we can provide timely reinforcements to ensure that nothing goes wrong.¡± ¡°Or simply return to the scene¡­ I didn¡¯t expect him to really go back.¡± Qi Yangbing grumbled a little, then walked side by side with Qin Huai in the direction of the Changshan Dojo. ¡°However, this time, Old Qin the Sixth openly helped Gu He to deal with you and broke the rules of the eight big martial arts centers. Master will definitely help you cut some meat.¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo has been the head of the eight big martial arts centers for a long time. They have become more and more unscrupulous¡­¡± ¡°Senior Brother, I heard from Senior Brother Fang yesterday that you and Eldest Senior Brother went to deliver armor to the army?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Yes, the city lord¡¯s mansion has been stocking up on food and armor since a few months ago. It¡¯s obvious that they¡¯ve sensed danger. ¡°The city lord wasn¡¯t surprised when Master told me about the Sacred Heart sect you mentioned earlier. Perhaps these soldiers, armor, and provisions are prepared for the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Qi Yangbing was helpless. The world was difficult, and today seemed to be more difficult than yesterday. There was no end in sight. ¡°When you go to the barracks to deliver the armor, can you watch the soldiers practice martial arts?¡± ¡°Of course. Our cultivation method requires the heart sutra and a unique martial posture, which is the movement of the cultivation. Just by looking at it, I can indeed see a little bit of it, but that¡¯s all.¡± Qi Yangbing knew that this junior brother of his was exceptionally diligent. He liked to watch others practice and summarize their progress. ¡°The first time I went with Master, I also strolled around. It was a great eye-opener.¡± Qi Yangbing reminisced. However, one couldn¡¯t learn a cultivation technique by just looking at it. ¡°If you want to observe, I¡¯ll bring you along the next time I deliver goods.¡± Qi Yangbing smiled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll thank you in advance, Senior Brother!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists solemnly. ¡°I wonder what kind of cultivation technique the city lord¡¯s army is practicing?¡± ¡°The army of the city lord¡¯s mansion cultivates the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, which is considered one of the few cultivation techniques commonly used by the Great You dynasty¡¯s army. ¡°Most of the troops in the towns and cities under our county are using the four-directional tiger-wolf technique.¡± Qi Yangbing paused for a moment. ¡°The four-directional tiger-Wolf technique is a technique that risks one¡¯s life. It¡¯s easy to learn and doesn¡¯t need to be cultivated to the first level to unleash its power. When activated, it can make one¡¯s qi and blood boil for a short period of time and obtain the power of a tiger and wolf. But the disadvantage is also obvious. It will shorten your life¡­¡± Qin Huai listened to Qi Yangbing¡¯s explanation and silently memorized it. He had a clear goal. He would not let go of this four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The city lord¡¯s mansion had 2,000 armored soldiers, which was the most suitable for collecting experience points. If it weren¡¯t for the strict military rules, they would have no choice but to follow the orders. Qin Huai wanted to be a soldier for months or even years. However, once he joined the army, he had no choice. That was also the officialdom, where there were schemes and intrigues everywhere. If he were not careful, he would be beheaded. It was the kind of thing that was useless, even if he had strength. Moreover, if some evil officials wanted to deal with him and ordered him to attack the land of demons, would he go to die? If he didn¡¯t go, would he become a deserter? Even if he escaped, he would still be wanted by the entire Great You, and he would die. The risk was too great¡­but it would be great to collect experience points while delivering goods. ¡°All good things are accompanied by evil. I¡¯m not suitable for it.¡± Qin Huai sighed in his heart. As for Qi Yangbing¡¯s claim that the four-directional tiger wolf spell would shorten one¡¯s life¡­ Wasn¡¯t the breath control technique a cultivation technique that could extend one¡¯s lifespan? Adding the two together, it was equivalent to negating the side effects of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. There was probably no need to worry. The two of them returned to the dojo. Qi Yangbing remembered something before they parted ways. ¡°There¡¯s a gathering of the young talents of the eighth martial roll in two days. It¡¯s similar to Sun Ziyao¡¯s tea party. Now that you¡¯ve killed Gu He, Junior Brother, you¡¯re considered to have the strength of the third refinement. You¡¯re qualified to enter. ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll take you to see the most outstanding proud sons in Pingnan City and see if you can form a few good relationships, which will be beneficial for the future.¡± ¡°Then Junior Brother will respectfully accept.¡± Qin Huai expressed his thanks. He also wanted to see what realm and strength the geniuses in this city were at. After all, he was indeed coveting the top spot of the eight martial roll. The qi and blood treasure medicine that could increase his strength was secondary. The key was the recommendation letter from the city¡¯s martial arts centers. A storm was brewing in Pingnan City. The city lord¡¯s mansion was extremely tense with the gathering of countless refugees and the appearance of the Sacred Heart sect. If he could get the recommendation letter, if something really happened in Pingnan City, he could also take Luo Ya and the other two to Zhang county, leaving himself a way out. ¡­ Early the next morning, Qin Huai went to the drill ground to collect experience balls as usual. As he collected experience points, he also paid attention to his body. Because he had lost two white dragons in the battle with Gu He, only one white dragon remained in his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Technique Essence (White) ], [Breath Control Technique] Experience +32!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Technique Essence (White) ], [Breath Control Technique] Experience +54!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Control Technique Essence (Green) ], [Breath Control Technique] Experience +100!¡± From the moment the first experience ball entered Qin Huai¡¯s body, a familiar wisp of white qi quietly appeared in his dantian. After that, as each new experience ball merged with his body, the ¡®white gas¡¯ in Qin Huai¡¯s body grew stronger. From a thread to a wisp, from one to a dragon¡­ By the time Qin Huai had finished collecting the drill ground¡¯s experience, the white Dragon was already vivid and lifelike, flying majestically in Qin Huai¡¯s dantian. However, it was still smaller than the complete white dragon. ¡°I thought it would take two or three days to recover a white dragon, but it seems like I underestimated my cultivation speed.¡± Qin Huai was in a good mood. After all, there was still a large experience ball that he had not collected in the Changshan ancestral house. Sure enough, after Qin Huai ascended the mountain and cultivated with Sun Yuanshan for one round, he was finally done. The newly born white dragon in his body had already completed its transformation. ¡°At the rate of one white dragon being born a day, I don¡¯t have to worry about the consumption of energy for the rising dragon. I can use it as a normal attack and use it boldly,¡± Qin Huai thought to himself. After all, he only needed three days to recuperate, and he would be able to recuperate three white dragons. This was about the same time as the time he needed to recuperate after a normal battle. There was no need to be frugal. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +53!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +27!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +46!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (White) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +44!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +114!¡± ¡­ Three days passed by in a flash. Qin Huai had been rather carefree these few days. Other than picking up experience as usual, he also attended more and more tea parties. He could already remember most of the names of the apprentices in the dojo. His image in everyone¡¯s hearts was getting better and better, and the experience points he collected from everyone had also increased a little. Of course, there were some exceptions, such as Li Bowu. The 19th on the eight martial roll felt that he had stolen his ¡®fifth personal disciple¡¯ position. His experience points were unmoved. It did not increase even after Qin Huai had taken the initiative to be friendly twice. Qin Huai didn¡¯t let it go, so he never bothered with Li Bowu again. Back inside the house, Qin Huai was sitting cross-legged on the bed. He closed his eyes slightly and sensed his body. The fourth white dragon was formed¡­ Chapter 56 - 56 All 56 All-round Improvement, Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Array Qin Huai sensed his own body. The three white dragons surrounded the fourth white dragon as it grew. The White Dragon that could be seen with the naked eye grew five claws from its four claws, and the scales on its body also became lively and mighty. In the blink of an eye, the dragon¡¯s body was no different from the other three white dragons. Four white dragons soared into the sky and connected their heads and tails at the dantian, forming a white dragon ring that kept on spinning. The rapid rotation brought about waves of ¡®wind,¡¯ and Qin Huai clearly felt his body become much lighter¡­ No, no¡­ To be precise, it was his organs that had become much lighter. ¡°This is probably the increase in lifespan brought about by the advancement of the long breath technique?¡± Qin Huai wasn¡¯t sure. He exhaled and felt that his breath had become much clearer. He pushed his palm forward, and the four white dragons instantly expanded outward. An invisible wall of air instantly appeared on the surface of Qin Huai¡¯s body. Qin Huai clenched his fist and suddenly swung it forward. Hu! The strong wind whistled, and it was much faster than before. ¡°The four white dragons can be connected from head to tail, forming a white dragon ring that can make the ¡®qi¡¯ flow faster, and the attack and defense switch and impact force will also be stronger. ¡°In comparison, the three white dragons¡¯ qi cultivation technique really isn¡¯t born for attacking¡­ Only the four white dragons can be considered a transformation. It¡¯s a pity that there¡¯s only one white dragon with lightning¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. That was because his entire body was suddenly burning red, as if a basin of boiling water had been poured into his body. Qin Huai¡¯s clothes were instantly drenched in sweat. He didn¡¯t dare to dally and quickly sat cross-legged on the ground. This was the third transformation of his blood essence. Fortunately, the pain only lasted for a moment before it disappeared without a trace. Qin Huai¡¯s sweat dripped down slightly, and with a thought, he pulled up his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Vitality]: 37.691 [Cultivation Methods]: [Eternal Qi technique (level 30, 24/4000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 18, 1803/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (advanced, 64/1600)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 4/4] [Stage: Level 3 Blood Refinement] ¡°It seems like I was right. Every time I break through, my vitality will increase by ten points.¡± Qin Huai looked at his soaring qi and blood and sighed in his heart. If these 10 points of vitality were exchanged for vitality soup, vitality pills, or demon meat, he would have to eat a lot of them and spend a lot of silver. Qin Huai walked out of the house and found the tall strength training stone in the middle of the courtyard. It was a stone with a special texture and high tenacity that won¡¯t break easily, which was sandwiched in steel to improve the toughness of the cutting tool. The strength training stone was as tall as three people, and it was so huge that it looked like a fake mountain in the center. It was full of fist marks of different depths, with the deepest one being two inches made by Qin Huai during the second refinement. Qin Huai took a deep breath and tightened his muscles. He then threw a punch. Three inches! Qin Huai vaguely remembered what Fang Han had said. There were two wolves and three bulls for the strength-training stone. Two inches was enough to kill a wolf with one punch, and three inches was enough to kill a bull. And this was pure physical strength. ¡°I¡¯ve improved in all aspects over the past few days.¡± Qin Huai looked at the three-inch-deep fist pit and felt satisfied. Not only had his strength and cultivation technique advanced, but his forging technique had also successfully reached the advanced level. It was the same level as Song Yinhe, the number one master blacksmith of the Changshan Dojo. His armor could already be repaired independently. ¡°The only bad thing is that I¡¯m still a few days away from the thunder skill.¡± Qin Huai then lifted the 300-pound stone beside him. He could lift it with one hand, and it was not difficult. Later, he strode to the kitchen. He was holding a porcelain bowl that was as deep as his palm and twice the size of his face. White rice, pickled radishes, and a lot of stewed chicken with potatoes were placed inside. However, there was obviously less chicken today than yesterday. ¡°I¡¯m stronger, but the quality of my food has obviously dropped recently.¡± Qin Huai was unmoved. They probably knew that the disaster Luo Huatian mentioned was also quietly affecting the eight big martial arts centers. ¡°When a person is extremely hungry, they can do anything¡­¡± Qin Huai was worried, and the carefreeness of his big mouthfuls of food inevitably added a bit of solemnity. As he was eating, Qin Huai saw Qi Yangbing barging into the kitchen and coming straight for him. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, follow me to the ancestral house.¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s expression was serious. Qin Huai knew that something big was going to happen, so he didn¡¯t dare to delay. He quickly finished all the food in the bowl, wiped his mouth, and followed Qi Yangbing. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Qin Huai walked quickly. ¡°Master went to the city lord¡¯s mansion again this morning. When he came back, he asked Eldest Senior Brother and us to go up the mountain. It should be related to the city lord¡¯s mansion¡­¡± Qi Yangbing analyzed. As soon as they arrived at the ancestral house, they saw their master, Sun Yuanshan, Senior Brother Rong Li, and Fang Han already in place. Rong Li and Fang Han were both tall and muscular. They stood on the left and right of Sun Yuanshan, who was in a white robe and had a graceful bearing. They were like guardians, making him look even more celestial. ¡°Master! Senior Brother!¡± The two of them cupped their fists at the three of them. ¡°You¡¯re in the third refinement now?¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Ah?¡± Rong Li, Qi Yangbing, and the other two were shocked and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°As expected, I can¡¯t hide from Master¡¯s eyes. I was lucky enough to cultivate my fourth white dragon today.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t deny that his master was indeed his master. He could see through his realm with a single glance. But now that he had established his genius image, Sun Yuanshan and the others were only a little shocked by his breakthrough, but they were also very pleased. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice it on the way here. Junior Brother Qin has already completed the third refinement.¡± Qi Yangbing smiled and shook his head. ¡°I originally thought that Little Qi would be the most talented person in our Changshan Dojo after Master. I didn¡¯t expect that he would surpass Master in such a short time.¡± The bald Rong Li touched his head and laughed. ¡°Master¡¯s is a well-prepared method. He is not walking the same path as Junior Brother Qin.¡± Fang Han did not dare to make fun of his master like his eldest brother, so he quickly helped his master. Sun Yuanshan was also pleased. He rolled his eyes and stood up. ¡°Huai¡¯er is now almost as handsome as I was in the past. Especially with your looks, next year when the dojo is recruiting, the job of running to all the families to stop people will be yours.¡± Sun Yuanshan suddenly entrusted him with an important task. ¡°There are too few female disciples in our dojo~¡± Rong Li and the other two immediately nodded in agreement. The atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed after the jokes. ¡°I just came back from the city lord¡¯s mansion.¡± Sun Yuanshan returned to the main topic. Qin Huai and the other three couldn¡¯t help but hold their breaths as they looked at their master. ¡°Traces of demons have appeared five hundred miles away. The city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s information has caused many places in Jiang county to be in chaos. ¡°The county governor estimated that the demon disaster is fast approaching¡­ And the city lord suggested that all the disciples of the eight martial arts centers should cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique! ¡°Ah?¡± Fang Han was stunned. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Qi Yangbing frowned. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about whether we¡¯re willing or not. He¡¯s secretly passing on the laws of the imperial court to us. This is going to cost us our heads,¡± Rong Li said in a low voice. Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything and waited for the rest. ¡°The city lord has given us the written approval. In extraordinary times, extraordinary methods can be used. I heard that other cities have already used this method.¡± Sun Yuanshan sighed. ¡°There¡¯s a wonderful thing about cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. You can form a four-directional tiger-wolf array. ¡°The more people there are, the more powerful it is. It¡¯s the best choice to deal with those demons¡­¡± Chapter 57 - 57 The Magical Effects of the Flesh and Blood of the Demon Beast? 57 The Magical Effects of the Flesh and Blood of the Demon Beast? ¡°It¡¯s our duty as martial artists to fight against the demons. However, I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s a little inappropriate to force us to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique,¡± Rong Li said in a low voice. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say that the qi and blood spots caused by cultivating multiple techniques will directly affect the future achievements of martial arts. Every time a martial artist chooses to cultivate multiple techniques, he has to be very careful. ¡°I think the city lord¡¯s decision this time is rather rash.¡± Rong Li¡¯s words were firm. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the city lord¡¯s mansion directly recruit those refugees to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique? We¡¯ve solved the problem of stability and the number of people in the battle formation. Isn¡¯t this killing two birds with one stone?¡± Fang Han was puzzled. Were the people in the city lord¡¯s mansion all idiots? ¡°If we force the eight martial arts centers into a corner, Pingnan City might be gone before the demons arrive.¡± Fang Han added. ¡°Senior Brother, have you ever thought about how much food it would cost to take in these refugees? How long would it take for these refugees to have the aptitude to reach the realm? And how much time would it take to form a combat force?¡± Qi Yangbing smiled and guided him. ¡°So the city lord¡¯s mansion asked us to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique at the same time? We don¡¯t even need to eat or live?!¡± Fang Han suddenly realized that this group of officials really had a good plan. ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s easy to invite a god, but hard to send them away. If they cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and didn¡¯t have enough aptitude, they would only eat all day without improving their realm. In the end, they would have to be driven away.¡± ¡°But will they be willing to leave after eating? What are you going to do if they don¡¯t leave? Should I kill them all¡­¡± Qin Huai followed up and explained according to his Senior Brother, Qi Yangbing. ¡°It really is¡­¡± Fang Han nodded in agreement. ¡°You two brats are starting to teach me! Did I not know? I¡¯m testing you!¡± He suddenly came back to his senses and assumed the posture of a teacher. ¡°Forget about you. Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Sun Yuanshan slapped Fang Han¡¯s head. Fang Han¡¯s head shrank back, and he took two steps back, no longer speaking. ¡°I have the same thoughts as the other heads and Rong Li. However, since the city lord¡¯s mansion has dared to say this, they should be making some moves in the future,¡± Sun Yuanshan said and started to make arrangements. ¡°Go out more often in the next few days and find out what¡¯s going on outside. Don¡¯t miss the big and small dojos. Information is the most important thing at this time¡­¡± ¡°Understood!¡± They all responded in unison. Of course, Qin Huai had an indifferent attitude toward cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. If all the eight major martial arts centers practiced the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, he might be able to obtain experience points wherever he went. Moreover, he wouldn¡¯t have to hide it when he used it. But for his senior brothers, it was clearly unacceptable. ¡°Qin Huai, stay behind to look after the medicinal fields. You guys can go and do your work.¡± Sun Yuanshan waved his hand. ¡°Junior Brother, tomorrow at noon at the Drunken Immortal restaurant,¡± Qi Yangbing whispered into Qin Huai¡¯s ear before he left. ¡°I understand, Senior Brother.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Qi Yangbing was talking about the gathering of the young talents of the eight major martial arts centers. Today, his master had told him that the city lord¡¯s mansion would allow the eight martial arts centers to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. Tomorrow¡¯s gathering would definitely be very exciting. After his senior brothers left, Qin Huai followed Sun Yuanshan to the medicinal field. ¡°I was inspired by your heart-softening powder and developed a new medicine.¡± Sun Yuanshan stroked his beard. ¡°I¡¯ve changed the three-heart grass and the hundred-fold root to the demon bone flower and the rootless flower. When poisoned, the lower body will be extremely itchy. The deeper the poison, the more severe the itchiness will be.¡± As Sun Yuanshan spoke, he took out a poison powder. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Potion Essence (White) ], [Alchemy Skill] Experience +15!¡± After Qin Huai picked up the experience points dropped by his master, the detailed formula of this poison and the amount of ingredients used slowly emerged in his mind. In addition, he learned which year those herbs should be used for the effect to be better. It was as if he had personally experienced all of this. He had spent months cultivating and even testing the poison of each type of medicinal herb. The ¡®memories¡¯ of the past flashed through Qin Huai¡¯s mind like a slideshow. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± While Qin Huai was ¡®studying,¡¯ Sun Yuanshan went to catch a big rat. He kept a nest of mice in the small rockery he built to experiment on poisonous substances. The struggling rat looked at Sun Yuanshan in horror as he forced the poison into its mouth. Then, Sun Yuanshan put it down. He watched as the rat jumped around madly on the ground, suddenly bending over and folding. Its claws kept scratching its lower body, legs, lower abdomen, and some private parts¡­ It didn¡¯t take long for it to become a bloody mess. ¡°The three-heart grass is too rare, so it¡¯s not easy to make heart-softening powder in bulk. If I change it to the demon bone flower and rootless flower, the amount I can make will be greatly increased. ¡°Although this new poison doesn¡¯t have much destructive power, it¡¯s definitely effective in actual combat. Divide your mind and mess up your steps¡­ One step away, and he would have fallen into hell!¡± Sun Yuanshan was quite proud. ¡°Master is very knowledgeable.¡± Qin Huai is impressed. He felt from the bottom of his heart that this poison was definitely sinister. ¡°Does this poison have a name?¡± ¡°I call it hell dance.¡± Sun Yuanshan squinted his eyes. ¡°Hell dance¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered. He had to admit that his master¡¯s ability to come up with names was probably unparalleled in Pingnan City. There was the forbidden rising dragon and the sinister hell dance. Each one sounded more domineering than the last. ¡°I¡¯m going to teach you one more thing today.¡± Sun Yuanshan rolled up his sleeves and brought another wooden bucket. ¡°Fertilizing?¡± Qin Huai moved closer to take a look. It was actually bright red inside, and there were even some fragments. The familiar smell of blood hit him. ¡°Demon flesh and demon blood?¡± Qin Huai blurted out, ¡°Do you use these as fertilizer?¡± Qin Huai watched as Sun Yuanshan picked up a wooden spoon and scattered the demon flesh and blood into the field. ¡°Demons have abundant qi and blood, much stronger than human warriors. Their flesh and blood are beneficial to us, so it¡¯s naturally the same for these plants. ¡°After watering the demon flesh and blood, the fruits and vegetables will be fuller and bigger. The medicinal effects of the herbs will also be improved, and even the growth cycle will be shortened¡­ ¡°In short, there are many benefits of demon corpses. What we¡¯ve seen should only be the tip of the iceberg, and we still have to continue exploring¡­¡± Although Sun Yuanshan was over eighty years old, his thinking had always been improving. They were constantly searching for new possibilities. When Qin Huai discovered that the corpses of demons had such an effect, he had a little anticipation for their invasion. What kind of experience orbs would he get from killing such magical demons? ¡°Do the demons have cultivation methods?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one knows the demon language.¡± Sun Yuanshan shook his head. ¡°But they have intelligence, although not as good as us. There should be some cultivation methods, right? It could also be something like relying on instinct.¡± Sun Yuanshan didn¡¯t know much about demons. ¡°Qi and blood, demon cultivation methods¡­ Both are possible.¡± Qin Huai guessed in his heart, but he had no conclusion. Demons¡­ If he had the chance, he would definitely try to kill one. Qin Huai eliminated these thoughts and helped his master water the rather extravagant ¡®fertilizer.¡¯ After all, he could only drink vitality soup every day. The herbs in the field would be fed with buckets of demon meat and blood every few days, and they were ¡®eaten¡¯ better than him. After that, Qin Huai picked up a lot of poisonous herbs and concocted a new poison, hell dance, which he kept in his pocket. After all, he was going to attend some gathering of young talents tomorrow, so it was definitely right to bring more poison with him. What if he met some ¡®hospitable¡¯ people, such as the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo? ¡®I¡¯ll just give them a little. I can¡¯t lose the etiquette of the Changshan Dojo after all.¡¯ Chapter 58 - 58 Geniuses Gather and Settle Scores After Autumn 58 Geniuses Gather and Settle Scores After Autumn ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +100!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +26!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +23!¡± On the second day, Qin Huai routinely collected the experience points. As a result, the long breath technique¡¯s experience points dropped from 2,000 to 1,000 per day. ¡°I¡¯ll have to wait for more than a month to break through the fourth refinement.¡± Qin Huai looked at the sky. It was almost noon. Today was the day his Senior Brother Qi Yangbing asked him to meet the young talents of the eight major dojos. Hu~ A gust of cold wind blew. Qin Huai suddenly shivered and immediately circulated his qi and blood to dissolve the chill. ¡°It seems like the heavens of this other world are also blessed with martial arts. I¡¯m afraid more than half of the refugees outside the city won¡¯t be able to survive this winter.¡± Qin Huai rubbed his hands and cursed the weather in his heart. It was still autumn, but the weather was already so cold. When winter came, it would probably be really quiet. He returned to the house and opened the wardrobe. The black robe was embroidered with silver flowers. The design was not that beautiful, but instead carried a sharp edge. There was black thread on the white robe, which was embroidered with rivers and mountains, giving off a slightly immortal aura. There were also green robes and blue robes¡­ They filled up Qin Huai¡¯s cabinet. These were all personally made by his aunt, Yu Xin, and Luo Ya. Just by looking at them, one could tell that the fabric was not cheap. Of course, the significance of these robes was different. He ate the food that Yu Xin and Luo Ya sent him from time to time all day, and Qin Huai had also subtly treated the three of them as family. Qin Huai even heard that there was no longer any vitality soup in the city. A bowl of vitality soup had been raised to a sky-high price of 50 taels a bowl, but there was still demand but no supply. Even with the current prices, these fifty taels were enough to feed an ordinary family of three for a year. But now, he only wanted a bowl of vitality soup¡­ He could only sigh with emotion. The world was truly chaotic, but there were also many rich people. As a result, Qin Huai would send back a bowl or two of vitality soup to Luo Huatian and Yu Xin from time to time. The two of them had never cultivated before. Although a bowl of vitality soup could not extend one¡¯s life, it could strengthen one¡¯s body and soul, making the winter a little better. Qin Huai had chosen a black robe with wool inside, which was quite warm on his body. ¡°The Drunken Immortal restaurant¡­¡± Qin Huai mumbled to himself as he quickly walked out. However, there was a small interlude on the way, and he met Li Bowu in front of the dojo. ¡°What a coincidence, to actually meet Senior Brother Qin here.¡± Li Bowu was surprised to see Qin Huai, but he smiled. ¡°Yup.¡± Qin Huai put on a fake smile. He didn¡¯t have a good impression of this person. ¡°What about some time ago? There¡¯s a misunderstanding between us, and it¡¯s mainly my fault. I was too petty!¡± Li Bowu immediately started to confess, ¡°I cared too much about fame and fortune, and I ignored the most important thing between us. Now that I¡¯ve come to my senses, I hope it¡¯s not too late!¡± Li Bowu¡¯s face was full of emotion and regret, with mixed feelings. ¡°I don¡¯t ask for Senior Brother¡¯s forgiveness. I¡¯ll show you how sincere I am in the future!¡± His voice was powerful and sonorous. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but nod, and the smile on his face seemed to be more sincere. As long as Li Bowu¡¯s experience ball could increase by three points¡­ No, at two o¡¯clock, he would check Li Bowu¡¯s ¡°sudden repentance.¡± After all, Li Bowu was a complete hypocrite. Qin Huai gave it a label in his heart. He even wondered if he should find an opportunity to kill Li Bowu to avoid any more trouble. ¡°Senior Brother, shall we go together?¡± Li Bowu probed. ¡°One Dao!¡± Qin Huai nodded. The two young men, who looked harmonious on the surface but were actually at odds with each other, talked and laughed along the way. They were chatting very happily. When the two of them arrived at the second floor of the Drunken Immortal restaurant, the crowd had already started drinking. He stepped on the bench and drank to his heart¡¯s content. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, Junior Brother Li.¡± Qi Yangbing led the two to a seat. Li Bowu didn¡¯t sit next to Qi Yangbing. Instead, he greeted him and ran to another pile of people to have a good time. And in the middle, a small and thin youth with a buzz cut was talking about this Drunken Immortal restaurant. ¡°The Drunken Immortal restaurant¡¯s name is bold, and its background is not simple either. It¡¯s the property of the city lord¡¯s mansion. Every day, there¡¯s a large amount of silver being sent to the mansion. ¡°Our city lord is also smart. He didn¡¯t admit nor deny it. Countless people want to use the Drunken Immortal restaurant to build a relationship with that person in the city lord¡¯s mansion, so they¡¯re spending a lot of money here as a stepping stone. The Drunken Immortal restaurant had earned a lot of money.¡± ¡°Then if you don¡¯t do anything for a long time, will someone still send you?¡± a young man asked with a smile. ¡°Why not? If you pay this silver, you¡¯ll be paying respects to the mountain. If they don¡¯t work for you, at least they won¡¯t find trouble with you. If you don¡¯t hand it over¡­¡± The petite young man chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s another saying that the city lord¡¯s mansion does things, but the price is not set¡­ How much money you can give to solve all the problems, it all depends on you. ¡°If you give too little, there¡¯s no second chance. Next time, I¡¯ll take enough¡­ Tsk, tsk. I¡¯ve gained some knowledge.¡± The crowd was amazed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say that the city lord is the best at making money?¡± The petite young man looked at everyone¡¯s reaction and was quite proud. The one who spoke is Cai Jiulou, the number one among the younger generation of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo. He¡¯s also ranked seventh on the eight martial roll and is in the fourth refinement realm. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on his short stature, he can split himself with his saber.¡± Qi Yangbing introduced them to Qin Huai. Qin Huai glanced around. All of them had young faces with protruding temples and bright eyes. They were obviously all trained. The second floor of the Drunken Immortal restaurant should have been fully occupied by the young talents who were ranked eighth on the martial roll and close to that. The top ten of the eight martial roll were all in the fourth refinement realm. ¡°The first and the ninth are from the Thunderbolt Dojo. Reihom isn¡¯t here, though. That¡¯s Bai Yusheng, ninth place. He¡¯s also the son of the head of the Thunderbolt Dojo, Bai Bashan.¡± Qi Yangbing was drinking as he introduced the people on the eight martial roll of honor to Qin Huai. Qin Huai followed Qi Yangbing¡¯s gaze and saw a man with phoenix eyes and long hair that reached his waist. He was wearing a blue robe and sitting quietly at a table. There were two young men in the same blue robe beside him. ¡°His two seatmates are the 13th ranked Cao Wang and the 17th ranked Gu Elephant. They are also from the Thunderbolt Dojo. His family has four people,¡± Qi Yangbing continued. The enmity between the two families was difficult to resolve, and it had intensified after the incident with Qin Huai. If they met in the wilderness, it would be hard not to fight to the death. Coincidentally, Bai Yusheng and the other two also looked over. Their eyes met, and sparks flew. Hu¡­ Cao Wang stood up and walked to Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a pretty boy like you to be able to trick a third refinement martial artist like Gu He to death. Don¡¯t tell me that you killed Gu He in bed?¡± Cao Wang¡¯s smile was ferocious as he stared at Qin Huai. ¡°I only killed Gu He after he left the Thunderbolt Dojo. I don¡¯t think I broke the rules, right?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm as he glanced at Cao Wang. Did these fellows not know that Sixth Brother Qin had broken the rules by ambushing him? Who would dare to find trouble with him at this time? Oh. Perhaps it was done by Sixth Brother Qin in private, or Bai Bashan had incited it¡­ This kind of thing really couldn¡¯t be made public. He and Qi Yangbing looked at each other, and the two of them understood tacitly. His master¡¯s big move had not come yet, so he would do it himself. ¡°We are very rule-abiding. Unlike you guys, you¡¯re so arrogant that you don¡¯t even care about the rules of the eight major martial centers.¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s voice suddenly became louder, causing many people to look over. In fact, when Cao Wang stood up, many people had already looked over. ¡°Bullsh*t. We didn¡¯t break the rules of the eight major martial arts centers!¡± Cao Wang cupped his fists from afar. ¡°That Gu He left the dojo, so what happens after that has nothing to do with us.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll find trouble with you and ask for a duel, aren¡¯t you?¡± Cao Wang was ¡®enlightened.¡¯ ¡°Tsk, those who come here are all young talents. They¡¯re either geniuses on the eighth martial roll or have the chance to enter the eighth martial roll¡­ We¡¯re all martial arts lovers, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so afraid¡­¡± He had indeed walked over to stir up trouble. Qin Huai was unmoved by Cao Wang¡¯s provocation. Instead, he continued, ¡°Gu He did retreat, but Sixth Brother Qin didn¡¯t, right? He ambushed me halfway. ¡°According to the rules of the eight major martial centers, the elders will not interfere in the disputes of the younger generation. Whoever meddles should pay the price. Either the person who meddled in it dies, or you have to compensate me with something of equal value. ¡°I didn¡¯t see a single thing ¡­ It can¡¯t be that Sixth Brother Qin is dead, right?¡± Qin Huai said methodically. Hearing this, Cao Wang¡¯s face turned red. ¡°You said that Sixth Brother Qin sneaked an attack on you? Who can testify to that?¡± Cao Wang was stunned. He did not expect such a thing to happen. No one in the dojo mentioned it, and no one in the Changshan Dojo made a fuss. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to prove this. There are two main roads from the Thunderbolt Dojo to Gu He¡¯s residence, and many disciples of the eight major martial arts centers and some soldiers often pass by. If we find some witnesses and check the time, we¡¯ll know,¡± Qi Yangbing said. ¡°What a coincidence. I saw Sixth Brother Qin that day.¡± ¡°I saw him too. I even followed him for a while¡­¡± A few young people spoke up, clearly watching the show and not minding the matter. They were all geniuses from the eight major martial arts centers, so no one was afraid of threats. Moreover, the matter of Old Qin the Sixth really made everyone loathe him. No one wanted this kind of thing to fall on their heads in the future. Therefore, they didn¡¯t show any mercy. The ordinary people who saw this didn¡¯t dare to say anything because they were afraid of the Thunderbolt Dojo¡¯s power. However, the young people from the various dojos didn¡¯t say anything because they were waiting for this moment. ¡°Someone has indeed seen the whereabouts of Sixth Brother Qin, so this matter could be confirmed.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t prove it. That¡¯s Old Qin¡¯s personal behavior. It has nothing to do with the Thunderbolt Dojo¡­ But you guys won¡¯t break the rules, and a first-class martial arts center like my Thunderbolt Dojo will never break the rules. When we return, we will naturally hand over the compensation with both hands!¡± Bai Yusheng, who was not far away, walked over and spoke in a calm voice. He knew that this matter was unreasonable and would be attacked by the masses, so he wanted to settle this matter quickly. ¡°To be honest, the reputation of the Thunderbolt Dojo is gone¡­¡± Qin Huai said indifferently. ¡°If you want to pay up, why don¡¯t you pay up now? Even if it¡¯s a little less, it¡¯s still better than you guys going back on your word.¡± ¡°What did you say you wanted?¡± Bai Yusheng was taken aback. He took a deep breath, but the smile on his face remained. He wanted to test Qin Huai¡¯s strength today. However, he didn¡¯t expect that he would be so close to dying before he could even begin testing. ¡°That depends on how much you think a fourth refinement martial artist is worth,¡± Qin Huai said slowly. Chapter 59 - 59 Nantong Dojo! Another Orange Experience Ball! 59 Nantong Dojo! Another Orange Experience Ball! Under the attention of thousands of people, Bai Yusheng had already cut Qin Huai into pieces countless times in his heart. He hesitated for a while, then gritted his teeth and took out a bright jade pendant that was as blue as a crystal from his waist. He placed it in front of Qin Huai. ¡°This is a gift from the infatuated abbot of the Dongshan temple in Jiang county. It¡¯s a hundred-year-old ice heart jade that can be immersed in Buddha¡¯s music for ten years. It¡¯s at least 30%, and if you meet the right person, it¡¯s not a problem to double.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, all the young people on the second floor couldn¡¯t help but look over at Bai Yusheng. This thing was indeed qualified. ¡°Just barely.¡± Qin Huai was expressionless as he accepted the jade. With his cultivation talent, he didn¡¯t need this item. As soon as the blue jade touched his hand, he felt a cool and refreshing feeling. It was as if his entire person had become ethereal. Was Buddhism in this world that powerful? A piece of jade could release a strange power? Qin Huai was a little bewildered. He couldn¡¯t quite understand the level of martial arts in this world. A piece of hundred-year ice heart jade had completely shut everyone up. Seeing this, Bai Yusheng couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. He quickly walked back to his seat, his killing intent toward Qin Huai growing stronger. ¡®This boy is very similar to the Sun Yuanshan my father described. He¡¯s cunning, evil, and talented. I can¡¯t let him become the second Sun Yuanshan.¡¯ Bai Yusheng clenched the cup tightly, and with a bang, his five fingers caused the cup in his hand to crack. After the small interlude ended, the topic of conversation was once again directed to the city lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°Speaking of which, what do you all think about the city lord¡¯s mansion allowing all of Pingnan martial arts centers to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique?¡± Cai Jiulou¡¯s cheeks were flushed red, and his entire body swayed. Not only was he really drunk, but he was also pretending to be crazy. ¡°Destroying one¡¯s martial arts future is like killing one¡¯s parents. Naturally, I won¡¯t agree to it¡­¡± ¡°As long as the eight martial arts centers are united, what¡¯s there to fear about the city lord¡¯s mansion?¡± The people from the eight major martial arts centers all said a sentence, indicating their stance. ¡°Yesterday, there was a Nantong Dojo in the city. They seemed to have already announced they would advance and retreat together with Pingnan martial arts centers and would never cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique,¡± Bai Yusheng said. ¡°I remember that this Nantong Dojo has a close relationship with Brother Bai¡¯s family, right?¡± Cai Jiulou was fearless after drinking. Bai Yusheng smiled, not saying anything. ¡°The restaurant seems to be shaking?¡± someone suddenly said. ¡°It¡¯s so lively outside.¡± A man walked to the window with a glass of wine and looked out. Suddenly, his expression changed. Dong, Dong, Dong¡­ The sound of heavy footsteps came closer and closer, each stronger than the last, causing the entire second floor to tremble. Everyone immediately fell silent and walked to the window in unison to look outside. Qin Huai also leaned over, and a green light flashed in his eyes. At the end of the street, dust was flying. In the billowing dust, the black-armored soldiers galloped forward like a tide. The sound of hooves was like a drum, and the dust was thick. The horses and soldiers wore black armor and held long spears. It¡¯s the armored army! This name instantly appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. The leader held a long sheepskin scroll in his hand and shouted loudly. ¡°The Nantong Dojo concealed evil and colluded with them. It¡¯s a heinous crime, so the city lord¡¯s mansion has ordered to kill without mercy! All unauthorized personnel, quickly retreat!¡± In the Drunken Immortal restaurant, the young talents were sobering up one by one. The group of thirty to forty people did not go downstairs. Instead, they climbed up to the top of the restaurant and followed the armored soldiers on the roof. ¡°This Nantong Dojo is considered a rather strong martial arts center in Pingnan City. The master is an old senior who has entered the fourth refinement realm ten years ago. They also have twenty martial artists.¡± Qi Yangbing traveled with Qin Huai and introduced him to the strength of the Nantong Dojo. ¡°There are at least five hundred of these black armored cavalry.¡± Qin Huai did some rough mental calculations. Nantong Dojo was located on the east side of the city. However, the armored army entered from the west gate and crossed the entire city. Although he had expected that the city lord¡¯s mansion would kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, he did not expect it to happen so quickly. When Qin Huai and the others arrived, the black armored army had already surrounded the huge Nantong Dojo. The master of the Nantong Dojo and his disciples were all within the courtyard wall. The armored army had come too suddenly, catching them off guard. ¡°Push!¡± The leader of the group slowly walked out. Dozens of strong men walked out from the back with iron hammers in their hands. In a short while, the courtyard walls were all smashed down. With a cloud of dust and smoke, the martial artists of the Nantong Dojo could not avoid it. ¡°Don¡¯t you go too far!¡± a bald-headed man from the Nantng Dojo roared. ¡°I raised that wolf demon in captivity only to cut off its flesh and take its blood. I have no other thoughts! You¡¯re obviously looking for an excuse to kill us!¡± As he spoke, a few disciples dragged out the bloody human-shaped wolf demon¡¯s corpse. Blood was still flowing, and his body was full of potholes. It was clear that what he said was true. ¡°Get into formation! Kill them!¡± The leader of the army waved his spear. The hundreds of black-armored cavalrymen behind him immediately reined in their horses. With a buzz, Qin Huai saw that the bodies of these armored horsemen seemed to have grown stronger. He sniffed the air carefully, and they seemed to be emitting some kind of smell. This must be the four-directional tiger-wolf array. Boom¡­ The next moment, hundreds of cavalrymen raised their spears and charged forward. Even a martial artist would not be able to withstand the charge of hundreds of cavalry. With one stab, only the master of Nantong Dojo and two other people were left out of the hundred or so apprentices. ¡°You guys are going too far!¡± The dojo master¡¯s eyes were about to pop out. ¡°You want to kill me, a fourth refinement martial artist? Even if I die, I¡¯ll make your heart ache!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, eight steeds galloped toward them. The ice-cold long spear was thrust into several death acupuncture points on the body of the master of the Nantong Dojo. The dojo master roared. His skin was like an iron wall, and the eight spears seemed to be smashing against it without success. He grabbed the four spears and pulled them into his arms. However, the muscles of the four people had actually grown by another fold. Qin Huai could even see the flesh exposed under the armor. The stalemate lasted for a moment. The four of them were still caught off their horses. Their heavy fists landed on a few soldiers, shattering their armor and killing them on the spot. However, four more people followed up and stabbed again! Moreover, the power this time was much stronger than before. Originally, the spear had no effect on the dojo master, but now, there were a few white marks on his body. Another four people died, and another one was added. The skin of the dojo master was broken, and his body began to bleed ¡­ Qin Huai could smell the unique smell of blood in the air getting stronger, and there was a hint of wildness in it. Fourteen people had spears pierced into their flesh¡­ Seventeen people¡­ and the head of the dojo master was already a bloody mess. The charge of thirty people stopped. The head of the Nantong dojo master was on the verge of collapsing, and his mind was already muddled. Qin Huai looked at the cavalrymen with his spirit eyes and saw that the strong smell of blood in the air was being sucked into his successor¡¯s body. It allowed his physical body to grow abnormally, and his strength also gradually increased. However, as more and more people died, the bloodshot eyes of the soldiers became more and more terrifying. It was obvious that their bodies were under terrifying pressure. ¡°Is this the four-directional tiger-wolf technique?¡± Qin Huai mumbled. If thirty of them could kill a fourth refinement realm martial artist, how many fourth refinement realm martial artists could the 2,000 armored soldiers kill? How many fourth refinements did the eight major martial arts centers have? A strong sense of danger spread in Qin Huai¡¯s heart. He was only a mere third refinement martial artist now. Perhaps a dozen of them could kill him¡­ In the face of this power, he had no way to protect himself. To become stronger, he still needed to become even stronger. ¡°Now I can imagine the pressure of a horse trampling the martial world,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. Qi Yangbing, who was beside him, laughed bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s indeed difficult¡­¡± ¡°Brother Bai, what do you think of the Nantong Dojo being destroyed?¡± Cai Jiulou seemed to still be drunk as he laughed and shouted from afar. ¡°My Thunderbolt Dojo has nothing to do with Nantong Dojo! Brother Cai, please show some respect!¡± Bai Yusheng cupped his fists. Unlike in the restaurant, he denied it on the spot. Then, he quickly left. As for the gathering at the Drunken Immortal restaurant, it also ended hastily. ¡­ When Qin Huai, Qi Yangbing, and Li Bowu returned to the dojo, Qi Yangbing went to find his master, while Qin Huai and Li Bowu went home. Qin Huai stood in the courtyard, unable to calm down for a long time. Hence, he wore the hundred-year ice heart jade on his waist and began to cultivate the long breath technique. The hundred-year ice heart jade seemed to exude some kind of magical power that made Qin Huai instantly calm down, as if his state of mind had also sublimated. His understanding of the long breath technique seemed to have improved as well. After a round of fighting, Qin Huai¡¯s long clothes were covered in sweat. Then, he looked at his long breath technique¡¯s experience bar. From level 30, it was now 1037/4000. After a set of cultivation techniques, it turned from one point to two points, doubling. ¡°It seems I have an affinity with Buddha.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was expressionless. ¡°But with my cultivation talent, I don¡¯t need to rely on external forces.¡± He held the jade pendant and thought of the strange secret manuals of the Sacred Heart sect that he had burned. Both of them were treasures that could increase the speed of cultivation. ¡°Unorthodox methods can¡¯t achieve great things. The right way is to work hard in cultivation,¡± Qin Huai reflected. ¡°I need to be clear-headed and firm in my heart.¡± Bang! Bang! He suddenly exerted his strength, and the hundred-year ice heart jade shattered. The next moment, an orange experience ball dropped to the ground. Chapter 60 - 60 Four Dragons Playing With a Pearl! Entering the Armys Camp! 60 Four Dragons Playing With a Pearl! Entering the Army¡¯s Camp! ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Orange)], and you can allocate experience points: 10,000!¡± ¡°As expected.¡± Qin Huai was not surprised. The Sacred Heart sect¡¯s strange cultivation technique secret manual had a clear direction. Only by cultivating a specific cultivation technique could one increase the speed of cultivation. However, this hundred-year ice heart jade did not have such conditions, so it was within Qin Huai¡¯s guess that the experience ball that dropped out could be randomly added. ¡°I¡¯ll level up the rumbling thunder skill to level 20 first and then use the rest on the long breath technique.¡± Qin Huai returned to his room and sat on his bed. He didn¡¯t consider the breath control technique and the spirit eye technique for the time being. After all, they were both auxiliary-type cultivation techniques. The most important thing now was to raise his strength. The city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s several hundred armored cavalries trampling over the dojo gave Qin Huai a heavy sense of danger. There was no telling when the battle between the eight martial arts centers and the city lord¡¯s mansion would begin. He had to improve his combat power to the maximum in a short time. Moreover, there was still the Thunderbolt Dojo, his nemesis, watching him. With a slight thought, 10,000 experience points were instantly added to the rumbling thundering skill and the long breath technique by Qin Huai. Name: Qin Huai [Vitality]: 38.691 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 31, 1840/4000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 20, 0/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 571/1600) ], [Forging (advanced, 64/1600)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 4/4] [Stage: Level 3 Blood Refinement] His vitality had increased by one point as usual, and he was only a little more away from the vitality of a fourth refinement martial artist. What Qin Huai looked forward to the most was the fusion of the long breath technique and the rumbling thunder skill. He couldn¡¯t wait to immerse himself in the changes within his body. The four thick white dragons were still in a ring, continuously sending white gas to the eight extraordinary meridians to remove dirt. The only difference now was that the four white dragons were all covered in tiny electric arcs. Although there were only a few of them, such a transformation already made Qin Huai very surprised. ¡°Eh?¡± Qin Huai then looked at the center of the four white dragons. A blue ball of light the size of a fingernail had appeared out of thin air. The ball of light was emitting crackling electric arcs, then it was swept away by the white dragon. The next moment, traces of electric arcs wrapped around its body. The white dragon wind also seemed to make the electric ball¡¯s arc more vigorous. It seemed like four dragons playing with a pearl. I¡¯m in you, and you¡¯re in me. With the electric arcs, the power of the rising dragon will have a numbing effect. Four Dragons in a row are enough to kill a normal fourth refinement martial artist. Qin Huai felt a little more comforted in his heart. Even if he couldn¡¯t defeat them, he should still be able to escape. ¡°But¡­ I should make another set of armor for myself.¡± Qin Huai recalled the army earlier. The armors they were wearing were basically the thousand refined armor forged by the Changshan Dojo and the Thunderbolt Dojo, which had amazing defensive power. With full body armor, it could block a refined martial artist and allow a well-trained ordinary soldier to fight against a first refinement martial artist for a short time. Even the fourth refinement realm master of the Nantong Dojo would have to spend a lot of effort to pierce through the thousand refined armor if he wanted to kill him with one strike. Today, the thousand refined armor played an important role in the exchange of the master of the Nantong Dojo with the thirty cavalrymen. As Qin Huai thought about this, he had already walked up the White Flow Mountain. He went to Song Yinhe¡¯s side and found a furnace pit, then started a fire and forged iron by himself. Ever since his forging skills had reached the advanced level, he had become more and more adept at it. He didn¡¯t wear heavy armor because he couldn¡¯t move easily and could easily become a target, especially if he met an opponent like him who was good at using medicine and was quite skillful. Heavy armor was very passive. Therefore, Qin Huai¡¯s thousand refined armor was very light. As long as it could absorb a portion of the force, it would be excellent. The so-called strength was built up bit by bit. Every slight increase in combat strength could determine his life and death. This was especially so in a world of martial arts where danger lurked everywhere. That was why Qin Huai could not afford to be careless. He had to maximize his combat strength to the maximum within his ability. Qin Huai spent the entire night forging. He first forged some hidden weapons such as small daggers. They were soaked in the poison jars that they had concocted. After that, he made a pair of arm guards and leg plates. He also made a small interlayer between the arm guards and leg plates and hid the poisonous dagger in it. It was just right. ¡°Good boy, I¡¯m making you a weapon, but you don¡¯t want it¡­ Now you¡¯ve turned around and created your own. Are you looking down on this old man¡¯s cooking?¡± Song Yinhe walked over with a smile and picked up the poisonous dagger in the medicine jar. He sized it up, and his expression suddenly became strange. ¡°You little brat. Your forging skill has already reached advanced?¡± Song Yinhe picked up a torch and looked at it. The level of detail and the balance of the force were just right. ¡°I was just lucky.¡± Qin Huai was humble, neither arrogant nor impatient. ¡°Tsk, tsk, not only is your talent in martial arts hard to find in ten years, but your talent in blacksmithing is also amazing. If you focus on this path, you¡¯ll definitely become a weapon grandmaster in the future¡­ It¡¯s a pity that the world doesn¡¯t allow it~¡± Song Yinhe had mixed feelings and could only sigh. ¡°Anyway, did Senior Brother Sun teach you how to use this poisonous hidden weapon?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Sun?¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t know who Senior Brother Sun was for a moment. ¡°No, Master has never taught me these. I just felt it and did it in my mood.¡± As expected, Master Song was not simple. He was actually his master¡¯s senior brother. To cultivate the qi circulation technique to this age, his realm would definitely not be much lower. ¡°Then you two must be fated to meet in your previous life. He also likes to play these little tricks.¡± Song Yinhe sighed with emotion. ¡°This is a responsibility for your own life, and doing your best is also the greatest respect for the enemy.¡± Qin Huai defended himself with a straight face. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Senior Brother Sun also said the same thing!¡± Song Yinhe shook his head and sighed with emotion. ¡°He even designed a few strange hidden weapons that could increase the damage to the body.¡± As Song Yinhe spoke, he picked up the iron hammer and iron nails. He took out a piece of iron and started to hit it. Then, he made a few more grooves on the dagger, and the blade became more bent. ¡°Well, according to Senior Brother Sun, if such a knife is inserted into the enemy¡¯s body, it can make them bleed uncontrollably.¡± The two of them busied around the furnace again. It was only at dawn that Qin Huai had finally finished making more than ten daggers. Many blacksmiths had already started to go up the mountain to forge. The banging sounds rhythmically resounded in the morning sun. Qin Huai stretched lazily and bid Song Yinhe farewell after putting away the dagger. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +3¡å¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +1¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White) ], [Forging Skill] experience +1¡± After Qin Huai collected a wave of experience, he was ready to go back and catch up on his sleep. When he reached the courtyard, he saw his senior brother Qi Yangbing waiting for him. There was a carriage parked at the entrance of the courtyard, carrying more than ten sets of armor. ¡°What is this?¡± Qin Huai asked, ¡°Are you going to the army¡¯s camp?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. We were supposed to send them together next month, but Master said that we¡¯ll send them in two batches from now on. It¡¯s better to observe them.¡± Qi Yangbing explained calmly. ¡°So the city lord¡¯s mansion agreed?¡± Qin Huai understood the implied meaning. ¡°Yes, he gladly accepted. ¡°He¡¯s so confident.¡± Qin Huai sighed. Then, the two of them pulled the carriage toward the iron-armored army camp. Chapter 61 - 61 Its Still Better to Have More People 61 It¡¯s Still Better to Have More People There were not many people in the convoy. There were two carriages in total, and there were only six people including Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing. He had a fourth refinement heaven¡¯s pride on the eight martial roll and a third refinement martial artist like Qin Huai as his escort. If the mountain bandits wanted to come, they could only pray that they would not do many evil things in their lives. On the way to the camp, Qi Yangbing introduced Qin Huai to the terrain along the way, as well as the bandits that were often active on the mountain. The bandits were like flies, coming in an endless stream, as if they were growing out of the ground. These were all trivial matters, though. Qi Yangbing finally explained the rules of the army camp. One could walk around the drill ground but not enter the tents. Qi Yangbing casually said, ¡°Speaking of which, the recent waves of bandits all have some martial arts foundations. I wonder where they got their cultivation techniques from. Fortunately, these bandits only have a little foundation, and they¡¯re still far from the first refinement.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, the name of the Sacred Heart sect immediately popped up in his mind. Whether it was the encounter on Ghost Slope Mountain or in the mine, those unknown ancient martial art practitioners seemed to be cultivating the strange secret techniques given by Sacred Heart sect. Then, were these people also¡­ ¡°Stop! All of you, stand still!¡± More than twenty people rushed down from the mountain forest. They spoke in a foreign accent and surrounded the convoy. Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing looked at each other and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. They had long since discovered the mountain bandits crouching on both sides of the road. However, they had not expected that they would still dare to rob them after seeing the Changshan Dojo¡¯s long robes on Qin Huai¡¯s group. After a rough glance, he couldn¡¯t find a single martial artist among the twenty-odd people. There were some unique calluses on their hands and feet, so they should have practiced some moves. ¡°Do you all know that this carriage is filled with armor to be transported to the Pingnan army camp?¡± Qi Yangbing said in a calm voice. ¡°We are intercepting armors and weapons! We¡¯ve also intercepted the goods that the squires and landlords bought!¡± The leader was a lean man who was holding a long spear that he had tied to his belt. He was speaking eloquently. ¡°The heavens and earth are unkind, and Great You is hopeless! The officials and landlords are insatiable, annexing fertile land and leaving us homeless. ¡°How many people have lost their homes? Today, my brothers and I are seeking blessings for the people of the world and punishing the rebels! ¡°Consider this armor as your aid to us and also your contribution to the world! You can leave your names. When I, Liu Xing, become rich in the future, I will definitely reward you handsomely!¡± Although Liu Xing¡¯s foreign accent made it hard for people to listen to him, the apprentices of the Changshan Dojo were still stunned. ¡°Have you killed anyone?¡± Qi Yangbing reacted quickly and held down the sleeve that Qin Huai was about to fling out. ¡°Bandits in the mountains, tyrants, and landlords. I¡¯ve killed dozens of them¡­¡± Liu Xing counted them one by one. ¡°How about this, you guys come to our Changshan Dojo first, and I¡¯ll find you a job.¡± ¡°Will you provide me with food?¡± a young man standing behind Liu Xing blurted out. Liu Xing immediately glared at him. The man felt wronged and said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry, boss¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Huai was still holding the poison in his sleeve, but he no longer had any killing intent toward this group of people. They were all pitiful people who had no way out. Once upon a time, he had been like this. ¡°Can we practice martial arts?¡± Liu Xing wavered. ¡°Not for now. You have to start as a servant and apprentice,¡± Qi Yangbing explained. Liu Xing turned around and looked at his brothers in ragged clothes. ¡°We¡¯ll do it!¡± In the blink of an eye, the dojo had a new batch of manpower. Qi Yangbing gave them his wooden token and asked them to take it to the Changshan Dojo. However, Qin Huai stopped them. ¡°Wait, did you just say that the landlord was buying armor?¡± ¡°Well, they were all pulled out from the city. We have seen several waves of soldiers, but we have not seen any soldiers, so we took action¡­¡± Liu Xing told him everything. ¡°Those who transported goods only brought ffity each time, which was half of the official¡¯s rule of ¡®privately armed soldiers can be executed with an entire family.¡¯ Qin Huai asked for the details before letting Liu Xing and the others leave. ¡°They¡¯ve all sensed that something¡¯s wrong and are taking advantage of the loopholes to accumulate power.¡± Qin Huai sighed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same for the city lord¡¯s mansion? The prices of goods in the city, the bandits in the mountains¡­ I won¡¯t care about anything and just silently make a fortune,¡± Qi Yangbing retorted. He could tell that Fourth Senior Brother was very dissatisfied with the city lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°In the end, you and I still need to work hard in cultivation and improve our strength as soon as possible to deal with the chaos in the future,¡± Qi Yangbing lectured. Qin Huai also nodded in agreement. After the small interlude, the two of them continued to lead the two carriages to the army camp. The camp was located in the deep mountains and old forests, but there were flat rivers around the camp, and the roads along the way were also very smooth. If there was an enemy attack, the 2,000 black torrents would be unstoppable. The encampment was filled with tents, and there were large pots set up to slaughter cattle and sheep everywhere. There were also many bare-chested men waving spears in the cold autumn wind on the open ground. As they exhaled, hot mist continuously appeared, and when they attacked, the faint sounds of tigers and wolves could be heard. Along with it, there were also white experience balls that dropped. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes swept across the ground, and the white experience balls merged into his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +9!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique] Experience +8!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique] Experience +11!¡± The blurry memory gradually became clear in his mind. ¡°I had to punch and swing my spear in a world of ice and snow. Every blow has to be faster than breathing, and I need to use all the strength in my body.¡± Hundreds of shots with full force, it was as if he was about to die. ¡°The way to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique is really extreme,¡± Qin Huai thought to himself. It was not inferior to the spirit eye technique that soaked his eyes in scalding sand. However, the cultivation techniques of these soldiers were not high. On average, each of them was worth about ten experience points. The strength of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique was all due to the combination of the formation, the fine armor, and riding skills. This was the reason why the iron armored army had such a powerful strength. Qin Huai and the others, who were pulling the carriage, had just stopped in front of the main tent. His four-directional tiger-wolf technique had already reached level 3, 68/1000. More than 3,000 experience points had been absorbed into his body, and this was only half of it. There were still many soldiers training in the distance, but they did not see the experience balls drop outside of their own collection range. There were also martial artists from the army that he had yet to meet. If he could complete this trip, he would be able to collect more experience points. ¡°It¡¯s still better to have more people.¡± Qin Huai sighed in his heart. In the future, if he had the chance to choose again, he might not choose the one with the strongest cultivation technique. He had to choose the one with the most people. Ever since he broke through to the third refinement realm, the radius of his experience orb collection had also increased from 20 meters to 30 meters. This way, he would be able to spy in the dark, and the risk of collecting experience points would be reduced once again. This was to prevent himself from being unable to gain experience from the dark, when he encountered powerful martial artists with keen sense of smell and sight in the future. ¡°The two of you must be tired from the long journey. Why don¡¯t you come in and have a cup of tea?¡± A middle-aged general walked out of the tent and extended his hand to the two of them. The surrounding soldiers seemed to have intentionally or otherwise moved closer to Qin Huai and the others when the middle-aged general spoke. Chapter 62 - 62 Reaping 10,000 Points and Offsetting Lifespans? 62 Reaping 10,000 Points and Offsetting Lifespans? Buzzzzzz! The clanging of armor and the waving of spears sounded in unison. The sharp rustling sound made Qin Huai realize once again that this army had strict discipline. His heart, which had just been immersed in the joy of the ¡®harvest,¡¯ was pulled out of the quagmire. At the same time, the heart-softening powder and hell dance poison had already slipped into his hands. In his heart, he began to frantically plan his escape route and how to distribute the ten pounds of poison in order to kill more people. ¡°What are you guys doing?! Take them back! Shut up!¡± Hao Chuanren shouted. His voice was like a tiger¡¯s roar that reverberated into the distance. An expert! He was at least at the fifth refinement. Buzzzzzz! Only then did the surrounding soldiers stand still. ¡°Come, you two, please come in!¡± Qin Huai followed Qi Yangbing into the tent and examined its layout. It was rather plain inside. There was a wooden table and a few long benches. The tent was wrapped in wolf skin, and a map of the area around Pingnan City was hung on the wall. Qin Huai focused slightly. On the map, the eight major martial arts centers were marked in striking red, and there were a few thin arrows around the mark. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t tell, but he could clearly see the few lines at the Changshan Dojo. It was the only path for the disciples of the dojo to enter and exit the mountain forest, and it was also the only path for the daily transportation of rations. Once this place was blocked, it would be enough to trap the dojo to death. Moreover, the terrain of these main roads was flat, which was quite advantageous for the army to spread out their formation. It was a blatant beating. Following Qin Huai¡¯s gaze, Hao Chuanren pointed at the map and laughed. ¡°Hahaha! Look at the eight martial arts centers surrounding Pingnan. With our two thousand armored soldiers in the mountains supporting us, as long as we work together, the entire city can be said to be impregnable. ¡°Now that the world is turbulent and demons are running amuck to threaten the safety of the people, we still need the cooperation of your eight major martial arts centers to unite with us to face the outside world.¡± ¡°General Ying is right.¡± Qi Yangbing was also smiling. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Sacred Heart sect has emerged in the west of Great You. Do you have any understanding of this?¡± Qin Huai asked. He could not forget the production method of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s strange secret manual. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I only know that this sect is evil, has many disciples, and their cultivation methods are extremely cruel.¡± Hao Chuanren was a little confused. Obviously, he didn¡¯t know as much as his master, Sun Yuanshan, so Qin Huai instantly lost interest. On the other hand, Qi Yangbing and Hao Chuanren were talking about the situation in the county city, the power of Great You, and the demons. It was as if they were discussing heroes over wine. However, the ¡®hero¡¯ was only limited to Ppingnan City, but it did not prevent the two from being like old friends. Qin Huai silently listened for a while and knew that General Ying had invited them in to let them take a look at the map. Using this map, they could use their mouths to have a good talk with Master. Hao Chuanren also ¡®unintentionally¡¯ talked about the rich mineral deposits in several mines a little further from Ppingnan City, and the Feng Shui was very suitable for Sun Yuanshan¡­ The long conversation, combined with the actions of the past few days, could only be summed up in four words: paying equal attention to him. After Qin Huai heard some superficial pleasantries at the end, he found an excuse to leave the tent and strolled around the drill ground to gain experience. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +9!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +8!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +11!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Cooking Essence (White) ], [Cooking Skill] Experience +2!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Cooking Essence (White) ], [Cooking Skill] Experience +3!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Cooking Essence (White) ], [Cooking Skill] Experience +3!¡± Qin Huai walked one round around the entire camp. He would stop for a moment at every spot and wait for his experience to drop. There were also quite a few captains in the camp whose qi and blood were surging, and they were not weaker than him and his senior brother Qi Yangbing. The power of the city lord¡¯s mansion was not only strong and powerful, but also had many experts. Any dojo, or even three or four dojos combined, might not be its match. It was simply terrifying. After about an hour, Qin Huai stood still. The vast amount of experience gathered into ¡®his¡¯ long cultivation experience of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and poured into his mind. In his memory, he had repeatedly cultivated for a year and finally succeeded at a certain moment. ¡®The four-directional tiger-wolf technique is a technique of explosive force,¡¯ Qin Huai thought to himself. At the last moment of the ¡®past,¡¯ he activated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The qi and blood in his body were boiling, and his muscles were instantly filled with blood to increase his strength. In a short time, his strength would double. In addition to the explosive power, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique would absorb the blood aura around the body as the ¡®fuel¡¯ of the cultivation technique. The more blood one had, the stronger one¡¯s strength would be. This was also why Qin Huai had seen the strangeness of the army when they faced the Nantong Dojo master. Once this bloody time was over, the cultivator would be weak for half a day. ¡°It¡¯s because the way to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique is too extreme. You have to use all your strength every time, and after you¡¯ve exhausted your strength, you have to consume your life force again to achieve the effect of cultivation. It¡¯s completely self-harming,¡± Qin Huai sighed in his heart. He looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 122] [Vitality]: 39.691 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 31, 1840/4000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 20, 0/3000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 10, 5/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 79/1600)], [Cooking (Beginner, 4/200)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 4/4] [Stage: Level 3 Blood Refinement] 10,000 experience points a day allowed him to reach Level 10 four-directional tiger-wolf technique! And¡­ There was an additional lifespan pane. Qin Huai criticized in his heart, feeling a little confused. He didn¡¯t use qi-nourishing and longevity-enhancing techniques, but he did use them to shorten his lifespan. ¡°The average lifespan of an ordinary person in this world is only 70 to 80 years old. A white dragon¡¯s lifespan was twelve to thirteen years? If 80 years were to be counted, it would be 130 years. To be able to live to a hundred and twenty years old, it should be the level 10 four-directional tiger-wolf technique that reduced one¡¯s lifespan by ten years¡­¡± Qin Huai made a rough estimate and didn¡¯t feel anything. However, the loss of lifespan shouldn¡¯t be that serious. After all, if that was the case, General Ying, who had been refined five times, should have come out of the netherworld to serve the city lord. However, he was probably the only one who had no fear of cultivating a cultivation technique that would shorten his lifespan. He didn¡¯t need to worry about his foundation and talent, he could cultivate 10,000 techniques to complement each other. Just like how the long breath technique and the four-directional tiger-wolf technique offset each other, it could be said to be perfect. ¡°My qi and blood are no different from that of a fourth refinement martial artist, so this is a great improvement. With the help of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, even Reihom might not be a match for me in terms of pure physical strength,¡± Qin Huai pondered in his heart. He also wouldn¡¯t forget his opponent, Reihom, who wanted to get a recommendation letter from the county dojo. He definitely had to overcome him, the number one genius of Pingnan City. Other than the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, Qin Huai also collected the experience he had gained from the kitchen staff who had stewed meat and prepared vegetables in the open air. It was also a coincidence that in the past, whether it was in the Liu family¡¯s apothecary or the Changshan Dojo, he would always get food and had never seen the chef cook. However, this skill didn¡¯t seem to be very useful, at least for now. Nowadays, it was already good enough to be able to eat until they were full, so what was the point of asking for color, fragrance, and taste? Compared to the ancient times in the books of his previous life, the common people of this world had a few advantages, and that was the rich seasoning. Whether it was making fine salt or vinegar, the technology in this world was pretty good. Therefore, Qin Huai wasn¡¯t very interested in cooking. He preferred to concoct poisons¡ªmedicinal skills were very important to him. ¡°Junior Brother, it¡¯s time to go back.¡± Qi Yangbing walked out of the tent and called out to Qin Huai from afar. Qin Huai came back to his senses and pulled the empty carriage with his junior brothers, returning to the manor with Qi Yangbing. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s nothing more than a test and a beating. There¡¯s no danger.¡± When the group walked out of the military camp, they all heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Will you still come after this?¡± ¡°Naturally. After all, someone has to come.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t hesitate. He definitely wouldn¡¯t let go of the four directional tiger-wolf technique. Under the current circumstances, if the city lord¡¯s mansion wanted to kill him, the outcome would be the same whether he was in the camp or the Changshan Dojo. Why not take the opportunity to gain experience? As for escaping alone¡­ What about Luo Ya¡¯s parents and Master? Fang Han and Senior Brother Qi were also very good to him¡­ Unknowingly, Qin Huai already had many concerns in Pingnan City. Chapter 63 - 63 Cultivation Technique Changes Again! Blood Dragon Form! 63 Cultivation Technique Changes Again! Blood Dragon Form! ¡°The city lord¡¯s mansion is going to exterminate the bandits.¡± In the Changshan ancestral house, Sun Yuanshan touched his beard after listening to their reports. He asked, ¡°Huai¡¯er, do you have any opinions?¡± Qin Huai was slightly taken aback. ¡°Amassing troops to build armor, quaking the inside and pacifying the outside, winning over the hearts of the people¡­ The city lord is indeed plotting something big.¡± ¡°Kid, your eyes don¡¯t look like they¡¯re from a small town. You¡¯re quite far-sighted.¡± Sun Yuanshan smiled and suddenly became interested again. He wanted to test Qin Huai. ¡°Have you ever wondered why the eight major martial arts centers, no, the powerful martial arts centers in the city are not suppressing the bandits?¡± ¡°I think I know.¡± Qin Huai hesitated for a moment. ¡°The majority of the dojos¡¯ income is from mining, smelting, prostitution, and apothecaries¡­ However, there is still a large portion that acts as escorts for the city¡¯s big and small, protecting people out of the city, moving people, and so on. The reason why the latter is profitable is that there are bandits. The more rampant the bandits are, the more we earn.¡± Qin Huai had already guessed this when Senior Brother Fang had first told him about the dojo¡¯s profits. Sun Yuanshan nodded. ¡°Not entirely. For example, the Thunderbolt Dojo, Crane Dojo, Tyrant Fist Dojo, and Liuhe Dojo, which rely on apothecaries for business, are still okay. The mines and apothecaries are enough to sustain our expenses and even have a surplus. ¡°However, the remaining three families who are involved in the seduction of women are completely in cahoots with the mountain bandits. The survival of the small and medium-sized dojos in the city is also closely related to the bandits. There¡¯s even someone who¡¯s secretly helping the mountain bandits.¡± Sun Yuanshan couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous. Any of us could easily wipe out those mountain bandits, but they¡¯ve been inactive until now.¡± ¡°There should be something more important.¡± Qin Huai was also a little enlightened. ¡°Oh?¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai. ¡°If the eight major martial arts centers annihilate the mountain bandits, wouldn¡¯t they also win the hearts of the people? At that time, will Pingnan City be the Pingnan City of the eight major martial arts schools or the city lord¡¯s Pingnan City?¡± Sun Yuanshan sighed. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s also the time for the city lord¡¯s mansion to let go of the bandits and win over the people¡¯s hearts. The more serious the bandits are, the deeper the resentment of the people will be. After the bandits are eliminated, the people¡¯s hearts will be stronger¡­¡± ¡°The people suffer when they rise, and the people suffer when they fall.¡± Qin Huai also sighed. With the thousands of years of history from his previous life, he could see things clearly. ¡°After hearing this, are you disappointed in your master?¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Not really. Master and disciple are not good people,¡± Qin Huai replied respectfully. ¡°It¡¯s already good enough that you can protect yourself and your family. You don¡¯t take the initiative to harm the lives of innocent people. ¡°How can there be so many saints in the world who worry about the world? Oh, there were. Those who gave advice from far away were all saints. I can¡¯t tolerate any sand in my eyes.¡± Sun Yuanshan laughed. ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ve come up with a kind of poison to soak hidden weapons. You can give me some advice¡­¡± The master and disciple had a serious conversation for a while, then they colluded with each other and went to the field and rat nest. As for Qi Yangbing, he sighed and left. Qin Huai only returned to the courtyard late at night. In the letter from the Luo manor today, it was stated that the Cui family wanted to buy thirty sets of armor, which would be available next month. Luo Huatian wanted to hire people from the Changshan Dojo to escort them, but he hoped that Qin Huai would personally lead the team. Qin Huai didn¡¯t have any objections and readily agreed. Next month, the bandits¡¯ meeting in the city lord¡¯s mansion would be almost over. After replying to the letter, Qin Huai fell into a deep sleep. The sun rose as usual the next day. In the White Ore mine, the exchanges between the two dojos had not decreased, and the experience of Qin Huai¡¯s thunder skill was still very stable. However, since his rumbling thunder skill had reached level 20, his daily experience points had dropped from 1,000 to 500. It would take him two months to reach level 30. On the fifth day after Qin Huai¡¯s return, the city lord¡¯s mansion made an announcement to the entire city. He wanted to get rid of evil for the people and sweep away bandits. For a time, Pingnan City was surrounded by rivers of blood. And every time the army returned triumphantly with the bloody heads of the mountain bandits, the people in the city all lined the streets to welcome them, and the firecrackers went off. With the mountain bandits appeased, the cost of transporting goods and materials to and fro had also been reduced. The prices of goods in the city had also dropped a little. Although it was limited, this was the first time in more than a year that the city had reduced its price. In the restaurants, bars, and stalls, everyone was talking about the good things that the city lord¡¯s mansion had done and the mountains they had swept. It seemed to be a sign of prosperity. At the end of August, Qin Huai entered the camp to deliver armor half a month later. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +6!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +5!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +7!¡± One by one, the experience orbs merged into Qin Huai¡¯s body. In his huge cultivation ¡®memory,¡¯ the feeling of exhaustion from the last time he cultivated was delayed. He had also completed this abnormal cultivation with ease. In the second half of the year, Qin Huai noticed something unusual while cultivating. When the white dragon in his body was exhausted, it would separate a part of its ¡®qi¡¯ and merge it with his flesh and blood to fill the gap in power. As time passed, he discovered that he could actively control the white dragon to merge with his muscles to fill up the gaps. The exhaustion disappeared, and the extreme cultivation sensation that consumed his life and vitality no longer existed in his body. In this long ¡®one year¡¯ of cultivation, about 5,000 points of experience had been integrated into Qin Huai¡¯s mind as he paced around the camp¡¯s drill ground. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. The reduction in lifespan from the four-directional tiger-wolf technique will decrease with the cultivation technique¡¯s level.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts. ¡°The creator of this cultivation technique must have wanted ordinary people to quickly possess the power to cause harm to martial artists, regardless of the life and death of cultivators. However, there are no such drawbacks in the later stages of cultivation. ¡°The creators only treat ordinary people as tools of war, and those who stand out naturally don¡¯t have to worry about longevity when their realms are higher. Perhaps they might even have the effect of prolonging their lives.¡± Qin Huai deduced the changes of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique based on his own memories. And the mystery of General Ying, who was in the fifth refinement, was also solved. However, what surprised Qin Huai the most was¡­ As expected, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique reacted with the other cultivation techniques. It was just like the white lightning dragon that was born from the rumbling thunder skill and the long breath technique. The key was, the mutual influence of these cultivation techniques was completed in the ¡®memory.¡¯ The white dragon can be fused into the muscles, and this change was really unexpected. ¡­ Back at the dojo, Qin Huai impatiently entered the deep mountains. ¡°It feels like my blood is boiling!¡± His body suddenly felt hot, and his skin turned slightly red. Like the armored soldiers, Qin Huai¡¯s body was slightly larger. He took a deep breath and controlled the white dragon¡¯s aura in his body to separate and enter his muscles. Bang! Bang! At this moment, Qin Huai¡¯s body had expanded by a full size. There were even some faint white lines that appeared between the gaps of his muscles, and his strength had clearly increased. His astonishing muscles were as sharp as knives and axes, with distinct lines. Blue veins stuck close to his skin, displaying his terrifying strength. Qin Huai walked up to a tree that was more than ten meters tall, so tall that two people would have to wrap their arms around it. His two hands turned into claws and directly embedded into the tree. His qi sank into his dantian, and his feet were like the roots of an old tree. ¡°Break!¡± Qin Huai growled and suddenly began to emerge. The sound of roots breaking came from under his feet. With a red face, he slowly pulled out a tree that was more than ten meters tall. BOOM! The big tree was put down by Qin Huai. ¡°In this state, a fourth refinement martial artist would be crushed by me with just this physical body. If we¡¯re at the same cultivation level, I might not even need to use a forbidden technique.¡± Qin Huai looked at his battle results and panted heavily. Then, he removed this state. He pondered for a while and thought of a name for this state. White Dragon and boiling blood¡­ Let¡¯s call it the Blood Dragon form.¡± Later, Qin Huai returned to the courtyard and read the letter from the Luo manor. The armor had been forged, and he was just waiting for himself¡­ Chapter 64 - 64 Climbing the Mountain at Night, Meeting the Sacred Heart Disciples 64 Climbing the Mountain at Night, Meeting the Sacred Heart Disciples At the Luo mansion, Luo Huatian called for the dishes to be served. ¡°Now, two thousand armored horses are trampling the forest. With the help of the martial arts centers of various sizes in the city, the number of mountain bandits within a radius of several dozen miles around Pingnan City has decreased sharply.¡± ¡°Business is getting better.¡± ¡°Oh, the Cui family. Ah, yes.¡± Qin Huai looked at the map a few times, then put it away and quickly took the rice from Luo Huatian. ¡°This time, the net profit is ten thousand taels.¡± Luo Huatian¡¯s face was full of smiles. ¡°When the snow melts next spring, our family of four will move to the county city. I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy for a while. Pingnan is still too small and unsafe.¡± Luo Huatian looked over. ¡°Huai¡¯er, what do you think? ¡± ¡°If a war really breaks out, the county city might be in even more danger,¡± Qin Huai pondered. ¡°Let¡¯s take one step at a time. I¡¯ll also go into the mountains to take a look and figure out the terrain.¡± Luo Huatian¡¯s worry was not without reason. Although he had a map of the surroundings of Pingnan City, it was still best to measure it personally and explore the situation. In the future, if he were to encounter a siege or an army, it would be much better for him to run away if he was familiar with the terrain. In addition, he had another layer of consideration. Most of the bandits on the mountain had been cleared by the city lord¡¯s mansion and the martial arts centers that had come to help. The remaining people were cunning and powerful martial artists like the Blackhawk Gang. He planned to harvest all of them, and every bit of strength he could increase was important to deal with the unexpected that might happen in the future. This time, with the city lord¡¯s mansion as the initiator and the approval of the heads of various martial arts dojos, 60 to 70% of the martial artists in Pingnan City had come out, if not all. He was really like a wild horse that had escaped its reins. If it was a few days later, there might really be no bandits around the city. ¡°The delivery will be the day after tomorrow. Little girl, are you going?¡± Luo Huatian looked at Luo Ya, who was putting food into Qin Huai¡¯s bowl. Luo Ya shook her head like a rattle. ¡°No, I¡¯m not going. Previously, I almost harmed Senior Brother.¡± She had already developed a psychological trauma towards being an escort. He and his senior brother could do anything, but they couldn¡¯t go on an escort mission. She was afraid of harming Qin Huai. ¡°Just leave this matter to me.¡± Qin Huai smiled to ease Luo Ya¡¯s mood. After dinner, he put on his clothes and went out. ¡°Huai¡¯er, where are you going?¡± Yu Xin was puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m going to walk along the hills on both sides of the town and scout out a spot first.¡± Qin Huai was cautious. If he encountered mountain bandits while he was on the escort mission, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid. However, even if only one guard of the Luo manor died, Qin Huai would still feel that it was a loss. It was better to strike first and sweep the mountain first. Safety was the most important thing when it came to escorting. ¡­ Hisss~ In the dark, the python¡¯s eyes were shining with an oily green light. He stared at the person who was walking quickly not far away. It wriggled its huge body and quickly crawled behind the man. Suddenly, the man turned his head abruptly, a green light flashing in his eyes. The python was stunned. The next second, he quickly left into the distance. Qin Huai retracted his gaze. With his spiritual eye, he could easily familiarize himself with the terrain even at night. He moved at an extremely fast speed, his eyes searching for the surrounding terrain to imprint in his mind. As for the possible traces of mountain bandits, Qin Huai¡¯s search was very organized. This was because when setting up camp in the deep mountains, they had to avoid the open high ground, as it was easy to be struck by lightning. Also, it was easy to be hit by falling rocks under the cliff. When looking for a waterside camp, they had to be more than two meters above the water line. There was another eye-catching one. People who set up camp in the mountains would usually light fires at night, which had a certain effect of repelling wild beasts. But more importantly, it was to drive away the dense mosquitoes so that they could have a quiet dream at night. When it came to mosquitoes, even warriors were helpless. The buzzing flies couldn¡¯t be shut up just by having a strong vitality. Those things were like the small monsters in the game. After killing one batch, the next batch would respawn, and there was no end to killing them all. Therefore, people would usually put the torch five or six meters away from the tent, because the fire would attract the surrounding mosquitoes. Qin Huai¡¯s movements were also regular, and the wind was always in front of him. It was convenient for him to remove the poison in advance and avoid waste. He climbed over several mountains and finally saw a fire halfway up the mountain. There were only two figures sitting by the bonfire. However, they were abnormally tall, almost taller than some women when they were standing. They seemed to be holding someone in their hands, and the two heads suddenly stuck together, twisting left and right¡­ ¡°A couple in the mountains?¡± Qin Huai was about to turn around when he suddenly froze. In his line of sight, the shadows of the two human heads were slightly passive as they gnawed at each other¡­ It seemed to be missing a portion! Qin Huai quietly took two steps forward and immediately frowned. ¡°The two tall figures were actually gnawing on the corpse?¡± In addition, there were several corpses on the ground. The strong smell of blood rushed into Qin Huai¡¯s nose. He walked in quietly, and poisonous mist kept falling from his sleeve. It followed the wind and the white dragon qi that Qin Huai had activated, drifting toward the two figures. Hu! Suddenly, a black shadow came crashing toward him. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The two of them stood up and ran toward Qin Huai. Qin Huai turned sideways and dodged the sudden attack. With a glance, he discovered that the hidden weapon was a human hand. Bang! Bang! The hand smashed into the tree and was directly embedded in it. ¡®They¡¯re strong.¡¯ Qin Huai looked in front of him. These two people were also unusually sharp. He had activated his breath control technique and was still discovered by them. They either had a spying technique or had a high cultivation realm or higher eyesight. In short, these two people were difficult to deal with. Qin Huai stood still, the poisonous fog in his sleeve pouring out even more. Aphrodisiacs, hell dance, heart-softening powder¡­ Very quickly, the two man-eating people were only a few meters away from Qin Huai. They were indeed very tall. The other one was a little hunchbacked, but he was also about 2.5 meters tall. ¡°Was this a human?¡± Qin Huai muttered in his heart. He was wearing a long robe that covered his thousand-refined armor and poison. His face was still covered, and two antidotes that he had refined were pressed under his tongue. There was also a poisonous dagger hidden in his sleeve, so it was a little heavy. His sleeve was always hanging down and facing the ground, so only his fingertips could be seen. A mountain breeze blew, making Qin Huai look like a giant bat with wings spread out, standing in the forest. ¡°Hmph~ Ah~!¡± The black-robed man took a deep breath. ¡°What a fresh smell.¡± ¡°This person¡¯s taste is just right. He¡¯s not a bad martial artist.¡± The hunchbacked man rubbed his hands and sized up Qin Huai. ¡°His qi and blood are very strong. He must be from the eight major martial arts centers.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything. He also carefully sized up the two of them. The black-robed man¡¯s skin looked even fairer and smoother than Auntie Yu Xin¡¯s. These two men actually had six fingers, and each finger had four joints. When they moved, they looked like long wriggling worms. ¡®What kind of monster is this?¡¯ Qin Huai looked at the unfamiliar ¡®species¡¯ in front of him and became calmer. The dosage also increased. These two people were dressed quite well. They were made of the most expensive material in Pingnan City, so they shouldn¡¯t be mountain bandits. They were probably weirdos from the county city, right? ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend you. Please forgive me for disturbing you.¡± Qin Huai showed his weakness and wanted to wait for the medicine to take effect before making a decision. ¡°Well said, well said. Put down all your valuables, and you can leave.¡± The black-robed man chuckled, his face friendly. Qin Huai quickly searched his sleeve and took out two hundred taels of silver. ¡°I only brought this much when I went out.¡± He then placed the silver notes on the ground and turned to leave. Hu! Suddenly, the sound of something breaking through the air exploded in the deep forest. Qin Huai jumped away from his original spot. Where he had been standing was a piece of sharp finger bone with traces of blood and flesh hanging from it. Not far away, the black-robed man pulled off the robe that was nailed to the tree by the dagger. The hunchback was a little unfortunate. He gritted his teeth and pulled out the dagger from his shoulder. The hunchbacked man lowered his head and saw that black blood was flowing out of the wound. He quickly threw the dagger in his hand to the ground. ¡°It¡¯s just a small poison,¡± he sneered. He activated his cultivation technique in an attempt to suppress the poison with his vigorous qi and blood. But two seconds later, he hurriedly took out a dagger from his pocket and dug out the whole piece of meat that had been corroded by the poison. The two of them looked at each other, and the smiles on their faces froze. ¡®This kid is so cunning.¡¯ Chapter 65 - 65 Your Body Is Too Weak! 65 Your Body Is Too Weak! ¡°What a troublesome poison.¡± The hunchback glared at Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone in the eight dojos who¡¯s proficient in poison.¡± ¡°The city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s guest has come to find us so quickly?¡± The black-robed man was also suspicious. ¡°Father! Did father send someone to save me?¡± A hoarse howl came from the pile of corpses not far away. ¡°Father, I won¡¯t run away again. I won¡¯t be a hero anymore¡­¡± A cry filled with regret reverberated in the silent mountain forest, startling the birds and the snakes away. There was a teenager in a pool of blood, tied up and lying on the ground, surrounded by the broken arms of the guards. Qin Huai heard the wailing and looked at the two people in front of him. The young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion who was tied up and the expert who was wearing the fabric of Lingjiang county¡­ He couldn¡¯t help but imagine the power struggle between the ambitious city lord¡¯s mansion and the two powerful forces of Lingjiang county. Qin Huai didn¡¯t want to get involved in this battle, and he couldn¡¯t gauge the strength of the two people in front of him. Now that his face was covered and the other party could not recognize him, it was a good idea to leave first. As for the poisonous fog in the forest, he would just treat it as a gift to the city lord¡¯s mansion. With this thought, Qin Huai suddenly threw out a few poisonous daggers, turned around, and ran. ¡°You want to escape?¡± The hunchbacked man snorted coldly. With a flick of his foot, a thin rope fell into his hand, then he pulled hard. In an instant, several large nets woven with thin iron wires were thrown at Qin Huai. Using his hands as knives, Qin Huai made a cross in front of his chest with both hands. The next moment, the iron net was torn apart. Without waiting for Qin Huai to pass through, a gust of wind whistled behind him. Qin Huai instantly propped up the White Dragon Qi wall, turned around and threw a few punches. Clang! Clang! Clang! Several hidden weapons were shot down by him. They were all bone fragments from the martial artists ¡®bodies. After a long period of tempering by his powerful vitality, these bone fragments were indeed very hard. But how could a normal person use such a thing as a hidden weapon? Eh? Qin Huai looked at the back of his fist. There were a few black spots where the broken bones had hit. But he didn¡¯t care. It¡¯s a mixture of tainted poison and plum blossom poison¡­ The former was used to pollute the qi and blood, while the latter would make the poisoned person¡¯s body bulge in the shape of a plum blossom when he urged his qi and blood, causing him to explode at the top¡­ It was a poison that couldn¡¯t even kill. Although he had blocked the sneak attack of the two, Qin Huai could not escape. In the blink of an eye, the black-robed man had already appeared behind Qin Huai. Qin Huai turned sideways and looked at the two strange figures. It seemed like he could only kill the two of them. Qin Huai crushed an antidote pill under his tongue, and a minty, clear stream immediately ran through his body and soul. In the blink of an eye, the black spots on the back of the fist were erased. Since both of them used poison, he would take one pill first just in case. The black-robed man and the hunchback man were not in a hurry. Although they did not know much about poison, they liked to use it. Therefore, when they came, they had taken a lot from the higher-ups. During this trip to Pingnan City, the two of them had not used their full strength at all. It was all thanks to the poisonous substances and traps, and it was almost edible after a while. The young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion and his trusted aides were one of them. The two of them had received information that the Luo manor was going to take a large batch of goods to a little lonely town. They had been waiting here, hoping to rob the goods to lure out Qin Huai, the little brat who had burned their secret manuals twice. Unexpectedly, before the Luo family¡¯s convoy arrived, they had already caught the big fish, the young city lord of Pingnan City. The ridiculous brat wanted to prove to his father that he was not a good-for-nothing by exterminating the bandits, so he secretly brought more than a dozen of his trusted aides out of the city in the middle of the night and was caught red-handed by him. These trusted aides were indeed close enough. He was well aware that a servant would not serve two masters, even his own father was no exception. They had almost eaten up all of the trusted aides before they could wait for this reinforcement. Hu! The hunchbacked man suddenly rushed over and threw a punch. It was a feint! He clutched his sleeve and created a cloud of ¡®dust.¡¯ Hu! However, just as the ¡®dust cloud¡¯ was thrown out, it actually flew back. The person in front of him was also feigning an attack, mainly waving his sleeves. But¡­ The wind from the other side was much stronger than his own! The poisonous fog had completely covered his body, and it had been injected into him. It wasn¡¯t just the wind, there was also the dagger! Stab! Stab! ¡°Cough, cough ¡­¡± The hunchbacked man coughed as he dodged and retreated. He was a fourth refinement tempered martial artist, but the wind he created was not as strong as his opponent? ¡°Bah!¡± The hunchbacked man spat out the ¡®dust¡¯ in his mouth. Then, he threw an antidote pill into his mouth. Fortunately, he had the antidotes for the plum flower poison and the tainted poison, so it was not a big deal. Meanwhile, behind Qin Huai, the black-robed man was running toward him. He wasn¡¯t feigning an attack, but he was throwing a heavy punch. Bang! Bang! The two fists collided, like iron weapons clashing at each other. Qin Huai retreated several steps to increase the distance between them. His four knuckles clenched into a fist, like a hammer, blocking his hand. The black-robed man licked the back of his fist and took another deep breath. ¡°A third refinement martial artist, but his qi and blood seem to be very strong¡­¡± Qin Huai felt a chill down his spine. Were all the people in the county so abnormal? Furthermore, this person had only exchanged a single punch with him, and he already knew his realm. BOOM! The three of them paced back and forth in the forest, facing each other from a distance. They weren¡¯t in a hurry to make a move. They were waiting for their respective poisons to take effect. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just exercise my muscles and bones today to help you speed up your poison.¡± The black-robed man seemed to have lost his patience. This person had a poisonous dagger, so he probably had some knowledge of poison and was probably resistant to it. The black-robed man stretched his body. A series of crackling sounds immediately rang out in the forest. ¡°Yummy~ Be careful, I¡¯m very strong!¡± The black-robed man laughed. Bang! Bang! His entire body shot over like a cannonball. His arms were strangely long, and his fists were also weirdly shaped. He gained the upper hand with one punch. Qin Huai was not to be outdone either. He activated the white dragon to extend his attack range. Bang! Bang! Bang! The two of them were fighting in the wild, and the scope of their fight was extremely wide. The wild grass around his feet was cut off by the strong wind, and two fist and foot imprints several inches deep appeared on the tree trunk. At the same time, the hunchback man followed closely like a ghost. Boom¡­ The slimmer trees fell to the ground one by one, and the sleeping crows and birds were awakened, screaming and rushing into the sky. ¡°Hahaha¡­ A third refinement martial artist actually has such a body and blood qi!¡± the black-robed man exclaimed. He was very happy fighting. The stronger Qin Huai¡¯s body was, the more tight and juicy his flesh was. The taste would also be better. As the black-robed man thought about it, he drooled. ¡°How rare! We¡¯re on par with each other.¡± ¡°Is this all you can do?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s calm voice rang out. ¡°What did you just say?¡± The black-robed man shot a cold glance at Qin Huai. ¡°I said ¡­ Is your physical body only at this level?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s tone was calm. His voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap in the quiet forest. ¡°You¡¯re just a third refinement martial artist. Your qi, blood, and body are just a little stronger¡­¡± The black-robed man looked at the calm Qin Huai, like an enraged beast. He squeezed out a hideous smile. ¡°What you just said, do you dare say it again?!¡± ¡°Your body is too weak.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s gaze calmly swept across the two of them. However, his body was like a volcano before it erupted, and the color of the world changed. Chapter 66 - 66 I Can Still Use this Killer Move Three Times 66 I Can Still Use this Killer Move Three Times In the dense forest, the black-robed man roared and was about to attack Qin Huai again. ¡°Don¡¯t fall for his trick!¡± the hunchbacked man immediately shouted, ¡°How strong can a third refinement martial artist¡¯s qi, blood, and body be?¡± The black-robed man immediately calmed down. ¡°You want to mess with my Dao heart? What a sinister little brat.¡± Although this person¡¯s qi and blood were not bad, he still had a slight advantage, not to mention a fourth refinement against a third refinement. Time was always on his side. The black-robed man suddenly shrugged his shoulders. His body was so itchy. His eyes were fixed on Qin Huai, trying to resist the itch, but in the end, he still couldn¡¯t help but scratch it. After that¡­ It was even more itchy! The black-robed man scratched with all his might, and the more he scratched, the more itchy he became, and the more force he used. Shua, shua, shua. The smell of blood immediately rushed into his nose, and a burning sensation came from the wound. ¡°You poisoned me!¡± the black-robed man roared. ¡°Be careful!¡± the Hunchback yelled from the side. The black-robed man suddenly focused his mind, and the sharp fist was already coming at him. Qin Huai seized the opportunity when he was momentarily distracted. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± His fist was in the air. The qi and blood in his body instantly boiled, and his body suddenly expanded. The white dragon broke through his body, and like the wind, it boosted the fire. The fist wind whistled as it smashed out. ¡°Ah!¡± the black-robed man screamed in pain. He had just pushed his qi and blood to the peak when his heart felt like it had exploded, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°A second type of poison?¡± He was forced to turn from attack to defense, and his hands were like bags in front of his body. His body was still hot, like an aphrodisiac. When did this kid poison him, and how many types did he use? The black-robed man looked at Qin Huai in front of him, a hint of fear flashing through his eyes. No one would be willing to fight with someone who poisoned you without anyone knowing. However, the fear only lasted for a moment. The black-robed man vomited blood. He placed both hands on his abdomen and grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s fist tightly. ¡°I¡¯ve already seen your full strength.¡± He grinned hideously, and his two unique hands grabbed Qin Huai tightly like pincers. His strength was indeed stronger than before, but it was still acceptable. BOOM! Qin Huai¡¯s expression was cold, and his body suddenly expanded again. White lines silently appeared in the gaps between his chiseled muscles. Like a true dragon, it sneaked through the night, swimming around Qin Huai¡¯s body and pouring its divine might into him. ¡°Blood dragon form!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s left fist followed with a violent force and smashed into the black-robed man¡¯s lower abdomen. Bang! Bang! The tremendous force caused the deep forest to echo like the roar of a heavy cannon. The black-robed man¡¯s body was completely arched, and his eyes were bulging as if they were about to fly out of his eye sockets. ¡°What are you talking about? The first punch was just a test.¡± Qin Huai was calm as he pulled out his right fist from the black-robed man¡¯s iron pincers. BOOM! Another punch! The black-robed man¡¯s tall body made it impossible for Qin Huai to hit his head and heart, which were vital points. Qin Huai wanted to smash the black-robed man¡¯s lower body, but the other party seemed to have realized this as well and forced his body to sink a little deeper. But it didn¡¯t matter. The terrifying force was all poured into his abdomen. Bang! Bang! Bang! The consecutive heavy punches were actually completed in an instant. The muffled sound of a heavy cannon was followed by the sound of liquid splashing. ¡°You¡¯ve successfully enraged me!¡± the black-robed man roared. ¡°Zong Xue¡­¡± A white dot of light flashed before his eyes. It was the forbidden technique, rising dragon! Bang! Bang! Before the black-robed man could finish his sentence, Qin Huai used a forbidden technique to directly rephrase the remaining half of his sentence. His entire body was sent flying by the aftermath of the explosion, only coming to a stop after he crashed into a tree. The terrifying explosion left a hole the size of a human head in the black-robed man¡¯s abdomen. Fresh blood flowed down the hole like a stream. ¡°Why does a dead man talk so much nonsense?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the disheveled black-robed man and was about to shift his gaze to the hunchback. ¡°You can¡¯t be thinking that you can kill me like this, right?¡± The black-robed man grinned hideously and slowly stood up with the help of the tree. ¡°You are a genius. Even among the cities I¡¯ve traveled to, you¡¯re one of the best.¡± Then, the black-robed man roared in anger. It was really disgraceful to be beaten to such a state by someone who crossed the border. ¡°But you have no chance of winning against my divine power.¡± As he spoke, the wound on his abdomen was healing rapidly. No, it was the blood that was imitating the broken organs and melted muscles, temporarily resurrecting the black-robed man¡­ ¡®What a powerful cultivation technique.¡¯ Seeing this, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but frown. He had never heard of such a cultivation technique. However, along with the black-robed man ¡®sewing¡¯ the wound, there was also a blue experience ball. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart Essence (Blue)], [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart] Experience +557!¡± New memories appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. The cultivation of the supreme technique of the blood heart was indeed unheard of, except for the normal incantation of the heart cultivation method and the posture of practicing martial arts. He could also continuously search for some medicinal herbs, food, demon meat, and other qi and blood tonics to refine the ¡®food¡¯ to increase the level of his cultivation technique. In short, this cultivation method could actually be cultivated by eating. ¡®What kind of cultivation technique is this?¡¯ Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but ridicule in his heart as he tried to comprehend the memories. But¡­ It seemed to have the same effect as the man-eating cultivation method of the Sacred Heart sect. The qi and blood tonics consumed by this method would form a drop of golden blood, which could increase qi and blood explosively. It could also be used to repair the black-robed man¡¯s physical injuries, but his organs had been shattered by Qin Huai. Using his golden blood would only delay his death. The arrogant words he spoke were just a bluff, wanting to expose his weakness in exchange for his life. But he had to admit, the cultivation technique that was born in this wondrous world had once again opened Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. ¡°This is a cultivation technique that you can¡¯t understand.¡± The black-robed man was delighted to see Qin Huai frowning. ¡°How many drops of golden blood do you have left? How long can you live?¡± Qin Huai took a deep breath and gathered his strength again. ¡°What¡­ How did you know the cultivation technique of my Sacred Heart sect?¡± The black-robed man¡¯s hair stood on end. Just as Qin Huai had thought, he had wanted to scare the other party in exchange for his life. The hunchback looked at Qin Huai from the side, his hair also standing on end. Could it be that those people had come to kill them? ¡°Sacred Heart sect?¡± When Qin Huai heard this name, he remained unmoved, but there were ripples in his heart. It turned out that he was not fighting with the big clans of Lingjiang county, but the evil cult followers of the Sacred Heart sect. ¡®Then this supreme technique of the blood heart¡­¡¯ Qin Huai suddenly realized that there was no problem with this cultivation technique. It was this group of Sacred Heart sect disciples who had taken a shortcut and used some kind of evil method to eat people for cultivation. Qin Huai¡¯s killing intent rose. He decided that these two people must die. Wouldn¡¯t he be coveting a colossus like the Sacred Heart sect? How would he live his days then? ¡°No matter who you are, you will die here today!¡± The black-robed man¡¯s eyes grew colder. The hunchbacked man slowly approached as well, not planning to let the black-robed man try to exchange his life for Qin Huai¡¯s. While the former was still alive, he wanted to join forces and kill Qin Huai! ¡°That move just now should be your trump card, right? Can you use such an amazing killing move a second time?¡± The Hunchback also began to attack with words, causing psychological pressure. ¡°I can still cast it three times,¡± Qin Huai spoke bluntly. The hunchbacked man sneered. ¡°You¡¯re bluffing.¡± Who would tell the truth in a battle when they still had trump cards? Those who spoke the ¡®truth¡¯ were definitely people who had exhausted their trump cards and were deliberately mystifying things. This kid, just from his voice, he knew that he was still too young. It was still a hundred years too early to play with their Dao heart! Chapter 67 - 67 Dark Purple Experience Ball! The Arrival of the Demons! 67 Dark Purple Experience Ball! The Arrival of the Demons! The black-robed man and the hunchback man looked at each other, knowing what the other was thinking. The two of them pincered Qin Huai from the front and back. Although Qin Huai was able to crush either of them in his blood dragon form, it was difficult for two fists to fight against four hands. These two Sacred Heart disciples were obviously proficient in joint attack techniques, and their series of tight attacks did not give Qin Huai any chance to catch his breath and fight back. A wave-like heavy blow landed on Qin Huai¡¯s body, and the sound of thunder rang out. What kind of martial arts did this kid practice that his body was as hard as thousand refined steel? The black-robed man was filled with hatred. He had found an opening and attacked Qin Huai¡¯s body several times, but the effect was not ideal. ¡®This guy¡¯s body is like steel. I can¡¯t delay any longer!¡¯ The black-robed man gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with determination. His golden blood was almost exhausted. ¡°My God! Your believers have come to find you!¡± He let out a loud roar, and his three-meter tall body rapidly expanded at a visible rate. Qin Huai and the hunchback retreated at the same time. However, the black-robed man pounced and instantly became a meatball that approached Qin Huai. Qin Huai immediately changed his move. The three white dragons turned into a qi wall and were pushed out of his body. BOOM! The black-robed man¡¯s body exploded on the spot, and the terrifying impact swallowed Qin Huai whole. Hualala¡­ Blood and flesh fell from the sky like rain. Buzzzzzz! Hualala¡­ Qin Huai pulled himself out of the giant tree in a sorry state. The loose robe on his body had become a beggar¡¯s outfit, and the few poisonous daggers were all over the ground. The remaining poison stirred up a cloud of dust. The armor on Qin Huai¡¯s body was also blasted open, and blood flowed continuously along the lines of his muscles. But fortunately, that was all. Most of the power of the explosion was offset by the thousand refined armor on his body. It could be said that the people of the Sacred Heart sect were indeed evil. Such an outstanding cultivation technique like the supreme technique of the blood heart was actually used by them in such an evil manner. They fed on people and turned them into human bombs. They had completely taken the wrong path. ¡°You¡¯re still alive¡­¡± The hunchback walked out of the blood rain. He looked at Qin Huai, whose long robe and mask had been blown to pieces, and was suddenly stunned. ¡°It¡¯s you, Qin Huai? It¡¯s really like I¡¯ve worn out my iron shoes in a long search, but I found you without any effort!¡± The hunchbacked man smiled eerily. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± After a long period of harvesting, the hunchback man and the black-robed man knew that in this huge Pingnan City, the only person who knew how to burn cultivation methods was Qin Huai. Now, he had found him. Qin Huai was about to die. He didn¡¯t need to worry about the embarrassing situation of having all the secret manuals burnt. The black-robed man¡¯s self-destruction and the fact that he had already used his killing move¡­ He wouldn¡¯t be a match for him now, right? And it was good that the black-robed man died. No one would share his blood food¡­ It was a perfect ending. Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he heard the other party call his name. As expected, the other party had noticed that he had burned his cultivation technique. The next second, he then ran toward the hunchback. He removed the deformed arm guard from his arm and threw it at him. In his blood dragon form, his throw was not inferior to the giant venomous snake¡¯s. The hunchback didn¡¯t expect Qin Huai to be so lively after that. Caught off guard, he turned his back to Qin Huai. The impact of the bracer shattered the hunchback man¡¯s long robe, but it did not pierce his body. Clang! A spark shot out in the dark night, and the arm guard instantly bounced off. On the hunchback¡¯s back was a large shield as tall as a man. In one breath, he pulled out this large shield from behind his hunched back and used it. As for Qin Huai, he was already in front of the hunchback man¡¯s heavy shield. Hu¡­ The qi wall turned back into a white dragon and flowed into his fist through his qi and blood meridians. Then, a white light streaked across the night sky. ¡°Forbidden technique, rising dragon!¡± The thick and heavy shield was directly shattered by Qin Huai¡¯s close-contact attack. Their eyes met. The hunchbacked man¡¯s eyes were filled with astonishment. He didn¡¯t expect the shield he had painstakingly built to be shattered, and he didn¡¯t expect Qin Huai to really have a killing move. He found that his hand was still a little numb, and his reaction had slowed down for a moment. But it was not over yet! ¡°Forbidden technique, second rising dragon!¡± The second dot of light followed closely behind, gathering power at Qin Huai¡¯s fist. The hunchback grabbed a sharp shard of a large shield in the air and stabbed it at Qin Huai. At such a close distance, the hunchbacked man¡¯s pupils seemed to see a giant dragon passing through his body. The sharp blades of the shield almost pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. At the same time, a stream of blood shot out from Qin Huai¡¯s arm. However, the hunchback¡¯s abdomen had a hole the size of a human head, just like the black-robed man¡¯s. ¡°Golden blood!¡± The hunchback man urged the golden blood in his body to do the same. However, Qin Huai stepped forward and used both hands to pull on his wound. ¡°Ah!¡± Qin Huai roared in anger. The veins all over his body bulged as he exerted his strength. Stab! The hunchbacked man¡¯s waist, which was the only part of flesh that connected his upper and lower body, was torn apart by Qin Huai¡¯s tremendous strength. Dong! Dong! Dong! The hunchback¡¯s two halves flew out and rolled on the grass like dog bones. ¡°Can you still self-destruct now?¡± Qin Huai walked over and kicked the hunchback¡¯s body through the fracture. ¡°Yes¡­¡± the hunchbacked man groaned. The splitting pain had temporarily numbed him. He tried to self-destruct, but all he got in return was blood spurting out from his broken body. In an instant, his face was as white as a sheet. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart Essence (Blue)], [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart] Experience +499!¡± ¡°Tell me the method of making that strange secret manual.¡± Qin Huai looked down at the hunchback from above. ¡°That¡¯s a sacred object that can only be obtained by sacrificing to God! Become a believer of our God! A genius like you will definitely be blessed by our God!¡± The hunchback¡¯s eyes burned with a fanatical flame as he spoke. ¡°If you go against a God, you¡¯ll definitely¡­¡± Bang! Bang! Qin Huai punched the hunchback in the face, and his entire facial bone caved in. It was like a chicken talking to a duck to talk to a fanatical heretic. ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy. Demons. Everyone in this city will die soon¡­¡± the hunchback stuttered. He wanted to grin, but Qin Huai added another punch and completely smashed his head. ¡°As expected, the demons are still coming. Does God really exist in this world? Is it a living being that has transcended humans and demons, or is it someone that these fanatical believers are worshiping?¡± Qin Huai was deep in thought, but he didn¡¯t have an answer. He glanced at the two purple experience balls on the ground. With a thought, he collected them. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart Essence (Dark Purple)], [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart] Experience +5000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart Essence (Blue)], [Supreme Technique of the Blood Heart] Experience +5000!¡± Fourth refinement martial artists were indeed valuable. Qin Huai then looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 126] [Vitality]: 40.706 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 35, 724/4000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 22, 1500/3000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 12, 1025/2000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 10, 31/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 229/1600)], [Cooking (Beginner, 187/200)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 4/4] [Stage: Level 3 Blood Refinement] In half a month, the three cultivation techniques with killing ability had all improved by several levels. Now that he had learned the blood heart technique, who knew what kind of changes he would have? But he didn¡¯t have time to comprehend it and went straight to the young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion¡­ Chapter 68 - 68 Master Qin! The Young Master as His Disciple! 68 Master Qin! The Young Master as His Disciple! Qin Huai stepped on the dead leaves and passed through the dense forest. In fact, the corpses were not far, only about ten meters away. Even before the dead bodies were seen, the strong smell of blood already made Qin Huai frown. After walking in, the first thing he saw was the ground full of corpses. Half of their heads had been gnawed off, leaving red and white things behind. There were also some broken arms and legs hanging from the trees. There were a few people who were on the verge of death in the pool of blood, and they were still breathing. In the middle was a young man, wearing a pink robe that was similar to the one made of river water, tied up and lying on the ground. ¡°Did Big Brother come to save me? Big brother, I know you love me the most,¡± he said weakly. Qin Huai broke off a two-meter-long branch and poked the young man to turn over. When the young man heard the sound, he gritted his teeth and did a carp flip. He couldn¡¯t get up. However, after rolling on the ground, he rolled to the front, but he closed his eyes tightly, not daring to open them at all. Qin Huai looked at his appearance. It was simply carved out of the same mold as the city lord in the portrait, so he shouldn¡¯t be the black-robed man and the hunchback¡¯s accomplice. Qin Huai removed his blood dragon form, and his entire body instantly became much thinner. Then, he used a branch to break the rope on the young man¡¯s body. ¡°Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Qin, for saving my life!¡± Only then did Hu Jinghai dare to open his eyes. He stood up and bowed to Qin Huai. His humble attitude didn¡¯t seem like the young master of the city lord at all. He had just witnessed the entire battle, and he was only playing dumb because he was afraid that Qin Huai would kill him to silence him. Now, he was relieved. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re all family.¡± Qin Huai smiled and patted his shoulder. At the same time, he activated the blood heart technique. The blood heart technique was sensitive and could be used to distinguish the strength of other people¡¯s qi and blood. This was also the reason why the black-robed man could roughly judge his own realm. The strength of his vitality was around the second refinement, and there was a high probability that he had used qi and blood pills to get it. Such weakness was definitely not a disguise by the Sacred Heart believers. He threw an antidote pill at Hu Jinghai. Hu Jinghai was taken aback and quickly swallowed it. ¡°I understand the rules. You can detoxify me when you can prove my identity.¡± He had read a lot of wuxia novels, so he was familiar with this plot. ¡°This is an antidote.¡± The corners of Hu Jinghai¡¯s mouth twitched. He had no idea when he had been poisoned. What an expert! Qin Huai no longer paid attention to Hu Jinghai and walked toward the corpses and remains. After that, he gathered them into a pile and pieced them together. Hu Jinghai also rushed forward to help, but he couldn¡¯t help but see the broken arms and exposed internal organs, as well as a mix of red, yellow, and white flesh. Oh~ He couldn¡¯t help but vomit. However, he still wanted to help. Qin Huai didn¡¯t stop him and only sped up his tidying up. After some effort, Qin Huai and Hu Jinghai barely managed to get thirteen people, and they also managed to get a huge amount of silver notes of more than 3,800 taels. ¡°I¡¯ve let them down. If I didn¡¯t want to help my father and big brother, they wouldn¡¯t have died.¡± Hu Jinghai looked at the familiar faces on the ground and suddenly burst into tears. Qin Huai ignored him and walked back to where the bodies of the black-robed man and the hunchback man were. They found a whole ten thousand taels of silver notes on the two of them, as well as some gaudy jewelry and jadeite. After this round of killing, they got a few thousand taels more than the armor that the Luo manor had made over the past two months. It was simply a huge profit. Whoosh! Suddenly, there was a loud noise behind him, followed by a bright firework that flew into the sky and exploded. It was Hu Jinghai¡¯s distress signal. Shua, shua, shua. Hu Jinghai quickly ran over. ¡°Qin. No¡­ Master! Please teach me martial arts!¡± He knelt behind Qin Huai with a plop. Qin Huai was shocked. ¡°Why are you doing this? There are so many experts in the city lord¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°My aptitude is extremely poor, and I¡¯m on the opposite end of the spectrum from my big brother. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing martial arts since I was young, but it¡¯s useless. I¡¯m already seventeen, but I¡¯m only in the first refinement¡­ Father used a vat of vitality soup and pills, but they only pushed my qi and blood to the second refinement¡­ ¡°And the result¡­ I still can¡¯t withstand a single blow, and I can¡¯t help my father and big brother at all.¡± Hu Jinghai was depressed, but his tone changed as he said, ¡°But you¡¯re different, Master. I saw your battle just now! Your poison skills are top-notch. One of them vomited blood before the fight even started. ¡°These are fourth refinement martial artists. If they were third refinement, wouldn¡¯t you be able to kill them without even lifting a finger?! I think with my aptitude, I¡¯m suitable to follow you in this kind of martial arts.¡± Hu Jinghai was so excited that he even danced with joy. In this other world where he had his own family and career at thirteen or fourteen, he was clearly a little too childish. ¡°This path is difficult, and I¡¯m only a mountaineer who has just glimpsed the path. I¡¯m far from being a teacher,¡± Qin Huai said. Hu Jinghai¡¯s face was instantly filled with disappointment. ¡°Master, just take me in. I¡¯ll do anything you want! Money, women, resources¡­ Master, feel free to ask. It¡¯s just a test for the disciples.¡± Qin Huai pretended to be deep in thought. He hesitated for a while before answering, ¡°Fine. Seeing that you¡¯re sincere in your studies, I¡¯ll force myself to accept you.¡± Having a young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion as a disciple might be useful in the future. ¡°This branch of martial arts doesn¡¯t have any requirements for talent or foundation, but you must study hard. This is a path where you can see the rewards if you work hard. When you go back, read two stacks of medical books in the city, then I will teach you the real skills,¡± Qin Huai blurted out. He had already thought about it. ¡°Many thanks, master!¡± Hu Jinghai was deeply grateful, and he gave Qin Huai three loud kowtows. Qin Huai also accepted it with peace of mind. Then, he accompanied Hu Jinghai and waited for a while. Very quickly, a series of hurried footsteps could be heard. Shua, shua, shua. In the blink of an eye, a group of people surrounded Qin Huai with long knives in hand. The leader, a middle-aged man with bound hair, stared at Qin Huai with a murderous look. ¡°Young Master, are you alright?¡± When Hu Jinghai saw who it was, his entire body relaxed. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Commander Sun. I¡¯m fine. Put down the knife and don¡¯t point it at my master!¡± he quickly added in a stern voice. ¡°Your master?¡± Commander Sun was confused. ¡°It was Master who saved me. Otherwise, I would have been dead by now¡­¡± As Hu Jinghai explained the sequence of events, Commander Sun and the others immediately knelt down on one knee before Qin Huai. ¡°Many thanks, Little Brother Qin¡­ Grandmaster Qin has come to my rescue!¡± ¡°Sun Tong will definitely remember Grandmaster¡¯s kindness in his heart!¡± Sun Tongyi and the others expressed their gratitude with solemn expressions. They were also amazed. They didn¡¯t expect that Qin Huai, a genius youth who had only risen to fame in Pingnan City a few months ago, would be so arrogant. He had already killed two fourth refinement martial artists in a two-against-one fight! Hence, they became even more respectful to Qin Huai. Qin Huai hadn¡¯t finished sweeping the mountain yet, so when he saw Sun Tong and the others, he parted ways with Hu Jinghai and his group. ¡­ The lights were bright at the city lord¡¯s mansion. Hu Guanpan buried his head in the transfer reports and the clear map of Pingnan City in the study. His hair was black and white, his body was slender, and he had two walnuts in his left hand. Bang! Bang! The gate of the city lord¡¯s mansion was pushed open by Sun Tong. ¡°You found him?¡± Hu Guanpan only raised his eyes and continued to study the map. Sun Tong was used to the city lord¡¯s attitude, so he explained his search for Hu Jinghai in full detail. ¡°He¡¯s in the third refinement realm, and he killed two fourth refinement martial artists of the Sacred Heart sect?¡± Hu Guanpan muttered to himself after hearing this. He was neither Hu Jinghai nor Sun Tong, and he had a deep understanding of the Changshan Dojo. The master of the Changshan Dojo was the best poison master in Pingnan City. He had been the top in Pingnan for decades. For Qin Huai to be able to achieve such a battle result, this poison was definitely a heavenly contribution. And that dojo master¡¯s contribution naturally couldn¡¯t go unnoticed. Even the young Sun Yuanshan might not have such a record. Qin Huai must have inherited Sun Yuanshan¡¯s skills. And it was very likely that he had surpassed his master. ¡°Jinghai¡¯s talent isn¡¯t good enough. He might as well learn poison from this Grandmaster Qin. It¡¯ll give him some ability to protect himself,¡± Hu Guanpan muttered to himself for a moment. ¡°Prepare a master¡¯s acknowledgment gift¡­ Let¡¯s just keep it for now. There will be plenty of opportunities to make up for it in the future. After all, those of the poison path have never liked to show off.¡± Chapter 69 - 69 Golden Blood Dragon Cultivation! Grand Martial Competition! 69 Golden Blood Dragon Cultivation! Grand Martial Competition! After getting rid of the two Sacred Heart disciples, Qin Huai did not encounter any more mountain bandits in the mountains. After that, the escort mission went quite smoothly. The master of the Cui family, who had only paid the deposit, wanted to take away the fifty sets of armor, but Qin Huai suppressed the servants and guards on the spot. He collected an additional four thousand taels of silver as medical expenses to settle the matter and left in high spirits. Qin Huai had earned nearly 20,000 taels of silver in just two days from his escort trip. It was actually too much. ¡­ In the small courtyard of the dojo, Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the bed the moment he returned. This was because he had discovered that there was only one white dragon left on the way. By the time he returned, there were already three. His consciousness sank into his body and soul dantian. The white dragon ring was still circling around the purple ball of lightning, but above the ball of lightning, there was a drop of golden blood the size of a green bean hovering quietly. It was the golden blood cultivated by the blood heart technique. Wisps of white qi surrounded the pea-sized golden blood, and the white gas would expand with every circle. ¡°The golden blood has the effect of healing wounds, but I didn¡¯t expect it to also heal the white dragon.¡± The unexpected joy caused ripples in Qin Huai¡¯s heart. Furthermore, the speed of recovery was exactly the same as him taking in a day¡¯s worth of experience. ¡°If I use this drop of golden blood on a white dragon, I can at least repair a dragon,¡± Qin Huai thought. If he were to wait for his blood heart technique to advance a few more levels, his golden blood might be able to restore a white dragon in an hour, or even half an hour in the time for several incense sticks to burn. At that time, he would truly be able to enjoy using a forbidden technique as an ordinary attack. Moreover, he didn¡¯t have to return to the dojo at a fixed time, which was a supply station, making it much more convenient. Hualala¡­ Without any warning, it started to rain heavily outside the courtyard. It made the already cold late autumn even colder. Da da da da¡­ Hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, follow me to the entrance of the dojo.¡± It was Qi Yangbing. Qin Huai grabbed an oil-paper umbrella and put on his new clothes. He pushed the door open and followed Qi Yangbing to the dojo entrance. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard there are traces of demons, and the city lord has called the dojo masters of the eight big martial arts centers for a meeting. You and I will travel together with Master.¡± Qi Yangbing roused his qi and blood to shout out loud for Qin Huai to hear clearly. ¡°Damn this weather.¡± Qin Huai cursed under his breath. His poison and armor had been destroyed, and he had yet to replenish them. In front of the dojo, an old man with a sage-like demeanor stood in the rain in a white robe. He allowed the rain to wash over him, but there was not a single speck of dust on his white robe. It was as if everything was pushed aside in front of the old man. ¡°Master!¡± The two of them cupped their fists and saluted. Qin Huai looked carefully at Sun Yuanshan¡¯s body. There were no traces of a wind wall on him. Only a faint airflow was faintly visible, but it kept the violent wind and rain out. It was an extremely high realm. Was this what a sixth refinement warrior was? ¡°Is there any foundation left?¡± Sun Yuanshan said as he walked. ¡°There was a fierce battle on this trip, and I used them all.¡± Qin Huai understood what his master was referring to. ¡°I prepared these for you,¡± Sun Yuanshan said as he took something out of his pocket. ¡°I divided this packet of heart-softening powder into twelve small packets¡­ This is hell dance, thirty small packets. This is a mixture of spicy powder and lime powder, two big packets, thirty per packet¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan took them out, and Qin Huai stuffed them into his clothes. The master and disciple were very familiar with this, and their movements were extremely smooth, as if their left hand had reversed their right hand. After a while, Sun Yuanshan had lost a lot of weight, and Qin Huai had gained weight again. Qi Yangbing¡¯s eyes were wide open as he watched. He was not as talented as his junior brother in this field. ¡°Master, is this trip dangerous?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal, but I wanted to give them just in case,¡± Sun Yuanshan replied. The three of them were all extraordinary martial artists, and their speed was extremely fast, so they arrived at the city lord¡¯s mansion in an hour. They met two strong men at the corner of the street. One of them had a handsome face. He was Reihom, whom they had met once and was known as the number one person among the younger generation in Pingnan. He was carrying a black spear that was several meters long, and his eyes were determined. It was Qin Huai¡¯s first time seeing the other person, but he could roughly guess that he was the head of the Thunderbolt Dojo, Bai Bashan. Two muscular monsters¡­ They walked like two small mountains. The two rows of people looked at each other but did not greet each other. In front of the city Lord¡¯s mansion, two groups of soldiers in black armor exuded a murderous aura. In the mansion, Sun Tong held his halberd, and his eyes were cold. As he looked at the two people from the Thunderbolt Dojo, his eyes seemed to be filled with killing intent. ¡°This is bad.¡± Sun Yuanshan clicked his tongue and entered. Suddenly, Sun Tong¡¯s eyes changed. He looked at Sun Yuanshan and the other two with a gentler expression and even nodded slightly. ¡°This kid, could he be an admirer of this old man when he was young?¡± Sun Yuanshan walked past the front hall and muttered suspiciously. The group walked into the meeting hall at the back. There were two purple-black Taishi chairs with gold, and on the left was an elegant middle-aged man with a walnut in his hand. On the armchair on the right was Bai Bashan, who had just arrived. Four nanmu flower phoenix condors were placed on either side of him. There were already five people. Those who were close to the seats of honor, those who carried knives, those who held spears, and those whose fists were wrapped in white cloth¡­ Their identities were very distinct. They were the second-class of the eight great dojos, Mang Mountain Saber Dojo, Three Tassels Spear Dojo, and the White Wave Fist Dojo. Further down, there was a skinny old man who was wearing a green robe. He was the master of the Crane Dojo, Qing Yunhe. There was also a ball-like middle-aged man who was even more muscular than Bai Bashan. He was the master of Tyrant Fist Dojo, Bao Ziyan. These were the masters of the eight major martial arts centers, and behind them were their young disciples. Sun Yuanshan sat at the end of the table, while Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing were on the left and right. After waiting for a while, an ordinary-looking, barehanded middle-aged man arrived with a pair of twin sisters. He sat opposite Sun Yuanshan. The people from the eight big martial arts centers were all here. ¡°Since everyone is here, let¡¯s begin.¡± Hu Guanpan went straight to the point. ¡°What is everyone¡¯s decision on the matter of cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique? ¡± ¡°Forgive me for being blunt, but cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique at the same time is no doubt ruining the future of my disciples and grand disciples! I can¡¯t agree to this!¡± Qing Yunhe was the first to speak. ¡°That¡¯s right, this method definitely won¡¯t work.¡± Bao Ziyan also spoke up. ¡°If the city lord insists on this, then I think we can only fight first.¡± His words were full of gunpowder. However, the other dojo masters didn¡¯t stop him. Obviously, the masters of the eight major martial arts centers had already talked to each other in private. Hu Guanpan didn¡¯t think much of it and said slowly, ¡°The latest news is that a wave of demons has already reached Fenshan City, which is only 700 li away from Pingnan. It¡¯ll take at most half a year for them to reach Pingnan.¡± As soon as this news came out, the faces of the dojo masters changed. Their intelligence network was far inferior to Hu Guanpan¡¯s. Although they knew that the wave of demons would reach Pingnan sooner or later, they didn¡¯t expect it to be so fast. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Seven to eight thousand,¡± Hu Guanpan said. ¡°If Fenshan City can kill half of the demons, if we work together, we might win,¡± Bai Bashan said slowly. Pingnan City was the ancestral land and also the foundation of their estate. Their family members were all here. They must not move unless they had no other choice. ¡°That¡¯s why I want all of you to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. It will definitely reduce the number of casualties,¡± Hu Guanpan continued. ¡°No, no, no.¡± ¡°This is the only way? I can¡¯t do it.¡± The man with the knife shook his head. The two sides haggled for a long time. ¡°If you doubt me and are not willing to cultivate at the same time, I have a plan.¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t persuade them, Hu Guanpan sighed helplessly. ¡°My city lord¡¯s mansion is proficient in large formations. When the time comes, listen to me and arrange your troops. There is a high chance that we will be able to block the wave of demons.¡± The masters of the eight martial arts centers looked at each other and nodded. Compared to cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, this was the best and indeed reasonable. Upon seeing this, Hu Guanpan called for someone to bring a map, which was placed on the square table in the center. The group immediately walked forward and looked at the detailed map of Pingnan. One by one, the terrain was circled. It was an important mountain pass to enter and exit Pingnan. The people from the eight major martial arts centers looked around and nodded. ¡°This method is possible, but the difficulty of defending these strategic locations is different. I wonder how the city lord would like to distribute our forces?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This Tiger Mouth Mountain is the direct path from Fenshan to Pingnan, so it will be the most dangerous. Whoever guards it will suffer heavy losses!¡± Hu Guanpan laughed. ¡°Why don¡¯t we rank the young people based on their strength and then choose our seats first? ¡± ¡°Are you talking about the eighth martial competition?¡± ¡°With the help of my city lord¡¯s mansion, we can organize a grand martial arts competition and set the time to be half a year later. This will give the kids time to improve themselves. What do you think?¡± The dojo masters looked at each other. They finally understood that the city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s series of actions tried to force them to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The grand martial arts competition was his real purpose. However, it seemed that this was the only reasonable way¡­ Chapter 70 - 70 The Rich and Generous City Lord, a Meeting with the Eight Masters 70 The Rich and Generous City Lord, a Meeting with the Eight Masters When the dojo masters nodded in agreement, the breathing of the group of young people behind them had obviously changed a little. Qin Huai was no exception. This decision was equivalent to putting the lives of dozens or even all of their apprentices and disciples on them. A good position could definitely save a lot of people from their own dojo. Bao Ziyan chuckled. ¡°Our eight martial competitions have good prizes. I wonder if there are any additional rewards after the city lord joins?¡± ¡°Naturally, there is.¡± Hu Guanpan seemed to have predicted everything. ¡°The city lord¡¯s mansion will reward the first place with a precious treasure in the vault, a clear sky pill from Clear Sky Temple. ¡°A clear sky pill can offset half of the blood qi transformation, and there¡¯s still a slight chance to touch the fate of the Dao. At the very least, it can cleanse one¡¯s meridians and improve one¡¯s cultivation aptitude.¡± ¡°Hiss~¡± Even the dojo masters couldn¡¯t help but gasp when they heard this. The value of a half-completed vitality transformation would have to be calculated by boxes if it were to be converted into vitality pills. But this was only secondary. The key was the chance to touch the fate of the Dao. It was a pill that could cleanse one¡¯s meridians and improve one¡¯s cultivation aptitude. They had only heard of it but had never seen it before. Even if it could only increase one¡¯s aptitude by a little, it would still be worth a fortune! Qing Yunhe sighed with emotion. As expected of the city lord who has been in charge of Pingnan for more than a hundred years¡­ ¡°Hall Master Qing, you don¡¯t have to be so emotional yet. I haven¡¯t finished speaking. ¡°There¡¯s also a visiting card personally written by the county governor,¡± Hu Guanpan said unhurriedly. ¡°You can enter any martial arts school in Lingjiang county to learn.¡± Dong Dong Dong Dong¡­ The hearts of most of the young people present began to beat faster. Originally, the recommendation quota for the eight martial arts competition was only for the middle or even middle-lower level martial arts dojos in Lingjiang County. However, the City Lord Hu Guanpan was talking about the top martial arts school in Lingjiang county. It was like the gap between the eight martial arts centers and the Liu family¡¯s apothecary. It wasn¡¯t a shameful thing for Great You¡¯s martial artists to seek knowledge. Just like the promotion of the disciples, it had long become a norm. If their disciples joined a better martial arts center or sect, it would be a great return to the original martial arts center. At the very least, it would increase their reputation. This was a convention, a habit that was carved into the bones of the people of Great You. Hu Guanpan took in everyone¡¯s expressions. ¡°There¡¯s more!¡± Bai Bashan and the others looked at each other. They knew that the city lord was rich and powerful, but they didn¡¯t expect him to be so generous. They couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°The last one is that the general in charge of the wolf token will be able to command the iron armored army¡¯s wolf battalion for three hundred units¡­ until the end of the great wave of demons.¡± Hu Guanpan¡¯s voice was powerful. The various dojo masters immediately squinted their eyes. The city lord could be said to be rich and overbearing in the first two, but when he said the last thing, it was a bit like he had revealed his true intentions. They looked at the young man behind Hu Guanpan, who had a similar temperament to him. They finally figured it out. ¡°The city lord is so generous. I think it¡¯s to build momentum for the eldest young master,¡± Bai Bashan said slowly. ¡°Jingshan has been cultivating in seclusion for many years. It¡¯s time for him to come out and see the world.¡± Hu Guanpan did not deny it. ¡°City Lord, you¡¯re really confident in your son¡¯s strength. Aren¡¯t you afraid of failing in an easy task?¡± Bao Ziyan¡¯s smile was cold. Hu Jingshan slowly said, ¡°If I lose, it proves that these things don¡¯t belong to me. It¡¯s just returning it to its owner, so how can you say that it¡¯s a failure?¡± His voice was calm, neither servile nor overbearing in front of the masters of the eight major martial centers. ¡°I hope your strength is as strong as your confidence, and you can bring me some fun.¡± Reihom, who was resting with his eyes closed, raised his head slightly and glanced at Hu Jingshan. ¡°It seems like I have underestimated Young Master Jingshan.¡± Bao Ziyan cupped his fists.¡±I have no objections to these conditions!¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as the city lord suggests.¡± ¡°I have an additional suggestion.¡± The dojo masters expressed their opinions one by one. ¡­ The heavy rain poured down like ten thousand arrows piercing the heart. ¡°In this grand martial competition half a year later, the two of you must do your best and give it your all!¡± In the ancestral house on Changshan Dojo, Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing stood in front of Sun Yuanshan. ¡°Then the order of choosing seats is important to our dojo, but your future is just as important. No matter what it is, you can¡¯t relax for the next six months. ¡°From today on, your share of the vitality soup, pills, and demon meat will all be doubled,¡± Sun Yuanshan instructed. ¡°In addition, come to me for a bath every seven days. I¡¯ve prepared a tonic medicinal bath for you!¡± ¡°Many thanks, Master!¡± Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing cupped their fists and were about to leave. ¡°By the way, Qin Huai, stay behind and help me pick some herbs.¡± Sun Yuanshan called out to Qin Huai. The two of them watched as Qi Yangbing left. Sun Yuanshan then said, ¡°Yangbing is a good kid. He¡¯s talented and good at learning, but if he wants to fight for the first place¡­especially if we were to fight against Reihom, our chances of victory are pathetically low.¡± ¡°Is Reihom really that powerful?¡± Qin Huai could not help but ask. ¡°For two years, Reihom has been at the top of the eight martial roll, and he has never used his full strength.¡± Sun Yuanshan sighed leisurely. ¡°Now, there¡¯s also the extremely confident eldest son of the city lord who doesn¡¯t show off. Yang Bing doesn¡¯t have any chance of winning.¡± He changed the topic, and his withered hand patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder heavily. ¡°But you¡¯re different! I have high hopes for you!¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s eyes lit up when he looked at Qin Huai. ¡°You¡¯re extremely talented, and you¡¯ve had the opportunity to have a white dragon at the same level as us! The weakness of the long breath technique in the lower realm will no longer exist! ¡°In addition, you¡¯ve received most of my true teachings. In the grand martial competition half a year from now, you will definitely have great prospects!¡± Sun Yuanshan was very excited. He looked at Qin Huai as if he was looking at his younger self. This grand martial competition was definitely a great opportunity for this disciple of his, whether it was the clear sky pill from the Clear Sky Temple, the invitation card personally written by the governor, or the wolf battalion of the armored army. ¡°As long as you enter the fourth refinement and raise your qi and blood, Reihom might not¡­ I¡¯m definitely not your match!¡± Sun Yuanshan said firmly. Qin Huai looked at Sun Yuanshan¡¯s face full of hope and said solemnly, ¡°I will definitely not let you down, Master! ¡°I won¡¯t let you down either. I¡¯ll add strong and powerful medicine to your medicinal bath! As long as you can resist it, you will definitely advance rapidly.¡± Sun Yuanshan patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder heavily. As Qin Huai watched his master speak, he subconsciously glanced at the medicinal field. He had a few guesses about the ¡®strong medicine¡¯ and ¡®fierce medicine¡¯ in his heart. Shua shua shua. The eldest brother, Rong Li, suddenly came up the mountain with an umbrella. ¡°Master, there¡¯s an invitation from the Thunderbolt Dojo. They¡¯d like to invite you to a small pavilion outside the city for a gathering.¡± Rong Li handed over a letter. Sun Yuanshan opened it and saw that it was indeed Bai Bashan¡¯s handwriting. ¡°You¡¯re inviting me in the middle of the night on such a rainy day¡­¡± he muttered to himself. It was most likely about the grand martial competition. ¡°You guys have a good rest. I¡¯m going out for a while.¡± Sun Yuanshan patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and quickly went down the mountain. The small pavilion was not far away. It was about twenty square meters and a structure that the city lord¡¯s mansion had built in the early years for passersby to rest. As soon as Sun Yuanshan arrived, he saw Bai Bashan¡¯s tall figure. ¡°Senior Sun!¡± Bai Bashan smiled and invited Sun Yuanshan into the pavilion. ¡®There must be something wrong with this abnormal situation!¡¯ Sun Yuanshan was alert and clenched his long sleeve. ¡°When I was young, your name was already well-known in Pingnan City. I didn¡¯t expect you would still be so lively when I became the head.¡± Bai Bashan sighed. ¡°It¡¯s said that time waits for no man, but you seem to be more energetic as you age¡­ Tsk, tsk, the long breath technique is really good stuff.¡± ¡°If you have something to say, just say it.¡± Sun Yuanshan put on a fake smile. The Bai Bashan he knew was not this kind of person. ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Seeing that Sun Yuanshan did not want to talk to him, Bai Bashan instantly turned serious. The two of them sat in a small pavilion. Without a word, they looked at each other in the rain. Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps came from not far away. The other masters of the eight major martial arts centers had all come¡­ Chapter 71 - 71 Internal Champion? Surround and Kill Sun Yuanshan! 71 Internal Champion? Surround and Kill Sun Yuanshan! Hu! The six dojo masters put away their oil-paper umbrellas and sat in the small pavilion. Bai Bashan looked at the crowd and said, ¡°Since everyone is here, I¡¯ll tell you why I¡¯ve gathered you all here. Lord Hu must have offered such a high price to boost his eldest son¡¯s reputation. I don¡¯t think anyone has any objections to this.¡± The rest of the people didn¡¯t speak. Bai Bashan continued, ¡°If we let Lord Hu¡¯s son get first place, we won¡¯t get anything out of it. Instead, we will be a stepping stone for his son. ¡°However, if any of the eight great martial arts centers were to take it down¡­ It can suppress the city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s momentum, and on the other hand, it can also benefit all the families.¡± Sun Yuanshan glanced at the expressions of the other heads around him. They were all calm and composed. He immediately had a bad feeling. Bai Bashan continued to speak, ¡°We can let the person with the most hope among the eight stay until the end in his best condition. Then, the top one will share some of the benefits with the other dojos. ¡°Reihom from the Thunderbolt Dojo has been number one on the eight martial roll for two years. Only Hu Jingshan, who hasn¡¯t made a move yet, has a chance in the fight for first place.¡± Bai Bashan¡¯s voice grew louder and louder. ¡°Everyone, go easy on Reihom and then exhaust Hu Jingshan with all your might. Then, this beast will be ours for the taking.¡± ¡°I think this is a good suggestion.¡± Bao Ziyan chuckled and spoke first. ¡°I also think it¡¯s possible,¡± Qing Yunhe also spoke. Sun Yuanshan looked at the expressions of the others and sneered. ¡°After the first place is confirmed, don¡¯t the other seven still have to guard their positions according to the ranking? How do we split it?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be just right to follow the eight martial roll?¡± The man with the knife grinned. ¡°I also think it¡¯s reasonable.¡± The master of the Six Harmonies Dojo also spoke. Sun Yuanshan continued to sneer. ¡°I see that you all have a tacit understanding. You must have colluded long ago to give the title to Reihom.¡± If this were the case, the Changshan Dojo would be the last one. They could only guard the most dangerous places. More importantly, wouldn¡¯t Qin Huai, that kid, miss out on that great opportunity? ¡°I don¡¯t accept this proposal!¡± Sun Yuanshan was slightly angry. ¡°The first place should be decided by our own abilities. Just as that brat Hu Jingshan said, it belongs to whoever it should belong to!¡± ¡°Master Sun, you have to consider the big picture,¡± Qing Yunhe leisurely advised. ¡°Senior Sun, if this is successful, I¡¯ll give you 20% of the mining rights for the White Ore mine for the next two years,¡± Bai Bashan spoke again. Bao Ziyan struck while the iron was hot. ¡°Besides, those two disciples of yours¡­ One is Qi Yangbing, who has been ranked tenth all year round. The other is Qin Huai, who has a little talent but is only in the third refinement realm. There is no hope for them to compete for the first place.¡± ¡°According to the grand martial competition¡¯s rules, whether or not we can compete, it won¡¯t be long before we reach the end, is that clear? There¡¯s no need to go through all these twists and turns. We¡¯ll see who¡¯s stronger and who¡¯s weaker in the arena!¡± Sun Yuanshan said firmly, not giving in an inch. For Qin Huai, this invitation from the top martial arts school in Lingjiang county was the only chance he had in his life. His qi and blood were mottled, and he cultivated many things. His root bone and aptitude were also a mess. It was only because he had a good affinity with the long breath technique that he was so outstanding. Once he left the long breath technique, he would need to find a cultivation technique with good compatibility. It was as difficult as ascending to heaven to re-cultivate a martial art or a martial transformation art. If Qin Huai missed this opportunity, there was a high chance that his progress would stop here. That was why no matter what, he wouldn¡¯t trade Qin Huai¡¯s future for a temporary benefit. ¡°You really don¡¯t agree?¡± Bai Bashan squinted his eyes. ¡°Give me two days to think about it¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan looked around, got up, and cupped his fists. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave first! I¡¯ll give you an answer in two days.¡± Without any hesitation, he turned around and left. BOOM! Behind him, a gust of wind suddenly rose. Sun Yuanshan¡¯s long robe was bulging, and his hair was dancing in the wind. He suddenly turned around, and the electric arcs in his pupils suddenly enlarged. His fist was wrapped in a sharp blade-like fist. The rainbow-piercing vigor! Sun Yuanshan did not show any mercy. The six white dragons poured out, and the wind was like a cannon. Bang! Bang! The two exchanged a punch. Sun Yuanshan waved his hand and sprayed a handful of poisonous mist. However, the heavens were not kind, and most of the poisonous fog sank into the soil in an instant. As he waved his hand and stopped, the ball-like Bao Ziyan came from the side. The man with the knife followed closely behind with a sinister smile. ¡°Master Sun, if you don¡¯t agree today, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to leave!¡± The Three Tassels Spear Dojo¡¯s masters also attacked from the right. The saber was like a fierce tiger, and the spear was like a swift snake! The beast bared its fangs and roared in the rain. ¡°Qi bell!¡± Sun Yuanshan frowned, and a clear white mist suddenly rose around him. The blades and spears were like fog, as if they were stuck in a quagmire, and had no reaction. ¡°Crushing fist!¡± Bao Ziyan laughed maliciously, and his punch didn¡¯t have any fluctuations. But when it hit the qi bell, it tore the white mist apart. At the same time, the saber and the spear struck together! Sun Yuanshan grunted. A touch of red fell from the corner of his mouth, but it disappeared in the storm. Sun Yuanshan¡¯s expression turned ugly. He did not expect that Bai Bashan would really dare to attack. The other six dojo masters followed closely behind¡­ They wanted to take the opportunity to kill him and split the share of the Changshan Dojo! Sun Yuanshan was running wildly in the rain as the seven dojo masters of Pingnan City were hot on his heels. ¡°Master Bai, I think your suggestion is good. I agree!¡± Sun Yuanshan roared. ¡°Hahaha! Sun Yuanshan, do you think we¡¯ll still believe you?¡± Bai Bashan laughed out loud. ¡°The heavens are doing you a favor today. You can¡¯t even use your poison techniques, and your combat strength has been greatly reduced. ¡°You¡¯ve seen enough scenery at the peak of Pingnan City. It¡¯s time to go to the netherworld.¡± Pa! A pool of liquid mixed with the rain fell on his face, but Bai Bashan didn¡¯t care. However, the next moment, the other people¡¯s curses rang out in the forest. ¡°This old man poisoned the rain?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s poison¡­¡± ¡°Damn it¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! Little brats, you¡¯re still far from being able to scheme against this old man!¡± Sun Yuanshan laughed out loud. ¡°I¡¯ve known this for so many years. How could I not consider a rainy day?¡± Bai Bashan¡¯s face also started to burn. It was a physiological heat. The terrifying burning sensation forced him to activate his qi and blood to offset it. ¡°Everyone, if you continue to cower, you¡¯re really going to let this old brat escape. At that time, he will join forces with the city lord¡¯s mansion, and our plan will not be easy to carry out!¡± Bai Bashan roared. Qing Yunhe, the master of the Crane Dojo, accelerated instantly and caught up with Sun Yuanshan in a few breaths. ¡°Master Sun, please stay.¡± The two exchanged a few palm strikes, but there was no injury. As he spoke, a long spear flew through the air behind him and instantly pierced Sun Yuanshan¡¯s shoulder. The other dojo masters had already caught up¡­ ¡­ Deep in the mountains, dark clouds and heavy rain were gathering. Sun Yuanshan¡¯s body was already stained red with blood, and his robe was also wet from the rain. In front of him¡­ He could already vaguely see the shape of the Changshan Dojo, but a single step was like a hundred thousand miles. Wipe, wipe, wipe¡­ Behind him, the seven top experts were still following. ¡°Guys, why don¡¯t we take this opportunity to destroy the Changshan Dojo?¡± ¡°Sure. The seven of us are enough.¡± Bao Ziyan had already discussed the matter of the extermination of the Changshan Dojo. It was not easy for them to chase after Sun Yuanshan, and they had many wounds all over their bodies. Half of it was poisonous liquid, and the other half was the forbidden technique, rising dragon¡¯s wound. They knew that Sun Yuanshan had always been strong, but they didn¡¯t expect this old man to be even stronger than he was a few years ago! He was fighting against seven top-tier experts by himself. It was terrifying! But this also strengthened their determination to kill Sun Yuanshan. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re all thinking too much if you want to destroy my dojo.¡± Sun Yuanshan turned around and looked at the seven masters coldly. ¡°Take a guess, how many of you can I kill before I die?¡± Sun Yuanshan frowned and looked at them coldly. For a moment, it made people forget that he was covered in wounds. He knew that today would probably be his last battle, like an arrow at the end of its flight. ¡°Go to hell¡­¡± Before Bai Bashan finished his words, the ground suddenly shook. ¡°The sound of horse hooves¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the group of cavalry appeared in everyone¡¯s sight. As for the leader, his hair was tied up, and he was dressed in a white robe. All in all, he cut a fine figure. ¡°Master, sorry I¡¯m late!¡± Chapter 72 - 72 This Guy Is So Terrifying 72 This Guy Is So Terrifying When the armored cavalry appeared, Bai Bashan and the other seven people were stunned. Their whereabouts should be absolutely confidential. There were only eight heads, and at most, a few more personal disciples would know about it. How did the armored cavalry know? Not only that, the army was actually led by Qin Huai? Bai Bashan didn¡¯t know where to start. However, from the rough estimate of five hundred armored horsemen, he knew that if he wanted to kill Sun Yuanshan today, he would have to¡­ If he could not kill Sun Yuanshan today, he would not have any chance before the tide of demons ended. ¡°Well¡­¡± Before Bai Bashan could finish his sentence, Qin Huai, the leader of the group, gave the order. ¡°Kill them!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was like thunder, and the armored horsemen instantly rushed over like a flood. Bai Bashan was dumbfounded when he saw the five hundred cavalrymen charging over. How would he dare to attack the seven experts with just five hundred cavalrymen? It was wrong! ¡°Retreat!¡± Bai Bashan did not dare to stay any longer. Since this person was so decisive and confident, there must be an endless stream of armored troops approaching from behind or on both sides! As long as they were delayed here¡­ When the three thousand iron armored troops arrived, they would surround this place. Even if there were only seven of them, they would probably have to suffer more than half of their numbers to have a chance of breaking out of this encirclement. Bai Bashan and the other dojo masters couldn¡¯t care less about their dignity as top-tier experts. They immediately turned around and ran. Just like that, the seven top-notch experts of Pingnan came and went. As they fled, they did not forget to observe their surroundings to avoid the faint sound of horse hooves. They ran for more than ten miles and only slowed down when he couldn¡¯t hear any sound. The seven of them looked calm, but they were all relieved in their hearts. They had thought that today was a siege and they would be almost killed¡­ ¡°Something¡¯s wrong¡­ We¡¯ve been tricked by that kid!¡± Bao Ziyan suddenly cursed. Thinking back carefully, the sound of horse hooves from the two sides was too sparse. At most, there were dozens of them. Now that he had come to his senses, Qin Huai¡¯s five hundred cavalrymen should be all of them. That shout of killing was also Qin Huai trying to scare them. Now that everyone had escaped from danger, they all reacted. But it was too late. ¡°That¡¯s not right. If the city lord knew that we were gathering here to plot and wanted to kill us, why did he only send five hundred cavalry?¡± Bao Ziyan was puzzled. The few of them walked as they reviewed what had happened. There were too many things that were not right with tonight¡¯s ending. ¡°Brother Bai, how did you write your letter?¡± Qing Yunhe asked. Bai Bashan frowned. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of being kidnapped by the city lord¡¯s mansion. That¡¯s why I only wrote ¡®I personally invite Sun Yuanshan to meet him alone at the pavilion.¡¯ I didn¡¯t mention anything about the eight major martial arts centers.¡± The master of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo said, ¡°It looks like I can only kill one or two heads at most of those five hundred cavalrymen.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s safe, I¡¯ll only kill one person!¡± At this point, Bao Ziyan and the rest looked at Bai Bashan. The latter¡¯s expression was a little strange. The conflict between the Thunderbolt Dojo and the Changshan Dojo was obvious. Just like how Bai Bashan seized the opportunity to take Sun Yuanshan¡¯s life, Changshan Dojo would not show mercy if they were given the chance. This was the accumulated grudges of several generations, and it could not be resolved. In the letter tonight, Bai Bashan invited Sun Yuanshan alone again¡­ Then, the purpose of the five hundred cavalrymen today¡­ In an instant, Bai Bashan¡¯s cold sweat poured down like a storm. ¡°Judging from Sun Yuanshan¡¯s behavior tonight, he doesn¡¯t know¡­¡± The image of the white-robed man with his hair tied up flashed through Bai Bashan¡¯s mind. ¡°It¡¯s that little brat, Qin Huai! He¡¯s so vicious! You actually want to take my life tonight?¡± Bai Bashan¡¯s heart was filled with fear. Initially, he had really wanted to come alone. Just now, he was still upset that Sun Yuanshan had saved his life tonight. However, it seemed that Sun Yuanshan was not the only one who had managed to survive. There was still him! Bai Bashan punched the tree and gritted his teeth. However, if one were to look closely, they would notice that his hands were trembling slightly. Even for a top expert like him, unknowingly walking to the gates of hell would cause his state of mind to fluctuate greatly. Although he didn¡¯t know how Qin Huai had managed to mobilize the armored cavalry from the city lord¡¯s mansion, the mastermind behind tonight¡¯s plan¡¯s failure was definitely this man! ¡°That kid must die¡­¡± Qin Huai was far more sinister and cunning than his master, Sun Yuanshan! This young man was so terrifying¡­ ¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the second young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion would become your disciple. And you, as the master, even personally came to ask for an acknowledgment gift, an opportunity for five hundred armored horsemen to go to the pavilion to kill Bai Bashan. To think that you could come up with such an idea¡­¡± Because the horses were too bumpy, Qin Huai carried Sun Yuanshan, who had been dealt with simply, and ran toward the Changshan Dojo. ¡°Hahaha ¡­ Cough, cough, you¡¯ve come at the right time. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I¡¯m afraid I would have died there. Your master did not teach you in vain. You are now even more active than when I was young.¡± Sun Yuanshan coughed twice and spat another mouthful of blood on Qin Huai. Five or six of his ribs were broken, and his left hand was also broken¡­ There were countless injuries to the bones, and even the five internal organs were damaged. Qin Huai looked at his master¡¯s miserable state and heard his master¡¯s weak voice. He was full of heartache. With his master¡¯s age, he didn¡¯t know how long it would take for him to recuperate. Even if he could recuperate, his master¡¯s foundation and longevity would be greatly reduced. Apart from feeling heartache, there was an unknown fire burning in Qin Huai¡¯s heart. The seven dojos wanted to exchange benefits and set the first place internally? Are they looking down on the Changshan Dojo? Then he would not let them have their wish. He would take the first place! In the grand martial competition half a year later, he must beat down the so-called number one genius that they had internally decided on in front of everyone¡¯s eyes. And he would slowly settle the score with the masters of those seven dojos.. Sun Yuanshan seemed to have read Qin Huai¡¯s mind and quickly comforted him. ¡°Huai ¡®er, don¡¯t mind it too much. You don¡¯t have to feel too burdened¡­ It¡¯s just a grand martial competition. I¡¯ll just do my best when the time comes. ¡°Don¡¯t go astray and hurt your foundation. Let him be strong, we¡¯ll just torture him to death! ¡°When I was young, I couldn¡¯t beat Bai Bashan¡¯s father either. But look at the current situation¡­ The grass on his father¡¯s grave is already three feet tall.¡± Sun Yuanshan had lost his sage-like demeanor at the moment. He was like a talkative elder who was constantly enlightening Qin Huai. The two sides had shed all pretenses of cordiality and completely divided the camp into the seven major martial arts centers against the Changshan Dojo and the city lord¡¯s mansion. However, it was absolutely impossible for them to fight to the death. The current strength of the Changshan Dojo did not allow it. All the conflicts could only be released in that great martial competition. However, they had the advantage in a two-on-seven battle. Under normal circumstances, Sun Yuanshan naturally felt that Qin Huai had a higher chance of winning. However, in the current situation, Qin Huai would definitely face many obstacles in the grand martial competition. If he insisted on fighting for the first place¡­ Sun Yuanshan was afraid that Qin Huai¡¯s life would be in danger. ¡®I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to swallow this¡­¡¯ Seeing that Qin Huai didn¡¯t reply, Sun Yuanshan sighed and immediately changed the topic. ¡°Oh right, I still don¡¯t know how you found me in such a large wilderness.¡± This was also what he was curious about. He had borrowed this apprenticeship gift from Qin Huai, mobilized the troops, and hurried on his journey¡­ Looking at the time, he couldn¡¯t afford to make a single mistake. If there was any delay, he would probably die. It could be said that after Qin Huai had borrowed the troops, he had headed straight in this direction. However, there were too many soldiers who had to kill Bai Bashan to get to the small pavilion. Why did it have to be this? ¡°If you go through this path and enter the pavilion, you can kill Bai Bashan. If anything happens, Master will definitely return to the dojo from another direction, and I can help him in time.¡± ¡°How can you be so sure that I will go in this direction?¡± Sun Yuanshan asked. Hearing this, Qin Huai stretched out his hand and broke off a branch, then placed it in front of him. A strong wind blew, and the branches bent with the wind¡­ The master and disciple looked at each other. Sun Yuanshan laughed. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Huai¡¯er is like me! You¡¯re indeed my favorite disciple!¡± No wonder, no wonder¡­ Wherever the wind went, poison would follow. This was the master and disciple¡¯s poison-using technique. Behind him¡­ Sun Tong and Hu Jinghai were riding together. The commander of the city lord¡¯s estate, the experienced and knowledgeable Sun Tong, looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back with a face full of admiration. ¡°Young Master, your master is definitely not an ordinary person! ¡°You must listen to Grandmaster Qin¡¯s words and focus on your practice. I dare not say that you will have great achievements in the future, but you will definitely be more than enough to help the city lord and the eldest young master.¡± The extraordinary courage, meticulous mind, and cunning of repelling the enemy¡­ If any one of them was missing, Sun Yuanshan would probably die tonight. It was just that Sun Tong¡¯s words were perhaps a little redundant. At this moment, Hu Jinghai was so excited that he could not control himself. ¡°Master is indeed a master! Such a scheme! Such courage! ¡°In the entire city, which third refinement would dare to take the initiative to have thoughts about a sixth refinement martial artist? And he easily broke the killing trap of the seven great experts? Only Master can do that. ¡°If I¡¯m successful in my studies, It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for me to defeat a fourth refinement martial artist with my first refinement realm¡­ No, my qi and blood are almost the same as those in the second refinement, and I can almost scheme against a fifth refinement martial artist. I feel like I¡¯m more useful than Big Brother¡­¡± Hu Jinghai mumbled excitedly to himself, causing Sun Tong to feel embarrassed. The young master¡¯s thoughts were really out of place. Could it be counted like this¡­ ¡°No, I think I have to talk to my father. It¡¯s better to put our bets on Master than to raise Big Brother. With master¡¯s ability and talent, he will definitely be a big shot in the future!¡± Hu Jinghai was in high spirits. After saying that, he quickly picked up a medicine book from the city lord¡¯s mansion and began to read it. This was his master¡¯s instruction, so he did not forget it even when he was on horseback. Now, in Hu Jinghai¡¯s opinion, he could ignore his father¡¯s words, but he could not ignore his master¡¯s words. Chapter 73 - 73 Fourth Refinement! 73 Fourth Refinement! ¡°This is bad! The iron armored cavalry is heading toward the dojo!¡± In the heavy rain, the entire White Flow Mountain was in an uproar. One by one, the courtyard doors were knocked on, and the apprentices and disciples rushed out. ¡°How many people are there in the army?!¡± Rong Li caught a disciple who called out to him. ¡°The rain was too heavy, so I didn¡¯t see clearly, but it should be at least four or five hundred¡­¡± Rong Li was silent for a moment, then immediately said, ¡°Everyone, follow me to the mountain gate! As soon as he finished speaking, he went back to his room and put on a set of armor that he had never worn before. Then, he strode toward the mountain gate. On the other side, Fang Han shouted when he heard the news and ran toward the mountain Gate. ¡­ Qi Yangbing pondered for a moment. He then blocked the dozen or so martial artists in the courtyard. ¡°Follow me and take the small path. We¡¯ll take their back path.¡± ¡­ Li Bowu, who was a few rooms away, got up, and gave the same order as Qi Yangbing. However, he had not taken the rear route of the army, but instead led them to the side of the forest. The location of the ambush was also quite far from the army¡¯s route, so they could advance and retreat at will. ¡­ In the heavy rain, the Changshan Dojo was in a state of panic. But when they saw Qin Huai¡¯s figure, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. However, when they saw the heavily injured Sun Yuanshan on Qin Huai¡¯s back¡­ that breath was back in their throat. Fortunately, their master had not suffered any fatal injuries. Indeed, this night was full of ups and downs for the people of the Changshan Dojo¡­ ¡°Thunderbolt Dojo! And it¡¯s the f*cking Thunderbolt Dojo!¡± Fang Han¡¯s eyes were full of killing intent. ¡°One day, I¡¯m going to take down the plaque of the Thunderbolt Dojo and use it as a pole to carry feces!¡± Everyone from the Changshan martial arts school looked at Sun Yuanshan¡¯s severely injured and weak appearance, and they were all angry. ¡°Tomorrow, follow me to the mine. No one is to hold back! Kill those sons of b*tches!¡± ¡°Beat those bastards to death!¡± The disciples and apprentices were excited as they raised their arms and shouted. ¡°Senior Brother, it¡¯s not the time yet. You need to be patient,¡± Qi Yangbing came out from behind the cavalry. ¡°If we endure it now, won¡¯t we become grandsons?!¡± Fang Han looked at the weak Sun Yuanshan like a volcano that was about to erupt. ¡°Now that Master is injured, we are no match for the Thunderbolt Dojo. We need to think about this,¡± the eldest senior brother, Rong Li, said. His prestige was second only to Sun Yuanshan, and he suppressed the anger of Fang Han and the disciples as soon as he opened his mouth. ¡°Furthermore, the great demon wave is already very close, so we cannot afford to have any more internal friction.¡± Rong Li said in a low voice, ¡°If we want to take a breath, we¡¯ll have to count on the performance of the two junior brothers in the grand martial competition.¡± Li Bowu arrived late. After listening to the grand martial competition that Rong Li mentioned, he was at a loss. A touch of resentment flashed in his eyes. ¡®He didn¡¯t even tell me, a hero on the eight martial roll, about such a big matter?¡¯ ¡­ The night of chaos was finally over. The next morning, Qin Huai was woken up by Qi Yangbing. ¡°Junior Brother, the iron-armored cavalry at the foot of the mountain hasn¡¯t left yet. Do you know what¡¯s going on?¡± Qi Yangbing was a little worried. ¡°I¡¯ll ask them.¡± Qin Huai rushed to the iron armored cavalry¡¯s camp at the foot of the mountain without stopping. Entering the camp was extremely smooth, and Qin Huai was a familiar face to begin with. After what happened last night, the news spread in the army. The soldiers guarding the camp saw Qin Huai from afar and opened the gate, their faces full of respect. Qin Huai and the soldiers only needed to ask around to know. The tiger battalion of the army led by Sun Tong simply stayed next to the White Flow Mountain to prevent the seven dojos from playing any more dirty tricks. The one who gave the order was none other than his own disciple, the second young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion, Hu Jinghai. In the military camp, Qin Huai asked, ¡°Did the city lord agree to your private mobilization of troops?¡± ¡°If Master can borrow five hundred soldiers for Grandmaster to cover a thousand li, then why can¡¯t I borrow the same amount of soldiers to protect my master?¡± Hu Jinghai looked at Qin Huai with a straight face and said rather heroically, ¡°It¡¯s just a few bamboo whips. Besides, I also want to be influenced by Master and learn how to behave and do things. ¡°Master, you don¡¯t have to worry about the food. I¡¯ll take care of it! My family¡¯s treasury is abundant, and we have many treasures hidden in it. We won¡¯t be able to spend all of them even after a few lifetimes.¡± The corner of Sun Tong¡¯s mouth twitched as he listened to Hu Jinghai¡¯s words. Was this something he could say? Hu Jinghai¡¯s expression was solemn. ¡°I hope Master won¡¯t chase me away!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept your filial piety.¡± Qin Huai felt that Hu Jinghai¡¯s words did make sense. With the way the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo did things, it was possible that they would destroy the overall situation for the sake of some immediate benefits. ¡°In the following period of time, I¡¯ll have to rely on Commander Sun!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists at Sun Tong. ¡°I don¡¯t dare, I don¡¯t dare. It¡¯s my good fortune to be able to help Grandmaster Qin.¡± Sun Tong waved his hand. He was one of the few people who knew that Qin Huai had killed two fourth refinement martial artists in a row when he was in the third refinement. Therefore, he didn¡¯t dare to underestimate Qin Huai. After settling this matter, Qin Huai returned to the dojo. ¡­ Today, in the mine, the two major dojos had met with an accident. They had an intense physical exchange in the mine, and even many instructors at the third refinement stage were involved. On the first day, they each took away more than ten corpses. In the next few days, it began to slow down, but there would be a large number of injured people every day. It was much more brutal than the days after Hong San¡¯s death. However, it was still within an acceptable range. Meanwhile, the Luo manor was not disturbed at all. After the Cui family was done, they continued to make the next order. Many people realized that the city Lord¡¯s mansion seemed to have the intention of relaxing the Great You¡¯s taboo of wearing armors without restraint. The purpose was also visible to the naked eye. It was to give Pingnan City a higher chance of winning when the great demon wave reached them. The seven major martial arts centers also stopped causing trouble, and they cultivated in full swing every day. They even imitated the scene in the mine and had disciples from several big dojos practice together. However, the effect was far from as good as the real feelings of the Changshan Dojo and the Thunderbolt Dojo. Everything seemed to have returned to peace, but everyone knew that this was the calm before the storm. Qin Huai continued to walk around the drill ground, go to the mines, and give armor as usual¡­ The cold wind of late autumn had quietly sent away more than twenty days of time. The long robe on Qin Huai¡¯s body also became thicker. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 133] [Vitality]: 51.854 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 40, 724/5000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 26, 1677/3000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 20, 1333/2000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 10, 31/2000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 709/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 43/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 5/5] [Stage: Level 4 Blood Refinement] Late at night, Qin Huai was sitting cross-legged on his bed. ¡°I¡¯ve finally entered the fourth refinement realm. The four-directional tiger-wolf technique has also reached level 20¡­¡± The five white dragons in his body changed from a ring to a ball of lightning, and the flow of his aura became smoother. Qin Huai¡¯s qi and blood also seemed to have become more active as the four-directional tiger-wolf technique improved. His vitality, which was close to 52 points, had already reached the threshold of a fifth refinement martial artist. As for him, who had activated his boiling blood and blood dragon form, he would be able to kill a fourth refinement martial artist without even using the five white dragons and fight against ordinary fifth refinement martial artists. ¡°The only pity is that the blood heart technique is still in the same place. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll take some time to use the rising dragon as a general attack.¡± Qin Huai was just about to go to sleep when someone knocked on the door carefully. ¡°Come in.¡± Qin Huai sat up. The person who entered was the social butterfly, Sun Ziyao. Sun Ziyao sneakily moved closer to Qin Huai¡¯s ear. ¡°Guess what, Senior Brother Qin, a senior brother found two fingers in the mine today¡­ ¡± ¡°Get to the point. Don¡¯t leave me hanging.¡± Qin Huai interrupted his grandson¡¯s mysterious act. Sun Ziyao coughed lightly before saying, ¡°The two fingers that were discovered¡­ There were signs of it being gnawed on, and they¡¯re the marks of human teeth!¡± Hearing this, Qin Huai immediately perked up. Chapter 74 - 74 The Blood Ghost Plate and the Cannibal 74 The Blood Ghost Plate and the Cannibal In the cramped mine, the damp air mixed with the cold autumn wind blew, and the warriors couldn¡¯t help but tighten their clothes. If an ordinary person entered the mine during this season, the only outcome was death. ¡°Move, move, Senior brother Qin is here!¡± Sun Ziyao led the way and revealed Qin Huai¡¯s name. In response, the group of martial artists lit up their oil lamps and made way for Qin Huai. ¡°Senior Brother Qin!¡± Qin Huai and the others nodded and walked to the two fingers. The blood on the ground had not dried up yet, and the fingers were still a little warm. The person should have died today. Maybe they panicked and didn¡¯t use the lamp when cleaning up the scene, leaving these fingers behind¡­ ¡°Who discovered it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Senior Brother Li Bowu and Senior Brother Jiang. Qin Huai looked at Li Bowu and Senior Brother Jiang. Senior Brother Jiang quickly said, ¡°Ah, Senior Brother Li, and I met each other when we were leaving the cave. Senior Brother Li said that he wanted to go back and try his luck to catch a few Thunderbolt Dojo bastards to vent his anger. ¡°We thought it made sense, so we followed Senior Brother Li. When we got here, we saw these right away! I then sent someone to inform the people in our dojo.¡± Li Bowu looked at Qin Huai¡¯s gaze and subconsciously took half a step back. He immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Qin Huai raised his head and looked at Sun Ziyao. ¡°Have you ordered everyone in the dojo?¡± Behind him, Senior Brother Qi Yangbing walked over quickly. ¡°Yes, I have. A junior brother named Zhang Si has gone missing. He¡¯s a second refinement martial artist and can be considered one of my subordinates.¡± Second refinement¡­ Then they wouldn¡¯t be those mountain bandits who had taken the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s secret manual. They simply didn¡¯t have the strength to kill the warriors of the eight major martial arts centers, let alone the courage. Had the Sacred Heart sect discovered the deaths of the black-robed man and the Hunchback man so quickly and sent reinforcements to investigate? That didn¡¯t seem right. Based on the behavior of those two, the Sacred Heart sect should be better at cultivating blood food in the dark. Acting so arrogantly, could it be that the person was here to take revenge for the black-robed man and the other man? ¡°Let¡¯s first have our fellow disciples enter the mines in groups of two or three,¡± Qin Huai suggested. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the only way.¡± Qi Yangbing didn¡¯t have any good ideas. The next morning, as usual, after Qin Huai collected the training hall¡¯s drill ground experience, he went to the Changshan ancestral house to visit his master, Sun Yuanshan. After nearly a month of rest, Sun Yuanshan had regained his original sage-like leisure. But that was all. With his injuries slightly healed and the loss of the six white dragons, his master didn¡¯t have much combat power now. He could only cultivate his body and mind on the mountain and cultivate the medicinal field. In the meantime, the eldest brother was in charge of all the major matters on the mountain. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve come to see you.¡± Qin Huai was carrying the tea leaves he had asked someone to buy from the city to pass time for his master. When Sun Yuanshan saw Qin Huai, his face was filled with excitement. ¡°Huai¡¯er, you¡¯ve come at the right time¡­ Hurry up and take off your clothes!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression changed. His gaze swept across the area and saw the large wooden barrel overflowing with thick smoke. ¡°I¡¯ve perfected this medicinal bath. As long as you soak in it for three months, you¡¯ll be able to cultivate a body that¡¯s immune to all poisons. Of course, it also has the effect of improving your qi and blood.¡± It was a strong medicinal bath that his master had given him. There were many poisonous substances in it, and it had the meaning of attacking poison with poison. The effect was indeed good. It was just that the soaking process was too torturous. However, he could only slowly accumulate his combat power through this little bit of improvement. After the fourth refinement, Qin Huai¡¯s speed of collecting experience slowed down again, and he could only get a pitiful 500 to 600 points a day. It would take at least three months to break through to the fifth refinement. However, there was still plenty of time. Pulling Reihom down from the throne was just a matter of time. While soaking in the medicinal bath, Qin Huai told Sun Yuanshan about what had happened today. Sun Yuanshan sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything I know last time¡­ You can ask your disciple to go to the city lord¡¯s mansion and ask. They have news from Lingjiang county, so they must know more inside information.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded. This kind of thing could not be allowed to happen. Firstly, in the long run, it would inevitably lead to the people¡¯s morale slacking, and the available combat power would be reduced. Moreover, his cultivation was all dependent on these people. The more people died, the slower the speed of his breakthrough. Therefore, whether it was for public or private reasons, Qin Huai had to find the murderer. Qin Huai cleared his mind and then headed straight for the tiger battalion. There were no twists and turns along the way. After Qin Huai found Hu Jinghai, two steeds left the camp with a few words and headed for the city lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°Master, when we reach my house, it might take a while before I can talk to my father.¡± On the way, Hu Jinghai wanted to say something, but he held back. He felt like he was not afraid of death. ¡°City Lord is very busy, so I naturally understand.¡± Qin Huai nodded and didn¡¯t think too much about it. It wasn¡¯t until they reached the gates of the city lord¡¯s mansion that Qin Huai saw a refined middle-aged man holding a bunch of bamboo whips in his hands that he suddenly understood Hu Jinghai¡¯s meaning. Pa! ¡°You dare to privately order the tiger battalion to station their troops?!¡± Pa! ¡°You won¡¯t even go home for a month?!¡± Pa! ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t know how to do it, but you don¡¯t even write a letter?¡± The sound of the bamboo whip grew louder and louder. Qin Huai listened to Hu Jinghai¡¯s wailing, but in the end, he still acted like a master. ¡°City Lord, Jinghai has also made some progress in his learning this month. When you attacked just now, you also secretly scattered a lot of hemp grass powder on Jinghai¡¯s body to relieve the pain.¡± Hearing this, Hu Guanpan¡¯s bamboo whip finally stopped. There was a hint of relief in his eyes. ¡°Then I¡¯ve indeed learned something. Master Qin has taught me well.¡± He smiled at Qin Huai. ¡°I don¡¯t dare, I don¡¯t dare.¡± There was actually still half a sentence that Qin Huai didn¡¯t say. Hu Jinghai had even given his father some heart-cooling powder. It could freeze the blood and qi of a martial artist and some newly-joined martial artists. However, it was useless against a top expert like Hu Guanpan. Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare to say this out loud, afraid that he would have to send off the black-haired man. At the side, Hu Jinghai pulled up his pants with his swollen butt. Qin Huai also took the opportunity to explain his intentions. ¡°Then you¡¯ve come to the right place.¡± Hu Guanpan ordered someone to bring him a bronze compass-like object. ¡°After the rise of the Sacred Heart sect, the imperial court has been secretly searching for a way to distinguish the Sacred Heart sect disciples who have money with them. ¡°After all, eating people is against human ethics and morality, and it will also cause people to panic.¡± ¡°In the first year of Chengping, a master discovered that the qi and blood of people who ate a lot of people would also change. From there, they would emit a smell that the nose can¡¯t smell. ¡°That¡¯s how we got this item, the blood ghost plate. As long as you drip a drop of blood into it and look out through the mirror in the center of the plate, you¡¯ll be able to see the green aura in the air within a twenty-meter radius. Hu Guanpan explained further, ¡°The only flaw is that the blood ghost plate can only detect those who have ¡®strong auras,¡¯ which are the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples who eat a lot of people.¡± Qin Huai understood. This was a lack of precision. ¡°Then how long will this smell last?¡± ¡°It¡¯s usually twenty-four hours.¡± ¡­ In the mine, Qin Huai held the blood ghost plate and searched around. However, he had not found anything even after he had explored the entire mine. He stood on the mountainside and looked down at the entire mine. His expression was grave. ¡°No aura means it¡¯s not within the range of the blood ghost plate. In other words, it¡¯s likely that it¡¯s the first time they¡¯ve eaten people.¡± Qin Huai recalled the scene from last night. There were no new signs of damage, so the battle should have ended in two or three moves. ¡°Also¡­ If they¡¯re from the Sacred Heart sect, they would be experienced experts who have shed countless blood to cultivate to such a state. In such a claustrophobic environment like the mine cave, it¡¯ll definitely be easy to deal with the scene. There won¡¯t be any traces left.¡± A Sacred Heart sect disciple with a high realm but eating a human for the first time? What kind of person could satisfy such conditions? Only experts who joined the Sacred Heart sect midway¡­ And the people in the White Flow Mountain who met these conditions¡­ Qin Huai turned back and looked in the direction of the Thunderbolt Dojo and the Changshan Dojo. Chapter 75 - 75 New Form! The Murderer! 75 New Form! The Murderer! Thunderbolt Dojo. At this moment, the atmosphere in the backyard of the dojo was somber. The head of the dojo, Bai Bashan, was sitting on an armchair and sipping his tea casually. In front of him, Bai Yusheng, the young dojo master that was mentioned by outsiders, was looking at his father with eyes full of resentment. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Between Reihom and me, who is your real son?! ¡°Seven years! It¡¯s been seven years! From the moment Reihom joined the dojo, you¡¯ve been putting all your attention on him. ¡°You¡¯ve given him the best resources and the best teaching in the dojo. Am I worse than him?! If you give me the resources you invested in him, I might not lose to him!¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s face was twisted. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve privately exchanged so many benefits, the first place is still him¡­ If Uncle Ni didn¡¯t tell me, I¡¯d still naively think that it would be a fair competition.¡± He was so angry that her voice was trembling. Then, he started to laugh bitterly. The middle-aged man who was called Uncle Ni lowered his head, not daring to look at Bai Bashan¡¯s face. ¡°Whether this beast¡¯s name is fixed or not, it¡¯s mine. There¡¯s no difference.¡± From the side, Reihom spoke up, ¡°If Junior Apprentice Brother is delaying my training merely because of such a boring matter, then I¡¯ll just give you this internally-decided quota. However, at the grand martial competition, I will beat you down and regain first place.¡± Reihom¡¯s upper body was bare, and his body was still covered in sweat. The way he looked at Bai Yusheng was as cold as Bai Bashan¡¯s. With that, he turned around and left. After hearing his son¡¯s words, Bai Bashan said coldly, ¡°This is the only difference between you and Reihom. You don¡¯t have the perseverance and invincibility of an expert. As for talent, you¡¯re even worse than him. I¡¯m worried about leaving the dojo in your hands!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Bai Yusheng laughed coldly as he roared at Reihom¡¯s back. ¡°I don¡¯t need your charity! I¡¯ll use my own abilities to pull you down from the top position! ¡°The river flows thirty years to the east, and thirty years to the west! At the grand martial competition half a year from now, I will definitely make you look at me in a new light!¡± Bai Yusheng then flicked his sleeves and left the dojo¡¯s backyard in a huff. ¡­ Another ten days passed. People kept dying in the mine. Apprentices, disciples¡­ First refinement, second refinement¡­ Around a dozen had died. To be precise, they had disappeared. It was as if they had evaporated from the world, and nothing could be found, causing the people in the Changshan Dojo to be in a state of panic. Even when Sun Yuanshan was sick, he went to the mine to inspect it with his eldest brother, Rong Li, Qin Huai, Fang Han, and other personal disciples. Qin Huai took the blood ghost plate and swept it again, but he still found nothing. Hu Guanpan¡¯s specific data was that it would take twenty people to be effective. When Sun Yuanshan heard this, he almost smashed the blood ghost plate. Qin Huai still firmly believed that someone in the dojo had fallen into the Sacred Heart sect. The Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples ate people in order to improve the cultivation progress of the blood heart technique. In other words, it was to increase his combat strength. It was also possible that the person had fallen into the Sacred Heart sect because he was eager to improve his combat strength. He could crush a second refinement. It was the first time he had eaten a human. The urgent pursuit of improving his combat strength was of great benefit¡­ For the ranking of the grand martial competition? Qin Huai suddenly had a flash of inspiration, but his brows immediately furrowed again. Cultivating the blood heart technique would only bring about a limited increase in combat power. Those who were qualified to participate in the grand martial competition were at least at the third refinement realm. It was impossible for them to become fourth refinement martial artists by cultivating the blood heart technique in a short period of time. They could only improve their qi and blood by a little. However, he had taken such a risk just to increase his vitality by a little. It was not worth it¡­ unless there were other benefits that he didn¡¯t know about. Qin Huai¡¯s train of thought was cut off again. ¡®No matter what, this matter is most likely related to the Sacred Heart sect.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m at a loss and clueless now because I don¡¯t know much about the Sacred Heart sect. I believe that as long as I collect enough information about that sect, everything will be revealed.¡¯ As Qin Huai thought about this, he sent another letter to Hu Guanpan. ¡­ In the next two days, most of the people were mining at the edge of the mine. This way, no one would die. However, the legend of the man-eating ghost was like a dark cloud in everyone¡¯s heart. These days, Qin Huai has been paying extra attention to collecting experience. He wanted to see if there were any blood heart technique experience balls that could help him find the murderer. But unfortunately, he found nothing. The only thing that could be considered an unforeseen event was that the experience provided by Li Bowu had suddenly increased by a hundred points. Of course, this wasn¡¯t because Li Bowu and Qin Huai had suddenly become extremely close. It was because Li Bowu seemed to have broken through the fourth refinement realm. However, this person did not make a big deal out of it and had been keeping a low profile. Qin Huai guessed that Li Bowu wanted to play the pig to eat the tiger and shock everyone at the grand martial competition with his amazing skills. Qin Huai, who had no clue at the moment, could only ask City Lord Hu Guanpan to look for clues again. The latter was also quite attentive. After all, the danger of the Sacred Heart cult was no less than the wave of fiends and demons. ¡°Grandmaster Qin, I¡¯ve already sent a letter to Lingjiang county. I¡¯ve sent someone to the warehouse at Lingjiang to copy some secret dossiers about the Sacred Heart sect. They¡¯ll be back in a few days, and by then, I might be able to provide you with some clues.¡± Qin Huai read the letter from the city lord¡¯s mansion and calmed himself down. He could only wait patiently. Due to the appearance of the mysterious man-eater, the disciples and apprentices of the Thunderbolt Dojo did not have the chance or the mood to spar with their fellow disciples. Not only that, Qin Huai¡¯s rumbling thunder skill also began to stagnate. This was definitely bad news for him. Chapter 76 - 76 The New Blood Dragon Form! 76 The New Blood Dragon Form! If Qin Huai wanted the grand martial competition to be foolproof, he would have to advance in all his cultivation methods at the same time. ¡°Why is it so difficult to gain experience points in a stable manner?¡± Qin Huai sighed and stood at the top of the mountain, looking down at the brightly lit dojo, frowning. He focused on his dantian, studying his own cultivation technique. ¡°My qi and blood seem to be a little too active after I reached level 20 four-directional tiger-wolf technique. In the ¡®memory¡¯ each time I collect experience in the army camp, these qi and blood will try something new on their own.¡± In his ¡®memory,¡¯ the qi and blood in his dantian actually started to come into contact with the five white dragons. In the beginning, it was just trying to suck in a little more, but then it began to wrap around the white dragon from time to time. However, the blood qi would soon be blown up by the white dragon. Despite this, the qi and blood did not give up. Instead, they tried again and again, only to explode again and again. This cycle repeated. After that, the qi and blood eventually tried to devour the golden blood produced by the blood heart technique. Although it was unable to devour the golden blood, the blood qi that had wrapped around the golden blood once again wrapped around the white dragon. The time of the explosion was clearly delayed. Then, the qi and blood would bring the white dragon into the muscles¡­ ¡°Now, this qi and blood are intentionally training my muscles to withstand the white dragon¡¯s ability.¡± Qin Huai suddenly understood something. ¡°It¡¯s because of the mutation of the blood dragon form, which allowed my body to find a new direction of evolution¡­ No, it should be that the two cultivation techniques have found the direction of evolution at the same time.¡± Even though it hadn¡¯t been long since he¡¯d started cultivating these two cultivation techniques, in his ¡®memory,¡¯ he had already cultivated several cultivation techniques for several years and had entered the transcendent realm. Cultivating several cultivation techniques at the same time for a long time would cause changes when one reached a higher level. ¡°Now, my muscles can temporarily adapt to the entry of a large amount of qi.¡± Qin Huai had a bold idea. In his blood dragon form, he only absorbed a small amount of qi into his muscles through his qi and blood. But now¡­did this mean that he could merge the entire white dragon with his blood, qi, and muscles, making his blood dragon form even more powerful? Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts resonated with the entire white dragon and the boiling blood. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s skin was slightly red, and the boiling qi and blood seemed to have burned off the little fat on his body. At the same time, his skin and muscles were tightly pressed together, and his veins were visible. A terrifying sense of power slowly bloomed. ¡°Blood dragon form!¡± Qin Huai injected wisps of ¡®qi¡¯ into it. His body and soul strengthened, and those white imprints reappeared on his muscles. Everything went very smoothly, even more so than before. After the breakthrough of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, the sense of power had increased once again. He took a deep breath, then began to guide the entire white dragon to participate in it. Thump! Qin Huai¡¯s chest suddenly expanded! Thump thump thump! Immediately after, his chest fell back down, and the white dragon gushed out along the vein lines of his muscles to his limbs. The white lines between his muscles seemed to have some life. It seemed to be a giant python, baring its sharp fangs and twisting its body in the line. Qin Huai¡¯s muscles tensed up even more, and his body expanded once again. Qin Huai, who was originally 1.8 meters tall, was now close to 1.85 meters. The key was the size of his muscles, which was abnormally terrifying. He casually threw a punch in front of him. BOOM! The rapid sound of the wind flashed past his ears. He focused and punched the ground with all his might. Bang! Bang! The ground exploded in an instant, and a spider web-like crack spread two meters away from Qin Huai. The aardwolves and spotted manes hiding in the forest, watching Qin Huai, whimpered and fled in panic. Qin Huai kept trying to punch out in the forest. The surrounding giant trees, which were large enough for three or four people to wrap their arms around, collapsed one after another. ¡°Hu Hu Hu ¡­¡± After a short while, Qin Huai began to pant heavily. His state was instantly lifted, and his body returned to its normal size. The white dragon that had been injected also returned to his dantian, safe and sound. ¡°Although this form is amazing, my muscles are still not used to it. It could not be maintained for long enough. The time it takes an incense stick to burn is the limit.¡± Qin Huai looked at his slightly trembling hands. It wasn¡¯t just his hands, all the muscles in his body were trembling. ¡°Although it was only for a short time, its strength was quite astonishing. Even those geniuses from the noble families who grew up eating qi and blood pills would not be my match in this state,¡± he mumbled. He had calculated that if he were to follow the treatment of the gold medal disciples of the eight major martial arts centers, he would need nine years if he wanted to be on par with his current qi and blood in the same realm. Reihom joined the Thunderbolt Dojo when he was 15 years old. Even if the master of the Thunderbolt Dojo favored him and gave him a lot of resources, his vitality would not be much higher than his own. ¡°I should be able to beat him in terms of physical strength.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s guess was extremely cautious. After all, the other party was the number one genius in Pingnan City. Indeed, it was never wrong to be cautious. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. I still have room for improvement. One white dragon has succeeded, so the two white dragons will soon¡­ Are five white dragons still far away?¡± Qin Huai was silent for a moment, thinking about the new blood dragon form. ¡­ Drunken Immortal restaurant. Bai Yusheng sat by the window, drinking one glass after another to drown his sorrows. From time to time, there would be some gazes and extremely subtle finger-pointing, which made him feel irritated. He got up and sat down in an empty private room on the top floor, then he continued drinking. Although he had told his father and Reihom in the dojo that he would win, he still couldn¡¯t figure out how to surpass Reihom and take the top spot in just half a year. Chapter 77 - 77 Meeting the Murderer! 77 Meeting the Murderer! At that time, he was just angry and said those words out of anger, and now, it was impossible for him to apologize. Another three jugs were down his stomach. ¡°Brother Bai, can I sit down and have a drink?¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Bai Yusheng didn¡¯t even look. However, that person still sat opposite Bai Yusheng. Bai Yusheng looked up, a hint of surprise flashing across his eyes. The other party turned out to be Li Bowu of the Changshan Dojo. Ever since Sun Yuanshan had been attacked, the two dojos had been enemies. Why was this person trying to talk to him at such a critical time? ¡°I heard your father bypassed you and gave the secret treasure to Reihom, who has no blood relation with you. In a fit of anger, you want to fight for first place in the grand martial competition?¡± Li Bowu smiled. Bai Yusheng¡¯s eyes flashed with killing intent. ¡°You better have something to tell me, or else you can forget about walking out of this restaurant.¡± Li Bowu didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°But looking at Brother Bai¡¯s current situation, it seems you haven¡¯t found a way yet, right?¡± Hu! An arc of lightning streaked across the narrow room. At the same time, the wind whistled, rustling the bead curtains. The two exchanged a palm across the table and were evenly matched. ¡°You¡¯ve reached fourth refinement?!¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. He remembered that this person was twenty-three years old when he broke through to the third refinement. It took him three years. Now, only two years have passed. How could he have broken through to the fourth refinement? ¡°So, Brother Bai, are you interested in listening to me now?¡± Li Bowu¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°It was I who lost control of myself just now. I¡¯ll take a cup of wine and apologize to Brother Li!¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s attitude took a 180-degree turn. The wine was gone in one gulp. Li Bowu looked at Bai Yusheng and sighed. ¡°You and I are both in the same boat. Brother Bai is not valued by your father, and I am not valued by my master. That master of mine even completely ignored me, the 19th on the eight martial roll. He didn¡¯t even tell me about the grand martial competition!¡± He smashed the table with hatred. ¡°These people look down on us and think that we won¡¯t succeed in the grand martial competition. We¡¯ll prove to them who¡¯s the real genius!¡± Li Bowu¡¯s words were intense, which made Bai Yusheng recall the past, and he became angrier. ¡°Brother Li, please tell me what to do.¡± Bai Yusheng was already getting impatient. ¡°There are too many people here, Brother Bai. Let¡¯s meet outside the city.¡± Li Bowu got up and left first. After a few moments, Bai Yusheng paid the bill and quietly left the city. ¡­ It was late autumn and close to winter, and the frost fell like white sorrow. The mountain forest was becoming more and more deserted and strange. Every few miles they walked, they would encounter a frozen corpse on the side of the road. ¡°Brother Li, where are you going?¡± Bai Yusheng followed Li Bowu into the deep mountains, and couldn¡¯t help but be vigilant. ¡°I¡¯m going to see that otherworldly expert! I was able to break through to the fourth refinement so quickly all because of the guidance of that master.¡± Li Bowu knew what Bai Yusheng wanted. Hearing this, Bai Yusheng¡¯s suspicions were instantly thrown to the back of his mind. ¡°I wonder what method Brother Li has in mind? Can you reveal a little to me first?¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± The two of them finally stopped in front of a wooden house in the forest. An elegant man with shoulder-length hair was sitting by the fire. He stretched out his slender and fair hands to warm the fire elegantly while eating. That kind of happy and content appearance was the complete opposite of the cold late autumn. And especially that aura, Bai Yusheng had only seen it on his father and the heads. It was an expert! He was definitely an expert! Bai Yusheng excitedly walked over to the man. However, when he got closer, the smile on his face froze. He clearly saw the food in the man¡¯s hand¡­ It was not a lamb leg, but a human leg! The Sacred Heart sect! This name immediately appeared in Bai Yusheng¡¯s mind. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Bai.¡± The man stood up and waved at Bai Yusheng with a smile. Bai Yusheng subconsciously wanted to run. Eating people? What a joke. Which normal person would do such a thing? Pa! Li Bowu¡¯s big hand suddenly landed on Bai Yusheng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Brother Bai, don¡¯t you want to get the approval of Master Bai? Don¡¯t you want to see your father¡¯s stunned expression and long-awaited appreciation when you pull Reihom down from the top?¡± He had accurately grasped Bai Yusheng¡¯s weakness and obsession. ¡°With your aptitude, if you don¡¯t rely on the Sacred Heart sect, you¡¯re destined to be trampled under Reihom¡¯s feet for the rest of your life!¡± A devil-like whisper sounded in his ears. Bai Yusheng¡¯s originally determined heart began to waver. Creak¡­ In the end, he took his first step toward the man with a gentle smile. ¡­ Two days later, in the city lord¡¯s mansion. Commander Sun Tong accompanied Qin Huai as they stood at the door of the archives room. ¡°Master Qin, you¡¯ve transferred all the copied scrolls of the Sacred Heart sect from Jiang county over. The city lord is out of the city to patrol the terrain today, so he can¡¯t accompany you. You can take your time to look around.¡± ¡°Many thanks, Commander Sun.¡± Qin Huai nodded and took a silver and copper token. He then walked into the scroll room eagerly. He walked straight to the side of the Sacred Heart sect. There were only three scrolls. He pulled out the first scroll. ¡°Sacred Heart sect. The sect master is unknown. The sect was founded in the second year of Guanghe, Jinxing county¡­¡± They were all trivial matters of the Sacred Heart sect. Qin Huai took out the second volume. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect cultivates the blood heart technique and uses ¡®blood food¡¯ as a form of cultivation. It¡¯s an evil path to advance rapidly¡­¡± The second volume also described how brutal the blood heart technique was, as well as its battle records in Jinxing county. And this Jinxing county no longer existed. Qin Huai opened the third volume. ¡°In the ninth year of Guanghe, a large number of disciples of the ten-thousand-man sect mysteriously disappeared. At the same time, an outer sect disciple of the sect, Han Zun, who had been silent for five years, suddenly rose. In just three short years, he has become a core disciple.¡± ¡°His cultivation is a thousand miles a day, and his progress is divine. However, as his status became higher and higher, the number of tragic deaths of his sect disciples increased¡­¡± ¡°In the 17th year of Guanghe, the sect master of Mount Li sect changed to Han Zun, and there were only 173 disciples left¡­¡± ¡°In the 19th year of Guanghe, Han Zun was besieged by the imperial court. He personally admitted that all the disciples in the sect were killed by him and became the nourishment for his mountain splitting mantra¡­¡± The recording came to an abrupt end. At the end of the three volumes, there was a long string of white space, and at the end, the word ¡°God¡± was written. It seemed to be a history from decades ago, and it was irrelevant. However, Qin Huai suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, especially during the last part of the third volume. ¡°The disciples of the Mount Li sect became Han Zun¡¯s food, which allowed the originally unknown Han Zun to cultivate the mountain splitting mantra at such a rapid speed? In other words, the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s method of cannibalism is not limited to the blood heart technique!¡± At this moment, Li Bowu¡¯s figure immediately popped up in Qin Huai¡¯s mind! Chapter 78 - 78 Trying to Prove Their Innocence 78 Trying to Prove Their Innocence ¡°I should have thought of this, I should have thought of this.¡± Qin Huai suddenly understood. ¡°The strange secret manual that can increase the speed of cultivation I discovered previously was produced by the Sacred Heart sect. ¡°It proves that the blood heart technique is not the only cultivation technique they can control. As long as they have unique materials and the so-called God¡¯s ability, they can probably replicate any cultivation technique. ¡°Not only that, they can cultivate on blood. Isn¡¯t the combination of the two the same as Han Zun¡¯s and Li Bowu¡¯s?¡± Previously, Qin Huai had not been suspicious of Li Bowu¡¯s sudden breakthrough. That was because he had only thought of the blood heart technique. He had not thought of the fact that the Sacred Heart sect could create strange secret manuals, let alone connect the two together. But now that he knew about Han Zun, he immediately understood who was responsible for the constant deaths of the disciples of the Changshan Dojo. Li Bowu could crush a second refinement, and when he started to eat people and saw that it improved his combat strength¡­ He saw the opportunity to get the ranking at the grand martial competition. The most important thing was that with the death of the long breath martial artists, his cultivation speed had increased by leaps and bounds. All the conditions were ultimately aimed at Li Bowu. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any evidence to expose him now, so I can¡¯t kill him in public,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. He could only trick him into killing him in the wilderness. He didn¡¯t want to give Li Bowu a chance to die ¡®sincerely convinced,¡¯ because if that happened, who knew how many more people would die? The dojo could not afford it, and he could not afford to delay it. ¡­ In a remote corner of the White Flow Mountain, Bai Yusheng and Li Bowu, both wearing black robes, met in the depths of the forest. ¡°Why are you looking for me?¡± Li Bowu licked the corner of his mouth. Perhaps he had eaten too many people, his face was more fierce than usual. ¡°I¡¯ve been eating a popular meal these days. The dojo is full of scoundrels. They¡¯re very difficult to deal with, and they¡¯re already planning to make a scene at the Changshan Dojo¡­ I¡¯m afraid that if there are too many people, the two dojos will make a mistake.¡± Bai Yusheng had been living in fear for the past two days. He had gotten used to eating people, but he had a guilty conscience. In addition, he was a pampered rich child from a young age, far from the calmness of a ¡®veteran¡¯ like Li Bowu. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been eating for so long. I¡¯m fine, aren¡¯t I?¡± Li Bowu¡¯s expression was cold, no longer the image of a gentleman in the dojo. ¡°But it¡¯s indeed time to change. They¡¯ve been afraid these few days and have been hiding at the edge of the mine. I didn¡¯t have a chance to make a move¡­¡± Li Bowu¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Maybe we can find a scapegoat. On one hand, I¡¯ll resolve your problem, and on the other hand, I¡¯ll reopen my business.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Bai Yusheng asked. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Li Bowu¡¯s eyes flashed with killing intent. ¡°That kid¡¯s rapid progress is in line with the characteristics of the Sacred Heart sect, so using him as a scapegoat is the most suitable¡­¡± He had always been brooding over Qin Huai. He wanted to get rid of him at every moment. ¡°Can you do it?¡± ¡°Just listen to me! This time, even if I don¡¯t die, I¡¯ll cripple him! Torture him! At the very least, he has to open a way out for us.¡± ¡­ Qin Huai had just returned to the dojo from the city lord¡¯s mansion. As soon as he reached the drill ground, he saw a group of people charging in the direction of the mine in anger. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Qin Huai stopped one of them. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, another person died in the mine. However, the ones who died weren¡¯t from our dojo, but from the Thunderbolt Dojo.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. The disciple stammered, ¡°You can¡¯t say he¡¯s dead. More accurately, he¡¯s missing. We couldn¡¯t find him all day. Then, the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo heard that we found two bitten fingers in the mine, and so many people have disappeared lately¡­ Then, they said that a troll appeared in our dojo and that we were the ones who did it!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s head bobbed up and down as he listened. The troll should be from their dojo, but why did the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo die? Could it be that he was wrong? ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look at the mine.¡± A group of people surrounded Qin Huai and quickly walked to the conflict. This time, the two parties did not choose to fight in the cold and dark mine. Instead, they started a war of words in the iron forest on the ground. Qin Huai walked to the front. On his side, it was his senior brother Qi Yangbing and Li Bowu. The leader of the other group was Bai Yusheng, the young master of the Thunderbolt Dojo, whom he had met once in the Drunken Immortal restaurant, and his lackey Cao Wang. Cao Wang glared at him coldly. He held a folding fan, and the sound of it was like thunder. ¡°In a martial arts competition, it¡¯s normal for there to be life and death, but eating people¡­ This is the Dao of demons! ¡°Your Changshan Dojo has a good plan. You know you¡¯re in the wrong, so you¡¯re going to accuse the guilty first. Do you want to shut everyone up?¡± Li Bowu sneered. ¡°I think you¡¯re the ones who complained first. Eating people is an evil way. Only you guys from the Thunderbolt Dojo who plot against others behind their backs can do it.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Li is right. If it weren¡¯t for your master¡¯s despicable actions, how could our master have been injured?¡± ¡°Your dojo is good, but why didn¡¯t you mention that Qin Huai actually borrowed the city lord¡¯s troops to attack our master?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it also your Hong San who started the fight in the mine? If it wasn¡¯t for Senior Brother Qin¡¯s bravery, you don¡¯t know how many more sins you would have committed!¡± The disciples and apprentices of the two big dojos bickered back and forth. Chapter 79 - 79 Cutting the Stomach? 79 Cutting the Stomach? The old and rotten debts between the two sides were huge. Now that they were quarreling, they would probably not be able to finish even after three days and three nights. ¡°Senior Brother, what happened to the man who died in the Thunderbolt Dojo?¡± Qin Huai moved to Qi Yangbing¡¯s side. Qi Yangbing chose his words carefully. ¡°It¡¯s about a missing warrior from the Thunderbolt Dojo two nights ago. It¡¯s similar to Zhang Si¡¯s case.¡± ¡°Almost the same?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts also started to become bolder. Li Bowu might have fallen into the Sacred Heart sect and started eating people for the grand martial competition, and the people from the Thunderbolt Dojo could do the same. His guess might not be wrong. It was just that there was an extra Li Bowu in the Thunderbolt Dojo. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was fixed on Bai Yusheng and Cao Wang. Those who had the opportunity to have a bright future with the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s techniques were none other than the few people who were originally on the eight martial roll. On the side of the Changshan Dojo, it was him, Qi Yangbing, and Li Bowu. On the side of the Thunderbolt Dojo were Reihom, Bai Yusheng, Cao Wang, and Gu Elephant, who was ranked 17th. The truth had finally come to light in his own dojo. Who was it from the Thunderbolt Dojo? Although Qin Huai was happy to see the destruction of Thunderbolt Dojo, it was obviously not the time yet. He still needed to consolidate their experience to increase his combat power. ¡°Everyone, quiet down, quiet down!¡± Bai Yusheng suddenly said, causing everyone to look over. ¡°Now, people from the Changshan Dojo are not the only victims. Even my Thunderbolt Dojo has suffered. Right now, we can put aside the grudges between the two dojos. The most important thing is to find the culprit who ate people.¡± Qi Yangbing chimed in, ¡°You¡¯re right. However, it¡¯s not easy to find the real culprit. Our Changshan Dojo has lost more than ten people in the past half a month. We still have no clue.¡± Qi Yangbing was also eager to solve the case, so he temporarily put aside his hostility for the Thunderbolt Dojo. Bai Yusheng smiled. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not difficult to find the murderer. As far as I know, the evil man-eating technique of the Sacred Heart sect can increase the cultivation speed of cultivators. The more they kill, the faster they will improve.¡± Bai Yusheng slowly walked in the middle, his sharp and strategic gaze sweeping across everyone like a blade. In the end, he stopped in front of Qin Huai. ¡°Then we just need to lock onto those who have entered the mine recently and have a fast cultivation speed. What do you think, Qin Huai?¡± His sharp eyes stared straight into Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, as if he had already seen through Qin Huai. ¡°It seems¡­ It does make sense,¡± someone in the crowd spoke. Not only the fighters of the Thunderbolt Dojo, but even the fighters of the Changshan Dojo also secretly glanced at Qin Huai after listening to the analysis. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Ever since Junior Brother Qin entered the dojo, he has been advancing at lightning speed. Why didn¡¯t I see anyone die?¡± The one who immediately retorted was Li Bowu. ¡°Then how do you know that so many mountain bandits outside the city are still alive? Maybe he¡¯s using the lives and blood of the mountain bandits as nourishment? Now that the mountain bandits have been cleared out by the city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s army, Qin Huai no longer has any blood and food to provide him with nourishment. That¡¯s why he was forced to take the risk and lay his hands on the martial artists of our dojos!¡± Bai Yusheng pressed on. This group of people did not know much about the Sacred Heart sect anyway. They didn¡¯t understand that only those who cultivated the qi circulation technique could become nourishment for the advancement of the qi circulation technique. As long as he poured all the dirty water on Qin Huai first, if he died, then he would have one less formidable opponent in the grand martial competition. If he was alive, he was destined to be suspected by countless people, who would share the pressure with him and Li Bowu. All in all, Qin Huai was the scapegoat for the two of them. This was a brilliant plan that killed two birds with one stone. Hearing Bai Yusheng¡¯s words, the surrounding people were even more speechless. This was because Qin Huai¡¯s speed of advancement was indeed unheard of. Now that this had happened, coupled with Bai Yusheng¡¯s instigation, he had no choice. It was hard not to be suspicious. ¡°Impossible! Senior Brother Qin would never do such a thing!¡± Sun Ziyao shouted from the crowd. ¡°Words are not proof. Why don¡¯t you prove your innocence, Qin Huai?¡± Bai Yusheng sneered. Qin Huai looked at Bai Yusheng, his expression unchanged from the beginning to the end. ¡°How do you want me to prove my innocence?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Li Bowu suddenly interjected in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve also been frantically searching for news about the Sacred Heart sect these days. I did hear from a friend in Lingjiang county that there¡¯s such a strange trick that can be used to distinguish whether a person is a Sacred Heart believer¡­ I just don¡¯t know if I should tell you about this method.¡± Li Bowu stammered, as if he was struggling. ¡°Quick, tell us!¡± Sun Ziyao blurted out. He couldn¡¯t wait to prove Qin Huai¡¯s innocence. Qin Huai also looked at Li Bowu, not knowing what kind of tricks this true Sacred Heart believer would come up with. ¡°I heard¡­ After a Sacred Heart sect believer eats a person, the inside of his stomach will turn green. As long as¡­ As long as we cut Senior Brother Qin¡¯s stomach open, we¡¯ll know if he¡¯s a disciple of the Sacred Heart sect or not.¡± After Li Bowu finished speaking, he looked left and right, then added, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m just saying.¡± ¡°What are you saying?! Cutting the stomach? Isn¡¯t this asking for Senior Brother Qin¡¯s death?!¡± Sun Ziyao¡¯s face turned red with anger. He knew that he had spoken too hastily and did not think before speaking. Chapter 80 - 80 Look, Im Innocent 80 Look, I¡¯m Innocent Sun Ziyao had forgotten that when Li Bowu and Senior Brother Qin ¡®competed¡¯ for the position of master¡¯s personal disciple, there seemed to be a little enmity. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to prove Senior Brother Qin¡¯s innocence!¡± Li Bowu showed an aggrieved look. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re the one who made me say this.¡± ¡°I think what Li Bowu said is worth a try.¡± Bai Yusheng sneered, not even looking at Li Bowu. Qi Yangbing¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Now that I suspect you¡¯re a Sacred Heart believer, are you going to throw your stomach out and cut it open to see how it looks?¡± Bai Yusheng immediately retorted, ¡°I¡¯m the young master of the Thunderbolt Dojo! Even if I don¡¯t cultivate, I still have some glory and wealth. Why would I fall into the Sacred Heart sect? Eating people all day and living a life of fear?¡± He continued to attack, ¡°Besides, my talent is already known in more than half of Pingnan City when I was born. I¡¯ve been working hard and steadily all these years. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a genius like Qin Huai to suddenly enter the eight major martial arts centers and advance so quickly¡­¡± Bai Yusheng strolled over to Qi Yangbing and said firmly, ¡°Tell me, is such a person worthy of suspicion?¡± Li Bowu pointed at Bai Yusheng excitedly and opened his mouth as if he wanted to refute. However, it opened and closed dozens of times. Its movements were quite exaggerated and eye-catching. Clearly, he could not say a single word. The other disciples of the Changshan Dojo felt their hearts sink. After thinking about it carefully, Qin Huai was indeed the most suspicious. ¡°And I remember that Qin Huai became famous because he massacred the Blackhawk gang, right?¡± Bai Yusheng added. ¡°At that time, we thought he was doing this to get rid of evil for the people, but if we consider it with the identity of the Sacred Heart sect, wouldn¡¯t it¡­¡± He was stirring the pot further. As long as someone deliberately guided things in a certain direction, they could completely turn one thing into another. At least for now, in the eyes of many people present, Qin Huai had already become a Sacred Heart believer who ate people without blinking an eye. Li Bowu felt the strong suspicion and uneasiness around him. His blood seemed to be excited. His stomach was growling, and he couldn¡¯t wait to eat. He looked at Qin Huai expectantly, hoping to see anger, grievance, and powerlessness on the latter¡¯s face to comfort his stomach temporarily. But¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s gaze seemed a little strange. ¡°You just said that we only need to cut the stomach open. Can you prove that you¡¯ve eaten human beings by checking if the inside is green?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Of course. I heard it from a friend from Lingjiang county,¡± Li Bowu emphasized again. Making friends in Lingjiang county was naturally a non-existent matter, but what he said about the color of the stomach was the truth. It was actually that lord who had told him. ¡°Senior Brother Qin! Don¡¯t listen to Li Bowu¡¯s nonsense!¡± Sun Ziyao shouted. ¡°This person is petty. He¡¯s just trying to take revenge for you snatching his position as personal disciple. That friend of his from Lingjiang county is definitely made up, and so are his words.¡± Qin Huai just stared at Li Bowu. ¡°How will you prove this? What if it¡¯s fake?¡± Li Bowu chuckled. ¡°You can send someone to Lingjiang county to investigate. I believe there must be a record of this. If you can¡¯t find anything in Jiang County, then ask the city above. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡± Then, Li Bowu¡¯s expression suddenly changed. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, don¡¯t misunderstand. I definitely don¡¯t mean to force you. I was just being frank just now. I¡¯m actually anxious for your innocence.¡± ¡°Junior Brother Qin, don¡¯t mind them. We¡¯ll slowly investigate this matter after we return.¡± Qi Yangbing finally spoke. He walked in front of Qin Huai, wanting to pull him away. However, even though he exerted all his strength, Qin Huai still stood there unmoving. Bai Yusheng saw this and quickly added fuel to the fire. ¡°Qin Huai, if you can¡¯t prove your innocence today¡­ or tomorrow, or the day after¡­ the seven dojos and the city lord¡¯s mansion might ask to prove your innocence! ¡°After all, the matter of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples is no less than the tide of demons. It concerns the life and death of the entire city. If that really happens, you¡¯ll drag the entire Changshan Dojo down with you!¡± His words were sharp as he pressed on. ¡°It seems that I have to prove my innocence today.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice grew louder. ¡°Junior Brother Qin, don¡¯t be rash!¡± Qi Yangbing roared, which was a rare sight. Hu¡­ Qin Huai shook off Qi Yangbing¡¯s hand. Qi Yangbing was caught off guard and fell to the ground from the shocking force. ¡°Junior Brother Li, you¡¯d better be telling the truth!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s any lie, I¡¯ll be struck by lightning!¡± Li Bowu¡¯s voice was loud and clear, and his pronunciation was perfect. He really didn¡¯t lie. After that¡­ He saw Qin Huai suddenly disappear from where he was. No, he was running at him! Didn¡¯t he want to prove his innocence? What was the meaning of this? What was he doing? Li Bowu didn¡¯t react for a moment. However, that shocking killing intent had already caused his hair to stand on end. In the blink of an eye, Qin Huai had already arrived in front of him. ¡®So fast! How could he be so fast?!¡¯ With a thought from Li Bowu, the four white dragons suddenly appeared. ¡°Four-dragon ring armor!¡± His four-dragon ring armor was impregnable against a third refinement martial artist. No matter how crazy the enemy was, they couldn¡¯t do anything to him. Bang! Bang! Li Bowu seemed to hear the sound of something breaking. In his pupils, Qin Huai¡¯s body suddenly expanded. Terrifying muscles occupied his eyes, and there was a white python on Qin Huai¡¯s body that looked like it had crawled out of hell to kill him. Hu Hu Hu¡­ Li Bowu took a deep breath and looked at his heart that had been punched through. Then, he raised his head stiffly and trembled. He looked at that calm face, confused and at a loss. ¡°You¡­ What are you doing¡­¡± This feeling lingered in Li Bowu¡¯s heart. ¡°I¡¯m trying to prove my innocence.¡± Qin Huai slowly pulled out his hand. He grabbed the broken part of Li Bowu¡¯s heart and exerted a little force. Li Bowu¡¯s chest was now completely torn apart. Then, Qin Huai grabbed the stomach out of the blood, lifting it up high. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, it was cut open by Qin Huai¡¯s hand knife. What they saw next was the eye-piercing green-stained stomach that seemed to be still beating. Qin Huai looked around and said nonchalantly, ¡°Look, I¡¯m innocent.¡± Chapter 81 - 81 Qin Huai of the Sacred Heart Sect? 81 Qin Huai of the Sacred Heart Sect? Qin Huai held up the dark green stomach of Li Bowu, and his voice was so calm that it seemed like he had not just killed a genius fourth refinement martial artist. He sounded like it was just a chicken or duck. He then turned around and asked his friends whether they should braise it or smoke it. The strong smell of blood quickly fell down Qin Huai¡¯s arm. It was followed by an indescribable stench. The crowd gradually came back to their senses, and their pupils slowly widened. In just a few short moments, Li Bowu¡¯s suggestion to dig out Qin Huai¡¯s stomach to prove his innocence turned to Qin Huai really proving his innocence. The key was that Qin Huai¡¯s actions had exceeded their expectations. Qin Huai didn¡¯t dig out his own stomach, but Li Bowu¡¯s stomach to prove his innocence. And¡­ he had really succeeded! Everyone stared at the stomach that was glowing green, just as Li Bowu said¡­ The silence was filled with doubts. Pa pa pa¡­ The crisp sound of applause rang out, and Bai Yusheng grinned hideously. ¡°Good¡­ Good kill! The scene of fellow disciples killing each other is really satisfying to watch.¡± Qin Huai raised his head and glanced at Bai Yusheng from the corner of his eyes. From the moment he started killing his fellow disciples, he was no longer a disciple of the Changshan Dojo. Bai Yusheng narrowed his eyes and quickly added, ¡°How do you know he¡¯s the real murderer? Just because he said that the Sacred Heart disciples¡¯ stomachs might be green? What if he¡¯s only targeting you and has found a reason? I didn¡¯t expect you to be so brutal and kill your own senior and junior brothers on the spot.¡± At this moment, Qi Yangbing finally stood up. ¡°We will go to Lingjiang county to verify this matter. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± Although Qi Yangbing didn¡¯t like Li Bowu, who was a hypocrite and a bastard who targeted his own people¡­ Even now, when he recalled Qin Huai¡¯s decisive blow, he still felt a little angry. However, they were in public now. ¡°I hope that the genius of your Changshan Dojo is lucky enough to turn your selfishness into the so-called getting rid of evil for the people by accident.¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s words were full of provocation. Qin Huai didn¡¯t pay attention to Bai Yusheng¡¯s sarcastic words. He turned around and walked toward Li Bowu¡¯s body. First, he glanced at the purple experience orb that dropped. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Purple) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1114!¡± Then, he wiped the blood off his hands on his robe and slowly undid it. His hands moved up and down the body skillfully. He found a banknote worth more than a hundred taels of silver, a new toy that had just been released by the brothel¡­ and an iron belt with an inside dent? Qin Huai removed the iron belt. There was only an ancient secret manual inside. It was a familiar secret manual that gave off a strange and disgusting smell. ¡°It smells a bit similar to Li Bowu¡¯s stomach,¡± Qin Huai muttered as he took out the secret manual. Unsurprisingly, the cover had the words ¡®long breath technique¡¯ written on it. At the bottom, it was the breath control technique, marking the source at Chanshan Dojo in Pingnan. However, this secret manual had a stronger smell than the previous technique. Qin Huai held the secret manual in his hand. Suddenly, he could not help but want to keep it in his arms. It entered his body and soul. An evil thing! These words instantly popped up in Qin Huai¡¯s mind, and he instinctively threw the secret manual on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Junior Brother Qin?¡± Qi Yangbing walked up with a face full of concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand and picked up the secret manual again. He raised his head and looked at the crowd. He couldn¡¯t help but feel an urge to eat them up. It was many times more evil than the secret manuals of breath control and spirit eye techniques. That¡¯s right. The breath control and spirit eye techniques couldn¡¯t be upgraded by eating people. They could only be used as offerings or some kind of array treasure to increase the speed of cultivation. The long breath technique was obviously an advanced version. It had become a cultivation technique similar to the deviated blood heart technique. ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s probably only effective when you hold it in your arms.¡± Qin Huai put down the secret manual and looked at the crowd again. The urge to eat people disappeared. There were still many secrets in this world. Was the person who created such a cultivation method the same person as the God that the black-robed man spoke of? And what method did they use to change their cultivation method drastically¡­ Qin Huai then looked at Li Bowu, who died on the ground with his eyes wide open. ¡°If you¡¯re just a hypocrite, it¡¯s fine if you¡¯re jealous of me. Why must you fall into the Sacred Heart sect and eat people?¡± The more Li Bowu ate, the less experience he could gain every day. They could be said to be natural opposites. Qin Huai was stunned. He suddenly realized that the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s cultivation technique was completely contrary to his thoughts. The Sacred Heart sect had exhausted the pond to catch fish, turning a land and a martial arts school into nourishment. Meanwhile, he treated everyone like a pond and collected experience points like he was cutting leeks. ¡®It seemed like¡­ I¡¯m not compatible with the Sacred Heart sect.¡¯ In the future, if he were to encounter people from the Sacred Heart sect, he would definitely kill them. No matter which faction the Sacred Heart sect was targeting in his area of activity, he would suffer invisibly. It was very likely that he would lose the benefits of a certain cultivation technique. ¡°Junior Brother, let me take a look at this long breath technique,¡± Qi Yangbing asked with a frown. ¡°Senior Brother, be careful. This cultivation technique has the effect of bewitching people¡¯s hearts.¡± Qin Huai said before handing the manual to Qi Yangbing. Qi Yangbing took it, but the next instant, he threw it on the ground as if he had been electrocuted. Chapter 82 - 82 The Burning Secret Manual 82 The Burning Secret Manual ¡°There¡¯s something very strange about this thing!¡± Qi Yangbing hesitated for a moment, but he still picked it up and looked through it again. When he got a closer look, his face turned red, and he suppressed his breath. ¡°This item¡­ It¡¯s very effective. When I hold it, the circulation of the long breath technique becomes smoother. If this secret manual can be used in the right way¡­¡± Pa! Qin Huai quickly snatched the secret manual and interrupted Qi Yangbing. ¡°Senior Brother, your heart is in a mess!¡± ¡°Hiss¡­¡± Qi Yangbing couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, and the redness on his cheeks faded. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect is truly terrifying¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but be shocked. However, he turned around and felt that it was a loss. ¡°Junior Brother, why don¡¯t we take this back and let Master decide what to do with it?¡± Without waiting for Qin Huai¡¯s reply, a voice suddenly came from the crowd. ¡°Has it ended?¡± Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. ¡°Senior Brother Reihom!¡± The people from the Thunderbolt Dojo greeted him respectfully. Reihom¡¯s powerful muscles were still exposed to the air, and he was carrying a weapon made of pure iron on his shoulder. The shaft was like a long spear, and the spearhead was replaced by a lump of iron. Clearly, Reihom had heard the news while he was training and had come. He looked at the bloody secret manual in Qin Huai¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You¡¯re just an evil small fry. How boring¡­ You¡¯ll never become strong by relying on these things.¡± Bai Yusheng looked at Reihom¡¯s back and listened to his words in silence. However, his hands were clenched so tightly that his nails had dug into his flesh. Reihom stared at Qin Huai, but the latter only looked at him. ¡°However, you can keep it. You might be able to give me some fun in the grand martial arts competition.¡± On the Changshan Dojo side, the group of senior disciples didn¡¯t dare to refute a single word. There was no other reason. The shadow that this man had cast on them all these years was too heavy. In the hearts of the vast majority of the older generation, Reihom was an existence that the younger generation couldn¡¯t defeat. However, there were also exceptions. Liu Xing, a lean man with a foreign accent, said in a loud and clear voice, ¡°We don¡¯t just have Senior Brother Qin. Our Senior Brother Qi is even stronger! When the time comes for the grand martial competition, you better pray that you can keep the third place!¡± He was the righteous thief that Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing had met on their way to the encampment to deliver the armor for the first time. He was planning to use the armor to stir up trouble and plot against the world. ¡°Qi Yangbing? In a life-and-death battle, he will definitely die within ten moves.¡± Reihom didn¡¯t even look at Qi Yangbing. His voice was firm, as if he was stating a fact. Qin Huai just looked at Reihom in silence. He threw a piece of flint in his hand and then kicked with the tip of his foot. Hu! The flame slowly rose above the dried leaves. In just a short while, it rose several inches higher in the cold wind. Then, Qin Huai squatted down. He placed the long breath technique manual on the fire and said, ¡°Senior Brother, even with your Dao heart, you can¡¯t resist the temptation of this thing. How can the other brothers and sisters resist it? If we keep this, there will definitely be a second, third, or even more Li Bowu. If you think about it, it¡¯ll be a big disaster for the Changshan Dojo.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was firm. The main reason why he could resist the temptation of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s secret technique was because of his cheat. Compared to the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s technique, he could cut leeks, but he could also cut the weeds and eliminate the roots. He didn¡¯t need to worry about falling into the evil path. He didn¡¯t know how many times stronger it was, but naturally, he wouldn¡¯t be so greedy. A fierce flame burned the unique secret manual forged by the Sacred Heart sect, and the progress was rapid. There was nothing special about the scroll itself, but the ¡®ink¡¯ used to write the technique was very strange. The onlookers looked at the burning secret manual with heartache in their eyes, especially Bai Yusheng. His heart seemed to be dancing wildly with the beating flames. That lord had repeatedly exhorted that even if the person died, he must keep the cultivation method. The value of this cultivation method was more valuable than a hundred of his and Li Bowu¡¯s lives combined¡­ But now¡­ This Qin Huai had actually burned the cultivation technique? ¡°Not bad. This decisiveness and determination are indeed worthy of my expectations.¡± Reihom glanced at the blazing technique, then left without even looking back. ¡°That guy is too arrogant!¡± Liu Xing was still indignant, but Qi Yangbing reached out to stop him. ¡°It¡¯s true that Junior Brother is more decisive. I¡¯ve been tricked!¡± Qi Yangbing looked at the burnt remains and sighed. Meanwhile, a dark purple and an orange experience orb appeared in the fire. Qin Huai glanced at them, and the two experience orbs that dropped silently merged with his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Dark Purple) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +5,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Orange)], and you can allocate experience points: 10,000!¡± As soon as the secret manual was out, there was no need to investigate whether Li Bowu had fallen into the Sacred Heart cult. The evidence was in front of him. Once a person died, the secret manual would also be burned. After some time, the people on both sides immediately lost interest. ¡°Let¡¯s go. This matter should be settled for now. Even if our great genius Qin killed the wrong person, it should be enough to intimidate that person for a while. We can be at ease for a while.¡± Bai Yusheng waved his hand. He returned triumphantly with his fellow disciples like a victor. ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re so smart. You made the Changshan disciples kill each other with just a few words. We¡¯ve lost a genius.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why Senior Brother Bai is our young master. He has both wisdom and courage!¡± Chapter 83 - 83 Pouring Dragons in the Sea of Lightning 83 Pouring Dragons in the Sea of Lightning The disciples of the Thunderbolt Dojo were very happy, and they quickly complimented Bai Yusheng. Bai Yusheng hummed a little tune as he raised his head, feeling relaxed and comfortable. He didn¡¯t stop until he reached the entrance of the dojo. ¡°You guys go back first. I¡¯ll go hunt some game in the mountains.¡± ¡°I wish you a pleasant return, Senior Brother.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, the crowd gradually disappeared from Bai Yusheng¡¯s sight. Bai Yusheng turned around and ran a few hundred meters into the mountains. Suddenly, his legs suddenly went soft, and he tumbled a few times on the mountain before he crashed into a tree and stopped. ¡°Ha Hu!¡± ¡°Hahu!¡± ¡°Hahu¡­¡± Bai Yusheng panted heavily, his entire body trembling. Qin Huai¡¯s face kept flashing back in his mind, as well as the lack of warning when he killed Li Bowu. ¡°What right do you have to do this! How dare you kill Li Bowu! You believe Li Bowu¡¯s words that much? Aren¡¯t you afraid of killing the wrong person and being deserted by your friends and family?!¡± Bai Yusheng roared in the forest, his voice hoarse. Even in the cold late autumn, cold sweat continued to pour down his back, drenching his body. Li Bowu had just led him into the door¡­ Last night, the two of them were still fantasizing about using Han Zun as their stepping stone. They climbed up hand in hand and made everyone look at them in a new light, to see the scenery at the peak of martial arts. But after one night, Li Bowu died¡­ Li Bowu, who was in the fourth refinement, died at the hands of Qin Huai, the first stepping stone that the two had set. He was still killed by a single punch. The long breath technique didn¡¯t have that kind of destructive power. He recalled Qin Huai¡¯s indifference and expression, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong. ¡°He must know something! He must know something!¡± Bai Yusheng mumbled to himself as he awkwardly walked to the wooden house. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you in such a panic?¡± The man was still roasting the meat by the fire and eating it, but this time, it was an arm. ¡°Li Bowu is dead ¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± The man¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his sharp murderous aura made Bai Yusheng shiver. ¡°Did you get that secret manual back?¡± ¡°There were too many people at that time, and I didn¡¯t have the chance to take it¡­¡± Bai Yusheng didn¡¯t dare to look at the man¡¯s expression. ¡°Who took the secret manual? Where is he hiding?¡± The man¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°You should know about this, right? ¡± ¡°Secret manual¡­ The secret manual was burned by a person named Qin Huai¡­¡± Bai Yusheng didn¡¯t dare to raise his head to look at the man. ¡°What? The secret manual was burned?¡± The man stood up immediately, his eyes full of disbelief. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t they have studied it for a while before making a decision?¡± The man¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. He had experienced many such moments in the past, whether it was the great members of the Confucian sect, the righteous gentlemen, or the ascetics. Perhaps they wouldn¡¯t be confused by it, but without exception, they would study it for a period of time. They wanted to comprehend the profoundness within and improve themselves. But burning it on the spot¡­ This was the first time he had heard of it! ¡°Qin Huai, this person¡¯s heart is so determined.¡± The man squinted his eyes, a dangerous glint in them. ¡°Qin Huai. Qin Huai¡­¡± The man muttered these two words, and his expression gradually became strange. ¡°Is this Qin Huai the direct disciple of the master of the Changshan Dojo?¡± ¡°What¡­ How did you know?¡± This time, it was Bai Yusheng¡¯s turn to be stunned. Was Qin Huai so famous? Even this lord had heard of it. ¡°It really was him!¡± Gao Cheng slapped his thigh and did not answer Bai Yusheng. A small city like Pingnan City should not have two groups of blue-hearted disciples visiting it. However, the higher-ups knew that a disciple of a martial arts school in Pingnan City had burned two secret manuals of blood sacrifice in a row, which hindered the development of the two people. This was why he brought the method to break it and rushed here. One was to raise funds and bury the lines, turning Pingnan City into a land of blood and food to cultivate new people. Secondly, he wanted to get rid of this Qin Huai to prevent any further losses. The cult had always been ruthless in killing people like Qin Huai, and Li Bowu was that chess piece. He would use the other¡¯s hands to get rid of Qin Huai, and then the Changshan Dojo and the entire Pingnan City would follow. However, Gao Cheng did not expect that Li Bowu, who had just broken through to the fourth refinement, would be killed by Qin Huai. The latter even burned the blood sacrifice manual he had brought with him! ¡°Could it be that this person has a blood feud with our Sacred Heart sect?¡± Gao Cheng was deep in thought. He did not believe that anyone could refuse the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s secret manual of blood sacrifice, which was a divine skill that could turn mortals into geniuses. The only explanation was¡­ This person was probably hiding his name. He must have fled from a city or county that had been destroyed by the Sacred Heart sect. ¡°No matter what, this person must be eliminated as soon as possible.¡± Gao Cheng patted Bai Yusheng¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Kid, don¡¯t cultivate for the next few days. The latest news is that Fenshan City has been breached by the wave of demons. At least 300 demons are heading towards Pingnan City now. After a few days, there will be chaos on the mountain. At that time¡­¡± Gao Cheng sat down again before continuing, ¡°At that time, it would be reasonable for a few disciples of your Thunderbolt Dojo to die in the mouths of the demons.¡± ¡°Thank you for your guidance, my lord!¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s face was filled with joy. After today¡¯s events, he was frightened by Li Bowu¡¯s death. He naturally had no objections to reducing the risk. As for whether the people of the Thunderbolt Dojo would die because of him, Bai Yusheng was not worried about this. As long as he was alive, as long as he was strong enough¡­there would be countless people swarming over to join his sect. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Gao Cheng waved his hand impatiently. As for Qin Huai, the day the demons arrived would also be the day he died. ¡­ Li Bowu died. It was as if everything had really disappeared. There were no more mysterious deaths or missing people in the Changshan Dojo and the Thunderbolt Dojo. After two days of caution, the two sides began to fight again in the mine to improve their skills and experience. Qin Huai had also started to gather experience on the rumbling thunder skill again. The 10,000 points of experience that could be allocated were all added to the rumbling thunder skill, which was already at level 26 (2176/3000). After that, he directly pushed this thunder skill to level 29, which was a thousand experience points away from a breakthrough. Therefore, on the fourth day, Qin Huai¡¯s rumbling thunder skill had reached level 30. In his dantian, the purple lightning ball that was originally protected by the five dragons had now descended into a sea of lightning, covering the five dragons. Chapter 84 - 84 Shocking Dragon! Ambush! 84 Shocking Dragon! Ambush! The boiling purple lightning poured down from the top of the mountain like a waterfall. Then, the surging purple ocean erupted into rain. It was watering Qin Huai¡¯s dantian. The white dragon was roaring in anger. It raised its head and absorbed the lightning into its body, washing its scales and body. It was as if the lightning had become sticky at a certain moment, pouring like lava and filling in the cracks of its scales. Unknowingly, the five dragons¡¯ originally pure white bodies were dyed purple, and their white aura had a little more charm. When the white dragon swam in his body, there seemed to be thunder-like rumbles. After the lightning waterfall passed through the white dragon, it swam in the qi and blood. It cleansed his qi and blood, not his meridians, but his skin. Every time it did it, it would give Qin Huai a numbing feeling. ¡°This is a different kind of tempering of the body and soul.¡± Qin Huai suddenly felt the changes in his body, even though the tempering effect of this kind of lightning was not obvious. But it existed, and his skin and meridians had become tougher. The only pity was that the lightning had tempered his qi and blood, meridians, and even the white dragon, but managed to bypass the golden blood. It seems that not all cultivation techniques are the same. ¡°The rumbling thunder skill seems to only react to the long breath technique,¡± Qin Huai pondered. ¡°Or should I say that the long breath technique and most other cultivation techniques will produce a wonderful reaction?¡± It was the same for the rumbling thunder skill, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, and the blood heart technique. The long breath technique could be said to be a perfect match. ¡°Such a versatile technique. Perhaps it¡¯s not as simple as I think?¡± A technique that could prolong one¡¯s life, in other words, was a technique that could prolong one¡¯s life and even live forever. This kind of cultivation method did not seem to be created by a small person in Pingnan City. Qin Huai shook his head and examined the abnormality in his dantian again. In his dantian, the pure white five-clawed true dragon¡¯s scales were now covered with a touch of purple. It looked more solid and real. ¡°Four-dragon ring armor!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s mind moved, and the five dragons attacked together! Around Qin Huai¡¯s body, a faintly discernible armor condensed from air currents appeared. ¡°Eh?¡± Qin Huai carefully examined the armor that originally had no form. Now, there seemed to be more dragon scale-like marks. Qin Huai raised his fist and punched himself in the chest. He didn¡¯t hold back and used all his strength. Bang! Bang! The seven armors suddenly rippled. Qin Huai could vaguely see that under the qi armor on his body, layers of qi armor that were one size smaller than a set of bowls seemed to suddenly appear under the heavy pressure to offset and dissolve his strength. ¡°This seems to be similar to the effects of the rumbling thunder skill¡¯s overlapping waves and penetration.¡± Qin Huai was surprised. However, when the stacking wave effect was used for defense, it became a Matryoshka-like armor. Without a doubt, the defensive power of the air armor has clearly increased. More importantly, martial arts techniques like the rumbling thunder skill, which has hidden and overlapping forces, will be countered by the qi armor. Qin Huai¡¯s face could not help but overflow with a touch of joy. This kind of change was really timely. ¡°In the grand martial competition, this kind of qi armor change will definitely weaken Reihom¡¯s attack to a great extent.¡± While Qin Huai was excited, he did not forget to test the effects of the rising dragon. He went up the mountain again, and a white spot of light instantly condensed at the tip of his finger. However, this time, the speed at which the light spots were formed was extremely fast. It was almost as if the light spots were formed with just a thought. At the same time, a purple light enveloped him. Qin Huai threw it out instantly. BOOM! The rising dragon exploded in front of him. Rumble¡­ ¡°Eh? There¡¯s still an aftershock?¡± Qin Huai was overjoyed. Not only did the qi armor inherit the characteristics of the rumbling thunder skill¡¯s overlapping waves, but the attack was also the same. The second explosion was not as powerful as the first one. However, this effect was fatal to both buildings and living beings. It was like an earthquake. Usually, the fiercest one was not the first one with the highest magnitude, but the aftershocks. ¡°Perhaps I should change the name to qi shock scale armor and shock dragon¡­ The breakthrough in the rumbling thunder skill has strengthened both my offensive and defensive skills!¡± In the future, he would have a better guarantee of his safety when he faced the wave of demons. Coupled with the golden blood¡¯s recovery ability, he could last a long time in a battle. ¡°Right now, I should go cultivate the blood heart technique and increase the recovery speed of my golden blood.¡± Qin Huai went up the mountain and chatted with his master for a while before setting off for Pingnan City. As soon as he reached the city gate, Qin Huai saw a large group of panicked refugees. They were carrying bags full of dust and wearing tattered robes. They were shivering from the cold, and their faces were covered in dirt. They could only hold their children and rub them, nervously squeezing through the crowd toward the city gate. Some children and old people were sitting in old and shabby carriages. There were about a dozen of them, holding cakes made of clay in their hands, whimpering and gnawing at them desperately. The children and elderly were pushed to the front of the line. They were pressed against the blades of the guards¡¯ spears. Every time the guards took a step back, they would hurriedly take a step forward. On the city gate tower, a general looked down with a fierce expression. ¡°My fellow villagers, there is really no place to stay in the city! Everyone should change their course and go to other pavilions to live and pass the winter!¡± However, no one in front of the city gate paid any attention to the general¡¯s roar. ¡°Archers!¡± the general suddenly shouted. He then picked up a bow and shot an arrow, which pierced through the glabella of the man who was pushing him the hardest. Immediately, rows of archers on the city gate tower aimed at the city gate. ¡°Whoever dares to break through again, kill without mercy!¡± Chapter 85 - 85 Buying Some Medicinal Herbs 85 Buying Some Medicinal Herbs The general roared again. This time, it completely suppressed the shoving crowd below the city. ¡°If you want to enter the city, you can only do so with the pass. Anyone who wants to break through will be killed without mercy!¡± The general once again stated the conditions for entering the city. The people looked at the corpse on the ground and finally stopped talking. More than half of the people changed their paths and dispersed, but there were also many people squatting under the city wall. ¡°Master, do you need a servant girl to warm your bed?¡± Qin Huai had only taken a few steps against the flow of people when he was pulled back by a middle-aged woman. ¡°No thanks.¡± Qin Huai swept the woman¡¯s hand away. ¡°Please take a look!¡± The woman didn¡¯t give up and waved behind her. There were actually six young girls running over. The oldest one looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, about the same age as Qin Huai, while the youngest was only as tall as his thigh, at most, seven or eight years old. ¡°Which one do you like?¡± The woman reached out and patted the young girls¡¯ chests and butts. ¡°Look, they all have a good foundation. As long as they drink some milk to supplement their nutrition, they will grow up well. If you like all of them, you can take them for three hundred taels!¡± Qin Huai waved his hand again and left quickly. ¡°Two hundred taels!¡± the woman shouted from behind. Qin Huai stopped in his tracks, thinking that two hundred taels was merely a drop in the ocean for him, who currently had more than twenty thousand taels. It was better to help them. After bringing them into the city, he would leave them to their own devices. Qin Huai sized up the six young girls. The clothes they were wearing were very thin. If he didn¡¯t enter the city for a certain errand¡­ It would probably be difficult for them to survive this winter. Saving their lives was just a simple act of doing good¡­ He was just about to speak when his eyes swept across the crowd. There were already around thirty old and young women staring at him. They were holding hands, and there was another huge group of people following behind them. Young men and women were all available. ¡°Get lost!¡± Qin Huai snorted coldly, his eyes filled with killing intent. The woman was so frightened that she fell to the ground. ¡°Mother!¡± The girls quickly squatted down and helped the middle-aged woman up. The young girl in the lead, who was about the same age as Qin Huai, was about to stand up and berate him. However, Qin Huai¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen. ¡°This person is really detestable¡­¡± The young girl gritted her teeth as tears continued to fall. The middle-aged woman patted the young girl¡¯s hand, signaling her to shut up. Her right hand was tightly held by the middle-aged woman, because in this hand, there was an extra three hundred silver. This money was enough for the seven of them to find a house in the forest and buy a few cotton-padded clothes, carrots, and cabbages to survive the winter. The middle-aged woman didn¡¯t dare to make a sound, because the people around her were fiercer than wolves. In the distance, Qin Huai sighed faintly. ¡°This man-eating world¡­¡± These people were just like him. They wanted to live a stable and warm life. Why was it so difficult? If he didn¡¯t have the golden finger, he would probably end up like them. ¡°I wonder if a great man will appear in this vast world and let the people of the world live a stable life without worrying about food and shelter¡­¡± After some time, Qin Huai entered the city and went to the Luo manor first. Before he arrived, he saw many people coming in and out of the manor. ¡°Senior Brother, you¡¯re back.¡± Luo Ya was wearing a brand-new red dress. The fabric seemed to be a little tight, vaguely revealing her curvaceous figure. She quickly grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s arm and walked in. ¡°Why is the house so lively?¡± Qin Huai looked inside and saw that there were people squatting everywhere. Their clothes were disheveled, but they were all smiling. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because our family has earned quite a bit from making armor these days, so much money that we can¡¯t finish spending it¡­ They happened to meet a lot of refugees who had entered the city. My mother said that I should just spend some money¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the Buddhist temple in the county say that one should be compassionate? Saving a person is better than building a seven-story Pagoda or something like that?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. I have to go and help¡­¡± Luo Ya laughed happily, and it was obvious that she was enjoying it. ¡°Hu¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the manor and smiled from the bottom of his heart. The bad luck in his heart immediately dissipated a little. He rolled up his sleeves and followed Luo Ya to distribute the porridge. It was not until late at night that everyone finally had time to rest. The family of four was holding a bowl of noodles and squatting on the steps of the lobby. The original square table had been taken away to put the porridge. ¡°Huai¡¯er, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already left more than ten thousand taels of silver for you, and I¡¯ve also asked my friends in the county city. Buy a smaller house. It¡¯s more than enough to set up a blacksmith¡¯s stall,¡± Luo Huatian said as he rolled up his sleeves. ¡°These busy days have made this rich merchant lose a lot of weight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Even if I don¡¯t have money, I can still make a name for ourselves in the river.¡± Qin Huai patted his chest. He had his golden finger, so even if he went to the county, he would be able to gain a place quickly. It was a busy night. However, Qin Huai slept very soundly. The next morning, Luo Ya accompanied Qin Huai to the medicinal herbs street in the city. ¡°Young Master, what would you like to order?¡± In the front hall of a large apothecary, a shrewd-looking middle-aged man ran out from behind a cabinet with a smile. ¡°10 pounds of wolfberry, 10 pounds of mai dong, 5 pounds of crushed huanhuang grass, 7 pounds of wuguan ear¡­¡± Qin Huai stated the materials he needed to cultivate the golden blood one by one. Meanwhile, Luo Ya¡¯s blush spread from her ears to her toes as Qin Huai revealed the name of the medicine. The smile on the shrewd middle-aged man¡¯s face froze. ¡®This¡­ This isn¡¯t the right way to nourish the body.¡¯ If he were to do so, he would probably be stabbing this young master with a knife. What was released might not be blood, but it would definitely be filled with essence. Chapter 86 - 86 Waiting for the Fish to Take the Bait 86 Waiting for the Fish to Take the Bait ¡°Senior Brother, you know I don¡¯t really practice martial arts¡­ You¡¯re buying medicine like this¡­ I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t take it,¡± Luo Ya whispered like a mosquito. It was a pity that she spoke so softly that even Qin Huai, who was close to her, couldn¡¯t hear him clearly. ¡°Young Master, we have a doctor here who has been praised by the county governor. He can help you solve your problems,¡± the shopkeeper spoke tactfully. ¡°No need. Just do as I say.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. He naturally wouldn¡¯t explain this to the middle-aged man. Seeing that Qin Huai was unyielding, the shopkeeper could not say anything more. He obediently let them get the medicine. Qin Huai looked at the large bags of medicinal herbs and nodded in satisfaction. He was very satisfied with this medicine shop, so he asked again, ¡°Do you have a nine-petal snow lotus?¡± ¡°Yes, but the nine-petal snow lotus is a little expensive. One costs a hundred silver taels.¡± The shopkeeper laughed. The pile on the ground was only a hundred taels. ¡°Give me two catties¡­¡± Qin Huai waved his hand, then corrected himself, ¡°No, three catties.¡± ¡°Three¡­ Three catties?¡± The shopkeeper was stunned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear clearly?¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not that, Young Master. We¡¯ve always sold them by the plant, never by the catty¡­¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? I¡¯ll just buy from another shop then.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. ¡°Good Lord! Please wait a moment!¡± When the shopkeeper saw Qin Huai¡¯s wealth and imposing manner, he seemed to be filled with power as well. The years of spinal disease seemed to have improved a lot as he shouted to the back, ¡°Prepare three catties of nine-petal snow lotus! When Qin Huai left, Sun Ji apothecary rented three carriages for him out of their own pocket. Two of them were used to load the herbs, while the other one was used to transport people. However, the price was not small. Qin Huai had swept away five thousand taels of silver this time. Half of them cultivated the blood heart technique, while the other half were poisonous. He had not been able to make up for the deficit in his foundation from the last battle with the Sacred Heart disciples. This time, he might as well make up for it. After all, he couldn¡¯t keep taking advantage of his master. His master was now seriously injured, and he needed a foundation to hold up the scene. After Qin Huai returned to the Luo manor, he followed the method of cultivating the blood heart technique in his ¡®memory.¡¯ He mixed all the tonics he had bought according to the proportion. Then, he used the blood heart technique to absorb and refine all of the medicine in his stomach according to a specific circulation method. The blood heart technique also increased from level 10, 31/2000. Eventually, he advanced three levels and reached level 13, 122/2000. ¡°It¡¯s really expensive.¡± Qin Huai watched as 2,500 taels of silver flowed out like water. In the end, it only rose by three levels. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a little heartache. He now knew why the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples had chosen to take an unconventional path. The path of evil had been developed. According to this kind of cultivation method, who would be able to stand it? Even if he spent all 26,000 taels of silver, he would only be able to raise the blood heart technique to 30 levels. Because according to the practice of cultivation, after every ten levels, the cost of cultivation would at least double. This was the case for experience and medicine. Moreover, this was only the third refinement. ¡°What an outrageous cultivation technique¡­¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help shaking his head. However, when he felt the golden blood in his dantian increase by a fraction, he felt that it was worth it. Right now, the golden blood was able to heal injuries and fill up the gap in the white dragon¡¯s body. If he were to cultivate to a higher realm, would he be able to reach a level where he could bring the dead back to life? ¡°I hope so.¡± Qin Huai shook his head and began to concoct the poison. He was busy all the way until late at night before he fell asleep. ¡­ That night, Luo Ya did not sleep all night. The reason she couldn¡¯t sleep was that she had seen Qin Huai take all the nourishing medicine with her own eyes. However, he did not enter her room at night. The next morning, that senior brother left the Luo manor with light steps. ¡­ Winter came as expected. The frost and snow were like soft hidden blades. It landed on his body silently, shocking everyone. It was as if the world had turned white overnight. Because Hu Jinghai was stationed at the foot of the mountain, Qin Huai would enter the camp every day to collect experience. It was a big camp with five hundred people, but unfortunately, most of them could only provide Qin Huai with a little experience. Fortunately, there were still some officers, sergeants, and captains¡­ The four-directional tiger-wolf technique gave him 1,000 experience points every day. The long breath technique and the rumbling thunder skill had been steadily improving. However, in the past few days, there have been no major breakthroughs in these three cultivation techniques. On the contrary, under Qin Huai¡¯s inhumane attacks, the blood heart technique was progressing rapidly. He quickly broke through the 20th and 30th levels, until he reached level 31, 3102/4000. Also, the golden blood on the lightning ball in his body had also grown from the size of a green bean to the size of a black bean. Although his body size didn¡¯t increase much, the recovery speed of the white dragons had been increased to one per hour. ¡°The only thing that can limit my recovery speed is silver¡­¡± Qin Huai climbed the mountain and took a medicinal bath. Apart from him and his Senior Brother Qi Yangbing, his master Sun Yuanshan was also in the medicinal bath. The three of them lay in a row in the wooden bucket in the open air of the Changshan ancestral house, looking up at the sky in the rising fog. The injuries caused by Bai Bashan and the others had not fully healed yet, but Sun Yuanshan¡¯s white dragons had all recovered, so it would not be a problem for him to deal with a sixth refinement martial artist. ¡°Did the fish take the bait?¡± Sun Yuanshan asked. ¡°No, he seems to be very calm,¡± Qin Huai replied. He had openly burned the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s manuals and deliberately bought the medicinal herbs needed for the blood heart technique¡¯s cultivation method in order to lure the mastermind behind the scenes, the Sacred Heart follower who manipulated Li Bowu. As for the other party¡¯s strength, the city lord had sent a letter long ago. The news from the county city said that the Sacred Heart sect was very strict when it came to dispatching people to each city, county, and state. In a small city like Pingnan, it was usually filled with Sacred Heart disciples of white and blue hearts, who did not exceed the sixth refinement. If one¡¯s realm was too high, it would lead to a waste of human resources. Most importantly, there were no stronger martial artists in Pingnan, a barren land with the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s influence. ¡°But he should be showing his face soon,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Recently, the hundreds of fiends and demons that Fenshan City had missed have been appearing frequently sixty miles away from Pingnan City. ¡°The martial artists of our eight martial arts centers must go out of the city to exterminate the monsters¡­ That guy won¡¯t let go of this opportunity. ¡°Anyway, my disciple¡¯s tiger battalion, the city lord¡¯s two commanders, and you, Master, will take turns to keep an eye on him. The moment that Sacred Heart believer shows his face, it will be his death.¡± Qin Huai had already set up everything and was only waiting for the fish to take the bait. Chapter 87 - 87 Meeting the Refugees 87 Meeting the Refugees In the wooden tub, Sun Yuanshan turned his head and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°By the way, I heard you showed a strange form when you killed Li Bowu?¡± He had always wanted to ask, but he never had the chance. He was also too embarrassed to open his mouth. ¡°Ah, Master¡¯s rising dragon gave me a sudden idea, so I tried to use the white dragon in various ways.¡± Qin Huai had already thought of an excuse. ¡°You imbued the white dragon into your muscles?!¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s eyes widened when he heard Qin Huai¡¯s answer. ¡°You¡¯re really bold, kid! It¡¯s something I¡¯ve never heard of before!¡± Qin Huai smiled and waved his hand. ¡°In terms of wondrous ideas, Master¡¯s rising dragon is better. I was just inspired by you.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. He then stroked his wet beard and asked, ¡°Can this method be implemented?¡± ¡°It¡¯s extremely dangerous,¡± Qin Huai spoke bluntly. He could activate his blood dragon form and even the advanced version of the colossal blood dragon form. The boiling blood from the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and the golden blood produced by the blood heart technique were both indispensable. ¡°Oh, Then let Fang Han try it.¡± Sun Yuanshan muttered, ¡°That kid¡¯s body is strong. He¡¯s not the face of a dojo like Rong Li, so it¡¯s not a big deal to be injured. ¡°I think so too.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up. His intention was not much different from Sun Yuanshan¡¯s. Although his fellow disciples did not have the boiling blood¡¯s level of combat strength, nor could they stuff the entire white dragon into their muscles and bodies, they were still unable to do so. However, he should still be able to activate the low-quality blood dragon form with a small amount of qi. But of course, in contrast, this form¡¯s increase in power was far inferior to Qin Huai¡¯s blood dragon form. However, in the upcoming wave of demons, any increase in combat strength would increase the chances of survival of his fellow disciples. After weighing the pros and cons, Senior Brother Fang Han was indeed the most suitable candidate. It was just that he was the junior brother, so he couldn¡¯t say it, so it was great that his master had the same idea. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Master hasn¡¯t had any scandals all these years, I would have thought that Junior Brother Qin was Master¡¯s long-lost illegitimate son.¡± On the side, Qi Yangbing looked at the master and disciple who had a tacit understanding and felt complicated. ¡°Hahaha. If I wanted to now, I would have the ability to support an old chicken.¡± After joking around, Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan began to discuss the accumulation and progress of the foundation. There were also many combat techniques. Qi Yangbing couldn¡¯t interject. This was his knowledge blind spot, so he could only shut his mouth and bear it in mind. Although his master and junior brother¡¯s method of dealing with the enemy was somewhat bold and unconstrained, there was no need to verify the effect. As long as one listened to the words of the two, one would know that the effect would not be bad. Besides, this was very beneficial to him. ¡°Although my current cultivation is slightly higher than Junior Brother Qin¡¯s, if we were to fight to the death, I would most likely be the one to die,¡± Qi Yangbing said emotionally. ¡°Senior Brother is too humble. With Senior Brother¡¯s popularity, if you and I were to fight to the death, I might die in the wilderness before I could even see Senior Brother.¡± Qin Huai was also very humble. Qi Yangbing¡¯s reputation in the dojo was second only to his master and Rong Li. However, he had a wide circle of friends in the eight dojos. If Qi Yangbing gave a call, there might be twenty to thirty third refinement martial artists who would follow him. But of course, the premise of all this was that Qin Huai really only had three refinements. Ever since he had entered the fourth refinement and possessed the five white dragons, his master could no longer see through his current realm. Everyone still thought that he was only at the third refinement. ¡­ Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing returned to the dojo not long after they finished their medicinal baths. Surprisingly, there were not many people on the drill ground. Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing looked at each other. After looking around, they finally caught a junior brother. ¡°There¡¯s a group of refugees who insisted on staying in our dojo for the winter. They even said that we should go and get rid of the demons when they came.¡± The junior brother was at a loss. ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing looked at each other and quickly walked to the entrance of the dojo. Before they arrived, the sound of wailing pierced through the clouds. ¡°Old Master Wu, please do us a favor and save our lives.¡± ¡°I just built a wooden house in the forest. I went out to hunt a snow rabbit, and when I came back, the house was hit with a big hole.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a monster that¡¯s more than three meters tall. The snow is covered in cow hoofprints.¡± ¡°The demons want us to stay in the dojo, or you will help us get rid of the demons! Otherwise¡­ Otherwise, we won¡¯t leave!¡± Amidst the noise, there were people who begged, who gave up, who went with the flow, who clamored¡­ There were also those who cursed at the imperial court in front of the dojo. Most of them were complaints about the hardships of the world. The disciples had heard them so many times since winter. However, there was still some useful information, and it was very important. ¡°According to the old man, he lives at the foot of the Top Mountain. It¡¯s only twenty li away from Pingnan City¡­ Also, the uncle and the two aunts were probably talking about the ox and pig demons. They are the main force of the wave of demons in Fenshan City,¡± Qi Yangbing muttered to himself. ¡°The hundreds of demons that escaped that city have killed their way to Pingnan.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s tone was heavy. He also saw the mother and her daughters he had saved in front of the city gate a few days ago in the crowd. However, there were now six of them, and the youngest girl was missing. The remaining six people were now wearing cotton-padded clothes, but they had deliberately cut them open and then stitched them up to make them less eye-catching. Their wooden house seemed to have been destroyed by the demons. Shua, shua, shua. The eldest martial brother, Rong Li, walked out from the mountain and cupped his fists towards the pitiful crowd in front of him. He was calm and unruffled. ¡°Everyone, our Changshan Dojo can guarantee that we will set up a shed in front of the mountain gate once a week to provide porridge. You can also stay in the area near the dojo, the White Flow Mountain.¡± Chapter 88 - 88 Demon Slaying List! 88 Demon Slaying List! ¡°We won¡¯t drive everyone away. The current situation is difficult, and the world is changing. You¡¯re not having a good time, but there are also nearly a thousand mouths waiting to eat in the dojo. I hope everyone can understand.¡± Rong Li¡¯s eyes slowly swept across the crowd. ¡°If anyone doesn¡¯t want to understand, then the dojo will definitely not be polite with you! Those who overstep boundaries will be like this tree!¡± Rong Li¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he suddenly punched a locust tree that was as thick as a human¡¯s waist. Bang! Bang! Squeak¡­ With a crisp sound, the locust tree slowly fell to the snow where Rong Li had hit. The people in front of the gate were so scared that they took two steps back and lowered their heads, no longer saying anything. The matter in front of the dojo was quietly resolved by Rong Li¡¯s punch. ¡°My two junior brothers, follow me.¡± Rong Li looked at Qin Huai and the other two, and the three of them walked to the side. ¡°In the past two days, according to the news that we received from the escorts in the towns and villages below, a large number of demons have entered the territory of Pingnan to wreak havoc and eat people.¡± Rong Li¡¯s voice paused. ¡°To say something inhuman, it¡¯s fine if the demons only eat people. If they eat less, there will be fewer bandits around Pingnan who will smash, rob, and burn. More people will survive this harsh winter.¡± ¡°I think¡­¡± Qi Yangbing was interrupted by Rong Li. ¡°But now, the demons not only eat people, but they also attack the granaries that store eastern grain and the merchant teams that deliver goods. If we let them continue, the prices of goods in the city will soar.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Qi Yangbing sighed. Rong Li continued, ¡°I can¡¯t leave the dojo. Junior Brother Qi, Junior Brother Qin, Fang Han, you and the disciples of the eight major dojos will lead teams into the mountains to eliminate the demons!¡± ¡°I will follow Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s orders!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. ¡°I will follow Eldest Senior Brother¡¯s orders!¡± Qi Yangbing quickly added. ¡°You guys go and gather the disciples on the drill ground. We¡¯ll talk about the demons.¡± ¡­ On the drill ground, one hundred and thirty-seven disciples of the dojo stood in a dark mass. Many of them had died at the hands of Hong San, and many of them had also died tragically in the disaster of Li Bowu. But there were people who advanced later. They were barely able to maintain sufficient combat power. ¡°Demons are a race blessed by the heavens. They are born with strong physical bodies and powerful qi and blood. Their realms correspond to our human race¡¯s, and they are also divided into nine refinements. ¡°It¡¯s just that their cultivation doesn¡¯t advance through cultivation techniques, but through the constant transformation of age. And the speed of their transformation is determined by the level of their bloodline and the number of living beings they have devoured. ¡°In the same realm, do not fight head-on with a demon, especially in a physical battle. Even if you¡¯re one or two realms higher, your body might not be as tough as them ¡°It¡¯s best to have more than three people fighting one. That¡¯s the safest way.¡± Rong Li¡¯s words caused a commotion in the crowd in front of him, and their eyes couldn¡¯t help but fill with worry. Very quickly, he changed the topic. ¡°But it¡¯s also because of their strong blood and flesh that the flesh of demons is the best qi and blood tonic for us. ¡°Now that resources are scarce in Pingnan City, a bowl of vitality soup has dropped slightly. However, it was still an astronomical price of thirty taels a bowl! And this is a case of demand but no supply. ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention demon meat. It¡¯s not even sold in the market. Even in the rich county city, demon meat is already sold for ten taels a jin.¡± Rong Li stretched out his hand slowly and counted with his fingers. ¡°If a pig demon weighs 400 pounds, and after removing the skin, bones, and internal organs, the refined demon meat is only 100 pounds¡­ That¡¯ll be one thousand taels of silver. ¡°That¡¯s a pure profit! Now, around Pingnan, there are 1,000 taels of silver everywhere. The average person can earn it.¡± The temptation of silver was laid out in front of everyone, and with Rong Li¡¯s ¡®sincere¡¯ voice, the initial worry and fear instantly disappeared. As the saying goes, a 100% profit can make people go crazy, and a 200% profit can make people go even crazier. This kind of business would give rise to a group of desperate people. Qin Huai, who was listening from below, was also rather tempted. After all, the huge profit that the Luo manor had made from making armor in the past month was only worth ten pig demons. Being a martial artist was really a business that burned money and earned money. ¡°There¡¯s one more important point.¡± Rong Li¡¯s speech slowed down. ¡°The eight martial arts centers and the city lord¡¯s mansion will come up with a demon judgment board. A first refinement demon will give one point, a second refinement demon will give two points, and so on. You need to provide the demons¡¯ eyes and fangs as proof.¡± ¡°What can these points be exchanged for?¡± Li Zhang shouted excitedly in the crowd. ¡°Armor and weapons from the Changshan Dojo and Thunderbolt Dojo, and rare herbs from the Six Harmonies Dojo, Tyrant Fist Dojo, and Crane Dojo. Also, the girls from the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo and White Wave Fist Dojo¡­¡± ¡°Can Overflowing Fragrance brothel¡¯s top courtesan, Miss Shaoxiang, also be chosen?¡± someone shouted. This question seemed to heat up the harsh winter. ¡°Of course, you can.¡± Rong Li also smiled knowingly. ¡°Miss Shaoxiang, who only sells her skills and not her body, has already made it clear that she will accompany whoever gets first place for two months in a row.¡± ¡°I, Li Qunying, will definitely be the first on the demon slaying list!¡± ¡°As a martial artist, I will take it upon myself to eliminate demons!¡± Everyone¡¯s enthusiasm was even higher than when Rong Li had just dropped one thousand taels of silver for one demon. Qin Huai looked at the fanatical crowd and muttered in a low voice, ¡°This Miss Shaoxiang¡­ Could she be a fox demon?¡± This was because he had discovered that some of the senior and junior sisters in the dojo had strange looks in their eyes when they mentioned Miss Shaoxiang. Chapter 89 - 89 Armor Test? 89 Armor Test? However, he was also very interested in the rewards of the demon execution list, especially the ones from the three dojos that were in charge of large medicinal fields. Golden blood and foundation both required a large amount of medicinal herbs. Good herbs were also in high demand, but there was no market for them. It would be great if he could obtain them through killing demons. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s enter the mountain!¡± With a wave of his hand, Rong Li divided his 120 martial artists into three groups under Qin Huai, Fang Han, and Qi Yangbing. Then, they headed toward the periphery of Pingnan. The remaining dozen or so people stayed with him in the dojo to deal with the unexpected. Meanwhile, the other seven dojos, including the city lord¡¯s mansion, were in the same situation. ¡­ Bai Yusheng came to the wooden house in a panic. He was about to speak when he saw Gao Cheng, who was holding a secret manual and slowly cultivating. Bai Yusheng didn¡¯t even dare to breathe as he stood a few meters away, watching silently. The more he looked, the more he thought about it, and the more he felt that the cultivation method he had cultivated when he was at the peak of his cultivation was so familiar! Suddenly, he came to a realization. Wasn¡¯t this the long breath technique? ¡°What is it?¡± Gao Cheng¡¯s voice slowly sounded. Bai Yusheng was stunned for a moment. ¡°My lord, the demons have already entered the periphery of Pingnan. When do you think I can make a move?¡± These few days felt like years to him. He had experienced the speed of advancement brought about by eating people, a thousand miles a day. If Bai Yusheng continued to live such a slow and bitter life, he would not be able to live another day. However, this lord refused to let him do it. He had even started cultivating his nemesis¡¯s cultivation technique, the long breath technique. ¡°There¡¯s no rush, let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± Gao Cheng glanced coldly at Bai Yusheng, trying to see through his thoughts. ¡°Know yourself and know your enemy, and you¡¯ll win every battle. I¡¯m cultivating the long breath technique because I want to familiarize myself with Qin Huai¡¯s fighting style and the characteristics of his techniques. ¡°I only feel that I have the advantage in numbers and realm. Without understanding the enemy, you would blindly think that victory was in their grasp¡­ You¡¯re all idiots!¡± Gao Cheng looked at Bai Yusheng without any trace of politeness. ¡°What did the Sacred Heart sect rely on to rise rapidly in Great You like a bright sun? It¡¯s a cultivation technique! It was the heart of the people! It¡¯s wisdom!¡± Bai Yusheng fell silent upon hearing this. He felt that what Gao Cheng said was wrong, but he was no match for him at all. So, he could only shut up. Gao Cheng didn¡¯t care about Bai Yusheng¡¯s opinion. He just sighed to himself. ¡°I¡¯ve been to more than ten cities like Pingnan, but I¡¯ve never encountered such an exquisite cultivation technique like the long breath. Just this longevity alone is a heavenly achievement. ¡°Although the early stages are not good at attacking, after the sixth refinement, there are no more flaws. Attack and defense all in one¡­ It¡¯s perfect!¡± The more Gao Cheng studied it, the more he felt that this cultivation technique was not bad. ¡°But in the third and fourth refinement, the flaws are obvious. The so-called forbidden technique has a certain delay in its execution. As long as you keep an eye on the direction of the qi, you can avoid it. Even defense can¡¯t stop a technique like the rumbling thunder skill.¡± Pa! Gao Cheng closed the secret book, which Li Bowu had written for him. ¡°Now, try to attack me, and I¡¯ll teach you how to deal with the long breath technique. After a few days, I believe killing Qin Huai will be as easy as stretching out my hand¡­¡± ¡­ Wipe, wipe, wipe¡­ In the snow-filled mountain forest, Sun Ziyao, Li Zhang, and the other four carefully fumbled around. The hay was buried by the snow, and from time to time, they would see a few snakes and rats that had not been able to hibernate and were frozen to death on the road. Hu! Sun Ziyao breathed out hot air from his mouth and nose. ¡°Be careful. Although this magical beast¡¯s intelligence is not as high as ours, its hunting ability is a bit stronger than ours.¡± BOOM! Just as he finished speaking, the wind above the five of them started to blow. Sun Ziyao¡¯s eyes were sharp, and his hands were fast. He pounced on Li Zhang and threw him out. Stab¡­ However, he was still a little too slow. Sun Ziyao¡¯s back was covered in blood, and his cotton-padded jacket and a large piece of flesh had disappeared. BOOM! The huge lump rolled on the ground several times before standing up and looking at the crowd. It had a bull head, red eyes, and bronze-gray fur. The limbs were not as short as livestock, and they looked more like apes. However, walking on four limbs could also allow one to run on two hind legs. The hooves forked at the end, forming two long, hard fingers. ¡°Hmph, lalala¡­¡± the ox demon shouted. Once again, he charged at Sun Ziyao. ¡°Bastard!¡± Li Zhang got up and threw a punch at the ox demon. He was already a first-tier martial artist, and among the apprentices, he was considered a genius who advanced very quickly. ¡°Don¡¯t fight head-on with it!¡± Sun Ziyao roared. But it was already too late. Li Zhang¡¯s fist met the punch, and the crisp sound of bones breaking could be heard. His forearm was visibly deformed. His entire body was instantly sent flying. The ox demon suddenly took a step forward and flew toward Li Zhang. ¡°Grandmother!¡± Sun Ziyao didn¡¯t care about the injury on his back and stood up abruptly. He was the strongest in the second refinement and the only one who had entered from a young age. He had the most experience in fighting. The other three were already a little dumbfounded and stood rooted to the ground. ¡°You savage!¡± Sun Ziyao roared in anger and took the ox demon¡¯s punch head-on. His muscles instantly bulged. This was the cultivation technique he had cultivated before he entered the sect. Bang Bang! In an instant, the ox demon threw two punches. Sun Ziyao took all of them without a single punch. Blood spurted out of his mouth, but he couldn¡¯t care too much about it. He used the force to turn around and take Li Zhang away. After a few awkward somersaults in the snow, he finally rolled into the middle of the three people. Sun Ziyao lowered his head and looked at his trembling hands. ¡®Eldest Senior Brother was not lying to me. The strength of this second refinement ox demon is even more terrifying than those third refinement senior brothers. What kind of monsters are these?¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s retreat!¡± Sun Ziyao quickly got up and waved at the silly chicks. Although the three of them didn¡¯t dare to attack the demons, they had learned a lot from sparring with the warriors of the Thunderbolt Dojo. The demons didn¡¯t dare to pursue. They still couldn¡¯t fight, as the casualties would be too heavy. They couldn¡¯t afford it. Wuwuwuwuwu¡­ Suddenly, the sound of footsteps interrupted. Qin Huai walked out from behind the crowd and stood in front of them. ¡°Senior Brother Qin!¡± When Sun Ziyao saw Qin Huai, he instantly put his suspended heart back into his stomach. ¡°It seems I came at the right time.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the wound on Sun Ziyao¡¯s back and threw a medicine bag at him. ¡°Many thanks.¡± But Sun Ziyao suddenly roared, ¡°Senior Brother Qin, be careful!¡± The ox demon behind him suddenly charged at Qin Huai. Its two sharp horns were like the Grim Reaper¡¯s scythe, cold and bone-piercing. ¡°Qi shock scale armor!¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t even turn his head, and a wave of air appeared around him. BOOM! The ox demon stopped halfway and fell to the ground. Fresh blood flowed out of his mouth, nose, and eyes. Qin Huai turned around and looked at the ox demon, who was still twitching and breathing. ¡°Too bad you didn¡¯t make it to the point where I can test the strength of my qi armor.¡± Chapter 90 - 90 Poison Test 90 Poison Test Qin Huai used his hand as a knife and executed a beheading technique. Stab! Blood gushed out, dyeing the long robe behind Qin Huai red. But he didn¡¯t care. He bent down and dug out the ox demon¡¯s eyes, then pierced them with a leather thread and hung them on his waist. Other than the ox demon¡¯s corpse, there was also a blue experience ball and a pool of scarlet liquid. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue) ], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± When Qin Huai heard the first voice, his expression remained the same. He had long thought that this might be the ¡®gift¡¯ for killing the demon. On the other hand, the increase in vitality was somewhat beyond Qin Huai¡¯s expectations. This second refinement demon could provide him with ten bowls of vitality soup, so it could be said to be priceless. Qin Huai did not hesitate and added the 300 experience points to the blood heart technique. His short-term goal was still to upgrade the forbidden technique¡­ Moreover, the lightning dragon has been upgraded to the general attack level. This was good because extremely powerful firepower was the only way to gain a foothold in this world. Just like Qin Huai¡¯s heritage, he felt at ease every time he touched it. ¡°Be careful, I can¡¯t be by your side every time.¡± Qin Huai turned to look at the crowd. ¡°Next, we will have to face the great wave of demons. By then, it will be a horde of demons. If you don¡¯t grow up quickly, you¡¯ll die even if you don¡¯t die now.¡± Qin Huai exerted pressure on everyone without holding back. The people who wanted them to live the most were their parents and relatives. He was definitely Qin Huai. Even after taking into account some complicated factors, Qin Huai wanted them to live more than their parents and become stronger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother. We won¡¯t let you down!¡± Li Zhang was the loudest. Sun Ziyao, who was at the side, was still in a daze. He was thinking about what method his senior brother had used to kill the ox demon. Then, he revealed a look of realization, and finally, he became thoughtful. ¡°You can¡¯t eat the meat directly after you send it back. It needs to be washed at least three times and dried, especially the heart. It¡¯s best not to have it removed.¡± Qin Huai warned before quickly leaving. He found a bald locust tree near the mountain and ate the frozen flatbread. Then, he glanced at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 135] [Vitality]: 54.864 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 41, 17/5000) ], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 30, 1111/4000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 22, 221/3000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 31, 3402/4000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 822/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 43/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 5/5] [Stage: Level 4 Blood Refinement] The blood heart technique caught up from behind and had already become the second highest cultivation technique in Qin Huai¡¯s realm. Ever since he had broken through to rumbling thunder skill level 30, his daily experience points had dropped to 300. So, it would take almost five months to reach the fourth stage. With the addition of the demons¡¯ attack, the two dojo¡¯s heated exchanges in the mine were destined to be reduced. If he did not have the free experience to support him, he would probably not be able to break through again during the grand martial competition. As for the four-directional tiger-Wolf technique, it was slightly better as there were more people in the camp. The third stage would only take a month. ¡°As for the breath control technique and spirit eye technique, I¡¯m still stuck at the first stage. They can be used, but they¡¯re not very useful for now.¡± Qin Huai sighed. When facing a martial artist of a higher realm, his shallow breath control technique could no longer hide his figure. On the other hand, the spirit eye technique had some wondrous effects in the dark. ¡°I¡¯ll feel a bit of heartache if the experience points are distributed to these two cultivation techniques. After all, they can¡¯t react with other cultivation techniques. It can¡¯t increase my combat strength¡­¡± However, if they were pulled to level 20, there might be some changes. Qin Huai was extremely conflicted. ¡°The root of the problem is that the experience points I can collect are too small.¡± After Qin Huai finished eating the freeze-dried flatbread, he continued to walk deep into the mountains. The snow was falling, and the world was covered in silver frost. Even the sun had to bow down to the silver might. It was easy for ordinary people to get lost in the mountains. On the other hand, Qin Huai had already explored the area countless times and had memorized the mountains around Pingnan. That was why even without a map, they could move smoothly in the snow. Qin Huai¡¯s search wasn¡¯t without a pattern. He followed the direction of the wind and moved forward. This was to ensure that he had the space to display his strength. Sun Ziyao and the rest of his subordinates also surrounded him. As for Qin Huai¡¯s method of searching, it was actually quite simple. By scattering some powder with a strong smell of qi and blood along with the wind, those demons would naturally chase after the source and come to their deaths. They walked all the way until the sun was about to set. Qin Huai finally stood still. On a hill a few hundred meters away, a fat body was looking at him from afar. Their eyes met. The man and the demon charged at each other at the same time. Only the furious roars of the wind could be heard deep in the mountains, drowning out the intense killing intent of the two creatures whose qi and blood were surging. Whoosh. Wuwuwuwuwu¡­ Unfortunately, the demon¡¯s speed toward Qin Huai was getting slower and slower. In the end, the last one fell to the ground. ¡°It¡¯s a pity you didn¡¯t get through this either.¡± Qin Huai ended the pig demon¡¯s life regretfully. ¡°I just wanted to test the strength of the qi shock scale armor. Why is it so hard?¡± A demon that could be defeated by his own foundation naturally couldn¡¯t test the limit of his qi armor. Therefore, Qin Huai didn¡¯t waste his time and used poison as the first test for the demons. Chapter 91 - 91 Demon Slayers Ranking 91 Demon Slayers Ranking ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 150!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.005!¡± This was only a first refinement pig demon. No wonder it fell so quickly. Qin Huai still focused his experience on the blood heart technique. He took out the map from his chest and used a drop of demon blood to mark his current position. They then continued their journey. After that, Qin Huai fought one after another, killing a total of four demons. Seeing that the sky had completely darkened, Qin Huai picked up the last ox demon and walked in the direction of the Changshan Dojo. Hu! Suddenly, a rapid sound of air being torn exploded in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. He immediately looked up and saw a huge black shadow coming at him at an extremely fast speed. How fast! Qin Huai was instantly excited as the whistling wind was accompanied by a biting cold wind. However, the direction of the big demon seemed to be a little off. It crashed into a pine tree a few meters away from Qin Huai. Ka! The thick pine tree trembled violently, shaking off dozens of pounds of white snow. The full appearance of the black shadow was reflected in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. It was a rather strong pig demon, around the second refinement. This actually was not strange. The strange thing was that this second refinement pig demon was pinned to the tree by a black spear, which was still trembling. Meanwhile, Qin Huai looked in the direction where the long spear had come from. That muscular figure was still bare-armed as he strolled in the snow. It was the number one genius of Pingnan, Reihom! ¡°There are no rules for using poison in the arena.¡± Reihom and Qin Huai stood side by side as the former pulled out the long spear that had pierced through the pig demon and the pine wood. ¡°But if you want to rely on this kind of unorthodox method, I won¡¯t give you the first place of the grand martial competition.¡± Reihom looked at Qin Huai indifferently. ¡°You can try.¡± The corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but curve up a little. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in you.¡± Reihom grabbed the pig demon¡¯s eyes, then with his spear, he accurately tore off the most essential part of the pig demon¡¯s body, the two pieces of meat that did not need to be processed. ¡°I heard that your master was seriously injured because he wanted to give you a fair chance to compete with me. How touching. But what he¡¯s doing is meaningless.¡± Reihom stuffed the piece of meat into his mouth and began to gobble it up. ¡°No one in Pingnan can defeat me, not you or that Hu Jingshan.¡± After he finished speaking, he turned around and walked into the depths of the forest. ¡°I hope you can still say such words on that day.¡± Qin Huai looked at Reihom¡¯s back, not wavering in the slightest at his words. ¡°This guy¡¯s vitality is much more terrifying than I thought.¡± Qin Huai measured Reihom¡¯s attack. From more than twenty meters away, the spear pierced through the second refinement pig demon and nailed it to the tree. Vitality, techniques, skills¡­ One could not be lacking. There¡¯s a reason why this person can sit at the top of the eight martial roll for two years. Qin Huai, who originally wanted to return to the dojo, changed his mind. After feeling the wind, he continued to move forward with the strong wind. ¡­ The next morning, Qin Huai disinterestedly stepped through the dojo¡¯s door. In one night, he had killed thirteen demons, but none of them were qualified to let Qin Huai test the effect of the Qi shock scale armor. ¡°But I should be able to exchange it for quite a few points.¡± Qin Huai calculated. ¡°Four second refinement and nine first refinement, a total of 17 points.¡± In the open space, the group of people gathered in a circle and remained silent. Qin Huai walked over to take a look. They were the corpses of seven dojo disciples. He could tell at a glance that they were all fledglings at the first refinement realm. Because of his experience in collecting the rumbling thunder skill in the mine, he didn¡¯t have much of an impression of them. Without the baptism of actual combat, it was normal to die when suddenly faced with a murderous and extremely oppressive demon. ¡°You must remember their deaths.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart ached, but he continued to exert pressure on everyone. ¡°Every time you slack off, they will give you a knife, a claw, or even a life when you¡¯re on the verge of death.¡± ¡°Understood, Senior Brother Qin!¡± Everyone responded one after another. Some people even came to a realization and felt ashamed. ¡°Everyone should be here. Let¡¯s go to the city and tally the names on the list.¡± Qi Yangbing walked out from the corner and handed Qin Huai two scallion pancakes. He saw that Qin Huai¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t too good, and there was a high chance that the harvest wasn¡¯t too good, so he didn¡¯t ask. The group of people set off for the city. ¡°Do I have to go to the city every day?¡± Fang Han sighed. ¡°This is the decision after discussion.¡± Qi Yangbing explained, ¡°Now that the demons are approaching, people inside and outside the city are in a state of panic. ¡°Our large groups of martial artists coming in and out will help to stabilize the people¡¯s hearts and dispel the evil thoughts of some rascals. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. It¡¯s to let our warriors, who have been on tenterhooks for the whole day, relax their bodies and minds.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°After all, we¡¯re just getting used to it. The real battle is yet to come.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I meant.¡± Qi Yangbing sighed again. Several of his friends had died since winter came, and there would be more in the future. When they arrived at the city gate, Qin Huai, who was originally a little depressed, became more energetic. In front of the city gate, it was no longer the miserable appearance of the city in the past. The entrance was full of bright and beautiful figures who were in high spirits. They were all martial artists from the eight big martial arts centers who had gathered to enter the city. They all wanted to see who would be the top of the demon slayers list on the first day. ¡°Junior Brother Qi, you¡¯re well-informed. Do you know who will be at the top today?¡± Fang Han was also curious. He had just seen Qi Yangbing greeting the other disciples of the eight dojos. ¡°Cai Jiulou from the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo might be the first. Three second refinement beasts died at his hands.¡± Chapter 92 - 92 Miss Shaoxiang and Qin Huai 92 Miss Shaoxiang and Qin Huai ¡°But I think most of the people who have gained something are the elites on the original eight martial roll. Many martial artists only have a pair of demon eyes¡­ not to mention there are many who died¡­¡± Qi Yangbing said as he looked around. Fang Han looked into the distance and gasped. ¡°Even the master of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo is here. He¡¯s trying to use this day to create momentum for Cai Jiulou and make a name for himself, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°It seems to be 10 points. He¡¯s definitely at the top of the list today¡­¡± The two of them looked at each other. ¡°Well, look, that Miss Shaoxiang is here today. Tsk tsk¡­ I heard this woman is a descendant of a great clan in the county city, but I don¡¯t know how she ended up like this.¡± Fang Han¡¯s eyes lit up as he spoke. ¡°Her skills in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework are all top-grade, not to mention her face and figure.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, aren¡¯t you afraid that Sister-in-law will hear you and play with you?¡± Qi Yangbing teased. ¡°I¡­ Didn¡¯t I say this for you two single men to hear? If I didn¡¯t say it with some emotion, would you two blockheads be interested?¡± Fang Han stammered and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Eh? Where¡¯s Qin Huai?¡± The two of them looked around, but they could no longer see him. ¡­ At this moment, everyone was inquiring about other people¡¯s battle achievements, trying to figure out if they had the right to brag. There was an even larger group of people who were waiting for the results of the geniuses on the original eight martial roll. They wanted to use it as a topic of discussion and compare the true strength rankings between the geniuses. In short, they were here to join in the fun. Qin Huai took out a bag from his waist and slapped it in front of the military official. ¡°Surname. Your name¡­¡± The military official looked at the bloody bag on the table, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°Qin Huai.¡± Qin Huai opened the bag. The military official¡¯s eyes widened even more. Hiss¡­ One, two, three, four¡­ A total of thirteen demons? There were even four second refinement demons! Did he go to the mountains to restock? The military official was a little confused. Was this the weight of the geniuses of Pingnan City? For a moment, he wasn¡¯t as worried about the wave of demons. As long as the young heroes of Pingnan City were brought out, they could kill hundreds of demons in a day. In less than half a month, the remnants of the wave of demons would have to escape from Pingnan. At the thought, the military official couldn¡¯t help but giggle. Then, he coughed and retracted his hand. The brush in his hand trembled slightly as he said in a low voice, ¡°Changshan Dojo, Qin Huai, 17 points.¡± After he finished writing, the military official gave Qin Huai three wooden strips with five carved on them and two wooden strips with one carved on them. This was the currency for exchange. Qin Huai took the wooden sticks and walked straight to the warehouse not far away. In front of it was a price list. ¡°Three fresh roots, fifty-year-old moon flower, seventy-year-old caixing grass¡­ Tsk, tsk, they got everything here.¡± Seeing these rare medicinal herbs, Qin Huai¡¯s spirits were lifted. ¡°But there were so few. The eight major martial arts centers have really put in a lot of money.¡± Qin Huai wasn¡¯t stingy. He exchanged all 17 points for medicinal herbs. There were ingredients for poison and also materials for golden blood cultivation. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m gonna head back!¡± Qin Huai returned with a bountiful harvest. He didn¡¯t want to join in the fun. All he wanted to do now was to return to the forest and take all of the hundreds of demons. In that case, he would have the money, the capital to cultivate the golden blood, and his experience in collecting the rumbling thunder skill and the long breath technique¡­ Demons and whatnot, they really deserved to die. The more Qin Huai thought about it, the angrier he became. He only bade Qi Yangbing and Fang Han farewell and left quickly. ¡°It looks like Junior Brother Qin¡¯s harvest is really not good.¡± Fang Han ¡®saw through¡¯ him. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s normal. The area around Pingnan isn¡¯t that big, but it¡¯s not that small either. Throwing in hundreds of demons is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It¡¯s not possible to have the strength to kill the demonic light¡­¡± The two of them only had four points each. Qin Huai¡¯s departure didn¡¯t cause any commotion. However, with Qin Huai taking the lead, people began to arrive at the counter one after another. There were also people who wanted to find out about Qin Huai¡¯s battle results. However, when the military official glared at them, some of the stronger ones were forced to leave by the rules of the city lord¡¯s mansion. Meanwhile, the center of the crowd was completely occupied by Cai Jiulou. He walked toward the inventory area under the crowd¡¯s escort. Behind him was the master of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo, Liu Zhong. ¡°I think there¡¯s no need to worry too much about the demons. Our city is tens of times more prosperous than Fenshan City. ¡°It¡¯s also a land spirit with many outstanding talents, which has produced many geniuses. ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo alone has four of the eight martial roll, especially Reihom, who was at the top. For two years in a row, he has dominated the first place. ¡°Of course, this godson of mine can barely be considered, but he¡¯s lucky today to have killed seven demons!¡± Liu Zhong¡¯s voice suddenly became louder as he spoke unhurriedly to the end. Beside him, Cai Jiulou¡¯s expression was calm, but his eyes kept darting in the direction of Overflowing Fragrance restaurant. He wasn¡¯t a vain person, nor was he lustful, nor did he indulge in alcohol. He was only in love with Miss Shaoxiang, and it was love at first sight. That was why he did what he did today, to attract Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s attention¡­and her heart. Cai Jiulou was full of confidence in his battle results. It was because he had raised a snow eagle with a bloodline of demons and monsters. It could help him search for traces of demons and monsters in the harsh winter. In the entire Pingnan City, he couldn¡¯t even find a second one. This also made him more efficient than ever. That was why he thought it would definitely be a sure win. At the side, Liu Zhong was still worried about his disciple¡¯s happiness, and he shouted with all his might. Shua shua shua. A junior brother ran to Cai Jiulou¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Senior Brother, I just saw Reihom¡¯s bag. He only has two second refinement pig demon fangs.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cai Jiulou¡¯s face lit up. The person he was most worried about was none other than the number one genius of Pingnan. Of course, he admitted that he was no match for Reihom. But as for hunting monsters¡­ From the looks of it, even three Reihoms wouldn¡¯t be his match. He would definitely get the top spot! Chapter 93 - 93 Todays Top Scorer 93 Today¡¯s Top Scorer ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Miss Shaoxiang sang a wonderful song for Marquis Hong when he killed a group of demons alone. They say it¡¯s only for the heroes of heroes. I wonder if Brother Cai can get first place and have Miss Shaoxiang play a song for you.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ It¡¯s only the first day, so I¡¯m not worthy of this song.¡± Cai Jiulou chatted and laughed with the crowd. Although he was humble, he would occasionally look in the direction of Overflowing Fragrance restaurant. He and Miss Shaoxiang; the heaven¡¯s pride and the beauty. How could this not be a good story? ¡°With Brother Cai¡¯s battle record, even if it¡¯s not today, it¡¯ll be next month or so. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to listen to it alone in bed?¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Cai Jiulou was in high spirits as he walked over to the military official at the counter. One of his lackeys discreetly gave the military official five hundred taels of silver and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you to make some noise and let everyone know.¡± The military official looked at the heavy five hundred tael banknote in his hand, then at the ambitious Cai Jiulou. ¡°I think¡­ It¡¯s not good to be too flamboyant on the first day of killing demons.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to do it. For the sake of the money, he¡¯ll give him some advice. The louder he shouted later, the longer Cai Jiulou would be embarrassed when the demon Slayers list was out. ¡°You¡¯re teaching Senior Brother Cai how to do things?!¡± The lackey frowned. Even Cai Jiulou, who was a few steps away, had a look of displeasure on his face. However, it quickly turned into a kind expression. The military official¡¯s face also sank. It was difficult to persuade the damned ghost with good words. But they insisted on it and even gave five hundred taels, so he couldn¡¯t blame himself. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± The military official cleared his throat and said with great energy, ¡°Mang Mountain Saber Dojo, Cai Jiulou, 10 points! Hiss~ ¡°Is this the strength of the eight martial roll prodigies?¡± ¡°We only killed one with three to five people, and he got ten points by himself?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Cai Jiulou bought it from one of his fellow disciples?¡± Some people began to speculate maliciously and were extremely jealous. ¡°No, the points on the demon slayers list are very valuable. There are good armors, weapons, herbs, qi, and blood tonics¡­ The things that could be exchanged are all rare and precious treasures. Even if it¡¯s between fellow disciples, they would never trade this.¡± ¡°After all, everything we¡¯re doing now is for the sake of the wave of demons.¡± ¡°No matter how much money you earn, it¡¯s still a waste of your life to spend it.¡± The crowd sighed. It was filled with all kinds of emotions. Meanwhile, in the Overflowing Fragrance restaurant, a young girl in a plain robe carefully carried the wooden tray through nine layers of bright red bead curtains. Along the way, the enchanting flames that bloomed from the demonic wax on both sides reflected the layers of precious gauze, making people¡¯s hearts sway. She slowly knelt in front of the zither by the window. Shaoxiang used a gold and jade hairpin to tie up her long hair, like a black crown on her head. A red veil covered that faintly discernible peerless face, and her ten slender, white fingers were covered in bright red. She lazily leaned against the window, casually stroking the treasure in front of her. She looked out of the window and her red lips parted slightly. ¡°This Cai Jiulou has really put in a lot of effort.¡± ¡°Miss, you don¡¯t like him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just putting on an act. His talent is also just barely acceptable. In the county city, he¡¯s just a drop in the bucket¡­ Anyway, the key is that he¡¯s too ugly.¡± ¡°Then miss should like Reihom from the Thunderbolt Dojo and Qi Yangbing from the Changshan Dojo¡­ and that Qin Huai.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity that Cai Jiulou has a snow eagle. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be difficult for him to be a match for Cai Jiulou on the demon slayer list.¡± Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s willowy brows slightly furrowed, feeling a slight headache. ¡°In addition to his determination, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll be left in the dust.¡± The plain-robed young lady seemed to be secretly pleased, and immediately called for Miss Shaoxiang to lightly tap her forehead. ¡°If I marry him, you¡¯ll also be a maidservant. You can¡¯t run away.¡± The plain-robed girl didn¡¯t seem to think much of it. ¡°If Cai Jiulou is really the person who changed the Li family¡¯s fortune as the Daoist priest of the Emerald Cloud temple said, I don¡¯t think I can¡¯t accept it.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t happen. An extraordinary person who can change the Li family¡¯s destiny will definitely do things beyond our expectations. Cai Jiulou won¡¯t do,¡± Miss Shaoxiang muttered to herself, disinterested. ¡°The Thunderbolt Dojo seems to be doing good, and the qi and blood cut the saint¡¯s heart. Could it be Reihom? These Taoists and Buddhas are a lot of strange things. What a headache.¡± ¡°The results are released.¡± Qing¡¯er stuck her head out of the window excitedly. Miss Shaoxiang lazily stretched her waist, exposing her astonishingly long and beautiful legs to the sunlight. ¡°Cai Jiu is the only one with an even number¡­¡± Outside the window, there was an uproar. The street was in an uproar, and the sound of surprise rose and fell continuously. Flap flap flap¡­ A messenger bird landed in front of the window. ¡°It¡¯s Qin Huai!¡± Qing¡¯er¡¯s eyes were filled with surprise as she read the message. ¡°Today¡¯s top scorer is actually Qin Huai of the Changshan Dojo. He got seventeen points! It¡¯s twice as much as what Cai Jiulou got!¡± Shaoxiang¡¯s originally calm gaze instantly rippled when she heard this sudden change. ¡°Seventeen points¡­¡± ¡°This Qin Huai is so scary. Ever since he entered the Changshan Dojo, he¡¯s been somewhat beyond common sense. He breaks through realms quickly and kills people without hesitation. And the most important part is that he accidentally saved the master of the Changshan Dojo.¡± Qing¡¯er ridiculed as a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. ¡°Furthermore, Cai Jiulou is relying on a snow eagle. What does Qin Huai rely on to search for those fiendish demons?¡± Shaoxiang thought carefully about Qin Huai¡¯s past. ¡°It¡¯s a little strange. Could it be him?¡± Her brows slightly furrowed. In the past, she had always been thinking about the number one genius of Pingnan, Reihom. After all, Reihom¡¯s power suppressed the entire city, and the rumbling thunder skill was compatible with his strong qi and blood. Chapter 94 - 94 Different From What Was Taught 94 Different From What Was Taught It was hard not to think of it. However, after carefully thinking about Qin Huai today, she realized that he was a strange talent. In just a few short months, he had become someone who could compete with the geniuses on the eight martial roll. ¡°How amazing. Speaking of which, this Changshan Dojo has a deep relationship with my Li family. If it¡¯s really that Qin Huai¡­ It can be considered as a predestined fate. Anyway, where is Qin Huai now? Get someone to find him and meet him.¡± There seemed to be a sound behind the bead curtain. A moment later, a voice came from the red muslin. ¡°Qin Huai left Pingnan City a long time ago. He seems to have gone into the forest.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Miss Shaoxiang stroked the zither by her side, her mind elsewhere. ¡­ Cai Jiulou looked at the demon judgment board that was announced in front of the city and forced a smile that was uglier than crying. He gritted his teeth, and the veins on his forehead bulged. The lackeys beside him couldn¡¯t help but take two steps back. ¡°Brother Qin is really hiding his true strength.¡± ¡°It is Pingnan¡¯s fortune to have a talent like brother Qin!¡± Cai Jiulou nodded in satisfaction at the demon judgment board, but anyone could see the fire he was suppressing. ¡­ In the snowy land, the bear-like teenager walked forward aimlessly. There were two people behind him, each carrying a three-red-embellished spear. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s so cold and the ground is frozen. All we can see is a vast expanse of white snow. Where can we find the demons? Where can we find Qin Huai?¡± The young man sat down under the tree. He was called Xing Bufan. He was the direct disciple of the Three Tassels Spear Dojo¡¯s master and ranked second on the eight martial roll. ¡°Senior Brother, I told you, if that Bai Yusheng was able to offer fifty sets of armor as a reward to find Qin Huai¡¯s tracks, it proves that this job is definitely not easy,¡± a man in a gray robe ridiculed. ¡°I heard that Qin Huai is still wearing a white robe. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s invisible in this heavy snow. We can¡¯t find him at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve released three winter rats, and they¡¯ve frozen to death. The weather this year was too cold¡­ Even a winter rat would freeze to death,¡± the gray-robed man cursed. Xing Bufan glanced at the gray-robed man. ¡°If not, would Bai Yusheng have to pay such a high price to look for us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to earn money, and it¡¯s hard to eat sh*t.¡± His expression suddenly changed. ¡°There¡¯s a bear demon¡¯s corpse below?¡± He then quickly pushed the snow away and said, ¡°Strange, strange. This bear demon¡¯s body has no wounds. How did he die¡­¡± Gulp ~ His stomach suddenly burst out with joy, causing Xing Bufan to immediately throw this matter to the back of his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s have a barbeque first, then look for Qin Huai.¡± The three of them immediately got to work. The two lackeys simply used the three red tasseled spears in their hands to make barbecue sticks, starting a fire in the snow to roast meat. After a while, a meaty fragrance assaulted their senses. ¡°It smells so good! If we¡¯re talking about food, it¡¯s demon meat!¡± Xing Bufan¡¯s eyes shone. He tore off a large piece and stuffed it into his mouth. ¡°PEI PEI PEI!¡± Xing Bufan spat it out, ¡°Which idiot would actually poison the demon meat?¡± He spat out the roasted meat on the ground while cursing, and a hint of heartache flashed in his eyes. ¡°Now I know why there are no wounds on this bear demon¡¯s body. He was poisoned to death!¡± Xing Bufan¡¯s face turned black. Which demon¡¯s meat would taste bitter the moment it entered his mouth? The two junior brothers behind him also quivered in fear and hurriedly threw away the roasted meat in their hands. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± Xing Bufan suddenly stood up. ¡°It¡¯s Qin Huai who is nearby!¡± Hualala! When the two men behind him heard the name Qin Huai, they instantly stood up with their weapons in hand. He looked around nervously. ¡°Qin Huai is an expert in using poison. The smell of poison on this demonic bear is so strong. I¡¯m afraid that Qin Huai has already discovered us and set a trap here¡­¡± Xing Bufan ate an antidote pill without making a sound. The three of them leaned against each other and looked around. One second, two seconds¡­ The three of them stood in the cold wind and snow for a long time, and their eyebrows and hair had turned white. There was still no trace of Qin Huai. ¡°Senior Brother, is there a possibility that Qin Huai usually uses such heavy materials against his enemies?¡± the gray-robed man said carefully. The silence was Xing Bufan¡¯s stubbornness. Another fifteen minutes passed, and only then did Xing Bufan¡¯s muscles relax. ¡°What you said makes sense.¡± He looked at the dead body of the bear demon on the ground and fell silent for a moment. He wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep well if he made enemies with people who used poison. ¡°You go and tell Bai Yusheng that I¡¯m not taking this order.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The gray-robed man did not react in time. Xing Bufan explained, ¡°This person dealt such a heavy blow to a second refinement bear demon. It can be seen that he is a cautious person. His attacks are vicious and unscrupulous. ¡°You can¡¯t avoid going against him day and night. I heard Master talk about Sun Yuanshan from the Changshan Dojo when he was young. Looking at Qin Huai¡¯s previous actions, it seems like he has surpassed his master. ¡°So, let¡¯s leave a guy like Qin Huai to the Thunderbolt Dojo to worry about¡­¡± Xing Bufan left decisively. The three of them also swallowed an antidote pill to ensure their safety. ¡­ ¡°Trash! You¡¯re really useless!¡± Bai Yusheng couldn¡¯t help but curse as he read Xing Bufan¡¯s letter. ¡°The second place on the eight martial roll is only so-so! No wonder he¡¯s been suppressed by Reihom ever since he was born!¡± Bai Yusheng angrily threw the letter in his hand to the ground. ¡°Calm down, your heart really needs to be trained.¡± Gao Cheng glanced at Bai Yusheng, which made the latter break out in cold sweat. He continued, ¡°After these few days of cultivation, you can already deal with Qin Huai¡¯s long breath technique with ease. I have an advantage in my cultivation level. In addition, I know myself and my enemy. If I still can¡¯t kill him¡­¡± Chapter 95 - 95 Crossing a Mountain and Entering the Bottom of a Lake 95 Crossing a Mountain and Entering the Bottom of a Lake Gao Cheng¡¯s words left half a sentence. ¡°There are no ¡®ifs¡¯!¡± Bai Yusheng was full of confidence. After a few days of hard work, he had already mastered the long breath technique. However, what shocked him even more was the fact that the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s talent was so outstanding. He had only cultivated and studied for a few days, and he now would be able to imitate the spiritual rhythm of the long breath technique and make himself feel as if he had divine help. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we still don¡¯t have any traces of Qin Huai.¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s face was full of regret. Ever since Li Bowu¡¯s death, they had been unable to catch Qin Huai¡¯s movements. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve already sent a message to a fellow practitioner of my cult who¡¯s good at poison. If you follow the wind, you¡¯ll most likely find Qin Huai¡¯s traces,¡± Gao Cheng said, then sighed in his heart, ¡®This young master of the Thunderbolt Dojo is really a piece of trash. He wants me to teach him everything step by step.¡¯ ¡°Many thanks, my lord!¡± Bai Yusheng had no idea what Gao Cheng was thinking. After getting the information from Gao Cheng, he immediately went out without stopping. Carefully feeling the wind, he ran in the direction of the wind. ¡­ BOOM! A huge pig demon fell to the ground with a loud crash. Qin Huai walked up to him with practiced ease and picked out his eyes. It had been five days, but even Qin Huai had not found a single demon that could pass the first level. ¡°It seems that although the guards of Fenshan City opened up an opening, the ranks of the demons they let in are not high. They¡¯re all in the first and second refinement.¡± Qin Huai could imagine how the martial artists of Fenshan City were facing the tide of demons. They tried their best to stop the high-level demons so that they would reduce the pressure from the rear as much as possible. ¡°I hope that day will not come in Pingnan City.¡± Qin Huai suddenly stopped, then turned around. More than ten meters away, Bai Yusheng, who was also dressed in white, looked over with a cold gaze. ¡°Qin Huai, I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± Bai Yusheng silently walked towards Qin Huai. Qin Huai felt the wind¡¯s direction and started to circle around without leaving a trace. But¡­ Bai Yusheng seemed to be different from the others. He was always in the upwind position. He had come prepared! Qin Huai¡¯s face was as calm as water, but his heart was filled with joy. BOOM! Bai Yusheng suddenly charged toward Qin Huai. While he was running, he suddenly stopped and crossed his feet on the ground. The white snow on the ground instantly surged up like waves, covering the sky and obscuring one¡¯s vision. Hu! The joy on Bai Yusheng¡¯s face had yet to fade when he heard the sound of a hurricane. The snow that was supposed to be falling on Qin Huai was actually falling on him! ¡°Rumbling thunder, three forces!¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s face darkened, and he used both his fist and elbow to hit the snow wall. The three forces were continuous. A punch, followed by an elbow. The next moment, he stepped into Qin Huai¡¯s arms. Their eyes met, one high and one low. Bai Yusheng¡¯s mind resonated with the teachings of Gao Cheng. However, he was slow to start, and the thunder skill, which was famous for its speed and wild energy, could be said to be his natural nemesis. But as long as he seized the opportunity, he would be able to win in one strike! Bai Yusheng slowed down as he looked at the aura floating in front of Qin Huai¡¯s chest. He was overjoyed and shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve got you!¡± ¡°Qi shock scale armor!¡± In an instant, it was as if an electric arc had streaked across Qin Huai¡¯s chest. The aura suddenly accelerated, and the ¡®air armor¡¯ instantly formed. Bang bang bang¡­ A series of muffled sounds exploded in Qin Huai¡¯s chest, and the violent blow instantly shattered Qin Huai¡¯s qi armor. However, the shattered qi armor only shook slightly, and a second and third layer quickly condensed. The white snow bloomed around the two of them again. Qin Huai raised his hand and a handful of poisoned snow smashed into Bai Yusheng¡¯s face. Buzzzzzz! The two of them each took half a step back. Cough, cough, cough¡­ Bai Yusheng hurriedly covered his face and swallowed an antidote pill. ¡°As that person said, I still need a lightning-fast battle to use the long breath technique.¡± Bai Yusheng let out a small sigh of relief. He felt that the blow he had just dealt was very solid. That Qin Huai had taken his rumbling thunder three forces head-on, and if he didn¡¯t die, he would at least have a few broken ribs. Pa pa¡­ Qin Huai patted off the snow on his body and swept away the snowflakes as if nothing had happened as he walked out of the raging snow. The effect of this qi shock scale armor did not disappoint him. Bai Yusheng¡¯s fourth refinement attack was completely nullified, and he even had some energy left. This was the rumbling thunder skill, which was good at attacking and piercing. ¡°You¡¯re fine?¡± Bai Yusheng frowned. He had underestimated him. ¡°And you have one more white dragon than the others, so you¡¯re slightly better than Qi Yangbing.¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s posture suddenly changed. His hands and feet seemed to be linked, his left hand and left foot moving together, as well as his right hand and right foot. It was extremely strange for him to be in such a position, but the killing intent was overbearing. He took half a step forward and raised his hands and knees! ¡°Rumbling thunder, nine-strength punch!¡± The continuous attacks that were like firecrackers charged toward Qin Huai! Boom, boom, boom ¡­ Bai Yusheng¡¯s attacks were brutal, his fists and legs wrapped in electric arcs, and the rhythm of his attacks was suffocating. Qin Huai stood firmly in his horse stance, his hands unhurriedly pushing away Bai Yusheng¡¯s attacks. That was unexpected. When he fought with Hong San and Gu He previously, he had never seen such a suffocating attack technique. Was this the advantage of the young master? ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Green) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +155!¡± A flow of memories entered Qin Huai¡¯s mind. In an instant, he comprehended and punched under the lightning. He was using Bai Yusheng¡¯s rumbling thunder, nine-strength punch. Meanwhile, Bai Yusheng¡¯s combo was getting faster and faster, and his hair seemed to be standing up from the faint electric arc. However, as he fought, he realized that something was wrong. He saw that Qin Huai had started to turn from defense to offense. Not only that, the latter was using the same move as himself. He¡­ How could he also know the rumbling thunder nine-strength punch?! This was a secret technique that his father had passed down to him. In the entire dojo, other than his own son, only Reihom knew it. Although he was unfamiliar with it, Qin Huai was definitely using the rumbling thunder, nine-strength punch. ¡®This guy, not only did he learn the rumbling thunder skill, he even secretly learned my secret skill?¡¯ Bai Yusheng¡¯s eyes were filled with killing intent. ¡°Where did you secretly learn the martial arts of my Thunderbolt Dojo?¡± After that¡­ Qin Huai changed his tactics. In Bai Yusheng¡¯s eyes, the ¡®qi¡¯ around Qin Huai¡¯s body condensed in an instant and rushed to the fist. ¡®It¡¯s here! It¡¯s the forbidden technique of the long breath technique, rising dragon!¡¯ Bai Yusheng was overjoyed. In other people¡¯s eyes, when Qin Huai released the rising dragon, it might be a situation of certain death. However, he had undergone special training from Gao Cheng. The moment of delay in this forbidden technique, rising dragon, was the moment he would kill! ¡°Rumbling thunder, one-finger gun!¡± Two streaks of blood flowed out of Bai Yusheng¡¯s nostrils. He stared at the place where the aura was gathering and stabbed Qin Huai¡¯s throat with a finger. Hu! Bai Yusheng¡¯s pupils contracted. In his field of vision, Qin Huai¡¯s aura had stopped moving. It was wrong! Did the rising dragon finish condensing? How could he be so fast? This was different from what he had been taught. In that split second, Bai Yusheng¡¯s state of mind was as if he had crossed a mountain and entered the bottom of a lake. Chapter 96 - 96 Just Saying Nonsense 96 Just Saying Nonsense The attack speed of the earthquake dragon had already made up for the delay caused by the rising dragon, so the speed of Qin Huai¡¯s attack had already reached the point where it was completely up to him to decide. When Qin Huai realized that Bai Yusheng¡¯s choice in the face of his forbidden technique wasn¡¯t to dodge, but to fight for time¡­ In his eyes, Bai Yusheng was already a dead man. The surging qi and blood were pushed to the peak by Qin Huai, and the whistling sound of the fist gradually shook. BOOM! The earthquake dragon exploded in Bai Yusheng¡¯s face. As the remaining force rippled, inch by inch, his facial bones were crushed. Hot blood flowed in the cold snow, trying to erode the entire white world, but the solution was to be completely buried by the falling snow. Bai Yusheng silently crashed into the soft yet bone-piercing snow, gasping for breath. He couldn¡¯t feel any pain, only coldness and wetness. ¡°He¡¯s really stubborn. He¡¯s still alive even after taking a dragon blast in the face,¡± Qin Huai muttered as he walked in front of Bai Yusheng. Half of the young master¡¯s face was rotten, and even the bones on his face were shattered. ¡°Wh¡­ Why? Why do you know the rumbling thunder, nine-strength punch? Why do you have the rising dragon? It¡¯s different from what that person said¡­¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s only remaining eye was bloodshot as he glared at Qin Huai. In reality, Qin Huai¡¯s face could no longer be seen. ¡°Because I¡¯ve been through enough hard cultivation.¡± Qin Huai was frank and open. The cultivation in his ¡®memory¡¯ was real, but he had omitted some parts of the process. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Bai Yusheng¡¯s lips curled into a smile. The last thought in his mind was, ¡°You¡¯re going to accompany me soon.¡± However, he was not stupid enough to remind Qin Huai that the lord was actually nearby. His head just tilted to the side as he breathed his last. As for Qin Huai, he only silently collected the 1,200 experience points that dropped. Then, he began to search Bai Yusheng¡¯s body. He took a piece of warm red jade, and just by holding it in his hand, his whole body felt warm. ¡°Tsk, tsk. As expected of the young master. His equipment is really different,¡± he mumbled. Just a piece of jade alone was enough to reveal the leopard. Qin Huai took out more than five thousand taels of silver notes from Bai Yusheng, as well as two antidotes in a purple soft box. This was not much less than the wealth that the black-robed man of the Sacred Heart sect had burned and plundered. Finally, Qin Huai removed Bai Yusheng¡¯s clothes, and a strange expression appeared on his face. This was because Bai Yusheng¡¯s chest was slightly raised and was wrapped in a white cloth. She was actually a woman. ¡°No wonder Bai Bashan chose Reihom over Bai Yusheng. There¡¯s a secret behind this.¡± Qin Huai continued to feel down, and only when he touched his lower abdomen did he pull out a bulging book. It was the rumbling thunder skill. The familiar and strange smell hit him again. ¡°This Bai Yusheng is really full of surprises.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were cold as he looked around. The Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples who had been hiding in the Thunderbolt Dojo were also easily solved with the appearance of this secret manual. But he had not expected that Bai Yusheng, the dignified young master, would fall into the Sacred Heart sect. Qin Huai could only sigh at the fickleness of the world. However, this bit of sadness disappeared in a flash. He stared at the surrounding dense forest. Since Bai Yusheng had appeared, the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s reinforcement should also be nearby. ¡°Wonderful. Truly wonderful.¡± A voice suddenly rang out in the dense forest. Qin Huai flicked his hand, and a poisonous dart instantly pierced through the wind and snow. Pfft! A parrot fell from the treetop. Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He turned around and threw a punch. Almost at the same time, Qin Huai instantly activated boiling blood! The qi and blood in his entire body were boiling, causing Qin Huai¡¯s body to emit wisps of heat in the cold. ¡°Blood dragon form!¡± The next moment, white lines climbed up in an instant. ¡°Colossal blood dragon form!¡± As the dragon appeared, Qin Huai¡¯s body seemed to have grown taller for a moment. In an instant, Qin Huai¡¯s expression changed! There was also the qi shock scale armor to protect his body. If qi armor could be materialized, then Qin Huai would definitely look like a brave man in the military camp. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± In an instant, Qin Huai¡¯s attack was pushed to the peak. Bang! Bang! Two determined fists collided in the wind and snow, and the wind caused by the collision caused the wind and snow around them to stop. Shua shua shua. Gao Cheng took two steps back, while Qin Huai was directly drawn backward. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t hold it in and spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground. The superiority was immediately determined. He had crossed two realms to face a sixth refinement Sacred Heart believer. Even if he used all his means, it would still be insufficient. After all, it was caused by his low realm¡­ More importantly, a sixth refinement martial artist had actually used a feint to attack him. It was difficult to deal with. ¡°As expected. You have the strength to kill Bai Yusheng.¡± Gao Cheng looked at Qin Huai, who was vomiting blood, with admiration. ¡°I really admire your character and style. It suits my taste. ¡°Do you want to join my church? With your talent and your way of doing things, your future achievements will definitely be much higher than mine.¡± ¡°What is the God you are talking about?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression changed slightly, but he rubbed his palms together in his sleeves. Some powder drifted with the wind and frost. ¡°Hehe. What kind of existence is our lord? With our current cultivation levels, we can¡¯t describe or understand him. You only need to know that if you follow that lord, you can destroy the Buddhist temple, the Confucian academy, and the Daoist court¡­ to be revered in this world!¡± When Gao Cheng spoke of this, his eyes revealed a fanatical look. However, Qin Huai was unmoved. He just thought that this guy was saying nonsense. It was just like how the multi-level marketing people in his previous life were brainwashed to earn millions a day. Chapter 97 - 97 Invincible Sun Yuanshan 97 Invincible Sun Yuanshan Something that was as flat as a painting did not have the slightest bit of temptation to the current Qin Huai. ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to poison me, but I¡¯ve already taken an antidote pill before I came. Besides, those small poisons of yours won¡¯t work on a sixth refinement warrior like me, who is full of vitality. ¡°If I remember correctly, the poisonous substances you bought in the city can only be used against fourth refinement martial artists at most.¡± Gao Cheng was confident in his victory. He already knew Qin Huai¡¯s trump card like the back of his hand, because the latter had taken the initiative to show it himself. But he was not 100% confident. There was a slight possibility of an accident in everything in this world. ¡°What about this poison?¡± Behind Gao Cheng, an old man with the demeanor of an immortal jumped up from the snow with a bang. His ten fingers were holding onto a dagger filled with poison, and in an instant, it was thrown at Gao Cheng. Gao Cheng turned pale with fright and hurriedly flung his long robe, instantly knocking several poisonous daggers away. However, despite his fast reaction speed, there were still four poisonous daggers flying toward his face. He raised his hands in a hurry to block, allowing the four poisoned daggers to stab into his arms. In an instant, his arms began to swell. The burning pain twisted his expression, but he couldn¡¯t care less. The old man¡¯s rising dragon followed. BOOM! The old man¡¯s fists were like heavy cannons as he started with the second rising dragon. Under the terrifying attack, there were actually two black pools¡­ It was his grandmother¡¯s poison! Gao Cheng cursed in his heart, and the qi and blood in his body also surged. Unable to avoid it, he could only take all of Sun Yuanshan¡¯s attacks. The flesh and blood on his arms were instantly blown to pieces, and Gao Cheng¡¯s head was also blasted. The golden blood in his body was madly consumed to mend the wounds on his arms and the pain in his mind. But it was of no help. The destructive power of the rising dragon was too strong, especially this old man who was a dual cultivator of poison and dragon, a two-pronged approach. Occasionally, it would also wrap itself around a poisonous dagger that flew out from its long sleeves. Although the accuracy was very rough, it was enough to scare people out of their wits in this life-and-death battle. This was because Gao Cheng, who had been hit, knew that this dagger was not a dagger. It was all poison! Qin Huai was dazzled by the barrage of attacks. He could only see the two of them fighting, and blood spurted out. The blood dyed Sun Yuanshan¡¯s long robe and white hair red. However, this blood did not belong to his master. It was all Gao Cheng¡¯s battle achievements. The battle was intense. In fact, it had only been a few breaths. In this short period of time, Sun Yuanshan had poured the essence of his life¡¯s learning into Gao Cheng. Ka¡­ The battle in the snow finally came to a stop. Sun Yuanshan put his left hand on his right hand, and his right hand on his left hand. He shook his long robe and then cupped his fists at Gao Cheng. ¡°Thanks for letting me win!¡± Qin Huai looked at Sun Yuanshan, who was covered in blood but still had the air of a celestial. He couldn¡¯t help but admire him. He still had a long way to go to learn his master¡¯s combat skills. ¡°You¡­ My lord¡­¡± The blood all over Gao Cheng¡¯s body flowed uncontrollably. The red blood was fine, but the black blood was burning his body. The golden blood in his body had long since been completely consumed. At this moment, Gao Cheng found it difficult to even breathe. He had fought with a sixth refinement martial artist dozens of times, but Sun Yuanshan¡­ His attacks were wild, and his methods were vicious. It was the only thing he saw. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this. I¡¯m going to be defeated by a mere sixth refinement martial artist in Pingnan¡­¡± Gao Cheng smiled miserably. He slowly turned his head to look at Qin Huai. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have someone follow you all this time. Squat down and wait for me¡­¡± Gao Cheng glanced at the snow pit that Sun Yuanshan had suddenly jumped out of. From the place where the snow pit had collapsed, it had collapsed hundreds of meters away. This old man¡­ This dignified sixth refinement martial artist had actually crawled a few hundred meters in the snow to his feet. ¡°You two master and disciple are really¡­¡± Just thinking about it made Gao Cheng feel ridiculous. Suddenly, before he could even catch his breath, a large pool of blood spurted out from his mouth, nose, and eyes. Bang! Bang! Gao Cheng fell to the ground stiffly. ¡°He¡¯s finally dead.¡± When Qin Huai saw Gao Cheng lying in the snow, he didn¡¯t go forward immediately. He and his master Sun Yuanshan both took two steps back. Qin Huai activated his long breath technique and unleashed his strongest trump card. After a long time, a weak voice came from the snow. ¡°Your grandpa,¡± he said. Then, the cedar collapsed and completely buried Gao Cheng. ¡°Now he¡¯s really dead.¡± Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief at the same time. ¡°Master, are you alright?¡± Qin Huai hurriedly stepped forward. ¡°It¡¯s just a small injury, not worth mentioning.¡± Sun Yuanshan waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve never lost a life-and-death battle in the sixth refinement realm. It¡¯s a pity that I¡¯m old and my body hasn¡¯t fully recovered after so long. Otherwise, this little brat wouldn¡¯t even be able to hurt my skin today¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan sighed with emotion that time was merciless, and then he walked to Gao Cheng¡¯s body and searched for treasures. He kept his things in his arms while cursing. ¡°What a beggar. A Sacred Heart disciple only brought 20,000 taels of silver? He didn¡¯t even bring a full jade pendant or a gold ring. Don¡¯t you even have a piece of heart armor¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s final harvest was bleak. At least, that was what he told Qin Huai. Qin Huai didn¡¯t stay idle either. He picked up the orange experience ball that had dropped from Gao Cheng. Chapter 98 - 98 Getting Closer and Closer 98 Getting Closer and Closer ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Orange)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +20,000!¡± Qin Huai was shocked when he saw the number. He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in his heart, ¡®As expected of a sixth refinement martial artist!¡¯ He glanced at the experience points that dropped. It was as incredible as his strength. His blood heart technique had reached more than half the standard of level 36. It was already challenging the status of the breathing technique. Looking at his rapidly increasing experience, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but have a strange thought. If one day, he killed more than half of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s people who had cut off his ¡®source of wealth¡¯¡­ Then, with his cultivation of the blood heart technique, would he be able to compete for the position of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s master like Han Zun? Qin Huai shook his head and swept away this ridiculous thought. Then, he burned the thunder skill book on the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderflash Skill Essence (Dark Purple) ], [Thunderflash Skill] Experience +5,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Orange)], and you can allocate experience points: 10,000!¡± Qin Huai once again allocated the experience to the blood heart technique. This time, the blood heart technique¡¯s level reached 39, 329/5000. He only had 4,000 points left before he could enter the fourth refinement. ¡®I¡¯m left with over 4000 experience points¡­¡¯ Qin Huai pondered in his heart, and he recalled the hundred-year ice heart jade that Bai Yusheng had given him at the Drunken Immortal restaurant. That was the first time he received free experience points. There seemed to be such a thing in the points warehouse of the demon judgment board¡­ It was just a little expensive. It seemed that he needed to be more diligent in killing demons. Qin Huai¡¯s desire to kill demons was particularly strong now. Countless cultivation techniques and foundations were waiting for his points. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± After Sun Yuanshan killed the man, he returned to his sage-like manner. ¡°Take care, Master!¡± Qin Huai respectfully watched Sun Yuanshan disappear from his sight. He stood in the wind and snow and suddenly found a loophole. ¡°When this Gao Cheng was cultivating, he didn¡¯t seem to care about the proper cultivation method of his blood heart technique? ¡°No, he¡¯s such a cautious person. There¡¯s no way he wouldn¡¯t be careful. He probably doesn¡¯t know that the herbs I bought were for the cultivation of my golden blood. ¡°That¡¯s why he invited me to join the Sacred Heart sect, instead of doubting whether I was a member of the Sacred Heart sect before or now. ¡°It seems that the secret manual of the blood heart technique that these Sacred Heart disciples have obtained from the beginning is the unorthodox version. Now I¡¯m confused¡­¡± Qin Huai shook his head and headed deep into the forest. He had wasted a lot of time killing Bai Yusheng and Gao Cheng. The next day, he went to the inventory office again and only got three points. He exchanged for three paperweight talismans from the city lord¡¯s mansion, which could increase his cultivation speed. Then, he burned the three talismans in the wilderness. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 200!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 200!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 200!¡± Another 600 experience points were added to the blood heart technique. On top of that, the 450 experience points from the magical beasts had also been added. In a day¡¯s time, Qin Huai¡¯s blood heart e technique was only three-quarters of the way to the fourth refinement. ¡°There¡¯s always a way out when there¡¯s a car in front of a mountain, and the bridge will straighten itself when it comes to it. The ancient people didn¡¯t lie to me.¡± Qin Huai sighed. Without the fighters from the Thunderbolt Dojo, the demons would use their lives to fill the gap. Two or three days later, his blood heart technique would enter the fourth refinement. Next, he would continue to cultivate the rumbling thunder skill. ¡°It seems that brother Qin¡¯s luck was good yesterday?¡± On the way back, Qin Huai bumped into Cai Jiulou. Qin Huai glanced at him and walked past him. He didn¡¯t have time to deal with these people from other dojos. Other than wasting his time, there was no benefit to him. The grudge of his master being surrounded was still vivid in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Moreover, Cai Jiulou was jealous of him for no reason over a woman. He didn¡¯t seem like someone he could associate with. He might as well skip the small talk. ¡°Arrogant!¡± The lackey beside Cai Jiulou spat at Qin Huai¡¯s back. ¡°Oh, Brother Qin¡¯s ambition is just a little high. What does it have to do with arrogance?¡± As Cai Jiulou spoke, he shot a glance at Overflowing Fragrance restaurant. He saw the goddess that he had been thinking about looking at him! She even smiled. It was so beautiful¡­ Cai Jiulou¡¯s mind was in turmoil, and his entire body seemed to be filled with energy. Today, the demon judgment board was updated. As expected, Cai Jiulou took first place, and second place was Reihom. Qin Huai, who had shocked the world with a single brilliant feat, fell to third place. As for Hu Jingshan, whom the city lord had high hopes for, he did not appear on the demon slayers list. When Qin Huai came the next day, he realized that the atmosphere in the city was not as lively as before. Qin Huai found out the truth after asking his fellow disciples. He had guessed correctly. It was because Bai Yusheng had gone missing. It was said that Bai Bashan didn¡¯t fly into a rage. Instead, he went into the mountain alone and searched for a day and a night. He had not returned yet. On the third day, Qin Huai exchanged for another seven paperweight talismans and burned them all. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 200!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 200!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 200!¡± ¡­ Qin Huai returned to his small courtyard. Feeling the black bean-sized drop of golden blood expand once more, his heart seemed to leap. The white dragon¡¯s aura around him also began to circulate more rapidly. BOOM! Qin Huai shot out an earthquake dragon in front of him. Then, he slowly felt the speed of the white dragon¡¯s rebirth. From a wisp of aura to a white snake. Finally, it grew scales and turned into a dragon¡­ ¡°Fifteen minutes.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face lit up. In his previous life, it would take fifteen minutes for a white dragon to be reborn. If he made use of the time properly, he would be able to use the earthquake dragon limitlessly in the forest to kill demons. It would increase his efficiency and reduce the use of his foundation. ¡°I¡¯m getting closer and closer to using a forbidden technique.¡± Chapter 99 - 99 The Poison Path 99 The Poison Path Every day, Qin Huai would go back and forth between the dojo, the inventory office, and the deep mountains on time. The first was to gain experience from the long breath technique. Although the disciples of the dojo were busy killing demons in the forest all day long, they would not forget to cultivate every time they came back. Moreover, ever since they entered the mountains to eliminate the demon, the cultivation of the dojo¡¯s junior brothers and sisters had been more and more progressive. Among them, there was no lack of credit for Qin Huai¡¯s extreme pressure. He also exchanged for some paperweight talismans, mysterious natural jade bracelets, and other treasures that could increase the speed of cultivation, which were all burned by Qin Huai. After Gao Cheng¡¯s death, Qin Huai¡¯s efficiency in eliminating demons returned to normal, and he once again topped the list on the third day. As for Cai Jiulou¡¯s ranking, Qin Huai had not seen it. In any case, it wasn¡¯t as high as his. On the third day, Bai Bashan, who had entered the mountain to look for her, had yet to return. There were even rumors in the city that Bai Bashan had been attacked by a powerful demon and died in the mountain. Five days passed¡­ Even the masters of the city lord¡¯s mansion and several major martial arts centers believed the rumor and went into the mountains to search. On the seventh day, Bai Bashan quietly returned to the Thunderbolt Dojo. His expression was still as calm as water, unmoving as a mountain. However, everyone in the city could see that his black hair had turned white. Qin Huai¡¯s expression did not change, but the sense of urgency to improve his strength grew stronger. He and Bai Bashan¡­ Or rather, the battle between the Changshan Dojo and the Thunderbolt Dojo would come one day. At that time, it would definitely be a life-and-death struggle to destroy each other¡¯s dojo. He didn¡¯t even have the strength to fight a sixth refinement martial artist. ¡°Let¡¯s hope that the great war will happen after the great wave of demons and monsters,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. Then, he turned around and once again threw himself into the deep mountains. ¡­ Thunderbolt Dojo Bai Bashan, whose hair was all white, sat in the main hall in a daze. His eyes were looking out of the window listlessly. ¡°I¡¯ve warned Yusheng not to touch the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s cultivation method. That kind of unorthodox method will kill her one day¡­ But she didn¡¯t listen¡­¡± At the side, Reihom was the only one standing. He silently listened to his master¡¯s mumbling until the voice fell silent. Then, he knelt in front of Bai Bashan and kowtowed three times. He immediately stood up and walked toward the door. He would make the thunder gong resound throughout Pingnan and make sure that the people of Sacred Heart sect would never dare to appear in front of him again. ¡°Let¡¯s first win in the grand martial competition and see if it can make Master feel better,¡± Reihom muttered to himself in a low voice. It was as if he was choosing a gift for his master. ¡­ On the tenth day, the paperweight talismans and precious jade true crystals that could increase cultivation speed were removed from the demon judgment board¡¯s exchange points. The reason was simple. Because they were so popular, they were all replaced in just ten days. This was especially true for Qin Huai, who had taken up one-third of the share all by himself. This made the military officer who was in charge of the exchange points unable to smile whenever he saw Qin Huai. For the next month, Qin Huai¡¯s demon-slaying speed began to gradually slow down as time passed. It wasn¡¯t because Qin Huai couldn¡¯t make it anymore, but because the demons around Pingnan seemed to have been almost killed. Seven to eight hundred demons charged into the city one after another. It didn¡¯t have the kind of overwhelming and suffocating aura. Therefore, it did not cause much of an impact on Pingnan. Most of them were killed by the martial artists of the eight major martial arts centers in the mountains and snow. On the other hand, Qin Huai changed his strategy and added all his free experience points to the breathing technique. That was because he had weighed his options. Compared to betting on the reaction of the long breath technique and the breakthrough of the rumbling thunder skill¡­ He might as well increase the realm of his long breath technique to increase his benefits. But of course, the rumbling thunder skill and the long breath technique were only one level apart. The speed of breaking through to the rumbling thunder skill would not be much faster than the breathing technique. As for the breathing technique, Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation progress was once again hindered because the dojo had lost many people in the demon-slaying mission. Because of the strong sense of danger, Qin Huai was forced to change his strategy. ¡­ In the Drunken Immortal restaurant, Cai Jiulou drank gloomily. On the grayish-yellow goatskin paper in his hand was that month¡¯s demon judgment board. The first place was occupied by Qin Huai¡¯s huge name, and the 200 points behind it were double his 100 points. It was just like the first day of the demon slayers list. Not far away, Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing were sitting together with a few young men from the military camp who had made a name for themselves in the demon judgment board competition. The alliance between the seven major dojos, the Changshan dojo, and the city lord¡¯s mansion was still not strong. The only reason why those parties could safely enjoy their wine in the restaurant was because of Qi Yangbing, who had a wide range of friends. ¡°Although the eight martial arts centers have achieved remarkable results in killing the demons, they have also suffered great casualties. ¡°Master Sun ordered people to do the accounting. A total of 112 martial artists from the eight martial arts centers died,¡± the one-eyed Sun Yeniu said in a low voice. He was Sun Tong¡¯s nephew, and also a member of the tiger Battalion of the iron armored army, which was stationed at the foot of Mount Bailiu. At the same time, he was also an advocate of Qin Huai¡¯s combat techniques. ¡°It¡¯s equivalent to losing a dojo.¡± When Qi Yangbing heard this number, he was rather depressed. ¡°Although the casualty ratio between us and the demons is one to seven, which can be considered an outstanding battle result, the martial artists in Pingnan City are limited after all. They are not as powerful and bottomless as the great wave of demons.¡± Sun Yeniu said in a low voice, ¡°Therefore, I propose to promote Master Qin¡¯s combat techniques to the military and major dojos. It¡¯ll definitely greatly reduce the number of casualties.¡± Qi Yangbing waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the poison path. This is also a path that depends on talent. You can¡¯t use the poison in your hand to display its power.¡± Chapter 100 - 100 The Advance of the Great Wave of Demons! 100 The Advance of the Great Wave of Demons! ¡°The timing, the situation on the battlefield, and the order in which the poisonous substances are released¡­ There are countless key points. ¡°I used to think that it was very simple to inherit Master¡¯s mantle. But now, only Junior Brother Qin has inherited most of master¡¯s spirit.¡± Qi Yangbing could be considered to be teaching through words and actions. He had studied it for a long time, but he was only at the beginner level. He was still a long way from achieving proficiency, but it was good enough to deal with low-level martial artists. Against martial artists of the same level or even higher, his poison was not only ineffective, but there was also a high chance that he would poison himself. He couldn¡¯t describe this feeling to anyone. Qin Huai, on the other hand, remained silent. As for cultivation methods, he had relied on a certain amount of talent and extraordinary effort to achieve his current achievements. He could also take it out to explore with others. But in the path of poison¡­ Qin Huai couldn¡¯t be humble because of his talent. He had the magical comprehension ability of one poison being able to understand all poisons. It was as if the poison was his hands, a part of his body. ¡°Brother Qin is really a man of his word.¡± Cai Jiulou¡¯s voice rang out as he looked at the dazzling first place. He was smiling, but it was uglier than crying. ¡°Senior brother Cai, it¡¯s not a bad thing to think about this from another perspective.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Cai Jiulou glared coldly at his junior brother. ¡°Although Qin Huai has taken first place this month, all the demons around Pingnan have been killed. At this rate, the demon slayers list will naturally not have a second month.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then wouldn¡¯t Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s promise need not be fulfilled?¡± When Cai Jiulou heard this, his expression relaxed. ¡®That¡¯s right. It seems to be a good thing¡­¡¯ Cai Jiulou raised his wine glass and sighed. If he was given another two months, he would definitely be able to take the crown and make Miss Shaoxiang fulfill her promise. Bang bang bang ¡­ On the stairs of the wooden building, a young man with his back against the wall ran up quickly. ¡°Urgent report from Fenshan City. Xia Fen pass has fallen. An estimated two thousand demons have crossed Fenshan and are heading straight for Pingnan!¡± The young man¡¯s words immediately caused an uproar in the entire Drunken Immortal restaurant. ¡°Are you kidding me? Two thousand?¡± Cai Jiulou was also taken aback. ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that demons at Fenshan City are only around eight thousand? In these two waves, we¡¯ve already released three thousand demons! More than half of them! What is Fenshan City doing?!¡± Cai Jiulou asked three questions in a row, and this was also the question that everyone in the restaurant had. However, no one could answer his question. The young man took a sip of wine to moisten his throat. ¡°My friend in Fenshan City sent a message saying that there might be more than seven or eight thousand demons there. He said that the number might double¡­¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Another wave of exclamations rose and fell in the Drunken Immortal restaurant. ¡°Senior Brother Cai, isn¡¯t this a good thing? We have another chance to embrace Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s heart and body~¡± The lackey smiled flatteringly. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Cai Jiulou sent the lackey flying with a kick. ¡°Two thousand demons is a good thing?!¡± He glared at them with killing intent in his eyes. Did these guys¡¯ brains get scalded by boiling water? He didn¡¯t even think before he spoke. Besides, what he said just now was just for show. He wanted to give himself a way out. Anyone with a normal brain would know that after seeing Qin Huai¡¯s lead on the demon slayers list, if it continued for another month¡­ The first place would definitely still be Qin Huai¡¯s. He didn¡¯t know where that kid got so many strange poisons from, but everything he did was effective. The young talents from the various dojos could no longer sit still and stood up to leave. Qin Huai, Sun Yeniu, and the other two also left quickly. ¡°Where did this wave of demons come from?¡± Qin Huai was curious. Sun Yeniu shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but there are rumors saying there¡¯s a demon valley even bigger than Great You in the far north of the northern lands. All the demons in the world originated from this.¡± As the saying goes, good things don¡¯t go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles. ¡­ Changshan Dojo Everyone was worried. Master Sun Yuanshan and Senior Brother Rong Li gathered the disciples and apprentices to calm them down and arrange the troops. However, the results were minimal. ¡°Senior Brother, I would like to take half a day off. I¡¯ll give some advice to my family.¡± Li Zhang knocked on Qin Huai¡¯s door, looking a little embarrassed. ¡°Alright. Go quickly and come back.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. Li Zhang was not the first one. There were six or seven of his men who had gone home. Qi Yangbing and Fang Han had many disciples and apprentices who had gone home too. There was no way to stop them. ¡°I don¡¯t know where the news came from. It¡¯s a huge blow to the morale of the army.¡± Qi Yangbing and Qin Huai stood side by side, looking at the empty drill ground. ¡°Last month, our dojo lost more than a dozen people, which is already a lot of pressure on our junior brothers. Now, with this piece of news¡­ even I don¡¯t know what to do. What does Junior Brother think?¡± Qi Yangbing looked at Qin Huai. ¡°If Master doesn¡¯t leave, I won¡¯t leave either.¡± Qin Huai did not hesitate at all. His master was still able to support him firmly even after being tempted by the other seven dojos, and he felt that he had the ability to win first place in the grand martial competition. He was also able to think about his future wholeheartedly. No matter what, he would not let down his master¡¯s good intentions. He would not have left his master alone to face the wave of demons. ¡°But I might have to go too, Senior Brother,¡± Qin Huai said. He didn¡¯t know if the Luo family knew about this, so he had to let them know quickly. Chapter 101 - 101 The Grand Martial Competition! 101 The Grand Martial Competition! As for whatever decision they made, Qin Huai would choose to respect it. ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Yangbing patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡­ Qin Huai quickly rushed back to Pingnan City. At this moment, the city was in a mess. Many people were driving their carriages and dragging their families towards the east of the city. That was because beyond the east gate was the direction of Lingjiang county. On the streets, there were also people and large families who were crazily snatching food, vegetables, and other supplies. The prices of grains changed almost every once in a while, but it still couldn¡¯t stop the frenzy of grain buyers. But of course, there were also many people who were still walking in the town as usual, and this was all thanks to the demon slayers ranking. Qin Huai and the other geniuses at the top of the demon judgment board had an exaggerated battle record, so this made many people feel that there was still hope and a chance of winning. He pushed open the door of the Luo manor. Compared to the last time he came back, the manor was much more deserted. Most of the refugees who entered the city are now heading east. Luo Ya¡¯s expression was also a little ugly. ¡°They said they have seen the terror of the wave of demons. Once they come, we can¡¯t stop them with just the few of us. He even advised us to leave together¡­¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t know what to say. In the evening, Madam Luo made another sumptuous dinner. This time, there were only four people left at the table. ¡°Now, there are about two to three thousand demons from Fenshan City¡­¡± At the dining table, Qin Huai was sharing the information he had obtained. ¡°I reckon that based on this trend, Fenshan City might fall earlier than we expected. They had originally estimated that it would take a year or seven to eight months, but it seems that four to five months was their limit. ¡°I also heard that the guards at the city gate have started to limit the number of people who can leave the city every day. There are only one to two hundred people. But I should have a way to get you out. Leave or stay, it¡¯s all up to you.¡± Qin Huai looked at Father Luo and the other two. With his relationship with his disciple, Hu Jinghai, it would be a piece of cake to send the three people from the Luo family out of the city. Taking a step back, with his identity as a pro disciple of the Changshan Dojo, it would not be difficult for him to bring a few people out of the city. This was the power that came with strength. ¡°Senior Brother, what do you think?¡± Luo Ya looked at Qin Huai. ¡°I am indebted to Master for his knowledge and guidance, and he also wanted to give up his life to protect my future. I can¡¯t abandon him for such kindness.¡± Qin Huai was very determined. The dining table was silent for a while. ¡°I was thinking¡­ I want to stay,¡± Luo Huatian said. ¡°The blacksmith shop at home is still running. I want to make some armor for the army and the martial artists of the dojos during this time¡­ ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve earned enough money to go to Lingjiang. To put it bluntly, I have the eight big martial arts centers and the city lord¡¯s mansion to back me up. So, it¡¯s still safe for us to leave sooner or later.¡± Father Luo was very hesitant. He wanted to make some more contributions to Pingnan City, but he was still a little worried about his family¡¯s safety. In the end, the family decided not to leave. He would continue to do the blacksmith shop business at a cost price and contribute some of his meager strength to Pingnan City. As for defending Pingnan City¡­ When there were seven hundred demons, everyone was still full of confidence. But now, even the eight big martial arts centers didn¡¯t dare to think this way. Perhaps only the city lord¡¯s mansion would be their hope. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +99!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +12!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White) ], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +17!¡± The next morning, Qin Huai finished collecting the long breath technique¡¯s experience as usual. However, Qin Huai did not feel as satisfied as he had in the past when he was collecting experience this time. In the huge dojo, there were less than a handful of people who could provide Qin Huai with more than 100 experience points. Most people could only provide a dozen or so points, or even a few. In addition, after many humans and demons began to practice, they no longer practiced in unison. That was why Qin Huai¡¯s efficiency in collecting experience points had greatly decreased. ¡°I just want to quietly collect experience points to break through, but the demons won¡¯t allow it.¡± Looking at the empty and less lively drill ground, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Over the past month, with the help of the demons, his long breath technique had reached level 46 (454/5000). He still had more than 20,000 experience points left before he could enter the fifth refining stage. The fifth refinement realm would allow him to fight for the first place in the grand martial competition. ¡°And looking at the current situation, the grand martial competition will definitely be brought forward. If I rely on the dojo to gain experience, I¡¯ll need to wait another two months or even more before I can break through. It¡¯s too slow¡­ It¡¯s too risky.¡± He made up his mind. He couldn¡¯t just sit here and wait for death! He was going to take the initiative to find the demons and kill them! With that thought, Qin Huai climbed the mountain to the ancestral house. ¡°What did you just say? You want to go deep into the mountains?¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai in shock. ¡°Why would you have such an idea?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was calm as he answered, ¡°I think I¡¯ve reached a bottleneck in my cultivation, so it¡¯s time for me to seek a breakthrough and opportunity in a life-and-death battle.¡± Sun Yuanshan had a strange expression on his face. ¡°I remember. When you were fighting against the Sacred Heart sect disciple, you had already reached fourth refinement realm, right? How many days has it been since you broke through the fourth refinement? Two months?! He was speechless. His own thinking didn¡¯t seem to be suitable for Qin Huai. ¡®This kid has been outstanding all the way, and the speed of his breakthrough is as ordinary as eating and drinking, arriving in the blink of an eye. It couldn¡¯t be measured with common sense.¡¯ ¡®Ai¡­ This is probably what a genius is.¡¯ All kinds of dissuasion words were swallowed back by Sun Yuanshan. To this precious disciple in front of him, the best form of cultivation was probably indulgence. He had been observing. Even though he was already in the fourth refinement, which was many levels higher than the little guys on the drill ground¡­ Every day, he was still learning humbly, trying to make up for his shortcomings. He had worked so hard and was so serious. After thinking about it carefully, Sun Yuanshan felt a little ashamed of himself. ¡°Forget it, just do as you wish. But I only have one point, and you must abide by it!¡± ¡°Master, please speak.¡± Qin Huai was very respectful. Sun Yuanshan¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°First, everything must be done with survival as the premise! First, kill more demons for me!¡± Shua shua¡­ At this moment, Fang Han ran up the mountain. He glanced at Qin Huai and immediately said, ¡°Master, the city lord¡¯s mansion has suggested that the grand martial competition be brought forward to two months later! Now, please go to the meeting.¡± ¡®As expected!¡¯ Qin Huai¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°I¡¯ll go now. Come back on time two months later and pull down that first genius or something!¡± Sun Yuanshan flicked his sleeves and quickly walked in the direction of the city lord¡¯s mansion. Chapter 102 - 102 A Great Harvest 102 A Great Harvest Shua shua shua. The sharp cries of winter wreaked havoc on the earth. The dark-skinned ox demon¡¯s legs, which were as thick as tree trunks, stomped firmly on the ground. Its three-meter-tall body showed that his strength far exceeded ordinary people¡¯s. Its eyes were red as it looked around. From time to time, two columns of air would be exhaled from its fist-sized nostrils, which would blow over its sharp and huge horns. It was like the Grim Reaper¡¯s scythe, and every time it swung its head, it would bring up a whistling wind. The unlucky winter birds were split into two. It suddenly bent down and sniffed the ground. His hot breath hit the ground, melting the snow instantly. He revealed a pair of fists¡­ BOOM! The violent power instantly poured into the ox demon. In an instant, half of the ox demon¡¯s face exploded. It tried its best to punch the ¡®fat rat¡¯ that had suddenly appeared. Its fist, which was the size of a human head, whistled as if it could cover the sky. However, the ¡®fatty¡¯ who had emerged from the ground raised his hand and elbowed. ¡°Rumbling thunder, nine-strength punch!¡± Elbow to fist, fist to head¡­ He struck nine times in a row, pouring all the sharp light from his arms and shoulders onto the ox demon¡¯s body. The rumbling sounds continued, and the electric arcs pierced through the ox demon¡¯s skin, crushing the muscles under the thick skin. The ox demon instinctively swung its fists at the ¡®fatty¡¯s¡¯ head. However, the muscles on his arms were instantly shattered by the breathtakingly fast rumbling thunder nine punch, making him unable to exert any force. From afar, one man and one demon were fighting back and forth. In fact, the only one who was truly beaten up was the ox demon. Bang~! In the end, the ox demon fell to the ground with a loud crash when the ¡®fatty¡¯ stood still. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Orange)], and you can allocate experience points: 600!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.02!¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually a fourth refinement ox demon. No wonder it¡¯s so strong.¡± The ¡®fatty¡¯ shook off the remaining ice-cold snow on his body and skillfully tore off the essence of the ox demon¡¯s meat. Naturally, he was Qin Huai, who was heading in the direction of Fenshan City. Because he had to travel far away, he exchanged all of the wealth he had plundered from Bai Yusheng. If he used them sparingly, they could probably last him a month. Other than that, he also took away the armor he had ordered from Master Song, as well as some poison darts. With all these added together, Qin Huai had no choice but to choose two wide white robes. Under the white robe was armor, and Qin Huai had even made some cotton mats as a partition to absorb the force. Below it was his undergarments and his body filled with poisonous powder and venom. If there was a ferocious person who could break through his armor¡­ the first thing that would welcome him would definitely not be Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique, but a month¡¯s worth of huge reserves. As for Qin Huai, he had been immersed in the poisonous substance for several months, and he also had the strong medicinal bath given to him by his master, Sun Yuanshan. His resistance to poison had also increased significantly. This was also the reason why Qin Huai had the confidence to carry such a strong foundation with him. In the cold wind, Qin Huai leaned against the demon meat in the tree hole. He had been out for half a month. After walking for fifty miles, he had killed more than fifty demons. Using the breath control technique, spirit eye technique, in addition to his white robe¡­ Basically, there were very few magical beasts that could see his own face, and they were dying in this heavy snow. ¡°I originally thought that the level of breath control technique and spirit eye technique was too low and that they would be useless. I didn¡¯t expect I would be able to show off my skills against the blizzard and the demons.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. It was all thanks to these two auxiliary cultivation techniques that he was able to end the battle quickly. This was to avoid being surrounded by several demons and eventually falling into a situation where he couldn¡¯t escape and would be exhausted to death. Most of the high-level warriors were killed by demons for the same reason, just like the iron armored army¡¯s deterrence to the eight major martial arts centers. ¡°In this half a month, my vitality has already reached 57 points. It¡¯s close to the level of a sixth refinement martial artist. My long breath technique has also reached level 48. As expected, killing demons is the fastest way to level up.¡± Qin Huai looked at his own cultivation method and experience and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. As the ancient saying goes, there¡¯s a new village at the end of the tunnel, and his new village was this demon. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined my cultivation, so I¡¯ll use you to practice my martial arts!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes turned sharp, and a flying knife shot out from his sleeve. The wild force whistled through the wind and frost, directly embedding itself into the branches of the old locust tree. Ka ka¡­ It was like the last straw that could not bear the heavy snow. The snow, tree branches, and a black shadow crashed into the snow. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! Don¡¯t kill me!¡± A panicked voice rang out from the pile of snow. Qin Huai squatted beside the tree hole and continued to eat his meat, staring at the pile of snow. After a while, a small head popped out from the pile of snow. Her face, which was red and cracked from the cold, was filled with fear. Her long hair fell over her shoulders and covered half of her young and tender face. It was a little girl about sixteen or seventeen years old. ¡°Hero, please save our village!¡± The young girl crawled all the way to Qin Huai. When she was two to three meters away, she looked at Qin Huai pitifully and kept swallowing her saliva. ¡°Do I look like a good person to you?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the young girl and continued to eat. The young girl sized up Qin Huai¡¯s appearance in fear. He was very handsome. ¡®Mother said that good-looking men are not good people.¡¯ She subconsciously shook her head, then quickly nodded. ¡°I only care about demon disasters, not human disasters.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were calm. He had nothing to save but murder weapons on him. ¡°Our village is surrounded by a few big demons!¡± The young girl looked anxious. ¡°A few?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Lead the way.¡± If there were really demons gathered there, then he would be the one to benefit. Chapter 103 - 103 A Snake Demon 103 A Snake Demon It would save him a lot of trouble, so Qin Huai followed the anxious young girl and ran all the way. The village was in a shallow ravine not far away, and half of the village was buried in white snow. If it wasn¡¯t for the young lady pulling Qin Huai into the village, he might not even have discovered this place. The fire of lamps could be seen in the connected wooden houses, but there was no sound in the entire village. Qin Huai followed behind the young girl and kept looking around. ¡°Those demons are very smart. They might be hiding under our feet.¡± The young girl¡¯s voice was trembling. Hu! The snowy ground suddenly exploded, and a black shadow pounced toward Qin Huai from the side! Its sharp claws and fangs became even colder in the cold wind, and the cold light that bloomed made the young girl so scared that she directly sat down in the snow pile. Qin Huai raised his hand and let go. His left arm remained still in the air, and his four fingers were closed together. He raised his eyes slightly and looked at the skinny rat demon that was less than a meter long. Stab! Hot blood splattered on the ground, instantly melting the snow. On Qin Huai¡¯s straight left arm, the rat demon¡¯s neck had been pierced through. It struggled twice with its head, trying to bite Qin Huai¡¯s arm. But it was to no avail. Hiss¡­ Qin Huai pulled out his arm from the sticky, bloody corpse. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.005!¡± A first refinement rat demon was not worth mentioning at all. Qin Huai looked around. He raised the tip of his foot and stomped down like a blade! Ka! A pool of blood exploded under the snow, and the snow within a half-meter radius collapsed and melted into the blood. Hiss~ A rat demon behind him suddenly opened its sharp fangs and bit Qin Huai¡¯s calf. Clang! The result was a crisp sound of metal. The rat demon¡¯s face was completely distorted. It opened its mouth and bit at Qin Huai¡¯s butt. However, a large hand descended from the sky, and a sharp blade directly pierced through its throat. Before he died, his sharp fangs bit the arm guard again¡­ Just like that, three first refinement rat demons died within two breaths of the attack. The two of them stood still for a while, but there was still no sound. As the blood melted the snow around them, the trembling girl looked at Qin Huai with fear in her eyes. Squeak~ The doors of the wooden houses were pushed open, revealing terrified and grateful faces. ¡°Thank you for your help, great hero!¡± ¡°Thank you for saving my life!¡± An old man wrapped in a coat ran out from inside and knelt in front of Qin Huai in a pool of blood. Bang bang bang¡­ Five to six solid kowtows caused the old man¡¯s head to swell up. At the same time, there were several young men and women behind him, and they all kowtowed to Qin Huai. ¡°Benefactor, please come in and have a cup of tea.¡± The village chief invited Qin Huai into the house, with the young girl following behind him. ¡°Doll, quickly go and make tea for our benefactor¡­¡± The young girl nodded and quickly went to make tea. Qin Huai sat in the wooden house that was less than twenty square meters. He rubbed his hands and sized up the house. Other than two beds of bedding, there was also a table, chair, and bench. Behind the cubicle was an incomplete kitchen. It was a mess inside, and he could only see a large vat in the corner. It gave off a faint, rich smell of pickled radishes and cabbages. A few minutes later, the young girl brought over some tea. Qin Huai took two sips. His brows furrowed for a moment before relaxing, then he then went straight to the point. ¡°Old uncle, does your house have a map of the vicinity?¡± He had entered the house for this reason. They were already out of Pingnan¡¯s territory, so he was unfamiliar with the place and needed a map to find his location. ¡°My benefactor, it¡¯s not easy to leave during this heavy snow. Why don¡¯t you stay at home for now?¡± The village chief crossed his arms, his eyes showing some hesitation. Then, he smiled so widely that his eyes narrowed into a line. ¡°How about this? Marry the girl in my family as a concubine, and you can stay in the village for the winter and help us fend off the demons¡­ ¡°Girl, you are sixteen this year. You¡¯re all grown up now, and you¡¯re famous for your good looks in the surrounding villages.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. I still have things to do.¡± A hint of disappointment flashed across the village head¡¯s face. ¡°Then you should drink more of our village¡¯s tea to warm your body. You¡¯ll feel refreshed when you¡¯re on your way¡­¡± Qin Huai nodded and gulped down the tea in his bowl. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically. ¡°You guys¡­ You poisoned the tea?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was filled with shock and anger, and then his body swayed. There was a thump. He fell onto the wooden table. ¡°Hey. Hey¡­¡± The village chief pushed Qin Huai¡¯s face. After seeing that Qin Huai didn¡¯t react, only then did he kneel on the ground. ¡°Mo. Lord mo, this martial artist has already fainted from your poison!¡± The room seemed to be silent for two breaths. The next second¡­ A snake-headed monster that was similar in size to Qin Huai, but was covered in thick hair and had a neck as long as two human heads, slowly walked out of the kitchen. Its eyes weren¡¯t as red as those of the demons that Qin Huai had encountered earlier. The light of wisdom could be seen in his eyes. Its four limbs were also more human-like than those of the Ox demons. Compared to the other demons, it was a variant that looked more like a human and was far more intelligent. Both of them were a type of demon, but there seemed to be some mistakes in the direction of their bloodline evolution. The snake demon looked at the motionless Qin Huai and nodded in satisfaction. He was even making hissing sounds, as if he was lamenting about his brilliant methods. He had taken a village of people as hostages and had them trick the martial artists into coming in to poison him. After that, he would eat him. Chapter 104 - 104 The Fifth Refinement! 104 The Fifth Refinement! It had already eaten three or four martial artists these days. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± The snake demon walked towards Qin Huai proudly, opened its bloody mouth, and bit down on Qin Huai¡¯s tender neck. Suddenly, a large hand grabbed its neck. The terrifying power deformed the devil snake¡¯s neck on the spot. The human martialist, who should have been poisoned by the snake¡¯s venom, was now looking at him calmly. ¡°Is this a snake demon?¡± It was Qin Huai¡¯s first time meeting a demon among demons, and he had finally seen how powerful the other party was. It actually knew how to use tactics and had a strategy. This was definitely not good news for Pingnan City. Even though he could not communicate with the demons, they could definitely use their intelligence to guide the demon wave. Could this be the reason why Fenshan City had been taken down twice as fast as expected? Qin Huai¡¯s brows were tightly knitted. The strength in his hands gradually increased. The snake demon revealed a pleading look, but Qin Huai ignored it. From the first sip of tea, Qin Huai knew that it was poisoned. To be honest, playing with poison in front of a poison genius like him was like the people of Pingnan competing in longevity in front of Sun Yuanshan. He was completely overestimating himself. The current Qin Huai didn¡¯t even need to take an antidote pill to deal with this poison. His body would be able to resolve it on its own. However, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t figure out why this poison, which could knock out a second refinement, would appear in the hands of two ordinary people. It was only when the snake demon appeared that his doubts were solved. ¡°You really don¡¯t know how to speak?¡± Qin Huai asked tentatively. ¡°Hiss~¡± Stab! Qin Huai jabbed a fist through the snake demon¡¯s heart, ending its life. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± It was just a second refinement little demon. The sudden reversal of the battle and the instant end left the village chief and the young girl dumbfounded. They did not expect such an ending. ¡°Please let us go, benefactor! We were all forced to do this!¡± The village chief and the young girl knelt on the ground again with a plop and kept kowtowing to Qin Huai. He kept repeating that they were forced to do this. Fresh blood flowed down the wooden floor in all directions. ¡°Do you have a map of the surrounding area?¡± Qin Huai asked again. This time, the village chief was very quick. He immediately crawled under his bed and took out a rough hand-drawn map. Qin Huai took the map and hesitated. But in the end, he did not say anything and left the small mountain village. In this world, it was all for survival¡­ Later, in the vast snow, Qin Huai found the direction to Fenshan City again. He then looked at the main roads from Fenshan City to Pingnan City. ¡°If there¡¯s a demon commanding them, they¡¯ll definitely take these paths.¡± Qin Huai chose a scorpion gorge and quickly walked over. ¡­ Two days later, Qin Huai squatted on the edge of the scorpion gorge, which was only a dozen meters high, looking down at the road below. In the past two days, he had already killed nineteen demons. The efficiency was unprecedented, and more importantly, it was a wind gap. It just so happened that the direction from Fenshan City to Pingnan was against the wind. To Qin Huai, this was a heaven-sent opportunity. It was a good place to gain experience and vitality for free. Qin Huai, who had tasted the sweetness of it, had been lying in wait here. On the fifth day, Qin Huai, who was buried in the snow, suddenly perked up! ¡®The big one is here!¡¯ Sixty to seventy demons entered his line of sight. ¡®So many!¡¯ Qin Huai could not help but frown when he saw the number. This amount¡­ would be challenging his limits. ¡°It¡¯s worth the risk. This wave is enough for me to break through to the fifth refinement! I can even pull off something like the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and the rumbling thunder skill!¡± Qin Huai gritted his teeth, then began to release the poison! He had directly thrown out eighty percent of the treasures he had. As soon as the poisonous substances were taken out, Qin Huai immediately lost four to five sizes of weight. He went from a fat man to a thin man. This was a real investment! Qin Huai followed the order and dug out his poison along with the wind. The heavy snow filled the air, carrying with it Qin Huai¡¯s hidden treasures. In an instant, it surged for dozens of meters and swept into the demon array. ¡°Roar!¡± ¡°Squeak, squeak, squeak!¡± Not far away, the wails of demons could be heard in the blizzard. Qin Huai¡¯s spirit was roused, and he sprinted toward the demons not far away. ¡°We¡¯re going to have a big harvest!¡± When Qin Huai walked closer, the ground was already covered with experience balls and little red balls. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 450!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.015!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 150!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.005!¡± Qin Huai had never reaped such a large harvest before. The next moment, ¡®memories¡¯ of cultivation continuously appeared in his mind, and he unreservedly added all these experiences into the long breath technique. In Qin Huai¡¯s dantian, with the help of the purple lightning ball and the golden blood, the sixth white dragon grew at a speed visible to the naked eye. At the same time, a purple-white dragon roared, waking up the other five white dragons. The white dragons were fighting in his dantian, and they quickly grew stronger in the battle. Their scales became more and more real, and their eyes became more and more lively. Qin Huai¡¯s vitality also started to rise, and it seemed to surge like boiling water. The heat from Qin Huai¡¯s body evaporated all the snowflakes around him. The muscles in his body didn¡¯t increase, but decreased instead. There were signs of constrictions, becoming more compact. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze also became sharp. An invisible aura seemed to be born between his brows. He had reached the fifth refinement! Chapter 105 - 105 Pursuing the Horde of Demons! 105 Pursuing the Horde of Demons! Roar! The pitch-black rhinoceros demon ran wildly, its one-meter-long black horn cutting through the drifting snowflakes like a black knife. The narrow scorpion gorge was the best place for it to display its might. Qin Huai, who was facing him, didn¡¯t dodge or escape. His feet stood still on the spot, deeply rooted in the snow and frozen earth. The muscles in his arms bulged. As the hurricane poured into the wide robe, it billowed and rumbled. The pure white color was like the delicate beauty of someone who loved the strong. It stuck tightly between Qin Huai¡¯s muscle lines, converging into white snake-like lines. ¡°Boiling blood! Blood dragon form!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s pupils shrank, and he seized the opportunity to grab black horn, whose impact force was comparable to that of Gao Cheng¡¯s punch. All the strength in his body poured into his arms in an instant, and he suddenly exerted force. The rhinoceros demon, which weighed 700 to 800 jin, was lifted off the ground by Qin Huai. This terrifying scene caused the remaining demons behind him to slow down, and the scarlet red in their eyes seemed to have dimmed. It seemed like they did not understand what was going on. No demon could understand how a thin and weak human could have such terrifying power. The rhinoceros demon, which had been struck in mid-air, looked at Qin Huai¡¯s bone-chilling eyes. In the next moment, its huge body descended. BOOM! The massive fifth refinement rhinoceros demon was directly stabbed into the frozen ground by Qin Huai. Ka! Qin Huai rubbed his hands together and directly broke off the rhinoceros demon¡¯s sharp black horn. His knife pierced through its hard skin, but it was only an inch. ¡®What a thick skin!¡¯ Surprise flashed through Qin Huai¡¯s heart. Immediately, the purple-white light spots gathered on the peak of his fist, and the violent force wrapped around the wind, frost, and snow. A cold glint suddenly exploded on the rhinoceros demon¡¯s head. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Ka ka ka¡­ The crisp sound of bones cracking and the sound of grinding powder echoed in the cold wind. The rhinoceros demon in the frozen earth didn¡¯t even have time to wail before it became one with the entire icy land. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Purple)], and you can allocate experience points: 2,650!¡±¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.025!¡± When the demons saw the fifth refinement demon¡¯s miserable death, they turned around and ran. Even though their intelligence was not high, they still had a clear understanding of the strong and weak, especially when they were facing an opponent who was far superior to them. The scorpion gorge was small compared to the demons, which limited the use of their huge bodies. However, to a ¡®ferocious beast¡¯ like Qin Huai, this gorge was just right. Qin Huai took a deep breath. He pulled out the black horn of the rhinoceros demon that he had deliberately avoided and ran toward the group of demons. In the blink of an eye, the attack and defense reversed. If there was anyone here, they would definitely be shocked by the scene in front of them: a young man was chasing dozens of demons in the narrow gorge. Along the way, there were many demons who were on the verge of death. The sharp horn of a fifth refinement demon was even more useful than the thousand refined iron forged by Qin Huai. In addition, Qin Huai¡¯s terrifying strength in his blood dragon form was also very strong. The demon¡¯s skin and flesh that had been refined one and two times were pierced through by the black horn in Qin Huai¡¯s hand like tofu. If the demons chose to flee, they would be killed. If they wanted to counterattack before they died, there was a high chance that they would run into their companions and cause chaos. One, two, three¡­ Qin Huai killed in all directions in the scorpion gorge as if he was chopping melons and vegetables. A faint blood mist entered his nose, causing his eyes to flash with a faint scarlet light. This was a special characteristic of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The qi and blood in his body seemed to be surging more violently after he had absorbed the blood mist. Even Qin Huai¡¯s strength had improved slightly. At the same time, his experience points and vitality were also increasing. Half an hour later¡­ Qin Huai killed the small wave of demons all the way out of the scorpion gorge before he stopped. But He didn¡¯t rush in. After the scorpion gorge, there was a swamp forest. The terrain was open and strange, making it difficult to escape. If he chased after them, the fiendish demons would have scattered and fled, so he wouldn¡¯t gain much. It was better to guard this ¡®fishing net¡¯ and wait for the prey to come. Qin Huai turned around and removed the fangs and horns from the demons he had killed by poisoning. There were also some snake demons and rat demons who had poison sacs on their bodies, which were all taken down by Qin Huai to supplement his foundation. Qin Huai naturally did not let go of the demon meat on their bodies, but there were too many of them. He couldn¡¯t take all of them, so he cut off the best parts one by one, then carried them up the mountain. Qin Huai dragged the rhinoceros demon up the scorpion gorge, found a hole in a dead tree, set up a fire, and began to roast meat. His intermediate-level cooking skills allowed Qin Huai to live quite freely in the wilderness. Even if it was just a wooden stick that seemed to have no technical skill, he could still make a strange tree fragrance by just turning it. Time and the speed at which time passed seemed to be engraved in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. He was eating a fifth refinement rhinoceros meat and drinking pure natural melted snow water. Next to the tree hole, Qin Huai used the skins of the demons he had peeled to make carpets and tents. They were sturdy and could resist the cold without any effort, so they were very effective in keeping him warm. As for their meat, they were hung on a tree by Qin Huai, so they were naturally frozen. Qin Huai had even found a strange fruit tree that bloomed and bore fruit in winter. It was twisted off by Qin Huai and turned into a drink in the snow water. In the bitter cold, Qin Huai seemed to go to the big restaurants in Pingnan City to eat and drink every day. He was very carefree. Here in the scorpion gorge, Qin Huai had directly harvested 10,000 free experience points. However, there was a small accident this time. [ Free Experience Points: 2,650 (+9450, when added to the fifth refinement technique, experience points will be halved) ] A line of characters flashed in front of his eyes. He could casually add the experience points, but the other 9,000 points were all restricted, temporarily putting Qin Huai¡¯s dream of directly advancing to the sixth refinement on hold. Chapter 106 - 106 Another Upgrade 106 Another Upgrade He still needed more than 60,000 experience points to reach the sixth refinement. If he were to cut it by half, he would still need fifteen more times to make further progress with the great harvest at the scorpion gorge. It could only be encountered but not sought, so it was too difficult. More importantly, he only had a little more than a month left, which was not enough. ¡°Let¡¯s upgrade the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and the rumbling thunder skill.¡± As Qin Huai thought about it, he added all the experience points to the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The four-directional tiger-wolf technique, which was already at level 26, was now enhanced by more than 10,000 experience points. In an instant, he broke through level 30. Qin Huai¡¯s entire body instantly heated up, and the air he exhaled caused the temperature of the entire demon skin tent to rise. This boiling feeling was, in fact, no less than the feeling of his blood qi transforming. However, the latter was more of a pleasure, while the breakthrough of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique brought with it an unbearable itch. Qin Huai quickly sat cross-legged on the ground and felt the changes in his body. His boiling blood and qi actually began to boil the drop of golden blood in his body. The high temperature caused the golden blood to become even softer, as if it was a golden liquid floating in the air. ¡°I feel that my recovery ability is improving¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s intuition told him that his body seemed to have undergone some indescribable change. He picked up the black horn and poked it with his fingertip. The sharp black horn was not hindered at all, and blood slowly dripped down the tip of the horn. However, in just a breath¡¯s time, the wound on Qin Huai¡¯s finger stopped bleeding. After ten breaths, the tear was completely healed with a little itch. ¡°Could it be that the white dragon¡¯s recovery rate will increase again?¡± Qin Huai walked out of the tent impatiently. He cast a forbidden technique on the empty ground. With a loud explosion, Qin Huai returned to the tent and waited quietly. As Qin Huai counted silently in his heart, time passed quietly. The familiar white gas surrounded the purple electric ball and was slowly born with the wind. It took about the time it took to make a cup of tea. The new dragon had finished its transformation. The white dragon¡¯s reply has been increased to ten minutes. Qin Huai was even more delighted. The wonderful fusion between the two techniques produced a reaction that Qin Huai himself could not predict. Every time he broke through, it would bring Qin Huai a huge surprise. Qin Huai looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 143] [Vitality]: 66.111 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 50, 115/6000) ], [Blood Heart technique (level 40, 221/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 31, 3311/4000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 32, 266/4000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 822/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 51/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 6/6] [Stage: Level 5 Blood Refinement] His qi and blood had already far exceeded the limits of a fifth refinement martial artist. Even those noble young masters in Pingnan City, who were born with a golden spoon in their mouths and enjoyed the treatment of personal disciples from the age of ten, would not be able to surpass him in terms of vitality in the fifth refinement realm. ¡°In the next month, I¡¯ll try to push the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and the rumbling thunder skill to the fourth refinement.¡± Qin Huai set his target. He then began to grind the fangs and horns he had cut into the shape of daggers or blades. Then, he soaked these things in the venom concocted from the poison sac. As for the resources he brought out from Pingnan, only twenty percent was left. He couldn¡¯t support himself to have such a destructive harvest again. The next time he fought, he would have to rely on his fists. It was another ten days of carefree living. In the first seven days, Qin Huai had killed more than forty demons, but in the next three days, he had not seen a single demon. This confused Qin Huai, and he prepared to switch lanes. He had just changed the tent into a three-layered thick leather armor when there was another commotion in front of the Scorpion Gorge. The three second refinement rats carefully advanced toward the scorpion gorge. What piqued Qin Huai¡¯s interest was the rat demon at the back opened its mouth, and a blood-colored mist came out. ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± With a whoosh, Qin Huai slid down the slope. The wildly dancing snow scene receded at the speed of light from the corner of Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. When the three rat demons saw Qin Huai appear, they were stunned for a moment before they turned around and ran. Qin Huai flicked his long sleeve, and a venomous fang shot out with a ¡®swoosh.¡¯ Piercing through the snow, the rat demon, who was one step behind, was nailed to the ground by Qin Huai¡¯s fang. Qin Huai didn¡¯t even look. He just stomped on the rat demon¡¯s forehead. Ka! There was a crisp sound of bone cracking. Qin Huai sped up again and rushed toward the two rat demons who were trying to escape. The next moment, another two fangs flew out from his sleeve. The rat demon that was spitting out blood-colored mist had one of its front paws pierced through. It rolled a few times on the ground in a sorry state and continued to run forward while bleeding. But the snow was quickly crushed by Qin Huai. With a single step, he covered a distance of four to five meters in a flash. He pulled out the long tooth he had used to kill the second rat demon and pierced the latter¡¯s hind leg. Squeak! The rat demon suddenly screamed, causing the snow on the slope to loosen. The next second, it suddenly spat out a large pool of green stuff. There were human bones, flesh and blood, weeds, and even claws and limbs of their own kind. What caught Qin Huai¡¯s attention the most were the lotus petals that were emitting red mist. ¡°It¡¯s a blood qi guanyin lotus!¡± Chapter 107 - 107 Smashing to Pieces With a Single Punch 107 Smashing to Pieces With a Single Punch Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone. This was a natural qi and blood treasure medicine, and its value was no less than the blue cloud pill offered by the city lord¡¯s mansion at the grand martial competition. It was also an extremely efficient top-grade medicinal ingredient for cultivating golden blood. ¡°This is an unexpected surprise!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s footsteps suddenly sped up. But in the next moment¡­ He forcefully stopped, plowing three to four meters of frozen soil in the snow before stopping. He had unknowingly made it out of the gorge. In the swamp forest in front of him, pairs of scarlet eyes lit up. There were at least a dozen pairs. Qin Huai suddenly turned around. At the end of the scorpion gorge, there were already two fourth refinement bear demons. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and the figure of the snake demon suddenly flashed through his mind. He must have been targeted by the inept advisor of the troops of the monster race and demon race. With this thought, Qin Huai instantly charged to the left. He had just run ten meters when a gray-haired monkey of the same height jumped out from the bushes in front of him. His five thick fingers were abnormally exaggerated, as thick as Qin Huai¡¯s arm. They were like two large umbrellas that were thrown at Qin Huai. Qin Huai pulled out the black horn of the fifth-refinement rhinoceros demon from his back. Now, he had forged it into a short knife. The sharp black-horned blade split the two ¡®big umbrellas,¡¯ and an electric arc flashed faintly on Qin Huai¡¯s left arm. ¡°Rumbling thunder, three forces!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s long fist came from the bottom up and landed on the gray-furred monkey demon¡¯s chin. Bang! Bang! It was just an opening move. The gray-furred monkey¡¯s head was directly pressed up into a pancake, causing fresh blood and some white objects to splatter to the left and right instantly. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± Zzzzz! Suddenly, two bloody mouths rushed in from the left and right. It swallowed the blood and the white substance that the gray-furred monkey had spat out, along with the corpse of the monkey and Qin Huai. Gah¡­ The sharp fangs instantly pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s three layers of leather armor and nailed onto his refined shoulder guard. ¡°Qi shock scale armor!¡± Qin Huai was the first to activate his armor, and at the last moment, he stopped the two fish-like demons that were crawling. He twisted his upper body. The two three-meter-long monsters collided with each other due to Qin Huai¡¯s sudden force, and they loosened their mouths in an instant. Qin Huai pulled out his arms and crossed them. Buzzzzzz! Two teeth knives were instantly pulled out from his long robe, and they fell straight down with an extremely loud whistling sound. The two long monsters wailed. Their bodies fell to the ground with Qin Huai. However, the two heads were still firmly embedded in Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder guards. As Qin Huai ran madly, he exerted all his strength and pulled out the two monster heads that were gradually stiffening. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± Boom¡­ The ground behind him kept shaking. Qin Huai didn¡¯t even dare to look back, but he could tell from the sound that there were at least a hundred demons gathered behind him. Moreover, a large number of them were second refinement and above. He was definitely being targeted! The demon that had escaped earlier might have reported it. They let the intelligent monsters appear and make a plan to surround and hunt him. The blood lotus was a bait. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just let me gain experience points?¡± Qin Huai was cursing, but his expression didn¡¯t change much. After going through so many life-and-death battles, he realized that he would become calmer and calmer in every battle. He was still moving against the wind, and at the same time, the poison in his hand was quietly spilled out. At this moment, Qin Huai threw out all of the twenty percent he had collected without any hesitation. Because he knew that once he was entangled by some of them, he would be able to escape. He was surrounded by hundreds of demons. Even if he had wings, he might not be able to escape. Gugu~ Suddenly, a strange bird¡¯s cry attracted Qin Huai¡¯s attention. He raised his head slightly and glanced at the sky. He found a three-eyed eagle monster chasing after him, making strange sounds. It was obviously informing the demons on the ground of his movements. ¡°Damn it.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression had never been so serious. On both sides of the road, the sound of rapid running in the jungle could be heard from tens of meters away. It was a demon that moved very quickly and wanted to surround Qin Huai. Qin Huai remained unmoved and continued to survey his surroundings. He tried his best to step on the branches to move forward, for fear of falling into the swamp and slowing down the environment. The golden blood in Qin Huai¡¯s body began to circulate rapidly. It was actually recovering Qin Huai¡¯s physical strength. Qin Huai¡¯s breathing also started to become long, and a long pillar of air was spurted out of his nostrils. The six white dragons in his body were also swimming between his meridians and muscles, as if they were relaxing. After running for his life for a full hour, Qin Huai started to slow down. ¡°The effects of the medicine should be about right.¡± Qin Huai felt the speed behind him slow down as well. He took the lead and changed his move, charging toward the group on the left. A giant lizard was jumping on the ground and pouncing toward him. When it opened its bloody mouth, it actually split its mouth all the way to its neck, like a giant pair of pincers. Qin Huai¡¯s qi and blood began to boil, and his skin under the long robe also became slightly ruddy. ¡°Boiling blood! Blood dragon form!¡± The familiar state returned, and the terrifying sense of power once again enveloped Qin Huai. Qin Huai suddenly threw out a punch and directly punched through the body of the second refinement lizard demon! ¡°I¡¯m not willing to cause trouble, but if you insist on not letting me run away¡­ Then I can only think of a way to kill all of you.¡± The light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes seemed to be getting brighter and brighter. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t thinking about how to escape, but how to kill all these fiendish demons without leaving a single one alive! These were all great experiences! It was many times faster than collecting experience in the dojo all day. This wave of demons should be enough for him to train both the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and the rumbling thunder skill to the fourth refinement. Roar! Suddenly, a yellow-feathered chicken demon that was even taller than Qin Huai rushed out of the forest. Its two feet stomped heavily on the snowy forest, and its feathers trembled. The trees and flowers along the way were all crushed by the terrifying impact. ¡°A third refinement demon?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, a purple-white light spot instantly gathered at the tip of his fist. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± A shocking wave of air instantly exploded in front of Qin Huai. The imposing chicken demon was smashed to pieces with a single punch. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t stingy at all. Those below the third refinement could kill it with one punch, and those above the third refinement would be rewarded with a forbidden technique! Chapter 108 - 108 Another Fifth Refinement Demon! 108 Another Fifth Refinement Demon! Qin Huai killed the third refinement chicken demon with a single punch. He instantly opened up an opening. He didn¡¯t want to fight for the time being, but instead ran madly to buy time for a cup of tea. He would wait for the white dragon to be reborn before he took the initiative to fight. Whoosh! Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s vision began to spin. The center of his feet suddenly disappeared, and he was actually suspended in the air. In his shaking vision, a demonic monkey quickly pulled out a bramble vine as thick as a forearm, and the end of the vine was looped around Qin Huai¡¯s calf. Buzzzzzz! A black light flashed. Qin Huai turned over and floated down. The knife in his sleeve was thrown at the demon monkey as he turned around. The demon monkey was not paying attention and fell from the tree with a wail. Bang! Bang! The man and monkey landed on the ground almost at the same time. However, Qin Huai was still alive, while the demonic monkey was already dead. In the end, he still couldn¡¯t take care of the complicated terrain of the swamp and jungle. Qin Huai was dazed for a moment. Four to five first and second refinement demons had already surrounded him. But he didn¡¯t care. He held a black-horned knife in one hand and a poisonous object in the other. With a sudden dash and a half-turn, he killed the three small demons in front of him and broke out of the encirclement again. His golden blood had entered the fourth refinement stage, and in turn, he had reached the fourth refinement of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. This was especially so after he had reached the fifth refinement. His qi, blood, and body, including his mysterious aura, had all been strengthened. The strength of Qin Huai¡¯s body had reached a new level, and the blood dragon form could be activated for about an hour. Even in his colossal blood dragon form, which was even more explosive in power, he still managed to last for about the time it took to brew a cup of tea. As for boiling blood, Qin Huai had never turned it off since the start of the battle. He could maintain this state for a day, or even several days. More importantly, he recovered quickly. As long as a portion of his golden blood was destroyed, he would be able to start over. This made Qin Huai exceptionally long-lasting. Roar! A furious roar came from the front, causing Qin Huai¡¯s black hair to be blown back. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but narrow from the sound waves. A brown gorilla that was more than four meters tall swung huge cedar trees at Qin Huai! All the trees that he had sent flying were snapped in half. It was a fifth refinement great demon! His violent muscles were almost bursting through his brown fur. Hu! It took another swing. Qin Huai looked at the black shadow that covered the sky. The fifth refinement gorilla descended from the sky and waved his palm! The palm had yet to reach him, but the terrifying wind had already caused Qin Huai¡¯s face to ripple. Qin Huai pounced and rolled more than ten meters away on the ground. The ground then trembled, and he was jolted an inch off the ground. ¡°What strange force and weight!¡± Qin Huai exclaimed in his heart. The wind and waves behind him surged, forcing Qin Huai to change his pace. The fifth-refined great demon swung again. This time, Qin Huai¡¯s feet stopped as he watched the great demon fly over his head. He didn¡¯t run. Instead, he raised his right hand above his head, and the facial bones of a pouncing pig demon were crushed! Qin Huai took a deep breath and charged at the great demon. The latter rolled in the air, grabbed the tip of an old locust tree, and swung it, changing its direction and smashing toward Qin Huai. The two huge hands were like two city walls as they smashed down. The rumbling sound was like thunder, making people¡¯s ears ring. The killing intent in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes skyrocketed, and a purple-white light instantly condensed on the tip of his fist. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Boom¡­ The dragon¡¯s roar drowned out the storm and thunder. The astonishing air explosion instantly shattered the two large brown hands when it came into contact with them. Pieces of thick bones came into contact with the dragon due to inertia, and with a bang, they exploded like firecrackers. ¡°Roar!¡± The fifth refinement great demon couldn¡¯t help but wail. The two thick and heavy hands were shattered by the earthquake dragon. But what was even more lamentable was¡­ This was not the end. Qin Huai took another step forward amidst the sky full of minced meat and wails. The invisible aura that burst forth from his thin body was reflected in his bell-like pupils. It was like a huge wave, causing the great demon to tremble. If a powerful demon couldn¡¯t be killed with a single strike of the earthquake dragon, then he¡¯d do it again! ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± The air seemed to twist at this moment, but it was more likely that the eyes of the great demon were trembling. Its thick, dark-brown fur did not hinder Qin Huai¡¯s attack at all. After the shocking earthquake dragon first exploded into pieces of skin, flesh, and blood¡­ The third aftershock shattered the five-refined demon¡¯s internal organs. Finally, Qin Huai¡¯s hand, which had reached into the huge hole, pulled up and grabbed a piece of heart. Stab! In the blood, Qin Huai grabbed a piece of strong muscle. His entire body went through the hole. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Purple)], and you can allocate experience points: 2,650!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.025!¡± BOOM! Behind him, the fifth refinement great demon¡¯s huge body fell to the ground. ¡°A fifth refinement great demon is nothing more than a demon that can be dealt with by my two forbidden techniques.¡± This thought in Qin Huai¡¯s mind became clearer. From the moment he broke through to the fifth refinement, he did not feel any pressure at all when facing demons of the same realm. And as his ultimate move, the ¡®cooldown¡¯ of the earthquake dragon was only a short ten minutes. The demons behind him did not give up their pursuit of Qin Huai just because of the death of a fifth refinement great demon. On the contrary, more and more demons seemed to be gathering toward Qin Huai. Could it be¡­ Was there a sixth refinement demon controlling this? As Qin Huai thought about it, he felt that he was almost right. Otherwise, a demon who respected strength would definitely be afraid after the death of a fifth refinement great demon. He would definitely not be like now, being chased as if nothing had happened. Chapter 109 - 109 Killing a Sixth Refinement Master! 109 Killing a Sixth Refinement Master! That demon could be in sixth refinement¡­ Qin Huai didn¡¯t know how many dragon shocks he would need. His eyes searched the surroundings for any suspicious traces. The current him was no longer the same as when he faced Gao Cheng. Moreover, Qin Huai was definitely not the kind of person who would passively wait for an opportunity to come. As a result, his breathing became a little short, but he still moved quickly. It was just that his body was wet with blood, and it was getting darker and darker¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique was getting weaker and weaker. There were even a few times when he missed, and in the end, he had to use his body to ¡®risk his life¡¯ to make up for the last blow. This struggle at death¡¯s door lasted for a day and a night. ¡­ The second night came quietly. Qin Huai leaned against a tree, panting heavily. He relied on the darkness of the night to barely escape the search of the flying bird demons in the sky and had a chance to catch his breath. Whoosh! A cold blade flew over without any warning. Qin Huai suddenly squatted down, but his long robe was still caught by the swift cold knife. With a ripping sound, the long robe on Qin Huai¡¯s body was torn. ¡®It¡¯s here!¡¯ Qin Huai stared at the dense forest in front of him. His eyes were nervous, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. It was a goat demon with a beard and a pair of goat horns as a weapon. ¡°Lululu¡­¡± The goat demon made a strange sound, as if he was conversing with Qin Huai. Although Qin Huai couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying, he could understand his current ¡®miserable¡¯ situation. He probably knew that it would be a ¡®compliment¡¯ with more intense wording. Qin Huai looked at the goat demon who was slowly walking in, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously revealed a smile. Bang! Bang! He stomped his foot. Dust and smoke immediately rose within a ten-meter radius. Now, it has entered his domain! He wasn¡¯t stingy at all and brought out all of his last trump cards. A hint of panic appeared in the goat demon¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t figure out when this human martial artist had set up this trap. But it was already too late. The arrow had already been nocked and had no choice but to fire! That human was already charging toward him! The goat demon suddenly became violent, but his entire body instantly began to itch. His heart also twitched for some reason. The momentary loss of focus made it lose sight of Qin Huai. The next second, the short figure had already appeared in front of him. A fist? The goat demon suddenly raised his fists and crossed them in front of his chest. However, in the next moment, a pool of black water suddenly splashed into his eyes. He was wrong! It was poison! The burning sensation instantly corroded the goat demon¡¯s skin. That was the real trump card that Sun Yuanshan had used to cause damage to Gao Cheng. Now, Qin Huai was pouring all of it on this goat demon. ¡°Roar!¡± The goat demon roared in rage as he thrust the two hard horns in his hands forward. His eyes, which were originally filled with wisdom, had gone completely crazy because of his emotions and Qin Huai¡¯s foundation. A sixth refinement realm cultivator against a human martial artist who had been fighting for an entire day¡­ How could he have lost? Qin Huai looked at the goat demon that was approaching him. His expression was as calm as water. ¡°Forbidden technique, six consecutive earthquake dragons!¡± Boom boom boom boom boom! Qin Huai clenched his fists, and the purple-white light spots almost reached the fist wind at the same time. Left, right, left, right¡­ There were six punches in a breath¡¯s time. Qin Huai¡¯s combo attack didn¡¯t have any technique at all. He just aimed his fist at the goat demon and then punched continuously. The goat demon¡¯s horns were blasted away, and the bones in its hands were shattered. Immediately after, both of its arms were shattered as well, and its chest bones blocked the fourth dragon for it. But it was a pity. This was already the limit of a sixth refinement goat demon¡¯s body. However, this was not Qin Huai¡¯s limit. When the fifth dragon arrived, the violent energy that was poured into it completely shattered the goat demon¡¯s five internal organs. The pain of his five internal organs being crushed caused the goat demon to wail and fall to the ground. As for the last punch, Qin Huai was finally able to touch its head. With a heavy blow to his brow bone, the hard skull was directly shattered. Juice splashed everywhere, and his brain was reduced to an empty shell! ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Purple)], and you can allocate experience points: 5,000!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.03!¡± ¡°Hu Hu Hu Hu¡­ It¡¯s finally over¡­¡± BOOM! Suddenly, the earth began to shake again. Hordes of demons and monsters charged at Qin Huai from all directions. His judgment had also been slightly off. The death of the sixth refinement goat demon did not cause the demons to retreat. On the contrary, the group of great demons quickly dismembered the goat demon and ran toward Qin Huai again. ¡°I¡¯ve miscalculated ¡­¡± Qin Huai only had time to take two deep breaths before he ran off into the distance. ¡­ In front of the city gate, a man with an unkempt beard appeared. He was covered in mud and blood, and his long, black hair was curled up with a layer of frost on it. The long robe he was wearing was also worn out, and the patches on it included snake skin, bear skin, and pig skin¡­ In short, he looked quite miserable. He was even more miserable than the refugees from Fenshan City. The city guard didn¡¯t even think and blocked the stinky man¡¯s path, frowning. ¡°Are you from Pingnan City?¡± The man flicked his long robe and revealed a wooden tablet. The words ¡®Changshan¡¯ were written on it. The city guard took a closer look, and it was indeed genuine! The words on it were personally carved by the eldest senior brother of the Changshan Dojo. It was so ugly that it was impossible to imitate. It was very iconic. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The city guard looked at the disheveled man in front of him, still a little skeptical. ¡°I¡¯m Qin Huai.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm. He had escaped from the hands of those crazy demons for an entire month. Chapter 110 - 110 The Return of the King! 110 The Return of the King! In the end, Qin Huai stepped on the boundary of Pingnan City and killed them all one by one. He calculated that he would not be able to make it in time for the grand martial competition, and only then did he rush back day and night. The city guard pouted, obviously not believing him, but he still let Qin Huai go. Qin Huai didn¡¯t care at all. He walked quickly in the direction of the Luo manor as if no one was around. The first thing he wanted to do when he returned was to let the three of them know that he was safe. As for dignity, he had already wiped his face clean with snow before he entered the city. ¡­ Drunken Immortal restaurant Cai Jiulou hummed a little tune as he stepped on the bench with one foot and held a wine pot in his other hand. He looked carefree, and the two lackeys beside him were also full of smiles. ¡°In terms of killing demons, the younger generation of Pingnan City still has to rely on Senior Brother Cai.¡± ¡°Who said it wasn¡¯t?! This month¡¯s number one, Senior Brother Cai, is leading by seventy points.¡± ¡°I think that Miss Shaoxiang from Overflowing Fragrance restaurant has sent her maidservant, Little Qing, to guard the demon judgment board every day. She must be waiting to see Senior Brother Cai¡¯s daily results and to report them!¡± The fatty forced a smile. ¡°I guess Miss Shaoxiang has been in the building all day without thinking about food or tea. She¡¯s waiting for the day Senior Brother marries her.¡± ¡°Nonsense! Miss Shaoxiang is from a prestigious family and has a high self-restraint. She must be planning for her and Senior Brother¡¯s future¡­¡± the thin man said solemnly. The two lackeys spoke with great emotion. By embellishing the maid¡¯s expression, they painted Miss Shaoxiang as a shy woman who had been in love with Cai Jiulou for a long time. Cai Jiulou was in a good mood when he heard this, even when he knew that the lackeys¡¯ words must have been a little exaggerated. But there was still a chance it might be true. Miss Shaoxiang paid so much attention to him, so she definitely had a good impression of him. The fatty sighed again. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that there was a shortage of demons and monsters last month, so I couldn¡¯t make it to the demon judgment board in the second month. Now, I only have the first place for a month¡­ It¡¯s still that Qin Huai who is too hateful!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what method he used, but he stole Senior Brother¡¯s first place.¡± The thin man shook his head. Cai Jiulou also felt a little regretful when he thought of this. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be sitting in this restaurant right now, but at home with Miss Shaoxiang, sharing the joy of sex. But he still coughed lightly. ¡°The fight for the top spot of the demon slayer ranking is based on your own abilities. Don¡¯t slander others in the future and lower your own status. ¡°Besides, if I can change the world to have no demons, I¡¯ll be able to escape. I¡¯d rather not compete for the top rank. I¡¯ll find another way to marry Miss Shaoxiang.¡± Cai Jiulou¡¯s voice was steady. He was not lying. In the past two months, all the dojos had suffered heavy casualties. Two thousand demons swept over. Among them, there were also demons with near-human intelligence who took action to coordinate the overall situation. In the first exchange, they had killed many young people from the eight major martial arts centers. After that, the three thousand armored soldiers entered the battlefield, and together with the heads and deputy heads of the dojos, they were able to cut off the swift and violent momentum of the two thousand demons. With a destructive force, the formation of two thousand demons was crushed. He then divided several scattered demon-slaying battlefields and gave them to the young people. He returned to the monster-like state he was in the first month. Bang! Bang! At a table not far away, Cao Wang smashed his wine glass on the table with a mocking expression. ¡°If it were two months ago, I would definitely speak up for Qin Huai. But now¡­ How can he, Qin Huai, be compared to Brother Cai? With Brother Cai¡¯s setup, even ten Qin Huais can¡¯t compare. ¡°A month ago, I heard there was a sudden change in the tide of demons and monsters. Then, I claimed that I had reached a bottleneck and went into the mountains to cultivate.¡± His tone was harsh as he added, ¡°It¡¯s been two months, but there¡¯s no news of Qin Huai at all. No one has found any corpses in the forest¡­ From what I see, that Qin Huai must have cultivated all the way to Lingjiang county.¡± Cao Wang laughed coldly. ¡°Cao Wang, don¡¯t measure a gentleman¡¯s heart with your own mean measure!¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s voice was gentle, but there was a needle hidden in the cotton. ¡°I can still vouch for Junior Brother Qin¡¯s character. He would never do such a thing.¡± But Cao Wang continued to slander. ¡°Brother Qi, as the saying goes, you can¡¯t tell what¡¯s in a person¡¯s heart. Who knows if that Qin Huai is just acting? Just like that Li Bowu from your dojo, he¡¯s usually very kind. Who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯s a Sacred Heart believer? Feeding on the brothers of his own dojo? ¡°That¡¯s right. I think this Qin Huai has definitely run to Lingjiang county!¡± Cao Wang concluded with certainty, as if he was telling the truth. ¡°Hmph, Cao Wang, based on what you¡¯ve said, Reihom has not been in Pingnan City for the past two months, right? Then, can I say that Reihom has also escaped to Lingjiang county?¡± Qi Yangbing retorted. If someone was targeting his junior brother, then his temper would not be good. The contempt in Cao Wang¡¯s eyes grew when he heard this, and the other geniuses of the Thunderbolt Dojo also sneered at him. ¡°What is Qin Huai? How can he be mentioned in the same breath as Eldest Senior Brother?¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that Eldest Senior Brother is the number one heaven¡¯s favorite in Pingnan?!¡± ¡°Everyone here, who dares to say that they are my eldest senior brother¡¯s match?!¡± Cao Wang was full of confidence when he said this. The third floor of Drunken Immortal restaurant was deathly silent. When the group of young talents heard this name, their eyes could not help but wander. They did not dare to look in Cao Wang¡¯s direction. ¡°If Eldest Senior Brother says he¡¯s going to gain experience, then he¡¯s definitely going to gain experience!¡± Cao Wang argued. ¡°Hmph!¡± Qi Yangbing snorted coldly. ¡°The truth will be revealed soon after the martial arts competition begins tomorrow.¡± ¡°No need to wait for tomorrow! Qin Huai is back!¡± Someone shouted, and a group of people immediately leaned against the window. ¡°Where? Where is he?¡± Everyone looked out of the window, but there was no one. ¡°He just entered the city, and it¡¯s said that he almost got into a fight with the city guards.¡± A person quickly came up the stairs, his face full of anticipation. ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± When the group of people heard this, their interest was immediately piqued. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Changshan Dojo an ally of the city lord¡¯s mansion?¡± ¡°I heard that Qin Huai¡­ looked like a beggar in his tattered clothes. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s successful yet.¡± ¡°A beggar? Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go and take a look!¡± The crowd immediately swarmed towards the city gate. As for Qi Yangbing, he directly jumped from the third floor of the Drunken Immortal restaurant. Nimbly stepping on the wooden boards and beams, he galloped towards the west gate. Qi Yangbing, Cai Jiulou, Xing Bufan, and the others had just arrived at the city gate and had yet to find Qin Huai¡¯s figure. The city gate was opened, and a crowd of people lined up to welcome him and excitedly led him into the house. He was mighty, brave, and domineering. The ride was the same as it had been a year ago. In the middle of the heavy snow and harsh winter, his bare upper body revealed his terrifying muscles. He was riding a warhorse and carrying a spear, and his spoils of war hung on it. When Xing Bufan saw the spoils of war, his eyes narrowed. ¡°A fifth refinement great demon!¡± ¡°This Reihom¡­ He¡¯s becoming more and more monstrous ¡­¡± Chapter 111 - 111 The Rules Were Changed 111 The Rules Were Changed The paragons in the city looked at the figure that was the focus of everyone¡¯s attention and couldn¡¯t help but feel immense pressure. ¡°It looks like there¡¯s really no chance at all¡­¡± Cai Jiulou frowned when he saw the rider. Half of the thick-skinned fifth-refinement great demon¡¯s body had been torn apart. Its bones and flesh were all twisted. It was obvious that it had been killed bit by bit by a great destructive force. Its broken body was frozen in the cold wind, making the fifth-refined great demon¡¯s death look even more miserable. ¡°Junior Brother?¡± In the crowd, Qi Yangbing was surprised to find Qin Huai, who was covered in dirt. He stared at the latter, who was dressed shabbily, and had mixed feelings. ¡°Junior Brother has suffered.¡± Qi Yangbing patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder solemnly and even deliberately made Qin Huai¡¯s gaze turn away from the figure that everyone was looking at. The two of them had both left the city to gain experience, but what was the result? It was clear at a glance. Qi Yangbing didn¡¯t want his junior brother¡¯s state of mind to crack because of this. ¡°It¡¯s actually not that bad. The food and living in this world of ice and snow are not bad. It¡¯s just that I look a little embarrassed in my clothes.¡± Qin Huai told the truth. The time he had spent in the gorge had been very comfortable. After that, he could only say that the demons were too immoral. It was fine if a few or a dozen of them came together, but how could they attack a defenseless ordinary person like him together with hundreds of them? He even used strategy. Qin Huai thought about his escape and counterattack for the next month. Not only had he used up all his resources, but the thousand refined armor that Master Song had painstakingly forged had also been bitten to pieces. Along the way, he used them as hidden weapons and rewarded them to the demons. When he thought of everything that had happened before, Qin Huai could not help but feel physically and mentally exhausted. Hmm~ Qin Huai raised his hands and stretched his back, doing a long stretch. Ka ka ka¡­ The joints in his body creaked, as if he had been completely relaxed at this moment. Qi Yangbing looked at the unkempt Qin Huai from the side and felt that this junior brother of his seemed to be a little different from two months ago. Qi Yangbing shook his head. It was reasonable for him to become stronger after two months of wind and frost. ¡°Come with me to change your clothes first.¡± Qi Yangbing pulled Qin Huai and was about to leave. However, they did not expect a figure to block their path. It was Cao Wang, who had been speaking rudely to Qin Huai at the Drunken Immortal restaurant. He sneered and stood in front of the two of them, saying sarcastically, ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry to leave. These two are the proud sons of heaven who have returned from our city¡¯s experiential learning. Why don¡¯t you let everyone see you and enjoy the applause? ¡± Cao Wang¡¯s words immediately attracted the attention of the people around him. ¡°This beggar is Qin Huai?¡± ¡°My God, how did he become like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s not going to cultivate, but to escape¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t escaping a form of cultivation?¡± Many people around him spoke rudely, and the sarcasm in their words was not concealed at all. When facing Qi Yangbing, they would still restrain themselves and deliberately ignore the hostile relationship between them. However, with Qin Huai, it was different. Da da da da¡­ Not far away, Reihom, who was on horseback, also turned to look at Qin Huai when he heard the voice. He sat on the back of a tall horse, blocking the sun. It seemed like he was looking down at an ant like a god. Their eyes met. Qin Huai was very at ease. On the other hand, the few elites who were sandwiched between the two suddenly felt uncomfortable and subconsciously made room for the two. ¡°The rules of the grand martial competition have been changed.¡± Reihom looked at Qin Huai, his voice cold. ¡°Master wants me to take the first place. I don¡¯t hold any grudges against you, but I want to give you and Hu Jingshan a chance.¡± Qi Yangbing said in a low voice, ¡°Before Reihom left, he told the city lord¡¯s mansion and the heads of the eight dojos his thoughts. Everyone agreed two days ago. ¡°The grand martial competition has changed from an arena to a fight in the forest. The last one standing will be the champion. Siege, poisoning¡­ Anything goes. Reihom was the one who suggested it. ¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai raised his brows slightly. He was very surprised by this rule. If it was as Qi Yangbing had said and the rules were changed to this, then¡­ the internal agreement of the seven big dojos would most likely be invalid. Compared to himself, Qin Huai believed that the person everyone below the eight martial roll wanted to get rid of the most was Reihom. There was no one else. Reihom had suppressed this group of geniuses for far too long, and everyone was holding their breath, trying to pull him down. Therefore, this change in the rules was, without a doubt, extremely disadvantageous to Reihom. But the key was¡­ Reihom himself had proposed this condition. ¡°He¡¯s so confident.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but praise his opponent¡¯s confidence and strength. ¡°But no matter what method I use, the first place will still be mine.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was firm. However, a burst of mocking laughter suddenly rang out in the surroundings. ¡°You¡¯re too arrogant.¡± ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ve defeated Qi Yangbing? That fellow is the weakest in the top ten¡­¡± A few young people sneered. Only Xing Bufan, who was in the crowd, was biting his finger as his eyes darted between Reihom and Qin Huai. ¡°Senior Brother, do you think Qin Huai has a chance?¡± The junior brother beside Xing Bufan looked at Xing Bufan¡¯s expression and asked in a surprised tone. ¡°There¡¯s a chance.¡± Xing Bufan didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Ah? That Qin Huai does indeed look much stronger than before he left. But at most, he has just broken through to the fourth refinement, much less Reihom. Even if one of the top ten of the eight martial roll were to be chosen, that Qin Huai would not be a match for him.¡± The junior brother¡¯s words did not contain the slightest bit of ridicule. Chapter 112 - 112 100% Confident 112 100% Confident It was the truth. The top ten of the eight martial roll were all proud sons of heaven in Pingnan City. He had already broken through to the fourth refinement, and his cultivation techniques, martial arts techniques, and battle experience far exceeded that of ordinary people. As for Qin Huai¡¯s reputation as a genius, which of the eight martial roll wasn¡¯t a genius? The thick smell of smoke filled the air in front of the city gate, but there were no sparks. In response to Qin Huai¡¯s provocation, Reihom simply said, ¡°I hope you can give me some fun.¡± He casually ended the conversation and left on his horse. Qin Huai left as well and followed Qi Yangbing into an inn. After washing up, Qi Yangbing asked for a table full of delicious food to welcome Qin Huai. Qin Huai gobbled up the food while Qi Yangbing looked at him with a pampering expression and drank a little wine. ¡°Why are you only eating vegetables? Eat meat! This is all demon meat. I, your senior brother, have spent a lot of money on it. Normally, I can¡¯t even bear to eat a meal.¡± ¡°Senior Brother, I only ate meat in the mountains and didn¡¯t eat any vegetables.¡± Qin Huai laughed bitterly, his mouth full of food. When he was in the mountains, it was fine at first. As long as it was demon meat, he would stuff it into his mouth. However, things would be different after ten days or half a month. But he was very picky. For those under the fourth refinement, he only ate the thickest muscle line of a thigh, which tasted the best and was the strongest. Only after the fourth refinement would Qin Huai hug his legs and chest and take two bites. The latter wasn¡¯t because he was extravagant, but because the demons behind him were hot on his heels. They allow Qin Huai to finish it all. ¡°It¡¯s your Senior Brother who has been negligent¡­¡± Qi Yangbing joked for a while and then got to the point. ¡°Although Reihom unexpectedly proposed to change the rules of the grand martial competition¡­ After we enter the forest, it¡¯s hard to say whether the people from the seven dojos will work together to get rid of you or Reihom first. So, you must not let your guard down.¡± Qi Yangbing lectured him earnestly, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. The top ten of the eight martial roll of honor are all fourth-refinement warriors who have been famous for a long time. ¡°They¡¯re all the best among the younger generation of the major martial arts centers, so their understanding of martial arts and moves is not like those small fries you met before¡­¡± Qin Huai only nodded as he listened to his senior brother¡¯s long-winded speech. After the meal, Qin Huai first went to the Luo manor to report that he was safe. Then, he took the wine from the four spies and left the city to return to his dojo. He quickly climbed the mountain and entered the ancestral house. The sage-like old man was still standing on the edge of the cliff as before. Compared to the dispirited Sun Yuanshan two months ago, he seemed to have returned to his peak. ¡°Master.¡± Qin Huai bowed respectfully. ¡°You¡¯re back ¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan turned around with a smile. His face was ruddy and his qi and blood were surging. It was as if he had never been injured. ¡°Master, do you have any elixirs?¡± Qin Huai jokingly said, ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days since we last met, but I feel like Master¡¯s realm has improved again. ¡°Hahaha¡­ It¡¯s all thanks to the city lord¡¯s efforts. A few days ago, we joined forces to go out of the city to fight the enemy and kill the demons. The city lord specially asked my grand-disciple to bring some secret medicine. ¡°I¡¯ve finally made up for the qi and blood deficit from the previous battle. Even the internal injuries that have accumulated over the years seem to have healed a lot.¡± Sun Yuanshan seemed to be reminiscing. He smacked his lips and continued, ¡°The city lord¡¯s mansion is really a local tyrant. I didn¡¯t believe it before, but these days, the city lord¡¯s mansion is so generous¡­ I¡¯m really surprised.¡± Sun Yuanshan lectured him again seriously, ¡°So in the future, when we meet those with official backgrounds, we should keep a low profile as much as possible and endure as much as you can. These families have a deep foundation and have been rooted in some places for hundreds of years. I don¡¯t know how many old things he has in his hands¡­¡± He said it out of emotion. The city lord¡¯s mansion had spent a lot of gold and silver to buy horses, armor, and weapons at high prices. ¡°Did you know that the grand martial competition¡¯s rules have been changed?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Qi has already told me about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ I¡¯ve already prepared a foundation for you. You¡¯ve done well in this matter with Reihom. He does have the domineering air of a heaven¡¯s favorite.¡± Even though they were enemies, Sun Yuanshan couldn¡¯t help but praise Reihom. ¡°This person will be your greatest enemy! You have to be careful after entering the forest. Although you have a strong foundation, you can¡¯t be careless. ¡°Reihom is in the fourth refinement, just like I am in the sixth refinement. No one in the same realm can stop him.¡± Sun Yuanshan continued to remind him. ¡°No¡­ From a certain perspective, that fellow¡¯s invincibility in the same realm is more powerful. ¡°So, how confident are you?¡± Sun Yuanshan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°100%.¡± Qin Huai was indeed very confident. ¡°Good! Good!¡± Sun Yuanshan smiled and nodded. He could tell that Qin Huai had become stronger this time. However, he could not tell how strong Qin Huai was now¡­ The two of them exchanged pleasantries for a while before Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan entered the herb field together. After another few hours of intense communication and discussion, Qin Huai walked out with his body ¡®swollen¡¯ in satisfaction. He left two jars of wine behind and went to the blacksmith¡¯s stall. ¡°Master Song, this is the new wine from the Drunken Immortal restaurant, winter fruit immortal wine¡­¡± Qin Huai sat beside Song Yinhe with a smile on his face. Song Yinhe only glanced at Qin Huai. ¡°Those who are unaccountably solicitous are either evil or thieves!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak! Go and forge an armor for me first. Whether it works or not depends on your craftsmanship.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t hesitate. He rolled up his sleeves and started to forge with the furnace. His advanced forging technique was already on par with Song Yinhe¡¯s. Song Yinhe nodded repeatedly at the sound of the iron hammer falling. Chapter 113 - 113 Invincible in the Fourth Refinement? 113 Invincible in the Fourth Refinement? ¡°Would you like to see the craftsmanship?¡± Qin Huai laughed and placed a newly-made short sword in front of Song Yinhe. Song Yinhe took the short sword, turned it around, and waved it to test its sharpness. ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared the things for you,¡± he said, then got up and walked to his thatched house not far away. Once inside, he pulled out a large wooden box and opened it, revealing a set of light armor. ¡°This is made from top-grade black iron stone. This is the work that this old man has put his best effort into, so you must treasure it!¡± Song Yinhe patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. Qin Huai put on the set of armor. It fit him perfectly, and there were also some unique grooves on it. He furrowed his brows. ¡°What are these grooves for?¡± ¡°You can put your poisoned dagger and poison inside them!¡± Qin Huai suddenly understood. ¡°Thank you, Master Song!¡± After everything was ready, Qin Huai returned to the small courtyard that he had not seen for a long time. He sat on the bed, and his personal panel flashed before his eyes. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 143] [Vitality]: 68.327 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 50, 115/6000) ], [Blood Heart technique (level 40, 221/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 40, 686/5000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 833/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 6/6] [Stage: Level 5 Blood Refinement] It was all thanks to the demons that were in hot pursuit. They had used their lives to help Qin Huai¡¯s rumbling thunder skill and the four-directional tiger-wolf technique break through to the fourth refinement. Qin Huai closed his eyes slightly. At this moment, his dantian had already changed. In addition to the golden blood and the purple lightning ball, a blood bead had appeared. Countless ¡®bridges¡¯ blood lines formed by qi and blood stretched out from the sticky blood beads, connecting Qin Huai¡¯s internal organs, extraordinary meridians, and eight meridians. It was a change that occurred after the four-directional tiger-wolf technique entered the fourth refinement. His blood and qi were circulating extremely quickly, and his body¡¯s functions and various recovery abilities had improved. The most important thing was the effect of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique on the golden blood. The white dragon¡¯s recovery speed had successfully shortened from the original time it took to brew a cup of tea to half the time it took to brew a cup of tea. No, no¡­ Perhaps he should call it the purple dragon¡¯s recovery speed. After the rumbling thunder skill entered the fourth refinement realm, the purple ball of lightning expanded once again, completely tainting the white dragon that was originally surrounding it. The originally pure white dragon had now completely transformed into a purple dragon. Lightning would flash across his listless eyes from time to time. All in all, the originally peaceful white dragon was now emitting a domineering aura of destruction. Without a doubt, the power of Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique, earthquake dragon, had once again received an upgrade. Now, if another fifth refinement great demon came, Qin Huai was sure that a forbidden technique would be enough to instantly blow its head into ashes. ¡°It¡¯s invincible in the fourth refinement¡­¡± Qin Huai mumbled as he looked out the window. ¡°I wonder if it can withstand one of my general attacks.¡± ¡­ The sun rose, and purple qi came from the east. On the tiger head slope outside Pingnan City, heroes gathered and iron horses were like a tide. The lord of Pingnan City, Hu Guanpan, had long white hair. He wore a brown embroidered robe and stood on the top of the tiger¡¯s head. The eight great experts behind him stood side by side, their weapons extraordinary. After that, the martial artists with surging qi and blood were clearly divided, and their auras were like rainbows. The grand martial arts competition will be divided by the tiger head slope. All young people in the city who are above the second refinement and below the age of twenty-five can participate. The first place will receive a clear sky pill from Clear Sky temple, a visiting card from the county governor, and temporarily command three hundred cavalrymen from the wolf battalion of the iron armored army! Hu Guanpan announced the rules. ¡°In the grand martial competition, whoever takes the waist token will be eliminated! You can¡¯t take people¡¯s lives on purpose. Those who kill on purpose will be executed immediately!¡± Qin Huai stood behind Sun Yuanshan and looked at the foot of the slope. The tiger head slope was not big, only about eight miles in size. From this position, one could have a panoramic view of the entire slope. If one had to describe it, it was like a large arena. After entering the venue, there was no way to hide, and if they started fighting, it would take at most two days to decide who the first place would belong to. ¡°Everyone, shall we enter?¡± Hu Guanpan waved his hand in front of him, making a gesture of invitation. ¡°My disciples, take the pills.¡± Suddenly, a voice rang out, causing Qin Huai to freeze. He turned around. The dojo masters of the seven major dojos all signaled their disciples to take action. One by one, the young elites took out a black pill from their pockets and stuffed it into their mouths. ¡°What¡¯s the situation? Taking drugs in broad daylight?¡± Fang Han, who was in the audience, frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a foul?!¡± he immediately shouted. ¡°Ahem, ahem. Senior Brother, I know you¡¯re in a hurry, but don¡¯t be.¡± Qi Yangbing pulled Fang Han back. ¡°What do you mean? Isn¡¯t this a public act of shamelessness?¡± Fang Han was a little anxious. Originally, he was not satisfied with this method. This was even more unfair than the grand martial arts competition. What if the seven dojos directly joined forces and kicked out their junior brother? He couldn¡¯t even understand why his master would agree to such a request. ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Second Senior Brother, if I¡¯m not wrong, they should be eating antidotes.¡± Qi Yangbing subconsciously looked at Qin Huai. Fang Han coughed and took two steps back. ¡°Oh¡­ It¡¯s fine then.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm. After seeing that everyone had basically taken the antidotes, he started to take things out. One, two, three¡­ In his long sleeves, in his arms, on his legs, and in his armor and behind his waist¡­ In a short while, Qin Huai was like a small mountain in front of him, and he instantly lost a few pounds of weight. The faces of the other martial artists beside him turned black. ¡°That bastard, bringing so much poison, is he sure that he remembers the city lord¡¯s words about not killing people?¡± Xing Bufan ridiculed. ¡°Senior Brother, I feel like I¡¯ve made a loss.¡± ¡°With Qin Huai¡¯s death, we¡¯ve eaten all these antidotes for nothing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to eat for free than to be poisoned to death.¡± Xing Bufan had a very big plan. Finally, the preparations were done. There were about fifty people in the city who entered from the left and right sides. Qin Huai and Qi Yangbing split up to the left and right as far as possible, avoiding the people from the seven major dojos and entering quietly. However, there were still a few stalkers who followed closely behind Qin Huai. Chapter 114 - 114 A Confrontation 114 A Confrontation ¡°Who do you think will get the first place?¡± On the tiger head slope, Hu Guanpan smiled as he turned around to look at the eight dojo masters. Liu Zhong of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo chuckled. ¡°If the grand martial competition¡¯s rules haven¡¯t changed, I will definitely choose that brat, Reihom, from the Thunderbolt Dojo without hesitation. But now that the rules have been changed and it has become a free-for-all battle, it¡¯s hard to say.¡± The old man from the Crane Dojo crossed his arms and said, ¡°I heard that Cai Jiulou has been thinking about Miss Shaoxiang from the Overflowing Fragrance restaurant recently. Hahaha¡­ Yes, it¡¯s good for a young man to have a goal. This way, he can be forced to show his potential. He might even drag Reihom off his horse.¡± Bai Bashan snorted coldly. ¡°Brother Liu, you¡¯re thinking too much. There¡¯s no one in the same generation in Pingnan City who can pull Riehom down.¡± ¡°That might not be the case.¡± Sun Yuanshan touched his beard. ¡°As we all know, the top ten of the eight martial roll are almost the same.¡± He pretended to be blind and vaguely ignored Reihom¡¯s potential. He was so happy to see the people from the seven big dojos quarrel. Actually, it would be best if one or two of them were killed or injured. ¡°Hmph! It¡¯s a problem if that disciple of yours can¡¯t even last two hours in the grand martial competition¡¯s arena!¡± The dojo masters were bickering like children, giving tit for tat. Meanwhile, below them¡­ it was even close to life and death. The moment Qin Huai walked into the tiger head slope, two people rushed at him from behind. Shua shua shua! The other party shot three cold glints at him, and Qin Huai swung his hand in the same manner. Bang bang bang! The two flying daggers created sparks in the air and bounced off each other. ¡°Not bad¡­¡± Before the sneer on the man¡¯s face faded, he saw a handsome face appear in front of him. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were calm. He raised his hands to his face in an instant, cupping his face like an intimate lover. However, Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®flattering¡¯ actions were a little more hurried. Pa! The man¡¯s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground, unconscious. ¡°Your grandpa!¡± The person behind him immediately swung his fist, but it was not his fist that beat him to it. Instead, it was the boxing ring on his forearm. The fist ring spun, and there was a row of sharp thorns on the corner of the ring. Qin Huai lowered his body and instantly dodged another hidden weapon. It was too slow. With a step forward, he was already in the other party¡¯s arms. He pushed his palm toward his chin, and with a crisp bang, the premeditated encounter ended in a relaxed and pleasant manner. It was only two second refinement martial artists. Qin Huai wiped off the blood from his nose. He instantly took off their wooden identity cards and threw them to the side. ¡°You two are using hidden weapons, and you want to catch me off guard and make a name for yourself¡­¡± Qin Huai saw through their thoughts with a single glance. He didn¡¯t care and continued to wander to the edge of the tiger head slope. Although he was strong, he didn¡¯t want to become the target of public criticism so early. Qin Huai had won against his master, so he had to get first place to vent his anger. Since he had made a promise, he had to choose the most secure way. There were many people who had the same thoughts as Qin Huai, but they were too weak. They were all newbies who had just qualified for the second refinement and wanted to come to the grand martial competition to test their strength. After a short time, Qin Huai knocked down several people in a few moves. ¡°There aren¡¯t many second refinement participants in the grand martial competition, only about ten or so. Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re all lying in my hands?¡± In the time it took to make a cup of tea, Qin Huai had dealt with seven second refinements. ¡°Are you taking me for a soft persimmon?¡± Qin Huai thought about it carefully and agreed. As a pro disciple of the Changshan Dojo, he only had a few opportunities to fight in front of the public. He had killed Hong San and Gu He¡­ No one saw the former, and no one seemed to see the latter. There were only some rumors. It was more because he had been at the top of the demon slayers list for a month. However, everyone only had one impression of Qin Huai¡¯s method of killing demons, and that was using poison. ¡°A fixed impression is really scary.¡± Qin Huai shook his head. He circled around the tiger head slope and slowly advanced. After two hours¡­ Qin Huai finally met his first opponent. Cai Jiulou, who was holding a large broadsword, blocked Qin Huai¡¯s path. ¡°Brother Qin, you can really run. It took me a long time to find you.¡± His smile was very bright. If it weren¡¯t for the cold and threatening broadsword in his hand, Qin Huai would have thought that he was an admirer. ¡°Brother Cai, why don¡¯t you go find Reihom first? Wouldn¡¯t it be better for us to join forces and kick him out first?¡± Qin Huai said unhurriedly. After being chased by a large group of demons, he didn¡¯t feel any pressure, even if more than one person stood against him. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. It¡¯s good to use Brother Qin as a practice first.¡± Cai Jiulou chuckled. ¡°Brother Qin¡¯s efficiency in killing demons has saved many people from dying in Pingnan City. For this, I, Cai Jiulou, would like to thank you on behalf of my junior brothers and sisters in the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo.¡± As he spoke, he cupped his fists at Qin Huai. Then, he changed the topic. ¡°But you snatched my first rank, so Miss Shaoxiang can¡¯t sleep with me for the time being¡­ This is unforgivable. If I don¡¯t kill you first, I won¡¯t be able to rest easy, Brother Qin!¡± Cai Jiulou¡¯s face was filled with sincerity, but his eyes were gradually burning with anger. The more he thought about this matter, the angrier he got. The angrier he was, the more he wanted to kill Qin Huai! On the tiger head slope, Liu Zhong¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the two people in the corner. His line of sight was fixed on Cai Jiulou, so even if Cai Jiulou became a blurry dot, he could follow closely. ¡°Everyone, use this to take a closer look.¡± Chapter 115 - 115 Such Great Strength 115 Such Great Strength Hu Guanpan asked the soldiers to distribute a long tube to each dojo master, then said, ¡°This is a telescope. It can magnify things hundreds of meters away so you can see them clearly. He continued, ¡°This is the treasure of the scouts in the army. When the previous emperor ascended the throne, it was promoted in the army as a secret weapon. Now that the emperor of Great You is no longer abiding by the rules, many of them have reached the people¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Hiss! I can actually see the entire area clearly!¡± ¡°Strange!¡± It was the first time the dojo masters had seen such a treasure, and they were all amazed. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Master Sun, your disciple¡¯s a little unlucky to have met an opponent?¡± When Liu Zhong saw that Cai Jiulou¡¯s opponent was Qin Huai, he immediately laughed out loud. Sun Yuanshan smiled and touched his beard. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡­ At the foot of the slope, the people fighting didn¡¯t know that, at this moment, they had already been clearly seen by the group of dojo masters. ¡°It¡¯s just a woman. Why do you have to do this?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°A pink skeleton will be nothing more than a handful of ashes after a hundred years.¡± Actually, he was interested in women, but not very much. When Cai Jiulou heard this, he was enraged. ¡°You know nothing!¡± He instantly raised the big sword in his hand, and it was as if the surrounding air had condensed toward it! ¡°Mountain splitting blade technique, mountain momentum!¡± Buzzzzzz! The air buzzed. In the blink of an eye, Cai Jiulou was already halfway there. The distance between the two of them was less than five meters. Their eyes met. Qin Huai could even see the sharp glint in his eyes. It was just like the long blade in his hand! BOOM! With the naked eye, the blade was coming at him. But it also seemed to be crushing down from all directions. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± A red glint flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, and the blood in his body suddenly began to boil. Hiss¡­ Qin Huai gritted his teeth. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± Qin Huai put his hands together, and the unavoidable broadsword in his eyes seemed to have slowed down. Since he couldn¡¯t avoid it, he would just take it. Qin Huai clapped his hands together in front of him. Pa! The mountain collapsed, and the earth shook, instantly vanishing into thin air. The unavoidable blade technique was caught by Qin Huai with both hands. At this moment, the air seemed to have fallen into silence. Even space seemed to have stopped at this moment. Cai Jiulou stared at the saber in his hand, then at the pair of hands at the end of the blade that had stopped it. He had never seen someone break his mountain momentum like this, using brute force to take his move. His expression was gloomy. ¡®Isn¡¯t he afraid of being caught and being split in half?¡¯ Mmh! He pulled out his knife, but it didn¡¯t move. Qin Huai, who was in front of him, stood on the spot, not moving an inch. ¡®Such great strength.¡¯ Cai Jiulou then shouted, ¡°Savage!¡± The long sword in his hand was as smooth as a long snake, sliding out of Qin Huai¡¯s five-finger mountain in an instant. What great strength? Then he¡¯ll change his move! ¡°Mountain splitting blade technique, snake mountain coil!¡± The sword in his hand suddenly became as soft as a spiritual snake, and it vibrated three times every time it crossed a meter. It was like a whip that was being waved in his hand. As the snake dance became faster and faster, the sound of the long blade also changed. Shua shua shua! Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, Cai Jiulou¡¯s steps became erratic, soft like water. ¡®One blade technique and two different intents?¡¯ A look of surprise flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. ¡®As expected of a genius in the top ten of the eight martial roll.¡¯ It was a combination of ferocity and softness¡­ This sword technique was indeed not bad. ¡°Long breath rainbow crossing!¡± Qin Huai threw a punch in front of him, and the white dragon poured down, turning into a pillar of air that pushed forward. It was like a wall of qi crushing at the enemy, with one force breaking all techniques. The snake sword wailed, and its ¡®body¡¯ completely stiffened. It was instantly shut out by the surging qi wall. Qin Huai didn¡¯t wait any longer and stepped forward. He was one meter away from Cai Jiulou. Cai Jiulou didn¡¯t have the time to retreat. Qin Huai¡¯s steps were too big and too fast! He suddenly let go and actually used his hand as a knife. ¡°Mountain splitting blade technique, bladeless hand, mountain-piercing!¡± His hands stabbed forward like two sharp knives, cutting toward Qin Huai¡¯s wrist artery. Qin Huai lifted his foot, and a handful of snow and dirt was lifted up, blocking the two of them. His fist then turned into a palm, and his expression was calm. ¡°Long breath, six airwaves!¡± Qin Huai pushed out with both hands, and waves of air blasted out from his hands. The power of the snow and dirt that blocked his vision increased by another level. Shua shua shua. Cai Jiulou took three steps back as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Now, I admit that you do have some skills¡­¡± He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He had not expected that Qin Huai would be able to take all his moves. The key was that this kid had great strength. Even when he fought Reihom, the latter was not as strong as this kid. ¡°You¡­¡± Cai Jiulou was just about to speak when the hair on his back stood on end. He quickly rolled forward. Pa! The crisp sound of a palm clasping together could be heard behind him. Cai Jiulou fell flat on his face, his mouth full of snow and dirt. ¡°When did you get behind me¡­¡± Cai Jiulou¡¯s heart was beating wildly. ¡®This Qin Huai¡­ seems to be a little too strong.¡¯ The main thing was that this body didn¡¯t look very strong. How could he have such terrifying strength and speed? Cai Jiulou¡¯s heart was filled with doubt. With a swish, he picked up the long sword on the ground and said, ¡°I was planning to leave this move to Reihom, but it looks like I¡¯ll have to get rid of you first.¡± Cai Jiulou took a deep breath. The long blade in his hand began to grow, and the cold blade light stopped the snow from falling one meter in front of him. The snowflakes seemed to have been attached to an invisible sharp blade, splitting into two in front of him. ¡°Mountain splitting blade technique, one line sky!¡± Chapter 116 - 116 What Kind of a Monster Are You? 116 What Kind of a Monster Are You? Buzzzzzz! A blizzard suddenly swept through the mountain forest, and the strong wind lifted up the thick snow. The dust-covered frozen earth was completely lifted. On the ice-cold ground, a several-meter-long and one-inch-deep sword crack appeared. It was a ghastly sight. As for Cai Jiulou, he was standing in front of Qin Huai. The long sword in his hand stopped in front of the latter, and his sure-kill attack didn¡¯t proceed. Or perhaps Qin Huai¡¯s move, which wasn¡¯t a move at all, blocked it. The tip of the knife was only an inch away from Qin Huai¡¯s clothes, but he couldn¡¯t move an inch. The killing intent in his eyes turned into shock, and finally into a dispirited look. ¡°I¡¯ve lost ¡­¡± He slowly removed his waist tag with his left hand, and Qin Huai, who was opposite him, also let go. ¡°I was one step behind, and you caught me.¡± Cai Jiulou laughed bitterly. ¡°Not bad. I almost fell for it.¡± Qin Huai was expressionless and calm as he said, ¡°Yes, this is a move I¡¯ve been painstakingly studying for more than a year.¡± The bitter smile on Cai Jiulou¡¯s face suddenly turned into a pained smile. He couldn¡¯t hold back his last bit of dignity. ¡°What kind of monster are you?! You can even block this!¡± he cursed. He really couldn¡¯t take it anymore. This was his ultimate move, a sure-kill move that had once killed a fourth refinement demon. Yet, it was blocked by Qin Huai so easily by putting his hands together? Qin Huai¡¯s hands didn¡¯t even tremble. There was clearly no pressure at all! ¡°What kind of monster are you?! This is only Pingnan City. How did a bastard like Reihom appear first, and now a dog like you?!¡± Cai Jiulou cursed as he walked away with his sword. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique Essence (Blue)], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique] Experience +777!¡± Qin Huai kept his experience, and some memories of training his sword techniques appeared in his mind. Then, he turned around and continued to walk slowly in circles toward the center of the forest. The top ten of the eight martial roll¡­ That was all. Qin Huai had only activated his boiling blood and used the fourth refinement of the long breath technique to take down Cai Jiulou easily. ¡°My qi and blood are too strong now. It¡¯s far stronger than theirs. In the face of absolute power, the moves and secret skills they¡¯re proficient in are useless against me.¡± Qin Huai concluded that the people on the eight martial roll were indeed unable to withstand a single punch from him. The exchange of blows just now confirmed his thoughts. ¡°If I don¡¯t enter the fifth refinement, they might not even need me to use general attacks.¡± ¡­ On the tiger head slope, a burst of hearty laughter resounded. One didn¡¯t need to guess that the laughter came from Sun Yuanshan. ¡°Alright! What an exciting battle! Your little brat is very strong. He actually made that Qin Huai kid use that move!¡± Sun Yuanshan complimented, but his tone was weird. Everyone present was a sly old fox. Even with their eyes closed, they could hear that this old fellow was scolding them. Although there was not a single vulgarity between the lines, the words were all used to humiliate him. Liu Zhong gritted his teeth and did not say anything. His disciple had lost, so what else could he say? He could only watch Sun Yuanshan jump on the spot. ¡°That kid¡¯s move just now was pretty good. There¡¯s enough killing intent, and his moves are sharp enough. This time, he lost because¡­ he¡¯s still not skilled enough. If I had been just a little faster, he would have definitely pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s neck,¡± Bao Ziyan of the Tyrant Fist Dojo consoled. Liu Zhong could only nod. However, when the other seven dojo masters saw Qin Huai¡¯s performance, they clearly became a little worried. That Qin Huai¡­ was so strong! Moreover, he was a little too strong to tell how skilled he was. ¡°I think you should see Reihom¡­¡± All of the dojo masters immediately began to look in Reihom¡¯s direction. ¡­ In the dense forest, Reihom held an iron fan and looked at the three people who had surrounded him in a triangular formation. And none of these three were ordinary warriors. They were Bao Qianjin from the Tyrant Fist Dojo, who was ranked ninth on the eight martial roll; He Liu, the son of the head of the Six Harmonies Dojo, ranked eighth on the eight martial roll; and Langzi from the White Wave Fist Dojo, fourth on the eight martial roll. Any of the three of them was at the level where they could establish their own sect in Pingnan City and take charge of a region on their own. Yet, they were attacking one person and were in a sorry state. Bao Qianjin¡¯s fists were already bruised, and Langzi¡¯s face, which was covered in makeup, was also bruised and swollen. One of his eyes could not be seen clearly. He Liu from Six Harmonies Dojo was even spitting out blood. Every breath he took would bring out a little blood. ¡°Is that all?¡± Reihom looked calmly at the three. ¡°Compared to a year ago, you¡¯re weaker now.¡± His voice was very flat, without the slightest fluctuation in emotion. As usual, he looked down at the three elites of Pingnan, who should have been on the same level as him. He didn¡¯t even pull out the long spear on his back. Hot blood dripped from Reihom¡¯s hand. But obviously, the blood was not his. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯ve become too strong¡­¡± Langzi laughed bitterly. ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone who can be your opponent. Anyway, I give up! I¡¯m not fighting anymore!¡± He waved his hand and took off his gloves. Hu! Suddenly, there was a muffled sound. Bao Qianjin, who was standing aside, ran away. He gritted his teeth and glared at Reihom. It was like a meatball smashing toward Reihom. ¡°Tyrant fist explosion!¡± Bao Qianjin¡¯s whole body was steaming, and he seemed to have lost five kilograms in an instant! He seemed to have wrapped up the steam, and the heat wave that distorted the air rumbled toward Reihom. However, Reihom didn¡¯t dodge. He lowered his body slightly and threw a heavy punch at Bao Qianjin. BOOM! The snowy white behind him suddenly shook off. Ka! Bao Qianjin¡¯s face was completely twisted. The hand that he had used to meet Reihom¡¯s fist had been broken. His eyes were fixed on Reihom as he muttered, ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t accept this¡­¡± He gritted his teeth and wanted to throw another punch. ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± Reihom would not give him a chance. He grabbed Bao Qianjin¡¯s arm and threw him over his shoulder. BOOM! The huge body smashed into the frozen ground. Just as he was about to get up, Reihom¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Get up again, and I¡¯ll cripple both your hands.¡± Bao Qianjin gritted his teeth and looked at the sky. ¡°I surrender¡­¡± Reihom looked at Langzi and He Liu, and the two looked at each other and smiled bitterly. ¡°Just how strong are you now?¡± Langzi couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°No one can defeat me within the fourth refinement.¡± Reihom¡¯s expression remained calm and unmoved. Chapter 117 - 117 Giving Up! 117 Giving Up! ¡°Why isn¡¯t there a single person here?¡± Qin Huai slowly advanced and realized that something was wrong. After Cai Jiulou had admitted defeat, he had not met anyone else. He changed his route and walked toward the center of the tiger head slope. It could be said that the people participating in the grand martial competition had a tacit understanding in their hearts. Right in the middle of the slope was where the decisive battle would take place. Qin Huai stepped on the snow and leisurely crossed three miles. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± The young man, Xing Bufan, who was wrapped like a brown bear, jogged with his toad-like steps and greeted Qin Huai with a smile. Qin Huai saw that it was the young man who had followed the Three Tassels Spear Dojo¡¯s master earlier. He was the second place on the eight martial roll, Xing Bufan. ¡®This kid¡¯s face looks even younger than my own.¡¯ Qin Huai flicked his long robe and was about to attack, but who knew that Xing Bufan would hurriedly wave his hands and shout, ¡°No, no, no! I¡¯m not fighting anymore. I¡¯ll just watch from here.¡± Xing Bufan¡¯s head was shaking like a rattle. ¡°Brother Xing, what do you mean?¡± Behind Xing Bufan, an elegant young man wearing a green robe walked over. There was also a lot of blood on his body. He was the eldest young master of the city lord¡¯s Manor, Hu Jingshan. ¡°Didn¡¯t you come to participate in the grand martial competition to fight for first place?¡± Hu Jingshan smiled gently. Xing Bufan sighed. ¡°I just saw you fighting with those ten over people in the forest. I can¡¯t win against them. Reihom is still a beast as usual. Bao Qianjin, He Liu, and Langzi, three of the top ten on the eight martial roll, joined forces, but Reihom didn¡¯t even use his spear.¡± Hearing this, Hu Jingshan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. It seemed as though he had still underestimated Reihom¡¯s power. As for Xing Bufan, he dejectedly leaned against the tree and took off his waist token to hang on the branch. He had expressed his intention not to fight. Then, he pinched his fingers in a dazzling manner. ¡°I just did a divination for myself. This is not my time this year, but I can look forward to the future.¡± ¡°Brother Xing knows how to predict the future?¡± Hu Jingshan laughed in a relaxed manner. ¡°This is an algorithm I created myself. 10% is based on calculation, and 90% is based on heart,¡± Xing Bufan spoke frankly. The corners of Hu Jingshan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly before he finally shook his head helplessly. He cupped his fists at Qin Huai and said, ¡°Grandmaster Qin, you¡¯ve taken good care of my little brother.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Eldest Young Master? That kid, Jinghai, is quite talented. Even when he¡¯s facing a sixth refinement expert, he can remain calm and successfully release poison several times without leaving any traces.¡± Qin Huai was very sincere. Hu Jinghai was indeed very talented. There was hope for him to inherit his master¡¯s and his legacy on the poison path. ¡°Oh? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Hu Jingshan was surprised. If he had such an achievement, he would definitely brag about it to him. Soon, Hu Jingshan¡¯s expression changed. The sixth refinement in Pingnan City, unless the target of the poison was her father¡­ Ah, no, he shouldn¡¯t lose his temper here¡­ ¡°Hu¡­¡± Hu Jingshan adjusted his state of mind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandmaster Qin. I just defeated your senior brother.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°Don¡¯t you still have to fight me?¡± The fourth refinement of the long breath technique was indeed weak. His senior brother¡¯s defeat was also within his expectations. Wuwuwuwuwu¡­ The expressions of the three of them immediately turned serious. They looked at the source of the sound and saw Reihom walking toward the three of them with bare arms. ¡°Who¡¯s first? Or all together?¡± Reihom didn¡¯t hold back at all in front of the three. His words were sharp. ¡°I¡¯ve already admitted defeat. I¡¯m just a spectator.¡± Xing Bufan was the first to wave his hand. He even deliberately hung the waist token on the treetop behind him on the most prominent branch to show his determination. ¡­ ¡°What is that brat Xing Bufan doing?! How would you know if you don¡¯t try?¡± On the tiger head slope, the Three Tassels Spear Dojo¡¯s master was hopping mad with a telescope in his hand. ¡°Hahaha¡­ After all, Bufan is still young. Even if we miss this year, there¡¯s still next year. There¡¯s still a lot of time ahead,¡± Qing Yunhe said with a kind expression. He didn¡¯t feel much about his disciple, He Liu, losing to Reihom. Bao Ziyan and the White Wave Fist Dojo¡¯s master¡¯s expressions didn¡¯t change. These old men knew all too well just how powerful Reihom was. The dojo masters on top of the slope were all focused. They also wanted to know who would be the champion of the grand martial competition. Who was the true number one of the younger generation in Pingnan City? ¡­ At the center of the battlefield, Reihom¡¯s gaze slowly turned to Qin Huai and Hu Jingshan. ¡°Grandmaster Qin, you¡¯re not good at direct confrontation. Let me do it,¡± Hu Jingshan said tactfully. Reihom glanced at Qin Huai. ¡°I hope you can give me a surprise later.¡± There was no hostility between the two of them. They just took a step forward. It was tit for tat. ¡°Brother Qin, the two of them are clearly looking down on you.¡± Xing Bufan smacked his lips at the side. Qin Huai remained unmoved. ¡°Your level of instigating is not even as good as your death calculation.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll go back and learn. However, the two of them really look down on you,¡± Xing Bufan said solemnly. ¡°I know.¡± Qin Huai still did not show any emotion. If he could just sit back and reap the benefits, he would not have any objections. As long as he could get first place in the grand martial competition, Qin Huai himself didn¡¯t care about the gold content or the noise that didn¡¯t live up to its name. But¡­ Qin Huai was indeed looking forward to seeing the strength of these two proud geniuses of Pingnan. Hu! The two people on the battlefield only looked at each other. The next moment, they attacked straight away. Reihom¡¯s fists met his opponent¡¯s, and his punches exploded like lightning. The dancing snowflakes melted the moment they approached the fist. They whistled with a strong wind and pressed forward. Chapter 118 - 118 Raging Thunder! 118 Raging Thunder! Hu Jingshan¡¯s expression did not change as he pointed the iron fan in his hand forward like a dragonfly touching the water. However, Qin Huai, who was outside the arena, could keenly see that Hu Jingshan¡¯s skin had turned red for a moment. He used boiling blood and cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. Bang! Bang! The fist and the iron fan collided. A burst of energy instantly exploded from the two of them. Five inches below his feet, the frozen earth reappeared. The pause was only for a moment. His fists and iron fan instantly turned into afterimages, accurately smashing toward the other party¡¯s vital points. The two of them didn¡¯t retreat at all and even closed in on each other step by step. The distance of more than two meters between the two men was suddenly lost by their fists. An inch shorter, an inch more dangerous! The attacks of the two of them became more and more sinister and vicious. ¡°Iron fan, vicious wolf!¡± The iron fan in Hu Jingshan¡¯s hand suddenly opened. The fan paper was also an unknown iron sheet, revealing a sharp and cold glint. His whole person was like a hungry wolf¡¯s claws, ¡®biting¡¯ toward Reihom¡¯s neck artery. Reihom¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his body suddenly fell backward. He touched his back with his right hand, and in an instant, the spear spun in a semi-circle in the air, smashing toward Hu Jingshan¡¯s head from the side. ¡°Rumbling thunder, lightning whip!¡± Hu~~ There was an explosion in the air. The two plowed several meters into the snow. They were equally matched and both have such strong vitality. ¡°I feel like I can¡¯t even take one punch if I want to fight.¡± Xing Bufan curled up under the tree, his eyes filled with shock. There was also envy and longing, only he was not afraid. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re going to get a big advantage this time. According to my calculations, this Hu Jingshan definitely has the power to fight Reihom. When the time comes, both of them will suffer. Even if you don¡¯t have a weapon like poison, you¡¯ll still have a chance to pick the peach and get first place~¡± Xing Bufan said. ¡°Isn¡¯t your tag still hanging on the tree, and no one took it away? Who knows, maybe you and I will be the ones fighting in the end?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the extremely obvious identity token hanging on his waist. ¡°A man¡¯s words are a nail in the coffin, and I¡¯ll never go back on my word!¡± Xing Bufan¡¯s voice resounded. This made Qin Huai look at him in a new light, and he suddenly tilted his head. He dodged a branch that had been broken. The two people in the arena had already exchanged dozens of moves. Sparks flew in all directions, and the sound of metal clashing each time was enough to make an ordinary person¡¯s whole body go numb. ¡°If we continue like this, we won¡¯t be able to determine the winner tomorrow. Use your true abilities.¡± Hu Jingshan swung the iron fan in his hand as he spoke in a calm voice. There wasn¡¯t even the slightest bit of heavy breathing. ¡°Hiss. You haven¡¯t even used your true abilities?¡± Xing Bufan started to bite his nails. ¡°Luckily, I admitted defeat in advance¡­¡± ¡°Brother Xing, can you not be so surprised?¡± Hu Jingshan, who was in the center of the battlefield, looked over with a bitter smile. ¡°You¡¯re gasping at the side, and then you¡¯re telling the story. I¡¯m not used to this.¡± Xing Bufan immediately straightened his back like a student facing a teacher. ¡°Alright!¡± In the next instant, Hu Jingshan¡¯s expression changed, and his gaze turned sharp. ¡°Roaring tiger fist!¡± Roar¡­ A low growl came from Hu Jingshan¡¯s mouth. That roar seemed to have magical power. He was the one and only dual-cultivation dharmic warrior among the younger generation of Pingnan City. This required the cultivator to be extremely talented, and the two cultivation techniques had to be compatible. Otherwise, if the two cultivation techniques were in conflict, it was very likely that he would die from qi and blood exhaustion because of qi deviation during cultivation. Therefore, even for the few geniuses in the county, if they chose a dual cultivation technique, they would be very harsh. One had to consider the compatibility of the cultivation techniques as well as the potential of the cultivation techniques, and the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and roaring tiger fist happened to be the ones with the best compatibility. ¡°Everyone knows that a martial artist who practices multiple arts at the same time has stronger vitality. ¡°However, they don¡¯t know that if you cultivate two cultivation methods with good compatibility, there may be changes between the cultivation methods and new powers may be revealed. That¡¯s the real strength of a martial artist who has cultivated many techniques¡­¡± Hu Jingshan stared at Reihom in front of him, his eyes filled with anticipation. He didn¡¯t show off his abilities, only because he hadn¡¯t met his match. And clearly, Reihom was that opponent. Reihom, on the other hand, suddenly began to hammer his chest. Every beat was like a heavy drum. Bang! Bang! The rumbling of the drums caused their ears to be filled with faint echoes. Bang! Bang! The sound of the heavy hammer became more and more obvious, causing Qin Huai to narrow his eyes slightly. What was this move? Suddenly, two experience orbs dropped from Hu Jingshan¡¯s body. ¡°Ding! You¡¯ve collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Green)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +124!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Roaring Tiger Fist Essence (Dark Blue) ], [Roaring Tiger Fist] Experience +1155!¡± A gray experience orb also fell from Reihom¡¯s body. With a thought, the experience ball instantly rushed over and merged into Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Ding! You¡¯ve collected a [Rumbling Thunder Forbidden Skill (Gray)] and received [Rumbling Thunder Forbidden Skill, Raging Thunder]!¡± The forbidden technique of rumbling thunder? Raging thunder? A hint of doubt flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s mind, and a large number of memories immediately rushed into his mind. In his ¡®memory¡¯, Qin Huai had penetrated his own body through the rumbling thunder skill. He knocked on the purple lightning ball in his dantian, and the electric ball began to shake and finally fell apart under his control. The next moment, it transformed into streams of electric current that instantly filled his body. Then, when he swung his fists, kicked his legs, or even when he was being beaten, there would be extremely terrifying electric shock, greatly increasing the power of his punches. Bang! Bang! Another heavy drum was struck. Chapter 119 - 119 An Accident! Destructive Fist! 119 An Accident! Destructive Fist! Reihom¡¯s skin had become slightly darker, and his eyes even started to turn slightly purple. The angry tiger roar in the arena made Xing Bufan, who was not far away, feel the blood and qi in his body stiffen and tremble. ¡°Big Brother Qin, I felt that my qi and blood had stopped flowing just now.¡± Xing Bufan hugged himself. Qin Huai was expressionless. His current cultivation level was much higher, so it had no reaction to the tiger¡¯s roar that could affect qi and blood. BOOM! The two men on his left and right instantly charged at each other. On one side, the tiger¡¯s roar was as loud as a landslide, while on the other side, it was as calm as water. There was no reaction. The brilliant sparks became more and more dazzling, appearing extremely abrupt in the pure white world. The terrifying destructive power seemed to make the weapons in their hands let out a wail. In an instant, more than ten moves collided under the sparks. Bang! Bang! A crisp sound was heard, and the iron fan in Hu Jingshan¡¯s hand broke. The next moment, the deadly spear was like a hungry wolf, piercing straight for Hu Jingshan¡¯s vital point. However, Hu Jingshan was not flustered in the face of danger. His body twisted in a position that was almost impossible for a human body as he watched the spear brush past his chest. Stab¡­ But his body still couldn¡¯t help but tremble, and his feet went numb. The decline had appeared! Fresh blood flowed down his back and formed a line, dripping onto the snow. Reihom was just about to end this battle when his pupils suddenly shrank. The long spear in his hand swept horizontally! Under the snow, a huge creature broke out of the ground! Clang! Terrifying sparks bloomed beside him. The huge shadow completely covered the two people who were fighting. Hu! The huge black-skinned rat demon raised its front, its fat body full of terrifying strength. Its sharp claws instantly sent Reihom flying. At the last moment, Hu Jingshan was kicked by Reihom and flew out of the rat demon¡¯s attack range. ¡°A fifth refinement great demon!¡± Xing Bufan exclaimed. ¡°You two, leave quickly! Leave this to me.¡± Hu Jingshan got to his feet, his expression cold. ¡°You¡¯ll only be a burden.¡± Reihom¡¯s words were concise and comprehensive, and he had no intention of retreating. The two of them stood in front of Qin Huai and Xing Bufan in unison. ¡°This guy is not an ordinary fifth refinement. Compared to the one I killed before, it¡¯s stronger. It should be close to the sixth refinement.¡± Reihom glanced at his own trembling hands, but his voice was calm. The actions of the two of them caused a ripple to appear in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. It was no surprise that Hu Jingshan would stand in his way. After all, he was the eldest young master of the city lord¡¯s mansion. His ability to see the big picture and his courage were unparalleled among the younger generation in Pingnan. On the other hand, Reihom¡¯s and Reihom¡¯s families were mortal enemies. When he had stepped forward, he had not hesitated at all. These two were interesting. ¡°Are you kidding me? We¡¯re all geniuses on the eighth martial roll. We¡¯re going to fight together!¡± Xing Bufan gritted his teeth with a fierce look. ¡°With the four of us together, we can drag on for a few dozen breaths before Master and the others arrive.¡± He spoke ruthlessly, but when he looked at the fierce fifth refinement great demon, he was dumbfounded. His legs were trembling as well. While they were talking, Reihom and Hu Jingshan were already engaged in a fierce battle with the rat demon, or rather, they were struggling to hold on. ¡°Besides, the two of you just had a great battle and are not at your peak. How can you possibly block it?¡± Xing Bufan was still talking, as if he was trying to find the courage to make a move. He was still too young and was afraid of extremely powerful opponents. ¡°What other special skills do you two have?¡± Qin Huai looked at the two people who were fighting. They seemed to be holding back a little. Reihom¡¯s body was already covered in wounds and blood. However, his expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°When I was training, I comprehended control force. It¡¯s really powerful, even if it¡¯s just a bit, so it can heavily injure this guy.¡± Nearby, Hu Jingshan¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°Control force? Are you kidding me? That¡¯s something that can only be comprehended when you¡¯ve entered the bone rune realm. It¡¯s the symbol of a bone rune realm expert, and you¡¯re only at the fourth refinement!¡± Hu Jingshan¡¯s expression, which had not changed even when he was on the verge of death, was now violently shaken. ¡°If you use this, it¡¯s hard to say if you can regrow it in the blood refinement realm. It needs a lot of qi.¡± Boom¡­ Reihom was once again sent flying, and his left arm had a large gash, forcing him to switch to using the spear with one hand. ¡°Compared to your ridiculous talent, I¡¯m only using my qi and blood as a formation. I¡¯m only using the four-sided tiger-wolf formation alone¡­ A single person using the four-directional tiger-wolf array?¡± Xing Bufan was listening to the two of them. He was confused and shocked. The trump cards that these two fellows had revealed had already exceeded his knowledge. ¡°If you do this, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be greatly injured, right?¡± Hu Jingshan laughed bitterly. ¡°Perhaps my path of martial arts will end here.¡± He was thrown out again. The area within a ten-meter radius around their feet had been completely dyed red by their blood. ¡°I¡­¡± Xing Bufan finally gathered his courage and was about to take that step. But his shoulder was grabbed by a large hand. ¡°Since your killing moves are so deadly, then let me do it.¡± Qin Huai patted Xing Bufan¡¯s shoulder. He realized that these guys seemed to be very different from Cai Jiulou, Hong San, and Li Bowu, whom he had met earlier. Reihom said in a low voice, ¡°You hold him off for three breaths. I¡¯ll charge up!¡± ¡°You? Brother Qin, can your poison take down a sixth refinement?¡± Hu Jingshan laughed bitterly. He had already begun to force his qi and blood to flow as he drew talismans on his body. ¡°My poison can¡¯t take down a sixth refinement, but my fist has some strength.¡± Before Qin Huai could finish his sentence, he had already run out. The fifth refinement rat demon looked at Qin Huai, who was running toward him, and a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes. Its entire demon body was sprawled on the ground, and its claws, as thick as Qin Huai¡¯s, stabbed straight at him. ¡°Hu¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was cold. The purple-white light spots instantly gathered on the tip of his fist. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± BOOM! A violent force exploded in front of Qin Huai. The hard claw was instantly sent flying, and the flesh at the joint could not resist it. In the terrifying explosion, it turned into minced meat that danced in the sky. Qin Huai¡¯s momentum was not stopped at all. This punch was thrown out, and his body was sent flying a meter. Along the way, the blood and bones were all shattered. The contempt in the eyes of the fifth refinement rat demon had yet to fade. It had already been completely occupied by Qin Huai¡¯s body. The tiny fist was raised again, and the danger of death immediately made the rat demon¡¯s pupils shrink into needle holes. It roared and opened its mouth, trying to swallow Qin Huai with its sharp teeth. But in the next moment¡­ His teeth were also instantly broken. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Bang! Bang! A cloud of blood mist instantly exploded, completely submerging Qin Huai, who had rushed into the refined rat¡¯s head. From the beginning to the end, Qin Huai had only thrown two punches. It was as easy as crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood! And behind him¡­ The three geniuses, who were ready to fight to the death, were stunned. For a moment, they were at a loss. A great demon that was at the fifth refinement and was close to the sixth refinement died just like that? Chapter 120 - 120 The Shock of the Eight Dojo Masters! 120 The Shock of the Eight Dojo Masters! The blood mist that filled the sky instantly drenched Qin Huai¡¯s body. He walked out from the pile of minced meat, looking like a drenched chicken in a sorry state. However, in the eyes of Xing Bufan and the other two behind him, Qin Huai was just like how they were in other people¡¯s eyes. He was like a monster¡­ Xing Bufan couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva. Hu Jingshan stopped drawing blood talismans on his body and smiled bitterly. ¡®To think that I thought only Reihom and I had the right to fight for the first place.¡¯ ¡°B-Brother Qin¡­ Is your strength that abnormal?¡± Xing Bufan was already stuttering a little. Was killing a fifth refinement great demon with two punches a young man could do? ¡°Was that the rising dragon?¡± Reihom frowned, and the strange power that had been on him disappeared. He had been dealing with Changshan Dojo for a long time and had fought with Qi Yangbing several times. However, the difference between Qi Yangbing¡¯s rising dragon and Qin Huai¡¯s was like heaven and earth. Reihom had seen it with his own eyes and knew very well how terrifying that punch had been. Even if he were to use that bit of energy, he would definitely not be Qin Huai¡¯s match. For the first time since his rise to power, Reihom¡¯s heart was filled with waves. In front of him, it was as if for the first time, he had an extra back that he had to chase after. ¡°I guess so.¡± Qin Huai moved his wrists. This great demon was indeed not an ordinary fifth refinement. ¡°You¡¯re really interesting¡­¡± Reihom looked at Qin Huai and muttered to himself. ¡°Right now, I¡¯m not your match.¡± Reihom¡¯s face was expressionless as he crushed the token on his waist. ¡°Master Qin¡­ If you had this sort of technique, you could¡¯ve used it earlier, and I wouldn¡¯t have fought Reihom here to the death.¡± Hu Jingshan shook his head and also took off his waist tag. He was certain that one punch was all it would take to separate him from his father. Not to mention, Qin Huai had thrown two punches in a row, and he seemed to be at ease. Xing Bufan, who was not far away, looked at the three people who were standing in a row in front of him with a dull gaze. He looked at Hu Jingshan and shook his head, then looked at Reihom and shook his head as well. After that, he glanced at Qin Huai and quickly lowered his head to look at his hands. ¡°Hahaha! The four of us are so strong.¡± Xing Bufan raised his head and forced a smile. Stab¡­ One by one, the heads of the dojos also arrived. Hu Guanpan and a few others stepped forward and examined the body of the five-refined great demon. ¡°A fifth refinement great demon¡­ It looks like it¡¯s much bigger than the average fifth refinement. He¡¯s about to reach the sixth refinement.¡± Bai Bashan could tell the realm of the demon with a single glance. The strength of these demons was usually proportional to their realm. With more experience, one could roughly estimate their size. ¡°However, the way this great demon died¡­¡± Hu Guanpan looked at the ghastly minced meat on the ground. What kind of technique did he use in just a few dozen breaths? How could he let this fifth refinement great demon die so miserably? ¡°The four of you did pretty well. You were actually able to kill this beast that was at the sixth refinement. You¡¯re indeed the elites of Pingnan.¡± Hu Guanpan was very happy. The Three Tassels Spear Dojo¡¯s master laughed out loud and patted Xing Bufan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re not bad. This old man wanted to beat you up when I saw you hanging the sign. However, on the account that you killed this great demon, I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ll be too late. You don¡¯t have to suffer today¡¯s punishment!¡± ¡°Master¡­ This¡­ The death of this monster has nothing to do with me.¡± Xing Bufan was very honest. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that there is no blood on my body?¡± The expression of his master froze, and the smile on his face stopped abruptly. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Bao Ziyan laughed heartily. ¡°Old Zhang, don¡¯t say it too early~ Anyone with eyes can see that this big demon is the work of these three young people. When Reihom returned yesterday, didn¡¯t he bring the corpse of a fifth refinement great demon? In today¡¯s battle, this kid has definitely contributed more than half of the kills.¡± Bao Ziyan was very happy. His disciple had been eliminated early on, and now that Xing Bufan was missing, he was in a very good mood. ¡°This demon has nothing to do with me,¡± Reihom said. The originally relaxed atmosphere instantly froze. Hu Guanpan¡¯s eyes flickered slightly as he looked at his eldest son. ¡°Shan¡­¡± ¡°It was Grandmaster Qin who killed it.¡± Hu Jingshan laughed bitterly and interrupted his father¡¯s hopeful gaze just in time. ¡°What?¡± Bao Ziyan, Qing Yunhe, and the others immediately exclaimed. Their eyes were filled with disbelief. ¡°He, Qin Huai, did it all by himself? On what basis?¡± The faces of the heads were filled with disbelief. Even Sun Yuanshan, who was standing aside, was shocked. But it was gone in a flash. His expression became calm as he stood in front of Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, my disciple will definitely be the champion of this grand martial competition.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s heart was far from as calm as what was written on his face. The long-lost surge of emotions made the eighty-year-old man¡¯s face glow. He did not expect that Qin Huai had actually done it, not to mention in such a surprising way. He had already seen that the tokens on Reihom and Hu Jingshan¡¯s waists had all disappeared. It proved that not only was the fifth refinement great demon killed by Qin Huai, but the first place of the grand martial competition had also been successfully taken by him. But the atmosphere seemed to have frozen at this moment. Bao Ziyan and the others looked at Qin Huai with killing intent in their eyes. Qin Huai remained silent. The purple-white light spot was already under his fist. He didn¡¯t dare to say that he could kill all seven of them. However, whoever went up first would die without a doubt! ¡°Everyone, this demon who appeared is definitely not simple.¡± Hu Guanpan stood up and changed the topic. ¡°A fifth refinement great demon sneaked in without a sound. There must be a demon controlling it from behind.¡± Chapter 121 - 121 Giving the Rewards 121 Giving the Rewards ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the situation in Fenshan City is more serious than what my intelligence says.¡± At the mention of this, the dojo masters finally came back to their senses. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this when we return to the city!¡± The dojo masters did not stay any longer. Except for those disciples who had been eliminated, they rushed to Pingnan City without stopping. There was no room for delay in the matters of demons. ¡°You little brat. You little brat¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan, Qin Huai, and the others were walking at the back. The eighty-year-old man was grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Tell me the truth, how strong are you now? It can¡¯t be that you¡¯re willing to exchange one for one with this old man, right?¡± Sun Yuanshan stroked his beard and sneered. ¡°Isn¡¯t Master invincible in the sixth refinement? How can I be your match?¡± Qin Huai also joked. Now, as he had promised, he had won first place for the dojo, so he was in a good mood. ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯m invincible at the sixth refinement, but you haven¡¯t, have you? What if you cross the border?¡± Sun Yuanshan was worried that Qin Huai would cross the border to kill him. He didn¡¯t have any grudges in his heart. Instead, he was looking forward to it. It would be best if this disciple could crush him with one hand. If that happens, he would laugh even more happily. Fang Han was both happy and depressed. It was a big blow. Qi Yangbing, on the other hand, still had that warm smile on his face. ¡°Just as I¡¯ve expected, Junior Brother¡¯s talent is on par with Reihom¡¯s.¡± ¡­ ¡°Master, I broke my promise.¡± Beside Bai Bashan, Reihom spoke slowly. ¡°It¡¯s fine, as long as you¡¯re here. It¡¯s just a temporary failure. With your talent, you¡¯re destined to not only stay in this small city in the future, but go even beyond Lingjiang¡­¡± Bai Bashan patted Reihom¡¯s shoulder. Ever since Bai Yusheng¡¯s death, his voice had become more gentle. ¡°I¡¯m not capable. I¡¯ve been trapped in this small city for my entire life. I¡¯ve never seen the Great You capital. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you. In the future, bring back a pot of wine from the capital for your master and let the name of the rumbling thunder skill shock the ears of those influential people in the capital.¡± Reihom didn¡¯t say anything this time. He just quietly listened, remembering it in his heart. ¡­ The group quickly entered the city, then gathered in the city lord¡¯s mansion. Hu Guanpan, the masters of the eight dojos, in addition to Qin Huai, Reihom, and Hu Jingshan, the true top elites of Pingnan, were all gathered together. ¡°The most important thing today is to choose the locations of each dojo.¡± Hu Guanpan raised his head and looked at Sun Yuanshan. Sun Yuanshan stroked his beard and looked at Qin Huai, who was beside him. ¡°Kid, what do you think?¡± ¡°The entrance to Pine Peak!¡± Qin Huai blurted out. Sun Yuanshan nodded with relief. ¡°Huai¡¯er and I have the same thoughts.¡± ¡°Tsk, two poisonous embryos.¡± Bao Ziyan spat. As for how the other dojos would choose their seats, the seven dojos had already discussed it several times in private. Everyone had the same thought about Sun Yuanshan¡¯s base. It¡¯s this free-of-danger entrance of Pine Peak. This was because there was a resonance at the mouth of Pine Peak, called the air-supplying vent. If the demons came, they would definitely go against the wind. Moreover, there were many thistles and thorns here. Although they were not poisonous, they were extremely sharp and could cut through the skin. It was the most suitable for the two poison kings of Pingnan. The land selection was progressing smoothly. The three thousand iron-armored soldiers of the city lord¡¯s mansion guarded Pingnan avenue, while the remaining seven dojos were stationed at the positions that had been previously discussed. So, all in all, it was very harmonious. ¡°Next, I will give a prize to the winner of the grand martial arts competition, Qin Huai, a disciple of the Changshan Dojo.¡± Hu Guanpan chuckled as he picked up the plates brought by the maidservants behind him. ¡°One emerald cloud pill from Emerald Cloud temple and one letter from the county governor.¡± Hu Guanpan carefully placed the box in Qin Huai¡¯s hands, a pained look flashing through his eyes. He had originally prepared these for his son. He wanted him to build momentum, establish prestige, and win over people¡¯s hearts. He didn¡¯t expect that all of it was for Qin Huai. But fortunately, the Changshan Dojo and the city lord¡¯s mansion were considered allies. He wouldn¡¯t want to give it to anyone from the other seven dojos. Hu Guanpan¡¯s mood was complicated as he handed the last pure iron token to Qin Huai. The carved word ¡°wolf¡± was filled with a murderous aura. The person who attacked must have an extraordinary realm. ¡°In the future, you will be the role model of the younger generation in Pingnan. You must be brave enough to be the first to kill demons! No matter where you go, don¡¯t weaken the momentum of us Pingnan people!¡± Hu Guanpan encouraged them, finally ending this reward ceremony. ¡°Everyone, with the sudden appearance of this fifth refinement great demon today, this is a situation that we will often face in the future.¡± Hu Guanpan looked at the crowd. ¡°No matter what grudges you have before, I hope you can put it all behind you this time. Let¡¯s cooperate with sincerity and get through this first!¡± He cupped his fists at the masters of the eight dojos. ¡°Since the city lord has spoken, I naturally have nothing to say.¡± ¡°Pingnan is our foundation. We will not abandon it unless we have no other choice.¡± Bao Ziyan chuckled. ¡°Me too,¡± Sun Yuanshan said as he cupped his hands. The dojo masters expressed their stance one by one, temporarily putting aside their grudges. Then, they all dispersed. Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan also bade farewell to the city lord. Just as they reached the Drunken Immortal restaurant, a young lady in green robes blocked their path and said, ¡°Young Master Qin, my family¡¯s young miss wishes to meet you.¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. This young lady in green robes had smooth skin, and her face was no less beautiful than the number one of the Drunken Immortal restaurant. Also, the fabric on her body came from Lingjiang, but she was actually a servant? What was her background? Chapter 122 - 122 Her Personal Request 122 Her Personal Request ¡°The top courtesan of Overflowing Fragrance, Miss Shaoxiang.¡± The green-robed girl looked at Qin Huai with her watery eyes, not even blinking. How did this fellow defeat Reihom? Did he use the poison that was passed down in their dojo? That didn¡¯t seem right. Two days ago, they had made a huge profit with the antidote pill, and all the elites participating in the grand martial competition had eaten their antidote pill. ¡°Alright, Young Master, please follow me¡­ Hmm?¡± The green-robed girl¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of doubt. ¡°My young lady is¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not very interested in women now,¡± Qin Huai said concisely. He had to go back and prepare his foundation to deal with the incoming wave of demons. If they could prepare more poison, Changshan Dojo would have fewer casualties in the future. If they were lucky, he could directly advance to the sixth refinement in the wave of demons. At that time, he would truly be able to advance and retreat freely, standing in an undefeatable position. As for women, how much experience would he gain? ¡°Cough, cough ¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan whispered into Qin Huai¡¯s ear, ¡°Huai¡¯er, I think it¡¯s better for you to meet that Miss Shaoxiang.¡± Qin Huai looked at Sun Yuanshan in surprise. ¡°This Miss Shaoxiang is related to the Li family of Lingjiang county.¡± Sun Yuanshan explained patiently, ¡°The Li family is one of the two big families in the Nine Dragons sect in Lingjiang county. ¡°Nine Dragons sect? Could it be¡­¡± Qin Huai suddenly thought of something. Sun Yuanshan nodded. ¡°Then lead the way, miss.¡± Qin Huai smiled. ¡°This way, Young Master!¡± The green-robed young lady bowed slightly and brought Qin Huai into Overflowing Fragrance restaurant. As soon as he entered the restaurant, a strong fragrance rushed into Qin Huai¡¯s nose. The strong stimulation caused his qi and blood to churn for a moment. There was an aphrodisiac in the air! ¡°Overflowing Fragrance restaurant is doing good business. Is this considered a forced sale?¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. No wonder business was so good. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to use aphrodisiacs directly to keep these guests who were seeking pleasure firmly tied down? ¡°Young Master, you are wrong. We are doing this for the dignity of our guests. Think about it, if some customers can¡¯t take it after a few hits, the girls in our building will be sad, and the customers will be embarrassed, right?¡± ¡°Good speech.¡± Qin Huai nodded. This bit of aphrodisiac was naturally of no use to him. If he couldn¡¯t get rid of a little aphrodisiac, how could he tell others that he was Sun Yuanshan¡¯s disciple in the future? ¡°Miss! Is Miss Shaoxiang free now? I¡¯ve waited for three hours¡­¡± Cai Jiulou said as he approached. His clothes were intact, and there was not a single trace of preposterous marks on his body. He was like a scholar and a monk who had entered this place by mistake, spotless. He had entered the mortal world for one person. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Young Master Cai. The person the young lady is waiting for has arrived. She won¡¯t see you today, no, she won¡¯t see you in the future.¡± She bowed slightly toward Cai Jiulou. The latter¡¯s face instantly turned the color of a pig¡¯s liver. ¡°Who is he?!¡± He was about to make a move when he saw Qin Huai¡¯s face. He instantly woke up. Hu! He flicked his sleeves and left quickly. ¡°It¡¯s just a woman. Why do you have to do this?¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help shaking his head. The two of them, one in front and one behind, quickly ascended to the third floor. Qin Huai walked into the dreamland that was covered in red muslin and filled with haziness. The door behind him was also quietly closed by the maid. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of Reihom taking the top spot, and I¡¯ve also thought of Hu Jingshan, who appeared out of nowhere, suppressing everyone. I have even thought of that carefree young man, Xing Bufan¡­ But I never thought that it would be Young Master Qin.¡± Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s voice rang out. It was so soft that it gave him goosebumps. ¡°In order to prevent Young Master Qin from having the chance to stir up trouble, I even specially sold that batch of antidotes at a low price. But I didn¡¯t expect¡­ In the end, it¡¯s still you.¡± A slender and hazy figure quietly appeared from behind the red veil. Rustle¡­ The young woman lifted the bead curtain, only revealing a pair of eyes that were shimmering with light. She covered half of her face with her lute, and she was dressed in a red dress and looked as beautiful as a bride. What made people¡¯s hearts surge the most was the pair of extremely slender and beautiful legs under the red dress. It was breathtaking. She looked at Qin Huai, her heart wavering. She had deliberately set up a roadblock, but Qin Huai still managed to beat Reihom and Hu Jingshan to become number one. There was no doubt that this person was the one who could change the fate of the Li family, as the Taoist priest of the green cloud temple had said. ¡°Young Master Qin, how much do you know about the long breath technique?¡± Miss Shaoxiang walked in front of Qin Huai. She crossed her legs and sat in front of him. ¡°Just say it.¡± Qin Huai looked down at the woman in front of him. ¡°Great You is vast and densely populated, with tens of thousands of living beings and tens of thousands of forces of all sizes. However, one of the strongest sects is the True Path sect. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect is the branch of Daoist school in Lingjiang. This sect cultivates the top technique of the Daoist school, the nine dragons true qi technique, and its blood refinement section is called the long breath technique.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes finally rippled. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to be too surprised. All the sects in this world, big and small, are inextricably linked. But none of the other seven dojos in Pingnan City and the superior sects in Lingjiang can compare to the True Path sect. ¡°It¡¯s a common method used by major sects to select disciples and develop their forces. The founder of the Changshan Dojo is the representative of the Daoist school in Pingnan City.¡± Miss Shaoxiang looked at Qin Huai. ¡°In other words, if Young Master Qin wants to continue to cultivate and go one step further¡­ Then the best choice would be the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Of course, there are also many martial artists who change their allegiance midway. I¡¯ll choose a martial arts school that is compatible with my martial arts and can be replaced in order. But without a doubt, the Nine Dragons sect is the most suitable for Young Master Qin. ¡°After all, you have one more white dragon than the others, right? Even in the Nine Dragons sect, this is something that has never happened before.¡± Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s words were filled with an indescribable charm. Qin Huai just looked at the woman. She had given him a lot of information. He had not expected the long breath technique to be a Daoist cultivation technique. However, it made sense when he thought about it. After all, the technique was both offensive and defensive, and it could also prolong one¡¯s life. It didn¡¯t look like something that a nameless countryside cultivator could have created. The creator of this was definitely a powerful being. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why did Miss Shaoxiang personally ask to meet me?¡± Qin Huai stared into the woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want to meet Young Master Qin because I have a personal request.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Be my Li family¡¯s live-in son-in-law.¡± Chapter 123 - 123 Herbs for Killing Enemies 123 Herbs for Killing Enemies ¡°Live-in son-in-law?¡± Despite the question, Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Why me? It can¡¯t be as simple as Miss Shaoxiang seeing me get first place in the grand martial competition, right? Lingjiang county is filled with outstanding talents. There should be some who are not inferior to me.¡± Since he knew that the long breath technique was the blood refining section of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s nine dragons true ai technique, the Nine Dragons sect would definitely be his next target if nothing unexpected happened. The many advantages of the long breath technique, whether it was the forbidden technique that provided Qin Huai with the power to cross realms and kill enemies, were all very useful. It was still the good compatibility of the cultivation technique itself that could produce changes with many other cultivation techniques. All of these made Qin Huai very fond of the long breath technique. And the most important point was, although he didn¡¯t need to care about the impact of a secondary cultivation method on breaking through the realm and having a damaged qi and blood, re-cultivating a new method would still take up a lot of Qin Huai¡¯s time. Once the progress was slowed down, many things that could have been easily solved would become extremely troublesome. Especially in this turbulent world, no one knew what would happen the next day. Therefore, it was inevitable for Qin Huai to have dealings with the people of the Nine Dragons sect. Furthermore, his master had mentioned that Miss Shaoxiang was from the Li family, one of the two families of the Nine Dragons sect. That was why Qin Huai had to be patient. He wanted to see what the other party¡¯s intentions were. ¡°I believe in fate. That day, a fortune-teller told me that you were the ideal husband in my life.¡± Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s tone was somewhat melancholic. ¡°If I refuse, Miss Shaoxiang wouldn¡¯t use the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s power to secretly obstruct me, right?¡± Qin Huai smiled. He couldn¡¯t find any useful information from these few words. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. A little girl like me is very narrow-minded¡­ I¡¯m just joking. If Young Master Qin is not willing, then forget it.¡± Shaoxiang smiled charmingly. ¡°It¡¯s just that Young Master Qin¡¯s straightforward rejection made me feel a little uncomfortable. Does Young Master think that Shaoxiang is not beautiful enough?¡± ¡°No one can match Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s beauty. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m currently focused on martial arts and don¡¯t want to talk about love.¡± Qin Huai shirked again. He couldn¡¯t understand why this Miss Shaoxiang had chosen him and what she was plotting against him. He would be the son-in-law of the Li family of the Nine Dragons sect. Background, women, power¡­ Everything was available. Of course, it sounded like a good thing with no harm, but there was no free lunch in the world. Such a good thing was bound to come with unimaginable risks. That was why Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare to agree easily. ¡°Qing¡¯er,¡± Miss Shaoxiang called out softly. Outside the door, Miss Qingshui, dressed in a green robe, came in with a red incense wood tray. There was also a white jade pill bottle on the tray. Miss Shaoxiang stood up and slowly walked forward to take the white jade pill bottle. ¡°This is a dragon raising pill especially refined by the Nine Dragons sect. It can condense the white dragon qi, and it¡¯s very beneficial for both offense and defense.¡± Without waiting for Qin Huai to speak, Miss Shaoxiang continued, ¡°Just treat it as my congratulatory and meeting gift to Young Master Qin. Young Master Qin can¡¯t possibly be unwilling to befriend Shaoxiang, right?¡± Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes were full of affection as they moved. Qin Huai hurriedly cupped his fists. ¡°Then I¡¯ll shamelessly accept it! If Miss Shaoxiang needs my help in the future, I will definitely do my best.¡± After Qin Huai left, only then did Qing¡¯er walk to Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s side with small, quick steps. ¡°Miss, does this mean he has agreed? ¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t.¡± Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes were calm as she looked out the window at the figure that was leaving. ¡°What? Is he even a man? Even Qing¡¯er would love to marry a woman like Young Miss.¡± Miss Qingshui pouted indignantly. ¡°Some men in this world are like this.¡± Shaoxiang¡¯s lips curled into a smile, but she no longer had her previous charm. ¡°I¡¯m starting to believe it now. This person might really be the person that the Daoist mentioned.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Miss Qingshui¡¯s eyes were filled with doubt. ¡°The twists and turns are fate,¡± Shaoxiang muttered to herself. ¡°Qin Huai already has the intention to enter the Nine Dragons sect, so there will be many more opportunities in the future.¡± ¡­ As soon as Qin Huai left the city, he saw the mighty black-armored army outside the city gate. They raised a black flag with the word ¡°wolf¡± embroidered on it, swaying in the wind and snow. ¡°Greetings, General Qin!¡± The leader dismounted from his horse and quickly walked to Qin Huai. It was a familiar face. He¡¯s the commander of the city lord¡¯s mansion, Sun Tong. He was once the temporary commander of the tiger battalion and was stationed at the Changshan Dojo on White Flow Mountain, protecting Hu Jinghai. ¡°If Commander Sun is here, then what about the tiger battalion at the foot of the mountain?¡± ¡°The tiger battalion is still at the foot of the mountain. The city lord has considered that I am familiar with you, so he has let me temporarily represent the wolf battalion. They¡¯re all my old subordinates¡­¡± Sun Tong¡¯s position as the city lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s commander was something he had climbed up step by step from the army. Among the three thousand soldiers, he was one of the most experienced. ¡°Then let¡¯s station our troops at the foot of the mountain.¡± Qin Huai pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Take the wolf battalion with you every day and walk fifty miles west. At the foot of Yazi mountain, there are many tiger skin grass and chili vines, which are all superior medicinal herbs.¡± This was something he had discovered when he was traveling for the past two months. He also found two wild herb fields in that mountain. However, it was a little far away, so he didn¡¯t tell him. ¡°Go to Yazi mountain every day to pick herbs. Bring them back, and I¡¯ll teach you how to make some simple herbs.¡± ¡°Forgive this subordinate for being presumptuous, but what do you mean by superior medicinal herbs?¡± ¡°Naturally, they¡¯re the herbs for killing enemies.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was calm. ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll teach you some ways to release it against the enemy. It¡¯ll definitely be very effective on the battlefield.¡± Chapter 124 - 124 The Frenzied Master and Disciple! 124 The Frenzied Master and Disciple! ¡°Understood! Your subordinate obeys!¡± Sun Tong cupped his fists and led the three hundred wolf battalion soldiers to Yazi mountain without stopping. After they parted ways, Qin Huai returned to the dojo. After receiving a burst of cheers and adoration from his senior and junior brothers, he returned to his own small courtyard without stopping. ¡°Clear sky pill¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the elixir in his hand, which had the color of a tender shoot. It could offset half a qi and blood transformation, and it could also cleanse one¡¯s essence and improve one¡¯s cultivation aptitude. Qin Huai was filled with anticipation and impatiently popped the clear sky pill into his mouth. The moment it entered his mouth, Qin Huai¡¯s body felt like it was on fire. However, compared to the true blood qi transformation, the burning sensation was clearly gentler. The boiling of his qi and blood was not a distance away. However, Qin Huai¡¯s clothes were instantly drenched in sweat. But in contrast, Qin Huai¡¯s qi and blood were also rising rapidly at a visible rate. From the original 68.327, it soared to 73.327. Just as Hu Guanpan had said, his vitality instantly rose by five points. It could be called divine speed. Just as Qin Huai was about to get up, his legs suddenly gave way, and he fell back onto the bed. His whole body was in pain, and the pain in his bones made his scalp numb. His facial features twisted together. Cold sweat poured down like a waterfall, and in the blink of an eye, Qin Huai became a drenched chicken. ¡°Ah¡­¡± He clutched at the mattress and suppressed his urge to scream. Qin Huai only recovered after an hour. ¡°The so-called cleansing of the tendons and marrow is really not something that ordinary people can bear.¡± Qin Huai heaved a sigh of relief. He suddenly felt that the air he breathed in seemed to be much sweeter. ¡°Is this the world of geniuses? It¡¯s different from the feeling when ordinary people breathe?¡± Qin Huai hurriedly executed the long breath technique and completed a small circulation. His experience points had increased by one point. One had to know that during his second and third refinement, a small cycle would not even add a single point of experience. But now, he was at the fifth refinement, and the difficulty of entering this realm was tens of times harder than the second and third refinement. ¡°This clear sky pill is really a good thing.¡± Qin Huai sighed. It was a pity that he didn¡¯t feel any Dao luck. However, it was enough to improve his cultivation aptitude, not to mention that the five points of vitality increase were real. Qin Huai then took out the white jade pill bottle that Miss Shaoxiang had given him. As soon as he opened it, a strong pill fragrance came out. The pure white pills were the size of a thumb, and there were five of them in the bottle. Qin Huai took one and threw it into his mouth. He slowly closed his eyes and focused his mind on his dantian. After the pill entered his mouth, it seemed to have turned into qi and enveloped the six white dragons in his body. The white dragon, which had almost turned into a purple dragon, became more and more solid. Every time the white dragon became more solid, it meant that Qin Huai¡¯s long breath technique would become stronger, and the power of the forbidden technique would also increase. Seeing the effect, Qin Huai did not hesitate to eat the remaining five pills. A huge wave was set off in Qin Huai¡¯s dantian. The six white dragons were suddenly excited, and they danced wildly in the world in his dantian. As they danced, their bodies became more and more solid. ¡°Do the people from the Nine Dragons sect eat these every day?¡± Qin Huai sighed. With this dragon raising pill, the weakness of the early stage of the long breath technique could be easily compensated, and the later stages would be even more powerful. It was indeed worthy of being a sub-sect of the True Path sect¡­ Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. The grand martial competition had ended, and it seemed as if everything had quieted down. Everything had returned to silence, just like this harsh winter. Every day, Qin Huai began to collect experience from the drill ground and the mine for the long breath technique and the rumbling thunder skill. Going to the Changshan ancestral house to cultivate with his master, tinkering with the medicinal field was more effective in dealing with the demons, and the cost was lower to deal with the tide of demons that might come at any time. Other than that, he also gained the nurturing of the wolf battalion. Every day, Qin Huai would take two hours to teach the soldiers of the wolf battalion how to grind and formulate medicine. More importantly, he would teach them how to use the medicines in a big battle without accidentally injuring themselves and their comrades. The armored soldiers, coupled with poison, would definitely be able to maximize their combat power. Qin Huai¡¯s life seemed to have returned to normal. But the good times did not last long. It had only been a month since the end of the grand martial competition, and the urgent report from the scout had completely blown the peaceful Pingnan into pieces. ¡°There are about fifteen thousand demons coming straight for Pingnan.¡± When Hu Guanpan announced this news at the city lord¡¯s mansion, the eight dojo masters couldn¡¯t stay calm. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of forging a hammer? I¡¯ll take my disciple and run away first!¡± Bao Ziyan stood up and was about to leave. ¡°The previous intelligence said there were seven or eight thousand demons, so there was still a chance to fight. Now that the number of demons has doubled, wouldn¡¯t we be courting death if we continue to defend Pingnan?¡± the master of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo, Liu Zhong, said coldly. ¡°Although Pingnan is the foundation of our ancestral land, with the current situation¡­ I¡¯m afraid the only option is to flee.¡± Qing Yunhe wavered. The others looked at Hu Guanpan. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Hu Guanpan called out, stopping Bao Ziyan. ¡°There¡¯s still a chance. I¡¯ve already reported this to the Lingjiang county governor and Lord Zhang. The county is already gathering troops, and they will arrive in Pingnan in twenty days!¡± Hu Guanpan looked at the crowd and slowly sat down. He let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°When will the fifteen thousand demons arrive?¡± Bai Bashan said slowly. Hu Guanpan said in a deep voice, ¡°The troops of the monster race and demon race are at Gukou town. They will only reach Pingnan in seventeen days. In other words, we can wait for reinforcements in three days!¡± The dojo masters were all silent, weighing the gains and losses in their hearts. ¡°Everyone, if we escape to Lingjiang, we can live. However, Lingjiang is like a dragon or a snake occupying a tiger¡¯s territory. If outsiders like us enter, we will definitely be devoured and have no chance of turning things around.¡± Chapter 125 - 125 The Experience Balls That Filled His Vision! 125 The Experience Balls That Filled His Vision! ¡°The foundation of our ancestors for hundreds of years will definitely be destroyed. If we can hold on for three days, there¡¯s still hope,¡± Hu Guanpan said earnestly. ¡°What if the reinforcements are deliberately stalling for time and only come after we are all dead?¡± Sun Yuanshan said slowly. This was everyone¡¯s concern. Pingnan City was under Lingjiang¡¯s rule at any time, but the eight dojos in the city and even the city lord¡¯s mansion were not directly related to the county Governor. Now that Great You was in turmoil, all the leaders and heroes were eager to try. There was no guarantee that Lingjiang would intentionally exhaust the strength of the people from Pingnan or even destroy them in order to preserve their strength. Then¡­ Hu Guanpan¡¯s face revealed a smile. ¡°The general who came to the rescue is my brother who has been in the army with me for twenty years. Everyone can rest assured! After all, my life is in the hands of the reinforcements. This news can¡¯t be wrong.¡± When Sun Yuanshan and the others heard this, a touch of determination appeared on their faces. ¡°If the reinforcements can come, then it won¡¯t be a problem for us to hold the fort for three days!¡± In their hearts, they were still unwilling to leave Pingnan. Their homeland was deep and buried too many things in their lives. Moreover, the vast Lingjiang was destined not to have the shelter and status of these heads in Pingnan. ¡­ For a moment, the entire Pingnan City was jittery. Countless commoners got the news from God knows where, and they tried to use all kinds of connections to escape from the city. Qin Huai was also busy preparing in the dojo. All kinds of poisonous substances that were picked by the wolf battalion were made into poisonous substances and equipped on his body under his guidance. He even worked with Song Yinhe to modify the armor and added two more bags. It could quickly and smoothly release poison. ¡°Senior Brother Qin, Uncle and the others have arrived. They¡¯re at the mountain gate.¡± Sun Ziyao said after he knocked on Qin Huai¡¯s door. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai hurriedly walked out to meet his guests. When he arrived and saw them, he immediately said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to go to Lingjiang? Why are you still here?¡± Qin Huai looked at the three people who had already packed their luggage and was a little puzzled. He had asked his disciple, Hu Jinghai, to get a few clearance vouchers so that the Luo family could freely enter and leave Pingnan city. ¡°We can¡¯t help with the matter of killing the demons, but we still want to do our part.¡± When Luo Huatian said this, he felt a little guilty and regretful. ¡°I¡¯ve brought over all the armor and weapons that my family has forged over the past few months. They¡¯re the best! Distribute it to your martial brothers so that they have a better chance of survival during the battle.¡± Although they had wanted to move to Lingjiang for a long time, they had to leave at this critical moment. That was why Luo Huatian still felt a little apologetic. Qin Huai looked behind Luo Huatian. There were seven or eight carriages following them along the mountain road, which were filled with armor. ¡°Uncle is very considerate!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists at Luo Huatian. ¡°When are you going to Lingjiang?¡± Luo Ya could not help but ask. Ever since Qin Huai had won first place in the grand martial competition, she had completely hidden the love she had for him in her heart. A genius like him was destined to not be in Pingnan or even Lingjiang in the future. She would only be a burden if she followed her senior brother. If they were brother and sister, it would actually be good¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after we get through this.¡± Qin Huai sighed and didn¡¯t dare to speak of the time. ¡°But no matter what, I will definitely go to Lingjiang to find you. You guys go and settle down first. You can also help me explore the way¡­¡± Qin Huai forced a smile on his face. He didn¡¯t want the atmosphere to be too sad. ¡°Don¡¯t rush into the battlefield. I¡¯m not asking you to be a deserter, but you must pay attention to your own life¡­¡± Yu Xin pursed her lips, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m the champion of the grand martial competition.¡± Qin Huai revealed a smile. The family exchanged a few more words. Yu Xin stuffed some of the dumplings she made into Qin Huai¡¯s hands and then nagged him again. After that, everyone reluctantly parted ways. Qin Huai sighed, and his eyes became determined again. ¡°Ziyao, distribute these armors to your fellow disciples.¡± Even though they could only hold out for three days, this battle would definitely consume a huge amount of these resources. An extra set of armor would definitely save a lot of people from dying. Another few days passed. Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan joined forces and mobilized the disciples and apprentices of the tiger and wolf battalions, as well as the Changshan Dojo, to go to the wild herb fields where Qin Huai had once picked up the superior herbs. More than a thousand people were like a locust plague. Wherever they passed, not a single blade of grass grew. In the next few days, they had even turned the entire White Flow mountain from a mine into a mountain of medicine. The entire mountain was filled with the strong smell of medicine. The master and disciple exhausted their understanding of the foundation, each showing their magical powers and emptying their wisdom. In addition, they also asked the soldiers to look for rolling stones and wood. They even ordered people to boil some alchemy soup. On the day of the war, Hu Guanpan patrolled the road to Pingnan City guarded by the eight dojos. When he arrived at the entrance of the mountain, which was full of people from the Changshan Dojo, he was stunned. ¡°You guys have brought out the tactics that the city-guarding generals would use from the military book, right¡­¡± Hu Guanpan couldn¡¯t help sighing at the madness of this master and disciple in order to improve their offensive ability. ¡°Martial artists use everything!¡± Sun Yuanshan stroked his long beard and looked at the mountains in the distance. Finally, that day still came. The master and disciple stood at the mouth of the Pine Peak and pointed. Not far below their feet, they looked at the wave of demons that was as vast as the mountains and seas. The deafening roars could be heard clearly even from dozens of miles away. Whoosh! The wind howled, and a strong wind suddenly rose! ¡°The timing, location, people, and tools are all in place!¡± The master and disciple looked at each other and smiled, full of confidence. ¡°Release the poison!¡± ¡°Fire the hidden weapons!¡± Boom¡­ Rolling wood, stones, metal soup, and poisonous substances exploded like thunder, falling from the top of Pine Peak. From the perspective of the demons¡­ Above their heads, other than white, there was a myriad of colors that dazzled the demon¡¯s eyes. In an instant, countless demons were buried in the blood and sweat of the master and disciple. The most excited person was none other than Qin Huai. In his eyes, countless experience orbs fell, filling his field of vision. Qin Huai had never seen such a sight before. It made his qi and blood gush out uncontrollably! Chapter 126 - 126 A One 126 A One-man Kill That Crumbles the Magical Beast! The moment the Changshan Dojo¡¯s ¡®physical spell¡¯ poured down¡­ In an instant, dozens of demons were buried under the thick rolling wood and stones. But of course, it wasn¡¯t the rolling wood and stones that killed them. These two things were only used to cause wounds on the magical beasts. The fatal attacks were all dealt with by the metal soup and poison. The hard work of over a thousand people for more than ten days was vividly displayed in this instant. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 150!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.005!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Green)], and you can allocate experience points: 150!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.005!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 300!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.01!¡± ¡­ The demons below the twelfth refinement level fell to the ground. In Qin Huai¡¯s field of vision, one by one, the experience balls and qi and blood quickly merged into his body. After breaking through to the fifth refinement, the distance he could collect experience points had increased to an exaggerated range of 50 meters. Almost in an instant, Qin Huai had spent more than 3,000 experience points on the fifth refinement of the long breath technique. And this was after cutting half of his success. However, this was not enough. Some demons had died too far away. Wuwuwuwuwu¡­ Qin Huai stepped out of the trenches and headed downhill toward the entrance of Pine Peak. ¡°Master, I¡¯ll open the stage for my senior and junior brothers first.¡± Qin Huai had already walked out impatiently. After being chased for more than a month in the forest, he was very familiar with the fighting style of the magical beasts. The scene of being beaten up by a group of people was as unforgettable as returning home. Before Sun Yuanshan could speak, Qin Huai rushed out like an arrow. ¡°Senior Brother! What are you doing?¡± Sun Ziyao and the others behind him were shocked. Their legs were still trembling, and they could not even hold their knives steadily. Even though they had gotten used to seeing demons in the past two months, facing such an astonishing number of demons charging at them like a flood of steel made them tremble. This was the instinctive fear of power. But their senior brother was not afraid. His eyes were even shining with excitement and madness. ¡°Is this the difference between me and my junior brother, Master?¡± Qi Yangbing looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back and muttered with a complicated expression. ¡°Yangbing, don¡¯t think too much.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s words were a bit of a wet blanket. ¡°My legs were shaking when I saw the tide of demons. It¡¯s only because of this robe that I could cover it up. Otherwise, I would have lost all my face for so many years¡­¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s something wrong with this kid¡¯s brain.¡± Qi Yangbing heaved a sigh of relief and a faint smile appeared on his face. The demons below the second refinement fell, but the demons above the third refinement used their corpses to charge toward the top of Pine Peak. ¡°Let him try. You guys watch him.¡± Sun Yuanshan trusted Qin Huai very much. He knew that this disciple of his was very similar to him, and would never fight a battle that he was not confident in. Under everyone¡¯s attention¡­ Qin Huai faced the scattered demons above the third refinement that were climbing up. The cumbersome ox demon stomped on the ground, and its huge head just lowered. Before the sharp horns could pierce out, Qin Huai held them tightly. ¡°Rise!¡± Qin Huai let out a furious roar and pulled up the ox demon, which weighed hundreds of pounds. His muscles under the robe tightened. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes flashed with a red light. The violent power allowed him to grab the ox demon¡¯s horns and use them as a weapon. Hu! The strong wind whistled, fanning the poisonous fog. It was as if Qin Huai had entered some kind of domain. The poisonous mist continued to gather towards the enemy as Qin Huai attacked. The terrifying power combined with the invasion of the poisonous mist. Wherever the ox demon in Qin Huai¡¯s hands reached, it would be the death of demons. This kind of brutal fighting style stunned the people behind him. ¡°S-Senior Brother¡­ What kind of strange power is this?¡± Sun Ziyao was dumbfounded. Li Zhang and the others weren¡¯t any better off. They knew that Qin Huai was very strong, and they also knew that his cultivation level was definitely higher than theirs in a life-and-death battle. However, such an unreasonable way of fighting¡­ This was the first time they had seen it, and they were greatly shocked. ¡°Is this the power of the long breath technique?¡± Li Zhang was confused. ¡°Of course, the long breath technique is the most powerful cultivation method in Pingnan City. You¡¯re weak now only because your cultivation level is too low. Especially after the fourth refinement, each realm is a different sky!¡± Sun Yuanshan said with a calm look. ¡°Oh!¡± Li Zhang was immediately excited. He was only at the first refinement, and was full of expectations for his future realm. ¡°I must cultivate well and become like Senior Brother Qin in the future.¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s heart was also shaking. ¡®This kid¡­ This kid is indeed at the fifth refinement!¡¯ However, this strange power was a little unreasonably strong. Sun Yuanshan was sure that even Reihom¡¯s terrifying physical body could not compare to Qin Huai¡¯s. Using a third-refined great demon as a weapon? Who would believe this? Even he could barely do it. But Qin Huai¡¯s expression clearly showed that he had a lot of energy left. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 450!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.015!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Skill Essence (Blue)], and you can allocate experience points: 450!¡± ¡°Ding! Your vitality has increased by 0.015!¡± Chapter 127 - 127 Taking a Breather 127 Taking a Breather Qin Huai¡¯s killing spree continued. As his experience and qi and blood increased bit by bit, he didn¡¯t feel tired at all. Instead, he became more energetic. ¡°The increase in vitality soothed my fatigue, and the lasting effect of the eternal breath technique is also working. Also, the golden blood is helping¡­¡± At this moment, Qin Huai could clearly feel the benefits of cultivating multiple cultivation techniques at the same time. This was especially true for cultivation techniques with excellent compatibility. The long breath technique and the blood heart technique were very similar in a sense. If Qin Huai was only given a narrow alley to deal with the attacks of demons below the third refinement, even if there were occasional fourth or fifth refinements, he felt that he could hold on for a few days and nights by himself. He didn¡¯t walk far, only about twenty meters. The rolling wood and rocks on both sides of him continued to roll down, helping Qin Huai clear the obstacles around him to prevent him from being surrounded by demons. Qin Huai had always been on the front line. He fought from morning to noon without stopping. His astonishing endurance stunned all the senior and junior brothers behind him, including the wolf battalion that Sun Tong had brought. ¡°General, is there really a chance for us to fight in this Pine Peak Pass?¡± The adjutant adjusted his helmet and was dumbfounded. ¡°How would I know?¡± Sun Tong glared at the adjutant beside him. ¡°However, Grandmaster Qin¡¯s strength is indeed something that ordinary people like us can¡¯t fathom.¡± ¡°To tell you the truth, General, I feel a little guilty eating the flatbread in my hand. You didn¡¯t even put in any effort.¡± The Adjutant felt a little guilty as he ate the biscuit in his hand. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat it, give it to someone else!¡± Sun Tong knocked on the Adjutant¡¯s head. This attracted the attention of the disciples of the Changshan Dojo who were pushing the rolling stones. Both groups of people looked a little lost and embarrassed. No one had expected that the first day of facing the demons would be so easy. They even felt a little pleased¡­ Anyway, there was no tragedy. The battle continued all the way until the afternoon before the wave of attacks from the demons finally stopped. Countless demons retreated to the forest one li away from the entrance of Pine Peak and went into hiding. Buzzzzzz! The disciples of the Changshan Dojo and the soldiers of the wolf battalion instantly tensed up. Their expressions were solemn as they looked at the figure walking toward them. Admiration, respect, fear¡­ Under the cold flames of the harsh winter, it was as if a downpour of blood had gathered at his feet, dyeing his face and clothes red. It was tragic and intense. However, on that handsome face, there was always an excited smile that made people feel a little scared. ¡°S-Senior Brother, eat some¡­¡± Li Zhang trembled as he handed over the biscuit. ¡°Many thanks.¡± Qin Huai was all smiles. In just one day, his long breath technique had increased by more than 7,000 points, which was more than 7,000 points from the fifth refinement. If he were to collect the dojo¡¯s experience step by step, it would take more than a month. His vitality had also increased to 74.5 points, an increase of one point. The speed at which it increased was shocking. If he could kill all the demons at the entrance of the mountain, he might even have a chance to break through to the sixth refinement. ¡°I don¡¯t think the demons stopped attacking because they want to change their path, but because the great demon is trying to find a way to break it.¡± Sun Yuanshan sat beside Qin Huai. He looked happy, but he could not hide his worry. ¡°Yes, I once met a demon in a village in the mountains. He knew how to poison me with a scheme. It¡¯s just that it can¡¯t be spoken. The intelligence of a demon is not low.¡± Qin Huai was also serious. This short retreat was only the calm before the storm. ¡°How much rolling wood and stones do we still have left?¡± ¡°There¡¯s only twenty to thirty percent left.. I¡¯ve killed more than two hundred demons. It¡¯s worth it¡­¡± Qi Yangbing didn¡¯t look too good either, because he knew that they were about to fight hand-to-hand. The joy on Qin Huai¡¯s face faded away. Following that, the fellow disciples around him would continue to die, using their lives to block the entrance to Pine Peak. ¡°There are about a thousand demons at the entrance. Now, there should be less than eight hundred left. On the other hand, we have five hundred men from our dojo and three hundred men from the wolf battalion, so it shouldn¡¯t be a problem to guard this place.¡± Rong Li was also analyzing the situation. ¡°But if the other dojos want to defend it, they might have to pay a huge price.¡± ¡°However, the most dangerous place is still the city lord¡¯s mansion on Pingnan Avenue. It¡¯s said that thousands of demons and monsters are gathered there. The city lord¡¯s mansion can only rely on the city walls.¡± Whether it was the entrance to Pine Peak or the other seven important locations, all of them had their backs to Pingnan City. On one side of Pingnan City, there were some steep paths leading to the mountains. Therefore, the number of demons was relatively small. The only flat road was the front of Pingnan Avenue. ¡°Three days. In just three days, there will be a large group of reinforcements.¡± Everyone began to gobble up the flatbread and then eat the snow to satisfy their hunger. They waited until the sun set and the moon rose. Only then did the demons move again. ¡°Fire!¡± Sun Yuanshan waved his sleeve. The people behind him immediately poured out all their assets. Boom¡­ The sound of rolling wood and stones dissipated in the dark night at the entrance of Pine Peak. The disciples and apprentices of the Changshan Dojo were all wearing armor and holding spears, and they formed a line with the three hundred soldiers of the wolf battalion. ¡°Split up. First row, raise your shields. The spears at the back will be thrust out from the gaps of the shields. No matter if the spear strikes or not, the person must be replaced. Take turns with quick stabs. Don¡¯t give the demons any chance!¡± Qin Huai roared as he finished setting up the formation. The first row of soldiers holding heavy shields that were as tall as two men were all soldiers of the wolf battalion. Many of the people holding spears behind them were third refinement martial artists and apprentices of the Changshan Dojo. Their long spears were positioned at the top and bottom, combining the real and the fake. Chapter 128 - 128 Finishing the Battle 128 Finishing the Battle After that, a group of first and second refinement disciples grabbed several spears and aimed at the sky. Rong Li, Fang Han, and Qi Yangbing¡ªthe three direct disciples¡ªstood in the middle of the formation, watching the six paths and making up for the gaps by adding on to the attacks at any time. As for Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan, they opened up two wide paths in the iron armor formation, one for each person. ¡°Brat, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve already surpassed your master?¡± Sun Yuanshan joked. He had a faint feeling that the current Qin Huai truly had the strength to threaten or even kill him. Boom¡­ Qin Huai didn¡¯t respond to his master because thousands of great demons were already charging toward them. Without the support of their foundation, the hundreds of demons easily charged up to the entrance of Pine Peak. However, what welcomed them were fully armored martial artists! ¡°Boiling blood!¡± Qin Huai held two blades in his hands. Although he did not have Cai Jiulou¡¯s exquisite sword techniques, his terrifying physical strength allowed him to swing his sword with a violent aura of death. Qin Huai had the golden-blooded white Dragon to store up power, and his spirit eye technique accurately found the vital points of the fiends in the dark night. Every time he swung his blade, a large amount of blood would fly out! BOOM! Suddenly, one of the shield formation¡¯s legs was sent flying by the horns of an ox demon, causing several soldiers to be sent flying more than ten meters into the air. The ox demon¡¯s horns pierced through the thick and heavy shield in his hand. The formation, which was originally made of iron, was in a state of panic. Many of the apprentices who were not even martial artists had their necks broken by the swinging iron shields if they were not careful. Qi Yangbing ran to the ox demon. ¡°Forbidden technique, second rising dragon!¡± A white light flashed across his hands, and a terrifying blast of air blasted out instantly! Roar! Theox demon let out a wail. The ox demon, which had half of its body in the array, retreated several steps. But that was all. ¡°It¡¯s a fifth refinement great demon!¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s face turned pale. In the battle in the dark night, he had misjudged the realm of the great demon. Its scarlet eyes were like the scythe of the Grim Reaper in the dark night, staring at Qi Yangbing. It was the first time Qi Yangbing felt such a strong sense of death. He gritted his teeth and stepped out of the array. ¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and patch up the array! Even if I have to use my life, I still have to¡­¡± Hu! A gust of wind blew in front of him. Qi Yangbing vaguely saw a familiar face, but there was no time to reminisce. A loud explosion came from the ground in front of him. Immediately after, the huge great demon almost tore the entire formation apart. It fell to the ground, and its entire head was smashed and the two horns were pulled out. And the one who did it was¡­ ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Qi Yangbing was shocked. His junior brother only took an instant to kill a fifth refinement great demon? ¡®Just what realm is Junior Brother at?¡¯ Qi Yangbing¡¯s mind was in a mess. In his memory, Qin Huai was still the little junior brother who had just entered the sect and had good potential. However, it had only been half a year, and Qin Huai was already able to kill a fifth refinement great demon instantly. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice exploded in his ears. Qi Yangbing immediately came back to his senses, but Qin Huai was no longer in sight. He continued to guard the ¡®road¡¯ that he had opened up and slowly killed his way out, sharing the pressure with the soldiers and disciples of the dojo. Sun Tong led fifty armored soldiers to charge back and forth in front of the formation. The eldest senior brother, who was in the fifth refinement realm, stood still like a wooden pillar, his demon-killing moves deadly and unmoving like a mountain. Senior Brother Fang Han was shouting and killing with great momentum. On the other hand, Qin Huai¡¯s expression was solemn. He no longer had any other thoughts in his mind. Every second, an experience ball and red blood qi would flow into his body, giving him full motivation. The frequency at which he was using the earthquake dragon was also increasing. This was because many fourth refinement great demons had already set their eyes on him. The moment he decided to conserve his energy, he might have to face two or three fourth refinement great demons at the same time. The demon had already set its eyes on him. But¡­ This was just as he had wished! The smile on Qin Huai¡¯s face grew even more unbridled. He could reduce the pressure on his fellow disciples, and he could also harvest experience points rapidly. A green light flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. He actually took the initiative to attack! ¡°Since you¡¯ve set your eyes on me, I¡¯ll do as you wish.¡± Qin Huai started to walk his own ¡®path,¡¯ deciding to go in both directions with the great demon. The thick snake demon suddenly shot out from Qin Huai¡¯s side in an s-shaped path. Qin Huai glanced at him and threw a punch. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± The shrewd fourth refinement rat demon was hiding underground, only revealing its nose as it waited for Qin Huai¡¯s arrival. However, Qin Huai had his spirit eye technique and managed to avoid it. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± The furless ugly fourth refinement bear demon¡¯s bear paws were like a whirlwind. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± The fifth refinement black eagle spread its huge wings and descended from the sky. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Qin Huai only looked for the great demon, and the great demon only looked for Qin Huai. However, no matter which great demon it was, they could not withstand a single punch from Qin Huai. In the beginning, he still needed the blood dragon form to hold up the scene and delay the white dragon¡¯s recovery time. However, as he killed a big demon with each punch, his power was so astonishing that the small demons were all killed to make way for him. This allowed Qin Huai to search for the great demon in the demon tide alone without any distractions. The white dragon¡¯s recovery speed was the same as Qin Huai¡¯s demon-slaying speed. The fiends that originally intended to destroy Changshan Dojo¡¯s formation were instead scattered by Qin Huai alone. The momentum was gone. The wolf battalion led by Sun Tong displayed their might in the four-sided tiger-wolf formation. The more blood mist there was, the more violent their killing power became. As the battle progressed, they were practically following behind Qin Huai. It was like a giant dragon devouring the blood of the demons. Soon after, the martial artists of Changshan Dojo watched Qin Huai and the wolf battalion¡¯s unstoppable killing, and their momentum grew as they fought. The status of the human race and the wave of demons seemed to have reversed at this moment. Many disciples had even surpassed their limits and killed fiendish demons that were beyond their realms! ¡­ The sun and the moon rotated. The battle lasted for two days and two nights without rest. When the last big demon fell to the ground, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were already red from the killing. He was covered in blood as he looked at the entrance of Pine Peak, which was already stained red with blood. ¡°Phew. Has it ended?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was cold. He looked at the blood on the ground and did not dare to look back. He was afraid that the people he was familiar with would die. There were too many of them, and he would not be able to hold back his tears. Hu¡­ Qin Huai took a deep breath, then he slowly turned around to look¡­ He was stunned. It seemed like¡­ only a few people died. Chapter 129 - 129 Return to the City 129 Return to the City Qin Huai looked at the figures standing in the pool of blood. He couldn¡¯t help but reveal a bright smile on his face. It was even more brilliant than when he was gaining experience from killing demons. ¡°A hundred and twenty people died in the dojo, one hundred and nine apprentices and fourteen disciples.¡± Fang Han and Qi Yangbing counted the number of casualties and finally walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°The wolf battalion lost sixty-three men.¡± Sun Tong also walked toward Qin Huai. Unknowingly, they had already regarded Qin Huai as their backbone. He was even more powerful than Sun Yuanshan. Sun Tong, in particular, looked at Qin Huai as if he was looking at a monster. This Grandmaster Qin was really too fierce. He had originally thought that Grandmaster Qin was only proficient in poison and used underhanded means in the grand martial competition. However, after fighting side by side for the past two days, he realized that Qin Huai had relied on his bravery. Most of the great demons of the fourth refinement and above were killed by Qin Huai alone. What was more terrifying was¡­ Qin Huai killed one with each punch! ¡°Very good. A quarter of the damage has been exchanged for a thousand demons.¡± Sun Yuanshan let out a long breath. ¡°Whether it¡¯s an apprentice or a soldier, they are all disciples of Changshan Dojo. When we return to the city, I¡¯ll personally give everyone¡¯s compensation.¡± Sun Yuanshan was very generous at the moment, and many of the soldiers were grateful. ¡°Thank you, Master Sun!¡± ¡°Many thanks, Master!¡± Everyone responded in unison. In order to deal with the demonic horde, the properties of the eight major martial arts centers that were originally outside the city were all moved into the city. It just so happened that a few days ago, more than half of Tiannan City had been gone, and there were enough empty houses, especially those big houses. The owner of the house had just heard the news that the wave of demons was coming and had already brought his family to prepare. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the city.¡± Qin Huai also spoke up. Judging by the time, the reinforcements should be arriving soon. Everyone was waiting for Qin Huai to say this. And so, the remaining six hundred people immediately set off. As for the remaining two hundred corpses, they had no time to bury them and were afraid of a plague, so they could only burn them on the spot. It could be said that Qin Huai had returned with a bountiful harvest from this battle. Even though the experience given by the little demons was reduced by half, Qin Huai still managed to break through the 50,000 mark and reach 57,000 points with his shocking number advantage. He was only about 4,000 experience points away from the sixth refinement. When the reinforcements arrived, he would be able to easily break through to the sixth refinement by following behind the army and collecting some experience. He might even be able to reach the seventh refinement. ¡­ The group of people could not enter from the west gate, so they could only take a three-mile detour from the north gate. They didn¡¯t go far, though. They saw a group of people slowly gathering in their direction not far away. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s the Crane Dojo?¡± Li Zhang stood on high ground and looked into the distance. He was also very lucky not to have died in that great battle. He only lost his left hand. His senior brother, Fang Han, was in the same situation as him. The two of them seemed to be standing side by side as a fourth refinement great demon pounced on them and devoured both of their hands. In the end, it was killed by Sun Tong¡¯s four-directional tiger-wolf technique. Soon, the two groups of people gathered. The leader was the master of the Crane Dojo, Qing Yunhe, but he was in a very miserable state. He, who was famous for his qinggong, had lost his left leg, and now, he was being supported by his disciple, He Liu. The disciples behind him were even worse off. Originally, there were more than four hundred disciples, but now, there were only a hundred left. When Qing Yunhe saw Sun Yuanshan and Qin Huai, who had retained more than half of their combat strength, he broke through their defenses on the spot. ¡°The benefits of the iron armored army are truly beyond the reach of ordinary people like us!¡± Qing Yunhe¡¯s eyes were red as he painfully vented the anger in his heart. ¡°You¡¯ve all taken advantage of me.¡± However, Sun Yuanshan did not give in to him. ¡°Young man, you can¡¯t say that. Could it be that the wolf battalion¡¯s plaque was something that the city lord knelt and begged my disciple to accept? Or is it that my disciple¡¯s first place in the grand martial competition was picked up?¡± Qing Yunhe looked at the six hundred people behind Sun Yuanshan and squinted his eyes. If it weren¡¯t for the fifth refinement great demon suddenly stirring things up, that demon would have definitely appeared between Reihom and Hu Jingshan. ¡°This disciple of yours is of the same lineage as you. I¡¯m sure he used some underhanded means to kill the top ranker and the fifth refinement great demon. It¡¯s just that Reihom and Hu Jingshan are not willing to haggle over this.¡± Qing Yunhe¡¯s face was full of sourness and jealousy. He sized up Qin Huai repeatedly, but he couldn¡¯t see any of Reihom¡¯s invincible spirit. Qin Huai, on the other hand, often hid in the crowd, trying to make people ignore his existence. ¡°Hmph hmph¡­ No matter what you say, my disciple is still number one.¡± Sun Yuanshan would not explain much to Qing Yunhe. Furthermore, seeing Qing Yunhe¡¯s orthodoxy suffer heavy losses, he was simply overjoyed. In his eighty years of life, he had never comprehended the life of the world. He only knew that the seven dojo masters who had ambushed him had suffered heavy losses, so he was relieved and could live longer. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go!¡± Qing Yunhe¡¯s eyes flashed with resentment. He flicked his long sleeves and urged his disciples to leave quickly. When everyone returned to the city, they met up with the people from the other dojos. The Changshan Dojo, where Qin Huai was, had only lost a quarter of its men. The other schools like Tyrant Fist Dojo, Mang Mountain Saber Dojo, and Six Harmonies Dojo had all lost around seventy percent of their forces. Even the strongest Thunderbolt Dojo lost more than half of their members. Looking at the large group of people behind Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan, the group of dojo masters felt very aggrieved. But they just gritted their teeth and didn¡¯t say a word. The new location of Changshan Dojo happened to be centered around the original Luo manor. After opening up three shops on the same street, more than three hundred Changshan martial artists had been settled. Chapter 130 - 130 The Promised Reinforcements 130 The Promised Reinforcements As for Sun Tong¡¯s wolf battalion, they stayed in the Drunken Immortal restaurant and a few inns. When Qin Huai arrived home, he then looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 151] [Vitality]: 89.621 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 59, 2315/7000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 40, 221/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 40, 686/5000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 833/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 6/6], [Raging Lightning] [Stage: Level 5 Blood Refinement] ¡°My vitality has soared to almost 90¡­¡± Out of the one thousand demons, seventy to eighty percent of the generals¡¯ experience and vitality had been absorbed by Qin Huai. From the original seventy-something points, it had increased by more than ten points. His current qi, blood, and soul were probably unparalleled in the entire Pingnan. But of course, the unexpected joy was naturally the forbidden technique of the rumbling thunder, the raging lightning. ¡°Although this forbidden art of rumbling thunder can increase my killing power for a short period of time, the power of the thunderbolts will also cause damage to my body. It¡¯s a double-edged sword,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. However, he felt that it shouldn¡¯t be a big problem because he had the blood heart technique. If the golden blood could repair the white dragon, then it naturally wouldn¡¯t be a problem to repair the damaged physical body. ¡°Even if I were to fight the masters of the eight dojos, I would have an eighty to ninety percent chance of winning.¡± With the forbidden techniques in his hands, he was already standing on an undefeatable ground. In addition, his qi and blood had increased dramatically. It was also a situation where he was almost certain to win against the dojo masters. In the midst of his thoughts, a feeling of dizziness swept through his brain. He had not slept for two days and two nights after the battle. Now that he was back in the city, Qin Huai¡¯s mind began to relax. He yawned and fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ ¡°Senior Brother! Senior Brother!¡± Grandson Yao nudged Qin Huai from the side of the bed, causing him to wake up instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Huai sat up. ¡°The city lord has returned and has summoned Master, you, Reihom, and the others¡­¡± ¡°I know. What time is it now?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the sky outside the window. ¡°It just so happens to be at seven,¡± Sun Ziyao replied. Qin Huai immediately perked up. He had slept all the way until the next day. He quickly put on his clothes and asked, ¡°Are the reinforcements here?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see them.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t see them?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly had a bad feeling. He quickly walked out of the courtyard. His master, Sun Yuanshan, was already waiting at the door. ¡°Master, do you have any news?¡± Qin Huai was slightly slower than Sun Yuanshan. The two of them quickly rushed toward the city lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°I made your eldest senior brother wait at the east gate for a whole night, but he didn¡¯t see any reinforcements.¡± Sun Yuanshan didn¡¯t look good either. When the two of them arrived, they coincidentally bumped into the pair of master and disciple from the Thunderbolt Dojo. However, at this moment, the four people who had deep grudges were not in the mood to bicker. Their faces were filled with worry. In the lobby, Hu Guanpan sat on the master¡¯s chair, the thick murderous aura around his body making the atmosphere in the entire hall particularly oppressive. It was obvious that he had just returned from the battlefield. A middle-aged man wearing a dark blue robe with black clouds and golden edges was sitting on the seat that used to belong to Bai Bashan of Thunderbolt Dojo. It was the official robe of Great You. ¡°This is the military overseer from Lingjiang county, Cheng Li, Lord Cheng.¡± Hu Guanpan¡¯s voice was cold. A flash of displeasure appeared in Cheng Li¡¯s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. ¡°This one greets all the heroes who killed demons!¡± Cheng Li smiled and cupped his fists at everyone. However, everyone¡¯s return was rather perfunctory, and they clearly only had one thing on their minds. ¡°My lord, where are the reinforcements? Shouldn¡¯t they have arrived yesterday? Why aren¡¯t they here yet?¡± Bao Ziyan was the first to lose his temper. His dojo¡¯s casualties were second only to the Crane Dojo. In addition, Tyrant Fist Dojo did not have many people to begin with. After the battle, there were only eighty-three people left. Now that he found out that the promised reinforcements had not arrived, how could he not be angry? Could it be that the city lord made up the reinforcements to deceive them? ¡°Did I take three thousand armored soldiers to lie to you?¡± Hu Guanpan¡¯s eyes narrowed and a cold light shot out. He changed the topic and looked at Cheng Li. ¡°I think Overseer Cheng should explain why the reinforcements are late.¡± Cheng Li looked at this group of arrogant people and cursed them in his heart. ¡®Country bumpkins.¡¯ He then coughed lightly and said, ¡°The scale of the wave of demons this time is beyond your expectations. Therefore, the gathering of the reinforcements is two days slower than expected. ¡°I can assure you that as long as we can hold on for three more days, there would be an army of ten thousand heading to Pingnan to suppress the demons.¡± Cheng Li¡¯s voice was powerful. ¡°I wonder how Overseer Cheng can guarantee that?¡± Bai Bashan said slowly. Cheng Li¡¯s expression was indifferent. ¡°This lord¡¯s presence here is a guarantee. I can¡¯t possibly not take my life seriously, right?¡± The dojo masters looked at each other. ¡°Then it¡¯s a deal. We¡¯ll hold on for three more days!¡± ¡°However, City Lord, the people in our dojos are no longer enough to fight them head-on. We still need the iron armored army to come to the great demon slayers banner.¡± Qing Yunhe¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll defend the city and rely on them to deal with the demons. We can just hold on for three more days.¡± Chapter 131 - 131 Human 131 Human-shaped Demon King Qin Hu Guanpan¡¯s voice was loud and deep. Relying on the city to delay the advance of the demons would reduce the casualties by a lot. However, without the eight dojos guarding the key points such as the mouth of Pine Peak, Pingnan City would have to defend the west, north, and south city gates and disperse a lot of the army forces. Hu Guanpan then divided the eight dojos to guard the city gates, then immediately let the dojo masters leave and return resentfully. ¡°Master, do you think that Cheng Li¡¯s words are credible?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°That Cheng Li looks like a guy who regards himself as the world. He definitely won¡¯t let himself die so generously, so I have some doubts about his trustworthiness.¡± Sun Yuanshan was a bit disappointed. As long as the reinforcements were not here, the pressure on them would not decrease. The Tyrant Fist, Crane, and Six Harmonies dojos would guard the south gate, while the Three Tassels Spear, White Wave Fist, and Mang Mountain Saber dojos would guard the north gate. As for the two strongest dojos, Thunderbolt and Changshan, they were left to guard the west gate. Qin Huai had just walked to the vicinity of the Drunken Immortal restaurant when he was stopped by someone. It was Miss Qingshui again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, young lady?¡± Qin Huai was a little surprised to see the person in front of him. In his impression, all the girls in Overflowing Fragrance had already left. He didn¡¯t expect that Miss Qingshui and Miss Shaoxiang had yet to leave. ¡°These are the yang qi pills that Miss Shaoxiang gave you. It can also quickly raise a new dragon by using the forbidden technique that Master Sun created.¡± Miss Qingshui bowed to Qin Huai. ¡°Miss said that she will always be watching you. I wish you a prosperous martial arts fate!¡± ¡°Many thanks for Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s good intentions!¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and took the two bottles of pills from Miss Qingshui. ¡°Master, you can share these two bottles of yang qi pills with the senior brothers.¡± Qin Huai gave the qi-nourishing pill to Sun Yuanshan. ¡°You brat¡­ That¡¯s right, your dragon-raising speed seems to be extremely fast.¡± Sun Yuanshan didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with his disciple either. In the two days and two nights of battle, Qin Huai had used the long breath forbidden technique at least thirty times. It was impossible for a normal person to have such an astonishing recovery speed, but Qin Huai had done it. But Sun Yuanshan didn¡¯t ask for details. After all, everyone had their own little secrets. Below the city gate tower, the men from Thunderbolt and Changshan dojos gathered. Sun Yuanshan and Bai Bashan were standing side by side, while Qin Huai and Reihom were behind. Behind them were Rong Li, Qi Yangbing, Fang Han, and the vice-head of the Thunderbolt Dojo. They were clearly divided. ¡°How about we have a fight in front of the city gate?¡± This time, Reihom actually spoke first. He didn¡¯t get first place in the competition, so he didn¡¯t feel good. After all, he still had his astral force that was beyond this realm, and he hadn¡¯t used it yet. After Reihom went back, he began to analyze the situation. He felt that if they were to fight to the death, it was hard to tell who would survive. Even if Qin Huai¡¯s rising dragon, the forbidden technique of the long breath technique, was surprisingly powerful, he could only throw four punches at most. He could only kill two fifth refinement beasts. In a contest of physical strength¡­ it seemed that he had not seen how Qin Huai¡¯s body was. Therefore, he wanted to use the defense of the city gate to find out where Qin Huai¡¯s limit was. ¡°How do we compete?¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t look sideways. He could already feel the earth rumbling and shaking, as well as the howls and roars of the demons. Another round of killing was about to begin. ¡°We¡¯ll forget about the small demons. We¡¯ll only count the demons that have gone through the third refinement,¡± Reihom said. ¡°Who¡¯s going to count?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of lying?¡± Reihom looked at Qin Huai. ¡°What¡¯s the prize?¡± Qin Huai asked again. ¡°¡­That you¡¯re good and better than me?¡± Reihom said in a serious manner. Qin Huai was taken aback, but a smile immediately appeared on his face. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Reinforcements! Reinforcements!¡± the soldiers on the city gate shouted at the gate tower! Sun Yuanshan and Bai Bashan led their men and charged forward. ¡°Is your Dao heart strong?¡± Qin Huai asked. Reihom didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Naturally¡­¡± The two of them ran up the city gate tower. Roar! A bloody mouth was reflected in front of the two. They started off with a fourth refinement great demon! Buzzzzzz! A purple-white light flashed through Reihom¡¯s eyes. BOOM! The terrifying shock wave almost knocked Reihom off the tower. And in his line of sight¡­ With just one punch, Qin Huai had shattered the entire upper jaw and face of the fourth refinement pig demon. Blood mist spewed everywhere! The sudden and violent punch made many soldiers on the city gate tower tremble. An expert was here! They looked at the pig demon¡¯s miserable corpse and couldn¡¯t help but feel their fighting spirit rise. While Reihom was still in a daze, Qin Huai walked to the edge of the city gate tower in two steps. He boldly stretched out his hand, grabbed the fangs of a wild boar demon, and threw the entire demon. It was like a large spiked club in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. He stood at the edge of the city gate tower and waved the wild boar demon in his hand, sweeping away a large number of demons clinging to the city gate tower. Reihom¡¯s punch had pierced through a second refinement demon, but his attention was completely on Qin Huai. As he looked on, his heart began to ripple. Qin Huai¡¯s strength seemed to be much greater than his¡­ The next second, he retracted this thought. After the third refinement wild boar demon was devoured by its own kind, Qin Huai had actually captured another fourth refinement great demon. It was a giant object that weighed more than a thousand jin. In Qin Huai¡¯s hands, it was just a large mace! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The city gate tower, which had already been shattered by the demons¡¯ climb, was now being used as a weapon by Qin Huai. There was a loud bang. Reihom was not the only one who was stunned. Sun Yuanshan and Qi Yangbing were also stunned. ¡°Junior Brother, he¡­ Why does it seem like he¡¯s gotten stronger after a night¡¯s sleep?¡± Qi Yangbing¡¯s expression was bitter. Even the demons that were climbing the wall were stunned. They had never seen such a terrifying human warrior. Every time Qin Huai waved his hand, it was like a demonic army war drum, causing the aura on the city gate tower to surge. Not far away, Bai Bashan was also dumbfounded. He mumbled with a complicated look in his eyes, ¡°Now I know why there are so few deaths in the Changshan Dojo.¡± With such a human-shaped great demon killing demons in such a shocking way, who wouldn¡¯t become more courageous as the battle progressed? Even he was a little overwhelmed by Qin Huai¡¯s repeated ¡®hammer blows.¡¯ As for Reihom, he now understood the reason why Qin Huai had asked him if his Dao heart was stable. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the first person I wanted to catch up with would appear in Pingnan.¡± Reihom didn¡¯t feel dejected at all when he saw how strong Qin Huai was. Instead, he started to get excited. With such a fellow on the path of martial arts, he would not be lonely! Reihom also charged at the big demon¡­ Chapter 132 - 132 The Red Dust Song 132 The Red Dust Song The fourth refinement ox demon was in Qin Huai¡¯s hands. It was like a heavy halberd, with the horns as the tip and the body as the handle. Qin Huai continued to bombard the surroundings, absorbing the experience and qi and blood around him. However, although he was incomparably brave¡­ a single person¡¯s strength was still too insignificant in front of the wave of demons. Qin Huai stood at the edge of the city gate tower, looking at the wide Pingnan Avenue under his feet, which was now occupied by a group of dark behemoths with red eyes. The pure white snow was also melted by the hot breath and blood. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of powerlessness when he glanced at the endless stream of demons. However, Qin Huai forcefully suppressed this. If they really wanted to exterminate this wave of monsters and demons, they had to rely on the reinforcements from Lingjiang county. There were too few people in Pingnan who could fight. Or rather¡­ Were there too many demons? Qin Huai looked at the endless tide of demons and suddenly had a question. Were there really only 15,000 to 16,000 demons in this wave? Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s expression froze. This was because there were many hairless red-skinned rat demons that were only half the size of his body rushing toward him through the gaps between the demons. There weren¡¯t many of them, only a few dozen. But he was the only target. It was the demons who had made their move and started targeting him. Small tricks! A rat demon used its size to its advantage and passed through Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®ox halberd¡¯ attack. It scuttled up to Qin Huai¡¯s feet, opened its sharp teeth, and bit down. ¡°Qi shock scale armor!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s entire body instantly trembled with energy. The next moment, several rat demons that had rushed forward were sent flying by him. With a sweep of the ox halberd in his hand, they were directly shattered in the air. Hu¡­ Qin Huai took a deep breath, and his skin began to turn slightly red. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± he roared in anger and slowly released the fourth refinement ox demon. The next second, his right hand suddenly exerted force, and blue veins popped out, spreading from the back of his hand to his shoulder. The entire ox demon was slowly pulled up with one hand. However, it was still a little difficult¡­ Qin Huai gritted his teeth, and the white dragon in his body began to separate wisps of white qi into his muscles, qi, and blood. His body seemed to have grown a little bigger, with white lines appearing between the muscle lines. ¡°Blood dragon form!¡± BOOM! The fourth refinement ox demon was lifted up by Qin Huai with one hand! It was just like before. Qin Huai¡¯s left arm, which had been freed up, punched the rat demons one by one, killing all those annoying little things. Reihom, who would occasionally pay attention to Qin Huai, saw that his usually frosty face actually revealed a smile. ¡°He¡¯s a monster! Monsters are good!¡± He was not dispirited. Instead, as Qin Huai continued to display his powerful strength, he became even more excited. Weng~ Suddenly, the sound of a zither entered everyone¡¯s ears. Even on this tragic battlefield, the roars of demons and monsters could be heard. ¡°I feel like my body is filled with energy!¡± ¡°Strange, I also feel that my strength has increased by quite a bit.¡± Many people were bewildered. Listening to the zither music, it was as if their blood was surging. ¡°It¡¯s Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s red dust song,¡± Qi Yangbing pointed out. Qin Huai could also clearly feel the music and the power it contained. ¡°It¡¯s actually the white dragon energy?¡± He could feel the wisps of white air that drifted over with the sound of the zither. It was as if the wind had aided the poison path, allowing everyone¡¯s forward attacks to be smoother, without any increase in strength. ¡®As expected of a young lady from a county. Her mastery and control of the long breath technique are unbelievable,¡¯ Qin Huai sighed in his heart. Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s use of the long breath technique had also exceeded Qin Huai¡¯s imagination. She was sitting below the city gate tower, so she was a few dozen meters away from here. But even so, it still affected them. It seemed like he had to go to the Nine Dragons sect. BOOM! All of a sudden, Qin Huai felt his qi and blood roil in his body, and the qi and blood in his body began to transform. At his dantian, the six purple-white dragons that were originally coiled up also began to gather together for warmth. Under the protection of the six purple and white dragons, the white gas that was already very thick slowly grew dragon heads, long whiskers, dragon horns, and dragon claws. Sharp edges and scales also appeared on its back. Then, the seven purple and white dragons did not separate. Instead, they coiled into a solid dragon pearl under the purple electric ball. From a dragon ring to a guard, and from a guard to a dragon pearl¡­ The aura in Qin Huai¡¯s body flowed more smoothly and rapidly. The violent power also reinvigorated the originally tired Qin Huai. As a result, his killing continued, and the fourth refinement ox demon with his right hand became more and more at ease. Below the city gate tower, Miss Shaoxiang in a red dress was sitting less than thirty meters away from the battle cries that filled the sky, playing her zither in the cold wind and snow. The sound of the zither was wild and unrestrained, domineering and uninhibited. Miss Qingshui¡¯s face was full of heartache as she held several bottles of yang qi pills in her hands. From time to time, she would feed one to Miss Shaoxiang. ¡­ Later that night, Qin Huai was replaced. They split into two shifts and took turns up the city gate tower to withstand the impact of the great wave of demons. Everyone was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep after eating the food. There was no fluctuation in the next two days. Even among the demons that attacked the city, there were very few who were in fourth refinement. They were all using the huge number of first and second refinements to attack and consume the effective strength of Pingnan City. Occasionally, a third refinement demon would slip in and surprise the Pingnan guards. All the fifth refinement great demons were visible to the naked eye of Qin Huai and the others, watching them from afar. It gave them an invisible pressure. In the blink of an eye, these dry and bloody three days passed quietly. However¡­ Chapter 133 - 133 Escape! 133 Escape! The reinforcements still did not arrive. In the city lord¡¯s mansion, the atmosphere in the hall had dropped to the freezing point. The people who were already depressed by the continuous attacks of the waves of demons couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Lord Hu, do you have anything to say now?¡± Bai Bashan¡¯s tone was unfriendly. At this moment, because of Hu Guanpan¡¯s deliberate actions, Overseer Cheng Li had not arrived yet. Only Hu Guanpan, the dojo masters, and a group of people from Pingnan City were in the hall. ¡°My best friend sent me a secret letter two hours ago. County Governor Jiang doesn¡¯t want me to do this. I don¡¯t want Pingnan to exist¡­¡± Hu Guanpan sneered. ¡°He saw that I¡¯m powerful and wanted to get rid of me. Sorry to have implicated you all. Everyone, feel free to stay or leave!¡± Bang! Bang! Bao Ziyan immediately slammed the table and stood up, his killing intent soaring. ¡°We should have thought of this earlier. You secretly amassed your forces and have a large number of troops! How could the county governor just sit by and do nothing?¡± The group of dojo masters suddenly understood. Their faces were filled with killing intent. Qing Yunhe held onto his cane and said coldly, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect that he would disregard the great wave of demons to seal the entire Pingnan to a place of misery and suffering in order to get rid of you.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he consider that once the demons pass through Pingnan City, they will spread to the other villages?¡± These dojo masters didn¡¯t understand. They still couldn¡¯t guess the ruthless thoughts of the officials. ¡°Well¡­ Does Lord Hu mean that you¡¯re not leaving?¡± Sun Yuanshan suddenly asked. ¡°My best friend said that he is holding the tiger tally and has already brought an army of ten thousand soldiers. He wants to join forces with me and use Pingnan as a point to plan slowly¡­¡± When Hu Guanpan said this, he looked at the crowd. ¡°How do you know that your best friend isn¡¯t lying to you? How confident are you, Lord Hu?¡± Bai Bashan said in a low voice. ¡°He¡¯s a brother who climbed out of a pile of corpses with me. Even if he doesn¡¯t help me, he definitely won¡¯t harm me.¡± Hu Guanpan¡¯s voice was firm. All his assets were in Pingnan, and he had County Governor Jiang behind him who wanted him dead. Behind him was the territory of Lingjiang, and in front of him was the tide of demons. There was no way to retreat. Therefore, he could only trust this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lord Hu. I have dozens of disciples, and I don¡¯t want the Tyrant Fist passed down by my ancestors to be lost in my generation!¡± Bao Ziyan stood up and cupped his fists. He had already made up his mind. ¡°Anyway, I won¡¯t stay! I¡¯m going to lose one of my legs if I do!¡± Qing Yunhe was very determined as he stood up and walked. The other dojo masters also expressed their opinions. Everyone was well aware that without any reinforcements, staying behind would only lead to death. Hu Guanpan listened to everyone¡¯s words and remained calm from beginning to end. He quietly listened to everyone¡¯s angry complaints. Then, he slowly got up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone.¡± He saluted the dojo masters, Qin Huai, Reihom, and the others. ¡°I will lead the rest of the army to buy time for you and the disciples of the dojos. ¡°The backyard has already prepared three days¡¯ worth of food for you and your remaining disciples according to the number of heads. We can set off immediately. After cutting ties with me, I believe County Governor Jiang will not make things difficult for you.¡± When everyone heard this, they couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. They didn¡¯t expect Hu Guanpan to go to this extent. ¡°Lord Hu, you have a big heart. It¡¯s a pity¡­¡± The master of the Mang Mountain Saber Dojo shook his head, turned around, and left. The others also left one after another. Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan were about to leave, but Hu Guanpan stopped them. ¡°Grandmaster Qin!¡± Hu Guanpan laughed bitterly. ¡°I have a favor to ask.¡± ¡°Lord Hu, please speak!¡± Qin Huai was serious. ¡°Grandmaster Qin, please take Jinghai away. His state of mind is still immature. If he runs away alone, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Qin Huai agreed immediately. ¡°If Lord Hu didn¡¯t lend us the troops that day, my master might not have been able to survive the attacks of the dojo masters.¡± ¡°Indeed, a little kid in exchange for this old man¡¯s life, it¡¯s worth it!¡± Hu Guanpan gave Qin Huai a few more simple instructions before everyone parted ways. In fact, there was not much left of the Changshan Dojo¡¯s property. Most of them were exchanged for food and various medicinal herbs needed for the battle at Songfeng Pass. The few that were left were some of the most poisonous herbs that his master, Sun Yuanshan, had kept in his poisonous herb field. Now, he had ground them into powder or refined them into poison. ¡°The two of us will try to carry all of this with us.¡± Sun Yuanshan took this matter seriously, and his eyes flashed with a touch of pain. Those medicinal fields were the products of his dozens of years of cultivation, and now they could no longer be returned. ¡°These poisonous substances can even cause great damage to a sixth refinement martial artist if used properly,¡± Sun Yuanshan said. Back when he was dealing with Gao Cheng of the Sacred Heart sect, he had used these most precious items. Qin Huai accepted all these items. He then threw an unsealed wooden box onto the carriage. The person in the box was Hu Guanpan¡¯s youngest son, who was also his disciple, Hu Jinghai. Hu Guanpan was afraid that he would make a fuss and refuse to leave, so he simply knocked him out and threw him into the box. ¡°Lord Hu even gave us all the poisonous things in the city lord¡¯s mansion ¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the box of familiar things in the luggage. They were poisonous objects that the city lord¡¯s mansion had kept for many years. ¡°They¡¯re as effective as mine.¡± Sun Yuanshan confirmed. As the master and disciple walked, they divided up all these powerful poisonous things and stuffed them into their bodies. The foundation that had been emptied out by the many days of battle was filled up all at once. It had even been upgraded. Sitting inside the carriage, Qin Huai looked at the empty streets of Pingnan City as they passed by¡­ Chapter 134 - 134 Being Framed! 134 Being Framed! The people began to evacuate in succession on the first three days, and Miss Shaoxiang also bid farewell on the second three days. She even left a letter for Qin Huai, inviting him to the Nine Dragons sect. It felt like a lifetime had passed¡­ In the blink of an eye, he was going to be forced to leave his life for almost two years. All he wanted was a stable life, but he didn¡¯t know why it was so difficult. ¡­ Hu Guanpan watched as the people from the eight dojos left. His expression became more and more determined. ¡°Father.¡± A voice suddenly came from behind him. In an instant, Hu Guanpan¡¯s originally determined expression turned into panic. ¡°You¡­ Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± He looked at Hu Jingshan and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you to leave the city with the people from the eight dojos?¡± Hu Jingshan opened his iron fan and fanned the cold wind slightly. ¡°The ancients often say that father and son are soldiers in battle. I have never fought shoulder-to-shoulder with my father in my life. How can I leave?¡± His tone was calm, and there was a smile on his face. ¡°You child¡­¡± Hu Guanpan laughed bitterly. He knew that even he wouldn¡¯t be able to persuade a Hu Jingshan like this. ¡°Good! Then let¡¯s have the father and son go into battle together and slay the demons!¡± Hu Guanpan strode forward and followed Hu Jingshan out of the city lord¡¯s mansion in armor. ¡°City Lord! That Overseer Cheng ran away!¡± Sun Tong ran over to report. ¡°If he ran, then he ran! I didn¡¯t expect that I would be deceived by such a cowardly fool!¡± Hu Guanpan no longer cared about these things. There were no more civilians in the city, nor were there any men from the eight dojos. Only two thousand armored soldiers were left, and they were right in front of him. The soldiers were neat in their uniform, and their iron-blooded aura had not wavered in the slightest after several days of battle. He didn¡¯t say a word, but it was better than a thousand words. All the soldiers knew what was waiting for them. ¡°Mount your horses!¡± Whoosh!!! In a series of uniform movements, all the soldiers mounted their horses. ¡°Kill!¡± Hu Guanpan brandished his blade and faced the door! ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± the two thousand soldiers chanted as they charged. ¡­ Cheng Li ran madly along the icy mountain forest road. His speed was astonishing, and he would look behind him from time to time, afraid that there would be pursuers. Suddenly, he heard the thunderous sound of horse hooves in front of him. Cheng Li¡¯s face was filled with joy, and his speed increased. After a while, he saw the mighty ten-thousand army. ¡°General Song! It¡¯s me!¡± Cheng Li roared and finally arrived in front of General Song under the escort of the cavalry. General Song was short but strong, so he looked quite funny sitting on a tall horse. However, no one dared to laugh. ¡°Overseer Cheng?¡± Song Ya narrowed his eyes and looked at Cheng Li, who was all smiles. ¡°Overseer Cheng, I remember that your mission is to delay until I reach Pingnan, right? When the time comes, we¡¯ll work together to eradicate my good friend and calm the tide of demons. Why are you here now?¡± Song Ya was Hu Guanpan¡¯s best friend who had gone through life and death together when he was young. But unfortunately, decades had passed, and he had changed. The previous secret letters were all to deceive Hu Guanpan. On one hand, he would try his best to exhaust Hu Guanpan¡¯s forces, while on the other hand, he would also exhaust the demons. That was why he wanted to keep Hu Guanpan in Pingnan City like a turtle in a jar. When his army arrived, he would wipe out Hu Guanpan and the wave of demons! ¡°I¡­¡± A hint of panic flashed through Cheng Li¡¯s eyes. He had wanted to feed the tiger with his body and cooperate with Song Ya to come here, but when he had been invited by Hu Guanpan to discuss matters yesterday, the uneasiness in his heart had become stronger. Cheng Li trusted his intuition the most. He had relied on his intuition to escape from the gates of hell countless times. So this time, he believed it. Halfway there, he immediately slipped away. However, he could never tell Song Ya about this. If that lord found out that he had fled the battle, he would never have the chance to be the lord of a city in his life. Suddenly, in his field of vision¡­ Qin Huai, Sun Yuanshan, and more than eight hundred people from the eight dojos appeared. Everyone was stunned. ¡°That seems to be the army of Lingjiang county.¡± Sun Yuanshan looked into the distance. ¡°Could it be the men of Hu Guanpan¡¯s best friend?¡± Bai Bashan was deep in thought. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. In any case, we¡¯ve already drawn a clear line with Hu Guanpan. No matter what the purpose of this army is, it won¡¯t affect us.¡± Bao Ziyan clapped his hands. ¡°We can¡¯t be Hu Guanpan¡¯s people just because we killed demons with him.¡± Everyone thought the same and went straight up. ¡°We commoners pay our respects to the soldiers!¡± The few dojo masters were very kind and cupped their fists at Song Ya. ¡°Hehe. There¡¯s no need to be so polite, everyone.¡± A smile appeared on Song Ya¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m under the orders of the county governor to go to Pingnan to kill the demons.¡± Looking at Song Ya¡¯s kind face, Bao Ziyan and the rest heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I was poisoned by a vile person! Those guys must have discovered something and wanted to kill me, so they couldn¡¯t send the message,¡± Cheng Li suddenly shouted. Looking at the crowd, he found a scapegoat and slapped his thigh hard! ¡°It¡¯s them! It¡¯s the master and disciple in the lead!¡± Cheng Li¡¯s thoughts immediately became active, and he immediately started to lie. ¡°Those two people are the famous poison kings in Pingnan City, and they¡¯re also Hu Guanpan¡¯s lackeys! It was the two of them who followed Hu Guanpan¡¯s orders to kill me. That¡¯s why I ran away!¡± The sudden turn of events stunned the people of the eight dojos. Qing Yunhe looked at Sun Yuanshan and his disciple and said, ¡°We have nothing to do with the people from Changshan Dojo!¡± Bao Ziyan also quickly added, ¡°Yes! We have a death feud with Changshan Dojo! It was just a coincidence!¡± Qing Yunhe sneered in his heart. When it came to luck, it was really just a matter of time. What a turn of events~ ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, everyone can leave except for those from Changshan Dojo.¡± Song Ya was very easy to talk to. ¡°Run!¡± Sun Yuanshan roared. Qin Huai and the other disciples ran into the forest! Song Ya took his time and waved his hand behind him. ¡°Keep an eye on them.¡± A team of people instantly followed. He also motioned for the crowd to make way for the rest of the people. ¡°General, you are a righteous man!¡± Qing Yunhe looked at Sun Yuanshan and the others who were fleeing in panic and smiled. Then, he limped past Song Ya. Buzzzzzz! Suddenly, a long spear instantly pierced through Qing Yunhe¡¯s heart from behind. ¡°What¡­¡± Qing Yunhe¡¯s face was filled with disbelief as he fell to the ground. ¡°The traitors of Pingnan are all Hu Guanpan¡¯s accomplices. Kill them all without mercy!¡± Song Ya¡¯s expression was cold. If he wanted to kill, he had to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots. Hu Guanpan and his allies could not be let off. For this reason, Song Ya would rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one go. Chapter 135 - 135 An Accusation 135 An Accusation Song Ya¡¯s words stunned the people from the other dojos. In front of the mighty army, the group of martial artists felt chills all over their bodies, and their hair stood on end. ¡°Run!¡± It was unknown who shouted, but the people from the seven dojos scattered and fled. ¡°Ants.¡± Song Ya¡¯s eyes flashed with disdain. He stretched out his hand, and one of the riders behind him immediately handed him his halberd. Song Ya held the halberd and made a throwing gesture. He took a deep breath, and a red light appeared in his eyes! BOOM! The sound of something breaking through the air rang out. Not far away, the plump Bao Ziyan felt a chill run down his spine, and he suddenly turned around. As expected, the long halberd was coming straight for him. ¡°Overlord!¡± Bao Ziyan roared, and his skin suddenly turned black. A ferocious aura danced around him, causing his aura to turn black. He planted his feet deep into the frozen ground and swung his fists, taking the blow head-on. Pfft! The halberd didn¡¯t stop at all. It pierced through Bao Ziyan¡¯s arms that were blocking in front of him. Blood and flesh splattered in the air. Bao Ziyan was dumbfounded as he watched the halberd spin and shatter his arms. One strike! He had killed one of the eight dojo masters of Pingnan with just a single move! When the others saw this, they used all their strength and ran into the distance. ¡°Wei Chang, Wei Sheng, and Wei Sui, kill them all!¡± Song Ya said indifferently. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Behind him, three heavily armored generals were galloping in the direction of the seven dojo masters. And closely after, each of them had five hundred cavalrymen following them. ¡°Overseer Cheng, I don¡¯t care what¡¯s going on with you. I only want those people dead.¡± Song Ya did not even look at Cheng Li. He didn¡¯t care whether Cheng Li had ignored the county governor¡¯s order and escaped from Pingnan ahead of time. He only hoped that all the forces and trusted aides who might be related to Hu Guanpan would die. Song Ya had used the life of his old comrade, who had gone through life and death with him for more than twenty years, to ascend to the position of the leader of the army. For him, the greatest reward he could give Hu Guanpan was to exterminate him. Otherwise, he might not even be able to sleep well at night. ¡°General Song, please lend me three hundred cavalrymen! I¡¯ll definitely take the heads of all those who poisoned me!¡± Cheng Li gritted his teeth, his expression tense. Song Ya beckoned behind him with his finger, and a general immediately threw out a token from his waist. ¡°Many thanks, General!¡± Cheng Li cupped his fists and mounted a horse, then charged in the direction where Qin Huai and the others had been galloping. Behind him, three hundred soldiers followed closely. ¡­ On the other side, Qin Huai and the others, who were running wildly in the deep mountains, looked around from time to time. They had been the first to escape, so they had missed the scene of Song Ya murdering the people from the other seven dojos. The thirty or so scouts rode through the forest as if they were on flat ground. They followed closely behind but did not get close. They didn¡¯t give Qin Huai and the others a chance to attack at all. ¡°Master, I can¡¯t get rid of them at all?¡± Fang Han¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Why don¡¯t we fight them to the death?¡± ¡°How? If we kill them, we won¡¯t be able to go to Lingjiang, and even those tens of thousands of cavalry will hunt us down!¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s expression was also solemn. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know what happened to Overseer Cheng, there must be some misunderstanding between us. The only thing we can do now is to clear up the misunderstanding!¡± Sun Yuanshan looked behind him. There were also hundreds of apprentices and disciples, especially the apprentices. He was already a little exhausted from running for a long time. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the only way.¡± Qin Huai carried the box on his back, his expression dark. After a short while, the ground shook violently, and Qin Huai hurriedly turned his head to look. The birds and beasts in the mountain forest were frightened away, and dust flew up. Cheng Li led several hundred cavalrymen behind him in pursuit. ¡°Overseer Cheng, there might be some misunderstanding!¡± Sun Yuanshan shouted. ¡°We don¡¯t have any grudges between us, so why would I poison you?¡± He then looked at Qin Huai and asked his disciple to help him think of what he would say next. Qin Huai, who was at the side, understood tacitly. He mustered up his energy and said loudly, ¡°The person who poisoned you is definitely not us. We, master and disciple, are upright people who cultivate and practice martial arts.¡± Sun Yuanshan was stunned. He looked at Qin Huai, who had a serious expression, in a daze. This disciple of his was indeed like the waves in the Yangtze River that surpassed the waves in front, slapping himself onto the shore. However, Sun Yuanshan continued to shout, ¡°Lord Cheng, don¡¯t pay attention to those rumors!¡± ¡°Is the poison I ate fake? Did I, the grand Pingnan military governor, eat poison to frame you?¡± Cheng Li sneered and didn¡¯t listen to Sun Yuanshan and his partner¡¯s explanation. He just wanted a passable excuse to get himself out of this. As for the life and death of these people, he didn¡¯t care. It was a pity that Lord Song cared, and he had to serve him well. ¡°You colluded with Hu Guanpan with the intention of overturning Lingjiang county. Your crimes are unforgivable! All the evidence has been conclusive! General Song has already given the order to execute all of you Hu Guanpan rebels!¡± Cheng Li¡¯s voice was cold. Qin Huai and Sun Yuanshan frowned when they heard this. He was determined to kill them all and did not want to know the truth at all. ¡°Master, I have a plan to draw them away.¡± Qin Huai had already made his decision. ¡°From his words, he¡¯s talking about the forces that wanted to kill Hu Guanpan. I¡¯ll lead Hu Jinghai away!¡± Qin Huai looked at the group of junior brothers and sisters behind him. Some of them had already started to fall behind. As for Cheng Li¡¯s cavalry, even though they were blocked by the mountain forest, they were still approaching them at a rapid speed. Chapter 136 - 136 When Someone Accused You of Poisoning, He Really Did It! 136 When Someone Accused You of Poisoning, He Really Did It! If this continued, all the people from Changshan Dojo would die. ¡°Absolutely not! If you draw them away by yourself, how will you survive?¡± Sun Yuanshan refused on the spot. ¡°Master, I have my own ways to deal with them.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was firm. Then, he turned and left without waiting for Sun Yuanshan to say anything. His pace suddenly slowed down. Bang! Bang! He shattered the wooden box on his back with a kick, then grabbed Hu Jinghai out and carried him on his shoulder. Since the other party was determined to kill them, it made no difference whether Hu Jinghai hid or not. ¡°The person you¡¯re looking for is in my hands! This is Hu Guanpan¡¯s son, Hu Jinghai. I believe you¡¯ve met him before!¡± Qin Huai lifted Hu Jinghai with one hand and waved him in the air. ¡°Kid, take it!¡± Sun Yuanshan suddenly threw him a long robe. Qin Huai immediately picked it up. It was very heavy. With just a glance, he knew that it was half of his master¡¯s heritage. Now, they were all in his hands. Right now, he was holding the oldest and most effective medicine that his master had raised for decades. Qin Huai waved Hu Jinghai again, then ran in the opposite direction of Sun Yuanshan and the others. As expected, Cheng Li¡¯s expression changed drastically upon seeing this. ¡°That¡¯s the kid! Everyone, charge!¡± Cheng Li roared. ¡°Lord Cheng, the general¡¯s order is to kill everyone,¡± a rider behind him warned. ¡°Hmph! What General Song wants to kill is Hu Guanpan¡¯s blood kin. These people are just collateral damage! There¡¯s also¡­ Are you going to disobey my orders?¡± Cheng Li was very overbearing at the moment. He was a seventh refinement martial artist, but he was only a little cowardly in front of big shots like Song Ya. The man gritted his teeth. He knew that he could not kill Sun Yuanshan and the others if he led a hundred cavalrymen alone. ¡°Xiaoyao, send a message to the general to have him send more men!¡± The rider roared, and Cheng Li led the three hundred riders in a mad pursuit of Qin Huai. The moment he left the others, Qin Huai¡¯s speed suddenly increased. He was now in the sixth refinement, and his vitality had already soared to a shocking 93 points. The speed of his feet was more than twice as fast as the endurance of a thousand li horse. As for Hu Jinghai, who was in his hands, for a ¡®monster¡¯ who could use a fourth refinement demon as a weapon, it was extremely easy. At this moment, the direction in which Qin Huai was running made Cheng Li, who was behind him, sneer. ¡°This kid¡¯s courage is obvious, but he¡¯s too stupid. The direction he¡¯s running to is General Song¡¯s location¡­¡± But the cold smile on Cheng Li¡¯s face only lasted for a moment, because in the next second¡­ He saw Xiaoyao, who had just gone to seek reinforcements! Qin Huai¡¯s eyes flashed red. The speed of his feet suddenly increased. He suddenly pounced, his right hand directly grabbing the leg of the madly galloping horse! ¡°Ah!¡± Qin Huai roared in anger, and the strong horse that was running wildly was thrown to the ground by him. Pa! Along with his horse, Qin Huai smashed him into a bloody mess, his body twisting. The violent force startled Cheng Li, who was behind him. But then, the smile reappeared on his face. ¡°You¡¯re very smart. You know how to get rid of your master¡¯s worries, but¡­ how are you going to run now?¡± Cheng Li spurred his horse on and looked down arrogantly at Qin Huai, who had been surrounded by the cavalry during the momentary pause. He was like a judge, his eyes cold, looking at Qin Huai as if he was looking at a dead man. The two sides were separated by twenty meters, which was the best distance for the cavalry to charge to the peak of their speed. ¡°You tried in vain to poison the Pingnan military governor and fell into the path of evil, killing countless people of Pingnan. This military governor has decided to grant you the death penalty!¡± Hearing Cheng Li¡¯s preposterous words, Qin Huai took a deep breath. When a person suspects that you¡¯ve poisoned him, it¡¯s best if you really have poison. Not only did Qin Huai have it, but there were many of them. Silently, the poisonous mist in his long robe¡¯s sleeves scattered. ¡°Seventh Brother!¡± Someone behind Cheng Li shouted loudly. Immediately after, a person from the cavalry galloped his horse into the distance. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze turned to the side. Using his right hand as a blade, he directly cut off a thick branch beside him. The muscles on his right arm bulged, and his entire arm was slightly red. The qi and blood in his body were in turmoil. BOOM! The branch was like the sharpest sword in the world, directly piercing through a big tree. It pierced through the soldier who was trying to call for help twenty meters away and fell off his horse. ¡°Brat, you¡¯re really looking for death!¡± The killing intent in Cheng Li¡¯s eyes skyrocketed. ¡°Fine, since you want to die, I¡¯ll kill you first and then chase after you! It¡¯s just a few more hours!¡± Cheng Li was very calm, even though he was already in the seventh refinement realm and was the best in Pingnan. He didn¡¯t go first either. Instead, he ordered his soldiers to charge forward. The iron-blooded murderous aura made Qin Huai feel a piercing sharpness. He did not expect that one day, he would also fall into the formation of an army and end up in the same situation as the master of the Nantong Dojo. But¡­ The two of them were destined to have different endings. The ten riders crossed paths with each other as the halberd in their hands glowed with a cold light, sealing off all of Qin Huai¡¯s positions. These experienced soldiers were already used to facing people with higher cultivation levels. The soldiers pointed at Qin Huai¡¯s vital points. ¡°Qi shock scale armor!¡± Seeing the long halberd coming at him, Qin Huai responded to the changes by remaining unchanged. Bang! Bang! The long halberd pierced through his body, as if it had pierced through diamond and iron. Qin Huai grabbed a long halberd with one hand, and a terrifying force rose again! He lifted the rider with his horse. The rider did not let go of the halberd, and Qin Huai swept in all directions with his weapon. Chapter 137 - 137 A New Poison 137 A New Poison In an instant, the seven of them were swept off their horses by Qin Huai¡¯s tremendous force! Qin Huai suddenly threw the halberd into the sky. He clenched his right fist tightly, and his eyes were filled with killing intent. ¡°Spirit rainbow! Rolling thunder force!¡± A wave of air along with an electric arc was suddenly released from Qin Huai¡¯s fist. It was a combination of the long breath technique and the rumbling thunder skill! A meter away, the chest of the soldier in armor caved in instantly. Blood spurted out from the corner of his eyes and mouth. Hu Jinghai, who was on Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, was caught, and his free left hand followed the same pattern! The three cavalrymen wailed in the air and fell off their horses. Hu Hu Hu ¡­ The dancing halberd fell. Qin Huai instantly grabbed the handle and pointed the tip outward. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Green)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +14!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +7!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +9!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s experience points started to increase rapidly. ¡°Kill!¡± Cheng Li¡¯s expression did not change, and he was even calm and composed. ¡°Brat, your vitality and strength are not bad, but even in Lingjiang county, you¡¯re considered a third-rate talent. ¡°Too bad these soldiers who have cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique know the four-directional tiger-wolf array. The more you kill, the stronger they will be! These three hundred riders will exhaust you to death in the end.¡± Another ten cavalrymen charged over. They were still repeating the same old formation. When they arrived at the place where the ten died, the new ten soldiers took a light breath, and a red light flashed in their eyes. However, they didn¡¯t notice that red light also flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. The four-directional tiger-wolf technique? He also knew it very well! Qin Huai calmly stuffed an antidote pill into his mouth, and the second pill was stuffed into Hu Jinghai¡¯s shoulder. Then, he used the white dragon energy to let it slide down. There was no other reason. Qin Huai had already started to increase the dosage. Every time he punched, poisonous powder would be released from his long sleeves and spread in all directions. However, it was concealed by his fierce attack. Time passed by¡­ The corpses under Qin Huai¡¯s feet grew in number. He began to step on the corpses to kill his enemies. Then, more and more corpses were added. ¡°Soon, soon. He¡¯s about to reach his limit.¡± Cheng Li squinted his eyes and muttered to himself. ¡°A terrifying seventy soldiers have already died on the ground, and that kid is already on the verge of collapse.¡± Qin Huai, who was in the middle of the field, was unmoved. The golden blood in his body was glowing, frantically repairing his body and his physical strength. However, Qin Huai had been acting the whole time, pretending that he would collapse at any moment. He stuffed Hu Jinghai directly into the pile of dead bodies and pressed him down. Then, he freed up his hands so that he could fully display his combat strength. ¡°I take back what I just said. With your endurance, you can be ranked as a second-rate hero¡­¡± Cheng Li narrowed his eyes. He looked at Qin Huai¡¯s state and vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn¡¯t tell. Finally, another thirty cavalrymen fell. Cheng Li¡¯s pupils suddenly widened. He had just seen Qin Huai and the charging cavalry gasping at the same time. A few intense red glints flashed in his eyes. He finally furrowed his brows and stared at Qin Huai¡¯s eyes and muscles to examine them closely! Yes! That¡¯s right! This was the four-directional tiger-wolf technique! ¡°That little brat! He¡¯s cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique!¡± Cheng Li¡¯s expression finally changed drastically. He realized that something was not right. This guy had cultivated the techniques of the army after cultivating the Changshan Dojo¡¯s techniques. ¡°Kill him! Everyone, surround him!¡± Cheng Li also spurred his horse and was about to charge toward Qin Huai. But the next second¡­ Qin Huai slowly took out a package from his chest. Bang! Bang! Under Cheng Li¡¯s gaze, Qin Huai suddenly raised the package. The powder that filled the air danced wildly in the surroundings under the push of his long breath technique! ¡°Vigor-chaotic dance!¡± BOOM! As if there was a gust of wind, the powder suddenly swept through the remaining two hundred cavalrymen. ¡°Everyone, hold your breath!¡± Cheng Li roared. Qin Huai sneered and ran to the side. It was too late! He had already planted the poison in everyone¡¯s bodies. The powder in his hand was only the catalyst. This was a new poison that he and his master had researched together. It could spread poison in a large area and detonate it with a primer! He was draped in his master¡¯s wide robe, his sleeves dancing in the wind in the snow-covered mountain forest. The poisonous powder that filled the sky swept toward Qin Huai¡¯s surroundings along with the wind and snow and Qin Huai¡¯s long breath technique. In just a few breaths, wailing sounds rang out around him. Boom¡­ Before they had even fallen, batches of warhorses had already been poisoned to death by Qin Huai in the forest. ¡°It¡¯s poison! No!¡± Cheng Li roared loudly, inwardly shocked. This kid really knew how to poison people. He had not been in Pingnan City for long, so he had only heard that the master and disciple of Changshan Dojo were good at poison. This was why he used them as an excuse to escape. And now¡­ The warhorses fell one after another, and the soldiers could not hold on any longer. One by one, they vomited blood and their bodies turned black. It was obvious that he had been deeply poisoned. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Green)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +20!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +16!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Green)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +121!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +10!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +9!¡± Before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, one experience ball after another quietly disappeared into his body. ¡°How dare you, you rascal!¡± Cheng Li¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he looked at the soldiers who fell one by one! Chapter 138 - 138 Giving His All 138 Giving His All Groups of soldiers fell to the ground. With a wave of Qin Huai¡¯s hand, more than a hundred people fell. Now, the original three-hundred-strong army was only left with around thirty soldiers. However, even though Qin Huai¡¯s poison formation had caused Cheng Li to suffer heavy losses, the other party was a martial artist who cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. Wisps of baleful qi could be seen flowing into his nose, and the cold glint and red light in his eyes intertwined. Luckily, the red light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes grew even more intense. There was no difference between the two in the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. ¡°Brat, you¡¯ve really made me look at you in a new light!¡± A full two hundred cavalrymen died. Even an ordinary sixth refinement martial artist would be able to injure him seriously. ¡°You, on the other hand, are still full of energy.¡± Cheng Li¡¯s eyes were filled with anger and admiration. ¡°A little brat like you is intelligent and bold¡­ Given time, you will definitely be able to accomplish great things. ¡°But it¡¯s a pity¡­ You¡¯ve offended too many people. That person colluded with Hu Guanpan and offended General Song, who was already in the bone pattern realm. ¡°Also, if I¡¯m not mistaken, I should be the next lord of Pingnan City, Lord Cheng~¡± Cheng Li flipped off the horse. The poisonous substances in Qin Huai¡¯s hands were harmless to him, a seventh refinement realm martial artist with surging qi and blood. ¡°You are destined to die here.¡± Qin Huai was silent, though. The poisonous substances in his body were almost exhausted, so he only had a little bit of his true trump card that was effective against those at the sixth refinement and above. As for the golden blood in his body, it was now only the size of a grain of rice. This meant that he would temporarily lose his endurance, and he couldn¡¯t afford to make any more mistakes. And so, it was time to return to violence. Before Cheng Li could make a move, Qin Huai had already taken the initiative to rush toward him! ¡°Impudent! You still dare to attack me?¡± Cheng Li sneered. ¡°Blood clotting armor!¡± Under Cheng Li¡¯s skin, layers of blood mist seeped out and condensed into a deep red color on the surface of his skin. It suddenly became as hard as armor. The dozens of riders around them tacitly stopped where they were and watched the battle between the two experts. ¡°Dragon tiger killing form!¡± Cheng Li waved his fists and charged toward Qin Huai as if he had transformed into a wolf and a tiger. He looked at the young face in front of him and laughed wildly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more exciting in this world than killing a genius!¡± But Cheng Li¡¯s expression froze. Qin Huai, who had been exchanging punches with him, suddenly stopped. His fists turned into palms, and he suddenly raised them. A black and white object suddenly appeared in his sight. ¡°Four-sided blood shock! Die!¡± Cheng Li roared as he continuously punched the black and white powder in front of him. Even the blood mist in the surroundings seemed to form a barrier that corroded the poisonous powder. In the air, a terrifying sizzling sound of corrosion appeared. Cheng Li¡¯s face turned pale. If he were to really be hit by this poison, even if he didn¡¯t die, he wouldn¡¯t be able to look straight at his face. ¡°Just a small insect¡­¡± Hu! Cheng Li¡¯s rejoicing had yet to pass when Qin Huai¡¯s figure appeared before his eyes again. ¡°How can I, Cheng Li, be fooled a second time?! Four-sided blood shock!¡± He was the first to punch out, causing the surrounding blood mist to rise. The surrounding three meters became a blood-red world. After that¡­ He watched helplessly as Qin Huai charged into the blood mist. He was aiming for close combat! Cheng Li understood Qin Huai¡¯s true intentions this time. The sneer on his lips grew even more. ¡°You¡¯re looking for death!¡± He cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique at the same time, but didn¡¯t he know that the technique was best at close-range combat? ¡°Boiling blood, third transformation!¡± Cheng Li roared madly, shouting out his moves every time. BOOM! In an instant, his entire body turned red. It was as hot as lava, and there was even a strange light shining from its body. Even his veins were red from the heat, and steam seeped out from his skin. Cheng Li¡¯s body seemed to have lost a lot of weight in an instant, and the red glow in his eyes became even more intense. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that there was no trace of a demon on his body, others would have thought that he was a demon. Qin Huai¡¯s body gradually turned red, but it was far less intense than Cheng Li¡¯s. Wisps of qi from his dantian seeped into his muscles and blood. Qin Huai¡¯s muscles began to swell, and white stripes began to appear on his chiseled muscles. Then, Qin Huai transformed a white dragon into a thousand wisps of aura and injected it again. The white stripes began to grow snake heads and scales, which stretched between the ¡®chasm.¡¯ There was even an additional touch of purple on the snakes¡¯ bodies. The lines on Qin Huai¡¯s body also started to become clearer. His muscles expanded once again as if they were being pumped with air. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± ¡°Blood dragon form!¡± ¡°Colossal blood dragon form! Hot breath spewed out of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth one after another, and his originally loose long robe was also about to burst. BOOM! The powerful and heavy fists collided, and the terrifying sound of air exploding reverberated in the empty and silent bloody battlefield. ¡°How can you be as strong as me¡­¡± The shocking change caused Cheng Li¡¯s gaze to start to tremble. He was a seventh refinement martial artist, but he was actually on par with Qin Huai? ¡°You¡¯re just a sixth refinement warrior!¡± Cheng Li¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets as he looked at Qin Huai¡¯s cold expression. The killing intent in his heart grew even stronger. ¡°Boiling blood, fourth transformation!¡± Cheng Li roared in anger. He had forcefully activated the fourth transformation, which could only be activated by those in the eighth refinement. And the price was to burn his lifespan! But he couldn¡¯t care so much. There was only one thought in his mind: kill Qin Huai! He had a premonition that if he didn¡¯t give his all, it was very likely that he would die at Qin Huai¡¯s hands. His premonition was very accurate and had never been wrong¡­ Chapter 139 - 139 Killing a Seventh Refinement Cultivator! 139 Killing a Seventh Refinement Cultivator! Thus, Cheng Li did not dare to be arrogant. Stab¡­ An electric arc suddenly appeared in front of Cheng Li¡¯s eyes. To be more precise, it was coming from Qin Huai. It was the forbidden technique of rumbling thunder, raging lightning! The purple lightning ball in his body also melted into thousands of lightning arcs and fused with his body and soul. The transformation of the two of them happened in an instant, and their distance from each other was just half a meter away. Bang! Bang! In an instant, the two of them punched out at the same time. The terrifying power, with the wreaking havoc of lightning, directly hit Cheng Li¡¯s body. Even the blood armor could not withstand Qin Huai¡¯s heavy punch. After all, the rumbling thunder skill was good at attacking, and the forbidden technique, raging thunder, had developed this point to the extreme. ¡°You¡­ cultivate all three techniques! Hmph!¡± Cheng Li grunted as blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth. His pupils trembled. ¡°How is this possible? How did you calm the qi and blood conflict of these three techniques when you cultivated them? These three fierce cultivation techniques are completely opposite to each other! ¡°You¡¯re cultivating three at the same time, and you¡¯re still at such a realm¡­ How could you still be alive¡­¡± Cheng Li looked at Qin Huai in confusion. He couldn¡¯t figure it out, and he couldn¡¯t understand it at all. The Qin Huai in front of him had exceeded his understanding. In the next moment¡­ Countless doubts turned into endless anger. ¡°How long can you last in this form? You won¡¯t be able to kill me in a short time!¡± As he spoke, the two exchanged more than ten heavy punches. Qin Huai was shocked. Indeed, a seventh refinement martial artist was much stronger than a sixth refinement martial artist. He had four buffs on him, but he couldn¡¯t kill a seventh refinement martial artist on the spot. At this moment, the last bit of golden blood in his body had been completely exhausted. However, he still had a final trump card, the forbidden technique, earthquake dragon. But Qin Huai would never make a move if he was not confident that he would be able to kill him in one shot. If the other party dodged it, it would be no different from ascending to heaven if he wanted to kill it later. The strength and tenacity of a seventh refinement martial artist far exceeded Qin Huai¡¯s imagination. However, Cheng Li was not in a good state at the moment. Blood kept flowing out of his mouth, and he could only defend himself from Qin Huai¡¯s attacks. The few counterattacks he made were like a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood. But he was smiling. ¡°I saw it! I can see that your power is weakening!¡± Cheng Li roared madly, continuously adding pressure on Qin Huai. However, he was still holding on. The blood armor on his body was broken and then repaired¡­ And then shattered¡­ Finally, at a certain moment, the blood armor on Cheng Li¡¯s body failed to be repaired. The skin color on his body also began to weaken. At this moment, Cheng Li suddenly noticed that Qin Huai¡¯s movements had slowed down for a moment. ¡®He¡¯s definitely at his limit! Now¡¯s my chance!¡¯ These words flashed through the minds of the two almost at the same time. But¡­ This was destined to be a one-man opportunity. A white-purple light spot suddenly enlarged in front of Cheng Li¡¯s eyes. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± On the other hand, Cheng Li only threw a super-heavy punch. BOOM! The space in front of Qin Huai exploded. Blood mist spurted out and splattered on the surrounding bloody ground. However, a fist was thrown out again from the blood mist. At the same time, Cheng Li¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°I¡¯m at the seventh refinement!¡± ¡°Earthquake dragon!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s right fist lit up again, directly breaking the fist on the spot. What he killed was a seventh refinement cultivator! ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Qin Huai threw out three attacks! His left and right fists glowed with white and purple light as he punched forward. There was a cloud of blood in front of his eyes, and he could no longer see whether Cheng Li was dead or not. There was only the feedback of a crazy hit. What he wanted to do now was to seize this opportunity and blow Cheng Li¡¯s head off on the spot! Rumble! A terrifying air explosion wrapped in the power of thunder and lightning exploded. Only half of Cheng Li¡¯s body was left, and he fell into a pool of blood at Qin Huai¡¯s feet. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (White)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +3666!¡± Qin Huai panted heavily, inhaling the air that reeked of blood into his lungs. The surrounding forty or so soldiers were stunned when they saw Qin Huai standing alone in the blood mist of the battlefield. The restless warhorses under them were so anxious that the hands of the soldiers holding the reins were bleeding non-stop. ¡°Kill!¡± the leader of the riders shouted. More than forty cavalrymen charged forward at the same time! His eyes were filled with fanaticism. Such a head was enough for them to be promoted to higher ranks! ¡°You¡¯re looking for death!¡± Qin Huai suddenly threw an upper hook forward. His long arm pierced through the entire armor and the horse¡¯s neck, and he grabbed the figure on the horse¡¯s back with one hand and gave it a fierce whip. Bang! Bang! The soldier was directly stuffed into the broken neck of the horse. His entire body was folded from the back, causing him to die on the spot. ¡°Qi shock scale armor!¡± Qin Huai suddenly raised his qi armor, turned around, and grabbed. Stab! The soldier was stunned. The halberd had actually pierced through the qi armor and pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± Qin Huai let out a furious roar as he grabbed the halberd and dragged both the man and the horse down. The heavy fist smashed down and directly penetrated the man¡¯s chest. However, his raging lightning was passively dispelled, and his colossal blood dragon form also dissipated. Even the white color between his muscles started to fade. His body was already a little out of control. Without the golden blood to restore the white dragon, Qin Huai could only dispel the blood dragon form to allow his dantian to reform a broken dragon. Qin Huai knew that he was reaching his limit. He pulled out his halberd and mounted the horse. With his waist as the axis, the halberd in his hand drew a circle around his body. Even the warhorses around him had their throats slit. With a flying halberd, Qin Huai pinned the person in front of him to the ground. Then, with a single step, he pulled Hu Jinghai out of the pile of corpses and immediately ran off into the distance. Chapter 140 - 140 Qin Huais Fate! 140 Qin Huai¡¯s Fate! Qin Huai seemed to have heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance. Perhaps someone had successfully informed them about him on the way. Qin Huai gritted his teeth, but there was no one behind him. Stab! He tore off all of Hu Jinghai¡¯s clothes and cleaned up the bloodstains on his body. Then, he ran for another ten miles. Qin Huai¡¯s consciousness started to blur. In his daze, he found a deep hole in the tree and stuffed Hu Jinghai inside. ¡°I¡¯ve already tried my best. It¡¯s all up to your luck to survive.¡± Qin Huai was indeed exhausted. He wasn¡¯t able to turn a blind eye to Hu Jinghai as he had been at his peak. Immediately after, Qin Huai changed his direction and sprinted toward Lingjiang county. After an unknown amount of time, it could be fifty miles, or it could be five hundred miles¡­ The originally blurry world before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes completely melted away, and he sank into darkness. Bang! Bang! Qin Huai¡¯s head fell to the ground, and he completely lost consciousness. ¡­ On the other side, Sun Yuanshan and the others, who were on their way, suddenly stopped. That was because two figures were in front of them, blocking their way. The person in the lead had a red dress with a red veil, and her stunning white and slender legs were exposed in the snow. Even some of the disciples who were fleeing could not help but feel their hearts sway. ¡°Miss Shaoxiang? Are you trying to kill us too?¡± Sun Yuanshan clenched his fist. This was the first time he had seen the top courtesan of Overflowing Fragrance, whose name had shaken Pingnan. Although this person was young, she was about the same age as Qin Huai. But her aura seemed to be¡­ far superior to himself! He was at the seventh or even eighth refinement! As expected of someone from the Li family of the Nine Dragons sect in Lingjiang. She should have been the strongest person in Pingnan. ¡°Dojo Master Sun, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Shaoxiang looked into the crowd, but she did not find the person she wanted to see. ¡°Your Changshan Dojo was originally a branch of the Nine Dragons sect in Pingnan City. ¡°However, because Pingnan was poor and no talented people went to the Nine Dragons sect for a long time, your relationship with the sect gradually broke. ¡°Your departure this time will make Lingjiang acknowledge your ancestors and clan. I can also save your lives.¡± Shaoxiang explained as she threw a bronze waist token to Sun Yuanshan. The words ¡®nine dragons¡¯ were carved on it. ¡°Show this, and you can enter and leave Lingjiang.¡± ¡°Many thanks, Miss Shaoxiang! Sun Yuanshan will never forget this great kindness in his life!¡± Sun Yuanshan was so serious that he even wanted to kowtow to Shaoxiang. However, Miss Qingshui, who was at the side, quickly came forward to support him. ¡°Grandpa Sun, if you kowtow to Miss at your age, what would the others think?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Sun Yuanshan forced a smile. ¡°In order to save us, Huai¡¯er led Hu Jinghai to draw away the pursuers.¡± He knew who Miss Shaoxiang was thinking about. He just didn¡¯t know how his disciple had managed to make Miss Shaoxiang so deeply concerned and unable to forget him with just two short meetings. Miss Shaoxiang was silent for a moment, then said, ¡°How can we find Qin Huai?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Sun Yuanshan replied bitterly. In the vast wilderness, no one knew where Qin Huai had gone. ¡°Many thanks, Master Sun!¡± Miss Shaoxiang cupped her fists and then walked past the crowd with Qingshui. ¡°Master, do you think Junior Brother is still alive?¡± Qi Yangbing asked. ¡°He¡¯s definitely alive!¡± Sun Yuanshan¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°To be able to cultivate one more white dragon than us, he can¡¯t be an ordinary person.¡± ¡­ ¡°Miss, are you really going to look for him?¡± Miss Qingshui sighed. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to find a person in this vast land of a thousand miles. Maybe the Daoist from the Green Cloud Temple was just talking nonsense? Now, Pingnan City is gone¡­¡± Miss Shaoxiang just said, ¡°We¡¯ll search along this road for a day. If we can¡¯t find him in a day, we¡¯ll go back.¡± ¡°What if you find him? Didn¡¯t the family head say that Song Ya and Hu Guanpan are irreconcilable enemies? Now that Qin Huai has helped Hu Guanpan¡¯s son escape, Song Ya and the county governor will definitely not let Qin Huai off!¡± Miss Qingshui said earnestly. ¡°If the Daoist was talking about Qin Huai, then I will definitely find him on this trip.¡± Miss Shaoxiang was firm. ¡°No matter what, it¡¯s still because our Li family was suppressed too badly by the Zhang family in the Nine Dragons sect. That¡¯s why Miss is so obsessed with that Daoist¡¯s mumbling.¡± Miss Qingshui sighed, but there was nothing she could do. The sun and the moon rotated. In the blink of an eye, Miss Shaoxiang had searched for a day. She raised her head and saw that the sun had already risen. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to go back. It seems¡­ we won¡¯t find Qin Huai.¡± Miss Shaoxiang was a little melancholic. Could it be that the Daoist was lying? Now, it was not Qin Huai, and Pingnan City was gone¡­ Did the heavens want her Li family to be destroyed? Miss Shaoxiang was riding a horse, madly galloping through the forest. Hualala¡­ At midnight the next day, it rained heavily. The torrential rain poured down like an ocean, making the two unable to see the road. Miss Shaoxiang and Qingshui had no choice but to find a tree hole to shelter themselves from the rain. ¡°Miss, come in quickly!¡± Bang! Bang! Miss Shaoxiang suddenly staggered and then stood in place in a daze. ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± Qingshui saw that her young miss was not moving and quickly ran forward. After that¡­ She was also stunned. He saw a figure lying under the torrential rain. It was none other than Qin Huai, whom Miss Shaoxiang had already given up on searching for. ¡°It¡¯s heaven¡¯s will.¡± Shaoxiang¡¯s face bloomed with a brilliant smile. ¡°It¡¯s definitely him! The Daoist didn¡¯t lie to me.¡± Miss Shaoxiang hurriedly helped Qin Huai up from the ground. At this moment, Qin Huai¡¯s face was frighteningly pale. He leaned on Shaoxiang¡¯s shoulder in a daze and didn¡¯t wake up. ¡°He¡¯s still alive¡­¡± Qingshui touched Qin Huai¡¯s nose and even leaned on him to listen for his heartbeat. ¡°He¡¯s really still alive!¡± ¡°Is this guy a monster? He managed to escape alone from Cheng Li and three hundred armored soldiers. How did he escape? If you want to escape from the cavalry, you¡¯ll have to kill everyone¡­ I can¡¯t figure it out, I can¡¯t figure it out.¡± Qingshui shook her head. She could only start a fire. That was because their young miss had already excitedly started to take care of Qin Huai. It was obvious that she had already determined that Qin Huai was the person who could save the Li family. ¡°Miss, if we really save him, Song Ya and the county governor will definitely put pressure on the master. If we want to protect Qin Huai, we¡¯ll probably have to make a lot of concessions. In addition, the Li family is weak to begin with, and all power is on the Zhang family¡¯s side. I¡¯m afraid the first one to disagree will be the family head¡­¡± Although Qingshui was unwilling, she still poured a basin of cold water on him. ¡°The Li family¡¯s death will only be delayed by a few years if we continue to drag this on. Why don¡¯t we give it a try?¡± Miss Shaoxiang gritted her teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s bring him back first and see how things go¡­¡± Chapter 141 - 141 Regaining Consciousness 141 Regaining Consciousness It was a pitch-black world. The intense argument allowed Qin Huai to find a ray of light. Immediately, an unprecedented fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, and the world began to show colors. Qin Huai frowned slightly, struggling to see the world in front of him in a daze. It seemed to be a bright red curtain, and he felt a warm sensation under his body. It seemed to be some kind of animal skin. Where was this place? The last thing he knew, he was being chased. Qin Huai tried his best to turn his head and look at the source of the sound. He tried to hear the conversation clearly. ¡°Kill him. Son-in-law¡­ County governor¡­¡± What was that? Did he transmigrate again? Squeak¡­ With the sound of the door closing, Qin Huai saw two white and slender things approaching him. It was probably a pair of human legs. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Qin Huai felt his body become lighter as he was lifted up. ¡°Young Master Qin, it¡¯s time to drink your medicine.¡± Something warm and bitter seemed to have been fed into his mouth. Lotus seeds, lilies, bezoar, and spirit-waking grass. It was a refreshing soup¡­ Memories came back to him unconsciously, helping Qin Huai analyze the ingredients of the thing in his mouth. Gradually, Qin Huai regained his consciousness. ¡°Miss Shaoxiang?¡± He looked at the young girl in front of him, and his thoughts suddenly connected. ¡°It was you who saved me¡­¡± Qin Huai wanted to thank her, but his body still refused to listen to him. The battle had emptied him of everything he had. Miss Shaoxiang smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t save Young Master. It was fate that brought us together.¡± ¡°No matter what, I still owe you a life.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was solemn. ¡°I will never forget this great favor! In the future, if you need my help, Miss Shaoxiang, feel free to look for me!¡± ¡°Then Young Master Qin will be my husband to repay me.¡± Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s face was solemn as well. ¡°What¡­¡± Qin Huai was stunned. He did not want to get married too early, especially in this dangerous fantasy world. Before he had the strength, he had no ability to protect his family. When Miss Shaoxiang saw this, she laughed bitterly. ¡°If Young Master doesn¡¯t want to, you might not be able to walk out of the Nine Dragons sect alive.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­¡± Qin Huai was even more stunned. The quarreling sounds he had vaguely heard earlier flashed through his mind. ¡°Because there are many people in the sect who do not wish to have an unpleasant relationship with General Song Ya, who is currently at the peak of his power, because of Young Master Qin, an insignificant person. And the best reason I can find to protect you is to become the husband of the Li family¡¯s first wife¡¯s daughter, the son-in-law of the Nine Dragons sect.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, he finally remembered the two big problems he was currently carrying. It was the commander of the army, General Song Ya. ¡°Phew. If that¡¯s the case, we can only rely on Miss Shaoxiang.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. When Shaoxiang heard this, a smile bloomed on her face. ¡°Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Li Shaoxiang, and I¡¯m the daughter of the Li family¡¯s head, one of the two major families in the Nine Dragons sect of Lingjiang county.¡± Qin Huai was a little dumbfounded, but he finally reacted. He had learned from his master that this Miss Shaoxiang was a member of the Li family. He had originally thought that she was just an ordinary Li family branch. After all, which major sect¡¯s important figure would deign to come to their tiny Pingnan City or even go to Overflowing Fragrance to serve? But he didn¡¯t expect that this Miss Shaoxiang was actually the family head¡¯s first wife¡¯s daughter. ¡°Miss Shaoxiang, do you know where my master is?¡± Qin Huai hurriedly asked. ¡°Young Master Qin, I am very sorry¡­ Even though I gave Senior Sun the Nine Dragons sect token when I met him, I don¡¯t know why they didn¡¯t come to Ling River.¡± Li Shaoxiang continued, ¡°But it¡¯s also fortunate that Senior Sun and the others didn¡¯t come to Lingjiang.¡± ¡°Why do you say so?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. ¡°There were a few people who escaped to Lingjiang today. They seemed to be disciples of Thunderbolt Dojo, and they were killed on the spot as soon as they were brought into the city by a lieutenant.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, he suddenly felt a chill down his back. ¡°Fortunately, Master is wise and brave. He dodged a disaster¡­¡± ¡°Miss! The head of the family is waiting for you in the meeting hall.¡± Miss Qingshui¡¯s voice came from outside the door. ¡°I know,¡± Li Shaoxiang responded. ¡°You might have to live in this room for the next few days. That General Song Ya is eager to know the whereabouts of Hu Guanpan and his men from you. ¡°Anyway, my husband can rest here first. There will be a doctor to check your pulse later.¡± Qin Huai nodded and watched Li Shaoxiang, who was wearing a red dress, leave. Bang! Bang! It was as if Qin Huai was the only person left in the world. ¡°I hope that Master and Senior Brothers are safe and sound,¡± he said in a low voice. Moreover, from Li Shaoxiang¡¯s words, that brat Hu Jinghai should not have been discovered. He had probably escaped. Qin Huai then began to size up the room. Only then did he realize that not only were the curtains bright red, but there were also red candles on the tables and chairs not far away. There were also some characters with the word ¡°yi¡± written in a hurry. Qin Huai lowered his head and looked at himself. He was also wearing red, and it was similar to Miss Shaoxiang¡¯s and the room. ¡°We¡¯re already married?¡± Qin Huai was startled, and he realized it a little later. He didn¡¯t expect to wake up as a man with a family. This kind of thing made Qin Huai a little flustered. He didn¡¯t like this kind of passive and insecure state, which was very different from his thinking. However, he did not have the strength to escape from General Song Ya. The only one he could use was the Nine Dragons sect. Moreover, this was his destination, so he could kill two birds with one stone. ¡°To be the husband of such a beauty and also the son-in-law of the Nine Dragons sect, one of the three major powers in the Yangtze River, what else do I have to worry about¡­¡± Chapter 142 - 142 Meeting the Family Heads 142 Meeting the Family Heads Qin Huai laughed at himself, but there was no expression on his face. ¡°Oh well, strength is still strength!¡± He felt his dantian. Now, only the white dragon was left alone. The original purple ball of lightning also turned into thousands of scattered lightning arcs that wandered wantonly in his qi and blood, slowly devouring them. However, Qin Huai¡¯s body was already numb, so he couldn¡¯t feel the pain. The fastest way to resolve his current condition was undoubtedly to restore his golden blood. At that time, everything would be easily solved. ¡°Medicinal herbs¡­ and realm.¡± Qin Huai began to think. ¡°Young Master Qin¡­¡± The door was pushed open, and a kind-looking old man came in, saying, ¡°I¡¯m here to diagnose you on the orders of the master.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble Mister!¡± Qin Huai was very respectful as he extended his hand. He was keenly aware of the abnormality in the way the old man addressed him. It seemed that not many people had acknowledged his status as a live-in son-in-law. Now, Li Shaoxiang was the only one who admitted it. The old man took her pulse, his expression as usual. Then, he naturally touched his bones. Finally, he brought over a bowl filled with black liquid. He pricked Qin Huai¡¯s fingertip with a silver needle and dripped a drop of blood into it, which suddenly split into seven thin threads. The old man¡¯s hands paused for a moment, then he took out two stones and did the same. Very quickly, the old man smiled and took back all the equipment. He said, ¡°Young Master Qin, you¡¯re only physically weak now. You¡¯ll be fine after two more days of rest.¡± As he spoke, the old man took out a black grass. ¡°This grass is called the black fish blood grass. It can quickly recover vitality.¡± Qin Huai looked at the black fish blood grass in front of him. He hesitated for a moment before swallowing it. ¡°Thank you, Sir!¡± The old man stood up and smiled at Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to trouble Young Master Qin to come with me.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°At the Nine Dragons sect meeting hall¡­ Young Miss is also rushing to the meeting hall.¡± Qin Huai looked at the old man, and the air seemed to fall silent for a moment. He knew that he had no chance to refuse. Qin Huai slowly stood up, forcing his weak body to walk out of the door with the old man. ¡­ ¡°Young Miss has really gone crazy. She really secretly married that Pingnan country bumpkin in her boudoir!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of bewitching soup that brat has fed the young lady.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this similar to what had happened to the Li family in the past few decades? He¡¯s been making stupid moves all this time, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s gradually losing his power and allowing my Zhang family to take control.¡± On the flat stone road, a group of old and young women and children in blue and white robes watched the stunning beauty in a red dress walk past them with her head held high. As they spoke, there was excitement, pity, jealousy, and gloating. Li Shaoxiang turned a deaf ear to this chatter. She firmly believed that they had entered the forest. Qin Huai was the one that the Daoist priest had mentioned, the one who could save the Li family! Otherwise, why would the heavens allow her to pick him up in such a vast forest of snow? Li Shaoxiang¡¯s pace suddenly slowed down, and she turned back to look. ¡°My husband, why are you here?¡± ¡°Just now, the doctor said that it was on the orders of the family head¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Shaoxiang¡¯s stunned expression and immediately knew that this was probably not an order from the head of the Li family, but from another family in the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Then Zhang Wu¡­¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Husband, don¡¯t say anything later. Just leave everything to me.¡± The two of them walked side by side. In front of him, he saw a plaque on the magnificent pavilion that was over a thousand square meters in front of him, with the words ¡°meeting hall¡± written in vigorous and powerful brush strokes. The stone pillars had been worn down by time, but they did not show any signs of damage. On the contrary, they gave off a grand aura. Li Shaoxiang took a deep breath and stepped in. Reflected in her eyes were more than a hundred green-robed poplar chairs lined up in a row, stretching from the front of the hall to the end. At this moment, these chairs were all filled with people. She walked straight to the deepest part. Two men were sitting high on the left and right main seats. The man on the right with a pretty face and a somewhat feminine look was the current head of the Li family and also Li Shaoxiang¡¯s father, Li Zeren. On the left, the burly man with a rough face was Zhang Wu, the head of the Zhang family, who had the highest reputation and strength in the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Since everyone is here, let¡¯s start the meeting,¡± Zhang Wu said in a low voice. As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man in the lower seat said, ¡°Miss Li¡¯s actions are too absurd. As the young lady of the Li family, your words and actions are of great importance! Besides, it¡¯s marriage.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be your Zhang family¡¯s turn to point fingers at my marriage.¡± The man sneered. ¡°But you¡¯re the young lady of the Li family. Of all people, why did you have to marry someone Song Ya wanted to kill? Are you really trying to make things difficult for Song Ya?¡± ¡°According to Uncle Zhang Wu¡¯s intentions, I, a branch personnel of the Daoist school and the Nine Dragons sect, am recruiting geniuses. Just because Song Ya wants to kill someone, you have to obediently hand over your own genius?¡± ¡°What?¡± Uncle Zhang Wu was at a loss for words. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t mean that. Hahaha¡­ After not seeing you for several years, Shaoxiang¡¯s tongue has become even sharper.¡± The rough-faced Zhang Wu spoke in a weak scholar¡¯s tone, which was very out of place. ¡°Of course, the Nine Dragons sect is not afraid of Song Ya. However¡­ There was a trade-off and a benefit in everything. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth it to offend Song Ya for a pretty boy from the countryside of Pingnan. For a great sect, our reputation is their benefit.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s voice didn¡¯t change. ¡°If we hand over the son-in-law of one of the two families just because of Song Ya¡¯s words, wouldn¡¯t the Nine Dragons sect become a joke in Lingjiang?¡± Chapter 143 - 143 Ten 143 Ten-dragon Patterned Bone ¡°So you¡¯re using this to threaten me. No, threatening the Nine Dragons sect, right?¡± Zhang Wu squinted his eyes and looked down at Li Shaoxiang. Qin Huai finally understood why he had gotten married in his sleep. This was Li Shaoxiang using her innocence to save his life. ¡°No! No!¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s voice suddenly became louder, and her eyes became fanatical, ¡°My husband is not just ¡®good-looking.¡¯ He will become the hope for the Nine Dragons sect to regain its glory! My husband will make the sect look at you in a new light!¡± ¡°It¡¯s to save your Li family, right¡­ Just because of a few words from that old Daoist from the Green Cloud Temple?¡± Zhang Wu sneered. ¡°You should know that the Green Cloud Temple is also one of the sub-sects, and it¡¯s also a wild temple. I guess they can¡¯t wait for our Nine Dragons sect to fall into eternal damnation. He would be kind enough to save you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already verified that this is the will of the heavens.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s expression was firm and fanatical. ¡°I¡­¡± But just as Zhang Wu was about to speak, an old man jogged past him and whispered something into his ear. Qin Huai looked over and saw that the person was the one who had taken his pulse and tested his blood. The two of them glanced at him from time to time, causing him to feel a chill run down his spine. A few moments later, Zhang Wu¡¯s fingers lightly tapped on the armrest before he slowly said, ¡°Shaoxiang, since you insist on protecting him, then as his wife, you should at least show something to prove that he¡¯s useful, right? Otherwise, even if we elders don¡¯t take it to heart, the disciples and deacons below will inevitably be resentful. After all, protecting him can¡¯t be solved by just talking. Many disciples¡¯ interests have to be given away.¡± What Zhang Wu said was the truth, but also a hint. If he didn¡¯t make the Li family bleed a little more, how could he give in so easily? ¡°The Darksteel Mountain in the east, the right to mine it for a year is yours.¡± Finally, Li Zeren, who was beside him, spoke for the first time. ¡°Good! As expected of the head of the Li family!¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s eyes lit up. This Darksteel Mountain could bring the Li clan a profit of 10,000 vitality pills every year. It was priceless! As soon as Li Zeren opened his mouth, the elders who were sitting down almost stood up. However, they held it in and clutched the sides of their chairs. A cracking sound slowly rang out in the meeting hall. They also looked at Qin Huai with great dissatisfaction. Zhang Wu revealed a satisfied smile. ¡°But it¡¯s not enough. Since you said that this Qin Huai is exceptionally talented, how about we let him enter the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s core disciple ranking within two years? If he can¡¯t do it by then, how about we add another year?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Li Shaoxiang said without thinking. Li Zeren was silent. He looked at his daughter, who had a fanatical confidence in her eyes, and smiled bitterly in his heart. ¡°Alright,¡± he said and nodded his head in agreement. Now that the wood has been cast into a boat, he could only hope that this young man could really bring about a change in the situation as his daughter had imagined. From the beginning to the end, Qin Huai stood in the meeting hall and didn¡¯t speak. He looked at Li Shaoxiang, whose eyes were still fanatical, and roughly understood this woman. One person. She was a woman who believed in ¡®destiny.¡¯ He believed it a little crazily. But¡­ He would not let her down. ¡°Everything you lost for me today, I, Qin Huai, will return to the Li family ten times in the future.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm, but it had never been so powerful. ¡°No! Fifty times!¡± Li Shaoxiang said with a smile. ¡°This is definitely a drop in the bucket for you.¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Qin Huai smiled helplessly. ¡°Kid, you better be able to do it.¡± Li Zeren walked in front of Qin Huai and looked at the extremely weak young man. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, then there will be countless people who will use countless methods to kill you. This is your chance to repay my kindness, and also your only chance to live.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists solemnly. ¡°Go and recuperate first.¡± Li Zeren patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, causing Qin Huai¡¯s face to turn even paler. ¡­ Outside the meeting hall, in the Zhang family¡¯s residence. Zhang Wu looked at the old man in front of him. ¡°Is what you said true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s absolutely true. Sect Master knows that I have the ability to touch bones and test blood. ¡°That person¡­ Although he was only in the sixth refinement, he had raised seven white dragons. This is a miracle that has never happened since the establishment of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°With this kind of talent, if he can break through to the bone pattern realm, it will definitely cause a change! Ten-dragon patterned bone¡­ I¡¯ve never even heard of it in True Path sect.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes showed a touch of excitement as he continued, ¡°When he has raised ten white dragons and broken through to the bone pattern realm¡­ As long as we strip off all of its bone patterns and place them on Young Master¡¯s body¡­ there¡¯s no one in the younger generation of Lingjiang who can match him!¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s eyes also flashed with a touch of excitement, but then it was replaced with worry. ¡°How confident are you about the bone replacement?¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve lived to this age because of the bone changing technique! That¡¯s why I¡¯m still alive and well at the age of 130, with my bones and muscles so strong. ¡°I¡¯m already very skilled in changing my own bones, let alone changing the bones of others. It would only be easier.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Wu¡¯s smile became brighter. ¡°But how are you going to control that Qin Huai? If his cultivation is successful, I¡¯m afraid we will have to go through a lot of trouble¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already fed him the black fish blood grass.¡± Master Physician Xu sneered. ¡°It¡¯s a great supplement at any time, but there will be residue hidden in the body that won¡¯t be dissolved for years. As long as you add a medicinal catalyst, you can make him die instantly!¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have to rely on you, Miracle Doctor Xu!¡± Zhang Wu waved his hand, signaling for the miracle doctor to leave. ¡°The Ten-dragon patterned bone¡­ Maybe what Li Shaoxiang said is true. If that kid grows up, he really has a chance to make a comeback for the Li family.¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the young man who will shock the sect won¡¯t be Qin Huai, but my son.¡± ¡­ ¡°Husband, why do you need so many things to replenish your qi and blood? And¡­ aren¡¯t they all poison?¡± In the boudoir, Li Shaoxiang¡¯s face was red, and she was a little confused. ¡°These are for me to replenish my qi and blood. These poisons are for detoxification.¡± ¡°Detoxify? Husband, you¡¯re poisoned?¡± Li Shaoxiang was shocked. She had sent someone to guard the room at midnight. ¡°Yes, but it was resolved very quickly. It can also be used as a great tonic.¡± Chapter 144 - 144 Blood Dragon Platform and Azure Dragon Pass 144 Blood Dragon Platform and Azure Dragon Pass Regarding the poison that Doctor Xu had given him, when Qin Huai saw the black fish blood grass, he already understood. Qin Huai and his master, Sun Yuanshan, had already discussed this ¡®time bomb¡¯ type of poison a long time ago. During the battle with Cheng Li and the three hundred cavalrymen, he had also relied on this move to kill over a hundred men in one fell swoop. Its power was immense. Now that Doctor Xu had done this to him, it could be said that the poison king had added laxatives into his bowl, and the Qin sect had poisoned him. Qin Huai concocted a poison and downed it in one gulp. Hulalala¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s cheeks instantly flushed red, and his entire body was burning with sweat. That was the effect of the poison. It had completely dissolved the black fish blood grass in Qin Huai¡¯s qi and blood, turning it into pure qi and blood. At the same time, Qin Huai activated the blood heart technique. All of these poisonous substances could be used to refine his golden blood. Among all the cultivation methods, the cultivation method of the Sacred Heart sect was the most suitable for Qin Huai. The reason was simple, it didn¡¯t look at talent. He only needed to devour these qi and blood objects. Qin Huai¡¯s face was now visibly rosier. He combined all the medicinal herbs in front of him and refined them with the blood heart technique. At his dantian, a grain-sized drop of golden blood slowly formed. Wisps of white qi also began to revolve around the golden blood, strengthening it slowly. However, his current speed was still too slow, and he needed a large amount of golden blood. ¡°Husband¡¯s medicinal skills are really amazing. Even poison can become a great supplement.¡± Li Shaoxiang looked at Qin Huai with a fanatical gaze, his eyes full of worship. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Li family¡¯s days are a little hard. Today, you¡¯ve even sent them out of the Darksteel Mountain, making things even worse.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s expression darkened again. ¡°My father and I only have this much. We can¡¯t find so many nourishing things for my husband to recover for the time being.¡± Qin Huai was surprised and looked at Li Shaoxiang¡¯s gloomy expression. He had a deeper understanding of the Li family¡¯s current situation, especially today in the meeting hall. Almost all of the people there were from the Zhang family. Besides being discontented with Zhang Wu, many members of the Li family were more discontented with Zhang family. However, the Li family had been enduring it all this time. It was obvious that this had not started recently. ¡°Is there any way to obtain these great tonics?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Of course there is. The Blood Dragon Platform tests one¡¯s vital energy and strength, and the simplest and most straightforward test is the White Dragon Forest. The last one is the Azure Dragon Pass. ¡°The trials of blood, white, and azure involve all the disciples in the sect. They would rank them all, and the number of points the disciples can get at each level is different. You can get nine dragon points, which are all hard currency in the sect. They can be exchanged for vitality pills, as well as the sect¡¯s armor, weapons, and talismans.¡± Li Shaoxiang was very familiar with the sect¡¯s methods of making money and told Qin Huai about them. The Nine Dragons sect was a big sect. It would not be like the time at the Changshan Dojo, where the disciples had to rely on mining and forging for income. Within the Nine Dragons sect, there were a huge number of service disciples who provided everything for the cultivation disciples. But the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect also had to work. Their job was more to eliminate evil and defend the Dao. Or, they could rely on the bounty offered by the county or the towns below to earn money and train their combat abilities. ¡°Am I considered a disciple of the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Of course!¡± Li Shaoxiang nodded. ¡°Then what are the conditions to become a core disciple of the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°There are two ways to become a core disciple. The first is to reach the bone pattern realm or to enter the top thirty in both the Blood Dragon Platform and the Azure Dragon Pass. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing that I want to make clear to my husband. The Nine Dragons sect disciples, elders, deacons, and even the service disciples are all divided into two groups. ¡°One faction is the Li family, the other is the Zhang family. The two families will also use the rankings of their disciples in these three trials to split the profits and compete for power. So, if someone from one side stands out, the other side will not hesitate to suppress them.¡± Qin Huai frowned when he heard this. ¡°Isn¡¯t this an internal fight? In the long run, wouldn¡¯t it be hard to say if the Nine Dragons sect can still maintain its status as one of the three major forces? It might even split!¡± Li Shaoxiang sighed. ¡°That¡¯s right. Whether it¡¯s Father or Zhang Wu, everyone knows it. But there¡¯s no other way. When one side rises, the other side is destined to fall. No one is willing to submit to the other unless an absolute powerhouse appears to suppress the two sides¡­ ¡°However, the two families¡¯ strength has already been imbalanced for a long time. As time passes, the gap between the two families¡¯ power will only grow bigger and bigger. Perhaps it won¡¯t be long before the Li family is completely devoured by the Zhang family.¡± Qin Huai looked at the nourishing items in front of him and understood. ¡°I will help you,¡± Qin Huai said in a low voice. Whether it was to repay Li Shaoxiang for saving his life, or for his future cultivation. The Zhang family was an opponent that he had to deal with. Furthermore, the Zhang family had poisoned him. Today, in the meeting hall, the doctor and Zhang Wu had looked at Qin Huai with strange expressions, which made him feel uneasy. Those people¡­ They were definitely plotting something against him. ¡®Weak. I¡¯m still too weak¡­¡¯ Qin Huai sighed in his heart. He paused and asked again, ¡°How¡¯s the war in Pingnan?¡± Li Shaoxiang replied, ¡°The demons have been destroyed by Song Ya and his army. Even City Lord Hu Guanpan¡¯s men have disappeared from Pingnan.¡± Chapter 145 - 145 Collecting Experience 145 Collecting Experience ¡°What kind of grudge does Song Ya have with Hu Guanpan that he would go all out to kill him?¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t understand. ¡°It is said that they were brothers who had gone through life and death for decades, but Song Ya betrayed Hu Guanpan¡­¡± Li Shaoxiang told Qin Huai all the stories she knew. ¡°No wonder he¡¯s so ruthless. So it¡¯s a guilty conscience.¡± Qin Huai furrowed his brows tightly. ¡°What a bastard he was to betray his best friend who had gone through life and death with him.¡± ¡°Husband, rest early.¡± Li Shaoxiang stood up and flicked her sleeve, extinguishing the candle. ¡°I¡¯m afraid my husband¡¯s qi and blood are not good. It won¡¯t be too late to continue the consummation in the future.¡± Squeak~ She pushed the door open and walked out with a red face. ¡­ Late at night. Letting out a long breath, Qin Huai changed into the green and white robe of the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect and walked to the top of the mountain alone. Lingjiang was built against a mountain, and the entire county city was slanted and hung on the mountain, which was very strange. As for the Nine Dragons sect, it was built on top of the county. Qin Huai gazed at the city¡¯s resplendent and gorgeous lights, his eyes melancholy. ¡°I don¡¯t know where my master is now, and if my senior brothers are still being hunted down¡­ I don¡¯t know if Uncle, Auntie, and Luo Ya have settled down in the city,¡± he muttered. Now that he was being watched by Song Ya, he didn¡¯t dare to make any moves. Taking the initiative to find Luo Huatian and the others was no different from sending them to their deaths. ¡°I gave them a lot of demon meat before I left. In addition to the ten thousand taels of silver I earned from selling armor, they should be able to live a stable life even in a place like Lingjiang.¡± Qin Huai was silent for a moment before adding, ¡°I¡¯ll visit them when I¡¯m able to protect them.¡± He descended the mountain and walked to the Nine Dragons sect, then stood at the door and looked around. In the crowd, there were many eyes staring at him. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were cold. He knew that these people were definitely Song Ya¡¯s men. As long as he walked out of the Nine Dragons sect, he would definitely be the one to die. He turned around and returned to his room, falling into a deep sleep. The next morning, Qin Huai stood up and put on the green and white robe of the Nine Dragons sect. Qingshui knocked on Qin Huai¡¯s door and said, ¡°Young Master, Young Miss asked me to bring you around the Nine Dragons sect.¡± ¡°It seems that Miss Shaoxiang has thought of this. I¡¯m afraid no one in the Nine Dragons sect will pay attention to me.¡± Qin Huai had a very clear understanding of his position in the hearts of the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re already married to the Young Miss, so I hope you can change the way you address us. Otherwise, it might be used against you.¡± Qingshui warned him. ¡°I know.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He knew that he was only temporarily safe. He was surrounded by wolves, tigers, and leopards, who could eat him at any time. The expressions of the people last night were still fresh in his mind. ¡°Young Master, where do you want to go first?¡± Qingshui led the way, leading Qin Huai out of the small house. ¡°The martial arts field,¡± Qin Huai blurted out. That was where his experience came from. The two of them walked in the direction of the martial arts field, one in front and one behind. Along the way, some of the disciples did not even bother to hide their disgust. There were also people who had looks of ridicule and mockery on their faces. It was like they were looking at a clown. It was sad to say that Qin Huai could easily distinguish between the Zhang family and the Li family when he first arrived. The ones who hated him were the Li family, and those who ridiculed him were the Zhang family. The people from both families were unwilling to acknowledge Qin Huai. Not long after, Qin Huai heard the sonorous and powerful sound of martial arts practice. After walking for another half an hour, he finally saw the dense crowd of martial arts practitioners. Qin Huai could not help but feel a ripple in his heart at the sight of the vast crowd. As far as the eye could see, there were at least a thousand people on the drill ground. ¡°How many martial artists are there?¡± ¡°The Nine Dragons sect has a total of five thousand warriors.¡± Hiss. Even though he was already mentally prepared, Qin Huai still couldn¡¯t help but gasp when he heard this number. The number of martial artists in one of the Nine Dragons sects was three to four times more than the entire Pingnan. Most importantly, The realm of the martial artists in the sect was more than a level higher than that in Pingnan City. To Qin Huai, this place was simply heaven. As he passed by the martial artists, the experience points around them dropped like a storm. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± Most of them only had a little bit of experience, but there were also terrifying experts. It gave Qin Huai the feeling that he was facing Cheng Li again. Blood refinement warriors above the seventh refinement seemed to be more difficult to deal with than before. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +129!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +155!¡± ¡°Are the martial artists above the seventh refinement any different from before?¡± Qin Huai finally asked. ¡°Of course. Young Master actually doesn¡¯t know this¡­¡± Qingshui was surprised. ¡°That¡¯s right. There¡¯s only one city lord in Pingnan City, Hu Guanpan, who is in the seventh refinement realm. Moreover, he has not really made a move.¡± Chapter 146 - 146 Getting Better 146 Getting Better ¡°Seventh refinement martial artists have refined their blood too many times, so they have already begun to cause a qualitative change in their body. It¡¯s a blood essence transformation that surpasses any of the previous ones, and this is not reflected in the blood essence, but in the physical body.¡± ¡°After the seventh refinement, a martial artist¡¯s body will become even more resilient and difficult to break. Some people can survive for a long time even if they lose a part of their organs.¡± Qin Huai quietly listened to Qingshui¡¯s explanation. In his heart, he compared it to Cheng Li from that day. It was no wonder that he had failed to kill Cheng Li with two earthquake dragons at close range. That guy even swung his fist out of the dust and blood mist, trying to kill him. Fortunately, he was nervous and sent him away in one breath. Qingshui put her hands on her hips and said with some spirit, ¡°That¡¯s why the three minor realms from the seventh to the ninth refinement are also called the great blood refinement. Martial artists before the great blood refinement realm can¡¯t be considered strong here.¡± ¡°As expected of a county,¡± Qin Huai said indifferently. ¡°Son-in-law doesn¡¯t seem to be discouraged at all.¡± Qingshui looked at Qin Huai¡¯s calm expression and felt a little disappointed. ¡°Ah, I will rely on my talent and hard work to reach the top, just like what I did in Pingnan.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm and firm. ¡°I hope so. This way, it would not be in vain for Young Miss to treat Young Master like this.¡± Qingshui put her hands together and waved them in all directions while mumbling ¡®Amitabha.¡¯ Qin Huai looked at Qingshui¡¯s actions and felt a little embarrassed. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect is a branch of the True Path sect. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not appropriate for you to chant Amitabha in public like this.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. That¡¯s true.¡± Qingshui quickly retracted her hand. After Qin Huai walked one round, his long breath technique¡¯s experience points rose to 8,000 points. With a thought, his personal panel flashed in front of his eyes. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 158] [Vitality]: 93.621 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 66, (2315/7000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 40, 221/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 44, 701/5000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 833/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 1/7], [Raging Lightning] [Stage: Level 6 Blood Refinement] ¡°The great blood refinement seems like only one step away.¡± Qin Huai looked at his own experience points. At this rate of eight thousand a day, he would only need four days to break through to the great blood refinement realm. ¡°I wonder where the White Dragon Forest is?¡± Qin Huai asked for directions. ¡°It¡¯s over there!¡± Qingshui pointed to the south, and Qin Huai saw a bamboo forest. ¡°That bamboo forest is the White Dragon Forest,¡± The two of them walked closer, and Qin Huai felt a gentle breeze brush past his face. ¡°There¡¯s a bejeweled qi pearl in White Dragon Forest. It¡¯s said that it can be activated to burst forth with power comparable to the white dragon. It¡¯s extremely friendly to martial artists who cultivate the breath control technique. The higher their realm, the closer they can get.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± This was the first time Qin Huai had heard of a treasured weapon. ¡°How do I prove my realm later?¡± Qin Huai asked again, feeling a little puzzled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem so troublesome to check one¡¯s cultivation level, right?¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s Master Bai in the White Dragon Forest who¡¯s in charge of recording the levels of the disciples in the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Qingshui chuckled. Qin Huai was speechless. ¡°I¡¯ll go in then.¡± He quickly walked into the forest, and the wind was indeed stronger. But it didn¡¯t matter. He walked over quickly. His body did not face much resistance due to the weakening of his qi and blood. Perhaps this was the special characteristic of the so-called treasured weapon. He kept walking until he finally saw a small green bamboo house. An old man wrapped in a cotton coat was sitting at the door. ¡°Senior¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Qin Huai.¡± ¡°Sixth refinement¡­ Let¡¯s go.¡± Master Bai wrote down Qin Huai¡¯s life on a piece of paper in front of him and then drew a six. Then, he groped around in the snow for a while and threw over a few long bamboo sticks. ¡°Many thanks.¡± Qin Huai caught them steadily. Seeing that Master Bai was so decisive, he didn¡¯t have any intention of talking to him. Hence, he could only leave quickly. After Qin Huai left, Master Bai raised his head and looked at his back. ¡°What a mixed qi and blood. It doesn¡¯t seem like a cultivation method that¡¯s similar to the long breath technique¡­ He¡¯s a little strange, that Qin Huai. Very interesting.¡± Master Bai emphasized Qin Huai¡¯s name a few times, and the thick ink seeped into the paper. ¡­ Qin Huai looked at the bamboo sticks in his hand. They looked more like the bamboo sticks in the hands of a fortune-teller where the word ¡®cross¡¯ was carved on them. ¡°This should be ten points¡­ It¡¯s a total of sixty points.¡± Qin Huai looked at the number in his hand. Then, he followed Qingshui to the treasure pavilion where he could exchange for nine dragon points. ¡°Snow lotus flower? White buds, one point for two¡­¡± Qin Huai asked for the prices of the herbs, feeling rather surprised. The Nine Dragons sect was indeed a big sect. Not only did they have these rare medicinal herbs, but their prices were also very reasonable. Hence, he did not hesitate and exchanged all sixty points for medicinal herbs in one go. They were all great tonics necessary for cultivating golden blood. ¡°Country bumpkin!¡± ¡°You¡¯re really a country bumpkin. You¡¯ve never seen the world before.¡± The mocking voices around him grew even louder. But Qin Huai didn¡¯t care. This was because these people were all clowns to him, and they would soon be shocked by his talent. He returned to his room and began to brew the medicine on the spot. ¡°These sixty points should be enough for me to recover more than half of my golden blood.¡± Qin Huai sniffed the increasingly rich medicinal fragrance, and his spirit was invigorated. After a long while, he put all the freshly-made medicine into his mouth. Then, he sat cross-legged on the bed and activated the blood heart technique. The powerful medicinal power condensed in Qin Huai¡¯s body. After a few moments, the golden blood that was originally the size of a grain of rice began to expand at a speed visible to the naked eye in his dantian. Soon, his golden blood had recovered to about fifty percent of its original state. Hu! A gale began to blow around the golden blood. Then, the white air current wrapped around it and started to ¡®breed¡¯ the white dragon. The purple lightning that had been scattered all over the place also began to condense in the same direction. ¡°I¡¯m getting better¡­¡± Chapter 147 - 147 White Tiger Armor 147 White Tiger Armor Outside Pingnan City, on an unremarkable mountain road, were a hundred cavalrymen dressed in black robes that stretched for ten miles. In the middle, there were nearly a hundred carriages. As they moved on the road, they left deep marks on the ground. The coarse cloth that covered the goods was stained with blood, giving them a mysterious feeling. A few black-robed figures stopped at the top of the mountain, then looked in the direction of Pingnan City. ¡°My lord, Hu Guanpan¡¯s forces have been completely annihilated. Pingnan City has been taken over by Song Ya¡¯s army from Lingjiang county,¡± one of them knelt down on one knee and reported to the bald man. The bald man looked at the battlefield in the distance and frowned slightly. ¡°Tsk, what a pity. If we hadn¡¯t met those bastards from the Sacred Heart sect, we would have arrived a few months ago. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with them, to actually send so many people from thousands of miles away to such a small place like Lingjiang and Pingnan¡­¡± ¡°What about our batch of white tiger armors? Without Hu Guanpan, a farm that has been cultivated for many years, it won¡¯t be easy for us to find someone who¡¯s willing to be a white mouse,¡± the tall man beside him said in a deep voice. ¡°What are you afraid of? This treasure can connect with one¡¯s flesh and blood, increase one¡¯s combat strength, and make ordinary soldiers as powerful as demons. Where can¡¯t you find someone who¡¯ll take it? As long as they have some ambition, they¡¯ll definitely be hooked after two years of contact.¡± The bald man¡¯s lips curled into an evil smile. However, looking at the barren land in the distance, he could not help but feel regretful. If Hu Guanpan¡¯s army were equipped with his own white tiger armor, it would not be as simple as four thousand soldiers. It was Si Qian who cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and knew the four-directional tiger-wolf array. And they were well-disciplined demons. Once such an army appeared, it would definitely become famous in a short time. In addition, the Hundred Weapons Mountain was secretly helping them. It was enough to compete with Lingjiang county head-on. This was exactly what the Hundred Weapons Mountain was happy to see, as they would be provided with a large amount of combat experience and specimens for research. At the same time, it was also where Hu Guanpan¡¯s troops were pointed at. It could be said that it was the best of both worlds. Of course, the white tiger armor also had a small flaw. It was just a little unstable, and if one was not careful, they could explode and die, or even become a demon. At the same time, this white tiger armor was also a bit of a shock to the common people¡¯s knowledge. If it was exposed, there was a risk of being killed by a group of people. However, if there were no flaws or risks, the white tiger armor would not fall into the hands of Hu Guanpan, the puny city lord of Pingnan City. ¡°Sigh¡­ This bunch of lunatics from the Sacred Heart sect¡­ I¡¯ll kill them all one day!¡± The bald man was furious. ¡°My Lord! I caught a little ghost in the forest.¡± Each of them carried a figure and strode over. ¡°Can¡¯t you just kill him?¡± The bald man was upset. ¡°He has the three-legged red cauldron jade from our Hundred Weapons Mountain.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The bald man turned his head and looked at the confused young man. ¡°Where did you get this three-legged red cauldron jade?¡± He took the Jade stone. It indeed belonged to the Hundred Weapons Mountain. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. It might be my master. No, it was probably my father who gave it to me.¡± The young man shook his head in confusion. His eyes were a little dull. The young man was Hu Jinghai, who had been stuffed into the tree hole by Qin Huai and had escaped by a fluke. He had been knocked out by his father¡¯s cup of wine in the city lord¡¯s mansion. In the middle of it, he seemed to have heard his master¡¯s call and smelled the strong smell of blood. In the end, he heard his master¡¯s last words, and the world fell into darkness. When he woke up again, he was already in a tree hole in a world of ice and snow. He had wanted to return to Pingnan to find out what was going on, but he found that he had no idea where he was. He had walked for a few days in a daze before he found this ¡®caravan¡¯ in the mountains. But now¡­ the other party did not seem to be a caravan. ¡°Your father?¡± The bald man raised his eyebrows and carefully sized up the young man¡¯s appearance. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me your father¡¯s name is Hu Guanpan?¡± ¡°You know my father?¡± Hu Jinghai¡¯s eyes immediately bloomed with brilliance. ¡°How¡¯s the war in Pingnan? How¡¯s my father?¡± ¡°The demons in Pingnan have been eliminated, but Hu Guanpan and his army should have been annihilated by Song Ya along with the demons.¡± The bald man grabbed Hu Jinghai with one hand and lifted him to the front. Hu Jinghai looked at the scenery in front of him, and the smile on his face instantly disappeared. As far as the eye could see, broken limbs were scattered on the ground not far away like weeds. It was like a living hell. ¡°Father! Big Brother! Master!¡± Hu Jinghai wailed. ¡°You can still cry for three more breaths. This is me giving Hu Guanpan face,¡± the bald man¡¯s cold voice sounded. Hu Jinghai¡¯s voice came to an abrupt end. ¡°Sir, may I ask who killed my father, big brother, and master?¡± From his fragmented memories, Hu Jinghai knew that there was definitely a conspiracy behind this. ¡°It should be County Governor Jiang and General Song Ya.¡± The bald man lazily threw Hu Jinghai to the ground. Plop! Hu Jinghai knelt in front of the bald man. ¡°Sir! I beg you to accept Hu Jinghai! Hu Jinghai is willing to serve you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a second refinement brat. The weakest of the people behind me is at the fifth refinement¡­ What¡¯s the use of having you?¡± The bald man¡¯s face remained cold. ¡°I¡­ Although my talent in cultivation is lacking, I¡¯ve been taught by my father since I was young, and I¡¯m familiar with the grudges between the influential and noble families in Jiang. If my lord wants to show off some of your skills in Lingjiang, Hu Jinghai will definitely be able to help!¡± Hu Jinghai shouted as he racked his brain to think of how useful he could be. He understood that he would never be able to avenge his father and master with his aptitude. Chapter 148 - 148 A Man with Great Ambition 148 A Man with Great Ambition The only people Hu Jinghai could rely on were the group of people in front of him. ¡°I only need to spend a month to find out what you¡¯ve just said.¡± The bald man was still uninterested. ¡°As long as my lord accepts me, I¡¯m willing to do anything,¡± Hu Jinghai shouted. However, the bald man beside him had already waved his hand and left the mountain. ¡°My lord!¡± Hu Jinghai stood up and pounced on the bald man, hugging his leg. ¡°Sir, please give me a chance!¡± The bald man just sent him flying with a kick and said, ¡°Let go.¡± The large group of people began to move towards the Ling River. For more than twenty li, Hu Jinghai continued to follow him tirelessly. He was repeatedly kicked away by the bald man, then got up, kicked away, and then chased after him¡­ Seeing Hu Jinghai charge at him again, the bald man finally didn¡¯t get tired of it. He had originally wanted to save the Hu family¡¯s lineage on account of Hu Guanpan¡¯s death by accident, but he didn¡¯t expect this kid to be like a dog skin plaster. ¡°Bring me a third-stage armor!¡± The burly man behind him was stunned. ¡°My lord, even a seventh refinement martial artist might not be able to withstand a third-stage armor¡­ This little brat¡­¡± But the bald man immediately looked over, and the killing intent in his eyes made the tall man shut up on the spot. Very quickly, a set of heavy armor appeared in front of Hu Jinghai. ¡°Wear this white tiger armor, and I¡¯ll give you a chance if you survive!¡± The bald man didn¡¯t even turn his head as he spoke from afar. The white tiger armor in front of him didn¡¯t have the appearance of armor that Hu Jinghai knew of. It only had the shape of armor. The white tiger armor was covered in white fur, and the ¡®iron ore¡¯ on the armor was a sticky black block that seemed to be trembling slightly. It looked more like a pile of wet soil. ¡®Strange. It¡¯s so strange¡­¡¯ Hu Jinghai looked at the white tiger armor in front of him and couldn¡¯t help but gulp. But soon, he made up his mind and lifted the white tiger armor. ¡®It¡¯s so heavy!¡¯ ¡°To wear this armor, you need to take off all your clothes and stick it to your skin,¡± the tall man instructed. Hu Jinghai nodded and immediately took off his clothes. He used all his strength to lift up the armor and put it on. He knew very well that if he wanted to avenge his father and the others, this man in front of him might be his only chance in this life. Bang! Bang! Hu Jinghai put on the entire white tiger armor. The sticky feeling became more and more obvious. In the blink of an eye, Hu Jinghai felt as if thousands of insects were crawling on his body and tearing at his flesh. ¡°Ah!¡± Hu Jinghai suddenly screamed in pain. Cold sweat poured down like rain. ¡°Remember to take back the white tiger armor after this,¡± The bald man heard Hu Jinghai¡¯s screams and replied indifferently. ¡°Yes!¡± the burly man said in a deep voice as he turned around and looked regretfully at Hu Jinghai, who was rolling around on the ground. The black, sticky substance began to climb up Hu Jinghai¡¯s limbs. He could even feel something drilling into his body and touching his bones. The bald man yawned leisurely. The young man beside him asked, ¡°My lord, what are we going to do next in Lingjiang?¡± ¡°Song Ya and the county governor have destroyed my many years of cultivation. How can I let them go so easily? I¡¯ll help them find some fun, and we¡¯ll find the next one in an instant. Now that Great You is on the verge of collapse, ambitious people are everywhere¡­¡± He was too lazy to go far and decided to find someone in Lingjiang county who could replace Hu Guanpan. Boom¡­ Suddenly, the bald man felt the ground shake, and he turned around in surprise. His pupils suddenly shrank, and the few people who were with him were all shocked. Hu Jinghai was actually running toward him. ¡°My lord, please give me a chance!¡± Hu Jinghai knelt on one knee, his eyes a little confused. His white fur was now dyed red with blood, and he looked extremely miserable. However, he felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment, and the power in his body surged. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± The bald man laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve really worn out my iron shoes in a long search, but I found it without any effort! You little brat, you¡¯re a natural white tiger.¡± The few people who were with him also had interesting expressions. No one had ever successfully survived a third-stage white tiger armor¡­ Moreover, this kid was only at the second refinement. He had great potential. The bald man got off his horse and walked to Hu Jinghai¡¯s side with a smile on his face. He helped him up. ¡°You¡¯re Jinghai, right? From today on, you are my disciple!¡± The bald man solemnly patted Hu Jinghai¡¯s shoulder. The difference in attitude before and after was like the difference between heaven and earth. ¡°Call for help. What are you still standing there for?¡± The tall man at the side also looked kind. ¡°Master!¡± Hu Jinghai immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed. The killing intent in his eyes started to burn. ¡®Father, Big Brother, Master¡­ I will definitely avenge you all!¡¯ ¡°Follow me to Lingjiang county! Let¡¯s go and meet the county governor and general.¡± After that, the group of people galloped forward on their horses. ¡­ After a day of cultivation, Qin Huai had used half of his golden blood to slowly nurture three white dragons. The most important thing was the scattered purple electric arcs in his body. Qin Huai had used his golden blood to separate them from his qi, blood, and muscles, and now they were slowly gathering back to their original position. As for Reihom¡¯s method of recovery after using the rumbling thunder forbidden technique, Qin Huai thought that it probably had something to do with the speed at which he cultivated the rumbling thunder skill. As for the recovery speed of his vitality, it was even faster. Qin Huai had already recovered seventy to eighty percent of his strength. ¡°Young Master, where are you going today?¡± Qingshui was waiting at the door, and Qin Huai could see her figure the moment he pushed the door open. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Blood Dragon Platform first.¡± Chapter 149 - 149 Nine Dragons Sects Number One 149 Nine Dragons Sect¡¯s Number One Qin Huai, who was wearing a long green and white robe, walked in front. ¡°What¡­ What is wifey busy with every day?¡± he asked casually, because he wanted to know more about the Li family and the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°When Miss left the Nine Dragons sect, it was actually considered an escape¡­¡± Qingshui stammered. ¡°Why?¡± Qin Huai was surprised, but when he saw Qingshui¡¯s expression, he blurted out, ¡°It can¡¯t be to escape the marriage, right? ¡± ¡°Young Master, how did you know?¡± Qingshui was surprised as this was top secret. ¡°This was what the Young Master guessed. Qing¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I know. Continue.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Qingshui then explained in a low voice, ¡°Back then, the family head actually wanted to arrange a marriage between the young miss and the young master of the Zhang family, so that the two families could put aside their past grudges and mend their relationship. They could work together to lead the development of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Old Master is looking for Young Miss¡­ but she had already listened to the old Daoist of the Green Cloud Temple and believed that the will of heaven was in Pingnan. In the end, she took me and escaped¡­ ¡°In addition, the elders in the family did not agree with Master¡¯s absurd idea of a marriage with his ¡®enemy,¡¯ so they gave up and let Young Miss live a peaceful life in Pingnan.¡± Qin Huai asked, ¡°Then why did your young miss choose a place like Overflowing Fragrance restaurant?¡± ¡°Because Overflowing Fragrance restaurant has many men.¡± The corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitched, and he couldn¡¯t find a reason to refute. It could only be said that Li Shaoxiang¡¯s way of thinking was shocking. ¡°Master has no son and only one daughter,, so there are many things in the Li family that Young Miss has to deal with. As for her, she has been vacant for many years, so naturally, she has to fill it when she returns this time,¡± Qingshui said. ¡°I see.¡± As the two of them spoke, they had already arrived in front of a platform that had been cut flat. On the stage, there were some blood-red stones of the same size, about the height of two people. In front of the blood-red stones, the young men went up one by one and lifted the stones with great effort, then put them down. Every time they lifted it up, the blood stone would emit a red light of different brightness. ¡°This is a blood stone. It¡¯s used to test one¡¯s vitality,¡± a gentle voice sounded from beside him. Qin Huai looked over as well. The person was dressed in a green and white robe. His long hair fell over his shoulders, and he looked carefree and kind. There was an aura that made people feel like they were bathing in the spring wind like their Senior Brother Qi Yangbing. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. May I know your name?¡± Qin Huai was a little surprised at this person¡¯s identity. In this huge Nine Dragons sect, this was the first person to talk to him. He moved closer to Qingshui, and the latter had already stood on her tiptoes and leaned close to his ear. ¡°Young Master, this person is the one I told you about, the young miss¡¯s former fianc¨¦. The son of the head of the Zhang family¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m Zhang Haoyue.¡± Zhang Haoyue stretched out his fair, womanly hand and cupped his fist. He then added, ¡°I¡¯m also Sister Shaoxiang¡¯s fianc¨¦.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s Senior Brother Zhang. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you!¡± Qin Huai was also very polite. Although the conflict between the Zhang and Li families was already like fire and water in the Nine Dragons sect, one should not slap a smiling face even if he didn¡¯t know the other party¡¯s intention. ¡°I came here today to thank Brother Qin.¡± ¡°Oh? Thank me for what?¡± ¡°Brother Qin might not know this, but even though I knew Little Sister Shaoxiang when we were young, we never had any romantic feelings for each other. Back then, the matter of Father and Uncle Li¡¯s arrangement gave me a headache.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Brother Qin for marrying Little Sister Shaoxiang, that I can finally get married to my cousin.¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Haoyue¡¯s side. There was an introverted woman who didn¡¯t dare to look others in the eye, holding Zhang Haoyue¡¯s arm. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to congratulate the two of you.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and shook his head, revealing a smile. ¡°Oh, how can there be any congratulations?¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face showed a touch of worry. ¡°Although the Nine Dragons sect is strong, the Zhang and Li families are like fire and water, and there are internal conflicts everywhere. I don¡¯t know how many resources have been wasted and how many talents have been buried. ¡°If this continues, in less than twenty years, the Nine Dragons sect will drop another level. Now, in order to bring the two families back together, I¡¯ve been racking my brains all night.¡± He shook his head in frustration and melancholy. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Brother Zhang to have such a broad vision. I really respect you.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression did not change. He maintained that smile with a very precise angle. ¡°I¡¯m not as good as Brother Zhang. I can only think about the safety of my family.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled bitterly. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re overestimating me. I only have such thoughts, and I don¡¯t have the strength. ¡°If we want the Zhang and Li families to mend their relationship, we must have an absolute expert who can suppress the two families with his strength. Then, we can slowly rectify the relationship between the two families. Unfortunately, my talent is limited¡­ ¡°I heard that Brother Qin made rapid progress in Pingnan City. You climbed to the top of Pingnan in just two years and showed your extraordinary talent in dealing with the great wave of demons,¡± Zhang Haoyue complimented. ¡°I wonder who Brother Zhang heard this from?¡± Qin Huai smiled. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect¡¯s influence is spread all over your river. Naturally, they have eyes in Pingnan as well. They send news every month.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. That¡¯s just the people in the city praising me.¡± ¡°Brother Qin is too humble. I think Brother Qin is trying to measure strength?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Then, I wish Brother Qin the best in splitting open the skies and obtaining first place in the Blood Dragon Platform.¡± Zhang Haoyue cupped his fists, then walked away with his cousin. ¡°Son-in-law, this Zhang Haoyue has an extremely high reputation in the Nine Dragons sect, especially among the younger generation. Even many of the Li family¡¯s young men look up to him,¡± Qingshui said as soon as she saw them leave. ¡°What¡¯s his cultivation level?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s number one among the younger generation, a heaven¡¯s favorite in the bone pattern realm!¡± Qingshui blurted. Even though she had stayed in Pingnan for a few years, she had never stopped receiving information about the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°His status is extraordinary, but he doesn¡¯t put on airs, and he¡¯s kind¡­ Who wouldn¡¯t like such a person?¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. ¡°But I still feel that that person is strange¡­¡± Qingshui frowned. ¡°Time will prove everything. One can¡¯t hide their true colors forever.¡± Qin Huai turned around and looked at Zhang Haoyue, who was standing not far away and watching them. The latter smiled and waved at him. ¡°I¡¯ll go up first and earn some points back.¡± Chapter 150 - 150 On the Blood Dragon Platform 150 On the Blood Dragon Platform ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I forgot to tell you. ¡°The three elders who guard the Blood Dragon Platform, White Dragon Forest, and Azure Dragon Pass are known as the three dragon elders. They are the elders and rare experts of the Nine Dragons sect who have reached the bone pattern realm. ¡°The one you met in the White Dragon Forest was Elder Sanlong. This is Elder Erlong from the Blood Dragon Platform.¡± Qingshui¡¯s mouth moved quickly. ¡°You must be very respectful. Don¡¯t make them hate you.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He tidied up his robes and walked quickly toward the Blood Dragon Platform. ¡°The Blood Dragon Platform tests both qi and blood as well as strength. The blood stone will only be used to measure the age of young people under thirty. I will be here watching.¡± In front of the Blood Dragon Platform, an old man with a head full of white hair and a haggard face sat on a bamboo chair. In front of him was a ten-meter-long bamboo table. There was a piece of rice paper as long as the table, and there was a gap on it, where thousands of names and levels were recorded. The old man seemed to write his name as he pleased. One was written in front, and the other could be written at the end. Then, he waited for the disciple who was checking the results to come over and finish before he wrote down the top score and ranking under his name. Qin Huai took a closer look. He found that the old man¡¯s name was traceable, and the position of his name matched the floor of the owner of the name. It was another expert. It was as if he could already tell how many levels each testee would have when they walked past. As expected of the Nine Dragons sect. The old man in the White Dragon Forest was the same, and the aura he exuded was quite astonishing. The innate advantage of the long breath technique was still too great, so it was very difficult for martial artists who cultivated the technique to weaken their qi and blood due to the increase in their lifespan. The most obvious example was his master, Sun Yuanshan. ¡®It seems that the Nine Dragons sect is the same. The older you are, the whiter your hair, and the stronger your combat power will be,¡¯ Qin Huai criticized silently. He watched as the old man wrote his name in the eight points column. ¡°Kid, what are you thinking about? Are you afraid of being embarrassed because there are so many people here?¡± Not far from him, a young man had a mocking expression on his face. Immediately after, a strong man walked over from Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°Hey, Qin-something, if you don¡¯t have much strength, your vitality isn¡¯t strong, and your mind isn¡¯t good enough. Why don¡¯t you turn around and go back now? If you can¡¯t overcome the threshold of the pillar here today, you will be ridiculed by the Zhang family no matter where you go.¡± It was obvious that this strong man was a member of the Li family. ¡°The main pillar? What¡¯s his standard?¡± Qin Huai looked at the muscular man. ¡°The sixth level is about the level of the sixth refinement disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. I remember that you¡¯re only at the sixth refinement.¡± Li Buxing said in a deep voice. ¡°For someone like you who comes from the countryside, no matter how impressive you are, you are still lacking in resources. It¡¯s far inferior to us using vitality pills as a resource since we were young.¡± ¡°His qi, blood, and energy are definitely not as good as ours.¡± ¡°Thank you for your good intentions, but I don¡¯t think I have any problems with it.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m not helping you.¡± Li Buxing sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a small matter for you to be ridiculed, but if you implicate the young miss and make her become crazy, it will be a disgrace to the Li family.¡± ¡°I probably won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why you!¡± Qin Huai, of course, wouldn¡¯t listen to Li Buxing¡¯s advice. He quickly walked to a blood stone. At this moment, everyone stopped the blood stones in their hands. They looked at Qin Huai without blinking, wanting to see what kind of person the young miss had brought back from Pingnan. Not far away, his cousin, Zhang Yu, held Zhang Haoyue¡¯s hand and said softly, ¡°Haoyue, how many points do you think this Qin Huai has?¡± ¡°About seven. A man who can catch Sister Shaoxiang¡¯s eye definitely can¡¯t be weak.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled. ¡°I truly hope that Qin Huai can surpass my imagination. This way, our Nine Dragons sect can also improve, right?¡± Zhang Yu raised his head and looked at Zhang Haoyue¡¯s smiling face, his eyes filled with infatuation. ¡°If there were more people like you in the family, Lingjiang would have long been under the control of the Nine Dragons sect.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t underestimate the heroes of the world.¡± Zhang Haoyue shook his head and was very humble. Meanwhile, on the Blood Dragon Platform, Qin Huai dragged the bottom of the stone with both hands and suddenly exerted force to lift the entire bloody stone. Boom¡­ The huge rock rose up, and the red light surrounding it also began to surge. ¡°Qin Huai, seven points.¡± The disciple beside him who was watching the light was slightly surprised. He had a whole new level of respect for Qin Huai. ¡°Tsk, he does have some ability.¡± The Zhang family¡¯s disciple pouted unhappily. ¡°It¡¯s true that this fellow is capable, but not by much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still stronger than him!¡± After seeing Qin Huai¡¯s performance, a small group of Li family disciples seemed to have reduced their hostility toward him. Zhang Wanyang snorted. ¡°Although Qin Huai¡¯s strength is not bad, he¡¯s only at the sixth refinement. Compared to Senior Brother Haoyue, this cultivation speed is far inferior.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a fool¡¯s dream for Miss to rely on such a guy to save the Li family.¡± ¡°The hope of our Nine Dragons sect still depends on Senior Brother Haoyue!¡± When the topic shifted to Zhang Haoyue, the Li family¡¯s anger immediately died down. ¡°Who is Senior Brother Haoyue? You mentioning him is no different from being a hooligan!¡± The disciples of the Li family curled their lips. It was obvious that Zhang Haoyue¡¯s status in their hearts was unparalleled. Li Buxing was also dumbfounded when he saw Qin Huai¡¯s results. He smiled bitterly. ¡°That¡¯s right. How could Miss¡¯s judgment be wrong?¡± Chapter 151 - 151 Two 151 Two-Faced ¡°It¡¯s a pity that this Qin Huai is a little young. Although he has talent, I don¡¯t know when he¡¯ll be able to mature.¡± As for Qin Huai¡¯s results, it was just a passing grade to the people who were watching. This also made their enthusiasm instantly disappear without a trace. No one would pay attention to an average person, especially in front of Zhang Haoyue, who was dazzling and unique. On the stage, Qin Huai looked at the quarreling crowd and couldn¡¯t help but feel that Zhang Haoyue was really a man of heart. But he did not show any emotional fluctuations. This time, he had only measured the difference in strength between him and the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. He didn¡¯t use boiling blood, dragon blood, or any other means. ¡°As expected of a disciple of the Nine Dragons sect. With about eighty percent of my qi, blood, and strength, I can only defeat a disciple of the Nine Dragons sect at the same level.¡± Qin Huai was obviously not satisfied with just this little bit of strength. Qin Huai walked up to the old man. The latter had already written down his results and ranking: 342. Qi and blood at the seventh refinement could only be ranked in the 300s among the younger generation¡­ ¡°Here, thirty-four points. If you maintain the ranking between 340 and 350, you¡¯ll be at thirty-four points every month after that.¡± Elder Erlong threw a bamboo stick. Qin Huai quickly held it tight. ¡°Congratulations Brother Qin, you actually have seven points.¡± Zhang Haoyue walked over from the side, his face full of smiles like a spring breeze. ¡°Brother Zhang is too polite. My insignificant skills are nothing in front of Brother Zhang.¡± Qin Huai was very humble. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m only at ten points. Brother Qin is only one step away from me. Besides, Brother Qin is only around seventeen years old. I¡¯m already twenty years old, an old man¡­ I¡¯m far from you.¡± Zhang Haoyue was ashamed of his inferiority. ¡°If Brother Qin were to be at my age, I¡¯m afraid you wouldn¡¯t be able to find a worthy opponent in Lingjiang county.¡± ¡°Brother Zhang¡¯s words are too much.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was slightly red, as if he was ashamed. Qingshui pursed her lips, and her shoulders twitched. She could tell that her son-in-law was faking a smile and was just being polite to Zhang Haoyue. With Qin Huai¡¯s unscrupulous and violent style in Pingnan, how could he have a red face? Qingshui was also shocked by Qin Huai¡¯s qi, blood, and strength. She knew very well that he was still hiding his strength. The violence that Qin Huai had displayed on the city wall that day was far greater than what he was showing now. ¡®This son-in-law¡­ It seems even in a place like the Nine Dragons sect where geniuses gathered, he is still a monster. Unfortunately, it is just as Zhang Haoyue said. Young Master is too young.¡¯ ¡°Brother Qin, I¡¯m also a first-rank commoner. I like to make friends with geniuses. I wonder if I¡¯ll have a chance to drink with Brother Qin in the future?¡± Zhang Haoyue invited. ¡°If Brother Zhang invites me, I, Qin Huai, will definitely go! I¡¯m obliged to do so!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was firm. At this moment, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes were a little wet. ¡°I seem to have seen the future of the Zhang and Li families if we join hands. It¡¯s a deal then!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡± The two of them hugged each other and parted ways. Qin Huai turned his head and stopped smiling. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He then went to the Hundred Treasure Pavilion to exchange for the medicinal herbs used to restore the golden blood, and only then did he walk toward the house. ¡­ On the other side, the Li family head, Li Zeren, stood for a long time. Suddenly, there were more than ten armored cavalry galloping on the nine dragons road, and the people along the way were unable to avoid them in time. They were directly killed by the two cavalrymen who were leading the way! It could be said that they were extremely arrogant! Li Zeren saw the scene in front of him and frowned. It was a blatant display of power. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Song Ya greets the head of the Li family!¡± Song Ya laughed and cupped his fists at Li Zeren. ¡°General Song¡¯s presence in the Nine Dragons sect is our great fortune! Quickly, invite him in!¡± The two of them had their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders, and their faces were filled with unprecedented enthusiasm. Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that it was a reunion of long-lost brothers. Song Ya looked at the scenery and people of the Nine Dragons sect. There were flying cranes flying through the clouds, evergreen pine trees, and old people who walked as if they were flying. It was out of place in the noisy world. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to say this. I¡¯ve been born and raised in Lingjiang for so many years, but this is my first time coming to the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Li Zeren said very forthrightly, ¡± General Song, if you want, you can come here every day in the future! I¡¯ll give General Song a courtyard in the Nine Dragons sect!¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, I wouldn¡¯t dare. Every inch of land in the Nine Dragons sect is worth its weight in gold. A nobody like me can¡¯t afford it.¡± Song Ya looked on, and from time to time, he made a clicking sound. ¡°As expected of a True Path sect branch. It¡¯s truly a paradise on earth. It would be a pity if a mortal entered this place by mistake and tainted the immortal qi.¡± He seemed to be innocent, but he was also implying something. ¡°What immortal realm and mortal realm? Anyone who enters the Nine Dragons sect can treat this place as their home.¡± Li Zeren smiled. The two of them looked at each other. They were both old foxes, so they naturally understood what the other meant. Song Ya did not give up. ¡°My men heard that a rebel from Pingnan escaped into the Nine Dragons sect. I wonder if Master Li knows about it?¡± ¡°How could there be a traitor from Pingnan in my Nine Dragons sect?! Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!¡± Li Zeren pretended to be confused. Song Ya laughed. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I thought so too, but there are always accidents. Li family head, why don¡¯t you allow me to search the area and help the Nine Dragons sect? Otherwise, if this traitor hides in the immortal realm and does something outrageous, wouldn¡¯t he be harming the sect?¡± Indeed, the bloodline of the Hu family had become a thorn in his side. Chapter 152 - 152 The White Dragons Power 152 The White Dragon¡¯s Power When Song Ya learned that Cheng Li and the three hundred cavalrymen he had sent to kill the Changshan Dojo had all died in battle, he had not been able to sleep well these days. Not only that, they were all killed by a single person. This kind of person was definitely a great danger! If he didn¡¯t get rid of him, he would definitely bring danger to his life in time! That Qin Huai and Hu Jinghai, who had been taken away by him, had to die! ¡°Let¡¯s forget about the search. There are many old objects in the Nine Dragons sect. It wouldn¡¯t be good if they were damaged, right?¡± Li Zeren¡¯s rejection was already very obvious. ¡°I can guarantee that once I find any traces of the traitors from Pingnan, I will definitely hand them over to the general!¡± ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Song Ya suddenly shouted, and his entire body instantly exploded! Not far away, Qin Huai and Qingshui were walking. All the pores on his body suddenly opened up, and his hair stood on end. The violent storm made Qin Huai feel suffocated like never before, even though he was dozens of meters away. He was definitely an expert who had surpassed the blood refinement realm! His pupils dilated as he looked at the source of the pressure, then after that, his pupils contracted. It was the general of the ten thousand troops, Song Ya, whom they had bumped into on their way to escape! Why would this guy appear at the Nine Dragons sect? With all these thoughts in his mind, Qin Huai suddenly wanted to use the forbidden technique, earthquake dragon. However, he realized that his entire body did not seem to be listening to him. Even the white dragon could not be mobilized¡­ The difference in strength was too great. Qin Huai recalled the ultimate move that Reihom had wanted to use during the grand martial competition. ¡°How dare you act so arrogantly in my Nine Dragons sect?!¡± A furious roar came from behind him. Qin Huai only heard a gust of wind. The air not far in front of him exploded. BOOM! It was as if thunder had collapsed in front of him, and the violent force was like a turbulent wave that slapped in all directions. Qin Huai, who was close at hand, was the first to bear the brunt. His entire body was sent flying by the ¡®huge wave.¡¯ Dong Dong Dong¡­ Qin Huai rolled a few times on the ground in a sorry state before he stood up in a daze. In front of him, Elder Erlong, who had just been in the Blood Dragon Platform, was standing in front of him. ¡°Many thanks for Senior¡¯s help.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists, trembling. However, Elder Erlong ignored him and stared at Song Ya. ¡°Where did this little brat come from? How dare he use violence in the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Song Ya narrowed his eyes and was about to say something ruthless when he instantly sensed several auras locking onto him. Only then did he come to his senses and realize where he was. ¡°Hehe¡­ I lost my composure just now. I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m really sorry!¡± Song Ya cupped his hands at Elder Erlong and Li Zeren, who was beside him. ¡°But¡­ That person seems to be a rebel from Pingnan. I didn¡¯t expect him to disguise himself and sneak into the Nine Dragons sect!¡± Song Ya said as he stepped forward and added, ¡°Master Li, I¡¯ve already found the person for you! I¡¯ll take him away now.¡± Pa! He was stopped by Li Zeren. ¡°General Song, you¡¯re wrong. He¡¯s not the rebel from Pingnan that you¡¯re looking for.¡± Li Zeren looked at Song Ya with a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t be wrong. I¡¯ve seen this kid with my own eyes. It¡¯s him.¡± Song Ya was also secretly working hard. With the two of them as the center, there was a strong wind whistling under their feet. ¡°He really isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You said that he¡¯s not the traitor, Qin Huai. Then who is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually Qin Huai¡¯s younger twin brother, Qin Zhun. He¡¯s also my son-in-law.¡± Li Zeren laughed. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Song Ya suddenly realized. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve found the wrong person.¡± He was secretly resentful. He didn¡¯t expect Li Zeren to treat Qin Huai as his son-in-law. Could it be that he had already seen through Qin Huai¡¯s potential? Song Ya was speechless. Trying to kill Qin Huai in the Nine Dragons sect was no different from courting death. He could only find another way. ¡°It seems like there really aren¡¯t any traitors in the Nine Dragons sect. Then I won¡¯t be staying any longer.¡± Song Ya knew that he couldn¡¯t kill Qin Huai, so he didn¡¯t want to wander around the Nine Dragons sect anymore. And so, he cupped his hands and turned to leave. Meanwhile, Qin Huai glanced at the four experience balls on the ground. They had all fallen from Song Ya and Elder Erlong. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +8864!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Orange)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +33666!¡± The exchange of blows between two experts of the bone pattern realm had caused Qin Huai¡¯s experience to soar! Especially the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, he didn¡¯t know if it was because his was too low or because Song Ya¡¯s realm was too high. Qin Huai¡¯s experience points had increased by more than 30,000. It allowed the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to break through the fourth refinement and enter the fifth refinement. BOOM! A burning sensation instantly filled his entire body, and his face turned red. His originally weak body had completely recovered as if he had taken a vigor divine pill. In fact, he was even more energetic. His long breath technique had also improved by one level, pushing the time to break through to the seventh refinement to three days. The next second, something seemed to have appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Comprehension] and unlocked [White Dragon Force]!¡± In his memory, Qin Huai cultivated and fought like crazy. Finally, one day, Qin Huai entered a mysterious world in his cultivation. He saw a white dragon swimming in the sky, and he saw it roaring with him. He walked over boldly¡­ then saw the white dragon¡¯s appearance clearly. Then, he woke up from his dream. He felt like there was something extra in his body when he used the long breath technique. With just one look, he had actually fixed his gaze on an ordinary bandit. He waved out the earthquake dragon and easily caused the mountains and rivers to collapse. Finally¡­ Qin Huai woke up from his ¡®memory.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ve comprehended white dragon force, the same white dragon force as Reihom¡¯s¡± Qin Huai was shocked. This was a technique that only a bone pattern realm martial artist could master, or rather, it was a technique that was born out of it. But now, he has mastered it in the blood refinement realm. ¡®This is¡­ the fusion of oneself and the cultivation method, the communication between oneself and the cultivation method¡­¡¯ Qin Huai sighed in his heart. ¡®My hard work in cultivation was not in vain.¡¯ Before he could even feel the power¡­ A line of information flashed before his eyes. ¡°Ding! You¡¯ve collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Comprehension] and unlocked [Tiger-Wolf Momentum]!¡± Chapter 153 - 153 Leveling Up Again 153 Leveling Up Again In the bloody, barren world, the sky was dark. The roars of tigers and the howls of wolves rose and fell beside Qin Huai. The soaring smell of blood made him, who had experienced bloody battlefields, feel his stomach churn. The pine trees here were more than a hundred meters tall and grew under the blood sky. The ground beneath Qin Huai¡¯s feet trembled, and the tigers and wolves beside him growled. Their fur was extremely long, and their fangs were exposed. Their eyes glowed with green light. They didn¡¯t look at Qin Huai, but Qin Huai felt an immense pressure, as if Mount Tai was crushing him. Moments later, the fierce tiger roared and charged into the distance. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze followed the tiger and the pack of wolves, and he saw a similarly huge creature fighting with them. The mountain range was smashed into pieces, and blood gathered into a river. The purgatory-like world was engraved in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. If the power of the white dragon was ethereal, it was like a fairyland. The tiger and wolf were like a purgatory where no living creatures could survive. BOOM! Finally, Qin Huai woke up from this terrifying ¡®memory¡¯. Qin Huai felt an unspeakable pain all over his body, causing him to sweat profusely like a drenched chicken. ¡°Son-in-law, are you alright?¡± Qingshui¡¯s voice gradually became clearer in his ears. Qin Huai turned his head and looked at the worried expression on the person¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you¡­¡± Qin Huai wanted to bow to Elder Erlong, but he found that he had already sat back in front of the Blood Dragon Platform. Also, the Li family head and General Song Ya have just left. ¡°Oh.¡± Qin Huai got up and patted the dust off himself. He felt that his body was no different from before. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the treasure pavilion.¡± Qin Huai put it on hold for the time being. First, he exchanged the thirty-four points he had obtained from the Blood Dragon Platform for medicinal herbs. He then returned to his own courtyard. His current priority was definitely to fully recover his golden blood. He set up the pot and boiled the medicine. His movements were already very skilled, and then he poured all of it into his mouth. Eighty to ninety percent¡­ Qin Huai tried to sense the size of the golden blood in his body. It was already approaching its peak, and an astonishing white gas was already gathering. Moreover, the white dragon seemed to be growing at double its speed. Qin Huai¡¯s complexion became more and more ruddy, and the purple ball of lightning also formed a fluffy ball. Perhaps he would recover by tomorrow. He stood up and closed his eyes to feel the changes in his body. Slowly, he felt his bones burning. Boom¡­ Qin Huai suddenly opened his eyes, and a red and white light flashed in each of his eyes. He looked at the world in front of him and felt that the teacups, tables, and chairs seemed to be much smaller. He could clearly feel the fragility of these items. ¡°It¡¯s a strange feeling.¡± Qin Huai subconsciously activated this qi and immediately felt his bones crack. The burning pain forced him to stop his exploration. He then glanced at his personal panel and saw his vitality had successfully jumped from 93.621 to 96.621. This seemed to be the special characteristic of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. After the fourth refinement, the speed at which one¡¯s vitality increased after each breakthrough was more rapid. Martial artists who cultivated the four-directional tiger-wWolf technique would also be stronger. This was also more in line with the characteristics of the army. It didn¡¯t need too many fancy skills as it had great strength and could form an array¡­ Just these two points were enough to beat most group battles. On the interface, there was an additional column [ Force ]. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 161] [Vitality]: 96.621 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 68, (2001/7000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 40, 221/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 50, 887/6000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 833/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 4/7], [Raging Lightning] [Stage: Level 6 Blood Refinement] [Force]: White Dragon Force 1%, Tiger Wolf Force 1% ¡°One percent is the same as Reihom¡¯s. He¡¯s only gained a tiny bit of insight. Only, I didn¡¯t find the same method of using it as Reihom did.¡± Qin Huai wasn¡¯t in a hurry. In any case, there were quite a few experts in the bone pattern realm in the Nine Dragons sect, so there would always be an opportunity to collect more. ¡­ The next morning¡­ As expected, the seven white dragon pearls and the purple ball of lightning had both recovered. Two days ago, Qingshui had accompanied him to visit most of the places in the Nine Dragons sect. Qin Huai arrived at the martial arts field with ease. The gazes around him were still full of contempt and disdain, but he was already used to it. He left and waited quietly in each area and observed the cultivation of the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +12!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +155!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +155!¡± Another 8,000 experience points merged with Qin Huai without any effort. His long breath technique had reached level 69, and he would be able to break through to the seventh refinement the next day. When he was collecting experience points, he saw a group of people gathered together. Moving closer, he found that Zhang Haoyue was sitting cross-legged on the futon and chatting with everyone. He saw that there were not only faces of the Zhang family, but also many people from the Li family. Chapter 154 - 154 Qin Huai and Reihom 154 Qin Huai and Reihom Their eyes were filled with admiration as they looked at Zhang Haoyue, who was smiling warmly on the futon. ¡°Senior Brother Zhang, you said that your dream was to unify the Nine Dragons sect?¡± someone from the audience shouted. ¡°I can¡¯t say that I¡¯m unifying it, but I¡¯m trying to make the Zhang and Li families reconcile. Only by joining hands can the Nine Dragons sect become better and better.¡± Zhang Haoyue laughed. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not me, it¡¯s fine if it¡¯s anyone.¡± ¡°Tsk, I think this person can only be Senior Brother Zhang. To put it bluntly, I¡¯m not convinced by anyone else in the Zhang family except for Senior Brother Zhang!¡± The man snorted. However, it didn¡¯t cause any disgust. On the contrary, a few people repeatedly pandered to it, which immediately became the response of the crowd. Zhang Haoyue smiled bitterly and said humbly, ¡°I¡¯m still far from that. The bone pattern realm is just an entrance ticket to the world of the strong. I¡¯ve only just peeked into a corner. Also, my grasp of controlling force is still very shallow.¡± In the crowd, Li Buxing stood up. ¡°Senior Brother, can you tell us about ¡®force¡¯?¡± ¡°I heard yesterday that the Twin Extreme sect recently accepted a traitor from Pingnan as their disciple. That person is only in the fifth refinement realm, but he has already mastered the control force. Does that mean that we can also control the force?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. I¡¯ve also heard of this matter. It shocked me for ten thousand years.¡± ¡°That guy seems to be called¡­ Reihom.¡± When Qin Huai, who was in the crowd, heard this familiar name, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. He didn¡¯t expect that guy to survive and even join the Twin Extreme sect. And from what they were saying, not only did Reihom survive, his level had even risen. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes also flashed with surprise. ¡°Then this person is indeed a genius. ¡°Everyone¡¯s life is different, and because of their growth experience, they create different auras. Those in a higher position were like lions and tigers, showing their might without being angry. The rich were mostly kind, but they were as precious as mountains. A martial artist is full of energy, often killing people, surrounded by an ominous light¡­ ¡°These are the imposing mannerisms that have been engraved into the bones because of the long baptism.¡± His gaze swept across the crowd. When he saw Qin Huai, his gaze paused slightly, and the corners of his mouth revealed a deeper arc. He continued, ¡°It¡¯s the same for us martial artists in the bone pattern realm. However, we¡¯ve turned those businessmen and officials into cultivation techniques! ¡°For example, the long breath technique of the True Path sect¡¯s Nine Dragons sect¡­ It tries to engrave the nine white dragons in the body onto the bone armor one by one. ¡°This process is extremely dangerous. It¡¯s a delicate task, equivalent to using the white dragon to attack yourself. ¡°If you use too much force, breaking bones is a small matter. If your aura were to be disrupted, it would explode in your body and you would most likely die on the spot.¡± ¡°How high is it?¡± someone asked. ¡°Half.¡± Hearing this, the faces of the people turned pale. Zhang Haoyue laughed and said, ¡°Therefore, many nine refinement martial artists who cherish their lives do not dare to try to break through. That¡¯s why the elders often tell us to be careful when we cultivate. You have to control the details of the white dragon. ¡°This isn¡¯t just for you to gain battle experience. It¡¯s also for you to be able to step into the bone pattern realm one day.¡± A tall man stood up and asked again, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean that it¡¯s possible to master control force at the first level of blood refinement?¡± ¡°Logically speaking, it¡¯s possible.¡± Zhang Haoyue didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°One needs to have enough experience to gain momentum. Level nine blood refinement requires sufficient ¡®experience,¡¯ and only with enough ¡®experience¡¯ can one take on the momentum. ¡°Force is very heavy. Even if ordinary martial artists with vitality can successfully tattoo their bones, they will be crushed by force very quickly if they have a trace of force. ¡°So, there¡¯s a fifty percent chance of a nine refinement martial artist dying, let alone a first refinement. It¡¯s basically certain death.¡± Hearing this explanation, there was a burst of silence and amazement in the crowd. ¡°Genius. That Reihom is definitely a genius.¡± ¡°They¡¯re both from Pingnan City, but someone is only slightly better than Reihom in terms of cultivation level.¡± ¡°Indeed, I don¡¯t think I need to explain the difference between a person who can comprehend ¡®control force¡¯ and a person¡¯s realm.¡± In the crowd, a little fatty with a token on his waist had a contemptuous look. ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± Someone poked the little fatty and said in a low voice, ¡°Qin Huai is right behind you.¡± ¡°So what if he¡¯s behind me? Even if he¡¯s in front of me, I would still say the same thing. If I can¡¯t win, I can¡¯t win. He¡¯s a¡­¡± The little fatty¡¯s voice came to an abrupt end as he looked at the figure in front of him. He stammered for a long time but could not finish his words. He blushed and didn¡¯t even dare to look at Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Qin, this kid is the unruly son of my fourth uncle¡¯s family. He¡¯s used to being arrogant, so don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Zhang Haoyue quickly got up and walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you apologizing to Brother Qin? When bBrother Qin was in Pingnan City, he was the best at poisoning and killing people without anyone knowing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡± The little fatty¡¯s apology did not have the slightest hesitation. He then straightened his back, turned around, and ran. ¡°Brother Zhang, please don¡¯t believe the rumors from Pingnan. I¡¯m not proficient in poison. I¡¯ve only dabbled in it a little and can¡¯t even be considered to have entered the rudiments.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was solemn. ¡°Hahaha. It seems that I¡¯ve been rude.¡± Zhang Haoyue put his arm around Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder in an intimate manner. Then, he half-pulled and half-pushed Qin Huai to the front and looked at the crowd. ¡°Reihom¡¯s talent is extremely high. For two years, he was the number one person in the younger generation of Pingnan. It was only when Brother Qin rose to power that Reihom was defeated by Brother Qin and gave up his position as number one. ¡°Therefore, everyone, please do not doubt Brother Qin¡¯s talent.¡± Chapter 155 - 155 This Old Man Will Kowtow to You! 155 This Old Man Will Kowtow to You! Zhang Haoyue was especially sincere, gesturing for Qin Huai to sit down cross-legged with him. The audience was silent. They wanted to refute, but they didn¡¯t dare to refute Zhang Haoyue¡¯s words. ¡°With Brother Qin¡¯s talent, you will understand control force sooner or later.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face was full of sincerity. ¡°And Brother Qin¡¯s power will definitely be shocking.¡± ¡°Brother Zhang, please don¡¯t praise me so much. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose hope. However, I have been in Pingnan for a long time and have never seen the use of force. I wonder if brother Zhang can let me take a look?¡± Qin Huai asked. Although he had already learned two types of force, he had no idea how to use them. His ¡°memory¡± was also very hazy, perhaps it was because he had picked up too little energy. ¡°Since Brother Qin has spoken, then I shall demonstrate the white dragon¡¯s power of the long breath technique.¡± Zhang Haoyue stood up, then put some distance between him and Qin Huai. The crowd looked at Zhang Haoyue with anticipation. ¡°Brother Qin, why don¡¯t you try it out with me? Just treat it as an experience in advance.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t decline and kept his eyes on Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Activate the long breath incantation, draw in the white dragon¡¯s Qi, and comprehend the area where the bone patterns are¡­¡± ¡°The patterns?¡± This thought flashed through Qin Huai¡¯s mind. He urged the white dragon to go to the place where he had felt hot and heavy yesterday. It was the ribs on his chest. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s movements were slow, and his long green and white robe fluttered without any wind. There seemed to be a white light flashing in his eyes. ¡°Oh! I think I saw a dragon attached to Senior Brother Zhang¡¯s body!¡± ¡°I think I saw it too!¡± A burst of exclamations came from the crowd. This was because many of the disciples who had just entered the sect were seeing this for the first time and felt that it was novel and shocking. ¡°These are just the white dragon¡¯s aura. There¡¯s no real dragon attached to me, but there is indeed a dragon attached to me. ¡°I can borrow the power of the white dragon and release the terrifying power of the nine dragons true qi!¡± As Zhang Haoyue explained, the people looked at him with admiration. ¡°If that person cultivates to the end, will he become a true dragon from the momentum of a white dragon? Will he replace us and become a dragon?¡± Some people were curious. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think so.¡± Zhang Haoyue didn¡¯t dare to speak rashly. ¡°But even if that day really comes, we can¡¯t do it with our current luck, can we?¡± He then smiled and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡­¡± The smile on Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face froze. He seemed to have just seen the corner of Qin Huai¡¯s clothes move. He stretched out his hand and felt it. There was no wind today. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Haoyue with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Did Brother Qin gain any insights?¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled naturally. ¡®An illusion¡­ It must be an illusion.¡¯ It was fine for a small place like Pingnan to have a blood refinement realm force-comprehending genius. But two in a row? That didn¡¯t make sense. Pingnan wasn¡¯t a place where dragons thrived, and there were no legends about luck. ¡°My comprehension isn¡¯t high. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to go back and work harder.¡± Qin Huai shook his head, his face full of regret. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s fine. There¡¯s only one such thing like Reihom even in Lingjiang county.¡± Seeing that Qin Huai didn¡¯t seem to be faking it, Zhang Haoyue felt a little relieved. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here for today.¡± Zhang Haoyue stood up and said goodbye to everyone, then walked away. His cousin, Zhang Yu, quickly followed behind him, holding onto his arm. ¡°Senior Brother, why did you raise Qin Huai¡¯s status so high? Wasn¡¯t this helping to boost his prestige and popularity? It won¡¯t do us any good.¡± Zhang Yu did not understand. ¡°A person gradually climbed from an ant to a high position, wearing bright and beautiful clothes to the brightly lit stage¡­ Excited, haughty, and thinking that he¡¯s the chosen one. ¡°After that, strip him of his clothes from the stage and make him reveal his true colors. He¡¯ll repent, be helpless, and finally recognize reality.¡± Zhang Haoyue closed his eyes slightly, as if he was imagining that scene. ¡°This is a complete story. Only this can make people happy. Simple fighting and killing, straightforward lust and love, these are all things that only low-level guys would feel happy about.¡± The corner of Zhang Haoyue¡¯s mouth curled up, and a look of arrogance that had never appeared before flashed across his face. ¡°No matter how gorgeously an actress dresses up, she¡¯s still just a supporting role.¡± ¡°Cousin is right. These clowns are just your toys, not worth mentioning.¡± Zhang Yu echoed. But Zhang Haoyue frowned slightly. ¡°No, even if it¡¯s just a supporting role, you have to do your best. ¡°Even a lion uses all its strength when hunting a rabbit. If you want to strip off the actor¡¯s clothes and enjoy it, you must also be fully prepared. You can¡¯t underestimate anyone.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. Qin Huai was currently using his bones, so how could he underestimate the power of his own bones? Meanwhile, Zhang Yu held Zhang Haoyue¡¯s hand and looked at his face with admiration. She didn¡¯t quite understand it, but she knew that her cousin was always right. ¡­ Qin Huai walked to the Blood Dragon Platform and stood in front of Elder Erlong. ¡°Thank you for saving my life yesterday, Senior!¡± Qin Huai was very respectful. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. I just don¡¯t want to see any outsiders causing trouble in my Nine Dragons sect. It has nothing to do with who you are.¡± Elder Erlong shot a cold glance at Qin Huai. After that¡­ He couldn¡¯t move his eyes away. ¡°Wait! You brat, let me see how you channel your energy.¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s voice was serious. Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but he still executed the long breath technique. ¡°You little brat. How did you do that?¡± Elder Erlong looked at Qin Huai, his eyes filled with shock. ¡°Stop hiding! Do you think you can hide from me with your insignificant skills? Let me tell you, in this Nine Dragons sect, I have the best control over energy!¡± Elder Erlong scorned. ¡°Junior had some enlightenment last night and was lucky enough to understand a bit of the way of controlling force.¡± Seeing this, Qin Huai quickly admitted it. ¡°Lucky?¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s eyes shone. How could there be so much luck in this world? This was a genius, a disciple he had been waiting for decades! ¡°It probably can¡¯t be separated from my untiring efforts and a little bit of talent.¡± Qin Huai was calm. ¡°Not bad. Do you want to be my disciple?¡± Elder Erlong suddenly said. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Qin Huai thought of his own master. ¡°Actually, I already have a master.¡± ¡°What are you afraid of? Who in this world doesn¡¯t have three to five hundred masters?¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s eyes narrowed. Seeing that Qin Huai was still considering, Elder Erlong became impatient. ¡°How about this old man kowtows to you, and you acknowledge me as your master?!¡± Chapter 156 - 156 Grandmaster 156 Grandmaster Saying this, Elder Erlong stood up. Qin Huai jumped in shock and quickly held him. ¡°Elder Erlong, please don¡¯t make things difficult for this brat.¡± Qin Huai was in a dilemma. ¡°How about this, tell me who the Grandmaster is? Who knows, I might even know him.¡± Elder Erlong sighed. ¡°My Grandmaster¡¯s surname seems to be Liu?¡± Qin Huai racked his brain. His master had never mentioned his surname to him. ¡°Oh. Liu. Is he called Liu? Liu¡­ Where did you come from?¡± Elder Erlong scratched his head. ¡°Ah? Didn¡¯t Elder know¡­ I¡¯m from the Changshan Dojo in Pingnan City.¡± Qin Huai was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Elder Erlong to not even know this. ¡°Pingnan City?¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s expression suddenly became strange. ¡°Kid, do you have a martial uncle or martial grandmaster uncle called Sun Yuanshan?¡± ¡°Sun Yuanshan is my master!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Elder Erlong, you know him?¡± ¡°Yes, I know him very well!¡± Elder Erlong looked at Qin Huai with a complicated expression. ¡°When that kid was young, he once came here and also practiced martial arts at the Nine Dragons sect for a while. ¡°Back then, this old master saw that the boy¡¯s way of doing things was very unpredictable, so I gave him some pointers for a while. He can barely be considered an in-name disciple.¡± Elder Erlong seemed to be reminiscing. ¡°I remember that he was good at using poison techniques, and he studied with patience. He didn¡¯t have so many rules and regulations when he did things, and he helped my Nine Dragons sect vent a lot of anger in the county city. He¡¯s very much to my liking¡­ Unfortunately, his aptitude was too poor, and he didn¡¯t manage to stay.¡± Qin Huai was entranced. Of course, he had heard his master tell him the story of his travels when he was young. He had never thought that he would meet an old friend of his master at the Nine Dragons sect. And from what Elder Erlong said, his master had also stirred up a storm in the county city when he was young. However, it probably wouldn¡¯t leave a good reputation. He thought about it carefully. His master was only at the sixth refinement at the age of eighty, so his aptitude was indeed ordinary¡­ ¡°So, I should call you Grandmaster?!¡± Qin Huai suddenly reacted. ¡°It can be considered so!¡± Elder Erlong said unwillingly. But he couldn¡¯t possibly snatch his own disciple¡¯s disciple¡­ ¡°In fact, he can also be your junior brother. In any case, we¡¯re all from the same lineage, so it¡¯s not a big deal to have another branch. At most, we¡¯ll just talk about our own things. You call him Junior Brother, and he calls you disciple. You¡¯re both in the younger generation, so it¡¯s about the same.¡± The corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitched. How could this be the same? He had previously thought that this Elder Erlong was the kind of person who didn¡¯t like to speak and was the cold type. This was something he didn¡¯t understand before. ¡°Just tell me if I¡¯m your grandmaster or not!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Then do you want to pay your respects or not?¡± Elder Erlong waved his sleeve impatiently, as if about to kneel on the ground again. Qin Huai looked up and felt his scalp tingle. ¡°Grandmaster, please accept this disciple¡¯s bow!¡± He hurriedly beat him to it, kowtowing to Elder Erlong on the spot. ¡°Mmh¡­ That¡¯s more like it. Disciple, you may rise.¡± Elder Erlong helped Qin Huai up with joy. He actually didn¡¯t care what Qin Huai called him. In the surroundings, many people were chatting while watching Qin Huai. Suddenly, he knelt down, kowtowed to Elder Erlong, and called him Grandmaster. They were dumbfounded. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How could a country bumpkin acknowledge Elder Erlong as Grandmaster?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also never heard of Elder Erlong having a disciple?¡± ¡°Elder Erlong¡¯s standards are very high. When has he ever accepted a disciple?¡± The group of people whispered to each other, but they could not figure out the whole story. ¡°Come to my room at midnight tonight.¡± Elder Erlong patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, the smile on his face never fading. ¡°Qin Huai will do as you command!¡± Qin Huai left respectfully. The disciples on the Blood Dragon Platform were all dumbfounded. Elder Erlong, who usually didn¡¯t smile, was smiling and kind throughout the whole process today. Because of this, many masters and elders hurriedly told their disciples not to go to the Blood Dragon Platform or to get close to Elder Erlong for the next two days. ¡­ Qin Huai stopped at the drill ground. He was watching some disciples of the Nine Dragons sect practice martial techniques. They were all things that Qin Huai was familiar with, or perhaps Qin Huai wasn¡¯t interested in them after reading them. He didn¡¯t see anyone trying to cultivate a powerful forbidden technique like the rising dragon. They have something like the dragon raising pill, which can make the white dragon more powerful. It has never lacked attack power, so naturally, they would not study forbidden techniques like the rising dragon¡­ As Qin Huai was thinking, he suddenly saw a small group of people in the corner whose aura movements were very similar to the rising dragon. He immediately ran to the side to take a look. ¡°Ding! You¡¯ve collected a [Long Breathing Technique: Dragon Out of the Nest].¡± Memories flooded into Qin Huai¡¯s mind. However, Qin Huai was disappointed very quickly. These people didn¡¯t detonate the white dragon. They only tried their best to pull back the white dragon and shoot it out before retrieving it. Although it can be reused, its power is a world¡¯s difference from the rising dragon. Qin Huai was no longer interested, because this kind of fierce dragon leaving its nest was an accumulation for him. In contrast, his rising dragon could almost achieve the level of a general attack. Qin Huai strolled around and collected a few more techniques and uses of the breathing technique before returning to his own courtyard. He took a deep breath, then recalled what Zhang Haoyue had said in the martial arts field. The white dragon was floating above the ribs, and there seemed to be a gentle breeze blowing around it. His hair also fluttered in the wind, and he seemed to have an indomitable spirit. ¡°If I were to use the earthquake dragon at this moment, I¡¯d definitely be able to kill that Cheng Li with a single blow!¡± Qin Huai could feel the astonishing power that would burst out when the power was carried out. Chapter 157 - 157 Elder Erlong 157 Elder Erlong Very quickly, Qin Huai retracted his aura and changed his tone. The qi and blood in his body were restless, and a pair of blood-red hands touched Qin Huai¡¯s other rib. He could feel that there was a faint mark on his ribs. Although he could not feel the shape, there were traces. Buzzzzzz! Qin Huai¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, and an ominous glint appeared in them. The air around him seemed to have frozen. Qin Huai looked at the flower pot in the courtyard. He could vaguely ¡®see¡¯ that there were some weak spots on the flower pot that would break if hit. ¡°A flaw?¡± These words popped up in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Or rather, it was a wild instinct. ¡°This is just the tip of the iceberg. If I can completely master the force of the bone pattern realm, I¡¯ll definitely be able to see its complete form. If¡­ How about having a meeting with the two forces?¡± Qin Huai slowly activated it, and a burning feeling spread over his body and bones. Ka ka ka¡­ He seemed to hear his bones cracking. ¡°This won¡¯t do. My current physical body is still too weak. It¡¯s not enough to support two types of forces at the same time.¡± Qin Huai gave up decisively. He began to cultivate in the courtyard, waiting for the night to fall. ¡­ Zhang family¡¯s courtyard ¡°Father, why are many of the elders in the family forbidding their children from approaching the Blood Dragon Platform?¡± Zhang Haoyue and his father, Zhang Wu, were standing side by side by the window of the study. ¡°You¡¯re still young. You¡¯ve never seen Elder Erlong¡¯s actions in his youth.¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, and he looked very solemn. Zhang Haoyue was interested and listened. ¡°The three dragon elders are blood brothers. Among them, the first and third dragon elders are extremely talented. They were regarded as pearls by their families when they just started cultivating, and soon, they showed their talents in the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Zhang Wu paused for a moment. ¡°Unfortunately, the Gu family, where the three dragon elders were from, was a small family in our Nine Dragons sect. The three brothers seemed to have exhausted their luck when they were born. After a few decades, their bloodline was cut off due to various accidents with their descendants. ¡°Cough cough¡­ That Elder Erlong can only be called barely satisfactory, but with such a pair of brothers protecting him, Elder Erlong¡¯s actions are very unreasonable. ¡°When he was provoked by the Zhang family, he never showed mercy. And it¡¯s full of tricks. He¡¯s the best at using poison. ¡°There was a time when the Zhang family, the governor¡¯s mansion, and the Twin Extreme sect¡­ It can be said that the peers of the three forces don¡¯t dare to get within five meters of him.¡± ¡°What a good fellow.¡± Zhang Haoyue couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. How amazing was this battle record? That was why so many geniuses were so afraid of him. Zhang Wu said, ¡°But as he grew older, Elder Erlong didn¡¯t use poison anymore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because of his maturity.¡± Zhang Haoyue agreed. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that the young people of the same age have already grown up. When their realms are higher, they have the money to sell antidotes, so they don¡¯t fear his poison.¡± ¡°But who is Elder Erlong?¡± Zhang Wu couldn¡¯t help sighing. ¡°Elder Erlong knows that he¡¯s not talented enough, so he went to study some extremely dangerous forbidden techniques! ¡°In the beginning, Elder Erlong was repeatedly thwarted and even broke his arms and legs. One day, he found that he had a very good affinity with our True Path sect¡¯s concealment of spirit and qi. ¡°As a result, his double slender qi formula and clasping yuan guarding technique made unstoppable progress.¡± When Zhang Haoyue heard about the concealment of spirit and qi, he couldn¡¯t help but have ripples in his eyes. This was the True Path sect¡¯s most authentic longevity cultivation technique. If one successfully cultivated it, as long as there were no disasters or illnesses, one could live for three to five hundred years. But unfortunately¡­ Although this technique could allow one to live for a long time, the difficulty of cultivating it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. The True Path sect had countless martial artists who had cultivated this technique, but they had all returned with no success. They could not even get into the sect. He hadn¡¯t thought that this Elder Erlong would have such talent. Zhang Wu continued, ¡°As Elder Erlong made rapid progress in the concealment of spirit and qi, he also began to show results in his study of those dangerous forbidden techniques. ¡°He studied all kinds of shortening of lifespan and burning of blood. He even took out the forbidden techniques that had the risk of sudden death. ¡°After that, he used them to ambush geniuses from all over the world. He became famous all of a sudden.¡± ¡°Then what does this have to do with an ordinary disciple approaching Elder Erlong?¡± Zhang Haoyue was puzzled. ¡°Hehe¡­ Because this Elder Erlong is very happy every time he has a new forbidden technique. He wants to spread these forbidden techniques to the sect¡¯s disciples to learn.¡± ¡°But how could there be any disciples who cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi like him? It¡¯s impossible to cultivate it.¡± ¡°Well, Elder Erlong described the power of those forbidden techniques as heavenly flowers, so it¡¯s hard for any young man not to be tempted. They know that if they try it, they might be injured or even crippled, but after Elder Erlong¡¯s temptation, there will definitely be people who want to try it, and in the end, it will lead to a tragedy.¡± Zhang Wu sighed. ¡°So in the end, the only solution everyone could think of was to order their disciples, including themselves, to stay away from Elder Erlong when they saw him smile. As long as we don¡¯t listen to his bewitchment, we won¡¯t try those dangerous forbidden techniques!¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue nodded. ¡°Then, will Brother Qin¡¯s return to the clan this time affect my bones?¡± ¡°You go and inquire about the situation first. I will also arrange a backup plan¡­ For now, let¡¯s just wait and see,¡± Zhang Wu said in a deep voice. ¡­ In the middle of the night, Qin Huai quietly went up the back mountain. ¡°Grandmaster!¡± ¡°Disciple!¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s white hair draped over his shoulders, and his long white beard was also quite casual. He looked a little unkempt. He was very tall, about two meters tall. He was full of vitality, and his skin was not wrinkled. If it weren¡¯t for this white blessing, with Elder Erlong¡¯s appearance, he would actually only be in his forties or fifties. Chapter 158 - 158 Dark Orange Experience Ball! The True Way to Immortality! 158 Dark Orange Experience Ball! The True Way to Immortality! Elder Erlong gave off the feeling of an immortal with a ruddy complexion and white hair. ¡°Disciple, since you¡¯ve acknowledged me as your master, I¡¯ll definitely teach you true skills!¡± Elder Erlong said solemnly. ¡°I have many unique skills, but there is a prerequisite to learning them. If you want to learn my ultimate technique, you have to first cultivate the True Path sect¡¯s precious treasure, the concealment of spirit!¡± ¡°Qin Huai is all ears.¡± Qin Huai took this matter seriously and took the rubbings of the cultivation method handed over by Elder Erlong. ¡°The concealment of spirit and qi is the true way to immortality of the True Path sect. This cultivation technique is profound and obscure, and the threshold is extremely high. ¡°In my vast True Path sect, there are only a few dozen people who have successfully cultivated this technique. This technique depends on cultivation, and it emphasizes comprehension and the state of mind! ¡°Countless heaven¡¯s favorites have lost to this technique, but you¡¯re different. I knew from the first time I saw you that you might be different. ¡°Listen carefully. A man¡¯s body is always one with his spirit. The form was in charge of death, while the mind was in charge of life. If they were together, it would be good, but if they were gone, it would be bad. ¡°Without spirit, one would die, and with spirit, one would live. When they were combined, they could exist for a long time. It often causes the mind to be scattered, not gathering in the body, and instead ordering the messenger to move with the thoughts of the person. That¡¯s why the sage taught us to guard one, and said that he should guard one body. Hugging one is also refining the spirit¡­¡± Qin Huai silently circulated his cultivation technique as he listened to Elder Erlong¡¯s mumbling. His body and soul were in chaos, and he was at a loss. However, this did not stop him from cultivating this method. He opened his eyes and looked at Elder Erlong, who seemed to have entered the path of cultivation. Suddenly, a dark orange experience ball dropped from his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected an [Concealment of Spirit and Qi Essence] (Dark Orange), [Concealment of Spirit and Qi] Experience +48888!¡± Qin Huai looked at the line of numbers that flashed before his eyes and could not help but be shocked. In the next moment¡­ He felt refreshed. It was as if his body was one with heaven and earth, and the qi and blood in his body calmed down. In just a short moment, Qin Huai felt that he had stepped into an extremely mysterious realm. In his memory, he was wandering in the streams in the mountains, and he was pacing on the green grass. It was not as vast as a white dragon, nor as ferocious as a tiger or wolf. His state of mind was peaceful, and he was at ease. In front of him¡­ Qin Huai looked at his personal panel. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 281] [Vitality]: 98.621 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 69, (2001/7000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 40, 221/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)], [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 50, 887/6000)], [Concealment of Spirit and Qi (level 24, 2888/3000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 833/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 7/7], [Raging Lightning] [Force]: White Dragon Force 1%, Tiger Wolf Force 1% [Stage: Level 6 Blood Refinement] Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was fixed. He looked at the number behind his [ Lifespan ] in disbelief. If he remembered correctly, before he picked up the experience points, the number should have been 161. Now, it has risen to 281! His lifespan had increased by 120 years? Qin Huai was stunned. This was because he had cultivated a cultivation technique that could prolong one¡¯s life. The original simplified version of the long breath technique was the same for both life-force skills and the breathing technique. However, even though these two cultivation techniques increased his lifespan by a lot, it was still within an acceptable range. But this concealment of spirit¡­ He had only cultivated to level 24, but his lifespan had increased by 120 years. Didn¡¯t this mean that one level would increase one¡¯s lifespan by five years? If he cultivated to level 100, he would be able to live for 500 years if he stayed in a quiet little city without any disasters or illnesses? It was so terrifying¡­ Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but be shocked. As expected of the True Path sect¡¯s treasure. It was truly miraculous. ¡°How is it? Do you have any enlightenment¡­¡± Elder Erlong turned around and looked at the dazed Qin Huai. He stroked his beard with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s normal to not comprehend it the first time. After all, the threshold for this True Path sect treasure is extremely high. ¡°It¡¯s also very obscure. It¡¯s not like ordinary cultivation techniques. Even with my talent, it took me twenty hours to reach the threshold.¡± Elder Erlong pulled Qin Huai up. ¡°I see, then I can rest assured.¡± The disappointment on Qin Huai¡¯s face disappeared just right. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to reveal that he had already reached more than twenty levels of the concealment of spirit and qi. After all, this was too shocking. In the entire True Path sect, only a few dozen people had successfully cultivated this technique, and now, he had cultivated to level 20 in just a few minutes. If he was discovered, he would definitely be treated as a white mouse. ¡°You have to go back and reflect on what I¡¯ve said today. Strive to enter the beginner level of the concealment of spirit and qi as soon as possible.¡± Elder Erlong solemnly patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Thank you for your teachings, Grandmaster!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and turned to leave the mountain. Elder Erlong looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back with relief, then¡­ His expression suddenly changed. ¡°Wait!¡± He ran over and grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯ve learned it?¡± This was the second time he was shocked today, and also the second time he was shocked in thirty years! What was going on with this kid? ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°You must have learned it! You can¡¯t lie to me! You¡¯re really a genius. My premonition was right!¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s face was red. ¡°I¡­ I am indeed very compatible with this type of longevity art.¡± Qin Huai was still trying to hide it. But Elder Erlong¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Remember, the longevity technique is only an auxiliary use. What¡¯s the point of living so long? The purpose of living long is to convert lifespan into combat power! What¡¯s the fastest way to increase one¡¯s combat strength?¡± Qin Huai pondered. ¡°A forbidden technique? ¡± ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re worthy of being taught! Our true talent, master and disciple, is to cultivate forbidden techniques!¡± Chapter 159 - 159 Flame of Longevity 159 Flame of Longevity ¡°Do you know what a forbidden technique is?¡± Elder Erlong squinted at Qin Huai. Qin Huai pondered for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s a move with extraordinary effects but certain damage to the body?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but it¡¯s not completely right. ¡°Forbidden techniques are called forbidden because they can allow a weak person to suddenly explode with astonishing power. Using it will make others afraid, make them afraid, but they do not have the courage or the ability to cultivate it.¡± Elder Erlong stroked his unkempt beard and chuckled. ¡°And the strength of a forbidden technique is closely related to the price paid. The more you lose, the more powerful a successful forbidden technique will be.¡± Qin Huai nodded and listened quietly. In the words of his previous life, it was like the conservation of all things. ¡°Some people¡¯s forbidden techniques will cause their qi and blood to weaken, some people¡¯s forbidden techniques will cause a setback to their cultivation techniques, and some will pay the price of using their flesh and blood as the forbidden technique. ¡°But after my continuous exploration, I finally discovered that lifespan has the best effect.¡± Elder Erlong was very profound, but Qin Huai, who was watching from the side, was somewhat puzzled. He sized up this Grandmaster. ¡°Grandmaster, you tried it at the cost of your flesh and blood?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. He saw that Elder Erlong was very energetic and that his qi and blood were also unusually full. ¡°How could I be so stupid?!¡± Elder Erlong frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out the key to the forbidden technique, then let the other people in the sect try it. I¡¯ll take notes.¡± ¡°Would the other senior and junior brothers in the sect be willing to do so?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Elder Erlong asked in return. ¡°Close your eyes and think about it. Your aptitude is average, and your parents suddenly committed suicide on a rainy night when they were talking and laughing because they offended a strong master. Your childhood sweetheart got engaged to your arch-enemy because of your incompetence. The blood relatives in the clan treated you coldly.¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s voice suddenly became powerful. ¡°Then suddenly, there¡¯s a powerful being in front of you, and he¡¯s going to throw you a forbidden technique! ¡°If you learn it, you can avenge your parents. You can make your childhood sweetheart cry on the bed of your enemy all night long. You can make your blood relatives in the clan live in fear and flatter you every day¡­¡± Pa! Elder Erlong patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder fiercely. ¡°Do you want to practice such a forbidden technique?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to refine it. So Master was also constantly screening people? And then pretend to be such an existence in front of them?¡± ¡°Naturally, my words are all decided, and I¡¯ve prepared a lot of rhetoric.¡± Elder Erlong was very proud, but a hint of disappointment appeared on his face as he ridiculed, ¡°However, in these twenty years, the Dao hearts of some brats have really been very fragile. ¡°Many little ghosts don¡¯t have so much bitterness and deep hatred. Just because someone has humiliated them, they feel indignant and want to cultivate forbidden techniques to fight to the death. ¡°By the way, I once wanted to teach Sun Yuanshan, that little brat, but he refused.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason for Master¡¯s refusal?¡± Qin Huai asked curiously. ¡°You want longevity?¡± ¡°More or less. Although his aptitude isn¡¯t too good, his comprehension is not bad. ¡°Before he left, he tried to change the martial skill of the long breath technique, the dragon out of the nest, into a forbidden skill, but he failed after years of study.¡± Elder Erlong shook her head regretfully. ¡°Master has succeeded,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°Not only did Master successfully cultivate it, but he also passed down this forbidden technique.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± A trace of surprise flashed across Elder Erlong¡¯s face. ¡°If I remember correctly, that kid¡¯s idea should be to detonate the white dragon¡­ Show me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai put some distance between them. As he faced the mountain, his breathing became slower. In his dantian, the white dragon that was originally clad in purple armor and had gradually turned into a purple dragon was slowly stripped away by Qin Huai using ¡®qi¡¯. The next moment, a white light spot appeared on the tip of his fist. BOOM! The mountain in front of him suddenly trembled, large rocks fell, and a cloud of dust rose. ¡°It looks pretty good.¡± A trace of relief flashed through Elder Erlong¡¯s eyes, but his expression did not change much. ¡°However, compared to the forbidden technique that I¡¯ve developed, it¡¯s still far from it.¡± ¡°Please enlighten me, Grandmaster.¡± Qin Huai was very respectful. ¡°Follow me.¡± Elder Erlong gave Qin Huai a look. The two of them quickly walked into the depths of the mountain forest. At this moment, there was only the tail of the winter left, but the snowflakes on the ground were still falling like goose feathers. The full moon hung high in the sky, but there was no warmth. If there were no accidents, this spring would be a cold one. Qin Huai and his companion walked deep into the mountains and saw many rabbits and snakes that had already woken up. There were also traces of big bears. After some time, the two of them were standing under a tree. They were already at the edge of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you before that you and I can cultivate the art of longevity, not to let us live in vain. It¡¯s for martial artists like you and me to turn our life spans into battle strength, to surpass our peers, and crush them!¡± Elder Erlong argued. His comments opened up a new understanding of ¡®longevity¡¯ for Qin Huai. ¡°The forbidden technique that I¡¯m going to teach you is a technique that perfectly matches the transformation between lifespan and combat strength. ¡°This forbidden technique is called the flame of longevity!¡± As Elder Erlong spoke, he pulled out two knives from somewhere. ¡°You take this one.¡± Qin Huai hurriedly caught the long knife Elder Erlong had thrown at him. A blade of the thousand refined level was enough to equip an elite soldier. Both Song Lian¡¯s and Hu Guanpan¡¯s armies used this standard. ¡°Hold it and don¡¯t move.¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s voice was low, his eyes focusing. ¡°Look clearly, don¡¯t blink!¡± Chapter 160 - 160 The New Forbidden Technique 160 The New Forbidden Technique Buzzzzzz! A cold glint instantly exploded in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. The sharp knife qi made him subconsciously want to retreat, but he stopped and stood in place. In his eyes, the moment the two blades collided, a flame burst out from the tip of the blade. Hu! In an instant, the fire set the long knife in Qin Huai¡¯s hand on fire. Wait a minute. The blade was ignited? Qin Huai frowned and looked at the long knife in his hand. It began to ¡®wither¡¯ at a speed visible to the naked eye. Layers of refined iron that had been tempered thousands of times fell off. In the end, it turned into a cloud of dust and drifted away with the cold wind. Qin Huai suddenly threw the long knife in his hand to the ground. An unremarkable flame had already climbed up the hilt. The moment it touched the ground, the entire hilt had been burned to ashes. Rather than saying it was burning, it was more like corrosion. Qin Huai looked at the ground that was covered in flying ash. It was now a patch of scorched earth, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a lingering fear. ¡°Master, can the flame of longevity be extinguished?¡± Qin Huai asked, looking at the ground beneath Elder Erlong¡¯s feet. As expected, there was a gray experience orb. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes swept over the experience ball, and it naturally floated toward him, fusing into his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forbidden Technique, Flame of Longevity (Gray) ] and received [Flame of Longevity technique]!¡± A huge amount of memories instantly rushed into Qin Huai¡¯s mind. At the same time, Elder Erlong also began his explanation. ¡°The flame of longevity technique can be extinguished, but it can¡¯t be extinguished by ordinary methods such as water or earth. It is a flame ignited by a special fuel like life.¡± ¡°One can only use a powerful aura or force to suppress it¡­ It¡¯s just that this kind of suppression requires the other party to expend a great deal of essence, qi, and spirit. ¡°That¡¯s because the flame of longevity technique burns the other party¡¯s essence, qi, and spirit. The skin, bones, and even flesh and blood are all in passing~ ¡°All in all, regardless of whether the other party allows it to burn or forcibly suppresses it, the flame of longevity technique will achieve its effect.¡± Elder Erlong was full of confidence as he spoke. Qin Huai pressed on. ¡°So, the skin and flesh of martial artists who have undergone great blood refinement, as well as the body and soul, are completely ineffective against the flame of longevity technique? ¡± ¡°Naturally!¡± Elder Erlong sneered. ¡°What kind of stinky fish and rotten shrimp is the great blood refinement? If I can¡¯t deal with them, why would I create a forbidden technique?! ¡°In addition, the flame of longevity can also allow you to choose whether you want to compress the flame or make it bloom.¡± He walked to a big tree and casually pushed the long knife in his hand at the trunk. The long knife easily sank into it as if it was tofu. After a while, Qin Huai saw the tree that had started to sprout wither, and in just a few moments, it had completely died. Qin Huai fell silent on the spot. This flame of longevity technique was simply a divine technique that could break through defenses. He had already come up with a combination of skills in his mind. He would use the flame of longevity to break the other party¡¯s defense, body, and flesh. Then, he would directly stuff the earthquake dragon into their body and explode them. The damage would definitely be raised to the highest, even if they were close to the bone pattern realm or even experts of the said realm. If they underestimated him and allowed him to use his combination technique, they would probably be half-dead or even killed. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Elder Erlong couldn¡¯t help but feel proud when he saw Qin Huai in a daze. ¡°Brat, although the power of this flame of longevity is great, just as its name suggests, it will consume one¡¯s lifespan.¡± ¡°Then how much lifespan does each strike require?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Five years of life.¡± It was just the first layer of concealment of spirit and qi. It didn¡¯t seem like much. Just the blood refinement section¡¯s concealment of spirit could increase his lifespan by five hundred years, not to mention when he advanced to the bone pattern realm in the future, his lifespan would only increase even more. Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan was abundant now, and he could cast at least fifty flames of longevity techniques. ¡°However, even though this flame of longevity is extremely powerful, it¡¯s not easy to cultivate it. The more forbidden a technique is, the more difficult it is to cultivate it. ¡°First of all, you have to comprehend the existence of ¡®lifespan.¡¯ This is something that can only be done with great comprehension,¡± Elder Erlong said in a deep voice. ¡°Lifespan exists in your blood, in your qi and blood, in your bones, in your brain, and even in your soul. It is everywhere. ¡°And what you need to do is to extract it, then transform it into a power like qi and blood and the white Dragon. ¡°First, you have to learn how to condense your lifespan. Try to communicate with your body and slowly gather it in your palm.¡± Elder Erlong explained, his finger deep in his hand. Vaguely, there was a trace of blood on his palm, which was reflected in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. ¡°Only by learning how to control the power of one¡¯s lifespan will one be qualified to use the technique.¡± Elder Erlong put his hands behind his back. ¡°You need to do it slowly as well since this is a difficult process. You need to keep on using the ¡®one¡¯ to find that ¡®one.¡¯¡± ¡°How long did it take for Master to do it?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Ahem, it¡¯s almost the same as cultivating the concealment of spirit and qi. I¡¯ll be able to master it in a few hours.¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s face didn¡¯t turn red, nor did his heart beat fast. It took him almost three days to cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi. His talent was considered above average among his fellow disciples in the True Path sect. However, he had met Qin Huai, this kid, who had learned it with just a glance. The latter was simply a natural-born seedling with longevity. ¡°Then it seems that this disciple¡¯s talent is a little higher than Master¡¯s.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice slowly rang out. Elder Erlong was speechless. Chapter 161 - 161 An Assassination? 161 An Assassination? Elder Erlong hurriedly moved to Qin Huai¡¯s side and looked at the power of longevity in Qin Huai¡¯s palm that was exactly the same as his own. He frowned slightly. Then, he looked at Qin Huai¡¯s palm and then at his face. ¡°This is unreasonable. This doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡± Elder Erlong paced back and forth, mumbling to herself. ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re really the person that the crazy girl was talking about, the one who could turn the tide and save the Li family from danger?¡± Elder Erlong stood still, carefully sizing up Qin Huai. ¡°Is there really such a thing as destiny? Your master¡¯s eye for choosing disciples is really not bad, to be able to find such a good seedling like you.¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s face was full of relief as he added, ¡°To be able to comprehend the power of longevity means that you can already release the forbidden technique.¡± Elder Erlong then gave the heart sutra to release the flame of longevity technique to Qin Huai. The core of it was nothing more than visualization. He imagined his lifespan as a flame and guided it through the changes in his body. The final burning! ¡°Not bad. When you go back, you should properly comprehend the flame of longevity technique.¡± Elder Erlong looked at Qin Huai, feeling both gratified and dejected. Why was he so lacking compared with this disciple? ¡°It¡¯s over?¡± Qin Huai was stunned. ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s over?¡± Elder Erlong immediately stomped his foot. ¡°Brat, researching a powerful forbidden technique is extremely extraordinary. How many people have had luck creating a cultivation method or a forbidden technique in their entire lives? ¡°And your master¡­ I actually still have many forbidden techniques that I¡¯m still exploring. There were also some that were too powerful. Hmm, but it¡¯s not yet the right time to hand them over to you. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve already cultivated the concealment of spirit and qi, we can study the forbidden technique together in the future.¡± Elder Erlong patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, which could be considered a stiff transition. ¡°By the way, regarding our sect¡¯s combat techniques, I don¡¯t think I need to teach you the basics, right? Although Sun Yuanshan¡¯s cultivation talent is average, he has inherited my skills in actual combat.¡± Qin Huai said righteously, ¡°I usually do things openly and honestly. I have some regrets about this, so I hope that Grandmaster can teach me from the beginning and help me correct it.¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve learned a lot.¡± Elder Erlong nodded. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll start from scratch tomorrow. It can also be considered as checking for any missing parts and filling in any gaps.¡± Qin Huai and his grandmaster were both very satisfied with tonight, and they walked back in high spirits. On the way, Elder Erlong continued to preach to Qin Huai. ¡°This flame of longevity is actually a transformation from the concealment of spirit and qi, so the relationship between the two is particularly close. ¡°By the way, this concealment of spirit and qi is the most precious treasure of our True Path sect. It¡¯s all-encompassing and can contain all kinds of cultivation techniques in the world. ¡°They have even cultivated the concealment of spirit and qi, which can make all kinds of martial arts produce compatibility. I guess when the concealment of spirit and qi reaches a high level, there is a chance to turn all the techniques into one. ¡°However, this path is very difficult, and even the seniors of my sect only know a little about it.¡± Elder Erlong shook her head, his face filled with disappointment. ¡­ Qin Huai had just arrived home. He sat cross-legged on the bed and tried to comprehend the cultivation technique he had cultivated today, the concealment of spirit and qi. He emptied his mind and body and sank into his dantian. Boom¡­ This time, Qin Huai felt that the entire ¡®world¡¯ was different. His dantian seemed to have expanded. It was no longer a gloomy blood color, and now, it contained the white dragon, golden blood, and the electric ball. There also seemed to be some fresh ¡®air,¡¯ which made Qin Huai feel refreshed. If he had to describe it¡­ ¡°There should be some life force?¡± Qin Huai mumbled as he wandered around his dantian. He felt that even the white dragon had become clear. The seven dragon balls were coiled together, looking very realistic. The ball of lightning also became more solid and powerful, exuding an aura of destruction. The golden blood became even more resplendent and dazzling. The vitality was the strongest, making Qin Huai feel as if it was nurturing some kind of life. ¡°This is probably what Grandmaster said. The art of concealment of spirit and qi is majestic and all-encompassing, and can accommodate hundreds of rivers and thousands of techniques. ¡°Maybe when I cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi to a higher level¡­ it will change with the cultivation method I¡¯m cultivating¡­ ¡°What, that¡¯s not right,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. Perhaps, the change had already occurred. This vigorous dantian might be some kind of proof. Ka. A soft sound rang out. Qin Huai suddenly woke up from his immersion in his dantian. ¡°Hmph, hmph¡­¡± He sniffed it lightly. It was the smell of the drowsy powder, and it was a very high-level one. However, he had already developed a high resistance to his own poison, so he was almost immune to it. Who was it? Who actually dared to poison him in the Nine Dragons sect? He quietly got up and walked to the door. After a while, he heard light footsteps. From the sounds of it, Qingshui should have been knocked out. Stab¡­ Qin Huai turned around and saw a thin bamboo shoot through the paper window. Whoosh! A silver needle flew directly at Qin Huai¡¯s bed. Bang! Bang! Qin Huai suddenly rushed out the door. He waved his fists and a white-purple light spot bloomed on them. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± BOOM! The punch exploded, and a deep sound wave suddenly rolled out. A pair of iron fists pierced through and exchanged a punch with Qin Huai. Stab¡­ The man slid a few meters away on the ground. His fist was covered in blood. He was a martial artist with great blood refinement. Seeing this, Qin Huai immediately determined the other party¡¯s realm. ¡°A forbidden technique?¡± That person¡¯s voice was unique, so it should have been modified. Buzzzzzz! The person charged at Qin Huai again, with sharp killing intent in his eyes. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were calm, on the other hand. Since the other party could appear in the Nine Dragons sect to assassinate him, he was definitely not one of Song Ya¡¯s men. Otherwise, the sect¡¯s reputation would be lost. They were most likely from the Nine Dragons sect. The Zhang family, and even the Li family. Or those small surnames¡­ But It didn¡¯t matter. He would just test the life-burning forbidden technique he had learned on this guy¡¯s life. Qin Huai looked at the masked man, who was filled with killing intent. His eyes lit up! Chapter 162 - 162 The Assassin! 162 The Assassin! There was a sudden flash of fire. It made the masked man¡¯s eyes burn red, and the solemness in his eyes deepened. With a wave of his hands, a wall of qi appeared in front of him. He didn¡¯t dodge or evade and took the blow head-on. The purpose of his visit this time was not to kill Qin Huai, but to test the other party¡¯s trump cards. He had never seen this move before, so it was probably Qin Huai¡¯s trump card. The masked man didn¡¯t underestimate him. A white dragon poured out from his dantian. ¡°Seven dragons wall!¡± In his eyes, the blazing flame suddenly occupied his entire eyeball. He felt that there was nothing in his body and looked at the flames that had already engulfed his body. What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s my wall? Hu! A huge fire set him ablaze. He opened his mouth wide and wanted to scream in pain. However, he found that he could not breathe at all. The man, who had turned into a man on fire in an instant, reached out his hand toward Qin Huai in a panic. He trembled as he walked toward Qin Huai with flames all over his body. One step¡­ And there was nothing else. The flames quickly burned out, leaving only a handful of dust that was blown away by the breeze, disappearing from the quiet little courtyard. Even a martial artist at the great blood refinement realm can¡¯t block one move. Qin Huai looked at the quiet courtyard. It was clear that this great blood refinement cultivator wasn¡¯t one of the powerful cultivators that Elder Erlong had spoken of. They were completely unable to resist the invasion of the flame of longevity technique. In fact, he only lasted for a breath. ¡°This is probably the true forbidden technique.¡± Qin Huai was also shocked by the power of the flame of longevity technique, which had instantly killed the martial artist. One had to know that when he had killed Cheng Li, the seven white dragons had come out together, and it had taken him almost all his strength to kill him. ¡°Just as Grandmaster said, the greater the price, the greater the power.¡± The only unfortunate thing was¡­ there was no way to loot the corpse, nor could he figure out who the other party was. However, he would know who the other party was in two days. Qin Huai collected the experience orbs on the ground, and 2,000 points entered his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +129!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Blue)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +333!¡± The next morning, Qin Huai went to the training field on time to collect experience. After quietly walking around, he felt a familiar feeling spreading in his body. Gulp¡­ Qin Huai was even hallucinating. He could hear the qi and blood in his body boiling. They burned within his body and even began to ¡®dance¡¯ on his skin. Qin Huai felt an unbearable itch all over his body. He quickly ran back to the courtyard and endured the strange condition of his body to boil a large jar of water in the courtyard. Because he found that he was shedding, and his body was also emitting an indescribable stench. It was probably the legendary internal cleansing? To refine the skin and flesh? After a long time, the heat in Qin Huai¡¯s body finally subsided. His face was ruddy, but he was emitting a foul smell. He took off his clothes, poured hot water into the wooden tub, and jumped in. ¡®Hmmm¡­¡¯ Qin Huai was sweating profusely as he enjoyed it perfectly. Was he a seventh refinement martial artist with great blood refinement now? As Qin Huai took a bath, he felt the strength in his body. His muscles were even more compact and seemed to have shrunk. All of them turned into essence. His skin also seemed to be smooth, no longer rough like before. As for his dantian¡­ The eighth white dragon was also formed as expected. Under the influence of the purple electric ball, it also turned into a purple dragon. In his dantian, which had already produced color and vitality, the newly born purple dragon seemed to be more condensed and active. ¡°It can¡¯t be that these white dragons will really come back to life one day, right?¡± Qin Huai thought about it, but he found it a little funny. He suddenly frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not right. Even Zhang Haoyue knows most of what happened to me in Pingnan. Then, General Song Ya must know even more. He must know that I¡¯m close to Luo Ya and the others!¡± Hualala¡­ Qin Huai suddenly stood up. ¡°With Song Ya¡¯s ruthlessness, he didn¡¯t even hesitate to try to kill me in the Nine Dragons sect. How could he not use the three from the Luo manor to threaten me?¡± He was just about to walk out when he stopped. ¡°No, if Song Ya had Luo Ya and the others, he would have sent someone to threaten me at the first moment. He wouldn¡¯t have to take the risk of attacking me here. This also means that Luo Ya and the others are fine¡­ Something¡¯s not right¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s mind was in a mess. He sank into the wooden barrel and soaked in it to make his thoughts clear and calm. ¡°Luo Ya and the others could still be safe and not caught by Song Ya. They might have concealed their identities and are inconspicuous, or¡­ like Master and Senior Brothers, they are not in Linjiang at all.¡± Qin Huai was a little anxious. He didn¡¯t want anything to happen to the three people he had already regarded as family. ¡°With Song Ya¡¯s strength, if the three of them were in Lingjiang, it would be difficult for them not to be discovered. Besides, they don¡¯t even know the reason behind this conflict.¡± Qin Huai sighed. Luo Ya and the other two were not like his master and did not have any martial arts cultivation. He was the only one who had sent them a lot of demon meat and blood qi soup to strengthen their bodies. Although Luo Ya had once cultivated the qi nurturing technique in the apothecary, she was only at level 1. Chapter 163 - 163 The Bone Pattern Realm 163 The Bone Pattern Realm ¡°I can¡¯t gather information now because that would only alert the enemy. I can only look for an opportunity to move stealthily and search for it bit by bit.¡± Qin Huai thought of the assassin from last night and suppressed the restlessness in his heart. ¡°The only thing I can do now is to increase my strength quickly. I¡¯ll only have the power to protect anyone if I¡¯m at least in the bone pattern realm.¡± Luo Ya, his master, and his disciple Hu Jinghai¡­ The life and death of the people he knew were still unknown, and even he himself was in the shadow of countless assassinations. There were probably many people inside and outside the Nine Dragons sect who wanted his life. Hualala¡­ When Qin Huai came out of the wooden barrel, he began to cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi. The concealment of spirit and qi was different from ordinary martial arts. It focused more on nurturing the spirit and cultivating the mind, like some illusory things. But he could actually touch it. He focused his mind and sat on the futon to cultivate. He only opened his eyes slowly when it was late at night. He did not make much progress with the concealment of spirit and qi, only gaining 100 experience points. Qin Huai got up, changed into his new clothes, and prepared to go out. Bang! Bang! Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Qingshui looked around in a panic and immediately locked her eyes on Qin Huai. ¡°Son-in-law! You¡¯re awake.¡± Qin Huai looked at Qingshui, who had just woken up from the drug. ¡°Young Master, what happened? I think you¡¯ve been drugged?¡± Qingshui¡¯s face was filled with anxiety. ¡°Who would dare to do such a ridiculous thing in the Nine Dragons sect?¡± ¡°An assassin came to kill me last night and knocked me down,¡± Qin Huai said casually. ¡°What about the assassin?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already dead.¡± Qingshui was stunned. ¡°Who sent them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ll know who it is in two days.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too bold. He actually tried to assassinate my Li family¡¯s son-in-law in the Nine Dragons sect!¡± Qingshui¡¯s eyes were burning with anger. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Qin Huai said slowly. ¡°Can you really handle it, Young Master?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Qin Huai turned around and walked toward the back mountain of the Nine Dragons sect. The back mountain was as lonely as usual. When Qin Huai walked to the agreed cultivation position, he didn¡¯t see the figure of Elder Erlong. Buzzzzzz! He turned around and threw a handful of dust with his left hand! Then, he raised his right hand high in a blocking gesture. On the other side, it was almost the same as his own, a handful of dust was coming at him. At the same time, a huge shadow flew out from the dust. Bang! Bang! The slight impact stunned Qin Huai. The shadow was not a fist, but a broken piece of wood. Qin Huai felt a chill run down his spine, and he immediately knelt on the ground. A sharp wind swept over his head. Qin Huai turned around and swept up the dust. He was crouching, and the man seemed to be floating in the air with his legs folded. Their eyes met. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯ve learned a bit from that little brat Sun Yuanshan. The poison and sneak attack and defense are all well done.¡± Elder Erlong floated to the ground and nodded with satisfaction. ¡°When we were in Pingnan, we were in danger, so it was inevitable that we had to consider everything,¡± Qin Huai explained humbly. ¡°Yes, we martial artists must use killing moves when we attack! Remember, don¡¯t be careless! There are countless experts who died in the hands of others because of their arrogance, becoming stepping stones for their fame. ¡°And don¡¯t have any burdens. In a battle of life and death, any move that can win is a good move. One can have compassion and compassion, but it must be done at a specific time.¡± Elder Erlong earnestly taught him, passing on his insights. Today, as usual, Qin Huai and Elder Erlong cultivated the concealment of spirit and qi. ¡°Ding! You have collected an [Concealment of Spirit and Qi Essence] (Dark Orange), [Concealment of Spirit and Qi] Experience +13333!¡± Qin Huai picked up the experience points from behind. The concealment of spirit and qi technique broke through several layers of barriers. From the original level 24, it rose all the way to the level 29, 2779/4000. Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan had also been extended by another twenty-five years, easily negating yesterday¡¯s consumption. ¡°Such an advancement is truly divine,¡± Qin Huai sighed in his heart. Following such a great cultivator to gain experience was truly a shortcut. It was so, so good. After cultivating for a few hours, Qin Huai blurted out, ¡°Grandmaster, can you display your force? I want to try and comprehend it.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I almost forgot.¡± Elder Erlong patted his head with a smile. He had almost forgotten that his disciple was not only fast in cultivating the concealment of spirit and qi. He had even managed to grasp a bit of the energy that could only be understood by those in the bone pattern realm before the blood refinement. ¡°The bone pattern realm means to inscribe one¡¯s own cultivation onto the bone armor. To become a bone pattern realm expert, you have to engrave all of your profound knowledge of this technique onto it, and only then can you be considered to have entered the said realm. It¡¯s similar to the craftsmen in the city who carve clay figurines and porcelain,¡± Elder Erlong earnestly lectured. He released his force under the moonlight. In Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, there was a white dragon on Elder Erlong¡¯s shoulder. It had a majestic aura as it spiraled and wriggled around his body, like the ribbon of a fairy. However, fairies were beautiful and gentle. In contrast, a bone pattern realm expert¡¯s aura was domineering, and it was sharp. ¡°It¡¯s an irresistible force, like a swimming dragon! Once the great momentum rises, it can cut everything.¡± Qin Huai listened to Elder Erlong¡¯s explanation of his understanding of cultivation, combat, and forbidden techniques. Meanwhile, Qin Huai picked up the experience ball that had fallen on the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Comprehension], [White Dragon Force] +1%.¡± Qin Huai looked at the line of information that flashed before his eyes. ¡°If I want to raise my force to one hundred percent, I¡¯ll need more than three months.¡± Chapter 164 - 164 Suspicions 164 Suspicions To ordinary martial artists, this speed was clearly unimaginable. However, to Qin Huai, this was neither a short nor long time. ¡°Kid, you seem to¡­ Your comprehension of force is extremely swift.¡± Elder Erlong looked at Qin Huai and clicked his tongue in wonder. ¡°Your comprehension of the concealment of spirit and qi is also surprisingly fast. It¡¯s probably because your comprehension is really high.¡± Elder Erlong shook her head, this was the only explanation. He had touched Qin Huai¡¯s bones before, and his aptitude was very ordinary. However, Qin Huai was standing right in front of him, displaying his amazing talent. Elder Erlong could only think that there were always some geniuses in the world that didn¡¯t conform to common sense. And so, he accepted this very quickly. After all, he was a person who studied forbidden techniques. If he couldn¡¯t accept things that were beyond ordinary people¡¯s knowledge, how could he study forbidden techniques? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to knock the bell with the bald donkeys in the temple and make wooden fish? ¡­ That night, Qin Huai went to sleep as usual. There was no one who used the same trick to sneak attack him. The next morning, he walked to the martial arts field and found a group of people sneakily whispering to each other. ¡°Our Nine Dragons sect seems to be haunted.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve heard about that too?¡± ¡°Sigh, my father didn¡¯t allow me to say it, but everyone understands. It¡¯s just that¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, to think that such a thing would happen in such a huge sect like ours¡­¡± The crowd was in a heated discussion. The corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitched as he listened to this group of people speaking in riddles. The higher-ups were quick to give out orders. Were they already not allowing these people to discuss? ¡°Brother Qin!¡± Zhang Haoyue called out to Qin Huai from behind. ¡°Brother Zhang!¡± When Qin Huai saw who it was, a bright and happy smile appeared on his face. ¡°Brother Zhang, what are they talking about?¡± he asked ¡®curiously.¡¯ ¡°Brother Qin, you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Know what? Brother Zhang, don¡¯t keep us in suspense!¡± Qin Huai said with a smile. Zhang Haoyue sighed. ¡°The second son of the Li family¡¯s sixth branch, Li Buyi, has gone missing. ¡°The second son of the Li family¡¯s sixth branch isn¡¯t very old. He¡¯s only seventeen years old, similar to Brother Qin, but he¡¯s already a martial artist at the seventh refinement great blood refinement. ¡°He¡¯s known as one of the pillars of the Li family¡¯s next generation. He¡¯s treated like a treasure by Sixth Uncle Li.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart clenched when he heard this. He frowned. ¡°Then¡­ Then why would he suddenly go missing?¡± Zhang Haoyue shook his head. ¡°Who knows? It¡¯s said that he couldn¡¯t be found since yesterday. Some people said that the last time they saw him was the night before yesterday. After that, this person disappeared from the world. ¡°The Li family¡¯s sixth branch has almost turned the entire sect upside down, but they still can¡¯t find him.¡± Qin Huai also sighed. ¡°I hope he¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Yeah, I hope so.¡± Zhang Haoyue also shook his head. ¡°Brother Qin, you have to be careful these days, especially at night.¡± ¡°Brother Zhang too. You are the pillar of our Nine Dragons sect.¡± The two of them went their separate ways after exchanging pleasantries. After about a hundred steps, Zhang Haoyue turned around and looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back. He paused for three breaths, then turned around and left. ¡­ ¡°The genius of the Li family¡¯s sixth branch¡­¡± Qin Huai mumbled to himself as he collected his experience points. At the same time, he was thinking about why the Li family had come to assassinate him. To be able to sneak into the Li family¡¯s courtyard and kill him without a sound¡­ It was reasonable, but not logical. Although this live-in son-in-law was not well-liked and was even forced to give the Zhang family the mining rights of the Darksteel Mountain for a year, he should not be sentenced to death. Shouldn¡¯t he at least stay for a year or two to see how he performs? After Qin Huai finished collecting the experience points, the long breath technique¡¯s experience points increased to around three thousand as expected. It would take a month to break through to the eighth refinement, which wasn¡¯t long. It was actually very short. Qin Huai returned to the courtyard, but Li Shaoxiang still had not returned. Only Qingshui was busy cleaning the place. ¡°Qingshui, do you know much about the Li family¡¯s sixth branch?¡± Qin Huai found Qingshui and asked. ¡°I know about the big things, but I don¡¯t know about the family affairs. I really don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Oh, you should be clear about what factions there are in the Li family, right?¡± Qin Huai changed to a clearer angle. ¡°I do know a little about this.¡± Qingshui sat in the courtyard, ¡®explaining¡¯ to Qin Huai. ¡°The Li family has a total of six branches and is roughly divided into three factions. ¡°The more pragmatic and neutral faction is led by the old master Li Zeren, the fourth master Li Zeshi, and the sixth master Li Zeming. They think we¡¯re not weaker than the Zhang family. However, they also accept that both sides are equal and work together to protect the interests and development of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°The second is led by the second master, Li Zeyu, the representative of absolute power. They felt that the Li family had to be the leader of the Nine Dragons sect. He¡¯s always been radical in his actions. That¡¯s why his relationship with the other brothers is quite ordinary. ¡°The third faction is led by the third master, Li Zezhi, and the fifth master, Li Zian¡­¡± Qingshui¡¯s gaze was rather distant. ¡°They are closer to the Zhang family. If they feel that the Zhang family is strong, they let them be. They believe there is no need for internal friction to weaken the Nine Dragons sect.¡± As Qin Huai listened to Qingshui¡¯s analysis, his mind was filled with thoughts. ¡°What was Li Zeming¡¯s son doing? He couldn¡¯t possibly affect the interests and development of the Nine Dragons sect, right? Who does this Li Buyi usually deal with?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t been back for many years. To be honest, I don¡¯t even remember this person¡¯s name.¡± Qingshui shook her head, indicating that she was unable to help. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai had no choice but to give up. ¡­ At night, Qin Huai went up the mountain again. ¡°Grandmaster, do you have any impression of the Li family¡¯s genius, Li Buyi? Qin Huai went straight to the point and asked. ¡°The missing boy? Of course¡­ His talent isn¡¯t bad, and he¡¯ll have the chance to touch the bone pattern realm in the future. It¡¯s a pity, though¡­ I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s already dead after being missing for two days.¡± Elder Erlong helplessly shook her head. ¡°Then does Grandmaster have any impression of who he usually interacts with?¡± ¡°That person is a little arrogant and doesn¡¯t have many friends¡­¡± Elder Erlong frowned slightly, searching through his memories. ¡°One of his few hobbies is that he¡¯s definitely present every time Zhang Haoyue gives a lecture in the martial arts field. I think he really likes that Zhang Haoyue kid¡­ No, more than half of the young people in the Nine Dragons sect like him.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, his eyes narrowed slightly. For such a genius not to miss Zhang Haoyue¡¯s lecture, the two of them must have communicated before. But today, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s tone when he mentioned Li Buyi¡­ It sounded like they weren¡¯t even close. Could it be that it was Zhang Haoyue who wanted to assassinate him? Chapter 165 - 165 Searching in the Middle of the Night 165 Searching in the Middle of the Night ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Comprehension], [White Dragon Force] +1%.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected an [Concealment of Spirit and Qi Essence] (Orange), [Concealment of Spirit and Qi] Experience +10,000!¡± An ocean of memories poured into Qin Huai¡¯s mind, and the concealment of spirit and qi, which was already on the verge of breaking through, easily broke through the third refinement barrier. Qin Huai looked at his hands. His skin had started to shed, revealing his smooth and fair fingers and palms. He glanced at his personal panel. He had already reached level 32 concealment of spirit and qi, 779/4000. His lifespan had also increased to 308 years. The two of them sat in the mountains, looking at the distant forest that was already showing signs of recovery. It was quiet but full of vitality. ¡°Master, I feel that after cultivating the concealment of spirit and qi, my body is also undergoing a wonderful change.¡± Qin Huai expressed his feelings. After cultivating the concealment of spirit and qi, the changes in his body seemed to be a little invisible and intangible. ¡°For example?¡± Elder Erlong asked. ¡°I feel like my dantian is even more lively now. It¡¯s like a world with many colors,¡± Qin Huai explained in full detail. ¡°Hahaha¡­ That¡¯s right.¡± Elder Erlong stroked his beard and laughed. ¡°I told you long ago that the concealment of spirit and qi is the most precious treasure of our True Path sect. ¡°It was created by my ancestor after he spent his entire life studying the great Dao of heaven and earth. With endless wonders and possibilities, the concealment of spirit and qi was the true way to immortality. An increase in lifespan isn¡¯t just an increase in vitality, it¡¯s a transformation in the level of life.¡± Qin Huai was deep in thought as he asked, ¡°Could the God that the Sacred Heart disciples speak of be the existence at the end of life?¡± To be able to make the fanatical believers follow him so closely, to be able to create a divine cultivation method, and even to modify the way of cultivation¡­ That person must be extremely powerful. He couldn¡¯t figure it out before, but hearing Elder Erlong¡¯s words now, he felt that there should be a gap in the so-called level of life between them. Elder Erlong shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve only heard of the God that the Sacred Heart disciples spoke of. I even doubt his existence. ¡°It could also be fabricated by the master of Sacred Heart sect. Now that the world is in chaos, many ambitious people will talk about the past when they make a fortune. The flag of the great Dao is a disguise for their ambitions.¡± ¡°What level was the ancestor of the True Path sect at?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s their name?¡± Qin Huai took advantage of the moonlight and asked some questions that were unrelated to cultivation. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Huai was stunned. ¡°What I just heard was from the senior who once guided me in cultivating the concealment of spirit and qi. I have never even been to the sect in my life, so how would I know the name?¡± Elder Erlong was very calm. Qin Huai was stunned. After finishing his cultivation for the night, he returned the way he came. As soon as he reached the courtyard, Qin Huai saw that it was brightly lit and there was the sound of noisy footsteps. He quickly walked in. He found a group of disciples of the Nine Dragons sect, dressed in green and white robes, holding torches and searching around. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was dark as he walked straight to his bedroom. There were people from the Li family searching everywhere in the courtyard. When he walked into the courtyard, Qin Huai even saw people digging the ground. Upon seeing this, he already knew more than half of it. He walked to the front of his bedroom, and as expected, there were already several burly men waiting outside. ¡°Hey, what are you guys doing?! This is the young master¡¯s courtyard. Aren¡¯t you afraid that the master will blame you?¡± Qingshui¡¯s anxious and angry voice rang out. She looked at everyone¡¯s cold expressions and couldn¡¯t help but get angry. ¡°Miss Qingshui, we¡¯re just following the orders of the family head to investigate the death of the sixth master¡¯s son, Li Buyi.¡± The man in the lead was rather polite. ¡°Where did you hear that Li Buyi¡¯s death is related to me?¡± Qin Huai slowly walked up to them. ¡°Young Master, I¡¯m sorry. I failed to stop them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Qin Huai said indifferently. The man in front of him looked at Qin Huai with a cold gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take it to heart. It¡¯s not just you. The Li family and even the residences of the entire Nine Dragons sect will be searched. ¡°Then what number am I?¡± Qin Huai looked at the man in front of him. ¡°You are the first one. This was because someone had seen a figure that looked like Li Buyi walking in this direction the night before. The most eye-catching place, or rather, the most worthy place to visit, is probably your residence.¡± The man was neither haughty nor humble, and his words were very calm. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you want to investigate me, but can you tell me who saw Li Buyi walking this way? You can¡¯t just make up a few sentences and come to my place to search and dig, right? How can I live in this courtyard in the future?¡± Qin Huai stared into the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well¡­ It was said by a junior of the fifth branch. Now that a person has disappeared, everyone is in a state of panic. Please bear with it.¡± The man cupped his hands. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just making things clear. You can check as you wish.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists in an open manner. Li Buyi had already been burnt to ashes by his blade, and not even a residue was left. They wouldn¡¯t be able to find anything even if they dug three feet into the ground. After a while, the man left the group and cupped his hands at Qin Huai. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night. Sorry for disturbing you.¡± ¡°Take care. I won¡¯t send you off.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm as he watched the crowd leave. Chapter 166 - 166 The World of the Dantian 166 The World of the Dantian Obviously, there were many people in the Li family who didn¡¯t like him, from the younger generation to the elders. It was nothing more than the Li family losing a lot of benefits to protect him. Moreover, they were probably those who were inclined toward the Zhang family and had ulterior motives. Among the four to five thousand disciples of the Nine Dragons sect, only the Grandmaster, his cheap wife, and her maidservant were on his side. ¡°Young Master, is it really you?¡± Qingshui asked carefully. She wasn¡¯t stupid. Today, they found out that Li Buyi was dead, and the Li family had even come to search their house. Even if she used his butt to think, she knew that this matter definitely had something to do with this son-in-law. ¡°You think it¡¯s me?¡± Qin Huai retorted. Qingshui shook her head violently, her tone firm. ¡°Definitely not!¡± She then sneaked up to Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°But you can tell me, Young Master. Qingshui has learned how to destroy corpses. Back in Pingnan, I have dealt with many perverts.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Huai was uninterested. Qingshui had hit the nail on the head by telling him this. He was also good at destroying corpses. He and his master, Sun Yuanshan, had also developed a poison with a corrupting effect. By burning with fire and spreading poison, the final result was basically the same as the killing effect of Qin Huai¡¯s longevity flame technique, which was to turn people into ashes and dust. ¡°Alright then, as long as Young Master is happy.¡± Qingshui understood Qin Huai¡¯s meaning, so she called a few servants from the Li family to help fill up the holes and repair them. After that, Qin Huai returned to his bedroom. There were no signs of this place being turned over. The man who led the group had only come in and walked around before leaving. After all, there was no place to hide in this house. His mind sank, and his perception entered his dantian. ¡°It¡¯s full of life now.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes swept over the white dragon and the purple electric ball. They were both very active. This was especially true for the golden blood. Although its size had not changed much, the perfectly round liquid actually burst forth with light. It wasn¡¯t intense, but it was extremely dazzling, like the sun. Qin Huai looked at the resplendent golden blood and seemed to have felt something.¡±The blood heart technique and the concealment of spirit and qi are both full of life. They will definitely have some wonderful changes.¡± ¡°Perhaps, the recovery speed of my earthquake dragon is even faster now.¡± Qin Huai tried to release the earthquake dragon. BOOM! The air blast exploded in the room, directly flipping over the tables and chairs. The aftermath of the explosion bloomed in the air with more amazing power than before. ¡°Son-in-law, what happened?!¡± Qingshui pushed the door open and saw the mess. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m trying something fun.¡± Qin Huai smiled and sent Qingshui away. ¡°If Young Master needs anything, you must call me.¡± Qingshui looked around and winked at Qin Huai, blinking quickly. She didn¡¯t say anything and mouthed the message to Qin Huai, ¡°Is the assassin here¡­¡± Qin Huai easily read Qingshui¡¯s words. ¡°No, don¡¯t worry.¡± Qin Huai was helpless, but it also showed that Qingshui was indeed very professional and very vigilant. No wonder she was sent by the Li family¡¯s head to be Li Shaoxiang¡¯s personal maidservant and go to Pingnan City with her. Furthermore, judging from Qingshui¡¯s appearance, qi, and blood, she should also be a martial artist at the great blood refinement realm. Even at a young age, she was still a good seedling for a martial artist. After sending Qingshui off, Qin Huai sat down and continued to spy on his dantian. In his dantian, the white dragon that had dissipated had actually recovered by about 70%! ¡°How long has it been?¡± Qin Huai calculated silently. It had only been two minutes. He watched as the white dragon took form, and the final conclusion he came to was that the white dragon¡¯s rebirth had shortened to about two and a half minutes. ¡°This world full of life is changing my cultivation techniques and accepting them.¡± The words of his grandmaster were not false. All of his cultivation techniques had undergone a transformation. He even activated his spirit eye technique, allowing him to see further and more clearly. The qi and blood fluctuations that his breath control technique could conceal were also a little more. It was just that the level of these two cultivation techniques was too low, so it didn¡¯t cause much change. However, the purple lightning ball was different from the white dragon. It seemed to have some emotions and was very active. The white dragon treated the ¡®dragon pearl¡¯ as its home and often roamed around in the dantian. The place they went to the most was the purple electric ball, because they were infected by a familiar smell. ¡°It does look like a world.¡± After some time, Qin Huai was pulled back from the world in his dantian, his eyes bright and full of spirit. ¡­ In the Zhang family¡¯s courtyard, Zhang Haoyue looked out of the window with a calm expression. Next to him was his cousin, Zhang Yu, who was wearing only a thin layer of gauze, sticking close to him. She drew circles on Zhang Haoyue¡¯s chest with her finger. ¡°Although Li Buyi is only at the great blood refinement realm, he¡¯s not like those people from the countryside. His qi and blood are surging, and the white dragon is also extremely pure¡­ Where did Qin Huai get such a great ability? He was able to kill Li Buyi without anyone noticing?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m curious about as well.¡± Zhang Haoyue looked into the distance. He had only asked Li Buyi to test Qin Huai¡¯s body, but he had never thought that he would kill him. He had thought that even if Qin Huai couldn¡¯t beat Li Buyi, he could just make some noise and call for more people. He could just find a random reason to brush it off. After all, in the entire Nine Dragons sect, no one from the Zhang and Li families liked Qin Huai. But now¡­ There was no news at all. This meant that Li Buyi had most likely been killed by Qin Huai. ¡°Did he use poison or some other secret technique?¡± Zhang Haoyue mumbled. ¡°I underestimated him before and subconsciously felt that since he¡¯s from Pingnan, he was not worth my time.¡± Chapter 167 - 167 An Invitation to a Banquet 167 An Invitation to a Banquet ¡°Now, this reminded me that I can¡¯t treat Qin Huai as an ordinary young man.¡± Zhang Haoyue began to reflect on himself. He didn¡¯t get angry from embarrassment because of Qin Huai¡¯s strength. Anger was often the beginning of a person¡¯s failure. ¡°But cousin, he seems to have taken Elder Erlong as his master. I heard that Elder Erlong has cultivated the concealment of spirit and qi.¡± Zhang Haoyue laughed happily at this. He was really amused as he said, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing.¡± The concealment of spirit and qi was a method of longevity. It was said that it had the effect of transforming one¡¯s life level and could change one¡¯s entire body. And Zhang Haoyue was one of the few people who could try to practice the concealment of spirit and qi. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have that talent, and in the entire Nine Dragons sect, there was only one Elder Erlong. Everyone was envious, but there was nothing they could do. But now, seeing Elder Erlong¡¯s enthusiastic appearance, Qin Huai most likely had this talent. He would wait for that day to arrive. It was very likely that he would not only be able to take away the ten-patterned bone, but also the bone banner that had been baptized by the concealment of spirit and qi. At that time, he would most likely possess this talent. ¡­ Qin Huai was woken up early in the morning and went out with Qingshui. He looked at the people from the Li family¡¯s courtyard, who were dressed in white and had sorrowful expressions. Before they even saw him, he could already hear the wails of a woman. Not long after, he saw a middle-aged man walking in front with an expressionless face. Behind him was a large group of people carrying a wooden coffin and holding a portrait and a token. The person in the portrait was a handsome young man who looked very heroic. When they passed by Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard, the head of the Li family¡¯s sixth branch, Li Zeming, glanced at Qin Huai. ¡°Sixth Uncle, my condolences.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. He did not feel guilty at all. If they wanted to kill him, they had to be prepared to be killed. The funeral procession reached the end of the Li family¡¯s camp, and Zhang Haoyue and his group were waiting outside. ¡°Sixth Uncle Li, my condolences.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face was full of grief. ¡°Hmph! My son¡¯s death definitely has something to do with your Zhang family! I should¡¯ve known about your family¡¯s wild ambitions.¡± Li Zeming¡¯s eyes were filled with killing intent. ¡°Sixth Uncle Li, I know you¡¯re in pain right now. Buyi is a genius of our Nine Dragons sect, and losing such a genius is a huge loss for our sect. But please believe me, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with me. ¡°I also swear that I will use all my power to find out the real murderer! I will prove my innocence. It¡¯s also to give you and all the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect an explanation!¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice became louder and louder, full and moving. ¡°My Nine Dragons sect will never allow any disciple to die without knowing the reason. Once we find out who the murderer is, I, Zhang Haoyue, will definitely eliminate him at the risk of my life!¡± Zhang Haoyue hammered his chest, which sounded like a drum. It was deafening. ¡°I believe that time will prove everything.¡± Zhang Haoyue looked at Li Zeming with sincerity, then bowed deeply to Li Buyi¡¯s plaque. The woman who was already sobbing couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears again. Li Zeming looked at Zhang Haoyue, who couldn¡¯t even get up from his waist, and sighed. ¡°If only the Nine Dragons sect was filled with people like you.¡± He set off again and left with the group of mourners. ¡°Oh, Brother Qin.¡± Zhang Haoyue stood up and happened to see Qin Huai at the corner of the street. He quickly went up to him. ¡°Brother Zhang.¡± Qin Huai sighed. ¡°Brother Zhang¡¯s words just now were deeply rooted in my heart. ¡°Even though it¡¯s all from the bottom of my heart, there¡¯s no lack of pleasantries. I don¡¯t want to see the conflict between the Zhang and Li families worsen because of this matter,¡± Zhang Haoyue said sincerely, his face full of pity. He added, ¡°Brother Qin, you and I have to work hard on our cultivation and strive to be able to have a say in our respective families as soon as possible to complete our dreams.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°By the way, this is the dragon raising pill that I prepared for Brother Qin. It can make the white dragon even purer. It¡¯s the most popular item in the Hundred Treasure Pavilion for the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect,¡± Zhang Haoyue said as he handed over two bottles of dragon raising pills. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll accept them¡­¡± Qin Huai smiled and quickly took the two bottles of dragon raising pills and kept them in his arms. ¡°It¡¯s just a small token of appreciation,¡± Zhang Haoyue said with a smile. ¡°Anyway, the day after tomorrow, I¡¯ll invite many of my family¡¯s elites to a gathering at Green Feather Tower and have a good chat. Brother Qin, you have to give me some face and attend the banquet.¡± ¡°Green Feather Tower? With my current identity¡­ I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not convenient to enter the city,¡± Qin Huai said hesitantly. ¡°Brother Qin, you haven¡¯t been there yet, right? Green Feather Tower isn¡¯t in the city. It¡¯s in the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Zhang Haoyue explained, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to everyone when the time comes and resolve some unnecessary misunderstandings. ¡°Even though it¡¯s a little too humble to say this, I still have some reputation among the younger generation of the Nine Dragons sect. When the time comes, I can help improve Brother Qin¡¯s situation in the sect.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, his expression immediately changed. ¡°In that case, thank you!¡± ¡°No need to be so polite¡­ There¡¯s no need for you and me to be so distant.¡± Zhang Haoyue was very generous. He patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, then left. ¡°Son-in-law, let¡¯s not talk about Zhang Haoyue¡¯s character first, but his insight is quite good. Knowing that you have a great talent, they¡¯re desperately trying to rope you in.¡± Qingshui sighed. ¡°He¡¯s handsome, talented, and a little ambitious. No wonder he has such a high reputation in the sect. ¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Haoyue¡¯s back. ¡°Young Master, where are we going today?¡± ¡°Blood Dragon Platform. I¡¯ll rank up a little to exchange for some points.¡± He hadn¡¯t fully recovered last time, and he hadn¡¯t used his full strength. There was still a lot of room for improvement. ¡°I see that Young Master¡¯s complexion has almost recovered. Do you want the blood changing pill this time? I recommend both the vitality pill and the dragon raising pill.¡± Qingshui was giving advice from the side. ¡°No, I¡¯m going to use some medicinal herbs and make some poisons.¡± Qin Huai was honest. ¡°Poison? Why is Young Master exchanging for poisonous substances in the Nine Dragons sect?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? I¡¯m going to a banquet the day after tomorrow,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°Are we required now to bring poisonous things to a banquet?¡± Qingshui¡¯s head was full of question marks. ¡°This is our Changshan Dojo¡¯s custom, so you wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Qin Huai said in all seriousness. Chapter 168 - 168 Ranking Up 168 Ranking Up At the Blood Dragon Platform, Elder Erlong was still sitting on the bench with an unkempt appearance. The young men in front of him cupped their hands and saluted respectfully. They reported their names and went up the Blood Dragon Platform. Suddenly, Elder Erlong straightened his back, a smile suddenly appearing on his face. ¡°Disciple, you¡¯ve come.¡± ¡°Grandmaster!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists respectfully. ¡°I¡¯m here to test my qi, blood, and strength again. I want to move up the ranking.¡± This scene fell into the eyes of the surrounding disciples, and they couldn¡¯t help but feel jealous. ¡°Elder Erlong really became Qin Huai¡¯s master?¡± ¡°But the way they address each other doesn¡¯t seem right. Why does one call him disciple while the other calls him Grandmaster?¡± ¡°I heard that Elder Erlong knows our True Path sect¡¯s most precious treasure, the concealment of spirit. Don¡¯t tell me he also passed it to Qin Huai?¡± Everyone was whispering. The Li family¡¯s young man, who was already disdainful of this man who had snatched away his dream lover, was also dissatisfied. As for the Zhang family¡¯s young people, they were much more na?ve. As long as it was related to the Li family, they didn¡¯t like it. In the Nine Dragons sect, there were only two people who could make the young people of the Zhang and Li families have the same views. One of them was Zhang Haoyue, and the other was Qin Huai. However, everyone¡¯s impression of the two of them could be said to be heaven and earth. ¡°Qin Huai, do you dare to have a competition?¡± A voice rang out beside him. Qin Huai turned and saw a burly man who was more than two meters tall. The latter¡¯s muscles were bursting, filling up his specially made green and white robe. Looking at him up close, he was simply full of oppression. ¡°This person is¡­¡± Qin Huai glanced at Qingshui, who was behind him. However, Qingshui was also looking at the burly man with a dumbfounded expression. ¡°Let¡¯s compete in our results on the Blood Dragon Platform. If I win, you¡¯ll divorce Sister Shaoxiang! A weakling is not worthy of her!¡± the man argued. ¡°Oh, I remember who he is.¡± When Qingshui heard his words, it suddenly dawned on her. ¡°This person seems to be the fourth master¡¯s second son, Li Buhu. He had a very good relationship with the young miss when he was young. He could be considered to be the young miss¡¯s follower.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fought with Zhang Haoyue many times for the lady, but I¡¯ve never won.¡± Qingshui looked at the strong Li Buhu in front of her and felt like she was in a dream. ¡°He was so small when I was young. I didn¡¯t expect him to have grown so big. ¡°Although I don¡¯t remember what he looks like, I still know his situation. He¡¯s one year older than Young Master and is in the seventh refinement. However, his strength is as strong as that of an eighth refinement martial artist. ¡°He¡¯s probably jealous of Young Master~¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After Qin Huai heard this, he instantly lost interest. ¡°Hey, are you even a man! You don¡¯t even dare to accept my challenge? How are you going to protect Sister Shaoxiang?! How are you going to turn the tide for the Li family?¡± Li Buhu roared, his face red with anger. Qin Huai turned a deaf ear and walked straight to a blood stone. He took a deep breath. There seemed to be a faint red light flashing in his eyes. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± The qi and blood in Qin Huai¡¯s body burst forth instantly. But this time, his skin did not turn red. It was still normal. ¡°Boiling blood, second transformation!¡± Qin Huai activated it again, pushing the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to its limits. ¡°Blood dragon form!¡± Qin Huai continued to exert force, and wisps of white gas were injected into his qi, blood, and muscles. It was still not as torn as before. Instead, it became very gentle. The white lines were like water snakes, gentle and moist as they climbed up the corners of Qin Huai¡¯s muscles, strolling in every corner of his limbs and chest. ¡°Colossal blood dragon form!¡± The silent power caused Qin Huai¡¯s long white robe to flutter, and his hair to rise slightly. The people around them didn¡¯t notice the sudden change, though. As for Elder Erlong, who had profound cultivation techniques, he turned to look at Qin Huai. ¡°This brat really has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Did Sun Yuanshan teach him this?¡± Elder Erlong muttered as he looked back. He completely ignored the young man who was waiting to register. The young man felt bitter. Then, he looked at Qin Huai on the Blood Dragon Platform and secretly made up his mind to surpass this man. ¡°Rise!¡± On the Blood Dragon Platform, Qin Huai¡¯s qi sank into his dantian. He stood firmly in a horse stance and held the blood stone with both hands. He suddenly shouted in a low voice. In an instant, he lifted the blood stone in his hand. The next moment¡­ The blood stone suddenly burst out with amazing light. BOOM! Qin Huai threw the blood stone on the ground with a bang. ¡°How much?¡± He looked at the disciple beside him who was recording. ¡°Qin¡­ Qin Huai. N-Nine points!¡± The disciple who was taking notes at the side looked at Qin Huai as if he had seen a ghost. What¡¯s wrong with this guy? A few days ago, when he measured him, he only had seven points, which was the qi strength of the seventh refinement. How did he reach the ninth refinement in the blink of an eye? Qin Huai patted the dust off his hands and instantly removed his blood dragon form. Then, he glanced at Li Buhu and said, ¡°It¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Brother-in-law!¡± Li Buhu looked at Qin Huai and blurted out. ¡°I knew it! Sister Shaoxiang wouldn¡¯t make a mistake in her judgment!¡± Li Buhu strode to Qin Huai, his eyes full of admiration. ¡°With you leading the Li family, we will definitely be able to suppress those bastards from the Zhang family in the future.¡± He smiled at Qin Huai naively, not a trace of his previous hostility and conceit. ¡°I will do my best.¡± Qin Huai rubbed his wrist and walked in front of Elder Erlong. ¡°Grandmaster, how are my results? How is it?¡± Elder Erlong almost couldn¡¯t hide the smile at the corner of his mouth. With a wave of his large brush, he placed the name that he had never written down at the very front of the paper. ¡°43rd place, Qin Huai, nine points.¡± Chapter 169 - 169 A Treasure! 169 A Treasure! ¡°Forty-three, huh¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the number, which meant that the people in front of him were basically all martial artists above the ninth refinement. Among the young generation of the Nine Dragons sect, there were about forty people who had gone through the ninth refinement or higher. As expected from a top sect. Experts were as common as clouds. ¡°You¡¯re forty-three, so that¡¯s three hundred and forty-three points in total.¡± Elder Erlong counted and then took out three bamboo sticks that were worth 100 points. The rest were pieced together by some scattered bamboo sticks. Even so, there were still a lot of them that made the surrounding people envious. Elder Erlong simply gave Qin Huai a bamboo bag for him to fill. These were the hardest currency in the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Next month, your points will increase.¡± Elder Erlong was very serious, but he couldn¡¯t hide the smile at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t be too proud,¡± he warned. ¡°This is just qi and blood. The true place to compete in combat power is still the Azure Dragon Pass. The 43rd rank in qi, blood, and power can¡¯t represent your true combat power, nor can it represent the true combat power of the others. Only the ranking of the Azure Dragon Pass is the true ranking of our sect¡¯s geniuses.¡± Qin Huai nodded to show that he understood. ¡°Grandmaster, what is this Azure Dragon Pass?¡± Elder Erlong sorted out his thoughts and said, ¡°This Azure Dragon Pass is a powerful treasure that the Grandmaster of the Nine Dragons sect brought. Its body is as big as your house. And the barriers in the Azure Dragon Pass are the demons and enemies that the Azure Dragon Pass conjured.¡± Around them, many young people were also listening attentively. They knew some things about the Azure Dragon Pass, but they still wanted to hear the legendary Elder Erlong tell them again. There might be something they didn¡¯t know. ¡°A powerful treasure?¡± Qin Huai felt that it was a little mysterious. ¡°What is this treasure? I¡¯ve heard that the pearl in the White Dragon Forest seems to be a treasured weapon.¡± He finally asked. Ever since he had arrived at the Nine Dragons sect, he had been wondering about this. ¡°All of you can come and listen. This old man will give you an explanation,¡± Elder Erlong ordered. There was a whooshing sound, and a group of people rushed over to Qin Huai like dumplings. There were even many disciples who were in a stack, like a tower. ¡°In layman¡¯s terms, bejeweled weapons are items that are forged by a craftsman using high-quality iron ores and then infused with energy. And this ¡®force¡¯ can be divided into two types. ¡°The first is the energy that the ore itself has. I¡¯ve told you before, kings have power, living beings have power, and so do the mountains, rivers, grass, and trees. ¡°A good craftsman can bring out the original energy of all living beings, and even the ultimate sublimation is possible. ¡°So, an artifact that possesses force is no longer an ordinary artifact. Under the blacksmith¡¯s hammer, they have a mysterious ability. Or rather, he displayed the abilities that it should have.¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Everyone suddenly understood, letting out a clear sound in front of Elder Erlong. ¡°The second type is much simpler. You just have to infuse the force of a bone pattern realm expert into it. Although this is easy to understand, it is very difficult to implement because there are very few people who meet the conditions. ¡°First of all, he must be a craftsman who can forge treasured weapons. Second, the craftsman must also be a bone pattern realm expert. Only by fulfilling these two conditions can he inject other people¡¯s force into the object,¡± Elder Erlong pouted. Li Buhu immediately brought a bowl of water from somewhere, but he stopped in front of Elder Erlong and then turned his head. Qin Huai raised his eyes to look at this ¡®love rival¡¯ who had been so aggressive just a moment ago. At this moment, there were only four words in his heart. He had a whole new level of respect. He took the water and handed it to Elder Erlong. ¡°Have some water, Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elder Erlong nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why treasured weapons are hard to come by. They¡¯re even rarer than experts in the bone pattern realm. ¡°The price of any one of these treasured weapons is enough to sell for a sky-high price, and a good treasured weapon can also allow ordinary martial artists to kill people who are above their cultivation level. ¡°After all, having power means having powerful battle strength. In short, force has many uses. There are even some high-grade medicinal pills that have force¡­ However, these are not areas that you can come into contact with now,¡± Elder Erlong said meaningfully. Qin Huai was calm, but he was thinking about the force he controlled. It was very blurry, and there was no shape or direction. ¡®It turns out that I haven¡¯t even reached the basic level of force. All I¡¯ve obtained is a little chance to spy on this world in the future.¡¯ Qin Huai¡¯s original understanding of force was only to attack. Now, it seemed that he had made a big mistake. The martial Dao in this world was far more exciting than he had imagined. A treasured weapon that had power could actually create enemies as a form of trial. It was so dreamy. As for Qin Huai, he was thinking about his ¡®memories¡¯ of blacksmithing, but he didn¡¯t touch on the forging of treasured weapons. It seemed that forging such weapons was beyond the advanced level, so he needed to go higher. Elder Erlong continued, ¡°However, the use of this treasured weapon also consumes a lot of resources. After each use, you will need to use precious treasured medicine and secret recipes to recuperate. Although my Nine Dragons sect¡¯s treasured weapon, the Azure Dragon Pass, is strong and special, the consumption of resources each time is not particularly high. However, each person only has one chance to enter each month.¡± Chapter 170 - 170 An Unexpected Joy 170 An Unexpected Joy Elder Erlong had obviously told Qin Huai this. ¡°Moreover, we have to gather a group of people to enter together.¡± ¡°If I register now, when can I enter?¡± Qin Huai hurriedly asked. ¡°It¡¯s basically the first day of every month.¡± Qin Huai felt a sense of pity. That was a few days ago. At that time, he seemed to have been unconscious. But he could do it next month, after breaking through to the eighth refinement. ¡°Alright, you can all disperse~¡± Elder Erlong waved his hand and dispersed the crowd. ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Li Buhu followed behind Qin Huai. ¡°Brother-in-law, can you teach me how to cultivate? I want to be like you and have such a high burst of strength! Don¡¯t worry, I have talent.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the big guy. This kid was indeed a good seedling born to train his strength. Even if he did not have much strength, it would be a waste of his physique. However, Qin Huai didn¡¯t say anything and just walked toward the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. ¡°You silly man, you were barking at the son-in-law just now, and now you¡¯re turning around to fawn over him? Do you think my son-in-law has no temper?¡± Qingshui understood and began to mock him. ¡°Or do you think that your childish excuse can fool people?¡± Li Buhu was not angry at Qingshui¡¯s words. Instead, his face turned red. ¡°I apologize to Brother-in-law. I was rash just now.¡± Qin Huai was still unmoved. Li Buhu gritted his teeth. ¡°Brother-in-law, I know that one person can¡¯t help a building collapse. Also, Brother-in-law, you¡¯re not very popular in our Li family now. I can go back and persuade my old man for you. How about I promise to rope Old Master to your side?¡± He looked at Qin Huai with anticipation. When the latter was moving the stones earlier, his body had undergone at least two transformations, and his strength instantly soared. This was the method he had been searching for a long time. ¡°Come and find me after you¡¯ve done it,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°Alright! Brother-in-law, don¡¯t worry!¡± Li Buhu immediately agreed and rushed into the distance. ¡°Son-in-law, is this also your scheme?¡± Qingshui looked at Qin Huai. ¡°If Fourth Master speaks up for you, then Master will definitely slowly change his opinion of you. At that time, at least the neutral faction will definitely stand on your side, and your status in the Li family will be different.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was still calm, though. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as scheming. When you¡¯re strong enough, these things will naturally come to you. If I have to talk about scheming, then my plan is to use half of my effort to cultivate and study how to improve my strength.¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Qingshui was deep in thought, but she didn¡¯t understand. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Blue)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +243!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± Qin Huai first collected a wave of experience points on the training grounds, earning nearly 4,000 points. Then, he walked to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion with Qingshui. This place was very big, even more majestic than the city lord¡¯s in Pingnan City. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion had a total of three floors. The first level was filled with some basic things, such as the qi nurturing pills, dragon nurturing pills, vitality pills, and so on. The second level was extremely luxurious. Qin Huai walked to the second floor and looked at the dazzling array of samples. His brain was calculating rapidly, deducing the poison that could work on great blood refinement martial artists. These prescriptions weren¡¯t difficult for Qin Huai. He and his master, Sun Yuanshan, had been able to figure it out when they were in Pingnan City. It was just that Pingnan City was poor and remote, and did not have that many medicinal herbs for both of them. It could be said that a clever housewife could not cook without rice. However, it was different in the Nine Dragons sect. The county city was vast, and the variety of medicinal herbs was not only good, but also relatively cheap. Qin Huai looked at the many precious medicinal herbs that were sold at the price of nine dragons and half a catty. He was extremely tempted. ¡°Earth cage flower, drunken immortal root, hundred withered bathing, and these flame flower fragments¡­ Give me a catty each!¡± Under the shocked gaze of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion attendant, Qin Huai packed up bags of poison. At the banquet, there must be a lot of people who were dissatisfied with him, so there were definitely many who wanted to make a move in secret and sow discord. When the time came, Qin Huai would use these poisons to make the scene as peaceful and quiet as possible. He would try not to use force if he could. And so, Qin Huai¡¯s afternoon was very fulfilling. He mixed the dozens of kilograms of medicinal herbs he had bought and then wrapped them in parchment paper that would tear with a poke. They were then placed in various positions on his body. Qin Huai even jumped back and forth, feeling the heavy weight on his body. He was instantly filled with confidence. Late at night, Qin Huai arrived as scheduled. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Comprehension], [White Dragon Force] +1%.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Comprehension], [White Dragon Force] +1%.¡± He still followed Elder Erlong to cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi, and comprehend the white dragon force. The concealment of spirit and qi had advanced at an incredible speed, from level 32 to level 34, 556/4000. Then, Elder Erlong spoke, ¡°Can you show me the method you used to increase your strength today?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Qin Huai did not decline. He directly used his blood dragon form. After cultivating the concealment of spirit and qi, the state of his four-directional tiger-wolf technique had already been restrained. Only the blood dragon form would show characteristics and phenomena. ¡°You injected qi into your blood and muscles? Tsk tsk, you¡¯re really bold!¡± Elder Erlong clicked his tongue in wonder, his eyes filled with praise. ¡°If you¡¯re not careful, you might lose control of your aura. If it¡¯s light, your muscles will be damaged and your blood will decline. If it¡¯s serious, your body will explode! ¡°This should also be a forbidden technique¡­ Did Sun Yuanshan teach you that?¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°I created this myself. I can still stuff the entire white dragon into my body.¡± As he spoke, he once again revealed his blood dragon form. ¡°Good boy! Your body can really do it.¡± This time, Elder Erlong was completely amazed. It was already risky enough to just stuff in the aura, but this kid actually stuffed the entire dragon in. ¡°Your body has the talent to develop. It¡¯s very strange.¡± Elder Erlong observed the veins on Qin Huai¡¯s body for a while and suddenly burst into laughter. ¡°Brat, you¡¯ve given me inspiration! Master already has a new forbidden technique development direction!¡± The more he looked at Qin Huai¡¯s body, the more he liked it. ¡°Yes! You¡¯re too similar to me! You have the same talent as me in developing forbidden techniques!¡± Chapter 171 - 171 The Li Family Fourth Branch 171 The Li Family Fourth Branch Meanwhile, in the fourth branch of the Li family, there was a heated argument. ¡°Who is this Qin Huai? He¡¯s just a hooligan from Pingnan City and the live-in son-in-law of the Li family!¡± ¡°His surname isn¡¯t even Li. Why should he bring the Li family back to prosperity?¡± ¡°Are we relying now on an outsider? Ridiculous!¡± Whoosh! Li Zeshi, the fourth master, waved his sleeves angrily. In front of him, Li Buhu was kneeling on the ground with a bruised face. ¡°Father, don¡¯t say that about Brother-in-law!¡± Li Buhu¡¯s aura weakened by more than half, and his body was in pain. Li Zeshi looked at his simple-minded son and was furious. Another kick landed on Li Buhu¡¯s body, causing the latter to smash the door like a ball and roll on the fake mountain of the courtyard house in a sorry state. The surrounding servants and people from the sixth household came and went freely, their expressions calm. They didn¡¯t even look at his miserable young master. Over the years, they were already used to this scene. Old Master would not hold back, and Young Master would not give in either. Old Master¡¯s contribution to Young Master¡¯s current physique was indispensable. But the most difficult thing was, the two of them were constantly trying to convince each other. Li Zeshi narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Besides, the Li and Zhang families have a bet. To enter the core disciple level from the seventh refinement within two years¡­ Don¡¯t you know how difficult it is to do that? You grew up in the Nine Dragons sect, right? ¡°Do you think the Li family will still protect him? Do you think that General Song Ya will let him go?¡± Li Zeshi lowered his voice. He still wanted to convince his son. ¡°Even if he becomes a core disciple, so what? Is he stronger than Zhang Haoyue? Can his popularity surpass him?¡± Li Buhu blurted out, ¡°Didn¡¯t no one in the sect beat me in terms of strength in the same realm? Not even Zhang Haoyue! But brother-in-law did it!¡± He was completely shocked by Qin Huai¡¯s strength. In his world, having a big fist was everything. And his fist was absolute strength. ¡°What!¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s eyes widened in anger. ¡°Old man, if Sister Shaoxiang didn¡¯t really confirm it, why would she protect Brother-in-law so strongly? She doesn¡¯t even like Zhang Haoyue!¡± Li Zeshi rolled his eyes. ¡°Come on, that crazy girl believes in fate too much. She believes in so-called feelings too much¡­ I still remember when I took you guys hiking when we were young. When that girl was six years old, she stood on the top of the mountain and muttered, ¡®I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll die from jumping down here.¡¯ The next second, she really jumped down!¡± ¡°Yeah, Sister Shaoxiang didn¡¯t really die! She was caught by a big tree and found a cave,¡± Li Buhu retorted. ¡°Old man, trust me this once. There¡¯s nothing wrong with supporting Brother-in-law!¡± ¡°What did that kid promise you to make you speak up for him like this?¡± Li Zeshi gasped and was a little exasperated. ¡°Brother-in-law said that if I can get you and our fourth branch to support him, he will give me his strength technique,¡± Li Buhu explained. Li Zeshi hesitated when he heard that. ¡°How much stronger is his energy technique than yours?¡± ¡°Ninth Refinement! Far better than me¡­¡± Li Zeshi was silent. He knew very well that his son had a great future on the path of strength. If he could obtain Qin Huai¡¯s energy technique, his future achievements would not surpass Zhang Haoyue¡¯s, but he would definitely become a pillar of the sect. After he died, his son would rely on this technique and his cultivation¡­ Even if the Li family was gone one day, this kid could still live a good life with his good-for-nothing big brother. ¡°Alright then.¡± Li Zeshi finally relented. ¡°Old man! Trust me this time. You won¡¯t regret it in the future!¡± Li Buhu jumped up happily. Li Zeshi looked at his excited son helplessly. ¡°If Qin Huai has any problems in the future, just come to me and ask for my instructions.¡± He then waved his hand and said, ¡°Now get lost!¡± ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Green)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Blue)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +243!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (White)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Comprehension], [White Dragon Force] +1%.¡± The next day, Qin Huai¡¯s life remained unchanged. As usual, after collecting experience points, he followed his master to cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi technique, all the way until late at night. After some time, Qin Huai received a letter from his cheap wife, Li Shaoxiang. The content was very straightforward. ¡°As expected of husband! In just a few days, he has already reached the 43rd level on the Blood Dragon Platform! I¡¯ve been outside for the past two days, and I¡¯ve collected quite a few medicinal herbs for you. You should be able to use them.¡± Qin Huai looked at the large box that Qing ¡®er carried in. The medicinal herbs inside were all herbs that Qin Huai had exchanged for at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. They were used to cultivate the blood heart technique and repair the golden blood. Qin Huai did the same thing and turned all these things into tonics for the blood heart technique, then he swallowed them all. Name: Qin Huai [Life Span: 328] [Vitality]: 109.621 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 70, (7017/8000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 43, 389/5000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)] Chapter 172 - 172 Green Feather Tower 172 Green Feather Tower [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 50, 887/6000)], [Concealment of Spirit and Qi (level 36, 333/4000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (advanced, 833/1600)], [Cooking (Intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 8/8], [Raging Lightning] [Force]: White Dragon Force 5%, Tiger Wolf Force 1% [Stage: Level 7 Blood Refinement] ¡°The concealment of spirit and qi, blood heart, and long breath techniques are all steadily improving. The most crucial thing is the white dragon force.¡± Qin Huai watched as the four events progressed at the same time, feeling delighted. ¡°Qingshui, is there a blacksmith shop in the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Qin Huai asked. Ever since he heard Elder Erlong¡¯s introduction, Qin Huai was very interested in forging artifacts. He wanted to find out if there was a place in the sect that could forge armor and weapons so that he could get some experience points. His forging was now advanced. When he reached the level of being able to forge artifacts, he would be able to forge artifacts for himself. Not to mention that his combat strength would increase greatly, he would definitely be able to sell it for a good price. If he used it to cultivate the blood heart technique, he would definitely advance by leaps and bounds. ¡°Of course,¡± Qingshui replied. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect has businesses all over the county. They have a blacksmith shop, a medicine shop, a chamber of commerce, an auction house, and so on. ¡°It¡¯s just that our martial arts dojo doesn¡¯t have many talents in the blacksmith shop, nor do we have a top-notch master who can forge artifacts.¡± Qingshui was slightly regretful. ¡°Such a talent is too rare. There are only a few of them here in Lingjiang, and none of them is someone the three forces of Lingjiang want to offend. If something happens to them, it will be more serious than the important figures of the three forces. ¡°Because we will face the joint pursuit of the three major forces! They are the treasures of Lingjiang, and countless top-notch experts have ordered treasured weapons from them.¡± A hint of envy flashed through Qingshui¡¯s eyes. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Qin Huai knew that it was definitely difficult to reach this level, but he did not expect that only a few people in the vast Lingjiang could reach that level. If he could reach this realm, it would be much easier for him to win the hearts of the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect¡­ ¡°Then where is the blacksmith shop of the sect?¡± ¡°It¡¯s two miles behind the Blood Dragon Platform. It also rises from the mountain. ¡°There are about thirty masters in the blacksmith shop¡­ Most of them are actually in the county city and the small city below.¡± Hearing this, Qin Huai felt a little disappointed. He then went to the Nine Dragon Sect¡¯s blacksmith shop and took a look around. The thirty masters were also very average. They were only at the intermediate level of blacksmithing skills, and all they did was do repairs. It seemed that the true elites and masters had been sent out¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White)], [Forging Skill] experience +1¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White)], [Forging Skill] experience +1¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence (White)], [Forging Skill] experience +1¡± Qin Huai collected 30 experience points in one go, which raised his forging skill to advanced, 863/1600. It would not take long for him to reach the next level. A month was enough. The key was that he had to wait for three months before he could use his baggage. ¡°Three months¡­ It¡¯ll be over soon¡­¡± ¡­ At night, Zhang Haoyue had personally arrived at Qin Huai¡¯s residence. ¡°Brother Qin, shall we go?¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice was warm, and it made people¡¯s hearts feel warm. ¡°Brother Zhang, please!¡± Qin Huai also had a smile on his face. The two of them walked side by side through the alleys and training grounds of the Nine Dragons sect. Most of the people smiled and greeted Zhang Haoyue. Then, they looked at Qin Huai coldly and mocked him in a low voice. The scene was like ice and fire. However, it was better than before. At the very least, after some of the Li family disciples learned that Qin Huai had gotten 43rd place in the Blood Dragon Platform, they were shocked. And so, their hostility toward Qin Huai lessened by half. The remaining part was because Qin Huai had snatched away the lover of their dreams. ¡°I heard that Brother Qin performed brilliantly on the Blood Dragon Platform yesterday and made it into the 43rd place?¡± Zhang Haoyue said on the way. ¡°Yes, I was just lucky.¡± ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re being too humble. There¡¯s still a chance of luck in a life-and-death battle, but your strength is real.¡± Zhang Haoyue had a gratified look on his face. ¡°It¡¯s great to see Brother Qin improving so quickly. ¡°In my opinion, Brother Qin should be able to enter the top 30 in the upcoming Azure Dragon Pass with his strength and a few unique techniques.¡± ¡°No, this is all I have,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°I¡¯ve used everything I can on the Blood Dragon Platform. I don¡¯t have any backup plans.¡± Zhang Haoyue chuckled. He wasn¡¯t disappointed that he didn¡¯t manage to get Qin Huai to tell him anything. The two of them walked to a low peak together. The Green Feather Tower stood on the peak of the mountain, standing alone. Zhang Haoyue said as he walked, ¡°Today, I¡¯ve invited all the well-known experts in the sect. They¡¯re all in the top 150 of Azure Dragon Pass.¡± In other words, they were all young martial artists who had undergone the great blood refinement or even the eighth refinement. As soon as they entered the Green Feather Tower, Qin Huai heard a commotion. The lights were flourishing, and the green robes were dancing in the wind. The young people were carefree and relaxed, enjoying the strong mountain wind and drinking the strongest wine. Qin Huai glanced over. Chapter 173 - 173 His Word is the Law 173 His Word is the Law Qin Huai realized that these people were all people with surging blood essence. They were all martial artists who had refined their blood greatly! The first floor was the size of a courtyard house. It was spacious and could accommodate hundreds of people. Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he followed Zhang Haoyue upstairs. The second floor was a little smaller. However, there were still fifty to sixty people. Qin Huai finally understood what Zhang Haoyue meant by ¡°All of the top 150 experts in Azure Dragon Pass.¡± He meant that he had called all 150 of them over. What a big face. ¡°Brother Qin, find a seat and sit down first.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled as he apologized to Qin Huai. Then, he walked toward the crowd that was the center of attention. Qin Huai looked at the group of young geniuses around him, who were either disgusted or mocking him. ¡°Brother-in-law! Here! Here!¡± Suddenly, Li Buhu¡¯s voice sounded. He was tall and burly, and the moment he stood up, he attracted Qin Huai¡¯s attention. ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡¯re finally here.¡± Li Buhu quickly walked toward Qin Huai, his terrifying weight causing the entire second floor to rumble. ¡°Sit with me.¡± He led Qin Huai to a corner. Qin Huai surveyed the surroundings. There was an undetectable amount of powder scattered in his robes. Finally, Qin Huai and Li Buhu sat down. The people sitting at the same table looked at them with complicated expressions. ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯ve already negotiated with the old man. If you need anything in the future, just tell my old man to bring people over immediately! Anyway, no matter what the others think, the four of us will definitely stand on your side.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Li Buhu to really convince his father. ¡°What are you waiting for? Greet him!¡± Li Buhu shouted at the people around him. ¡°Hello, Brother-in-law!¡± The five of them spoke in unison, sonorous and forceful. ¡°Brother-in-law, look¡­¡± Li Buhu looked at Qin Huai obsequiously. Qin Huai naturally knew what the other party meant by shouting in public, so he nodded. ¡°There¡¯s something I have to say first. My energy technique is considered a forbidden technique. There¡¯s a chance that you won¡¯t be able to cultivate it, and it might even damage your body.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother-in-law! I¡¯ve never lost to anyone in terms of physical strength!¡± Li Buhu¡¯s voice was sonorous. ¡°Call me anytime.¡± Qin Huai said nothing more. He and his master Sun Yuanshan had also tried to make the blood dragon form popular. The first candidate to try was the muscular Fang Han, but in the end, he didn¡¯t do anything. Apart from the fact that his body was not strong enough, his body, which had not been baptized by the four-directional tiger-wolf, blood heart, and the long breath techniques, could not withstand such a strong and violent foreign object. However, Li Buhu¡¯s body was indeed gifted. He might really be able to master it. The sudden shouts from Li Buhu¡¯s table immediately attracted the attention of the people around them. Even Zhang Haoyue, who was far away, turned his head and looked over. ¡°There¡¯s a problem over there. I¡¯ll go take care of it.¡± Zhang Haoyue looked in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. Zhang Aochuan¡¯s table seemed to have a conflict with Qin Huai and the others, and a ripple appeared in his heart. Everything was as he had expected. ¡°Brother Haoyue is really busy. It¡¯s just two small fries. So what if we fight¡­¡± the man with a braid sneered, his eyes indifferent. ¡°That¡¯s right. They can fight as they please. Anyway, we don¡¯t need them for this trip. If you get injured, you won¡¯t be eaten as food when you go out this time.¡± They were all top geniuses of the younger generation in the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°We¡¯re all fellow disciples of the same sect, so saying those words is too hurtful.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled in response before walking toward Qin Huai and the others. However, his footsteps were not fast, and he deliberately delayed in the crowded crowd. Zhang Aochuan was famous for his temper. He had deliberately arranged their positions. This was Zhang Haoyue¡¯s goal. He wanted to see what other moves Qin Huai had and whether he could force out the ultimate move he used to kill Li Buyi. ¡­ At the center of the conflict, several disciples of the Zhang family listened to the movements of Li Buhu and the others. Their faces were filled with cold smiles, and they did not hide it. ¡°Is the fourth branch of the Li family stupid? It looks like he has acknowledged Qin Huai?¡± ¡°Li Buhu wasn¡¯t smart to begin with. He relied on his strength to support the younger generation of the fourth branch.¡± ¡°Although the fourth branch and the others have all entered the top 150 of Azure Dragon Pass, they are all at the level of 134. Li Buhu is only ranked 131st. What can he do this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain that he¡¯ll be treated as cannon fodder.¡± Bang! Li Buhu slammed the table and stood up. ¡°Zhang Aochuan, why are you barking like a dog? Aren¡¯t you only at 120? Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that you were in the top ten of Azure Dragon Pass!¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s 120, it¡¯s still far from you. You must know that the ten of you are on the same level in Azure Dragon Pass.¡± Zhang Aochuan¡¯s voice was filled with contempt as he looked at Qin Huai. ¡°You still want to acknowledge this country bumpkin as your brother-in-law? ¡°What are you looking at? A life-and-death battle was not just about strength. Besides, how many tricks did you use to unleash that instant of power?¡± Zhang Aochuan sneered. ¡°You can try.¡± Qin Huai glanced at him indifferently. The other party was at rank 120 in the Azure Dragon Pass, and he was at most at the eighth refinement. ¡°Humph! How arrogant!¡± Zhang Aochuan slammed the table and stood up. His aura surged, and one could even see a hint of killing intent in his eyes. A few tables from them, the people had already tactfully moved away, looking at Qin Huai and his party with interest. ¡°Brat, if you want to attack my brother-in-law, you have to go through me first!¡± Li Buhu stood in front of Qin Huai. He was also afraid that Qin Huai would be at a disadvantage. ¡°Humph! I¡¯ll defeat you like killing a chicken!¡± Zhang Aochuan didn¡¯t give in at all. ¡°Surnamed Qin, if you have the guts, come here yourself.¡± Qin Huai flicked his wrist and shot a cloud of dust at Zhang Aochuan. He then raised his voice, ¡°Sit down!¡± Thud! Zhang Aochuan¡¯s legs suddenly gave way, and he sat firmly on the chair. At the side, Li Buhu looked at Zhang Aochuan, who was still clamoring earlier, now sitting on the chair ¡®obediently¡¯¡­ He was dumbfounded. At this moment, the scene seemed to freeze. ¡®How¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Zhang Aochuan looked down at his own body with his mouth agape. ¡®Why would I sit down obediently?¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t fight anymore¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue slowly squeezed into the crowd, and his voice stopped abruptly. Has it ended? ¡°What happened here?¡± Zhang Haoyue asked gently. However, no one present could answer his question. Chapter 174 - 174 Rumors in the City 174 Rumors in the City ¡°You¡­ What kind of evil spell did you use?¡± Zhang Aochuan stood up from his chair, trembling. However, the arrogance and killing intent from before vanished into thin air with Qin Huai¡¯s low shout. The surrounding people held their breaths and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Whether it is an evil spell or not is not important. The important thing is¡­¡± Qin Huai sat on the chair and said calmly, ¡°If I can make you sit down, I can take your head.¡± Zhang Aochuan opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked at the man in front of him, his heart filled with fear. Until now, he still did not know what had happened to him just now. Pa, pa, pa ¡­ ¡°As expected of the man that Sister Shaoxiang has taken a fancy to.¡± Zhang Haoyue clapped his hands. He looked at Qin Huai with a complicated gaze, feeling an indescribable feeling in his heart. ¡°Humph! I told you long ago that my brother-in-law is not someone a small fry like you can deal with.¡± Li Buhu¡¯s face was flushed red. It was even better than him winning personally. Who would dare to doubt their own judgment now? Brother-in-law¡¯s low shout could even shock an eighth refinement martial artist. Even Zhang Haoyue could not do it. ¡°Everyone, we¡¯re all fellow disciples. Don¡¯t let a small matter hurt our harmony.¡± Zhang Haoyue patted Zhang Aochuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Aochuan, you¡¯ve always been hot-tempered. If I¡¯m not wrong, you were the one who started it, right? ¡± He could feel Zhang Ao¡¯s qi and blood. It was very stable, not like some kind of hidden force. Was it poison? But how did he do it in front of everyone? Strange¡­ There was indeed something strange about Qin Huai. ¡°Aochuan, apologize to Brother Qin.¡± ¡°What?!¡± When Zhang Aochuan heard this, his expression changed. However, he met Zhang Haoyue¡¯s kind gaze and was speechless. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± He cupped his fists at Qin Huai. Then, he sat down quietly. The surrounding crowd did not dare to scowl at Qin Huai anymore. They lowered their heads and didn¡¯t even make eye contact with Qin Huai. As for Qin Huai, he was calm and collected. He silently tasted the wine of the Green Feather Tower. He had brought the poison here because he wanted to avoid bloodshed. It was definitely impossible for him to poison someone to death in front of everyone. However, it was still easy to scare them away. He did not want to expose his trump cards and moves on such an occasion. ¡°Alright, I believe that many of you already know why everyone has been called here today.¡± Zhang Haoyue glanced at Qin Huai, then turned to face the crowd. He slowly walked to the side of the hollow attic fence. On the ceiling, a feather-shaped wooden tray hanging from a metal chain slowly descended, and Zhang Haoyue stepped on it. He slowly descended to the center, and everyone in the building could be seen. For a moment, everyone looked at the number one person of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Everyone, let me explain the purpose of our gathering here today. ¡°Half a month ago, we found many rumors in the city. They said that the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect had taken advantage of the chaotic tide to kill ordinary people and even itinerant martial artists in the surrounding towns and villages. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect has placed great importance on this matter. We sent three teams of disciples to investigate, but there was no news. ¡°Since then, more and more disciples from small dojos in other towns have been killed. It is said that there are traces of the use of the changqi formula. ¡°Furthermore, there have been cases of Nine Dragons sect disciples being hunted down in recent days!¡± As soon as he said this, there was an uproar upstairs and downstairs. They were killing the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect? This kind of thing was simply unheard of! ¡°Who is it? How dare they be so arrogant?!¡± ¡°Even the county governor and the Twin Extreme sect wouldn¡¯t dare to do this. This is simply a public provocation!¡± ¡°Offending my Nine Dragons sect¡­ What benefits do those people have?¡± All kinds of voices rose and fell, discussing the whole story. When Qin Huai heard this news, he also felt that it was a little ridiculous. Killing a Nine Dragons Sect disciple, did he have the guts of a bear or a leopard? Didn¡¯t they know that the Nine Dragons sect was backed by the True Path sect? If they were really forced to invite an important figure from the main True Path sect over, would the other party still be able to live? ¡°Is there any news from the sect?¡± someone asked. ¡°The sect master and the elders have two guesses,¡± Zhang Haoyue said. ¡°Firstly, it was the traitor of the Nine Dragons sect thirty years ago¡­ The original Elder Zhang Can did not die after falling off the cliff. Now, he has come back and persuaded those disciples to rebel. He wants to take revenge on the sect. ¡± ¡°Zhang Can? Who is that person?¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Buhu. ¡°That person¡¯s matter is a little ridiculous. He was originally a pillar of the Zhang family. However, because he fell in love with the county governor¡¯s daughter, he secretly sent information to the county governor¡¯s manor as a bargaining chip to pursue his daughter. ¡°However, in the end, he was chased by the elders of the sect and fell from a ten-thousand-meter-high mountain. His life and death are unknown.¡± When Li Buhu mentioned this person, his eyes were filled with disdain. Using the sect¡¯s information to pursue the county governor¡¯s daughter was indeed absurd. ¡°Young Master, did the two of them end up together?¡± a disciple from the fourth branch asked. Li Buhu¡¯s expression became even stranger. ¡°It¡¯s said that they didn¡¯t even hold hands until Zhang Can fell off the cliff.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The few of them immediately sighed. ¡°What kind of elder is this? What a loss.¡± ¡°The sect has so much important information, but they didn¡¯t even let them hold hands once¡­¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. The world was truly full of wonders. If that was the case, the grudge between the Nine Dragons sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion was not small. ¡°Of course, I think the possibility of this happening is very small.¡± Zhang Haoyue interrupted their discussion. ¡°The second possibility is that the people from the Sacred Heart sect have started to cause trouble in Lingjiang.¡± Chapter 175 - 175 Sacred Heart Sect 175 Sacred Heart Sect ¡°In the past two years, we have found traces of the Sacred Heart sect in many towns in Lingjiang, so it is highly possible that that sect has appeared here in Lingjiang.¡± ¡°Sacred Heart sect? Aren¡¯t they in the west? ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Great You emperor has gathered an army to attack the Sacred Heart sect. ¡± ¡°Nonsense. I heard the Sacred Heart sect has already taken over the four western regions and made them their territory.¡± ¡°If this is true, doesn¡¯t that mean that the Sacred Heart sect already has the strength to fight against our True Path sect? ¡± The disciples started discussing again. ¡°Silence!¡± Zhang Haoyue drew everyone¡¯s attention back to himself. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s almost possible that the Sacred Heart sect has appeared in Lingjiang. ¡°Also, the cultivation method of the Sacred Heart Sect must be a method of draining the pond to fish in the fish that feeds on cultivators. It¡¯s a method that will bring misery and suffering to the people. ¡°As the leader of the three forces in Lingjiang county, the Nine Dragons sect will never allow such a thing to happen!¡± ¡°Then what does Brother Haoyue want us to do?¡± the man with the whip said. ¡°Everyone here is an elite of the Nine Dragons sect. You are all leaders of the younger generation. I want everyone to be the vanguard and bait to lure out the murderer hiding in the dark.¡± ¡°Sure, I have no objections!¡± ¡°Me too¡­¡± Everyone expressed their opinions one after another, and their attitudes were unanimous. ¡­ ¡°A Sacred Heart sect disciple¡­¡± As Qin Huai walked home, his mind was filled with thoughts. He had never thought that he would be related to this crazy force after entering the Nine Dragons sect. The Sacred Heart sect had already occupied the four western states of Great You. Could they fight against the True Path sect? So fast. As expected of someone who cultivated evil techniques. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice came from behind. He called out to Qin Huai, Li Buhu, and the rest. ¡°Brother Zhang, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Brother Qin should also be going to the Green Feather Tower to discuss the matter, right?¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled. ¡°This is a good opportunity for you to get closer to your fellow disciples.¡± ¡°My strength is still weak now, and there are great enemies waiting outside. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t go,¡± Qin Huai rejected him immediately. ¡°Oh¡­ What a pity.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face revealed a touch of regret, and he immediately took his leave. ¡°Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law, how did you make Zhang Aochuan listen to you at Green Feather Tower?¡± Li Buhu asked impatiently. Qin Huai replied, ¡°I just relied on my confidence.¡± ¡°Confidence?¡± Li Buhu was confused. ¡°What kind of energy is this? Why have I never heard father or the other elders mention it?¡± Qin Huai began to undress, revealing a corner of his chest. ¡°This is confidence.¡± Li Buhu¡¯s gaze followed Qin Huai¡¯s chest and looked in. It was full of things in big and small bags. Of course, he was not stupid. He instantly realized what was inside. ¡°Poison?! No wonder¡­¡± Li Buhu was enlightened. ¡°But, Brother-in-law, how did you quietly make Zhang Aochuan fall for it?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°Continue to work hard in cultivation and have a certain amount of talent.¡± ¡°Brother-in-law, how much poison do you have?¡± ¡°Not much, just a little.¡± Qin Huai pulled up his clothes again. Li Buhu¡¯s face was pale, and his footsteps were a little unsteady. ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯m very glad now. I only competed in strength with you at the Blood Dragon Platform, not in combat. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t even know how I died.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say that,¡± Qin Huai consoled him. ¡°With your cultivation base, if you want to kill someone, you definitely know how you died. Don¡¯t worry. ¡± When Li Buhu heard that, his face turned even paler. ¡­ Outside Lingjiang, in the dense forest, a group of men in gray robes started a fire. The surrounding exquisite wooden houses were located within a one-mile radius. The man in the lead had a worried look on his face as he warmed his hands on the fire. If someone got closer, they would find that this person had six fingers and his palm was unusually wide. ¡°That damned Hundred Weapons Mountain. I didn¡¯t expect their target to be Pingnan City.¡± ¡°How ridiculous¡­¡± A fat man squatted beside the six-fingered man. ¡°I thought we could take a detour and kill the brat who burned the secret manual and ruined our plan in Pingnan. It won¡¯t take more than a few days. Who would have thought that we would meet someone from the Hundred Weapons Mountain¡­¡± ¡°Speaking of which, what kind of monster armor did they make? They look like demons when they wear them.¡± The six-fingered man pursed his lips. ¡°Do we have the right to call others monsters? Look at you. Do normal people have two stomachs?¡± He looked at the fatty beside him. The latter¡¯s body was split into two vertically, and a deep groove sucked the already tightly wrinkled robe into it. Both of them were very tall, about two to three meters tall. Therefore, their facial features and limbs were rather rough. The two of them sat together, looking like humans, but also a little inhuman. ¡°But that brat called Qin Huai must be killed. Otherwise, it will be difficult to appease the hatred in my heart!¡± the fat man said fiercely. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for him, we wouldn¡¯t have lost a third of our men to those people from the Hundred Weapons Mountain.¡± ¡°Fortunately, although we lost some manpower, we still completed the mission given by the higher-ups and settled down in Lingjiang.¡± Fatty patted his two bellies. ¡°It¡¯s not enough to say that we¡¯re taking root. They will definitely send people into the mountains to clean up.¡± ¡°This battle is the key to whether or not we can take root.¡± The six-fingered man¡¯s voice was cold. Then, he turned around and dragged a corpse over. Chapter 176 - 176 The Sun in the Dantian! 176 The Sun in the Dantian! With a crack, the corpse was split into two halves and handed to the fat man. ¡°We need to get as many Nine Dragons disciples as possible, everything about the True Path sect. Fortunately, the three major factions are at odds with each other, especially the Nine Dragons sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion¡­ It¡¯s all thanks to Zhang Can.¡± The six-fingered man turned to look at Zhang Can, who was running over. ¡°My lords, what are your orders?¡± Zhang Can had the face of an honest person. He was unrecognizable and even looked a little too honest. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so humble. You¡¯re our good helper, the hero of the Sacred Heart sect! If you hadn¡¯t helped us contact the governor, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to take our positions so quickly.¡± The six-fingered man smiled and patted Zhang Can¡¯s shoulder. He then tore open half of his hand and handed it to Zhang Can. After that, the three of them toasted, and they began to eat heartily. ¡­ No matter how cold the wind was, it could not freeze the overflowing spring. All living things were revived. Grass, flowers, and trees were fighting for life, creating a brilliant path filled with green in the mountains and rivers. Half a month passed quickly. In the courtyard, Qin Huai sat cross-legged under the sunlight. In his dantian world, the colors were already extremely distinct. The aura released by the white dragon had already faintly become the clouds and the ceiling of this ¡®world.¡¯ The dazzling golden blood bloomed with dazzling light, like the sun feeding a white dragon, charging the purple ball of electricity. Far away on the other side of the ¡®sky¡¯, the purple ball of lightning was dancing. All in all, the shape of the world seemed to be getting clearer. The clarity of the world was largely attributed to the realm of the concealment of spirit and qi. In this half a month, the concealment of spirit and qi technique broke through the fifth refinement. He had also reached level 77 long breath technique and was only a little bit away from the eighth refinement. The most important thing was Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan. With the support of the two great longevity and health cultivation techniques, the breath control and the long breath techniques, his lifespan reached 408 years. The shocking number made Qin Huai¡¯s body look even fairer, and his skin was as fair as a newborn¡¯s. Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. ¡°My white dragon force has already reached 20%, and my advanced forging technique has also reached around 1,300. I¡¯m getting closer and closer to the qualifications to forge artifacts.¡± Phew¡­ Qin Huai exhaled softly, a white light flashing across his eyes. If anyone else was watching from the side, they would see Qin Huai carrying a blurry white shadow on his back, and they would be extremely shocked. ¡®My current dantian already has the embryonic form of a ¡®world.¡¯ I wonder when I reach the bone Pattern realm¡­ how many things will be patterned bit by bit? Could it be an entire world?¡± Qin Huai mumbled, but he couldn¡¯t be sure. If he cultivated multiple techniques and broke through them one by one, it would be a grand scene. Without a doubt, his combat strength would increase by an unimaginable amount. But the rising dragon has already completely turned into a general attack. The clarity of the world ensured the golden blood¡¯s recovery ability. The rising dragon had already reached a terrifying level where it could recover one in two breaths. ¡°Perhaps the greatest improvement is still the flame longevity technique.¡± Qin Huai extended his palm. The rich power of longevity turned blood-red and gathered in his palm like blood droplets. Five years, six years, eight years, ten years¡­ As Qin Huai willed it, the power of longevity in his palm increased. And then¡­ The power of longevity was collected by Qin Huai and returned to various parts of his body. ¡°Now, I can infuse more power into the flame longevity technique. I can live for ten years, twenty years, or even a hundred years.¡± He could feel the power of longevity in his body. ¡°This power can allow me to face any expert below the bone pattern realm.¡± The only drawback was that it would consume a large amount of lifespan. ¡°Eh?¡± Qin Huai suddenly exclaimed in surprise. Was it because the power of his lifespan was actually slowly increasing? Qin Huai once again immersed himself in the world of his dantian. He saw that the ¡®great sun¡¯ was shining, emitting light that nourished the earth and the entire world. ¡°It¡¯s the golden blood! Is the blood heart technique working? It¡¯s recovering the lifespan I used up earlier.¡± Although the speed was very slow, Qin Huai could feel the power of longevity in his body recovering bit by bit. Perhaps¡­ It would take ten years to recover one year of lifespan. ¡°Unfortunately, this power isn¡¯t meant to repair my lifespan. Instead, it was for consumption. Otherwise, I should be considered a pseudo-immortal now.¡± Qin Huai was very excited. He seemed to have unknowingly embarked on a path that he had never imagined. But even so, at this moment, Qin Huai was terrifying enough. As long as he raised the level of the blood heart technique, he would be able to turn the flame of longevity technique into a general attack one day! ¡°Son-in-law, Zhang Haoyue is looking for you.¡± Suddenly, Qingshui walked into Qin Huai¡¯s training room. ¡°Got it.¡± Qin Huai stood up and restrained his emotions as he walked to the main hall. ¡°Brother Zhang.¡± ¡°Brother Qin.¡± Qin Huai looked at the figure in front of him. He looked much more haggard than half a month ago. ¡°Brother Qin, we¡¯ve been attacking the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples many times now, but we¡¯ve been met with many obstacles. The elders of the sect discovered that it seems that the people from the county governor mansion have used some unknown method to secretly collude with the Sacred Heart sect to plot against us.¡± Zhang Haoyue went straight to the point. ¡°So, what does Brother Zhang mean?¡± ¡°Father, Uncle Li, and the elders hope that you can participate and catch a few big fish from the county governor mansion or Song Ya¡¯s subordinates.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes flashed with worry. When Qin Huai heard Zhang Haoyue mention a few names, he knew he couldn¡¯t refuse. But¡­ That was good too. He should also ask Song Ya for some interest. He also wanted to take advantage of this chaos to find the whereabouts of Luo Ya and the other two, as well as his master and the others. This matter had always been a huge stone in his heart. Now that the situation was dire and the Nine Dragons sect had the intention to target the county governor, it was a godsend opportunity. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°When are we leaving?¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning. Brother Qin can leave the mountain gate first and take a walk around the city¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue said. ¡°Understood.¡± Qin Huai nodded again. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave the rest to Brother Zhang.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will definitely protect Brother Qin¡¯s safety.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice was sonorous and powerful. After Qin Huai sent Zhang Haoyue off, he immediately called Qingshui over. ¡°Go to the fourth branch and send a letter. Tell Fourth Uncle that I¡¯m leaving the city tomorrow.¡± Chapter 177 - 177 His Strength is Not Enough 177 His Strength is Not Enough The Li family¡¯s manor was very large, so large that it was extremely spacious even when the Li family¡¯s six branches, numbering in the thousands, were stuffed inside. The side branches, the sixth branch, and the direct line of descent advanced layer by layer, forming the shape of the Li family¡¯s courtyard. The most central location was the residence of the family head, Li Zeren. In the study, Li Zeren was handling family affairs. A middle-aged man dressed like a butler walked in respectfully and said, ¡°Old Master, Qin Huai has already set off.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice was calm, and he seemed very unconcerned. He wrote a reply to the letter in his hand and threw it on the pile of letters on his left. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Li Zeren looked up at the butler. He had a pair of squinty eyes, a benevolent face, and a somewhat plump appearance that made people not get angry. This was his younger brother and one of his most capable right-hand men, Li Zetao. Li Zetao hesitated. ¡°I received some news yesterday. I don¡¯t know if I should tell you.¡± ¡°Zetao, just tell me.¡± Li Zeren smiled faintly. ¡°Yesterday, I received some news that a junior of the Zhang family, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s trusted aide, Zhang Chengyi, had privately contacted a few elites of the county governor¡¯s mansion. The leader seems to be Wu Zian.¡± Li Zetao looked at Li Zeren¡¯s face. ¡°Wu Zian. I haven¡¯t heard this name for a long time.¡± Li Zeren¡¯s pen paused, and a touch of regret appeared on his face. ¡°Two years ago, this boy was one of the top three geniuses in Lingjiang. Unfortunately, he failed the bone pattern and fell to the eighth refinement.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s extremely dangerous to break through the bone pattern realm. Even Wu Zian, a proud son of heaven, would not be able to escape,¡± Li Zetao said slowly. ¡°However, even if that kid falls to the eighth refinement, ordinary ninth refinement martial artists are not his match, let alone a seventh refinement.¡± ¡°So what are you trying to say? Did he say that Haoyue wants to make a move on that brat?¡± Li Zeren chuckled. ¡°You and I have seen what kind of person Haoyue is all these years. The younger generation of the Zhang and Li families basically follow his lead.¡± ¡°He is considerate of his fellow disciples and treats them equally. Benevolent, resourceful, and even more talented¡­ On the other hand, what does Qin Huai have? A Blood Dragon Platform¡¯s score of over 40?¡± ¡°Haoyue would collude with the enemy for such a person?¡± Seeing this, Li Zetao could only laugh bitterly. ¡°I think I¡¯m thinking too much.¡± He knew that although his eldest brother had pinched his nose and acknowledged Qin Huai as his son-in-law, and even had a tough attitude when Song Ya wanted him back, he was still very stubborn. However, in his heart, he still only recognized Zhang Haoyue, even until now. Moreover, his big brother had not stopped the marriage between Li Shaoxiang and Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Zetao, Haoyue is different from the others. He¡¯s ten thousand times stronger than his father. His eyes are not on the Zhang and Li families, but the future of the Nine Dragons sect!¡± Li Zeren¡¯s words were firm. ¡°If Haoyue succeeds and becomes the Nine Dragons sect master, I¡¯m willing to assist him. At that time, our Li family will definitely not suffer a loss!¡± ¡°Big Brother, you can¡¯t say such things!¡± Li Zetao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. There would definitely be another round of wrangling. ¡°I know. Isn¡¯t it only when you and I are here that we can say something sincere?¡± Li Zeren smiled and patted Li Zetao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Qin Huai has a group of experts accompanying him on this trip. Haoyue won¡¯t let anything happen to him. Haoyue, this brat, is very ambitious. He won¡¯t make any irrational decisions just because of Qin Huai.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not worthy either.¡± Li Zetao smiled bitterly. He knew that Li Zeren had made up his mind. ¡­ ¡°Son-in-law, be careful.¡± Qingshui sent Qin Huai off at the door. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He thought he was alone, but he didn¡¯t expect Li Buhu to run over as well. ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Li Buhu seemed to be even stronger than a few days ago. On the day they returned from Green Feather Tower, Qin Huai taught Li Buhu the essentials of the blood dragon form. As expected, Li Buhu had extraordinary talent in his physical body. He only used two days to get used to the white gas entering his blood, qi, and muscles. Although the increase in strength was not as shocking as Qin Huai¡¯s after activating boiling blood, Li Buhu had an innate advantage. Once he activated his blood dragon form, his strength was shocking. In the same form, he was on par with Qin Huai, or even slightly stronger. However, there was still a long way to go before he could push the entire white dragon into his muscles and blood essence and activate the colossal blood dragon form. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this trip will be extremely dangerous. It¡¯s not appropriate for you to travel with me.¡± Qin Huai was suspicious. ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯m afraid that my old man will go back on his word and not do his best to protect you. As long as I stay by Brother-in-law¡¯s side, I won¡¯t dare to do anything. I guarantee that I¡¯ll be watching you without blinking for twenty-four hours.¡± Li Buhu chuckled brightly. He rubbed his nose and puffed out his chest, as if he was telling Qin Huai how smart he was. Qin Huai looked at the big guy beside him and laughed involuntarily. ¡°With you by my side, I really feel at ease.¡± Qin Huai was a little dazed. Li Buhu reminded him of his disciple, Hu Jinghai. He wondered where that kid was now and what he was doing. ¡°However, with the poison technique that I taught him, coupled with the fact that his brain is quite active, although his cultivation level is not high, it should not be a problem for him to mingle in an ordinary small city.¡± Qin Huai sighed in his heart. There were too many people he needed to worry about, and his strength was not enough. This feeling was really unpleasant. Chapter 178 - 178 Which Grandson Poisoned Us? 178 Which Grandson Poisoned Us? ¡°Brother-in-law, where are we going first?¡± Li Buhu asked. ¡°Let¡¯s take a walk around the city first. We¡¯re not in a hurry anyway.¡± The two of them walked out of the Nine Dragons sect side by side. Close to Lingjiang City, Qin Huai was walking down a long and noisy street built by the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. Most of the people on the streets and alleys were the families of the disciples of the sect. It was convenient and safe to buy houses and courtyards nearby. They set up a small stall in front of the door and opened a tavern. Overall, it was lively and peaceful. This was the first time Qin Huai had gone out after coming to Lingjiang. The lively atmosphere, the simple snacks, and the common people made him feel as if a lifetime had passed, and his heart was filled with countless thoughts. But¡­ Qin Huai looked around. His heart throbbed as he knew that someone was watching him from the shadows. ¡°Are you familiar with Lingjiang?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Of course. I grew up in Lingjiang county, and I¡¯ve visited this city before. ¡± ¡°Then do you know any new restaurants in the city and where they are?¡± Qin Huai asked. If Luo Ya and the others were to settle down here, they would definitely not choose a blacksmith shop. Otherwise, they would have been discovered by Song Ya¡¯s men long ago. If they were still in Lingjiang, they would most likely choose a restaurant or some small tavern. ¡°Yes, those places are all in the alleys of South street.¡± Li Buhu led the way, and Qin Huai followed closely behind as they strolled through the city. He looked around, trying to find a familiar figure. Moreover, there was a tall and eye-catching Li Buhu beside him. If Luo Ya and the others were here, they would definitely see him. The two of them wandered aimlessly in the city. Along the way, many commoners turned to look at Li Buhu and Qin Huai. Just as they entered the alley on South street, Qin Huai could smell the rich aroma of wine. Large wine jars as tall as a person were placed in front of the tavern to compete for fragrance and beauty. At the same time, the sound of punching could be heard through the window and on the street. There were also many drunkards lying on the ground, muttering nonsense and snoring that they wouldn¡¯t normally say. He could still hear waves of compliments from the surroundings. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Master Hu? Do you want to come in for a drink or two?¡± ¡°Master Hu, Wine Meng has been looking for you for quite some time. He wants to compete with you in wine!¡± ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m just accompanying my brother-in-law for a walk today. Let¡¯s meet another day!¡± Li Buhu cupped his fists at both sides of the street. The enthusiasm around him made Qin Huai look at Li Buhu in a new light. Indeed, with such a talented figure, he must be an expert at drinking. Qin Huai took in the grand scene in front of him. He could not help but compare it to Pingnan City in the past. The people of Pingnan City were worried about the price of grain every day, afraid that they would not be able to fill their stomachs in the harsh winter. The refugees who had been invaded by the demons were even more homeless, shivering in the snowy night. ¡®The county city is like heaven.¡¯ Qin Huai sighed in his heart. As he walked, the atmosphere was filled with joy and harmony. And then, his thoughts came to an abrupt halt. The end of the wine street was only a few inches away. Broken walls extended from the front to the end, and the low courtyard was half-hidden. In the dilapidated ditch, there was a stream of wine that washed away the leftovers and food that flowed out of the wine street. A group of middle-aged men who were relatively strong fought for them crazily. Children in hunched clothes squatted at the edge of the wine street, eagerly smelling the fragrance of the wine as they watched the well-dressed people eat and drink to their hearts ¡®content. A few inches apart were two different worlds. ¡°When I was young, I often came here to play. Fighting was not allowed in the city, but it was allowed here¡­ We¡¯ll have a fight with the little brat from the Zhang family, the Twin Extreme sect, and the little brat from the county governor¡¯s mansion. ¡°At that time, it was Sister Shaoxiang who led us to fight. Every time, Sister Shaoxiang would rush to the front and beat up those guys.¡± Behind him, Li Buhu was still dutifully introducing the place to Qin Huai. He didn¡¯t dislike this place. Instead, his face showed a hint of nostalgia. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred. He could never imagine that the delicate Li Shaoxiang would be so valiant when she was young. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that after they got older, those guys became more powerful. After suffering a few losses, Sister Shaoxiang ordered us not to come here anymore.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right. If you can¡¯t beat them, then don¡¯t come,¡± Qin Huai blurted out. Li Buhu sighed. ¡°Brother-in-law, do you want to go in and take a look?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Huai quickly walked into the shabby alley. Everyone in the alley looked curiously at the two intruders. ¡°Brother-in-law, there are some slums here. Basically, the periphery of Lingjiang is like this,¡± Li Buhu continued to explain. ¡°This place hasn¡¯t changed at all. It was like this when I was young. Even when I grew up, the wine street became so prosperous, but this place hasn¡¯t changed at all.¡± The two of them walked deeper and deeper. Suddenly, Qin Huai stopped in his tracks. Around them, there were many people wielding metal pickaxes, swinging metal chains, and some wooden sticks as they approached Qin Huai and his partner. ¡°Brother-in-law, this is what a slum looks like.¡± Li Buhu¡¯s muscles and bones creaked. He raised his fists and walked toward the crowd. ¡°Be careful,¡± Qin Huai instructed. ¡°Just a bunch of small fries.¡± Li Buhu laughed coldly. Then, he reached out and took a small black pill from Qin Huai. ¡°What is this?¡± Li Buhu looked at Qin Huai. ¡°A detoxification pill.¡± ¡°Which grandson poisoned us?!¡± Li Buhu quickly retreated to Qin Huai¡¯s side and whispered. His expression changed drastically. He actually did not notice that someone had poisoned him. Chapter 179 - 179 Brother 179 Brother-in-law, Save Me! Li Buhu was born into a big family and had undergone relevant training, so he was on guard. However, the other party could actually attack him silently¡­ They must be a poison expert. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°As expected of Brother-in-law. You can actually cultivate this Dao to perfection.¡± Li Buhu swallowed it in one gulp and couldn¡¯t help but praise him. ¡°I know a thing or two. I¡¯m only using it for defense.¡± Qin Huai patted Li Buhu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go ahead.¡± The next moment, Li Buhu charged out like a wild horse that had escaped its reins. He suddenly threw out a jab, and his fist was as big as a human head. The moment he swung his fist, the face of the hooligan in front of him began to ripple, and he could not open his eyes at all. With a bang, the man was killed on the spot. ¡°You dare to attack a martial artist? Are you blind?¡± Li Buhu moved sideways, and his fist came crashing down like a ferocious tiger descending a mountain. His fist swung faster and faster. Whoosh! A cold light flashed across the sky without any warning and instantly magnified in Li Buhu¡¯s eyes. Clang! Sparks flew, and the sound of two metals colliding echoed in Li Buhu¡¯s ears. Then, they were nailed to Li Buhu¡¯s feet. The blade of the dagger buzzed and trembled, and some sticky black liquid slowly spread on the ground. ¡°Thank you, Brother-in-law.¡± Li Buhu looked at the ground with lingering fear. ¡°I told you to be careful.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained the same. Around the shabby alley, five or six masked men had appeared. ¡°They¡¯re all experts who are not weaker than me.¡± Li Buhu looked at the footsteps of those people. They would leave deep footprints on the ground, and the surrounding weeds would press down without wind. It was a sign of vigorous vitality. Li Buhu did not look nervous. Instead, he became excited. He had just cultivated the blood dragon form and was worried that he had nowhere to use it! ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯ll scout the way for you first!¡± Li Buhu roared. The two masked men were already rushing towards him. The two of them were extremely low in position, and their crafty jabs were aimed at Li Buhu¡¯s waist and kidneys. They were abnormally vicious. ¡°Good punch!¡± Li Buhu shouted. ¡°Seven-dragon armor!¡± Whoosh! Waves of wind and waves rose around him, and the invisible armor instantly blocked the two incoming punches. The armor and the blood waves clashed, and a red light flashed in the eyes of the two masked men. Violent power poured out! Li Buhu¡¯s fists were like hammers, smashing toward the two people¡¯s heads. The two of them were almost at the same time. One of them blocked the attack with one hand and the other increased the strength. Bang! Suddenly, the armor shattered. Li Buhu spat out a mouthful of sour water with a ferocious expression. As for the two people below him, the dirt road under their feet collapsed, and their knees bent as if they were about to kneel on the ground. ¡°Longevity, blood dragon form!¡± Li Buhu roared, and white stripes suddenly appeared on his arms. His originally sturdy body seemed to swell up again at this moment. From afar, Li Buhu and the two thin masked men formed a sharp contrast. He was like an ancient beast, especially his arms. They suddenly expanded to the size of two masked men¡¯s heads. Within a stone¡¯s throw, Li Buhu¡¯s strength suddenly soared. ¡°Ah!¡± he roared loudly and his entire body sank like a demon. Bang! Crack! The ground beneath the two masked men shattered once again, and their feet sank into the ground. The crisp sound of bones breaking echoed in this narrow alley. Their eyes finally revealed a hint of fear. They got careless. Li Buhu¡¯s fist seemed to stick to their broken bones and pressed down again. Bang! Dust and smoke surged, and a huge pit was smashed into the dry dirt road. At the same time, blood slowly flowed and gathered in the pit. Not far away, there were two twisted arms embedded in the ground. ¡°Hehe. This is the boiling blood of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique?¡± Li Buhu raised his eyes and looked at the two masked men with broken arms not far away. With his own strength, he instantly injured two great blood refinement martial artists, so he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. ¡°Li Buhu¡­ I didn¡¯t expect the little brat from the past to already have such a level.¡± A voice rang out from the end of the alley. Then, the figure walked into their field of vision. The newcomer had short hair, a high nose bridge, and sharp eyes. His yellow spotted robe made him look like a cheetah, making people who looked at him feel a chill down their spines. ¡°You¡­ Wu Zian?¡± Li Buhu¡¯s expression changed drastically when he saw who it was. His previous calmness and complacency vanished in an instant, and he immediately shouted, ¡°Father! Hurry up and come to save your son!¡± ¡°Stop shouting. Your father won¡¯t appear for the next two-quarters of an hour.¡± Wu Zian looked at the two of them with disdain in his eyes. ¡°You want me to fight two seventh refinement martial artists?¡± ¡°Two quarters¡­ What is my father doing? Could it be that he has raised another talented younger brother for me outside?¡± Li Buhu¡¯s eyes were flustered as he muttered. The next instant, he tapped the ground with the tip of his toes, and the ground instantly shattered like a spider web. The terrifying power seemed to shake the entire alley. Li Buhu was like a raging wind. The panic in his eyes was no longer there. There was only unprecedented excitement overflowing from the corners of his eyes. ¡°You overestimate yourself!¡± Wu Zian sneered and slowly raised his hand. Bang! Fist and palm met. The strong wind caused Wu Zian¡¯s clothes to flutter. His expression was calm, but then a hint of surprise and shock flashed across his eyes. Beneath his feet, he began to row backward. His arm was also in intense pain. ¡®What a great strength. What kind of secret technique is this?¡¯ Wu Zian¡¯s eyes flashed with a fierce look, and he swung his right fist. Bang! The huge force collided. It sounded like a heavy drum in the shabby alley. ¡°Hahaha! Even the top three geniuses of Lingjiang are nothing special!¡± Li Buhu laughed maniacally. His punches became more and more powerful. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Wu Zian¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. His face suddenly turned red, especially his fists that were covered in blood. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Under the bright sun, it was as if a tiger was roaring and a wolf was howling. It was just a punch! The huge Li Buhu was sent flying, spitting out blood. Wu Zian didn¡¯t let him off easily. He kicked off with his toes, the killing intent in his eyes unconcealed. His fist was like a tiger as he grabbed at the air. ¡°Brother-in-law, save me!¡± Li Buhu shouted. Whoosh! Beside him, a strong wind blew. It was like rolling thunder and waves, exploding. The shocking explosion caused Wu Zian¡¯s expression to change. He stomped his feet into the ground and stopped. The next moment, a figure appeared beside him. ¡°Your next opponent is me.¡± Chapter 180 - 180 Dragon vs. Tiger! 180 Dragon vs. Tiger! Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­ Wu Zian took three steps back and looked at the man in front of him in shock. What kind of move was this? Why had he never seen it before? ¡°Brother-in-law, this man was one of the top three geniuses in Lingjiang. Although he¡¯s only at the eighth refinement realm now, ordinary ninth refinement martial artists are no match for him!¡± Li Buhu shouted from behind. ¡°One of the top three geniuses?¡± Qin Huai looked at the person in front of him. ¡°Did I fail because I broke through to the bone pattern realm? Even if I did, it¡¯s more than enough to kill the two of you.¡± Wu Zian sneered. The killing intent in his eyes surged. The thing he hated the most was someone talking about this matter in front of him. Whoosh! The air in front of him shook, and Wu Zian¡¯s expression changed again. He jumped backward. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± The violent force tore Wu Zian¡¯s robe into pieces, and the faint aftershock made his scalp tingle. What a powerful force! This move was similar to the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s fierce dragon out of the nest, but it was much stronger. ¡°How many more times can you use this move?!¡± Wu Zian sneered as he moved sideways in the narrow alley. Qin Huai stared at him like a ferocious beast and followed closely behind. The third punch arrived as expected, and the shocking force remained unchanged. The thick courtyard wall exploded, and gravel flew everywhere, smashing through the window paper. A scream came from the dilapidated house, and then the door was pushed open with a bang. A few middle-aged men holding broken knives dragged a disheveled woman and fled into the distance. In the next second, their houses were smashed through by the heavy fists. Two young faces chased each other in the dust. Wu Zian¡¯s face was covered in dust, and he was shocked. This guy could actually swing such a fist? Whoosh! A heavy stomp sounded in the dust, and Wu Zian seemed to see a flash of green light. He was alarmed and broke out in cold sweat. ¡°Extreme wolf dash!¡± Swoosh! He actually used both his hands and feet to rush out of the dust cloud in an instant. His speed was faster than before, creating a gust of wind under his feet, and leaped up to the roof. ]¡±Hu hu hu¡­¡± Wu Zian breathed in the air. Looking at Qin Huai, who had rushed out from the ground, a cold smile appeared on his face. ¡°I understand now. Your move should be the same as the explosive white dragon, right? ¡± He had fought with the warriors of the Nine Dragons sect for many years, so he was very familiar with some of the characteristics of the long breath technique. ¡°This should belong to the category of forbidden techniques¡­ This move is indeed very powerful. Even I don¡¯t want to take it head-on.¡± He looked down at Qin Huai and Li Buhu, who was not far away, with an expression of understanding. ¡°He attacked with a killing move. This idea is not bad, but it¡¯s a little too naive. And¡­ How many more times can you use the killing move that you exchanged for the white dragon¡¯s self-detonation?¡± Wu Zian looked down at Qin Huai. The next moment, the latter disappeared from where he was and rushed over like a black shadow. ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Wu Zian disappeared from where he was in a flash, his speed faster than Qin Huai¡¯s. The two of them jumped left and right in this cramped slum, and the sound of fists exploding continuously rang out. Dust billowed in the slums. Many panicked people jumped out of the windows and fled away from the battlefield. ¡°Brother-in-law! Wu Zian is quite proficient in the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. Among them, the tiger and wolf form is even used to perfection! The wolf is fast, and few people in the same realm can catch up to him,¡± Li Buhu roared as he explained Wu Zian¡¯s moves to Qin Huai. ¡°What are you guys still standing there for? Hurry up and shut this noisy guy up!¡± Wu Zian shouted. The five masked men who had surrounded the two of them instantly charged at Li Buhu.The moment they attacked, Li Buhu immediately fell into a bitter battle. Li Buhu was shocked and furious. He also began to run, but without the wolf dash, he could not shake off the five people behind him no matter what. He could only fight as he walked. However, two fists were no match for four hands. After more than ten moves, Li Buhu was bleeding profusely. ¡°Brother-in-law, save me!¡± Qin Huai immediately turned around and charged at Li Buhu. ¡°You want to leave?¡± Wu Zian sneered. ¡°Extreme wolf dash!¡± In an instant, he stood in front of Qin Huai. A cold glint flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, and a purple-white light flashed across his fists. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, second earthquake dragon!¡± ¡°Do you really think I can¡¯t block this move of yours?!¡± Wu Zian¡¯s face was ferocious as his fists turned into claws. ¡°Tiger form, strength king!¡± The tiger¡¯s roar sounded like it was about to explode in his ears. Wu Zian¡¯s claws seemed to have grown bigger as he tried to grab Qin Huai. It was dragon versus tiger! The two of them exchanged fists and claws, trying to stab each other¡¯s hearts with techniques. Bang! Dust rose in all directions, and the surrounding yellow soil and dust completely swallowed the two of them. Wu Zian¡¯s long sleeves were torn into pieces inch by inch, and scratches appeared on his arms. Qin Huai did not have it easy either. His two sleeves were pulled down. Phew¡­ Wu Zian narrowed his eyes, a hint of doubt flashing through his mind. Why were there red and purple in the dust and sand? ¡°No!¡± Wu Zian¡¯s expression changed drastically. It was poison! He abruptly threw down Qin Huai¡¯s sleeves that he had ripped off. A burning sensation crawled up his arms like a million insects biting him. ¡°Extreme wolf dash!¡± Wu Zian immediately pulled away, looking at his blackened fingernails. Who would have thought that Qin Huai would actually hide a large amount of poison in his sleeves? His expression also changed greatly, showing signs of festering. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Wu Zian gritted his teeth. He circulated his energy and used his blood to melt these poisonous creatures. Chapter 181 - 181 Soaring Experience 181 Soaring Experience Wu Zian gritted his teeth, then ripped off the nails of his middle finger! As his middle finger was the longest, it had crushed the poison bag in Qin Huai¡¯s sleeve and completely sank into it. Black and red poison powder covered his fingernails. Wu Zian shook his hands and shook off a lot of the poisonous powder from his body. ¡°Brother-in-law!¡± Li Buhu roared again. This time, he finally received a response. The sharp claw on his waist missed by a hair¡¯s breadth. The next moment, it distorted in Li Buhu¡¯s vision. Blood splattered all over Li Buhu¡¯s face. Thrust! The man¡¯s entire hand was torn off. Li Buhu¡¯s gaze slowly shifted. He saw his brother-in-law¡¯s arms. Between the edges and corners of his muscles, there was actually a white swimming dragon sticking tightly to him. It was wild and domineering, like some kind of sacred totem, causing people to involuntarily tremble. His gaze once again turned to the ends of Qin Huai¡¯s arms. The latter rushed into the arms of the masked man. The man¡¯s eyes were already swollen. Clearly, the poison had begun to take effect. Then, the heavy palms slammed down on his head. It was a swift and violent move. Bang! Blood splattered everywhere, and red and white objects flew all over the sky. ¡®Is this Brother-in-law¡¯s colossal blood dragon form¡­ It¡¯s really abnormal!¡¯ Li Buhu¡¯s eyes were filled with stars as he felt his blood and qi surging. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +8888!¡± One life had instantly increased his experience points by more than one level. Qin Huai allowed the blood mist to splatter all over his body. The restlessness of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique caused his strength to slowly rise as he was bathed in the blood of a martial artist who had refined blood greatly. This feeling was indeed much stronger than those low-level demons. Whoosh! Qin Huai took a step forward, and his right fist struck out brazenly with a speed that was too fast to catch up. When the masked man saw Qin Huai¡¯s fist approaching, his entire abdomen sucked in a sharp breath, and his body caved in as he retreated frantically. His reaction was fast. But¡­ There were still a few inches of distance. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Purple-white light spots shot out from the fist and exploded on the spot. The masked man, who had been rejoicing, suddenly froze. A gust of cold wind blew into his abdomen, as if countless things were falling out of his body. Qin Huai¡¯s fist turned into a knife, and he tore the last part of the masked man¡¯s abdomen apart. The masked man¡¯s eyes were filled with fear as he fell to the ground with a thud. He looked at his ankle that was so close to him and died in pain. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +7888!¡± It was another level of improvement. Qin Huai looked up at the remaining three, and their expressions changed drastically. It wasn¡¯t just their heart, but also their physical body. Qin Huai¡¯s poison was finally beginning to take effect. Although it wasn¡¯t fatal, it caused their blood and qi to begin to decline and slow down. They were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, shivering in front of Qin Huai. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Young Master, save me¡­¡± While Wu Zian was detoxifying, a few people nearby screamed. Accompanying it was the sound of Qin Huai¡¯s fists firing like heavy artillery. Unlike Qin Huai, Wu Zian did not rush over immediately. Instead, he watched coldly as Qin Huai used the earthquake dragon to kill people. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +7777!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +8868!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +8121!¡± Qin Huai enjoyed the baptism of blood. The four-directional tiger-wolf technique¡¯s experience soared, from the original level 40 to level 47. His strength also rose step by step as he bathed in blood. ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡¯re too fierce.¡± Li Buhu was dumbfounded as he watched the battle that ended in the blink of an eye. He and his brother-in-law were both in the seventh refinement great blood refinement realm, but he was surrounded by five people. It was already his limit to hold on for a moment. On the other hand, Brother-in-law Qin Huai¡­ It was a complete massacre against the five of them. It was one-sided. Was this a true genius? Was this Sister Shaoxiang¡¯s taste¡­ Li Buhu was also very glad that he had clung to this thigh long ago. A person like his brother-in-law would definitely be immeasurably powerful in the future! Qin Huai turned around. He looked at Wu Zian, who was circulating his energy to expel the toxins. The other party also sensed something and slowly looked over. The color of his fingers had returned, and his complexion had regained its ruddy color. ¡°Wu Zian, you don¡¯t have any helpers now!¡± Li Buhu shouted excitedly. ¡°You really surprised me. You killed all my subordinates and forced me into a sorry state at the seventh refinement.¡± Wu Zian¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°Although the use of poison played an important role, in a battle of life and death, these are all part of one¡¯s strength. If you continue to grow like this, it¡¯s hard to say whether you will have a place at the top of Lingjiang in the future.¡± Wu Zian had a very high opinion of Qin Huai. The proud and arrogant him rarely looked up to anyone, and Qin Huai was one of those few. ¡°No wonder Zhang Haoyue sent someone to find me and use this opportunity to kill you.¡± Wu Zian sneered. ¡°Zhang Haoyue?!¡± Li Buhu was stunned. ¡°How is that possible? Senior Brother Zhang is not the kind of person to do such a thing!¡± ¡°Hahaha ¡­ Wasn¡¯t Zhang Haoyue such a person? As the saying goes, you can¡¯t know a person¡¯s heart by their appearance. There¡¯s no perfect person in this world!¡± Chapter 182 - 182 Death! 182 Death! Wu Zian slowly instigated. The person who came to find him was indeed not Zhang Haoyue, but Zhang Haoyue¡¯s trusted aide, Zhang Chengyi. In Wu Zian¡¯s heart, Zhang Haoyue was not that kind of person. It was most likely that Zhang Chengyi made the decision himself. But¡­ Wasn¡¯t this an opportunity to sow discord and deepen the conflict between the Zhang and Li families? It would be best if he could kill Qin Huai today. He would then take this head to General Song Ya to receive his reward and accumulate resources so that he could once again break through to the bone pattern realm in the future. If he couldn¡¯t get rid of him, he could use this buried lightning to shake Zhang Haoyue¡¯s reputation in the Nine Dragons sect and exchange it for something in the county governor¡¯s mansion. In any case, he would be able to earn a lot of benefits. If Zhang Chengyi wanted to kill someone with a borrowed knife, he had to be prepared to take the risk of being backfired by his own sharp knife. Thinking this, the sneer on Wu Zian¡¯s face deepened. ¡°Zhang Chengyi¡­¡± Qin Huai remembered this name in his heart. It seemed that many things that happened around him and many people who died had something to do with Zhang Haoyue. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s kind face appeared in his mind. If it was really him, then his acting skills and shrewdness were really amazing. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense here!¡± Li Buhu shouted, ¡°You¡¯re just afraid and want to distract us to escape! ¡± ¡°Afraid? Me?¡± Wu Zian couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He then looked at Qin Huai. ¡°If I remember correctly, you seem to have one more white dragon than other martial artists of the same realm¡­ ¡°The killing move you used to detonate the white dragon just now has been used on me four times.¡± The smile on Wu Zian¡¯s face became playful. ¡± You must have used up all your white dragons by now.¡± Whoosh! Before he finished speaking, a black shadow rushed toward Wu Zian. ¡°How dare you! Tiger form, strength king!¡± Wu Zian¡¯s fists turned into claws, and his aura was like a fierce tiger. In his field of vision, a purple-white light that was invisible to the naked eye condensed under Qin Huai¡¯s skin. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Wu Zian¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡®Three consecutive hits! How is this possible?¡¯ Rumble¡­ The next moment, Wu Zian¡¯s shock exploded. Blood splattered in the shaking, and his bones began to crack. A terrifying power poured in front of Wu Zian without any warning. The fist and the claw collided, creating a dazzling and shocking collision within a distance of several dozen inches. ¡°Extreme wolf dash!¡± After a few moves, Wu Zian quickly pulled away. Then, he stopped about ten meters away from Qin Huai. He looked down at his trembling hands, which were covered in blood and broken flesh. ¡°How is that possible? The one you detonated was clearly the white dragon. How can he use so many of these killer moves?¡± Wu Zian¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion. Based on his understanding of the long breath technique, Qin Huai shouldn¡¯t be like this. ¡°Hmph, if Brother-in-law is like an ordinary person, how could he be taken in by Sister?!¡± Li Buhu was so excited that he straightened his body. ¡°Wu Zian, your era is over. If you obediently turn into dust, many people might miss you.¡± Li Buhu started to mock Wu Zian, trying to ruin his mentality. Wu Zian sneered. ¡°Hmph, do you really think I¡¯ll be as vulnerable as the good-for-nothing you met in the countryside? That was just a warm-up.¡± Wu Zian twisted his arms, making cracking sounds. ¡°Did you know that after I failed to break through the bone pattern realm, I fell on the spot? My blood essence is no longer as good as before. It¡¯s even inferior to many of my peers at the peak¡­ ¡°However, I can still kill most of the ninth refinement martial artists. Do you know why?¡± Wu Zian slowly walked toward the two of them, as if something was flying around him. ¡°Why?¡± Li Buhu was a little confused. ¡°Because I once touched that realm. Although I failed, most of the force is still imprinted on my body! It¡¯s carved in my bones!¡± Wu Zian¡¯s voice was like waves. Whoosh! The next moment, Wu Zian¡¯s back seemed to blur. It was as if a fierce tiger and a wolf were slowly walking over from an unknown place, vaguely shining in their eyes. ¡°Brother-in-law, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t fight anymore¡­ You might not know how strong his force is¡­¡± But Li Buhu¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. This was because when he turned around to look, he realized that behind his brother-in-law, there seemed to be the force that he had seen countless times from his sect elders. It was white dragon Force! Li Buhu fell silent. He silently retreated to the side to make way for the two geniuses. He stopped talking. His existence seemed a little redundant. ¡°You have actually comprehended force! Hahaha¡­ It¡¯s indeed powerful!¡± Wu Zian laughed loudly, but his eyes became serious. He had never expected Qin Huai to have comprehended force as well. That bastard Zhang Chengyi didn¡¯t even tell him such important information. Boom! He lightly tapped the tip of his toes and shot out like a fierce arrow. The tiger and wolf behind him reflected on his fists. At this moment, Wu Zian seemed to have turned into a pair of tigers and wolves, charging forward. In front of him was a giant white dragon! Fierce dragons went out to sea, and tigers roared in the mountains. A terrifying power exploded between the two of them. The surging waves swept up dust and yellow soil, creating a whirlwind that instantly tore apart the window paper of the distant courtyard. Whoosh! A sharp smoke rose into the sky. The two of them parted. Wu Zian suddenly stopped and looked at the fireworks in the sky. Time was up. Today, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t be able to kill Qin Huai. Tick¡­ Tick¡­ Drops of blood trickled down Wu Zian¡¯s arm. He had not expected Qin Huai¡¯s force to be on par with his. He looked at Qin Huai, his eyes brimming with killing intent. Next time, he would definitely kill him next time. Wu Zian grinned hideously. ¡°The next time we meet, it¡¯ll be the day you die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also what I wanted to say.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice rang out. His arm was also bleeding. ¡°Brother-in-law, you can¡¯t let him go!¡± Li Buhu looked anxious. ¡°As long as we keep him here for a while, my father will definitely be able to kill him when he comes. ¡°Otherwise, if you let him go back, he¡¯ll inform them about your trump cards and strength. The experts of the county governor¡¯s mansion will definitely be watching you at all times! You will be in great danger in the future!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Unfortunately, you can¡¯t make me stay.¡± Wu Zian sneered. He turned around and was about to leave. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you going to bring your men¡¯s bodies back?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of bastards¡­¡± Wu Zian turned around and saw a spark in his eyes. Instantly, all the hair on his body stood on end. The momentum of a tiger and a wolf suddenly unfolded. But this time, his invincible tiger and wolf momentum was instantly torn apart like thin paper. Stab! A flaming palm instantly pierced through Wu Zian¡¯s chest. He stared at Qin Huai in disbelief. ¡°Oh well, we meet again.¡± Chapter 183 - 183 The Aftermath 183 The Aftermath Puff! The hand knife wrapped in flames was pulled out from Wu Zian¡¯s body. Wu Zian grunted and stared at Qin Huai with eyes that were like copper bells. His eyes were filled with disbelief. ¡°You cheated. Your ancestors¡­¡± But before he finished speaking, the flames in his chest suddenly rose and rushed into his internal organs from the hole. ¡°Ah!¡± In an instant, Wu Zian turned into a man of fire. He shouted himself hoarse, but what he spat out in the air was no longer human language, but sparks. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were sharp, and his hands were quick. He tore off a piece of cloth from Wu Zian¡¯s chest, then tapped his toes lightly and instantly pulled away from Wu Zian. There was a stack of silver notes in his hand, about twenty thousand taels of silver. The silver notes had the seal of the Great Nether Treasure Shop on them. He watched Wu Zian burn. The flames surged from both inside and outside. There was no chance of survival. Very soon, the blurry figure in the flames dissipated, turning into nourishment for all things in the world along with the spring breeze. The next moment, two experience orbs merged into Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Orange)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +18888!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Comprehension], [Tiger-Wolf Force] +2%!¡± As expected of the proud son of heaven of Lingjiang. Qin Huai looked at his experience points. After this battle, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique instantly broke through to the sixth refinement level. He had even earned twenty thousand taels of silver for nothing. Qin Huai looked at the place that had been reduced to ashes and felt a little regretful. He had just seen many burnt scraps, which were obviously all kinds of treasures and gold and silver. Next, he might have to study the structure of Lingjiang¡¯s clothes and see where they sewed their pockets. While Qin Huai¡¯s mind was in turmoil, Li Buhu, who was watching from the side, was dumbfounded. He had yet to react. Everything happened too quickly. The battle that was originally evenly matched was about to end, but the former Lingjiang genius was instantly ended by his brother-in-law. Li Buhu frowned and pondered. He thought back to the moment Qin Huai entered this shabby alley and the end of the battle. It seemed like Wu Zian and the others had ambushed his brother-in-law, but in fact, it was his brother-in-law who had ambushed Wu Zian. From poisoning, showing weakness, mental state killing, to the final sneak attack, Brother-in-law could be said to have used everything. Everything was under his control. ¡°Brother-in-law. I¡¯m starting to understand.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Buhu, who was covered in blood. ¡°Strength is only one of the factors that determine the outcome of a battle. Making the best use of everything and fighting to the death without any restrictions is the true martial arts. I was too reserved in the past,¡± Li Buhu said in a deep voice. If it weren¡¯t for his brother-in-law, he would have died here long ago. He and his brother-in-law were clearly on the same level, but he felt that the biggest reason for the huge difference in combat strength was that he was too feudal and conservative. ¡°You¡¯re worth teaching.¡± Qin Huai patted Li Buhu¡¯s shoulder in relief. ¡°People often say that a battle between life and death will allow a martial artist to advance rapidly. I didn¡¯t believe it before, but now I understand. Every battle requires thinking and conclusion.¡± Li Buhu¡¯s eyes gradually became clear. He looked at Qin Huai, and his eyes slowly lit up with flames of passion. After walking through the gates of hell today, he had some signs of enlightenment. ¡°Buhu! Buhu!¡± A hurried voice came from afar. The ground collapsed, and the owner of the anxious voice ran all the way, causing chaos. In the next second, a man covered in blood appeared in their eyes. It was the fourth head of the Li family, Li Zeshi, who was supposed to protect Qin Huai. ¡°Are you alright¡­¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s eyes reddened when he saw Li Buhu covered in blood. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Li Buhu bared his teeth, but now that he had turned into a bloody man, he revealed a mouthful of white teeth, which made people¡¯s hearts ache even more. ¡°Qin Huai, what exactly happened? How did my son become like this?¡± Li Zeshi looked at Qin Huai, who was completely unharmed, and his anger surged. ¡°Old man, I won¡¯t allow you to talk to Brother-in-law like that!¡± Before Qin Huai could speak, Li Buhu stood in front of him. ¡°If Brother-in-law didn¡¯t kill Wu Zian, you wouldn¡¯t be able to see me alive now.¡± ¡°Who is it? Wu Zian?¡± Li Zeshi was stunned. He had not heard this name for a long time, but now that his son mentioned it again, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill down his spine. ¡°You said Qin Huai killed Wu Zian from the county governor¡¯s mansion? What kind of joke is this? That brat has grasped the eighth refinement of force¡­¡± Li Zeshi couldn¡¯t believe it. He looked around but couldn¡¯t find Wu Zian¡¯s body. ¡°How can I lie to you about this?¡± Li Buhu bared his teeth. ¡°Old man, did your brain get rusty from the beating? Also, didn¡¯t you say that you were using Brother-in-law to bait us and protect us in secret? What are you protecting? If not for Brother-in-law being strong enough, I¡¯m afraid I would have died here today!¡± Li Buhu still had a lingering fear. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡­¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s face instantly flushed red. He did not dare to look Qin Huai in the eye again. ¡°Did you really kill Wu Zian?¡± ¡°If Fourth Uncle doesn¡¯t believe me, you¡¯ll know after hearing the news in two days,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. Li Zeshi looked at the young man in front of him with a complicated expression. He did not witness the scene of Qin Huai killing Wu Zian with his own eyes, but he knew that even though Wu Zian had failed to break through to the bone pattern realm, his combat strength was not something an ordinary ninth refinement martial artist could compare to. It was even more difficult to kill a prodigy of a higher realm. But Qin Huai did it¡­ There was really a chance! Chapter 184 - 184 The Dantian Worlds New Members 184 The Dantian World¡¯s New Members Li Zeshi didn¡¯t have much ambition. It didn¡¯t matter who was in power in the Zhang and Li families. However, he had to consider his two sons. The eldest son had no talent in martial arts and could only be a teacher in the Li family¡¯s private school, while the youngest son had good aptitude, but he was rash and single-minded. In the future, he might not even be noticed by others. If he was deceived and stood on the wrong side, he might die. Although there were many geniuses in the younger generation of the Li family, none of them could match Zhang Haoyue. On the contrary, Li Zeshi could not see through Qin Huai at all¡­ Li Zeshi took a deep breath as if he had made a decision. ¡°Young Master, if you need Li Zeshi in the future, just tell me. Li Zeshi will do anything for you! Please guide my son from time to time.¡± Li Zeshi actually knelt down on one knee and cupped his fists. His personal promise and Li Buhu¡¯s message were two completely different attitudes. ¡°Fourth Uncle, what are you doing? Get up quickly.¡± Qin Huai hurriedly helped Li Zeshi up. He didn¡¯t expect Fourth Uncle to do something like this. ¡°I owe Shaoxiang a life-saving debt. Although I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m the so-called destiny she mentioned, with the debt of life-saving debt, I, Qin Huai, will do my best to bring the Li family up no matter what. Helping to bring up Buhu is naturally my duty.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I can rest assured.¡± Li Zeshi stood up and couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°What about Wu Zian¡¯s body?¡± ¡°Brother-in-law burned him to ashes.¡± ¡°Burned to ashes?¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and Elder Erlong¡¯s appearance immediately appeared in his mind. ¡°Did Son-in-law learn that forbidden technique of Elder Erlong?¡± ¡°I learned it by luck,¡± Qin Huai admitted humbly. ¡°In other words, Son-in-law even has my True Path sect¡­¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s voice stopped abruptly. As he spoke, the few people who were originally with him arrived late. They were all covered in blood, and their faces were filled with killing intent. ¡°Damn it, do those people from the county governor¡¯s mansion have clairaudient ears? We were caught no matter how many routes we split up. ¡± The leader of the group, a bald man, had his robe torn to shreds, exposing his muscular body to the air. He swept his gaze across the battlefield and added, ¡°Looks like Brother Zeshi came just in time. He killed all the people from the county governor¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°Hmph, did I come in time or was someone deliberately stalling for time?¡± Li Zeshi mocked. ¡°Hey, Brother Ze, you can eat whatever you want, but you can¡¯t say whatever you want.¡± The bald man touched his bald head and looked like a ruffian. ¡°In order to arrive in time, everyone was injured. And if it weren¡¯t for our help, it would have been very difficult for you to arrive in time.¡± ¡°Humph! If it weren¡¯t for you guys, I would have arrived even faster!¡± Qin Huai listened to their conversation and knew that there was more to the story behind the late arrival of reinforcements. He didn¡¯t say much, only memorizing the faces of the bald man and the people behind him. ¡°Since everyone is fine, let¡¯s continue according to the original plan.¡± Qin Huai smiled, looking harmless. ¡°Little Brother Qin is reasonable!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Everyone took a risk to come here.¡± The few people led by the bald man laughed and then scattered and disappeared into the slums. ¡°That arrogant bald man is called Zhang Dagen. He was promoted from the Qingyang City branch of the Nine Dragons Sect. Born as a wild cultivator, there were no taboos in doing things¡­ He has the temperament of a local ruffian, but his talent is not bad. ¡°He was given the surname by the Zhang family and can be considered a famous lackey under Zhang Wu. Also, he¡¯s not even fifty yet, but he¡¯s already in the ninth refinement realm. He has a chance of achieving the bone pattern realm.¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s expression was gloomy as he continued, ¡°I was too slow just now because Zhang Dagan and the others were playing tricks in the battle, so I couldn¡¯t escape quickly.¡± ¡°I understand. Thank you, Fourth Uncle.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and watched as Li Zeshi disappeared into the distance. ¡°Brother-in-law, where are we going next?¡± Li Buhu asked. ¡°It¡¯s not easy for me to come out. Let¡¯s take a look around Lingjiang.¡± Now, they, the county governor¡¯s mansion and General Song Ya, were all in the open. Since the other party wanted to take his head, Qin Huai didn¡¯t mind helping the Li family solve their problems and avenge his fellow disciples. A gust of wind blew beneath Qin Huai¡¯s feet, and he looked around. Even with his walking speed, it took him an entire day to walk from the south to the north of Lingjiang. As expected, he did not find the three members of the Luo family. It was both a bad thing and a good thing. At least it proved that Luo Ya and the other two were not captured. Otherwise, it would not be an assassination attempt today. As for not wanting to involve outsiders, Qin Huai didn¡¯t believe that General Song Ya had such a gentlemanly character. There was a high chance that he was not in the city¡­ Qin Huai looked out of the city. ¡°Young Master, let¡¯s call it a day. Leaving the city tomorrow is probably the main event.¡± Li Zeshi walked out. ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement. Wu Zian¡¯s death was definitely a huge loss for the county governor¡¯s mansion, so they would definitely not let the matter rest so easily. ¡­ In the courtyard, Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the cushion and examined his dantian. The world that was already filled with colors had another pair of new members. On the illusory land, blood-red tigers and wolves walked one after another under the light of the great sun. Not far away, there was a dragon ball hanging in the air, and there was a purple ball of lightning shining even higher. The tiger and wolf growled and walked toward the dragon ball. Chapter 185 - 185 New Skill, Vicious Might! 185 New Skill, Vicious Might! Their speed became faster and faster, and in the end, it turned into a long-distance attack! The purple dragon began to roar as well. A dragon head extended out of the dragon pearl and swooped down from the sky. Qin Huai¡¯s mind was calm as he watched coldly. This was the ¡®memory¡¯ that came late when he collected the experience balls. Qin Huai had already learned to postpone these memories so that they would not affect his battle. He had already experienced this scene countless times and knew that this was a mutation caused by the fusion of cultivation techniques. ¡°I don¡¯t need to cultivate, so there¡¯s no risk of cultivation deviation. I just need to quietly watch these cultivation techniques react in my body. This feeling is indeed very good.¡± The dragon, tiger, and wolf were fighting in the dantian world. Lightning arcs were rampant, and blood was like rain. The scales of the giant dragon were falling off, and the bodies of the tiger and wolf were also shattering time and time again. Only the power of the three was rising bit by bit. The dragon and the tiger intertwined, and blood dyed the dragon¡¯s body red. In the end, the purple-white scales shattered into mist and were swallowed by the tiger and wolf. And so, the battle ended. The purple dragon returned to the dragon pearl, while the tiger and wolf licked their wounds on the illusory ground. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± Suddenly, a series of dog barks sounded in his ears. Qin Huai opened his eyes abruptly, and a red light flashed across his pupils. His eyes instantly focused on the snow-white dog in front of the door. The big dog¡¯s eyes went blank. Bang! He fell to the ground and fainted. Qin Huai was stunned. He stood up and walked over. Plop ¡­ A young girl stumbled in front of the door and knelt down in front of Qin Huai¡¯s door with a thud. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry, Son-in-law.¡± The young girl was delicate and pitiful. She hugged the snow-white dog with a charming and alluring appearance. Her loose robe seemed to have fallen off because of fear, revealing her smooth shoulders and a hint of shock. If an ordinary person saw this, they would definitely feel pity. ¡°Who are you?¡± Qin Huai looked at the young lady before him. He had never seen this person in the courtyard before. ¡°I¡­ This girl is called Chan¡¯er, and Chan¡¯er has disturbed Young Master due to her lack of discipline. I hope that you will let me atone for my sins.¡± Chan ¡®Er raised her eyes slightly, displaying her delicate and pitiful expression vividly. Qin Huai slowly walked up to her. The distance between the two of them was only a few inches. The ambiguous atmosphere made Chan ¡®Er close her eyes slightly, and her cheeks turned red. She felt a warm sensation on her neck, and her heart couldn¡¯t help but race. The next moment, her eyes widened. ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t!¡± The force on her neck suddenly tightened, and Chan¡¯er¡¯s entire body was lifted up into the air. ¡°You seem to have misunderstood. I¡¯m asking who sent you.¡± Qin Huai looked at the lovely young lady in front of him with an indifferent gaze, as if he was looking at a corpse. ¡°I really just went the wrong way. Please forgive me. ¡± Upon hearing this, the extinguished red glow in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes reignited. Thump¡­ Chan¡¯er looked at the red glow in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes and suddenly fainted. ¡°Young Master!¡± Qingshui ran over and was shocked to see this scene. ¡°Young Master, what happened?¡± ¡°There are bugs flying in.¡± Qin Huai casually threw Chan¡¯er onto the ground. ¡± Do you know which family this woman is from?¡± Qingshui took a closer look and slowly shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s not from the Li family, is she? I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡± ¡°Yes, I know,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. ¡®A chance encounter in my residence? This honey trap was a little too clumsy.¡¯ ¡°Then¡­ This person¡­¡± ¡°Throw her out. Let Li Buhu send someone to follow her and see where she goes.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Qingshui nodded and carried Chan¡¯er and the big white dog out. ¡°Qingshui,¡± Qin Huai suddenly called out to Qing ¡®er. Qingshui turned around and met a pair of scarlet eyes. Her legs went soft and she staggered for a moment before she stood up. ¡°Son-in-law, what martial technique is this?¡± She was astonished. Just now, she actually felt that her mind was somewhat distracted, and a fierce aura occupied her thoughts. ¡°Vicious might. Hurry up and go.¡± Qin Huai made up a story and waved his hand to dismiss her. This was what he discovered after he woke up from his ¡®memory.¡¯ He had accidentally released it on the big snow-white dog and experimented on Chan¡¯er. ¡°It should be some kind of mutation that happened after the force and the tigers and wolves appeared. However, the lethality of this kind of power is not strong. It is probably only effective against people who are under the third or fourth refinement and have a huge gap in realm from me,¡± Qin Huai murmured, savoring and analyzing this power. ¡°When facing an expert, it might cause them to be in a daze for a moment. It can be considered a pretty good martial technique.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts paused. ¡°But ¡®vicious might¡¯ might have a miraculous effect against the tide of demons. This can be considered a large-scale damage.¡± Qin Huai meditated and felt that this skill was the best choice to deal with low-level martial artists or demons. ¡­ In the evening, Li Buhu strode into the courtyard. ¡°Brother-in-law, the woman with the big dog is dead.¡± ¡°Where did she die?¡± Qin Huai was indifferent. ¡°It was at the entrance of Flower Willow Alley. She suddenly died before she could even enter.¡± Li Buhu looked regretful. ¡°However, we found out her identity. She¡¯s a popular person in the Moon Pavilion. The women in the Moon Pavilion are different from other places. Everyone knows how to read fortunes, and it¡¯s considered a unique idea. ¡°The business in Flower Willow Alley is extremely good. Well, the last guest that woman came into contact with was a general under Song Ya, so I think it¡¯s most likely Song Ya¡¯s doing,¡± Li Buhu said. ¡°Did you investigate all this?¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Buhu in surprise. ¡°No, it was all done by the old man. When he came, he asked me to say that I did it, but I, Li Buhu, will never lie to Brother-in-law!¡± Li Buhu was still a little embarrassed in the first half of the sentence, but he spoke firmly in the end. ¡°There are so many people who want me to die¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered. That woman was Song Ya¡¯s subordinate, but how did she enter the Nine Dragons sect and sneak into the Li family¡¯s courtyard? There must be countless people who had handled this. ¡°Brother-in-law, we¡¯re leaving the city tomorrow to go to the forest and fight with those people who are suspected to be from the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Li Buhu sounded eager. ¡°I also brought a lot of poison from home. Brother-in-law, can you help me mix it?¡± With that, he walked out of the room and carried a large wooden box in. Bang! He placed it heavily on the ground. Chapter 186 - 186 The September Hook War 186 The September Hook War Late at night, in the Li family¡¯s study, Li Zeren was still reading the letter with the lights on. The table was filled with news about the situation at the front line. Behind him, Li Zeshi was excitedly recounting what had happened today. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that the Zhang family is deliberately interfering and working with the county governor¡¯s to murder Qin Huai? And Zhang Haoyue is the culprit?¡± Li Zeren looked up impatiently at his younger brother. ¡°Zetao also said that Zhang Haoyue¡¯s trusted aide had met Wu Zian in private. Coincidentally, it was Wu Zian who led his men to assassinate Qin Huai in the slums today. ¡°How can this matter not be related to Zhang Haoyue?!¡± ¡°Big Brother, don¡¯t forget that he¡¯s Zhang Wu¡¯s legitimate son, the next head of the Zhang family. He¡¯s like fire and water with us!¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s eyes were filled with rage. He didn¡¯t know what bewitching potion this big brother had been fed, but he actually trusted Zhang Haoyue so much. ¡°Zeshi, I think you¡¯re a little biased.¡± Li Zeren took out a letter and threw it to Li Zeshi. ¡°Haoyue, this kid, blocked a sword strike from a bone pattern realm warrior for Li Gaohuai at September Hook. ¡°That sword strike was only an inch away from his heart! If it wasn¡¯t for Haoyue¡¯s formidable strength, I¡¯m afraid he would have lost his life there.¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice became more and more shocked. ¡°Tell me, would such a person do such a dirty thing? Haoyue doesn¡¯t care about the Zhang or Li families. He only cares about the Nine Dragons sect. His way of thinking is different from yours and most people¡¯s!¡± Hearing Li Zeren¡¯s confident voice, Li Zeshi looked at the letter in his hand and was speechless. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t bring this kind of groundless guess to me.¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice lowered as he covered his forehead and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Big Brother.¡± Li Zeshi gritted his teeth. He knew that it was useless for him to say anything more. His big brother completely trusted Zhang Haoyue, and no matter how much he said, it wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°Qin Huai, that brat, might be quite talented. He might even be on par with Haoyue. But in terms of personality, structure, state of mind, ambition, he¡¯s miles away from Haoyue,¡± Li Zeren said slowly. He continued, ¡°Shaoxiang¡¯s mother died early. I spoiled her too much, which led her to be so willful now. She listened to the nonsense of the old priest of the Green Cloud Temple. ¡°But Zeshi, you are different. You are the pillar of the Li family. You must distinguish right from wrong.¡± He patted Li Zeshi¡¯s shoulder earnestly. ¡°I know that Qin Huai passed down a technique to Buhu, but this is only a small benefit. Don¡¯t lose your position because of this¡­¡± ¡°Got it, Big Brother.¡± Li Zeshi cupped his fists and listened to Li Zeren¡¯s teachings from the beginning to the end. Finally, he slowly retreated. He shook his head and looked at his brother, who had been working hard by the window, feeling helpless. ¡°Big Brother¡¯s bias is already a little obvious.¡± ¡­ Li Shaoxiang was wearing a red dress. She walked towards the brightly lit bedroom with her slender legs and supper in her hands. She had just returned today and had meticulously prepared a supper to give her husband a surprise. Then, she saw Qingshui and a few maidservants hiding behind a round beam, pinching their noses. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Li Shaoxiang knocked Qingshui¡¯s head and smiled at everyone. When the maidservants saw Li Shaoxiang, their expressions changed drastically. All of them lowered their heads in fear, not daring to make eye contact with her. Although the young miss was smiling, her smile was so beautiful that it could not be compared to anything else. However, everyone still felt that it was terrifying. It was as if the coldness emitted from her bones. Li Shaoxiang greeted them and was about to go over. ¡°Miss¡­ We can¡¯t go there.¡± Qingshui hurriedly pulled Li Shaoxiang back. ¡°The son-in-law has instructed that no one is allowed to approach the bedroom.¡± ¡°Why? Who¡¯s inside?¡± Li Shaoxiang looked in the direction of the bedroom in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s the son-in-law and Young Master Buhu. The two of them have been in the bedroom for several hours.¡± Li Shaoxiang was deep in thought. ¡°Perhaps my husband is doing something big. I¡¯ll go and take a look¡­¡± She then walked to the bedroom. Just as she reached the door, she heard a commotion from inside. ¡°Brother-in-law, this is so big. I can¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°Brother-in-law! This won¡¯t do! It¡¯s too big, and the taste is too strong. I really can¡¯t eat it. Wuuuu.¡± Bang! Li Shaoxiang pushed open the door. Whoosh! A burst of colorful dust surged, instantly causing Li Shaoxiang to cough lightly. She struggled to open her eyes and looked at the scene in the room. There were bottles and jars on the ground, and Li Buhu, who had a very beautiful expression on his face. Qin Huai was grabbing his face with one hand and stuffing a black pill into his mouth. ¡°Husband, what are you doing?¡± Li Shaoxiang stared blankly at the scene before her. ¡°Buhu insisted on pestering me to learn poison techniques, so I beat him up. I didn¡¯t expect that his talent was not enough, and his hands and feet were too stupid to make a mess. That¡¯s why I let him use his body to nurture poison. Cultivating a body that is immune to poison can be considered a success.¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Shaoxiang, whom he had not seen for more than half a month, and a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes. ¡°Miss, why did you suddenly come back?¡± Li Shaoxiang passed through the dust and frowned. ¡°The September Hook War didn¡¯t go too well. I thought we could get rid of the Sacred Heart sect members who dared to offend the Nine Dragons sect in ten days, but I didn¡¯t expect the number of their members to be so large this time. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to think about it carefully, so I returned for now.¡± ¡°Sister Shaoxiang¡­¡± Li Buhu scratched his head and smiled foolishly at Li Shaoxiang. Chapter 187 - 187 Fulfilling the Daoists Words 187 Fulfilling the Daoist¡¯s Words ¡°Thank you for your supper, Sister!¡± Li Buhu picked up the bowl and wolfed down the entire bowl of eight treasures porridge. ¡°Hello¡­¡± Before Qin Huai could say anything, Li Buhu¡¯s face instantly turned black. ¡°Poison. It¡¯s poisonous ¡­¡± Li Buhu¡¯s eyes were filled with shock. Qin Huai, who was beside him, slapped him on the back. He opened his mouth and a red ball flew into it. ¡°Can¡¯t you see how many poisonous powders are floating in this room because of you?¡± Qin Huai shook his head. He had never met someone like Li Buhu who had no affinity with poison path. Not to mention his comprehension ability, he wasn¡¯t even very familiar with releasing poison. ¡°Miss, you should eat too.¡± Qin Huai threw an antidote pill to Li Shaoxiang. ¡°Husband, how many cultivators can this poison kill?¡± Li Shaoxiang ate the red pill Qin Huai threw at her and looked at the bottles and jars in the room curiously. ¡°For most poisons, one will die after inhaling a little of it after the fourth refinement. The remaining thirty percent of the poison can affect great blood refinement martial artists.¡± When Qin Huai mentioned this, he explained further, ¡°There are also a few things that are used for tracking. If they are contaminated or inhaled into the body, they will leave a mark. I can use ordinary sparrows to track them. ¡°This is a mixed poison. There won¡¯t be any problems inhaling it alone. However, after adding a primer, it would instantly detonate and quickly spread through his body. ¡°And this¡­ A potent aphrodisiac that can make the lower body of a male burn with fire. I¡¯ll prepare a set of these for you to use for self-defense¡­¡± Qin Huai spoke in a somewhat absent-minded manner. Then, he looked up in shock and realized that Li Shaoxiang was looking at him with a gaze filled with fanaticism and worship. ¡°As expected of my husband! Even this kind of despicable poison can play so many tricks!¡± Li Shaoxiang looked very excited. Or rather, she was very excited to see something related to Qin Huai. Qin Huai listened to Li Shaoxiang¡¯s voice. The contents of the letters Li Shaoxiang had sent over the past few days echoed in his mind as if they had a voice. If it were anyone else who said these words, Qin Huai would probably think that they were mocking him. But when it came out of Li Shaoxiang¡¯s mouth, he knew that she was genuine in praising him. ¡°Sister Shaoxiang, since you¡¯ve already sent the supper over, you should hurry up and leave. Don¡¯t delay me and my brother-in-law from studying the poison.¡± Li Buhu recovered from the poison and waved at Li Shaoxiang. ¡°Are you ordering me?¡± Li Shaoxiang looked at Li Buhu with a cold gaze. One after the other, it was as if ice and fire were two heavens, causing Li Buhu, who was originally addicted to making poison, to instantly wake up. ¡°Well¡­ That¡­ How would I dare, Sister Shaoxiang? Brother-in-law, I¡¯ve learned enough today. It¡¯s getting late, so I¡¯ll go back and rest first¡­¡± Li Buhu rushed out with his spoils of war as if he was rubbing oil under his feet. Inside the house, only the red and green poison powder, Qin Huai, and Li Shaoxiang were left. ¡°Husband, you are really amazing. In just half a month, you¡¯ve already firmly controlled Fourth Uncle¡¯s bloodline.¡± When Li Shaoxiang looked at Qin Huai, the ice and snow in her eyes melted, turning into extreme fanaticism. The crazy followers of the Sacred Heart sect might not even be as fanatical as her. ¡°Since I promised Miss to revitalize the Li family, I naturally have to show some results.¡± Qin Huai remained calm as he spoke to Li Shaoxiang while grinding the poison. ¡°I also heard that you killed Wu Zian today?¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°That man was a heaven¡¯s favorite a few years ago. His combat strength should not be underestimated¡­¡± ¡°The prodigies of the past are in the past. There¡¯s nothing to be proud of.¡± ¡°Wu Zian seemed to have contacted Zhang Haoyue¡¯s men yesterday,¡± Li Shaoxiang said. Qin Huai frowned. Zhang Haoyue again? Once or twice was a coincidence, but three or four times? That harmless face appeared in his mind. Qin Huai was now sure that Zhang Haoyue was one of the people who wanted to kill him. The Zhang family wanted him dead, and so did the Li family. There was also the county governor and Song Ya¡­ As for those who disliked him, there were countless of them. How could he be worthy of the killing intent of such a big shot? ¡°Husband, I also brought back a lot of great medicine that can replenish qi and blood.¡± Li Shaoxiang, who was dressed in a red dress, had unknowingly climbed onto Qin Huai¡¯s chest. The fervor in her eyes allowed Qin Huai to truly experience what a ¡®burning gaze¡¯ was. ¡°Where did you get so much money to buy medicine?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. These days, Li Shaoxiang would send a large box of medicine every two days. Many of them were extremely expensive items. In the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s treasure pavilion, the number of points required was astounding. So, even with her status, it was probably not easy for her to get these. ¡°My mother left me a dowry in the past, so I used all this money to buy medicine for my husband. It¡¯s just that those medicines are not easy to find, so we can only send some over every few days,¡± Li Shaoxiang said matter-of-factly. Qin Huai had mixed feelings. He had been taken care of by Li Shaoxiang too much. ¡°What right do I have¡­¡± ¡°Husband is our destiny!¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes were still filled with fanaticism. Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm as he said, ¡°I will fulfill the old Daoist of the Green Cloud Temple¡¯s words.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s slender fingers clung onto Qin Huai¡¯s chest, her eyes filled with affection. Qin Huai did not refuse. That night, Qin Huai had many forbidden techniques, and many people did not sleep. Chapter 188 - 188 Masters Traces? 188 Master¡¯s Traces? The next day, Qin Huai, like a dragon or tiger, crawled up from the bed. His peerless golden blood restored the white dragon and his physique. Looking at the woman sleeping soundly on the bed, Qin Huai felt as if there was something on his shoulders. ¡­ ¡°Brother-in-law, do you want to rest for half a day before setting off?¡± Li Buhu followed beside Qin Huai, his eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°No need, this is nothing.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s tone was calm. In the early spring, the two great blood refinement martial artists were still wrapped tightly. They quickly walked out of the city gate. ¡°We¡¯re heading to September Hook, which used to be the base camp of wild cultivators and refugees. Foreigners who are plagued by demons and monsters can¡¯t enter the city or can¡¯t survive in the city, so they go to September Hook. ¡°And such a place has naturally become the best choice for the Sacred Heart sect to develop its followers. As expected, that place has become their headquarters,¡± Li Buhu said. ¡°What did you say?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. According to what Li Buhu said, could Luo Ya and the others, as well as his master, be there? But now that the place had become the headquarters of the Sacred Heart sect, then his master and the others¡­ Li Buhu did not notice the change in Qin Huai¡¯s emotions. He continued, ¡°These guys are relying on their evil techniques to wantonly recruit disciples. In just half a month, we¡¯ve almost taken down the entire September hook.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier about such important information?¡± Qin Huai clutched his forehead. ¡°Brother-in-law, you didn¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°You¡¯re blaming me¡­¡± Qin Huai was indifferent as he walked quickly like the wind. September Hook was something he had to explore. ¡°Brother-in-law, there are many Sacred Heart sect members in September Hook, at least three to four thousand of them. In addition, there are those powerful Sacred Heart disciples who came from afar. Many of our Nine Dragons sect¡¯s senior brothers and junior brothers died in it.¡± Li Buhu continued, ¡°This September Hook has already become a dragon¡¯s pool and a tiger¡¯s den.¡± As Qin Huai listened, he felt both worried and excited. Three to four thousand people¡­ It seemed that the blood heart technique would be upgraded again. After a while, the two of them had already reached the edge of September Hook. ¡°Brother-in-law, the one in front is September Hook.¡± Qin Huai stood at the peak of the mountain and looked at the chasm in the distance. There was dense vegetation in the chasm, and there were many pavilions and courtyards. A long and narrow chasm of prosperity stretched from the beginning of September Hook to the end without any break. Qin Huai quickly descended the mountain. Halfway through, he suddenly stopped. ¡°Tsk tsk¡­ I¡¯m so lucky to have encountered two disciples of the Nine Dragons sect.¡± The forest was surrounded. More than ten people appeared from the bushes, behind the trees, and on the trees. They were well disguised, and they were tied with weeds and branches. It was extremely difficult to recognize them in the dense forest. The man in the lead had a ferocious expression. ¡°You two look unfamiliar. Are you new to the Nine Dragons sect?¡± ¡°Do you want to join our Sacred Heart sect? You¡¯ll be able to refine once a month, then refine twice in three months. You¡¯ll have a chance to break through to the fifth refinement in a year! In the long run, it¡¯s not a dream for you to become the number one heaven¡¯s favorite in Lingjiang in ten years! ¡± The burly man in the lead was only half a head shorter than Li Buhu. ¡°Look at me. It¡¯s only been a month, and I¡¯m already at the Second Refinement.¡± ¡°Hey, let¡¯s eat that big guy. If he¡¯s so strong, we¡¯ll definitely gain a lot of vitality.¡± Another group of people walked out of the forest. There were also seventeen or eighteen of them, and they walked together with the muscular man. More than thirty people were gathered together, and the expression on their faces became even more impudent. However¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm as he walked straight ahead. He ignored the large number of Sacred Heart disciples around him. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± When the burly man in the lead saw that Qin Huai dared to ignore him, he suddenly pulled out his sword. He raised his long sword high, and the sharp cold light became even more dazzling under illumination of the light. Then¡­ It did not land for a long time. The red light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes trembled violently. ¡°Three beasts, vicious might!¡± The Sacred Heart disciples around them exchanged glances with Qin Huai, and their eyes suddenly lost focus. Their legs gave way and they fell to the ground. At the same time, Qin Huai¡¯s sleeves trembled, and dust surged out. Puff! Puff! Puff! The sound of vomiting blood rose and fell, and it sounded muffled in his ears. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +9!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +9!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +7!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +11!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +3!¡± More than thirty experience balls instantly fused into Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Sure enough, it can be used to clean up the battlefield, and it¡¯s quite practical,¡± Qin Huai muttered, looking at the enemies who fell in an instant. ¡°Brother-in-law¡­ What kind of move is that¡­¡± Li Buhu was extremely excited as if he had discovered a new continent. He was eager to try. ¡°Brother-in-law, I want to learn it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to learn this.¡± The red glow in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t diminish as he sprinted toward September Hook. ¡°Little brat¡­¡± A figure rushed out of the forest. Then, his body went limp in the air and fell to the ground like a free fall, breaking his neck. ¡°We¡¯ve been attacked¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Here¡­¡± As far as Qin Huai could see, not a single one of them could even complete a sentence. His exaggerated speed in clearing the area made Li Buhu, who was behind him, admire Qin Huai even more. What kind of move was this? In the beginning, his brother-in-law still needed to use poison to kill people. How did those people die after just a glance from him? Li Buhu¡¯s heart trembled. Qin Huai was even more adept at using his fierce might. He realized that as he used it, the power of vicious might seemed to be getting stronger and stronger. Or rather¡­ He was currently displaying the level he should be at. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +19!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +8!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +13!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +6!¡± As Qin Huai charged through, hundreds of Sacred Heart disciples collapsed. They never got up again. Chapter 189 - 189 Approaching September Hook 189 Approaching September Hook Meanwhile, in September hook, Fatty Ji Yuan hummed a little tune as he ate the fragrant long legs in his hand. ¡°That¡¯s great. We only need to wave our fingers all day long to make a group of people work for us without caring about their lives. We can also weaken the strength of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡± The six-fingered man snorted coldly and sneered. ¡°How do you think our Sacred Heart sect became the fourth largest sect in Great You in just a few decades? We are chosen by the heavens, and we cultivate the chosen by the heavens.¡± ¡°My lord!¡± In the distance, a terrified face with blood all over ran over in a panic. ¡°Why are you so flustered?¡± Zou Shuang glanced at the newcomer with an indifferent expression. ¡°A young man from the Nine Dragons sect is approaching.¡± ¡°Young man? Didn¡¯t we already injure Zhang Haoyue? Are there any other young talents worth paying attention to in the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Fatty Ji Yuan mumbled, his mouth stuffed with meat. ¡°I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s no such person in the portraits you gave me.¡± The person shook his head. His body was trembling as he knelt on the ground. ¡°If he¡¯s not in the portraits, he wouldn¡¯t be a martial artist who has refined his blood greatly.¡± Zou Shuang¡¯s expression was calm. The portraits he was talking about were provided by the surrendered Nine Dragons sect warriors he had captured a month ago. He found a few painters who drew all their blood refining warriors so that his subordinates could recognize them clearly. ¡°Run when you encounter an expert, lest you cause worthless casualties.¡± As it turned out, the effect of this move was indeed not bad. ¡°Since it¡¯s not a great blood refinement warrior, then it¡¯s just that the number is not enough. If a few dozen don¡¯t work, then a hundred. If a hundred doesn¡¯t work, then two hundred¡­¡± Zou Shuang pondered for a moment. ¡°Inform Liu Huo and have him follow behind. We must kill this person. ¡± He was very steady. He made two preparations and let a martial artist who had refined blood follow closely behind to ensure that nothing unexpected would happen. ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± That person hurriedly responded, stood up, and ran into the distance. ¡°What a pity. We¡¯ve prepared so many methods and acted so steadily, but that Qin Huai just won¡¯t come out¡­ How good would it be if he came out?¡± Fatty Ji Yuan clicked his tongue. ¡°That Qin Huai seems to have become the son-in-law of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s Li family. He hides in the sect all day and doesn¡¯t show himself, so it¡¯s very difficult to find an opportunity.¡± Zou Shuang also felt that it was a pity. ¡°But no matter what, that child will die.¡± In a small place like Pingnan, a mortal had actually ruined their plans twice. The Sacred Heart sect would never tolerate such a thing. The higher-ups had also given them a death order to kill this person as a warning to others. It had nothing to do with threats, it was about prestige. ¡°The name of Sacred Heart sect will spread from Lingjiang to the east of Great You like rolling thunder.¡± Zou Shuang¡¯s six fingers were like a spider jumping around, making people shudder. ¡­ In the forest, Zhang Dagen looked at the figure running dozens of meters away. His gaze was complicated. ¡°Brother Dagen, what kind of demonic technique is Qin Huai using¡­¡± Beside the bald Zhang Dagen, a few members of the Zhang family grabbed the corpse of a Sacred Heart disciple with solemn expressions. ¡°His eyes are lifeless, as if his soul has been shattered.¡± Zhang Dagen glanced at him and explained, ¡°This seems to be a technique that only warriors of the bone pattern realm have. It¡¯s a basic application of force. Using a powerful force, it can directly stun or even kill the weak. ¡°This isn¡¯t something that we can do just by simply comprehending some force before we even step into this domain. Therefore, for warriors at the bone pattern realm, it¡¯s meaningless to just accumulate numbers.¡± Zhang Dagen was the martial artist closest to that realm among everyone, so his understanding of the Bone Pattern Realm was also far beyond that of ordinary people. ¡°Qin Huai is only at the seventh refinement, so how can he know the techniques of a bone pattern realm expert? Maybe he¡¯s a genius.¡± A smile appeared on Zhang Dagan¡¯s face. It was very interesting to kill geniuses. He raised his head and looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back. He became even more excited. He felt that the job Old Master had given him was really not bad. ¡­ On the other side, Li Zeshi and a few trusted aides of his fourth branch followed closely behind. ¡°Old Master, Son-in-law is really amazing. He has already grasped the moves of the bone pattern realm at such a young age. Your vision is really too sharp~¡± The middle-aged man beside Li Zeshi couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°This has nothing to do with me. It¡¯s all because of that brat Buhu. It¡¯s as if his head has suddenly become bright, insisting that I go and help Son-in-law.¡± Li Zeshi looked at Qin Huai¡¯s bravery, but his expression remained unchanged. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Young Master is different from before. He felt that after following Son-in-law for a few days, his spirit had changed. He¡¯s becoming more and more free and unrestrained.¡± The shifty-eyed middle-aged man knew very well that the person his master really cared about was his precious son. ¡°Look at how much poison is spread. How well-proportioned. It¡¯s just that this is a little extravagant. He¡¯s far inferior to Son-in-law.¡± Li Zeshi looked at the poison that Li Buhu had spilled out and could not help but feel a little heartache. What the other party sprinkled was a silent mist that moistened things, but this silly child was using poison as a whip. ¡°No matter what, our fourth branch will definitely make a fortune by following Son-in-law this time!¡± ¡­ ¡°Brother-in-law, what kind of move is that?¡± Li Buhu looked at Qin Huai, who was running in front of him without any obstructions. His eyes were wide open as he continued to ask. The trees and grass retreated behind the two of them, along with the Sacred Heart disciples who had fallen like wheat straws. Chapter 190 - 190 Upgrading the Blood Heart Technique 190 Upgrading the Blood Heart Technique Qin Huai had already entered the September Hook and fought with the Sacred Heart disciples several times, but there had never been a time like this¡­ It was as easy as crushing dry weeds and rotten wood! He sprinted as he became more and more adept at using the three beasts: vicious might. This martial technique would be more powerful when used against enemies with a greater gap in cultivation level. A martial artist at the first and second refinement would bleed from his seven orifices and die on the spot as soon as he met Qin Huai¡¯s gaze, while a third refinement martial artist would faint on the spot or fall to the ground. But the effect would decrease and could only cause a momentary loss of focus. However, this wasn¡¯t a problem for Qin Huai. With a small dose of poison, he would be able to kill them. Even before they met Qin Huai of the fourth or fifth refinement, the number of martial artists at this level had already begun to decrease. They were the elites of the elites, the foundation of a force. ¡°This ferocious power is just as I thought. It¡¯s an absolute weapon to clean up the trash,¡± Qin Huai muttered in his heart as he continuously assessed the might of his ferocious might. Even though releasing vicious might would consume blood essence, Qin Huai had the protection of his golden blood, which could reduce the consumption of the vicious might to an extremely low level. Its release might not require eye contact or looking into one¡¯s own eyes. It only required the enemy to look in one¡¯s direction. Strictly speaking, vicious might should be a form of using force. ¡°Brother-in-law, aren¡¯t we going too deep?¡± Li Buhu tried to dissuade him. ¡°What if we encounter a bone pattern realm expert¡­ Aren¡¯t there bone pattern realm warriors behind us?¡± The reason why Qin Huai was so fearless was because Li Zeshi and the Zhang family members were following behind him. It would be a waste not to use it. He could take the opportunity to approach September Hook and capture people to find the whereabouts of his master and Luo Ya. Suddenly, Qin Huai stopped in his tracks. In the forest in front of them, a large group of people could be seen with the naked eye gathering in their direction like a wave. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect has finally sent someone,¡± Qin Huai murmured softly. The two parties rushed in both directions, and in just a short while, Qin Huai had ¡°fallen¡± into the enemy¡¯s encirclement. He looked over and saw the leader walking out of the crowd with a steel whip in his hand. His aura was quite different from others. Finally, there was something worth asking. ¡°Brat, to be able to kill all the way here in one breath, your ability is not small.¡± Liu Huo had a goat-tail braid, and his eyes were fierce. He licked the corner of his lips and added, ¡°Those good-for-nothings really can¡¯t even give me a complete portrait. They even missed out on such a great blood refinement martial artist.¡± Dissatisfaction flashed across Liu Huo¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re in seventh refinement or eighth refinement¡­¡± ¡°You can even tell?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. ¡°Well, when people eat too much, they will be more sensitive to the blood essence of others. Even without fighting, I can roughly determine your level. It¡¯s just like how we humans have dealt with demons many times. We can roughly determine the level of the other party through their body size and race.¡± Liu Huo stared at Qin Huai. ¡°How about it? Are you interested in joining our Sacred Heart sect? ¡°In our eyes, humans and demons are all food. They are the nourishment for us to reach a higher realm! For a young genius like you, joining us will allow you to improve twice the result with half the effort. Your upper limit will also increase infinitely!¡± The people of the Sacred Heart sect were never tired of inviting everyone to join their sect. Especially for geniuses, they would often temporarily oppose each other. This was because they firmly believed that no one could resist the temptation of easily stepping into a higher realm or breaking through the bottleneck of martial arts. Everyone was their potential ally. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in cannibalism.¡± Qin Huai rejected decisively. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. Although we¡¯re at the same realm, I still have many people under me who can exhaust you. I¡¯ll take your life easily.¡± Liu Huo looked confident. He had brought more than two hundred people to help, so he was not afraid he would exhaust his strength. Boom! Liu Huo¡¯s eyes trembled. In the next second, like wheat straws, they fell down one after another. ¡°You¡¯re at the bone pattern realm?!¡± Liu Huo blurted out, his voice trembling. ¡°No, you¡¯re definitely not at the bone pattern realm. What kind of demonic technique is this?¡± He instantly calmed down. Looking around, around 40 percent of the people had fainted or died on the spot. However, there were still sixty to seventy people who were third and fourth refinement martial artists! Liu Huo gritted his teeth. They had not even started fighting yet, and three-quarters of the people he had brought with him had already been lost! ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +22!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +34!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +46!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +17!¡± A huge amount of experience points flowed into Qin Huai¡¯s body. There were more than three hundred people along the way. Although they were all small fries at the first or second Refinement, they had nearly 20,000 experience points to help Qin Huai with the blood heart technique. Now, the blood heart technique has already reached level 44. Qin Huai could already feel the heat from the ¡®sun¡¯ in his dantian continuing to rise. Indeed, the people from the Sacred Heart sect were really considerate. Just as he was worried that he could not find a way to improve the blood heart technique, they came knocking on his door. The fourth-refined blood heart technique was obviously not enough to maintain its ferocious might and recover the consumption of the forbidden technique, earthquake dragon. Chapter 191 - 191 Domineering! 191 Domineering! However, the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s people were given a pillow when they were sleepy. ¡°How many people do you have now?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice rang in Liu Huo¡¯s ears. ¡°There seems to be something strange about your force.¡± Liu Huo¡¯s palms were sweating. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. That was all this kid had just now. He¡¯s just deliberately mystifying things!¡± Liu Huo shouted to calm the remaining sixty to seventy people down. However, the effect did not seem to be very good. Qin Huai looked around. The others were clearly at a higher cultivation level than the small fries he had encountered earlier. The next moment, Liu Huo unleashed his ultimate move. ¡°We have more than seventy people against two. We have the advantage! Kill this kid, and his corpse will be yours!¡± Instantly, the fanaticism of the surrounding people subsided. The corpse of a great blood refinement martial artist could definitely help them advance to a higher realm. ¡°Kill!¡± Sixty to seventy people charged at Qin Huai. ¡°Fall!¡± Qin Huai shouted in a low voice. It was as if his words were the law. In the next instant, the Sacred Heart disciple who had rushed over ten meters in front of Qin Huai felt his legs go limp. He continued to kneel on the ground, unable to get up. If someone threw away the corpses, they would find that their hearts had exploded and turned into a mass of flesh and blood. With a low shout, less than ten percent of the people were left. The originally mighty hunting momentum instantly reversed. ¡°This kid is domineering!¡± Liu Huo¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Why does this kid¡¯s force seem even more powerful than the force of a bone pattern martial artist?¡± Liu Huo was confused. It was one thing to take down a first or second refinement martial artist, but how could he take down a third or fourth refinement martial artist so easily? It couldn¡¯t be that this kid¡¯s force surpassed the bone pattern realm¡­ ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Liu Huo roared. Then, he turned around and ran. Whoosh! Suddenly, several daggers behind him pierced through the sky and stabbed at Liu Huo¡¯s body. Liu Huo grunted and urged his qi and blood to speed up. However, in the next moment, he staggered and almost fell to the ground. ¡°The dagger is poisonous!¡± His eyes were about to pop out. The question of why those third and fourth refinement martial artists were knocked out was solved at this moment. It turned out that he was talking to him just now to stall for time and wait for the poison to take effect! What a strong poison! What a vicious person! Liu Huo was about to run away when a large hand grabbed the back of his head. A terrifying power poured onto his body in the next moment. His entire body was uncontrollably smashed into the soil on the spot. Bang! Liu Huo¡¯s mouth was instantly filled with dirt. ¡°I ask, you answer.¡± A deep voice sounded in his ears. Qin Huai stepped on Liu Huo¡¯s waist with one foot and pressed his head firmly into the ground with the other. ¡°Did you see a group of people who used the long breath technique in September Hook? The old man in the lead looked like a sage. He¡¯s quick-witted and good at using poison.¡± ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± Liu Huo struggled with his head buried in the ground, unable to say a word. Boom! Qin Huai stomped his dragon into his waist. The terrifying explosion caused Liu Huo¡¯s skin to split open in an instant, and his beating kidney could be seen from the outside. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering me?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. Liu Huo struggled even more intensely on the ground. ¡®How am I supposed to say anything if you directly press my mouth into it?¡¯ Ka¡­ Qin Huai pulled up half of Liu Huo¡¯s body. ¡°Ka. Huff huff¡­¡± Liu Huo panted heavily as if he had been reborn. ¡°I¡¯m very kind, so I forgive you for not saying anything just now. I¡¯ll give you another chance.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was like a demon¡¯s whisper, ringing in his ears. Gulp¡­ Liu Huo looked at the young face and swallowed his desire to bargain. His body still remembered that this kid was very good at using poison. If he didn¡¯t say anything, it would be difficult for him to die peacefully. ¡°Yes. When we first came here, we met that fairy-like old man you mentioned when we recruited at September Hook. However, that old man doesn¡¯t do anything. He¡¯s very cunning and cheated us of a batch of resources to buy them.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Qin Huai grabbed Liu Huo¡¯s hair and lifted him higher and higher, bending his back. It had already begun to make cracking sounds. It was unknown when it would break. ¡°Then, Lord Ji sent someone to destroy them. Who knew that they would escape in advance¡­¡± ¡°Are you sure he ran away?¡± ¡°Absolutely true! That old man even filled their courtyard with poison and set it on fire, causing us to lose a lot of people!¡± When Liu Huo mentioned this, he couldn¡¯t help but grit his teeth. It was as if the scenes of the past were reappearing before his eyes. Qin Huai nodded. This should be his master¡¯s style. ¡°Then do you know of a family of three with the surname Luo? The man is a little rich, and both women are very beautiful?¡± ¡°Luo¡­ Is he some powerful martial artist?¡± Liu Huo said. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then¡­ I don¡¯t know about that. Our Sacred Heart sect has a large number of people, and most of them are low-level martial artists or poor people. There should be quite a number of people with the surname Luo. I can be your spy and help¡­¡± Crack! Qin Huai suddenly became one with his body, and the power in his entire body exploded. He directly folded Liu Huo in the opposite direction, breaking his spine. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Orange)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +10,000!¡± The orange experience ball instantly fused into Qin Huai¡¯s body. As expected of a martial artist who refined blood, the experience he provided was exaggerated. The hundreds of Sacred Heart disciples and this experienced blood refinement expert were all elites, so Qin Huai¡¯s blood heart technique had entered the fifth refinement in one battle. His body seemed to be burning up, and the ¡®sun¡¯ in his dantian became more and more dazzling. His master had indeed set up camp in September Hook, but he was nowhere to be seen now¡­ Fortunately, his master and senior brother should be fine. However, Luo Ya and the others¡­ They were just ordinary people. It was too difficult to find them. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack. ¡°Brother-in-law, let¡¯s go next¡­ Ah!¡± A strange cry exploded beside him, and a fierce cold light descended from the sky! ¡°Move aside!¡± Qin Huai pushed Li Buhu away, his aura rising sharply. ¡°Boiling blood, colossal blood dragon! Longevity forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± In an instant, he punched in the direction of the cold light. Chapter 192 - 192 One Step to the Sky and One Step to the Abyss 192 One Step to the Sky and One Step to the Abyss Buzz~ The long sword in the air buzzed, and the sharp sword qi rained down on Qin Huai¡¯s body like a storm. Bang bang bang bang¡­ Sparks flew from Qin Huai¡¯s body, and his long robe was torn. The next moment, five-colored poisonous mist shot out, revealing the armor underneath. ¡°Zhang Dagen, you¡¯re courting death!¡± A figure flashed out from afar and struck Zhang Dagen with his palm. Zhang Dagen, who was in mid-air, sneered. His body spun in mid-air, borrowing the force of the attack to retreat into the distance. Several people beside him shared Li Zeshi¡¯s attack. The four ninth refinement experts retreated several steps before they managed to stop their decline. Li Zeshi shielded Qin Huai and Li Buhu behind him. ¡°Are you alright, Son-in-law? ¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Dagen, who was standing not far away. ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡± Zhang Dagen got up from the ground nonchalantly. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it clearly just now. I thought Qin Huai was being pressed down by this Sacred Heart disciple, so I quickly made a move. Who would have thought that I would have cut down the wrong person?¡± He had an arrogant look on his face, as if he had nothing to fear. ¡°Will anyone believe your nonsense?¡± Li Zeshi snorted coldly. ¡°As long as the family head¡­ No, it¡¯s good that the sect master believes it.¡± Zhang Dagen grinned at Qin Huai shamelessly. His so-called slip of the tongue was more like a blatant threat. ¡°You!¡± Li Zeshi was so angry that his chest heaved up and down violently. His fists were clenched tightly and trembled continuously. However, there was a huge gap between the strength of the Zhang and Li families, so He did not dare to kill Zhang Dagen with his bone pattern realm battle prowess. ¡°Zhang Dagen?¡± Qin Huai stared at the man¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ve already come this far, but we still haven¡¯t caught any fish. Perhaps the county governor¡¯s mansion has no backup plans,¡± Qin Huai said. Although he knew that the Zhang family would definitely try to sabotage him, he didn¡¯t expect that a lunatic like Zhang Dagen would dare to attack him so openly. With something like Zhang Dagen¡¯s protection, if the people from the county governor¡¯s mansion really attacked, there was a high chance that they would betray him. Besides, he had already found out that his master and the others were safe and sound, so this trip was not in vain. As for Luo Ya and the others, it was just as Liu Huo had said before he died. It was as difficult as ascending to the heavens to find three ordinary people in the vast Ling River and its surroundings. ¡°If I want to find them, I can¡¯t do it alone,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. Perhaps he needed to borrow the power of the entire Li family or even the Nine Dragons sect. It was a pity that he was in a bad situation in the sect, and Zhang Dagen was a miniature version of it. Qin Huai needed to be strong enough to help his wife become a leader, or he needed to have the ability to control the entire Nine Dragons sect¡­ This matter had to be considered carefully. Qin Huai walked forward as if the attack had never happened. As if nothing had happened, he searched the corpses for money and kept it with him. Banknotes, gold, silver, jewelry, jade pendants, and emeralds¡­ Qin Huai still remembered that strange secret manual. That was the most important thing. Unfortunately, Qin Huai did not manage to find anything from these people. He only found forty thousand silver notes and eight thousand silver pieces. The first 40,000 taels belonged to Liu Huo alone, while the remaining 8,000 taels belonged to the remaining 300 to 400 corpses. Such a shocking difference made Qin Huai sigh at the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s ruthlessness in exploiting the lower class. It was truly astounding. ¡°That¡¯s right. It seems like the county governor has no backup plan,¡± Zhang Dagen pouted and followed behind Qin Huai and the others. He looked at Qin Huai¡¯s calm expression as if nothing had happened, and the killing intent in his heart intensified. If this child continued to live peacefully, it would definitely cause an immeasurable change to the Zhang family¡¯s great cause! ¡°Fourth Uncle, that Zhang Dagen seems to be different from the other Nine Refinements.¡± On the way, Qin Huai asked about Zhang Dagen¡¯s background. That fellow¡¯s sword was very heavy and extremely lethal. When he activated the colossal blood dragon form, his strength was comparable to a nine refinement martial artist. In addition to the forbidden technique, the dragon would still be at a disadvantage. Li Zeshi said, ¡°Every ninth refinement martial artist is different. The ninth level of the blood refinement realm is the last minor realm that leads to the bone pattern realm. If you want to reach it, you need to fulfill three conditions. ¡°First, you must accumulate enough vitality. Second, the blood refinement chapter of the long breath technique must be cultivated to perfection. ¡°Third, you have to comprehend force. In other words, you have to engrave the phenomenon produced by the cultivation technique in your dantian onto your bones, allowing your body to resonate with the cultivation technique.¡± Qin Huai listened to Li Zeshi¡¯s explanation and nodded repeatedly. ¡°The first condition is actually very simple. After nine stable transformations, one will be qualified. Almost everyone can do it. ¡°Of course, there are exceptions like Wu Zian, who was killed in the slums that day. He failed to break through to the bone pattern realm, and his vital qi was greatly injured. He fell to the eighth refinement, and his qi and blood plummeted. Even if he rushed back to the ninth refinement, it would still be insufficient. He needs great medicine to replenish his blood.¡± Qin Huai listened attentively to the risks of the bone pattern realm. Once they failed, it would be a big deal for them to fall. However, it was not easy for ordinary people to replenish their hard-earned ten points of qi and blood. Who knew how many spirit pills they would have to eat to make up for it? One step to the sky and one step to the abyss were vividly displayed in the bone pattern realm. Li Zeshi said regretfully, ¡°Wu Zian is considered lucky. If his bones are not able to withstand the pressure, there will be many people who will die from broken bones. ¡°There are two remaining conditions. For those with better cultivation talent, they will first cultivate their cultivation techniques to perfection. There are also some who have good comprehension abilities and strong bodies. They will finish the matter of the tattoo bones first.¡± Chapter 193 - 193 The Zhang and Li Families Reactions 193 The Zhang and Li Families¡¯ Reactions ¡°And this Zhang Dagen is the one who first cultivated force. The biggest difference between the two is the difference in battle prowess. ¡°You¡¯ve also started to cultivate force, so you should know how much your killing power will increase by using it. Force has many wonderful uses.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Whether it was when he used his momentum to attack during the battle with Wu Zian or earlier with the three beasts vicious might, force could be exploited to a high degree in terms of defense. ¡°And your force is still blurry and has no form. Power is far from the true power of force.¡± Qin Huai was silent. Now, he finally understood the true battle between the strong. Power was essential. It seemed like he would have to wait a while more to eliminate Zhang Dagen. ¡­ An hour later, Zou Shuang and Fatty Ji Yuan walked along the bloody path Qin Huai had created with gloomy faces. When they saw Liu Huo¡¯s broken body, they were furious! ¡°Idiot!¡± Zou Shuang cursed in a low voice. Fatty Ji Yuan, who was beside him, had already begun to break off Liu Huo¡¯s limbs and began to feast on them. The two of them brought their subordinates along and picked up the corpses along the way. Zou Shuang was so angry that he could not help but curse as he walked. ¡°Even if there were four hundred pigs, they shouldn¡¯t have been killed by just two people in an hour! What kind of good-for-nothings do I raise?!¡± He grabbed the messenger beside him, his eyes filled with killing intent. Then, he seemed to realize the fear in the hearts of the people around him. He instantly calmed his anger and helped tidy up the creases on the messenger¡¯s robe, smiling as he said, ¡°You said that you were lying on the ground and pretending to be dead in the first half. Did you see the faces of the two murderers?¡± ¡°I saw them, I saw them! The man in the lead is not old and is very handsome¡­¡± The man tried his best to recall Qin Huai¡¯s appearance. Behind him, there was an artist who was busy listening to the man and sketching out Qin Huai¡¯s appearance. ¡°What about the characteristics? Does he have any special skills?¡± Zou Shuang smiled. Hmm¡­ Right, the most important thing was he even used poison! He used it to silently take us down.¡± When he heard the word poison, Zou Shuang¡¯s mind immediately thought of the old man who had caused him to suffer a great loss more than a month ago. He only found out later that the old man was the master of Pingnan City¡¯s Changshan Dojo, and also Qin Huai¡¯s master. Now, another person who used poison appeared. Could it be him? ¡°Sir, I¡¯m done.¡± The artist passed the painting to the two of them. Zou Shuang looked at it, and his pupils constricted. ¡°Qin Huai! It¡¯s indeed this kid!¡± The two of them looked at each other and gritted their teeth in hatred. They had suffered greatly at the hands of the Hundred Weapons Mountain because of Qin Huai. Now that he had just settled down, Qin Huai had killed four hundred of his men in one go. It¡¯s nearly one-tenth of the army! It could be said that it was a huge blow to their vitality! ¡°This kid is a natural enemy of the Sacred Heart sect. He has messed up so many good things for us. From Pingnan City to Lingjiang, he has been haunting us like a ghost.¡± Fatty Ji Yuan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I think we can let the Nine Dragons sect go for now. Qin Huai must die!¡± ¡°No, the Nine Dragons sect and Qin Huai must die.¡± Zou Shuang took a deep breath. ¡°Send someone. We must obtain every trace of Qin Huai¡¯s whereabouts and interpersonal relationships at all costs. We must find an opportunity to kill him quickly as a warning to others!¡± And with that, the two of them instantly reached a consensus. ¡­ After Qin Huai returned to the Nine Dragons sect, he didn¡¯t go out much. During the day, he would pick up experience points on the training field and listen to Zhang Haoyue¡¯s lectures. At night, he would go to the back mountain of the Nine Dragons sect. He cultivated the concealment of spirit and qi with his grandmaster, Elder Erlong, and also comprehended the white dragon force. Apart from that, Qin Huai would also consult Elder Erlong on his poison techniques. The two of them would also discuss more possibilities regarding the life-burning forbidden technique. Li Shaoxiang only stayed at home for two days before setting off again to deal with the Li family¡¯s affairs under Li Zeren¡¯s orders. The two of them exchanged letters and kept exchanging information about the Nine Dragons sect. Fourth Uncle Li Zeshi had also spread the news of Qin Huai killing three to four hundred Sacred Heart disciples, but the response was not as good as expected. The first reaction of most of the Li family members was that it was a lie and that it was impossible. Immediately, their impression of Qin Huai became even worse. Even if Li Zeshi was there to recite the book, it would not help. Of course, there were also a few people who began to believe Li Shaoxiang¡¯s prophecy and became much warmer toward Qin Huai. Qin Huai didn¡¯t take it to heart, though. As long as the Li family¡¯s attitude toward him started to change, it would be a good thing. As for the Zhang family, their reactions were more consistent. Their hatred for Qin Huai grew stronger. Wherever he went, he would meet the Zhang family members who only dared to provoke him with their words. When that happens, he would just turn around leisurely. Another half a day passed quietly. Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the bed as his personal interface flashed across his mind. Chapter 194 - 194 Eighth Refinement, Ancient Azure Illusion Force 194 Eighth Refinement, Ancient Azure Illusion Force [Name: Qin Huai] [Lifespan: 470] [Vitality]: 127.623 [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 81, (226/9000)], [Blood Heart technique (level 50, 221/6000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)] [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 60, 317/6000)], [Concealment of Spirit and Qi (level 50, 5183/6000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (bejeweled weapon, 33/5000)], [Cooking (intermediate, 59/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 9/9], [Raging Lightning] [Force]: White Dragon Force 37%, Tiger Wolf Force 3% [Stage: Level 8 Blood Refinement] Qin Huai had already easily broken through the eighth Refinement with the long breath technique. He had also broken through level 50 concealment of spirit and qi, and his lifespan had reached an exaggerated 470 years. He entered his dantian. The sun grew larger and larger, and its terrifying power made the dragon pearl and the tigers and wolves on the ground more vivid. The blood-red tigers and wolves on the ground often roared at the sky, and the purple-white dragon in the dragon pearl would go out at this moment. The two of them fought in this dantian world, blood and white gas flying everywhere. There seemed to be an even deeper sphere in the purple ball of electricity that was very active, releasing even more astonishing electric arcs. Nine dragons formed. Qin Huai could vaguely feel that his understanding of the techniques had become more realistic. As a result, he could use these martial arts techniques more easily and quickly. What surprised Qin Huai was, his blacksmithing skills had quietly entered a new field: bejeweled weapon grade! In his memories, his understanding of forging had deepened. During a certain forging process, it had already surpassed the scope of ordinary forging, and it had begun to infuse ¡®soul.¡¯ ¡°The only thing I¡¯m lacking now is to cultivate my force.¡± Qin Huai looked at the momentum of the white dragon. It had already reached 37%. He only needed two months to complete it, and at that time, he would be able to start forging his own treasured weapon. As for the experience required to break through the ninth refinement, it had been reduced from 3,000 to 1,500 per day. However, it was not a big deal. He could reach the ninth refinement realm in two months. And today, there was a big event that he needed to attend. ¡°Brother-in-law, let¡¯s go.¡± Li Buhu knocked on Qin Huai¡¯s door. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai walked as fast as he could. ¡°I wonder if the force and poison in Azure Dragon Pass are effective against them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one has ever tried that before.¡± The moment Qin Huai opened his mouth, Li Buhu was immediately dumbfounded. ¡®Brother-in-law is really heartbroken¡­ What a wonderful idea.¡¯ It was one thing to poison someone. Now that they were about to enter Azure Dragon Pass, his brother-in-law even wanted to poison the treasured weapon. It was totally unheard of. ¡°I fought with Wu Zian before and thought that poison should have an effect on force. However, the effect might not be too strong.¡± Qin Huai was pondering seriously. Naturally, he had brought along all sorts of poisons to test the force in Azure Dragon Pass today. ¡°Brother-in-law, although this Azure Dragon Pass is called a pass, it¡¯s actually a small room inside. After entering, the Azure Dragon Pass will release monsters¡­ We call them force beasts, and killing them once is a stage,¡± Li Buhu explained to Qin Huai as they walked. ¡°Kill them all? Isn¡¯t there only one force beast in each stage?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Yes, the number of force beasts will increase with the level of the stage, adding one at a time. There are a total of ten rooms, and ten people enter each time.¡± The two of them walked to Azure Dragon Pass. The entrance was actually a cellar-like pit, and there were a total of ten holes the size of pickled vegetable vats on the ground. This was quite different from the mighty and domineering Azure Dragon Pass that Qin Huai had imagined. ¡°This is probably the difference between reality and ideals,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. At the Azure Dragon Pass, there were already hundreds of young men and women standing densely together. This was because Azure Dragon Pass would charge a registration fee of 2,000 taels for each test. This amount of money was within the acceptable range for most of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s martial artists. After all, martial artists, especially high-level martial artists, were all filthy rich. Of course, some were extremely poor. This was not conflicting, because every high-level martial artist¡¯s cultivation required a large amount of money to accumulate. The registration fee of two thousand taels was enough to make most people very cautious when registering. After all, no one wanted to lose two thousand taels of silver every month. ¡°Alright, enter Azure Dragon Pass according to the order we have arranged!¡± one of the three dragon elders, who was in charge, shouted loudly. He had a serious appearance and looked at everyone impartially. ¡°Senior Brother, the seventh refinement is basically the seventh stage,¡± Li Buhu instructed before walking straight in. ¡°Brother Qin, how many rounds do you think you can pass today?¡± Zhang Haoyue appeared beside Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Zhang is really elusive. I feel that every time I appear, Brother Zhang will be watching by my side,¡± Qin Huai joked. After experiencing Wu Zian¡¯s assassination attempt, Qin Huai was convinced that the seemingly harmless Young Master Zhang was the mastermind behind the scenes. Of course, Qin Huai also had conclusive evidence that belonged solely to him. That was, he and Zhang Haoyue were clearly very ¡®affectionate¡¯ every day when they met. However, every time Zhang Haoyue gave him experience points, it was like a pool of stagnant water, without any movement. This was enough to explain the problem. Moreover, he had heard from Fourth Uncle Li Zeshi that Zhang Haoyue was also involved in the matter of using him as bait. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I just miss Brother Qin.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled frankly. ¡°Could it be that Brother Qin has forgotten our agreement?¡± He patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You and I are going to create a grand scene of the Zhang and Li families working together.¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t forget that.¡± Qin Huai was also smiling faintly. After a while, he saw that the person in front of him had a nosebleed. He walked in under the instructions of the elder. In the pitch-black cave, a green light flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. The bronze barrier exuded an ancient charm. There were all kinds of murals on the bronze wall, such as dragons, phoenixes, Xuanwu, and white tigers¡­ There were also huge humanoid creatures and three-headed and six-armed monsters fighting each other. All of them were lifelike, as if they had really existed before, and were carved on the bronze wall. In the next instant, blue flames suddenly rose from the surroundings, lighting up the entire cellar. Before Qin Huai could react, a cow-shaped creature that appeared out of nowhere charged at him. The cow-shaped creature was somewhat transparent, as if its body was outlined by countless lines. He became an existence that seemed both real and illusory¡­ A force beast. Qin Huai raised his hand and punched. Bang! The force beast shattered on the spot, turning into specks of light that dissipated within the Azure Dragon Pass. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension] and unlocked [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]!¡± Chapter 195 - 195 Bronze Wall! 195 Bronze Wall! The memory came as expected. This time, Qin Huai did not cultivate. Instead, he sat quietly in front of an ancient bronze wall with no end in sight. The bronze wall was rusted. Some parts had even been weathered and shattered in the boundless world. The giant beasts that were baring their fangs and brandishing their claws fought in the bronze realm, melting many living beings and turning them into billions of dust to be devoured by the victors. They even tried to break out of the bronze wall and open up a bigger battlefield. Suddenly, chains rushed out of the bronze wall and locked the limbs of those huge creatures. They struggled to break free from the shackles, but they all failed. The thick bronze chains pulled them back to the bronze wall, but there were also bits of powder spilling out. It landed on Qin Huai¡¯s body, fusing with his flesh and blood, and shining on his bones. Instantly, Qin Huai¡¯s bones began to sting. The burning pain caused Qin Huai in his ¡®memories¡¯ to groan in pain. After a long time, only then did Qin Huai slowly ¡®wake up.¡¯ There were only a few blurry strokes on the bone, and it was impossible to tell what it was. Qin Huai woke up, and a sea of memories flashed through his mind in an instant. ¡°There¡¯s no cultivation technique. Instead, this Ancient Azure Illusion Force is imprinted on my bones.¡± Qin Huai looked up at the surrounding bronze walls. It was very similar to the bronze wall in his ¡®memory,¡¯ but the creatures on the bronze wall were far from as lively as in his memory, and they did not have any terrifying might. Were the scenes in his memories real? Was the bronze wall really located in some corner of the world? Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but suspect. This was because the memories of his past cultivation were all true experiences. The eerie light once again increased its power, and two tall tiger demons appeared in front of him. He raised his hand and punched twice again. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± ¡°The increase in ancient azure illusion force doesn¡¯t depend on the number of monsters killed. It depends on the number of force beasts killed. Only then will the ancient azure illusion force increase by 1%.¡± Qin Huai looked at the number that had only increased by a little, and the burning pain in his bones churned in his mind. ¡°This ancient azure illusion force is actually imprinted on the skull.¡± Qin Huai ¡®looked¡¯ at the pain in his memory and could not help but feel a chill run down his spine. Both the long breath and the four-directional tiger-wolf techniques had bone patterns on their ribs, so they could still accept the pain. However, this ancient azure illusion force was just a little painful when imprinted on the skull. The bone pattern realm required extreme caution. If they were not careful, the cultivator might die suddenly. There wasn¡¯t even the option of being heavily injured. Fortunately, his bones were very stable and successful. There was no risk at all. ¡°I wonder what kind of cultivation method this ancient azure illusion force is cultivated from. I guess there aren¡¯t many people left in the sect where this cultivation method is from,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. If the success rate of ordinary cultivation techniques was fifty percent, then the success rate of this ancient green illusionary force pattern bone might only be ten to twenty percent. The risk was too great, and cultivating this technique was destined to be unable to strengthen the sect. ¡°It could also be a branch of the True Path sect, but it should have been extinct long ago.¡± Qin Huai was deep in thought as he swung his fist again. The three beasts of the third stage were shattered on the spot. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± For Qin Huai, who had already completed the eighth refinement, the first few stages were too easy. None of the beasts could withstand his punch. In the fourth stage, Qin Huai looked at the four rat demons that were charging at him. As he dodged, he violently sprayed out a handful of poisonous powder, and a burning sound instantly sounded from the four rat demons. It was useful! Qin Huai was delighted. This meant that his poison technique was still effective against a bone pattern realm expert. ¡°There is damage, but it doesn¡¯t seem obvious.¡± Qin Huai quickly adjusted his state of mind. ¡°That¡¯s true. After all, these are already methods of the bone pattern realm. The only reason the effects aren¡¯t good is because the quality of my poison isn¡¯t good enough. ¡°The toxicity of the poison is not enough. After all, you get what you pay for¡­ If a ten-year-old can¡¯t do it, then a fifty-year-old can¡¯t do it. If a fifty-year-old can¡¯t do it, then a hundred-year-old, five-hundred-year-old, or even a thousand-year-old can¡¯t do it! There¡¯s always a poison that can kill a bone pattern realm warrior.¡± Qin Huai was determined. He could only say that he was still not proficient in his skills and needed to continue to improve modestly. As Qin Huai thought about it, he suddenly swung his fists and skillfully killed a few of the rat demon beasts. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± In the fifth stage, five leopard demons appeared around Qin Huai. Whoosh! The five panther demons pounced at Qin Huai at the same time. Their speed was no less than that of a sixth refinement martial artist. The sharp claws and the tricky angles made it impossible for Qin Huai to take care of all the beasts. He even looked at the roaring leopard demons in front of him. Their figures would even appear and disappear at a certain moment. ¡°What the hell!¡± Qin Huai frowned. The qi shock scale armor opened up, and his fists swung out the forbidden technique, earthquake dragon. He did not hold back at all. In any case, there was no loss, so he had no burden using it. Boom! The two beasts in front of him exploded on the spot. Qin Huai¡¯s arms moved horizontally to his left and right. His entire body was shaped like a mountain. ¡°Rumbling thunder, nine-strength punch!¡± His elbow and fist struck wildly. Just as he was about to get into position, a heavy blow from behind him caused Qin Huai¡¯s head to rumble. Bang! Qin Huai stumbled, and the rumbling thunder nine-strength punch was instantly forced back. At the same time, the force beast behind him swarmed forward and covered his entire body. The terrifying pain made Qin Huai¡¯s scalp tingle. Chapter 196 - 196 Killing the Force Beasts 196 Killing the Force Beasts ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, earthquake dragon, ring dragon crack!¡± Purple-white light dots flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s body as he faced the three force beasts that were oppressing him. Boom! With a terrifying explosion, the three beasts were instantly turned into ashes. However, Qin Huai was not happy. ¡°How could a mere fifth refinement force beast break my qi shock scale armor?¡± Qin Huai held his forehead slightly and retreated to a corner to lean against the bronze wall. There were still thirty more to go before the sixth stage¡¯s force beasts appeared. Even his qi shock scale armor, which was at the eighth refinement, would not be able to withstand the attack of a demon at the fifth refinement. ¡°No, it¡¯s not my body that hurts, but¡­ my soul?¡± Qin Huai sensed it carefully. His body did not feel sore at all. However, he still felt pain all over his body. He suddenly understood. He recalled that the reason why he had killed those low-level martial artists was because he had killed their souls. ¡°The force of the bone pattern realm doesn¡¯t just increase the power of martial techniques. Can it also carry some soul attacks¡­ Right, these beasts don¡¯t have flesh and blood, they are all purely formed from force, so the damage they cause is the damage caused by force,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. He finally understood why he felt hurt. In his previous life, the damage caused by force should be classified as mixed damage. Qi armor and a strong body could block some of the damage, but the attack on the soul would ignore or greatly reduce the body¡¯s damage. In that case, in front of a martial artist who has mastered the complete force or a martial artist in the bone pattern realm, it was very easy to be killed if one was below the bone pattern. Attacks could not compare, and defense could not defend. A blood refinement realm martial artist could be said to be full of flaws in front of a bone pattern realm martial artist. The more he understood about the latter, the more Qin Huai could feel how powerful warriors in this realm were. ¡°I wonder how much force in Azure Dragon Pass is like that of a true bone pattern realm expert.¡± Huff¡­ The sixth stage quietly arrived. Six giant pythons crawled toward Qin Huai from the endless darkness. They were huge, each as thick as two people hugging each other. The moment they appeared, the originally spacious cellar was instantly filled to the brim. Their huge bodies stacked on top of each other, and they were like a wall as they came crashing down on Qin Huai. The six snake heads swayed from different angles as they stared into Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. The snake¡¯s forked tongue stuck out in the air made one¡¯s scalp go numb. Qin Huai calmly looked at the massive creatures before him. Most of the fear came from not understanding. When Qin Huai understood the reason why the five force beasts in the fifth stage could cause him harm, he was stunned. But Qin Huai had already thought of a countermeasure. The best way to deal with fear is¡­ having enough firepower to crush everything. And Qin Huai had no lack of firepower. In fact, it was unlimited firepower! After the blood heart technique had reached the fifth refinement, Qin Huai¡¯s white dragon would only need an instant to recover. Since he couldn¡¯t defend against them, he would just blast them to pieces! Qin Huai¡¯s fists were glowing with purple-white light. ¡°Earthquake dragon, infinite strike!¡± Rumble¡­ In an instant, Qin Huai struck out nearly twenty times. The entire cellar was shaking. The terrifying explosions and aftershocks resonated with each other, causing the power of Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique to become even more terrifying. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± After the dust settled, Qin Huai sighed. His expression remained calm. After the eighth refinement, his forbidden technique, earthquake dragon, had improved a little. With unlimited forbidden techniques, Qin Huai would find it difficult to find an opponent in the same realm. Perhaps only someone like Wu Zian, who had once touched the peak of Lingjiang, could fight him. Of course, this was only under the premise of not using the flame longevity technique. Although he didn¡¯t have many moves, they were useful. Qin Huai was stuck in a corner of the cellar. He realized that all he had to do was find a good position and punch fiercely in one direction, then he would be able to easily resolve the difficulty of the force beasts¡¯ fast movements and high attacks. He activated the spirit eye technique and found an angle in the cellar, giving him the advantage to sense everything. He only needed to wait for the beasts to appear in the next round, and then he would launch his normal attacks. The seventh stage was seven horse demons. It was as if they were carrying a city as they charged over. But it was useless. Qin Huai used the earthquake dragon to destroy it halfway. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± The eighth stage was eight blue luan demons. They attacked from the front and above, making Qin Huai feel a little difficult to deal with. Then, they died. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± The ninth stage was one from each of the nine types of force beasts. Their cooperation was very tacit, and they even knew some combination skills. For example, the rat demon was hidden in the snake python¡¯s mouth, and the blue luan carried the wolf demon and swooped down from the sky. Then, they all died too. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Force Comprehension], [Ancient Azure Illusion Force]! +1%¡± The force beasts moved very quickly and had high killing power. However, there were still flaws. They weren¡¯t made of flesh and blood, but bodies born from force, which were extremely unstable and fragile. It was completely unable to withstand Qin Huai¡¯s violent bombardment with the earthquake dragon. Therefore, Qin Huai was able to quickly pass through the nine stages. Basically, after thirty breaths of time passed through each stage, those beasts would be completely annihilated in a short period of time. Chapter 197 - 197 The Ninth Stage! 197 The Ninth Stage! ¡°The tenth stage¡­ Could it be a true force beast of the bone pattern realm?¡± Qin Huai was eager to try. In the next instant, his head sank, and the ground beneath his feet instantly dragged him into the ground, causing the surrounding ground to crack inch by inch. Crack! Qin Huai¡¯s legs were unable to hide the heavy pressure, and he immediately knelt on the ground. Before he could exert his strength, his entire body instantly crawled on the ground and could not move. Whoosh! The torches that had been burning around them were instantly extinguished. Qin Huai¡¯s body was pressed tightly against the ground, feeling the warmth of the earth. He was a little stunned on the spot and only reacted after a long time. He¡­ He was already ¡®dead.¡¯ It was so fast that he didn¡¯t even notice something appearing. He didn¡¯t even feel much pain. It was likely that the treasured weapon, Azure Dragon Pass, had determined his death. ¡°This treasure is not that simple either.¡± Qin Huai felt a lingering fear in his heart. Was that the combat power of a true bone pattern realm expert? It was too terrifying. When he learned about the attack method of the force beast, he had already raised his strength evaluation. But now, it seemed that he had still underestimated it. ¡°If you want to obtain the right to fight against a bone pattern realm warrior, you must at least master force,¡± Qin Huai mumbled. He had already realized the importance of power. ¡°Weak, I¡¯m still too weak,¡± he said in a low voice and walked out of the cellar. He had to work hard on his cultivation! His goal shouldn¡¯t be limited to the martial arts field. He should also go to the courtyard and walk around. He should lean on the wall and be more thin-skinned to ask the martial artists who didn¡¯t cultivate on the martial arts field for advice, then let them demonstrate for him. It would help him advance faster. ¡°I¡¯m still too reserved, too introverted, and somewhat bound by basic human nature¡­ This isn¡¯t right, at least not in terms of cultivation. I should not be ashamed to ask questions and abandon these bad habits of my character.¡± Qin Huai reflected on himself and made up his mind. He took a piece of active stone at the exit of the cellar. It was said that the three dragon elders could see the results from this. Qin Huai sized it up but didn¡¯t find anything special. He held the stone in his hand and walked out. ¡­ Outside the cellar, the elder felt a slight tremor in the ground, and a hint of doubt flashed across his eyes. ¡®Which little brat is causing such a huge commotion underground?¡¯ He looked around at the entrances of the cellars. The previous batch of little ghosts had yet to come out. They were all martial artists who had refined their blood, so they would stay longer. ¡°Buhu, how long do you think Brother Qin can stay inside?¡± Zhang Haoyue stood beside Li Buhu and asked with a warm smile. ¡°About twenty-five minutes. Brother-in-law has to reach the eighth stage no matter what and be able to kill all the beasts,¡± Li Buhu pondered. After the sixth stage, because of the sudden increase in difficulty, the ranking of the Azure Dragon Pass was based on detailed analysis of the number of kills. After all, his brother-in-law had just broken through to the eighth refinement, and it was his first time entering Azure Dragon Pass, so he was not familiar with the beasts. Only those who had personally experienced such a monster would know how terrifying it was. The first time they came into contact, they would definitely suffer a huge loss. He could still give his brother-in-law the results of the eighth stage purely because his brother-in-law had fought in September Hook and in the slums and completely convinced him. ¡°You underestimate Brother Qin too much.¡± Zhang Haoyue shook his head. ¡°Brother Qin is someone who killed Wu Zian, so it¡¯s the eighth stage.¡± The man he fancied was definitely beyond common sense. ¡°If we calculate the time, Brother Qin should have reached the seventh stage by now.¡± Indeed, twenty-five minutes was considered normal progress. Those who were slightly weaker would have just entered the seventh stage, while those who were stronger might have already fought halfway. Whoosh¡­ Suddenly, there was an uproar. Not far away, Li Buhu and Zhang Haoyue¡¯s expressions froze. ¡°Brother-in-law, you¡­ You¡¯re out.¡± Li Buhu quickly went up to him and looked at Qin Huai¡¯s grave expression. The words that he wanted to say were swallowed back into his stomach. ¡®To come out at this time, Brother-in-law¡¯s expression was so bad.¡¯ He knew that his brother-in-law must have made a mistake that all newbies would make. He had underestimated the killing power of the force beasts. ¡°Brother-in-law is fine. The first time is usually very fast¡­ The next time would be better. Next time, you will be able to display your true level.¡± Li Buhu braced himself and comforted Qin Huai. Qin Huai¡¯s face was solemn. ¡°No, this is already my true strength. The reason I failed was because I wasn¡¯t strong enough.¡± ¡°Brother Qin¡¯s temperament is correct. This is the temperament of an expert.¡± Zhang Haoyue also walked over, but he didn¡¯t say anything to comfort him. ¡°A momentary failure isn¡¯t scary. What¡¯s scary is that you don¡¯t dare to face it.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the genial man in front of him. Thinking that the other party was already a powerful bone pattern realm warrior, the sense of urgency in his heart became more and more obvious. ¡°Are you Erlong¡¯s disciple¡­¡± Elder Sanlong looked at Qin Huai, who was walking over, and fell silent after he finished speaking. After a while, only then did he spit out two words, ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°Thank you for your encouragement, Elder Sanlong.¡± Qin Huai cupped his hands and handed the stone to Elder Sanlong. ¡°Junior will take his leave first!¡± Qin Huai bade farewell to Elder Sanlong, then walked toward the Li family¡¯s residence at the Nine Dragons sect without looking back. He was about to start his cultivation plan. From now on, he will make a change. ¡°He¡¯s brave after knowing shame. Not bad.¡± Elder Sanlong looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back and nodded. His brother did not pick the wrong disciple. At least his temperament was not bad. He raised his brush and was about to place it on the position of the seventh refinement. Then, he held the stone in his hand and slowly invaded the stone with his aura. In the next instant, the tip of Elder Sanlong¡¯s brush paused, and he was stunned on the spot. This was because the ¡®residue¡¯ of force that he could sense from the stone was not at the level of the seventh stage. Instead¡­ It was the ninth stage! He raised his head and looked in the direction Qin Huai had left. He had long disappeared. ¡°That kid¡­ How could he be so fast?¡± He frowned and walked to the front of the list, then put down his brush. ¡°Eleventh, Qin Huai, nine full stages¡± He looked at the ranking of Azure Dragon Pass and felt a little conflicted. The Li family¡¯s matter would probably change soon. logo Chapter 198 - 198 Discussing the Results 198 Discussing the Results ¡°As expected of Senior Brother Haoyue!¡± ¡°He reached the twelfth stage! The number one throne is still ours!¡± ¡°And that¡¯s not all. Zhang Jia and the other two are still hovering around the tenth stage. They¡¯re still far from Senior Brother~¡± In front of Azure Dragon Pass, the crowd clapped their hands excitedly and surrounded Zhang Haoyue, who had just walked out of the cellar. Zhang Haoyue still looked as if he was bathing in the spring breeze, and a smile that had never faded on his face. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t flatter me. I¡¯m just relying on the influence of my father¡¯s family to have my current achievements by luck. If you were in my situation, you would definitely do better than me.¡± He looked at everyone humbly. He generously admitted that he had won the favor of many people by relying on his father. Zhang Jia replied, ¡°Big Brother is too humble. If I were in your position, I would have led the younger generation astray. If it weren¡¯t for you restraining me, I wouldn¡¯t have achieved what I have today.¡± Zhang Jia was bald and had a rough and honest appearance. In the entire Nine Dragons sect, there were only three people who had broken through to the bone pattern realm under the age of thirty. One was the eldest son of the Li family¡¯s second master, and the other two were Zhang Haoyue and Zhang Jia. ¡°If it were anyone else, the Nine Dragon sect¡¯s eldest senior brother, we might not even have the chance to survive¡­¡± The one who spoke was a young man from the Li family. When he looked at Zhang Haoyue, his eyes were filled with admiration. Everyone walked to the front of Elder Sanlong amidst a joyous and harmonious sound. ¡°Elder.¡± Zhang Haoyue respectfully handed over his stone. ¡°Not bad.¡± Elder Sanlong looked at Zhang Haoyue expressionlessly. This young man was indeed perfect. Whether it was his temperament or talent, he was unique in the Nine Dragons sect. No one could find any fault with him. Zhang Haoyue bowed respectfully with a smile and lowered his head. Then¡­ He saw the ranking of Azure Dragon Pass. Qin Huai¡¯s name appeared at the eleventh spot, and beneath the numbers was a striking result: ninth stage. Hiss¡­ Gasps could be heard from behind him, and the noise of the crowd seemed to have weakened by quite a bit. It was obvious that many disciples had noticed the change in the rankings of the Azure Dragon Pass. ¡°Elder Sanlong, could it be that you wrote it wrong¡­¡± ¡°What kind of joke is this? Who is Elder Sanlong? Our Nine Dragons sect is famous for its strictness. Even if your mother wasn¡¯t your mother, Elder Sanlong couldn¡¯t have written it wrong.¡± ¡°Why are you attacking me personally?¡± The crowd whispered. As for the young people who belonged to the Zhang and Li families, their moods had a subtle change. However, most people did not feel good about it. Even though Qin Huai was a member of the Li family, they had started slandering and hating him the moment he entered the sect¡­ Now, they realized that Qin Huai had become someone they could not reach. The jealousy and pride in their hearts didn¡¯t allow them to think highly of Qin Huai. Many people, especially the Li family, hoped that he would die quickly. Li Haoyu was one of them. He was the son of Li Zhezhi, the head of the third branch. He was at the peak of the eighth refinement and was considered one of the best in the Li family. He was also a loyal follower of Zhang Haoyue. ¡°No matter how strong Qin Huai is, he¡¯ll never be able to catch up to Senior Brother Haoyue,¡± he suddenly blurted out. It was as if a gunpowder barrel had been ignited, and a wave of slander instantly erupted in the surroundings. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t say that. There has never been a fixed fate on the path of martial arts. It has always been hard work that makes up for it.¡± Zhang Haoyue had a pleasant expression as he defended Qin Huai. ¡°As for Brother Qin, he is a hardworking and talented person. If Brother Qin can truly surpass me one day¡­ I might feel a little lonely, but I¡¯m more than happy for Brother Qin.¡± He had a sincere look on his face and expressed his emotions perfectly. ¡°Tsk tsk, look¡­ What is the wind of a leader?¡± ¡°We are ashamed of our inferiority.¡± The young men of the Zhang and Li families sighed. Facing Zhang Haoyue, they were like the sun and the bat. They didn¡¯t dare to peek at that light, as they would feel their souls burning. ¡­ In the Zhang family¡¯s courtyard, Zhang Haoyue and Zhang Cheng were squatting, feeding the chickens and ducks. Zhang Cheng grabbed a handful of millet and played with the little chick. Not far away, an adult hen trembled as she looked in this direction. She lay in her nest and did not dare to move. ¡°Father, Qin Huai¡¯s growth¡­ It seems a little unexpected.¡± Zhang Haoyue spoke with a kind smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯m worried there will be changes.¡± Zhang Cheng looked like a player as he teased the little chick. ¡°The stronger Qin Huai is, the more it means that the extra white dragon doesn¡¯t just give him an advantage. ¡°Didn¡¯t Divine Doctor Xu already say that his foundation is very poor, but he was able to cultivate to this stage so quickly? It must have something to do with that extra white dragon.¡± He stood up and turned around to look at his son. ¡°You should know that the most precious treasure of our True Path Sect, the qi confinement and one body technique, has the effect of changing the level of a person¡¯s life. ¡°And this additional white dragon might be the same. When the time comes¡­ Your bones will also become stronger.¡± Zhang Haoyue said in a deep voice, ¡°That Qin Huai seems to be proficient in poison techniques. There¡¯s a high chance that Divine Doctor Xu¡¯s poison has already been cured by him. Maybe he¡¯s already suspecting us.¡± He had seen it very clearly. Even though Qin Huai treated him like an ordinary person, Zhang Haoyue was still very vigilant. A person who was proficient in poison techniques would definitely not have a simple mind. It was very likely a temporary distraction. ¡°So what if he suspects? Why didn¡¯t he dare to do something about it? Isn¡¯t it because he¡¯s not strong enough?¡± Chapter 199 - 199 Qin Huai, the Teacher 199 Qin Huai, the Teacher Zhang Cheng sneered. ¡°Not only is he not strong enough, but the Li family is also not strong enough. Besides, that idiot Li Zeren has long regarded you as the future hope of the Nine Dragons Sect. ¡°Also, how many people in the Li family hate Qin Huai? I¡¯d even rather you sit on the Nine Dragons sect, even the throne of the Li family¡¯s patriarch.¡± Zhang Cheng said unhurriedly, ¡°The only person who will stand by Qin Huai¡¯s side is the fourth branch, Li Zeshi, so there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. ¡± He stood up and looked at his most proud son. ¡°You have a good personality, patience, and a good plan¡­ But sometimes, being too indecisive won¡¯t do. This needs to be changed.¡± Crack! Zhang Cheng swung his hand and a stone instantly pierced through the hen that was carefully observing the two of them not far away. The hen fell to the ground on the spot. After twitching twice, it stopped moving. ¡°That Qin Huai is just a chick that I¡¯ve raised in my hands. Even if he grows up, I can crush him to death with a single strike.¡± Zhang Haoyue was neither servile nor overbearing. ¡°I feel that there¡¯s nothing wrong with being steady. I¡¯ll slowly dig out his trump cards and pull out the connections behind him. Finally, I will slowly devour him¡­¡± Zhang Cheng said meaningfully, ¡°Then, regarding Qin Huai¡¯s matter, let¡¯s treat it as a small bet between you and me, father and son. Let¡¯s see if this Qin Huai is a hen or if he only knows how to bite like a dog.¡± Pa, pa, pa¡­ He clapped his hands, walked to the dead hen, and picked it up. ¡°I¡¯ll show you what I can do this afternoon. I¡¯ll have a hen stewed with mushrooms. ¡± ¡­ Qin Huai went home first. Then, he checked the changes in his body. He discovered that the mark of the earth had appeared in his dantian world. There was a blurry bronze carving that had now become the land of the dantian world. However, the bronze land was very illusory. It was so blurry that only the rough color could be seen. Other than that, there wasn¡¯t much difference. ¡°This world is becoming more and more complete. I wonder what kind of power it will bring in the future.¡± Qin Huai could not make heads or tails of this strange phenomenon, because he had never met someone who had cultivated so many cultivation techniques and achieved so much. Therefore, he could only rely on himself to explore. ¡­ After leaving the house, Qin Huai began his cultivation plan in the Li family¡¯s courtyard. He stood by the river and hid among the women, helping them wash vegetables and clothes, and even told them some simple cooking methods of delicacies that he knew from his previous life. Qin Huai was very diligent, so diligent that these women were embarrassed to reject this young man whom they hated. After all, one should not slap a smiling face. Then, Qin Huai struck while the iron was hot and got these women to practice with him by the river. Most of these women were from the Li family and had a high cultivation level when they were young, so most of them were in the third or fourth refinement. It was just that after getting married, they slacked off on taking care of their husband and raising her children, and their vitality dropped drastically. There was not much combat strength left. It was not even comparable to some young and strong second refiners. However, to Qin Huai, none of that mattered. It was good that their cultivation levels were still there. Qin Huai went to the private school in the Nine Dragons sect. As a sub-sect of the True Path sect, it was one of the three major forces in Lingjiang. The Nine Dragons sect not only focused on cultivation, but also on the studies of the children. Everyone here could read and count, and it was thousands of miles higher than the commoners of Pingnan City. There were many children in the private school, and hundreds of people studied here every day. Qin Huai seized the loophole. Although the teacher was talented in literature and his articles were well-written, he was still able to grasp the loophole. However, he was much weaker than Qin Huai in terms of math and calculation. Qin Huai shamelessly stayed in the private school and revealed a set of mathematical calculations to them, causing the private school teacher¡¯s eyes to widen. Then¡­ Qin Huai became the math teacher of the Li family¡¯s private school. He assigned a class to the children amidst their wails. After that, he became even more aggressive and revealed his fangs. He asked these children to stay after school and practice the long breath technique. The children wailed in pain again, but the women of the Li family were very satisfied. Especially when they saw that their math teacher was Qin Huai, who helped them wash their clothes and vegetables during the day, they readily agreed. These children¡¯s realms were very low, so a child could only give Qin Huai a little experience. However, Qin Huai had accumulated a lot and won by quantity. He did some calculations. Just these children and women alone earned him an additional 500 experience points a day. With the eight refinement of the long breath technique, the experience points he could collect every day increased from 1,500 to 2,000. And so, Qin Huai¡¯s days passed in an orderly manner. The only one who wasn¡¯t going well was the shameless Zhang family¡¯s lackey, Zhang Dagan. He would always find loopholes to provoke Qin Huai and even touch the young men of the fourth branch. Many hot-tempered young men fought with him outside the Nine Dragons sect, and as expected, they were beaten up. Li Buhu almost fought with Zhang Dagan many times because of this, but he was stopped by the people of the fourth branch. Only endless anger burned in the hearts of Li Buhu and the entire fourth branch. As for Qin Huai, he was even more diligent in his cultivation. In the blink of an eye, two months passed quietly with the revival of all living things, and it was replaced by midsummer. Qin Huai changed into a light summer robe. It was still green and white, but the fabric had become thinner. He came back from the back mountain late at night, then sat cross-legged on the bed. The moment he sat down, his aura surged. It was as if a dragon¡¯s roar echoed in the room. Qin Huai¡¯s bones were boiling. The scorching heat formed a complete pattern on his bones. Chapter 200 - 200 Breaking Through Again! Ten Dragons Force! 200 Breaking Through Again! Ten Dragons Force! The spiraling dragons were vividly imprinted on Qin Huai¡¯s ribs. A total of ten purple-white dragons wrapped around them, as if they were attached with some kind of divine power. Qin Huai¡¯s body sank. The bed under him suddenly creaked. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone with a dazzling white light. He stood up and exhaled a white breath in the middle of summer. ¡°My white dragon force has finally succeeded.¡± He slowly raised his head. The white light in his eyes had yet to fade. He looked inside his dantian. The sun was getting brighter and brighter, and it was two times bigger than it was two months ago. In comparison, the purple ball of lightning of the past was now as small as a grain. Under the radiance of the sun, they struggled to survive. As for the ten giant dragons, they were still curled up in the dragon pearl. One and a half months ago, Qin Huai had already broken through to the ninth refinement realm. However, this time was different from the past. After the ninth refinement, Qin Huai¡¯s ten white dragons began to curl up in a ball for a long time, wrapping around the dragon pearl. Even if Qin Huai were to strike them all out, there would still be countless thick white veils of mist enveloping them, making it impossible for him to see what was inside. He tried countless times before finally seeing what seemed to be a pure white young dragon. However, their form and ¡®density¡¯ were clearly completely different from the ten white dragons. The entire dragon pearl was like an egg. As time passed, the white fog became thicker and thicker, completely enveloping the pure white dragon whelp. ¡°After ten white dragons, they actually hatched new lives in the dragon pearl¡­¡± Qin Huai had a hunch. That thing would be a major transformation for him after breaking through to the bone pattern realm. Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred as he opened his personal interface. [Name: Qin Huai] [Lifespan: 593] [Vitality: 140.623] [Cultivation Methods]: [Long Breath technique (level 91, (226/10000), [Blood Heart technique (level 60, 3111/7000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)] [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 60, 317/6000)], [Concealment of Spirit and Qi (level 72, (2887/8000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (bejeweled weapon, 693/5000)], [Cooking (intermediate, 259/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 10/10], [Raging Lightning], [Flame Longevity] [Force]: White Dragon Force 100%, Tiger Wolf Force 3%, Ancient Azure Illusion Force, 27% [Realm: Level 9 Blood Refinement] Other than his main cultivation technique, the concealment of spirit and qi had also broken through to level 72, extending Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan to nearly six hundred years. It also gave Qin Huai more and more confidence to use the unlimited flame longevity technique. These days, Qin Huai had been using the nine dragon points he had obtained from the White Dragon Forest, the Blood Dragon Platform, and the Azure Dragon Pass to exchange for the materials needed for the blood heart technique to accumulate them to the sixth refinement level. Apart from that, Qin Huai also used his monthly opportunity at Azure Dragon Pass. He pulled the ancient azure illusion force to 27%. However, probably because he didn¡¯t have a corresponding cultivation technique, Qin Huai¡¯s ancient azure illusion force didn¡¯t show much of its uniqueness. It only made the ground in his dantian a little more solid, that was all. Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. A white light flashed in his eyes, and his body was invisible to the naked eye. At the same time, the ten dragons protected Qin Huai¡¯s body and slowly descended like the sky, enveloping him within. ¡°With the complete white dragon force, I don¡¯t need to be too afraid of attacks from a bone pattern realm expert,¡± Qin Huai muttered. Now, he had the complete and clear aura of the white dragon. He finally felt the difference between the past and the present. This was a battle of two levels, a battle between two forces, and a confrontation between two people. To put it in the most common way, a bone pattern realm warrior against a blood refinement realm warrior was like two against one. Moreover, you could easily hit the ¡®helper¡¯ of a bone pattern realm expert, and each of his attacks would be fatal. ¡°What I¡¯m lacking now is to cultivate the long breath technique to perfection and then step into the bone pattern realm,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. By the time he finished comprehending the changes in his body, it was already dawn. Qin Huai stood up, the white light in his eyes dissipating. Then, he walked out of the courtyard. ¡°Young Master¡­¡± The child bowed at Qin Huai with fear in his eyes. This was because this was their math teacher, giving them extra practice and homework all day long. It made people miserable. ¡°Young Master, where are you going so early?¡± When the woman with the child saw Qin Huai, she couldn¡¯t help but feel happy. In the past two months, Qin Huai had become the most popular person in the Li family¡¯s womenfolk¡¯s eyes, the standard of the most competent son-in-law. Many women used Qin Huai¡¯s standards to choose their son-in-law. The requirements were that he could cook, wash clothes, be honest, have high talent, be no older than twenty years old, and his realm was no lower than the great blood refinement realm¡­ Such requests made the Li family and many young talents in Lingjiang feel miserable. ¡°I came out to take a breather.¡± Qin Huai smiled, but not much. Fortunately, the women were already used to Qin Huai¡¯s ¡°honest and straightforward¡± attitude. With the help of the filter, they did not mind at all. They even felt that it was a good thing. Qin Huai walked to the courtyard of the fourth household. Before he even entered the door, everyone respectfully greeted Qin Huai. ¡°Good morning, Son-in-law!¡± ¡°Morning.¡± Qin Huai nodded and strolled into the courtyard. The fourth house had already become his backyard, and all the men and women, both old and young, were his people. ¡°Brother-in-law, why are you looking for me?¡± Li Buhu was bare-chested as he raised a huge rock to train his strength. ¡°How¡¯s the thing I asked you to do?¡± Qin Huai felt helpless. He sat in front of the stone table, and a servant girl respectfully served him breakfast. There was a small bowl of soy milk, a large bowl of savory tofu pudding, and a basket of fried dough sticks and buns. This was his breakfast, and he ate while waiting for Li Buhu. ¡°What? What is it?¡± Li Buhu was stunned for a moment before he slapped his head. Boom! The boulder was quickly put down. ¡°I¡¯ve been following Brother-in-law¡¯s instructions to keep an eye on Zhang Dagen¡¯s whereabouts every day¡­¡± Li Buhu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°The itinerary is in my study. I¡¯ll bring it to Brother-in-law now!¡± Chapter 201 - 201 Qin Huais Plan 201 Qin Huai¡¯s Plan Bang! A thick stack of files smashed onto the stone table. Qin Huai¡¯s soy milk trembled violently and almost spilled out. ¡°On the seventh day of the third month, Zhang Dagen was drinking at Huatian restaurant. He verbally insulted a young lady from my fourth household, causing a fight among his peers. In the end, he broke three of his ribs and his left hand. ¡°On the thirteenth of the third month, he caused trouble in the Jade Red Garden that my fourth branch is in charge of. For seven consecutive days, he caused the traffic in the Jade Red Garden to decrease greatly. I haven¡¯t recovered my vitality yet. ¡°Guyu, a young man from my fourth branch, mysteriously disappeared when he was heading to September Hook. Someone saw Zhang Dagen¡¯s figure on the same road¡­¡± The more Li Buhu spoke, the angrier he got. The things he said were getting more and more outrageous. In the beginning, Li Buhu was still holding the paper and reading it word by word. In the end, he looked directly at Qin Huai and recited it backwards. The anger and killing intent in his words were not concealed. When Qin Huai heard this, he frowned. He only knew that Zhang Dagen had provoked the fourth branch, but he didn¡¯t know that this person would dare to go so far. He could still tolerate it when it came to money, but he would really not rest until he died when it came to killing. ¡°What did the head say?¡± Qin Huai asked in a low voice. Li Buhu sneered. ¡°Ours is still a dogshit family. The third and fifth branches are gloating and can¡¯t wait to be dogs for the Zhang family. They always attack my fourth branch at the family meeting¡­ They said that they didn¡¯t know how to read people and shouldn¡¯t support Brother-in-law. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been targeted by Zhang Dagen.¡± He gritted his teeth. ¡°What kind of bullsh*t logic is this? Does he mean that whatever the Li family does and who we support, we have to get the approval of the Zhang family?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s the third and fifth branch. They¡¯re used to being the Zhang family¡¯s dogs¡­ Their brains are broken.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right.¡± Li Buhu¡¯s wife, Li Chunlan, also said angrily. She was not a member of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s Li family, but the daughter of a wealthy merchant in the city. She and Li Buhu had met in a tavern where the hero saved the damsel in distress, but the hero was Li Chunlan. Li Buhu, who had spent all his money on muscle training, went to the tavern to drink because of the Li family¡¯s troubles. Li Buhu, who was already a repeat offender, had completely forgotten that he had agreed to pay the bill next time. In the end, he drank too much and did not have the money to pay the bill. He was stopped by the tavern owner who could not take it anymore and shouted that he wanted to force him to the Nine Dragons sect to ask for money. Fortunately, Li Chunlan spent a lot of money to pay off the debt, and the two of them started a relationship. The pair had been an interesting piece of news in the Li family two years ago. Qin Huai had heard about it from the women who washed clothes by the river. Other than that, there was also many gossip and interesting news from the Nine Dragons sect that broadened Qin Huai¡¯s horizons. Li Buhu continued to be sarcastic. ¡°The third and fifth branches treat themselves as members of the Zhang family, but the Zhang family doesn¡¯t acknowledge them either. ¡°The day before yesterday, when the mines in the south settled their accounts, not only did Sect Master Zhang not give the third and fifth branches more shares, he even deducted the most from them. The reason is that they didn¡¯t do their job well and were harassed by the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Li Buhu laughed in anger as he spoke, ¡°In the end, the people from the third and fifth branches even nodded their heads with a pleasant expression, as if they had received grace.¡± Qin Huai listened to Li Buhu¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but feel that the people from the third and fifth households were too ridiculous. After kneeling for so long, they had gotten used to being a dog. ¡°There¡¯s no cure.¡± Qin Huai lowered his voice. ¡°What about the head?¡± ¡°He¡­¡± Li Buhu was instantly speechless. He looked at Qin Huai for a long time, unable to say a word. ¡°Just say what you want to say. It¡¯s no big deal,¡± Qin Huai consoled. Li Buhu sighed. ¡°The family head told us to hold it in. He said that the time isn¡¯t right yet and to keep a low profile. But our fourth branch has never wanted to cause trouble. That Zhang Dagen has already stepped on our heads. We can¡¯t just endure it, right? Then what¡¯s the point of practicing martial arts?¡± Li Buhu cursed profusely. He began to let go and attack the Li family¡¯s ridiculous behavior with all his might. Qin Huai¡¯s evaluation of his father-in-law, whom he had never interacted with, was only one word: weak. Too weak. Being weak wasn¡¯t a reason to not fight back. Moreover, although the Li family was weak, they were not so weak that they could be slaughtered by the Zhang family. Most importantly, it was too hurtful for Li Zeren to give in blindly. If this went on, perhaps one day, the Li family would be able to regain the strength to compete with the Zhang family. No one had the heart to resist. ¡°Brother-in-law, Zhang Dagen likes to go to two places. One is to go to Huatian restaurant for a drink every seven days. After that, he will turn to Pear Yard across the street. That place is filled with women who have fled from the surrounding towns and even Lingjiang county¡­¡± Li Buhu¡¯s voice stopped abruptly, because Li Chunlan had already pinched his waist. ¡°Counting the days, there are still four days left.¡± Li Buhu moved closer to Qin Huai. ¡°Brother-in-law, how are we going to punish Zhang Dagen? After all, that fellow is at the ninth refinement and has already cultivated force. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be easy to make him suffer.¡± Qin Huai was taken aback. ¡°I never said I was going to punish him.¡± ¡°What? Then¡­ Then why do you want me to keep an eye on Zhang Dagen?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the fourth branch have a disciple who went missing? It¡¯s not too much for the Zhang family to have one of their own disappear as well, right?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s tone was calm. ¡°Brother-in-law, don¡¯t scare me. Zhang Dagen¡¯s strength is so great that very few people below the bone pattern realm can match him. Even if it¡¯s Brother-in-law, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re still quite lacking.¡± Li Buhu was shocked. He did not expect that his brother-in-law would ask him to collect Zhang Dagen¡¯s whereabouts not to punish him, but to make him disappear¡­ Chapter 202 - 202 Meeting with the Family Head 202 Meeting with the Family Head As expected of his brother-in-law. Every time he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°I have my own way of dealing with this matter. You just continue to keep an eye on Zhang Dagen¡¯s whereabouts,¡± Qin Huai said in a low voice. The news of him breaking through the ninth refinement and cultivating the white dragon force was not known to anyone. Everyone was still in the dark. ¡°But if you kill Zhang Dagen, the Zhang family will probably take revenge¡­¡± Li Buhu was a little scared. ¡°The Zhang family hasn¡¯t attacked the Li family yet?¡± Qin Huai retorted, ¡°Think about the disciples of the fourth branch. Think about the Li family¡¯s monthly share.¡± Li Buhu was speechless. What his brother-in-law said was indeed the truth. They were now submissive, but it did not seem to reduce the bullying. Qin Huai stood up and walked out of the courtyard of the fourth branch. Then, he looked at the center of the courtyard and hesitated for a moment before walking straight to the center. After talking to Li Buhu today, he felt that he wanted to help the Li family rise again and regain power. He had to understand his father-in-law¡¯s thoughts. He also wanted to test his true intentions. The courtyard was not big. A two-story wooden building stood in the center, surrounded by cattle, sheep, chickens, and ducks. The stench of chicken, cow, and sheep feces was neutralized by a strange fragrance. The Li family disciples who were entering and leaving the courtyard were all surprised when they saw Qin Huai. This son-in-law had been in the Li family for three months, but it was his first time here. ¡°Hey, this is an important place for the Li family. Unauthorized people are not allowed to trespass!¡± A brawny man stood at the door and blocked Qin Huai¡¯s way. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you to help me inform the head that his son-in-law, Qin Huai, has something important to discuss with him.¡± ¡°You wait here,¡± the burly man said and quickly walked into the room. And then, he walked out very quickly. ¡°The head said that he won¡¯t see you.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly when he heard this. He pretended to walk in, but the burly man immediately blocked Qin Huai¡¯s path. ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± The burly man smiled bitterly. Qin Huai was already ranked eleventh in Azure Dragon Pass. His terrifying combat strength was naturally not something he could withstand. Furthermore, he had a good impression of Qin Huai. This was because his wife and child had benefited from Qin Huai¡¯s hands before, so he had a good impression of him. However¡­ He was just a pawn. ¡°Then please help me inform him again.¡± Qin Huai looked at the burly man¡¯s troubled expression and continued. ¡°Young Master, Old Master, he¡­ He doesn¡¯t really like you.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Seeing Qin Huai¡¯s firm attitude, the burly man didn¡¯t say anything else. He turned around and walked in. ¡°Come in.¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice came from upstairs. ¡°Young Master, please¡­¡± The burly man who had just walked into the building was delighted. He reminded him again, ¡°Young Master, be careful with your words. Don¡¯t make things awkward.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Qin Huai smiled and quickly walked up to the pavilion. There were no wooden planks on the second floor, and it was unobstructed. A middle-aged man with a clean face sat on a bamboo chair by the window, holding a local county chronicle of Lingjiang, ¡°Lingjiang Landscape Record.¡± Qin Huai walked in front of him. Li Zeren was still reading his book and had no intention of looking up at Qin Huai. ¡°Master, what do you think of Zhang Dagen¡¯s actions in the past two months?¡± Qin Huai went straight to the point. ¡°Are you going to teach me how to do things?¡± This sentence caused the atmosphere in the attic to be filled with gunpowder. ¡°I don¡¯t dare to. I just feel that the Zhang family has wild ambitions. They definitely have no intention of coexisting with the Li family. If we blindly let them, I¡¯m afraid the Li family will fall into eternal damnation,¡± Qin Huai said sincerely. ¡°Now, the Zhang family is like a frog being boiled in warm water. They are slowly wearing down the strength of the Li family and eating away at their hearts. If this goes on, I¡¯m afraid the Li family won¡¯t be able to rise again.¡± Qin Huai always remembered the promise he made to Li Shaoxiang and the destiny she believed in. In order to repay the person who saved his life, Qin Huai would do his best to help her resolve the knot in her heart. Li Zeren put down the county journal in his hands and looked coldly at Qin Huai. ¡°What? You think you can replace me after learning from Haoyue¡¯s image and winning over the hearts of the people for two months? Do you think you have the ability to lead the younger generation of the Nine Dragons sect, or even the Nine Dragons Sect?¡± Li Zeren sneered. ¡°You can imitate Haoyue¡¯s actions, but you can¡¯t imitate his heart. You are too far behind him.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly, but he still said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid Zhang Haoyue is not as tolerant and kind as he appears to be.¡± As Zhang Haoyue¡¯s ¡®friend,¡¯ he had collected his experience points many times without fail. Obviously, no matter how intimate the two were, it did not affect the experience points. This had never happened before. The only explanation was that Zhang Haoyue¡¯s friendliness toward him was all fake. The so-called words of ¡®the two of them working together to resolve the internal conflict between the Zhang and Li families and lead the Nine Dragons sect forward¡¯ were just words used on the scene. Li Zeren slowly stood up. His tall figure made him look down at Qin Huai. ¡°A person can pretend for a day, ten days, or even a year. However, he definitely can¡¯t be as gentle and humble as he has been for more than ten years, treating people like close friends and relatives. ¡°And¡­ If a person has been pretending for more than ten years, or even his entire life, then it doesn¡¯t matter if he¡¯s pretending or not.¡± Li Zeren looked at Qin Huai coldly. ¡°I originally thought that you were talented and hardworking. Although you¡¯re not as good as Haoyue, Xiang¡¯er didn¡¯t misjudge you.¡± Chapter 203 - 203 Qin Huais Trump Card? 203 Qin Huai¡¯s Trump Card? ¡°But now¡­ How dare you publicly slander the eldest senior brother whom everyone in the sect loves and respects? Questioning the character of a Nine Dragons Sect¡¯s eldest senior brother?¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice gradually increased. ¡°If Zhang Haoyue is really like this, then how do you explain letting Zhang Dagen go?¡± ¡°What does Zhang Dagen¡¯s fault have to do with Haoyue? In the future, if Haoyue takes power, the Zhang and Li families will definitely return to the right path, and the original opposition will naturally disappear.¡± Qin Huai was speechless when he heard Li Zeren¡¯s words. He found it hard to believe that these words actually came from the mouth of the dignified Li family¡¯s patriarch. Li Zeren actually liked Zhang Haoyue so much. It was no wonder that the third and fifth branches dared to openly mock the fourth branch. Qin Huai took a deep breath. It was also because Zhang Haoyue had hidden himself too well, so much so that it was inevitable that they would not suspect that the mastermind behind the scenes was Zhang Haoyue. However¡­ Now, even the Li family¡¯s patriarch had such firm faith in Zhang Haoyue. It seemed that it was unrealistic to seek the support of the Li family¡¯s patriarch to give him more confidence in his actions. ¡°You should leave quickly. You¡¯re annoying me.¡± Li Zeren waved his hand and concluded, ¡°You will never be Haoyue.¡± He immediately chased Qin Huai away. Qin Huai took a deep breath, cupped his fists, and left silently. He naturally did not hate Li Zeren¡¯s attitude. After all, if he had not agreed to let Li Shaoxiang stay in the Nine Dragons Sect, he would probably have been reincarnated by now. It could only be said that Li Zeren had been brainwashed by Zhang Haoyue. He was completely fooled by his superb acting skills. However, this was not a problem. All disguises would be torn apart by powerful strength. Qin Huai walked out of the loft. ¡°Please wait, Son-in-law.¡± Suddenly, a kind-looking middle-aged butler blocked Qin Huai¡¯s path. ¡°You are¡­ from Second Uncle¡¯s residence?¡± Qin Huai recalled this person¡¯s identity. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The butler was all smiles.¡± Second Master would like to invite you to the residence for a gathering.¡± The image of the second master appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. This second master rarely walked around the Li family manor. Even if it was a family meeting or a sect meeting, he would not make a sound. He just watched silently. For most of the Zhang family¡¯s suggestions, the second branch only had one answer. He didn¡¯t listen, didn¡¯t do, and didn¡¯t cooperate. Everyone knew that he was the most determined hardliner. However, he had been keeping a low profile for the time being because he was alone in the Nine Dragons sect and even the Li family. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble the butler to lead the way.¡± Qin Huai smiled. It seemed like there was a silver lining. When he walked into the courtyard of the second branch, the surroundings would ring out with a few scattered ¡®son-in-law.¡¯ In the study, Qin Huai met the second master of the Li family, Li Zewu. This second uncle had the appearance of a refined scholar. His long hair fell over his shoulders, and his skin was smooth. It was just that the muscles in his open chest were so strong that they made people feel a little dazed. ¡°This boy Qin Huai greets Second Uncle.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Young Master is treating me as an outsider. Why should I be polite when meeting my own family?¡± Li Zewu quickly got up and pulled a chair over to press Qin Huai down enthusiastically. ¡°Second Uncle is right.¡± Qin Huai also smiled. ¡°I wonder why Second Uncle called me here? ¡± ¡°Does Son-in-law really not know?¡± Li Zewu had a playful expression. ¡°I have some guesses, but I don¡¯t quite understand. Please enlighten me, Second Uncle,¡± Qin Huai said truthfully. Li Zewu pondered for a moment and slowly said, ¡°You¡¯ve been different since you entered the sect. ¡°You can be said to be the center of attention. The Li family hates you, and the Zhang family wants to kill you¡­ My big brother even sent Shaoxiang away, leaving you alone and helpless. ¡°However, you still managed to turn the situation around so easily. Your talent is very good. Just as my niece said, you have the chance to become the key to turning the situation around for my Li family.¡± Li Zewu stood up and personally poured a cup of tea for Qin Huai. The two of them sat in the study and chatted. ¡°But the most important thing is that you saw it clearly! You can see through the Zhang family¡¯s thoughts very clearly! Knowing that they have ill intentions, I didn¡¯t approach them. This seems simple¡­ However, it¡¯s not common in the Li family now.¡± Li Zewu couldn¡¯t help but sigh. The current Li family had already been infiltrated by the Zhang family and was riddled with holes. He didn¡¯t even know how many people had the surname Li and were concerned about the safety of the Zhang family. ¡°You even helped the fourth branch on the right path. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been paying attention to you and the fourth branch¡­ Then, I found out that Fourth Brother recently sent people to follow Zhang Dagen. They followed him very frequently. ¡°In addition to the stupid things that Zhang Dagen has done recently, you went to look for Li Zeren for the first time today.¡± Li Zewu paused for a moment before returning to the main storyline. ¡°I think the son-in-law is going to make a big move.¡± ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Others might not be, but Son-in-law, their actions were too swift and violent. The Green Feather Tower¡¯s attack and September Hook¡¯s trip could be said to be killing without blinking¡­ This has made many of the Zhang family members feel as if they are sitting on pins and needles.¡± Li Zewu smiled. The killing of Wu Zian seemed to be nothing, but it had actually attracted the attention of all the important figures in the sect and even Lingjiang. The calmness of killing three to four hundred people without even blinking shocked them. This was also the reason why Li Zewu thought highly of Qin Huai and took the initiative to look for him. ¡°It¡¯s just a means of self-defense,¡± Qin Huai explained calmly. He didn¡¯t want to kill too many people, but if they didn¡¯t die, he would be in a lot of trouble. Besides, they wouldn¡¯t leave after hearing a few words from Qin Huai. It could be said that he had no choice but to eliminate these threats. Zhang Dagen was the same. This person did not have any scruples in his actions. If he was not eliminated now, he would definitely become a great disaster. It was difficult to say what he would do. ¡°Hehe¡­ If Son-in-law says so, then take it as such.¡± Li Zewu didn¡¯t mind. ¡°That good-for-nothing son of mine is always wandering outside, looking for opportunities and strength to topple the Zhang family. Those people are quite prejudiced against our second branch. ¡°Anyway, there are many old people in the house who have nothing to do. If there¡¯s anything they can help with, just tell them to do it. We can¡¯t let them cultivate their bodies all day long, right?¡± ¡°Then how about the price?¡± Qin Huai said in a low voice. ¡°You still have to settle accounts with your own brothers.¡± Li Zewu immediately became serious. ¡°If Son-in-law asks someone to work, I¡¯ll pay Son-in-law 200 taels!¡± ¡°Two hundred taels is fine too¡­ Hmm?¡± Qin Huai was taken aback. ¡°Second Uncle is giving me two hundred taels?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so difficult to earn these days, so it¡¯s already good enough! My second family is not rich, so please don¡¯t complain that I gave you too little money.¡± Chapter 204 - 204 Making a Move 204 Making a Move Li Zewu gave Qin Huai a list of the names of the second branch. All of them were martial artists in the great blood refinement realm who could help. Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t know if he didn¡¯t look. Although the second branch was isolated in the Nine Dragons sect, their strength was unusually strong. There were seventy-three martial artists who were above the great blood refinement realm, which was twice as many as the fourth branch. It could be said to be the strongest branch of the Li family. Although many of them had been stationed and assigned to various places in Lingjiang to take care of business, there were still more than twenty people who could be used. Furthermore, the only young elite of the Li family in the bone pattern realm was Li Zewu¡¯s son, Li Xiao. ¡°No wonder Second Uncle can still be so confident even in an isolated situation,¡± Qin Huai muttered. Li Zeren was able to become the head of the Li family because of his identity as the eldest son. Also, he had to be stronger than the other brothers. The rest were not as good as this second uncle. ¡°Hahaha¡­ My men are waiting at home for your orders. If necessary, I can also transfer the rest of the people back.¡± Li Zewu patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder heavily. ¡°Now that you have me and Fourth Brother backing you up, I believe that Son-in-law¡¯s next actions will be much easier.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. Then, he left in satisfaction. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Elemental Protection Technique Essence (Purple)], [Elemental Protection Technique] Experience +1111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Comprehension],[White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± Late at night, Qin Huai climbed the mountain and continued his cultivation with his master. After his cultivation ended, Elder Erlong handed Qin Huai a large bag. ¡°This is a great medicine I¡¯ve prepared for you. It¡¯s a poison that can corrode force. All of these work on the great blood refinement.¡± Elder Erlong instructed and pointed to them one by one, looking at the package in front of him with a nostalgic expression. ¡°It¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve used poison. My manufacturing skills are a little rusty.¡± ¡°Grandmaster is too humble.¡± Qin Huai looked at the package in his hands. Elder Erlong was indeed an expert in using poison. As the saying went, an expert would know if there was anything wrong with him once he made his move. Qin Huai looked at the extremely fine powder and couldn¡¯t help but sigh in admiration. ¡°This poison is very fine. It¡¯s very easy for the enemy to absorb it without anyone knowing. ¡°And the humidity is also very suitable. It won¡¯t be scattered unevenly because of the condensation and reduce the effect. The paper used to wrap the poison is also very particular. It¡¯s a thousand leaves that can fully lock the poison¡¯s effect.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ Kid, you still have some knowledge.¡± Elder Erlong stroked his beard in gratification when he heard this. This was a little test for Qin Huai to see if he had fallen behind, and reality proved that this disciple was very diligent and eager to learn. No matter which path he chose, he would pay great attention to it. Elder Erlong looked at the poison bag that was revealed from Qin Huai¡¯s long sleeves. He caught a whiff of the smell and immediately analyzed the ingredients within. ¡°You¡¯re quite astute, kid. You actually knew to use some poison that can target the spirit to counter the force without asking. You¡¯re very talented and perceptive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because of Grandmaster¡¯s daily influence that I had some epiphany.¡± Qin Huai was also very humble. The two of them continued to discuss their understanding of poison under the night sky, causing Qin Huai to recall his memories at Changshan Dojo in a daze. When he was talking about this with his master, it was also the same scene. However, due to the remoteness of the place, the materials used were not old enough to make good poison. Now that Qin Huai had good medicine, his master was nowhere to be found. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Sun Yuanshan is very smart. He won¡¯t die so easily.¡± Elder Erlong saw through Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts and comforted him. ¡°You¡¯re right. Even when Master was facing a bunch of fanatics from the Sacred Heart sect, he was able to leave calmly and even set them up. It shows Master¡¯s fighting experience and vigilance.¡± Qin Huai sighed emotionally as well. He sat under the moon with Elder Erlong and prayed for his master in his heart. ¡°Recently, I have also gained some enlightenment on the forbidden technique. Sun Yuanshan, that kid, can be considered to have contributed.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve already begun to study the second move of the flame longevity technique. It¡¯ll allow the power of longevity to explode in a way similar to the rising dragon. Its power will definitely increase by a level.¡± Elder Erlong sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just that it¡¯s easy to compress the white dragon to a single point, but it¡¯ll take a lot of time to compress the huge amount of lifespan. ¡± ¡°Then Qin Huai will wait for news from Grandmaster.¡± Qin Huai bade farewell to Elder Erlong again. ¡­ Another three days passed. Qin Huai had been cultivating step by step, and he was waiting for the news that Li Buhu had brought him. That afternoon, Li Buhu walked into Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Brother-in-law, the opportunity has come. Zhang Dagen, that bastard, has his eyes on a disciple of our fourth branch who went to September Hook. Just now, our people saw him following him out.¡± Li Buhu smiled sinisterly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Qin Huai immediately stood up. He avoided the eyes of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s disciples and left the mountain through a small path at the back. But he did not let Li Buhu follow him. The latter was only at the seventh refinement, so he was completely useless. He only brought a messenger pigeon from the Nine Dragons sect, which was rumored to have a trace of the bloodline of the blue phoenix. Fearless of the cold, it can travel quickly in all seasons. He walked out of the mountain gate and immediately released a messenger pigeon to inform the people of the second branch of his location. Then, he ran wildly in the direction that Li Buhu had mentioned, the route that the disciple took to September Hook. Chapter 205 - 205 A Battle of Poisons 205 A Battle of Poisons The battle between the Sacred Heart sect and Nine Dragons sect had been going on for three months now, and there was no sign of it stopping. There was even the Twin Extreme sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion who added fuel to the fire, causing the battle between the two sides to be at a white-hot stage. People died near September Hook every day. Fortunately, the Nine Dragons sect was not like the Thunderbolt Dojo of the past. The Nine Dragons sect was a huge sect with five to six thousand martial artists and experts. In three months, they had only lost one or two hundred people, so it was not a big deal. However, the people around Lingjiang county suffered. When the giant beasts attacked, the ants suffered. Countless villages had been destroyed, and the Sacred Heart sect was frantically recruiting disciples in the surrounding areas. Even the poor could cultivate, and commoners could also become the temptation of geniuses. It made countless people scramble for it. In order to weaken the Nine Dragons sect, the county governor was very passive in clearing out these Sacred Heart disciples. It was as if he was raising a tiger to bring disaster upon himself and driving the tiger to swallow the wolf. However, from Qin Huai¡¯s point of view, the chances of the governor overboard were extremely high. Whoosh! A poisonous dart instantly streaked across the sky and struck Qin Huai from behind. ¡°Die!¡± A low shout exploded behind him, and the sound of several poisonous darts breaking through the air followed. Qin Huai quickly twisted his body and nimbly moved around in a small area. Bang bang bang! Several poison darts pierced into the ground, completely burying the entire dart. It was a strong force. Qin Huai glanced at the marks on the ground, feeling a lingering fear. In front of him, the figure of the person had already appeared. He was bald, ruffian-looking, burly¡­ It was the target of his trip, Zhang Dagen, the most capable lackey of the Zhang family. ¡°Brat, I¡¯ve been waiting here for a long time!¡± Zhang Dagen grinned hideously as if he was looking at a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. He licked the dagger in his hand, looking even more terrifying. ¡°I think there might be some misunderstanding between us.¡± Qin Huai squeezed out a smile. ¡°What a coincidence, I thought so too.¡± Zhang Dagen chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m waiting here. I want to resolve the conflict with you. ¡± The two of them began to laugh and then walked toward each other. Zhang Dagen stared at Qin Huai, who was approaching him, and he became even more excited. He was a wild cultivator, so he knew that the latter would definitely ambush him if he got close. However, he was a top-notch wild cultivator. He used to be best at using dirty tricks, and among those dirty tricks, he was best at using poison. Just by relying on his exquisite poison techniques, he had escaped danger countless times and even killed his enemies. His previous cultivation technique, qi and blood pills, and his illustrious reputation were all based on poison techniques and unscrupulous schemes. This gave Zhang Dagen the opportunity to join the Nine Dragons sect, a top sect, and become the descendant of a righteous sect. And now¡­ Even when dealing with Qin Huai, who was only at the eighth refinement realm, Zhang Dagen still followed the strategy of being careful. The poison in his hands was used to deal with the great refinement blood, which was also something he had carefully prepared for Qin Huai. He had seen Qin Huai release poison in September Hook. To ordinary people, Qin Huai¡¯s poison techniques might be very exquisite. However, in Zhang Dagen¡¯s eyes, it was very crude. He only relied on his strange martial arts techniques. Poison techniques were not worth mentioning. Zhang Dagen started to get excited. After killing Qin Huai, he would be able to advance again. The importance of the family head was more important than the affirmation of the young master. In the future, he would become the leader of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s underground world, the leader of the darkness. Just thinking about it made Zhang Dagen feel full of energy. He watched as Qin Huai drew closer. It was time! He raised his hand. Swoosh! A colorful poisonous object appeared in front of him, and his pupils constricted. What a fast speed and smooth technique. He was too careless! This brat had been hiding his strength previously. His poison art was probably not inferior to his. Zhang Dagen immediately realized that this opponent was not simple. Whoosh! The poison in his hand was a step slower, but it was also instantly thrown out. Following that, Zhang Dagen took a few steps back like flowing water to put some distance between him and Qin Huai. ¡°To deal with you, I specially chose some unorthodox poisons. Your poison resistance is ineffective.¡± Zhang Dagen sneered. Activating the white dragon in his body, he pushed the poisonous fog that filled the sky toward Qin Huai. Boom! Two powerful air currents collided in the air, producing a shocking boom. ¡®This kid¡­¡¯ As expected, he was as shrewd as he was. He took a deep breath and inhaled a little of the poisonous fog that Qin Huai had sprayed out. Zhang Dagen¡¯s heart tightened. The two of them actually used the same move. Moreover, they had chosen the unorthodox poisonous fog. He had really underestimated him¡­ Swoosh! A few daggers suddenly flew out of the poisonous fog. They were as sharp as before, and the angles were tricky. Zhang Dagen turned his body and easily dodged it. ¡°How about this move?!¡± Zhang Dagen growled. The white dragon wrapped in the poisonous mist in his sleeves turned into two bullets and charged at Qin Huai. Whoosh! In the poisonous fog, a pair of fists was actually very close to him. Zhang Dagen squinted his eyes. The other party had broken through. He grabbed the robe on his body with one hand and yanked it. With a stabbing sound, the robe was torn into pieces. Under the sunlight, Zhang Dagen¡¯s body reflected the light. The armor under the robe had rows of poison darts hanging on it. They flashed past. Dozens of poison darts flew in all directions. Clang clang¡­ Sparks flew everywhere. Qin Huai curled up his body and activated his qi shock scale armor. The robe on his body was also torn and tattered, but the dark armor underneath was exposed, blocking all the swift and fierce poison darts outside his body. Chapter 206 - 206 Poison Dao Paragon Saint 206 Poison Dao Paragon Saint The two of them stood still. He stared at the other party. ¡°I really underestimated you.¡± Zhang Dagen looked at the armor on Qin Huai¡¯s body. This was the first time he had encountered someone as sinister and cunning as himself. Even the way Qin Huai used it and the direction of his thinking were very similar to his. Whoosh! Before Zhang Dagen could finish his sentence, he charged at Qin Huai. His blood and qi were pushed to the peak, and his strength reached its peak. His blood and Qi were surging. He had once killed people and wiped out an entire sect, and he had eaten many precious blood and qi medicines. Compared to most of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s Nine Refinements, he had more qi and blood, so his explosive strength and fist power were shocking. However, Qin Huai seemed to be acting strangely. His fists were only an inch away from colliding. The muscles on Qin Huai¡¯s body expanded, and white stripes appeared between the gaps of his muscles. He looked as ferocious as a dragon or snake. Boom! The two fists clashed and smashed together. The roaring force surged with the two of them as the center, blowing the tender grass under their feet into submission. Sizzle¡­ The fists collided, but there was a burning sound. Zhang Dagen lowered his head to look at the fist. It was already red, revealing half of his flesh. ¡®This kid¡­ There¡¯s actually a hidden hand on the surface of the fist. And his poison is so strong.¡¯ Zhang Dagen was solemn. This was the first time he had suffered a loss in poison path. Regardless of whether it was using poison or toxicity, this little brat in front of him seemed to be better than him. ¡°You are indeed superior to me in terms of poison¡­ However, I¡¯m going to use my true abilities next.¡± Zhang Dagen then threw two antidote pills into his mouth, and his muscles started to crackle. Before he could finish his sentence, he had already rushed at Qin Huai. ¡°Rise!¡± A white light flashed in his eyes. It was as if a dragon had flown out of his body as he roared at Qin Huai. Qin Huai did not want to be outdone either. His blood and qi surged. ¡°Poison force!¡± he shouted as he clasped his hands together, and a shocking poisonous mist poured out of his sleeves like a tidal wave. ¡°No¡­¡± Before Zhang Dagen could finish his sentence, he felt the force on his body burning. His expression changed drastically, and he stomped his feet into the ground, stopping his advance. ¡°A poison that can burn force¡­¡± His expression darkened. Qin Huai had really invested a lot. This kind of poison was a treasure that could only be encountered by luck. Zhang Dagen slapped his hands on the ground and pulled his legs out of the ground. He then pulled away from Qin Huai. The force on his body dimmed a little. He had no choice but to re-evaluate Qin Huai¡¯s poison skills. It seemed that he was already far superior to him. In just a few exchanges, he had already suffered a few losses. ¡°When the poisonous fog dissipates, it will be your death.¡± Zhang Dagen watched Qin Huai from afar, not daring to act rashly. However, Qin Huai had taken the initiative to attack this time, and he had stabbed Zhang Dgen. ¡°Good! Fierce dragon out of the nest!¡± Zhang Dagen roared. He used both his fists and legs to execute the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s long breath technique. The white dragons were mighty and full of momentum. Then¡­ The area in front of him began to explode! Streaks of white and purple light flashed in front of Zhang Dagen. The white dragon that he had shot out did not even have time to retract before it was directly shattered by the indiscriminate bombardment in front of him. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The terrifying explosion was accompanied by aftershocks, causing Zhang Dagen¡¯s eardrums to tremble. Cracks began to appear on his skin, and the worst thing was that he could not recall the white dragon. His fierce dragon out of the nest was completely useless. ¡°White dragon force!¡± Zhang Dagen roared and activated the white dragon force again. The white light in his eyes became even more ferocious. It was as if a white dragon was charging at him. Bang! This punch was extremely fast. This time, the other party couldn¡¯t block it with the long breath technique. Zhang Dagen laughed sinisterly. Only force could defeat force. Unfortunately, Qin Huai had seen through Zhang Dagen¡¯s quick verbal attacks. ¡°White dragon force!¡± Qin Huai growled in his heart. But what he displayed was ten white dragons! The two of them exchanged punches and kicks in the forest and heavily smashed into each other. Both of their techniques were extremely sharp and ingenious as their fists and feet went straight for each other¡¯s vital points. However¡­ Qin Huai clearly had the upper hand. His poison had taken effect, and with the addition of the ten white dragons, it was a little stronger. After each fist exchange, Zhang Dagen¡¯s aura would weaken a little. Qin Huai grew fiercer and fiercer. His fists rained down on Zhang Dagen¡¯s body like a storm. ¡°Yayaya!!!¡± Zhang Dagen roared indignantly, trying to urge the power in his body. It really seemed to be working. He held on for a while and even had the posture to counterattack. The joy on Zhang Dagen¡¯s face had yet to appear, but this fleeting surprise had already dissipated. Blood flowed out of his nose and started to flow non-stop. Zhang Dagen quickly retreated and shouted into the forest. ¡°Come out!¡± Crash¡­ There was a commotion in the forest, and eight martial artists jumped out of the forest one after another. They surrounded Qin Huai in all directions. Zhang Dagen took advantage of Qin Huai¡¯s stunned state to pull out of the battle range. He wiped the blood from his nose, and the panic on his face was replaced by pride. ¡°Although you can hide your tracks now, don¡¯t forget that there are countless eyes of the Zhang family in the Nine Dragons sect. You have no idea how many people we have spent keeping an eye on you. Even if you can fly, you can¡¯t escape our sight. We have already made ample preparations for you.¡± He looked at the eight people beside him. They were all martial artists who had refined their blood greatly. At first, Zhang Dagen didn¡¯t want it, thinking that Young Master looked down on him. But now, he was already beginning to rejoice. Young Master was really far-sighted. He had probably expected Qin Huai to be very sinister. ¡°You are very talented, be it in poison path or martial path.¡± Zhang Dagen started to praise Qin Huai, and he was indeed sincere. Qin Huai was the first person in his life who could make him suffer a loss or even completely suppress him in the poison path. But unfortunately, this number one person would no longer exist soon. ¡°Today is your death anniversary.¡± Zhang Dagen was confident of victory. Qin Huai looked at the people around him and called out, ¡°Come out.¡± Crash¡­ More than thirty martial artists walked out from the outer circle. They formed an even larger encirclement around Zhang Dagen and the others. Chapter 207 - 207 A Group Fight 207 A Group Fight It was thirty-two against nine. What was supposed to be a one-on-one fight had turned into a group fight in the blink of an eye. Moreover, everyone present was an expert in the great blood refinement realm. Zhang Dagen looked at the familiar faces with a solemn expression. It was the Li family¡¯s second and fourth branches. They were all people he had taught a lesson to in private over the past few years. He had even secretly killed a few of their relatives and close friends. ¡°Zhang Dagen, you didn¡¯t expect this day to come for you, did you?¡± a one-armed man sneered, waving a huge sickle in his hand. ¡°Back then, when you chopped off one of my hands, I said that I would settle this score one day.¡± ¡°Today, you¡¯re going to pay for killing my son-in-law last year,¡± a middle-aged man with gray hair said in a deep voice. They were all from the second branch, and as the second branch that openly opposed the Zhang family, the price the family had paid for this was extremely heavy. However, this did not wear down their determination to fight against him. Instead, it made the second branch more united. Even if many people from the second branch were sent to remote places and lived very hard, they could still endure it. ¡°Qin Huai, forgive people when you can. Today, I, Zhang Dagen, have failed. If you kill me, our family head will not let you off easily.¡± Zhang Dagen stared at Qin Huai. ¡°You may have the advantage in numbers now, but once we leave this forest, it will be the Zhang family¡¯s world. You might be able to kill me here, but you will definitely die if you leave!¡± He sneered and pretended to be calm. ¡°Let me go. I can promise you that I will never attack you or the people from the second and fourth branches from now on.¡± Qin Huai just looked calmly at Zhang. ¡°Don¡¯t slander me. I¡¯m not the one who killed you. It was those lunatics from the Sacred Heart sect.¡± ¡°Do you think anyone will believe you?!¡± ¡°This huge mountain forest is close to September Hook. It¡¯s the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s territory. As long as you don¡¯t even have a corpse left and there¡¯s no evidence, so what if the Zhang family knows that I did it?¡± Qin Huai said coldly, ¡°They can only attack me in the dark. They can¡¯t find any reason to do so on the surface, can they? What¡¯s the difference between that and what you¡¯re doing to me now?¡± As he said this, the rich power of longevity in his palm gathered crazily. Mobilizing the power of longevity was much more difficult than condensing a white dragon, especially when it came to gathering the power of longevity. Zhang Dagen, who was sitting opposite him, was speechless. It was as if something was stuck in his throat. Those words were so similar to the ones he had prepared. This should have been what he wanted to say to Qin Huai, but now¡­ How could he have imagined that Qin Huai had already broken through to the ninth refinement and had even cultivated the white dragon force? It had only been a short while, and even his young master was not as fast as him. Was Qin Huai a monster? Zhang Dagen laughed sinisterly. ¡°But do you think you can stop me just because you have more people?¡± Before he finished speaking, his body exploded. A thick white smoke instantly surged out from his body. In an instant, a radius of several dozen meters had been enveloped by white smoke. A green light flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes as he instantly caught sight of Zhang Dagen¡¯s direction in the thick fog. ¡°Southeast!¡± he roared. The group of great blood refinement martial artists beside him instantly pounced out. The terrifying white dragon qi exploded in the forest, scattering the white smoke that was already rolling rapidly, rolling away like a vast sea of smoke. This powder was obviously not ordinary, but a secret camouflage. Although it didn¡¯t have any lethality, it was extremely exhausting to use the white dragon to blow it away. As expected of a poison expert. Qin Huai chased after Zhang Dagen. Beside him, a few lackeys of the Zhang family took advantage of the fog to sneak toward Qin Huai. Their eyes were shining. Clearly, they had cultivated some kind of eye technique that allowed them to see clearly in the white fog. Raising their barbed gloves, the two of them held their breaths and swung their fists at Qin Huai, who had walked straight into their firing range. However, in the next moment¡­ Shock appeared in their eyes. Two large hands emerged from the thick fog and went straight for their heads. Their fists were fierce, and their control over their bodies was quite astonishing. They forcefully stopped their advance and bent down to lower half of their bodies, their fists changing targets and striking Qin Huai¡¯s lower body. Boom! Two explosions sounded in their ears at the same time. The numbness on their backs instantly swept through their entire bodies, causing the two of them to lose control of their bodies. In the next second, a burning pain overwhelmed the numbness. It was as if their souls had been stripped away. The violent shock wave caused them to crash to the ground with a bang. Subconsciously, they began to breathe heavily, and the white powder was suddenly poured into their lungs. Cough, cough, cough¡­ The pain was just beginning. However, they suddenly felt something thick stabbing into their body from behind. Puff! A pair of large hands grabbed their spines and exerted force. Crack! The two great blood refinement martial artists were powerless on the spot. They lay on the ground and sucked in large mouthfuls of white powder. The red blood vessels in their widened eyes became more and more obvious. The two of them were in despair. If they were lucky, they might have to lie in bed for the rest of their lives. And then¡­ Their faces also began to darken. Qin Huai had such overwhelming strength, yet he had even added poison at the end. The two of them opened their mouths to curse, but in the end, only a mouthful of black blood slid down from the corner of their mouths. Their bloodshot eyes remained open, and they could no longer hear the movements around them. Chapter 208 - 208 Twenty Years of Lifespan 208 Twenty Years of Lifespan This set of smooth movements actually only lasted for a moment. Qin Huai didn¡¯t even look at the two of them. After completing a set of combination skills out of habit, he chased after Zhang Dagen. At the edge of the white fog, Zhang Dagen did not run back to the Nine Dragons sect like what the others had imagined. Instead, he turned his head to look at the white fog mockingly. The sounds of tearing and shouting lingered in his ears, and the tragic battle of flesh and blood seemed to be right in front of his eyes. He paused, then walked into the white fog again. Zhang Dagen had once succeeded in assassinating the city lord in the countryside and became the dragon¡¯s official who succeeded the city lord. He then received a recommendation letter from the new city lord and joined the Nine Dragons sect. He had climbed all the way from an unknown remote village to the number one lackey of the Zhang family of the Nine Dragons sect in Lingjiang county, relying on taking risks and dancing on the tip of a knife. Moreover, after so many years, he had comprehended a principle: the greater the risk, the greater the benefits. Zhang Dagen was well aware of how much the young master and the master paid attention to Qin Huai. Without a doubt, this person was a thorn in the young master¡¯s side. Qin Huai¡¯s display of terrifying combat power made Zhang Dagen even more convinced that this person had to die. His future status would be closely related to Qin Huai¡¯s life. He frowned and focused his energy on his dantian. When he spoke to Qin Huai and begged for mercy earlier, it was not because he naively thought that Qin Huai would let him off. Instead, he was comprehending and thinking about the technique behind Qin Huai¡¯s terrifying move. He felt that it wasn¡¯t difficult. It was similar to a fierce dragon coming out of its nest. And now¡­ He had already comprehended most of it. Detonating the white dragon¡­ What a ruthless move. Who knew who came up with this? His eyes lit up as he saw Qin Huai charging at him. Whoosh! The few remaining poison darts on his body flew out. Then, he moved alongside the poison dart, and the aura of a white dragon suddenly appeared around him. As they wrapped around the poison darts, they seemed to have transformed into fierce dragons and flew together with Zhang Dagen. His force had long reached its saturation point, and he was only lacking the accumulation of his cultivation realm to take the final step of the transformation. Clang! The poison darts and daggers also created sparks around his body. They were all places where his opponent could dodge the fist technique. Unfortunately, the two of them were well-versed in this and did not fall for it. Whoosh! Through the white fog, their fists collided. Zhang Dagen¡¯s eyes exploded, causing his fists to go numb. He took half a step back. Then, the second punch, the third punch, the fourth punch ¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique was shockingly lethal, and even someone as strong as Zhang Dagen did not dare to take it head-on. He could only test the waters at the edge, constantly using the white dragon force and the endurance of his refined blood to hold on. He carefully comprehended Qin Huai¡¯s moves. Zhang Dagen¡¯s body was bleeding in no time. His skin was cracked by the residual power from the white dragon, and his flesh was torn. However, he had always been calm and composed. After this person exploded the white dragon, could he still take it back? Otherwise, how could he use this technique of exploding the white dragon endlessly? This was too difficult. He couldn¡¯t learn it for the time being. The first half of the move was enough. Zhang Dagen patiently hid, looking for flaws in the bombardment. He did not believe that Qin Huai would never feel tired even if he could use it endlessly. The two of them used their fists and legs, and within a limited distance, their fists hit the flesh, causing the two of them to be covered in blood. They looked extremely miserable. However, most of the blood on their bodies was Zhang Dagen¡¯s own. Suddenly, Zhang Dagen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Qin Huai¡¯s right fist visibly slowed down for a moment. The opportunity had come! ¡°Qin Huai, did you really think I was begging for mercy earlier?¡± Zhang Dagen roared, as if he was going to pour out all his previous grievances. Glory, wealth, and honor were all at this moment! ¡°Forbidden technique, rising dragon!¡± He drew out a white dragon and turned it into a white light spot on the fist. Coupled with the support of his white dragon force, the terrifying power at the tip of the fist made him ecstatic. The next moment, the blood-red flames instantly cut off the white fog in front of the two of them. ¡°Twenty years of lifespan, flame longevity technique!¡± The enchanting flames engulfed Zhang Dagen in an instant, and the white dragon aura and qi armor around him were also pierced through like paper. The arm that bore the brunt of the attack was instantly shattered and turned into ashes. Then, the flames quickly drilled into Zhang Dagen¡¯s internal organs from the cut like an anteater. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhang Dagen¡¯s screams were heard. In front of Qin Huai¡¯s flame longevity technique, which had condensed twenty years of his lifespan, Zhang Dagen was completely vulnerable. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m really thinking about easing the relationship with the Zhang family by listening to you beg for mercy?¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Dagen, who was already lying on the ground, his eyes starting to fade. In the next second, he quickly tore off a large piece of cloth from Zhang Dagen¡¯s body. Then, Zhang Dagen turned into a pile of ashes and disappeared with the wind. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve met an opponent like you,¡± Qin Huai muttered. Zhang Dagen was very difficult to deal with as he was only slightly weaker than him in the poison path. Moreover, he was proficient in all kinds of lower nine paths techniques, but he had underestimated his opponent too much, and his poison technique was a little rusty. It was obvious that they had been out of battle for a long time and had never engaged in such a tragic life-and-death battle between fellow cultivators. He had probably been a lackey of the Zhang family for a long time. Most of the time, he was bullying others. He opened the cloth in his hand. There were three hundred gold notes inside and also a few thousand taels of silver. The exchange rate of gold and silver in Great You was 1:100. In other words, Zhang Dagen had more than 30,000 taels of silver on him. ¡°It¡¯s too little¡­¡± Chapter 209 - 209 The Angry Zhang Family 209 The Angry Zhang Family Qin Huai felt it was a pity, but no matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat. He walked out of the white fog and cut off the path outside, making it difficult for Zhang Dagen¡¯s men to escape. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Purple)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +3000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Comprehension],[White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Dark Blue)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +998!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Dark Blue)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +698!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Technique Essence (Purple)], [Long Breath Technique] Experience +1200!¡± Qin Huai activated his spirit eye technique and picked up all the experience balls that had fallen from the white fog. He was already at the ninth refinement, which was much higher than these people, so they did not give much experience. However, Zhang Dagen and his men added it up. Zhang Dagen himself had also contributed an entire level of experience to Qin Huai, allowing him to reach level 92l. After a while, the white fog slowly dissipated, and the people from the Li family¡¯s second and fourth branches also walked out. ¡°Young Master! It¡¯s over!¡± The leader cupped his fists, his face covered in blood. They had dealt a heavy blow to these people from the Zhang family. It was already impossible to tell who they were from the corpses that were dragged out of the white fog. They were all badly mutilated, and even their limbs had been broken into dozens of pieces. It was extremely terrifying. Qin Huai cupped his fists at the crowd, a smile on his face. ¡°Thank you for your trouble.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still better to work with Son-in-law. These grandsons of the Zhang family have violated the sect rules many times and attacked our Li family in private.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s because of that wolf-skinned sect master that he has been flaunting his power and turning black into white.¡± ¡°Our family still endured it¡­¡± A few burly men who had vented their anger placed their hands on their waists. They were in a good mood, but they could not help but feel depressed. But when they saw Qin Huai, they couldn¡¯t help but laugh. In the past, they could not see any hope for the Li family, but now, the son-in-law was here. There was hope. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to teach you how to deal with the corpses, right? You can go back after that,¡± Qin Huai instructed. ¡°Nothing happened today.¡± The few of them smiled knowingly. ¡°Today, we¡¯re out for an outing.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± They looked around for Zhang Dagen¡¯s body but couldn¡¯t find it. ¡°Young Master, that Zhang Dagen¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already made him disappear completely.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. Their gazes turned sharp. The strength of the son-in-law was actually faster than theirs? It seemed that when they were watching the battle just now, the son-in-law had still hidden his strength. Realizing this, not only were they not dissatisfied, they were even happier. To them, the more trump cards Qin Huai had, the happier they would be, and the greater the hope of the Li family¡¯s revival and their revenge. ¡­ ¡°Ridiculous! This is ridiculous!¡± In the Nine Dragons sect meeting hall, Zhang Wu slammed the table with a loud bang, the veins on his forehead bulging. The atmosphere in the hall was heavy. Many members of the Zhang family glared at Qin Huai angrily. Two days after Zhang Dagen disappeared, the Zhang family had no choice but to admit the news of his death. Therefore, he angrily called for a sect meeting. After all, he was a ninth refinement expert and was about to break through to the bone pattern realm. He wasn¡¯t a small figure. If he could break through to the bone pattern realm, he would be able to take charge of an area. It would directly change the force structure and his status in Lingjiang, so it was no small matter. ¡°He¡¯s a mighty ninth refinement expert of the Nine Dragons sect, a pillar of the quasi-bone pattern realm! Did he die in September Hook for no reason? Who would believe this? Do you believe this?!¡± Zhang Wu stared blankly at Li Zeren. Li Zeren¡¯s expression was gloomy. ¡°Believe it or not, it has already happened. In my opinion, it was done by the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Second Uncle Li Zewu laughed so hard that he gritted his teeth. He was too lazy to pretend. ¡°Those people are too much. They even dared to ambush the elites of my Nine Dragons sect. This is an all-out war with us!¡± Zhang Wu snorted coldly. ¡°If it was really the Sacred Heart Sect, they would have posted notices all over the surrounding towns, big and small, to publicize how brave they are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Li Zeshi was enlightened. ¡°It¡¯s someone from the county governor¡¯s mansion! The grudge between us and those guys is much deeper than the Sacred Heart sect. I understand now! The people from the county governor¡¯s mansion wanted to use this opportunity to kill and then frame the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Li Zewu slammed the table. ¡°Fourth Brother is right! This county governor¡¯s mansion has such a dirty heart!¡± Zhang Wu looked at the two of them echoing each other and gritted his teeth in hatred. ¡°I wonder where Qin Huai was that day?¡± In the Zhang family camp, an elder looked coldly at Qin Huai. ¡°Me? My memory is hazy. I think I went out for a stroll, or perhaps I was cultivating in the sect¡­¡± Qin Huai calmly said. ¡°Ridiculous! Can¡¯t you even remember what happened a few days ago? How can you be the son-in-law of the Li family like this?¡± ¡°That day was my normal day, no different from any other day. If there is nothing important to remember, I naturally won¡¯t remember it clearly. And what does this elder mean by asking me this? Are you trying to sow discord between the two families?¡± Qin Huai scowled coldly, extremely agitated. ¡°You¡­¡± The elder pointed at Qin Huai, his face red with anger. ¡°You¡¯re making a false accusation. I think you¡¯re trying to sow discord between the two families. You¡¯re clearly the one who harmed your fellow disciples!¡± ¡°Elder, you can eat whatever you want, but you can¡¯t say whatever you want. You said that I harmed my fellow disciples. Do you have any evidence?¡± Qin Huai looked at him coldly. ¡°You and Zhang Dagen never got along, so naturally, you have the motive to kill him.¡± ¡°They never got along?¡± Before Qin Huai could say anything, Li Zeshi laughed in anger. ¡°What discord do you mean? Did Zhang Dagen appear in the restaurant and insult my fourth branch rudely, or did he abduct my fourth branch¡¯s young lady and humiliate her in the wilderness, or did he seduce and ambush my fourth branch¡¯s disciple in September Hook, causing both of them to die and their whereabouts unknown?!¡± ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re the one slandering us!¡± The plump elder¡¯s eyes drifted, not daring to look Li Zeshi in the eye. ¡°Brother Zeshi, you have to speak with evidence,¡± a person beside the plump elder spoke slowly, trying to smooth things over for the plump elder. ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to say. You have to have evidence when you speak.¡± Li Zeshi smiled and sat down slowly. However, he was in a good mood. Looking at this group of Zhang family elders who had been defeated in front of him, he felt unprecedentedly refreshed. ¡°My son-in-law is an open and aboveboard person. He would never do such a sneak attack. If you want to kill him, you have to kill him openly!¡± Chapter 210 - 210 The Sacred Heart Sects Development 210 The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s Development ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± The plump elder couldn¡¯t help but laugh in anger. ¡°No matter what, a quasi bone pattern realm expert can¡¯t die so mysteriously. We must investigate this matter thoroughly. ¡± As Zhang Wu said this, his eyes were fixed on Qin Huai. ¡°We must find the mastermind and let Zhang Dagen rest in peace.¡± When Li Zewu and Li Zeshi heard this, they both sneered. However, they did not say anything. To be able to make the Zhang family suffer such a loss, they were already in an indescribable mood. ¡­ In the courtyard of the Zhang family, Zhang Wu¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qin Huai to be so audacious. He openly attacked an expert of my Zhang family.¡± He paced in the courtyard. ¡°That Zhang Dagen is also a fool. How many times have I told him? He has to report to me about Qin Huai before making a decision.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what that idiot is thinking. He actually brought people on his own.¡± Zhang Haoyue spoke slowly from the side, ¡°He might have been under the illusion that we were looking for an opportunity to kill Qin Huai.¡± Naturally, the father and son wouldn¡¯t reveal the fact that they wanted Qin Huai killed by a lackey like Zhang Dagen. They just wanted to observe Qin Huai¡¯s every move and give him more pressure to break through as soon as possible. However, from the looks of it now, choosing Zhang Dagen as this candidate was not very suitable. ¡°But¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s rate of growth is a little too shocking.¡± Zhang Haoyue couldn¡¯t help but sigh. In just a few months, Qin Huai was already able to kill a quasi bone pattern realm expert like Zhang Dagen. Even if he used some shameful methods, it was still really unbelievable. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When the time comes, we won¡¯t have to fight Qin Huai alone to get his bones. There are so many people in my Zhang family, and there are even people from the Li family as spies¡­ There won¡¯t be any mistakes.¡± Zhang Wu patted his son¡¯s shoulder. Li Zeren would never have thought that the third and fifth branches of the Li family were not close to him. Instead, they had long joined him. That was why he knew every move Li Zeren made in the Li family compound. He could even know when Li Zeren went to the toilet, when he read what books, and when he met who within a quarter of an hour. The entire Li family had almost no secrets in his eyes. Of course, now, there were two small unstable factors¡­ Li Zewu from the second branch and Li Zeshi from the fourth branch. However, it was not a big problem. With the entire sect in his hands and five to six thousand martial artists under his command, how could he be afraid of the Li family branch, which only had a few hundred people in total? ¡°If not¡­ Even if we join forces with the county governor or even the Sacred Heart sect, it¡¯s not impossible, right?¡± Zhang Wu smiled calmly. Those who achieve great things do not stick to trifles. In this world, not only allies and relatives could unite, even enemies could work together. ¡°Now we only need to wait. When Qin Huai breaks through the bone pattern realm, his soul will return to the world. ¡± The father and son looked at each other and smiled. ¡­ In his courtyard garden, Qin Huai read the letter from Li Shaoxiang and the box of tonics he had confiscated from the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s stronghold. ¡°Brother-in-law, what did Sister Shaoxiang say to you in the letter? Can you tell me about it?¡± Li Buhu joked. At home, he saw his father drinking wine and humming a song in the courtyard after returning from the meeting hall. He even talked about the Zhang family¡¯s flustered and exasperated faces in the meeting hall. It had been a long time since he had seen his father so happy. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect¡¯s development speed is too fast. The cities and towns under Lingjiang are being eroded at a speed far beyond our imagination. Shaoxiang estimates that there are more than 30,000 Sacred Heart supporters in Lingjiang county. Although most of them are ordinary people, if they continue to expand, I¡¯m afraid that Lingjiang County might change its course,¡± Qin Huai said in a low voice. He felt that the county governor had probably gone overboard this time. He wanted to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf. The wolf did not die, and the original tiger cub had also grown up. As for Li Shaoxiang, she had returned for two days half a month ago. Then, she was sent by Li Zeren to the towns below to suppress the evil cult followers of the Sacred Heart sect who tried to attack the Li family¡¯s property. After half a month of travel, there was little effect. Qin Huai also understood what his father-in-law, who disliked him, meant. He didn¡¯t want him to stay with Li Shaoxiang for too long and develop feelings. When Li Buhu heard this, he sighed. ¡°There¡¯s no other way. Their evil techniques are indeed too tempting. If I wasn¡¯t born in the Nine Dragons sect, I would have joined them. After all, who doesn¡¯t want to be a high and mighty martial artist? ¡°Now, the battle in September Hook was getting more and more intense, and no one could see the end of it. However, there¡¯s news that people from the Twin Extreme sect have also started to enter September Hook to fight against the Sacred Heart sect. ¡°Although there aren¡¯t many of them, it¡¯s still a good sign.¡± Li Buhu whispered. ¡°Useless. If we don¡¯t send our bone pattern realm warriors, this war will only drag on indefinitely.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. The Zhang and Li families were currently in opposition in the sect, so it was impossible for them to gather all their forces to fight the Sacred Heart sect. Of course, the people from the Sacred Heart sect had taken this into account. They had used the excuse of declaring war on the Nine Dragons sect to publicize their reputation. Coupled with the evil arts that everyone could cultivate, they had recruited talents and soldiers. Chapter 211 - 211 The Crazy Lingjiang County! 211 The Crazy Lingjiang County! As for the Twin Extreme sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion, they were all scheming. It would be even more wishful thinking to work together. ¡°It¡¯s all bad news.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. The arrest warrant on the city gate regarding the remaining members of the Hu family had not been removed until now. Song Ya was determined to exterminate the Hu family, and he was also remembered for what happened to Wu Zian. If he revealed any flaws, he would be devoured by the surrounding wolves. ¡°Are you familiar with the auction houses in the city?¡± Qin Huai asked. He had earned quite a lot of money from killing people and robbing treasures these few months. In addition, he did not lose any of the things he brought with him when he was in Pingnan City. In total, he had a total of 100,000 taels of silver. Nine dragon points were used in the Nine Dragons sect, so he couldn¡¯t spend the money at all. In the past, because his strength was not high, he did not dare to easily leave the Nine Dragons sect for fear of being plotted against by the county governor¡¯s mansion. Therefore, he had always carried this huge sum of money. Now that he had broken through the ninth refinement, he had also perfected the white dragon force. He already had a certain amount of self-protection power, so it was time for him to go out and see the world. Qin Huai still needed three months to enter the bone pattern realm. During this period of time, he had to think of a way to increase his combat strength. ¡°Of course I am.¡± Li Buhu didn¡¯t even think about it. ¡°There are many auction houses in Lingjiang, but there are two that are good enough for your current level. One of them is called the Ling Manor Auction House. You should know from the name that it¡¯s owned by the county governor. ¡°The other is the Fengxing Auction House under the name of the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce. The Fengxing Chamber of Commerce was a well-known large chamber of commerce in the entire state city. Even the county governor¡¯s mansion wouldn¡¯t dare to offend them.¡± Li Buhu said excitedly. ¡°Moreover, the quality of the auction items is extremely high. Every once in a while, they will send extremely valuable auction items from all over the state city¡­¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the Fengxing Auction House to take a look.¡± After Qin Huai finished speaking, he picked up a pen and wrote a reply to Li Shaoxiang. He talked about Second Uncle Li Zewu¡¯s side and the Zhang family¡¯s reaction to Zhang Dagen¡¯s matter. Then, he stood up and followed Li Buhu out of the Nine Dragons sect. As soon as Qin Huai stepped out of the door, he realized that there were still some spies following him closely. It was unknown if they were from the county governor¡¯s mansion or the Zhang family, or perhaps both. Qin Huai didn¡¯t mind, though. He was already used to this. The Fengxing Auction House was located on the most prosperous Wanli Street in Lingjiang, which was full of people and fireworks. Rich young masters dressed in gold and silver could be seen everywhere, as well as young ladies dressed in expensive rouge and makeup. If one only looked at these people, the Great You was like a paradise on earth, a unique and prosperous scene. However, Qin Huai could also see that in the gaps between the luxurious pavilions, children and women in ragged clothes were hiding in the narrow alley. They held a broken bowl in their hands and looked at the noisy street outside the shadows that the sun could shine on. They were silent and did not cry. ¡°Grandpa is in a good mood today! This is your reward!¡± Qin Huai laughed heartily and threw a handful of silver shards into the dark world. They were not much, maybe only a few dozen taels, divided among ten or twenty people. However, it was definitely enough for those people to live frugally for a month. If he gave them more, they would probably not be able to survive his turn. ¡°Grandpa is in a good mood today! This is your reward!¡± Li Buhu did the same thing and threw the silver to the other side. The people around them glanced at him, but they only took a glance and continued with their own business. No one would care about those people and things that had nothing to do with them in the shadows. The Fengxing Auction House was extremely large. It looked like a coliseum and was a hollow square-shaped building. Qin Huai had seen it before during the trip to the Hook in September, but he hadn¡¯t taken a closer look. The auction house was three stories tall and was completely snow-white in color. It was like a huge jade mountain standing on Wanli Street. The walls were spotless, pure and shiny. Just the cost of keeping this pavilion clean and tidy every day was probably not a small amount. Qin Huai already had a rough idea of the Fengxing Auction House¡¯s strength. As expected of a well-known Chamber of Commerce in the state capital. This was indeed extraordinary. ¡°Master Hu is here. It¡¯s still the same seat, B-number 3. Please come in!¡± A respectful and clean-looking waiter dressed in a white jade robe welcomed the two thousand men in. The auction house was filled with individual private rooms. Three sides were blocked by walls, and there was also a white curtain facing the auction stage. Qin Huai looked at the passersby. Some of them were dressed decently and had smiles on their faces. There were also people wearing black clothes, and their faces could not be seen. As if noticing Qin Huai¡¯s doubtful gaze, the waiter immediately explained, ¡°Our Fengxing Auction House has always paid attention to the privacy of our guests. We never inquire about our guests¡¯ identities. As long as we can pay and deliver the goods when we make the deal, it¡¯s fine. ¡°After all, the items auctioned by our Fengxing Auction House are not ordinary. There was no money to buy items that would make people jealous, but there were many fanatics who had the guts to snatch them. So, we¡¯re all thinking about the safety of our customers and our employers.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite thoughtful.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He followed Li Buhu into Room 3. Before he even sat down, he heard people around him calling out bids. It was obvious that the auction had already started for some time. ¡°One bottle of tiger power pills. One pill can make your golden spear not fall, two pills can make you return to your youth, and three pills can make demons howl! A bottle of seven pills, the starting price is 1,000 taels, and each increase must not be lower than 100 taels¡­¡± ¡°1,200!¡± ¡°1,300!¡± ¡°1,500¡­¡± Chapter 212 - 212 Precious Treasures! 212 Precious Treasures! As Qin Huai listened to the items being auctioned, he felt a little dizzy and dispirited. Most of them were pills and ordinary weapons. They were all useful, but he didn¡¯t need to buy them. What he wanted was to buy a piece of power stone and then use his bejeweled weapon forging technique to forge it into a bejeweled weapon. As the saying goes, good steel is used on the blade. The man who was waiting at the side seemed to have noticed Qin Huai¡¯s lack of interest and hurriedly said, ¡°Our Fengxing Auction House holds a small auction every three days, but we have a big one every month. Today is just a small event. Although the items are not bad, it might be commonplace for a big shot like you. Anyway, you¡¯ll definitely be interested in the monthly event in two days. Not only do we have the bone stabilizing pill that can help blood refinement realm experts increase their chances of obtaining patterned bones, but we also have a bejeweled weapon and a power stone.¡± Li Buhu was a little confused when he heard that. ¡°Really? Such a good treasure should only be available in the past. Moreover, don¡¯t you usually promote such a treasure a few days in advance and get people to raise money to sell it for a good price? Why didn¡¯t you spread the news this time?¡± The man laughed bitterly. ¡°This is also because the incident happened so suddenly. The employer suddenly came to find us and urgently needed money¡­ Our shopkeeper has been persuading me for a long time. I¡¯m not even willing to buy it with my own money.¡± Li Buhu clicked his tongue. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry to use the money, but I don¡¯t want to suffer losses.¡± The man sighed. ¡°Oh well, there¡¯s no other way. In any case, the news will spread from the city in a while. At that time, our auction house will definitely be extremely lively. The two masters must come and support us.¡± ¡°Definitely!¡± Qin Huai and Li Buhu smiled and nodded. After watching the auction for a while more, they stood up and left. On the way, the two of them chatted as they walked. Li Buhu sighed. ¡°It¡¯s really rare to see someone sell a treasure like a bejeweled weapon. Even the bone stabilizing pill is a divine item. ¡°The former can be considered a family heirloom. A ninth refinement martial artist wielding an offensive artifact can probably fight against a bone pattern realm martial artist for a while. ¡°Also, the bone stabilizing pill can directly create a clan guardian¡­ That power stone is much more ordinary compared to it.¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple, because we don¡¯t have a single blacksmith in Lingjiang who can forge bejeweled weapons. What¡¯s the use of buying a broken stone that can¡¯t be used?¡± Li Buhu pursed his lips. ¡°The first two treasures will probably be fought to the death and even attract a money-throwing feast from the three major factions. However, the stone is just a token of our appreciation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. It¡¯s only a disaster for ordinary people to buy it.¡± Qin Huai agreed, but his heart was shaken. There was actually no bejeweled weapon blacksmith in Lingjiang? Then wouldn¡¯t he, the only seedling, have the advantage? ¡°That¡¯s right. Besides, the three major forces don¡¯t need to waste their money on a rock that can¡¯t be materialized.¡± Li Buhu added. If that was the case, his chance would come soon. Qin Huai asked again, ¡°What about the Fengxing Auction House¡¯s signboard?¡± ¡°Ten taels of silver for a token and a simple name registration. You can even register a fake name. No one will care,¡± Li Buhu said casually. On the streets, there were already children running wildly, shouting the news that the Fengxing Auction House was going to auction bejeweled weapons and bone stabilizing pills. ¡°Bejeweled weapons?!¡± ¡°Brat, are you sure you¡¯re not wrong?¡± ¡°No, the day after tomorrow, the Fengxing Auction House will start to auction three treasures, namely the bejeweled weapon, the bone stabilizing pill, and the power stone!¡± ¡°Those who are late will not be able to attend, so please come on time!¡± The half-grown children shouted with all their might. Almost instantly, the already noisy Wanli Street was filled with people. After that, countless young people hurriedly ended their play and ran back to their homes. They all wanted to tell their families the news as soon as possible. Qin Huai and Li Buhu had just returned to the sect. They found that the sect was also in an uproar. ¡°I really underestimated the influence of this treasured weapon,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. Li Buhu replied, ¡°Yes, Brother-in-law, you still don¡¯t know. Although our Nine Dragons sect has many artifacts, we are not afraid of them. However, there are only three or four of them that can be used. ¡°Every single one of them can be compared to at least half a bone pattern realm expert. Who wouldn¡¯t covet such a good thing? Who would think that it¡¯s too little?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm as he agreed, ¡°That makes sense. Then how many of the three or four artifacts that can be used in our Nine Dragons sect can the Li family use?¡± Li Buhu smiled bitterly. ¡°None, not a single one.¡± Qin Huai understood. The status of the Li family in the Nine Dragons sect was beyond his imagination. ¡­ Late at night, in Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard, Li Zewu and Li Zeshi arrived quietly. ¡°Son-in-law, do you want to fight for the bone stabilizing pill?¡± Li Zewu went straight to the point. Li Zeshi also spoke slowly, ¡°Second Brother and I have discussed it. If Young Master wants to compete, our two families will pool our money to help you.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness, uncles. However, the Zhang family has the strength of the entire family. The county governor¡¯s mansion and the Twin Extreme sect are also quite wealthy¡­ To put it bluntly, I¡¯m afraid that the sum of the two uncles¡¯ money is not even a fraction of the sum of the three parties.¡± Qin Huai laughed bitterly and poured cold water on them. Of course, he understood what Li Zeshi and Li Zewu meant. Most of the three forces had gone to fight for the artifacts, so there was some hope for the bone stabilizing pill. After all, the bone stabilizing pill could increase a martial artist¡¯s chances of entering the bone pattern realm. To Qin Huai, this was the most important and cost-effective choice. But this was from their perspective. Of course, Qin Huai had a cheat¡­ There was no need to worry about failing to enter the bone pattern realm. Moreover, Second Uncle¡¯s family had been punished by the Zhang family for years, and their lives were very difficult. As for Fourth Uncle¡¯s side, they were the weakest among the six branches of the Li family. In short, both branches did not have much money. Most importantly, Qin Huai really didn¡¯t need it since the success of reaching the bone pattern realm was certain. As for how to take down the power stone¡­ he had a plan. Chapter 213 - 213 Bejeweled Weapons Blacksmiths 213 Bejeweled Weapons Blacksmiths In the morning, Qin Huai went to the training grounds to collect experience points as usual. Zhang Haoyue once again began to preach in the crowd, also mentioning the matter of the Fengxing Auction House, so Qin Huai moved closer to the crowd and listened to their conversation. ¡°Senior Brother Haoyue, is our Nine Dragons sect planning to take all three of them?¡± A Li family disciple¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation. If they could get all three of them, the sect would have at least one and a half more bone pattern realm warriors. This would be a huge boost to the sect¡¯s combat strength. ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can get the three items. Anyway, our Nine Dragons sect will definitely not give up the bone stabilizing pill and that bejeweled weapon. As for the power stone¡­ let fate take its course,¡± a few disciples answered. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re wrong about that.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled and shook his head. ¡°This time, our Nine Dragons sect indeed intends to take them all.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t have any bejeweled weapon blacksmiths here. Those three masters who can make them are all in the small city below. Moreover, the orders from the three major factions have long been piled up for ten years¡­¡± The few of them sighed. The three masters no longer made a lot of orders in Lingjiang. This was the reason why Qin Huai was so confident. The three blacksmiths who stood at the peak of Lingjiang did not intend to participate in the dispute between the three major forces. They stayed in a small town and remained neutral forever. Enjoying the respect and protection of the three forces was obviously the best choice. Moreover, these three people were also very interesting. They did not take on many orders every year. They would forge one a year, two at most, and not more. It was said that the three of them spent most of the year touring the mountains and rivers of Lingjiang, and there were also free escorts from the three major forces. The three major forces were treated like grandsons every day, and they could not complain at all. It seemed that they only had two to three months to work, which was extremely carefree. Qin Huai looked at the confident Zhang Haoyue, not knowing what he was up to. He wanted to take all three treasures. Zhang Haoyue looked at everyone¡¯s expectant eyes and said with a smile, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve already made an appointment with Master Fuqiao of Axe Mountain City. I¡¯ll set off tomorrow and bring him to live at the Nine Dragons sect.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The disciples were in an uproar and looked at each other. ¡°What happened to Master Fuqiao?¡± ¡°I remember that in the early years, when we tried to rope in the three masters, Master Fuqiao was the one who showed the most resistance, wasn¡¯t he?¡± Everyone looked at Zhang Haoyue eagerly. However, Zhang Haoyue smiled and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll keep everyone in suspense first. The sect¡¯s secrets cannot be discussed lightly.¡± Very soon, Zhang Haoyue began to preach, separating everyone from the excitement and returning to cultivation. Qin Huai sat quietly in the crowd, collecting experience points while thinking about Master Fuqiao and the Nine Dragons sect. Or rather, the relationship between him and the Zhang family. He had been engrossed in cultivation for the past few months, so he didn¡¯t know much about Lingjiang, let alone what happened in the county. If he was asked who the leaders of the three major factions were, or who the candidates for the number one position among the younger generation were, Qin Huai would be able to recite them backward. But Master Fuqiao¡­ It was really difficult for Qin Huai. After collecting the experience points, he quickly walked back to the Li family courtyard. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re back so early today?¡± When the middle-aged men saw Qin Huai, they hurriedly greeted him. They were all from the fourth branch. They were close to Qin Huai, especially after they found out that he had killed Zhang Dagen. Now, all of them looked at him as if he was their own son. ¡°Yes, is Fourth Uncle at home?¡± Qin Huai asked again. ¡°He¡¯s here, I think?¡± A middle-aged man scratched his head. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and walked straight into the courtyard of the fourth household. Fourth Uncle Li Zeshi was sunbathing on a recliner. Yesterday, after Qin Huai had instructed him not to fight for the bone stabilizing pill, Li Zeshi had been basking in the sun in boredom. Of course, he was also secretly raising some money. After all, other than the three treasures in the monthly auction of the Fengxing Auction House the day after tomorrow, there were many other good things. ¡°Fourth Uncle.¡± ¡°Young Master, why are you here?¡± When Li Zeshi saw Qin Huai, he immediately jumped up from the recliner. ¡°Does Son-in-law want to fight for it?¡± Li Zeshi probed. Qin Huai shook his head, then recounted what Zhang Haoyue had said about roping in Master Fuqiao. Li Zeshi pondered for a while. ¡°Oh¡­ I understand. Master Fuqiao is old. Last year, there was news that he passed away. Although it has been confirmed to be a rumor, he has indeed fallen seriously ill.¡± Li Zeshi sighed. ¡°Treasures like them are even rarer than those in the bone pattern realm. Their status is high, and with their ability, they have accumulated countless gold and silver treasures over the years. ¡°When they were still alive, they had the support of the three great factions. Naturally, they were not afraid of anything. But if he really passed away, and no one inherited his identity as a bejeweled weapons blacksmith, the wolves will come.¡± Qin Huai pulled over a wooden chair and sat opposite Li Zeshi. ¡°Master Fuqiao wants to use his remaining years as a servant for the Zhang family in exchange for long-term protection and prosperity?¡± ¡°If what Zhang Haoyue said is true, that should be the case.¡± Li Zeshi added, ¡°It¡¯s also possible that Master Fuqiao will stay in Lingjiang and not belong to any party. ¡°Then, he¡¯ll charge a low price to forge bejeweled weapons for the three forces to the best of his ability to benefit the disciples of our families. For example¡­ They sent the disciples of the family to the three major forces to learn martial arts. It can be considered that the family has spread its branches and leaves. No matter what, it can¡¯t wither.¡± Chapter 214 - 214 All Missing! 214 All Missing! ¡°That¡¯s why Zhang Haoyue didn¡¯t dare to come to a conclusion. He only dared to spread some rumors.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly when he heard this. If Master Fuqiao were to do this, the market would be thrown into chaos. At that time, it would be hard to say what the price of the power stone would be. Anyway, there will be a way out. This idea had only come to his mind after hearing the news about the auction house. At worst, he would head to September Hook and kill more disciples of the Sacred Heart sect to improve his blood heart technique and gain some experience in the long breath technique. It was just that the latter was a little risky. After all, there was more than one family watching him now. Qin Huai stretched his muscles and got up to bid farewell to Li Zeshi. In the bedroom, Qin Huai entered his dantian. His white dragon force had unexpectedly broken through 100%, and it was now at 102%. The only change after that was that the dragon ball, or rather, the dragon egg, seemed to be more energetic. The ten purple-white dragons snuggled tightly around the dragon egg like parents. Facing the provocation of the blood-red tiger wolf on the bronze ground, their attacks became even more brutal. ¡°I wonder what will happen after the bone pattern realm.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t detect too much abnormality, so he could only let it go. ¡­ On the second day, the sky had just brightened when Qingshui knocked on the door. ¡°Young Master, Young Master¡­¡± Qin Huai opened his sleepy eyes, quickly put on his clothes, and pushed open the door. ¡°What happened?¡± He looked at Qingshui with a worried expression. ¡°Could something have happened to Shaoxiang?¡± ¡°Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Of course, Miss is fine.¡± Qingshui rolled her eyes at Qin Huai. ¡°Then what is it? The Zhang family is gone?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with our Nine Dragons sect¡­ But somehow, it has something to do with it.¡± Qingshui¡¯s anxiety was reduced by half by Qin Huai¡¯s interruption. She said, ¡°Anyway, the three bejeweled weapons masters have all gone missing!¡± ¡°When did this happen?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s spirits were lifted. ¡°I heard it was last night. I don¡¯t know when exactly. Anyway, it¡¯s going crazy in Lingjiang now.¡± Qingshui looked like she was eating a melon. She didn¡¯t care about the life and death of the three great masters. She only knew that this was a big melon and wanted to share it with her son-in-law at the first moment. ¡°Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law¡­¡± Li Buhu rushed into the courtyard. When he saw Qingshui standing beside him, he subconsciously shut his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Qingshui left tactfully. ¡°Brother-in-law, let¡¯s talk as we walk.¡± Li Buhu pulled Qin Huai and walked toward the courtyard of the fourth household. ¡°The three bejeweled weapons masters are all missing. The entire manor is empty. The experts and guards sent by the three major forces were all slaughtered overnight.¡± Li Buhu¡¯s news was more specific than the rumors that Qingshui had heard. ¡°Is it that serious?¡± Qin Huai frowned. ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Li Buhu shook his head. ¡°If I know who did it, I won¡¯t have to be so nervous.¡± The key problem was that the three masters had mysteriously disappeared, and the three forces still did not know who did it. When they walked into the courtyard of the fourth branch, Qin Huai went up to Li Zeshi, who sighed. ¡°The current situation is really different every day.¡± Li Zeshi went straight to the point. ¡°The three masters are all quasi bone pattern realm experts, and the guards sent by the three forces are led by a ninth refinement martial artist. There are probably two ninth refinement martial artists in there. This force is not something ordinary people can deal with.¡± ¡°Could it be the Sacred Heart sect?¡± Qin Huai asked. After thinking about it, he realized that in the entire Lingjiang, only the three major forces had the strength and courage to do such a thing. In one breath, they kidnapped all three masters and killed all the people sent by the three major forces. This was a blatant challenge to Lingjang¡¯s three great powers, so it was no small matter. Li Zeshi hesitated for a moment. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect¡­ There is such a possibility, but the possibility is not high. Their experts are all being watched by our people. It¡¯s very difficult to go to the other cities quietly.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Qin Huai made a bold guess. ¡°Could it be that a force that is on par with the three major forces has appeared in the Lingjiang?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡± Li Zeshi sighed and smiled bitterly. ¡°Big Brother and the Zhang family are all confused now. I don¡¯t understand what the other party is trying to do, but one thing is for sure. The Zhang family, the county governor, and the Twin Extreme sect will all bleed at the Fengxing Auction House tomorrow.¡± This was good news. If the three great weapon masters were gone, then Lingjiang¡¯s bejeweled weapons would be one less with each use. As the saying goes, the rarer a thing is, the more valuable it is. Tomorrow, that treasured weapon would definitely be sold at a sky-high price. Qin Huai was both happy and worried when he heard this news. He was happy that with the disappearance of the three great masters, he was not only the only child of Lingjiang City, but also the only child of the entire Lingjiang county. What was worrying was that other than the Sacred Heart sect, there was another mysterious force that had interfered, causing the already turbulent Lingjiang to become even more unstable. The current situation had the smell of a storm brewing. ¡°We can¡¯t afford it anyway. Great, we can just watch the fun in peace.¡± Li Buhu smiled without any pressure. ¡°I won¡¯t go tomorrow either. I¡¯ll go look for someone while the three forces are all focused on the three masters and the auction house,¡± Qin Huai said. He had previously told Li Zewu and Li Zeshi about this matter. Now that the situation was getting more and more unstable, he was even more worried about his master and Luo Ya. Chapter 215 - 215 Ghost Stories 215 Ghost Stories ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble Fourth Uncle to take advantage of these two days to send people to inquire around. If there¡¯s any news, be sure to tell me immediately,¡± Qin Huai instructed. Now that he had the second and fourth branches to mobilize, his plan to find people naturally began in secret. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just that Lingjiang is so big, so it¡¯s not that easy to find someone,¡± Li Zeshi said slowly. ¡°After all, according to Son-in-law, the Zhang family and the county governor¡¯s mansion were looking for them previously. They will definitely be very vigilant and won¡¯t expose themselves easily.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. I¡¯ll just do my best.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Then, he went to the second branch and instructed them. After that, he returned to the courtyard and put on the black robe and bamboo hat that he had prepared yesterday. Then, he went around to the back of the mountain. He took a big detour from the back mountain of the Nine Dragons sect, then left Lingjiang City. In the wilderness, he changed into a bamboo hat and black robe, then covered it up again. He turned around and entered the city again. Qin Huai¡¯s attire was not uncommon in the city, especially in Lingjiang these past two days. Countless people wanted to watch the show and witness the auction of the bone stabilizing pill and the treasured weapon. Of course, there was no lack of daring people who wanted to kill for money. It was also possible that the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the three bejeweled weapons masters had entered the city to inquire about the news and layout. In short, at this moment, Lingjiang City was a chaotic place, and the undercurrents were surging. In front of Wanli Street, there was already a long line of people. They lined up from the street to the end of the alley, and even extended to the slums. One could see how popular it was. Even the restaurants and tea houses on Wanli Street were getting more and more crowded. And so, the street, which was already crowded, was now even more difficult to move. Qin Huai looked at the stream of people and flicked his wrist lightly. Specks of powder shot out. After a while, the smiles on the pedestrians¡¯ faces suddenly stopped. Some of them folded their legs slightly and looked around. Qin Huai flicked his fingers again. ¡°Gulp. Gulp¡­¡± The pedestrians around him began to find excuses to walk quickly toward the restaurant or teahouse. The road instantly widened. Qin Huai did the same thing and smoothly walked to the entrance of the Fengxing Auction House. ¡°Sir, are you going to¡­¡± The enthusiastic servant walked up to Qin Huai with a respectful and humble expression. ¡°I¡¯d like to get a card and book a private room,¡± Qin Huai immediately said. ¡°Master, as you can see, our auction house is already overcrowded. The number of private rooms is limited, but the lobby below¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Qin Huai took out a hundred taels of silver and stuffed it into his hands. ¡°The lobby is a little noisy, but there¡¯s a separate seat on the second floor. Over there¡­¡± Qin Huai gave him another hundred taels. ¡°Ah, look at my brain. Room C-7 is still empty. I¡¯ll book it for you!¡± the servant blurted out. Then, he stuffed a card into Qin Huai¡¯s hands. On it was the room number. ¡°Tomorrow morning, bring this sign over. Someone will naturally lead the way for you. There have been many people these two days. If there¡¯s anything that I didn¡¯t take care of, please forgive me.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He turned around and left, finding a random inn to stay in. Although there were many people, Qin Huai was not short of money. He used the same hundred taels of cash to open up a path for them without any obstructions. The night passed quietly. Qin Huai even woke up early to have breakfast. Many people were sitting in a circle in the inn, vividly describing the three treasured weapon masters¡¯ deaths. Bored, Qin Huai sat at a nearby table and ate his breakfast while listening to their bragging. ¡°That night, the experts of the three major forces came out together and fought with the masked man in the forest.¡± ¡°The four groups are all top-notch experts, and two of them are even in the seventh refinement blood refining realm. They¡¯re relying on their numbers to suppress the black-clothed man.¡± ¡°Just as I was about to kill the man in black, guess what happened?¡± The bearded man slammed the table. Everyone looked on eagerly and moved closer. ¡°I¡¯ve been talking for so long. I¡¯m a little thirsty.¡± The bearded man smacked his lips. ¡°Tsk~¡± One of them waved his hand in disappointment. He wanted to get up but sat down again. ¡°Lady Boss, give me a bottle of your twenty-year-old wine! ¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The lady boss with a big belly responded charmingly, causing the man¡¯s body to tremble. When the good wine was served, the bearded man took a big gulp. Then, he continued, ¡°Guess what happened? A white armor appeared on the man in black and blocked the dozens of swords in front of him. ¡°That white armor is different. It¡¯s covered in fur and flesh, like leather armor, but you can see sparks when you cut it. Then it got even scarier. The black-clothed man¡¯s armor actually began to stretch out its arms and legs to wrap around him. ¡°In an instant, the black-robed man seemed to have grown a few inches. He was as terrifying as a demon. Hisstrength is also great, and his aura is sufficient. In an instant, he¡¯ll be able to turn the tables and kill everyone in all directions~¡± the bearded man explained vividly. However, the people around him could not help but exclaim, ¡°Your big beard is getting more and more ridiculous.¡± ¡°What kind of armor is it? Forget it, what kind of story is that?¡± ¡°Bring the wine over!¡± The man who bought the wine was also furious. He snatched the wine pot back and drank two mouthfuls. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth!¡± The bearded man looked aggrieved. ¡°My seventh uncle¡¯s third son, his wife¡¯s younger brother, is an apprentice of Axe Bridge Manor! That day, I happened to go down the mountain to pick up goods. When I returned to the mountain, I saw it with my own eyes!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you say that your wife and grandfather came back from the underworld and saw it with their own eyes and told you in a dream?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That way, it¡¯ll be related to your story.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ It¡¯s all ghost stories.¡± Qin Huai, who was sitting at the next table, also felt that the burly man¡¯s words were not very credible. He himself was a decent blacksmith, so he knew that it was useless to forge armor that was covered in flesh and blood. It would also corrode the armor and reduce its durability, shortening its lifespan. As for transforming into a demon, it was even more ridiculous. It was more accurate to say that the Sacred Heart sect ate people. After Qin Huai finished his breakfast, he stood up and walked straight into the Fengxing Auction House diagonally opposite him. ¡°A distinguished guest in Room C-7!¡± the servant shouted at the top of his voice. Following that, two young ladies with good figures dressed in pure white embroidered dresses led Qin Huai upstairs. Chapter 216 - 216 The Auction Starts 216 The Auction Starts The location of the room was a little remote, which was in the corner of the auction hall. There was a couch and a mink-covered southern flower chair in the room, and there was also a square table with a fruit platter next to it. Qin Huai sat on the couch. Through the gauze curtains, he could see the side of the auction stage. It was also as pure white as the outer walls of the auction house, spotless. It was polished like a mirror, very pleasing to the eye. Taking a step forward, he could see rows of seats under the auction stage. The place was already overcrowded with at least a thousand people. Fortunately, this Fengxing Auction House was generous enough. The entire auction house was huge, and it was more than enough to accommodate these thousand people. The noise was chaotic, and most of it was related to the three missing masters and the auction items. Qin Huai tried hard to listen for a while. Not only were these people¡¯s stories ridiculous, but they were also not as attractive as the story of the bearded man in the inn. Then, he closed his eyes and rested. After waiting for a while, an old man in white slowly walked up the stage. ¡°Ahem¡­ Everyone, quiet down.¡± The old man gestured to the audience. At the same time, a faint aura slowly spread out from his body. Qin Huai narrowed his eyes slightly. The small demonstration instantly silenced the auction house. ¡°I know why you¡¯re here. So, let¡¯s not waste our breath on useless words. Let¡¯s now start the monthly auction for this month!¡± As soon as the old man finished speaking, a woman with an excellent figure walked up from behind the stage with a tray. ¡°The first item is the hundred-year-old wind chime flower from Wind Chime Mountain. It¡¯s the main ingredient for treating hearing loss and refining spirit eye pills. The starting price is five hundred taels of silver, and each increment must not be lower than fifty taels.¡± ¡°Five hundred!¡± ¡°Five hundred and fifty.¡± ¡°Six hundred and fifty¡­¡± The voices below the stage instantly disappeared. ¡°Going once¡­ going twice¡­ Sold!¡± The old man hammered the hammer without hesitation. Only a certain group of people would buy these medicinal herbs. No one would drive up the price. Qin Huai looked down at the stage. After the person had bid for the medicinal herbs, the woman handed them to him, and the money was handed over on the spot. The second auction item was brought up. ¡°Next is the three-hundred-year-old six tongues pulling grass. If the poison is refined into medicine, it can melt the tongue as long as it touches it. Even a bone pattern realm warrior will be affected if he¡¯s not careful.¡± The old man said, ¡°The starting bid is one thousand taels, and each increment must not be lower than a hundred taels.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s interest was instantly piqued, and he opened his mouth to bid. ¡°One thousand taels.¡± The crowd below the stage raised their heads and looked at Qin Huai, who was in Room C-7 upstairs. Unfortunately, they could only see Qin Huai¡¯s rough outline through the curtain. No one was interested in this item, because there weren¡¯t many pharmacists present. And so, not long after, the wooden door behind him was pushed open, and a maidservant respectfully placed the six tongues pulling grass in front of Qin Huai. ¡°You can go out now. I¡¯ll call you if I need anything.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the graceful woman beside him and waved his hand. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The woman bowed to Qin Huai and obediently left the room. Qin Huai took out a dagger from his sleeve and began to concoct the six tongues pulling grass on the spot. He mixed it with the poison in his body to unleash its effects. It sounded very rough, but in fact, it was a delicate job that required micro-manipulation to deal with this highly toxic substance and control the dosage. The old man had a wide variety of items. From the main ingredients needed for difficult diseases to pills that could increase vitality. There were also paintings by famous teachers, and more than ten sets of armor. He had everything one needed. However, the people in the private rooms upstairs rarely made a bid. Qin Huai, on the other hand, had made quite a few moves, obtaining six to seven types of medicinal herbs. He spent four to five thousand taels. Dong dong dong¡­ The auction stage suddenly shook. Immediately after, two burly men slowly walked out from backstage with a long halberd. However, the tip of the halberd was already half broken, and there were many cracks on its body. ¡°This halberd is a broken bejeweled weapon sent from a battlefield in the state capital. It¡¯s about forty to fifty percent damaged. ¡°The force has almost completely disappeared, but it¡¯s hard to guarantee that there won¡¯t be any remnants left. If it¡¯s accidentally triggered during a fight, it will allow you to instantly turn the tide of the battle. ¡°Even without force, the body of the long halberd is made of the famous Qianji Forest on Baiqi Mountain, and the tip of the halberd is made of purple sand iron. They are all good materials. ¡°The starting price is five thousand taels of silver. Each increment must not be lower than a hundred taels. ¡± As soon as the old man finished speaking, multiple shouts could be heard. ¡°Five thousand one hundred!¡± ¡°Five thousand two hundred!¡± ¡°Five thousand four hundred!¡± Just as the price was gradually rising¡­ ¡°Ten thousand taels!¡± A voice came from upstairs, directly adding four thousand taels of silver. The terrifying increase in price instantly silenced everyone downstairs. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, the small fries downstairs. This thing isn¡¯t something you can have.¡± An arrogant voice came from the private room. Qin Huai took a look. It was the person from Room A2. That seemed to be the seat reserved by the county governor¡¯s mansion all year round. ¡°Fifteen thousand taels.¡± The people upstairs began to bid, and each and every one of them was frightening. ¡°Five hundred gold.¡± A lazy voice rang out. It was still from the private room of the county governor¡¯s mansion. ¡°Can¡¯t you guys be more straightforward?¡± Hiss¡­ The crowd below the stage had already begun to gasp. Meanwhile, the corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. These people were really rich. Qin Huai wanted to take away half of their wealth with one word. He now felt that he was already considered very rich now. Chapter 217 - 217 A New Master 217 A New Master However, compared to these deep-rooted giants in Lingjiang County, they were still far behind. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as Brother Feng says. Six hundred gold.¡± A gentle voice sounded. Qin Huai instantly knew that this was Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Seven hundred gold.¡± A voice rang out from the Twin Extreme sect. Qin Huai frowned. ¡®This voice¡­ It seems to be Reihom?¡¯ When he heard this voice, his heart was filled with mixed feelings. In the past, they were considered competitors in Pingnan City, and the two martial arts centers behind them were even archenemies. Now, there was no Pingnan City. Qin Huai listened to Reihom¡¯s voice and felt a little nostalgic. That guy seemed to be doing well in the Twin Extreme sect. After leaving the Thunderbolt Dojo and entering the Twin Extreme sect, he was like a fish in water. He broke through to the great blood refinement realm at the speed of one realm per month. He had contributed greatly to the war against the Sacred Heart sect in September Hook. There were discussions in the streets and alleys of Lingjiang. In the end, the price was set at eight hundred gold, and Reihom pocketed it. All the weapons that appeared in the auction today were about one-third more expensive than usual. The disappearance of the three bejeweled weapon masters had brought along all the blacksmiths in their manor. These three forces almost had half of the blacksmiths in Lingjiang. As the saying went, the rarer an item was, the more valuable it was. As a result, the prices of weapons and armor rose. ¡°The next few items will be the highlight. Please be prepared.¡± The old man patted the hammer gently. The people below the stage immediately straightened their backs and stared at the stage without blinking. The maid first brought up a wooden tray covered with a piece of cloth. However, from the shape of the bulge, it was not difficult to guess what was inside. It was the target of Qin Huai¡¯s trip, the power stone. ¡°The first heavy item is a power stone that fell from the Feiliu Mountain. The stone contains the sharp force of a flying rainbow, which can break through bone patterns. This stone is most suitable to be made into a sword. ¡°Unfortunately, this stone is too small to be made into a sword. However, it can also be used as a dagger or a spearhead. The effect is also quite good.¡± The old man took out the power stone. It was only as thick as a palm. The old man¡¯s evaluation was very fair. He listed the advantages and disadvantages together. ¡°The starting price is fifty thousand taels of silver. Each increment must not be lower than one thousand taels.¡± Below the stage and upstairs, there was a rare silence. If the people below the stage bought it, they would only be hunted down by others. Whether they could walk out of Lingjiang City alive was a problem. As for the people upstairs¡­ Before, they would definitely fight for it, but now¡­ They could buy the stone, but the people who can forge the bejeweled weapon were gone. What could they do with it? In a short time, they would make it difficult for Lingjiang to cultivate a new master of bejeweled weapons. This thing could only eat dirt at home. ¡°I don¡¯t know who kidnapped all the treasure masters of Lingjiang. Hmph!¡± A cold voice snorted from the Twin Extreme sect. ¡°Whoever has the ability is a suspect.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s someone from the Nine Dragons sect. After all, I heard that they were planning to bring Master Fuqiao to their sect a few days ago,¡± the young man surnamed Feng from the county governor¡¯s mansion said lazily. ¡°Perhaps Master Fuqiao has already arrived at the Nine Dragons sect, and they have already killed the other two by now. In the end, only the Nine Dragons sect was left with the ability to create artifacts that no one else could eat. Does my analysis make sense?¡± The young man surnamed Feng¡¯s tone was filled with arrogance, and he did not hide his intention of targeting the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Brother Feng, you have to have evidence when you speak. It¡¯s not a good thing to slander people.¡± Zhang Haoyue still retorted gently. ¡°If you say it¡¯s not, then it¡¯s not~¡± The young man named Feng pursed his lips, as if he didn¡¯t care at all. Then, he said, ¡°The fake mountain in my backyard is missing a corner. I think this stone is not bad. I¡¯ll bid fifty thousand taels.¡± ¡°Fifty-one thousand taels,¡± Qin Huai said slowly. The young man surnamed Feng frowned and snorted coldly. ¡°Where did this small fry come from? How dare he snatch something from me? Eighty thousand!¡± The young man surnamed Feng was not polite at all. He did not treat money as money at all. ¡°I am indeed an insignificant person. I only know how to forge a little.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm and emotionless. He deliberately made his voice hoarse. This was very easy for a ninth refinement martial artist. ¡°From your tone, it sounds like you can forge bejeweled weapons.¡± The young man named Feng sneered. ¡°Eight¡­¡± ¡°I can indeed forge bejeweled weapons.¡± ¡°Eight¡­ Eight¡­ Eighty thousand taels! I¡¯ll give this power stone to this master!¡± The young man named Feng suddenly stuck his head out of the curtain and looked in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. Unfortunately, he could not see the other party clearly. Qin Huai¡¯s words instantly caused an uproar in the Fengxing Auction House. ¡°A master?¡± ¡°Really?¡± The people from the various factions all looked in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. Even the young man surnamed Feng from the Twin Extreme sect and the man from the county governor¡¯s mansion walked out of the private room and rushed in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. However, they were immediately stopped by a burly man. ¡°Two young masters, please give face to my Fengxing Chamber of Commerce.¡± The burly man¡¯s voice was loud and clear. ¡°The rules of the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce cannot be messed with.¡± His entire body was filled with power, like a small mountain standing in front of them, making people feel suffocated. He was a bone pattern realm expert. This Fengxing Auction House was truly filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons. ¡°This master said that he is a bejeweled weapons master. Can you prove it?¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice slowly sounded. He was very gentle. ¡°Forgive me for being presumptuous, but I believe you know the current situation.¡± Chapter 218 - 218 Bloody Profits! 218 Bloody Profits! ¡°If you are indeed a master, then the Nine Dragons sect is willing to accept all the conditions you have offered. We also invite you to visit and stay at the Nine Dragons sect.¡± He was very generous and instantly gave an extremely tempting empty promise. Unfortunately, he was facing Qin Huai. Whoosh! A silver needle instantly pierced through the gauze curtain and pierced straight into the power stone. Ding~ The power stone instantly emitted a crisp sound, trembling. It seemed like an ordinary attack, but all the bone pattern realm warriors frowned. That was because the force on the power stone was affected by this small silver needle. This kind of ability was indeed something that a bejeweled weapon master could do and couldn¡¯t be faked. A true master! The old man on the stage couldn¡¯t help but take a deep look at Qin Huai, feeling a little puzzled. The people of the Fengxing Auction House had been roaming the towns and villages of Lingjiang county all year round. In terms of intelligence, they were even more well-informed than the three major forces. However, they had never heard of a fourth bejeweled weapon master in Lingjiang. No bejeweled weapon masters from outside of the county came here. This person¡­ It was as if he had appeared out of thin air. However, the skill level could not be faked. ¡°Ninety thousand taels. Consider it my sincerity to Grandmaster,¡± the young man from the Twin Extreme sect said. ¡°Hehe¡­ Grandmaster, why don¡¯t you come with me to Lingjiang Mei Restaurant next door and have a drink? I¡¯ll give you eighty thousand taels as compensation. I don¡¯t want others to take advantage of me,¡± Zhang Haoyue joked. Qin Huai said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m new here, so I¡¯m unfamiliar with the place and people. I just want to forge a bejeweled weapon first. I don¡¯t want to get involved in any power struggles.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ I admire Grandmaster¡¯s dedication to research.¡± The young man with the surname Feng seemed to have completely forgotten about the rude words he had said to Qin Huai just now. He appeared very friendly. ¡°I won¡¯t hide it from you, Grandmaster. I still have a lot of power stones at home that I don¡¯t have a place to put. When Master comes to the county governor¡¯s mansion as a guest in the future, you must try them.¡± ¡°One hundred thousand!¡± the young man surnamed Feng spoke again. ¡°One hundred and fifty thousand taels.¡± Zhang Haoyue added fifty thousand taels of silver in a single breath. If he could win the favor of the only bejeweled weapon master in Lingjiang, it would definitely be worth it. He had always been long-term in his actions and would never be constrained by a little fly¡¯s greed. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s boldness caused the young man surnamed Feng and the young man from the Bipolar sect to fall silent. After all, there was still the bone stabilizing pill and a very rare artifact, so they all needed large amounts of gold and silver to fight. ¡°Will Grandmaster be in the prefecture capital these days?¡± the young man named Feng asked. ¡°At least until I finish forging this bejeweled weapon, I will be here,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°That¡¯s good. I, Feng Xiaochuan, will take care of all your expenses while you¡¯re in the city!¡± Feng Xiaochuan was very forthright and planned to take a different path. ¡°One hundred and fifty thousand taels going once¡­ One hundred and fifty thousand taels going twice¡­ One hundred and fifty thousand taels going thrice¡­ Sold!¡± the old man announced. As Qin Huai listened to the three factions¡¯ incessant verbal attacks, the corners of his lips curled up slightly. Squeak~ Shortly after, the door of the private room was pushed open. A maidservant gently placed the power stone beside Qin Huai. ¡°Sir, this is a gift from the young master of the Zhang family from the Nine Dragons sect, Zhang Haoyue. Young Master Zhang said that he hopes you can create a piece of work that will satisfy you.¡± Her voice was soft, her figure was curvaceous, and she looked very sweet. Compared to the maidservants beside her, she was obviously of a higher status. Most importantly, her temperament, or rather, her influence was telling Qin Huai that this person was not an ordinary person. Clearly, the Fengxing Auction House also had their own thoughts about him. ¡°Please reply to Young Master Zhang, I will definitely accept his good words. If you need my help in the future, I will definitely give you a discount.¡± Qin Huai smiled. Then, he touched the power stone beside him. He didn¡¯t spend a single cent to obtain this priceless power stone, and he even ruthlessly cheated the Zhang family. He wondered how they would react if they knew his true identity. Qin Huai stood up. He carried the stone and quietly walked out. Just as Qin Huai reached the staircase, the girl with the soft voice blocked his way. ¡°Master, are you leaving?¡± Qin Huai calmly said, ¡°If I don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be very difficult for me to leave later.¡± The soft young girl stared straight at Qin Huai, trying to see through the veil to discern his appearance. ¡°Master, you¡¯re really cautious. No wonder my Fengxing Auction House has never heard of your existence.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always right to be cautious when traveling in the martial world. Besides, something happened recently, so I have to be careful.¡± Qin Huai was neither servile nor overbearing as he answered smoothly. ¡°Master is considering it. I just ordered someone to ask and found that Master is currently staying in the inn opposite. What a coincidence¡­ Grandmaster can rest assured to stay. In terms of safety, our Fengxing Auction House will also help to prevent Grandmaster from being harassed.¡± ¡°In that case, thank you very much!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. Then, he strode out of the Fengxing Auction House. There weren¡¯t any spies in the surroundings. They should have been driven away by the people from the Fengxing Auction House. He walked into the inn as usual and returned to his room. He put on two sets of plain clothes in the room and slowly lifted the bed. Under the bed was a bottomless hole that was as wide as a person. This was Qin Huai¡¯s success from last night. Qin Huai, who was wrapped in the power stone, jumped into the hole and covered it again with the bed. He crawled quickly into the darkness. Soon, he would see the light. At the other end of the tunnel was the slums behind Wanli Street. Qin Huai pushed off the wooden plank that had been placed at the entrance of the tunnel and stuck his head out. When he realized that no one was around, he jumped out abruptly. He took off the first layer of plain clothes that had been dirtied by the soil, and then burned the black clothes and plain clothes. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± Qin Huai tucked the already small power stone into his loose robe. He quietly avoided everyone¡¯s gaze and activated the breath control technique to take advantage of the crowd and walk into the vast sea of people on Wanli Street from the corner of the slums. Then, he swaggered toward the Nine Dragons sect. As for how Zhang Haoyue and the others would react when they realized that he had already gone to the empty house¡­ Qin Huai would look forward to it at home. Chapter 219 - 219 Going to Meet the Master 219 Going to Meet the Master In front of the Fengxing Auction House, one by one, the buyers walked out and chatted with each other with glowing faces. ¡°As expected of a treasured weapon. Just the starting price alone is 3,000 gold! ¡± ¡°Just this? The three forces didn¡¯t even blink when they called out their bids.¡± ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion is really rich. In the end, they actually bid 8,000 gold for a treasured weapon¡­¡± Everyone felt that this trip was not in vain. The three major powers had also used this auction to showcase their wealth. The buyers didn¡¯t travel far. Instead, they piled up on Wanli Street and guarded the entrance of the Fengxing Auction House. Everyone knew that the auction was over. But it was not over yet. This was because the bejeweled weapon master that should have been exterminated by Lingjiang had appeared today. No matter which of the three forces, they would never let this bejeweled weapon master go. If this bejeweled weapon master entered a force, it would definitely cause cracks in the balance of the three forces. Whoosh¡­ On the long white steps, Zhang Haoyue, who was dressed in a green and white robe, had a gentle smile on his face. Beside him was a handsome young man wearing a mink fur coat, Feng Xiaochuan. On his right was a skinny and handsome youth from the Twin Extreme sect. The three of them stood side by side. They were even more handsome than the girls in the brothel. However, no one dared to shout dirty words at the three of them. Because the three people present were the three geniuses who stood at the peak of the younger generation in Lingjiang City, all experts in the bone pattern realm. Two steps behind the youth from the Twin Extreme sect was a muscular man with a dull expression. If Qin Huai was here, he would have instantly discovered that the other party was Reihom from the Thunderbolt Dojo. Reihom held the broken artifact in his hand as he followed behind the three of them. His aura was not inferior to the three people in front of him. The three of them didn¡¯t speak much, but they walked toward the inn Qin Huai was staying at. ¡°The two of you, who shall go first?¡± Zhang Haoyue stood in front of the inn and said to Feng Xiaochuan and the youth from the Bipolar Sect with a calm expression. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Anyway, this kind of thing can¡¯t be decided by who comes first.¡± Feng Xiaochuan didn¡¯t care, as if victory was already in his grasp. ¡°Then Brother Zhang will go first. After all, Brother Zhang has already invested 150,000 taels of silver. He should have some special privileges.¡± The youth from the Twin Extreme sect seemed to be very easy to talk to. ¡°Then Haoyue will respectfully obey.¡± Zhang Haoyue cupped his hands at the two of them. The three of them had a friendly attitude. If others did not know their identities, they would really think that they were best friends. Zhang Haoyue walked into the inn with a smile on his face. The boss, who had been waiting for a long time, smiled and rubbed his hands against his body as if he was afraid of dirtying Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sir, this way please!¡± The shopkeeper bowed. ¡°The master is in the innermost private room on the left side of the first floor.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Haoyue nodded. He had already thought of a countermeasure when he was at the Fengxing Auction House. Although the master disguised himself very well, Zhang Haoyue could still tell that the other party was not old. It was very likely that he would not be more than thirty-five years old. Master Fuqiao and the other two had only entered this realm in their fifties. Obviously, this mysterious master wasn¡¯t just a genius, he might even have a master behind him. He was cautious and did not want to show it to others easily. He was focused on refining artifacts, clearly he had come down the mountain to temper himself. It was definitely not possible to keep them alive. If they provoked the sect behind the other party, they would probably become a great enemy for the Nine Dragons sect. The other party probably wouldn¡¯t even care about money. A weapon grandmaster who wasn¡¯t even thirty-five years old, the thing he didn¡¯t lack the least was money. It was obvious that the other party wanted an opportunity to continuously hone his skills. Zhang Haoyue quickly sorted out his thoughts. If he wanted to rope in someone, he never looked at what he had, but what the other party needed. As for himself, he had clearly grasped the other party¡¯s needs. With a smile on his face, he gently knocked on the door of the bejeweled weapon master. Bang! Bang! Bang! ¡°Master, I¡¯m Zhang Haoyue from the Nine Dragons sect. I¡¯m sorry to disturb you, but I have a few things to ask you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A deathly silence filled the corridor of the inn. The smile on Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face did not fade, though. He still stood in front of the master¡¯s door like a wooden stake. He had a similar experience when he visited Master Fuqiao. These masters seemed to like to use some strange methods to test people. Or rather¡­ These masters were able to make achievements in these non-mainstream paths because of their eccentric personalities. It was the same for forging and alchemy. There had always been a lot of such weirdos. After fifteen minutes, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s expression was still natural. After twenty-five minutes, he was still the same. After two hours, he stood still like a pine tree. The sky gradually turned dark. Zhang Haoyue still had the same expression, but he was muttering in his heart. He flipped his hand, and a thumb-sized bug appeared in his palm. A pair of thick and long antennae swept around the room before pointing into the room. He was still inside¡­ Zhang Haoyue had already sprinkled some powder on the master at the auction house to make it easier to track him. He was also afraid that the other two families would make a move and kidnap him. Zhang Haoyue looked at the result in front of him and felt helpless. This master¡¯s temper was really strange. Fortunately, for a bone pattern realm expert like him, standing here for a night was nothing. Chapter 220 - 220 Let Me Guess 220 Let Me Guess One night, the moon rose and the sun set. Zhang Haoyue waited until noon the next day, but he still didn¡¯t hear a sound. ¡®This master¡­ He¡¯s not even eating?¡¯ He suddenly had a bad feeling. Meanwhile, Feng Xiaochuan was cursing from afar as he walked over. ¡°What¡¯s up with this Zhang Haoyue?¡± He then happened to bump into a servant who came to deliver food. ¡°I¡¯ll deliver this meal.¡± Feng Xiaochuan didn¡¯t listen to the servant boy¡¯s explanation and threw over a banknote worth three hundred taels to snatch the plate of food. Then, he strode to the front of the room. ¡°Master, it¡¯s already morning. Come out and have a meal,¡± Feng Xiaochuan shouted lazily. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see that grandson Zhang Haoyue, I¡¯ll help you chase him away!¡± ¡°Brother Feng, that¡¯s too much.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled and looked at Feng Xiaochuan. After standing outside for an entire night, it would definitely be a lie to say that there was no fire in his stomach. ¡°Look at this master. He hasn¡¯t even replied to you for the entire night. He definitely doesn¡¯t like you.¡± Feng Xiaochuan chuckled, not the least bit afraid. ¡°I¡¯ll help you go in and take a look, in case the master has fainted from anger.¡± After Feng Xiaochuan said that, he pushed open the door without a word. Zhang Haoyue, who was beside him, did not stop him. He really did not want to wait anymore. That master didn¡¯t move at all, which made him feel a little uneasy. Squeak~ The door was pushed open by Feng Xiaochuan. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Feng Xiaochuan stood still in the room, the smile on his face stiff. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhang Haoyue stepped over the threshold and saw a black robe and a bamboo hat neatly folded on the table. There was no one on the bed. ¡°Where¡¯s Master?¡± Thump thump thump ¡­ The young man from the Twin Extreme sect also walked in quickly. He was also shocked by the scene in front of him. ¡°Tsk tsk¡­The three of us have been in the martial arts world for so many years. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ve been beaten up by a little punk this time~¡± After Feng Xiaochuan was stunned, his eyes were filled with smiles. In any case, he had won that rare weapon. With that master gone, the county governor¡¯s mansion would still be the one to profit the most. Of course, what made him even happier was¡­ ¡°To be honest, in terms of financial resources, I admit defeat this time. Brother Haoyue is so generous. He can even give out 150,000 taels of silver without even blinking¡­ Such a demeanor is worthy of being praised by the people of Lingjiang! I admire you! I really admire you!¡± Feng Xiaochuan said firmly. ¡°Indeed, Brother Haoyue has a good reputation for spending thousands of gold,¡± the youth from the Twin Extreme sect also teased. ¡°It¡¯s just 150,000 taels. It¡¯s nothing to the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled. ¡°To be able to use this 150,000 taels of silver to buy a lesson is not considered a loss.¡± He was calm as if nothing had happened. ¡°Since that so-called Grandmaster has disappeared, I won¡¯t stay here any longer. There are still many important matters in the sect that I need to deal with.¡± Zhang Haoyue cupped his fists at the two of them and bowed to many of the spectators present. From beginning to end, he was amiable. He turned around and walked into the distance. Feng Xiaochuan continued to size up the room. ¡°Tsk tsk, to be able to play with people from the three major forces, this kid sure has some skills.¡± However, compared to the silver needle hook that he displayed at the auction house, that master seemed to have a deeper understanding of the poison path. He also had the means to mark that master, and it was even attached to his flesh. But now¡­ He had also lost his target. Clearly, his methods had been easily erased by the other party and had even been transferred to this black robe. He paced around the room. Suddenly, he frowned and looked at the bed. There seemed to be a dust mark. Feng Xiaochuan grabbed the headboard and shook it. In an instant, the entire bed was torn into pieces. Crash¡­ The door to the side room was also violently shaken open by Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s jolt. Sand and soil piled up in the room with a bang. Then, the hole under the bed was revealed. ¡°There¡¯s a secret passage?!¡± Feng Xiaochuan exclaimed. Whoosh! A strong wind blew around him. In the blink of an eye, a green-robed figure appeared. It was Zhang Haoyue who had returned. He looked at the tunnel without any hesitation and instantly went in. The white dragon protected his body and used both his hands and feet. Like a swimming dragon, he reached the end of the tunnel in just a dozen breaths. Bang! He broke the cover and jumped up from the ground. ¡®The slums?¡¯ However, at this moment, Zhang Haoyue was no longer as calm as before. His eyes were red, and his killing intent was like a tide as he looked at the crowded streets on both sides. ¡°Bastard!¡± Zhang Haoyue slammed his palm on the wall. The entire wall that had experienced many vicissitudes of life collapsed under Zhang Haoyue¡¯s furious attack. 150,000 taels of silver! A whole 150,000 taels of silver! He could buy two of those damaged artifacts with this money! ¡°Don¡¯t let me know who you are. Otherwise, I, Zhang Haoyue, swear that I will tear you into pieces! ¡± Zhang Haoyue gritted his teeth. ¡­ ¡°Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law¡­¡± Li Buhu dashed into Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyes and looked at Li Buhu, whose mouth was about to crack to the back of his head. ¡°Can you guess what happened when Zhang Haoyue went to Fengxing Auction House today?¡± ¡°Let me think.¡± Qin Huai pinched his fingers together, his expression solemn. Immediately, he opened his eyes. ¡°I know now. Zhang Haoyue spends money like dirt, but he has achieved nothing. ¡± Li Buhu was stunned. ¡°Brother-in-law, you know how to read the heavens?!¡± He looked at Qin Huai as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°There was a bejeweled weapon grandmaster in the popular auction. Then, Zhang Haoyue spent 150,000 taels of silver to buy that power stone and presented it to the grandmaster, hoping to rope him in¡­ Who would have thought that the master would run away after getting the power stone.¡± Chapter 221 - 221 Silver Fox! Going to September Hook Again! 221 Silver Fox! Going to September Hook Again! As Li Buhu recounted what happened, the smile on his face was extremely distorted. When he finished speaking, only then did he bow and laugh out loud. ¡°How satisfying. If I meet that master, I¡¯ll be sworn brothers with him.¡± Li Buhu put his hands on his waist and laughed for a long time. ¡°Brother-in-law, can you teach me how to spy on the heavenly secrets?¡± After Li Buhu finished laughing, he squatted down beside Qin Huai and looked at him eagerly. ¡°You don¡¯t have the talent.¡± Qin Huai refused decisively. Then, he sent Li Buhu away and summoned Qingshui. ¡°In the next few days, no one is allowed to enter the new furnace room in the backyard without my permission. If it¡¯s not a matter of life and death, don¡¯t come looking for me. If Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle, and Li Buhu come, you have to inform me first.¡± ¡°Understood, Son-in-law.¡± Qingshui nodded. Qin Huai stood up and returned to his room to pick up his power stone. After that, he asked Qingshui to send someone to the blacksmith shop to buy some high-quality iron stones and wood. They were sent to the iron-smelting room Qin Huai had built in his courtyard. Refining artifacts wasn¡¯t as easy as one wished, especially when it came to refining power stones into bejeweled weapons. It was necessary to act according to the situation. For example, the stone in Qin Huai¡¯s hand that contained the power of the flying rainbow could only be made into an offensive weapon. It was very difficult for artifacts like armor and heart-protecting mirrors to display their power. And the difficulty of forging a power stone was how to refine the original force in the power stone, and at the same time, maintain the force in the power stone to be intact and not be smashed. One had to know that force was very strong, but before it transformed into a bejeweled weapon, it was also very weak. A slight carelessness could cause it to shatter and become an ordinary stone. Qin Huai started the fire and began to think about what kind of weapon he wanted to forge. ¡°The sword is a gentleman among soldiers. It¡¯s elegant, noble, and full of righteousness. When you practice it, it¡¯s elegant¡­ But it doesn¡¯t suit my attacking style.¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°The broadsword is the commander of a hundred weapons. It focuses on chopping, blocking, stabbing, and wiping. Its moves are concise and easy to learn. It¡¯s bold and decisive. It¡¯s not bad for me¡­ It¡¯s just that this stone is too small, so it can¡¯t be forged into a broadsword.¡± He pondered. ¡°The spear is the overlord of a hundred weapons. It is extremely powerful, fast in attack and defense, and full of changes. It¡¯s also known as the thief of a hundred soldiers. ¡°My strength is unparalleled, and I have the support of the poison path¡­ The spear and I are quite compatible.¡± Qin Huai pondered for a while before finally choosing the spear among the three. He hammered the entire stone into the tip of the spear. Along the way, he even asked Qingshui to take ten thousand taels of silver and go to the city to buy a top-grade dragon tendon wood. It was as sturdy as steel and as tough as a bow. Qin Huai cowered in his room all day, doing his best. The most difficult part of tempering the power stone was the need. One could only use one¡¯s own force to temper the power stone¡¯s force. This was extremely taxing on one¡¯s mind and force. Forging a bejeweled weapon was no less than a soul-stirring life-and-death battle. After ten days and ten nights, Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was a little unfocused, and his hair was fluffy. The hammer in his hand smashed down heavily like a machine, but it was very accurate. Clang~! When the final hammer fell, Qin Huai¡¯s originally unfocused gaze instantly focused. His pupils also emitted a shocking light. Success! Qin Huai looked at the long spear in front of him that was emitting a sharp aura. The tip of the spear was silver-white and dazzling like a diamond. The black spear was also smashed into the power stone, causing the two to fuse into one. Qin Huai picked it up with one hand and brandished the spear in front of him. Whoosh! A streak of silver lightning flashed in front of him, as if it was about to tear the air apart. ¡°With a casual wave of my hand, there will be great momentum.¡± Qin Huai casually waved the spear, leaving streaks of silver arcs in the room. It was exceptionally beautiful. He suddenly shook the spear, and a force was transferred from the spear to the spearhead. Whoosh! The next moment, the silver spearhead shot out like a cannonball. The silver arc of light suddenly expanded, and the astonishing power made Qin Huai feel a little dazzled for a moment. The spearhead shot forward and pierced through the house in an instant, directly stabbing into the ground. ¡°The effect is not bad.¡± Qin Huai looked at the spearhead that had completely sunk into the ground and was extremely satisfied with its power. He pulled out the spearhead and pressed it against the body of the spear again. ¡°This spear can draw out a silver arc of light, and it also has my ingenious and wonderful ideas¡­ Let¡¯s call him Silver Fox.¡± Qin Huai held Silver Fox that weighed a thousand jin in his hand as if he was waving his arm. After that, he pushed open the door. It had been a long time since they saw the light of day again. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ve come out of seclusion.¡± Qingshui heard the commotion and rushed over. Seeing Qin Huai wielding a spear, she was slightly shocked. ¡®What a dazzling spear¡­¡¯ For some reason, Qingshui felt that it was a little overwhelming, but she suppressed the throbbing in her heart and did not ask. ¡°Young Master, the food has been prepared for you,¡± Qingshui said respectfully. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai wrapped Silver Fox in a black cloth and then walked to the main hall to feast. After eating and drinking to his heart¡¯s content, Qin Huai let out a satisfied burp. ¡°Has anything happened outside these few days?¡± Qingshui said slowly, ¡°Yes. It seems that the Balance Army has emerged in all parts of Jiangjun under the banner of ¡®world peace.¡¯ In fact, they are the two cities that have risen up. ¡°However, the armor on their bodies is a little strange. Some people say that some of the armor of the Balance Army often has some unknown hair and flesh on it, and their combat strength is also a little stronger than the ordinary Balance Army. ¡°Now, the county governor¡¯s mansion has sent troops to suppress them. However, the Balance Army is very cunning. They can escape from the encirclement every time they fight and retreat. It made the situation a little anxious.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Was it those armors with unknown fur and flesh again? He had once heard from someone in the inn that these people seemed to be related to the case of the three artifact masters. However, he felt that it was ridiculous at that time because he could not make such armor and did not know the principle behind it. But now, it seemed like he was the only one. Those strange armors might be real. ¡°There¡¯s another rumor,¡± Qingshui said. ¡°Some people say that in the state capital or other state capitals, some businesses no longer recognize the silver and gold notes issued by the Great You Trading Company. ¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. If this was true, it meant that the Great You was not far from falling apart. It was getting more and more chaotic. He stood up and decided to go to September Hook again. On the one hand, he wanted to test the spear, and on the other hand, he wanted to find out where his master and Luo Ya were. Moreover, he could also increase his experience in the blood heart technique and the long breath technique. Chapter 222 - 222 A Slaughter! 222 A Slaughter! Late at night, September Hook. From afar, one could see a strange mountain peak that was curved like a scorpion¡¯s tail under the sky. As such, September Hook was also known as Scorpion Tail Mountain. Qin Huai carried Silver Fox, who was wrapped in a black cloth, on his back. He activated his breath control technique and silently passed through the dense forest. The four-directional tiger-wolf technique¡¯s wolf walk technique made his footsteps light and fast. With the help of the breath control skill, he looked like a ghost. The first time he entered September Hook, he was surrounded and killed by a group of Sacred Heart sect disciples because he was carrying a ¡®bait¡¯ mission. Then, the second time was to kill Zhang Dagen, but he only walked along the edge of September Hook. This time¡­ It was Qin Huai¡¯s first time exploring September Hook. Speaking of which, he had a deep relationship with the Sacred Heart sect. Ever since the first time he went up the mountain to slaughter a gang in Pingnan City, the Sacred Heart sect had always been closely related to him. He recalled the fight in the mine, proving his innocence, and saving the dojo from the same sect killing each other. Throughout his journey, he had been safe and sound. He had his own tireless efforts in cultivation, but he also had the full support of the Sacred Heart sect. If they hadn¡¯t helped him cultivate the breath control technique, the spirit eye technique, and the most important blood heart technique, he would not have been able to master them. Qin Huai was afraid that he would have died on the way to escape. Therefore, his feelings towards the Sacred Heart sect¡­ It was exceptionally cordial. Suddenly, Qin Huai stopped in his tracks. He then quickly climbed up the tree and stood still. In front of him, two young men in coarse clothes were holding torches and chewing something in their hands. A green light flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, and he immediately saw the items in their grasp. It was a pair of left and right hands. They¡¯re Sacred Heart disciples, talking and laughing as if they were eating chicken feet in their hands. Qin Huai glanced in the direction the two of them had come from. He could vaguely make out a large courtyard in front of them. ¡®They¡¯re on patrol?¡¯ He retracted his gaze and looked at the two people walking over. Their feet were light, and their faces were pale, but their chests were very strong. Even the Sacred Heart supreme technique cultivated by evil cultivation techniques like theirs had this problem. Their bodies would be a little stronger than ordinary people¡¯s. In fact, the bodies of those with higher cultivation levels would even mutate. For example, hunchbacks and six fingers were the most common changes, and they would appear after about four refinements. One of the two people in front of him had a little bulge at the end of his palm. ¡®A third refinement martial artist patrolling?¡¯ It seemed that this village was not simple. There would definitely be martial artists who refined their blood. If Qin Huai wanted to gather information, he naturally had to find someone qualified. Martial artists at the great blood refinement realm were elites no matter where they were, so they would know a lot. Qin Huai didn¡¯t kill the two patrolling guards because he would alert the enemy. Instead, he waited for the two of them to pass by before quietly making his way toward the village. The village was not big. Qin Huai stood on the tree and could see everything at a glance. The two acres of land was surrounded by a short wooden fence. There were four small courtyards in the middle of the fence, which were not as big as the courtyards in the slums. At most, there were twenty people living in a small courtyard. Most of the places were empty, and weeds were growing everywhere, but no one was clearing them. Qin Huai reached out. He checked the direction of the wind, and it was still the same. His path had always been like this. He had never forgotten his master¡¯s teachings, which had been deeply engraved into his bones. For this reason, he had read many books on astronomical phenomena and discussed it with his master. However, he would still reach out to test it every time, just in case. After a while, Qin Huai moved another dozen meters closer and was almost in front of the village. Then, he slowly extended his sleeves. As Qin Huai gently shook them rhythmically, fine powder fluttered in the wind. His robe had been modified, and there was a universe inside. From the outside, it looked no different from the green and white robes of ordinary disciples, but there were more than twenty layers of different depths inside with, of course, more than twenty types of poison inside. Different methods allowed Qin Huai to release different types of poison to deal with different situations. The first type was a lethal poison that could kill anyone under the great blood refinement, and the other was a knockout powder that could make a great blood refinement martial artist fall asleep. Qin Huai counted the time in his heart. When the time was up, he quietly walked toward the village. The two guards at the gate had already black blood seeping out of their eyes. He walked straight in. The crackling flames were roasting a corpse on the fire, and one of the parts had already fallen to the ground. Qin Huai walked to the small courtyard and looked inside through the window. Black blood had already filled the bedding. They couldn¡¯t be any more dead. The infiltration was successful. Qin Huai heaved a sigh of relief. He pushed the door open and walked in. He saw a row of corpses lying neatly on the bed. Although this small courtyard wasn¡¯t big, there were quite a number of people crammed in. The room, which could fit twenty people at most, was now divided into forty seats, and their names were engraved on the headboard. However, there were not that many people in the room. There were less than half of them, and more than a dozen people were lying in their seats. The rest probably went out. Qin Huai gave each of them a fair slap on the head, easily denting their heads like a watermelon. Then, Qin Huai put away the row of experience balls neatly arranged on the bed. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +62!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Green)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +144!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Green)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +121!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +21!¡± The conditions for the experience balls to appear were also quite simple, which were from death or fighting within a certain range. Chapter 223 - 223 Interrogating the Sacred Heart Disciples 223 Interrogating the Sacred Heart Disciples As Qin Huai entered the ninth refinement, he had already reached the ninety-meter range. There were also those who were killed by him. Qin Huai walked into the second courtyard, following the same pattern. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Green)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +160!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Green)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +170!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Green)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +103!¡± Most of the people in the village cultivated the blood heart technique, and only a small number of them cultivated the long breath technique. Furthermore, their cultivation realm was not high, so the experience they gave Qin Huai was very little. Qin Huai quickly cleaned up the third courtyard. The first three courtyards only had about thirty people in total. More than half of the rooms and beds in the courtyards were empty. At the fourth, Qin Huai pushed the door open with a creak. There were only three people lying inside, but¡­ Not a single experience ball dropped. ¡®Three great blood refinements?¡¯ Qin Huai took out three black pills and stuffed them into their mouths. Then, he held Silver Fox in his hand and gently tapped each of the three people¡¯s chests. The moment the blood seeped out, the three of them suddenly woke up. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Qin Huai said coldly. ¡°You have been poisoned. If you want to live, answer my question honestly.¡± As soon as Qin Huai finished speaking, he raised his spear and pierced the throat of the man on his left. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Purple)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +2789!¡± The brawny man exclaimed, ¡°He didn¡¯t want to attack, so why did you kill him?!¡± ¡°Oh, I was afraid you would think that I¡¯m kind and would not dare to kill, so reminded you.¡± Qin Huai was expressionless as he moved the tip of his spear to the remaining two. The two muscular men¡¯s faces turned pale. They knew that they had met a ruthless person. The two burly men were extremely large, twice the size of Qin Huai. However, their limbs were very normal, so they looked like two turtles wearing clothes, which was extremely awkward. ¡°Just ask.¡± ¡°Have you seen or do you know a group of martial artists who cultivate the long breath technique? The leader of the martial artists is very old, with white hair and a long beard. He¡¯s good at using poison,¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Is it the group of people who used poisonous fire to kill many of us in September Hook?¡± a burly man exclaimed. ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s spear pierced through his cheek. The brawny man wailed in pain as blood gushed down his face. ¡°Don¡¯t play tricks. The people outside are all dead, so it¡¯s useless no matter how loud you shout.¡± Qin Huai was cold as he drew his spear. The two huge holes on the burly man¡¯s face howled with the wind, and he could not even speak clearly. ¡°You¡¯re so vicious. How do I know I won¡¯t die if I answer you?¡± The other brawny man was trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but if you don¡¯t tell me, you¡¯ll definitely wish you were dead.¡± Qin Huai pointed the spear at him. The man whose face had been pierced instantly began to howl in pain. Immediately, blisters began to appear on his body. In just a few breaths, his entire body was covered in dense blood-colored bubbles, making him look like a giant red toad. The man beside him felt his scalp tingle. ¡®A demon! Does this man¡¯s body release poison?¡¯ He didn¡¯t even see Qin Huai make a move, and his brother had already become like this. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll tell you everything¡­ We found their tracks four days ago, hiding in Huai Dan City. Then, he sent people to chase after them¡­¡± Qin Huai frowned. ¡°If I remember correctly, Huai Dan City fell into the hands of the Balance Army two days ago, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Therefore, our people returned empty-handed,¡± the man stammered, not daring to look up at Qin Huai. That was because they had just received a messenger pigeon back two hours ago. If the time was right, the people who had gone out to kill should have arrived by now. The leader of the group was an existence at the ninth refinement realm. He was a true believer of the Sacred Heart sect. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just poison some of your people to death? Why are you chasing after them so relentlessly?¡± Qin Huai coldly asked. Qin Huai was furious. If his master and the others were caught in the meat grinder of the battle between the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Balance Army, it would definitely be extremely dangerous. ¡°Because¡­ Because they seemed to be blacksmiths and knew how to forge armor. That¡¯s why those lords above wanted to capture them and make armor for us,¡± the man stammered. No wonder¡­ A complete set of armor was indeed the fastest way to increase a person¡¯s combat strength. If that was the case, Luo Huatian seemed to have been a good blacksmith. He had started as a blacksmith and established a huge blacksmith shop business. Could they be among them? ¡°Where is the place where your Sacred Heart sect refines iron?¡± Qin Huai asked again. ¡°Well¡­¡± The man¡¯s eyes evaded his gaze. He knew that if he told him everything, he would die the next moment. The only thing he could do now was to stall for time and wait for that lord to return. Crack! Qin Huai stabbed his spear into his shoulder. With a flick of the spear tip, one of its tendons was severed. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s September Hook, right below September Hook!¡± ¡°The headquarters of the Sacred Heart sect?¡± Qin Huai frowned. There were quite a number of bone pattern realm experts there. Not to mention his current strength, he might not even be able to take down the entire Nine Dragons sect. Qin Huai grew increasingly anxious. ¡°However, my lord¡­ Our Sacred Heart sect treats these skilled blacksmiths very well. They¡¯re all placed there. It¡¯s just that they work a little longer every day. Their lives are definitely not in danger.¡± Chapter 224 - 224 Attacking with Silver Fox 224 Attacking with Silver Fox The brawny man kept revealing information in a flattering manner. Qin Huai stared into the burly man¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t seem to be lying. If that was the case¡­ Luo Huatian and the others were temporarily captured by the Sacred Heart sect to forge iron, so they wouldn¡¯t be in danger for the time being. In the end, his strength was insufficient. Regardless of whether it was the hinterland of September Hook or Huai Dan City, where his master and the others might be, he could not reach it with his current strength. However, he still had to find a way to locate them. After all, these were only the results that he had inferred from these bits and pieces of information. Whoosh! Qin Huai¡¯s spear was as fast as lightning, stabbing the man to death. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Purple)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +3,111!¡± ¡­ Hu lu lu~ A few hounds lay on the ground and sniffed hard. Then, they began to bare their teeth in the direction of the village. ¡°The smell of blood?¡± ¡°Someone invaded the village?!¡± The few men who were leading the hounds turned around and looked at a burly man. The man¡¯s figure was normal. He didn¡¯t have six fingers, nor was he hunchbacked or bloated. However, the top of his head was very sparse. Only the two sideburns could be seen clearly, and the hair above was faintly discernible. ¡°How audacious!¡± The man growled, ¡°Surround the village! Press on!¡± There was no reply from behind, but everyone rushed out. More than a hundred people scattered in all directions. Soon, torches surrounded the entire village. The man also walked over from afar. ¡°Kill them!¡± the man ordered. His subordinates were all experts. Half of them were martial artists at the fourth refinement and above, and they were considered elites in the Sacred Heart sect. With hundreds of people surrounding them, even an ant could not crawl out silently. He followed his subordinates in, then frowned. This was because they were supposed to be surrounded on all sides, but now only three sides had entered. Moreover, there were no sounds of fighting in the forest. ¡°Be careful!¡± the man shouted. The next moment, black blood began to ooze out of the noses of the surrounding subordinates, and they fell to the ground with ferocious expressions. ¡°It¡¯s poison! Hold your breath!¡± The man was shocked. ¡°What a big move. The entire village is actually filled with poisonous fog?¡± However, it was already too late when he opened his mouth. A large number of his subordinates had already fallen to the ground with a bang and were not breathing. Whoosh! In the darkness, a cold light shot straight into his glabella. The man suddenly turned his body sideways and barely dodged this dangerous attack. With a backhand, several daggers shot out. That person was like a ghost, and with a few movements, he directly passed the man. A cold light suddenly appeared in the night. It directly pierced through one of his subordinates behind him. Qin Huai did not attack the man first. Instead, he took a step forward and charged at the group of elites behind him. After more than ten sixth refinements, Qin Huai¡¯s spear shot out like a dragon. Silver Fox was sharp. No one would be able to block the tip of the spear. His flesh and bones were instantly pierced through by Qin Huai as if he was cutting tofu. The momentum of his sharp intent was like a hot knife through butter! ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Behind him, the bald man slapped him. Golden light seemed to appear around his body. Qin Huai turned his hand and shot back. The white dragon in his body turned into a purple-white light spot and flowed into Silver Fox from his palm. Bejeweled weapons possessed force and could lock the might of the white dragon well. Moreover, Silver Fox could be considered an extension of Qin Huai¡¯s limbs, so he could cast forbidden techniques with it. Bang! The tip of the spear exploded. Whoosh whoosh whoosh ¡­ The bald man took a few steps back and steadied himself with a wave of his sleeves. ¡°A ninth refinement martial artist?! Nine Dragons sect?¡± The bald man laughed coldly. ¡°Good. You dare to barge into the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s territory alone. You¡¯re quite bold.¡± There was not a hint of fear on his face as he swung his palms at Qin Huai. ¡°Blood heart technique, blood wave palm!¡± The thick blood essence surged and shot out from the bald man¡¯s palm. It was wrapped in a faint golden light, and they stacked up like tidal waves, forming a boiling river of blood in front of him that crashed down on Qin Huai. He was also an expert who had cultivated force. Qin Huai¡¯s expression did not change, though. With Silver Fox in his hand, he stabbed continuously, its sharpness and the momentum of a white dragon instantly piercing through the blood river. ¡°What the hell!¡± the bald man screamed and jumped back like a frightened rabbit. ¡°A bejeweled weapon?!¡± He was shocked. His blood wave palm was both offensive and defensive, so he was not afraid of anyone in the same realm. He might not be able to defeat his opponent, but his opponent would definitely not be able to defeat him. However, this guy in front of him had actually pierced through his blood wave palm and force with a single spear. ¡°No wonder you dare to enter the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s territory with the power of that weapon. However, if you think this is a sure win, you are gravely mistaken.¡± The bald man sneered. The blood river that formed in front of him flickered with a faint golden light and returned to its original state. At the same time, his feet sank as he charged toward Qin Huai. Qin Huai was expressionless as he continued to attack, aiming the spear at the opponent¡¯s vital points. Every spear attack seemed to be surrounded by danger. However, after the spear was pierced, the blood river would instantly recover. Not only that, the longevity forbidden technique was unable to tear through his final layer of membrane. ¡°Hmph, as long as I control the distance, no matter how powerful your weapon is, it won¡¯t be able to hurt me. But if you reveal even the slightest flaw, you will die in my hands!¡± The bald man¡¯s eyes were filled with bloodthirsty excitement. ¡°The meat of a ninth refinement martial artist¡­ I haven¡¯t eaten it for a long time.¡± The bald man stared fixedly at the spear in Qin Huai¡¯s hand and calculated its attack distance. His movements were very nimble, and he managed to negate Qin Huai¡¯s every attack. He was like an extremely patient hunter, closing in on Qin Huai step by step, waiting for the other party to make a mistake out of anxiety. As long as he got close, he could kill him. Qin Huai¡¯s long spear pierced through the bald man¡¯s blood river again. This time, it seemed to be only an inch away from his heart. Qin Huai ¡®anxiously¡¯ pushed the bejeweled weapon in his hand forward, wanting to take another step forward and kill himself. Seeing that the spear had already left his hand, the bald man¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®He couldn¡¯t take it back! Now¡¯s my chance!¡¯ The bald man suddenly raised his hands and grabbed Silver Wolf. A cold smile appeared on his face as he said smugly, ¡°I¡¯ll gladly accept this spear.¡± In an instant, Qin Huai¡¯s fingers lightly touched the bottom of the spear. Whoosh! Silver Fox¡¯s spearhead instantly left the spear shaft like a cannonball and shot out. The sharp force easily penetrated the blood river and directly stabbed into the bald man¡¯s glabella. Chapter 225 - 225 A Familiar Person 225 A Familiar Person Qin Huai pulled out Silver Fox¡¯s spearhead and reattached it to the spear shaft. ¡°You¡­ You cheated¡­¡± The bald man glared at Qin Huai. The empty space between his eyebrows was actually growing rapidly, and his hands and feet were also moving slightly. However, he had obviously lost control of his body. Only the blood heart technique was frantically trying to save itself. ¡°If you didn¡¯t plot against me. How could I die? How can you break my blood river!¡± the bald man roared indignantly. Qin Huai flung Silver Fox away and shot the bald man in the neck. In an instant, fresh blood gushed out like a fountain, and the bald man¡¯s ferocious eyes were completely lifeless. ¡°What a weak ninth refinement warrior,¡± Qin Huai muttered. Compared to Zhang Dagen, this bald man was miles away. He didn¡¯t even need to activate his blood dragon form to gain the upper hand in terms of energy. Even if he did not use Silver Fox¡¯s power and many other methods, Qin Huai would only need a moment to crush it with the power of the ten white dragons. ¡°The gap between the ninth refinements is like a chasm.¡± Qin Huai sighed. After making the comparison, he finally understood why Zhang Dagen was able to act so fearfully and still live well. Other than the protection of the Zhang family, it was also due to his terrifying strength. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Orange)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +11,111!¡± Qin Huai swept his gaze across the room. The blood heart technique had risen from level 60 to level 66, gaining more than 30,000 experience points. ¡°As expected, killing a Sacred Heart disciple is the fastest way to rise,¡± Qin Huai murmured. Not only were those medicines expensive, but their speed of improvement was also less than one-fifth of the speed of a Sacred Heart disciple. He bent down and skillfully groped the bald man¡¯s body. A thousand gold coins worth of Great Nether gold notes and a few cultivation circulation talismans were on his body. Besides eating humans, this fellow actually cultivated the blood heart technique. This was the first time Qin Huai had encountered an anomaly among the many Sacred Heart disciples he had killed. However, it was also to his advantage. He threw them into the bonfire and burned them on the spot. Then, he took back all the experience balls that had fallen and added them to the long breath technique. Even though the long breath technique had a stable income now, he could only increase 1,000 points a day after he came to the ninth refinement. If he wanted to break through to the bone pattern realm, he would have to wait three months. The current situation was changing rapidly. The sooner Qin Huai broke through to the bone pattern realm, the sooner he would have confidence. As for the blood heart technique¡¯s upgrade, it was supplemented by the lives of the 5,000 Sacred Heart disciples. Although it was completely draining the pond to catch the fish, Qin Huai was certain of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s ability to develop its disciples. Adding the high-grade cultivation circulation talisman to the long breath technique, he had a total of 2,000 experience points, not more nor less. It was not bad for the long breath technique for two days. Qin Huai continued to plunder the remaining hundred or so Sacred Heart disciples. The remaining three blood refiners had given him 300 gold taels, and the remaining pile was only 13,000 silver taels. Their advancement was rather strange and fast, so they did not have much money on them. But even so, this village had given Qin Huai a huge sum of 140,000 taels of silver. ¡°The ancients didn¡¯t lie to me about killing and arson.¡± Then, he raised his eyes and looked in the direction of September Hook. With the experience of the village, Qin Huai continued to explore the hinterland of September Hook. Along the way, he encountered two more villages, which were far inferior to the bald man¡¯s side. They were all small fries that were only at the fourth or fifth refinement. Qin Huai¡¯s poison combined with his ferocity caused him to slaughter wherever he went. He did not even have the chance to use his spear, but he had already killed the people of two villages. Qin Huai glanced at the sky. The white fish turned its belly, and the sky was slightly exposed. ¡°I¡¯ll come back in two days.¡± Qin Huai retreated swiftly without any hesitation. There was nothing much to be gained from these two villages. They added up to only 20,000 taels of silver. But the key was to let the blood heart technique advance another two levels and reach level 68. When the blood heart technique reached a higher level, the speed at which his physical body recovered made Qin Huai click his tongue. Even if the bald man¡¯s glabella was pierced, flesh would quickly grow out. If Qin Huai hadn¡¯t taken the last shot¡­ Perhaps when the bald man died, there wouldn¡¯t be a single wound on his body. This kind of rapid recovery ability was extremely precious in battle, and it was even more so in a big battle. The blood heart technique must have contributed forty to fifty percent to Qin Huai¡¯s success in Pingnan City. Suddenly, in a pool of blood¡­ Whoosh. There was a slight sound. Qin Huai turned around abruptly, and a poisonous dagger shot out from his sleeve in the direction of his finger. Clang! Sparks flew in the forest, and Silver Fox in Qin Huai¡¯s hand followed closely behind. In his field of vision, there was an old man and a young man. The latter was in a white robe and stood behind the old man with a calm expression. The old man held a long sword in his hand and blocked Silver Fox in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Buzz~ Sharp intent burst forth. Silver Fox, the bejeweled weapon that the bald man could only block, didn¡¯t take a single step forward. The long sword in front of him was not weak at all. An artifact! Qin Huai frowned slightly, and a purple-white light instantly surged up the tip of his spear. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Bang! The loud explosion caused the sword and spear to tremble. The old man did not retreat even an inch. ¡°Brother Qin, I¡¯m just passing by and have no ill intentions,¡± the white-robed young man spoke. ¡°This is all a misunderstanding. Brother Qin, please listen to my explanation.¡± Qin Huai put away his spear. He looked at the person in front of him indifferently, as if¡­ He did look a little familiar, but he couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°I am a small manager of the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce¡¯s Lingjiang branch.¡± ¡°The little manager can bring such a ninth refinement expert?¡± Qin Huai frowned. He couldn¡¯t see through this young man. Chapter 226 - 226 Receiving a Huge Deposit 226 Receiving a Huge Deposit ¡°I¡¯m Ge Youqian¡­ My father, Ge Yue, is the president of the Lingjiang branch.¡± The young man smiled. When Qin Huai heard this name, he looked at the young man¡¯s face again. Only then did he realize that he seemed to have seen this person at the Fengxing Auction House. ¡°So it¡¯s the young president. I¡¯ve really been disrespectful!¡± Qin Huai hurriedly cupped his fists. ¡°I wonder what Young Master is doing here since you¡¯re up so early?¡± Qin Huai did not let his guard down just because the other party had introduced himself. ¡°A few days ago, three bejeweled weapon masters went missing. Recently, I happened to learn that the Sacred Heart sect is wantonly plundering blacksmiths from all over the world to work for them. I was wondering if the two were related. ¡°Thus, I came here to search for clues. Who would have thought that I would actually encounter Brother Qin here.¡± Ge Youqian¡¯s eyes were curved like crescents, and he spoke indifferently. However, he looked at the treasured Silver Fox in Qin Huai¡¯s hand, and his heart was like a huge wave. How could he not recognize something that his family had auctioned off? The stone that contained the power of a sharp blade was definitely the spearhead of the spear in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Moreover, there were only a few bejeweled weapons in Lingjiang, and every single one of them had a name and was clearly known by the various large factions. After all, this thing was a great killing weapon. A ninth refinement martial artist holding it was equivalent to half a bone pattern realm martial artist. The silver spear in Qin Huai¡¯s hand was definitely not something that had existed in Lingjiang before. The entire spear was new, without any signs of wear and tear. In the past few days, almost everyone in the city had been searching for the whereabouts of the master liar. They all thought that the silver needle attack they had used at the auction was some kind of shameful trick. Ge Youqian thought so too. But now¡­ He knew he was wrong. And it was ridiculously wrong. Not only was the masked master not a fraud, but he was also very likely a genius who was not even twenty years old. After all, a bejeweled weapon master could escape silently under the eyes of countless people, and then silently forge a bejeweled weapon and hand it to Qin Huai without anyone noticing¡­ It was too difficult. He knew that this Brother Qin was the center of attention both inside and outside the Nine Dragons sect. After all, Qin Huai¡¯s sudden appearance of a weapon would definitely be questioned by many people. If a weapon master really came into contact with it, it would be very difficult for him not to be discovered. At this thought, the smile on Ge Youqian¡¯s face became more sincere. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± The smile on Qin Huai¡¯s face was exceptionally sincere. ¡°Brother Ge, if you want to continue investigating, then go ahead. I¡¯ll head back first.¡± ¡°Brother Qin, don¡¯t be in such a hurry to leave. It was fate that we met. Moreover, we met on this mountain, within the range of September Hook¡­ What a rare fate,¡± Ge Youqian said regretfully. ¡°Why don¡¯t we stay here and chat for a while?¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to talk?¡± Qin Huai gripped Silver Fox tightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, then we won¡¯t talk.¡± Ge Youqian¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, so I¡¯ll go back too. Brother Qin, do you mind if we travel together?¡± He changed his train of thought. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t figure out the other party¡¯s intentions, but he also knew that he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to shake him off. ¡°Since Brother Ge has already said so, if I were to refuse, wouldn¡¯t I be giving Brother Ge too much face?¡± Ge Youqian¡¯s face lit up. ¡°We¡¯re all young people. There¡¯s no need to care about face. They¡¯re all thin and worthless.¡± He quickly caught up and walked alongside Qin Huai. ¡°I feel that Brother Qin looks very familiar, as if I¡¯ve seen him before¡­ Brother Qin, have you been to our Fengxing Auction House recently?¡± Ge Youqian asked. ¡°I went there with a younger brother.¡± ¡°Oh. No wonder the long spear on Brother Qin¡¯s back is so beautiful. It matches Brother Qin¡¯s aura very well,¡± Ge Youqian complimented. ¡°I think so too. It¡¯s all thanks to my forging friend who helped me forge such a handy weapon.¡± Qin Huai was filled with gratitude. ¡®As if I would believe you! This is a bejeweled weapon, not some thousand-forged steel, a sword or spear that came out of an ordinary earthen furnace. If he really has a so-called master friend, how could he not show up?¡¯ At this critical juncture, the bejeweled weapon master would become a distinguished guest of the three forces and the favorite of Lingjiang county. Endless wealth and glory were waiting for him. Even the Sacred Heart sect would have to serve him well. However, he chose to conceal his identity, like a stone sinking into the sea. What could be the reason? He must have made many enemies and did not dare to expose himself easily. Otherwise, he would be killed. Qin Huai¡¯s identity perfectly matched this condition. Ge Youqian cursed in his heart, but he still said, ¡°Is that so? I wonder if Brother Qin can tell me the address of that friend. I would like to pay him a visit. It just so happens that there are a few things that I want to be forged recently¡­ Money is not a problem!¡± When he said the last half of his sentence, his voice became much louder. Before Qin Huai could say anything, he took out a gold note worth thousands of gold coins from his pocket. ¡°This is the deposit I¡¯ll pay in advance. Brother Qin, you must help me ask around.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he took out a gold note worth a thousand gold coins and handed it to Qin Huai. ¡°This is the money for the wine Brother Qin helped us with,¡± Ge Youqian said sincerely. ¡°To be honest, the first time I saw Brother Qin today, it reminded me of a childhood friend I knew very well. I feel very close to him.¡± Qin Huai looked at the two gold notes in his hands and swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He had killed three Sacred Heart disciples earlier, but he had not even gotten this much money. Chapter 227 - 227 Breaking Through the Bone Pattern Realm 227 Breaking Through the Bone Pattern Realm Qin Huai looked up at Ge Youqian. The latter didn¡¯t even blink when he took out the money, as if he had taken out only a thousand taels. Qin Huai took a deep breath. ¡°Since Brother Ge is so sincere, I¡¯ll definitely help you ask around. I wonder what Brother Ge wants to forge?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Ge Youqian frowned slightly. This put him in a difficult position. ¡°I have a breastplate and heart-protecting mirror. My pants and boots are also treasured armor¡­¡± He rolled up his sleeves again and muttered, ¡°I have this bejeweled bracelet and ring. The necklace is also¡­¡± Qin Huai, who was standing at the side, looked at Ge Youqian¡¯s shiny and terrifying equipment, and his eyes were a little sore. What kind of nouveau riche was this? Fortunately, he didn¡¯t fight him just now. Otherwise, Qin Huai really didn¡¯t have the confidence to defeat this fellow. Ge Youqian sighed. ¡°Why don¡¯t Brother Qin help me ask that master for his opinion first? Let me think about what to forge. ¡± ¡°Brother Ge, I will definitely convey your words.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. ¡°But what I want to do the most is to be friends with Brother Qin. You¡¯re too similar to my childhood friend,¡± Ge Youqian said sincerely. ¡°Actually¡­ I also have a childhood friend who looks a little like Brother Ge¡­¡± The two of them had sincere expressions on their faces as they chatted about the characteristics and personalities of their childhood friends. Then, they would occasionally let out a sigh of relief, ¡°What a coincidence, me too.¡± The two of them walked for nearly two hours. It could be said that the relationship between the two of them also quickly warmed up in these two hours. Not far from the city gate, the two of them stood still. ¡°Good brother, my identity is a bit sensitive, so I won¡¯t be entering the city with you. Otherwise, it might cause some chaos.¡± Tears welled up in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand!¡± Ge Youqian patted his chest. ¡°Good brother, if you need my help in the future, just send someone to look for me. I will do my best. Brother, what I can¡¯t do is¡­ I will also grit my teeth and get it done for you!¡± Ge Youqian¡¯s words were sincere and powerful. In the end, the two ¡°brothers,¡± who had hit it off at first sight, hugged each other heavily in front of the city gate and then parted ways reluctantly. ¡­ ¡°Young Master, do you think Qin Huai will win against the governor and the Zhang family of the Nine Dragons sect?¡± the old man, who had been silent all this while, said. ¡°To be honest¡­I don¡¯t think so.¡± Ge Youqian was very blunt. ¡°No matter how talented a person is, if he wants to compete with one or even several large factions, his chances of winning are slim.¡± ¡°But life is just a story about gambling and deciding the next realm through winning or losing. The greater the risk, the greater the reward. The story of the next realm will be more exciting.¡± Ge Youqian humphed. ¡°Didn¡¯t my father get the position of the branch president of Lingjiang county because he bet on the wind shadow sword? ¡± ¡°But that Lord Wind Shadow Sword is a famous prodigy from a noble family. This Qin Huai is just a peasant who came from Pingnan City. He¡¯s the Li family¡¯s live-in son-in-law¡­¡± ¡°Then if we win, won¡¯t the rewards be even greater?¡± Ge Youqian narrowed his eyes, and his smile became brighter. ¡­ Qin Huai held a huge sum of over 300,000 taels of silver in his hands as he began to purchase all sorts of vitality tonics in a frenzy. There were also some poisons of high quality and age. Of course, he did not forget to visit September Hook every two to three days. He would gain some experience with the blood heart technique, and the Sacred Heart sect did not disappoint him. Every few days, a large number of Sacred Heart sect members would appear. The harvest was not as good as the first time, because many Sacred Heart members had migrated from all over Lingjiang county. Their realms weren¡¯t high, but they had a lot of people. Qin Huai held on to the thought that no matter how small a mosquito was, it was still meat as he frantically harvested these experiences. It was supposed to be a matter of draining the pond to catch the fish, but now it began to circulate. The Sacred Heart sect had also noticed Qin Huai¡¯s presence. However, because they were fighting against the Nine Dragons sect and the Twin Extreme sect, they felt that it was difficult. Therefore, although they had sent people to chase after him, there were no experts among them. All of them became Qin Huai¡¯s food, becoming nourishment for the blood heart technique. After a few times, the Sacred Heart sect was also a bit of a troublemaker. Occasionally, they would send out bone pattern realm warriors to ambush them. However, Qin Huai had used poison to test the waters and avoided the pursuit. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t be happy either. Because of the chaotic battle between the three sides, and the fact that the county governor¡¯s mansion was fighting against the Balance Army¡­ The entire Lingjiang had been peaceful for less than two days, but it was still filled with wails and smoke. The originally bustling Wanli Street had also become much quieter. The slums had started to become lively, making Qin Huai feel rather sad. It was as if he was looking at Pingnan City in the past. As for the Zhang family, it seemed that after the auction, the Zhang father and son had become more low-key. However, Qin Huai felt that there were more and more people from the Zhang family watching him recently, which made him have a bad feeling. In addition, the long breath technique and the breath control technique were also steadily improving. ¡­ Three months passed quietly. Qin Huai sat cross-legged in his bedroom. The bones in his body began to heat up, shining brightly in his flesh. At the same time, ripples appeared in his heart. In the world of his dantian, terrifying power rippled from the dragon pearl and began to stir up the wind and clouds. Ten white dragons rushed out of the dragon pearl and chased away all the blood-red tigers and wolves. The dragon egg emitted a dazzling light, and even the ¡®great sun¡¯ formed by the golden blood dimmed. The purple ball of lightning was extinguished, and the sun and moon were silent. However, the radiance of the dragon pearl did not stop, and the mighty aura continued to ripple. The entire dantian world slowly became covered in clouds and fog. Even Qin Huai couldn¡¯t see what was going on. Roar! At a certain moment, Qin Huai seemed to have heard a dragon¡¯s roar. Ten gigantic white dragons worshiped the dragon pearl and began to prostrate themselves. The light in the dragon pearl also began to slowly dissipate. After some time, the dragon whelp that was protected by the ten dragons gradually revealed its true appearance. The dazzling white dragon body twisted in the dragon egg. The dragon scales were like armor, and as its body spun, it sounded like gears. Those lively eyes looked at the world, and a faint majesty surged, making the world prostrate. At last, he had reached the bone pattern realm. Chapter 228 - 228 Nine Dragons True Qi Technique 228 Nine Dragons True Qi Technique At that moment, Qin Huai¡¯s bones were burning. It was as if he was being cooked by a raging fire, causing his entire body to become restless. His ears were filled with the dragon whelp¡¯s roar. He knew that this young dragon that was protected by ten dragons was not simple. Its terrifying aura made the entire dantian world prostrate. It was unprecedented. On the bronze ground, it was as if the beasts on the wall were all crawling toward the young dragon. ¡°How wondrous.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred as he looked at his personal panel. [Name: Qin Huai] [Lifespan: 680] [Vitality: 203.623 (Stage Two)] [Cultivation Methods]: [Nine Dragons True Qi technique (level 0, 0%)], [Blood Heart technique (level 80, 3214/9000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)] [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 60, 317/6000)], [Concealment of Spirit and Qi (level 83, 1124/9000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (bejeweled weapon, 1021/5000)], [Cooking (intermediate, 259/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 10/10], [Raging Lightning], [Flame Longevity] [Force]: White Dragon Force 144%, Tiger Wolf Force 3%, Ancient Azure Illusion Force 54%, Blood Heart Force, 1% [Realm: Level 1 Bone Pattern] With the help of the two dragon elders, he had broken through the eleventh level of the technique. As for the long breath technique, after breaking through level 100, the interface immediately changed to the Nine Dragons True Qi technique, and the experience bar behind it also became a percentage progress bar. However, these two factors caused Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan to soar. His original lifespan of 573 years soared to 630 years. Finally, when he broke through the Bone Pattern Realm, his lifespan increased by fifty years. His astonishing lifespan made Qin Huai¡¯s spirit and energy become more and more abundant. Even the freckles and impurities on his body gradually disappeared as his lifespan increased. Every day, when Qin Huai went out, he would find that he would often attract the attention of women. Regardless of whether they were young or old, they couldn¡¯t help but look at him. This made Qin Huai¡¯s hair stand on end. He did not know if this could be considered an evolution of life. The blood heart technique had broken through two levels and reached the level 80 with the support of the disciples of the Sacred Heart sect. In contrast, Qin Huai¡¯s name was also on the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s must-kill list. In the past three months, he alone had killed thousands of Sacred Heart sect disciples. Unfortunately, not only did the number of Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples not decrease due to Qin Huai¡¯s sweeping massacre, but they also became more and more powerful. Even under the pincer attack of the Nine Dragons sect and the Twin Extreme sect, it had now grown to a terrifying extent with more than 10,000 disciples. The shocking scale was not the slightest bit inferior to the Balance Army that had started in Crouching Bull City and Wind City. Moreover, the county governor¡¯s mansion¡¯s battle against the Balance Army also fell into a stalemate. The two sides were actually evenly matched. The county governor¡¯s mansion had wanted to send a bone pattern realm expert to execute the head. However, the result was that not only did the beheading not succeed, but a bone pattern realm expert died in the Balance Army¡¯s base camp. This result also made the county governor¡¯s mansion even more unconcerned about September Hook Sacred Heart members under their noses. In terms of vitality, similarly, when Qin Huai broke through the bone pattern realm, his vitality soared by more than fifty points. At the same time, the words ¡°Stage Two¡± appeared on the interface, causing him to be a little confused. Qin Huai didn¡¯t neglect his smithing skills either. He often went to the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s smithy. However, his progress was extremely slow. He only earned defeat points after three months, which was better than nothing. As for force, his white dragon force had long since broken through the 100% threshold. Every time it increased, the white dragon would become clearer and the patterns on his bones would become deeper. However, after breaking through, Qin Huai¡¯s white dragon force slowed down. The experience gained from Elder Erlong would only increase by 1% after three to four days. ¡°This is probably related to the advancement of the bone pattern realm.¡± Qin Huai still had a vague understanding of the bone pattern realm, so he needed to find Elder Erlong to continue his discussion. The Ancient Azure Illusion Force also steadily increased by 9% every month as they entered the Azure Dragon Pass. Qin Huai would always fall at the beginning of the tenth pass. It was a chasm, and only those who had entered the Bone Pattern Realm could contend with it. Meanwhile, in the dantian world, the bronze land also became more and more vast, and the rare beasts on the wall were hibernating under the light of the young dragons. However, as the dragon whelp slowly retracted its aura, the ten purple-armored white dragons continued to roam around, fighting the blood-red tigers and wolves above the wall. The difference in strength between the two sides was too great. The white dragon¡¯s body was almost solid, and its aura was several times stronger. As for the blood-red tiger wolf, it would be killed again and again. But every time, they would be quickly reborn under the radiance of the sun and continue to fight. On the bronze wall, among the rare beasts that were originally hibernating, there were some ¡®daring¡¯ ones that stretched out their hands and feet. After seeing that there were no more dragon whelps to suppress them, it was almost identical to the blood-colored tiger wolf except for the difference in skin. There were even azure dragons that soared into the sky and charged toward the ten white dragons that descended from the sky. The battle between the two sides made the bronze wall soil even more chaotic. ¡°I wonder what kind of scene will happen in the end and what kind of benefits it will bring me when all the techniques and forces collide. ¡± Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. The aura on his body grew stronger and stronger as he fought for the dantian world. His aura was extraordinary. The white light that overflowed from the corner of his eyes was as terrifying as the sun. Qin Huai looked at the white porcelain daffodil vase on the table, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Chapter 229 - 229 The Birth of the Dragon King? 229 The Birth of the Dragon King? Bang! The porcelain bottle shattered. Following that, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Son-in-law, did you feel anything strange just now?¡± Qingshui pushed the door open and fell to the ground. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Huai restrained his aura, looking at the pale Qingshui with a slightly surprised expression. ¡°I think someone poisoned our courtyard!¡± Qingshui¡¯s lips were colorless, and her entire body was sweating. Qin Huai immediately got off the bed and walked toward Qingshui. However, when he took a step forward, Qingshui¡¯s face, which was originally pale, turned even paler. Her limbs were trembling, and her eyes were starting to lose focus. ¡°Son-in-law, don¡¯t come over¡­¡± Qingshui shouted weakly. Qin Huai stopped in his tracks and looked at Qingshui¡¯s reaction thoughtfully. He quickly returned to the bed, and her reaction became a little better. ¡°Could it be the problem with that young dragon?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He sensed it with his mind and found that his body seemed to be emitting some kind of faint power. Qin Huai let out a light breath and restrained the already indiscernible aura on his body. ¡°Ha!¡± Qingshui started panting heavily. Like a drowning person, she breathed greedily. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± Qin Huai walked toward Qingshui again. ¡°Yes, much better¡­ Son-in-law, what poison did I get?¡± Qingshui¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion. Ever since she was poisoned by Li Buyi a few months ago, she and the maids and guards in the residence had been very careful. She didn¡¯t expect that she would still be poisoned. ¡°I can¡¯t explain it clearly either¡­¡± Qin Huai laughed bitterly, unable to find a good excuse. He couldn¡¯t say that he was suffocated by his own pressure, right? ¡°Young Master¡¯s poison technique is truly profound. Even if I don¡¯t know what poison it is, he can still neutralize Qingshui¡¯s poison from a distance.¡± Qingshui¡¯s face was filled with admiration. Her son-in-law was indeed as the young miss had predicted, like a divine weapon descending from the heavens, omnipotent. The next moment, Qingshui cried out in panic, ¡°Young Master, please go and cure the poison in the other people¡¯s bodies. Their condition is worse than mine!¡± Qin Huai hurriedly stood up and walked into the courtyard. Looking at the unconscious maids and guards on the ground, he quickly stepped forward to take their pulse. It was alright. They had only fainted. Qin Huai pretended to tap on everyone¡¯s bodies a few times, then carried them back to their rooms. ¡°I¡¯ve already removed the poison for them. They¡¯ll wake up after sleeping for a while.¡± Qin Huai instructed, ¡°Remember to wait for them to wake up. Don¡¯t tell anyone that they were poisoned today.¡± ¡°Son-in-law, you must punish the mastermind!¡± Qingshui¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°Earlier, Li Buyi only drugged us. Now, the person who poisoned us is actually trying to poison us all to death! Such a vicious mind. If we let it go just like that, there will definitely be a disaster.¡± Qin Huai nodded stiffly and did not reply. He quickly walked out of his courtyard. Fortunately, there was no one on the street at the moment. They were all practicing martial arts at the training grounds and the school grounds. There were only a few sparrows and a bunch of flying insects on the ground. They were already dead, but they were harmless. To be safe, Qin Huai dug a hole and buried all these things underground. After finishing all of this, Qin Huai returned to his room and sat quietly on his bed. His heart was like a storm, unable to calm down for a long time. He knew that the young dragon in the dragon pearl was extraordinary. However, when it was truly ¡®born into the world,¡¯ Qin Huai¡¯s heart still surged with emotions after it unleashed its might. It was just that the power he released was enough to make all the living beings within a radius of thirty to forty meters feel a terrifying pressure. Even a martial artist would faint from the shock. Even a sixth refinement martial artist like Qingshui would collapse and break out in cold sweat, and she almost fainted. ¡°This isn¡¯t the power of the bone pattern realm. That young dragon is too terrifying¡­¡± Qin Huai had seen Elder Erlong¡¯s White Dragon¡¯s aura before, and it definitely didn¡¯t have such an effect. ¡°The dragon whelp¡¯s pressure is not only targeted at warriors who cultivate the long breath technique but also all living beings. It can produce an indistinguishable effect. This fellow¡­ It should be a young dragon king¡­¡± Qin Huai slowly pulled himself out of his shock. He felt the lines on his bones. As expected, he found a piece with the patterns of a young dragon engraved on it. He activated the ordinary white dragon pattern, and the bone patterns in his body began to glow faintly. His fingertips also emitted a white aura. ¡°The white dragon has almost completely materialized, and its power is even stronger. ¡± He activated all the ten dragon patterned Bones again, and the bone patterns shone again. Ten dragons began to appear behind Qin Huai¡¯s back. They were no longer blurry, and they appeared on Qin Huai¡¯s body as if they were real creatures. He suddenly threw a punch in front of him, and the ten dragons on his body instantly blasted out with his fist. Boom! The house shook violently. It was as if a dragon¡¯s roar echoed, and the tables and chairs shook violently. ¡°My casual punch now is as powerful as the white dragon of the past. Moreover, this kind of attack can affect the soul¡­ Its power cannot be measured with the naked eye.¡± Qin Huai felt the terrifying strength of his body, and his thoughts began to wander. ¡°What kind of effect will it have if I release the white dragon now? If I use this baby dragon king to release the rising dragon, how powerful will it be? No, if I release the dragon king¡¯s might at full force, how far will it affect others?¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare to try it here, afraid of causing a commotion, so he suppressed the excitement in his heart. He got up and walked towards the back of the mountain. Chapter 230 - 230 Zhang Haoyues Augmenting Pill! 230 Zhang Haoyue¡¯s Augmenting Pill! In the Zhang family¡¯s courtyard, Zhang Haoyue hugged his cousin Zhang Yu and ¡°fought¡± in the pond. The two of them let out a low moan. Suddenly, Zhang Haoyue angrily threw Zhang Yu away as if he was throwing a pile of white trash. ¡°Cousin, why have you been so irritable these past two days?¡± Zhang Yu didn¡¯t show any dissatisfaction on her face. Instead, she swam back to Zhang Haoyue¡¯s side and looked at her lover worriedly. ¡°I don¡¯t know why either. I¡¯ve been feeling inexplicably irritable these past few days.¡± Zhang Haoyue was upset and couldn¡¯t figure out why. He was also very confused. He had always been a calm and steady person. This shouldn¡¯t be the case. ¡°Could it be because the people from the Sacred Heart sect are like weeds that never end?¡± Zhang Yu asked tentatively. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect is indeed heartless. These days, they¡¯ve taken in countless refugees who were displaced by the battle between the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Balance Army.¡± Zhang Haoyue sneered. ¡°What refugees and vagrants? I think all the bandits and villains in the mountains and valleys of Lingjiang have gone there. I saw it a few days ago. Those guys don¡¯t have any burden when they eat people. Their eyes are full of smiles. ¡°The real refugees are either in the slums of Lingjiang City or in other cities. At worst, they hide in the mountains or join the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Balance Army.¡± Zhang Haoyue sighed. ¡°My eyelids have been twitching for the past two days. Something big might happen.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have done that just now,¡± he murmured softly and gently picked Zhang Yu up. ¡°It¡¯s fine. As long as you like it, Cousin.¡± The two of them walked out of the pool, then Zhang Yu helped Zhang Haoyue put on his clothes and left quietly. Zhang Haoyue took a deep breath and put on that refreshing smile again. Then, he quickly walked to his father¡¯s study. ¡°Father.¡± Zhang Haoyue pushed open the door to the study. Zhang Wu was holding a list with a long face. On it were all kinds of expenses in the Nine Dragons sect. There were more than ten thousand words in total. However, Zhang Wu only saw two words written on it: Pay up. ¡°Compensation, armor, medicinal herbs, food¡­ Every single one of them is worth silver.¡± Zhang Wu held a pipe in his hand, his eyes full of emotion. ¡°If we can take down the entire Li family, we can save a lot.¡± ¡°Father, I think that matter should be brought forward,¡± Zhang Haoyue said. Zhang Wu asked, ¡°How¡¯s Qin Huai¡¯s progress?¡± ¡°Counting the days, it should be soon.¡± Zhang Haoyue continued, ¡°I want to give him a wandering dragon pill to help him break through to the next level.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhang Wu frowned. Although the price of the wandering dragon pill was not as high as the bone stabilizing pill, it was still close. This was a divine pill that could allow martial artists who cultivated the long breath technique to quickly accumulate and advance the said technique. ¡°I have been feeling uneasy these two days. Moreover, the current situation is so chaotic that it has never been seen before¡­ I feel that the sooner we obtain Qin Huai¡¯s bones, the sooner we can be at ease.¡± ¡°In case something unexpected happens¡­¡± Zhang Wu pondered for a moment. ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± ¡°Everything is ready.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as you wish. It¡¯s your bones anyway.¡± Zhang Wu waved his hand, signaling his son to do as he pleased. He was most at ease with his son. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Qi Formula Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Qi Formula Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Qi Formula Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Qi Formula Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± Qin Huai was collecting experience balls on the training field as usual. However, the experience points that had increased by a certain amount had disappeared and turned into progress. Qin Huai looked at the number behind the [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] on his interface, but it didn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Although the blood refining martial artists can still provide experience points, the amount of experience it can provide is already pitiful. However, this is still a good thing.¡± Qin Huai murmured in his heart. He had already exceeded his expectations. Moreover¡­ He realized that after he had restrained his aura, no one in the Nine Dragons sect had noticed that he had broken through to the bone pattern realm. Perhaps¡­ It was also related to the young dragon king. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± A familiar voice sounded. The moment Qin Huai turned around, he saw the figure that was always so elegant and gentle. He also smiled brightly. ¡°Brother Haoyue.¡± Zhang Haoyue looked at Qin Huai and felt that there was something strange about him. However, he could not tell what the problem was. He frowned slightly in his heart, but the smile on his face was still very bright. ¡°I¡¯m counting the days. With Brother Qin¡¯s talent, I feel that you¡¯re not willing to reach the bone pattern realm, right?¡± ¡°Oh? Brother Haoyue actually helped me calculate the date of my breakthrough?¡± Qin Huai was flattered. ¡°Look at what Brother Qin is saying. You are a rare genius of my Nine Dragons sect.¡± Zhang Haoyue looked sincere. ¡°The current situation is turbulent, and wars have broken out everywhere. The earlier Brother Qin breaks through to the bone pattern realm, the more confidence our Nine Dragons sect will have, right?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was filled with regret. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I¡¯m not talented enough. I¡¯m still lacking a lot in the accumulation of the long breath technique.¡± He had wanted to use this opportunity to reveal his bone pattern realm cultivation base and use the nine dragon points to establish his prestige. As long as he hid everything about the young dragon king as a trump card, it would be fine. However, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s flattery made Qin Huai feel that something was amiss. ¡°I guessed that Brother Qin might be lacking by a hair¡¯s breadth, so I specially requested a wandering dragon pill for you from the sect master.¡± Zhang Haoyue said as he took out an exquisite box. ¡°Wandering dragon pill?!¡± The disciples of the Nine Dragons sect gasped when they heard this name. Then, they looked at Qin Huai with reddened eyes. Jealousy, envy, drooling¡­ They all had mixed feelings. Hearing the discussions around him, Qin Huai had an idea of the effects of the wandering dragon pill. He was also a little confused about Zhang Haoyue¡¯s purpose. What was this guy trying to do when he wanted him to enter the bone pattern realm? Chapter 231 - 231 The Wandering Dragon Pill 231 The Wandering Dragon Pill ¡°Look, all of you, take a look. What is the demeanor of a king¡­¡± ¡°What is a gentleman¡¯s bearing?!¡± Many of the surrounding Zhang family members praised Zhang Haoyue as if they were looking at their wise lord. ¡°Qin Huai killed Zhang Dagen, but Senior Brother Zhang still returned the evil with good¡­ What boldness.¡± ¡°Hey, what do you mean by Qin Huai killed Zhang Dagen? Don¡¯t say things without evidence,¡± a disciple of the second branch retorted. ¡°Humph! The news had already spread. Qin Huai was jealous of the wise and capable, so he followed Zhang Dagen and killed him in the forest. He even pushed the blame on the Sacred Heart sect~¡± ¡°Zhang Dagen is also considered a sage?¡± The disciples of the Li family¡¯s second branch were so angry that they laughed. ¡°Zhang Dagen has killed so many of our Li family¡¯s people in private. Are you guys using your eyes to vent your anger? ¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t have the strength. Otherwise, I would definitely skin that Zhang Dagen alive! ¡± The people from the Li family¡¯s second and fourth branches were filled with righteous indignation. The Zhang family members immediately surrounded them. ¡°I think you¡¯re the one. Don¡¯t slander others without evidence. ¡± Both sides were like two gunpowder barrels, on the verge of exploding. However, the number of people from the second and fourth branches combined was much less than the other side. There were even many Li family disciples among the Zhang family members who were ready to attack. As for the young men of the first branch, who were supposed to be the main branch, they tried to mediate the situation with the people of the sixth branch. The Li family¡¯s six branches were divided into three factions in a conflict. The complexity of people¡¯s hearts was obvious at a glance. ¡°Everyone, stop arguing.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s gentle voice sounded, causing everyone to silently separate. Everyone respected this Big Senior Brother of the Nine Dragons sect. Even the young men of the second and fourth branches couldn¡¯t find any fault with Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Rumors might be the devious ways of those who have ill intentions in order to disintegrate my Nine Dragons sect.¡± Zhang Haoyue spoke frankly and confidently, ¡°In these troubled times, what we need to do the most is to trust our own people, other than improving our strength. ¡°This is the only way we can unleash our strongest combat power to deal with the Sacred Heart sect, the county governor¡¯s mansion, and the Twin Extreme sect. Today, I¡¯m here with Brother Qin to tell everyone¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue gasped. His gentle but powerful eyes swept across the crowd solemnly. All the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect subconsciously straightened their backs. ¡°Even if some elders in the sect might be hostile to each other, we young people¡­ At the very least, I, Zhang Haoyue, am here. Whether it¡¯s Zhang or Li, he¡¯s my most important and trustworthy junior brother! ¡°As long as you junior brothers are in trouble, you can come to me for help. I will do my best to eliminate the deep-rooted conflict between the Zhang and Li families. ¡°Let the hatred of life and death that has accumulated for hundreds of years begin to diminish from our generation.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice was full of emotion. As he spoke, his eyes actually turned red. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, if you want to resolve the hatred between the Zhang and Li families, you can do it. Why don¡¯t you give me this wandering dragon pill? What¡¯s the use of giving it to this Qin fellow? He¡¯s not a member of the Li family.¡± A short-haired youth walked out from the crowd. ¡°I, Li Buchang, have already entered the ninth refinement a year ago. I¡¯m only one step away from the bone pattern realm.¡± Qin Huai looked at the young man who spoke. In his impression, this person should be the leader of the younger generation of the sixth branch. Just like his second uncle¡¯s son, Li Xiao, who was also the only one in the Li family in the bone pattern realm, he was always out training. However, the places where Li Buchang was active were areas that had disputes with the Twin Extreme sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion. Li Buchang had shed blood for the sect and made great contributions. He hadn¡¯t returned for more than half a year, and Qin Huai didn¡¯t know why he suddenly appeared in the sect today. ¡°In terms of merit and experience, I should be ahead of Qin Huai, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Li Buchang sneered and walked up to Qin Huai. ¡°Well¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue was instantly rendered speechless. He looked at Qin Huai with a troubled expression. Qin Huai said, ¡°Buchang is right. No matter how you look at it, this wandering dragon pill suits him more than me.¡± Qin Huai was very calm. Since he had already entered the bone pattern realm, it didn¡¯t matter whether he had the wandering dragon pill or not. Moreover, the person who stood up to snatch the pill was also from the Li family, not the third or fifth branch. If the Li family could really gain another bone pattern realm expert, Qin Huai would be happy to see it. ¡°You have some self-awareness.¡± Li Buchang glanced at Qin Huai from the corner of his eyes, his eyes filled with disgust. He heard from his father that this person had provoked the Zhang family several times since he arrived at the Nine Dragons sect. This made the already extremely hostile situation between the two families even worse. He might even be the murderer of Zhang Dagen. He was at the peak of the ninth refinement, only half a step away from the bone pattern realm. The current situation was unpredictable. For the Nine Dragons sect, it was very important to have one more master and to stabilize the relationship between the Zhang and Li families. This person actually ruined the overall situation just for a little selfish desire. He really did not know the big picture. ¡°Since Brother Qin has no objections, I¡¯ll give this wandering dragon pill to Buchang.¡± Zhang Haoyue laughed heartily and immediately handed the exquisite box in his hand to Li Buchang. ¡°Buchang, you¡¯ve earned a lot for the Nine Dragons sect in the past few years. It¡¯s been hard on you.¡± Zhang Haoyue patted Li Buchang¡¯s shoulder heavily. ¡°To be honest, I feel that this wandering dragon pill is not enough to reflect the contributions you have made to the sect over the years. However, now¡­ The sect needs to deal with the major events that might happen next. We urgently need money in all aspects, so¡­¡± Chapter 232 - 232 Invincible Momentum! 232 Invincible Momentum! ¡°Eldest Senior Brother, don¡¯t say anymore. I¡¯m not someone who doesn¡¯t know the big picture.¡± Li Buchang waved his hand and interrupted Zhang Haoyue. As he spoke, he even shot Qin Huai a cold glance. ¡°By the way, may I know why Sect Master summoned me back so urgently this time?¡± Li Buchang pulled Zhang Haoyue away. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all because of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s bad news¡­ Those lunatics are like locusts, reproducing crazily¡­¡± Qin Huai watched the two of them leave in silence. ¡°What a coincidence?¡± he muttered. He felt that something was wrong. After Qin Huai finished collecting the experience points, he quickly returned to the Li family¡¯s residence to look for Fourth Uncle Li Zeshi. He also asked Li Buhu to call Second Uncle Li Zewu over. ¡°Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle, has there been any movement from the Zhang family recently?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°None so far.¡± Li Zeshi shook his head. ¡°Ever since Zhang Haoyue suffered a huge loss at the Fengxing Auction House and was cheated of 150,000 taels of silver, the Zhang family has been exceptionally low-key for the past few months.¡± Li Zewu said, ¡°As for the Huai Dan City that you told me to pay attention to previously, it has stabilized recently. The Balance Army defeated the Tiger and Wolf Generals under Song Ya, and even used the city as a stronghold to fight for more than ten miles. Recently, Huai Dan City has stabilized, and many caravans have begun to pass through it again.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Huai nodded. In that case, he might have to find some time to go to Huai Dan City to look for his master and the others. He looked at his two uncles. They didn¡¯t seem to realize that he had already broken through to the next level. Sure enough, once he completely concealed his aura, they would not be able to sense that he had already broken through. This was probably the benefit that the birth of the young dragon king had brought him. After leaving the Li family¡¯s courtyard, Qin Huai carried Silver Fox, who was wrapped in a black cloth, and walked out of Lingjiang City. In the dense forest, Qin Huai walked to a small house. After a while¡­ From afar, a man covered in dazzling light walked over. He was the young master of the Fengxing Auction House, Ge Youqian. At this moment, he was carrying two gunny sacks, and he was no longer as carefree as before. ¡°Brother Qin, this is what you wanted!¡± Bang! Ge Youqian threw the two sacks heavily on the ground. ¡°I spent a lot of effort to get these things for you.¡± ¡°Thank you for your help, Brother Ge!¡± Qin Huai smiled. ¡°Speaking of which, Brother Qin, you spent a total of 200,000 taels to buy these medicinal ingredients¡­ Are you trying to poison the entire Zhang family to death?¡± Ge Youqian knew that he shouldn¡¯t ask. However, he could not help but feel curious. These two sacks contained a lot of poisonous substances, and the weakest of them were old poisons that were hundreds of years old. Once they were ground and used by a master proficient in poison techniques, even a bone pattern realm expert would not be able to delay the detoxification process. ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy recently, so I wanted to prepare some poison. It¡¯s better to be prepared,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. ¡°Moreover, poison will come in handy sooner or later.¡± He told the truth since there were still people from the Sacred Heart sect. In any case, the Sacred Heart sect would definitely need these poisons that he had spent a lot of money to carefully concoct. It was just a pity that he had spent almost all of his money to purchase these poisonous items. And this was under the condition that Ge Youqian gave a discount. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. These herbs were worth more than gold. It was almost the same price every ten years, and the price would double later on. However, when he thought about how it could injure a bone pattern realm expert, or even severely injure him if the dosage was sufficient, Qin Huai endured it. He carried the two sacks home and spent the rest of the afternoon making poison. At night, as usual, Qin Huai quietly ascended the mountain behind the Nine Dragons sect. The moonlight shone down, and an old man in a green robe sat cross-legged on the top of the cliff. The breeze was warm, and the silver hair on his head fluttered. Qin Huai felt as if he had seen his master again. He slowly sat cross-legged and silently followed Elder Erlong to cultivate the concealment of spirit and qi technique. Then, it was the long breath technique and the white dragon force¡­ ¡°Master¡­¡± But before Qin Huai could finish his sentence, Elder Erlong suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with shock. ¡°You¡­ You broke through?¡± This time, it was Qin Huai¡¯s turn to be surprised. ¡°Grandmaster actually sensed it?¡± Along the way, whether it was Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle, or Zhang Haoyue, none of them noticed it. Perhaps it had something to do with his recent cultivation. ¡°Master has already said that I am naturally sensitive to force. However, I did not notice anything unusual when you did not circulate your qi earlier¡­¡± Elder Erlong looked at Qin Huai with a complicated expression. He had just felt a sense of pressure from Qin Huai. ¡°And your force seems to be very strange.¡± Elder Erlong stared at Qin Huai. ¡°Activate your Shi. Let me see.¡± Hearing this, Qin Huai slowly activated the nine dragons true qi technique, and the ten dragons began to dance. The dragon patterns on Qin Huai¡¯s bones also began to glow. Boom! Wisps of white steam seeped out of Qin Huai¡¯s pores. Around his body, huge white dragons began to slowly take shape. One, two¡­ As the number increased, it seemed like a storm was brewing under the moonlight. A shocking aura began to accumulate. When all nine white dragons appeared, Qin Huai¡¯s aura seemed to have reached its peak. The next moment, the tenth white dragon slowly formed behind Qin Huai. With Qin Huai as the center, a violent wind suddenly blew. Elder Erlong felt the power that came at him and was shocked in his heart. Chapter 233 - 233 Another Banquet? 233 Another Banquet? It was just an additional white dragon, but the power it displayed was stronger than the nine dragons. But ¡­ ¡°No, it¡¯s not just that.¡± Elder Erlong murmured in the air. If it was just that, with his realm and mastery of force, he would definitely not feel the horror of his heart trembling. ¡°Grandmaster, I¡¯m not sure how strong the next thing will be. You¡¯d better step back a little.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was solemn. But seeing that Elder Erlong was already standing at the edge of the cliff, he hurriedly changed his words, ¡°Brat, don¡¯t take it just because I gave you face. Just put it here!¡± Elder Erlong laughed in anger. ¡°The bone pattern realm is divided into five levels. Every time you advance to the next level, your bones and force will become twice as strong! ¡°Compared to the level 9 blood refinement realm, the level 5 bone pattern realm is akin to an omnipotent emperor of the world. And the transformation lies in the fifth level of the bone pattern realm, like a step to the noble plane and a step to the high official plane. It¡¯s as heavy as a chasm. ¡°Although these words are exaggerated, I think you should be able to understand the weight of it.¡± Elder Erlong stroked his beard and looked at Qin Huai smugly. ¡°I¡¯m an expert at level 3 bone pattern realm, and you want me to retreat¡­¡± Elder Erlong couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. It seemed that he had not told Qin Huai too much about the division of the bone pattern realm, which gave the latter unrealistic confidence. The palpitation from Qin Huai¡¯s terrifying aura earlier had mostly subsided with his words. ¡°This is also my fault¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to reach this realm so quickly. However, your confidence just now was just like when I first entered the bone pattern realm. I also felt that I¡¯m invincible, but in the end, I was beaten up by Master and returned to my original state. Hahaha¡­¡± Elder Erlong thought of the past that was almost sealed and could not help but laugh loudly. ¡°I see.¡± Hearing Elder Erlong¡¯s words, Qin Huai felt relieved. His mind sank slightly into his dantian, awakening the baby dragon king in the dragon egg. Buzz~ The world in his dantian seemed to tremble slightly. The many green dragons, tigers, and wolves that were fighting on the bronze wall began to crawl. The next moment, the dragon whelp slowly opened its eyes. Outside his dantian, Qin Huai¡¯s aura froze. In the next second, a sky-toppling power suddenly rippled. Elder Erlong was careless and actually bent his knees suddenly. ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± Elder Erlong¡¯s hurried voice immediately sounded by his ear. Qin Huai hurriedly opened his eyes, his aura completely gone. The night breeze and tranquility returned as if nothing had happened. ¡°I can already sense your strength, little fellow¡­¡± Elder Erlong stared at Qin Huai with a complicated gaze. ¡°It¡¯s indeed terrifying. ¡± Qin Huai was stunned. He hadn¡¯t even started, and it was already over? Elder Erlong sighed. ¡°Although I once guessed that after you nurture ten white dragons in your body, your breakthrough pattern bone will be different from others. But I didn¡¯t expect you to be so different. ¡°Your force is very strong, not just in terms of numbers. It¡¯s more like the suppression of a group of higher-ups against a group of lower-ranked ones. ¡°I don¡¯t know how effective it is against other martial artists, but at least against martial artists who cultivate the long breath technique and the nine dragons true qi technique¡­ your force can be said to be invincible.¡± Elder Erlong slowly closed his eyes and recalled the shocking aura that flashed past just now. ¡°Within the same realm, I¡¯m afraid there are very few people who can stand in front of you. It¡¯s best to use this skill less, or else I¡¯m afraid it will attract the attention of someone with ulterior motives. Especially since you¡¯re on the must-kill list of many people now.¡± Elder Erlong couldn¡¯t help but smile. This kid¡¯s ability to cause trouble was exactly the same as when he was young. There were five major forces in Lingjiang county, including the Sacred Heart sect and the Balance Army. Both the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Sacred Heart sect had Qin Huai on their kill list. In addition, his own Nine Dragons sect and the Zhang family were natural enemies. Half of the five forces in Lingjiang were Qin Huai¡¯s enemies. If Qin Huai¡¯s strength was revealed, half of the people in Lingjiang would probably not be able to sleep well. ¡°Understood, Grandmaster,¡± Qin Huai replied respectfully. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve broken through to the bone pattern realm, this old master can go without worry.¡± Elder Erlong sighed. ¡°Where is Grandmaster going?¡± Elder Erlong sighed and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that Sun Yuanshan might be in Huai Dan City? I heard that the war in there is about to calm down, so I¡¯ll go and see if I can find that child. No matter what, he¡¯s still my disciple, right?¡± ¡°Then I wish Grandmaster success!¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t dissuade him. Instead, he reminded him, ¡°The world is in chaos now, so you have to be careful, Grandmaster. ¡± ¡°Do I need you to teach me?¡± Elder Erlong raised his eyebrows and snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate my level 3 bone pattern realm. In the vast Lingjiang, as long as I want to leave, no one can stop me!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Grandmaster is right,¡± Qin Huai could only reply repeatedly. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Long Breath Essence (White)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Essence (Blue)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± The next morning, Qin Huai collected experience points as usual. When he saw the blue experience ball, he was stunned. Then, he searched the crowd carefully. It was Li Buchang, whom he had met once yesterday. Coincidentally, Li Buchang¡¯s gaze turned to Qin Huai. Their eyes met, and Li Buchang could not hide the disgust in his eyes. However, with Li Buchang¡¯s help, Qin Huai¡¯s Nine Dragons True Qi Technique¡¯s experience bar increased to 1%. ¡°I wonder how I offended him.¡± Qin Huai was confused. ¡°Brother Qin.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice suddenly sounded behind his ear. ¡°Brother Zhang, good morning.¡± Qin Huai also had a smile on his face. ¡°I think Brother Qin and Buchang might have some misunderstanding. Tomorrow night, I will hold a banquet at the Green Feather Tower. What do you think?¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled warmly. ¡°I naturally have no objections.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t refuse. If he wanted the Li family to regain power, he would definitely try his best to keep and rope in the Li family¡¯s talents. However, he still remembered that Zhang Haoyue had sent someone to test him in the Green Feather Tower last time. He wondered what that guy was up to this time. Chapter 234 - 234 Making a Move 234 Making a Move Outside Huai Dan City. A thin mist of blood spread across the barren mountains and plains. Broken limbs piled up into small mountains, and thick blood gathered into streams, flowing toward the low-lying area. The blood-colored streams eventually ran side by side, turning into blood-colored ponds and low-lying areas. A soldier with an indifferent expression carried a flag with the words ¡®Peace Under the World¡¯ written on it in black on a red background and headed for the mountain peak. They followed the blood-colored streams and went against the current. When he reached the top of the mountain, a hint of fear flashed across his indifferent expression, and he clenched the flag in his hand hesitantly. ¡°Sir, according to the rules, the flag should be set at the highest point¡­¡± In his eyes, a young man with shoulder-length hair stood up at an inappropriate time. Like a lion¡¯s thick hair, it swayed in the wind. His entire body was covered in blood, and his strong muscles made him look even more burly. However, he looked more like a beast than a human. Beneath his feet were piles of corpses that looked like mountains. ¡°Ah, leave it to me.¡± The young man stood up and took the flag with the words ¡®Peace Under the World¡¯ and planted the flag into the ground. The soldiers who were originally carrying the flag had already fled. ¡°I have never seen a genius like you¡­¡± A man in a black robe walked over from behind and stood side by side with the young man. The black-robed man continued, ¡°There have been countless people who wore this armor, but most of them died in three days. The longest record before you was only half a month¡­ yet you¡¯ve been wearing this armor for half a year, and not only have you not shown any abnormalities, but even your bones seem to have changed.¡± The black-robed man clicked his tongue in wonder. ¡°Are they dead or have they turned into something else?¡± The youth opened his mouth and spat out a shocking heat wave in the air. The next moment, the hair on his body actually shortened, and his ridiculously strong muscles turned into blood-red streams that returned to his chest and back. Kakaka¡­ The bones in the young man¡¯s body also began to crack. In just a few breaths of time, the youth had become much thinner. The armor on his body also revealed its original appearance, sticking to his body like a complete piece of rotten meat. ¡°Why do you care about this? I gave you the strength to complete your revenge. You let me see what I wanted to see¡­ Isn¡¯t it just nice?¡± The black-robed man smiled brightly. ¡°In just half a year, you have killed a great blood refinement martial artist. Moreover, you have killed two of them at once¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s because my master taught me well,¡± the young man said in a slightly wooden tone. He was able to kill two great blood refinement martial artists by himself. His exquisite poison technique played an important role. When he thought of poison techniques, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Qin Huai. The young man was none other than Hu Jinghai, who had been taken in by the people of Baiqi Mountain like a stray dog. He seemed to have discovered his own unique talent. ¡°Master¡­¡± A strange look flashed across the black-robed man¡¯s eyes. Qin Huai, who was far away in Lingjiang City, was not in a good situation even though he was talented. ¡°Brat, the order came from the sect. From today onwards, you are the third weapon of my Hundred Weapons Mountain.¡± The black-robed man patted Hu Jinghai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s the use of this third weapon title?¡± Hu Jinghai asked. ¡°In terms of class, your status is higher than mine.¡± ¡°But this is Lingjiang county, I have the final say.¡± The black-robed man laughed. ¡°What if I want to kill Song Ya?¡± Hu Jinghai said. ¡°You only have one chance.¡± The black-robed man shrugged. ¡°Then¡­ What¡¯s the price?¡± Hu Jinghai looked up at the black-robed man. ¡°In a few days, you will have a new set of armor shipped over from the Hundred Weapons Mountain.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Hu Jinghai did not hesitate. He had no right to refuse. ¡°If in the end, this armor is mine, or¡­ I¡¯m in armor?¡± he raised another question. ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one knows.¡± ¡­ In the Zhang family¡¯s courtyard. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s door was pushed open quietly. ¡°Young Master, we got the item.¡± A shifty-looking middle-aged man walked up to Zhang Haoyue. He held a sack and slowly placed it on the ground, looking very anxious. ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s really not easy to get something that can poison a ninth refinement martial artist to death. Moreover, you didn¡¯t buy the finished product. You even asked me to buy the medicinal ingredients in batches and buy the formula to make it myself. What are you trying to do¡­¡± The middle-aged man complained as he untied the sack. If Qin Huai was here, he would be able to recognize them at a glance. These medicinal herbs were very old poisons and priceless treasures. ¡°What do you know? Every bit of risk is worth it. These medicinal ingredients were all bought from the Fengxing Auction House?¡± Zhang Haoyue asked again. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m just following your orders¡­ Besides, they couldn¡¯t be sold anywhere else. However, you don¡¯t have to worry. The Fengxing Auction House is a big force and will definitely not sell the information of its customers, so it¡¯s safest to buy it from them. No one will know. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve been friends with their manager for thirty years. Our relationship is very close!¡± The middle-aged man patted his chest. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. You must make this poison before tomorrow night.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡­ The next day, night fell quietly. Qin Huai sat in the courtyard, reading the letter Ge Youqian had sent him. The letter said that someone from the Zhang family had suddenly bought a batch of extremely poisonous medicinal herbs through the Fengxing Auction House. The manager had already been taken into custody by Ge Youqian¡¯s men. Ge Youqian was asking Qin Huai if he had any news. logo Chapter 235 - 235 A Trap 235 A Trap ¡°Poison¡­ Could it be that you want to attack me?¡± Qin Huai had a strange expression on his face. Wasn¡¯t using poison against him a little too stupid? He looked at the time. He carried Silver Fox and walked out of the courtyard with all kinds of poisonous creatures on his body. The Nine Dragons sect was actually quite well-equipped. In the middle of the night, there would be singing and dancing disciples chatting and playing in the open space. There were also people who lit fires and set up the game that they had hunted during the day. The fragrance filled the air. Qin Huai walked through the peaceful streets and people and slowly ascended the Green Feather Tower. Squeak~ He pushed open the door. Inside the brightly lit room, the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect were drinking happily in front of the table, while the two servants were lying on the counter, their eyelids twitching. He looked around but did not find Zhang Haoyue or Li Buchang. Dong dong dong¡­ Qin Huai knocked on the table. ¡°Where is the table Senior Brother Haoyue reserved?¡± The servant immediately quivered and rubbed his eyes as he looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Senior Brother Qin is here!¡± The servant was all smiles and immediately began to flip through the account book. All the tables in the Green Feather Tower were reserved, and the names of the guests were clearly written on each table. ¡°The top floor¡­ Senior Brother Haoyue has booked the entire rooftop today, so you can just go up there. Senior Brother Li Buchang is already waiting upstairs.¡± The servant looked at Qin Huai obsequiously. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Qin Huai nodded and headed upstairs. As he turned the corner of the spiral wooden stairs, Qin Huai saw a slender young man standing by the window. ¡°Senior Brother Buchang.¡± Qin Huai cupped his hands respectfully. ¡°Humph! You¡¯re really fast.¡± Li Buchang turned around and glared at Qin Huai coldly. He did not hide the sarcasm in his words. Qin Huai frowned slightly. ¡°Senior Brother, there might be a misunderstanding somewhere. I came on time.¡± He had even arrived half an hour earlier to show his sincerity. However, from Li Buchang¡¯s tone, he had been here for quite a long time. What was Zhang Haoyue trying to do? Qin Huai frowned slightly. Zhang Haoyue had personally told him the time, so there shouldn¡¯t be a mistake. ¡°Where¡¯s Senior Brother Haoyue?¡± Qin Huai looked around but couldn¡¯t find Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Eldest Senior Brother went back to get some wine. He will be back in a while.¡± Li Buchang¡¯s voice was stiff. ¡°Hehe¡­ I¡¯ve been in the Nine Dragons sect for a long time, but this is the first time I¡¯m meeting Senior Brother Buchang. I wonder if Senior Brother Buchang can tell me what I¡¯ve done to offend you?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm, and there was a smile on his face. He didn¡¯t change because of Li Buchang¡¯s cold and stern expression. As the saying went, one should not hit a smiling person. That was why Li Buchang often saw Qin Huai¡¯s amiable expression. Li Buchang couldn¡¯t continue to flare up, so he slowly said, ¡°I heard from Father that not long after you married into the Li family, you used your relationship with Sister Shaoxiang to provoke the Zhang family time and time again. ¡°You even tried to sow discord between Fourth Uncle and First Uncle, causing the originally gentle first branch to become at odds with the Zhang family. ¡°That¡¯s why Zhang Dagen was forced to fight against Fourth Uncle¡¯s lineage, causing many Li family disciples to die tragically. The relationship between the Zhang and Li families also rapidly deteriorated¡­ Now, why did such a thing happen?¡± Qin Huai was stunned when he heard Li Buchang¡¯s words. Was this something he did? He had provoked the Zhang family time and time again, and Zhang Dagen was forced to make a move. That Sixth Uncle was really bold. ¡°Does Sixth Uncle know his surname?¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but laugh in anger. Bang! ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Buchang¡¯s gaze suddenly became sharp. ¡°I think you can listen to Sixth Uncle¡¯s words in reverse. That is the correct truth.¡± ¡°Are you saying that my father would lie to me, his biological son, and slander the Li family?¡± Li Buchang was so angry that he laughed. ¡°Do you believe that? Preposterous, this is simply too preposterous.¡± Qin Huai was speechless, but the truth was just that ridiculous. That sixth uncle was probably already very servile, even more so than the third and fifth branches. ¡°Qin Huai, I thought you would realize your mistake¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to use such a ridiculous reason to brush me off. Trying to twist black and white?¡± Li Buchang¡¯s voice suddenly became louder. Even the laughter downstairs seemed to have stopped. Everyone perked up their ears to listen to the argument between Qin Huai and his wife upstairs. ¡°I¡­¡± Qin Huai opened his mouth. But Li Buchang¡¯s face turned pale. The next moment, his eyes revealed a hint of fear. ¡°You¡­ How dare you poison me?¡± Boom! Li Buchang suddenly threw a palm strike at Qin Huai. The terrifying palm wind directly shattered the entire table into two halves. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me detoxify you!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart thumped. How could he not know that he had fallen into Zhang Haoyue¡¯s trap? However, at this moment, how could Li Buchang believe Qin Huai? The white dragons in his hands were all unleashed, and the violent waves directly hit Qin Huai¡¯s face. The surrounding tables and chairs were all shattered, and even the four walls of the pavilion were shattered by Li Buchang. The destructive power of a crazed ninth refinement martial artist was shocking. A white light flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. But before the terrifying power could break out of his body, Li Buchang spat out a mouthful of black blood. All the waves caused by the white dragons stopped abruptly. ¡°Qin¡­ Qin Huai¡­¡± Li Buchang¡¯s eyes were about to pop out as he glared at Qin Huai. Two streaks of black blood dripped down from the corner of Li Buchang¡¯s eyes. With a thud, he completely lost his breath. ¡°Brother Qin, Brother Buchang, the wine is here¡­¡± At the stairs, Zhang Haoyue went up to the top floor with a warm smile. When he saw the scene in front of him, the smile on his face stopped. Bang! The two jars of good wine in his hands fell off and smashed into pieces on the ground. Chapter 236 - 236 Qin Huais Calmness 236 Qin Huai¡¯s Calmness When the group of senior and junior brothers who had arrived heard the commotion, they saw Zhang Haoyue shattering his wine jar in shock. They could no longer suppress their curiosity. They climbed up the stairs and looked at the scene on the top floor. And then¡­ Everyone stared in shock at the messy battlefield on the top floor. Li Buchang, who was lying on the floor, was vomiting black blood, while Qin Huai was standing not far away. At this moment, it was as if the air had stopped. ¡°Big Brother!¡± someone wailed and rushed up the stairs. He hugged Li Buchang, who was already dead on the ground, and cried his heart out. ¡°Qin Huai! How dare you!¡± Many disciples of the Zhang family roared, but some of the disciples of the Li family were even more furious. Killing a fellow disciple, he deserved to die. The heavens would not tolerate the remains of their relatives. ¡°Qin Huai, you killed your fellow sect member. Are you trying to rebel?!¡± Furious roars echoed in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. Qin Huai, on the other hand, only stared fixedly at Zhang Haoyue. Under his calm face, there was already a monstrous rage burning. ¡°Everyone, quiet down! Silence!¡± Zhang Haoyue roared, even using his vigorous blood essence. Only then did the indignant crowd temporarily suppress their emotions. ¡°There¡¯s no conclusion to this matter yet. We can¡¯t be sure that Brother Qin killed Buchang yet!¡± But these words did not ease the mood of the people present. On the contrary, it made everyone even more irritable. ¡°There¡¯s irrefutable evidence. What dogshit conclusion do you need?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s only Qin Huai and Senior Brother Buchang on the top floor just now¡­ We also heard sounds of arguing and Senior Brother Buchang¡¯s roar.¡± ¡°Yes, it was Qin Huai who poisoned him!¡± One by one, the young men waved their fists at Qin Huai, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as if they wanted to swallow Qin Huai alive. ¡°Quiet down,¡± Zhang Haoyue spoke again. ¡°Seeing may not be believing. It¡¯s not too late to vent your anger after the results of the sect¡¯s investigation are out. At that time, if Brother Qin really did it, I, Zhang Haoyue, will definitely kill him with my own hands!¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s voice was firm as he stared at Qin Huai coldly. Then, he slowly walked up to Qin Huai. With a solemn expression, he said, ¡°Brother Qin, tell me you didn¡¯t do this.¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Haoyue, who was speaking sincerely with disbelief written all over his face. His voice was unusually calm as he said, ¡°Good plan. Good acting skills.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s back was facing the crowd as he looked at Qin Huai, who was just inches away from him. A proud, cold, and mocking expression slowly appeared on his face. ¡°So what? Can you kill me? Even if you can kill me, you¡¯re in a situation where everyone hates you. When the time comes, we will face it. The Nine Dragons sect and even the entire True Path sect will hunt you down endlessly!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes remained calm. ¡°Are you so sure that you¡¯ll win?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never lost.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s face was full of confidence. ¡°In the past, and in the future.¡± Thump thump thump¡­ Another group of people squeezed through the crowd and rushed to the top floor. It was a group of young people from the second and fourth families, and the one leading them was Li Buhu. They rushed to Qin Huai¡¯s side and even pushed Zhang Haoyue out before surrounding Qin Huai. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for Son-in-law to be a murderer!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It must be someone from the Zhang family who framed him.¡± Li Buhu roared, ¡°Think about it, if you wanted to kill someone from your own family, would you choose to do it in public?¡± Li Buhu¡¯s words made everyone present waver. It seemed like¡­ There was some truth to it. ¡°As for the truth, we will know after the sect has investigated.¡± There was another sound from the stairs. Several elders of the Nine Dragons sect arrived in time, but they seemed to be elders of the Zhang family. ¡°Now, Disciple Qin Huai, follow us to the confinement chamber and wait there!¡± the leading elder of the Zhang family said sternly. ¡°I won¡¯t escape. I will stay in the Li family courtyard and wait for the truth to come out,¡± Qin Huai said slowly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not up to you!¡± The leading elder of the Zhang family sneered and sent a palm strike toward Qin Huai. A white dragon rose from his body, and the mighty force caused many disciples around him to fall to the ground in an instant, their faces as pale as paper. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s anger sank into his dantian as he threw a punch forward. The white mist on his body turned into the shape of a real dragon and swung out with his fist. Bang! The entire Green Feather Tower shook violently under the two men¡¯s fists. Cracks started from the feet of the two men and spread rapidly in the shape of spider patterns. ¡°He¡¯s in the bone pattern realm!¡± The pupils of the Zhang family elder constricted. ¡°Son-in-law has broken through to the Bone Pattern Realm!¡± ¡°As expected of Son-in-law¡­¡± The disciples of the second and fourth branches were also shocked, and their faces revealed excited expressions. They didn¡¯t believe that Qin Huai was the kind of person who would do such a thing. Now that Qin Huai had revealed the strength of the bone pattern realm, their confidence had inexplicably increased by a lot. On the other hand, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes were filled with joy. Qin Huai had actually broken through to the next realm, and that had saved him a lot of expenses. Now¡­ everything was ready. ¡°Elder Chengshi, you are indeed rude,¡± Zhang Haoyue slowly said. ¡°Brother Qin is only a suspect now, and he hasn¡¯t committed any actual crimes. Why would he need to go to a confinement chamber? Isn¡¯t it a reasonable request to stay at home and wait for the truth to come out? ¡± Zhang Chengshi glanced at Zhang Haoyue and cupped his hands. ¡°Young Master is right.¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s order seemed to be above the heavens. Zhang Chengshi and the other elders of the Zhang family retreated obediently. He looked at Qin Huai with a smile. ¡°Brother Qin, I believe that the Nine Dragons sect will definitely seek justice for you! ¡± ¡°Thank you, Senior Brother Haoyue.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained calm. He even cupped his hands and bowed to Zhang Haoyue. ¡°However, Brother Qin, I¡¯m afraid that you will have to stay in another part of the Li family¡¯s courtyard for the next few days. Your courtyard will be sealed.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll follow Senior Brother Haoyue¡¯s arrangements!¡± Zhang Haoyue looked at Qin Huai and frowned slightly. ¡°Carry the corpse away and withdraw! ¡± Crash¡­ After a short while, Zhang Haoyue disappeared from the Green Feather Tower with the crowd and the commotion. ¡°Brother-in-law, how do we prove our innocence now?¡± Li Buhu followed behind Qin Huai with a gloomy expression. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s simple.¡± Qin Huai felt no pressure at all. He had studied the poison path for many years, so he knew the essence of this path. He could even tell at a glance what kind of poison Li Buchang had been poisoned with. ¡°It was a poison that can work on a ninth refinement martial artist. Those so-called poison masters in the city can¡¯t do it at all¡­ Therefore, if you want to poison someone, you have to buy it from outside Lingjiang, or ask for the prescription and buy the medicinal materials for making the poison yourself. ¡°But these herbs and poisons are not available on the market. If you want to buy it, you can only go through the special channels in the city¡­ And there is only one place in Lingjiang City that has the ability to get these.¡± ¡°Fengxing Auction House?¡± Li Buhu blurted out, ¡°But the Fengxing Auction House will not tell us who bought it. They won¡¯t reveal the identity of their customers at all.¡± Qin Huai was indifferent, though. He already knew. Chapter 237 - 237 Going to the Meeting Hall 237 Going to the Meeting Hall Bang! ¡°This is too much! This is simply too much! Isn¡¯t this blatant framing?¡± Li Zeshi¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he smashed the stone table beside him into pieces. ¡°If it was really the work of Son-in-law, with Son-in-law¡¯s style of doing things, how could he let Li Buchang die in public? He must have died without anyone knowing, just like Zhang Dagen¡¯s work.¡± As Li Zeshi spoke, he stood up abruptly. ¡°I¡¯ll go and look for Big Brother now. We must get to the bottom of this matter and prove Young Master¡¯s innocence!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Outside the door, Second Uncle Li Zewu walked out with a gloomy face. ¡°I just came back from Big Brother¡¯s place.¡± ¡°What does big brother mean?¡± Li Zeshi looked at Li Zewu expectantly. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but cast a sidelong glance, anticipating his father-in-law¡¯s reaction. Li Zewu laughed bitterly. ¡°Big Brother said that he only believes in evidence.¡± ¡°But where are we going to find evidence now?¡± The two of them looked worried. They also knew that if Zhang Haoyue really did it, then there was a high chance that the witness evidence was at the Fengxing Auction House. However, they did not have the ability to make the Fengxing Auction House hand over the person. ¡°Uncles, don¡¯t worry. Leave the witnesses and evidence to me,¡± Qin Huai said slowly. ¡°Does Son-in-law have a way?¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± Qin Huai kept them in suspense. ¡°However, the sect meeting hall tomorrow will not be peaceful, so the two uncles must be mentally prepared.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Son-in-law. No matter what happens, I, Li Zeshi, will definitely stand on your side!¡± Li Zeshi said firmly. ¡°Other than standing on Son-in-law¡¯s side, my second branch has no other choice, right?¡± Li Zewu also expressed his stance. ¡­ Late at night, Qingshui quickly pushed open Qin Huai¡¯s room door. ¡°Sir, that matter has been settled.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Qin Huai nodded and continued to dip his equipment in poison. Qingshui continued, ¡°Also¡­ Miss replied that she would definitely rush back on time for the sect meeting tomorrow. Miss also said that Old Master had been bewitched by the Zhang family all these years and was deeply poisoned¡­ The sect meeting tomorrow might not be too biased towards you unless you can produce very strong evidence. ¡°There¡¯s one last sentence.¡± Qingshui paused, and a bitter smile appeared on her face. ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Huai looked up. ¡°Miss said that you are the Li family¡¯s destiny. No matter what decision you make, Miss will support you without hesitation.¡± Qin Huai fell silent for a moment. ¡°My wife is very thoughtful.¡± Since Li Shaoxiang trusted him so much, he would definitely not let her down. However, the relationship in the Nine Dragons sect was complicated. What exactly was his father-in-law¡¯s stance? Apart from the second and fourth branches of the Li family, were the other families fence-sitters or firm lackeys of the Zhang family? He didn¡¯t know anything. And why did the Zhang family miss him from the beginning¡­ If they wanted to kill him, couldn¡¯t they just send a bone pattern realm warrior? And why did they go through so much trouble to frame him? It was as if there were clouds of fog blocking Qin Huai¡¯s vision, making it difficult for him to set things right. ¡­ The morning sun was bright, and the warm wind was warm. Qin Huai woke up and washed up as usual. He sat at the table and slowly finished his breakfast with Fourth Uncle and Second Uncle. In front of the courtyard, there was already a group of Li family disciples waiting for them with stern expressions. They were all from the first, third, fifth, and sixth branches. ¡°Qin Huai, please!¡± The man in the lead was Li Zeren¡¯s right-hand man, his real brother, Li Zetao. However, his gaze was stiff. Even when he looked at Li Zewu and Li Zeshi, who were of the same blood clan, his expression did not change at all. ¡°Second Brother, Fourth Brother, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to keep a certain distance from Qin Huai.¡± Li Zetao looked at the two of them coldly. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Uncles, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just a few steps. Nothing will happen to me.¡± Qin Huai nodded at them. He carried Silver Fox and walked alone at the front of the group. Within a ten-meter radius, only Li Zetao was slower than Qin Huai by half a step, as if he was guarding a criminal. He followed closely behind. ¡°Don¡¯t talk. Listen to me.¡± Li Zetao¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from behind. Qin Huai¡¯s expression did not change, but the two of them slowed down their footsteps in tacit understanding. What Li Zetao used was a technique that allowed him to control the nine dragons true qi technique with extreme precision. There were only a handful of people in the entire Nine Dragons sect who knew this move. ¡°Big Brother is not as foolish as you think. What he is doing now is just beyond his control. The Li family is now riddled with holes. Except for the first, second, and fourth branches, half of the people are wavering. Some of them have long joined the Zhang family and have been monitoring Big Brother¡¯s every move. ¡°And you know very well that the Li family¡¯s current strength is not enough to fight against the Zhang family.¡± Li Zetao¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but feel heavy when he mentioned this. Even his voice paused for a moment to calm down. Then, he continued, ¡°Eldest Brother wanted to isolate you on the surface and give you the cold shoulder so that the Zhang family would let their guard down. ¡°Wait until your realm rises to a level that surpasses everyone else before you counterattack¡­ However, for some reason, the Zhang family has been keeping an eye on you. It¡¯s even greater than infiltrating the Li family. ¡°I¡¯ve forced you to this extent step by step.¡± Qin Huai suddenly understood. He didn¡¯t expect his father-in-law to have hidden it so well. During that one-on-one meeting, Qin Huai had carefully observed Li Zeren¡¯s expression and mannerisms, but he couldn¡¯t see any flaws. As expected of the head of the Li family of the Nine Dragons sect. Chapter 238 - 238 The Trial Begins 238 The Trial Begins ¡°So what does Father-in-law plan to do?¡± ¡°Big Brother is getting ready. Why do you know how to use qi thread sound transmission?¡± Li Zetao was shocked. ¡°My talent is not bad,¡± Qin Huai calmly replied. Actually, he had just picked up a skill experience ball and learned the qi thread sound transmission. ¡°You really are a genius,¡± Li Zetao praised. His niece¡¯s taste was indeed not wrong. ¡°Unfortunately, the time left for you is too short. At this sect meeting, or rather, a trial¡­ the Zhang family will definitely make things difficult for you. ¡°But Big Brother will do his best to protect your life and deal with you. If it really doesn¡¯t work out, follow me and I¡¯ll send you down the mountain¡­ We¡¯ll make a comeback in the future!¡± Qin Huai listened to Li Zetao¡¯s lengthy plan and remained silent. Soon, the two of them passed through the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s training grounds, attics, and sutras¡­ Along the way, all the disciples of the Zhang and Li families looked solemn. A strange atmosphere filled every corner of the Nine Dragons sect. With Qin Huai and Li Zetao at the lead, the mighty team finally arrived at the meeting hall. ¡°Hey! Weapons are not allowed in the meeting hall!¡± In front of the door, a disciple of the Zhang family stretched out his hand and coldly blocked Qin Huai¡¯s path. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the Nine Dragons sect for so long. Why haven¡¯t I heard of such a rule in the meeting hall?¡± Li Zewu said coldly from behind. ¡°He¡¯s a criminal, so he¡¯s naturally different from the others.¡± Even when facing Li Zewu, the disciples of the Zhang family showed no fear on their faces. Li Zewu snorted. ¡°A criminal? Did you see Qin Huai kill someone with your own eyes? Where¡¯s the evidence? Where are the witnesses? Or could it be¡­ Do you have the ability to predict the future?¡± Facing Li Zewu¡¯s aggressiveness, the Zhang family¡¯s disciple was instantly speechless. Pa! Li Zewu walked forward and slapped the disciple¡¯s face. ¡°Also, don¡¯t you know that you should bow when you see your elders?¡± The disciples of the Zhang family did not expect Li Zewu to be so overbearing. He seemed to be different from the other members of the Li family. He was stunned on the spot. ¡°Let him come in like this. It doesn¡¯t matter to us whether he brings a weapon or not.¡± In the meeting hall, an elder of the Zhang family spoke slowly. Qin Huai slowly ascended the steps of the meeting hall. The elders of the Zhang and Li families were seated on the chairs on both sides of the hall. He looked over and saw that everyone¡¯s expressions were mocking and cold, just like Sixth Uncle, who had just lost his son. The latter¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, and his killing intent was about to overflow. Qin Huai stood still. At the end of the long bench, Zhang Wu, who was sitting on the main seat, slowly spoke. ¡°Today, the trial for Qin Huai¡¯s murder of Li Buchang, a disciple of the sixth branch of the Li family, begins! ¡± As soon as he said that, Qin Huai knew that things would not end peacefully today. ¡°Bring people up!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a few people were brought up from the side. ¡°Tell me, what did you see that night?¡± Zhang Wu had a solemn look on his face. ¡°That night, we saw Qin Huai and Li Buchang meeting alone on the top floor. Not long after they went up, the two of them had an intense argument, accompanied by the sound of intense fighting¡­¡± ¡°That night¡­¡± The few of them recounted what they had seen and heard that night one by one. ¡°Qin Huai, do you have anything to say about this?¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s expression darkened as he stared at Qin Huai. ¡°When I went up, Li Buchang was already poisoned. The so-called quarrel was just Li Buchang mistakenly thinking that I poisoned him.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes slowly swept across the group of elders before stopping on Li Zeren¡¯s face. His father-in-law¡¯s expression was as hard as stone, and no emotions could be seen. ¡°However, I do know what kind of poison Li Buchang ingested¡­ It¡¯s a poison that can cause injuries to those in the bone pattern realm. It seems to be the same poison that appeared in Lingjiang county more than ten years ago. It¡¯s called the nine steps gut cutting powder.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm as he spoke with assurance. ¡°Oh, since you know so much, you should know what medicinal ingredients are in this nine steps gut cutting powder, right?¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s expression was cold and stern, and he had an iron face. ¡°Bone pattern stage three-eyed ox demon¡¯s small intestine, three-hundred-year-old crying spirit flower, five-hundred-year-old black spotted snake fur¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°You sure know your family¡¯s treasures.¡± Li Zeming, the head of the Li family¡¯s sixth branch, sneered and stood up to walk to the center of the meeting hall. He then took out a small package from his bosom and slowly opened it, waving it in front of everyone. There was a piece of broken blue flower petal inside. ¡°Sect Master, this is an important piece of evidence that I found in Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard! It¡¯s a fragment of a three-hundred-year-old crying spirit flower, and it¡¯s also one of the main ingredients of the nine steps gut cutting powder. ¡± Li Zeming¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°Other than that, we also found a lot of unused poison residue in his room. And a few days ago, you came back with two sacks. How many people in the Li family¡¯s courtyard have smelled the thick, strange smell? This can¡¯t be fake, right?! How do you still want to explain it now?!¡± Without waiting for Qin Huai to speak, Li Zewu laughed coldly. ¡°If Qin Huai really framed your son, why would he openly carry the two poisons home and leave evidence for others to use against him? ¡°Why would he be so careless and not clean up his own drug production site? Sixth Brother, don¡¯t you think this is ridiculous?¡± The Zhang family¡¯s elder also spoke up, ¡°What if this is a cover-up Qin Huai deliberately did? Moreover, Qin Huai¡¯s poison techniques are so exquisite that I believe everyone in the sect knows about them.¡± Chapter 239 - 239 The Truth? 239 The Truth? ¡°He was able to kill so many Sacred Heart disciples because of his silent poison techniques.¡± ¡°The reliability of the evidence¡­ I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not enough to prove Qin Huai¡¯s guilt,¡± Li Zeshi said calmly. ¡°As far as I know, Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard was sealed last night. The people guarding it were the disciples of the Zhang family and the disciples of the Li family¡¯s sixth branch, right?¡± ¡°Fourth Brother, what do you mean by that? Do you think I¡¯m using my own son¡¯s life to frame Qin Huai?¡± Li Zeming¡¯s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. The aura around his body soared, and his aura was terrifying like a crazy lion. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just afraid that Sixth Brother is deceived by a traitor.¡± Li Zeshi looked at Zhang Wu, his meaning needless to say. ¡°Deceived by a traitor? I think Second Brother and Fourth Brother have been deceived by a traitor!¡± Li Zezhi from the third branch sneered. ¡°Qin Huai and Li Buchang had a conflict in the first place. When Zhang Haoyue was trying to increase Qin Huai¡¯s pills, Li Buchang cut him off on the grounds of his contribution to the sect. ¡°Qin Huai was filled with resentment and poisoned him. I dare to guess that if the poison hadn¡¯t taken effect too quickly, he would have even wanted to shift the blame to Zhang Haoyue!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were cold as he looked at Li Zeming. Before the Zhang family could speak, it was this third uncle who bit first. ¡°Now, there are witnesses and evidence¡­¡± ¡°What a bold guess. Third Uncle, do you still know your surname?¡± Outside the door, a travel-worn figure walked in. She was dressed in a red dress, and her eyes were cold. ¡°My Li family has fallen to this state. Third Uncle, a person like you can¡¯t escape the blame! I, Li Shaoxiang, dare to swear on my ancestors that my husband is definitely not the murderer! ¡°Husband is the family¡¯s destiny! He¡¯s the hope of the Nine Dragons sect. You are going against the heavens!¡± The moment she saw Qin Huai, the coldness in her eyes turned into endless fanaticism. Beside Li Shaoxiang was a fat middle-aged man covered in injuries. Bang! She threw him on the ground and said, ¡°This person is the manager of the Fengxing Auction House, Nie Niu. I learned quite a few interesting things from him.¡± Li Shaoxiang walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side and stood beside him. ¡°Husband, looks like I just made it.¡± She wiped the blood and stains on her face. She listened to Qin Huai¡¯s words and brought the manager, Nie Niu, over from the Fengxing Auction House. However, when she was climbing the mountain, a few people from the Zhang family tried to stop her, which delayed her for a while. ¡°Speak!¡± She kicked Nie Niu. When Zhang Haoyue, who was standing behind Zhang Wu, heard the words ¡°manager of the Fengxing Auction House,¡± his heart skipped a beat. Why couldn¡¯t the Fengxing Auction House protect its own manager? What were they cooking? Nie Niu was so scared that his entire body trembled after being kicked. ¡°A few days ago, the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s Zhang Wei came to me to buy the formula of nine steps gut cutting powder and the medicinal herbs for making it. This¡­ This is the receipt he left behind when he came to buy things.¡± Nie Niu hurriedly took out the evidence from his sleeve. When Li Zeren saw this, his originally cold face gradually became lively. He looked at Qin Huai and said, ¡°It seems like the truth is out now. The real murderer who framed Li Buchang is Zhang Xiaocai of the Zhang family.¡± ¡°Patriarch Li! Are you trying to smooth things over?¡± Zhang Wu suddenly flew into a rage. ¡°Haha, what the sect master said is reasonable¡­ Isn¡¯t that Zhang Xiaocai Zhang Haoyue¡¯s famous lackey?¡± Li Zewu sneered. ¡°The real mastermind is undoubtedly Zhang Haoyue.¡± ¡°Presumptuous! Li Zewu, how dare you publicly slander my Nine Dragon sect¡¯s Eldest Senior Brother? Who in the sect doesn¡¯t know what kind of character our Haoyue has?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a manager of the Fengxing Auction House, and you want to slander the eldest senior brother who has been loved by everyone in the Nine Dragons sect for ten years?¡± The elders of the Zhang Clan were instantly filled with righteous indignation as they slammed the table and stood up. For a moment, a strong wind blew in the meeting hall, as if a group of dragons were roaring angrily, causing the tea on the table to ripple. Li Zeren¡¯s face was already livid. ¡°The Zhang family doesn¡¯t care about the Li family anymore, right?¡± ¡°Li Zeren, Qin Huai¡¯s crime is irrefutable. This child has been trying to weaken your Li family¡¯s power ever since he entered the Nine Dragons sect. If you cover up for him, you¡¯ll be looking down on your Li family!¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Big Brother, this time, I¡¯m afraid that even Fifth Brother won¡¯t be able to stand on your side.¡± Li Zewu and Li Zeshi stood up, then slowly approached Zhang Wu. The third and fifth branches did not seem to care about the truth. ¡°Manager Nie, if you¡¯re threatened by Qin Huai, you can be at ease and speak up,¡± Zhang Haoyue finally spoke. He smiled warmly at Nie Niu, who was in a sorry state. Nie Niu¡¯s eyes darted back and forth in panic. Obviously, even a fool could see that the Zhang family had an overwhelming advantage in terms of numbers. Not only the Zhang family, but even half of the Li family¡¯s six branches had become members of the Zhang family. The difference in strength was so obvious that even a fool would know which side he stood on had a higher chance of survival. ¡°I¡­ Young Master Zhang, save me! I was forced!¡± Nie Niu suddenly shouted and pounced toward the Zhang family. However, the Zhang family was indifferent. ¡°You!¡± Li Shaoxiang, who was behind him, glared at him angrily and broke his spine with a kick. ¡°Hahaha¡­ What do you have to say now, Qin Huai?¡± Zhang Wu laughed smugly as he looked at the silent Qin Huai. ¡°Zhang Wu, don¡¯t go too far!¡± A terrifying aura exploded from Li Zeren¡¯s body. Qin Huai raised his head and slowly swept his gaze across the third and fifth branches, including the furious Li Zeming, as well as the Zhang family members who did not hide the smugness on their faces. In the end, he retracted his gaze and looked at Nie Niu, who was wailing in pain like a clown on the ground. Qin Huai realized that he was wrong. No one believed the truth that he had found. They didn¡¯t even bother to take a look. In this world where martial arts were respected, the truth did not seem to matter. No, the truth of this world was determined by the size of a fist. ¡°Qin Huai, you met Li Buchang at Green Feather Tower last night. Then, you took advantage of his surprise and poisoned him, causing him to die! Do you admit to this crime or not?!¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s voice was excited. Everyone¡¯s gaze landed on Qin Huai. ¡°Caught him off guard?¡± Qin Huai slowly raised his head and looked at Zhang Wu and the others. ¡°Are you ready to hear the truth?¡± Chapter 240 - 240 Kneel Down! 240 Kneel Down! The autumn wind blew, cold as a knife. The sun was bright and clear, but there were actually raindrops falling. The sudden change made the young faces in the meeting hall shiver. Kakaka¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s bones cracked. It had been three years since he came to this world, but most of the time, he still subconsciously thought about problems with the thoughts of his previous life. Even though he was already adapting to the environment and constantly learning, he was actually so naive to believe the word ¡®evidence.¡¯ ¡°What ready?¡± Zhang Wu seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Don¡¯t tell me you think you¡¯re invincible just because you¡¯ve broken through to the bone pattern realm?¡± ¡°Qin Huai, take Shaoxiang and leave quickly! I¡¯ll buy you some time!¡± Li Zeren suddenly exploded. He directly attacked Zhang Wu, while Li Zetao, who was at the side, also fiercely attacked the Zhang family elder beside him. ¡°Li Zeren, how dare you attack me?¡± Zhang Wu was furious. However, he was already overjoyed. He had finally found a legitimate reason and an excellent opportunity. Now that the third and fifth branches of the Li family had rebelled, the sixth branch was clearly standing on the opposite side of the Li family. This was the moment when the Li family was at its weakest. Moreover, Qin Huai¡¯s bones had also matured. These were three happy occasions. Now, the Zhang family had taken control of the Nine Dragons sect in one fell swoop. The era of the Zhang family¡¯s dominance was about to arrive. Boom! The two bone pattern realm experts attacked brazenly. A terrifying wind surged, and the wooden table under the two of them was instantly crushed into pieces. Around them, Li Zewu, Li Zeshi, and the others also joined the battlefield. In an instant, the entire meeting hall was in chaos. In this place where the weakest was at the eighth refinement realm, once a hundred people started fighting, everything in the meeting hall would be crushed into ashes. ¡°Brother Qin, you truly disappoint me.¡± In the chaotic battlefield, Zhang Haoyue also walked over to Qin Huai with a sorrowful expression. Qin Huai raised his head and looked at Zhang Haoyue calmly. ¡°Thank you for giving me a vivid lesson.¡± Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Qin Huai slowly bowed to Zhang Haoyue. At the same time, in the dantian world inside his body, the young dragon king in the dragon pearl slowly opened his eyes. The pair of dragon eyes emitted a faint golden-white color, and the endless light passed through the blood, flesh, and meridians, reflecting in Qin Huai¡¯s pupils. ¡°Haha¡­ Has Qin Huai lost his mind?¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually bowing to Haoyue?¡± The elders of the Zhang family looked at Qin Huai in the middle of the battle, laughing so hard that they were swaying back and forth. They had the advantage in numbers, so they fought very comfortably. ¡°You must know that you¡¯re going to die and feel guilty.¡± ¡°How pitiful. If his talent can continue to grow, he might really be very terrifying.¡± Li Zian shook his head, his eyes full of regret. If the Zhang family had launched an attack a few years later, Qin Huai¡¯s strength would have reached a point where no one could do anything about it. He definitely wouldn¡¯t turn around and follow the Zhang family. But now¡­ The Zhang family was obviously determined to kill him. Not just Qin Huai, but the entire Li family. No one wanted to die, especially people with high positions and power like them. Therefore, Li Zian made a wise choice. ¡°But everything will end here.¡± Third Uncle Li Zezhi nodded. As he spoke, he actually walked straight to Zhang Haoyue¡¯s side. ¡°Nephew Haoyue, leave Qin Huai¡¯s life to me.¡± Li Zezhi sneered. Now that the situation had been decided, and his cultivation was only at the first level of the bone pattern realm, it would all depend on his performance in today¡¯s battle if he wanted to seize the power of the Li family in the future. Taking off Qin Huai¡¯s head was undoubtedly the easiest and most rewarding choice. ¡°If Third Uncle wants it, then I will naturally not snatch it.¡± Zhang Haoyue was stunned at first, but then he gladly gave up his seat to Li Zezhi. Dog eat dog was his favorite show. Li Zezhi looked at Qin Huai, and his expression instantly darkened. ¡°Qin Huai, you murdered your fellow disciple and killed your own kind! You are guilty! Today, on behalf of the Nine Dragons sect and the Li family, I will get rid of you! ¡± Qin Huai looked at the flattering Li Zezhi, his eyes cold and filled with killing intent. He spat out two words. ¡°Kneel down!¡± Li Zezhi sneered. ¡°Hmph, who do you think you are¡­¡± But before he finished speaking¡­ Boom! In an instant, the earth seemed to shake violently. It was as if a mountain had crashed into Li Zezhi¡¯s body at that moment. Bang! If he was careless, Li Zezhi¡¯s knees would not be able to withstand the sudden pressure. His knees smashed into the floor of the meeting hall. The ground below his knees shattered, and spider web-like cracks spread for several meters. He lowered his head and looked at the ground in disbelief. And at the end of his line of sight¡­was Qin Huai¡¯s figure. Trembling, he raised his head. He looked at the white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, as if a god had descended. It made his soul tremble, and he could not help but want to bow down and submit. ¡°What a joke¡­Why would I kneel before you?¡± Li Zezhi was furious. He struggled to look at Qin Huai. That fellow did not have the aura of the ten white dragons. There was nothing. However, he was pressed firmly to the ground. ¡°Relying on a mere poison, what are you being so arrogant for?!¡± Li Zezhi suddenly laughed maniacally, completely different from his usual gentle and humble self. Boom! Suddenly, the wind howled, and the aura of a white dragon appeared around Li Zezhi. The nine white dragons clung onto his body and roared at Qin Huai ferociously. Li Zezhi exerted force from his kneeling position and dashed toward Qin Huai as if he was parallel to the ground. Chapter 241 - 241 A Shocking Scene 241 A Shocking Scene The white dragon materialized and opened its bloody mouth at Qin Huai. His words were arrogant, but he did not dare to be careless in his actions. The nine-dragon force armor formed a layer of battle armor that looked like dragon scales on his body. Beneath his fist, there was also the hidden force of the nine dragon strikes. This punch was both offensive and defensive, not leaving a single flaw. The astonishing airflow was like a whirlwind, smashing everything in front of it. However, Li Zezhi¡¯s expression changed drastically. His white dragon aura actually began to weaken after approaching Qin Huai, as if a subject had met a king and restrained his arrogance. But in front of him¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s blood boiled. Between the veins of his muscles, the white dragon clung to him, causing his strength to soar as if it was engraved. His body also became stronger. ¡°Boiling blood level two! Colossal blood dragon form!¡± A purple-white light flashed on the fist. At the same time, the surrounding air currents began to gather around Qin Huai¡¯s fist. Boom! The sound of surging blood essence colliding exploded, and the bloody mist that filled the sky rained down on the meeting hall. ¡°Ah!¡± Li Zezhi let out a miserable cry as his right arm twisted on the spot. By the time his white dragon aura reached Qin Huai, it had already weakened by half! ¡°What exactly are you using ¡­¡± Li Zezhi¡¯s roar had yet to dissipate when Qin Huai instantly appeared in front of him, staring at him with a pair of eyes that emitted a breathtaking white light. His heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble. He had felt this way in the past when he faced his angry father when he was young. In this battle, the weak would die! Qin Huai waved his fists, and the invisible force around him crashed down. Li Zezhi could barely breathe. When the power is lost, the body is injured. He was defeated step by step. The right side of Li Zezhi¡¯s body was smashed into pieces. The terrifying blood essence turned into a huge amount of blood and dyed the meeting hall red. He clutched his right arm in a panic and retreated frantically with a pale face. Whoosh! A gust of wind blew on his face. The grim reaper¡¯s face appeared in front of him once again. ¡°What¡­¡± Li Zezhi¡¯s eyes were filled with unprecedented fear. However, the master in front of him, whose eyes were shining with a dazzling white light, did not give him any chance. Crack! His hand was like a sharp blade, stabbing straight into Li Zezhi¡¯s chest, then he lifted Li Zezhi up into the air. The next moment, ten purple-and-white lights flashed in the bloody mess. Starting from Li Zezhi¡¯s chest, his body instantly swelled up as if it was inflated. Boom! A terrifying explosion sounded. Countless pieces of meat were blasted onto the roof of the meeting hall, and then fell down miserably like a free-falling object, splashing blood everywhere. The originally lively meeting hall suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked at the sticky substance on their bodies or hands, as well as eyeballs, organs, large intestines, and other fragments that fell on their bodies. All was silent. Countless people stared in astonishment at Qin Huai, who was standing in the center of the meeting hall, bathed in fresh blood. Confusion and helplessness were written on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Li Zezhi¡­ Where is he?¡± Some elders of the Zhang family said in a wooden manner. An elder from the third branch held half an eyeball, shocked at what he had just witnessed. ¡°I think he¡­ Third Master, he¡­¡± The voice trembled but stopped abruptly. They looked at Qin Huai, unable to believe the absurd truth. How could a dignified bone pattern realm expert, who had cultivated this path for many years, turn into minced meat and blood in the blink of an eye? ¡°Third Brother!!! ¡± ¡°Third Master!¡± The heart-wrenching shouts of the people from the third branch broke the momentary and seemingly eternal silence. ¡°Qin Huai, I¡¯m going to tear you into pieces!¡± a young man from the third branch roared and charged at Qin Huai without regard for his own safety. However, how could the people from the second and fourth branches let him have his way? Their blood and qi boiled, and the aura of the white dragon around them seemed to have risen to a new height. Qin Huai¡¯s almost instantaneous killing caused the morale of the three branches of the Li family to soar. Li Zian, who was fighting with Li Zeshi, was scared out of his wits when he saw the scene in front of him. How could this be possible? How could that kid be so strong? He should have just entered the Bone Tattoo Realm! Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Qin Huai slowly turned his head and stared at Zhang Haoyue with his sparkling white eyes. ¡°Humble gentleman, it¡¯s your turn to return the greeting.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm as he walked toward Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Return the courtesy? You must be joking.¡± Zhang Haoyue couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He looked at the man in front of him with excitement in his eyes. Qin Huai¡¯s ten-dragon patterned bone was indeed strong, so strong that it exceeded his expectations. But this was good¡­ The stronger Qin Huai was, the more powerful he would become after obtaining Qin Huai¡¯s bones! As for Li Zezhi¡¯s death, it was simply too good. In any case, after pacifying Li Zeren and the others, he and his father would still think of a way to get rid of Li Zezhi and the other lackeys. They naively thought that they would be able to become the head of the Li family and live in the Nine Dragons sect after getting rid of Li Zeren and the others. It was purely wishful thinking. The Nine Dragons sect only needed the Zhang family to have absolute control over the place. Anything that could threaten their rule would not be allowed to exist. Otherwise, the sect would repeat the same mistake as the battle between the Zhangs and Lis. In the end, it would lead to endless internal friction and be trampled on by other forces. Therefore, Li Zezhi and the others had to die. Dying at Qin Huai¡¯s hands was the best outcome. That was why Zhang Haoyue did not make a move until the last moment before Li Zezhi died. As for Qin Huai¡¯s strength¡­ He was very strong, but that was all. It had not gone beyond the controllable range. Chapter 242 - 242 Dragon Kings Might! 242 Dragon King¡¯s Might! Li Zezhi¡¯s death was probably due to his poisoning and his arrogance, which was why he was defeated so quickly. Anyway, he was not like Li Zezhi. ¡°Your ten-dragon patterned bone¡­ This is not an opportunity you should have, so you have to pay with your life.¡± Zhang Haoyue sighed. ¡°No matter what, let me send you on your last journey.¡± Boom! But suddenly, he felt his feet sink. Just like Li Zezhi, Zhang Haoyue¡¯s knees slammed into the ground. The terrifying power instantly made his blood and qi tremble. ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes were filled with shock as he looked at his trembling hands. ¡°When did you poison me? What poison is this?¡± He was shocked and furious, and his heart was at a loss. ¡°Poison? I haven¡¯t even activated it yet.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was cold. ¡°You just couldn¡¯t resist the little bit of force I emitted. ¡± ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Zhang Haoyue roared as if he had been played. His entire body¡¯s aura exploded with a loud bang, and his hair rose up like an angry Buddha. Boom! Qin Huai¡¯s figure was reflected in his eyes. His dazzling white eyes were like a god that shot straight into his heart, making his body and mind tremble. ¡°True dragon, dragon fury!¡± Zhang Haoyue growled, and the white dragon force suddenly attached itself to his body. As the human forces intertwined, it was as if Zhang Haoyue had transformed into a human-shaped dragon. He opened his mouth and roared at Qin Huai. The dragon¡¯s roar exploded and crashed into the latter¡¯s body like a tidal wave. But¡­ Qin Huai was unharmed. ¡°How could this be¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes widened. The Qin Huai in front of him had completely exceeded his understanding. In the next instant¡­ Qin Huai had already arrived in front of him. Streaks of purple-and-white light appeared on Qin Huai¡¯s fist. Wrapped in a mighty white dragon aura, it crashed toward Zhang Haoyue. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten-dragon tremor!¡± Zhang Haoyue propped up his qi Armor, and a dragon¡¯s head seemed to appear on his fists as he exchanged blows with Qin Huai. Boom! Boom! Boom! Blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the ground red. Zhang Haoyue retreated frantically, his blood leaking out uncontrollably. His eyes were filled with shock. Why did his momentum dissipate by more than half when it hit Qin Huai? ¡°Could it be that the ten-dragon patterned bone has such a magical effect?¡± He was shocked. The clothes on his chest had already been torn apart, revealing a resplendent green armor. If it weren¡¯t for the treasure green scale armor, he would have probably died just now. ¡°Qin Huai, how long can this strange state of yours last?¡± Zhang Haoyue sneered and drew two blades from his waist. It was a treasured weapon passed down from the ancestors of the Zhang family, the Twin Dragon Blades. Like the green scale armor, they were both infused with the power of the white dragon. It was the most suitable treasured weapon for a martial artist of the nine dragons true qi technique. ¡°In a battle between martial artists, it¡¯s not just a competition of realm techniques. There¡¯s also a foundation!¡± Before Zhang Haoyue could finish his sentence, he had already charged toward Qin Huai. Whoosh! Qin Huai suddenly pulled out his spear. The spear shook in his hand, and the black cloth was instantly torn into pieces. A sharp force appeared, blocking the incoming Twin Dragon Blades. In the world of his dantian, the young dragon king roared furiously from within the dragon pearl, and the terrifying aura around Qin Huai¡¯s body grew stronger once again. The dragon king¡¯s aura spread out and directly climbed up the tip of Silver Fox¡¯s spear. Saber and spear clashed. Bang! As he stabbed out with his spear, the strong wind shook the surroundings like waves, and the dragon force on the Twin Dragon Blades was instantly torn apart. A crack appeared on the Twin Dragon Blades in Zhang Haoyue¡¯s hand. ¡°You can even use a treasured weapon?!¡± Zhang Haoyue¡¯s pupils constricted. He pressed down with his Twin Dragon Blades and was about to retract them. Qin Huai did not show mercy. Silver Fox followed the Twin Dragon Blades and stabbed into the ground. Then, he took a step forward, and he burrowed into Zhang Haoyue¡¯s arms. Their eyes met, only a few inches apart. Zhang Haoyue could only narrow his eyes at the blinding white light. At the same time, he was shocked and pushed all of his white dragon force onto the qi armor. The white dragon¡¯s aura seemed to be corporeal as it piled up in front of his chest. The weapon¡¯s might combined with the dragon force made two layers of defense! Whoosh! A flash of fire appeared in front of him. The blazing flames were like the sharpest blade in the world, and they were even wrapped in the invisible dragon king¡¯s aura. Qin Huai¡¯s hand knife was like cutting tofu, cutting Zhang Haoyue¡¯s qi armor and instantly tearing it apart. The green scale armor under the qi armor only paused for a moment before it shattered. Crack! His palm reached into the flesh. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Roaming dragon body! ¡± Bang! The aura around him suddenly shattered, and his face turned pale. However, his feet were like a loach, and he instantly rowed more than ten meters away. ¡°Hah! Phew¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue greedily inhaled the air, enjoying the sweet taste of survival. ¡°Hah! Hahaha! You can¡¯t kill me Qin Huai!¡± Zhang Haoyue looked at Qin Huai, who was standing not far away, and laughed out loud. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me! Even if you have a ten-dragon patterned bone¡­ those bones will be mine in the end. Everything you have now will be mine.¡± Zhang Haoyue smiled bitterly. The roaming dragon body technique he used just now was a forbidden technique passed down from the ancestors of the Zhang family. It allowed him to instantly erupt with astonishing speed and move a distance of dozens of meters. He could even get rid of a portion of the strange power on his body. However, the price of escaping was that Zhang Haoyue directly shattered one-third of his white dragon force. It would probably take half a year to recover. But that was not important. As long as he got Qin Huai¡¯s bone, everything would come back. He would only become stronger. Qin Huai listened to Zhang Haoyue¡¯s murmurs and finally understood why he was pestering him. So it was for the bones in his body. They had long seen that the ten white dragon pattern bones would have an extraordinary phenomenon. ¡°You¡¯re indeed very strong, but our Zhang family has thousands of martial artists. Our Zhang family has an absolute advantage, so you¡¯ll still die in the end!¡± Zhang Haoyue had survived the disaster. He lowered his head and looked at the wound on his chest that had already coagulated under the burning. He also changed his combat method. He couldn¡¯t¡­ He definitely couldn¡¯t fight Qin Huai head-on. They wanted to use the human wave tactic to kill Qin Huai. ¡°You seem to have forgotten what I just said.¡± Qin Huai snapped his fingers. Puff! Zhang Haoyue spat out a mouthful of black blood. The black blood splattered on the ground and instantly emitted a sizzling sound of corrosion, making one¡¯s hair stand on end. ¡°You¡­ You actually¡­¡± Bang! Zhang Haoyue¡¯s knees slammed down. Just like before, he knelt down on the ground. His eyes widened as black blood flowed out of the corners of his eyes. He had lost the protection of the white dragon¡¯s aura and was heavily injured by Qin Huai. The poison that Qin Huai had silently injected into the body of the bone pattern realm expert began to wreak havoc. ¡°Someone, come¡­¡± Zhang Haoyue tried to shout. However, in the next moment¡­ With a loud bang, Qin Huai appeared in front of Zhang Haoyue, bringing with him a strong gust of wind. ¡®Roaming dragon body¡­ Why does he also know the Roaming Dragon Body?¡¯ Zhang Haoyue¡¯s heart was filled with questions, but he didn¡¯t have the time to ask. Qin Huai¡¯s broad right hand grabbed Zhang Haoyue¡¯s head. In the pitch-black world, Zhang Haoyue seemed to see a purple-white light. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten-dragon tremor!¡± Boom! Zhang Haoyue¡¯s head exploded instantly, and a mixture of red and white sticky substance splashed out a few meters away. Chapter 243 - 243 The Zhang Family vs. The Li Family! 243 The Zhang Family vs. The Li Family! The thick smell of blood filled the meeting hall. The scattered pieces of flesh and the red-white sticky mixture splattered onto the bodies of the martial artists fighting nearby. Some of them even flew directly into the mouths of some martial artists who were breathing. ¡°Bah!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The fishy smell made several battle-seasoned martial artists curse. ¡°Which bastard is throwing those dirty things?!¡± the elder of the Zhang family roared as he swept his gaze across the entire battlefield. On the huge battlefield, the Li family¡¯s third branch had the upper hand. There were people from the Li family everywhere, and the situation was very good. As he watched, the smile on his face grew wider and wider. Finally, his gaze fell on the center of the meeting hall. The smile on his face suddenly stopped. A headless corpse fell to its knees in front of Qin Huai amidst the clanging of swords. As the corpse¡¯s green robe was torn apart, the exposed treasured weapon, the green scales, were eye-catching, indicating the identity of the deceased. ¡°Haoyue!¡± the elder of the Zhang family cried out in grief, his eyes about to pop out. Zhang Wu, who was fighting Li Zeren, roared, ¡°Don¡¯t just think about relying on others in a war?! You have so many helpers around you. If you can¡¯t even defeat one of them, do you still have the face to ask for help?¡± Zhang Wu was furious. He felt that the elder of the Zhang family was crying out for help because he was in danger. In a chaotic battle, it was taboo to be distracted by a comrade¡¯s call for help. Most people had similar experiences when they were young. Because he was distracted by his companions¡¯ cries for help in the chaotic battle, the battle that was originally evenly matched and even had victory in hand was instantly reversed. If it was light, he would be seriously injured, and if it was serious, he would be reincarnated. Zhang Wu had been like this when he was young. He had a hidden injury on his waist that made it difficult for him to say. Fortunately, he had given birth to an heir early on. Even a genius like Zhang Haoyue could be considered to have gained and lost. The battle in the meeting hall was a life-and-death battle in which the two families gambled their lives and the future of their families. Therefore, the level of danger was far greater than before. He was naturally confident in Zhang Haoyue¡¯s strength. However, they could not withstand the siege of the chaotic battle. As the saying goes, two fists could not fight against four hands. Even the old master was afraid of treasured weapons. If he really wanted Haoyue to leave behind a secret as difficult as his, he would definitely cut that bastard into a thousand pieces. ¡°Everyone, focus on killing the enemy. Our Zhang family will definitely win this battle!¡± A heavy fist came crashing down in front of Zhang Wu, who was looking sideways, unable to open his eyes. Boom! Zhang Wu and Li Zeren exchanged another punch. Blood dripped from the corner of Zhang Wu¡¯s mouth, and he swallowed the sweetness in his throat. When the two family heads fought, new and old grudges piled up, and their attacks were crazy. Any flaw could become the key to determining the outcome. Zhang Wu did not dare to be distracted. ¡°Li Zeren, I didn¡¯t expect you to be a coward for so many years. Your realm hasn¡¯t shrunk.¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s face was ferocious as he provoked Li Zeren. He had been reluctant to attack the Li family because he was afraid of Li Zeren, who was also at the fourth-level bone pattern realm. The two of them were the only two martial artists at the fourth-level bone pattern realm in the Nine Dragons sect. This realm was one step at a time, so the difference between majestic forces was not as easy to smooth out as the difference between vitality. It was like a fight between two ants that only required a thin wooden stick, but a fight between two lions required complete armor, a longbow, and a sharp blade. If Li Zeren were willing to give up the entire Li family and escape, then hide in the dark to kill the Zhang family, that would definitely cause his Zhang family to suffer heavy losses. However, today was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Using Qin Huai¡¯s trial as an excuse, he wanted to keep Li Zeren here. Although there were some twists and turns in the process, the ending was harmless. He would kill Li Zeren, seize Qin Huai¡¯s bones, and use the name of rebellion to wipe out the Li family in one fell swoop, making the Nine Dragons sect completely Zhang. In the face of the seemingly anxious situation, Zhang Wu was still very confident. After all, with the advantage in numbers, time was always on their Zhang family¡¯s side. As for the casualties of the two families in a life-and-death battle, it was naturally acceptable under the temptation of the three families. On the other side of the battlefield¡­ Compared to Zhang Wu and the other members of the Zhang family, who were fighting to the death and had no time to care about their surroundings, Li Zian seemed to be much more relaxed. He was slacking off on the battlefield, retreating while fighting. He didn¡¯t want to fight with the Li family¡¯s experts. He hoped that both families would suffer heavy losses. That way, his fifth branch would have a chance to rise up. Moreover, if he was seriously injured in the hands of the Li family, he would temporarily lose his resistance and value. It was difficult to guarantee that he would not be punished by Zhang Wu. He wandered among the crowd, picking out the young Li family elders who were at the eighth or ninth blood refinement realm to fight. With his cultivation at the first-level bone pattern realm, he could do two things at once. And then¡­ He had witnessed the crushing battle in the center of the meeting hall. His third brother¡¯s death could still be said to be due to carelessness, but what was up with that Zhang Haoyue? Why was he unable to retaliate against Qin Huai? Li Zian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He realized that something was wrong. Whoosh! A pair of eyes that bloomed with white light instantly looked over. As their eyes met, Li Zian felt his soul tremble. ¡°What a demonic technique!¡± he roared loudly to boost his courage. But in the next moment, Qin Huai had already disappeared from his sight. Li Zian did not dare to be negligent, so his originally casual exchange of blows immediately changed. He used the white dragon force armor and held a broken treasured longsword in his hand. Chapter 244 - 244 Li Zian and Li Zeming 244 Li Zian and Li Zeming Whoosh! A white light bloomed in his pupils. This was the manifestation of the white dragon force being pushed to the extreme. Qi was formed from his eyes, but the light in his eyes was too dim. There were only tiny dots that slowly elongated in the air. Compared to Qin Huai, it was like the difference between the sun and the fire. Li Zian¡¯s pupils instantly dilated, and Qin Huai¡¯s figure shuttling through the crowd was reflected in his eyes. He was here! He was charging at him! ¡°Forbidden technique, rising dragon energy from dragon cave!¡± Li Zian roared, and the white fog around him became thicker. The aura around him seemed to have become stronger. At the same time, three thousand strands of hair that could be seen with the naked eye stood in the air and scattered wantonly. His face was also visibly pale. Qin Huai must die! Whoosh! A silver spear opened up a path in front of his eyes. The cold light flashed like a meteor, and the mad dragon flew over with the blade. Li Zian gripped his sword with both hands and slashed down at Silver Fox. ¡°Break!¡± Qin Huai flicked his wrist, and the spear swung like a snake¡¯s tail. It directly smashed into the broken longsword. With the dragon king¡¯s support, it was like the might of the heavens. Bang! With a muffled sound, the sword that was already broken was blown into pieces by Silver Wolf with a flick of his tail. Dozens of treasured weapon fragments shot out. The stone pillars of the meeting hall let out muffled sounds, and several parts of the ceiling beams were directly penetrated by the fragments. Gravel rolled down, bringing with it a gray mist that enveloped Li Zian. Li Zian was shocked. He wanted to cut off the treasured weapon in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Who would have thought that he would lose all the artifacts in his hands? ¡°Nephew! I¡¯m your third¡­¡± Li Zian shouted. However, he suddenly bowed and attacked ruthlessly, aiming for Qin Huai¡¯s private area. Phew¡­ The momentum of the white dragon began to weaken the moment it approached Qin Huai. His heart thumped. At this moment, he finally understood why his third brother and the eldest senior brother of the Nine Dragons sect had been beaten up by Qin Huai as if he was chopping melons and vegetables. Li Zian didn¡¯t even have time to exclaim. A heavy punch that covered the sky and covered the sun descended from the sky with a scorching aura. Bang! With just one punch, he shattered Li Zian¡¯s armor. The thousand refined armor that he wore was as fragile as bamboo under Qin Huai¡¯s fist. With a crisp cracking sound, Li Zian tried to grab the Zhang family¡¯s elder who was at the eighth refinement to block for him. But just as he reached out his hand, Qin Huai grabbed it. There was no warmth in their interlocked fingers. Li Zian¡¯s face instantly contorted with the crisp sound of his bones cracking. He endured the pain and punched Qin Huai¡¯s arm with his right fist. However, the momentum that had weakened by more than half in that instant only caused the layer of qi armor on Qin Huai¡¯s body to ripple and shatter a section of his long sleeve. In Li Zian¡¯s eyes, this minimal effect was like a life-saving straw. His aura suddenly recovered a lot. However, before the smile on his face could bloom, there were actually some scattered pieces of cloth falling from the sleeves. Lime? No, there was no colorful lime. As soon as the colorful lime touched Li Zian¡¯s body, his expression changed drastically. His qi armor was once again propped up, and with the momentum of a white dragon, he blocked the poisonous fog outside the door. However, he was just robbing Peter to pay Paul. His left arm, which was interlocked with his fingers, suddenly felt a tug. Thrust! Hot blood instantly splattered on Li Zian¡¯s face. His empty left arm met the waves of wind caused by the white dragon. The next moment, the intense pain made Li Zian scream. ¡°Ah!¡± But the screams stopped abruptly. Qin Huai stuffed his hand into his mouth, and the other hand was placed on his chest. The next moment, purple-and-white light dots flashed. ¡°Forbidden technique, four strikes dragon shock!¡± Boom! Four consecutive explosions sounded almost instantly, and a large amount of blood splattered into the distance. Thick blood and broken internal organs were scattered on the ground. Only half of the corpse was left on the ground, still twitching violently, as if it was very nostalgic for this colorful world. Qin Huai stood up. He swung his hands, and a large pool of blood splattered all over the ground. The people fighting around him saw it clearly and retreated to the side with trembling eyes. When the Li family members saw this, they seemed to have been injected with stimulants. Qin Huai stood rooted to the spot, breathing in the air filled with the smell of blood. Only after fighting with a bone pattern realm expert did he know that what his grandmaster, Elder Erlong, said was true. His fellow disciples were like ants in his hands. Whether it was the crafty Li Zian, Li Zezhi, or Zhang Haoyue who had two complete artifacts, they were all the same. The only difference was whether it would take one or two punches to crush them. Suddenly, Qin Huai frowned slightly as he looked at the figure who had suddenly blocked his path. The man¡¯s eyes were red, and it was difficult to see the brilliance of reason in them. ¡°Li Zeming?¡± Qin Huai said. It seemed that losing his precious son was a blow beyond imagination. However, Qin Huai had completely lost his patience with this ridiculous Sixth Uncle. The terrifying white dragon force was pushed to a high point. He didn¡¯t mind taking care of this Sixth Uncle as well. ¡°Did you kill Buchang?¡± Li Zeming growled like a dying lion. ¡°Why would I need poison to kill him?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s words were filled with killing intent. Li Zeming looked at his brother who had died tragically on the ground, and his face was extremely ferocious. ¡°Ah!¡± he roared. The moment Qin Huai charged forward, he turned around and charged toward the fiercest part of the battlefield. It was where Li Zeren and Zhang Wu were fighting. Chapter 245 - 245 The Crazy Zhang Wu, the Kneeling Zhang Family! 245 The Crazy Zhang Wu, the Kneeling Zhang Family! Looking at Qin Huai¡¯s ferocious combat strength, no matter how stupid he was, he knew that the Zhang family had framed him. ¡°Zhang Wu! Sacrifice your life for my son!¡± The sudden change stunned Zhang Wu, who was in the middle of a fierce battle. Looking at Li Zeming, who was charging over without any scruples, he sneered, ¡°Idiot.¡± In the midst of a crazy exchange of moves, a white dragon smashed toward Li Zeming. Zhang Wu¡¯s fingers also moved. It was enough to pierce through Li Zeming¡¯s forehead. The next moment, Zhang Wu¡¯s expression changed drastically. The violent white dragon aura and white fog around Li Zeming suddenly dissipated, and his stomach instantly bulged. The madness on his face was unprecedented. ¡°Big Brother, I¡¯ll repay you for your sins in this life when I come!¡± ¡°You¡¯re self-destructing?¡± Zhang Wu retracted his finger, but it was already too late. On the other side, Li Zeren saw Li Zeming self-destructing, but he instantly pulled away from Zhang Wu. Bang! With Li Zeming as the center, the furious dragon brought along a turbulent wave of air and smashed into the surroundings. The entire floor was lifted up and turned into debris in the air. Dust flew into the air, and a small tornado appeared on the battlefield. A shocking explosion occurred, and blood splattered everywhere on the stone pillars and the roof. The originally clean meeting hall was now covered in various organ fragments, skin, and flesh, as if it was a living hell. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Zhang Wu, who was the first to bear the brunt, staggered back more than ten steps in the blood rain. His hair was disheveled, and his black hair was covered in sticky blood. The air armor on his body had been blasted open, and the flesh on his arms seemed to have been burned off, with terrifying blood bubbles popping out. Zhang Wu flicked his hair and mocked. ¡°Idiot.¡± His body was burning and he looked miserable, but he was only slightly injured. Most of the damage was blocked by the armor enhanced by the white dragon force, so he was not afraid. Zhang Wu took advantage of this gap to quickly scan the battlefield and judge the situation. The familiar faces on the ground had been engraved in his mind for countless years. One could tell the number of enemies and allies at a glance. In the short confrontation, the Li family had already left behind ten corpses, while he only had three. Very good. It was indeed an advantage. It was a huge advantage. However, the troublesome Qin Huai was still alive. Had the good-for-nothing Li Zezhi been killed? Something was wrong. Where did Haoyue go? Zhang Wu¡¯s heart thumped for no reason. He took a few steps back and swept his gaze across the entire meeting hall again. Still nothing. ¡®Hmm? Why are there three more corpses?¡¯ They were all in green and white robes. Zhang Wu could not tell who these corpses were. ¡®Wait a minute¡­¡¯ Zhang Wu¡¯s eyes suddenly focused on the headless corpse kneeling on the ground in the center of the meeting hall. That figure was extremely similar to his son, Zhang Haoyue. His gaze once again drifted to Qin Huai, who was looking at him. An unrealistic thought flashed across his mind. Impossible! It was absolutely impossible! Zhang Wu shot out a stone from his hand, aiming at the kneeling corpse. Whoosh! His azure white robe was torn apart by the powerful gravel, revealing the cracked azure scales underneath. ¡°Ah, my son!¡± In an instant, Zhang Wu was heartbroken as tears flowed out of his eyes. This was his only son, and also his last son. He had fantasized countless times that the Zhang family would create an unprecedented grand occasion under the leadership of the father and son. The Nine Dragons sect suppressed the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Twin Extreme sect, turning the entire Lingjiang into the backyard of the Zhang family. Moreover, with Zhang Haoyue¡¯s aptitude and temperament, he was a genius. The great achievements that his Zhang family had created would not decline for at least two lifetimes. But now¡­ His son, whom he had placed so much hope on, had actually died in his trap! He died on the first step of the Zhang family¡¯s rise?! ¡°Qin Huai!¡± He glared at Qin Huai furiously before sprinting toward him. ¡°Zhang Wu, your opponent is here!¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice was loud and clear as he moved horizontally in front of Zhang Wu. His eyes shone with an unprecedented light, and his heart trembled. Even when he saw the green-scaled corpse, he still couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. He had watched Zhang Haoyue¡¯s talent and combat strength grow bit by bit. The strength of the First Senior Brother of the Nine Dragons sect had nothing to do with whether his surname was Zhang or Li. His reputation as one of the three heroes of Lingjiang was earned with his fists. But now¡­ How did Qin Huai, a fellow who had just broken through to the bone pattern realm, do it? Li Zeren was puzzled, but there was no time for him to think. The huge Zhang family still had the absolute advantage in numbers. Zhang Haoyue¡¯s death only relieved the pressure on the Li family. ¡°Li Zeren, I want everyone in your Li family to be buried with my son.¡± Zhang Wu shouted himself hoarse as he stared at Li Zeren, swinging his heavy fist. Hearing Zhang Wu¡¯s voice, many members of the Zhang family turned to look at the center of the meeting hall. When they saw Zhang Haoyue¡¯s corpse, they were all shocked. In a moment of wavering, he directly let Li Zewu and the others, who were at an absolute disadvantage, counterattack. After a series of fierce pursuits, he also gave himself a chance to catch his breath. ¡°Qin Huai, I want to eat your flesh and drink your blood! I want everyone you care about to disappear completely!¡± Zhang Wu gritted his teeth as he looked at Qin Huai, who seemed to be counting something in a low voice as he walked toward the center of the meeting hall. ¡°You can¡¯t do it.¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Wu. ¡°Hahaha¡­ There are a hundred and thirty elders in this meeting hall, and my people account for more than eighty of them. How dare you spout nonsense here?¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s eyes were red, and a thin line of bloody tears flowed down his face. ¡°Not for long.¡± The white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes grew brighter. He took a deep breath and shook his empty robe. The next moment, the young dragon king in his dantian was completely awakened. It rushed out of the dragon egg and fused with the great sun. The dragon king¡¯s full power was about to be unleashed! Roar! A terrifying aura suddenly surged from Qin Huai¡¯s body, and an invisible force descended from the sky like an insurmountable chasm, enveloping the entire meeting hall. ¡°Dragon king¡¯s force, ferocious might!¡± Boom! It was as if heaven and earth were crashing down. All the blood refinement martial artists present, regardless of whether it was the Zhang or Li family, instantly knelt on one knee. The bone pattern realm experts were not in a better state either. They looked at Qin Huai with trembling eyes, as if they were carrying a mountain on their backs. In the next second, the group of Zhang family experts spat out a mouthful of black blood. Poison and force worked together. More than half of the Zhang family¡¯s men could no longer withstand Qin Huai¡¯s might and were smashed to the ground. Chapter 246 - 246 The Three Elders 246 The Three Elders There were more than a hundred blood refinement and bone pattern realm experts in the meeting hall, and more than half of them were already kneeling at Qin Huai¡¯s feet. The Zhang family¡¯s warriors who had been cultivating their blood were in an even worse state. They were buried in the ground, and black blood was flowing out of their mouths. Their rapid breathing sucked the black blood into their noses, to add insult to injury. ¡°Brat! How dare you poison us!¡± An elder of the first-level bone pattern boundary was so angry that his eyes were about to pop out. Crack! A cold light flashed. The head of the Zhang family elder fell to the ground. Gulp¡­ A huge head rolled on the ground, stained with blood, and rolled more than ten meters away. Just like that, a dignified bone pattern realm expert had died in the meeting hall. The person wielding the sword was Li Zewu. ¡°What are you waiting for? Do it! I didn¡¯t give you such a huge advantage just to let you guys be stunned.¡± Whoosh whoosh whoosh! In an instant, everyone from the Li family reacted. They raised their hands and slashed down, venting all the grievances they had felt from being beaten up like grandchildren. ¡°Fourth Uncle, give the antidote to the people of the first branch.¡± Qin Huai took out three jade bottles and threw them to Li Zeshi. Last night, he had already made the Li family¡¯s second and fourth branches take the antidote pills. As for the eldest branch, Qin Huai was afraid that his father-in-law would stand against him because he had hidden it too well. Therefore, he did not reveal the news. However, Qin Huai did not expect this. His dragon king¡¯s might was so strong that even a bone pattern realm expert would be affected. Most of the Li family¡¯s forces, such as Li Shaoxiang and the other blood refinement experts, were unable to move even though they were not poisoned. However, the Zhang family was even worse off. Qin Huai¡¯s dragon king¡¯s might and the poison formation worked together to imprison everyone below first-level bone pattern realm. There were only seven members of the Zhang family who were still standing at the same spot. Four at the second-level bone pattern realm, two at the third-level bone pattern realm, and the patriarch, Zhang Wu. As for the Li family, Li Zewu and Li Zetao were both at third-level bone pattern realm. Fourth Uncle Li Zeshi was only at first-level bone pattern realm, and most of the experts in the Li family were the same as him. ¡°Qin Huai¡­¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s face was ferocious. ¡°So what if you poisoned so many people? Your poison still doesn¡¯t work on warriors above second-level bone pattern realm. Your strange white dragon force is weakening everyone, but my Zhang family still has four second-level bone pattern realm experts. We¡¯re still evenly matched!¡± ¡°Then what if this old master is included?¡± In front of the meeting hall, a tall figure dressed sloppily walked in slowly. ¡°Elder Erlong!¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s pupils constricted when he saw who it was. ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to Huai Dan City?¡± ¡°It was us who informed Erlong to come back.¡± In front of the door, Elder Dalong from the White Dragon Forest and Elder Sanolong from the Azure Dragon Pass walked side by side. The three of them were at the third-level bone pattern realm. They were also the strongest neutral force other than the Zhang and Li families of the Nine Dragons sect. But now, they had all turned to the Li family. Or rather, Qin Huai. ¡°Zhang Wu, it¡¯s time to end this chaos in the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Elder Dalong looked at Zhang Wu coldly. ¡°You are too ambitious. You did not hesitate to frame others and instigate internal strife in the entire Nine Dragons sect¡­ You should be sentenced to death!¡± ¡°Boss, don¡¯t be so pretentious.¡± Elder Erlong waved his sleeve and interrupted Elder Dalong¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ve just left, and you¡¯re going to kill my disciple right after?¡± ¡°You have a good plan. You¡¯re simply courting death!¡± Elder Dalong and Elder Sanlong glared at Elder Erlong and shook their heads helplessly. Elder Erlong couldn¡¯t help but feel gratified when he saw half of the figures kneeling on the ground in the meeting hall. ¡°Fortunately, this old master didn¡¯t come back.¡± He walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side, and his eyes couldn¡¯t help but twitch. Then, he took two steps back. ¡°What kind of force is this, making this old man¡¯s heart beat faster?¡± The moment he got close to Qin Huai, he felt as if his heart was blocked by something, and his entire body felt uncomfortable. ¡°Grandmaster has returned at the right time.¡± Qin Huai looked at the travel-worn Elder Erlong and knew that his grandmaster had probably returned from a journey. With three third-level bone pattern realm martial artists joining in, Qin Huai¡¯s heart calmed down. ¡°Zhang Wu, it¡¯s time for you to die,¡± Li Zezhi growled. The grudges accumulated over the past few decades exploded at this moment. He finally didn¡¯t have to worry about the Li family¡¯s gains and losses and could fight Zhang Wu. Boom! The two fourth-level bone pattern realm experts clashed with each other, causing the entire meeting hall to be shaken by their astonishing power. ¡°They actually held back just now.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but tremble. He had underestimated the strength of a martial artist at the fourth level of the bone pattern realm. While he was thinking, the three dragon elders of the Gu family had already charged out. The Zhang and Li families had accumulated grudges for hundreds of years, and now they were fighting to the death. They no longer cared about the life and death of the blood refinement realm elders around them. This was because the Zhang family¡¯s people had already been beheaded, and the Li family¡¯s people had already taken the opportunity to retreat. One by one, the heads of the Zhang family rolled down. The meeting hall rumbled. The sound of heads falling to the ground was even louder than the sound of the battle between the many bone pattern realm experts. As for the remaining first-level bone pattern martial artists, Qin Huai didn¡¯t hesitate to stab Silver Fox through their chests and foreheads. The Zhang family¡¯s first-level bone pattern realm warriors, who could barely stand up and still had the strength to fight, became sluggish and their vitality was greatly damaged. They were killed by the Li family¡¯s bone pattern realm warriors as if the latter were possessed by the God of War. Qin Huai watched as the Zhang family¡¯s blood refinement realm and first-level bone pattern realm experts were almost all killed. Only then did the white light in his eyes slowly extinguish. Qin Huai¡¯s legs gave way, and he staggered back half a step. Chapter 247 - 247 Sect Master Qin Huai! 247 Sect Master Qin Huai! Qin Huai almost fell to the ground. His body felt empty, as if he had been hollowed out. Even the dragon king would find it difficult to suppress all the experts in the assembly hall by himself. The young dragon king in his Dantian had also returned to the dragon ball to sleep under the protection of the ten dragons. This battle had almost exhausted his strength. ¡°Husband.¡± Behind him, a gust of fragrant wind blew, dragging Qin Huai¡¯s body along. Li Shaoxiang¡¯s face was deathly pale. It was obvious that she was overwhelmed by Qin Huai¡¯s dragon king aura. However, she still stood up immediately and went to Qin Huai¡¯s side. ¡°I didn¡¯t go back on my word, right?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was firm. The first step of the Li family¡¯s rise had already been taken. ¡°I never doubted it. My husband is a man of destiny. Any difficulties and obstacles are like floating clouds in front of you. Your appearance was meant to create a miracle.¡± Li Shaoxiang looked at Qin Huai, her eyes as fervent as ever. Qin Huai shook his head with a bitter smile. If someone else said such words to him, it would probably be a compliment or a lie. But from the mouth of his cheap wife, that was definitely from the bottom of his heart. It was probably a blessing to have a wife who believed that he was destined to be and crazily poured chicken soup for him. ¡°I won¡¯t give up! This is unacceptable!¡± Zhang Wu¡¯s wail sounded. The entire Nine Dragons sect meeting hall collapsed with Zhang Wu¡¯s angry roar. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Qin Huai roared. He immediately carried Li Shaoxiang and leaped out of the door. Boom! Dust and rocks flew everywhere. The huge meeting hall was completely shattered under the fierce confrontation of many experts. Under the siege of the Li family and the three dragon elders, the experts of the Zhang family walked toward the end of their lives. After an unknown amount of time, only then did the world fall silent. The blood on the ground flowed through the ruins of the meeting hall and gathered into a shallow scarlet blood pool. Li Zeren was covered in dust, and his face was covered in blood as he walked toward Qin Huai. Behind him were Li Zetao, Li Zewu, Li Zeshi, and the other brothers, as well as the experts of the Li family. Swoosh! Suddenly, everyone knelt down on one knee in front of Qin Huai. Qin Huai hurriedly stood up, wanting to help everyone up. However, Li Zeren had already spoken. ¡°The Li family¡¯s patriarch, Li Zeren, thanks my son-in-law, Qin Huai, for saving my Li family from the brink of collapse. The Li family will never forget such a great kindness!¡± ¡°The Li family will never forget such a great kindness!¡± ¡°Such great kindness¡­¡± The group of experts shouted in unison. ¡°Everyone, please rise.¡± Qin Huai smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I¡¯m supposed to do.¡± He walked forward and helped his father-in-law, Li Zeren, up. ¡°Father-in-law, why are you kneeling to me like this? Between you and me, status is status, kindness is kindness, two different things.¡± Li Zeren looked at Qin Huai solemnly. ¡°My dear son-in-law, there¡¯s one more thing you can¡¯t decline.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. Li Zeren¡¯s face was solemn. ¡°Now that Zhang Wu is dead, the position of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s sect master is vacant. I think you¡¯re the most suitable person to take this position.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. To be honest, he had never thought of becoming a sect master. ¡°I think Father-in-law is the Li family¡¯s patriarch and a fourth-level bone pattern realm expert, so you¡¯re the most suitable candidate for this position.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve given way too much these years, and I¡¯ve already lost the spirit that a sect master should have. Besides, you¡¯re showing off your abilities now. You have endless talent and a future. ¡°Just like the Nine Dragons sect now, it is full of hope to be reborn from the ruins. Furthermore, Shaoxiang¡¯s theory of destiny has already been proven. You are definitely the best candidate for the position of sect master!¡± Li Zeren¡¯s words were sincere as he gripped Qin Huai¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Most importantly, you should be the one everyone respects the most now.¡± Hearing this, Qin Huai slowly looked at the Li family. They looked at him, their eyes filled with fanaticism¡­just like how Li Shaoxiang looked at him. During the battle in the meeting hall, Qin Huai¡¯s terrifying might as the dragon king had made these people willingly bow down to him. ¡°Well¡­ Then I won¡¯t refuse anymore.¡± Qin Huai let out a sigh of relief and accepted this heavy burden. Crash¡­ Immediately, the group of Li family members knelt down in front of Qin Huai. There were even his grandmaster, Elder Erlong, and the other two. ¡°Greetings, Sect Master!¡± ¡°Greetings, Sect Master!¡± ¡°Greetings, Sect Master!¡± Everyone knelt down on one knee, their voices like thunder. ¡°Everyone, please rise.¡± Qin Huai helped everyone up and slowly stood up. ¡°Sect Master, what should we do with the people from the Zhang family and the Li family¡¯s third and fifth branches?¡± Li Zeren asked. ¡°I¡¯ve already killed Li Zian and Li Zezhi. If the rest of them have any ill intentions, I¡¯ll kill them on the spot. The rest are still disciples of the Li family. ¡°As for the Zhang family¡­ Zhang Wu¡¯s faction had to be eradicated. As for the rest of you, Father-in-law, you can also eliminate those branch families who were the most vicious to the Li family in the past. ¡°The rest¡­ If the Li family has Li Zezhi, the Zhang family must have Zhang Zezhi too, right? There must also be people who are not convinced by Zhang Wu, right?¡± Qin Huai looked at Li Zeren with a solemn expression. ¡°Yes, the second son of the Zhang family¡­ He has a very high prestige in the Zhang family. Three years ago, he was also a character who fought with Zhang Wu in court. However, he was defeated in the end and was sent to a shop in Lingjiang City to look after it. He was ordered not to return to the Nine Dragons sect for the rest of his life.¡± ¡°Is he reliable?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°His hatred for Zhang Wu is even greater than our Li family.¡± Chapter 248 - 248 Breaking Through Again! 248 Breaking Through Again! ¡°Then let¡¯s find him and bring him back to lead the Zhang family.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged. There were also many experts of the Zhang family scattered all over Lingjiang County. If they really killed all the Zhang family members in the Nine Dragons sect, they would only force the Zhang family experts outside to rebel. When that happens, the situation of the Nine Dragons sect would definitely worsen. As for keeping these people, even if the Zhang family¡¯s experts outside had resentment and wanted revenge, they would not be able to do so. However, with their own flesh and blood as hostages, they did not dare to act rashly. This was the shackle that was strangling their necks. And now that the battle was over, the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s high-level combat strength had been greatly reduced. That was why the Zhang family could also become the effective force of the Nine Dragons sect and relieve the dangers from all directions. Moreover, Qin Huai understood that the world revered fists, and that all schemes and plots were false. As long as he was strong enough, everyone would listen to him obediently. If he was weak, even if he did his best in dealing with people, there would always be people who would jump out and knock him down. As for the daily affairs, he was worthy of his own heart. After doing all of this, Qin Huai dismissed everyone to busy themselves with the follow-up matters after the battle. ¡­ Qin Huai slowly sat cross-legged on the ruins of the meeting hall. In front of him was an orange experience ball. With a thought, all the experience balls on the ruins surged into Qin Huai¡¯s body like a tide. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Essence (Orange)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Essence (Orange)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Essence (Orange)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Essence (Orange)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Nine Dragons True Qi Essence (Orange)], [Nine Dragons True Qi Technique] has improved!¡± With over a hundred experience orbs on him, countless ¡®memories¡¯ of his cultivation surged in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. He cultivated diligently in the mountains, walking, bathing, and even in his sleep, slowly accumulating the Nine Dragons True Qi technique. It took him several years before Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. Boom! His blood boiled instantly. It was as if a powerful force was surging out from the depths of his body. A white light flashed in his eyes. His bones were burning, and a heart-wrenching pain spread throughout his body. The dragon pattern spread on his bones, becoming clearer and more vivid. It was becoming more and more similar to the white dragon in his dantian world. ¡°I actually¡­ I broke through¡­¡± Qin Huai was shocked. He hadn¡¯t expected that he would be able to enter the second-level bone pattern realm in just one battle. He quickly looked at his personal interface. [Name: Qin Huai] [Lifespan: 685] [Vitality: 253.623 (Stage Two)] [Cultivation Methods]: [Nine Dragons True Qi technique (level 1, 2%)], [Blood Heart technique (level 80, 3214/9000)], [Rumbling Thunder skill (level 40, 39/5000)] [Four-directional Tiger-wolf technique (level 60, 317/6000)], [Concealment of Spirit and Qi (level 83, 1124/9000)], [Breath Control technique (level 13, 875/1000) ], [Spirit Eye technique (level 10, 633/1000) ], [Mountain Splitting Blade Technique (level 2, 117/1000)], [Roaring Tiger Fist (level 2, 155/1000£© [Skills]: [Alchemy (advanced, 603/1600)], [Forging (treasured weapon, 1021/5000)], [Cooking (intermediate, 259/400)] [Forbidden Skill ]:[Rising Dragon, 10/10], [Raging Lightning], [Flame Longevity] [Force]: White Dragon Force 246%, Tiger Wolf Force 3%, Ancient Azure Illusion Force 54%, Blood Heart Force, 1% [Realm: Level 2 Bone Pattern] His lifespan had increased by ten years, and his qi and blood had increased by fifty points, just like before. However, the number after vitality did not change. It only changed once every hundred points. ¡°Every time it increases by a hundred points, it will cause a body transformation like in great blood refinement. It will make my physique stronger and my strength more extraordinary. There¡¯s also the white dragon. In other words, qi is much more abundant,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Other than that, the white dragon force has also increased by 100%. If the nine dragons true qi technique increases, the white dragon force will also increase. However, if the white dragon force increases, the nine dragons true qi technique will not change at all.¡± Qin Huai paused. ¡°It¡¯s because others can only increase their white dragon force through cultivation techniques. The white dragon force, which is twice as powerful, is also the key reason for the huge difference in combat strength between the bone pattern realms. ¡°But I¡¯m different from them. I can improve by watching them use the white dragon force.¡± Waves of emotions surfaced in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. ¡°In other words, I can possess the force of a third or even fourth or fifth-level bone pattern realm expert at the second level.¡± The next moment, Qin Huai¡¯s mind sank into the world of his dantian. He noticed that the young dragon king in the dragon pearl seemed to have grown up a little. ¡°The growth of force can allow the baby dragon king to grow¡­¡± Qin Huai was delighted. He was still confused about this young dragon king. He only knew that it was closely related to the power of the patterned bones. However, what Qin Huai knew was not the full extent of its power. There was no doubt that this was an extremely powerful trump card in his hands. It was on the same level as the flame of longevity. Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Although the Zhang family has settled down, the Nine Dragons sect is still weak. I¡¯m afraid the Sacred Heart sect, the county governor¡¯s mansion, and even the Twin Extreme sect won¡¯t miss this opportunity.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm. He knew that exterminating Zhang Wu¡¯s family was not the end. It just was the start. ¡°Now that I¡¯m already the sect master, I have to vigorously promote practical skills like poison techniques to increase the combat strength of the sect disciples to deal with the upcoming dangers,¡± he muttered. Moreover, his current poison technique had already reached a bottleneck. Now, it was very difficult to deal fatal damage to a bone pattern realm expert. This was unacceptable to Qin Huai, of course. He wanted to let the sect disciples cultivate poison techniques to provide him with experience so that his medicinal techniques could break through the advanced level and provide him with higher-level knowledge. Perhaps he could also refine pills or something along the way. Chapter 249 - 249 Another Upgrade 249 Another Upgrade Fengxing Auction House, Lingjiang City Ge Youqian passed through the pure white corridor of the auction house and stopped in front of a white wall. He pressed his hand on the wall. Five pure gold rings were inlaid with five different diamonds, each of which was blue, white, green, and purple. The jade bracelet on his wrist turned with his palm and jingled. Buzz¡­ The stone wall in front of him fell down with a loud bang, revealing a long staircase that led underground. Then, he walked down the damp and gloomy stairs for about seven to eight meters before stopping. Pa! He snapped his fingers, and a string of lights instantly lit up around them. In front of him were three rows of wooden shelves that stretched to the end of his vision. Ge Youqian¡¯s eyes were calm as he walked into the depths of the secret chamber. The items on the wooden shelves along the way were all kinds of treasures. Although many of them were already broken, or their auras had already leaked out, they were still within the scope of treasured weapons. Moreover, the number was shocking, reaching more than a hundred. Da da da da¡­ He stood at the end of the corridor. In front of him was a row of jade cabinets with exquisite carvings made of colorless jade. Just these jade stones alone were worth hundreds of thousands of taels. As for the items in the jade cabinet¡­ Armor, long swords, boots, belts, helmets, heart protection mirrors, arm guards, necklaces¡­ There were eighteen of them, and they were all genuine artifacts. This did not include what Ge Youqian was wearing. If the people from the three major forces saw this, they would definitely curse. Any one of the three forces might not have as many artifacts as Ge Youqian. Dong dong dong¡­ Hurried footsteps came from behind him, but they slowed down as they approached Ge Youqian. ¡°Young Master¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Ge Youqian placed a hand on his lips. ¡°Do you think I should wear all these artifacts? The Zhang family has a lot of people. If I go up the mountain to save him¡­ If we don¡¯t bring more, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be difficult to retreat safely.¡± When he handed some money over to Qin Huai, he had already expected that regardless of whether Qin Huai could prove his innocence or not, the outcome would be similar. The luckiest Qin Huai was expelled from the Nine Dragons sect and was safe and sound. If they were unlucky, the Zhang family might take the opportunity to get rid of Qin Huai, this ¡®scourge¡¯, along with the entire Li family. In any case, there was no way Qin Huai could stay in the Nine Dragons sect just because he proved his innocence. After all, Qin Huai and his helpers were far weaker than the massive Zhang family. ¡°Brother Qin is still too naive~¡± Ge Youqian didn¡¯t remind Qin Huai, because he knew that Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t listen even if he told him. Qin Huai would definitely feel that he was lucky enough to escape this calamity. This was the weakness of the human heart, and most people could not avoid it. However, this situation wasn¡¯t bad either. It could give Ge Youqian a chance to be a hero and save the damsel in distress. Sending charcoal in the snow, plus a hero saving the damsel in distress¡­ Brother Qin would definitely be grateful to him and put himself in his shoes. This was the correct way to invest in geniuses, the complete process. After all, a friend in need was a friend indeed. Wanli Street, where the Fengxing Auction House was located, wasn¡¯t far from the Nine Dragons sect. If a bone pattern realm expert like him ran at full speed, he would be able to arrive in a few dozen breaths. In order to not alert the enemy and cause unnecessary changes, he waited quietly in the auction house. As he was thinking, he hung a curved sword on his waist and an ancient necklace around his neck. ¡°How are the preparations going?¡± he said as he put on his clothes. ¡°Young Master, I don¡¯t think we need to go,¡± the butler behind him smiled bitterly. ¡°Brother Qin is dead? That¡¯s impossible. Aren¡¯t the second and fourth branches of the Li family his people? At this point, they should still be arguing. Even if they fought¡­ Brother Qin should have been escorted out of the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Ge Youqian frowned. ¡°Could it be that his father-in-law ambushed him? ¡± ¡°The Zhang family is finished,¡± the butler answered bluntly. Ge Youqian suddenly turned his head and looked at the key with a bitter smile. ¡°Brother Qin, what other trump cards do you have?¡± He narrowed his eyes as his brain spun rapidly. The three elders of the Gu family? No, with the current strength of the Li family, even with the three elders of the Gu family, they were still at a disadvantage. It was possible to settle this matter, but it was impossible to destroy the Zhang family. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Our spies have discovered that many Li family disciples have walked out of the Nine Dragons sect and taken over many shops in the city that should have been owned by the Zhang family.¡± Ge Youqian¡¯s pupils constricted. Of course, he knew what this meant. The Li family taking over the Zhang family¡¯s businesses meant that Zhang Wu had lost. However, there were no sounds or rumors about the Nine Dragons sect in the city, which meant that the Li family had not only won, but also won a great victory¡­ Zhang Wu and his people were probably hanged in the Nine Dragons sect. Ge Youqian quickly said, ¡°If anyone from the Nine Dragons sect comes to buy anything, you must inform me. Ah, no. Go prepare five hundred thousand taels of silver for me. And also pills, herbs, armor, and weapons. Send them all to the Nine Dragons sect immediately!¡± Ge Youqian made a prompt decision. ¡°Brother Qin, oh Brother Qin, you are truly extraordinary.¡± ¡­ In Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard, the disciples of the Li family carried large and small wooden cabinets, potted plants, and some exquisite brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones into the courtyard. Qin Huai¡¯s original bedroom had been tidied up, and it had been replaced with rare goods from the state capital. The guest room next to the bedroom had been converted into a study. A lifelike jade dragon carving plate was placed on the table. On the wall, there was the ¡®Righteous True Dragon¡¯ personally mentioned by Mister Guo Liu, the number one master of the state city during the era of the Great You¡¯s former emperor. There was also a brush inlaid with gold thread, and a five-hundred-year-old peach wood rocking chair that emitted the fragrance of peaches. Chapter 250 - 250 The Hundred Treasures Pavillion 250 The Hundred Treasures Pavillion The study room was filled with utensils that Qin Huai had never seen before, but he could tell that they were expensive just by smelling them. ¡°As long as it works.¡± Qin Huai looked at the expensive furniture in front of him and felt a little uncomfortable. Any random item would cost hundreds or even thousands of taels. He had never been so extravagant in his previous life. ¡°How can that be? The family head should act like a family head. Otherwise, if outsiders find out, won¡¯t they laugh at us?¡± A young man carrying a chair chuckled. The way he looked at Qin Huai seemed to have the same fanaticism as when Li Shaoxiang looked at him. Of course, compared to Li Shaoxiang¡¯s fanaticism, these people were still much inferior. When everyone was almost done with their work, only then did Qin Huai sit down on the rocking chair that was emitting the fragrance of peaches. He picked up a piece of ¡®ten silver crisp¡¯ that was the size of a thumb and was worth ten taels of silver and threw it into his mouth. The crispy fragrance wantonly filled his mouth, and his body and mind seemed to relax a lot in an instant. ¡°No wonder those big shots are so passionate about power. This simple temptation of food and environment makes me feel a little smug.¡± The next moment, Qin Huai straightened his back. ¡°Sect Master, the second son of the Zhang family is here.¡± Li Zeren quickly walked into the study from the courtyard. Behind him was a robust middle-aged man in gray linen clothes and straw sandals. His eyes were clear, and the aura around him surged faintly. It was an expert at the third-level bone pattern realm. ¡°Disciple Zhang You greets Sect Master!¡± Zhang You immediately knelt on one knee and bowed to Qin Huai. Qin Huai nodded. After exchanging a few simple greetings, Zhang You officially accepted his position as the head of the Zhang family and ruled over the entire family. As for his true thoughts, it was not important for the time being. Qin Huai only needed him to stabilize the Zhang family. As his strength gradually increased, he believed that even if the Zhang family had any ideas, they would disappear. After that, Qin Huai met with many bone pattern realm experts from the Li family. Li Zeren had also compiled a list of the Zhang and Li families¡¯ experts above the ninth-level blood refinement realm and some detailed information. He was even so detailed that there were more than a hundred of them since they were young. Qin Huai now had a clearer understanding of how powerful the Nine Dragons sect was. ¡°In the battle at the meeting hall, the sect lost one fourth-level bone pattern realm, two third-level bone pattern realm, four second-level bone pattern realm, thirteen first-level bone pattern realm, and fifty eighth or ninth refinement martial artists.¡± Li Zeren sat across from Qin Huai and told him the details of the battle. Most of them were from the Zhang family, especially those in the bone pattern realm. The eighth refinement and ninth refinement martial artists would split it equally. ¡°After this battle, half of the sect¡¯s bone pattern realm and top-tier blood refinement experts have been eliminated. It¡¯s a huge blow to our vitality.¡± Qin Huai looked at the documents in his hands and sighed. ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion and the Twin Extreme sect both have three martial artists at the fourth-level bone pattern realm guarding them¡­ The Nine Dragons sect was already short of one person. Now that Zhang Wu is dead, the balance between the three forces has been broken,¡± Li Zeren continued. ¡°The coming period will be the most difficult for the Nine Dragons sect. The majority of Song Ya¡¯s army is still being held back by the Balance Army, but the Sacred Heart sect is at its strongest now. Once they know about the current situation at the Nine Dragons sect, they will definitely attack us. ¡°Although our people tried their best to keep a low profile, paper can¡¯t keep fire.¡± Li Zeren sighed. ¡°Especially since the traitor of the Zhang family, Zhang Can, had a high status in September Hook. He must still be in contact with the Zhang family. This kind of thing can¡¯t be hidden for long.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. ¡°It seems like I really have to seize the time to raise the individual combat strength of the sect¡¯s disciples.¡± It was definitely impossible to recover the number in a short period of time. However, to improve the quality, Qin Huai still had a few ideas. ¡°Right, Sect Master. The Nine Dragons sect¡¯s sect master can open the secret chamber of the Nine Dragons sect with the sect master token. There are treasures of the Nine Dragons sect inside,¡± Li Zeren added. ¡°Father-in-law, please lead the way for me.¡± Qin Huai stood up and gestured for Li Zeren to come in. The two of them walked side by side to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. ¡°Sect Master, do you have any insights when you look at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion now?¡± Li Zeren kept her in suspense. Qin Huai fixed his gaze on the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. It seemed that¡­ This Hundred Treasures Pavilion actually had the aura of a white dragon! ¡°This Hundred Treasures Pavilion is also a treasured weapon?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. ¡°No.¡± Li Zeren smiled and led Qin Huai into the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. ¡°Hello, Sect Master! Greetings, Patriarch!¡± ¡°Hello, Sect Master! Greetings, Patriarch!¡± The surrounding disciples were in fear. Qin Huai merely nodded in acknowledgment. He had already gotten used to the reverence of the people around him along the way. The two of them walked to the room in the corner of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. The room was empty except for a dragon-shaped cage oil lamp that was worshiped in the direction of the door, which Li Zeren gently pushed. Boom¡­ The oil lamp immediately fell. Then, a rectangular groove appeared. It was exactly the same shape as the sect master token in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Qin Huai didn¡¯t hesitate and placed the sect master token into it. It fit perfectly. Boom¡­ The entire wall began to shake. A huge crack appeared in the center of the wall, and a pitch-black world came into view. The neat stone steps extended all the way to the depths, perhaps twenty meters or forty meters. Qin Huai took the lead and followed Li Zeren down. Every step they took, on both sides of the long steps, there would be white flames that lit up, looking especially terrifying. After some time, Qin Huai could vaguely see a blinding white light at the end of his vision. Chapter 251 - 251 Dragon Corpse, The Bold Qin Huai! 251 Dragon Corpse, The Bold Qin Huai! Qin Hua¡¯s heartbeat quickened with each step. The white dragon force seemed to be getting stronger and stronger. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but release his dragon¡¯s might to dissipate the faint pressure. What exactly was in this secret chamber? Could there be a dragon imprisoned under the Nine Dragons sect? Qin Huai instantly discarded this absurd thought. If dragons really existed in this world, they would definitely be extremely powerful existences. It was impossible for it to be imprisoned under the Nine Dragons sect. At the very least, it should be in the True Path sect. After a full hundred steps, Qin Huai stepped onto the ground. This secret chamber was really deep. The terrifying white dragon¡¯s aura had already multiplied several times compared to before. Fortunately, it did not have any offensive properties. Perhaps it was because Qin Huai had released the white dragon aura that made them treat him as their own kind. It only made them feel suffocated. The true appearance of the mysterious object was close at hand, just around the corner. When Qin Huai turned the corner, the scene in front of him made his breathing stop involuntarily. In his pupils, a hundred-meter-long skeleton lay on the ground. Its entire body was snow-white, and there were mysterious patterns engraved on its thick bones. They looked like ripples, but also like rock spots. And this skeleton was a giant dragon. Dragon bones. ¡°There really are dragons in this world.¡± Qin Huai was shocked. Even though it was far from what he had expected, a huge dragon skeleton was enough to shock him. ¡°Is this the secret of the Nine Dragons sect? ¡± Li Zeren began to explain, ¡°It¡¯s said that this dragon was killed by the ancestor of my True Path sect, the founder of the nine dragons true qi technique, reverend hundred dragons. ¡°Legend has it that the reverend dragon once killed ninety-nine giant dragons. This white dragon is the last one. It was also from this hundred dragon bones that I comprehended the Nine Dragons True Qi Technique. ¡°When I was young, I followed my grandfather, who was also the previous sect master of the Nine Dragons sect. The previous sect masters have tried all sorts of methods to refine this dragon bone. But water can¡¯t enter, and knives can¡¯t cut. There were even a few sect masters who were too ferocious and were severely injured by the white dragon aura on the dragon bones. ¡°However, the previous sect masters have also found out the use of the dragon bone. That is, I can sit in front of this dragon bone and comprehend the white dragon¡¯s power. I can ¡®devour¡¯ it and make it mine.¡± As Li Zeren spoke, he paused. ¡°The reason why Zhang Wu was able to break through to the bone pattern realm so quickly was because his father often brought him into the secret chamber in his early years to let him comprehend the white dragon force. ¡°Although the ancient records say that the death of the true dragon happened eight hundred years ago, the aura of the white dragon on its body has always been strong and has never dissipated.¡± Qin Huai looked at the giant dragon skeleton in front of him, deep in thought. He sat down cross-legged and activated the nine dragons true qi technique and tried to activate the white dragon¡¯s aura on the true dragon bone. Beside him, Li Zeren was also sitting cross-legged beside the dragon bone. Just like Qin Huai, he activated the nine dragons true qi technique in an attempt to refine the white dragon aura on the dragon bone. After a long time, the white dragon in front of him only moved slightly as it surged toward Qin Huai. His innate ability and comprehension had changed due to the advancement of the concealment of spirit and qi essence technique. However, it was clearly not realistic to use its mouth to devour the white dragon¡¯s aura on the true dragon in front of him. Qin Huai exhaled lightly. He directly activated the young dragon king in the dragon pearl, and a terrifying aura rose from his body. The next moment, he felt as if a white light had appeared in front of his eyes. It was as if a dragon¡¯s roar was echoing in his ears. He began to walk towards the light¡­ Boom! Suddenly, the entire secret chamber began to tremble violently. The white dragon aura on the dragon bone in front of him instantly became violent. Qin Huai¡¯s face instantly turned pale. ¡°Sect Master Qin Huai!¡± Li Zeren suddenly opened his eyes and shouted at Qin Huai. He looked at Qin Huai, whose face was turning paler and paler, and kicked him to the ground. Qin Huai opened his eyes abruptly and panted heavily as if he was drowning. He felt a burning sensation in his throat, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. ¡°It seems that for the time being, I can¡¯t use force.¡± Qin Huai laughed bitterly. He was sure that the dragon king¡¯s power could indeed cause the dragon bone to move. If he ¡®walked¡¯ to the end of the light, he might gain great benefits. However, he was too weak now. Perhaps before they could reach the end, their souls would be crushed by this true dragon¡¯s aura. He couldn¡¯t pull it at all. ¡°If I want to absorb the white dragon force on this dragon bone, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll need an entire day to make any progress,¡± Qin Huai muttered. It would take about two days for his white dragon force to increase by 1%. His gaze suddenly became firm. Seeing an experience ball drop beside Li Zeren, he instantly picked it up. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Essence], [White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡°This is already very fast. If it were me, I might be about the same as you, or even longer.¡± Li Zeren shook his head. ¡°But now, time is not on my side, Father-in-law.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°You just said that the previous Nine Dragons sect master often brought Zhang Wu into the secret chamber, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Li Zeren nodded. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect doesn¡¯t have any ancestral teachings on this matter. It all depends on what Sect Master thinks, just like how my grandfather allowed me to enter this place when I was young.¡± Li Zeren¡¯s voice suddenly paused. He looked at Qin Huai, whose eyes were flickering, and instantly guessed what his son-in-law was thinking. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of¡­ You want everyone to come in, right? ¡°Once the existence of the dragon bone is exposed, I¡¯m afraid it will attract the covetous eyes of all the factions! It will even attract the experts of the state capital. ¡°Although we are a branch of the True Path sect and have a big tree backing us¡­ However, with the temptation of the huge benefits of the dragon bone, it is difficult to guarantee that no accidents will happen.¡± Li Zeren tried his best to persuade him. ¡°Extraordinary times call for extraordinary things,¡± Qin Huai calmly said. ¡°We¡¯ll just find reliable people to come in and cultivate first. Second Uncle, Fourth Uncle¡­ This includes Li Zetao, Shaoxiang, and Li Buhu. Father-in-law, you¡¯ve endured for so many years. I believe you know who in the Li family you can trust.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Li Zeren nodded. This was indeed a critical period, and they needed to take some risky actions to break out of this predicament. Qin Huai turned around and looked at the dragon bone in front of him. Although it was slow for him to refine the true dragon force, as long as more people cultivated here, he could just pick up the experience balls that they dropped. Chapter 252 - 252 Cultivating the White Dragon Force 252 Cultivating the White Dragon Force At night, Qin Huai went to the back mountain of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Grandmaster!¡± The slovenly figure was still sitting on the cliff. ¡°Oh, Sect Master, you¡¯re here!¡± Elder Erlong stood up and bowed to Qin Huai. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were sharp, and he bowed to Elder Erlong first and smiled. ¡°Grandmaster, aren¡¯t you trying to kill me?¡± ¡°There are rules, you know. Let¡¯s just talk about our own things. Aren¡¯t you used to it before?¡± Elder Erlong joked and then began the main topic. ¡°I still have to make a trip to Huai Dan City, other than looking for that kid Sun Yuanshan. ¡°Since the Nine Dragons sect is empty now, we must be on guard against the nearby county governor¡¯s mansion and keep an eye on their movements. Also, Huai Pill City is the main battlefield between the county governor¡¯s main force and the Balance Army. I can obtain first-hand information and inform the sect to make the next step. Otherwise, if the county governor tries to create a diversion, the Nine Dragons sect will be in a passive position.¡± Qin Huai pondered. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you, Grandmaster. ¡± He didn¡¯t try to dissuade because Elder Erlong was telling the truth. On the bed lying on his side, there was a tiger sleeping soundly. He had to be wary. As for the cultivation of the concealment of spirit and qi, he could only delay it temporarily. Taking advantage of the night, Qin Huai returned to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. A group of people had already gathered in front of the pavilion. They were all trusted aides of the Li family and acquaintances of Qin Huai. There were nineteen people in total, namely Madam Li Shaoxiang, Second Uncle Li Zewu, Fourth Uncle Li Zeshi, Li Zetao, Li Buhu, and a few bone pattern realm experts from the second and fourth branches. His father-in-law was still very cautious. After all, the matter of the dragon bone was too important, so he absolutely could not let his guard down. ¡°Then let¡¯s go in.¡± Qin Huai opened the door of the secret passage for the second time and could not help but take a closer look. The door of this secret chamber was made of a very special material. It had been formed after being influenced by the white dragon force for a long time, making it quite extraordinary. If ordinary punches and kicks landed on this door, not only would they not have any effect, but they would also be counterattacked by the door. When everyone walked the long steps, they all had varying degrees of difficulty on their faces. There were two older experts at the first-level bone pattern realm who were panting heavily. It was obvious that the dense white dragon aura was extremely oppressive to them. Finally, when everyone saw the dragon bone, they all had the same expression as Qin Huai. Bang! Suddenly, the two older bone pattern realm warriors fell to the ground and sighed, ¡°Facing this white dragon force, it feels like facing the might of the sect master during the day.¡± On the other hand, Li Buhu and Li Shaoxiang performed slightly better. ¡°Even if ordinary great blood refinement martial artists let them come down, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to reach the dragon bone.¡± Li Zewu sighed. This was the first time he had seen a dragon bone, and his eyes were filled with admiration and respect. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s begin our cultivation,¡± Qin Huai said solemnly. ¡°Everyone has a very heavy burden on their shoulders. ¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Everyone agreed in unison. They knew that the Nine Dragons sect was on the edge of a cliff. Qin Huai also cultivated silently. After some time, he opened his eyes. He cleared all the experience orbs that had fallen on the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Essence], [White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Essence], [White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Essence], [White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Essence], [White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [White Dragon Force Essence], [White Dragon Force] +1%!¡± ¡­ Other than his father-in-law, Li Zeren, who had already received experience points, the remaining eighteen people only provided Qin Huai with a 4% increase. Obviously, the difference in their comprehension and cultivation levels had severely affected the amount of benefits they could provide to Qin Huai. In just one night, Qin Huai¡¯s white dragon force had increased to 252%. He entered his dantian, and the young dragon king in his body was also slowly growing along with the improvement of the white dragon force. ¡°The white dragon force is the dragon king¡¯s nourishment¡­ In ten days, I can raise my white dragon force to third level, and in a month or more, I¡¯ll be at the fourth level. ¡°Even if my combat strength is slightly inferior to those of the same realm, as long as my white dragon force is strong enough, I can make up for the gap between them,¡± Qin Huai muttered in his heart. Moreover, he had many methods to support him, and his combat strength was extraordinary. ¡­ Qin Huai became extremely busy for the next half a month. He spent a large amount of money to buy a huge amount of medicinal herbs from Ge Youqian. Then, he gathered all the young disciples of the Zhang family and the Li family together to teach them a few simple but very effective poison prescriptions. For example, the soft bone powder, the hot spicy powder, and other moves that Qin Huai had used as his trump cards. Along the way, Qin Huai was also gathering their experience in medicine. Because of the death of the Zhang family members, their combat strength was lacking, so Qin Huai could only make up for it with numbers. Therefore, they could only provide Qin Huai with 200 experience points every day. There were also some small episodes in the process of refining and grinding medicine. For example, the disciple had poisoned himself because of improper grinding. There were also some who poisoned themselves while practicing the poison techniques Qin Huai had taught them, and there were some who were accidentally poisoned when they were refining medicine at the martial arts field and did not clean up the medicinal powder¡­ In any case, in the past few days, there were groups of disciples who fell to the ground and could not get up. Their faces were pale as they were carried away. Qin Huai had specially set up an empty space for this purpose and built it into a pill refining field. He cultivated in the morning and refined medicine in the afternoon. At night, Qin Huai brought Li Zeren and the others into the secret chamber to cultivate the white dragon force. Chapter 253 - 253 A Trap 253 A Trap Qin Huai even took the time to forge armor. He used his own money and the Li family¡¯s money to buy power stones from Ge Youqian. Ge Youqian was also very generous as some of the power stones were half sold and half given away. They were simply cheap. Qin Huai naturally knew what Ge Youqian meant. As for the question that he had only figured out during the battle in the meeting hall, Qin Huai tacitly chose to forget about it. It was already a huge favor for someone to be willing to help you. Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Qin Huai¡¯s medicinal skills had successfully reached the level of precious medicine, and he had even cultivated his culinary skills to advanced. Although the progress of the nine dragons true qi technique was impressive, it was increasing at a turtle speed of 2% every day. As for the white dragon force, it had also steadily broken through the 300-point barrier. Coupled with the cultivation progress of the nine dragons true qi technique, it had reached 357%. The young dragon in his body had also grown a section, and the ten white dragons had become more majestic and powerful. The ancient azure illusion force also increased by 9% to 63%. Qin Huai wanted to live in Azure Dragon Pass and accumulate the ancient azure illusion force to hundreds or even thousands in one go. However, every time Azure Dragon Pass was activated, it required the consumption of a type of ore called force jade. The price of each piece was in the tens of thousands. After becoming the sect master, Qin Huai did not feel rich. Instead, he felt that spending money was like running water, and he was getting more and more short of money. A seemingly trivial matter would cost thousands of taels of silver. And the most troublesome thing was that from the third day onwards, news of the Sacred Heart disciples being active at the edge of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s territory began to spread from September Hook. They seemed to have sensed that something was wrong. They began to send people to probe and explore the situation of the Nine Dragons sect. However, Qin Huai had sent people to send them back, so they were safe and sound for the time being. ¡­ On the pill refining field, Qin Huai stood on the high platform and scrutinized the disciples before him. Most of them were much darker than half a month ago. It wasn¡¯t because the sun was scorching hot. On the contrary, it was already winter, and the cold wind in Lingjiang City was bone-piercing. It might not even be possible to see warm light shining on the world for several days. Most of the disciples had been poisoned too much, causing their skin to become a little dizzy. Even the long breath technique, which had the effect of prolonging one¡¯s life, could not be corrected in a short period of time. However, the effect was good. Although half a month was not enough for their medical skills to improve by much, it was enough for their poison skills to advance by leaps and bounds. This was especially so under the meticulous guidance of a genius of the poison path like Qin Huai. Moreover, Qin Huai had modified the green and white robes of the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. There were many pockets in the long sleeves and many more in the arms. As for what kind of poison to put inside and where to put it, Qin Huai did not impose any restrictions on this. It was all up to personal preference. This was also because he was afraid that the enemy would predict their movements and dodge. The disciples of the Nine Dragons sect not only had their skin turned slightly black, but their eyes were also bloodshot, making them look even more ferocious. ¡°In the past few days, the evil cult followers of the Sacred Heart sect have harassed and attacked our mines, herbal fields, and our escort teams repeatedly¡­¡± Qin Huai said firmly. ¡°Although it was only a test, their wild ambition is already clear. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the rules of the Nine Dragons sect were in the past, but from now on¡­ the biggest rule of the sect is that we won¡¯t attack unless the enemy attacks us! ¡°If the enemy attacks, it means they are prepared. There¡¯s this attempt to offend us¡­ We have to eliminate the entire enemy in advance, be it by poisoning, bludgeoning, setting traps, and even sowing discord. As long as it¡¯s a way to kill the enemy, you can use it! ¡°You must remember¡­ By killing your enemy, only then can you, your family, and your friends live a happy and stable life.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s words were genuine. This was something he had personally experienced and understood. It was also the experience of his master Sun Yuanshan¡¯s words and deeds. Now, he was teaching it to the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Disciples of the Nine Dragons sect, listen up!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The disciples on the refining field shouted in unison. ¡°Disperse Niu Mountain, Erli River, and Dog Tree Mountain. Make sure to clean up the Sacred Heart believers around them.¡± These were the locations of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s mines and medicinal fields. They were also the places that had been harassed the most by the Sacred Heart disciples recently. ¡­ Niu Mountain, outside the mine. A group of gray-robed and sack-clothed martial artists in the dense forest quickly approached. They held their breaths and walked briskly and carefully. The twenty-odd people tried their best not to make a sound like ghosts. Suddenly, the one-eyed man raised his hand, and the people behind him immediately stopped moving. ¡°This time, we¡¯re not just killing people at the edge to test the waters. We¡¯re going to sneak into the mine and thoroughly investigate the situation inside!¡± the one-eyed man whispered. ¡°Boss, this is too dangerous. This mountain is an important place in the Nine Dragons sect, so there are bone pattern realm experts guarding it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re only at the fifth refinement¡­¡± someone behind him said in a low voice. The one-eyed man sneered. ¡°Of course, we¡¯re not here to die. There¡¯s naturally a big shot watching us from above. As long as we find out how many people are in Niu Mountain, spread the news. We can get a complete blood meal from great blood refinement experts.¡± Hearing this, the eyes of the group of sacred heart disciples immediately lit up. ¡°Cheers!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The few people behind him seemed to have been injected with stimulants as they walked forward. Whoosh! Suddenly, the leaves on the ground flew up. The leader of the group flipped 180 degrees on the spot, and the sky and earth instantly rose up from the ground. ¡°There¡¯s a trap!¡± the one-eyed man shouted loudly. He was shocked when he saw the man hanging upside down. ¡°Ah! Help! Save me¡­¡± Chapter 254 - 254 After Entering This Path, You Will Worship Me as a God! 254 After Entering This Path, You Will Worship Me as a God! Whoosh! A poisonous dart shot over from afar and pierced through the man who was hanging upside down on the tree. Whoosh! Whoosh! Dense poison darts shot out from all directions of the forest. However, the Sacred Heart sect members who reacted quickly dodged most of the poison darts. ¡°Ah!¡± There were still people who fell for it, though. Three people fell instantly. Meanwhile, the murderer in the forest had already revealed himself. The one-eyed man looked at the person who came and sneered. ¡°A mere five people dare to cause trouble for us?¡± Five dark-skinned disciples of the Nine Dragons sect surrounded the remaining twenty of them. The one-eyed man took the lead and rushed forward, and the two exchanged fists and retreated in tacit understanding. There were still a few subordinates fighting with the other party, but both sides retreated after a single attack. ¡°One fifth refinement expert and four fourth refinement experts¡­¡± Beside the one-eyed man, a few subordinates reported the opponents¡¯ realm. ¡°Hahaha¡­ With that kind of strength, you dare to attack us? Your Nine Dragons sect is really short of manpower right now.¡± The one-eyed man looked at the five people in front of him and licked his lips greedily at the free meal. ¡°A mere twenty people dare to be so arrogant in front of us.¡± Zhang Lihuo was neither hurried nor slow, his robes fluttering along with the violent wind. Not only him, but the other four were the same. However, the violent wind was directed at the one-eyed man and the others. Unfortunately, the one-eyed man only saw ¡®delicious¡¯, and did not notice this detail. ¡°Kill them!¡± the one-eyed man growled. Together with the three people beside him, they charged toward Zhang Lihuo, who was at the same level as them. ¡°Qi armor!¡± Zhang Lihuo calmly released the white dragon to fight with him. However, most of them were in a defensive stance, blocking the attacks of the three people beside them. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Weren¡¯t you quite good at shouting just now? Why don¡¯t you even dare to retaliate now?¡± The one-eyed man kept provoking Zhang Lihuo with his words. Zhang Lihuo sneered. The next moment, the one-eyed man¡¯s expression changed drastically. It was a drastic change that could be seen with the naked eye. His face darkened and he spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°I¡¯m poisoned!¡± This sentence was like the horn of an attack, causing Zhang Lihuo to immediately begin to counterattack. ¡°Long breath technique, fierce dragon out of the nest!¡± The white dragon moved and broke out of its body. Although it was not as powerful as Qin Hua¡¯s dragon, its killing power was not bad. His fist swept across the air toward someone on the left. Before his fist reached, he suddenly exerted force on his wrist and a small dagger shot out from his palm. Puff! ¡°Ah!¡± The Sacred Heart disciple screamed as his right eye exploded and blood spurted out. Meanwhile, the one-eyed man in front of him saw the gap in front of Zhang Lihuo and threw a punch at the latter¡¯s shoulder. Clang! The sound of metal clashing echoed. The one-eyed man¡¯s violent punch shook his teeth. ¡°Thousand wrought steel? We¡¯ve been tricked!¡± Zhang Lihuo laughed sinisterly and threw another steel nail at him. With a wave of his right hand, he opened a path with a handful of lime. Then, he clenched his fist and punched the one-eyed man¡¯s left eye. The one-eyed man, whose eyes were wide open, was blinded by the lime. He could only rely on his senses to bend down in a panic and dodge the punch that carried the white dragon. Pa! His ear was smashed off, and one of his shoulders was broken. ¡°Ah! How could my shoulders be so weak¡­¡± The one-eyed man was confused but even more afraid. He did not expect that he would be half-crippled in the first move of the other party¡¯s counterattack. Meanwhile, Zhang Lihuo became fiercer and fiercer as he fought. He had completely suppressed the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s members in a one-on-four battle. A handful of lime and a white dragon. The truth was completely indiscernible. After a short while, the one-eyed man and his three subordinates all fell to the ground, lifeless. The others were a step slower, but they all fought one against four and killed all of them. ¡°I actually did it¡­ I killed all of them.¡± ¡°Oh my god, I used to be at the bottom among martial artists of the same realm. I was even often beaten by people who were of a higher realm.¡± A few disciples of the Zhang family looked at the corpses on the ground, their voices trembling. Of course, they were very excited. They didn¡¯t expect the sect master to be telling the truth. ¡°Too slow.¡± Zhang Lihuo frowned. ¡°Your speed is so slow. You¡¯re really letting down our sect master¡¯s teachings.¡± Although he said this, there was a hint of fluctuation in his tone. He did not even realize that when he said the words ¡®sect master¡¯, his expression could not help but become more solemn. When Qin Huai became the new sect master, Zhang Lihuo was the most disgusted because he respected his senior brother, Zhang Haoyue. Although the sect explained that Zhang Haoyue was the one who killed his fellow sect member, Zhang Lihuo was still unwilling to believe it. Or rather, it was hard to let go. However, ever since he started cultivating poison techniques with the sect master, only then did he know how powerful the latter was. With the sect master¡¯s exquisite poison techniques, if he wanted to poison Li Buchang to death, he would only let him die without anyone knowing. No one would even suspect Qin Huai. ¡°If you are only satisfied with this level, then you should stop cultivating poison techniques in the future,¡± Zhang Lihuo said seriously. ¡°The goal set by the sect master is to make us fight ten people at once. This is not even half of it. ¡°Three of you are even injured. It¡¯s a disgrace. I¡¯m too embarrassed to report this to the sect master.¡± ¡°Kekekeke¡­ You won¡¯t have the chance to report this to your sect master.¡± A strange laugh suddenly came from the forest. The next moment, a bloated ball-like figure appeared beside Zhang Lihuo and the others. The person who came was not fat. His facial features seemed to have melted. His left eye and right eye were completely tilted, one high and one low. His hands were also like chicken feet. Layers of fat piled up on his body, making him look extremely disgusting. His entire body emitted an indescribable stench, spreading all over the air. ¡°A bone pattern realm expert¡­¡± Zhang Lihuo¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Kekeke. Tremble before me¡­¡± The bone pattern realm expert¡¯s voice suddenly stopped, and his body began to expand irregularly. Bang! With a loud explosion, he turned into blood and flesh that scattered in the forest like a rain of blood. Not far behind him, a tall and handsome figure slowly walked toward Zhang Lihuo and the others. ¡°Disciple greets Sect Master!¡± ¡°Disciple greets Sect Master!¡± Zhang Lihuo and the others knelt down on one knee and looked at Qin Huai with fervent eyes. ¡°I told you¡­ After entering this path, you will worship me as a god!¡± Chapter 255 - 255 Sneaking Around 255 Sneaking Around Qin Huai was dressed in a long green and white robe. His chiseled face was handsome, and his skin was translucent and blood-red, like some kind of jade. He carried Silver Fox on his back and had short, neat hair. A thin layer of white mist surrounded him as he walked out from the depths of the forest. The sky was shattered, and black blood rain and minced meat fell to the ground. ¡°I think I used too much?¡± The dosage he used should be just enough to kill a bone pattern realm warrior. These herbs were all very old and expensive, so his attacks were very accurate. Qin Huai¡¯s expression was indifferent as he raised his head slightly to look at the black minced meat that was emitting a foul smell. These evil followers of the Sacred Heart sect would not only mutate their organs after eating too many people, but even their blood, qi, and smell would become unpleasant. ¡°Sect Master, that evil cult follower is still moving!¡± Zhang Lihuo¡¯s voice sounded beside him. Qin Huai followed Zhang Lihuo¡¯s gaze and saw a head stuck in the ground. Blood and hot air flowed out from its fat lips. ¡°He didn¡¯t die even after this?¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. ¡°Ha¡­¡± The huge head began to speak, ¡°I didn¡¯t lose to you. I lost to myself¡­ I lost on my own evolution path.¡± ¡°Evolution path? What kind of evolution is cultivating evil techniques?¡± Qin Huai was indifferent. He pulled out Silver Fox and walked toward the huge head. ¡°The key point of a martial artist¡¯s cultivation is to complete the level of life transformation¡­ and to complete this process.¡± The head coughed violently, and the blood and heat flowing out of its body quickly decreased. Clearly, there was not much time left. ¡°Completing this process is to devour other living beings! The cultivation method of my Sacred Heart sect is merely to understand the essence of a martial artist¡¯s cultivation! ¡°All of you are taking medicine and pills. Aren¡¯t they also formed by the living beings of heaven and earth? A higher living being devouring a lower living being¡­ This is the rule of the world¡­¡± The voice of the head grew weaker and weaker. ¡°¡­I just failed to evolve.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s spear pierced through the head, completely ending his last breath of life. ¡°It¡¯s precisely because of lunatics like you that most people like me can¡¯t live a stable life.¡± Qin Huai furrowed his brows. He was extremely disgusted with this fellow. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Orange)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +29,999!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Force Comprehension], [Blood Heart Force] +2%!¡± Large amounts of memories flooded Qin Huai¡¯s mind. His spine also began to heat up, as if there were patterns carved on it. He turned to look at Zhang Lihuo and the others. ¡°Continue to clear out the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s people near the mountain. ¡± After he instructed them, he then left into the distance. ¡­ Late at night. Qin Huai quietly advanced through the forest. The breath control technique had become useless after he broke through to the bone pattern realm, so it was not enough. However, Qin Huai still used his exquisite skills to quietly shuttle through the forest. He entered the core region of September Hook, then restrained his breathing to the lightest, occasionally stopping behind the dark tree. Whoosh whoosh whoosh ¡­ The sound of footsteps could be heard. Qin Huai stood still once again as he watched the four of them walk over shoulder to shoulder. Some were limping, while others were missing fingers or eyes. They were not disabled because of fighting. This was because most of them had wounds similar to those of the fatty who had died at Qin Huai¡¯s hands. Their wounds were covered with sticky insect-like flesh, looking extremely terrifying. It should be caused by using evil techniques to eat people and cultivate the blood heart technique. ¡®They¡¯re all at fourth refinements? Also¡­ Why does it feel like the core area of September Hook was even looser than the outer area?¡¯ Qin Huai looked at the flames that lit up in the distance and could vaguely hear some cheers. ¡®There¡¯s some sort of banquet. Or a memorial?¡¯ Qin Huai watched as the four of them headed straight for the tree he was hiding behind. He frowned slightly. Seeing that the other party was only a few meters away from him¡­ ¡°Ferocious might!¡± Boom! In an instant, the four of them went limp and died on the spot. Qin Huai continued to move stealthily, heading toward the most dazzling part of the flames. He did the same thing and killed the two groups of people he encountered along the way. Finally, he saw flames and a large number of people. Qin Huai leaned against the edge of the forest and looked inside. The thick smell of blood permeated the mountains, accompanied by the heart-wrenching wails of women and the cries of children. Tens of thousands of kilograms of wood were lit up by the rectangular wooden platform. The eyes of the people who were tied up in groups of ten trembled. In front of them, a fierce flame burned fiercely, more than ten meters high. The blazing flames reflected the fear in their eyes. Qin Huai looked around and saw that there were three to four thousand people tied up. A few days ago, the villages around Phoenix Ridge City disappeared collectively¡­ The number of people seemed to match the number in front of him. Wulalala~ Outside the campfire, there were Sacred Heart disciples who were emitting a strange smell. They were dancing in a strange manner and formed a circle around the campfire. It was like a sacrificial activity for primitive people to pay tribute to their ancestors and food. ¡°I beg you, please let my family go. At least let my poor child go.¡± A woman in ragged clothes was dirty all over. Her eyes were filled with tears, and there were some red scratches on her fair skin that could be seen with the naked eye. Not far away, a fat figure was holding a crying baby in his wide hands. Chapter 256 - 256 The Nine Dragons Sects Secrets 256 The Nine Dragons Sect¡¯s Secrets The fat figure looked at the woman mockingly. ¡°Ah~¡± He opened his bloody mouth, and the stench made the weak baby¡¯s hoarse cries sound again. Crack! The baby¡¯s cries stopped abruptly, and the sound of blood and bones shattering rang out. ¡°No!¡± The woman in ragged clothes let out a sharp roar. Blood and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes, and she suddenly fainted. Qin Huai¡¯s pupils constricted when he saw this scene from afar. He was just about to attack, but he suppressed this urge. ¡°That fatty¡¯s qi and blood are so astonishing. It¡¯s definitely not something that a blood refinement realm or even an ordinary bone pattern realm expert can possess,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. This fatty actually gave him a creepy feeling. Even an expert at the fourth-level bone pattern realm like Li Zeren couldn¡¯t give him such immense pressure. Maybe he was in fifth level? It shouldn¡¯t be higher. Otherwise, the Sacred Heart sect would have slaughtered their way into Lingjiang long ago. Qin Huai endured it and searched the crowd with his eyes. He wanted to see if there were any traces of his master or the three members of the Luo family. After a long time, he felt relieved. At the very least, the people close to him were not here. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze landed on Fatty Ji Yuan again. This time, there was another tall man beside him. ¡°You still have a bad taste.¡± Six-fingered Zou Shuang walked to Ji Yuan¡¯s side, holding a baby¡¯s arm in his hand. ¡°Hahaha! As expected, babies are delicious,¡± Ji Yuan disagreed. He continued to gobble down the baby in his hand in three bites. Zou Shuang calmly said, ¡°There seem to be some changes in the Nine Dragons sect, but we haven¡¯t found out the details yet. However, based on our current estimates, there might be a civil war there, and many people have died.¡± ¡°Is there still no news from Zhang Can? Didn¡¯t he say that he has a lot of connections in the Zhang family?¡± Fatty Ji Yuan frowned. ¡°I think this Zhang Can has second thoughts. It¡¯s hard to say if he¡¯ll switch sides in the future! How about¡­let¡¯s just eat him too!¡± ¡°He¡¯s still useful to us. Although he looks simple and honest, he¡¯s very smart. He knows a lot about the county governor and the Nine Dragons sect. There are still many secrets we can dig out from him¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, Zhang Can is here!¡± Ji Yuan looked into the distance. A middle-aged man ran towards them ¡°Milords, I have important information!¡± Zhang Can¡¯s face was pale. ¡°The Zhang family of the Nine Dragons sect is gone!¡± ¡°The Zhang family is gone?¡± Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan looked at each other, both at a loss. The Zhang family should be much stronger than the Li family. Even if they lost, they shouldn¡¯t be reduced to nothing¡­ ¡°The current leader of the Nine Dragons sect is the son-in-law of the Li family, Qin Huai.¡± Zhang Can gritted his teeth when he said this. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Hearing this name, Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan narrowed their eyes. ¡°Enemies really meet on a narrow road. That kid is simply incompatible with our Sacred Heart sect. From the small Pingnan City to Lingjiang, this Qin Huai has already ruined our plans countless times.¡± Zou Shuang looked coldly at Zhang Can. ¡°It should have been half a month ago that the position of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s sect master changed hands, right? It¡¯s too late. It doesn¡¯t have much value.¡± He was exerting pressure to express his dissatisfaction. However, Zhang Can¡¯s information was still very valuable. In this way, he could clearly explain the strange changes in some members of the Nine Dragons sect that he knew about recently. He had thought that the other party had sent more people in the direction of September Hook to start a war with them. Therefore, his expression tensed up for a long time. But now, with this piece of news, they knew that the Li family was a paper tiger. ¡°Zhang Wu, the fourth-level bone pattern realm expert, is dead. This will be our best opportunity.¡± As Zou Shuang spoke, her gaze toward Zhang Can became even more dangerous. Now that the Zhang family had forgotten, what valuable information could this Zhang Can bring? He had the urge to kill the donkey after it was done grinding. ¡°It has been a long time since you gave us anything from the county governor¡¯s mansion. Now that the Zhang family of the Nine Dragons sect has fallen, how useful are your connections?¡± Ji Yuan walked to the side and put his arm around Zhang Can¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You know that the Sacred Heart sect never supports idlers.¡± Zhang Can trembled and squeezed out a smile. ¡°I know a lot of secrets¡­¡± His eyes were wandering, as if he was struggling. His entire body suddenly quivered, because Ji Yuan, who was beside him, had already placed his hands on his shoulders. This wasn¡¯t because he coveted his beauty, but because he wanted to eat him up. ¡°There¡¯s a secret chamber in the Nine Dragons sect, and there¡¯s a dragon corpse in there!¡± Zhang Can growled. This was something he had accidentally heard from his elder brother, Zhang Wu. Zhang Wu often went to that secret chamber to cultivate and absorb the power of the white dragon. However, he had never seen it with his own eyes and did not even know where it was. ¡°What did you say?¡± This time, Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan¡¯s expressions changed drastically. They had only heard of dragons in ancient books and stories. Now, they actually heard from others that he knew where the dragon bones and dragon corpses were. ¡°Have you seen it with your own eyes?¡± Zhang Can shook his head. ¡°But it definitely exists.¡± ¡°Do you know where the dragon corpse is?¡± Zhang Can shook his head again. ¡°Anyway, it must be in the Nine Dragons sect. I can guarantee it with my life!¡± He was going to risk it all and use this secret to save his life. ¡°Other than that, I still have many secrets¡­¡± Zhang Can was bold enough to start making up lies. Chapter 257 - 257 Blood Sacrifice of the Sacred Heart Sect! 257 Blood Sacrifice of the Sacred Heart Sect! However, with the secret of the dragon corpse in front of him, his words became more credible. Zou Shuang¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°If there is such a thing, my sect will definitely have a way to turn it into food. Even resurrecting!¡± ¡°In the ancient records. The dragon race¡¯s combat strength is unparalleled in the world. If we can get this dragon bone, it will definitely be a heavenly technique! Now that the Nine Dragons sect is in a weakened state¡­¡± The two of them spoke freely and were so excited that they began to imagine the future. Zou Shuang suddenly frowned slightly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ Should we ask the higher-ups for instructions? It¡¯s safer.¡± Ji Yuan immediately rejected it. ¡°That¡¯s not right. If we report it, this heavenly technique will have nothing to do with us. Those guys will definitely take all the credit.¡± He rejected decisively because he knew what kind of people the Sacred Heart sect had. They were all vampires like him. ¡°What¡¯s more, the Nine Dragons sect has suffered a great loss now. It¡¯s equivalent to losing half of its name. Our Sacred Heart sect has a strong army and more than ten thousand followers! With such a huge army and the two of us, how can we lose?¡± ¡°What you said makes sense.¡± Zou Shuang wavered. He looked at Zhang Can and smiled kindly. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you this time. If we can really get the dragon corpse, we¡¯ll definitely give you a generous reward.¡± The two of them placed their arms on Zhang Can¡¯s shoulders and smiled brightly. They were like three die-hard friends who had known each other for at least fifty years. ¡°Now, let¡¯s celebrate the great blood god sacrifice!¡± Zou Shuang walked to the top of a mountain. His heavy body began to slap non-stop on the mountaintop, making a grunting sound. His feet were also jumping lightly and agilely, causing the peak of the mountain to tremble. In his field of vision, the platform made of piles of firewood was about two acres in size. Many of the Sacred Heart disciples poured a large amount of oil on the firewood platform and then threw bundles of offerings onto it. The next moment, a crazed Sacred Heart disciple threw a torch at the altar. The flames were like a prairie fire, instantly igniting the firewood platform of two acres of land. Even some of the Sacred Heart disciples who were unable to retreat in time were set ablaze. One by one, the fanatical Sacred Heart disciple danced and spoke eloquently. ¡°Great power, the Sacred Heart stands between heaven and earth. My God created the world, and my heart is free. I have transformed into an immortal¡­¡± Rumble¡­ The sound waves were like heavy drums, even suppressing the miserable cries on the firewood platform. Not far away, Qin Huai suddenly felt a little dizzy as he listened to the lies of the Sacred Heart disciples. He forced himself to calm down and looked at the scene in front of him. A black viscous liquid began to seep out of the wooden platform, even devouring the raging flames bit by bit. The black sticky liquid greedily swallowed the flames, as well as the villagers who were wailing miserably. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t smell the fragrance of burning meat in the air. His scalp immediately went numb. Did the black liquid eat the people and the flames? He kept staring. Looking at the altar, the flames finally extinguished. All that was left was a large pool of black viscous liquid. They surged toward the center, as if there was a spring in the center that was gushing out. Something was wrong. They were the reverse spring water, and all the black liquid was swallowed by the spring eye. Qin Huai didn¡¯t even dare to blink as he watched the black liquid disappear. On the ground, all that was left was a vast expanse of scorched earth. ¡°What is that¡­¡± Qin Huai felt a chill run down his spine. Was that a living thing? Or perhaps¡­ The God that the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples spoke of? Qin Huai quietly retreated and started to distance himself from September Hook. There were too many secrets about the Sacred Heart sect. It was no small matter that it could grow to an existence comparable to the True Path sect in just a few decades. ¡°Children!¡± Ji Yuan¡¯s voice rang out from the mountain peak. ¡°I¡¯ve received God¡¯s guidance. Next, we¡¯ll raze the Nine Dragons sect! ¡°That¡¯s the archenemy of our Sacred Heart sect, a branch of the True Path sect! They are destined to disappear in the long river of time, and the ones who will leave a deep mark in this vast history book are you and me¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s retreating figure paused slightly. He then stood up and sprinted toward the Nine Dragons sect. ¡­ Nine Dragons sect. Qin Huai sat in the study. In front of him were Li Zeren, Li Zeshi, Li Zewu, and the new head of the Zhang family, Zhang Wei. Even Elder Dalong had come over. Everyone in the study looked somber. ¡°If the Sacred Heart sect wants to attack us, they will definitely have to go around the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Twin Extreme sect. Unless they use Niu Mountain and Erli River to lure us out¡­ only by wiping out most of our forces can they take down the Nine Dragons sect,¡± Qin Huai said solemnly. ¡°Then we only need to abandon Niu Mountain and Erli River, and we can temporarily avoid the enemy. With the Nine Dragon Sect¡¯s current strength, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be difficult for us to deal with the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s frenzied attacks,¡± Li Zeren said. Li Zewu nodded. ¡°I agree. The Nine Dragons sect has just gone through a huge battle. Our combat strength is too low¡­¡± ¡°Although giving up these mines and herbal fields will definitely make our lives more difficult, it seems there is no better way at the moment.¡± Zhang Rong followed suit. ¡°So, Sect Master, what is your strategy?¡± Li Zeren looked at Qin Huai and hesitated. Only then did Qin Huai speak. ¡°We definitely can¡¯t just defend ourselves for now, but we can¡¯t give up these important places so easily. ¡°Actually, a few days ago, I already asked Shaoxiang to take the money and buy all the medicinal herbs that can be used in the city¡¯s medicinal shops to make medicine.¡± Zhang Rong, Li Zeshi, and the others¡¯ eyelids twitched as they listened. This sect master was really ruthless. He was truly willing to spend money on the poison path. Qin Huai whispered, ¡°I was thinking of taking the initiative to attack September Hook¡­ I didn¡¯t expect the Sacred Heart sect to be one step ahead of us¡­ Now is the perfect time. Let¡¯s give them all these poisons!¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. ¡°Pass down my order. Summon all the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect outside. At the same time, bring your equipment and assemble at Niu Mountain! ¡°Since the Sacred Heart sect wants to attack our Nine Dragons sect, let¡¯s go ahead and give them a big gift!¡± Chapter 258 - 258 The Twin Extreme Sect 258 The Twin Extreme Sect At the Twin Extreme sect. A muscular figure was walking on the road. He was three meters tall, and he was half-naked and carrying a thick steel spear. There was a terrifying aura around him. The people who were chatting around could not help but retreat when they saw him. ¡°Senior Brother Reihom!¡± They greeted him respectfully. ¡°Senior brother Reihom is really too strong¡­ I heard he killed a bone pattern realm expert from the Sacred Heart sect.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? Didn¡¯t Senior Brother Reihom cross realms to kill enemies?¡± ¡°I remember when Senior Brother first entered our sect¡­ He was only at the fifth refinement. In the small competition, he beat up a group of senior brothers at the sixth refinement¡­ ¡°How can a blood refinement expert compare to a bone pattern realm expert?¡± ¡°But Senior Brother¡¯s progress is fast. In just half a year, he broke through four minor realms.¡± A few sect disciples looked at Reihom¡¯s back and could not help but sigh. ¡°I can only say that Pingnan City is a small place that suppresses Senior Brother¡¯s talent. It¡¯s only when he came to the Twin Extreme sect that Senior Brother is like a fish in water.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right. Why is Senior Brother back? I remember the situation at September Hook is getting worse.¡± Bang! The short youth was instantly punched. ¡°No matter how strong Senior Brother Reihom is, he can¡¯t be beaten up by a treasured weapon. He still has to cultivate, right?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± The tall senior brother shook his head. ¡°My second uncle said that in the early hours of this morning, the disciples of the Sacred Heart sect suddenly withdrew¡­¡± ¡°What? How could this be¡­ I heard they have more than ten thousand disciples now. They don¡¯t lack talent.¡± The tall man said in a low voice, ¡°The Sacred Heart sect has mobilized the entire September Hook force and is heading to the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s Niu Mountain! ¡± Hiss¡­ The few of them seemed to be in high spirits as they sat under the tree and chatted. ¡°Tsk tsk, that son-in-law of the Nine Dragons sect and Senior Brother Reihom are both from Pingnan City, right? ¡± ¡°Yes, back then, they were still the Pingnan Twin Stars. Both of them are extraordinary¡­ However, in comparison, Senior Reihom is already capable of killing bone pattern realm experts.¡± Under everyone¡¯s admiring gaze, Reihom walked into the training room of the Twin Extreme sect¡¯s Sect Master. ¡°Master!¡± Reihom cupped his fists. He glanced around and saw the sect master sitting quietly on the futon, resting with his eyes closed. ¡°Reihom, why have you come?¡± The sect master opened his eyes, and there seemed to be a flash of fire in them. ¡°It¡¯s about the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s sudden change of target and the attack on the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s territory. I feel that Master¡¯s order to sit back and do nothing is very inappropriate.¡± Reihom spoke bluntly and didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°The disciples of the Sacred Heart sect have committed grave sins. They slaughter villages for pleasure and feed on humans and animals. ¡°Everywhere I go is hell on earth. Countless villages and pavilions around Lingjiang have disappeared, and they have all been massacred by the disciples of the Sacred Heart sect.¡± The sect master of the Twin Extreme sect looked coldly at Reihom. ¡°So what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°I hope that Master will help Niu Mountain and ruthlessly kill a way out from the flank! Let¡¯s join forces with the Nine Dragons sect to devour the Sacred Heart sect! This disciple is willing to be the vanguard of the formation!¡± Reihom said firmly. ¡°What if I don¡¯t allow it?¡± The voice of the Twin Extreme sect¡¯s sect master was cold. ¡°Do you know how many disciples¡¯ lives you¡¯re going to sacrifice by doing this?!¡± ¡°If we leave such a scourge alone, the whole Lingjiang county will be destroyed one day! In the far west of the Great Nether, Lingjiang county is uninhabited for thousands of miles, which is a lesson for our Twin Extreme sect!¡± Reihom met the eyes of the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect without any hesitation or fear, staring at the sect master¡¯s cold eyes. Then, he cupped his fists at the sect master and turned to leave without saying a word. ¡°Where are you going?¡± the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect said coldly. ¡°Niu Mountain.¡± Reihom¡¯s voice was firm. Even if he was alone, he would still do it even if it was just a drop in the bucket¡­ If he didn¡¯t try, he would never succeed. Just like how he knew that Qin Huai¡¯s talent might be able to leave him far behind in time, he would still try his best to catch up. If he didn¡¯t try, he would never have a chance. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Suddenly, the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect laughed loudly from behind. ¡°Brat, come back! Did I say that I won¡¯t send anyone?!¡± Reihom stopped in his tracks and turned to look at his master. The sect master of the Twin Extreme sect had a complicated look in his eyes as he sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this news since dawn, waiting for the elders, disciples, and that child Haochu to come and report this. ¡°Unfortunately, they have clearly been in the sect all this time, but they haven¡¯t come yet. Thank goodness you rushed back without stopping to tell me these¡­¡± The sect master of the Twin Extreme sect was gratified. ¡°Thank goodness I have you. Otherwise, I don¡¯t even know who I will hand this sect to in the future.¡± Reihom was someone who knew how to take the big picture into consideration and dared to speak and act. This was the quality that a sect master of the Twin Extreme sect should have. As for his beloved disciple, Gao Haochu, who was known as the number one genius of the Twin Extreme sect in the past fifty years, it seemed that he was still far from it. At most, he could only be a thug. ¡°I have already prepared the troops for you. They are all waiting at the back of the mountain to listen to your orders¡­¡± The sect master of the Twin Extreme sect added in a deep voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know how the people of the Sacred Heart sect are able to cultivate our cultivation technique using evil techniques. I¡¯m afraid there are traitors in the sect. After you set off, I¡¯ll make my move.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Reihom cupped his fists and walked out from the secret passage of the training room. Chapter 259 - 259 A Sneak Attack 259 A Sneak Attack At the foot of Niu Mountain, Ji Yuan gnawed on a thigh and looked at the towering Niu Shan. He said leisurely, ¡°I thought Qin Huai would give up on the resources outside Lingjiang City. I didn¡¯t expect him to overestimate himself and want to fight us in Niu Mountain?¡± Zou Shuang said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t know who leaked the news. Erli River and Dog Tree Mountain are actually empty. They evacuated people overnight.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Anyway, we¡¯ve achieved our goal, right?¡± Ji Yuan disagreed. He looked around. The Sacred Heart sect master¡¯s clothes were messy, and he did not have the uniform of the three major factions. He looked more like a casual soldier who had set up a temporary team. Even the armor on their bodies was ordinary. Some were wearing elbow guards, some were wearing breastplates, and some were only wearing skirt armor¡­ Usually, the equipment of several people could only be put together to form a set. But it didn¡¯t matter. These were all small problems for them. When the Sacred Heart sect fought, it was all about numbers and realms. With these two items, the Nine Dragons sect would be crushed. Moreover, the greatest advantage of his Sacred Heart sect disciples was¡­ They were all outlaws! As long as he was not afraid of death, it was enough to make up for all his shortcomings. All over the mountain, the mighty Sacred Heart believers shouted fanatically as they rushed up the mountain. Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan were in the middle of the army, watching the battle on the mountain peak. ¡°In terms of high-end combat strength and numbers, we are far superior¡­ Moreover, there¡¯s no movement from the Twin Extreme sect either. They¡¯re probably planning to watch from the sidelines.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. They¡¯re just like the county governor¡¯s mansion.¡± Rumble¡­ Suddenly, the two of them frowned. In their field of vision, the people who had already reached the entrance of Niu Mountain had yet to see anyone before they began to fall to the ground in groups. Only a few blood refinement realm and bone pattern realm experts charged in and fought back and forth with the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s experts. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Ji Yuan suddenly sat up straight. ¡°Is it force?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not force¡­¡± Zou Shuang remained calm. ¡°We have bone pattern realm warriors on our side who can release force to block it, and the speed at which he fell was too fast.¡± After a while, a disciple ran down from the mountain. ¡°My lord! It was poison! These people from the Nine Dragons sect are trying to poison us! Now, the mountains and plains are filled with poison!¡± The man¡¯s eyes darkened as he roared hoarsely. ¡°Poison? When did the Nine Dragons sect start playing with poison?¡± Ji Yuan was confused. ¡°Aren¡¯t the disciples of the True Path sect all self-righteous and sanctimonious¡­ Do you disdain playing such tricks?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. It must have been arranged by that brat Qin Huai!¡± Zou Shuang coldly snorted. ¡°When this kid massacred our villages in the past, most of them were cleared by poisonous creatures.¡± ¡°Qin Huai, that grandson!¡± Ji Yuan¡¯s expression was gloomy. ¡°What has happened to the sub-sect of the True Path sect¡­ Don¡¯t let me catch him, or I¡¯ll cook him into a hundred different ways to eat him! Retreat! Hurry up and withdraw the people first!¡± Zou Shuang immediately ordered, ¡°Wait until the poisonous fog dissipates before fighting!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a group of martial artists in green and white robes rushed out from the left wing of Niu Mountain and charged straight into the center of the army. The well-trained warriors of the Nine Dragons sect instantly tore a hole in the group of wandering warriors. However, the fearless Sacred Heart sect members immediately charged back and blocked the opening. In an instant, countless broken limbs rolled down the mountain. The blood was like a huge red cloth, covering the mountain from the top to the bottom. However, most of them were the blood of the disciples of the Sacred Heart sect. Because they were poisoned, even if they were not afraid of death, they would not be able to resist. The only ones who could fight in separate courts were the bone pattern realm experts. ¡°A bunch of trash¡­ It¡¯s our turn!¡± Ji Yuan moved the fat on his body and revealed a murderous excitement at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I want the one at the fourth-level bone pattern realm!¡± Ji Yuan¡¯s legs sank, and his entire body was like a cannonball, ready to be fired. The next moment, his entire body was wrapped in a strong wind as he rushed to the hillside. Zou Shuang, who was behind him, shook his head lightly. His figure flew elegantly to the peak of the mountain. ¡­ Right rear of the Sacred Heart sect army, at the top of Niu Mountain. Qin Huai stood on the cliff, looking down at the impressive battle results. Then, he turned his head and looked down at the two figures he had seen last night in the middle of the army. ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡± As soon as Qin Huai finished speaking, he saw Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan rushing toward the peak of the mountain. ¡°It¡¯s my turn.¡± Qin Huai observed their speed and estimated the time. The next moment, he leaped from a hundred-meter-tall mountain. Whoosh! The strong wind blew past his ears like thunder and drums, whistling into his long robe. Tens of meters later, his feet slammed heavily into the slanted rock wall. His feet plowed the ground as he landed. It was as if two white snakes were following behind him, hissing and hissing. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± Behind the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army, two first-level bone pattern realm experts stood up abruptly and looked at Qin Huai with excitement in their eyes. ¡°Our leader is indeed a divine prophet. He predicted that you, brat, would launch a sneak attack!¡± they said in unison. The two men were twins, not only looking alike but speaking at the same time. ¡°Big brother!¡± ¡°Little brother!¡± ¡°This man is a genius of the Nine Dragons sect. Few people in the ninth refinement realm can defeat him,¡± they continued. The two brothers licked the corners of their mouths, their eyes filled with excitement. ¡°I bet he¡¯s delicious!¡± Chapter 260 - 260 One Against a Thousand! 260 One Against a Thousand! As he spoke, the cold-looking youth in a green and white robe had already charged toward them. ¡°He looks so fresh!¡± the two of them said in unison, tapping their left feet, causing the dust to rise. Whoosh! Even the angle of the dust was the same. The ground cracked instantly, and the two brothers shot out like arrows. ¡°Die!¡± they shouted, throwing out their left and right fists together. The strong wind wrapped around the fist tip and instantly heated up with the speed of the swing. Boom! But their pupils constricted as a domineering force smashed into their backs like a mountain. Bang! The two brothers knelt down on one knee, smashing their knees into the ground. Was this the power of a ninth refinement expert? Before they could even be shocked, two large hands grabbed at their heads. This person was so fast. ¡°Break!¡± the brothers roared. Kaka! Two crisp sounds of bones breaking rang out, followed by a series of crackling sounds. Their necks shifted to the left by more than three inches, and the right side of their body shrunk to the left side freely. Their entire body was deformed, beyond the structure of a human body. But even so, they couldn¡¯t avoid Qin Huai¡¯s two strong hands. Rip! Fresh blood splattered everywhere as Qin Huai tore off a large piece of flesh, pulling their right arms out of their shrinking bodies with his terrifying strength and tearing them off. ¡°Ah!¡± the brothers widened their eyes, staring at Qin Huai. Qin Huai¡¯s long robe was instantly lifted up, revealing a long white snake carved on the back of his hand. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± the brothers roared in rage, their upper bodies leaning forward toward Qin Huai. At the same time, their waist and abdomen elongated by more than a meter, as fast as a frog¡¯s tongue. Whoosh! A dazzling white light was reflected in their eyes, and an even more terrifying pressure fell on their bodies. Their momentum came to an abrupt halt, and their strange bodies dived to the ground. And at the back of their heads, two fists suddenly swung down. The twins¡¯ heads shrank into their bodies at the same time, instantly escaping from the range of Qin Huai¡¯s fist. But¡­ ¡°Forbidden technique, ten-dragon tremor!¡± Rumble! A terrifying explosion instantly sounded, and the shocking aftershock swept across the ground in front of Qin Huai. Blood and minced meat splattered everywhere, and pieces of organs turned into a bloody mist. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Orange)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +28,888!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Orange)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +28,888!¡± The blood heart supreme technique had just upgraded and reached level 90. The two punches that he had just thrown out had consumed a pitiful amount of energy, and as he broke through, he had also recovered to his original state. Qin Huai¡¯s body trembled, and the blood mist was blown away. Then, he charged toward the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army. Behind him, the two bloody bodies knelt on one knee. Fortunately, the twins were exactly the same when they died. ¡°Stall him! The bone pattern realm experts will be here soon!¡± an experienced martial artist shouted behind the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army. Having served in the army for decades before joining the Sacred Heart sect after a major war, he was very experienced in killing and stalling experts in big battles. He had once relied on this technique to delay two experts who had just entered the bone pattern realm with fifty people for a short while. ¡°Everyone, listen to me¡­¡± he began. But suddenly, a violent force poured down, and the martial artist exploded into a cloud of blood mist on the spot. It was as if firecrackers had been set off beside him, and the figures exploded as soon as they got close. The figure with dazzling white light in his eyes was like a god of death, waving an invisible sickle to reap everyone¡¯s lives. The group of Sacred Heart sect members went crazy. Their eyes were bloodshot as they charged at Qin Huai. ¡°He¡¯s only one person,¡± a four-meter-tall giant said in a low voice. ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± But before he finished speaking, the figure landed beside him, and he exploded on the spot. At the peak of Niu Mountain, Li Zeren, Elder Dalong, and Zou Shuang fought fiercely, but they could barely hold on. On the other side, Ji Yuan¡¯s opponents were three experts at the third-level bone pattern realm: Elder Sanlong, Li Zewu, and Zhang Meng. ¡°Is this the level of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s experts?¡± Ji Yuan fought three of them alone with ease, sneering as if he was playing with the world and making everyone unhappy. However, Li Zeren and the others were even more shocked. ¡°They are actually two fifth-level bone pattern realm experts,¡± Li Zeren said, his gaze searching the crowd. He did not know where his son-in-law had gone. Qin Huai seemed to have disappeared not long after they arrived at Niu Mountain. However, he had instructed them not to retreat without his orders. ¡°It¡¯s the sect master! Sect Master is here! He¡¯s here!¡± ¡°Is this all your Sacred Heart sect can do?¡± The others could still hold on for a while against the experts of the Sacred Heart sect. However, Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan were like two huge mountains that made them unable to breathe. Despite using the bewitching technique to confuse Zou Shuang and the others, they had no idea where Qin Huai was. Zou Shuang was also fighting very violently. He had been hearing these people talk about the sect master, so it was obvious that they trusted him very much. Clearly, this battle here was planned by the new sect master. He looked around and scanned every corner of Niu Mountain. The opponent was obviously preparing a big move and needed time. Hence, Zou Shuang wanted to end this quickly. He didn¡¯t want to underestimate the enemy. Those who would capsize in the gutter were usually experts, and Zou Shuang didn¡¯t want to be one of them. The next moment, a rough figure ran over from the foot of the mountain, his face pale. ¡°Sir! Someone is ambushing us from the rear! He killed two of our bone pattern realm experts!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about it. If some people die in exchange for those experts¡­ It¡¯s worth it,¡± Zou Shuang sneered as he looked at the crowd before him. ¡°Is this your so-called backup plan? That¡¯s a good idea, but unfortunately, we don¡¯t cherish the lives of those ants.¡± ¡°Milord, the rear of our army has already lost nearly a thousand!¡± The rough figure¡¯s face was filled with bitterness. ¡°What?!¡± Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan¡¯s expressions instantly changed. Chapter 261 - 261 Fighting for Two Days and Two Nights 261 Fighting for Two Days and Two Nights ¡°What a joke. Even a thousand pigs shouldn¡¯t die so quickly,¡± Zou Shuang said as he turned around and looked down the mountain in shock. Amidst the flood of people, a tiny figure jumped behind the army like a god of plague. Every time he landed, the surrounding martial artists would instantly fall to the ground or explode on the spot. ¡°Are those idiots doing nothing? Don¡¯t they know how to use their momentum to counter each other and cancel out the other party¡¯s momentum¡­¡± Zou Shuang narrowed his eyes as he looked at the fallen Sacred Heart disciples. At this rate, he would probably become a commander without any soldiers before he could get rid of the bone pattern realm warriors of the Nine Dragons sect. Although he only used half a year to recruit nearly ten thousand warriors, the inhumane hardships and the vast amount of resources were not something that could be exchanged for by burning and looting. That was the power of the sacred object he had brought. If this group of people suffered too many casualties, it would probably take him several years to recruit a ten-thousand-man army. ¡°Retreat!¡± Zou Shuang roared unwillingly. Immediately, one of them broke away from the battle and shot down the mountain like a sharp arrow. Dust billowed, and countless people could only see black shadows running wildly on the mountain. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ji Yuan looked at the people in front of him reluctantly. His fat body was also very agile, jumping and disappearing from Li Zeren¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sect Master¡¯s force is so terrifying,¡± Li Zewu and the others watched as Zou Shuang and the rest of the bone pattern realm experts retreated, feeling relieved. They looked at the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples who had fallen in droves behind with a complicated gaze. ¡°This is a true dragon,¡± Li Zeshi couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡­ Within the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army, blood mist filled the air, and broken limbs and all kinds of corpses littered the ground. The dazzling white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes began to weaken. Although the dragon king¡¯s power was strong, it couldn¡¯t last as long as the ten dragons¡¯ force. ¡°Killing a thousand people with the dragon king¡¯s might is already my limit,¡± he thought. Whoosh! The whistling sound waves rolled from the side. Qin Huai looked over and saw a tall figure dashing over. It was the leader of the Sacred Heart sect. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Zou Shuang roared. His sleeves exploded instantly, and his fine pores opened up like densely packed flute holes. Swoosh! Streaks of blood condensed into blood-colored threads and spewed out like hundreds of venomous snakes hissing as they lunged at Qin Huai. Swift as the wind, as fierce as iron! Bang bang bang! The ground was pierced by the red threads, and dust flew everywhere. The long robe on his body was instantly torn in dozens of places, pierced by the red threads. At the same time, five-colored powder flowed through the holes and rushed into the dust along with the demonic wind. Even the armor with the ten dragons¡¯ force was not spared. The blood threads smashed into Qin Huai¡¯s body, causing sparks to fly everywhere. The impact caused densely-packed dents to appear on his chest plate armor. Qin Huai burst out of the billowing smoke, assessing the situation. ¡°The gap between me and a martial artist at the fifth-level bone pattern realm is still too great.¡± He was temporarily unable to fight them. But after one strike, he was able to gauge the strength of both parties. He had used up all of the dragon king¡¯s might. The wind was strong, and he shouted as the white light in his eyes faded away. Rubbing oil onto his feet, he prepared for the wolf dash technique to increase his speed. The muscles on Qin Huai¡¯s legs suddenly hardened, and increasingly terrifying muscle lines appeared. Bang! The ground beneath his feet exploded like a spider web, as he quickly left the battlefield, not continuing the fight. But Zou Shuang chased after him relentlessly, threatening to kill the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s disciples he cared about if he continued to run. ¡°Kill them. Let¡¯s see who will die first, the Nine Dragons sect or the Sacred Heart sect,¡± Qin Huai replied indifferently. ¡°Hmph, a mere ant¡¯s life. So what if they all die?¡± Zou Shuang sneered, and the blood vessels on his arms continued to shoot at Qin Huai. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why did you come back?¡± Qin Huai remained calm as the poison in his hands flowed out from his sleeves, dodging Zou Shuang¡¯s blood. Zou Shuang knew he had been seen through, and more blood flowed out of the pores on his arms. At the same time, his speed suddenly increased. Qin Huai looked at the dense blood splattering everywhere. The purple-white light on his fists exploded in an instant, and a terrifying force burst forth. Purple-and-white light dots gathered under his feet and exploded toward Zou Shuang. Bang! Qin Huai¡¯s boots were shattered by the dragon¡¯s force, but he used the force generated to increase his speed, matching Zou Shuang¡¯s speed. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zou Shuang¡¯s expression was ugly. ¡°How long can you last with this move?!¡± The killing intent in his heart soared. He felt that if Qin Huai was not eliminated today, he would become a great threat to the Sacred Heart sect. He had the blood heart technique to extend his life and had great endurance, while Qin Huai¡¯s explosive acceleration technique only lasted for a moment. As long as he forced Qin Huai to leave Lingjiang City, he would be able to catch up to him one day. And so, Zou Shuang made up his mind and pursued Qin Huai relentlessly. For two days and two nights, the two of them crossed mountain peaks and stepped on rivers. They were like mountain apes in the forest, each displaying their own abilities, climbing the cliffs of the valley. Zou Shuang did not sleep the entire time, his eyes red, as he looked at Qin Huai, who was still breathing as slowly as before. ¡®How could he last for so long? He has even more stamina than an expert who had cultivated the blood heart technique?¡¯ Zou Shuang finally stopped and looked at Qin Huai¡¯s back with a dark expression. ¡°Qin Huai, don¡¯t let me catch you. Otherwise, I¡¯ll tear you into pieces!¡± he vowed, feeling aggrieved. Chapter 262 - 262 Things Are Different Now 262 Things Are Different Now He was an expert at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, yet he was being walked by a second-level bone pattern realm kid. Zhang Can must have some important secrets related to the nine dragons true qi technique or the Nine Dragons sect. At the very least, he had never seen or heard of Qin Huai¡¯s escape technique. ¡°That¡¯s not right. Is Qin Huai the current leader of the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Zou Shuang suddenly reacted. He gritted his teeth and stood there, lost in thought. Then, he turned around and signaled to September Hook that he needed to rest, having run out of energy. Moreover, he had failed to deceive the Nine Dragons sect and had lost more than a thousand disciples. He would need to consider the matter of taking their bones. ¡­ When Qin Huai returned to Niu Mountain, there was no longer any trace of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army. Only the corpses on the ground began to emit an unpleasant odor. Fortunately, it was already winter, and the harsh season had caused these corpses to solidify on the ground. The stench of corpses was likely due to the Sacred Heart disciples eating people. There were many corpses on the ground, seventy to eighty percent of them belonging to the Sacred Heart sect, while the rest were from the Nine Dragons sect. Qin Huai was puzzled by the presence of a red robe from the Twin Extreme sect. He quickly climbed the mountain, stepping on the dark soil that had been soaked in a large amount of blood and had become muddy. As he saw people entering and leaving the mountain, he immediately became alert. He smelled a familiar scent in the air and quickened his pace. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Several figures swarmed over from nearby. When they saw Qin Huai¡¯s face, their expressions lit up, and they immediately knelt down on one knee. ¡°Greetings, Sect Master!¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work,¡± Qin Huai replied, nodding in response. He heaved a sigh of relief and walked straight into the mountain. The disciples of the Nine Dragons sect who passed by him were stunned to see him, their eyes filled with fervor. ¡°Sect Master! Sect Master!¡± ¡°Sect Master!¡± ¡°Sect Master is back!¡± Qin Huai looked at the worshipful faces of the crowd and felt a little emotional. Once upon a time, he was still the son-in-law that everyone hated. Now, the tables have turned. After this battle, his position in the hearts of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s disciples grew higher and higher. There were many tents on the mountain for the disciples to live in. Qin Huai followed the guidance of a disciple and opened a cowhide tent. Inside, he found a full set of people, including Li Zeren, Li Shaoxiang, Li Zewu, and others. As he scanned the area, his gaze suddenly stopped on a few red-robed men. The old man in the lead was tall, with a fiery feeling between his brows that was engraved into one¡¯s heart. Qin Huai knew that this was a subtle change that happened to martial artists after they cultivated force. The higher the realm, the more obvious this effect would be. That was the feeling that the fatty Ji Yuan and six-fingered Zou Shuang from the Sacred Heart sect gave Qin Huai. As for the old man in front of him, he was clearly also an outstanding talent. ¡°This must be the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect,¡± Qin Huai said, smiling as he greeted the old man respectfully with cupped fists. The sect master of the Twin Extreme sect stood up and returned the greeting with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the new sect master of the Nine Dragons Sect to be Sect Master Qin instead of the Li family head.¡± ¡°Truly, heroes come from young people. The new generation surpasses the previous generation,¡± he added, his voice filled with admiration. ¡°It seems that my old bones are about to reach the age of abdication.¡± ¡°You may be old, but your vigorous blood essence is not inferior to a young man like me,¡± Qin Huai complimented him. ¡°This time, it¡¯s all thanks to the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect,¡± Li Zeren sighed, explaining to Qin Huai. ¡°We were originally following the sect master¡¯s instructions and wanted to withdraw after poisoning them.¡± He continued, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the young man and the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect to arrive from the side! We caught the Sacred Heart sect army off guard. Now they have all retreated.¡± Li Zewu and the others rejoiced. ¡°Niu Mountain was saved.¡± As expected. It was not much different from his guess. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t too surprised when he went up the mountain and saw the corpses of the disciples. He could roughly guess what had happened. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the people of the Twin Extreme sect!¡± Li Zeshi and the others couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful. Although they were not mortal enemies, they had been rivals for decades. Now that the Twin Extreme sect had come to their rescue, Li Zeren and the others were filled with emotions. ¡°The lips are gone, the teeth are cold. The cultivation method of the Sacred Heart sect is like draining the pond to catch the fish. They are the greatest enemy of the world.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­I¡¯m just icing on the cake,¡± the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect sighed with emotion. ¡°The combat techniques of the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect seem to have changed a lot recently. When I saw your sect¡¯s disciples fighting earlier, they had many tricks up their sleeves. Often, they successfully counter-killed two or three enemies at once¡­¡± In fact, he was stunned when he saw the disciples of the Nine Dragons sect fighting. When the Nine Dragons sect disciples fought with others, they were all above the clouds, and their auras were somewhat sage-like. However, things were different now. The most important thing was that their skillful poison technique had broadened his horizons. Their long sleeves seemed to have another universe, and they could spray out different colored poisons. Li Zeren¡¯s face turned red. ¡°This is all thanks to the sect master.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the sect master¡¯s teachings,¡± the others chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s just that the disciples of my Nine Dragons sect have good comprehension,¡± Qin Huai humbly remarked, not taking all the credit for himself. ¡°Haha! It¡¯s really a new sect master and a new atmosphere. The disciples of the Nine Dragons sect have all walked out a new road,¡± the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect laughed. ¡°Actually, the main reason why we decided to send troops to Niu Mountain this time is because of one of my disciples.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Everyone was interested. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s actually here.¡± At that moment, the cowhide tent opened, revealing a tall and sturdy man with a bare upper body walking in. Chapter 263 - 263 Irascible Zou Shuang, Controlling the Dragon Corpse 263 Irascible Zou Shuang, Controlling the Dragon Corpse ¡°Reihom?¡± Qin Huai looked at the familiar face and felt a strange sense of familiarity. He had met an old friend in a foreign land. ¡°Qin Huai.¡± Reihom looked coldly at his old friend. When he saw Qin Huai sitting in the middle of the crowd with the Sect Master¡¯s token hanging from his waist, his emotions became complicated. ¡°Looks like I still have a long way to go before I reach you.¡± The sect master of the Twin Extreme sect laughed, ¡°It¡¯s this kid. He¡¯s like a hothead who insisted that I come to help here.¡± Beside him, Gao Haochu, the senior brother of the Twin Extreme sect, looked depressed. He just stared quietly at Reihom, thinking about something. ¡°Thank you so much! Come! Let me toast you!¡± Li Zewu stood up and drank a cup of wine with Reihom. ¡°Pingnan City really produces talents. One after another, our sect master appeared, and then there¡¯s Reihom¡­ Now, he¡¯s in charge of Lingjiang county alone.¡± ¡°I remember there were people in the city who once called the two of them the Twin Heroes of Pingnan. Now, it seems that they live up to their names.¡± Everyone started drinking to celebrate this short victory. After three rounds of wine, Qin Huai and Li Zeren stood up and walked out of the tent. ¡°In the afternoon, we caught a few traitors of the Zhang family. They were secretly communicating with Zhang Can of the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Li Zeren used his strength to disperse the wine. ¡°It was those people who spread the news that something happened in the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Zhang Can a traitor of the Zhang family? A stain on our reputation¡­ Why are there still people from the Zhang family close to him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s Zhang Wu¡¯s blood relative, similar to my relationship with Zetao. Furthermore, he used to have a high status and was a good person. He had a close relationship with many people in the Zhang family. ¡°There are many suspicious points about forcing him to jump off the cliff back then. It¡¯s very likely that the Zhang family deliberately let him off,¡± Li Zeren explained. Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Does Zhang Can know about the dragon bone?¡± Li Zeren was stunned and a little hesitant. ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ but¡­¡± He finally smiled bitterly. ¡°He should know¡­¡± ¡°No wonder. No wonder the Sacred Heart sect suddenly launched an all-out attack on our Nine Dragons sect.¡± Qin Huai was enlightened. He had finally found the source of the problem. It seemed like the Sacred Heart sect had their eyes on the dragon bone. ¡°They didn¡¯t make a sound. They definitely want to keep it for themselves. Or take all the credit.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts raced. He had to find a way to get rid of September Hook¡¯s Sacred Heart sect and that Zhang Can. ¡­ Ten days passed. Instead of waiting for Zou Shuang to set off for the second time, Qin Huai took the initiative to attack and used the might of the dragon king to conquer the territory of the Sacred Heart Sect. Once Zou Shuang and the others chased after him, he ran. Since the villages were spread out over a wide area, Qin Huai could only kill three to four hundred Sacred Heart believers at a time. However, every little bit counts. Zou Shuang had also used traps to lure Qin Huai to death. However, the latter always cleared the way with the poisonous fog and could even see the experience balls. Therefore, this method was ineffective against Qin Huai. Every time, he would cautiously wander around the edges of the traps and pretend to hesitate. Meanwhile, Zou Shuang and his followers would remain calm and allow their subordinates to die without making a sound. Then, when the poison took effect, Qin Huai would collect the experience balls and run away. After two or three rounds of this, Zou Shuang gave up in exasperation and withdrew the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s forces back into September Hook. The place was like a heavily guarded turtle shell, making it difficult for Qin Huai to find an opening to enter as bone pattern realm experts guarded every direction. And so, both sides reached a stalemate. Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare to force his way in as the black sticky liquid he saw that day had left him with a lingering fear. That thing could be an indescribable horror, and if they charged into the center, they might anger creatures beyond their imagination. ¡­ In the secret chamber of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Qin Huai sat cross-legged behind the crowd, silently waiting for the experience orbs to drop. He picked them up one by one as the nine dragons true qi technique had already reached 82%. His white dragon force skyrocketed, and with the experience of collecting dragon corpses, his white dragon force broke through the 500% threshold and reached 503%. ¡°I¡¯ve already broken through the limit of force at the fifth level?¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. He slowly activated the white dragon force in his body, feeling his ribs burning hot. All the bones in his body seemed to be trembling, letting out a low sound like a dragon¡¯s roar. Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s heart throbbed as if he had sensed something. He slowly raised his head and looked at the huge dragon corpse, and almost at the same time, Li Zeren and the others also woke up. ¡°Sect Master, did you sense something just now?¡± Li Zeren¡¯s eyes flashed with fear. ¡°Big brother, did you feel it too?¡± Li Zewu¡¯s voice was also trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it might be your imagination,¡± Qin Huai consoled them, his expression calm and unperturbed. ¡°Perhaps it is because I have been training in the secret chamber for the entire day today¡­ We¡¯ve been here for too long, so we might have been affected by the dragon corpse. Although this dragon has been dead for countless years, it still possesses unimaginable power.¡± Li Zeren and the others stood up and rubbed their eyes. Then, they used the nine dragons true qi technique to pat the dust off their bodies. ¡°Sect Master, we¡¯ll take our leave first! Brother-in-law, you should rest early too.¡± Li Buhu and the others shook their heads, looking like they were about to flee. Qin Huai turned a deaf ear to everyone¡¯s exhortations as he stared at the gigantic dragon bone before him. Only he knew that the strange movement just now was not an illusion of Li Zeren and the others. Qin Huai lowered his head and looked at his hands. ¡°Is this a qualitative change after surpassing the fifth-level bone pattern realm?¡± he muttered. It was just like when he had broken through the second refinement back then. However, this time, it seemed to be even more terrifying. ¡°No, it should be the constantly growing dragon king. It caused a mutation.¡± Qin Huai peered into the dragon king¡¯s dantian. His body had already doubled in size. Although it was still very small compared to the white dragon, this progress was already quite shocking. Qin Huai¡¯s heart stirred, and his eyes gradually blossomed with a dazzling light. He controlled the dragon king¡¯s aura and gradually approached the huge dragon bone that was a hundred meters long. As time passed, a formless wind stirred in the secret chamber, and suddenly, a rumble was heard as the dragon corpse¡¯s head slowly floated off the ground. Chapter 264 - 264 Green Cloud Temple 264 Green Cloud Temple Qin Huai gazed at the slowly floating dragon head and couldn¡¯t help but walk toward it. The dragon¡¯s head was even bigger than his courtyard, its crystal-clear white bones resembling jade and emitting a dazzling light. He approached the dragon bone, and the terrifying aura as huge as mountains and seas smashed down with a violent wind. Qin Huai squinted his eyes at the strong wind but did not feel any heavy pressure. His entire body seemed to be enveloped by the majestic aura of the dragon corpse, and he felt warm and comfortable with an indescribable feeling. Somehow, Qin Huai felt that he was connected to the dragon corpse. He felt something was wrong. Their hearts and bones should be connected. Qin Huai raised his hand slightly, and the dragon corpse also raised its five claws. The hundred-meter-long body could be affected by a single move, and the entire secret chamber rumbled while the dust shook. ¡°As expected! One can really control the dragon corpse?¡± Qin Huai was excited, and his eyes brimmed with vigor. He could feel the terrifying power of the dragon corpse. Even if he faced Six-fingered Zou Shuang and Fatty Ji Yuan at the same time, he was confident that he could kill them in an instant. Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s face turned pale. Boom! The huge dragon head suddenly smashed heavily onto the ground and drowned Qin Huai. He collapsed onto the ground, greedily breathing in the air. ¡°Exhausted already?¡± Qin Huai muttered. The surging aura of a white dragon still present on his body stunned him. He quickly sat cross-legged on the spot and focused on his dantian. In the world of his dantian, the dragon king in the dragon pearl had fallen asleep, and the power and pure white light on his body had begun to dim. ¡°So it¡¯s all thanks to the dragon king¡¯s power,¡± Qin Huai recalled, thinking back to the first time he had comprehended it, which seemed to have been because the dragon king had touched the dragon corpse. ¡°Now that the dragon king is strong, it can directly affect the dragon corpse,¡± he said, pondering if it was some sort of suppression from the bloodline. ¡°But no matter how powerful the dragon king is, it¡¯s just a form of force cultivated by the nine dragons true qi technique. It¡¯s incredible that it can actually affect the dragon corpse¡­ ¡°Will I become a dragon when I reach the end of my cultivation?¡± he wondered, considering that the patterned bone was meant to engrave the aura onto the martial artist¡¯s bones, forming dragon patterns. If he entered a higher realm, could it be that his soul would be engraved with a dragon or that his flesh and organs were somehow connected to it? Qin Huai had no answer to this. The resplendent ¡®great sun¡¯ shone with golden light as Qin Huai activated the blood heart technique to its maximum. Gradually, his face turned red, and even though the dragon king¡¯s might had yet to recover, Qin Huai¡¯s physical body had already caught its breath. He slowly stood up and crawled out of the dragon¡¯s head. Chapter 265 ?265 The Daoist Priest ¡°Could Zou Shuang and the others use it?¡± Qin Huai asked, referring to the new technique he had just learned. ¡°It is said that he is an important figure who walked out from the main branch of the True Path sect in Qing Province in the early years,¡± Li Shaoxiang said as she made a small bowl of rice for Qin Huai. Qin Huai sat upright, intrigued. The sub-sects of the True Path Sect were divided into four classes, with the fourth class being the lowest level, similar to the eight great martial arts dojos of Pingnan. Most of these martial arts centers were set up in small cities under remote counties or even village pavilions, and the dojo masters usually had the strength of a great blood refinement. Pingnan City¡¯s eight great martial arts dojos were even more formidable than the lowest fourth-class martial arts dojos, and he didn¡¯t have much contact with the Nine Dragons sect, which was a high-level sect. He needed to rely on the invitation card from the city lord¡¯s mansion to enter the Nine Dragons sect. However, these small dojos were originally meant to find new blood for the sect, so most of them followed the principle of casting a wide net to catch more fish. In fact, the eight dojos in Pingnan had their own bases, either in Lingjiang or in other prefectures. For example, the Thunderbolt Dojo was actually the Twin Extreme sect, and their lightning and fire dual extreme technique could form two types of qi that were extremely deadly. However, the Thunderbolt Dojo was almost the same as the Changshan Dojo, so they were mostly forgotten by the higher sects. The third class was the door, which was an existence like the Nine Dragons sect. It was usually set up in a county city and had a strong presence. To be able to fight against the government and even influence the situation of a county city, there were many disciples. It could be considered the blood of the True Path Sect and was absolutely indispensable. The second class was observation, but in fact, the classification of this level was not very clear. Due to the varying sizes of the True Path sect¡¯s temples, they were often set up quite casually. Some were deep in the mountains and forests, with hundreds of people in each temple, while others might only have a few people in Xiangting Commandery City. They could be located in a state city, with one person or ten thousand people. The number of people, the temple location, and the strength were uncertain, creating a complete fog of mystery. Finally, the first class was the mountain. All located in the sixteen states of Great You, their strength was terrifying. The True Path Sect sub-sect located in Qingzhou was called Wuji Mountain. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of that man¡¯s story since I was young. It seems that the woman offended the sect master of Wuji Mountain, so she was sent to Lingjiang.¡± ¡°Is it because of a woman again?¡± Qin Huai laughed helplessly. Zhang Can was expelled from the Nine Dragons sect because of this. It seemed that the ancients did not deceive him. Since ancient times, beauties have been a source of trouble. No matter how strong a person was, they probably could not escape this law. Although this kind of story sounded a bit clich, it was not impossible after thinking about it carefully. ¡°That Daoist is the only one in the Green Cloud Temple,¡± Li Shaoxiang said thoughtfully. ¡°After I came back, I only went to the temple once. I went to add some incense offerings to the Daoist to express my gratitude, and then I left because that Daoist gave me a very strange feeling. It was as if he had seen through my entire body, and my hair stood on end¡± She came back to her senses and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Husband, if you have anything you don¡¯t understand, you can ask that Daoist from the Green Cloud Temple to help you solve the mystery.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Qin Huai said, then asked for its location. Mt. Guan. On an inconspicuous hill outside Lingjiang City, the white snow covered the area, turning the hill into a glistening silver mound. Qin Huai, wearing a green and white robe draped over a black cotton robe, made his way toward a small Daoist temple. The temple was unremarkable, with a ten-foot-tall door and walls that were gray, cracked, and mended by dried creeper vines, making it look quite unstable. A half-stone pillar with three crooked words, Green Cloud Temple, stood in front of the door. As Qin Huai walked in, he heard the sound of snow sweeping and was sure that there was someone inside. eaglesnov1,o ¡°Hello, Daoist priest,¡± Qin Huai greeted him with a respectful gesture. ¡°Nine Dragons sect?¡± The man smiled and looked up at Qin Huai, but the smile soon vanished when he saw something shocking. ¡°Ten dragon pattern bones?!¡± he exclaimed and suddenly stretched out a hand towards Qin Huai. At that moment, a dazzling white light appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, and the dragon king inside his dantian woke up. A terrifying aura spread out in all directions, causing the white snow to rise from the ground and fill the temple. Bang! The two exchanged punches, and the Daoist was able to plow a half-step snow mark on the ground with his strike. At the same time, Qin Huai stumbled back three steps, feeling the man¡¯s immense strength. ¡°The legendary dragon king force,¡± the Daoist said, exposing one of Qin Huai¡¯s trump cards. ¡°It was mentioned in the Extreme Dao Scripture in Wuji Mountain. The nine dragons true qi Technique has one extremethe ten dragons protect the dragon lord, and when their power is unleashed, mortals will be silent.¡± As the Daoist slowly walked toward Qin Huai, he praised him. ¡°It¡¯s truly shocking to see you today. No one in the same realm as you is a match for you.¡± He then chuckled. ¡°I was rude just now. Sect Master Qin, please forgive me!¡± He put down his broom and walked into his temple unhurriedly, gesturing for Qin Huai to follow him. ¡°Thank you, Daoist Priest,¡± Qin Huai responded, trying to steady his trembling palm. He had realized that this Daoist from the Clear Sky Temple was indeed an expert who did not show himself. He must be at least at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, or even beyond that realm. The rumors that Madam had told him about this person being from Wuji Mountain in Qingzhou were probably true. As for whether he was trapped by love, it was hard to say. Chapter 266 266 Black Blood! Qin Huai surveyed the interior of the Daoist temple. There was no Dao Ancestor stone statue, nor any gods. The only object in the empty room was a single merit box situated in the center. Positioned two steps away from the merit box was a tall table and two long stools. ¡°Coming~¡± The Daoist appeared with a tray of tea and placed it in front of Qin Huai. He then rolled up her sleeves and poured tea for him. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Daoist priest,¡± Qin Huai said, neither servile nor overbearing. He picked up the teacup and took a sip, and in the next instant, his eyes lit up. The tea had caused his dragon king to raise its head and recover a lot of vitality. ¡°This tea is good!¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but praise. ¡°Qingzhou¡¯s tea is better than mine.¡± The Daoist had very small eyes that looked like slits. When he smiled, there was no trace of emotion in her eyes. ¡°Tsk tsk. Someone like you should be adventuring in the state capital. That is your world. ¡°Qingzhou is not a small place like this. Everyone around you is mediocre, and the entire Qingzhou is as vast as the ocean. Just Qingzhou City alone has tens of millions of people. They are all monsters, and every one of them has cultivated their cultivation techniques to the extreme. ¡°Their martial techniques have developed an unexpected power. They have strange bones and strange blood, and there is infinite brilliance.¡± The Daoist¡¯s voice was full of emotion, as if he was trying to brainwash Qin Huai. ¡°I have no interest in pursuing the so-called path of invincibility for the time being, and I¡¯m not interested in defeating all the prodigies,¡± Qin Huai said in a low voice. Right now, he only wanted to resolve the matter of the Sacred Heart sect. Suddenly, the Daoist took out a pot that appeared to be filled with bamboo sticks. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! The Daoist began to shake the bamboo skewer. ¡°Are you going to tell my fortune?¡± Qin Huai was intrigued. He wondered what this Daoist would tell him, a transmigrator, about. And then, the Daoist stopped abruptly. Without waiting for the bamboo stick to fall out, he put the pot back. Qin Huai, who was watching from the side, was confused. ¡°This is¡± ¡°You will definitely go to Qingzhou City.¡± The Daoist chuckled and put away the bamboo skewer without explaining. Qin Huai shook his head, refusing to comment. ¡°Actually, I came today to ask you for an explanation.¡± He cupped his fists and bowed to show his respect. ¡°Ask away, we¡¯re all family,¡± the Daoist responded generously. ¡°How much do you know about the Sacred Heart sect?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°Not much. That sect has only risen in a short few decades Moreover, the place where it thrives is in the extreme west of the Great Nether. I only know that this sect is quite strange, whether it¡¯s this rare cultivation method or some of their sacrificial rituals.¡± Qin Huai asked, ¡°How much do you know about their sacrifices, Daoist priest?¡± ¡°I once went deep into September Hook and saw them offering sacrifices. A large amount of black viscous liquid appeared on the altar, like some kind of living creature, and it swallowed all the offerings.¡± As Qin Huai spoke, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the black liquid. ¡°That thing. It seems to be called the Sacred Heart by the Sacred Heart believers,¡± the Daoist said. ¡°If you worship the Sacred Heart, you can obtain some blood with divine power ¡°I wonder if you¡¯ve seen any secret manuals that can make your heart beat faster and influence your mind with divine intent. If you carry it with you and cultivate the cultivation technique on it, it can increase your cultivation speed.¡± ¡°I have indeed encountered it before,¡± Qin Huai nodded. This was also a question that had been lingering in his heart for a long time, and the answer that he had always wanted to find. He did not expect to find the answer here. ¡°Those secret manuals seemed to have been written by the Sacred Heart disciples with their blood.¡± ¡°Blood Does it have any other effects?¡± Qin Huai asked. The Daoist said in a deep voice, ¡°I met a similar guy when I was in Qingzhou. That person once drank black blood, and then his pupils began to turn black. His combat techniques were also completely different from before. It¡¯s like he¡¯s a different person. ¡°Moreover, his blood essence is more surging, his attacks are sharper and more rapid, and his speed and recovery abilities are far higher than before In short, it¡¯s more than seventy to eighty percent stronger than before drinking the black blood. It¡¯s extremely terrifying.¡± ¡°What happened in the end?¡± Qin Huai asked again. His heart was not calm. That black blood was indeed very strange. If he were to recklessly barge into September Hook and encounter a group of bone pattern realm warriors who had drunk black blood, he would not be able to escape. He was afraid that he would be doomed. The Daoist carefully recalled. ¡°I killed that person. I didn¡¯t see whether they were alive or dead in the end, or whether they became walking corpses or something like that.¡± After the blood heart technique had killed and ambushed the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples many times, he had been defeated by it. He had already reached the peak of the ninth refinement, and his blood heart force had only reached 15%. However, from his ¡®memory,¡¯ Qin Huai had never learned a martial technique that allowed him to stretch his body like the twins. Or like Zou Shuang, hundreds of red lines of blood as hard as steel shot out of his pores. It was as if this was a unique technique that they had cultivated using evil techniques. ¡°I don¡¯t know. These methods of using the Sacred Heart disciples¡¯ cultivation methods are rather strange To be precise, from the moment they set foot on this path, they are destined to be different from ordinary martial artists. ¡°They complete their cultivation by devouring living beings, which will cause their bodies to mutate. They become bloated, three-eyed, multi-fingered, multi-armed, and so on,¡± the Daoist priest said in a deep voice, ¡°They are unlucky. If we want to attack them, we must be extremely careful.¡± ¡°Thank you, Taoist priest.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists again. Now that he knew the specific effects of the black blood, he felt much more at ease. No matter how strong the enhancement of black blood was, could it be stronger than the dragon corpse? ¡°Sect Master Qin, don¡¯t think that you¡¯re invincible just because you have dragon king force!¡± the Taoist priest shouted at Qin Huai¡¯s back. ¡°Only by going to Qingzhou City will you have a chance to be truly invincible The Daoist priest shook his head in disbelief. This young man who cultivated the dragon king force was actually quite refined and honest. It was a surprise in this unpredictable world. Suddenly, his face turned red with anger. ¡°Brat, how dare you give me an aphrodisiac?!¡± he exclaimed. Without any hesitation, he quickly rushed out of the temple to confront Qin Huai. But to his surprise, Qin Huai was nowhere to be seen. ¡°I just punched you!¡± Qin Huai shouted, defending himself. ¡°How can you sneak attack a hundred-year-old Daoist like this?!¡± the priest retorted, feeling his mouth go dry. He realized he had been tricked. ¡°No, I have to go to Phoenix Restaurant a few days earlier next month.¡± Chapter 267 267 Song Ya¡¯s Plan September Hook. The snowflakes blanketed most of the arc-shaped mountain, and on the silver frost, many Sacred Heart disciples in ragged clothes raised their heads, their eyes lifeless and their limbs twitching. As they walked aimlessly on the snow, their bodies trembled. Some had their limbs stuck to the ground, sniffing like wild beasts, while others spat out hot air from their mouths from time to time. They were in a daze, like walking corpses. Fatty Ji Yuan¡¯s face darkened as he looked at the Sacred Heart disciples that filled the mountains and plains. ¡°We¡¯ve been hiding for half a month. Are we going to be cowards all the time just because of Qin Huai?¡± Zou Shuang remained calm, holding an iron pestle and grinding it on the whetstone. ¡°If you ask me, you and I should directly invite the divine blood to our bodies. Wouldn¡¯t it be fine if we just pushed the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Ji Yuan grew angry, having gone many days without fresh blood. His subordinates had massacred all the villages within a thirty-mile radius of Jiu Yue Gou, leaving them with no choice but to send a small group of disciples to hunt for blood food in cities further away. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that Qin Huai doesn¡¯t care about his subordinates as much as we do.¡± Zou Shuang listened to Ji Yuan¡¯s endless nagging and stopped working. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the mission our lord gave us, let the whole Lingjiang become an altar.¡± eaglesnov1,o Of course, Qin Huai was the main reason for this, being proficient in poison and having a terrifying power that even the great refined blood could not survive. If one were to say that the accumulation of pure numbers was not very effective against a bone pattern realm expert, then it would not be a big deal. In that case, numbers were meaningless against Qin Huai, who was in the bone pattern realm. ¡°Be patient. Qin Huai has risen, so someone else is more uneasy than us,¡± Zou Shuang¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°As far as I know, Song Ya started his pursuit from Pingnan City and killed Qin Huai for hundreds of miles. Even after he married into the Li family of the Nine Dragons sect, there was still a very bold assassination attempt. Do you think Qin Huai will let this matter rest with his personality?¡± Zou Shuang stopped his work and raised the iron pestle under the sunlight. The dazzling light hit the iron pestle, emitting waves of coldness. ¡°Even if Qin Huai can let it go, will Song Ya accept it? Can you sleep at night?¡± Ji Yuan figured it out. ¡°You have news?¡± Zou Shuang said coldly, ¡°A few days ago, I happened to borrow a person to deliver a letter to the county governor. Song Ya¡¯s army and the county governor¡¯s mansion have been exchanging letters so closely recently that it¡¯s unprecedented. ¡°Moreover, Qin Huai was frequently mentioned in the letter. When the time comes, we only need to wait for the county governor to make a move. This is the safest method. When the time comes, I¡¯ll invite the black blood to possess me. It¡¯s not too late.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Suddenly, Ji Yuan¡¯s rage exploded. Roaring, he seized a disciple beside him whose eyes lacked spirit. With a powerful exertion of both hands, he ripped off the disciple¡¯s arm, causing blood to spurt out and a blood-red wheel to form on the ground. Despite his injuries, the disciple remained in a daze, seemingly oblivious to the pain. ¡°However, these guys won¡¯t be able to last long without blood to sustain them,¡± Ji Yuan spoke coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve already dispatched hunters to procure blood further away.¡± Fifty miles west of Huai Dan City. In the general¡¯s tent, Song Ya sat clutching his sword with his most loyal deputy general before him. ¡°My lord, we¡¯ve received word from Lingjiang,¡± his deputy reported. ¡°Our letters were stolen by the Sacred Heart sect.¡± ¡°So what? We want Qin Huai dead, and the Sacred Heart sect surely wants the same,¡± Song Ya replied, his eyes fixed on the deputy general. ¡°When the time comes, we¡¯ll join forces with the Sacred Heart sect to take down the Nine Dragons sect. That would be even better.¡± The deputy general frowned slightly, realizing that Song Ya had likely predicted the theft of their letters by the Sacred Heart sect. ¡°I have a suggestion,¡± he said thoughtfully. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take the opposite approach and ally ourselves with the Nine Dragons sect and the Sacred Heart sect?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not appropriate. The Sacred Heart sect is a motley crew,¡± Song Ya immediately rejected the idea. ¡°Although they have a large number of people and appear intimidating, they can¡¯t withstand a single blow from my army.¡± Song Ya immediately rejected this plan. ¡°The Nine Dragons sect is different. They are True Path sect followers and have been a thorn in my side for some time,¡± he continued. ¡°Moreover, Qin Huai went to great lengths to become the sect master and attain bone pattern realm abilities. His temperament and skills are far superior to ordinary people. If I don¡¯t eliminate him, I won¡¯t be able to sleep or eat in peace.¡± Song Ya regretted only one thing: that he had not sent more warriors to kill Qin Huai. He should have sent those who had reached the bone pattern realm to chase him down. ¡°The Balance Army and the Sacred Heart sect can be slowed down, but not the Nine Dragons sect!¡± he emphasized to the deputy general. ¡°You must realize that to resist foreign aggression, one must first stabilize the interior. This is an eternal truth.¡± He patted the deputy general¡¯s shoulder earnestly. ¡°This subordinate understands!¡± the black-robed deputy general replied obediently, though he inwardly sighed at the situation. Chapter 268 268 Going to Fengxing Auction House The Sacred Heart sect was a heinous sect that had already claimed many lives. However, the deputy general understood that Song Ya¡¯s decision wouldn¡¯t change, so he swallowed his indignation. Qin Huai was walking down the deserted Wanli Street in Lingjiang City, carrying a bulging sack with Li Shaoxiang by his side. ¡°Lingjiang doesn¡¯t seem to be as lively as when we first returned,¡± Li Shaoxiang said as she looked at the once-crowded street. ¡°Wanli Street used to be difficult to move around. You used to have to rely on poison to make it to the Fengxing Auction House, but now we can walk there with ease.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement. ¡°Fiery pollen antidote, ice calming fire, and the effect of calming one¡¯s mind. It¡¯s cheap and good!¡± The sellers shouted on both sides of the street. However, not many people seemed to be buying them. Qin Huai briefly stopped and bargained with some of the sellers before moving on. Nevertheless, there were some masked individuals who were quite generous. Without even asking, they directly swept away all these goods. ¡°Looks like business is good,¡± Li Shaoxiang commented with a smile. She was exceedingly beautiful. The sellers of the antidote pills were all disguised disciples of the Nine Dragons sect, and the prices were exorbitant, indicating that they were out to fleece their customers. ¡°Since the battle at Niu Mountain, our Nine Dragons sect¡¯s poison techniques have become renowned. Martial artists of various sects, large and small, will buy some for preparation. Especially those masked men, they¡¯re probably lackeys of the Sacred Heart sect and people from the county governor¡¯s mansion,¡± Qin Huai said. Li Shaoxiang was secretly pleased. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how the Sacred Heart sect and the people from the county governor¡¯s mansion would feel if they knew about the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s improved poison techniques. ¡°Husband, you¡¯re so ruthless¡­what a clever move,¡± she exclaimed. ¡°We have no choice. We¡¯ve relinquished many mines and herbal fields, and our revenue has sharply declined. We have to think of a way to support our family,¡± Qin Huai replied calmly. He wasn¡¯t troubled by such matters. If the Sacred Heart sect had caused them to lose their source of income, it was only fair for him to exact some compensation from them. As for the county governor¡¯s mansion, they undoubtedly had ulterior motives for buying so many. Ge Youqian had secretly sent people to deliver the new poisons to the Nine Dragons sect through a small path. The entire process was managed by Ge Youqian¡¯s retainer and Li Zeren¡¯s trusted subordinates from the Nine Dragons sect, keeping it highly secretive. ¡°Husband, these people from the county governor¡¯s mansion are also buying the detoxification pills wantonly. I¡¯m afraid they¡¯re very vicious,¡± Li Shaoxiang said, thinking of something that made her stop smiling. ¡°Yes, they might use this opportunity to attack us. The Zhang family¡¯s matter has already been exposed, so they won¡¯t miss this chance,¡± Qin Huai replied with a nod. ¡°Whether it¡¯s because of me or the Nine Dragons sect, both sides have a deep grudge. They might even work together with the Sacred Heart sect from the inside. We have to be careful,¡± he warned. This was also why Qin Huai had single-handedly forced the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s forces into September Hook. They didn¡¯t dare to divide their forces to Erli River and several important places in Dog Tree Mountain to resume mining and planting. During this period, he could only travel day and night with Li Zeren and the others to comprehend the dragon corpse underground, quickly increasing his white dragon force and letting the dragon king grow. He hoped to control the dragon corpse for a long time as soon as possible. ¡°Sect Master Qin!¡± In front of the Fengxing Auction House, the two doormen broke into radiant smiles at the sight of Qin Huai. Inside the auction house, a middle-aged man in extraordinary clothes ran out. It was the manager of the auction house. ¡°Sect Master Qin, why didn¡¯t you send someone to inform us beforehand that you were coming to the auction house?¡± The manager¡¯s face was filled with enthusiasm. He had no choice.Who asked this young man in front of him, who was not even close to the crown, to be a big shot that made Lingjiang City hot?Where was the new sect master of the Nine Dragons sect? ¡°Is Brother Ge here?¡± Qin Huai asked with a smile. ¡°Coincidentally, our young master has recently gone to Qingzhou to discuss business,¡± the manager replied with a look of pity. ¡°However, Young Master specifically instructed before he left that the things that you and Young Master discussed will remain unchanged. I¡¯ll help you with everything.¡± ¡°May I ask how I should address you, Manager?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°The surname is Sun. Sect Master Qin can call me Steward Sun.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Manager Sun,¡± Qin Huai said as they walked into the auction house. The Fengxing Auction House held auctions every few days, and a large number of people did business in the Chamber of Commerce, trading rare items from various counties and cities in Qingzhou. The herbs that Qin Huai had bought in the past were all from here, and the Fengxing Auction House also put up items for sale. Bang! Qin Huai walked to a bright cubicle and put down the large sack in his hands. Manager Sun looked at the shape and sniffed it gently, recognizing that it was full of antidotes. ¡°These are the detoxification pills made by my Nine Dragons sect, the stiff bone powder, the heart softening powder, and the fiery pollen¡± Qin Huai introduced each item. ¡°Tsk, these things. They¡¯ve been selling well in the city recently,¡± Manager Sun commented. ¡°Sect Master Qin, are you planning to auction them? If we auction them, the price will be higher, and we will earn more.¡± As the manager of the Fengxing Auction House, he was well-informed and knew of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s current financial situation. Although the three great forces of Lingjiang had shown signs of decline in recent years, the Nine Dragons sect, which had a large business, had fallen into a state of poverty. They relied on selling the antidote to the poison that had just risen and shone in the war to relieve the financial pressure. Chapter 269 269 Forced to Kill the Nine Dragons Sect! If this had happened ten years ago, no one would have believed it. It really made people sigh. However, Manager Sun, aware of Qin Huai¡¯s close relationship with his young master, wouldn¡¯t mention this matter. Amidst powerful martial techniques, helping Qin Huai live was meaningful, or else it was pointless. ¡°That¡¯s what I meant,¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Thank you, Steward Sun. I don¡¯t want to miss it.¡± As he spoke, he handed over a silver note worth ten thousand taels. ¡°Sect Master Qin, don¡¯t worry. Leave these things to me. I guarantee that I¡¯ll sell it for a good price!¡± Manager Sun patted his chest, confident. He looked at the note as if he had found his conscience. ¡°But, Sect Master Qin, there¡¯s something I must remind you of. I¡¯m afraid that the people who bought your detoxification pills are all your opponents who are evenly matched with you. You have to think of a way out.¡± He weighed his words and said those with a lowered voice. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Manager Sun. However, it¡¯s currently quite difficult for the Nine Dragons sect to survive. This is also the worst solution,¡± Qin Huai sighed helplessly, his face filled with a bitter smile. Manager Sun sighed and smiled lightly, not saying anything else. ¡°Oh, by the way, two carriages of goods will be coming later. Manager Sun, please take note,¡± Qin Huai added. If he wanted to harvest leeks, he would have to do it all at once. After that, he pushed open the curtain of the cubicle and went up to Room A2 of the auction house. Qin Huai looked up and saw a tall young man in a mink fur coat with a flippant expression, looking down at him from the long steps. He was the young master of the county governor¡¯s mansion, Feng Xiaochuan, one of the three heroes of Lingjiang. No, he was a hero now. Zhang Haoyue had died in his hands. Gao Haochu, the genius youth of the Twin Extreme sect, had just been stripped of his status as the eldest senior brother by the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect two days ago. Now, he was replaced by Reihom, whose popularity and battle prowess had skyrocketed during the battle against the Sacred Heart sect. Although Reihom was only at the peak of the ninth refinement realm, he had already killed two bone pattern realm experts and defeated all his peers in the Twin Extreme sect. That old friend from Pingnan seemed to be very good at crossing realms to kill enemies. Back in Pingnan City, he had often crossed realms to kill demons and devils. Now that he had reached the bone pattern realm, he was still able to do so. His strength was evident. The anger from the past battle between Changshan Dojo and Thunderbolt Dojo had long dissipated with the destruction of Pingnan City. After the incident at Niu Mountain, Qin Huai had a good impression of Reihom. ¡°What a coincidence, Young Master Feng,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was calm, and he did not greet him with cupped fists. Seeing this, Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s smile grew even wider. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re truly different now that you¡¯re the sect master. With a beautiful woman accompanying you, your aura is also extremely strong,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Nine Dragons sect is one of the three great forces in Lingjiang, and the current sect master is only a young man at the first-level bone pattern realm. It really makes one sigh,¡± Feng Xiaochuan mocked. ¡°Indeed,¡± Li Shaoxiang replied, cutting off Qin Huai before he could speak. ¡°When you first came to Lingjiang, you hadn¡¯t even started refining your blood yet. At that time, Young Master Feng was already one of the three heroes of Lingjiang, an expert at the first-level bone pattern realm. My husband is already at the first-level bone pattern realm and is the sect master of my Nine Dragons sect,¡± she continued, pausing for effect. Feng Xiaochuan, who had guessed what Li Shaoxiang was going to say next, had already begun to blush. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Young Master Feng to still be at the same realm as my husband,¡± she added. As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s chest heaved up and down as he narrowed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, the smile on his face grew wider. ¡°Mrs. Qin¡¯s tongue is really sharp. I wonder if she is also this eloquent in bed?¡± he said, revealing an evil smile and even deliberately licking his lips. It was full of provocation. ¡°I must have a good taste if I have the chance~¡± The air around Qin Huai seemed to distort in an instant, and Feng Xiaochuan could feel the tension rise. ¡°Two distinguished guests, two masters. The auction is about to begin. Hurry up and take a seat!¡± Steward Sun ran up from downstairs, sweating profusely and stood between the two of them. ¡°Two young masters, please give my Fengxing Auction House some face.¡± He smiled at both sides. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll give Manager Sun some face this time. The next time we meet, Sect Master Qin won¡¯t be so lucky~¡± Feng Xiaochuan sneered and turned to leave. As soon as he turned around, he frowned. This Qin Huai had just broken through to the bone pattern realm not long ago. Why was there such a dense white dragon aura on his body? There was indeed something strange about Qin Huai. No wonder Father and Uncle Song wanted to get rid of him. They were right. He sat in Room A1, feeling a little uneasy, and listened to the items being auctioned at the Fengxing Auction House today. ¡°Next! I¡¯m going to auction the most popular and practical elixir in Lingjiang County!¡± Manager Sun¡¯s passionate voice sounded on the auction stage. ¡°This pill was used to repel the Sacred Heart disciples at Niu Mountain. It¡¯s very effective! That¡¯s right. I think everyone already has the answer in their hearts¡± Inside the room, Feng Xiaochuan sneered as he listened to Manager Sun¡¯s introduction of the pills. ¡°Looks like the Nine Dragons sect has been forced into a corner. They¡¯ve even taken out their trump card to sell,¡± he thought. Recently, it was not only the people from the Sacred Heart sect who had been exerting pressure on the Nine Dragons sect. The county governor was also secretly suppressing the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s businesses. As a result, the Nine Dragons sect was short of money, and they were forced to take out all the elixirs and antidotes that were their specialty. With these antidote pills, the people from the Nine Dragons sect were like tigers that had their teeth pulled out. The power was still there, but its power had also decreased. Manager Sun began the auction, ¡°The starting price is fifteen taels per pill! We have a total of 3,000 pills, divided into three batches of 1,000 pills each.¡± Feng Xiaochuan cleared his throat and said loudly, ¡°Thirty taels!¡± He then added, ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion will take care of everything!¡± Chapter 270 270 Feng Xiaochuan ¡°Thirty taels!¡± The moment Feng Xiaochuan opened his mouth, those who wanted to bid immediately shut their mouths. The price had doubled, clearly exceeding the original value of the detoxification pill. However, these pills were in high demand recently, and the value of the item depended on who had it. In the eyes of the county governor¡¯s mansion, who was trying to take down the entire Nine Dragons sect, thirty taels for one pill was not expensive at all. Room A2 was also Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s neighbor, and Qin Huai quietly listened to Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s bid. ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion sure is rich,¡± he muttered. ¡°Song Ya¡¯s army is fighting fiercely with the Balance Army at the front line. Every day is like burning money. This Feng Xiaochuan can even spend thousands of gold to buy a large number of detoxification pills¡­¡± Li Shaoxiang leaned on Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and plucked a grape before sending it into his mouth with her slender fingers. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the outside of Qingzhou, but the county governors and even some city lords in Qingzhou¡­ They¡¯re all fiefs and titles that have been passed down since the beginning of the Great You Dynasty. ¡°Although on the surface, the billions of miles of territory of Great You are the territory of the royal family, in reality, all the city lords and county governors are local tyrants. ¡°As for the sixteen prefectures of Great You, there¡¯s no need to mention them. Some of the prefecture overseers¡¯ strength can even shake the entire Great You.¡± Qin Huai listened to Li Shaoxiang¡¯s words. This Great You was similar to the enfeoffment system in his previous life. ¡°No wonder the Great You is about to perish,¡± he muttered. The surrounding maids lowered their heads and did not speak. A few months ago, it might have been taboo to talk about the Great You¡¯s decline, but now, no one cared. After all, there were already people who did not accept the banknotes from the Great You Trading Company. The transactions in the Fengxing Auction House would be converted into gold in the end. ¡°The world is in chaos. If the big cities are in conflict, the small cities won¡¯t be spared either.¡± Worry flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s face. Being born in this chaotic world really made one¡¯s heart and mind haggard. While he was thinking, Feng Xiaochuan had already bought three thousand detoxification pills. ¡°Sect Master Qin, thank you for your medicinal pills!¡± Feng Xiaochuan smiled as he walked past Qin Huai¡¯s room. Then, he hummed a tune and walked down the steps in his mink fur coat. A steward immediately went up to welcome him. ¡°Young Master Feng! I¡¯ll pack up everything you bought and send it to your residence!¡± Feng Xiaochuan waved his hand and threw out three hundred gold taels. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we understand the rules.¡± The manager smiled and sent Feng Xiaochuan out. Feng Xiaochuan had only come to the auction house to stroll around. He didn¡¯t expect to see Qin Huai selling pills, so he bought them. This amount of money was nothing to the huge county governor¡¯s mansion. It was nothing at all. He was wearing a snow-white mink fur coat as he walked in the cold wind and heavy snow. It was as if he had become one with the world. He took a shortcut through the slums. He raised his head and surveyed the young men and women clad in tattered garments who were gazing at him. A sense of triumph filled his heart. He turned his attention to a young girl with a dusty face and slowly approached her. Squatting down, he took out a banknote from his fur coat. ¡°Tsk, this young master never carries any silver with him when he goes out,¡± Feng Xiaochuan sneered evilly as he flung the money at the girl¡¯s face. ¡°Give it to me and call me father. This hundred taels of silver is yours.¡± Thud! The young girl immediately knelt down in front of Feng Xiaochuan and kowtowed loudly, hitting the ground hard and getting covered in blood. She even shouted, ¡°Father! Father! Father¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Feng Xiaochuan laughed heartily as he stood up, observing the hungry eyes of the surrounding wolves, who were staring at the bloody banknote in the girl¡¯s hand. He saw the wolves shrinking back into the depths of the narrow alley, as soon as they noticed him. Feng Xiaochuan told them, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I only asked her to call me father. I¡¯m not really her father. What you guys want to do is none of my business.¡± In the alley, figures resembling hungry wolves appeared one by one. Men and women, young and old, they all headed toward the young girl whose forehead was covered in blood. However, they remained cautious and looked at Feng Xiaochuan, not daring to be too ostentatious. Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s face contorted into an evil smile. ¡°If anyone kills her, I¡¯ll give them a silver note~¡± He took out a hundred taels banknote and waved it in the air. Whoosh! That banknote was like the sharpest weapon in the world, instantly cutting off the shackles of countless people¡¯s desires. The entire slum seemed to be in a riot. Everyone rushed at the little girl like crazy, and the little girl¡¯s eyes flashed with determination as she ran into the distance. Feng Xiaochuan then jumped onto a high platform and looked down at the slaughter he had carelessly caused. ¡°This is power, this is strength¡± he said excitedly, watching the battle on the ground with a hint of intoxication in his eyes. Suddenly, he felt something and jumped up, running away. Boom! It felt as if a mountain had fallen from the sky and hit him. He crashed heavily onto the ground, causing the soil to fly and shatter the crumbling ruins. Bricks and stones collapsed, and Feng Xiaochuan plunged into the frozen earth. ¡°Who is it? Who is it?¡± Feng Xiaochuan was furious. A terrifying blood-red color rose from his body. ¡°Tiger and wolf momentum!¡± Feng Xiaochuan was stunned. His own power was so insignificant compared to this force. Chapter 271 271 Harvesting a Red Experience Ball! ¡°Senior I¡¯m the county governor¡¯s son. Killing me won¡¯t do you any good.¡± Feng Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and struggled to get up from the ground. Then, he looked around, searching for the source of the terrifying aura. His heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly looked behind him. There was a figure in a white robe. ¡°Qin Qin Huai? How could it be you!¡± Feng Xiaochuan was shocked. This guy should only be at the first-level bone pattern realm. How could he have such a powerful force No, wait. Even his father couldn¡¯t have smashed him down from the sky with just his momentum. A dazzling white light shone. He was like an immortal, emotionless and indifferent. ¡°We meet again.¡± Qin Huai said slowly. Invisible gales raged on the ground, causing Qin Huai¡¯s green and white robes to flutter in the wind. The angry dragon clung to its body, its eyes glaring. The violent force caused the surrounding snow to retreat and surge into the distance. ¡°Don¡¯t think that there¡¯s a strange force that can beat me.¡± Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s face was pale. He had just reached his hand into his pocket. But before he could do that, the ground beneath his feet cracked. Bang! Spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly in all directions. The terrifying pressure on his body doubled as Qin Huai got closer. Moreover, this pressure was still rising at an astonishing speed. ¡°Ah!¡± Feng Xiaochuan roared furiously, trying to break free from the invisible cage. But he failed. His feet trembled. Bang! His knees instantly fell to the ground. Feng Xiaochuan looked at himself kneeling down, his heart trembling. What kind of joke was this? They were both in the bone pattern realm, but how could the gap between him and Qin Huai be so huge? Weren¡¯t they both at the first-level bone pattern realm? What was so special about Qin Huai? ¡°I¡¯m not convinced! I refuse to accept this!¡± Feng Xiaochuan roared furiously and actually stood up slowly from the ground! The next moment, his entire body crashed onto the ground, in the shape of a large character, firmly embedded in the frozen earth. Cough! He spat out a mouthful of blood. The bones in his chest and body were cracking. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone brightly. Ever since his white dragon force broke through the 500% threshold, he could not only lift the dragon corpse, but the power of the dragon king¡¯s aura also became more and more exaggerated. Now, he didn¡¯t even need to use poison techniques to make an expert at the first-level bone pattern realm unable to stand up. Qin Huai stood five steps away from Feng Xiaochuan. The dragon king¡¯s aura around him continued to increase. Kakaka. The sound of bones shattering rang out. It was like a countdown to his life, ringing in Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s mind. ¡°Qin Huai If you let me go, I can provide you with everything you want.¡± Feng Xiaochuan was afraid. He did not want to die. He was one of Lingjiang¡¯s three heroes, the only son of Lingjiang¡¯s county governor. He still had endless glory and wealth that he had yet to enjoy. ¡°I don¡¯t want your life either,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice sounded. When Feng Xiaochuan heard this, he was delighted. ¡°I¡­¡± Crack! Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s eyes froze. He felt as if something had been inserted into his head. There seemed to be liquid flowing out¡­ Qin Huai withdrew his palm from the back of Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s head. Then, he gently pressed his hand on it. ¡°Forbidden technique, earthquake dragon!¡± Boom! The ground sank, and the frozen earth mixed with some sticky red and yellow substances flew everywhere, scattering all over the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill you either, but if I don¡¯t, you¡¯ll definitely find trouble with me,¡± Qin Huai muttered. Ever since he had interacted with the Sacred Heart sect, Qin Huai had developed the good habit of either blowing up his enemy¡¯s head or dismembering their body. Otherwise, those guys especially the experts above the bone pattern realm, would always do some unbelievable and shocking actions in the short period of time after their heads fell. On the ground, two experience balls suddenly popped out. One was blue, and the other was red, which he had never seen before. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Red)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +150,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Comprehension (Blue)], [Tiger-Wolf Force] +5%!¡± Qin Huai was slightly shocked by the sudden string of zeros. A total of 150,000 experience points. The exaggerated number made Qin Huai click his tongue. The four-directional tiger-wolf Technique that had been stagnant for a long time instantly soared to more than twenty levels under Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s help. From level 60, it went straight to level 82 1317/9000. His tiger-wolf force had also increased to 8%. His ribs emitted a scorching aura again, and he felt his bones trembling. This was because the tiger-wolf force and the white dragon force seemed to be on the ribs. If he waited until the tiger-wolf force reached 100%, the two would definitely clash. Just like in the world of his dantian, the white dragon and the blood-red tiger and wolf were fighting each other every day. The two seemed to be natural enemies. No, it was because the two cultivation techniques themselves had some kind of similar path. Qin Huai closed his eyes slightly as he immersed himself in his vast memories. He returned to the world covered by the blood moon and watched the tiger and wolf fight with the huge creature. Fresh blood spurted out all the time, and beneath his feet was a river of blood formed by the slaughter of huge creatures and tigers and wolves. Qin Huai was drowned in an instant. He could only watch and quietly comprehend the power within. Puff! The fragile tiger and wolf aura were instantly shattered, and Qin Huai¡¯s bones were instantly broken. His aura plummeted. Even his realm had regressed. And then The world reset, and he started all over again. He continued to cultivate. This time, he ¡®remembered¡¯ that the two forces were in conflict with each other. Chapter 272 272 The County Governor¡¯s Personal Guards Qin Huai began mixing other cultivation techniques, and finally, the blood heart technique unleashed its might. The great sun emitted its power to repair the broken bones and help the tiger wolf¡¯s aura and the white dragon¡¯s aura to continuously contend. Once, twice, thrice¡­ Qin Huai did not give up and tried again and again, possibly thousands or tens of thousands of times, until he finally succeeded. The white dragon¡¯s aura and the tiger wolf¡¯s aura clashed, but there was no dangerous explosion that caused bones and blood to scatter. ¡°The dangers of cultivating cultivation techniques After reaching the bone pattern realm, it only gets worse,¡± Qin Huai thought to himself. ¡°If you¡¯re not careful, you¡¯ll die. No wonder everyone tried their best to dissuade me from cultivating cultivation techniques at Pingnan City.¡± In his memories, he had fallen countless times, but in the end, he was lucky enough to turn the tables. ¡°However, the people of Pingnan City have their own misconceptions. It¡¯s not impossible for them to cultivate cultivation techniques as well. My nine dragons true qi technique and blood heart technique are fine. The ancient azure illusion force on the skull is also fine.¡± However, this choice needed to be made with extreme caution. Experienced seniors from the sect had to pave the way, or he had to have an extremely deep understanding of cultivation techniques. Otherwise, it would be wasted, and cultivating at the same time would be like waiting for death. Thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind as he bent down to look at Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s corpse, which was still intact except for his head. He took off his mink coat, revealing a golden armor that emanated the aura of a guardian. If he relied on his physical body¡¯s blood essence to attack, the damage would be greatly reduced. eaglesnov1,o ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion is indeed rich,¡± Qin Huai sighed. Even though Feng Xiaochuan didn¡¯t have a treasured weapon as exaggerated as Ge Youqian, it was still very luxurious and shocking. He took out a thick stack of gold notes worth 100 gold coins each, adding up to a total of a hundred. ¡°Tsk tsk. A million taels of silver? He¡¯s actually carrying it with him,¡± Qin Huai murmured, patting his thick gold notes. According to the current market price, gold notes were more expensive than silver notes. ¡°Killing a young master of the county governor¡¯s mansion is equivalent to two to three months of Nine Dragons Gate¡¯s harvest when they were at their peak.¡± With this money, the Nine Dragons Gate could indeed take a break for the next two months. Qin Huai looked at the people from the slums in the distance who had already formed a blood river and were mixing with each other. He remained silent as he sprinkled a handful of poison powder on Feng Xiaochuan, causing his corpse to rapidly rot and burn to ashes. Then, Qin Huai quietly left, leaving behind a few corpses of the guards sent by the county governor¡¯s mansion to protect Feng Xiaochuan in the narrow alleys. However, their realms were not high, and they were merely ninth refinement martial artists. Rather than saying that they were protecting Feng Xiaochuan, it was more appropriate to say that they were helping Feng Xiaochuan to do things more conveniently. Perhaps no one would have thought that one of the three heroes of the Lingjjiang would die so quietly in a slum. As for the retaliation from the county governor, it was inevitable. Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s blatant purchase of the antidote pills revealed his ambitious plans. Whether Qin Huai killed him or not, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference in the long run. However, with a significant portion of the county governor¡¯s troops currently engaged in the battle against the Balance Army in Huai Dan City, there was no force available to retaliate against the Nine Dragons sect. Relying solely on the expertise of the county governor¡¯s mansion¡¯s experts to take down the sect was a pipe dream. Boom! Boom! Boom! One by one, experts leaped out of the county governor¡¯s mansion, rushing towards the slums. They stepped on the roofs of the pavilions and barged through the bustling crowd, ready to confront whoever had caused such a commotion. A grumpy fatty was about to curse, but caught a glimpse of the symbol that flew past the person and covered her mouth. All his anger was swallowed back into his stomach. Soon, everyone in Lingjiang City seemed to have heard something, and the originally lively atmosphere on Wanli Street seemed to have suddenly stopped. Steward Sun and a few other stewards at the Fengxing Auction House looked in the direction of the slums, wondering what had happened. ¡°It seems someone died!¡± one of them said, using an eye technique he had cultivated to see very far. ¡°I saw many corpses¡­¡± ¡°What kind of people died? To be able to make the county governor¡¯s personal guards move out together¡± another steward wondered. ¡°These personal guards are all great blood refinement martial artists. They even know a unique joint attack technique. Their strength is quite terrifying.¡± The few of them gossiped as they ate, trying to piece together what could have caused such a commotion. ¡°Oh, I remember Young Master Feng went to the slums,¡± the fat manager said, frowning. He had sent him out personally and naturally knew where Feng Xiaochuan was. The others¡¯ pupils instantly constricted at the mention of Feng Xiaochuan¡¯s name. ¡°Young Master Feng is one of the three heroes of Lingjiang Who in the city can kill him without anyone knowing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that Feng Xiaochuan still has quite a number of artifacts. Although he¡¯s only at the first-level bone pattern realm, ordinary second-level bone pattern realm experts might not be his match,¡± someone else added. The few of them spoke softly, as if they were afraid that the county governor¡¯s personal guards would hear them. Suddenly, Steward Sun¡¯s heart thumped. It seemed like Sect Master Qin had left. After the auction, he went to Room A2 to greet Qin Huai, but he only saw Li Shaoxiang. ¡°Something big is going to happen,¡± Manager Sun sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a mess. This is going to make Lingjiang fall into chaos!¡± ¡°Old Sun, if you have any information, quickly tell us!¡± the fat manager urged from the side. Manager Sun waved his hand. ¡°Everyone, listen to my advice. Go out less in the next few days,¡± he said, trying to sound cautious. ¡°To prevent others from plucking his head and using it as a weapon¡­¡± Meanwhile, in the slums, a group of cold-faced guards was carrying a little ghost who had told on someone for seeing the young master in the slums. They looked at the messy battlefield, but there wasn¡¯t even a trace of blood. ¡°It¡¯s either burning or corroding with poison. He¡¯s so big that one can¡¯t take him away,¡± one of them said. Then, he bent down, searching for traces in the surroundings. ¡°No, there are no signs of fire,¡± he reported. ¡°There isn¡¯t even a trace of poisonous powder.¡± ¡°Then dig! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we have to find Young Master!¡± another guard said, determined. ¡°I want to see the corpse if he¡¯s dead, and I want to see him if he¡¯s alive!¡± Chapter 273 273 Upgraded Poisons Two more days had passed. A young man in a green and white robe was seen sitting on the peak of a mountain, meditating amidst the snow with a flushed red face and a buzzing airwave. The snowflakes that landed on his shoulder would instantly dissipate into the air. Pa, pa, pa¡­ Strange sounds emitted from Qin Huai¡¯s bones. ¡°The concealment of spirit and qi technique has developed the true potential of my body,¡± Qin Huai muttered. He had gone from having no foundation to cultivating the nine dragons true qi technique at the same speed as Li Zeren. With nearly seven hundred years of lifespan, he experienced the so-called illusory transformation of the level of life. At the very least, his cultivation speed was visible to the naked eye. Of course, compared to the speed of improvement brought about by the experience points, the improvement was much faster. However, Qin Huai¡¯s current cultivation speed was still not worth mentioning. The lifespan of an ordinary bone pattern realm expert was between 150 to 200 years, far from his own. The current Qin Huai could be called a long-lived species. As he stood up and looked down the mountain, a woman dressed in a red cotton robe quickly approached him. ¡°Husband, Huai Dan City has sent a letter,¡± Li Shaoxiang said as she climbed the mountain to join Qin Huai. Handing the letter to Qin Huai, Li Shaoxiang continued to explain, ¡°The cultivation techniques of those experts in the Balance Army are very strange. They rely heavily on armor and are practically inseparable. It doesn¡¯t seem to be around Lingjiang, and there isn¡¯t even a sect like this in Qingzhou. ¡°There¡¯s a Hundred Weapons Mountain outside of Qingzhou where the disciples of the sect make a living by forging and also cultivate the art of forging. The disciples in the mountain often wear armor and weapons, which is somewhat similar.¡± Qin Huai read the letter effortlessly, then asked, ¡°But isn¡¯t Hundred Weapons Mountain a righteous sect? I remember that there are many people in the Balance Army who can change their appearance in battle. They can even look like demons.¡± Although he had not witnessed it with his own eyes and had only heard about it from various sources, in his mind, he could roughly construct a scene of ¡®transformation.¡¯ However, most of the details were taken from narrations in some movies in his previous life. ¡°Their lifeblood is strong, and their strength and physique far surpass those of the same realm by several levels. They often encounter situations where they kill those of a lower cultivation level, similar to Reihom of the Twin Extreme Sect. Moreover, after they wear the strange armor, even the force of the bone pattern realm will weaken their influence,¡± Li Shaoxiang continued. She still had quite a bit of information regarding the battle from outside Huai Dan City, adding that dealing with these mysterious experts was a headache for Song Ya¡¯s army. However, none of the information gathered by others was as accurate as the intel from Huai Dan City. After all, it was obtained from a dignified expert at the third-level bone pattern realm, and Elder Erlong had personally inquired about it. ¡°It can increase one¡¯s strength and physique. It can even weaken the power of force A different kind of treasure. I just don¡¯t know which of the raw materials is more precious compared to the power stone,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Reply to Grandmaster, please see if you can get me a set of this armor to study. If we can replicate it, it might be of use to our Nine Dragons sect.¡± He then stood up and gazed towards the distant mountains. If the Sacred Heart sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion were to attack the Nine Dragons sect, they would most likely choose the direction of the mountain behind it. For the past two days, Qin Huai had been trying to determine the best spot for defense, observing heavenly powers and astronomical phenomena and counting the weather every day. Although he didn¡¯t know much, there were still many people in the Nine Dragons sect who knew these things. Every day, many people would be in the mountains doing calculations. Qin Huai was also familiar with the place. As he and Li Shaoxiang walked down the mountain towards the sect, she informed him about the situation in Huai Dan City. ¡°Recently, Song Ya¡¯s battle in Huai Dan City seems to have taken a turn for the worse. A few days ago, it was still a stalemate. In the past few days, he has retreated more than ten miles. Every day, he is pushed back about five miles. The momentum in the Balance Army is soaring. There are cheers everywhere.¡± Qin Huai slowed down his footsteps. ¡°Something must have happened. Instruct the disciples in the sect to keep a close eye on Song Ya and the city lord¡¯s mansion.¡± Li Shaoxiang nodded and took out the second letter. ¡°The few batches of antidote pills that the sect released recently were all sold at high prices. We raised the price a few times in a row, but the result didn¡¯t change.¡± The detoxification pills in the sect had risen from the original fifteen taels to thirty taels, the same as the auction house. A total of forty thousand pills were sold out, earning the Nine Dragons sect more than a million taels of silver. Qin Huai sighed. ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion didn¡¯t underestimate the Nine Dragons sect just because the Zhang family was destroyed. Since they¡¯ve acquired at least half of those forty thousand pills, they¡¯re clearly prepared to fight a protracted war with us.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, they don¡¯t know that we¡¯ve already upgraded and replaced our poison techniques. We¡¯re already ahead of them,¡± Li Shaoxiang said with fanaticism in her eyes. Every time she looked at Qin Huai, it was as if she was looking at a god, which often made him feel overwhelmed. ¡°Thanks to Brother Ge, the goods are stable and secretive. I¡¯ve never heard of some winding paths before.¡± ¡°My husband is still more powerful,¡± Li Shaoxiang said decisively. ¡°I don¡¯t think the people in the county governor¡¯s mansion would have guessed that you were able to change all our commonly used poisons in just a few days.¡± ¡°In the poison path, I do have a little bit of talent,¡± Qin Huai replied calmly. Although the poison targeted only ordinary blood refinement martial artists, if they wanted to develop a truly new poison, it might take at least a year or even several years, according to Li Shaoxiang and the others. Chapter 274 274 A Stormy City However, Qin Huai was different. He looked at the dozens of medicinal herbs on the table and could instantly arrange dozens of poisons with different doses and effects. Of course, it was also possible that he had the support of precious medicine-level medicinal techniques. After all, there had never been a poison master of this level in the entire Lingjiang. Qin Huai was the only one. ¡°Right, Elder Erlong seems to have found traces of Master Sun and the others.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s spirits were instantly lifted. Li Shaoxiang took out the last letter and handed it to Qin Huai. ¡°It¡¯s said that there was once a group of martial artists who cultivated the qi growth formula in Huai Dan City. They opened a small martial arts club and a blacksmith shop in the city, but he was invited away by the Balance Army a few days later. I heard that they were quite polite at that time. As for where, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that I know he¡¯s still alive and in Huai Dan City,¡± Qin Huai said in a low voice. All the information he had received earlier was just a guess that his master and the others were most likely in Huai Dan City. Even if they were not, they should be somewhere near the city. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯ve taken a fancy to Master and Senior Brother¡¯s smithing skills. Coincidentally, these people rely heavily on armor to fight, so blacksmiths must be especially precious to them.¡± Now that he knew the exact news, the stone in Qin Huai¡¯s heart was finally lifted. It seemed that in the future, he would have to deal with the Balance Army. ¡°Let Elder Erlong mention the dispute between us and the county governor. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s possible for the county governor¡¯s mansion to cooperate from the inside,¡± Qin Huai said solemnly. The county governor¡¯s mansion wanted to have a tacit understanding with the Sacred Heart sect to deal with the Nine Dragons sect from the inside. Qin Huai could naturally work with the Balance Army. Although the two groups were not familiar with each other, the enemy of their enemy is their friend indeed. ¡°I also want someone to give it a try,¡± Qin Huai added. The two of them then entered the secret chamber of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. After a while, Li Zeren and the others walked over one after another. ¡°The county governor¡¯s mansion doesn¡¯t plan to hide it anymore. All the antidote pills on the market have been cleared out.¡± Li Zewu cursed, ¡°Motherf*cker, sooner or later I¡¯ll tear down this county governor¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but the county governor¡¯s mansion can¡¯t be underestimated. Although Song Lian led Lingjiang¡¯s army to attack the Balance Army, the county governor¡¯s mansion still has a personal guard of two thousand men and a personal guard of a hundred men who are all in the great blood refinement realm. Their combat strength is still not to be underestimated,¡± Li Zeren said, worried. ¡°Nowadays, there are fewer pedestrians on the streets of Lingjiang City.¡± In the past two days, he had heard the county governor¡¯s furious killing voice from hundreds of meters away. Everyone had thought of taking the initiative to destroy the relatively empty county governor¡¯s mansion, but after considering the potential casualties and the threat of the army and the Sacred Heart sect, they decided to rely on the familiar terrain of the Nine Dragons Sect to defend and wait for the other party to reveal a fatal flaw. ¡°The old masters in Qingzhou City are the same. They sent a few letters, but they all sank into the sea They don¡¯t even take us as their disciples,¡± Li Zewu complained. ¡°You can¡¯t say that. The world is in turmoil now. The various sects have already done their best to preserve their strength. If Lingjiang county is like this, Qingzhou, as the center of a state, must be even more turbulent,¡± Li Zeren explained. ¡°However, with this armor given by the sect master, I can even fight against a fifth-level bone pattern expert,¡± Li Zeren added, patting his chest. Other than the Li family¡¯s own treasured weapons, Qin Huai also wore the treasured weapons he had taken from Feng Xiaochuan, which increased their combat strength. As the only fourth-level bone pattern realm expert in the Nine Dragons sect, Li Zeren¡¯s combat strength was crucial and could even influence the direction of the battle. ¡°If we can control this dragon corpse to fight our enemies, the Nine Dragons sect will no longer fear the Sacred Heart sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion,¡± Li Zewu said, smiling bitterly. ¡°If controlling a dragon corpse was possible, the ancestors of the Nine Dragons sect would have done it long ago. Among them, there was no lack of amazing people, but the result was We all know,¡± Li Zeshi shook his head. ¡°Husband will definitely be able to do it. It¡¯s only a matter of time,¡± Li Shaoxiang said confidently. Li Zeren and the others looked at each other and shook their heads with a smile. ¡°Shaoxiang, you little girl. Although the sect master is talented, he is not a legendary immortal. You can¡¯t let him do everything,¡± Li Zeren said with a headache. Although it was a good thing for a husband and wife to have a good relationship and trust each other, his daughter¡¯s trust in Qin Huai bordered on possession. As their cultivation ended, they dispersed one by one. Li Zeren stopped and sat beside Qin Huai. ¡°Shaoxiang That child somewhat believes in the heavens, so Huai¡¯er, you have to be more tolerant,¡± Li Zeren advised. Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Madam saving my life, I wouldn¡¯t be alive today.¡± Li Zeren said slowly as if reminiscing about the past, ¡°Actually, this matter¡­ You can¡¯t blame Shaoxiang entirely. If you want to blame someone, you have to blame her heartless mother who passed away early and abandoned us. ¡°When Shaoxiang was born, her mother was infected with a serious illness. The doctors in the city diagnosed her as having less than three years to live.¡± Chapter 275 275 Third-Level Bone Pattern Realm ¡°From as early as Li Shaoxiang could remember, her mother would often instill in her certain theories about destiny. She did this to ensure the child wouldn¡¯t be too heartbroken when her mother eventually left.¡± ¡°As time passed, this is how things became,¡± Li Zeren finished, wiping the corners of his reddened eyes before leaving the secret chamber. Qin Huai sat cross-legged in the center of the dragon corpse, an invisible aura rumbling around him. The next moment, the massive dragon corpse began to rise, emanating a majestic aura. Even Qin Huai himself floated into the air. Two white spots of light materialized in the dragon¡¯s empty eye sockets. At that moment, although Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were closed, he could still perceive everything happening in the secret chamber. He suddenly opened his eyes, a dazzling white light gathering within them. The white dragon aura surrounding him swelled like a raging wave. Qin Huai¡¯s own white dragon aura, equivalent to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, paled in comparison to the dragon corpse¡¯s aura, which resembled a vast ocean. It could easily overwhelm his power. He began to dance within the secret chamber, each step accompanied by a dragon¡¯s roar. With a gentle wave of his claws, a tremendous force burst forth like a fierce gale. Boom! The entire secret chamber shook violently, the ground quaking as if the apocalypse was imminent. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but be awestruck by this power. ¡°As expected of a legendary creature. Even with only a skeletal body left, and though I can only control a mere trace of it, its power is still so terrifying that it makes one¡¯s hair stand on end,¡± Qin Huai praised. He could sense the boundless power emanating from the dragon corpse. The combat strength he could unleash was only one ten-thousandth of its true potential. Yet, this was more than enough to defeat a fifth-level bone pattern realm expert from the Sacred Heart sect or the county governor¡¯s mansion. Qin Huai controlled the dragon corpse, dancing around the secret chamber. He attempted to master the astonishing white dragon force and display its might, but he was only proficient in controlling it. He practiced various offensive techniques and martial arts maneuvers as well. ¡°What a pity. I can¡¯t maintain control for long,¡± Qin Huai lamented, his face gradually turning pale as he landed on the ground. ¡°If I want to control the dragon corpse and unleash its full combat strength, the battlefield must be nearby. Otherwise, I¡¯d exhaust myself just traveling.¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself, realizing that the most suitable battlefield was undoubtedly the Nine Dragons sect. There, his own poison techniques, the sect disciples¡¯ poison techniques, and the dragon corpse¡¯s combat strength could all be utilized to their fullest potential. Leaving the dragon corpse behind, Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating. He mentally deduced various offensive strategies and combination moves that the dragon corpse could execute. He needed to be able to directly overwhelm a formidable enemy when he attacked. eaglesnov1,o News from around the world flew toward Qin Huai like snowflakes. ¡°The Balance Army replied. They didn¡¯t take anyone who cultivated the long breath technique. They claim we must have misunderstood,¡± Li Shaoxiang reported with a bitter smile as she read the letter. ¡°And they don¡¯t seem to be interested in our proposed internal cooperation.¡± ¡°Not interested?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. He had anticipated their initial refusal to admit any wrongdoing. After all, every blacksmith was crucial at this time, especially since the Balance Army heavily relied on them. The chances of the Balance Army letting them go were slim. Furthermore, it was safer for his master and the others to stay in Huai Dan City rather than go to Lingjiang. However, Qin Huai found it strange that the other party still showed no interest in cooperation. Didn¡¯t the Balance Army want to defeat the county governor¡¯s mansion and occupy the entire Lingjiang county? He spread out a map, examining the tense situation near Huai Dan City. ¡°They¡¯ve been staying in Huai Dan City for almost two months,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Ever since we occupied Huai Dan Cityor rather, half of Lingjiang countythey¡¯ve been huddled in this territory. They initiate battles with the county governor¡¯s army, but they don¡¯t seem determined to attack the city in one go.¡± Qin Huai paced in front of the map, finding the Balance Army¡¯s actions and their strange armors suspicious. Li Shaoxiang shared his confusion, ¡°This Balance Army doesn¡¯t seem intent on dividing the county.¡± ¡°Perhaps the Balance Army wants to pacify Lingjiang county. However, the faction behind them must have other motives,¡± Qin Huai concluded, narrowing his eyes. He couldn¡¯t figure out the intentions of those behind the Balance Army by prolonging the conflict. ¡°Have you gathered any information on those strange armors?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°No, but their numbers on the Huai Dan City battlefield have increased, and their power seems to have grown as well,¡± Li Shaoxiang replied. ¡°I think it has a lot to do with Song Ya¡¯s lack of fighting spirit. There¡¯s plenty of information suggesting that the county governor¡¯s mansion might not hold out much longer and could attack the Nine Dragons sect.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Tell the sect disciples to stay alert over the next few days. We can¡¯t overlook any information or suspicious details.¡± As he sat in the study, his mind remained on high alert. ¡°The city¡¯s population has also significantly decreased,¡± Li Shaoxiang continued. ¡°The streets have become deserted. Many people were instructed or hinted to evacuate with their families. I don¡¯t think the county governor¡¯s mansion will just go through the back mountain. They¡¯ll likely split into two groups and come through the city.¡± Initially, they thought that if Lingjiang county became a battlefield, countless people would be affected. If there were too many casualties, even if the county governor¡¯s mansion won, there might not be much left for the future. But looking at it now Qin Huai nodded. ¡°We need to be on guard. We can¡¯t take any chances.¡± He knew the final battle would probably occur within the next few days. Late at night, in the secret chamber of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Qin Huai sat cross-legged before the dragon corpse. The dragon¡¯s might around him was vast, causing his green and white robe to billow. At the same time, waves of air surged. Boom! At a certain moment, crisp crackling sounds emanated from Qin Huai¡¯s body. His face flushed and heat radiated from his nostrils like a pillar. He had reached the third-level bone pattern realm! His vitality had also increased by another fifty points, breaking through the three-hundred-point barrier and reaching stage three. For most martial artists whose physical bodies were weaker than their cultivation level, Qin Huai¡¯s vitality already surpassed others in the same realm. Most importantly, his control over the dragon corpse was becoming increasingly more fluid. The qualitative change of breaking through the realm barrier was ultimately even more astounding. ¡°Perhaps I can use this on the dragon corpse?¡± Bold ideas surfaced in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Chapter 276 276 The County Governor¡¯s Manor In a quiet secret room, Qin Huai sat cross-legged beside the dragon corpse. The time he could control the dragon corpse had already increased to an impressive half-incense stick¡¯s duration. Moreover, he could perform all kinds of difficult movements with it. Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s figure became blurry. Hazy air currents surrounded his body, pulling as if they wanted to strip his soul and physical body out. Qin Huai frowned slightly. He was immersed in his dantian world, sensing the ancient illusionary force that burst out from the bronze wall soil. He seemed to have comprehended something. ¡°The ancient azure illusion force can transform into demonic beasts, so it might be able to transform me as well?¡± Qin Huai tried hard, but in the end, all attempts ended in failure. ¡°What a pity. My current ancient azure illusion force is too weak, only at 72%, far from the level of the patterned bone. Moreover, I don¡¯t have the corresponding cultivation method for it,¡± Qin Huai felt regretful. He believed that once he pushed the ancient azure illusion force to 100%, he would definitely obtain a decent skill. But for now, he decided to go into closed-door cultivation with all his might, preparing to pull the white dragon¡¯s momentum to the limit. The final battle that could decide the life and death of the Nine Dragons sect could come at any time. ¡­ County governor manor. The deep hall was majestic, with even dragon and phoenix carvings on the stone pillars and rockery. It was said that a few years ago, this was the Great You emperor¡¯s temporary residence in Lingjiang county. However, it had already become the county governor ¡®s residence. After living there for several years, his position was still intact. A man in a black robe with a flood dragon embroidered on it sat upright in the main hall. The cold and stern aura made the hall solemn. In front of him, kneeling on the ground was a row of somber-looking armored guards. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± Feng Xigu asked slowly. eaglesnov1,o ¡°The personal guards and guards in the city have been fully equipped. We only need to wait for Milord¡¯s order to attack the Nine Dragons sect!¡± the guard beside him said in a deep voice. ¡°How¡¯s the situation at the Twin Extreme sect?¡± Feng Xigu asked. ¡°The disciples of the Twin Extreme sect have already retreated into the mountains. They¡¯re probably planning to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Feng Xigu said slowly. ¡°The Twin Extreme sect will send troops to help during the battle at Niu Mountain. It¡¯s also possible this time. Don¡¯t forget that Reihom and Qin Huai are known as the Twin Heroes of Pingnan. The relationship between the two of them is probably very close.¡± Feng Xigu pondered for a moment. ¡°Send someone to keep an eye on them. Send out a team of soldiers. If anything happens, try to stop them. How¡¯s the news from the Sacred Heart sect?¡± ¡°The Sacred Heart sect is very willing to help us destroy the Nine Dragons sect. When the time comes, we¡¯ll climb that sect from the left and right¡± Before Feng Xigu¡¯s eyes, one by one, the personal guards vanished. Finally, after the last person disappeared, his eyes grew colder in the silence. ¡°Qin Huai For killing my son, this old man will definitely tear you into pieces!¡± Although he had not found any direct evidence of Qin Huai having killed someone, they still discovered some poisonous powder in the huge slums. He had used poison to destroy the corpse so thoroughly that only this new Nine Dragons Gate Master, who was famous for his poison skills, could have done it. ¡°The day Song Ya returns will be the day you die!¡± ¡­ In the Sacred Heart sect, Ji Yuan hummed a little tune, exceptionally happy. ¡°These mortals are like this. You don¡¯t even need to deliberately sow discord between them. They will fight on their own.¡± Ji Yuan held a delicate arm in his hand and continuously brought it to his mouth. ¡°I told you we don¡¯t need to plan ahead to take down Lingjiang. If we had come a month or two later, perhaps the three major forces would have already turned the world upside down. We¡¯ll just pick the peaches.¡± Ji Yuan talked non-stop and was extremely excited. ¡°Have we seen many of these things from time to time in the Xigong Province when we followed our lord? We have only just arrived at the city, and it is already covered in blood and corpses. Those self-proclaimed righteous people of the Great Nether have thrown all the blame on us. What a great injustice,¡± Ji Yuan¡¯s face was bitter, but he was smiling. ¡°The ones who kill the most are the mortals themselves. My Sacred Heart sect is here to save all living beings. Everyone is equal.¡± Crack! He sent half of the body in his hand into his stomach. He whimpered and continued, ¡°Look, for example, this disciple I¡¯m eating. I can eat him, and he can eat me if he¡¯s strong. We don¡¯t have any complaints.¡± His face was full of sincerity, without any falsehood. ¡°Stop eating. I¡¯ve already eaten more than ten disciples these past few days,¡± Zou Shuang frowned. ¡°Look at your stomach. The mutation is getting more and more serious.¡± ¡°What are you afraid of? If it succeeds, it will be the Lord¡¯s pity. If it dies, I will return this body of flesh and blood to the Lord,¡± Ji Yuan Wuji was carefree. Zou Shuang¡¯s furrowed brows never relaxed. Suddenly, a black pigeon streaked across the sky. Zou Shuang raised his finger, and blood spurted out from his fingertip. Whoosh! The black pigeon was instantly shot through, and the bloodline was like a long tongue that wrapped around the pigeon. He then removed the letter from the pigeon¡¯s leg. ¡°Tonight, you and I will invite the sacred blood¡­ The day of the destruction of the Nine Dragons sect is just around the corner,¡± Zou Shuang said in a cold voice. ¡°When the time comes, I want to eat half of Qin Huai¡¯s meat!¡± A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Ji Yuan¡¯s face. Chapter 277 277 The Battle Begins! Dark clouds shrouded the sky, obscuring the sun and moon and making it impossible to discern whether it was day or night. At the Nine Dragons sect, everyone frowned and hurriedly carried various items through the area. ¡°Quick, quick, quick! Everyone, go to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion and put on your armor!¡± Li Buhu shouted from atop a tall building, addressing the Nine Dragons sect disciples below. ¡°The mission I gave you a few days ago, it¡¯s time to take action.¡± He looked down at the disciples who called back to him, ¡°Brother Hu, the county governor¡¯s mansion¡¯s troops in the city are just a feint! Their main forces are at the back of the mountain!¡± In a short while, the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s disciples felt a surge of energy within them. ¡°Even if it¡¯s a feint, we must guard the main entrance. Brother-in-law and the others will be attacked from both sides.¡± Li Buhu gritted his teeth. He wanted to join the battle at the back mountain, but his mission was to prevent the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s main entrance from being breached by the small team from the county governor¡¯s mansion. He knew his father and brother-in-law had their own selfish motives for making such arrangements: to preserve the fresh blood of the Li family and the Nine Dragons sect, ensuring their legacy and hope. After all, the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s fate seemed sealed in this battle. ¡°Damn it. If only I were stronger, the Nine Dragons sect wouldn¡¯t be in such a sorry state today,¡± Li Buhu muttered, clenching his teeth and trembling with anger. ¡°If only I had my sister¡¯s strength.¡± On the other side, Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan donned blood-red robes, coldly staring at the mountain. The Sacred Heart sect disciples behind them eyed the Nine Dragons sect martial artists on the mountain like a pack of hungry wolves. ¡°Twenty thousand against four thousand, a five to one advantage¡­ What a staggering edge,¡± Ji Yuan sneered. ¡°It¡¯s said that the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s warriors have split into two groups, attempting to stop our alliance army with the county governor¡¯s mansion. If I remember correctly, the strongest person in the Nine Dragons sect is the Li family¡¯s patriarch, Li Zeren, who has reached the fourth-level bone pattern realm? I¡¯ve never fought such a formidable battle.¡± ¡°Take your medicine!¡± both the Sacred Heart sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion ordered simultaneously. As if by unspoken agreement, both parties took their pills at the same time. And then, the combined army began its ascent up the mountain. After that The army cascaded down the mountain like a flood, and wails echoed through the mountains. Zou Shuang and Feng Xigu¡¯s expressions slowly turned to shock. ¡°What happened? How did Qin Huai manage to neutralize all the poisons in such a short period?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t even leave a trace of spider silk for transportation?¡± Feng Xigu¡¯s face revealed a complicated expression. He quickly guessed that the people from the Fengxing Auction House were involved. In the entire Lingjiang county, only the Fengxing Auction House could accomplish such a feat under his watch. Even the Twin Extreme sect couldn¡¯t do it. But he couldn¡¯t understand when the people from the Fengxing Auction House had colluded with the Nine Dragons sect. What did they see in the Nine Dragons sect? Could it be that the Feng family, who had been deeply rooted here for nearly two hundred years, were inferior to the Nine Dragons sect led by the inexperienced Qin Huai? After some time, Feng Xigu raised his head and seemed to see a beautiful figure in red on the mountain peak. She stood at the summit, looking down at them. ¡°Ants, do you feel my husband¡¯s vast white dragon aura?!¡± Her voice, as loud as rolling thunder, reverberated down the mountain. Feng Xigu couldn¡¯t help but want to stomp his feet and curse. ¡°You¡¯re telling me this is the damned aura of a white dragon?¡± If it was the poison dragon force, he could still believe it. The faces of the soldiers on the ground turned purple. Feng Xigu looked at the countless dead and injured soldiers on the ground, his heart aching. Before they could reach the mountain, they had already lost one to two thousand soldiers. Killing intent appeared in Song Ya¡¯s eyes as well. The battle with the Balance Army lasted for more than two months, and only three to four thousand people died. Now, at the foot of Nine Dragons Mountain, half of them perished in the blink of an eye. At the mountain peak, Li Shaoxiang looked down at the vast army before her and the disparity in strength between the two sides. There was no fear in her eyes. The fanaticism and confidence that emanated from the depths of her heart made the hearts of the many disciples behind her swell with courage. ¡°I knew it. Someone like the sect master must have a backup plan.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s no backup plan, would the sect master¡¯s wife be so confident?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If the Nine Dragons sect is broken, the ones who will suffer the most will definitely be important figures like the sect master and his wife.¡± A slightly mysterious, chubby disciple holding a horsetail whisk as a weapon looked serious. ¡°It¡¯s the confidence that comes from being sure of winning.¡± ¡°Look, there¡¯s no sign of the sect master around. He must be holding back some powerful weapon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Perhaps the sect master is right behind those bastards from the county governor¡¯s mansion!¡± Li Zeren, who was behind them, looked at the high-spirited disciples and smiled bitterly in his heart. He hadn¡¯t expected that his daughter would play such a crucial role in this life-and-death situation. It had to be his son-in-law. His moves were truly unpredictable. He had thoroughly influenced Shaoxiang and used her to perfection, showcasing her talents vividly. Chapter 278 278 Mighty Dragon Force! With renewed morale and momentum, the Nine Dragons sect would not collapse, at the very least. Curiosity piqued, Li Zeren couldn¡¯t help but glance toward the Nine Dragons sect, wondering what kind of shocking move his son-in-law was executing. It was impossible to extract the dragon corpse, but perhaps something more sinister and effective was at play? At the foot of the mountain, Song Ya and Feng Xigu roared simultaneously. The two furious fifth-level bone pattern realm warriors led the charge and pierced through the poisonous fog. ¡°Thieves, come and die!¡± shouted Li Zeren, frowning as his body trembled. His green and white robe instantly shattered, revealing the thick armor underneath. They were all treasured weapons. ¡°Let me experience your techniques!¡± Li Zeren, like a heavy cannon, dove down the mountain alongside the second master of the Li family, Li Zewu. Donning a set of treasured armor, both of them attacked side by side. Having studied the dragon corpse for the past two months, Li Zewu had accumulated a vast amount of resources. After a long drought, the dew finally arrived, compensating for previous financial constraints. Just the day before, he had broken through to the fourth-level bone pattern realm. On the other side of Nine Dragons Mountain, Ji Yuan and Zou Shuang weren¡¯t as formidable as Song Ya and Feng Xigu. Dozens of their subordinates stepped forward, standing where the poisonous fog spread. They opened their bloodied mouths, their muscles tearing from the corners of their mouths to the back of their heads. They inhaled deeply, like bottomless black holes, sucking the surrounding poisonous fog into their stomachs. However, their bodies began turning black, spreading from their necks to their feet. The obsidian-like sheen was glaring. Once their bodies turned entirely black, these beings fell to the ground. It was evident that the poisonous fog had been absorbed into their flesh, purging the area. The horrifying scene terrified many Nine Dragons sect disciples, who had never witnessed such strange beings. However, in the Sacred Heart sect, many martial artists had forms that deviated significantly from the human form. People like Six Fingers and Fatty were considered relatively normal. ¡°Kill them quickly!¡± roared Li Shaoxiang. She already had a spear in her hand, and she shot it out from the top of the mountain with all her might. A cold light suddenly cut through the sky. Hundreds of meters away, the spear accurately pierced the forehead of a creature that had inhaled the poisonous fog. The terrifying force sent the round body, weighing hundreds of kilograms, flying. After plowing dozens of meters on the ground, it was firmly fixed to a large tree. The tree hummed and wailed as if complaining about a terrifying force. Li Shaoxiang, dressed in a red dress, stood at the top of the mountain, resembling a red-robed overlord. There was one thing she had never told her husband: in the Nine Dragons sect blood refinement realm, the strongest person was not his cousin Li Buhu, but herLi Shaoxiang. This was the case when she left the Nine Dragons sect at the age of fourteen, and now, it was the same. After receiving the second spear, Li Shaoxiang wiped the spearhead on her embroidered dress. The poison her husband had prepared for her saturated the red fabric. The poison could greatly refine blood, and if the spear was contaminated with it, a single touch could prove fatal. Beneath her red dress, Li Shaoxiang wore tight armor. The second spear sliced through the air, its strength undiminished as she launched it. ¡°Kill them!¡± ¡°Your strength is even stronger than before, Sister,¡± remarked a handsome young man standing beside her. He was the only genius in the bone pattern realm of the Li family¡¯s second branch, Li Xiao. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell my husband about this matter,¡± Li Shaoxiang said, a sweet smile on her face. However, Li Xiao suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I definitely won¡¯t tell anyone in this lifetime!¡± Li Xiao laughed loudly, leading the charge as he swooped down. Dozens of Nine Dragons sect disciples followed closely behind. ¡°Kill them!¡± Zou Shuang saw that more than half of the poisonous fog on the mountain had been absorbed. The Sacred Heart disciples, resembling walking corpses, charged up the mountain like unleashed wild horses. A shocking battle was about to unfold! Li Shaoxiang stood at the mountain¡¯s peak, rows of spears at her feet. She wielded them in both hands, launching them down the mountain like a continuous heavy crossbow. Each spear, powered by Li Shaoxiang¡¯s terrifying strength, cut down several enemies. She fought relentlessly until there were no spears left. Momentarily stunned, she moved to the side of a tree and uprooted it with a single, powerful tug. ¡°I¡¯m Madam Tianming!¡± she declared, her eyes ablaze as she charged toward the battlefield at the foot of the mountain. Wielding the eight-meter-long tree, Li Shaoxiang swept it across the battlefield with astonishing combat technique. For a moment, she was invincible. Clad in her bright red poisonous dress and brandishing the lengthy wooden weapon, there was no one like her. ¡°Little beauty! Die!¡± A slender figure descended from the sky, contorting their body mid-air to dodge Li Shaoxiang¡¯s swift and brutal attacks. Li Shaoxiang rubbed her red dress against the end of the wooden stick and spun around. The end of the long wood transformed into a spearhead, which she thrust forward. A sudden sharp wind sound came from behind, and Li Shaoxiang, shocked and unprepared, hurriedly used her arm to block the incoming attack. She glanced at it from the corner of her eyea treasured sword was slashing down. Realizing her arm was about to break, Li Shaoxiang gritted her teeth, prepared to sacrifice her limb for her life. A dazzling golden light forced her to close her eyes subconsciously. When she opened them, she saw a handsome young man bathed in golden light blocking the attack. ¡°Sister-in-law, I arrived just in time, right?¡± Ge Youqian looked at the treasured sword with disdain. ¡°A broken artifact like you has dirtied my treasured armor.¡± He shook his body, sending vibrations through seven or eight forces that emitted a buzzing sound. The broken treasured saber shattered on the spot. Almost simultaneously, a pitch-black spear pierced the skull of the bone pattern realm warrior. ¡°Just nice.¡± A cold-faced figure descended from the sky, his sturdy body akin to a small mountain as he crashed onto the battlefield. Chapter 279 279 Turning the Tides Li Shaoxiang stood in the middle, dressed in a red dress, dragging a huge, wet log that was seven to eight meters long. On the left was a handsome man covered in gold and jade, and on the right, there was the half-naked Reihom of the Twin Extreme sect, his muscles exploding as he carried a black spear. The two of them stood on the left and right, like two vajras protecting Li Shaoxiang. ¡°Thank you for your help!¡± Li Shaoxiang cupped her fists. Not far away, Li Xiao, who had arrived late, was stunned. He didn¡¯t expect that the two factions would really come, as the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s secret letter to the two had been like a stone thrown into the ocean. The Twin Extreme sect didn¡¯t even allow them to enter. As for the Fengxing Auction House, the Ge family¡¯s manager only said that they were businessmen. Of course, the main reason was that even if both factions were here, they might not be a match for the Sacred Heart sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion¡¯s alliance. After all, the Sacred Heart sect was a behemoth that could fight two enemies at once. In addition to the county governor¡¯s mansion, they cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique that was best at attacking. Apart from Li Shaoxiang, most of the Nine Dragons sect members did not believe that they could win. Li Xiao had traveled thousands of miles to return from the prosperous land of Qingzhou, and he was even prepared to die. In front of him, the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect was already fighting with the fat Ji Yuan. Apart from them, there was also a plump middle-aged man who was fighting Zou Shuang. His entire body was flashing with light and a mixed aura. His identity was very easy to identify. The Twin Extreme sect had almost completely outnumbered the rest, but they were still struggling in front of the mighty Sacred Heart disciples. There weren¡¯t many people in the Fengxing Auction House, only about a hundred of them, but all of them had undergone great blood refinement, and their armors and weapons were extraordinary. ¡°The two of you have acted in accordance with the heavens and the will of the heavens by saving me this time. You will definitely not regret your decision today in the future,¡± Li Shaoxiang said sincerely. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I hope so. Otherwise, I¡¯ll suffer a huge loss this time,¡± Ge Youqian had a bitter look on his face as he looked at the Sacred Heart disciples who were rushing up the mountain like walking corpses. His smile was uglier than crying. Reihom remained silent. He held a thick black spear in his hand and charged straight into the battlefield. A Sacred Heart disciple who had refined his blood was easily provoked by his spear. ¡°Is this one of the two heroes of Pingnan?¡± Beside him, a long sword drew a curved arc in the air, as if a long dragon was streaking across. He crushed a Sacred Heart disciple. Li Xiao¡¯s graceful figure flashed past. Reihom frowned slightly as he looked at Li Xiao¡¯s shocking sword technique. As the sword tip moved, it looked light but was actually like a thunderbolt, accompanied by several dragons. Li Xiao charged into the formation as if there was no one around. He swung his long sword, but not a single drop of blood could be seen on his body. He was even in the mood to chat with Reihom. ¡°Tsk tsk, your strength and power are far superior to those of Lingjiang county. I¡¯ve only been back from Qingzhou for two days. I heard that you¡¯re best at killing enemies above your level?¡± Li Xiao laughed. Without even looking back, he turned around and slashed horizontally. Whoosh! A great blood refinement martial artist was killed on the spot. Reihom was indifferent as he held the spear in his hand and steadily attacked the formation. ¡°His basic skills are also very solid, and his combat skills are also very skilled. It seems that he often fights. He¡¯s a genius who¡¯s willing to risk his life,¡± Li Xiao clicked his tongue. A guy who worked so hard to improve himself was definitely ambitious. ¡°For a guy like you, it¡¯s best to go to Qingzhou to develop. There are many resources and geniuses there. The fertile land even has spiritual energy that can make your cultivation speed much faster. Moreover, after you¡¯ve seen many marvelous cultivation methods and moves, you¡¯ll naturally make significant progress,¡± Li Xiao laughed. He continued, ¡°Don¡¯t dislike these words. Back then, when I first went to Qingzhou from the Nine Dragons sect, I was very arrogant In the end, I was taught a lesson by those evildoers. If you don¡¯t prepare yourself now, your Dao heart might collapse.¡± ¡°Did the training in Qingzhou only teach you how to use your mouth?¡± Reihom finally spoke. The veins on his arms bulged, and as he exhaled, it was as if there was a fire. ¡°Hahaha¡± Li Xiao laughed loudly. The sword in his hand suddenly stopped, and sparks flew in front of his eyes. A slender Sacred Heart disciple charged over. The corners of his mouth drooped down to his neck. His face seemed to have melted. When he punched, the wind whistled, causing ripples to appear on his entire face. He was at the second-level bone pattern realm! Boom! There was a loud bang behind him. The earth shook, and the frozen earth cracked inch by inch, causing Li Xiao to stagger two steps. The slightly relaxed atmosphere just now disappeared in an instant. The appearance of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s bone pattern realm expert made the situation that seemed to have a slight advantage turn for the worse. Many disciples of the Twin Extreme sect and the Nine Dragons sect began to die. Li Xiao growled. The long sword in his hand shook, and in an instant, it seemed to have split into three. The footsteps under his feet also began to become illusory. ¡°I can handle a second-level bone pattern realm warrior,¡± Li Xiao muttered. Whoosh! The next moment, a spear suddenly stabbed out from beside him. There was no warning, and even the wind rarely blew. By the time Li Xiao realized it, the spear had already reached his ankle. With a slight tap of his toes, the white dragon lifted the ground and caused it to explode. The long spear pierced through Li Xiao¡¯s sole, and a cold feeling brushed past the soles of his feet. Li Xiao didn¡¯t have time to breathe a sigh of relief. The spear suddenly turned around, and there was actually a hook at the end of the spear tip. Thrust! The cold weapon entered the flesh, stirring it with a bloody aura. Chapter 280 280 Surrounded! Fresh blood spurted out as Li Xiao¡¯s left leg went limp. He was shocked to find that his hamstring was broken. Li Xiao used his right leg as a pivot point and swung his entire body into the air, drawing a circle. In the whirlwind, the sword in his hand shot out. The nine dragons sword qi crossbow exploded with a fierce aura of the nine dragons that whistled across the sky. The Sacred Heart sect expert in front of him was stunned, completely ignoring the owner of the long spear that was about to kill him. The Sacred Heart sect expert¡¯s chest was pierced through by the sword, and blood gushed out of the fist-sized hole. But, he still managed to stand still, revealing a cold smile. ¡°Heh, the sacred technique that we cultivate will not die so easily¡± Before he could finish his sentence, a short sword pierced through his forehead. ¡°Metal qi technique, steel saber!¡± Li Xiao roared, and the short sword that was stabbed into his forehead exploded. But, before he could reveal a happy expression, an astonishing cold light shot into the sky from behind him. Li Xiao felt a chill run down his legs, and the qi armor he wore was cut into pieces. His calf and thigh, along with a large piece of flesh and blood and his clothes, were cut off. He turned around, crossing his arms and using his bones to block the attack of the spear behind him. Blood and flesh split open, but Li Xiao¡¯s expression did not change at all. ¡°A higher realm is really shameless. I just can¡¯t defend against it.¡± His qi armor was shredded like a thin piece of paper in front of the second second-level bone pattern realm warrior. Li Xiao stood alone, flipped over, and picked up the sword. He looked at Reihom with a solemn expression. Even though he was unusually brave, he was only able to fight two first-level bone pattern realm warriors without falling into a disadvantage. ¡°Brother Reihom, you have done a great service to our Nine Dragons sect by defending against the attack of the county governor¡¯s mansion and the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army. Our Nine Dragons sect will be eternally grateful for your kindness. Please listen to me later, and I will send you out of the encirclement,¡± Li Xiao said with a grateful tone. Suddenly, a golden saber fell from the sky, cutting off the cold spear that was charging toward Li Xiao. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give it to me?¡± Ge Youqian had a bitter expression. The golden armor on his body had already turned silver, and he had lost a lot of weight. Clearly, a treasured weapon had been shattered. Fortunately, he had brought a lot, so he could still hold on for a while. ¡°As far as I can, I can only send one person out,¡± Li Xiao said with a bitter smile. ¡°The two of you have already done your best to help until now.¡± He looked into the distance, and as the disciples of the Sacred Heart sect exerted their strength, the situation was almost one-sided. They had too many followers, and there were too many experts. The battlefield was vast, stretching out as far as the eye could see. Li Xiao did not even dare to look at the other side where the killing was even more intense. In this battle, the Twin Extreme sect and the Nine Dragons sect might die together. As Li Xiao had thought, the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect and Ge Youqian of the Fengxing Auction House were at a disadvantage from the beginning. Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan were their opponents, and they were at ease, controlling the battlefield while countering. It vividly displayed the rich heritage of the people from the big province. As for Li Zeren and Li Zewu, who were formed by the accumulation of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s many treasured weapons, their artifacts were destroyed by Song Ya and Feng Xigu one by one, leaving them at a disadvantage. The disciples of the Nine Dragons sect were even worse off. Even with the poisons to support them, they could fight two or even three enemies at once without falling into a disadvantage. Meanwhile, as more and more people died, the blood qi that filled the sky made the soldiers of the county governor¡¯s mansion who cultivated the Four-directional tiger-wolf technique become even more ferocious. Large groups of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s disciples fell to the ground one after another. ¡°It¡¯s all over,¡± Li Xiao laughed bitterly, but he did not feel any regret. When he received the letter from his father recalling him, his father had told him the truth. The Nine Dragons sect might not be able to survive this battle, but he could choose not to return. His father would handle the pressure in the sect for him. However, Li Xiao returned without hesitation. It wasn¡¯t because he was righteous and concerned about the sect, but because his parents and relatives were all in the Nine Dragons sect. If he became a coward, he would probably have nightmares all night long. ¡°I¡¯m most afraid of nightmares,¡± Li Xiao muttered. ¡°Rather than having a nightmare, it¡¯s better to die.¡± The two people beside him were confused, but suddenly, in their field of vision, a figure in a red dress was flying backward in the air while hugging another figure. It was as dazzling as a meteor, and the frozen earth exploded as they landed, the soil soaked in blood flying everywhere. The three of them felt their hearts tighten and were about to charge over. A stream of blood spurted out from the frozen soil like a fountain, and in the next second, the figure stood on a higher spot with her hair draped over her shoulders. Her bright dress gradually darkened, revealing the silhouette of her slender legs, and her black hair danced wildly in the cold wind. She held two blood-stained spears in her hands, and her eyes were still as firm as beforea domineering figure. Li Xiao and the other two couldn¡¯t help but glance at her. ¡°This is the Little Sister Shaoxiang I know.¡± Chapter 281 281 The Dragon Corpse Amidst the Sky! Li Xiao teased, but his brows were tightly furrowed as he could already tell that Li Shaoxiang had exhausted all her strength. As a martial artist who had just entered the ninth refinement, it was beyond imagination for her to have killed all the way until now. Suddenly, a figure shot toward Li Shaoxiang from afar with astonishing speed, far surpassing Li Xiao and the others¡¯ opponents. ¡°That¡¯s Qin Huai¡¯s woman! I¡¯ll take your life!¡± The figure had two arms that were as long as a person, holding two long spears in his hands and rushing at Li Shaoxiang in a strange posture. ¡°He¡¯s at the third-level bone pattern realm! Shaoxiang, be careful!¡± Li Xiao roared, wanting to run over, but he was already surrounded by the bone pattern realm experts, making him extremely anxious. ¡°Shaoxiang, run!¡± he shouted, but Li Shaoxiang, who was already somewhat exhausted and pale, remained indifferent. She looked at the excited bone pattern realm expert with a fanatical gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my husband will make a move!¡± she said, closing her eyes slightly under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes. Rushing toward her, the Sacred Heart sect expert laughed maniacally. The Sacred Heart sect¡¯s experts were shooting at a distance of several hundred meters, killing any martial artist in their way, regardless of whether they were from the Sacred Heart sect or the Nine Dragons sect. Drops of fresh blood formed a thread and gathered on the Sacred Heart sect expert¡¯s spear. The blood condensed into a pillar, allowing his slender arms and spear to reach a physical attack range of nearly ten meters. With a swing of his spear, the expert drew a blood-colored semicircle in the surroundings, the sharp blood light piercing toward Li Shaoxiang¡¯s tender white throat. The spear was only five inches away from piercing Li Shaoxiang¡¯s throat when Boom! A strong heavenly might descended from the sky, falling on the Sacred Heart sect experts. The expert¡¯s arms were already at full strength, but the spear in his hand could not advance even an inch, a short distance like a natural moat that was difficult to cross. Confused, the expert looked around trying to find the culprit behind everything. But the entire Nine Dragons Mountain seemed to be frozen in place at this moment, frozen by some kind of divine ability. Looking back at the beautiful woman who seemed to be praying piously, he wondered if she too was a believer of some immortal god. In the next moment, he seemed to see the woman¡¯s face light up. ¡°A sacrifice for one person?¡± The Sacred Heart sect expert was still puzzled. He closed his eyes slightly and prayed to his lord. But he did not receive any response. Only the trembling of his soul made him want to kneel down. The Sacred Heart sect expert examined the light on the woman¡¯s body carefully. It was warm and familiar, like sunlight. He looked up at the sky, and the dark clouds suddenly parted to reveal a ray of light shining on Li Shaoxiang¡¯s body. And then, the light slowly pushed the black cloud back. The expert from Sacred Heart sect squinted his eyes as he stared at the dazzling sunlight. He seemed to see something in the clouds, some kind of creature. Not only him, everyone on Nine Dragons Mountain looked up at the sky. Six-fingered Zou Shuang frowned. ¡°There seems to be someone.¡± Ji Yuan gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. Even though he was at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, he still found it difficult to move an inch when faced with this terrifying power. He couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of existence the owner of this aura was. ¡°No! There¡¯s a huge corpse in the sky!¡± Ji Yuan roared. The dark clouds retreated, revealing the grand appearance behind the dark clouds. A dragon corpse that was more than a hundred meters long rolled in the sea of clouds, making its way toward the Nine Dragons Mountain battlefield. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s a dragon!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the dragon bone!¡± Some people cultivated eye techniques and were able to see the full appearance of the skeleton. ¡°That person That person seems to be¡­¡± Song Ya looked at the figure in the center of the dragon¡¯s head. He would never forget the figure he saw before. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Song Ya¡¯s voice trembled as he growled. A vast power poured down from the sky, and on the battlefield, countless people were instantly forced to their knees. At the dragon¡¯s head, Qin Huai, who was looking down at the ground, suddenly had a dazzling white glow in his eyes. The Sacred Heart sect expert who was originally pointing his spear at Li Shaoxiang was instantly terrified. Blood seeped out of his body. He broke free from that terrifying pressure in an instant, abandoned the spear in his hand, and ran into the distance. However, in the next moment, he felt that he was being stared at by the ¡®god¡¯ in the sky. ¡°Lord Zou, save me!¡± he wailed at Zou Shuang. In the sky, Qin Huai extended a finger from afar. ¡°Those who offend my Nine Dragons sect will die!¡± A powerful voice boomed in the air. The dark clouds that covered the sky instantly shattered, and the huge dragon head immediately dove toward the ground. In an instant, the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s third-level bone pattern realm expert exploded into a bloody mist. Chapter 282 ?282 Blood Heart Technique Experience Points! They were almost a hundred meters away when a dignified expert at the third-level bone pattern realm exploded on the spot. The terrifying scene was etched in everyone¡¯s minds like a miracle, especially when they saw the huge dragon corpse flying in the sky, terrifying and confusing everyone. Qin Huai looked down at the miserable battlefield on Nine Dragons Mountain from the sky. In the end, he was not late. In order to increase the time he could control the dragon corpse as much as possible, as well as control the astonishing white dragon aura on his body, he had to do so. After all, it was a huge battlefield. If his vast dragon force attacked indiscriminately like it did in the meeting hall back then, even if he won this battle, the Nine Dragons sect would probably end. Therefore, Qin Huai spent the last few days in the secret chamber of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to comprehend the white dragon¡¯s aura. In the end, he was awakened by the violent tremors on the ground. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t miss it. Inside the Nine Dragons sect, Li Buhu and the other warriors guarding the inner gate of Lingjiang City looked at the huge hole in the ruined Hundred Treasure Pavilion. They were also speechless for a long time. ¡°Unexpectedly, Qin Huai He actually did it.¡± On the battlefield, Li Zeren looked at the huge dragon corpse in the air in shock. His body trembled. He had never thought that Qin Huai would use such a method to break out of the situation. Since the establishment of the Nine Dragons sect, countless experts and predecessors had tried to turn this dragon corpse into their own combat strength, but they had all failed. Now, Li Zeren could only call it the blessing of the Heavenly Dao. It was because of this that his Nine Dragon Sect had a genius like Qin Huai. ¡°Everyone, retreat behind me,¡± Qin Huai ordered. His voice spread far and wide with the help of the majestic might of the dragon bone. The entire Nine Dragons Mountain could hear Qin Huai¡¯s voice. ¡°Retreat!¡± Li Zeren did not hesitate at all and immediately ordered the Nine Dragons sect disciples behind him to retreat. On the other side, the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect was still staring blankly at the huge dragon corpse that he had never seen before. Then, he shouted, ¡°All disciples of the Twin Extreme sect, retreat to the top of the Nine Dragons Mountain!¡± The disciples of the Twin Extreme sect and the Nine Dragons sect retreated toward the top of the mountain. ¡°Chase after them!¡± Zou Shuang hurriedly shouted. ¡°Even if we don¡¯t kill the enemy, we have to charge into their midst!¡± Although they didn¡¯t know how Qin Huai controlled the terrifying dragon corpse, they still had a chance of winning. As long as they were in cahoots with the county governor¡¯s mansion, their chances of winning were still high. Qin Huai was controlling such a huge amount of power, and the dragon corpse with such astonishing power would definitely consume a lot of energy. It wouldn¡¯t be able to last long. Killing them one by one would waste a lot of Qin Huai¡¯s timeunless Qin Huai disregarded the lives of his own people and killed everyone beneath his feet. But obviously, Qin Huai didn¡¯t want to do that from the start, which meant he didn¡¯t want to. It was a great opportunity, and Zou Shuang couldn¡¯t let it slip away. In the next second, all of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples charged at the Twin Extreme sect¡¯s disciples with all their might, even if it meant getting injured. The once clearly divided battlefield was now a mess, with some Sacred Heart disciples even absurdly treating it like a competition to see who could reach the top of the Nine Dragons Mountain first, competing with the opposing Twin Extreme sect disciples. Zou Shuang, who was giving orders, was agile and quickly closed in on the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect. However, the old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect was determined to stop him, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about stepping past this old man!¡± On the other side, the deranged Ji Yuan attempted to use his vigorous aura and the blood heart technique to fight against Ge Yue, the president of the Fengxing Auction House, and force his way into the crowd. However, he underestimated his opponent¡¯s skill in using treasured weapons, which he threw at Ji Yuan one by one, causing a series of explosions that beat him back. Meanwhile, Qin Huai controlled the dragon corpse to dive down toward the Nine Dragons Mountain. He flew down, almost sticking close to the giant tree on the mountain. The shadow that blotted out the sky flew over the martial artists¡¯ heads, causing many of them to be pressed to the ground. Although Qin Huai was trying his best to control the mighty dragon aura, there were still many martial artists who vomited blood from the pressure. He charged straight ahead and passed through the formation of the many Twin Extreme sect disciples, no longer making any restrictions. Looking at the dense crowd of Sacred Heart sect disciples before him, he felt no pity. The dragon aura poured down like a storm, and the Sacred Heart sect disciples exploded into a bloody mist in the air, including those in the bone pattern realm who couldn¡¯t escape. The power of the huge dragon corpse had long exceeded the range that an ordinary body could withstand. In Qin Huai¡¯s vision, there were also experience balls that fell from the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (White)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +14!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Purple)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +1000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Blue)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +535!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Force Comprehension], [Blood Heart Force] +5%!¡± In the blink of an eye, thousands of Sacred Heart sect disciples exploded on the spot, and Qin Huai¡¯s blood heart technique experience increased by 100 points. Chapter 283 283 The Might of the Dragon Corpse! Qin Huai¡¯s blood heart force also soared, and its terrifying power stacked up wildly. His spine felt increasingly hot. He didn¡¯t even need to make a move; all he needed to do was fly over the Sacred Heart disciple¡¯s head, and the experience ball would fuse into his body. The frenzied slaughter caused Qin Huai¡¯s bones and blood to boil. ¡°Ji Yuan! Please give me your holy blood!¡± Zou Shuang roared. Blood flowed all over the ground and instantly gathered into a blood river. His heart was bleeding. If they continued to die like this, even if they escaped, they would not be able to escape the punishment of their lord. Moreover, they might not be able to escape at all. As they looked at Qin Huai, who was rapidly approaching them, their hearts trembled. Bang! The next moment, Zou Shuang and Ji Yuan took out a purple clay bottle from their pockets. Then, they swallowed the bottle into their mouths. A crisp chewing sound was heard. In the next second, the two of them seemed to be filled with water, and their bodies strangely grew stronger. Even their skin had turned black while a black aura spread from their bodies. The old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect took advantage of the gap and struck out with his palm. Thunder fire gathered in his palm, and in a flash, he swung it out along with the palm wind. ¡°Thunder fire hundred sound palm!¡± Rumble¡­ The flames expanded the moment he struck out his palm, as if they had turned into a flaming tiger that suddenly exploded. This was his killer move, and it allowed him to survive many life-and-death situations. He made his name step by step and walked to this day. However, in the next moment, the old sect master¡¯s pupils constricted. His killer move, which had always been successful, actually began to weaken when it got close to Zou Shuang. He seemed to hear a sizzling sound of burning in his ears. Without any hesitation, he immediately launched a second palm strike! Bang! The blazing flames were extinguished once again. The killer move started to extinguish without any warning when it came into contact with Zou Shuang¡¯s blackened skin. No, wait. It was devoured! The old sect master of the Twin Extreme sect was shocked. This time, he finally saw it clearly. ¡°Now, I am the embodiment of the sacred sovereign¡­ I¡¯ll kill all of you who are obstructing the great cause!¡± Zou Shuang¡¯s expression was indifferent as he looked down arrogantly at the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect. ¡°Please don¡¯t¡­¡± The sect master turned around. Ge Yue, who was almost naked, ran wildly into the crowd, even throwing his boots out. He threw all his treasured weapons, but they were all melted by the fatty Ji Yuan. ¡°Hahaha! An ant dares to blaspheme the power of the sacred sovereign?¡± Ji Yuan looked down at his new form, fearless of Qin Huai. His current skin could devour force and martial arts techniques, and he felt his power constantly rising after devouring. This was the power of their lord¡¯s gift. Against a bone pattern realm expert, he was invincible! He looked up at Qin Huai in the sky. ¡°After I present this dragon corpse to you, I will come back and burn a few incense sticks for you!¡± He had a sinister smile on his face. In the next instant, he rushed toward Qin Huai, hoping to devour all the mighty dragon aura and advance even further. However, Ge Yue, who had unknowingly passed through the crowd of Twin Extreme sect disciples, shouted to Qin Huai, ¡°Sect Master Qin, there¡¯s something strange about this dark-skinned Sacred Heart disciple! The power of my treasured weapon has been completely absorbed by him!¡± Qin Huai looked at the figure on the ground rushing at him. The mighty dragon corpse charged toward Ji Yuan, and when the two collided, a terrifying force surged. The surrounding giant trees turned to dust, and the visible dragon aura around Ji Yuan surged into his body, making his eyes fill with excitement. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood, and a thick white aura appeared. Qin Huai controlled the dragon aura around him to crush Ji Yuan, who couldn¡¯t withstand the dragon force. Ji Yuan swung his fists wildly at Qin Huai, but compared to the enormous dragon force that surged into his body, his attack was simply a drop in the bucket. His body instantly swelled up, and blood spurted out, clearly unable to withstand the terrifying power. In the end, Ji Yuan exploded like a balloon, and the blood mist that filled the sky fell on Nine Dragons Mountain, causing the ground to emit a sizzling sound of corrosion. It was obvious that the blood heart technique they cultivated using evil techniques had great side effects. Chapter 284 284 Exploding into a Bloody Mist Their technique had changed their bodies, making them ominous. The higher the realm, the more obvious this feeling would be. From the outside to the inside, it was the same. The countless Sacred Heart disciples, who had just been rekindled with hope, raised their hands and were ready to cheer. The next moment, they saw Ji Yuan explode in an instant. The faces of those disciples turned pale, and their eyes filled with despair. ¡°Reckless, too reckless!¡± Zou Shuang looked at Ji Yuan, and his expression turned ugly. How could he have such a stupid partner? All he knew was to eat and be reckless. Now, their only chance of winning had been ruined. He looked at Qin Huai, who was once again going through the army of the Sacred Heart sect and slaughtering them. His expression was also extremely ugly. He couldn¡¯t fight! He absolutely could not fight! Facing Qin Huai at this moment, there was only death! And so, Zou Shuang made up his mind and turned to run. ¡°Where are you running to!¡± Behind him, Qin Huai¡¯s furious roar turned into a terrifying sound wave, exploding in Zou Shuang¡¯s ears with a shocking might. Boom! Rumble The terrifying roar lasted for a few seconds, which could have also been his long life. Bang! Zou Shuang only had time to activate the blood heart force. His entire body exploded into a bloody mist on the spot. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Force Comprehension], [Blood Heart Force] +20%!¡± The two martial artists at the fifth-level bone pattern realm were the leaders of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples. Under Qin Huai¡¯s attacks, they only lasted for a few breaths. They all exploded into a bloody mist, and not even a bit of flesh could be found. The originally excited Sacred Heart disciples had completely lost their will to fight. The moment Zou Shuang exploded, they fled in all directions. ¡°Kill! Leave no one alive!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was like thunder, spreading far and wide in the sky above Nine Dragons Mountain. The disciples of the Nine Dragons sect and the Twin Extreme sect on the mountain were completely fanatical. One by one, they chased after the Sacred Heart disciples. Qin Huai¡¯s face turned slightly pale. The dragon king¡¯s force that controlled the dragon corpse was rapidly being consumed. He didn¡¯t dare to chase after them and charged straight toward Song Ya and Feng Xigu¡¯s army on the other side of Nine Dragon Mountain. Across the mountain, all they could hear was a violent roar and the huge dragon corpse that Qin Huai was waving about. Furthermore, the county governor beside him, who had gone crazy from the pain of losing his son, had no intention of retreating. With the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s men stalling for time, it might not be a bad chance for them to risk their lives. ¡°Form the four-directional tiger-wolf formation!¡± The soldiers all over the mountain stood still on the blood sea. They executed the four-directional tiger-wolf technique as if it were a natural action. At the same time, two streams of blood spurted out from their noses, and a faint shadow formed above their heads. Their eyes turned red, and they were overcome with bloodlust. ¡°Kill them!¡± Feng Xigu roared, leading his army up the peak of Nine Dragons Mountain. But then, they saw a giant dragon head rise up in front of them. In the center of the head, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone like those of a god. ¡°It¡¯s time to settle all the old and new grudges,¡± Qin Huai said, looking at Song Ya, whom he had met only twice. Despite this, they had become enemies since the first time they met outside of Pingnan City. ¡°General Song,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was cold and emotionless. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, how could I have been separated from so many close friends for a year? We have yet to meet again.¡± ¡°How much power do you have now?¡± Song Ya grinned, feigning calmness. He could already see the blood-soaked lowlands and streams on the other side of the mountain. However, he still had thousands of troops behind him to form the four-directional tiger-wolf formation, and he might not be defeated. ¡°Hand over your life for my son!¡± Feng Xigu brandished his sword, which drew power from the thousands of soldiers behind him, condensing a shocking red light on the tip of the blade. The dragon corpse¡¯s tail came crashing down from the sky, smashing into the army formation. Corpses and minced meat flew everywhere, and Feng Xigu was sent flying into Nine Dragons Mountain. The red light disappeared without a trace, and the long sword was shattered into pieces. Hundreds of soldiers died on the spot. Song Ya had thought they could fight, but they were shattered upon contact. Qin Huai¡¯s dragon might swept across the mountain, sending trees and people flying. Hundreds of warriors in the blood refinement realm and bone pattern realm were thrown into the sky, their bodies turning to meat paste as they fell. The so-called great blood refinement and fourth or fifth-level bone pattern realm were no match for Qin Huai. On Nine Dragons Mountain, it was a hellish scene. His eyes were cold and emotionless. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Song Ya¡¯s voice trembled as he knelt on the ground, completely shaken by the scene before him. ¡°Sect Master Qin! Mr. Qin Let me go, I¡¯m willing to work for you for the rest of my life!¡± The white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes suddenly flickered and dissipated. The next instant, the kneeling and crying Song Ya charged forward. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone with white light once again. ¡°Qin!¡± Song Ya ran toward Qin Huai, sliding down on his knees as he rushed to him. Boom! The mysterious patterns on the dragon bones lit up inch by inch, and the dragon¡¯s head opened its mouth and pounced on Song Ya. Qin Huai seemed to be retreating frantically as he watched the dragon¡¯s body pass by him. Crack! The dragon¡¯s teeth closed, and Song Ya¡¯s body exploded on the spot. Chapter 285 ?285 The Golden Sea of Blood The two top-notch experts, who stood at the peak of Lingjiang, could not withstand a single moment in front of the dragon corpse. Even the formidable tiger-wolf formation, formed by thousands of soldiers, collapsed. Countless soldiers spat out blood and exploded into a bloody mist under the overwhelming force of the dragon. They were all defeated by Qin Huai¡¯s hands. Qin Huai looked at the soldiers scattered across the mountain, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He urged the dragon corpse to descend from the sky like a whip, creating a fierce wind that rumbled like thunder. However, just as the dragon was about to fall to the ground, the floating dragon head crashed down, stirring up dust and splattering the frozen earth. Blood trickled down the corner of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth, and his entire body went limp. ¡°At least I managed to deliver the final blow,¡± his voice trembled. Although he had not been able to wipe out the entire army of the county governor and the Sacred Heart sect, almost all of their experts had died. This was particularly true for the few experts at the fifth-level bone pattern realm who had stood at the peak of the Lingjiang. Qin Huai could also stare down the experts at the third or fourth-level bone pattern realm and unleash the might of the dragon corpse. He forced himself to raise his head, looking through the drifting dust at the spot where the last strike had landed. Fortunately, the power of the dragon corpse had been unleashed. ¡°Sect Master!¡± Li Zeren and the others shouted anxiously from a distance, their voices carrying a sobbing tone. They were standing about ten meters away from the dragon corpse, which was emitting a terrifying power. Ten meters was the restricted area; stepping within that range would make it difficult for them to breathe due to the overwhelming pressure. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You guys just kill the enemies. Do not give them the chance to counterattack,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice rang out slowly. Li Zeren and the others heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Understood!¡± they replied, leading the Nine Dragons sect disciples who were in high spirits to chase down the mountain. Most of the bone pattern realm experts had already been killed by the dragon corpse controlled by Qin Huai, so the remaining experts had their fighting spirits shattered. Even though the Sacred Heart sect and the county governor¡¯s mansion still outnumbered their opponents after Qin Huai¡¯s attack, they were already defeated. The Nine Dragons sect and the Twin Extreme sect had sounded the horn of counterattack. Trembling, Qin Huai crawled out of the dragon¡¯s head. He looked at the one-sided massacre at the foot of the mountain, and his heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally relaxed. Qin Huai slowly climbed the mountain and reached the top of the Nine Dragons Mountain. He looked at the uncollected experience orbs scattered across the mountain and began to gather them from the Sacred Heart sect members. This was because he had killed most of them; half of the seven to eight thousand Sacred Heart believers had died at his hands. eaglesnov1,o ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Force Comprehension], [Blood Heart Force] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Force Comprehension], [Blood Heart Force] +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Force Comprehension], [Blood Heart Force] +2%!¡± The blood heart force had already reached an astonishing 75% previously, so it only took a moment to surpass the 100% mark. Memories flooded his mind once again. Qin Huai found himself submerged in an ocean, his entire body buried within. Terrifying pressure poured out from all directions, filling the blood-colored ocean with fear. He subconsciously held his breath and observed the sea of blood. Suddenly, he heard a loud wail. The next moment, a massive black shadow swam past him. Qin Huai waited for a long time, wondering if the world had changed. The black shadow eventually passed, revealing countless creatures in the previously empty and deep blood sea. They hovered in the sea of blood like Qin Huai or floated weakly, as if they were drowning. In the sea of blood, corpses were everywhere. Qin Huai stared at this ¡®cultivation memory¡¯ in a daze. The pungent smell of blood and the mysterious fear emanating from the boundless expanse made it increasingly difficult for him to breathe. He wanted to take a breath, but the blood around him poured directly into his mouth. Bang! He died in his memories, unable to withstand the power of the cultivation technique, and his body exploded. Fortunately, this was only a part of Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®memory,¡¯ and he wasn¡¯t really dead. Then, he was ¡®reborn¡¯ once again and returned to the sea of blood. In the sea of blood, he watched all living beings sink into oblivion, and countless enormous creatures that he could not see clearly floated in front of him. Eventually, everything disappeared, leaving only a blurry figure quietly floating in the depths of the ocean. Even though they were thousands of miles apart, Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the blurry figure. ¡°Is that the source of the blood heart technique?¡± he wondered, furrowing his brows and contemplating. If the source of the nine dragons true qi technique was the white dragon, could the power of the blood heart technique come from this figure? Suddenly, a dazzling golden light flashed, causing Qin Huai to lose sight of everything in front of him. His ears buzzed, and the blood-colored ocean suddenly heated up. When he opened his eyes again, the sea of blood had transformed into a golden ocean. The intense pain instantly pulled Qin Huai out of the sea of blood. His spine felt as hot as boiling water, as if tens of thousands of ants were biting at his bone marrow. There were several times when he nearly fell to his knees, sweat pouring down his forehead like a waterfall. However, Qin Huai¡¯s expression gradually calmed down. He quietly listened to the crisp crackling sound of his body and could feel the intricate patterns forming on his spine. Chapter 286 286 The Fate of the County Governor¡¯s Mansion Qin Huai frowned slightly, unable to discern the shape of the pattern on his spine. Activating the blood heart technique, his blood boiled and his spine seemed to glow. It appeared to be a human-shaped pattern, reminding him of the blurry figure in the sea of blood. However, there were no facial features on the spine, just the shape. ¡°The Sacred Heart disciples all over the mountain helped me break through the tranquility of the bone pattern realm. I even crossed two realms,¡± Qin Huai muttered. His current blood heart technique had reached the second-level bone pattern realm. The first stage was at 75%, and his blood heart force had reached 284%, infinitely close to the third-level bone pattern realm. Qin Huai stood up, his weakened state visibly improving. He was very satisfied with the blood heart technique¡¯s recovery ability. As long as his organs and vitals were not damaged, his blood heart technique could mend his flesh and blood. ¡°This kind of power can make me feel even more fearless in battle,¡± he thought. Qin Huai walked in another direction, his pace growing faster until it seemed like he was flying. As he observed the corpses all over the mountain, streams of experience flowed toward him from all directions. He collected experience points while walking, and the experience points of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique increased rapidly. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Orange)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique] Experience +8,888!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Comprehension], [Tiger-Wolf Force] +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-directional Tiger-Wolf Technique Comprehension], [Tiger-Wolf Force] +1%!¡± The four-directional tiger-wolf technique, originally at the eighth refinement level, surged with the help of the county governor¡¯s army. It reached the ninth refinement level with full power, then progressed to the first and second-level bone pattern realm. On Qin Huai¡¯s chest, the dragon, tiger, and wolf were entangled together, as if fighting to occupy more territory. The bone-piercing force kept changing, and every moment, Qin Huai¡¯s bones were being washed and sculpted anew. If it were someone else, their bones might have been completely shattered. However, Qin Huai remained calm, feeling the rising blood and qi. All the failures had been completed in his memories, leaving only the one in ten thousand correct answers for the present world. Phew Exhaling deeply, horrifying heat flowed out of Qin Huai¡¯s nostrils. His vitality broke through and reached stage four. If the fourth stage of qi and blood were classified by realms, it would correspond to the fourth-level bone pattern realm. The ten dragon patterns overlapped with the tiger and wolf patterns, causing Qin Huai¡¯s blood, qi, and physique to grow stronger. The blood-red tiger wolf in his dantian world also became stronger, now comparable to the ten white dragons. However, they still did not dare to provoke the dragon king, who had been sleeping most of the time. Although the dragon king had grown quite a bit, he was still a young man compared to his size. ¡°However¡­¡± Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. ¡°With my current physique and vitality, I should be able to draw the dragon king¡¯s aura into my body.¡± His dragon blood form could be improved. He tried to infuse the dragon king qi into his flesh, but a terrifying energy spread out from his body, so he quickly stopped. Now was not the time to explore new powers. Qin Huai looked at the end of his vision, where the Sacred Heart disciples and the remnants of the county governor¡¯s army were still fleeing in the forest. He turned into an afterimage and charged in. The next day, Qin Huai quickly walked into the palace-like, extravagant, and vast holy land of Lingjiang county the county governor¡¯s manor. After that battle, the victor was decided, and Qin Huai sent people to seal off this massive treasure land. He looked at the delicate women kneeling on the ground, dozens of them, with more than twenty of them holding their children. There were also hundreds of servants. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between a county governor and an emperor?¡± Li Buhu looked at the artificial water in the county governor¡¯s manor and almost drooled. ¡°This is a rock from the Anping period. Just this rockery alone costs four to five thousand taels.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a broken stone?¡± Li Xiao, leaning on his walking stick, sized up the rough stone in front of him. He couldn¡¯t tell what was valuable. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a gimmick created by those profiteers to scam the rich.¡± He pursed his lips. Qin Huai walked to the main hall of the country governor¡¯s manor. There was already a continuous stream of information coming from beside him. ¡°There are thirty thousand taels of gold in the county governor¡¯s treasury. Treasures, medicinal herbs, jade pendants, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings were countless. ¡°The county governor still has two thousand and seven hundred remaining soldiers. I¡¯ve already taken them in under the sect master¡¯s orders and incorporated them into the city guards.¡± ¡°The generals and commanders will all be from the Nine Dragons sect,¡± Li Zeren, covered in blood, reported. ¡°The remaining followers of the Sacred Heart sect in September Hook have all been eliminated. More than three hundred of them have been rescued and brought back to Lingjiang City,¡± Li Zewu reported not long after, looking travel-worn. ¡°Everything is settled,¡± Qin Huai sighed. ¡°Kill those who should be killed and release those who should be released from the county governor¡¯s mansion¡­¡± With that decision, the fate of thousands of people in the county governor¡¯s mansion was determined. Chapter 287 ?287 The Top Sect in Lingjiang! Intruders! As for the things in the county governor¡¯s manor, Qin Huai naturally would not keep them. The Nine Dragons sect, the Twin Extreme sect, and the Fengxing Auction House split the astonishing inheritance equally. Qin Huai was extremely grateful to the Twin Extreme sect and the Fengxing Auction House for their help, regardless of their motives. However, even though the treasures were divided into three parts, the amazing plunder still allowed the three families to earn a lot of money. eaglesnov1,o The piles of silver had truly shaken the hearts of many people in Lingjiang City. In addition, after this battle, the Nine Dragons sect became the biggest sect in Lingjiang. Every day, there would be an endless stream of young people who wanted to join the Nine Dragons sect and follow Qin Huai. This was because on that day, countless people had seen the giant dragon rise into the sky. Books about Qin Huai have already become the best-selling books in Lingjiang. Every day, there would be storytellers in various restaurants praising Qin Huai for all sorts of heroic deeds that Qin Huai himself had never heard of. During this period of time, Qin Huai drove the dragon corpse back to the underground of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. The shocking dragon energy on the dragon corpse could allow a bone pattern realm warrior to get close, but within ten meters, every step he took was like a mountain on his body, making it difficult to move forward. Even the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect and the president of the Fengxing Auction House, Ge Yue, who were experts at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, could only walk eight meters into the dragon corpse. Qin Huai was the only exception. After all the miscellaneous things were done, another five days had passed. Qin Huai finally had a chance to relax. Late at night, he was at the back of Nine Dragons Mountain, offering incense to the sect disciples who had died in battle. Because many disciples were directly minced into pieces, not a single complete skeleton could be found, and they were buried on the mountain. Qin Huai piously offered incense. Just as he got up, he saw a figure strolling in the forest, pausing with every step. The figure was also offering incense to their fellow disciples who had died in battle. That person did not say a word. He just silently walked on the path that still had a strong smell of blood. After a long time, only then did the person walk the entire mountain. He then raised his head to look at Qin Huai, then walked over slowly. The tall figure was bare-chested, and his strong muscles were filled with endless power no matter when he looked at it. ¡°I¡¯m going to Qingzhou.¡± Reihom stared at Qin Huai without much emotion in his eyes. ¡°In Lingjiang, I can¡¯t find a way to surpass you.¡± That day, when he saw Qin Huai unleashing the dragon to slaughter the enemies, his heart wavered and cracked, which was unlike him. Therefore, he wanted to go to Qingzhou to seek stronger power. ¡°I will take back the title of the strongest from you,¡± Reihom declared. Qin Huai was speechless. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought of fighting for the strongest. I just want to have some power to protect the people around me.¡± He pursued power and continued to cultivate, but it was only to be able to protect himself in this chaotic world. He had never taken the initiative to cause trouble, but there were always people who wanted to kill him. ¡°Maybe I will go too, but not now,¡± Qin Huai spoke. He still had a few things to do in Lingjiang county. Reihom said no more. He cupped his fists at Qin Huai, who returned the greeting. Then, the two of them ran in opposite directions. Qin Huai had just stepped into the Nine Dragons sect when his expression changed. He sprinted toward the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. At this moment, due to all kinds of chores, not many people in the Nine Dragons sect noticed the subtle abnormality. On the ruins of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a man and a woman in blue robes easily broke through the sealed ruins and floated into the secret chamber. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to encounter a dragon in such a place,¡± the woman said. ¡°I have only read about this kind of creature in the sect¡¯s ancient books.¡± The young man beside her was eager to give it a try as he walked toward the dragon corpse. ¡°Tu¡¯er, be careful! This true dragon was a natural creature Legend has it that he was the overlord of the myriad races ten thousand years ago¡± ¡°Aunt, don¡¯t worry. No matter how strong it is, it¡¯s already dead, isn¡¯t it?¡± The young man took a deep breath. Although he said it lightly, he still activated the power of his entire body. A terrifying aura surged out from the young man, and his eyes were glowing with blue light. He was a young expert at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, and he seemed to be taking a stroll. He walked until he was ten meters away from the dragon corpse. Then, on the ninth meter, his feet suddenly sank, and the bones in his body made cracking sounds. On the eighth meter, his knees were already bent. ¡°How is that possible? How can a dead dragon have such a terrifying might¡± The young man¡¯s eyes trembled, and he couldn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t even get close to a corpse. On the seventh meter, he stepped into the dragon corpse and spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire body was completely hunched, and he was almost half-squatting on the ground. ¡°What a joke!¡± he roared angrily, and water splashed around his body, neutralizing the terrifying dragon¡¯s might that permeated every pore. In just a short moment, the ground was already wet from the water. Suddenly, he straightened his body, and his bones cracked. The young man was about to step six meters forward when his shoulder was instantly grabbed by the woman. ¡°Xu Tu!¡± the woman¡¯s cold voice snapped the young man awake. ¡°If you take half a step further, you will die here.¡± The woman threw the young man named Xu Tu out of the dragon corpse and quickly approached it. The mighty dragon seemed to be of no threat as she made her way to its side. ¡°As expected of Aunt¡± Xu Tu revealed a happy expression. ¡°Even a dragon can¡¯t do anything to you.¡± However, the woman¡¯s brows were tightly knitted as she looked at the mysterious patterns on the dragon bone. For a moment, she was a little obsessed. She slowly stretched out her hand to touch the dragon bone. ¡°As expected of a legendary creature The bone patterns are so beautiful,¡± she said as she stroked the dragon bone. The next moment, she suddenly exerted force, wanting to lift the dragon bone. Boom! The ground beneath her feet instantly shattered. However, the dragon bone in her hand did not move at all. ¡°Rise!¡± she shouted in a low voice. Rumble¡­ The huge dragon corpse slowly began to rise. ¡°As expected of Aunt,¡± Xu Tu said, but his voice stopped abruptly when a figure appeared on the dragon bone. The dragon¡¯s might seemed to have merged with the corpse. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chapter 288 288 Blue Sea Pavilion ¡°How arrogant!¡± The woman waved her hand and a water curtain rose from the ground, completely blocking the power released by the dragon corpse. eaglesnov1,o The white light in his eyes shone to the extreme, and the dragon corpse¡¯s long tail shook as it fell onto the water curtain. Bang! The water screen shattered. The woman staggered back a few steps, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The woman was an expert who had surpassed the bone pattern realm. ¡°Are you alright, Auntie?¡± Xu Tu wanted to come over, but he was stopped by a water curtain. The woman¡¯s eyes were fixed on Qin Huai. ¡°What kind of technique did you use to activate the dragon corpse?¡± She was puzzled. Even with her own strength, she could not move the dragon corpse at all. Clearly, this dragon corpse could not be moved by strength alone. ¡°No comment.¡± Qin Huai stared at the woman. ¡°You only need to tell me who you are!¡± ¡°My aunt is Xu Yuexin, the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion in Qingzhou,¡± Xu Tu said from the side. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kid. Even if my Blue Sea Pavilion wanted to steal your dragon corpse, we wouldn¡¯t do it so brazenly.¡± The woman took the initiative to retract the fluctuations on her body. ¡°Perhaps the True Path sect will not do anything if I destroy your Nine Dragons sect. However, if I snatch this dragon corpse, our Blue Sea Pavilion might offend the True Path sect, and we don¡¯t want that,¡± she said, taking the initiative to show kindness. Qin Huai had heard of the Blue Sea Pavilion before. It was said to be one of the top powers in Qingzhou. Moreover, the cultivation techniques of these two people were the same as the Blue Sea Pavilion. ¡°Since you are not here to steal the dragon corpse, what is your purpose?¡± The light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes faded. ¡°I just brought my stupid nephew for some experience. I didn¡¯t expect to encounter this thing in Lingjiang.¡± The woman looked at the dragon corpse that was slowly calming down with infatuation. ¡°Ancient creatures He was truly a creation of the heavens and earth. Even in death, he was still so dazzling and moving.¡± Her gaze reluctantly moved away from the dragon corpse and shifted to Qin Huai. ¡°You must be the new sect master of the Nine Dragons sect, Qin Huai.¡± Qin Huai remained silent and sized up the two people in front of him. This woman named Xu Yuexin was as deep as the ocean. He looked at her and felt that she was just an ordinary woman. The only explanation for this situation was that there was too much of a difference in cultivation level. As for the woman¡¯s nephew, Xu Tu, he was also a formidable cultivator. He had easily walked three and a half steps into the forbidden zone, surpassing even the other sect master and Ge Yue, who were both in the Bone Pattern Realm, by more than a level. ¡°Actually, we¡¯re here to find you, Sect Master Qin,¡± Xu Yuexin said with a friendly smile. ¡°Why?¡± Qin Huai asked, puzzled. ¡°I brought my good-for-nothing nephew to travel around to broaden his horizons and spar with prodigies from all over the world,¡± Xu Yuexin explained. ¡°It¡¯s also to gain confidence. Plus, I heard you¡¯re one of the top talents in Lingjiang.¡± Qin Huai raised an eyebrow. ¡°And why should I accept?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t stay in Lingjiang for long,¡± Xu Yuexin said confidently. ¡°Your world is not here. Qingzhou has countless geniuses from small places who have their Dao hearts beaten to death by those proud sons. By fighting with my nephew, you can test the strength of Qingzhou¡¯s elites and be mentally prepared. Some of them may not be too talented, but they can¡¯t accept being defeated by someone from a small place. It ruins their path of martial arts.¡± ¡°What if I say I don¡¯t plan to go to Qingzhou and don¡¯t want to fight this battle?¡± Xu Yuexin¡¯s expression turned strange. ¡°You don¡¯t plan to go to Qingzhou? Lingjiang is not a place to stay for long.¡± Qin Huai waited for her to continue. ¡°The imperial edict of Great You¡¯s emperor can¡¯t even reach Qingzhou,¡± Xu Yuexin said. ¡°The Great Nether is about to collapse, and the world is about to fall into chaos. The ambitious heroes want to enter the world and dominate. Besides, the strongest person in small Lingjiang is only in the bone pattern realm. Even with the protection of the dragon corpse, how long can it support you in battle?¡± Her words hit Qin Huai hard. He suddenly realized that the Great Nether Chamber of Commerce¡¯s gold and silver notes would be useless in the coming chaos. He had to find a way to prepare himself. ¡°Then I will fight your nephew,¡± Qin Huai said, jumping down from the dragon¡¯s head. ¡°Tu¡¯er,¡± Xu Yuexin called out softly. ¡°Understood!¡± Xu Tu replied, pulling back dozens of steps. Chapter 289 289 The King¡¯s Power Meanwhile, Xu Yuexin kept her distance from Qin Huai and remained in his line of sight. ¡°Hello. Qin Huai, right? What¡¯s the level of your realm now?¡± he asked. ¡°Third level,¡± Qin Huai replied with a solemn expression. Facing a genius from Qingzhou, he wouldn¡¯t let his guard down, especially after the other party¡¯s extraordinary performance earlier. ¡°Then I won¡¯t take advantage of you. I¡¯ll use my third-level bone pattern realm to fight you!¡± Xu Tu exhaled lightly, and endless waves seemed to emanate from him, making him look gentler. ¡°Here it is!¡± Xu Tu growled and tapped the ground lightly. Without an explosion, Xu Tu moved dozens of meters like water. He then suddenly appeared in front of Qin Huai, his palms grabbing at the air. Water ripples connected up and down, attempting to seal Qin Huai within. It was the water flood palm technique! But before Xu Tu could make contact, a white light wrapped in the power of ten dragons exploded in his face. Rumble¡­ Xu Tu came in gently but left fiercely, his entire body flying out like a sharp arrow. Stab! Water rippled under his feet, and he rolled on the ground more than ten times before finally standing still. ¡°You don¡¯t care about martial arts! You¡¯re borrowing the power of the dragon corpse?¡± Xu Tu pointed at Qin Huai¡¯s nose and shouted. What kind of power was that just now? The third-level bone pattern realm was supposed to be stronger than his fifth level. Qin Huai looked at Xu Tu, who had been sent flying more than ten meters away. He was momentarily stunned and did not even have the time to react. This was a genius from Qingzhou? However, for the sake of the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion beside him, he still endured it. ¡°My power is indeed a little stronger than ordinary people,¡± Qin Huai said sincerely. Naturally, it couldn¡¯t be calculated using common sense. What really surprised him was that he did not expect that the genius of Qingzhou, Xu Tu, was actually so much weaker than him in the same realm. ¡°I¡¯m going to be serious now!¡± Xu Tu stretched his muscles. ¡°You have to know that on the battlefield, others won¡¯t only use the strength of the third-level bone pattern realm just because you¡¯re only at the third level. In a battle of life and death, everyone has to do their best. Moreover, the true geniuses of Qingzhou have experienced countless life-and-death battles!¡± Xu Tu¡¯s words hardly finished when the fifth-level bone pattern realm rippled out. Qin Huai looked at the person in front of him as if he was looking at a vast ocean. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten-dragon tremor!¡± The water screen appeared again, but the ripples were like cotton, swallowing the rumbling ten-dragon tremor. Xu Tu¡¯s fists were unending, and he neutralized all of Qin Huai¡¯s attacks. This fellow¡­ was he really only at the third-level bone pattern realm? Xu Tu was far from convinced. Renowned as a genius in Qingzhou, he found himself bested by Qin Huai, who was two realms below him. ¡°Dragon wave fist!¡± Xu Tu¡¯s aura transformed in an instant. The initial gentleness morphed into a raging torrent, and his fists moved like tidal waves. Each wave surged higher than the last, each punch stronger than the one before. The waves roared like a dragon, as though a blue dragon¡¯s soul had erupted from the sea to battle the ten white dragons. Xu Tu¡¯s courage grew with each strike, and after fifteen punches, he managed to suppress Qin Huai¡¯s ten-dragon tremor. ¡°Heh¡± Xu Tu¡¯s lips curled into a smug smile. ¡°Once the dragon wave fist is activated, each punch surpasses the previous one! If it reaches a hundred strikes, I can bridge a vast realm and defeat an expert who has just entered the visceral prefecture realm.¡± His expression grew even more gleeful. But in the next instant, he saw the white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes flare brilliantly. Boom! A tremendous pressure suddenly bore down on Xu Tu¡¯s body. Ka The ground beneath his feet cracked. Even his attacks seemed suppressed and slowed. ¡°They¡¯re just petty tricks!¡± Xu Tu roared, the ground beneath him transforming into waves that dissipated the pressure. He knew he could not afford to hesitate, so the speed of his fists accelerated. Whoosh! The aura before him abruptly retreated. Xu Tu¡¯s furious waves appeared to lose the support of the sea cliff as they crashed toward Qin Huai¡¯s slender frame. ¡°Petty¡± His voice halted abruptly. In his vision, Qin Huai¡¯s figure seemed to have become dozens of times more imposing. A deity-like fist dominated his entire field of view. ¡°Dragon King Shock!¡± Boom! The vast ocean shattered under the might of the dragon king. Blood spurted from Xu Tu¡¯s mouth and nose as he flew backward, dazed in mid-air. His feet sought the ground, but he could not feel his legs. ¡°Where are my legs?¡± Xu Tu shouted, but no sound emerged. In his mind, the only thing clear was the suffocating force of the dragon king. ¡°Wake up!¡± A familiar voice called out, causing Xu Tu to snap back to reality. ¡°Ha!¡± His ragged breath caused his feet to thud heavily on the ground. Rumble Xu Tu plowed seven to eight meters into the earth before coming to a stop. Cold sweat poured down his forehead like rain. Just moments ago, his force had been shattered, and both his body and soul had been struck by the other party¡¯s force. This was the most terrifying aspect of a bone pattern realm expert¡¯s attack. If one used force to kill an enemy, it might obliterate the person¡¯s body and soul. Collapsed on the ground, Xu Tu stared blankly at Qin Huai. Chapter 290 ?290 The Luo Family ¡°I¡­ I lost.¡± In the next second, he cursed, ¡°Is your momentum a bit stronger?! What a monster!¡± Xu Tu then turned to his aunt and complained bitterly, ¡°Aunt, didn¡¯t you say I would travel through various counties to gain confidence? Why am I still being beaten up the moment I step out of our territory?¡± ¡°I never said you¡¯d find confidence in this county,¡± Xu Yuexin said helplessly. She felt somewhat resentful toward her nephew for not living up to her expectations. However, this time, it wasn¡¯t Xu Tu¡¯s fault. Xu Yuexin frowned, staring at Qin Huai. ¡°Now I know how you control the dragon corpse. The True Path sect¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique lineage¡­ The legendary ten-dragon patterned bone. Legend has it that a person with ten dragon patterns has a chance to produce dragon king force,¡± Xu Yuexin murmured. ¡°Those with low realms can¡¯t see it. It¡¯s for the dragon king¡¯s force¡­ There¡¯s a chance of becoming a king.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference between this and those guys?¡± Xu Tu looked at Qin Huai with an aggrieved expression. ¡°He is indeed a monster.¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone in Qingzhou who can cultivate a similar force as me?¡± Qin Huai asked curiously. ¡°Naturally, there are countless geniuses in Qingzhou. Even a rare king¡¯s force like yours isn¡¯t extinct. But¡­¡± Xu Yuexin paused for a moment. ¡°I still haven¡¯t seen anyone like you, especially one who can cultivate the dragon king¡¯s force in a small place like Lingjiang. Anyway, sorry for disturbing you today.¡± Xu Yuexin then cupped her fists. She didn¡¯t have the haughty air of the Blue Sea Pavilion¡¯s great elder. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Xu Yuexin glanced at Xu Tu. ¡°Wait, let me remember this guy¡¯s face!¡± Xu Tu gritted his teeth. ¡°So what if you remember? With your current state, you wouldn¡¯t be his match in another fifty years.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember his face. Can¡¯t I run faster the next time I see him?¡± Xu Tu wailed. A wave of water shot out from Xu Yuexin¡¯s fingertip. Bang! Xu Tu was sent flying like a meteor. He disappeared into the dark night, leaving Qin Huai stunned. ¡°Senior Xu¡­ Will Brother Xu be alright?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my Blue Sea Pavilion¡¯s cultivation technique is the most resistant to falling.¡± The moment Xu Yuexin finished speaking, under Qin Huai¡¯s watchful gaze, her figure instantly vanished from the secret chamber. ¡°What incredible speed¡­¡± Qin Huai frowned. Even with the dragon corpse, he might not be a match for Xu Yuexin. ¡°There are too many strong people in this world It¡¯s so difficult to remain stable.¡± Qin Huai sighed. Born in a chaotic world, great power pushed him to become stronger and stronger. ¡°I should have continued moving forward without hesitation Qingzhou won¡¯t be the end either. There are still sixteen prefectures of Great You beyond Qingzhou I need to stand at the peak of all experts to protect and choose peace.¡± Qin Huai mumbled, his gaze becoming more and more determined. After that, he picked up a dark orange experience ball from the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blue Sea Technique Essence (Dark Orange)], [Blue Sea Technique] experience points +79999!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blue Sea Force Comprehension], [Blue Sea Force] +3%!¡± A massive amount of experience flowed into Qin Huai¡¯s body. In just a blink of an eye, the blue sea technique had reached the third refinement level. Qin Huai¡¯s sternum also emitted a cool feeling, as if there were ripples carved on it. The next morning, Qin Huai had just sat in the study when he saw Li Zewu rushing over. ¡°Sect Master, we¡¯ve found the Luo family.¡± ¡°Quickly bring me there.¡± Qin Huai was overjoyed. Li Zewu quickly led the way, but his expression was a little complicated. ¡°However, something unexpected happened.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Huai slowed down his footsteps. ¡°Five mysterious people appeared beside the three people from the Luo family. Three men and two women, and they¡¯re extremely strong. Perhaps they¡¯re from Qingzhou or other big provinces. ¡°Also, they have an extraordinary temperament and are dressed very exquisitely.¡± Li Zewu smiled bitterly. ¡°Even a few of our people were injured. Perhaps the disciples have been arrogant these past few days, and their attitudes are a little rude. However, the other party¡¯s attitude was not bad. They did not kill anyone.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows slightly. ¡°Since the other party shouldn¡¯t have any ill intentions, why bother Uncle Luo and the others?¡± Qin Huai murmured in his heart. ¡°Tell the uncles to restrain their disciples. We are now the number one sect in Lingjiang, but remember not to be rude! We must not become the second Sacred Heart sect or the county governor. The higher we go, the more we have to tread on thin ice!¡± Qin Huai instructed. A warrior who slays a dragon should not become an evil dragon. ¡°I have already punished those disciples,¡± Li Zewu said seriously. ¡°Any other information?¡± Qin Huai slowed down. He had met Xu Yuexin, the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion yesterday, which had made him even more cautious than before around warriors from Qingzhou. Even if the other party looked very friendly at the moment, Qin Huai had no choice but to prepare a foolproof plan. Everything should be handled just in case. ¡°Those five people seem to be led by a young girl surnamed Xu, and there¡¯s a young man with a bruised face beside her. The people below said that from the way they addressed them¡­¡± Li Zewu paused for a moment. ¡°The girl should be called Xu Gugu, and the boy should be called Xu Tutu. They look similar, so I think they¡¯re a pair of siblings.¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard these two names. ¡°Are you sure that girl is called Xu Gugu?¡± ¡°Probably. The disciple shouldn¡¯t be mistaken,¡± Li Zewu said frankly. ¡°Sect Master knows their identities?¡± Li Zewu was shocked. ¡°Those people are indeed wearing aqua blue robes.¡± Qin Huai smiled and shook his head. He could roughly guess who this group of people was. As expected, the so-called young brother and sister should be Xu Yuexin and Xu Tu, who had sneaked into the Nine Dragons sect last night. However, Qin Huai did not expect that they were actually with the Luo family. Why? ¡°Sect Master, should we bring more people over?¡± Li Zewu said in a deep voice. ¡°The ones who attacked were all bone pattern realm experts.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand and rejected Li Zewu¡¯s suggestion. Chapter 291 ?291 Luoshui Bloodline! At the southern corner of Wanli Street lay a courtyard belonging to a steward in the County Governor Manor. Xu Tu, with a bruised face, sat calmly between two men and a woman. The three Blue Sea Pavilion experts, donning aqua blue robes, wore natural expressions on their faces, as they were used to seeing Xu Tu in this state. ¡°Senior Brother Xu, Little Junior Sister seemed so reluctant to part. It was clear that she had feelings for the Senior Brother she was talking about,¡± He Daxin said in a muffled voice. ¡°How is it a secret feeling?¡± The female martial artist, Jing Jiuying, sighed. Her eyes were filled with a look as if she had already seen through everything. ¡°Two days ago, Senior Brother He went to probe and threatened with his life. Neither Little Junior Sister nor her parents said anything.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk¡± Jing Jiuying couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°This proves that Little Junior Sister and Uncle Luo have good characters, which is also a good thing for our Blue Sea Pavilion.¡± He Daxin scratched his head. ¡°But Senior Brother He, you¡¯re too rude!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine now. Originally, Little Junior Sister had said that she would leave after meeting her Senior Brother, but now that they are at the Nine Dragons sect in Lingjiang, Little Junior Sister is unwilling to say a word.¡± Jing Jiuying was speechless. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Anyway, the Nine Dragons sect has already come to find us. Little Junior Sister¡¯s Senior Brother must have already known where Little Junior Sister and the others are,¡± He Daxin said in a deep voice. ¡°What if because of your recklessness, Little Junior Sister doesn¡¯t want to come with us?¡± Jing Jiuying rolled his eyes. The group continued to argue. Xu Tu frowned and thought calmly, ¡®Little Junior Sister and her daughter have the Luoshui bloodline. Their future achievements are beyond imagination¡¯ ¡°And that mysterious senior brother is just from the Nine Dragons sect, a disciple with some power.¡± ¡°The difference is too great¡± ¡°It seems like Junior Sister really likes that person. However, if we let her be, the gap between the two of them will only grow bigger and bigger. In the end, they will end up in two separate worlds.¡± Xu Tu suddenly spoke up, ¡°I have a way to get the best of both worlds.¡± ¡°What are you planning, Senior Brother Xu?¡± ¡°When that mysterious senior brother comes, we¡¯ll pretend to be hostile in front of Little Junior Sister. We¡¯ll use the name of the Blue Sea Pavilion to intimidate him first. ¡°If he wants to live, he should leave. If he wants to die, he can stay. If he leaves with his tail between his legs, Little Junior Sister will naturally not be worried about following us back to the Blue Sea Pavilion.¡± ¡°What if he stays?¡± Jing Jiuying asked curiously. ¡°Well¡± Xu Tu chuckled. ¡°You and I, as warriors of Qingzhou, will show him our power and let him know how vast the gap between us is. Make him a rival once and throw some provocative and sarcastic words at him. ¡°If he¡¯s determined, he will naturally go to Qingzhou to train and constantly grow stronger to catch up to Little Junior Sister. This will also give the two of them a glimmer of hope for the future.¡± Xu Tu¡¯s words made Jing Jiuying and He Daxin¡¯s eyes shine. ¡°What a great idea, Senior Brother Xu!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid only Senior Brother Xu can think of such a method.¡± The two of them praised, impressed by Xu Tu¡¯s imagination. ¡°For the sake of the sect¡¯s disciples, we must consider not just cultivation resources, but also food, clothing, housing, transportation, family relationships, and even marriage. This is also the reason why my Blue Sea Pavilion is so famous throughout Qingzhou.¡± Xu Tu clasped his hands behind his back and continued to teach with a transcendent attitude. ¡°Jiuying has learned her lesson!¡± Xu Tu waved his hand. ¡°Junior Sister Jing, when the time comes, lend me your makeup to help me dress up. My current appearance is too handsome. Without a sense of oppression and ferocity, the effect might not be very good.¡± ¡°As expected of Senior Brother!¡± Jing Jiuying praised. ¡°Details. It¡¯s all in the details.¡± ¡°By the way, Senior Brother Xu, last night, you and the First Elder went to the Nine Dragons sect to search for the dragon corpse. Does that thing really exist?¡± He Daxin asked curiously. Xu Tu nodded. ¡°The dragon corpse is not fake. Even in death, its power was still terrifying. Even Aunt could not move it.¡± His expression turned a little ugly at the mention of this, and Qin Huai¡¯s figure appeared in his mind. ¡°Speaking of which, Senior Brother, the injuries on your body today¡­ It didn¡¯t seem like they were just from the great elder.¡± ¡°Is this the force mark of the True Path sect?¡± Jing Jiuying frowned as she tended to Xu Tu¡¯s wound. ¡°Haha¡­ I bumped into the sect master of the Nine Dragons sect and had a spar with him.¡± Xu Tu laughed. ¡°How powerful is the young sect master of the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Jing Jiuying was intrigued. ¡°I heard from the people in the city that Qin Huai was able to control the dragon corpse when he was less than twenty years old and established the power of Lingjiang county.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I have won against him.¡± Xu Tu coughed lightly. Two rooms away, the three members of the Luo family were a little worried. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that after leaving the wolf¡¯s den, we would enter a tiger¡¯s den.¡± Luo Huatian was no longer as wealthy as before. He was very skinny, and the bones on both sides of his cheeks protruded from hunger. ¡°This Blue Sea Pavilion isn¡¯t just a blessed land for the three of us. It¡¯s also another dragon pond.¡± Yu Xin patted Luo Huatian¡¯s back. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any problems. Although He Daxin was reckless that day, he was also beaten up by Elder Xu. Besides, the three of us don¡¯t have a single cent on us. Why would the dignified bone pattern realm warriors go through so much trouble for us?¡± Luo Huatian rubbed his forehead and sighed. ¡°We were trapped in September Hook for a year and have seen too many tragedies. There are quite a number of Sacred Heart disciples who cultivate their feelings before killing someone. In the end, their ¡®relatives¡¯ become food for their mouths.¡± Chapter 292 ?292 We Meet Again They had been living in purgatory at that time. He had witnessed too many horrendous tragedies. If Luo Huatian had not recalled his craftsmanship from his youth, his forging skills would not have been outstanding. Even a family of three wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape the fate of being fed on blood. ¡°But¡­ We must go to the Blue Sea Pavilion.¡± Luo Huatian became determined again. ¡°In the past, I didn¡¯t have any talent in cultivation. I could only think of various ways to survive in this chaotic world. Now that we have the Luoshui bloodline and have been chosen by a large faction, we have to give it a try. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way to survive in this chaotic world.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Luo Ya, who had been silent for a long time, also spoke. ¡°With my current ability, I will never be able to help Senior Brother. That¡¯s why I have to try.¡± After the hellish experience in September Hook, the three members of the Luo family had undergone many changes in their state of mind. It was too difficult to survive in this world without the ability to protect oneself. Relying on others, they could only live in fear all day long. The brutal Sacred Heart sect had caused them to witness too many terrifying scenes that made them unable to sleep at night. ¡°Father, let¡¯s go now.¡± Luo Ya spoke again, ¡°Senior Brother will be gone for now. I¡¯m afraid that these people from the Blue Sea Pavilion will harm him.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Luo Huatian felt a little regretful. ¡°If we don¡¯t meet him this time, we might not be able to meet again.¡± ¡°With Senior Brother¡¯s talent, he will definitely become famous in Qingzhou. As long as I cultivate diligently, we will definitely meet one day.¡± Luo Ya sighed. At the same time, the conviction in her heart grew stronger. ¡°Alright then¡± Luo Huatian nodded helplessly. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the people from the Blue Sea Pavilion.¡± He pushed open the door and walked toward Xu Yuexin and the others who were two yards away. ¡°Did you not hear that Senior Brother?¡± Hearing Luo Huatian¡¯s words, He Daxin and the others were a little disappointed. They had just heard Senior Brother Xu¡¯s plan and had already thought of the lines in their hearts. Now, she said she wouldn¡¯t act ¡°Alright then. Our Blue Sea Pavilion will definitely respect your opinions.¡± Xu Tu looked regretful. He glanced at his aunt, who was meditating not far away, and was about to open his mouth. They suddenly looked out the window. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s not up to you.¡± Jing Jiuying quickly took out her tools, skillfully applying makeup on them. Almost instantly, the few people who had originally looked clean were turned into villains by her skillful makeup skills. The few of them looked at each other. He Daxin¡¯s left eye was closed, and there was a scar on his face that ran through his entire face. He was bareheaded, and his smile was filled with malevolence. On the bed, Xu Yuexin sighed as she listened to the young people praising each other. The group of people walked out aggressively. Meanwhile, in front of the courtyard, Qin Huai stood still. He saw four fierce-looking warriors in blue robes approaching him. ¡°You are Little Junior Sister¡¯s Senior Brother?¡± He Daxin walked up to Qin Huai. His tall figure, coupled with his fiendish face, gave off a strong sense of oppression. ¡°Senior Brother!¡± On the other side, Luo Ya and Yu Xin also rushed out after hearing the voice. ¡°Senior Brothers, I¡¯ve already said that I¡¯ll leave with you. Don¡¯t make things difficult for my senior brother.¡± Luo Ya was frightened. Although she had already learned that Qin Huai had once shown his brilliance at the battle of Nine Dragons Mountain, he was still a young genius. However, it was still the power of the legendary dragon corpse. When the Blue Sea Pavilion disciples taught the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s disciples a lesson that day, Luo Ya and the other two clearly knew how powerful the Blue Sea Pavilion disciples were. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Sister. We won¡¯t make things difficult for him,¡± He Daxin sneered. He deliberately grinned and even stuck out his tongue to lick the scar on his face. ¡°Brat, we are disciples of the Blue Sea Pavilion in Qingzhou! Luo Huatian and the other two are ours for sure,¡± Jing Jiuying quickly added, then turned to look at her senior brother, Xu Tu. His expression was very ugly. Jing Jiuying quickly continued what his senior brother was supposed to say, ¡°You only have two choices in front of you now. Either you die, or you die.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding!¡± A smile appeared on Xu Tu¡¯s face. However, his smile was a little bitter. Xu Tu was cursing in his heart. Why was his luck so bad? To actually meet Qin Huai twice ¡°Hmm?¡± He Daxin and Jing Jiuying looked at their senior brother, who had suddenly made a 180-degree change, with blank expressions. ¡°So it¡¯s Brother Xu Tu,¡± Qin Huai had a look of ¡®realization¡¯ on his face as he cupped his fists at Xu Tu. ¡°Haha¡­ It has been a long time since we last met, but Brother Qin is still as handsome as ever.¡± Xu Tu walked forward and put his arm around Qin Huai¡¯s shoulders. He was exceptionally cordial. ¡°This is senior brother¡¯s old friend,¡± Jing Jiuying sized up Qin Huai. ¡°No wonder Little Junior Sister is so devoted. You¡¯re indeed very handsome.¡± ¡°How can Senior Brother have friends in Lingjiang county?¡± He Daxin was confused. ¡°Then Senior Brother, should we encourage your friend?¡± After all, it concerned his junior sister¡¯s Dao heart and happiness, so He Daxin didn¡¯t dare to be careless. ¡°What¡¯s there to encourage? Your Senior Brother Xu was just defeated by the sect master of the Nine Dragons sect last night.¡± Inside the house, Xu Yuexin walked out. She looked helplessly at this group of disciples who could not grow up. ¡°He lost?!¡± He Daxin and Jing Jiuying widened their eyes in disbelief as they looked at Qin Huai. Chapter 293 ?293 Dragon King Form ¡°I was just lucky,¡± Qin Huai said humbly. ¡°Aunt!¡± Xu Tu looked at Xu Yuexin with tears in his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect that his aunt would expose what he had been trying so hard to hide. ¡°Have you forgotten why I brought you out this time?¡± Xu Yuexin looked at her nephew coldly. ¡°If you want to regain your face, work hard to become stronger.¡± Xu Tu¡¯s expression drooped like a wilted eggplant. At the same time, He Daxin and Jing Jiuying hurriedly took a few steps back. As for the plan they had made earlier, they had already selectively forgotten about it. Xu Yuexin led Xu Tu and the others away. Meanwhile, Qin Huai was pulled into the room by Luo Huatian and the other two. ¡°When we left Pingnan City and walked all the way to Lingjiang, bandits ran amok along the way. After many trials, we finally reached Lingjiang City,¡± Luo Huatian recounted. ¡°When the general guarding the city heard that we were refugees from Pingnan City, he deliberately made things difficult for us. After swindling all our money, he chased us out of Lingjiang, so we had no choice but to go to Huai Dan City. We didn¡¯t expect to be captured by the Sacred Heart sect halfway.¡± The four of them, who had not seen each other for a year, were deeply moved. They chatted for several hours in the room. In the end, Luo Huatian and Luo Ya finally voiced their thoughts. Qin Huai was silent for a moment. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to go to the Blue Sea Pavilion, I won¡¯t stop you,¡± he said. He knew that the current world indeed needed the backing of force, and his strength was not enough to guarantee that he could absolutely protect them. Qin Huai continued, ¡°Since there¡¯s the so-called Luoshui bloodline, then make good use of it. If you¡¯re having a difficult time in the Blue Sea Pavilion, send a message to the Nine Dragons sect. I will take you away.¡± His voice was soft but firm. He didn¡¯t know much about the so-called bloodline; he had only heard about it from the Daoist of the Green Cloud Temple. He had thought that he would only be able to see its might when he went to Qingzhou. He did not expect such a person to be by his side. However, the two of them had already missed the best time to cultivate, in his knowledge, so they could still be valued and nurtured by the Blue Sea Pavilion. If their cultivation was successful, it would definitely not be bad. ¡°However, you have to be careful at all times in the Blue Sea Pavilion. The martial artists of the large sects have many methods, and they might have the means to seize the bloodline,¡± Qin Huai reminded again. He had experienced such a thing before, so he had to be on guard. He had tried to persuade the three of them, but they had all rejected him. As the saying goes, risks and opportunities co-exist. Qin Huai could not insist on anything. ¡°Haha. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been in Pingnan for so many years, so I¡¯m quite accurate at judging people,¡± Luo Huatian reassured Qin Huai. The group sighed again. Several hours later, everyone stopped in front of Lingjiang City. ¡°Senior Brother! I will definitely work hard to cultivate!¡± Luo Ya said, her voice low and her eyes filling with tears. Yu Xin and Luo Huatian were the same, tears welling up in their eyes. ¡°Elder Xu, I¡¯ll leave my three relatives in your care,¡± Qin Huai bowed solemnly at Xu Yuexin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Xu Yuexin said seriously. ¡°As long as I¡¯m alive, I won¡¯t let anything happen to Luo Ya and Luo Huatian!¡± She then pulled Qin Huai aside. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the dragon corpse. It¡¯s recorded in the large sects of Qingzhou. Such a dragon corpse cannot be moved even by ordinary human power artifacts, and only geniuses like you who have cultivated dragon king force can activate it. Otherwise, the True Path sect would not have placed this dragon corpse in a small place like Lingjiang. However, some ignorant people will definitely covet this item.¡± ¡°Thank you for informing me, Elder Xu.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, he was more or less reassured. After that, Qin Huai watched them leave. ¡°You have met your old friends and relatives briefly before parting again.¡± Li Zewu, beside him, was touched by the scene. eaglesnov1,o ¡°Sect Master, are you going to leave us too?¡± Li Zewu asked. ¡°With my current abilities, it¡¯s too difficult for me to protect the Nine Dragons sect. We need to go to Qingzhou to find a stronger force.¡± His current realm was already somewhat stagnant, so it would take a year for the nine dragons true qi technique to break through again. In the next few days, Qin Huai had always been in seclusion in the sect¡¯s hinterland, forging artifacts and researching new poison formulas for the Nine Dragon Sect as a foundation. On the tenth day, Qin Huai was interrupted. It was Madam Li Shaoxiang, who was dealing with the settlement of the surrounding towns. In the end, the two of them lay on the bed, sweating profusely. ¡°Husband, originally, the people of the cities under Lingjiang county were in dire straits. Now that the Nine Dragons sect has taken over the throne, this situation is much better. The disciples and elders that I chose were all trustworthy and had excellent character. The response was excellent. When I reached the fifth city, there would be people lining the streets to welcome me.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes were filled with pride. ¡°That¡¯s good news,¡± Qin Huai was also very pleased. ¡°This proves that we didn¡¯t fight this battle in vain.¡± After getting rid of the county governor and the Sacred Heart sect, especially the latter, it made all parts of the county seem to be full of vitality again. It grew in reverse in this great world, blooming with vitality. ¡°The Daoist of the Green Cloud Temple is right. My husband is not only the destiny of the Nine Dragons sect but also the destiny of the entire Lingjiang county.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ll go to Qingzhou to seek stronger power.¡± ¡°Husband, go. I will help you manage the entire Lingjiang from the rear. I¡¯m still observing the people of the Twin Extreme sect and identifying the elders among them. It might take some time for that sect to take over the command of Lingjiang.¡± Li Shaoxiang kept talking to Qin Huai. Li Shaoxiang was highly skilled in handling various matters, thanks to the training she received from Li Zeren in her youth. Despite being a few years apart, this did not have much impact on her abilities. Now, with Qin Huai regarded as the most influential figure in the entire Lingjiang, Li Shaoxiang, as the wife of ¡®King Lingjiang,¡¯ could finally demonstrate her expertise. The following morning, Li Zeren entered Qin Huai¡¯s study, bringing an intelligence report from Huai Dan City. ¡°The Balance Army didn¡¯t attack us. Instead, they shifted their focus to Shangjiang county, located beyond Lingjiang.¡± Puzzled, Qin Huai murmured, ¡°This Balance Army¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t comprehend their actions, as they were supposed to be Lingjiang¡¯s ultimate threat. Why had they suddenly withdrawn? Regardless, this development was advantageous for them, as there was no need for further conflict. Qin Huai narrowed his eyes, considering the final task to complete before departing for Qingzhou. While the Balance Army had not yet retreated, he needed to travel to Huai Dan City and bring his master back. Naturally, he had to prepare thoroughly beforehand. Seated cross-legged in the training room, Qin Huai slowly infused his body with dragon king qi. Instead of white lines appearing on his muscles, his black hair started turning snow-white. Gradually, a terrifying power blossomed from an unseen sourcethe dragon king form! Chapter 294 - 294 A Reunion at Huai Dan City 294 A Reunion at Huai Dan City Qin Huai¡¯s eyes dazzled as the dragon king¡¯s aura caused his hair to change. The vigorous vitality turned his black hair white and even longer than before. He looked down at his hands, shocked. ¡°This strength is many times stronger than before¡­¡± It was pure physical strength. Qin Huai felt like a young dragon king, capable of shattering everything in front of him with his fists. ¡°My power in dragon king form might be even more terrifying¡­¡± The light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes extinguished as a faint sense of fatigue surged into his heart. To activate dragon king form, the stamina consumption was equally shocking. He bought poison from the Fengxing Auction House, changed into a black robe, and ran toward Huai Dan City alone. On the way, he received Elder Erlong¡¯s letter, saying, ¡°Sun Yuanshan is still in Huai Dan City.¡± Qin Huai quickened his pace and, in just three to four days, crossed several cities to arrive at Huai Dan City, which the army had been attacking for months. At this moment, Huai Dan City was filled with ruins and the air with a familiar smell of blood. Both sides had left countless corpses on the ground. Around the battlefield, there were also commoners in tattered clothes, searching with empty eyes. Some were rummaging through corpses, some squatting on the ground eating rotten meat, and some sleeping on the ground. The war had caused them to lose their homes and families. Qin Huai looked on with a heavy heart and walked to the Huai Dan City gates, which were wide open. There weren¡¯t any city guards, so warriors and commoners could enter and leave freely. On the streets, people cheered and shot firecrackers, celebrating the departure of the Balance Army and the war being far away from Huai Dan City. Qin Huai followed the address given by Elder Erlong and easily found the residence of his master, Sun Yuanshan, and the others. ¡°Master!¡± he pushed the door open and entered, delighted to see the elderly man with a rosy complexion. ¡°Qin Huai?¡± Sun Yuanshan was pleasantly surprised. Qin Huai looked at the well-built old man and felt a myriad of emotions in his heart. ¡°Haha¡­ The disciples of our Changshan Dojo are all outstanding in their blacksmithing skills. They are provided with good food and drinks by those people from the Balance Army all day long,¡± Sun Yuanshan talked freely. ¡°There were a few gangs with crude skills who were jealous of us, but I subdued them all.¡± When Qin Huai heard his master¡¯s words, he instantly understood. ¡°Master¡¯s methods are very brilliant. He even made those gangs suspect each other and fight each other. The losses were not small.¡± Qi Yangbing sighed. Qin Huai looked at the numerous Changshan Dojo disciples in the courtyard. Many of them had already left. They either joined the Balance Army or left the dojo after the Balance Army departed, and no one knew where they went. ¡°I heard there were some martial artists in the Balance Army who wore strange armor. Those armors could make a martial artist¡¯s qi and blood soar?¡± Qin Huai asked. Speaking of this, Sun Yuanshan frowned. ¡°We haven¡¯t forged that thing, but I¡¯ve seen it from afar. That armor is like a living thing. It can even jump. I was chatting with a soldier from the Balance Army, and he said that the armor might have been forged with demons.¡± ¡°Forged with demons?¡± Qin Huai exclaimed. He had never imagined that someone could use demons to forge armor. This world was truly full of wonders. There was the Sacred Heart sect that fed on living creatures like fiendish demons, and now there was a mysterious person from the Balance Army who used fiendish demons to forge ¡®living¡¯ armor. Elder Erlong, who sent the message, went elsewhere after the Balance Army left. It was said that it was Li Shaoxiang¡¯s order. He wanted to kill some of the remnants of the Sacred Heart Sect. Qin Huai then told Sun Yuanshan his plan. He was preparing to bring his fellow disciples to the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°I already told them about it, and they did not have any objections.¡± Sun Yuanshan stroked his beard. He knew that his favorite disciple was now the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s leader and the most powerful person in Lingjiang. He laughed so hard that his mouth never closed. ¡°But as for me¡­ I want to go out and experience it again,¡± Sun Yuanshan hesitated. ¡°Oh? Why do you think so, Master?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Sun Yuanshan to say such a thing. ¡°You brat, what kind of gaze is that!¡± Sun Yuanshan glared at him. ¡°I¡¯m only eighty years old. I¡¯m still very young!¡± Qin Huai was sweating profusely, but he didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°I used to stay in Pingnan City to promote Changshan Dojo. Now that the dojo is gone, I naturally have to continue pursuing the realm of martial arts!¡± Sun Yuanshan continued to stroke his beard, his eyes filled with melancholy. ¡°This trip to Huai Dan City has made this old man feel very aggrieved. Moreover, my current realm is definitely not my limit!¡± When Sun Yuanshan arrived at Huai Dan City, it was a blessing in disguise for him to break through the barrier of great blood refinement. He looked younger and younger. ¡°Master, are you planning to go to Qingzhou to train?¡± Qin Huai asked tentatively. However, Sun Yuanshan rolled his eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m only in the great blood refinement realm now. Isn¡¯t going to Qingzhou cannon fodder? Naturally, I¡¯ll first train in the various counties of Qingzhou before going there! I need at least one thing to survive, realm or poison techniques, in Qingzhou.¡± When Qin Huai heard this, he immediately felt relieved. With his master¡¯s treachery¡­ Old and shrewd, only others would suffer in the martial world. Chapter 295 - 295 Arriving at Qingzhou City 295 Arriving at Qingzhou City ¡°Since Master has made the decision, this disciple naturally does not dare to interfere. I can only wish Master a prosperous martial arts journey,¡± Qin Huai said. He stayed in Huai Dan City for another two days before parting ways with his master, Sun Yuanshan, at the city gates. ¡°Brat, don¡¯t forget to cultivate your poison techniques no matter where you go.¡± Sun Yuanshan looked at Qin Huai kindly. ¡°Your family might lie to you, your good friends might lie to you, and your cultivation level might fall¡­ But poisons won¡¯t lie to you! This is the truth I realized when I was traveling in the martial world in my early years.¡± ¡°I will definitely remember it,¡± Qin Huai said, opening his chest and revealing the pocket of his modified robe. There were all kinds of poisonous things inside. Sun Yuanshan nodded in relief. ¡°Huai¡¯er, please remember that. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have great achievements in the future!¡± Qin Huai returned to the Nine Dragon Sect but did not stay too long. Two days later, he brought along a map drawn by Li Xiao that led to the most prosperous place in Qingzhou and began his journey. Qingzhou was huge, with ten thousand miles between Lingjiang and Qingzhou City. If an ordinary person were to walk sixty miles a day, they would need nearly half a year to reach Qingzhou City. However, Qin Huai had found a horse with a bloodline of demons that could travel thousands of miles in a day. He carried three bags and his treasured weapon, Silver Fox, and rode his horse all the way east. Along the way, he saw that many cities were heavily guarded. Outside the cities, there were countless thin and miserable faces in ragged clothes. They had even encountered several battles with more than a thousand people on both sides. They all cultivated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, and each of them hung the flag of a different city. They were all battles between counties or small cities. The great world was in conflict, and the warlords were fighting for power. Countless ambitious people wanted to prove that they were the chosen ones in this life. Ten days later, Qin Huai crossed a distance of ten thousand miles and looked at the map in his hand. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the gate of Qingzhou City.¡± He gazed at the distant mountains and was about to walk out of the forest when he saw many commoners and martial artists rushing in the same direction. Although Qingzhou City was called a city, it actually referred to a place that should be collectively called the territory of Qingzhou City. As the most prosperous place in Qingzhou, from the easternmost gate to the westernmost gate, it would take a thousand miles. It was one-tenth of Qin Huai¡¯s journey, and one could see how huge Qingzhou City was. Qin Huai walked slowly onto the main road. The people around him had dense blood essence fluctuations on their bodies, and even the weakest among them was at the blood refinement realm. It could be considered a grade higher than the experts in a small place like Pingnan City. However, everyone in Qingzhou City seemed to be on the same level. Qin Huai saw a number of bone pattern realm experts, whose bodies emitted a faint aura that made the surrounding martial artists wary of getting too close. ¡°It seems that the bone pattern realm is present in Qingzhou City, and they are not too weak. At least they¡¯re leaders,¡± Qin Huai observed carefully. Although the number of bone pattern realm experts here was not as numerous as in Lingjiang, there were still many of them who did not have high status. Qin Huai looked into the distance and saw a thick city wall that towered over a hundred feet. The wall exuded a sense of antiquity, and even from afar, he could hear the faint sound of metal clashing in his mind. Below the city wall was a densely packed cluster of buildings that looked like a city outside the city. ¡°Young Master, is this your first time in Qingzhou City?¡± A toothless fellow blocked Qin Huai¡¯s path. Qin Huai¡¯s expression turned cold. He didn¡¯t want to get into trouble and cause unnecessary chaos. ¡°Hehe. In our line of work, wealth comes from danger,¡± the beggar spoke and before Qin Huai knew it, five or six people had already surrounded him with spears. ¡°Leave everything you have behind, including this horse, and I will let you live,¡± the strange leader demanded as he stomped his foot. A surge of qi and blood suddenly rose from his body, indicating that he was a martial artist who had refined his blood. Qin Huai patted his horse coldly, and the steed with the bloodline of demons walked forward slowly. ¡°Find¡­¡± Before the beggar could finish his sentence, he fell to the ground with a thud and foam came out of his mouth. Blood flowed nonstop. There was an axe in his hand. The surrounding people were even worse off. Blood flowed out of their seven orifices on the spot, and their bodies turned black. Qin Huai had an axe hidden behind his back, which he used to kill the gang members who tried to trick him. He picked up the experience orbs that had fallen from their bodies. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Broken Axe Essence (Orange)], [Broken Axe Technique] Experience +12,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Broken Axe Essence (Purple)], [Broken Axe Technique] Experience +2,111!¡± Qin Huai merely glanced at the broken axe technique. There was nothing special about it; it was just an ordinary cultivation technique. The Broken Axe Gang was probably just a small gang. He didn¡¯t care about this little episode. He searched the silver notes on everyone¡¯s bodies, which totaled only a little over a thousand taels. Then, he continued walking toward the city gate. Chapter 296 - 296 A Human Demon 296 A Human Demon Just as they approached the city gate, Qin Huai stood in a long line, quietly surveying everything in Qingzhou City. There seemed to be no order outside the city walls, with all kinds of gangs running amok. Although there were no brawls on the streets, armed fights could be seen in the alleys with some attention. However, the city outside the walls had many amenities, such as taverns, apothecaries, blacksmiths, and brothels. The people even had fireworks, and the moat connecting to Qingzhou City had beautiful flower boats adorned with bright lights. As he looked at the city gate, he saw that the few soldiers guarding it were actually highly skilled blood refinement martial artists. ¡°How strict,¡± he muttered. But just as he finished speaking, two figures charged out from the city, one in front and one behind. The thick city gate that was more than ten meters tall was pulled down by one of them and flew toward Qin Huai like a dart. It was as if a huge ox demon phantom had appeared in midair, and a row of three pavilions was directly cut in half by the city gate. The wind howled, and it almost brushed past Qin Huai¡¯s cheek. Blood splattered everywhere, and wails instantly resounded throughout the entire city outside the walls. This power had clearly surpassed the bone pattern realm, causing Qin Huai to frown. The two figures, one tall and one short, stood on the ruins beside Qin Huai. He followed the panicked crowd and hid across the street, watching them fight. The man who threw the gate looked middle-aged, with muscles so strong that his black robe was very big. The young man opposite him looked to be in his early twenties, and blood trickled down the corner of his mouth, making him look rather pathetic. ¡°Feng Zhiqun! Are you trying to bully my Wuji Mountain?¡± the young man said fiercely. ¡°Don¡¯t use Wuji Mountain to pressure me. The west side of the city isn¡¯t your Wuji Mountain¡¯s territory,¡± Feng Zhiqun sneered in response. ¡°A demon disguised as a martial artist of your Wuji Mountain killed innocent people outside Qingzhou City and instigated the relationship between the major sects. This is a huge matter!¡± the young man replied. ¡°Even if you¡¯re the leader of Wuji Mountain, you can forget about entering the city for the time being!¡± Feng Zhiqun changed his words. ¡°From today onwards, Qingzhou City will be temporarily sealed off! No one is allowed to enter!¡± The young man clenched his fists, and his voice trembled. ¡°You¡¯re going too far!¡± ¡°Your words don¡¯t count!¡± Feng Zhiqun did not listen at all. Clearly, this Ghost Ox sect was not weak either. As soon as the city was sealed, the city outside the walls was in an uproar. This was especially true for the many martial artists lining up in front of the city gate. Some of them even wanted to barge in, but Feng Zhiqun turned his head and his eyes shot out a ray of light. From dozens of meters away, he threw a punch across the air, as if a bull had broken out of his body. The few people who wanted to barge in instantly exploded into clouds of blood mist, which was sprinkled on the city wall with a long history. After that, the crowd instantly fell silent, and no one dared to challenge Feng Zhiqun¡¯s words. ¡°Good! Good! Alright!¡± exclaimed the young man. ¡°You¡¯re ruthless!¡± He quickly turned around and left, not wanting to continue pestering them. Qin Huai, who was in the crowd, frowned. He did not expect to encounter such a thing as soon as he arrived in Qingzhou. They couldn¡¯t even enter the city, let alone go to Wuji Mountain. Qin Huai felt helpless and could only find an inn to stay in for the time being. ¡°Young Master, are you eating or staying?¡± asked a shrewd waiter who walked over. ¡°Fifty taels a night,¡± the waiter replied with a smile. Qin Huai raised his head abruptly and looked into the waiter¡¯s eyes, which did not seem to be faking it. Fifty taels¡­ This was no different from robbery. In Lingjiang, a vitality pill only costs ten taels. He carefully sized up the inn. It was ordinary, clean, and tidy. However, he was helpless now, so he could only pinch his nose and give in. ¡°I¡¯ll take one for now.¡± Qin Huai gave the waiter fifty taels. He didn¡¯t have much money on him, just ten thousand taels. Lingjiang county was in dire need of money, so Qin Huai didn¡¯t think of taking more. In fact, Li Shaoxiang had insisted on giving him the ten thousand taels. He had not expected that he would not be able to enter Qingzhou City. ¡°Speaking of which, can that demon really transform into someone else?¡± Qin Huai listened to the people around him talk about demons. ¡°It¡¯s said that the demon is no different from a human. His realm is no different from a visceral prefecture expert. He can speak human language, look like a human, and even master several cultivation techniques. It¡¯s impossible to guard against. If that wasn¡¯t the case, why would the major sects seal off the entire Qingzhou City? Tsk tsk. That damned demon!¡± Everyone drank their wine, sighed, and shook their heads. They all looked helpless. Qin Huai drank his wine. It seemed like he wouldn¡¯t be able to enter Qingzhou City for the time being. ¡°I have to find a job outside the city,¡± Qin Huai pondered. He could either go to an apothecary and resume his old profession to gain more experience in medicine, or he could find a blacksmith shop and improve his forging skills. He could even find a sect with a good cultivation technique. They were all good choices. ¡°Tsk tsk, your spear is a little too crude~¡± said a voice in front of him. ¡°A mid-grade power stone was forged into an elementary-grade artifact.¡± Qin Huai focused his gaze and saw a half-grown child sitting on the bench, his feet not touching the ground. ¡°Hey uncle, I¡¯ll give you this amount. Can you give me the spear on your back?¡± the young man said as he extended five fingers. ¡°My spear is wrapped in black cloth, so how can you tell if it¡¯s good or not?¡± Qin Huai smiled. He didn¡¯t ask in detail if the price was fifty thousand or five hundred thousand. ¡°It depends. A high-level artifact master can tell whether a treasured weapon is good or bad just by looking at it!¡± replied the young man, shaking his head in a stylish manner. Qin Huai looked at the young man, afraid that he would say something like ¡®I once said it¡¯. ¡°So, you¡¯re a treasured weapon master?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Of course not, but my father and grandfather are,¡± the young man boasted. ¡°Our family is known for their expertise in artifacts.¡± Chapter 297 - 297 Tong Treasure Shop 297 Tong Treasure Shop ¡°Treasured weapon masters¡­ Are they only for making artifacts?¡± Qin Huai sized up the young man before him. The latter¡¯s hands were covered in calluses, and his arms were even thicker than many of the adults beside him. Clearly, he was a blacksmith. ¡°Naturally,¡± the young man replied with a smug look on his face. ¡°My family only produces high-quality products. If you sell this spear to me, my family will definitely be able to increase its power by another forty percent! What a pity. If it was a raw gemstone, my father would be able to double its power.¡± Qin Huai realized that this young man was trying to promote his family¡¯s treasure shop by treating his Silver Fox as a fake so that he could upgrade it. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t believe it¡­¡± he said, pretending to be surprised. ¡°Lead the way. Let me take a look first.¡± The young man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t reveal any flaws, but his light footsteps completely betrayed his heart. Qin Huai followed behind the young man and walked into the main street. However, as they walked, the expressions of the pedestrians on the street had already become much more solemn. There were still a large number of citizens waiting anxiously in front of the gates of Qingzhou City. However, because of Feng Zhiqun¡¯s intimidation, these martial artists did not dare to clamor or make any presumptuous moves. On the streets, many people were in a hurry to buy food and clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t go out for the next few days. There are demons in the city that have transformed. They¡¯re very impressive,¡± one person said. ¡°What should I do if I can¡¯t enter Qingzhou City? My wife and children are still waiting for me to come home,¡± another lamented. ¡°My mother is seriously ill, and it¡¯s all thanks to my herbs that she¡¯s still alive¡­ Lords, please give me a way out¡­¡± Wails spread from afar. Qin Huai looked into the distance. The walls of Qingzhou City were already filled with martial artists. It was different from before. At this moment, half of the people standing in front of the city had an imposing aura. They were bone pattern realm experts. Above the gate, on the city tower, Feng Zhiqun sat. His cold eyes looked down at the ground, and an invisible might seemed to be able to penetrate through flesh and blood, piercing straight into the soul. Qin Huai only needed to look into his eyes to feel a piercing pain in them. The young man leading the way followed Qin Huai¡¯s gaze and smiled. ¡°That Ghost Ox sect¡¯s Feng Zhiqun is a famous legend in Qingzhou City!¡± he said. ¡°His family is a sixth-generation servant disciple of the Ghost Ox sect. When he was six years old, his parents and relatives were all killed by demons when they went out, leaving him alone to inherit the sect¡¯s servant position. ¡°At the age of thirty, he was only able to reach the patterned bone level and was sent to a small city by the border. However, in this small border city, he had been transferred back to Qingzhou City because of his meritorious service in blocking the demon wave several times. After that, it went out of control. ¡°He broke through the visceral realm at the age of forty and became a real elder of the Ghost Ox sect. He¡¯s famous for being iron-blooded and harsh.¡± The young man was very familiar with the Ghost Ox sect. As he spoke, he looked at Feng Zhiqun on the city tower with envy in his eyes. Qin Huai listened silently. Li Xiao had once told him that the Ghost Ox sect was one of the top forces in Qingzhou City. It held a pivotal position in Qingzhou City, especially in the west. Qin Huai scanned the area, taking in the sight of numerous martial artists carrying bags of various sizes, along with demons aimlessly wandering around. It was evident that they were all locals of Qingzhou City who could not enter the city. After walking for another half of the street, Qin Huai heard a commotion behind him. Many pedestrians quickly dispersed to the sides of the road, and he found himself squeezed into a fruit stall by the crowd. Bang! Bang! Bang! Warriors with stern expressions and wearing armor marched aggressively across the street. ¡°Are these all disciples of the major sects in the city?¡± Qin Huai asked, as he was still new to the area and didn¡¯t know much about these sect emblems. ¡°No, there are also sects from outside the city. It¡¯s just that they couldn¡¯t enter Qingzhou City, so they set up their sects and gangs outside the city,¡± the young man replied with a slightly different expression. Perhaps this person wasn¡¯t just some country bumpkin, but a lucky one at that. It seemed that he didn¡¯t know anything about Qingzhou City. He carried a decent artifact on his back and dressed shabbily. If he didn¡¯t have the money, he would have wasted so much time talking. ¡°It must have been the great sects in the city that put in a lot of effort, asking them to send people to search for demons hiding outside the city,¡± the young man sighed. ¡°The sects in the city must have put in a lot of effort to make these sects from the outer city join forces.¡± ¡°Apart from that, the gates of Qingzhou City must have been sealed,¡± a thin and tall middle-aged martial artist interjected. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can enter the city in a short period of time.¡± The crowd of onlookers was a little sarcastic, while Qin Huai shook his head inwardly. He didn¡¯t expect to encounter such an issue when he had just arrived in Qingzhou. He waited for the martial artists from the sects to pass by before following the young man to a shop, or rather, a house. As he stood at the door, Qin Huai could hear the sound of metal knocking emanating from inside the room, along with traces of heat waves. A wooden sign hung in front of the door that read, ¡°Fourth Generation Tong¡¯s Treasure Shop.¡± The meaning was obvious. This Tong Treasure Shop had already been passed down to the fourth generation. Many guests came and went in front of the door, carrying bags or having carriages carry large bags of things. Qin Huai looked at the packages. Some of them exuded a natural aura, while others were fine iron and rare stones. Chapter 298 298 Treasure Forging Technique However, none of them were heading to Tong Treasure Shop. Instead, they entered the shop across the street with the sign of Treasure Mountain Hall. There were only a few people in front of Tong Treasure Shop. Qingzhou City was indeed a prosperous place, the center of Qingzhou. ¡°Father! I¡¯m back!¡± the young man shouted in an imposing manner. Then, he brought Qin Huai into a side room. The moment Qin Huai stepped through the door, he was greeted by a wave of heat. A six-legged cauldron that was as tall as three people was emitting flames. It weighed at least a thousand pounds. The tall man sitting in front of the furnace, his muscular body slightly black, was holding a hammer weighing hundreds of pounds. When he raised his head to look at them, his eyes immediately emitted a murderous aura. However, it wasn¡¯t directed at Qin Huai, instead, it was directed at the youth who was beaming with joy. ¡°You brat, you tricked someone again?¡± Thud! The young man knelt on the ground without saying a word. He even considerately cleared a path for Qin Huai to reach the man¡¯s side. ¡°Honored guest, my son is naughty and has caused you trouble.¡± The man then glanced at Silver Fox, which was on Qin Huai¡¯s back. ¡°Your spear is not bad. You¡¯ve displayed seventy percent of its sharpness. Using dragon tendon wood as a spear shaft was a wonderful move, so it cannot be considered as burying this power stone.¡± The man only glanced at Qin Huai¡¯s Silver Fox from a few meters away, and he could see most of it. ¡°Master has good eyesight.¡± Qin Huai clicked his tongue. Although his smithing skills had reached the level of a treasured weapon master, the level he had gained from his experience was ultimately not as spiritual as these masters who had been proficient in this field for many years. He cupped his fists and said, ¡°To tell you the truth, I¡¯ve admired the art of forging for a long time. Now that I¡¯ve encountered the matter of the great demon, Qingzhou City has been sealed. I wonder if Master can allow me to observe the Dao of forging in your shop for a few days?¡± The man laughed. ¡°The Tong family¡¯s treasure forging technique is not taught to outsiders. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Qin Huai felt regretful as he looked at Tong Treasure Shop. However, there weren¡¯t many furnaces for forging iron. It only had seven or eight furnaces. This technique was probably only passed on to his own family. No wonder this man looked so skilled, but there were only a few customers. It was not as good as the one across the street. ¡°In that case, please wait for a moment,¡± the man said as he stood up. ¡°I have something to say to my son.¡± Just as Qin Huai was about to leave the room, the door of the treasure shop was kicked open. A dozen fierce-looking muscular men with one hand behind their backs barged in. ¡°Those who don¡¯t want to cause trouble, get out!¡± the leader, a scar-faced man, shouted fiercely. The few customers who were initially scattered around immediately narrowed their eyes upon seeing the newcomer. They quickly grabbed their belongings and dashed out of the store. The scar-faced man smugly surveyed the now-empty Tong Treasure Shop. ¡°Old Master Tong, have you given it any thought today? Join my Broken Axe Gang and hand over your family¡¯s cultivation technique. In return, our Broken Axe Gang will protect your business!¡± ¡°Dream on!¡± A stooped figure emerged from a back room, seething with anger. ¡°Even if you kill me, I will never hand over the Tong family¡¯s forging technique!¡± Tong Xianhui roared. The boy¡¯s father frowned but remained silent. The scar-faced man didn¡¯t seem to mind. He flashed a mischievous smile and said, ¡°Old Master Tong, what are you talking about? Why would our Broken Axe Gang commit murder? We¡¯re just making a suggestion. Since you¡¯re unwilling, we¡¯ll come back tomorrow.¡± The scar-faced man deliberately drew out his last sentence. After speaking, he glanced at Qin Huai before quickly departing. Tong Shou sighed. ¡°You should leave quickly before you get caught up in trouble.¡± He waved at Qin Huai. ¡°Is the Broken Axe Gang really that strong?¡± Qin Huai inquired. Based on the cultivation technique he had learned from the Broken Axe Gang, their skills were far from first-class. They couldn¡¯t be compared to the nine dragons true qi technique at all. The experts among them were likely not very strong. Logically, the Tong family should have accumulated a wealth of connections as a treasured weapon family. Tong Shou waved his hand, unwilling to elaborate. ¡°Maosheng, escort our guest out!¡± The young man, who had been kneeling on the ground, immediately stood up and gestured for Qin Huai to follow him. As Qin Huai followed the youngster towards the exit, the latter suddenly warned, ¡°You¡¯re new here. Don¡¯t provoke these gangs in the outer city. Although the sects that survive in the outer city aren¡¯t as strong as the major sects in Qingzhou City, they¡¯re still quite powerful. ¡°Even the smallest sect has several bone pattern realm experts. As for the larger gangs, there are even visceral prefecture realm experts among them! Even the major sects in Qingzhou City treat them kindly.¡± ¡°What is the Broken Axe Gang¡¯s status?¡± Qin Huai asked, standing a short distance behind the young man in the courtyard. ¡°The Broken Axe Gang can only be considered a small-to-medium-sized gang. The gang leader, Xiong Fu, is a martial arts prodigy at the fourth-level bone pattern realm. However, most of his subordinates are at blood refinement realm, and there are only three bone pattern realm experts. That scar-faced man was one of them,¡± the young man explained, sighing. He added, ¡°If that were all, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But the gang leader, Xiong Fu, has acknowledged the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s leader one of the four major gangs in the outer city as his godfather.¡± Chapter 299 299 The Broken Axe Gang ¡°So that¡¯s why he¡¯s so lawless¡± Qin Huai muttered, then cupped his fists at the youth and said, ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Just as he stepped out of Tong Treasure Shop Whoosh! The moment Qin Huai emerged, a short axe suddenly descended from the side. He had anticipated this and leaned back slightly. With a swift kick, he sent the attacker flying before the axe could land. On the street, many people watched the spectacle with enthusiasm. Seeing Qin Huai¡¯s powerful kick, the onlookers quickly retreated, fearing they might be accidentally injured. The scar-faced man, who had been leading the group earlier, narrowed his eyes and hurled a spear at Qin Huai. He charged forward, kicking up dust in his wake. ¡°Brat, how dare you attack my Broken Axe Gang!¡± he exclaimed, about to pull out his short axe when a white light flashed in the eyes of the man before him. At the same time, the scar-faced man¡¯s body emitted a powerful aura. Bang! The two forces collided in midair. The scar-faced man took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he sneered at Qin Huai, ¡°A bone pattern realm expert! No wonder you¡¯re so arrogant.¡± ¡°Brother, please forgive me for offending you just now,¡± he and Qin Huai said simultaneously, chuckling and cupping their fists. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± Qin Huai replied, waving his hand magnanimously. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± the scar-faced man ordered, leading a dozen members of the Broken Axe Gang away. He glanced around fiercely, causing the surrounding commoners to avert their eyes, not daring to look at him and his gang. After they left, someone shouted at Qin Huai, ¡°Little brother, hurry up and leave. The Broken Axe Gang will definitely seek revenge for the smallest grievance. They¡¯ll surely come back to cause trouble for you!¡± ¡°How is that possible? We¡¯ve already resolved our grievances,¡± Qin Huai said innocently. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m in the bone pattern realm, so they don¡¯t need to gnaw on a tough bone like me. The gains wouldn¡¯t make up for the losses.¡± ¡°Naive, too naive,¡± the person across the street sighed and shook his head, saying no more. Qin Huai smiled innocently. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be too suspicious of people. There are still many good people in the world.¡± ¡­ The scar-faced man and his men walked deeper into the alley. ¡°Brother Scarface, are we just going to let this matter go?¡± one of his lackeys asked, his expression cold. ¡°Let it go? How can we?¡± Scarface snorted. ¡°He killed seven of our brothers. If we let him go, how will our Broken Axe Gang maintain its reputation?¡± He continued, ¡°I just exchanged blows with him. Although that fellow¡¯s power felt a little strange, it wasn¡¯t strong. He¡¯s just a kid who recently entered the bone pattern realm. Judging from his attire and temperament, he¡¯s probably a young master from a small county seeking experience and self-improvement.¡± Scarface, having seen many like this before, sneered. ¡°He lacks shrewdness and knowledge.¡± ¡°How did you see through him, Brother Scarface?¡± the others asked, curious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see his attack? He didn¡¯t aim for any vital points at all,¡± Scarface explained. ¡°If he were an experienced fighter, that whip kick just now should have crippled the ability to visit the brothel!¡± He gestured at the lower half of the man¡¯s body, who promptly clamped his legs together in response. ¡°But are the yellow gu worms given by the Blood Poison Gang defective? That yellow gu worm seems to have died on that pretty boy.¡± Scarface clicked his tongue. He could tell that Qin Huai was the murderer who had killed his men when they entered the city. It was all because of the yellow gu worms given to them by the Blood Poison Gang. As long as the people of the Broken Axe Gang shot the yellow gu worm, the size of a grain of rice, into the person they wanted to track, it would be fine. The yellow gu worms would emit a smell that could only be detected after consuming yellow straw, and that pretty boy had it. In addition to the testimony they had gathered in front of the city, it was easy to determine that Qin Huai was the person who had killed their subordinates. However, Qin Huai¡¯s scent was very weak, indicating that the yellow Gu worm had died. ¡°If it had been another four or six hours later, I¡¯m afraid this kid would have escaped.¡± Scarface sneered. ¡°Looks like our luck is pretty good.¡± A few of Scarface¡¯s subordinates also laughed complacently. ¡°Liu Zi is watching over there. Let¡¯s go back and ask the sect master to bring people here personally,¡± Scarface said with cold eyes. ¡°We have to end this quickly. We have to use these recent events to make the name of our Broken Axe Gang known! I want to see if the Tong family will give in when the time comes!¡± ¡­ Qin Huai strolled leisurely on the streets, picking a few fruits and asking about the prices of various grains in Qingzhou City. ¡°The big city is indeed a big city. There are so many fruits and vegetables,¡± he observed, sweeping his gaze across the area and seeing more than ten types of vegetables. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because spring is a good season, or because Qingzhou City is vast and has abundant resources and convenient transportation.¡± On the ground were half-dead and emaciated figures. Some of them had a rough flower stalk in their mouths, exhaling smoke from a type of tobacco unique to Qingzhou City. Qin Huai uttered the words ¡®living dead,¡¯ and his figure instantly disappeared. Ten meters behind him, Liu Zi, who was wearing a bamboo hat and closely following Qin Huai, was stunned. The next second, a hand patted his shoulder. ¡°How did you discover me¡­¡± Qin Huai, proficient in poison, easily pried open Liu Zi¡¯s mouth. ¡°Yellow gu worm,¡± he said, throwing Liu Zi, whose face had turned purple. He then rummaged through Liu Zi¡¯s body and finally found a small bug that could not be seen unless examined carefully, in a poison bag in his robe. At this moment, the yellow gu worm was already dead. ¡°Qingzhou City is indeed not to be underestimated. A gang could have this kind of tracking method,¡± Qin Huai remarked. ¡°The Blood Poison Gang, one of the four big gangs in the outer city¡­ They¡¯re not to be trifled with, so it¡¯s best to avoid them as much as possible.¡± Qin Huai looked at Liu Zi, who was already breathing heavily on the ground. ¡°Those people have seen my face¡­ If I keep them alive, I¡¯ll definitely be in a lot of trouble.¡± He was silent for a moment, then bent down and patted Liu Zi¡¯s face. ¡°One last question. How do I get to your Broken Axe Gang?¡± Chapter 300 300 Dealing With the Gang Leader ¡°Pear Alley¡± Liu Zi struggled to speak. He looked at the handsome man in front of him with fear, knowing that his poison techniques were more varied than even the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s top shot. Qin Huai snapped Liu Zi¡¯s neck, ending his last half hour of life. He looked over at the few smoking individuals trembling on the ground. Bang! A white light flashed in his eyes, followed by a quick movement. The sound of heads tilting echoed, and all the smoking individuals died in the narrow alley that no one entered. Qin Huai removed Liu Zi¡¯s bamboo hat and put it on his head. His robe fluttered, and specks of powder flew out of it. The sound of corrosion slowly rang out, corroding all the corpses. He walked out from the other end of the narrow alley and returned to the inn to put Silver Fox back. Then, he quickly walked toward the street where the Broken Axe Gang was located. The headquarters of these gangs did not seem to be in the most prosperous areas of the outer city, but rather in the corners. It was probably a rule set by the inner city¡¯s major sects. This saved Qin Huai a lot of effort. Only a few people appeared, as if to prove to Qin Huai that this place still belonged to the outer city. He walked for more than two hours before he saw the crooked wooden sign hanging from Pear Alley. The two neighboring alleys were empty. In front of Pear Alley were a few groups of lazy martial artists casually smoking cigarettes, looking at Qin Huai, who was a stranger. It seemed that the road to the headquarters of the Broken Axe Gang was easy to find. Qin Huai walked over. ¡°Hey, you with the bamboo hat, do you know where you are?¡± A martial artist with scars all over his body walked toward Qin Huai. ¡°Stop! Take off your bamboo hat!¡± another martial artist ordered. Qin Huai obediently complied and revealed a friendly expression. ¡°Hello, Broken Axe Gang. I have a big business deal to discuss with your leader.¡± Hethen stretched out his hand and stuffed a hundred taels of silver into the hands of the martial artist who was walking towards him. ¡°What business?¡± The martial artist sized Qin Huai up, noticing the absence of calluses on his hands. One look at his appearance and he knew that he was the young master of a rich family. ¡°My family runs an apothecary. When I first came to Qingzhou City, I wanted to come and give my respects to your gang,¡± Qin Huai said with a pleasant expression. ¡°Good!¡± The man patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Our leader likes people like you!¡± He took the hundred taels of silver and did not suspect anything. After all, the Broken Axe Gang was famous, and now they had the backing of the Blood Poison Gang. Moreover, Qin Huai looked fair and gentle, and he was definitely not an expert. Qin Huai and the other hooligans nodded. Then, he walked quickly into the depths of Pear Alley, sizing up the crowd. Most of them were martial artists at the third or fourth Refinement, and occasionally he would encounter a great blood refinement. Scarface and his group, who he had met earlier, were not there. They should not have returned yet. In the deepest part of Pear Alley was a two-story-high earth castle. The two guards pushed the door open, and Qin Huai walked in, greeted by a room that was decorated like an inn. The tables were filled with people, smoke lingered in the air, and the fragrance of wine filled the room. Everyone shouted and played cards on the table. They were essentially no different from the hooligans outside the door. The only difference was that these people were all great blood refinement experts, with about thirty to forty people. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes swept through the crowd and instantly locked onto a burly man wearing a blood-colored coat with a protruding forehead. Not far away, there was a bare-chested man who was also a bone pattern realm expert. With two short axes on his waist, the people around him looked at him with flattering expressions. A figure ran up to the man from behind and whispered a few words. Then, the man looked up and waved at Qin Huai. ¡°Come here!¡± he said. ¡°This is Xiong Fu, our leader!¡± ¡°Which apothecary is yours?¡± Xiong Fu said lazily. ¡°I haven¡¯t opened it yet. If you don¡¯t mind, think of a name for me,¡± Qin Huai replied, his gaze searching for the remaining two bone pattern realm experts. ¡°Do you know the rules of our outer city?¡± Xiong Fu asked. ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Qin Huai said, finding the second expert. ¡°We¡¯ll split the monthly earnings, thirty to seventy,¡± Xiong Fu said. ¡°Seventy percent? Isn¡¯t that too little?¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. The lackey beside him sneered. ¡°Seventy percent belong to our gang! The remaining thirty percent is yours!¡± Xiong Fu patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and said earnestly, ¡°You have to know that some money isn¡¯t yours if you earn it. You have to be alive to spend it. That money is yours.¡± Qin Huai hesitated for a moment before nodding heavily. ¡°Deal! I¡¯ll listen to you!¡± Xiong Fu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was firm. Everyone is here. ¡°Lord Xiong Fu, would you like to inspect the goods?¡± ¡°An inspection? I don¡¯t care about that¡± Xiong Fu waved his hand and lowered his head to continue playing cards. He wondered if Qin Huai was an idiot. What did he know about medicinal herbs? If he wanted to inspect the goods, did he want him to taste if the medicinal herbs were old enough and if they were lacking in weight? Chapter 301 301 Slaughtering the Gang! ¡°What a pity. Let the brothers examine the goods then,¡± Qin Huai said as he straightened his slightly hunched body. ¡°I said no¡­¡± Xiong Fu raised his head impatiently. In the next instant, he felt dizzy. Boom! A heavy pressure fell on his body. ¡°You are¡­ Bone pattern realm¡­¡± Xiong Fu¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at Qin Huai. The man before him had eyes flickering with intense white light. Puff¡­ Xiong Fu spat out a mouthful of blood. Just the aura alone could make him vomit blood. He looked at the white light and seemed to have thought of something. His eyes began to tremble. ¡°Your Majesty. A king¡¯s force, huh?¡± He realized that the man before him possessed the King¡¯s force, which only the top geniuses of Qingzhou City had. Xiong Fu¡¯s entire body slowly rose, lifted up effortlessly by the slender and fair arm of his opponent. He glanced around to see that his great blood refinement and three capable bone pattern realm experts had all fallen to the ground, unable to recover. ¡°Brother, my lord¡­ Can you let me die with an explanation? I¡¯ve never offended you,¡± Xiong Fu said with a bitter expression, knowing that he would probably meet his doom today. However, he couldn¡¯t understand why this was happening. He had never provoked any big shots. ¡°It was your subordinate who wanted to kill me. He put a yellow gu worm on me and even saw my face,¡± Qin Huai replied indifferently. ¡°And you have the backing of the Blood Poison Gang, one of the four major gangs in the outer city.¡± ¡°I was forced to do this,¡± Xiong Fu pleaded. ¡°Please forgive me.¡± As he looked at the handsome youth before him and spoke in a gentle tone, he cursed all eighteen generations of the lazy bastards in his heart. Were their eyes fed to dogs? How could they not recognize such a prodigy? Didn¡¯t this person look extraordinary? Xiong Fu¡¯s thoughts flashed by, and he spat out another mouthful of blood. He discreetly pointed downwards, directing a few yellow gu worms to crawl toward Qin Huai from his blind spot. Suddenly, Xiong Fu reached out and grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Just as he was about to speak Sizzle! ¡°Ah!¡± Xiong Fu screamed. His hand bounced off Qin Huai¡¯s body like a spring. The moment his skin touched Qin Huai¡¯s, his palm started visibly rotting. ¡°In order to deal with you today, I added an extra layer of insurance on myself,¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Thanks to you guys, my anti-poison measures have improved once again.¡± The white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes grew brighter, while Xiong Fu bled from his seven orifices. ¡°If you kill me, you won¡¯t have an easy time. The lord from the Blood Poison Gang also has the king¡¯s force!¡± Xiong Fu laughed bitterly. ¡°My godfather is also an expert at the visceral prefecture realm. You are just an ant in front of him.¡± Crack! Qin Huai pierced through Xiong Fu¡¯s chest, grabbed his beating heart, and exerted force. Bang! Blood splattered everywhere, and Xiong Fu¡¯s head drooped instantly. Qin Huai surveyed the scene. The Broken Axe Gang members were all dead. ¡°I thought these guys would be resistant to poison. Seems like I¡¯m overthinking it.¡± Aware of the other party¡¯s connection to the Blood Poison Gang, Qin Huai had added more medicine, fearing he might not have enough. Qin Huai skillfully searched the bodies, finding pill tickets and gold notes. ¡°It seems that qi and blood pills have become one of the mainstream currencies in Qingzhou City.¡± In the end, he collected about 170,000 taels of silver. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Broken Axe Technique Essence (Red)], [Broken Axe Technique] experience points +100,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Broken Axe Force Comprehension], [Broken Axe Force] +13%!¡± A large number of experience orbs surged into Qin Huai¡¯s body, pushing the broken axe technique to the seventh refinement level in an instant. Qin Huai opened the door and observed the many Broken Axe Gang members lying on the ground outside. Silently, he carried them all into the earth castle and closed the door again. ¡°Eh, why is there no one outside today?¡± Scarface and the others walked to the entrance of Pear Alley, puzzled by the empty street. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside! Quickly!¡± Scarface quickened his pace, jogging to the earth castle¡¯s door. eaglesnov1,o Scarface stared at the corpses on the ground, his legs trembling. His gaze shifted to the person he had admired, lying lifeless at the feet of the young man he had met today. The ¡®naive¡¯ youth yawned, as if tired of waiting. Scarface looked at his face in disbelief. ¡°You¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡± Whoosh! A white light flashed before his eyes, and in the next instant, the ¡®naive¡¯ youth appeared in front of him. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± Qin Huai said, brushing past Scarface and the others. Thud. Scarface and the others fell to the ground, spitting out blood. The next moment, the earth castle suddenly erupted in flames, accompanied by a loud explosion. Meanwhile, at the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s base, which was outside the city and under the river bay, a round and sturdy white-haired old man sat on an armchair. Chapter 302 302 The Divine Power Book of a Thousand Creations His expression somber, the white-haired old man was the leader of the Blood Poison Gang, Wen Zonghao. ¡°The Broken Axe Gang is a massive organization with over a hundred members and four bone pattern realm experts! Just like that, without any warning?!¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s icy voice was commanding as his penetrating gaze swept across the crowd. ¡°Sect Master, the earthen castle in Pear Alley was burned down. There¡¯s nothing left inside.¡± A person knelt before Wen Zonghao. ¡°The investigators found no suspicious figures near Pear Alley.¡± Wen Zonghao shouted, ¡°Investigate this matter! Find me the list of people who hold a grudge against the Broken Axe Gang! If we don¡¯t eliminate this person, how can our Blood Poison Gang maintain its position in the outer city?¡± Thump, thump, thump¡­ At this moment, a middle-aged man with a walking stick entered the room. ¡°Godfather, I¡¯ve found the list of people who have a grudge against the Broken Axe Gang for you.¡± The man, Mou Jinfu, the foster son of Wen Zonghao, revealed a sycophantic smile. As he spoke, Mou Jinfu placed a thick stack of paper on the table. ¡°These people all hold a grudge against the Broken Axe Gang and are at the great blood refinement or above,¡± he said respectfully. Wen Zonghao raised his eyebrows as he looked at the lengthy list of names. There were at least two hundred names. He didn¡¯t expect the newly-incorporated Broken Axe Gang to have so many enemies. ¡°Check them one by one!¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°You must find the mastermind behind this!¡± ¡­ ¡°Have you heard? The Broken Axe Gang was massacred!¡± a guest in the inn exclaimed. ¡°Not a single person was left alive.¡± As Qin Huai ate his breakfast, he listened to the excited chatter of the guests sharing the table with him. ¡°This is really satisfying! That black-hearted Broken Axe Gang should have died long ago!¡± One customer gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table. ¡°Shh. Be careful not to let the Blood Poison Gang hear you,¡± another warned. ¡°Yes, yes. If I were to meet that Qing Tian, Lord of the Tu Gang, I would kowtow to him.¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°But I heard the Blood Poison Gang is investigating those who had a grudge against the Broken Axe Gang. I¡¯ve had a few conflicts with them before. I wonder if that counts,¡± the customer opposite Qin Huai worried. ¡°What are you afraid of? At least a thousand people have a feud with the Broken Axe Gang! It might take them ages to find out about you.¡± Qin Huai was deep in thought when he heard this. Suddenly, a familiar figure hurried into the inn. It was Tong Maosheng from Tong Treasure Shop. ¡°Teacher, my father and grandfather would like to invite you to the shop for a chat!¡± Tong Maosheng, still appearing like an old man, approached Qin Huai. ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the young man. ¡°It¡¯s a great opportunity,¡± he replied. ¡°Then I¡¯d like to see what this great opportunity is.¡± Qin Huai stood up and followed Tong Maosheng to Tong Treasure Shop once more. The person he was meeting was the shopkeeper and the current head of the Tong family, Old Master Tong. ¡°Young man, didn¡¯t you want to learn the Tong family¡¯s treasured forging technique? I can let you learn¡­¡± Old Master Tong said slowly. ¡°Then what does Old Master Tong want me to do?¡± Qin Huai asked with a smile, already having some guesses in his mind. ¡°With the Broken Axe Gang gone, it¡¯s certainly a good thing. But the Blood Poison Gang is pursuing us relentlessly¡­ As one of the four major gangs in the outer city, they are more ruthless and arrogant than the Broken Axe Gang.¡± Old Master Tong sighed. ¡°If things go wrong, our lives might be in danger.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t Old Master Tong leave?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°The Tong family¡¯s roots are here,¡± Old Master Tong responded firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you the Tong family¡¯s legacy treasured forging technique, and you¡¯ll do your part to protect the Tong family.¡± He looked into Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that a mere bone pattern realm expert like me isn¡¯t enough to fight against the Blood Poison Gang, right?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The Blood Poison Gang isn¡¯t the only one¡­ The other three sects will secretly cause trouble. We have also secretly contacted other people who hold a grudge against the Broken Axe Gang in order to deal with their possible indiscriminate revenge.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly, not expecting the Blood Poison Gang to act in such a way. If they couldn¡¯t find them, they could kill all the people the Broken Axe Gang had bullied before? Extremely cruel and unreasonable ¡°No problem,¡± Qin Huai agreed readily. He had no intention of leaving Qingzhou City anyway. Moreover, many witnesses had seen him in conflict with the Broken Axe Gang in front of the shop. Sooner or later, it would be traced back to him. Also, the truth about the great demon had yet to come to light, so he couldn¡¯t enter. Instead of waiting, he might as well become an apprentice at Tong Treasure Shop. In any case, he wouldn¡¯t suffer any losses and would gain a lot. Old Master Tong immediately heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Then from today onwards, you are considered an in-name disciple of the Tong family!¡± He began sizing up Qin Huai. eaglesnov1,o ¡°Oh? How did Master Tong know?¡± Qin Huai was surprised but didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Hehe. I can see that the energy of this spear is quite similar to yours. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that you personally created this connection, it wouldn¡¯t exist.¡± Qin Huai smiled and shook his head, knowing that this was the mysterious intuition of a senior artifact master. It was impossible to explain or learn how they did it. ¡°Come! I¡¯ll teach you the Tong family¡¯s treasured forging technique now. It¡¯s also the Tong family¡¯s cultivation method, the ¡®divine power book of a thousand creations¡¯! By cultivating this technique, you can harmonize with the power of nature and even forge in the direction of the desired force. It¡¯s truly incredible!¡± Chapter 303 303 Using Your Body as a Furnace! ¡°Harmonize with the power of nature?¡± A peculiar light flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. Creating a new force was not a trivial matter. Many martial arts geniuses spent their entire lives developing a technique and cultivating a force. This Old Master Tong¡¯s cultivation method claimed to create a new force after cultivating it, and it seemed inevitable that he was exaggerating. Moreover, the name ¡°Divine Power Book of a Thousand Creations¡± sounded quite intimidating. ¡°Kid, are you getting the wrong idea?¡± Old Master Tong looked at Qin Huai and spoke softly. ¡°Practicing the divine power book of a thousand creations can only cause the natural force within these power stones to transform. It¡¯s impossible to use one¡¯s body as a stone or a tool.¡± Old Master Tong shook his head. ¡°Logically speaking, it¡¯s possible. However, the human body lacks the ability to reshape and recover like power stones. Using the body as a tool, one would have to directly shatter blood, qi, and bones and reforge them. But how can a human body possess such an ability? ¡°If you want to forge a new path in martial arts using this method, in the end, you¡¯ll only cripple yourself on the spot.¡± Old Master Tong glanced coldly at the silent Tong Shou beside him. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Broken Axe Gang¡¯s leader hearing this unfilial son¡¯s drunken bragging¡­ there wouldn¡¯t have been any trouble from Scarface and the others.¡± Tong Shou lowered his head and remained silent. Qin Huai had initially thought that Tong Shou¡¯s personality was as it appeared. Only now did he realize there was a hidden layer to it. ¡°Come on, follow me to the furnace room.¡± Old Master Tong waved his hand. Qin Huai followed closely behind and entered a furnace room filled with power stones. Qin Huai¡¯s pupils constricted. Although the quality of these power stones couldn¡¯t compare to his Silver Fox spear, they were still quite valuable. This hill-sized power stone was worth at least several hundred thousand taels of silver. ¡°To cultivate the divine power book of a thousand creations, the most efficient training method requires power stones.¡± Old Master Tong casually picked out a power stone and handed it to Qin Huai. What a high cultivation threshold! It was a training method that required ten thousand taels of silver to start with power stones. If this divine power book of a thousand creations were lost in a small city¡¯s wilderness, perhaps no one would be able to train it to the beginner level in their entire lives. Qin Huai took the power stone. He skillfully walked to the fire, heated it up, and lifted the hammer. Then, Old Master Tong began to recite the cultivation formula of the divine power book of a thousand creations. ¡°Plants have spirits, water can see the situation, mountains can be combined, and divine power can create thousands of things,¡± Qin Huai muttered as he swung the iron hammer in his hand and chanted the divine power book of a thousand creations while striking the fiery red power stone. The flame¡¯s effect was not as dominant as with the iron weapons of the past. Instead, it played a supporting role. What truly mattered was one¡¯s own strength or a magical cultivation technique like the divine power book of a thousand creations. Qin Huai¡¯s aptitude was not bad. In addition, he was already a treasured weapon grandmaster and a third-level bone pattern realm martial artist. With these factors combined, Qin Huai¡¯s progress was extremely fast. In just a moment, Qin Huai entered the room, and the divine power book of a thousand creations column appeared on his personal interface. After a long time, Qin Huai turned his head and looked at Old Master Tong, who was swinging his hammer. Only then did he realize that the hammer in Old Master Tong¡¯s hand was also a treasured weapon. Bang! Bang! Bang! An invisible force seemed like sparks flying in all directions in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. At the same time, a red experience orb and two colorless experience orbs shot out. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Divine Power Book of a Thousand Creations Comprehension], [Divine Power Book of a Thousand Creations] +6%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Forging Skill Essence], [Forging Skill] experience +4!¡± A staggering amount of experience instantly surged into Qin Huai¡¯s body. The next moment, countless memories flashed past his eyes like a lantern. The experience points of the divine power book of a thousand creations soared rapidly, and it instantly reached the third refinement level. It was only 4,000 points away from breaking through the fourth refinement. Meanwhile, in Qin Huai¡¯s dantian world, a dazzling golden ancient book also appeared. In his memory, Qin Huai had tried to use his body as a stone during his cultivation to forge his own physique. A large amount of mixed qi and blood was thrown into the divine power book of a thousand creations by Qin Huai. The mixed qi and blood were produced when he cultivated the spirit eye technique, the breath control technique, and the mountain splitting blade technique. Although the qi and blood produced by these cultivation techniques were very little in Qin Huai¡¯s current body, they were ultimately impurities that would affect the production of new and unique qi and blood when Qin Huai cultivated other techniques in the future. Now, all these blood essence impurities had been drawn into the divine power book of a thousand creations by Qin Huai. The golden book shone brightly, and a huge amount of blood essence gathered around it. The white dragon qi also rushed over, as if a furnace fire had begun to temper. The mottled qi and blood boiled and rolled in the ancient book. Vaguely, the outline of a white dragon appeared on the pages of the ancient book, following Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts. Bang! Suddenly, the white dragon pattern on the ancient book collapsed, and the blood essence that gathered around it suddenly exploded. The blood essence was significantly weakened. The key was that the white dragons also dimmed, and some of the white dragons¡¯ bodies were suddenly damaged. Qin Huai in his memories spat out blood, and his face turned pale. His vitality was greatly damaged. This was the result of a typical chemical weapon method: getting rid of old, poor-quality techniques that conflicted with the new cultivation technique. However, it would also weaken one¡¯s vitality. This type of chemical weapon method was widespread and could be easily found in Lingjiang. However, Qin Huai once heard from his grandmaster that this kind of method could likely harm one¡¯s root bone aptitude when it shattered the old technique¡¯s blood essence. Qin Huai was not ruined. Very soon, in his dantian world, the sun shone brightly. With a dazzling light, the blood heart technique repaired the white dragon, and its blood and qi began to slowly recover. Chapter 304 304 Dissolving Some Techniques The first time Qin Huai used his body as a stone to condense his mottled qi and blood, it ended in failure. The second time, he continued to try, but still failed. On the third, fourth, and tenth attempt, his ancient book was blown to pieces. Qin Huai¡¯s most severe failure occurred when scorching blood splashed onto his bones, shattering them. Even his internal organs were affected, and one of his kidneys was shattered. The blood heart technique couldn¡¯t repair it. Fortunately, Qin Huai had a chance to start over. After a long period of failure, he finally found the right amount of strength. From the ancient book, wisps of white dragon qi quietly floated out and fused into the dragon pearl. The divine power book of a thousand creations and the blood heart technique combined and assisted each other, allowing Qin Huai¡¯s body-as-a-stone approach to finally bear fruit. Although the effect was still minimal, the future looked promising. As the memory faded, Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. Thousands of experiences and the ups and downs of life and death were merely a thought. ¡°Fortunately, my Dao-heart is firm, and I have great perseverance,¡± he said, touching his forehead, which was already covered in cold sweat. In his memory, he had been severely injured countless times. This cultivation technique was indeed as Old Master Tong had said. Although the space he could imagine was limitless, and he could do incredible things with his body as a stone, when it came to actual cultivation, using his body to refine other techniques would undoubtedly lead to death. Moreover, even if this method was developed, it could only be considered a high-level chemical weapon technique. For example, achieving success in multi-cultivation would ultimately involve combining the results of other methods into one, a foolish and thankless task. Qin Huai was the only exception, though. With the blood heart technique, he could find a balance between the two, pick up experience points, and obtain many cultivation techniques for free. The only difficulty now was the slow speed of his transformation. He followed Old Master Tong and continued to swing the hammer for a full four hours before finally finishing work, drenched in sweat. Forging a treasured weapon was a task that consumed a significant amount of physical strength and energy. After that, Qin Huai walked out, and Tong Shou and Tong Maosheng led him to eat. The Tong family was a large group, with thirteen members, including Qin Huai. Among the twelve family members, the weakest, Tong Maosheng, was only at the fifth refinement realm. The other eleven were all experts in blood refinement. Although they were not young anymore, their skills had been cultivated to perfection long ago. This was probably due to the nature of the Tong family¡¯s treasure shop. These people likely knew at a certain stage that their aptitude was not enough, so they abandoned their cultivation realm and focused on studying the general trend. The Tong family¡¯s rice was served in a wooden bucket used for bathing. The huge bucket was placed there, and the pressure was shocking. Qin Huai noticed a one-armed figure in the corner. The man was thin and his expression was not too pleasant. He was silent and did not speak to the people around him. ¡°That¡¯s my third cousin. He has the best cultivation talent in our treasure shop, so Grandfather sent him to the major sects in Qingzhou City to learn martial arts,¡± Tong Maosheng explained, shaking his head like an old man. ¡°His martial arts improved by leaps and bounds, making him one of the top members in the Ghost Ox sect.¡± Tong Maosheng sighed and continued, ¡°What a pity. My third cousin cultivates the divine power book of a thousand creations and wants to use the body stone to dissolve some of the cultivation techniques he previously cultivated. He even wants to refine the force stone into his body. In the end, he failed¡­ Not only did he lose his left hand, his innate ability was destroyed, and his realm also fell. Eventually, he was expelled from Qingzhou City by the Ghost Ox sect.¡± Tong Maosheng¡¯s expression turned downcast, and he looked at Qin Huai sternly. ¡°That¡¯s why, Junior Brother Qin, don¡¯t think about things you shouldn¡¯t! That¡¯s not a good path, and it¡¯s a dead end! Don¡¯t look at yourself now¡­ How old are you, by the way?¡± ¡°Eighteen,¡± Qin Huai replied. Tong Maosheng¡¯s eyes became a little erratic, and his voice weakened. ¡°Oh¡­ Don¡¯t think that becoming a bone pattern realm expert at the age of eighteen is impressive. My third cousin was even more powerful than you at that time!¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qin Huai nodded. He then turned around and entered a separate room. As for the two-day deposit paid to the inn in the city, Qin Huai didn¡¯t waste it at all and exchanged it all back. Even though he had earned 180,000 taels of silver after slaying the Broken Axe Gang, he didn¡¯t forget his roots. Every tael of silver was calculated carefully. Qin Huai didn¡¯t stay idle in the room either. He circulated the divine power book of a thousand creations and continuously converted a few of his cultivation techniques. He had yet to find a successor for the breath control and the spirit eye techniques. Since he had already reached the third-level bone pattern realm, these two cultivation techniques were too weak to be of any use. There were also the mountain splitting blade technique and roaring tiger fist, which Qin Huai had picked up during the martial arts competition, but they were not even considered rudimentary. He decided to refine all the cultivation techniques in his body. As wisps of white smoke were pulled out by Qin Huai, the spirit eye technique, breath control technique, and other cultivation techniques on his personal interface disappeared quickly. Unfortunately, the progress of the nine dragons true qi technique was not bad, as it had increased by 1%. It was comparable to Qin Huai¡¯s ten days of bitter cultivation. After his aptitude had undergone the baptism of life, Qin Huai¡¯s talent was no longer the same as before. Thus, the useless mottled blood essence that interfered with his cultivation would naturally not be left behind. ¡°This Broken Axe Technique¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the broken axe in his body. The power of the broken axe and the divine power book of a thousand creations were both on the arms, so the latter¡¯s effect was self-evident. Qin Huai felt that there was no value in keeping the former. This cultivation technique did not produce any reaction with other cultivation techniques and was also ordinary, so it was useless to keep it. Chapter 305 305 The Blood Poison Gang Not to mention, the Broken Axe Gang had already been wiped out by him. There were no additional methods to obtain it. Similar to him, it was probably the rumbling thunder technique. The rumbling thunder technique, which was only at the fourth refinement level, was also somewhat useless. Although it had a reaction with the nine dragons true qi technique, its level was too low. Qin Huai finally decided to refine the broken axe technique first. As for the rumbling thunder technique, he would have to wait and see. He closed his eyes and slowly activated the divine power book of a thousand creations, throwing the broken axe technique¡¯s blood essence into the ancient book. However, this refining process took a long time, so Qin Huai had only refined five layers in one night, allowing the nine dragons true qi technique to increase by another one percent, reaching six percent. ¡°Cultivating like this saves a lot of effort,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. As for refining force, his current divine power book of a thousand creations was not enough, so he couldn¡¯t do it for the time being. In the blink of an eye, a month passed quietly. Qin Huai¡¯s days in Tong Treasure Shop were ordinary and uneventful. Every day, he cultivated the divine power book of a thousand creations. Gradually, Old Master Tong and the other ten or so members of the Tong family gained experience. The realm of the divine power book of a thousand creations improved significantly, and in just a short month, he had broken through the great blood refinement barrier from the fourth refinement to the eighth refinement level. After reaching 121%, the dragon force almost stopped moving. Old Master Tong was only at the first-level bone pattern realm, and the others were only at the great blood refinement realm. Naturally, they couldn¡¯t help Qin Huai improve at such a fast speed. Qin Huai had successfully refined the broken axe technique, and his nine dragons true qi technique had reached 18% of the third-level bone pattern realm. As for duan fu¡¯s power, Qin Huai had added it to the only ancient azure illusion force that was not over a hundred and only at 72% when he left the Nine Dragons sect. However, the refining speed was much slower than the vitality. Now, he had only refined half of it, pushing the ancient azure illusion force to 88%. Qin Huai felt that there must be something extraordinary about this ancient illusion force on the skull. On the other hand, Qin Huai¡¯s usual cultivation time was split into two parts: the clasping vitality and the nine dragons true qi technique. Tong Shou was a man of few words, so the number of times Qin Huai spoke to him in a month was pitifully few. Instead, he chatted with Tong Maosheng, who was only thirteen years old this year. Tong Maosheng was young but had an old air about him. From their conversations, Qin Huai gained some knowledge. As for how credible it was, based on Qin Huai¡¯s one month of interaction, it was at most 50%. All in all, the family of three treated Qin Huai very well. Every month, they would give Qin Huai a portion of the vitality pills and power stones that the others should have. However, Old Master Tong had been very busy this month. There were many guests coming and going all day long. Most of the guests were absent-minded when they entered the door and left quickly. It was obvious that Old Master Tong had mentioned it before. Similar to Qin Huai, he had a feud with the Broken Axe Gang, or more accurately, a person who had a one-sided grudge. During this period of time, there were also many figures in front of Tong Treasure Shop. Every time Qin Huai went out to buy seasonal fruits or herbs, he would sense the blatant gazes around him. They were all dressed in deep red robes with black water droplets around their chests. That was the symbol of the Blood Poison Gang. The burning sensation filled the depths of Qin Huai¡¯s arms. A bit of the broken axe¡¯s power was swallowed by the divine power book of a thousand creations. In the end, it spat out an ancient azure illusion pattern and carved it on the skull. ¡°I¡¯m getting more and more skilled.¡± Qin Huai opened his eyes. He was currently using this technique and could no longer feel the strain. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve mastered the divine power book of a thousand creations, the trivial cultivation techniques I pick up from killing people in the future will be useful. Even if I can¡¯t enter Qingzhou City for the time being, or reach Wuji Mountain or the other sects, breaking through isn¡¯t a big problem for me.¡± Qin Huai felt relieved. The delusion of the divine power book of a thousand creations was impossible for others, but to Qin Huai, it was a true treasure. Bang! Suddenly, the door of Tong Treasure Shop was kicked open, and a group of martial artists dressed in the red robes of the Blood Poison Gang walked in fiercely. Qin Huai had just walked out when he saw two sides confronting each other. The atmosphere was tense. However, the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s combat strength was far inferior to Tong Treasure Shop¡¯s. The former were all bone pattern realm experts, and it was obvious this trip was clearly prepared. ¡°Milords, may I know why you have come to visit my Tong Treasure Shop?¡± Old Master Tong, who had a fiery temper, was also patient at this moment as he chatted with the people from the Blood Poison Gang. He knew that if he wasn¡¯t careful, the shop that he had painstakingly built for four generations could be destroyed. ¡°Hehe. Old man, you¡¯re pretending you don¡¯t know,¡± the leader of the group of Blood Poison Gang, Yang Erbao, sneered. ¡°What are you trying to do by forming cliques and entangling so many people in private? Do you think the Blood Poison Gang is blind?!¡± Old Master Tong¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Well¡­ We¡¯re just protecting ourselves. Your Blood Poison Gang is big. We were forced to do so.¡± Yang Erbao sneered. ¡°Self-preservation? My Blood Poison Gang wants to kill you, and you still dare to protect yourself?! Obediently stretch your neck over and chop it off for us! You can also avoid suffering from physical pain.¡± Yang Erbao¡¯s words were very domineering. Obviously, the Blood Poison Gang, one of the four big gangs in the outer city, was used to being rude. Yang Erbao clapped his hands. ¡°Old man, you don¡¯t have to wait anymore. Most of your allies are dead.¡± At that moment, a few people immediately threw in green and purple heads. Their eyes were wide with anger, and they died a miserable death. ¡°You¡± Old Master Tong pointed at Yang Erbao, his entire body trembling with anger. After all, he was not a gang member. In these aspects, he was far from the Blood Poison Gang. In fact, what he did seemed a little clumsy. His face suddenly turned red. ¡°Father. We¡­ It seems we¡¯re poisoned,¡± Tong Shou suddenly realized that something was wrong. His son, Tong Maosheng, had already fainted on the ground. ¡°Sirs, I beg you! Forget about killing me! Let this child live! The child is innocent!¡± Tong Shou felt powerless as he looked at the dozen or so bone pattern realm experts in front of him. He began to cry. Suddenly, Yang Erbao glanced sideways at Qin Huai, who was walking over to Tong Shou¡¯s side with a calm expression. He frowned. ¡°How can you be fine?¡± ¡°Uncle Tong, distribute these pills to everyone,¡± Qin Huai took out a pill bottle and handed it over. Then, he raised his head and looked at Yang Erbao and the others. ¡°A mere poison dares to show off in front of me?¡± Chapter 306 306 Joining the Blood Poison Gang! ¡°What big words!¡± Yang Erbao raised his eyebrows and looked at Qin Huai with a sneer. ¡°In the outer city of Qingzhou, some have said that my Blood Poison Gang¡¯s methods are despicable. Some have said that our strength is weak and our realm is terrible. But no one dares to say that the poison of my Blood Poison Gang is useless!¡± The people around Yang Erbao revealed ferocious expressions. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re the first! Do you really think that just because you¡¯re in the bone pattern realm, my Blood Poison Gang has no poison that can cure you? Or do you think that you can get rid of our poison just by finding a few antidote pills?!¡± Yang Erbao had just finished speaking when the smugness on his face disappeared. He saw Tong Maosheng and the rest of the Tong family standing up as if nothing had happened. Yang Erbao¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°How could you possibly have the antidote to the ointment poison of my Blood Poison Gang?!¡± His expression was solemn. It was well known that the poisons of the Blood Poison Gang were carefully selected and difficult to find in Qingzhou City. That was why the Blood Poison Gang chose it as the poison for the sect master. Moreover, the antidote for the ointment poison was monopolized by the Blood Poison Gang, so ordinary people could not find the antidote at all. ¡°There¡¯s no need to use an antidote to detoxify the poison,¡± Qin Huai said indifferently. He was not proficient in medicine, but he had a deep understanding of poison techniques. If medical skills could not cure it, he would use poison techniques to fight poison with poison. It would be much simpler. He only sniffed, and a few poisonous materials that clashed with it instantly appeared in his mind. With a little conditioning, he could easily make a few pills. Qin Huai watched as Yang Erbao and the others hid their hands under their long sleeves, their hands moving slightly. He understood. The next moment, Qin Huai¡¯s fingers swayed gently, and several types of powder gathered around the white dragon Qi on his fingertips, slowly drifting towards Yang Erbao and the others. ¡°According to my inquiries, you have nothing to do with the Tong family, right?¡± Yang Erbao said leisurely. ¡°I was just slashed by a few people from the Broken Axe Gang when I was leaving Tong Treasure Shop. I didn¡¯t manage to hit them, so it¡¯s not a big grudge. If you leave now, I can let you live.¡± However, he was bewildered in his heart. Why wasn¡¯t this poison working? Suddenly, the expressions of Yang Erbao and the others changed drastically. ¡°You brat!¡± He did not expect that this young man in front of him actually possessed such an impressive poison technique that he could poison them without a sound. He didn¡¯t even see how he poisoned them, and his robes didn¡¯t move at all. He was a poison path expert. In the next instant, the two groups of people attacked each other almost simultaneously. Qin Huai shot out like an arrow. Before he could reach Yang Erbao¡¯s hand, blood spurted out. The qi armor was activated, and the blood was blocked by the armor. A corrosive sound rang out. Qin Huai stopped in his tracks. Was this blood actually poisonous? So this gang not only used poison, but also cultivated poison techniques. Qin Huai¡¯s heart instantly became lively. This was the first time he had seen such a cultivation technique. Or rather, he had been looking for similar cultivation techniques, and he had finally found them. The people before him didn¡¯t have high cultivation levels. The leader was only at the third-level bone pattern realm while the others were at the first-level bone pattern realm Just trash. Killing them would undoubtedly make him enemies with the Blood Poison Gang. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t afraid of this, but he had to cultivate in the outer city. Forming a feud with them and finding other paths was cultivation, but joining them was also cultivation. He might as well do the latter and cultivate the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s cultivation technique. After that, he would find an opportunity to slowly nibble away at the gang. It could be considered as getting rid of evil for the people. ¡°Poison qi palm!¡± Yang Erbao growled and slammed his palm onto Qin Huai¡¯s chest. Thump, thump, thump¡­ Qin Huai took three steps back, causing the worry in Yang Erbao¡¯s eyes to lessen. ¡°Hehehe. Now that you¡¯ve been hit by my poison qi palm, you¡¯ll feel your qi and blood in disorder when you urge it. As long as I can touch you a hundred times, you¡¯ll definitely die!¡± Despite this, Qin Huai¡¯s expression did not change. He took out a blood stabilizing grass from his sleeve and swallowed it. Immediately after, his vigorous qi and blood boiled. ¡°Boiling blood!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s originally ashen face instantly regained its color. ¡°What¡± Yang Erbao was stunned. ¡°You used the blood stabilizing grass to stabilize your qi and blood, then used your vigorous qi and blood to boil and dissolve the stable poison in your body¡± This kid was not an ordinary expert! Yang Erbao sized up Qin Huai, who looked less than twenty years old. He immediately started to appreciate his talent. He then recalled Qin Huai¡¯s information, which was indeed not much different from what he had just said. And now was the time when the sect needed people. If there was such a genius who used poison to join the sect, the sect leader would definitely reward him. ¡°Kid, your poison skills have truly amazed me.¡± Yang Erbao¡¯s eyes revealed some sincerity this time. He pulled away from Qin Huai and said, ¡°I¡¯ll repeat what I said just now. Are you willing to join my Blood Poison Gang? Our Blood Poison Gang is one of the four big gangs in the outer city. We can give you everything!¡± Yang Erbao saw the wavering look in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes and immediately struck while the iron was hot. ¡°I see that you are also a person who loves poison. The poison king technique of the Blood Poison Gang is the only cultivation technique of the Poison Dao in Qingzhou City! This will be the holy land for us poison lovers!¡± Qin Huai seemed very cooperative, and the fervor in his eyes grew stronger. Chapter 307 - 307 Deceiving the Gang 307 Deceiving the Gang ¡°Is it really possible?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were filled with a mixture of anticipation, nervousness, killing intent, and magnificence. He did not expect that he would be thinking of a way to join the Blood Poison Gang, and Yang Erbao actually offered an olive branch himself. The old saying was indeed true: geniuses would not be buried no matter where they went. As long as the Blood Poison Gang had some foresight, they would not miss a poison path genius like him! ¡°Of course!¡± Yang Erbao spread his hands out sincerely, as if he was not a threat at all. ¡°But you have to show your sincerity first.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Qin Huai laughed and waved his hand casually. Bang! Blood mist surged behind him, and a ball of red and white mixed with broken bones splattered directly on Yang Erbao¡¯s face. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Yang Erbao¡¯s expression was ugly as he shook off the disgusting thing on his face. ¡°When did you poison them?¡± He looked at the blood mist that filled the sky and was shocked. ¡°I did it a while ago. I originally wanted to use them as a shield, but I didn¡¯t expect them to become a pledge of allegiance.¡± Qin Huai smiled humbly and walked towards Yang Erbao and the others. The few bone pattern realm warriors behind Yang Erbao subconsciously took a step back, shocked by Qin Huai¡¯s mysterious poison techniques. This kid was even more like the elites of the Blood Poison Gang. ¡°May I ask your name?¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. ¡°My name is Yang Erbao. I don¡¯t dare to call myself your senior, but if you want, you can call me Big Brother Yang.¡± Yang Erbao looked at the dense blood mist and then at the scattered red and white things on the ground. The disgusting scene and the thick blood mist made Yang Erbao unwilling to take a closer look and investigate. This kid was so decisive and expressionless that he definitely wouldn¡¯t lie to him. These Tong family members were obviously dead. ¡°This little brother¡¯s surname is Qin, with the name Huai. In the future, I¡¯ll need Big Brother Yang¡¯s help.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was filled with excitement. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re treating me as an outsider.¡± Yang Erbao laughed. This kid¡¯s future achievements in the sect would definitely be limitless. He had to build a good relationship with him now. In the future, who knows who will be the one supporting whom? Just like that, the group of people walked out of Tong Treasure Shop, chatting and laughing. ¡­ After everyone had walked far away, Old Master Tong and the others slowly crawled out of the thick blood mist. ¡°Our Tong family owes Qin Huai more than ten lives.¡± Old Master Tong¡¯s expression was complicated. The red and white objects and broken bones on the ground were the heads thrown in by the Blood Poison Gang. ¡°Let¡¯s go and pack our belongings. From then on, we will leave Qingzhou City and return to our hometown, Lingjiang City.¡± Old Master Tong¡¯s expression was desolate. He didn¡¯t expect the Tong Family to have to return to their ancestral land after decades of struggle in Qingzhou. ¡°I wonder how Lingjiang City is doing now. Which family has annexed the Nine Dragons sect, and which has been weakened by the competition between the two surnames?¡± Old Master Tong shook his head with a bitter smile, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. ¡°Father, are we leaving just like that?¡± Tong Shou was somewhat unwilling. ¡°Why are you staying?! To harm Qin Huai?¡± Old Master Tong¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°If the Blood Poison Gang finds out that we¡¯re not dead, how will Qin Huai explain himself? How do we survive? I believe Qin Huai will definitely take revenge on the Blood Poison Gang.¡± Old Master Tong did not waste any more words and quickly returned to the house to pack his things. In just a moment, a group of rough men packed up their belongings, wrapped themselves in black robes, and quietly slipped away from the back door of the artifact shop. ¡­ Qin Huai followed Yang Erbao, listening to the soft sound of running water as they walked. Unlike the Broken Axe Gang, which chose the remote and desolate outer city, the headquarters of the Blood Poison Gang was also remote, but it was located by the Qingzhou River. Although it was far away from the bustling city, there was an endless stream of people coming and going to do business. Disciples of the Blood Poison Gang dressed in red stood guard at each entrance with serious expressions. They were on a completely different level from the motley crew of the Broken Axe Gang. Qin Huai was led by Yang Erbao as he walked along the long queue. He glanced at the people beside him. Their faces were either excited, brutal, or a little scared and confused, but without exception, they were all strong and muscular. ¡°Old Liu, register a disciple of our Blood Poison Gang!¡± With a smile on his face, Yang Erbao pushed away the disciple who was registering. The latter fell to the ground, not daring to be angry or say anything. ¡°Second Guardian, where did you pick up this pretty boy?¡± Old Liu raised his eyes and sized up Qin Huai. He was really handsome. This Yang Erbao did not care about gender. Yang Erbao¡¯s expression changed when he heard this. ¡°This is my brother, Qin Huai! Don¡¯t look at my brother¡¯s young age, but his poison skills are quite outstanding.¡± Old Liu¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Qin Huai.¡± ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from An City.¡± Qin Huai had already thought of an excuse. An City in Lingjiang county had already been destroyed at the beginning of the demon wave. He had also investigated the matter and found out that there was indeed a dojo in An City that practiced qi cultivation techniques. However, they had all been destroyed. ¡°Cultivation technique?¡± ¡°Four-directional tiger-wolf technique, supporting the long breath technique. I was in the army before.¡± Old Liu extended his hand and gestured to Qin Huai. The latter stretched out his palm, and the boiling blood in his hand started to boil slightly. His fingertips instantly turned red. Then, a trace of white gas condensed, which was slightly dimmer than the red color. Old Liu nodded. ¡°Realm?¡± ¡°Second-level bone pattern realm.¡± Old Liu¡¯s originally languid body instantly straightened up as he carefully sized up Qin Huai. ¡°Age?¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Old Liu coughed lightly, and a bright smile appeared on his face. Chapter 308 - 308 Full Patterned Bones 308 Full Patterned Bones ¡°Brother Qin Huai, welcome to our Blood Poison Gang!¡± Old Liu¡¯s voice became much more melodious. ¡°Our Blood Poison Gang needs young talents like you!¡± He reached into his bosom and took out a small pouch. ¡°Here, a small poison pouch. I call it obedient powder. It can allow a great blood refinement martial artist to be at your mercy for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.¡± Old Liu gave Qin Huai a knowing expression. ¡°Thank you.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t refuse. He just didn¡¯t expect that the Blood Poison Gang would give such a strange gift. After that, he took a Blood Poison Gang disciple¡¯s waist token and their robe with a red background and black water droplets. Qin Huai followed Yang Erbao and listened as they walked. ¡°Our Blood Poison Gang is next to the Qingzhou River. The river not only leads directly to Qingzhou City, but it also connects to more than half of Qingzhou. ¡°In the past, we sold goods from Qingzhou and sold high-priced materials to the small cities below. Then, we would sell the scarce resources in the countryside, such as tobacco, fruits, and rice, into Qingzhou City. There¡¯s no need to say much about the benefits. Hence, Qingzhou River had become a battleground for the sects in the outer city. ¡°Even if we are one of the four big gangs now, there are still a large number of reckless fellows who try to snatch food from the tiger¡¯s mouth every year.¡± Yang Erbao patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder solemnly. ¡°You have to remember what I¡¯m going to say next.¡± Qin Huai was all ears. Yang Erbao cleared his throat. ¡°In the Blood Poison Gang, other than our leader, Blood Poison King Wen Zonghao, there are only two people who are not in the Blood Poison Gang. Also, the four adopted sons of the sect master have immense power and authority. Master, Mou Jinfu; Second Master, Yin Rongen; Third Master, Huang Qiguang; and Fourth Master, Shao Mo. ¡°These four godsons are all at the fifth-level bone pattern realm¡ªan expert with at least three full patterns! Among them, the fourth master Shao Mo is one of the top geniuses in Qingzhou City. After five full patterns, he even cultivated the legendary king¡¯s force! He¡¯s almost invincible in the bone pattern realm!¡± ¡°What do three full patterns and five full patterns mean?¡± Qin Huai asked. He had heard Tong Maosheng mention it when he was at Tong Treasure Shop. However, that little brat only knew how to brag. When it came to full lines, it was vague. ¡°Full patterns mean¡­ Greetings, Fourth Master!¡± Yang Erbao lowered his head and cupped his fists. Qin Huai followed Yang Erbao¡¯s gaze. A man with waist-length hair and a slightly yellowish face had already walked up to them. ¡°See¡­¡± Qin Huai opened his mouth, but Shao Mo, who was in front of him, struck out with his palm. Bang! The terrifying palm exploded in front of Qin Huai, and waves of air surged and rippled in his pupils. The qi armor that he had propped up shattered instantly. He plowed the ground with both feet and traveled more than twenty meters, his feet deeply buried in the ground. Qin Huai looked at the person before him with a grave expression. His hands were trembling slightly. ¡®He¡¯s so strong. Just a casual palm had such power?¡¯ ¡°Not bad.¡± Shao Mo looked down at Qin Huai. ¡°You¡¯re actually fine after receiving my palm. Your body is not bad.¡± Shao Mo slowly approached Qin Huai. ¡°Cultivating a cultivation technique to the fifth-level bone pattern realm is equivalent to one full pattern. There are five places on the human body that can be marked: the skull, the spine, the ribs, the arms, and the legs. ¡°The pattern bones of each cultivation technique will only cover one of these five places. After that, many people would cultivate a cultivation technique compatible with their main cultivation technique, and at the same time, their cultivation technique¡¯s bone patterns would be different from their main cultivation technique to increase their combat strength. ¡°If you cultivate it to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, you will be at the second-level bone pattern realm. When two cultivation techniques are compatible with each other and are filled with patterns and force at the same time, the two forces will transform and their power will increase!¡± ¡°Five full patterns mean all the bones in the body are engraved. My battle prowess will reach the limit of the bone pattern realm. Once you enter the visceral prefecture realm, your battle prowess will be extremely terrifying.¡± When Qin Huai heard Shao Mo¡¯s words, it was as if he had opened the door to a whole new world. He listened quietly. ¡°Martial artists who have cultivated five full patterns have a certain chance of awakening the king¡¯s force! Five compatible cultivation techniques will give birth to a power that can crush those of the same generation! Those who have cultivated the king¡¯s force are not only invincible in the bone pattern realm, but also in the next realm!¡± Qin Huai was finally enlightened. That was what he was actually doing. It was just that he did not understand it before, or rather, he did not see the exact way. He only knew that doing so could increase his combat strength. Now that Shao Mo had cast a glance at him, Qin Huai finally understood. ¡°Thank you, Fourth Master!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I only told you so much because I saw a glimmer of possibility,¡± Shao Mo replied indifferently. ¡°Grow up quickly and become my capable subordinate!¡± After he finished speaking, he left. ¡°Brother Qin, I didn¡¯t misjudge you!¡± Yang Erbao said excitedly. ¡°You¡¯ve only just arrived and you¡¯ve already gained Fourth Master¡¯s recognition. Your future is bright!¡± Qin Huai chuckled. ¡°This Qin will definitely not forget the kindness of Big Brother Yang¡¯s guidance.¡± Yang Erbao was very excited. He felt that he had grasped a straw that could help him rise. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Many cultivation techniques actually have a fixed pattern and a fixed combination of cultivation. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, just ask me. After a long time, you can roughly calculate what kind of power some people have left and what kind of power they have.¡± Qin Huai understood. ¡°Is there any higher form of force above the king¡¯s force?¡± ¡°Above that, there seemed to be¡­ But I can¡¯t remember for the time being. It has been hundreds of thousands of years since such a person appeared in Qingzhou,¡± Yang Erbao said without giving it much thought. ¡°If such a person really appeared, wouldn¡¯t he be invincible in the future?¡± To Yang Erbao, three full patterns were an unreachable existence. Qin Huai nodded. He did not expect that there would be so many tricks involved. However, Qin Huai¡¯s situation was different from Shao Mo and the others. The cultivation technique he practiced did not rely on compatibility. Instead, he could forcefully combine techniques through constant exploration of his memories. There were even two cultivation techniques that conflicted or shared the same bone, yet Qin Huai managed to harmonize them successfully. For instance, his ten dragon patterns coexisted with the tiger and wolf patterns. Another example was the blood heart technique, which was undoubtedly a top-tier cultivation technique. If he could choose a top-tier cultivation technique and accumulate five full patterns, his power would only grow stronger. Furthermore, he had already acquired the king¡¯s force through the ten dragon patterns. If he could cultivate five full patterns, would his king¡¯s power see an improvement? Chapter 309 ?309 Poison King Technique Yang Erbao led Qin Huai to a building resembling a warehouse. It was bustling with activity as Blood Poison Gang disciples sat on wooden boxes and the ground, ingesting various colorful powders. Qin Huai quickly identified the composition of the powders and mumbled, ¡°Blood leaf flower and ox bone grass are poisonous herbs. A poison that affects blood but takes effect slowly?¡± Yang Erbao smiled and said, ¡°Brother Qin, you have good eyesight. These have been ground to such a state, yet you can still distinguish them. Most of these poisons are used to assist in cultivating the poison king technique. After eating these, they¡¯ll cultivate according to the technique.¡± Qin Huai narrowed his eyes, observing the group¡¯s expressions. ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll die quite easily.¡± ¡°Wealth comes from danger. Besides, we didn¡¯t force them,¡± Yang Erbao replied nonchalantly. ¡°Our Blood Poison Gang plays with drugs. If we can¡¯t even withstand this little poison, we won¡¯t live long in the future.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement. Yang Erbao then led Qin Huai through several rooms that looked like storehouses. After some time, a row of exquisitely decorated small houses near the Qingzhou River came into view. Although not large, they were significantly better than the cluttered storehouse. ¡°This is the residence of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s martial artists above the great blood refinement realm,¡± Yang Erbao explained as he opened a small courtyard. The fifty-square-meter space was divided equally between the courtyard and a wing. There were also some poisonous seeds planted in the ground, brimming with vitality. ¡°Brother Qin, what do you think of this place?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± Qin Huai nodded, considering it as his temporary residence. After that, Yang Erbao personally showed Qin Huai around the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s living quarters. The gang was indeed one of the four largest in the outer city, boasting decent facilities in all aspects. Qin Huai primarily sought to identify where the Blood Poison Gang members cultivated. Observing the martial artists practicing near the storehouse, he found that his experience orbs automatically merged into his body, causing his experience bar to skyrocket. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Blue)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +544!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Purple)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +1,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Green)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +23!¡± After the first round of experience harvesting, Qin Huai¡¯s poison king technique had earned him 100,000 experience points and reached the fourth refinement level. Unfortunately, the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s bone pattern realm experts seemed elusive and lazy. Qin Huai only saw a few bone pattern realm experts, but none of them practiced martial arts. Although Qin Huai was in the bone pattern realm, his poison king technique was not at a high level, and he was new to the Blood Poison Gang. Old Liu, who was in charge of registration, gave him a two-colored card for the time being. After all, the Blood Poison Gang was not a small gang like the Broken Axe Gang; a Bone Pattern Realm warrior wasn¡¯t particularly valuable. The fact that Yang Erbao could bring more than ten bone pattern realm experts to Tong Treasure Shop demonstrated the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s power. In the blink of an eye, Qin Huai had been with the Blood Poison Gang for half a month. During this time, he had no tasks, and it seemed Yang Erbao had forgotten about him. Qin Huai understood this as the gang investigating his background. Yang Erbao had told him that as long as he wasn¡¯t associated with the three hostile gangs, he would be fine. They didn¡¯t care if he was a disciple of Qingzhou City¡¯s major sects, and they even welcomed him warmly. Thus, Qin Huai spent the past half a month quietly cultivating and harvesting experience. He wasn¡¯t stingy with his resources, using poison that could harm a bone pattern realm martial artist as a supplementary technique, just like in his memory. With this support, his poison king technique improved rapidly, reaching the ninth refinement level in just half a month. The poison level also increased to 35%, and the poison king technique¡¯s patterned bones overlapped with the divine power book of a thousand creations on his arms. The interaction between the two made Qin Huai smile bitterly. It seemed that the white dragon qi produced by refining the broken axe technique contained a hint of poison. Qin Huai had completely refined the broken axe technique and added it to the nine dragons true qi technique, now at 41% of the second stage. However, within the Blood Poison Gang, it appeared that Qin Huai, who had always kept a low profile, had been targeted since the day before. Someone stared at his courtyard from afar without moving, every day. Bang! Qin Huai threw a punch. As the purple-white light exploded, a faint blood mist dissipated in the aftermath. Immediately after, the weeds under the courtyard wall withered as the thin blood mist swept past. Qin Huai felt gratified. Other than the terrifying destructive power of his forbidden technique, he also had the powerful poison king technique. This made his punches even more difficult to defend against. After testing a few more punches, he sat quietly in his room. Beside him were bottles and jars of various sizes, containing valuable old medicinal herbs. Qin Huai had 180,000 taels of silver, but he had spent 150,000 taels in half a month on these medicinal herbs. Chapter 310 ?310 An Assassination Attempt Qin Huai could be said to be spending money extravagantly. However, it was precisely because of this that he was able to cultivate the poison king technique to the ninth refinement so quickly. In addition to the advancement of his cultivation technique and power, Qin Huai¡¯s poison and medicinal skills also improved rapidly. He had already accumulated 1,000 experience points for the treasured weapon grade potion technique, with his experience points now at 1357/5000. Qin Huai flicked his wrist lightly, throwing several medicinal herbs into a container. With his current poison skills, he could accurately concoct the best poison even with his eyes closed. He pinched his finger lightly, and blood instantly fell into the container. The unique aspect of the poison king technique was that after cultivating it, one¡¯s blood could carry poison. The higher the realm, the greater the toxicity. Therefore, even if the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s martial artists died, many people still feared them. eaglesnov1,o Outside the courtyard wall, Xue Guangye and his younger brother stared at Qin Huai¡¯s room, their eyes red. ¡°Brother, are we really going to kill this Qin Huai?¡± The younger brother¡¯s mouth trembled. ¡°Of course! Otherwise, why did we waste so many days?¡± Xue Guangye gritted his teeth. ¡°But if the gang finds out, it will be a death sentence.¡± His younger brother had not made up his mind yet. ¡°If I don¡¯t kill him, I won¡¯t be able to repay the money I owe to the casino. If I tell the gang leader, I¡¯ll lose the card I¡¯m going to get next month!¡± Xue Guangye continued, ¡°Without it, you and I will only be low-ranking leaders in the Blood Poison Gang in the future. What¡¯s the difference between that and death?¡± Xue Guangye looked at Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard. Although he had just entered the bone pattern realm and seemed to have a bright future ahead, he was addicted to gambling. All the money he had earned over the years had been thrown into the casino. A few days ago, he had just broken through to the bone pattern realm and, in his excitement, lost himself in the casino, losing all his money. He still owed the casino more than two hundred thousand taels of silver. He knew that he had seen a valuable spear on Qin Huai, the newcomer who had just joined the gang. Xue Guangye had seen the world and could tell from a distance that it was a complete artifact of high quality. That spear could definitely cover his debt. Moreover, Qin Huai was a new face with a low cultivation level, weak poison skills, and a large sum of money. Without a doubt, he was a gift from the heavens. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this then!¡± The younger brother gritted his teeth and nodded. ¡°But, Big Brother, you have to promise me one thing¡± Before his brother could say anything, Xue Guangye raised his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After this, I, Xue Guangye, will never gamble again! If I bet again, I¡¯ll be struck by five lightning strikes!¡± His voice was sonorous and powerful, aiming to reassure his younger brother. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Holding their breaths, they silently walked to the courtyard wall of Qin Huai¡¯s residence. In the next second, they placed their fingers on the wall, and a sticky liquid seeped out of their fingers, firmly attaching them to the earthen wall. Silently, they climbed up the wall bit by bit. Their movements were very light, but it took them more than ten breaths to peek their heads out from the three-meter-high earthen wall. In their field of vision, they could vaguely see a figure sitting by the bed and meditating through the window. Strange explosions could be heard from time to time. The two brothers exchanged glances and quietly flipped over the door, walking in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. One step, two steps, three steps As they moved silently, the veins on Xue Guangye¡¯s forehead bulged, and his eyes gradually turned bloodshot. A few more steps and they had almost reached the window. Suddenly, Xue Guangye¡¯s eyes widened as he turned to look at his younger brother. His face was already frighteningly purple, and his eyes were bulging. As members of the Blood Poison Gang, how could they not know what was wrong with their bodies? They were poisoned! Moreover, the poison was quite potent. They were clearly holding their breaths, yet the poison had seeped into their bodies through their skin and pores. What kind of poison was this? The two brothers¡¯ eyes were filled with panic, but they did not dare to make a sound. They only spoke with their eyes. This guy was not simple. The two brothers exchanged glances and instantly understood each other¡¯s meaning. They suppressed the toxins that were rapidly spreading in their bodies and walked out of the door. How could they not know? The Qin Huai before them was not a gift from the heavens but a grim reaper. His poison technique was far superior to theirs. They had just climbed out of Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard when the younger brother opened his mouth to take a breath of fresh air. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood. He was only at the ninth refinement realm, so he was not as resistant to poison as Xue Guangye, who was at the bone pattern realm. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Xue Guangye spat out a mouthful of blood, which was not red but black, and sizzled as it hit the ground. ¡°I regret it so much!¡± His eyes were filled with unwillingness. He reached out his hand, wanting to take out some antidote pills. However, he realized that he didn¡¯t have any with him; he only had some poison to kill. Bang! His head, which he had tried hard to raise, fell to the ground. He died on the spot. Not far away, Yang Erbao¡¯s face was filled with joy as he hurried over to Qin Huai¡¯s residence. From afar, he could see two figures lying outside the walls. Chapter 311 ?311 Meeting the Four Masters Yang Erbao¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and he turned into a whirlwind, shooting toward Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Xue Guangye?¡± His eyes widened as he looked at the two heavily poisoned corpses on the ground a bone pattern realm martial artist and a ninth refinement martial artist. Quietly, Yang Erbao approached Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard and stuck his head out to take a sniff, savoring the moment carefully. The next moment, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly took out several antidote pills from his pocket, stuffing them into his mouth. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± he shouted into the room, not daring to enter without knowing what was going on inside. After a while, Qin Huai pushed open the courtyard door. ¡°Brother Yang, what¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked with a smile, cupping his hands. ¡°There might be a problem within the Blood Poison Gang!¡± Yang Erbao frowned, feeling a little lucky that Qin Huai was fine. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the two corpses on the ground and was stunned. He quickly thought of the poison he had just experimented with in the room. ¡°It¡¯s possible it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Qin Huai immediately explained, ¡°I tried my best to control the poison in the courtyard. Xue Guangye was in the bone pattern realm, so he wouldn¡¯t have died if he was just passing by.¡± He frowned. ¡°Unless they entered my courtyard.¡± ¡°This matter¡­ I¡¯ll investigate this!¡± Yang Erbao did not dare to be careless. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Brother Yang.¡± Qin Huai nodded. As the saying goes, a straight body is not afraid of a crooked shadow. He could guess that the two of them were here to kill him, but he did not know the reason. Qin Huai picked up a few experience orbs on the ground, which instantly surged into his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Dark Purple)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +5,555!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Purple)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +2,111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Giant Whale Technique Essence (Orange)], [Giant Whale Technique] experience points +23,232!¡± In addition to the poison king technique, the Xue brothers also cultivated two other techniques. From the experience they had, it seemed that both of their techniques were close to the great blood refinement realm. After his vitality became abnormally abundant, it was much easier to cultivate other martial arts in the blood refinement realm, and the progress was much faster. ¡°It¡¯s inexplicable. They were only practicing poison techniques¡­ but they came to give experience points,¡± Qin Huai mused, looking at the two corpses. ¡°You were the ones who insisted on giving it to me. Don¡¯t blame me for being vicious.¡± As he mumbled, their faces began to rot. Yang Erbao¡¯s mouth twitched slightly as he looked at Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard, thinking about the power of the poison he had just inhaled. Yang Erbao, who had wanted to go in and ask for a cup of tea to bond with Qin Huai, could only change the venue to outside. Otherwise, he was afraid that he would end up like Xue Guangye and his brother. At the same time, his evaluation of Qin Huai and the danger level in his heart rose rapidly. ¡°Today, the sect¡¯s inspection of Brother Qin has ended. He will be assigned a mission soon¡­ At that time, Brother Qin¡¯s advancement will be swift,¡± Yang Erbao said with a smile. ¡°But¡­ after what happened today, I might have to go back for the investigation. Brother Qin, just wait patiently for two days.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°By the way¡± Yang Erbao frowned slightly. ¡°The city has become increasingly unsafe recently. Two young geniuses who have been missing for more than two months have been discovered in the city. They¡¯re both dead. Their skin was peeled off, and only through the flesh and blood were their realm and identities roughly determined.¡± Qin Huai said, ¡°That demon is so arrogant? Not even destroying the evidence?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that so?¡± Yang Erbao responded. ¡°This is a blatant provocation, but we can¡¯t find any clues. That demon seems to have appeared out of thin air, and he keeps changing his appearance and identity. He might be right beside us now.¡± Yang Erbao shook his head and encouraged Qin Huai before leaving. Two days later, Xue Guangye¡¯s matter was finally revealed. Yang Erbao stood at the entrance of Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard and said, ¡°Xue Guangye went to the casino to gamble and lost more than 200,000 taels of silver. He tried all sorts of methods to raise money, but it wasn¡¯t enough. That¡¯s probably why he came to steal from you. I didn¡¯t expect Brother Qin to be so skilled that you killed them!¡± His expression was somewhat gloomy and uncertain. ¡°But Brother Qin, you still have to come with me.¡± ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t this matter settled?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. ¡°That¡¯s what happened, but it still depends on the four masters.¡± Yang Erbao sighed. ¡°Second Master and Third Master didn¡¯t speak, while Fourth Master supports you. But as for the First Master¡­¡± Yang Erbao smiled bitterly. ¡°Xue Guangye has been working hard for him since he was young. He even blocked knives for him. He¡¯s his trusted aide.¡± The two of them walked along the Qingzhou River and arrived in front of a huge flower boat by the shore. ¡°Does this mean that that old man wants to kill me for revenge?¡± Qin Huai narrowed his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± In front of the flower boat, two martial artists carrying swords stopped Yang Erbao, their gazes unfriendly. Yang Erbao patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Be careful when you go in.¡± ¡°Many thanks, Brother Yang.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and walked into the boat under the malicious gazes of the two sword-wielding men. The boat was spacious, a large ship that could accommodate thousands of people. Qin Huai followed their directions and boarded the second floor of the flower boat. At the stairway, he heard the argument inside. ¡°Your own subordinate is addicted to gambling. He wanted to kill people for money, but he was killed instead. You still have the cheek to clamor for Qin Huai¡¯s head here?¡± a strange voice sounded. ¡°Eldest Brother¡¯s trusted aide has been killed. If Qin Huai doesn¡¯t die, how will Eldest Brother continue to lead people in the sect in the future?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense. I didn¡¯t say that I wanted to kill Qin Huai,¡± a slightly aged voice sounded. Rows of tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and many martial artists with fierce gazes sat by the tables. They all looked at Qin Huai. In the innermost part of the room, four figures were seated at a distance. Mou Jinfu, a middle-aged man with half-white hair and squinty eyes, sat in the center, holding a walking stick. To his left, Second Master Yin Rongen¡¯s face was covered in scars as he played with two walnuts in his hand. On his right, Third Master Huang Qiguang¡¯s skin was pale, and his lips revealed an untimely evil smile. Finally, at the very side sat Shao Mo, who possessed the king¡¯s force. Behind the four of them, numerous followers stood. Chapter 312 ?312 Corrosion by the Blood Qi Armor ¡°Qin Huai greets First Master, Second Master, Third Master, and Fourth Master.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was loud and clear. ¡°What a handsome young man!¡± Mou Jinfu, who had half-white hair, spoke first with a smile. ¡°I heard you were refining poison that day and accidentally killed Brother Xue Guangye with it.¡± Huang Qiguang smiled sinisterly, not hiding his intention to provoke. ¡°That¡¯s right! Those two people tried to kill me when I was unprepared. Fortunately, I was refining poison at that time, and the poison spread and caused those two people to die. This time, I saved my life!¡± Qin Huai exclaimed. Bang! Without any warning, a black pill instantly flew toward Qin Huai. However, his expression remained calm as he pointed his finger forward. Before the black ball could reach him, it exploded. At the same time, a vigorous figure had already rushed in front of Qin Huai. Qin Huai instantly saw through the other party¡¯s cultivation level, which was at third-level bone pattern realm. ¡°Black poison finger!¡± The poisonous gas was sharp and pierced toward Qin Huai¡¯s throat like a sword. The black poisonous gas that spread out was like a wild beast pouncing over. ¡°Boiling blood, stage five!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s skin suddenly turned red. His fists crossed each other and smashed down from the front. Crack! The sound of bones shattering rang out. The person¡¯s extended arm was folded in half. He raised his right fist, and the skin on his fingertips shattered, causing several streams of poisonous blood to shoot toward Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. Qin Huai¡¯s body moved lightly, and as if he had expected this, he leaned to the side to avoid the blood. At the same time, he grabbed the man¡¯s broken arm. From the point where it broke, it instantly turned black, quickly spreading over his shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± the man wailed. Another person immediately rushed up from behind him and cut off the blackened arm. Blood splattered on the boat, causing the ground to emit a sizzling sound. ¡°Enough!¡± Mou Jinfu snorted coldly. The man who had pulled out the knife instantly pulled him away. ¡°Alright, alright, alright. You¡¯re indeed capable!¡± Huang Qiguang clapped his hands with a smile. ¡°With such good skills, how about we count him in?¡± Yin Rongen suggested. ¡°This is the reason why this old man attacked,¡± Mou Jinfu said slowly. He smiled and looked at Qin Huai. ¡°You mustn¡¯t have a bad impression of me just because of some rumors.¡± Mou Jinfu stood up and walked to Qin Huai with his walking stick. ¡°This old man was also ordered by foster father to select talents.¡± ¡°Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. He was temporarily unable to see through Mou Jinfu¡¯s thoughts. However, the relationship between the four adopted sons of the leader of the Blood Poison Gang was not good, and it was clear to everyone. As for the ¡®matter¡¯ that Yin Rongen mentioned, Qin Huai had never heard of it before. ¡°Boss, you don¡¯t have any objections to Xue Guangye¡¯s matter, right?¡± Huang Qiguang chuckled. ¡°Of course not. That kid deserved it.¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Alright then Come to the boat again tomorrow at noon,¡± Yin Rongen said coldly. Qin Huai looked up at the four of them. They did not tell him what they were going to do on the boat tomorrow. Xue Guangye, who had thought that there would be a storm, ended up causing a lot of noise but little trouble. Nothing happened, so Qin Huai quickly left. Upon disembarking the boat, Qin Huai saw Yang Erbao, who was waiting at the side. ¡°Brother Qin, you came out so quickly?¡± Yang Erbao was stunned to see Qin Huai come out. ¡°Yes, they didn¡¯t make things difficult for me as you said,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good,¡± Yang Erbao patted his chest. ¡°Speaking of which Brother Yang, do you know what our Blood Poison Gang has been doing recently? Tomorrow at noon, the leaders asked me to come to the flower boat.¡± ¡°Maybe a mission?¡± Yang Erbao shook his head in confusion. Qin Huai didn¡¯t probe further. He returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and slowly activated the divine power book of a thousand creations. He began to refine all the techniques that the kind-hearted Xue Guangye and his brother had provided, building upon his poison king technique. Qin Huai then activated his poison king technique, focusing on his dantian. Many blood-colored spots appeared on the ten ferocious dragons. Due to the fusion of the various forces, the ancient golden book became a poison book. Everything he spat out was poisoned, causing Qin Huai¡¯s dragons to undergo another transformation. Whether active or passive, Qin Huai¡¯s ten dragons were filled with poison, while the young dragon king remained pure and flawless. ¡°Qi armor!¡± Immediately, an invisible qi armor was summoned. Qin Huai looked at the blood-colored spots faintly flowing on the qi armor. ¡°Blood armor!¡± Qin Huai activated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique again, and a large amount of blood and qi gathered on the qi armor. As Qin Huai deliberately pushed them, the two types of armor slowly merged into one. He had already learned this move when he pushed the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to the bone pattern realm. The combination of the two had increased Qin Huai¡¯s defense to a certain extent. However, after obtaining the poison king technique, Qin Huai¡¯s blood qi armor was different. He broke off a tree branch and threw it at himself. The moment the tree branch came into contact with his blood qi armor, it began to corrode. Then, he found his own poisonous dagger and stabbed it into his body. The effect was the same. The dagger paused on the thick blood qi armor and was instantly corroded by the power of the poison king technique. Chapter 313 ?313 Adopting a Fifth Foster Son? Seeing this, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes revealed a look of satisfaction. ¡°The three techniques work in harmony, displaying a brand new power.¡± Qin Huai was excited. As expected, he was naturally suited to cultivate poison techniques. His poison techniques were very compatible with his various cultivation techniques, and they could all produce unbelievable changes. There was no need to consider the power of the poison dragon shock. ¡°With the current blood qi armor, an enemy attacking me is equivalent to ingesting poison,¡± Qin Huai thought. It seemed that beating Qin Huai was equivalent to beating oneself, an apt description for his current situation. At noon the next day, Qin Huai arrived at the flower boat on time. He didn¡¯t board the ship. Instead, he was led to a small boat beside the flower boat. On the boat, there were six others, their expressions stern, and the blood and qi on their bodies were strong. Qin Huai activated the blood heart technique slightly and brushed past them inadvertently. Four were at the third level and two at the fourth level. They were no longer small leaders but true pillars of the Blood Poison Gang. With so many experts, the Blood Poison Gang must be planning something big. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were as still as water, though. ¡°Hey, pretty boy, do you know why you¡¯re here this time?¡± asked the man beside him, squinting at Qin Huai. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qin Huai answered truthfully. ¡°Tsk What an idiot.¡± The man didn¡¯t inform Qin Huai and merely closed his eyes to rest. Soon, the boat reached the other side of the river. Qin Huai looked in the direction of the few people leading the group. This¡­ Were they going to see the leader, Wen Zonghao? Squeak~ The group of seven walked into a bamboo house built by the river. Ascending to the second floor, they saw a rotund old man with murderous eyes staring at the river with his back to them. The aura on his body was restrained, and there was no fluctuation at all. Beside the old man, the four foster sons stood in a row, respectfully standing. Not far from him, there was a Blood Poison Gang martial artist covered in blood and dressed in red. ¡°You betrayed the Blood Poison Gang and helped the Dark River Gang steal our work. How dare you!¡± Huang Qiguang, standing beside the man, said in a restrained tone. ¡°Hurry up and confess your accomplices. I can still give you a quick death on account of our past friendship. Otherwise, you should know very well what tricks our Blood Poison Gang has.¡± ¡°Bah!¡± The man sneered. ¡°You bunch of bastards, how dare you test my daughter¡¯s poison? Even if I die, I¡¯ll turn into a vengeful spirit and haunt you! It¡¯s not just my daughter! You¡¯re actually so crazy as to take the innocent people in the city¡­¡± Whoosh! A white light flashed, and something seemed to have been stuffed into the man¡¯s mouth. The next moment, the man¡¯s entire body started to change shape, and he blistered like a toad. Qin Huai¡¯s pupils constricted. He hadn¡¯t even seen clearly who had attacked earlier. He looked at the old man with white hair and no aura. Was this a visceral prefecture realm expert? Qin Huai could roughly guess what that person hadn¡¯t finished saying. The Blood Poison Gang had actually used innocent people in the city to test their poison. This gang was really extreme in their craziness. As a result, Qin Huai¡¯s killing intent toward the Blood Poison Gang intensified. Gulp¡­ A strange sound came from the man. Bang! Immediately after, the man¡¯s head exploded, and poisonous blood splattered everywhere. The people around them retreated, except for Qin Huai. He allowed the poisonous blood to splash on his body. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dodge?¡± the leader of the Blood Poison Gang, Wen Zonghao, asked Qin Huai. ¡°Because I¡¯m not afraid.¡± ¡°Why not? I have never believed that there are people in this world who are not afraid of death.¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s eyes were indifferent. ¡°Because my poison technique is stronger than everyone else,¡± Qin Huai answered calmly. ¡°Oh?¡± Wen Zonghao revealed a meaningful smile. ¡°Poison!¡± he whispered. Then, Shao Mo walked up from the side and gave each of the seven people a poison pill. The other six were a little hesitant, but Qin Huai didn¡¯t hesitate at all. He swallowed the poison pill in his hand. The others glanced at the calm Qin Huai from the corner of their eyes and immediately swallowed the poison pill in their hands. Thud! One of them knelt on the ground on the spot. He rolled on the ground, his stomach felt like it was on fire. ¡°Water! I want water!¡± The expressions of the other five people also changed drastically. They hurriedly took out several medicinal pills and herbs from their robes and put them into their mouths. Only Qin Huai, from the beginning to the end, stood straight like a pine tree and didn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Remember this feeling. This is the poison technique that the Dark Dragon Gang is most proficient in,¡± Mou Jinfu said slowly. ¡°The Dark Dragon Gang, this foreign gang, robbed us of a lot of our goods the moment they arrived in the outer city. They¡¯re at loggerheads with us, and they¡¯re also good at using poison. ¡°The leader of the Dark Dragon Gang isn¡¯t very strong. He¡¯s only at the third-level bone pattern realm. However, there are still three big gangs behind him that provide them with information. We missed several times. ¡°You are the best of the best that my Blood Poison Gang has carefully selected. Each of you can kill a third-level bone pattern realm expert. And the task that I¡¯m giving you is very simple: kill the leader of the Dark Dragon Gang!¡± Da da da da Wen Zonghao slowly walked to the front of the seven people. ¡°If any of you bring me the Dark Dragon Guild¡¯s leader, I¡¯ll reward you greatly. To raise our prestige is to make a great contribution to our Blood Poison Gang! I¡¯ll take him in as my fifth foster son!¡± As soon as he said this, the other four were stunned. They raised their heads and looked at their foster father in disbelief. They didn¡¯t know about the matter of adopting another foster son. Wen Zonghao looked around, and those shocked eyes instantly lowered back down. The four of them were thinking about something. Chapter 314 ?314 Testing the Dragon King Form Qin Huai appeared indifferent, sensing another opportunity to gain experience. He knew that joining a group like the Blood Poison Gang was the right decision. Clouds and mist filled the air, shrouding the Qingzhou River in mystery. At the Lower Bay Pier, a man dressed in red walked alone along the pier street. Suddenly, a group of gray-robed men charged at Qin Huai from both sides of the street. They attacked him amidst the thick fog, scattering powder all around. In the next instant, their hands turned into poison-wrapped fists that struck Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Blood qi armor!¡± Accompanied by stabbing sounds, a series of screams echoed through the dock street as the attackers retreated, horrified by their rotting fists that exposed their bones. The rotting flesh spread rapidly, prompting desperate cries for help, but to no avail. Qin Huai pulled out Silver Fox, the spear on his back, and charged forward like a heavy crossbow. His overwhelming momentum cut through the thick fog, leaving the members of the Dark Dragon Gang helpless. Even a bone pattern realm expert¡¯s fist could not penetrate Qin Huai¡¯s unparalleled blood qi armor. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s a newly ascended bone pattern with weak power,¡± Qin Huai muttered before using the poison dragon shock technique to eliminate his opponent. The bone pattern realm expert¡¯s head exploded instantly, and only the blood mist floated in the air. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Orange)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Force Comprehension], [Dark Water Force] +6%!¡± Qin Huai moved swiftly, treating these people as a means to familiarize himself with the poison king technique. As he continued to defeat his enemies, his newfound poison technique demonstrated its power. Finally, he arrived at Spring Bay Restaurant. Qin Huai looked up at the hazy sign. Suddenly, a cold light descended from above, and two sharp blades struck his shoulder. Sparks flew as the poison king technique clashed with this new power, resulting in a stalemate. In the fog, their eyes met. For a moment, the two of them stood frozen, the ground and bricks beneath their feet shattering and spreading outwards. Qin Huai raised his hands and grabbed the arms of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader, using the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. Airwaves and blood mist surged, and the tattered fabric floated down like gray snowflakes. The leader, suspended in mid-air, broke out in a cold sweat. He flicked his fingers, launching numerous tiny air snakes that shot toward Qin Huai like heavy crossbows. Using the wolf dash technique, Qin Huai dashed forward, dodging just enough to allow the crossbow bolts to pierce his flesh. His blood heart technique activated, instantly regenerating his wounds. In mere moments, he closed the thirty-meter gap and stood at the feet of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader. Qin Huai, his face shadowed, looked up at the airborne leader, who had nowhere to go. The leader, only two meters from landing, pleaded for his life. ¡°I can give you money!¡± However, Qin Huai unleashed another poison dragon shock, pouring ten-dragon force into the attack. The shockwaves exploded, dyeing the gray fog red as the resisting figure grew taller. Qin Huai stomped his feet, causing the ground beneath him to crack like a spider web. He instantly vanished from the ground and reappeared, towering over the Dark Dragon Gangs¡¯ leader. Covered in bruises and blood, the leader stared at Qin Huai with his one remaining, trembling eye. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± declared Qin Huai, launching another poison dragon shock. He precisely targeted the lower half of the president¡¯s body, blowing it up as the experience orbs fused into him. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Dark Orange)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +78,888!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Force Comprehension], [Dark Water Force] +13%!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s dark water manipulation had eliminated one-third of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s martial artists, pushing him to the level of eighth refinement. As he prepared to land, he saw four figures on the ground looking up at him his so-called comrades. However, they looked at him with sinister smiles, as if he were a sumptuous meal. The bone pattern realm martial artist who had previously scolded Qin Huai sneered, ¡°How are you going to run now?¡± Two of them were at the fourth-level bone pattern realm, and two were at the third level. One of them demanded, ¡°Hand over your head, and I¡¯ll guarantee your survival!¡± But Qin Huai simply beheaded the man with a knife. He looked down at them, a wild smile appearing on his face. He had been concerned about finding an opportunity to test his dragon king form, but now the chance had arrived. In an instant, his eyes shone with bright white light, and an astonishing aura rippled around his body before vanishing. In his dantian, the dragon king awoke, infusing his blood, qi, and flesh with dragon king energy. As the power surged into his head, his black hair turned white, and it grew longer. Qin Huai¡¯s descent accelerated, and when he landed, the earth shattered, sending rocks and debris flying. Boom! The people stared at Qin Huai in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief as they beheld the completely transformed man, exuding excitement and arrogance. Chapter 315 ?315 Poison King Technique Upgrade ¡°Let¡¯s attack together!¡± Those experts launched their assault simultaneously. Blood-colored mist gushed from their palms, and a terrifying airwave seemed to materialize. It was as if a blood-colored cage had trapped Qin Huai in a confined space. The square-shaped cage tightly imprisoned him, pressing down relentlessly. Crack! Qin Huai¡¯s ten fingers pierced through the blood cage, tearing the mist apart. The wind shattered and dissipated in the air. His eyes, emitting an intense white glow, were reflected in Gao Jie¡¯s eyes and instantly magnified. Gao Jie had barely raised his hands when a pair of large hands gripped his throat, a strong thumb pressing down on his Adam¡¯s apple like a treasured weapon. The moment Gao Jie¡¯s hands touched Qin Huai¡¯s throat, he lost control of his body. Thrust! The poison aura and Gao Jie¡¯s body were torn apart on the spot, fresh blood gushing out like poisonous liquid splattering across the ground. The sturdy floor cracked and corroded. The ten white dragons, under the urging of the blood heart technique, continuously filled the gaps and blocked the poisonous rain above their heads. The remaining experts didn¡¯t possess Qin Huai¡¯s impregnable defense. Gritting their teeth, they retreated a dozen meters to avoid the aftershock of Gao Jie¡¯s death. However, with a flick of their fingers, dozens of poison pills shot toward Qin Huai. Bang! Bang! Bang! In the blood mist, the densely packed poison pills moved in opposition, colliding in mid-air and exploding. The dense poisonous gas merged with the blood mist filling the sky. The remaining attackers left and returned, waving their hands to condense the poisonous gas in the sky onto their palms. The blood rain in the air vanished instantly. ¡°The poison king technique is not bad, but unfortunately his cultivation level is a big problem!¡± A third-level bone pattern realm martial artist leaped forward, striking out with both palms. The blood-red poisonous palm instantly expanded, covering his entire body. ¡°Be careful of this kid¡¯s strength! Don¡¯t get close¡± As soon as the third-level bone pattern realm martial artist finished speaking, Qin Huai appeared before him. With a swift and violent hand blade, he stabbed out. Qin Huai¡¯s fingertips brushed past the enemy¡¯s arm. The man, guessing Qin Huai¡¯s intentions, turned his body sideways and smiled malevolently. He smashed his heavy hammers with both fists at Qin Huai¡¯s head. ¡°Forbidden technique, poison dragon shock!¡± The two enormous bloody palms beside him pressed down together, their terrifying power directly overturning the ground more than ten meters below. Meanwhile, a clear shattering sound rang out as wisps of white dragon qi surged and floated in the air, shattering the blood qi armor on Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Haha¡­ It¡¯s best if only the two of us are left. We¡¯ll split the rewards equally.¡± The two of them sighed in relief and smiled. ¡°This Qin Huai really isn¡¯t easy to deal with. I don¡¯t know what martial technique he used just now, but my eyes kept twitching.¡± As soon as they finished speaking, the poisonous fog dispersed, and a figure charged forward. The poisonous gas left far behind, Qin Huai, who was supposed to be dead, was full of life. Even the long robe on his body remained intact. His muscular body, exposed to the air, was completely unharmed. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The ground beneath Qin Huai¡¯s feet crumbled as he rapidly closed the distance. Before the smiles in the corners of their eyes faded, Qin Huai was already in front of them. ¡°Forbidden technique, poisonous ten-dragon shock!¡± Successive dozens of ripples appeared in the air in an instant, and in the next second, the bodies of a third and fourth-level bone pattern realm martial artists shattered. In the bloody mist, Qin Huai stood quietly, absorbing all the experience orbs in his vision into his body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Comprehension], [Poison Force] +19%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Comprehension], [Poison Force] +11%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Orange)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +23,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Orange)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +33,333!¡± Qin Huai calmly approached Spring Bay Restaurant. The corpses on the ground were all purple-black, clearly the work of the other martial artists. They had killed the other two-thirds of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s experts hiding beside the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader, but they had also lost two of their own lives. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Comprehension], [Poison Force] +24%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Purple)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +4,121!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Blue)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +635!¡± The six bone pattern realm experts of the Blood Poison Gang were all ¡®consumed¡¯ by Qin Huai. As a result, the poison king technique, which had already reached the ninth refinement, easily broke through the bottleneck of the bone pattern realm. On the bones of his arms was a strange creature with three horns, two wings, and a long tail like a snake. Densely packed engravings spread from his arms to his spine. The two engravings seemed to merge, but there was no result. Qin Huai didn¡¯t have time to comprehend it carefully. He skillfully searched the corpses on the ground and found 230,000 taels of silver. ¡°It¡¯s too little,¡± Qin Huai shook his head. Most of the money they had robbed from the Blood Poison Gang was given to the other three gangs. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s fine as long as there is some.¡± He touched his waist, where only half of the Dark Dragon Gang leader¡¯s head remained. Fortunately, it was still recognizable. Qin Huai pushed open the window and looked at the Dark Dragon Gang martial artists swarming toward Spring Bay Restaurant. Chapter 316 ?316 A Monster Who Disappeared Into Thin Air! His legs suddenly exerted strength, and stepping on the eaves, he shot toward the group. He ran wildly but discovered that many of the Dark Dragon Gang members had turned around and were charging in another direction. Boom! In the distant sky, a flame appeared. ¡°Is there anyone else causing trouble?¡± Qin Huai looked at the astonishing flames, his thoughts whirling. It would be a waste not to pick up the free experience points, so he turned around and headed toward the fire. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions sounded in the distance. A figure stood atop a three-story building. When he waved his hands, the building beneath his feet visibly became shorter. The beams and the roof flew across the sky like heavy crossbows. The whistling sound exploded eardrums and spread hundreds of meters away. It was reminiscent of the day Qin Huai saw Feng Zhiqun pull open the door to stop him. Then, a figure wrapped in flames fell from the sky. The flames in his hands were like tigers, instantly burning the giant wood that was thrown over with shocking power. Qin Huai stopped two hundred meters away from where the two of them were fighting. One of them was like a small tower, four meters tall. His bronze skin and strong muscles were like armor embedded in the skeleton. The fist that was thrown out could set off visible airwaves, whistling and exploding on the path. Every punch was comparable to Qin Huai¡¯s. The figure opposite him stood in the flames. With the long sword in his hand, he could easily chop everything that came at him into pieces. Suddenly, the long sword froze. The huge flame instantly expanded by five meters and slashed down from the roof. The scimitar-like flame slash transformed into a ferocious tiger that opened its bloody mouth and swallowed the small tower-like figure in one gulp. Boom! The blazing flames burned fiercely, and a charred smell spread far away along the wind. The small tower-like figure did not groan in the flames at all. It took large strides toward the flaming man. When he stepped on the ground, the pavilion shook. ¡°Hua Yanli, is this the extent of your flames?¡± the voice came from the small tower-like figure. ¡°The so-called five-full-pattern king¡¯s force is only so much.¡± As they spoke, many people rushed out of their houses and fled in all directions. In the next instant, Qin Huai¡¯s heart suddenly trembled. A mighty aura suddenly erupted from Hua Yanli¡¯s body. Rumble¡­ The expressions of the people who were fleeing around suddenly stiffened. They fell to the ground like wheat straws. It¡¯s the king¡¯s force! The raging flames suddenly turned deep, and the red flames actually glowed with a blue light the next moment. Hua Yanli¡¯s aura rose steadily, and blue flames lit up in his pupils. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but walk forward from afar, wanting to get a closer look at this top-notch prodigy¡¯s full strength. Buzz~ ¡°This sword can actually cause a phenomenon in heaven and earth?¡± Qin Huai frowned. They were both in the bone pattern realm, but a warrior with five full patterns seemed to have surpassed the bone pattern realm. No! Something was wrong. There seemed to be a huge difference between the two auras. In the next instant, the king¡¯s force from Hua Yanli instantly disappeared without a trace. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he suddenly turned to look at Hua Yanli. But¡­ Hua Yanli¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen! Qin Huai¡¯s pupils constricted. There were still blue flames on the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± He searched everywhere but didn¡¯t find any clues. Qin Huai was certain that Hua Yanli¡¯s slash would have severely injured that tower-like genius even if he didn¡¯t die. Hua Yanli didn¡¯t need to activate any secret technique to escape. However, Hua Yanli was gone. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air. The land shrouded in clouds seemed to have fallen into a strange silence. As for the small tower-like figure, it seemed to have seen something extremely terrifying. Even when facing Hua Yanli, there was no fluctuation in his eyes, but there was actually a hint of fear. In the next instant, the small tower-like figure ran into the distance as if it was fleeing for its life. Qin Huai quickly approached Hua Yanli¡¯s position from the roof. The burn marks of the flames were still visible on the ground. He could even see Hua Yanli¡¯s footprints, which had sunk slightly into the ground due to the pressure of the flames. There was still a remnant aura. He walked around the area, but there was no second footprint within a few hundred meters. The rich feeling that had been split apart by the battle between the two gradually returned. Furthermore, the surrounding fog was getting thicker and thicker, so thick that Qin Huai¡¯s vision was shrinking. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but feel his hair stand on end. He didn¡¯t dare to stay any longer. And so, he ran in the direction of the Blood Poison Gang. The fog was like a downpour. Even an expert like Qin Huai could only see twenty meters away. He could only slow down and follow the familiar signs on the street in the direction of the Blood Poison Gang. The sound of the Qingzhou River beside his ear guided him in the right direction. Squeak~ He carefully walked to the riverside, then boarded the flower boat of the Blood Poison Gang. On both sides of the door, martial artists with stern expressions stared at Qin Huai, who was covered in blood. Two long swords blocked his way. Qin Huai plucked off half of the head from his waist and raised it above his head. The grim death of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader was clear at a glance. Upstairs, Wen Zonghao was sitting on an armchair, holding a cup of tea and stirring the tea. He did not eat for a long time. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he missed it¡­ it would be very difficult to get rid of the Dark Dragon Gang next time. The Dark Dragon Gang, which was also proficient in poison techniques, was an extremely troublesome and detestable force. Thump thump thump Chapter 317 317 The Fifth Foster Son! When Wen Zonghao heard those footsteps, he stood up abruptly and walked quickly to the stairs. Mou Jinfu and the other adopted sons stood up immediately and followed behind Wen Zonghao. Qin Huai, who was covered in blood, lifted the head and walked in front of everyone. When Wen Zonghao saw the head, his murderous expression, which had remained unchanged for years, couldn¡¯t hide his smile. Bang! Wen Zonghao¡¯s wide palm instantly patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°From today onwards, you are my fifth foster son!¡± ¡°Greetings, Foster Father!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists solemnly. Wen Zonghao raised his head and looked coldly at the four people beside him. ¡°You have been working on the matter of the Dark Dragon Gang for so long, but there has been no progress at all Yet he did it even though he¡¯s only at the third-level bone pattern realm. ¡°I think you¡¯re not listening to my words! Are you thinking of causing trouble for each other, or are you plotting to cut off my head and sit in this position?¡± Mou Jinfu immediately broke out in a cold sweat and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. The pure gold walking stick knocked on the ground as he muttered, ¡°This son would never have such intentions!¡± The other three quickly knelt down as well, saying repeatedly, ¡°We have no such thoughts! We have no such thoughts! We have no such thoughts!¡± ¡°Then what are you waiting for?¡± Wen Zonghao said coldly. ¡°Fifth Brother!¡± Mou Jinfu and the others also smiled brightly and shook hands with Qin Huai. ¡°Hang the head on the flower boat and move along the Qingzhou River in the outer city for three days. I want everyone in the outer city to know the consequences of offending my Blood Poison Gang.¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s aura was like a rainbow. Then, he left with his hands behind his back. ¡°Understood!¡± The moment Wen Zonghao left, the atmosphere on the boat became strange. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Fifth Brother to have such good skills. He was actually able to take the head of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader.¡± Mou Jinfu chuckled as he handed Qin Huai a cup of tea. ¡°I wonder if the people who came with Fifth Brother are alive or dead?¡± Huang Qiguang sneered. ¡°It was all thanks to my brothers that I was able to behead the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader. I¡¯m ashamed to say it. I must pay my respects to these brothers in the future.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm as he looked at the expressions of the four people in front of him. ¡°There¡¯s actually such a thing?¡± Huang Qiguang pretended to be surprised. ¡°Those two at the fourth-level bone pattern realm were capable subordinates that Boss personally sent. I thought they would ambush you.¡± Mou Jinfu laughed sinisterly. ¡°Third Brother, what do you mean?¡± ¡°I have no enmity with Fifth Younger Brother, so don¡¯t try to sow discord here. Wipe the dirt off your hands first!¡± Yin Rongen snorted coldly. ¡°Then how did my brother-in-law die last year?¡± Huang Qiguang clicked his tongue. ¡°Your brother-in-law stayed on my boat for three months. He didn¡¯t even get out of bed for a day before he died on a woman¡¯s stomach. He still owes me eighty thousand taels of silver! You still dare to mention this to me?¡± He changed the topic. ¡°Besides, if you don¡¯t have thirty brothers-in-law, you have at least seventeen or eighteen. You still care about this one?¡± The atmosphere between the three of them was tense. Qin Huai glanced at Shao Mo beside him. The most talented and youngest fourth master of the Blood Poison Gang had been frowning the entire time, as if he was drifting away from the situation. Qin Huai left this troublesome place and disembarked from the other side of the river. Just as he was rushing home, Yang Erbao came to confront him. He was like a shark that smelled blood. ¡°Brother Qin, I didn¡¯t misjudge you. It¡¯s only been a few days and you¡¯re already the fifth master of the Blood Poison Gang.¡± Yang Erbao looked envious and respectful. His demeanor was completely different from when Qin Huai first arrived. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Yang, I won¡¯t mistreat you!¡± Qin Huai patted Yang Erbao¡¯s shoulder. The latter¡¯s face immediately turned red as he began to speak, ¡°The Blood Poison Gang has a total of three main sources of income. The business that Master Mou Jinfu manages is the water transport business. Second Master Yin Rongen is in charge of a casino, and Third Master Huang Qiguang oversees the flower boat business. ¡°There are also some teahouses, pawnshops, and so on. Each master can put twenty percent of the profits under their jurisdiction into their own pockets. But don¡¯t underestimate this twenty percent. Even Third Master, who is relatively the least profitable, can earn 200,000 taels of silver every month.¡± ¡°How about Shao Mo?¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled when he heard Yang Erbao¡¯s voice stop abruptly. ¡°Fourth Master Well, Fourth Master and First Master were originally in charge of water transport. After all, this is the main source of money for our Blood Poison Gang. But it stopped half a year ago.¡± ¡°Oh? Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Anyway, Fourth Master suddenly quit.¡± Yang Erbao couldn¡¯t explain clearly either. Qin Huai was surprised. ¡°It¡¯s at least 200,000 taels of silver a month. It doesn¡¯t make sense, does it?¡± ¡°Perhaps Fourth Master isn¡¯t after money, but the undefeatable realm of martial arts?¡± Yang Erbao smiled obsequiously. Qin Huai shook his head. The credibility of this statement was almost zero. Practicing martial arts required more money. He parted ways with Yang Erbao at the entrance of the courtyard. ¡­ Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the bed. The poison mark, ten-dragon mark, divine power thousand creation mark, blood heart Mark, and ancient azure illusion mark lit up at the same time. Qin Huai¡¯s bones trembled, and scorching energy began to flow from his fingertips, bone tail, and eyes. The bones that ran through his entire body emitted a bright light. The world in his dantian trembled as well. Qin Huai activated the so-called bone patterns, wanting to fuse all the cultivation techniques. A brand new change occurred. After a long time, the trembling stopped, and the bone patterns began to dim as well. ¡°My strength is far from enough. I have to reach the fifth-level bone pattern realm,¡± Qin Huai muttered. He wanted to try, but he failed in the end. Slowly activating the divine power book of a thousand creations, Qin Huai slowly refined the dark water technique experience he had gained that day. He wanted to first push the nine dragons true qi technique to the fifth-level bone pattern realm. Streams of white dragon qi, filled with poison, gathered toward the dragon pearl. The poison king technique had broken through the bone pattern realm, and Qin Huai¡¯s body was also being transformed. His body, which was originally immune to many poisons, was now even more immune to them. Even Qin Huai¡¯s flesh and blood contained a large amount of poison. If he wanted to, this would become another hidden weapon for him. Moreover, Qin Huai¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique¡¯s experience points also began to soar. Chapter 318 ?318 The Fox Tail Has Been Exposed Qin Huai¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique slowed down only when it reached 85%. ¡°If you want to break through to the fourth-level bone pattern realm, you have to kill more people.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were cold and sharp. Most of his cultivation time was spent on the qi confinement technique. As for the remaining power of the dark water technique and the broken axe, Qin Huai stacked them on top of the ancient azure illusion force. After everything was done, three days had passed. On the bed that emitted the fragrance of flowers, afterimages appeared around Qin Huai, who was sitting cross-legged. He opened his eyes abruptly. His footsteps suddenly lightened, and as he moved sideways, a complete afterimage appeared behind him. He walked into the courtyard and increased his speed again, activating the ancient azure illusion force. The afterimages behind him became even clearer. ¡°No, I still lack a cultivation technique as a foundation. Just relying on power alone won¡¯t be able to display the power of the ancient azure illusion force.¡± Qin Huai threw a punch in front of him, activating the ancient azure illusion force. It seemed as if three punches had been thrown out in an instant, and afterimages appeared in front of him. The strange scene of Hua Yanli disappearing into thin air in front of him flashed through his mind. These few days, Qin Huai had been feeling uneasy because of this. Was it a demon, or was there some great terror hidden in Qingzhou? A genius with five full patterns and king¡¯s force had disappeared in an instant. With his strength, if he was targeted, wouldn¡¯t it be impossible for him to escape? This made Qin Huai even more uneasy. He walked out of the courtyard and saw two young faces standing at the door. ¡°Greetings, Fifth Master!¡± The two of them cupped their fists and spoke loudly. Qin Huai nodded at them. In less than three days, Yang Erbao had used all his skills to recruit a group of followers for Qin Huai. ¡°Where¡¯s Yang Erbao?¡± he asked. ¡°Second Brother is at the pharmacy. I¡¯ll lead the way for Fifth Master!¡± The lackey was very attentive, leading Qin Huai to the so-called pharmacy. The pharmacy was located at the outermost part of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s territory, situated in the wilderness, similar to the location of the Broken Axe Gang. The three-story-high earth castle occupied more than ten acres of land. As soon as they entered the castle, Qin Huai could hear the miserable wails coming from within. He followed the lackey up to the third floor. The interior of the earth castle was a hollow pavilion, surrounded by a circular corridor. The first floor was completely sealed off, encircled by a thick earth wall. On the second floor, there were numerous prison-like cages, holding all kinds of youths, women, and the elderly. Their faces were either ashen, green, or purple, or there were blisters on their bodies. They gazed out of the cage in a daze, with no one around to attend to them. Only the three levels connected would have a basket hanging down to the side of the cage to deliver the daily food. Observing all these, Qin Huai remained calm and walked to the third floor. ¡°Add more withering grass. Right, right, right. Choose that little girl and let her test the medicine.¡± Yang Erbao looked excited as he rubbed his hands to experiment with his new medicine. ¡°Why are your hands shaking? Do you know how much money I spent on this withering grass?¡± His expression suddenly changed, and he kicked the first-level bone pattern realm expert to the ground. The latter gritted his teeth and did not dare to say anything. ¡°Yes, Second Brother is right!¡± He got up and nodded obsequiously, doing as Yang Erbao said. ¡°Brother Yang.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice rang in his ears, and Yang Erbao suddenly quivered. ¡°Fifth Master!¡± He rubbed his hands humbly and bowed as he looked at Qin Huai. ¡°How¡¯s the matter I instructed you to do?¡± Qin Huai looked at Yang Erbao, a murderous look flashing in his eyes. This guy used his name to intimidate the Blood Poison Gang and bullied countless people. He had just been his trusted aide for two days, and the fox¡¯s tail had already been exposed. This kind of person, Qin Huai would definitely not let him live, but not now. In the Blood Poison Gang, killing Yang Erbao would not be enough to kill a second or a third. Only by eliminating the entire Blood Poison Gang could the tragedy in the earth castle be reduced. As for his reputation in the Blood Poison Gang, Qin Huai didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°That Hua Yanli is a prodigy of the Thunderbolt Gang, one of the four major gangs in the outer city. He¡¯s an existence on par with Fourth Master¡± ¡°Get to the point!¡± Yang Erbao was stunned and immediately said, ¡°Hua Yanli is indeed missing. As for why he disappeared, where he went, and who he was related to, I don¡¯t know.¡± Yang Erbao shook his head. ¡°However, every few years, some top-notch geniuses will mysteriously disappear inside and outside the city. It has already been decades ¡°My guess is that they were too arrogant and were secretly killed by those important figures at the visceral prefecture realm. You also know that there are as many experts as there are clouds in Qingzhou City Even if these top-notch geniuses were monstrous, they were not a match for those visceral prefecture realm experts.¡± Yang Erbao made a bold guess. Qin Huai only heard the first half of the sentence. Every few years, some prodigies would mysteriously disappear in Qingzhou City Qin Huai recalled the scene he had witnessed with his own eyes that night. He couldn¡¯t help but feel his hair stand on end. The demon incident had only been going on for a few months, even if he had been secretly committing crimes for a year or a few years at most. However, mysterious disappearances had been happening for decades. This meant that this matter definitely had nothing to do with the demon. ¡°What exactly is it¡± Qin Huai muttered. Then, he patted Yang Erbao¡¯s shoulder and said coldly, ¡°Help me find some ways to buy affordable power stones.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Yang Erbao didn¡¯t hesitate at all. It was definitely the right choice to agree to Qin Huai¡¯s request first. After all, he was the fifth foster son of the leader of the Blood Poison Gang. After Qin Huai finished giving his instructions, he quickly left the earth castle. Chapter 319 ?319 Successive Rewards! Qin Huai and the eldest foster son, Mou Jinfu, were jointly responsible for water transport. Qin Huai sat on the dock, observing the bustling activity of the dock workers and various caravans. Not far away, Mou Jinfu reclined on a chair as a few beautiful concubines served him watermelon slices. Behind him, a group of people glared menacingly at the workers and caravans coming and going. Mou Jinfu locked eyes with Qin Huai, who was watching him from a distance, showing no fear. A concubine beside him became momentarily distracted and accidentally pushed a watermelon slice into Mou Jinfu¡¯s face. ¡°Where are you feeding it?¡± Mou Jinfu snapped, slapping the woman¡¯s hand away. Thud! The woman immediately fell to her knees. ¡°Old Old Master, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Her body trembled, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Am I very old?¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s voice turned cold. Bang! He slapped the woman again, and her face quickly paled. ¡°Master, spare my life! Spare my life!¡± the woman begged weakly. In the end, she collapsed to the ground and never got up again. ¡°Throw her brother and mother into the sea to feed the fish!¡± Mou Jinfu ordered angrily, kicking the woman¡¯s lifeless body. His eyes remained fixed on Qin Huai on the other side of the river. ¡°The dock generates six hundred thousand silver a month, and I have to give half of it to this brat! What ability does he have? He only killed a small fry at the third-level bone pattern realm.¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s voice grew colder. ¡°Shao Mo, a prodigy with five full patterns Didn¡¯t he also obediently make way for me?¡± Behind him, a burly man stepped forward. ¡°Sir, if I may give some advice for you¡± ¡°Am I the kind of person who attacks fellow disciples?!¡± Mou Jinfu turned around and slapped the burly man, who staggered back three steps. ¡°This subordinate deserves to die!¡± The burly man knelt on one knee, remaining silent. The slap hadn¡¯t even left a mark on his body. Mou Jinfu flicked his sleeve, stood up, and left. In the blink of an eye, another two months passed. Everything remained calm, and the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s business continued as usual. Meanwhile, Qin Huai¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique successfully broke through the bottleneck of the fourth-level bone pattern realm, reaching the level 84. Moreover, Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan extended to 700 years. The most direct result of breaking through this restriction was a significant increase in Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation speed. The divine power book of a thousand creations, which had been at the peak of the eighth refinement, has also broken through to the bone pattern realm during his spare time. In the world within his dantian, the golden ancient book shone even more brilliantly, as bright as the sun. When Qin Huai opened his eyes, he walked out of the courtyard. A large group of Blood Poison Gang disciples, whom he had recruited over the past two months, gathered around him. His method of recruiting them was simple: using inexpensive power stones to forge some broken artifacts. To Qin Huai, this was no big deal. He only needed to forge one or two during his spare time each day. It wasn¡¯t necessary for everyone to have one, but as long as he spread this rumor, the Blood Poison Gang disciples would naturally flock to him, drawn like cats to the scent of fish. After all, treasured weapons were rare and highly sought-after items. Many people in the outer city could make treasured weapons, but they all demanded exorbitant prices, even for broken artifacts. Each one cost as much as 100,000 taels. Therefore, Qin Huai¡¯s offer was irresistible to most of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s disciples. As expected, within just two short months, Qin Huai had assembled the largest faction in the Blood Poison Gang, easily surpassing the other four foster sons. In return, he received a steady stream of information. Qin Huai would be the first to know how much money First Master Mou Jinfu lost at the gambling den, which top lady Second Master Yi Rongen favored that night, or how many people Third Master Huang Qiguang had killed. It had to be said that the sect leader was indeed cunning, skillfully using his adopted sons¡¯ hobbies to manipulate them into restricting and competing with each other. ¡°Fourth Brother!¡± Qin Huai spotted Shao Mo from afar and approached him, greeting him with a clasped fist. Shao Mo appeared stunned for a moment before responding. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Fourth Brother these days? Why do I feel like your soul is out of your body?¡± Qin Huai joked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± Shao Mo waved his hand, seemingly unwilling to elaborate. The two of them chatted briefly before parting ways. ¡°What has Shao Mo been doing recently?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Fifth Master, Fourth Master has been in seclusion for the past few months. I can see that his aura is growing stronger day by day,¡± one of the disciples replied. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the realm of five full patterns is about to be perfected He¡¯s ready to step into the next realm!¡± Bang! Yang Erbao ran over, panting, and slapped the man. ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s so easy to enter the visceral prefecture realm? Even if Fourth Master has completed all five full patterns, he still needs some time to step into that realm.¡± Yang Erbao licked his lips and smiled obsequiously at Qin Huai. ¡°Fifth Master, I¡¯m late.¡± Qin Huai replied coldly, ¡°You¡¯ve made some progress in your realm, so why are you in a state of unease all day?¡± Yang Erbao was left speechless. ¡°This Perhaps the mindset of a top-notch genius differs from that of ordinary people.¡± Chapter 320 ?320 Mou Jinfu¡¯s Trap Qin Huai turned to look at Shao Mo¡¯s back, suspecting the Fourth Master knew something about the great terror. ¡°Fifth Master, I recently received news that Mou Jinfu has been in close contact with some mysterious individuals. They might be from the Thunderbolt Gang.¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows. ¡°The Thunderbolt Gang?¡± Among the four gangs, the Thunderbolt Gang was the one most fiercely competing with the Blood Poison Gang for control of the pier. ¡°Is the boss in contact with the Thunderbolt Gang? Does he have a death wish?¡± Qin Huai shook his head, unable to decipher what Mou Jinfu, who was about the same age as the gang leader, was thinking. ¡°By the way, Fifth Master, the leader is calling for you!¡± On the flower boat, Wen Zonghao sat in a rattan chair, sipping tea slowly. ¡°The son of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader has returned and taken over his father¡¯s business. They want to take revenge on my Blood Poison Gang.¡± He looked at Qin Huai. ¡°He already robbed two docks in Lower Bay today and publicly announced that he would seize the third pier tomorrow.¡± Qin Huai looked at Wen Zonghao and asked, ¡°Will the three other gangs make a move too?¡± Wen Zonghao sipped his tea. ¡°It¡¯s mainly the Thunderbolt Gang. The four gangs are now two against two: Mountain City Gang versus Wind Tooth Gang, then our Blood Poison Gang versus Thunderbolt Gang ¡°If nothing goes wrong tomorrow, the Thunderbolt Gang will definitely disguise themselves and attack us. I trust you the most and have high expectations for you.¡± Wen Zonghao straightened his back and patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°In just two months, the number of people supporting you has already surpassed Mou Jinfu¡¯s. Not bad.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Godfather¡¯s teachings.¡± He pretended not to hear Wen Zonghao¡¯s so-called trust. Anyone who believed such words would be a fool. Wen Zonghao¡¯s face showed a gratified expression. ¡°Once this matter is settled, I¡¯ll support you to take over the position of boss! That bastard. He¡¯s getting more and more outrageous lately.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart remained unmoved, though. As expected, the gang leader knew that Mou Jinfu had secretly contacted the Thunderbolt Gang. ¡°Godfather, I have a question.¡± Wen Zonghao did not hesitate and said readily, ¡°Just ask, and I¡¯ll tell you everything I know.¡± ¡°Is there a cultivation technique in Qingzhou City that allows one to teleport one mile in an instant?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°One mile?¡± Wen Zonghao shook his head with a smile. ¡°How can there be such a cultivation technique? If it really existed, all the major sects would fight over it. Even the great sects in Qingzhou City would be no exception.¡± Qin Huai continued, ¡°About two months ago, after I killed the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader, I encountered Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang. However, halfway through, Hua Yanli seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace¡­¡± He stared at Wen Zonghao¡¯s face, but the smile on the latter¡¯s face instantly disappeared. ¡°Don¡¯t ask about that!¡± His voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation. ¡°But¡­¡± Qin Huai began, but Wen Zonghao interrupted him. ¡°Go back and prepare. Bring people to surround the third pier tonight!¡± Qin Huai had no choice but to leave the boat with cupped fists. ¡°Even an expert at the visceral prefecture realm would be so afraid¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s settle the Thunderbolt Gang first.¡± This battle was exactly what he wanted. For Qin Huai, the death of either side offered valuable experience. Late at night, heavy rain poured down. Qin Huai wore a bamboo hat, leading a large group of Blood Poison Gang martial artists. Every time they passed an alley, hundreds of martial artists parted ways. Finally, Qin Huai brought his men to a small brothel located at the corner of a street. He sat by the window, observing the heavy rain outside. In the corner, the brothel madam and a few girls huddled together, shivering. ¡°MasterWe really didn¡¯t do anything,¡± the brothel madam¡¯s voice trembled. The brothel madam¡¯s face turned pale, tears and snot streaming down her face as she wailed, ¡°Who the hell is slandering me?! Even if I had the guts, I wouldn¡¯t dare get involved in this mess. Master, you¡¯re wise! Master, I¡¯m just trying to make a living¡­ I really don¡¯t know anything!¡± The brothel madam spoke rapidly, not stopping for a moment. Qin Huai remained silent, allowing her to continue her tirade. ¡°You heartless people, what are you looking at? Hurry up and serve them!¡± The brothel madam seemed to have an idea. She grabbed a few attractive women beside her and pushed them toward Qin Huai. The scantily-clad women, who appeared frightened, looked shy and enticing. A few Blood Poison Gang disciples nearby swallowed their saliva but could only endure their desires. They stepped back, watching the five women approach Qin Huai. Their fragrance filled the air, and the entire pavilion seemed to warm up. Whoosh! Without warning, the five brothel women suddenly attacked Qin Huai. ¡°Blood qi armor!¡± An armor-like material appeared around Qin Huai¡¯s body. The moment the women¡¯s hands touched Qin Huai¡¯s body, they screamed in pain. ¡°Ah!¡± Their fair limbs started to rot. Then, Qin Huai¡¯s blood qi armor exploded and shattered, shooting holes in the bodies of the five women. Bang! The women, caught off guard, spat out blood and fell to their knees. Whoosh! At the same time, the brothel madam burst into action, stabbing at Qin Huai with a hairpin. Qin Huai raised his hand and punched. ¡°Forbidden technique, poison dragon shock!¡± The terrifying force pierced the air, shaking the brothel madam¡¯s hairpin, which tumbled out of her hand. Surprisingly, it was a treasured weapon. Qin Huai tapped the floor with the tip of his toes, causing the wooden building to collapse. The five crippled and bloodied women fell to the ground, wailing. Qin Huai¡¯s fists rained down like a flood, his poisonous palm strikes repeatedly shattering the bone pattern realm brothel madam on the spot. After that, the experience orbs merged with Qin Huai¡¯s body once again. Since Mou Jinfu dared to meet the Thunderbolt Gang here, the entire brothel was undoubtedly on his side. Therefore, Qin Huai was certain that these people were probably Mou Jinfu¡¯s sacrificial pawns. This place was likely a trap set by Mou Jinfuor rather, a bait placed on the surface. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of heavy rain echoed outside the window, so it was still uncertain what was going on inside and outside. Chapter 321 ?321 The Dark Dragon Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang In the rain, the group was dressed casually, with dozens of people in the lead wearing the emblem of the Dark Dragon Gang on their chests. Behind them, a large group dragged long swords on the ground. The Thunderbolt Gang, known for their skill with swords in the outer city, had members each carrying a long sword, their characteristics easily identifiable. The sound of blades hitting the ground and the sharp rain intertwined, resembling the tune that Wen Zonghao usually listened to in Qingzhou City. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t understand. As torrential rain poured into the corner of the collapsed building, he stood by the staircase, looking out the window through the floorboards and listening to the sounds of people ascending the stage downstairs. Bang! The blood-red mist was weakened by the heavy rain. ¡°Kill! Avenge the leader!¡± Shouts of battle rose and fell from below. In the next instant, red-robed members emerged from the streets and alleys like ghosts, surrounding the remaining members of the Dark Dragon Gang. Hundreds of people instantly filled the streets, with martial artists fighting everywhere. The blood was washed away by the rapid flow of water, and even the spurting blood was often blocked by the rain. The poison king technique¡¯s self-destruction characteristic was weakened, reducing its lethality. Fortunately, they had the advantage in numbers. Even though Qin Huai¡¯s subordinates had lower cultivation levels, they could still hold their own. Furthermore, Qin Huai had given them eight artifacts mixed with power stones, allowing many great blood refinement martial artists to temporarily contend against even bone pattern realm experts. Qin Huai watched coldly from the side, observing the brutal battle where fresh lives were lost. At the same time, experience orbs entered his body from a radius of over a hundred meters, steadily increasing the experience of the poison king technique. He also gained experience in the dark water manipulation technique and the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s thunderbolt blade technique. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Orange)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +11,111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Orange)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence (Green)], [Blood Heart Technique] Experience +235!¡± When Qin Huai noticed the thunderbolt blade technique, he was certain that it belonged to the Thunderbolt Gang. ¡°Fifth Master! This place is too dangerous! Let¡¯s change locations!¡± Yang Erbao rushed upstairs, his entire body trembling. Decades had passed since he had seen such a scene. In his youth, he had risked his life to gain fame. However, now he was the well-known butler of the Fifth Master of the Blood Poison Gang. Wherever he went, the gang¡¯s disciples called him Second Brother with a smile. Yang Erbao was extremely unwilling to risk his life and couldn¡¯t understand why Qin Huai had brought them to a place near the pier. Now, they were surrounded by the Dark Dragon Gang. ¡°What are you panicking for? Isn¡¯t the current situation extremely tense? Moreover, we still have the boss,¡± Qin Huai said unhurriedly. ¡°His subordinates are all elites.¡± Seeing Qin Huai¡¯s calm expression, Yang Erbao stomped his feet anxiously. ¡°Aiyo, my Fifth Master! I¡¯m afraid that the boss wants you dead more than the Thunderbolt Gang and the Dark Dragon Gang! After you took over, you stole three hundred thousand taels of gold from him every month. Not to mention, among the subordinates we gathered¡­ many of them were his people.¡± Yang Erbao suspected that Qin Huai¡¯s brain had gone haywire. But that wasn¡¯t right Qin Huai had never been smart. He had relied on his boldness and good luck to take the head of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader, which was why he had become the fifth foster son of the leader. That¡¯s true. Judging from his appearance, this kid was not even twenty years old. He was probably still thinking about the naive idea that he was part of a family after joining a gang. Yang Erbao¡¯s mind raced as he began to think of a way to talk to the old man. Although the old man was old, his qi and blood had been declining in the past two years, and his temper had become more irritable. However, his group was still the largest faction in the Blood Poison Gang. If Yang Erbao could gain his appreciation and become an official under him, he might be able to become a general of the Blood Poison Gang after Mou Jinfu passed away. ¡°Fifth Master, they¡¯ve retreated!¡± Yang Erbao¡¯s expression changed, and he sighed in relief. ¡°Charge!¡± He was overjoyed now. The surging crowd downstairs suddenly rushed into the distance. Dozens of experts who were above the level of great blood refinement joined forces to break their way out from one side. Qin Huai quickly walked to the side of the ruined pavilion and looked into the rain. The Thunderbolt Gang and the Dark Dragon Gang didn¡¯t have any outstanding experts. When Qin Huai looked over, he did not see a face that resembled the portrait of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s young master that Wen Zonghao had given him. ¡°As expected of an old fellow who has lived for more than a hundred years,¡± Qin Huai murmured in his heart. Or perhaps it was because he was too obvious? He leaped from the pavilion. His body parallel to the ground, he stomped heavily on the pavilion. ¡°The Dark Dragon Gang is in chaos. Don¡¯t let a single one of them off!¡± Qin Huai roared. He was like a stone thrown into the crowd. His boiling blood was activated, and with the support of the blood qi armor, Qin Huai was like a god of war as he slaughtered in all directions on the battlefield. With Qin Huai¡¯s participation, the remnants of the Dark Dragon Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang, who could barely resist, were instantly defeated. In less than a moment, Qin Huai and the others had already killed all the assassins who wanted to kill them. Chapter 322 - 322 New Right 322 New Right-hand Man ¡°Fifth Master, aren¡¯t you going to interrogate him?¡± Yang Erbao ran down from upstairs in a flattering manner. Seeing that the situation had been resolved, he quickly ran over to offer suggestions. Whoosh! Qin Huai dodged the long swords in the hands of the Thunderbolt Gang members and chopped off their heads with a backhand slash. ¡°What¡¯s there to ask? Don¡¯t we all know who they are?¡± He looked at the corpses on the ground and absorbed all his experience points. The two batches of experience points were not much. They could increase the nine dragons true qi technique by about 3%, which was equivalent to two months of intense cultivation. He wouldn¡¯t mind going through this kind of battle a hundred times to push his nine dragons true qi technique to the fifth-level bone pattern realm. Tonight¡¯s battle at the dock was all talk and no action. The strongest group of people from the Thunderbolt Gang were the few bone pattern realm warriors at the front. In the end, they were all scapegoats. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap up!¡± Qin Huai waved his hand and led a large group of martial artists back. At the same time, a group of people were left behind to guard the dock. In the next half a month, both sides engaged in a fierce battle around the third pier. Qin Huai took the lead every time and killed at the very front. Basically, every time, rumors would spread everywhere. In reality, when Qin Huai arrived, the enemy would only have a few bone pattern realm leaders left. Of course, Qin Huai¡¯s earnings were not insignificant either. In half a month¡¯s time, he earned the equivalent of four months of intense cultivation and pushed his nine dragons true qi technique¡¯s progress to the fourth stage realm at 15%. Qin Huai also made substantial gains from the broken artifacts forged from the cheap power stones he had bought. Naturally, he wasn¡¯t giving these items away for free to his subordinates. Each of them was worth 100,000 taels of silver, which was only nine times the cost. Everyone from the Blood Poison Gang was deeply grateful. After all, a broken artifact that cost 100,000 was 10,000 taels less expensive than the market price. Treasured weapons were always priceless. This group of evil and filthy rich Blood Poison Gang martial artists didn¡¯t lack silver. The money that was originally used for indulgence had now all gone into Qin Huai¡¯s pocket, and they were even grateful to him. With the continuous conquests at the third pier, the name of the fifth master of the Blood Poison Gang spread. It was even because of Qin Huai¡¯s lethal poison dragon shock that he was respectfully addressed as ¡°Brother Poison Dragon¡± by the people outside the city. More and more martial artists who had just joined the Blood Poison Gang chose to become Qin Huai¡¯s disciples, wanting him to become the strongest faction in the Blood Poison Gang. As for the money bag, 300,000 taels of silver a month, plus the money he took from the scapegoats of the Dark Dragon Gang and Thunderbolt Gang, and the generous gifts from his subordinates, added up to a net worth of 2.3 million taels of silver in just three short months. Qin Huai could be said to be extremely wealthy. Qin Huai then took out a blood-red pill box. This was the pill box he found when he was searching the corpse of a bone pattern realm expert. There were two dark red thumb-sized pills inside. His medicinal skills were extraordinary, and he only needed to lightly sniff to know that this medicinal pill was a great tonic. Moreover, this pill seemed to make the blood-colored tiger wolf in his dantian world throb. He hesitated for a moment before directly putting one of them into his mouth. Boom! Qin Huai¡¯s four-directional tiger-wolf technique actually started to activate involuntarily. The blazing aura made his skin turn red. A moment later, the heat on his face faded. He glanced at his personal panel. The experience of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique increased from 66% to 67%. ¡°This medicinal pill¡­¡± Qin Huai was pleasantly surprised. He knew that there were many pill recipes in Qingzhou City that were developed based on various cultivation techniques. Unfortunately, Qin Huai had been fighting with various factions all this time and had no time to study and explore Qingzhou City. Now that he had finally seen a pill that could allow the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to improve in a short period of time, he could not help but reveal a different expression in his eyes. One had to know that his four-directional tiger-wolf technique had already reached the second-level bone pattern realm. ¡°No wonder some of the warriors in Qingzhou City look ordinary, but their realms are a little higher than the warriors in Lingjiang,¡± he thought. Qin Huai walked out of the courtyard with another dark red pill. Outside the door, it was no longer a wasteland. A group of Blood Poison Gang disciples had built a small training field outside Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard. Every day, they would refine poison and cultivate at the entrance. This way, it would be convenient for Qin Huai to collect experience points. In addition, it also had the meaning of ¡®protecting the spirit king.¡¯ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (White)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +23!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Blue)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +23!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Green)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +23!¡± Although the number of subordinates was not too many, most of them were experts above the third or fourth refinement realm. With the help of these people, Qin Huai¡¯s poison king technique also improved by leaps and bounds. In half a month, it increased by 2% per day, increasing by more than 30 points. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, where is Yang Erbao?¡± Qin Huai called out to the one-eyed middle-aged man beside him. This was Qin Huai¡¯s newly appointed right-hand man in the past two months. He was at the second-level bone pattern realm, and he had always been at the forefront of the fight against the Dark Dragon Gang during this half a month. His fighting style was very fierce. As a result, Qin Huai took a fancy to him and put him in charge of his subordinates¡¯ cultivation. ¡°Fifth Master, Second Brother saw that you were cultivating, so he went to the flower boat to have some fun,¡± Zhou Cunzhong reported truthfully. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to look for him now.¡± With a wave of his hand, a few sect members stood up and ran toward the flower boat. Chapter 323 - 323 Red Qi Tiger Wolf Pills! 323 Red Qi Tiger Wolf Pills! ¡°Which pill house has the most complete and most variety of pills in the outer city?¡± ¡°The most¡­ It¡¯s the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary!¡± Zhou Cunzhong provided the answer after some thought. Having spent decades in the outer city, he knew all the slightly famous places there. Qin Huai nodded, remembering the name. Carrying more than two million taels of silver, he was anxious to spend it. He was determined to acquire the five full patterns. Fortunately, Qingzhou was blessed with abundant resources, which was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t let slip away. Thump thump thump¡­ Suddenly, several disciples of the Blood Poison Gang approached from the waterway. ¡°Fifth Master, Second Brother is not on the boat.¡± ¡°You searched carefully?¡± Zhou Cunzhong frowned. Second Brother had only run for half an incense stick¡¯s time. It was unreasonable for a bone pattern realm expert to be unable to last a few minutes on a woman¡¯s belly. ¡°I asked the brothel madam, and Second Brother only went around the boat once before leaving.¡± The disciple was very astute. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Alright, if he¡¯s not here, then so be it. Perhaps he¡¯s busy with something else.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t mind. Recently, that fellow had been constantly up to no good, but he had ignored him. In his heart, he knew that his ¡®Big Brother Yang¡¯ had either gone to Yin Rongen¡¯s worship dock or Mou Jinfu¡¯s. However, the latter was more likely. After all, he and Yin Rongen had no grudges or conflicts of interest. As for Mou Jinfu¡­ Not only had he snatched away many of his underlings, but he had also taken 300,000 taels of silver every month. Even if he were in Mou Jinfu¡¯s position, he would still feel uncomfortable. Moreover, the person who took his subordinates and silver was a rookie brat. Qin Huai gave a few more instructions to Zhou Cunzhong, urging his subordinates to cultivate properly. ¡°Fifth Master, should I send someone to follow you? It¡¯s been dangerous outside lately!¡± Zhou Cunzhong asked loudly. ¡°No need!¡± Qin Huai waved his hand, then stopped in his tracks and ordered, ¡°By the way, gather more information about the famous geniuses in the city for me! Send out a few brothers and keep an eye on them.¡± The disappearance of the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s genius Hua Yanli had always weighed on Qin Huai¡¯s heart. When he broke through to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, would he suddenly vanish? Qin Huai knew that he would reach that level sooner or later, and he even had the king¡¯s force. Since his situation was nearly identical to Hua Yanli¡¯s, he grew increasingly anxious about uncovering the terrifying truth. Meanwhile, Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°This subordinate understands!¡± He was excited. In his opinion, Fifth Master was gathering information about the city¡¯s geniuses to follow Fourth Master¡¯s path and cultivate the king¡¯s Force. They wanted to compete for the title of Qingzhou¡¯s number one prodigy. Only by following such a genius would one have unlimited prospects in the future. Even if¡­ even though Fifth Master still appeared a bit immature and innocent now, they would easily trust a fence-sitter like Yang Erbao and entrust him with important tasks. But Zhou Cunzhong believed these were minor issues. In the future, as long as he closely followed Fifth Master¡¯s footsteps, endless light would await him. Unaware of Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s many assumptions, Qin Huai silently walked toward the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary in the city. Once Qin Huai left the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s territory, he changed into a black robe and a bamboo hat in a narrow alley. In the outer city of Qingzhou, it was common to see people dressed like him. Individuals from various counties of Qingzhou who wandered the streets had committed great crimes and were hated by the people, so they were unwilling to be seen by gangs of all sizes. This sight was everywhere. Qin Huai easily found the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. It was a tall red brick building, designed in the shape of an upside-down three-legged cauldron. The style was particularly eye-catching and easy to find. Inside the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary, a middle-aged man stood behind the counter in the front hall. He looked up from time to time to observe the guests coming and going. When the middle-aged man saw Qin Huai, he was stunned. But he quickly put on a smile and walked out from behind the counter. He jogged over to Qin Huai. ¡°Sir, what kind of medicinal pill do you want?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to talk about it here,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°This way, please!¡± The middle-aged man didn¡¯t hesitate. He extended his hand and led Qin Huai to a small room. Once Qin Huai saw that there was no one around, he took out the medicinal pill from his arms. ¡°You want me to check it?¡± The middle-aged man looked at the pill and smiled. Qin Huai handed the pill over. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the red qi tiger wolf pill¡­ It¡¯s a medicinal pill used by the army in the easternmost city of Qingzhou and the area around Lingjiang to cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. One pill can allow one¡¯s cultivation of the said technique to advance by leaps and bounds.¡± The middle-aged man had accurately identified the pill at first glance, but he still examined it carefully to be sure. ¡°The ingredients for this red qi tiger wolf pill are difficult to find. In addition, those who cultivate the four-directional tiger-wolf technique in Qingzhou are not considered the best¡­ Therefore, this pill is worth about ten thousand taels of silver. I wonder if you want to sell or buy?¡± The middle-aged man looked at Qin Huai. Ten thousand taels for one¡­ Even though Qin Huai was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the price. However, one pill could save a martial artist at the second-level bone pattern realm more than ten days of bitter cultivation, so the steep price was acceptable. Although martial artists¡¯ lifespans would increase as their cultivation increased, the path of martial arts was ultimately a race against time. The earlier one could break through to a higher realm, the higher their chances of breaking through to the next realm when their vitality was abundant. Of course, Qin Huai cultivated the concealment of spirit and qi technique, so he had a total of seven hundred years of lifespan. Naturally, he was not afraid of the erosion of time. But now the world was difficult, and he feared time would not wait for him. ¡°I want to buy it,¡± Qin Huai smiled and said, ¡°I wonder how many red qi tiger wolf pills you have in your pavilion?¡± The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows and then laughed involuntarily. ¡°Although this pavilion doesn¡¯t have many of these pills, we always have a hundred of them. I wonder if that¡¯s enough to satisfy your appetite.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s tone was slightly patronizing. This was a million taels of silver. Even an ordinary sect leader wouldn¡¯t be able to produce so much money in a short period of time. ¡°Then I¡¯ll order a hundred pills first.¡± Whoosh! The middle-aged man¡¯s waist instantly bent down, and the smile on his face became more and more sincere. Chapter 324 ?324 Buying the Pills in Disguise ¡°Are you serious?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s voice trembled. This was a business worth a million taels of silver, and just his commission alone could reach ten thousand taels of silver. Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°You bastard¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face instantly darkened. What kind of place did this guy think his Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary was? How dare he make fun of him here? ¡°I would like to invite the pill refiners of your pavilion to refine another hundred pills,¡± Qin Huai clarified. ¡°Huh What There will definitely be some discounts!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s expression instantly turned from dark to bright. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re buying that much? Two hundred red qi tiger wolf pills?¡± The middle-aged man was still in disbelief. This was a business worth two million. Qin Huai nodded. ¡°How much discount can you give?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I can¡¯t make the decision.¡± The middle-aged man quickly stood up. ¡°Please wait for me. I¡¯ll go and invite the pavilion master over!¡± He dashed out of the door and hurried upstairs, calling out, ¡°Men! Bring the best tea for our distinguished guest!¡± This caused many of the pavilion¡¯s servants and regular customers to look at Qin Huai¡¯s room in surprise. ¡°Who is that person? How can he make Elder Qian so flustered¡± ¡°It¡¯s most likely some big shot. I¡¯ve been in the pill pavilion for so many years, but I¡¯ve never seen Elder Qian lose his composure like this.¡± Qin Huai only sat there for a moment before an old man walked in quickly. The latter¡¯s expression was solemn, but he still squeezed out a cold smile. It was easy to tell that he was an old man who usually did not smile. ¡°Sir, I am the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary¡¯s master, Fan Ziyu.¡± ¡°My surname is Long,¡± Qin Huai said casually. He had risen to prominence by cultivating the white dragon, so he used ¡®Long¡¯ as his surname. ¡°Mr. Long, a hundred red qi tiger wolf pills have been prepared for you and placed in the backyard. The remaining hundred pills, due to the problem of the pill pavilion¡¯s manpower, might take some time before I can hand them over to you.¡± The old man laughed. ¡°How long will it take?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Two months?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Qin Huai did not hesitate. It was hard to say where he would be in two months. ¡°Fifty days! Our pill pavilion usually has many other pills to refine. However, our Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary can give you a discount of one thousand taels per pill!¡± ¡°One month. If you can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll go ask someone else.¡± Qin Huai stood up. ¡°Forty days! The other pill houses definitely don¡¯t have any in stock Forty days is the limit!¡± Fan Ziyu was unwilling to let go of this big order worth a million taels of silver. Who wouldn¡¯t be envious of such a transaction? ¡°Alright, forty days then.¡± Qin Huai said nothing more. He immediately took out a thick stack of ten thousand silver notes from his bosom and slapped it in front of the old man. ¡°This is one million taels. I don¡¯t think I need to pay the deposit for the remaining one hundred pills, right?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. I absolutely believe in your financial resources!¡± Fan Ziyu was very determined. This person was generous and didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary person. Could he be a disciple of a large sect from Qingzhou City? Would he use the four-directional tiger-wolf technique as one of the five full patterns cultivation techniques? Meanwhile, Qin Huai walked to the backyard, where a large golden box came into view. The moment he opened it, he saw rows of beautifully packaged pill boxes. Qin Huai shook his head, threw the box away, and took out the pills one by one. A hundred pills were easily stuffed into his tightly packed pockets. ¡°After forty days, I¡¯ll come back to the pill pavilion to get the rest!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists at Fan Ziyu. Fan Ziyu took out a golden token from his chest. ¡°This is the golden core token of our Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. If you enter any of our branches in Qingzhou, you will be able to enjoy the treatment of a core disciple. You can order the people of the pill pavilion to do things for you and casually flip through the pill pavilion¡¯s pill code¡± Qin Huai kept the golden token in his bosom. It was actually pure gold. ¡°Thank you, Pavilion Master Fan!¡± He cupped his fists and quickly disappeared into the bustling city. ¡°Pavilion Master, you handed over the pill pavilion¡¯s golden core token so easily. Isn¡¯t this a little abrupt?¡± The shopkeeper behind him was puzzled. Even if this was a big business deal, a big customer, at most, he would be given a purple pill token and enjoy the treatment of ordinary alchemy pavilion disciples. ¡°What do you know?¡± Fan Ziyu¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°That person¡¯s skin is fair and smooth. He¡¯s obviously a young man. And the aura that¡¯s faintly discernible on his body It¡¯s obvious he¡¯s advanced very deeply in the bone pattern realm. Since he needs such a huge amount of pills, he¡¯s definitely cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique for the sake of breaking through to the fifth full pattern, a genius who wanted to cultivate the king¡¯s force. ¡°Moreover, his skin is glowing, so clearly, his physical body is extremely powerful Now that he has pushed the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to its peak, I won¡¯t be surprised if there¡¯ll be another terrifying figure with an unparalleled physical body in Qingzhou. That¡¯s why we should invest in such a person as early as now. We can¡¯t go wrong with this.¡± Fan Ziyu¡¯s words jolted the manager of the pill pavilion from his dream. ¡°Pavilion Master¡¯s observation is really meticulous!¡± ¡­ At the dock warehouse, Mou Jinfu stood on the roof of the warehouse and looked at his bustling port with his crutch. On the Yellow River in Qingzhou, hundreds of boats competed to sail. There were boxes of various sizes that contained specialties from all over Qingzhou, with hundreds of different kinds of things, such as silk, rice, nuts, and longans. ¡°What a beautiful scenery.¡± Mou Jinfu sighed. ¡°Every day, the goods that are loaded and unloaded from our Blood Poison Gang¡¯s dock are worth hundreds of thousands of gold,¡± the dog-headed advisor behind him said. Chapter 325 ?325 The Clown¡¯s End! ¡°What a pity. This money is only a drop in the bucket for me,¡± Mou Jinfu said gently. ¡°You even want to split it equally with a brat who¡¯s still wet behind the ears!¡± ¡°Sir, someone¡¯s looking for you.¡± A masked man walked behind Mou Jinfu under the guidance of several bone pattern realm experts. ¡°Grandpa!¡± The masked man bent his back heavily, and his voice was filled with flattery. ¡°As Fifth Brother¡¯s right-hand man, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s inappropriate for you to meet me in private.¡± Mou Jinfu didn¡¯t turn his head, and his voice wasn¡¯t as enthusiastic as the masked man had imagined. Yang Erbao was suddenly at a loss. He did not expect Mou Jinfu to have such an attitude towards him. ¡°Sir, you must be joking. Qin Huai, that brat who is still wet behind the ears, just relied on his talent to snatch away half of your profits at the dock. It¡¯s true that virtue is not worthy of position. Moreover, every time I offered good advice, he would ignore it. He¡¯s so stupid that he can¡¯t be reasoned with!¡± Yang Erbao badmouthed Qin Huai. ¡°I feel that Fifth Brother is a brave and resourceful person. He¡¯s not as bad as you say,¡± Mou Jinfu said leisurely. Yang Erbao¡¯s eyes began to wander, and he was speechless for a moment. Shouldn¡¯t this old man be enemies with Qin Huai? This point Everyone in the Blood Poison Gang should know this as long as they weren¡¯t fools. ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve never interacted with Qin Huai before, so you can¡¯t understand his stupidity at all A lot of things only got better because of me.¡± As he belittled Qin Huai, he secretly raised his own worth. ¡°I¡¯ve long seen through Qin Huai¡¯s true nature, which is why I have the idea of choosing a good tree to live in.¡± ¡°And you think I¡¯m such a good tree?¡± Mou Jinfu did not play by the rules. ¡°Sir has stood tall in the Blood Poison Gang for many years. Be it in terms of strategy, temperament, or strength, you are the best among the five adopted sons Forget about Qin Huai. The next leader of the Blood Poison Gang will definitely be you!¡± Yang Erbao kept praising Mou Jinfu. He then raised his eyes slightly, but did not see Mou Jinfu¡¯s face reveal the carefree expression he had imagined. On the contrary, Mou Jinfu¡¯s expression was cold. Mou Jinfu looked at the person beside him and said, ¡°Is my ambition that obvious? Even such a small fry can tell?¡± The brawny man beside him immediately cupped his fists and bowed. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely be criticized in my position. And even if you don¡¯t think so, the people around you will think so too. This is forced by the general trend and has nothing to do with Sir¡¯s actions.¡± Mou Jinfu nodded slowly. ¡°What you said makes sense.¡± He stood up and looked down at Yang Erbao, whose legs were already trembling. ¡°Drag this Yang Erbao out and kill him!¡± Yang Erbao¡¯s expression instantly turned dull. ¡°Master! I¡¯m completely sincere to you!¡± He did not expect that he would lose his life before he could say anything about changing sides with the information. ¡°Yang Erbao is vicious. He wants to sow discord within our Blood Poison Gang and cause internal strife!¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s voice boomed like thunder. ¡°I¡¯ve been plotting for months Now, they finally found out that this person was a spy from the Thunderbolt Gang! I am the eldest son of the leader, the modern sect leader, and the brother to eliminate the traitors!¡± ¡°Sir, I can provide you with Qin Huai¡¯s whereabouts!¡± Yang Erbao screamed. ¡°I can help you instigate his subordinates to defect!¡± However, the next moment, when he saw Mou Jinfu draw his sword, his expression instantly twisted. Bang! The poison king technique erupted from his body as he struck out with his palm toward Mou Jinfu, who was standing right in front of him. ¡°Poison palm!¡± The purple poisonous fog surged and suddenly enlarged from his hand, pressing down on Mou Jinfu¡¯s heart. Whoosh! A cold light suddenly appeared. At that moment, Yang Erbao¡¯s head was chopped off by Mou Jinfu with a backhand slash along with the mighty poisonous palm. ¡°Hang this head on the boat as a warning to others,¡± Mou Jinfu instructed the burly man beside him. ¡°Do it now.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The burly man knelt on one knee and left the dock with Yang Erbao¡¯s head. In the courtyard, Qin Huai threw the red qi tiger wolf pills into his mouth one by one. Then, he sat cross-legged on the bed and activated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. An astonishing amount of qi and blood flowed through Qin Huai¡¯s eight extraordinary meridians, slowly pouring into the tiger and wolf in his dantian. The tiger and wolf¡¯s bodies began to expand visibly. They were originally in liquid form but gradually became more realistic and lifelike. As Qin Huai¡¯s blood and qi surged, the terrifying power caused his eyes to turn red. A day later, Qin Huai refined a hundred red qi tiger wolf pills. He had successfully reached the third-level bone pattern realm with the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, and his experience had even increased to 60%. The Tiger Wolf Force also increased along with the cultivation technique¡¯s level, reaching 366%. Qin Huai¡¯s blood and qi surged. After all, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique was a cultivation technique that was good at the physical body. ¡°Every time my physical body is strengthened, my boiling blood and dragon king form will grow even more rapidly,¡± Qin Huai thought. If boiling blood was just adding strength to the basic physical strength, then dragon king form was multiplying the foundation by a certain number. Therefore, every increase in Qin Huai¡¯s strength would amplify the power of his dragon king form infinitely. After some time, he came out of seclusion and pushed open the courtyard door. ¡°Idiot,¡± Qin Huai whispered. Chapter 326 - 326 An Unexplainable Terror 326 An Unexplainable Terror Yang Erbao¡¯s fate was entirely his own doing. He had already provided him with wealth and glory, yet his greed for more support was insatiable. He felt no remorse for Yang Erbao¡¯s death, knowing that he was already on his hit list. As for Mou Jinfu¡¯s intentions, Zhou Cunzhong remarked with a serious expression, ¡°Mou Jinfu is indeed a cunning old fox. He used Yang Erbao¡¯s head to clear his name and deceive the public. He also tarnished your reputation, after all, Yang Erbao was your right-hand man. If you don¡¯t retaliate, your subordinates will be disappointed. But if you do, you¡¯ll be accused of causing internal strife.¡± Zhou Cunzhong sighed inwardly, admiring the elegance of Mou Jinfu¡¯s move. ¡°It seems your progress in gaining prestige and power within the gang will be hindered.¡± Zhou Cunzhong observed Qin Huai¡¯s expression but noticed that he had remained calm and composed throughout their conversation. Surprised, he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you care?¡± Qin Huai replied nonchalantly, ¡°What¡¯s there to care about? As long as you¡¯re strong enough, no matter how tarnished your reputation is, there will always be people who are greedy for benefits, and they will naturally come to your defense. Such people are the mainstream in this world.¡± Though he spoke diplomatically, he genuinely didn¡¯t care. Even if Mou Jinfu killed his subordinates, it wouldn¡¯t matter. He simply needed to amass as many experience points as possible, and if he could obliterate most of Mou Jinfu¡¯s forces, even better. ¡°But¡­¡± Zhou Cunzhong began, only to be interrupted by Qin Huai, who smiled innocently and instructed, ¡°You just need to do what I tell you to do.¡± He then patted his shoulder encouragingly. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Zhou Cunzhong nodded, then added, ¡°By the way, Fourth Master announced yesterday that he was going into seclusion. He relinquished all his responsibilities within the gang.¡± ¡°Did Godfather say anything?¡± Qin Huai inquired, deep in thought. His intuition told him that Shao Mo¡¯s seclusion was somehow connected to that terrifying event. Zhou Cunzhong shook his head. ¡°He didn¡¯t reveal anything. He only asked you and the other masters to temporarily manage the small territory in Fourth Master¡¯s hands. Fourth Master has long since given up his power, so he doesn¡¯t actually have anything left.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Qin Huai responded, glancing at Shao Mo¡¯s residence in the distance. It wasn¡¯t far from where they stood. He quickly walked towards it, only to be stopped by a group of serious-looking martial artists in front of the house. The team consisted of ten people, all in the bone pattern realm. These were Shao Mo¡¯s trusted aides and the only people he had left to rely on. ¡°Fifth Master, please stop!¡± The leader of the group extended his hand toward Qin Huai. ¡°What? Can¡¯t I visit my Fourth Brother?¡± Qin Huai asked with a wry smile, peering into the residence. ¡°Fifth Master, Fourth Master has given a strict order that not even the heavens are permitted to take half a step into the courtyard. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± Seeing Qin Huai¡¯s agreeable attitude, the person in the lead wore a helpless expression. ¡°Brother, can you tell me if Fourth Brother is about to break through to the visceral prefecture realm?¡± Qin Huai asked with a curious expression. The man¡¯s face was bitter. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but Fourth Master is going into seclusion for no apparent reason. Perhaps only the leader of the entire Blood Poison Gang knows the reason. Why don¡¯t you go and ask the leader? Come back and tell us, it¡¯ll also give us some reassurance.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. ¡°If I could get the answer, why would I bother looking for you?¡± Anyway, he knew that this trip was fruitless, so he returned the way he came. In addition to the one hundred red qi tiger wolf pills, Qin Huai still had 300,000 taels of silver on him. He didn¡¯t hesitate and instructed Zhou Cunzhong to buy a large quantity of expensive poisonous herbs. Although the Blood Poison Gang had many poison farms, Qin Huai didn¡¯t want anyone to know what he was buying. After all, the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s martial artists were not like the people he had met before ¨C they were experts in poison techniques. Especially Mou Jinfu, who had been in the Blood Poison Gang for decades. Although Qin Huai had never seen his poison techniques, he could imagine how powerful they were. So, he preferred to spend more to buy herbs and sell them in small quantities in the city. ¡­ On the flower boat, Wen Zonghao was reclining on a rattan chair, holding a green porcelain dragon-phoenix seal teacup that had been in his possession for ten thousand years. ¡°We can¡¯t let the situation at the third pier drag on like this,¡± Wen Zonghao said in a deep voice. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal to have some people die, but with people dying every day¡­ that pier is no longer profitable. The remnants of the Thunderbolt Gang and the Dark Dragon Gang are determined to play guerilla warfare with us, like annoying cats.¡± Wen Zonghao took a sip of tea. ¡°Our Blood Poison Gang has to spend an exorbitant amount of money to repair the dock every day. If this drags on for another year and a half, where will our Blood Poison Gang¡¯s dignity go?¡± Qin Huai looked at Wen Zonghao. ¡°So, what does Godfather plan to do?¡± ¡°If they won¡¯t fall for my bait¡­ then you¡¯ll be the bait. You killed the leader of the Dark Dragon gang, so the remaining members must hate you to the core. As for the Thunderbolt Gang, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re the only one they want to kill. Hua Yanli of the Thunderbolt Gang is missing¡­ Naturally, they don¡¯t want to see our Blood Poison Gang have another genius who¡¯s not inferior to Fourth Brother.¡± Wen Zonghao patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± His tone was gentle, but his words were orders, leaving Qin Huai no room for rebuttal. ¡°Godfather, I have no objections to this plan. But there¡¯s still one thing I want to ask¡­¡± Qin Huai began, only to be interrupted by Wen Zonghao¡¯s sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to tell you about it, but it¡¯s genuinely terrifying,¡± Wen Zonghao said with a solemn expression. ¡°That matter must not be mentioned, or else we will be targeted.¡± ¡°Even if Godfather is a visceral prefecture realm expert, he can¡¯t handle it?¡± Qin Huai frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t investigate this matter any further, or you¡¯ll get into trouble!¡± Wen Zonghao warned. ¡°Focus on what you¡¯re doing now. Your goal should be to take over the boss¡¯s position. Go and prepare. We¡¯ll make a move tonight.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Qin Huai responded, cupping his fists before leaving quickly. Chapter 327 ?327 A Celebration Qin Huai had just stepped off the boat when Wen Zonghao¡¯s order quickly spread to every corner of the Blood Poison Gang. ¡°Congratulations, Fifth Master!¡± Zhou Cunzhong exclaimed, his face flushed. ¡°You have successfully become the chief shopkeeper of our Blood Poison Gang¡¯s pharmacy.¡± The title of pharmacy manager might not seem like much, but its significance varied depending on the gang. In an ordinary sect, this position would be merely a profitable one. However, the Blood Poison Gang relied on poison for their cultivation and the foundation of their sect. The cultivation of the poison king technique required numerous medicinal herbs, as did their travels and killings in the martial world. Thus, controlling the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s pharmacy was tantamount to controlling the gang¡¯s cultivation. Everyone in the Blood Poison Gang considered the head shopkeeper of the pharmacy as a stand-in gang leader, occupying a position of power within the gang. ¡°This is all thanks to Foster Father¡¯s love,¡± Qin Huai said with a bright smile, patting Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ll go to the best restaurant in the city to celebrate!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s excitement made his footsteps light, as if he were the one who had become the head shopkeeper of the pharmacy. However, his expression quickly turned serious. ¡°But Fifth Master, you must be cautious,¡± he warned. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve become the pharmacy¡¯s shopkeeper, your position is extremely important. In the past few decades, none of the leader¡¯s four adopted sons have ever held this position.¡± Zhou Cunzhong forced himself to calm down. This new identity came with great benefits and status, but also significant risks. ¡°Not only First Master, but I¡¯m afraid Second Master and Third Master won¡¯t let this go either,¡± he continued. ¡°Although the three masters are not as youthful and vigorous as the Fourth Master, who has already gone into seclusion and cultivated five full patterns and the king¡¯s force, they have been at the peak of fifth-level bone pattern realm for decades. Their strength is not something an ordinary fifth-level bone pattern realm expert can compare to. ¡°Between the fifth-level bone pattern realm and the fifth-level bone pattern realm with five full patterns The difference is as vast as mountains and seas,¡± Zhou Cunzhong added, cautioning Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯m considering tonight¡¯s feast. Perhaps we should not indulge?¡± Zhou Cunzhong hesitated. ¡°Not indulge?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice suddenly rose. ¡°We have to celebrate! Not only do I want to feast, but I want to enjoy it to the fullest! Call over all the brothers who have contributed to the war!¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t enjoy this meal, how will outsiders view me? How am I going to survive in the future?¡± he continued. ¡°The place is set at Flower Brewing Restaurant. Book it for three days!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face was flushed red as if he had been humiliated. ¡°Alright. Alright,¡± Zhou Cunzhong agreed, wiping the sweat off his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements now.¡± Qin Huai watched Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s departing figure, and the redness and anger on his face vanished without a trace. He looked into the distance with a calm expression. ¡°I wonder if the thousand-year-old turtle can still keep its cool this time,¡± Qin Huai mused as he walked into the courtyard and ground the medicine he had spent more than 200,000 taels of gold on into poison. After autumn, the dock¡¯s weather was consistently pooreither foggy or heavily rainingwhich slowed down the receiving and delivering of goods. Today was even worse: a rare combination of hail and heavy fog. In the thick fog, where ordinary people couldn¡¯t even see their fingers, hailstones fell from the sky like ice blades. However, this terrible weather couldn¡¯t affect the famous Flower Brewing Restaurant in the outer city. Various fine wines were placed on expensive wooden tables. Qin Huai had booked the entire third floor of the restaurant. The people sitting here were all his trusted men, his ¡°beloved relatives and friends¡± who had gone through life and death with him at the third pier for the past half a month. They held wine glasses and feasted on chicken and duck, while girls invited from the neighboring brothel sat in their arms, trembling with despair. Because the martial artists of the Blood Poison Gang had abnormal cultivation practices, their daily habits were also quite unusual. They often smeared poison on women, which, while not fatal, would cause unbearable pain for several hours. Some even lost consciousness. ¡°Lady Yue, can¡¯t you find any more girls who can play with us?¡± a drunken Blood Poison Gang member teased the brothel madam, who was standing in the corner. The madam smiled bitterly, explaining, ¡°Sirs, it¡¯s not that there are no girls No one dares to come because they all have delicate bodies and are not used to rough treatment¡± Bang! A heavy bag of silver fell to the ground, cutting off the madam¡¯s complaints. ¡°Master, wait a moment. I¡¯ll call the girls over right away¡­¡± After that, laughter erupted in the restaurant. In the private room, Qin Huai gulped down his wine, his eyes slightly dazed. ¡°Today, Foster Father has entrusted me with an important task and announced that I will temporarily take over as the head shopkeeper of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s pharmacy. It is all thanks to everyone¡¯s help that I can advance so much,¡± he said, his face flushed red. Sitting beside him were Zhou Cunzhong and two bone pattern realm experts with keen eyesight. ¡°Fifth Master is too serious!¡± Zhou Cunzhong immediately raised his cup. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your bravery and wisdom, Fifth Master, we would still be unremarkable leaders. In the end, it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right!¡± the two people beside him chimed in, standing up and toasting Qin Huai. Chapter 328 - 328 An Ambush! 328 An Ambush! The four of them toasted again. It was already late at night, with only dense hailstones remaining on the road. Dark clouds that could not be seen still densely covered the entire outer city. Not far from the restaurant, Mou Jinfu sat in a teahouse, observing the bright lights and lively scene that could be vaguely seen through the fog in the distance. ¡°Sir, this is obviously a trap,¡± the burly man behind him said in a low voice. ¡°How can I not know?¡± Mou Jinfu snorted coldly. Coincidentally, the location of the banquet was chosen to be close to the third pier and far from the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s territory¡ªFlower Brewing Restaurant. He had only brought twenty or so great blood refinement warriors and a few bone pattern realm experts with him. And at this juncture, Foster Father had even placed Qin Huai in the position of the chief shopkeeper of the pharmacy. Was it a coincidence? Definitely not. This was a trap for the remaining members of the Dark Dragon Gang, as well as for him. However, Mou Jinfu felt that this was still a great opportunity. If he killed Qin Huai, his biggest threat would be gone. He would also get rid of the Dark Dragon Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang who had been supporting the former for the past half a month. His reputation would definitely reach an unprecedented level. ¡°I¡¯m old. I don¡¯t have many chances left,¡± Mou Jinfu said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Have you notified the Dark Dragon Gang?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, their people are already around the restaurant,¡± the man replied, lowering his head. ¡°Then let them go fishing first and see the depth of this pond.¡± Bang! Just as he finished speaking, an explosion sounded from afar. In the restaurant, the blood in Qin Huai¡¯s body surged, evaporating the smell of alcohol on him. His previously cloudy eyes suddenly became sharp. ¡°There¡¯s an attack!¡± A loud roar came from outside the door. Screams, the strong smell of alcohol, and the clanging sound of swords colliding filled the air. The entire restaurant instantly fell into chaos. ¡°Fifth Master, be careful. I¡¯ll scout the way for you!¡± The bald man beside Qin Huai was surrounded by a dark poisonous gas. He strode to the door and kicked it hard. Bang! That kick missed, but the door was smashed into pieces. Blazing fire instantly lit up the entire room. The bald man¡¯s reaction was fast enough. The moment the door shattered, he slammed his palms in front of him. ¡°Poison palm!¡± In the next second, a flaming blade light instantly cut through the poisonous gas. Even the bald man¡¯s hands were severed. ¡°Ah!¡± the bald man cried out in misery. His arms, which had lost their hands, still rushed toward the fiery blade in front of him. The bald man didn¡¯t take a single step back and rushed into the arms of the man with the fiery blade. This was a move that didn¡¯t advance but instead retreated. The man with the fiery blade was stunned. He tried to dodge the bald man¡¯s suicidal attack, but the private room was too small. The man with the fiery blade slammed into the wall. Before the fire blade could land on the bald man, the two arms that had no hands and were red from the sliced-off parts were aimed at his face like a heavy crossbow. Buzz! Fresh blood splattered all over the man¡¯s face. The violent poison king technique was directly sprinkled on the man¡¯s right eye. Blood and steam instantly boiled, spreading in all directions along with deep decay. The man with the fiery blade slashed into the bald man¡¯s head. The raging flames twisted the heads of the two people at the same time. ¡°Ah!¡± Miserable wails echoed on the top floor of the restaurant. The two of them stumbled and fell by the window. They waved their fists and destroyed everything around them. Then, the wall collapsed with a bang. The two of them fell from the roof of the flower workshop. Whoosh! Cold wind and hail howled into the private room, and the ground was instantly filled with the sound of hailstones shattering. Qin Huai walked to the collapsed area and looked at the densely packed figures outside the restaurant: the Dark Dragon Gang remnants and the Thunderbolt Gang¡­ As for Mou Jinfu, he was really calm. Qin Huai glanced into the distance. Unfortunately, the fog was too thick for them to see too far. He picked up all the experience balls in his sight. Qin Huai pulled out Silver Fox, the spear on his back. A hint of redness flashed under his skin as he activated boiling blood. Then, he stepped out of the room. Before anyone could see it, a three-colored mist gushed out from his long sleeve. The poisonous fog cleared the way. The few martial artists at the door, who could not tell if they were allies or enemies, instantly fell to the ground. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Orange)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dark Water Manipulation Essence (Purple)], [Dark Water Manipulation] experience points +1,321!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Orange)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (White)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +12!¡± His luck was pretty good. At that moment, right before his eyes, a figure crawled over from the ground like a lizard. He exerted strength in his four limbs, opened his mouth, and bit down on Qin Huai¡¯s lower body. ¡°Too slow.¡± The Silver Fox in Qin Huai¡¯s hand drew a silver arc in the air. It directly pierced through the attacker in midair. His entire body was on the spear, and his mouth was less than three inches away from Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Qin Huai swung his spear. The corpse was instantly flung away and smashed into the bodies of a few Dark Dragon Gang martial artists who had just rushed up the stairs. They blocked the stairway for a moment. Chapter 329 ?329 The Final Move! There were over a hundred attackers, while Qin Huai¡¯s side had merely twenty people. Although these individuals were considered the backbone of Qin Huai¡¯s force, in reality, around sixty percent of them were only in the great blood refinement realm. Most of the people around Qin Huai were low-level martial artists. As for the bone pattern realm experts, Mou Jinfu and the other elders had already rallied behind Qin Huai. When Qin Huai appeared, experts from both gangs pounced on him like bloodthirsty cats. ¡°Too weak,¡± Qin Huai murmured, wielding his Silver Fox spear to obliterate the huge group. Seven or eight attackers found themselves immobilized, clutching Qin Huai¡¯s Silver Fox spear. Meanwhile, two bone pattern realm experts charged at Qin Huai with their long blades. The flames in his eyes intensified, but he showed no fear. ¡°Rise!¡± he commanded, casting a massive shadow over the two assailants. The immobilized martial artists, still clutching Silver Fox, levitated with pale faces. Rumble! At that moment, Qin Huai slammed Silver Fox onto the ground, creating a shockwave that sent six or seven people flying. The chaos momentarily blocked the two bone pattern realm experts, who cut through the attackers in their path, only slightly slowing their advance toward Qin Huai. The two experts abandoned their swords and attacked with flaming hands, only to be sent flying backward, their arms twisted painfully. As they tried to regain their balance, Qin Huai appeared in their vision again, his Silver Fox spear gleaming coldly. With two swift arcs, fresh blood sprayed, signaling their demise. Thump, thump, thump¡­ More attackers swarmed toward Qin Huai, seemingly intent on trapping him rather than attacking. Unperturbed, he extended his blood qi armor, letting the flesh-and-blood bodies crash into it. As the attackers closed in, screams filled the air, their flesh rotting and faces turning purple under Qin Huai¡¯s gaze. With a white light flashing from his fingertips, he unleashed the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. The result was a gruesome scene: blood and flesh flew everywhere, the ground littered with burning minced meat. It was a stark contrast to the cold hail outside. Everyone in the flower workshop stared in shock, unable to comprehend the devastating power Qin Huai had unleashed in an instant. ¡°Qin Huai! I¡¯ll take your life for my father¡¯s death!¡± A young face leaped up and lunged at Qin Huai. Qin Huai observed the attacker, who bore a resemblance to the deceased leader of the Dark Dragon Gang. Unfortunately, this young man was too immature. While his second-level bone pattern realm was considered talented in the outer city, he was no match for Qin Huai, who had reached the fourth-level bone pattern realm. Blinded by hatred, the youth remained reckless despite knowing Qin Huai¡¯s capabilities. ¡°I¡¯ll be merciful this time,¡± Qin Huai declared as he activated the dragon king form. White snake-like lines appeared along the edges of his muscles, and his already sturdy body expanded further, filling out his loose robe. He swung his Silver Fox so swiftly that only a brilliant silver light remained, instantly smashing the son of the Dark Dragon Gang¡¯s leader to pieces. ¡°I¡¯ll send you to reunite with your father as soon as possible,¡± he muttered, scanning his surroundings. ¡°Are you still not coming out?¡± The remnants of the Dark Dragon Gang were insignificant, merely an excuse for others to attack the Blood Poison Gang. Qin Huai¡¯s real opponents were the experts of the Thunderbolt Gang. ¡°Fifth Master, behind you!¡± Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s warning echoed across the battlefield. Qin Huai had already sensed the heat behind him. As he turned around, a surge of flames filled his vision. Employing the true qi technique, ten-dragon rampart, he manifested the might of ten white dragons, creating a transparent wall that blocked the fierce flames. The intense heat wave instantly incinerated the surrounding tableware and tables, while the roof of the three-story restaurant began to crumble, turning to charcoal. Hail and fog invaded the battlefield, creating a bizarre atmosphere. The colorless wall of air and the sea of fire remained in a stalemate atop the restaurant for an extended period before finally extinguishing. ¡°Fourth-level bone pattern realm,¡± Qin Huai observed, eyeing the middle-aged man standing in the opposite pavilion. In the outer city, those at the fourth-level bone pattern realm were the strongest experts below first-rate. This man¡¯s attack seemed even more ferocious than typical fourth-level bone pattern realm experts. ¡°The Fifth Master of the Blood Poison Gang, Poison Dragon you indeed live up to your reputation,¡± Xiao Guangping remarked, surprised to see Qin Huai unscathed after taking his blow. Qin Huai¡¯s physical body and longevity technique were both exceptionally well-developed. ¡°Such a monstrous genius. Even the slightest carelessness could be our undoing,¡± Xiao Guangping muttered, aware of the usual prowess of such individuals. ¡°Everyone, stall for fifteen minutes! I need to accumulate strength and execute the final move to kill this Poison Dragon!¡± Xiao Guangping declared solemnly. After just one exchange, he knew it would be incredibly challenging to defeat Qin Huai without resorting to a powerful move. ¡°Understood!¡± the dozen or so people behind him shouted in unison, each accepting their fate and charging toward Qin Huai with resolve. Behind Xiao Guangping, a powerful flame ignited on his long sword, as if an infinite amount of energy was gathering and compressing at the blade¡¯s tip. Chapter 330 ?330 Numbers No Longer Matter Whoosh! Flames flickered on the swords of the Thunderbolt Gang. Despite their instability, the hail that fell would split apart the moment it touched the ¡®weak¡¯ flames. Such was the might of the thunderbolt blade technique. ¡°Brothers, today is the day! Even if we have to sacrifice our lives, we will not let this villain, Poison Dragon, continue to aid the enemy!¡± Several members raised their arms and shouted loudly, their voices resounding with conviction, stirring the hearts of the surrounding Thunderbolt Gang martial artists. Boom! Before he could finish speaking, the figure surrounded by blood-colored fog had already rushed in front of him. ¡°Qin¡± His eyes widened as he swung his long sword toward Qin Huai¡¯s fist. Midway, the fist transformed into a palm, and a handful of five-colored dust flew out from Qin Huai¡¯s sleeve. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his throat burning as if on the verge of death. His eyes, bloodshot, stared intently at Qin Huai¡¯s movements, the long sword landing on the ground and smashing through the flower workshop¡¯s floor. Crack! The already damaged third floor collapsed completely. ¡°Ah!¡± Everyone wailed as they fell from the third floor, hail and fog filling the air along with dust and blood, making the already chaotic battlefield even more complex. The leader of the Thunderbolt Gang shouted, ¡°Now!¡± Seizing the momentary distraction, a powerful hand emerged from the fog, grabbing the man by the neck. Crack! With a burst of energy, the man¡¯s neck was instantly snapped. Flames lit up above his head, as if the sun had fallen and smashed into the ground. ¡°Nine consecutive revolutions, fire thunderbolt!¡± Scorching flames formed a circle, and nine flaming swords descended from the sky, crashing toward Qin Huai¡¯s head. Buzz¡­ A wall of qi blocked their path. Concealed in the thick fog, it was impossible to determine what kind of cultivation technique it was for a moment. Qin Huai¡¯s finger tapped lightly on the ten-dragon wall above his head. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, poison dragon shock!¡± Boom! A terrifying shockwave instantly erupted. The force soared into the sky, sending the owners of the nine flaming long blades flying. Qin Huai¡¯s legs bent as he exerted his strength and soared into the sky, just as another four long blades slashed down. Bang! Flames splashed, setting the entire restaurant ablaze. Qin Huai, poised to soar into the sky, was halted midair by four long blades. The searing flames tore through his blood qi armor, stopping just short of his clothes. Yet, they couldn¡¯t break through the final boundary. The four assailants gritted their teeth and trembled, as if their five senses strained to penetrate Qin Huai¡¯s defenses. ¡°Wait until his aura is exhausted¡­¡± one of them growled through clenched teeth. Qin Huai glanced at the nine people he had blown away earlier; they had already landed on the roofs of surrounding pavilions and were charging at him once more. ¡°We can¡¯t fail!¡± someone roared angrily. ¡°If we fail, the rest of our brothers will die! Then all our efforts will be in vain! Head Xiao will also die because of us.¡± Not far away, the flame on Xiao Guangping¡¯s blade intensified. ¡°I¡¯m not fighting alone,¡± he thought. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze locked onto the man he had just sent flying. ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone teach you when you broke through to the bone pattern realm? After reaching the bone pattern realm, numbers no longer play a decisive role.¡± He then spat out a word: ¡°Fall!¡± The flames on the swords of the four people surrounding him instantly dissipated. Their faces went pale, and they struggled to remain steady. In a moment of distraction, the four were suddenly jolted awake. The flames on their blades reignited, stronger than before. But it was too late. Qin Huai¡¯s voice sounded from behind one of them, ¡°Too slow!¡± His strong hands gently cupped the person¡¯s head. Then, with a twist, the head fell to the ground. The remaining three narrowed their eyes as a silver light pierced the night sky. Whoosh! One of them was struck between the eyebrows and nailed to the second-floor floorboards. The remaining two couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard and tremble. ¡°This fellow¡¯s too strong, and his speed is too fast¡± As long as Qin Huai could close the distance and get within range of their long swords, they would become lambs awaiting slaughter. They stared at Qin Huai, whose cultivation technique and armor had been weakened, making his defenses less solid. ¡°Stabilize your Dao heart!¡± they encouraged. ¡°We¡¯ve already used up enough of his strength. Didn¡¯t you see that the cultivation technique armor on his body has been damaged?¡± Upon seeing this, the person who had just spoken paled. ¡°No¡­¡± Whoosh! Qin Huai had already vanished, stomping on the floor below. The second floor of the flower workshop groaned under his weight, clearly on the verge of collapse. ¡°Kill him!¡± The disheartened man no longer offered encouragement but took the lead, charging at Qin Huai. Chapter 331 - 331 The Main Character Always Appears Last? 331 The Main Character Always Appears Last? However, Qin Huai¡¯s speed was simply too fast. He had taken only two steps when the wild wind that embodied Qin Huai had already reached his opponent. Boom! Using the longevity forbidden technique, poison dragon shock, he unleashed a general attack with astonishing power. Anyone who came into contact with it would undoubtedly die. The fierce battle momentarily stalled as Qin Huai tore open a hole. The remaining eleven people surrounded him, attempting to buy time. Yet, Qin Huai¡¯s endurance proved too great. Ten breaths, twenty breaths¡­ and finally, fifty breaths later¡­ He still brimmed with energy. The martial artists of the Thunderbolt Gang, despite their cohesion, could no longer restrain him. Crack! Qin Huai seized the last bone pattern realm warrior of the Thunderbolt Gang. He looked at Xiao Guangping, standing on a pavilion not far away, panting. The once-blazing flames had deepened, and Xiao Guangping sweated profusely. Clearly, charging this move was a massive burden for him. The power of the flame grew stronger, and even the treasured weapon sword in his hand showed signs of melting. ¡°Qin Huai, today is the day you die,¡± Xiao Guangping declared fiercely. ¡°For the future of our Thunderbolt Gang, and also for the sake of the outer city!¡± If he allowed someone like Qin Huai to keep growing, he would undoubtedly help the Blood Poison Gang rise to even greater heights. Shao Mo already caused them enough trouble; if another person, even more unrestrained, were to join the ranks, how could their Thunderbolt Gang compete? ¡°This move, even experts with three full patterns will die without a doubt if they receive it,¡± Xiao Guangping confidently stated. ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Huai replied indifferently, charging straight at him. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Xiao Guangping¡¯s face filled with joy as he watched Qin Huai approach. He raised his long sword slightly, a terrifying power continuing to condense at the blade¡¯s tip. This slash could not miss. Buzz! Xiao Guangping¡¯s vision suddenly blurred. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes emitted a dazzling white light, and a terrifying aura instantly erupted from his body. It traversed more than ten meters and struck Xiao Guangping directly. In an instant, his ears rang, his vision blurred, and his body weakened. The world seemed to turn upside down before him. ¡°King¡¯s force!¡± Xiao Guangping suddenly realized, his face pale. Qin Huai¡¯s king¡¯s force was a notch stronger than Hua Yanli¡¯s. How could this be? How was this possible? He suddenly came to his senses, wanting to hold the long sword in his hand. However, due to his momentary daze, the sword had already smashed toward the ground. Xiao Guangping¡¯s pupils dilated as the shocking power exploded. The fire formed a red light spot that instantly expanded hundreds of times, swallowing the entire pavilion beneath Xiao Guangping¡¯s feet. The hailstones, falling like a shower, were burned to ashes the moment they approached the fireball. As for Xiao Guangping himself, he was completely devoured the moment the power of the long sword exploded. Qin Huai didn¡¯t even hear his scream. Just like that, a dignified fourth-level bone pattern realm expert had met his end in the restaurant. The sudden turn of events shook the entire battlefield. Everyone gazed at the destroyed area, dumbfounded. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Dark Orange)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +50,000!¡± Qin Huai picked up the experience points that Xiao Guangping had dropped. Elsewhere on the battlefield, even though Qin Huai had single-handedly killed more than ten bone pattern experts from the Thunderbolt Gang and the Dark Dragon Gang, his twenty underlings, who were not of the same level, were almost completely wiped out by the two factions. Only Zhou Cunzhong remained, struggling for his last breath as he stumbled and fled into the distance. He looked around. Most of the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s main force had perished. There were only a few bone pattern realm leaders left, and the rest were mere blood refinement realm ants. Boom! In the distance, the fire raged and the sounds of fighting were chaotic. Qin Huai frowned slightly. He was very familiar with that place. That was supposed to be the people who would help him complete his fishing mission. They had taken so long to arrive, suggesting that the opponent was well prepared. Da da da da¡­ The clear sound of a walking stick hitting the ground could still be heard clearly amid the hailstones. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been surrounded,¡± an old man with half-white hair and narrowed eyes appeared at the street corner. Behind him were hundreds of Blood Poison Gang experts. No, at this time, they should be called Mou Jinfu¡¯s trusted aides. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t show up,¡± Qin Huai said calmly, looking at Mou Jinfu. ¡°The main character always appears last.¡± Mou Jinfu smiled, victory within his grasp. ¡°A young man like you should have enjoyed reading those martial arts stories when you were young. You should know a lot about this kind of plot.¡± ¡°What a pity. I didn¡¯t have the money to read those things when I was young,¡± Qin Huai replied calmly. Both his previous life¡¯s and this life¡¯s childhoods were gray. He had never felt relaxed before. Even his transmigration happened in such an absurd way that he died from working overtime. ¡°Don¡¯t wait. The reinforcements you¡¯re waiting for won¡¯t come,¡± Mou Jinfu said leisurely. ¡°The old man wants to use you to fish. He didn¡¯t even take a look at what kind of people his sons were.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 332 - 332 The Kings Force Appears! 332 The King¡¯s Force Appears! ¡°They can¡¯t wait for you to die!¡± ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect this. I thought Second Brother and Third Brother would be your enemies, and they would target a significant figure like you first.¡± Qin Huai fell silent. Of course, he wasn¡¯t here to engage in idle chatter with Mou Jinfu. Meanwhile, countless experience orbs rushed towards Qin Huai. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Blue)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +322!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence (Green)], [Poison King Technique] experience points +23!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Purple)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +3,444!¡± Numerous memories flashed through Qin Huai¡¯s mind. In a short time, his thunderbolt blade technique had reached the peak of the ninth refinement, and even thunderbolt blade force had reached 20%. Both the dark water technique and the poison king technique had advanced rapidly. A hazy memory flickered through Qin Huai¡¯s mind. His blood essence also increased at that moment. His comprehension of the thunderbolt blade technique and various cultivation techniques deepened as well. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, you know. You underestimate your own threat. To them, I¡¯m just an old man nearing death. Even if I become the pharmacy¡¯s shopkeeper, I¡¯ll only have a few years left. But you are different. You are too dangerous.¡± Mou Jinfu laughed even more heartily. Not long ago, Qin Huai was a malignant threat that kept him awake at night. But now, Qin Huai was already like a fish on a chopping board. He was no longer a significant concern. Mou Jinfu spoke calmly, ¡°At such a young age, you¡¯re proficient in poison techniques, skilled with artifacts, ruthless, and talented¡­ An all-rounder like you is even more challenging to handle than a cultivation fanatic like Shao Mo. As long as you¡¯re alive, that seat will never be ours. So¡­ You must die.¡± Qin Huai came to a realization. ¡°I see. It seems I¡¯ve underestimated myself. However, I want to correct your words.¡± His expression turned cold. ¡°It¡¯s you and your people who are surrounded by me.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± As soon as Qin Huai finished speaking, the crowd burst into laughter. Mou Jinfu¡¯s trusted aides and the remaining members of the Thunderbolt Gang and Dark Dragon Gang couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. ¡°This Qin Huai must have lost his mind at the brink of death.¡± The few big men behind Mou Jinfu laughed so hard that tears streamed down their faces. But Qin Huai remained unmoved. In his dantian world, he awakened the dragon king, who was sleeping in the dragon pearl. With Qin Huai as the epicenter, a terrifying power surged out like a massive wave. At the same time, an intense white light instantly filled his eyes, and his long robe rustled in the cold wind. A roar, akin to a real dragon, erupted. Bang! Bang! Bang! Within a ten-meter radius, blood refinement realm martial artists bled from all seven orifices under the might of Qin Huai¡¯s dragon king. They collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. The bone pattern realm experts nearby didn¡¯t fare any better. All of them knelt on the ground, feeling as if they were being crushed by a mountain. It was nearly impossible to move even an inch. Blood flowed from the bodies of countless individuals. In an instant, Mou Jinfu¡¯s once-imposing army had lost over 60% of its strength! ¡°You¡­ You have the king¡¯s force!¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re only at the first level bone pattern realm, yet you¡¯re able to cultivate king¡¯s force!¡± In Qingzhou City, most of the geniuses who cultivated the king¡¯s force did so after obtaining five full patterns. With sufficient comprehension and five full patterns as a foundation to boost their confidence, they would have a chance to comprehend it. And before that, cultivating the king¡¯s force with fewer than five full patterns was considered nearly impossible. Only two individuals in all of Qingzhou City had accomplished this feat. One of them was the legendary innate king¡¯s power, who stood alone in Qingzhou City. That person¡¯s combat strength was unrivaled among the geniuses who had comprehended the king¡¯s force. But now¡­ This Qin Huai, with fewer than five full patterns, had managed to cultivate the king¡¯s force. How could Mou Jinfu not be shocked and horrified? His scalp tingled, feeling as if he had just stepped into the gates of hell. But soon, he felt a sense of relief. ¡°Fortunately, I made up my mind today and decided to take this risk. Otherwise¡­I¡¯m afraid you would really kill me.¡± Mou Jinfu tapped the ground with his walking stick. The ground beneath his feet instantly crumbled, surging towards Qin Huai like a tidal wave. Simultaneously, Mou Jinfu transformed into a cannonball, shooting toward Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯ll show you, the difference between a martial artist at the fifth level bone pattern realm with three full patterns and a martial artist at the fourth-level bone pattern realm isn¡¯t as simple as a minor realm!¡± He thrust his walking stick at Qin Huai. The poisonous gas surrounding him transformed into dozens of spears. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he fearlessly threw both fists forward. ¡°Longevity forbidden technique, poison dragon shock!¡± A flash of white light erupted before him. Facing an expert with three full lines, Qin Huai dared not be careless. He punched a dozen times in front of him, creating a rippling barrier. The sharp poison spears aimed straight at him. Buzz~ The concentrated attacks exploded in front of Qin Huai. The aftershock of the tremors lingered in the night, not stopping for a long time. Qin Huai¡¯s poison dragon shock was visibly weakened by the poison spear¡¯s assault. One of Mou Jinfu¡¯s three cultivation techniques actually had residual force similar to the rumbling thunder technique. Moreover, the strength of the opponent was evidently several levels higher than Qin Huai¡¯s. Bang! A poison spear effortlessly pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s rippling barrier. The seemingly simple spear carried a formidable force that made Qin Huai¡¯s hair stand on end. This was actually a middle-grade treasured weapon. Qin Huai¡¯s face instantly lost a significant portion of flesh, and it nearly reached his right eye. Activating the blood heart technique, the flesh and blood on Qin Huai¡¯s face regenerated, returning to normal almost instantly. Simultaneously, he punched out with both fists, and the poison dragon shock bombarded his body as if it had a will of its own. Nevertheless, it was still easily penetrated by the spear formed from the poisonous gas. For the first time since rising to prominence, Qin Huai¡¯s forbidden technique was suppressed by someone else. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 333 - 333 The Three Secret Techniques 333 The Three Secret Techniques ¡°You actually avoided it?¡± Mou Jinfu held his walking stick, piercing through the thick poisonous fog. Looking at Qin Huai¡¯s unscathed face, he frowned slightly. He had thought that his unexpected move would have at least pierced through half of Qin Huai¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s good to be young. Your reaction speed is extremely fast,¡± Mou Jinfu said, the killing intent in his eyes intensifying. Hiss~ The poisonous spears surrounding Mou Jinfu suddenly softened. The spearheads split up and transformed into the fangs of a poisonous snake. Under Qin Huai¡¯s watchful gaze, the poisonous spear that was meant to strike with poison dragon shock changed course in midair. It circled around the area where the energy was vibrating and charged toward Qin Huai. Qin Huai¡¯s blood qi armor expanded instantly. He could only watch as the vicious fangs bit into the armor. Crack! The blood qi armor shattered, and the sharp, blood-colored venomous fangs pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s robe. Sparks flew in all directions as the treasured weapons and armor beneath his robe buzzed and wailed. Qin Huai hastily shifted, but the sharp spear still grazed his cheek and neck, causing blood to splatter everywhere. The surrounding buildings were razed to the ground under their surging attacks. Rubble and wooden debris littered the area, their onslaught sweeping through the entire restaurant like a plow. The once massive three-story building had been completely destroyed, leaving only scattered beams in the corners intact. Qin Huai¡¯s poison dragon shock was forced back by Mou Jinfu¡¯s poisonous spear, smoke and dust billowing. The concentrated firepower of the two combatants covered everything within a dozen meters, preventing Mou Jinfu¡¯s trusted aides and members of the Thunderbolt Gang from getting close enough to help. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Rockfall Fist Essence (Orange)], [Rockfall Fist] experience points +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Five Serpentwing Technique Essence (Orange)], [Five Serpentwing Technique] experience points +1,000!¡± The three experience orbs instantly fused into Qin Huai¡¯s body. He now knew what Mou Jinfu¡¯s techniques were, as well as the three-in-one combination skill that Mou Jinfu had created. Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s poison dragon shock paused for a moment. ¡°He¡¯s finally exhausted!¡± Mou Jinfu sounded excited. Right in front of him, the golden staff pierced through the air, and a sharp aura enveloped him, causing the crutch in his hand to snap down like a metal poisonous snake. Qin Huai was swallowed whole, his body shattering. But there was no smile on Mou Jinfu¡¯s face. Why was there no blood? ¡°Afterimages!¡± It¡¯s the Ancient Azure¡¯s illusion. The thin cyan color crumbled and instantly dissipated in the air. However, in Mou Jinfu¡¯s eyes, the white glow that had faded from Qin Huai¡¯s eyes earlier shone again. Even his jet-black hair had turned snow-white. ¡°Dragon king Form!¡± Although Qin Huai did not have the majestic might of a dragon king, the fact that he was restraining his might as a king made Mou Jinfu feel even more uneasy. In the next instant, the slender palm easily pierced through the poisonous fog. The roars of a tiger, a wolf, and a dragon reverberated in the air, and Mou Jinfu¡¯s pupils were filled with the three beasts. Fresh blood spurted out and transformed into three beast forms. Under the great battle, Qin Huai¡¯s four-directional tiger-wolf technique and nine dragons true qi technique merged once again. It was even related to the blood heart technique and the poison king technique. Qin Huai saw a way out from Mou Jinfu¡¯s poisonous spear and easily drew inferences from it. The poison dragon shock condensed and extended into the blood, breaking through the restrictions on Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Forbidden technique, three beasts!¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s spear had just condensed in front of him when Qin Huai¡¯s attack landed on his body. Bang! A terrifying explosion swept out. The explosion that was close at hand pierced through Mou Jinfu¡¯s defenses on the spot. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± The explosive force caused Mou Jinfu to bleed profusely, and his once-decent clothes were instantly in a sorry state. His body was also covered in blood, with purple spots visible on the surface. ¡°Poison shock!¡± Mou Jinfu slammed the ground with his walking stick. Layers of poisonous gas stacked in front of him, forming a poisonous wall that smashed towards Qin Huai. His feet moved like snakes as he retreated frantically. Thrust! The thick wall of poison only managed to block it for an instant before Qin Huai tore it apart on the spot. Mou Jinfu kept waving the walking stick in his hand, and the terrifying force collided with Qin Huai in midair. However, when it landed on Qin Huai¡¯s body, it only produced a metallic sound and slightly hindered Qin Huai¡¯s progress. As if he was smashing iron, Mou Jinfu used his movement technique to circle around Qin Huai. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Mou Jinfu growled, injured and half of his body covered in blood. If he was young, these injuries would not have meant anything to him. But he was old. Without a strong physique, even a person with three full patterns wouldn¡¯t be able to resist the fatigue of the invasion of time. Moreover, the poison king technique he cultivated was a technique that was tyrannical and harmful to the body. It was very difficult for one to die a good death in old age. ¡°Qin Huai, you forced me to do this!¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s ten fingers suddenly turned into claws. Under Qin Huai¡¯s watchful gaze, they stabbed straight into his chest. Thump! Thump! Even from several meters away, Qin Huai could clearly hear Mou Jinfu¡¯s heart pounding. It was like a heavy drum, exploding in his ears. The booming sound became even more intense in the next moment, and Mou Jinfu¡¯s face visibly reddened. His aura was even stronger than before. ¡°Three secret techniques can make my body return to its youth¡­ It can allow my power to reach its peak!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 334 ?334 A Strange Appearance Mou Jinfu¡¯s beard even showed signs of turning black, and half of his blood-stained body began to scab. Boom! Boom! Mou Jinfu¡¯s aura continued to rise, and Qin Huai¡¯s attacks became more and more effortless. The two of them clashed a few meters apart, with poisonous gas and the three beasts exploding continuously. There was no one else around, only the two of them left in the dust. Buzz~ Suddenly, Qin Huai and Mou Jinfu widened their eyes at the same time. The two of them felt a strange fluctuation in their surroundings. In Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, he saw a strange green mist appear beside Mou Jinfu, causing his figure to blur for a moment. A familiar feeling surged into his heart, and Qin Huai¡¯s hair stood on end. The image of the night when Hua Yanli disappeared into thin air appeared in his mind. It seemed to be this thing! Qin Huai subconsciously jumped back, wanting to escape this strange area. However, Mou Jinfu, who was equally terrified, was not happy. He was terrified, but he still took a step toward Qin Huai! ¡°Even if I die, I will drag someone down with me!¡± he roared, advancing instead of retreating. He directly brought the strangeness around him to Qin Huai. The ¡®young¡¯ Mou Jinfu had returned once again, and the pressure on Qin Huai¡¯s body increased. Speed, strength, and even the aura around him had been greatly enhanced. The three beasts that had just shown their might were once again suppressed by Mou Jinfu. However, at this moment, the two of them were slightly distracted. The faint fluctuations around them seemed to be tearing their bodies apart. Boom! A spark of fire appeared on Qin Huai¡¯s fist, directly slashing at Mou Jinfu¡¯s arm. Mou Jinfu coldly shattered the seemingly vast flames. ¡°Thunderbolt blade technique?¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. ¡°When did you learn that?¡± Mou Jinfu frowned, his killing intent towards Qin Huai growing stronger. Qin Huai and the Thunderbolt Gang had only interacted for a short while, and this thunderbolt blade technique was already quite impressive. The flames kept flickering on Qin Huai¡¯s three beasts technique. The seemingly brilliant flame was visually shocking; but in fact, to Mou Jinfu, who had three full patterns, this temperature and power were no different from scratching an itch. An expert with three full patterns was indeed beyond imagination. Whether it was the poisonous spear or the miraculous ¡®rejuvenation of youth¡¯, in front of Mou Jinfu, who had regained his youth, his dragon king form couldn¡¯t even get close. In other words, it was precisely because of the dragon king form that increased his physique, allowing Qin Huai to continue resisting Mou Jinfu¡¯s bombardment. Mou Jinfu¡¯s terrifying power and cultivation technique kept him out of the poison technique. He didn¡¯t want to give himself a chance to fight. It was the method of an old fox who had survived a life-and-death battle. In Qin Huai¡¯s hand, the power of longevity was gathering. The sparks from the basic thunderbolt blade technique kept eating away at Mou Jinfu¡¯s vigilance against the flames. Buzz¡­ Suddenly, the strange green aura in the surroundings disappeared without a trace. Qin Huai and Mou Jinfu heaved a sigh of relief at the same time. In the next instant, their eyes sharpened. The poisonous mist gathered on the golden walking stick and stabbed straight at Qin Huai. The terrifying power instantly shattered Qin Huai¡¯s three beasts. ¡°Die!¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s pupils dilated. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! ¡°Dead snake spear!¡± The surrounding power instantly gathered in one place. Even the air condensed and collapsed because of the terrifying power. Whoosh! ¡°As expected of a young man.¡± Mou Jinfu saw Qin Huai¡¯s unchanging moves and his heart calmed down. He knew that Qin Huai had already used up all his trump cards. In reality, Mou Jinfu had already realized this when Qin Huai took out the pitiful thunderbolt blade technique that was only at the blood refinement level to increase its power by a tiny bit. This heaven¡¯s favorite with the king¡¯s force was very strongvery, very strong. To be able to force him to this extent with his fourth-level bone pattern realm¡­ The only flaw was that he was too young. Mou Jinfu¡¯s dead snake spear easily pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s three beasts. The terrifying aura was completely defenseless against his attack. Qin Huai¡¯s strength seemed like it had been completely depleted. This abnormal form of white hair indeed required a large amount of physical strength and blood. In Mou Jinfu¡¯s field of vision, the sharp dead snake spear stabbed into the last of the weak flames. He was only a step away from Qin Huai¡¯s fist. And then¡­ It was a crushing bloodbath! However, the one who was bleeding was not Qin Huai, but Mou Jinfu himself! The power condensed on the dead snake spear was instantly cut off. An inconspicuous flame instantly ignited, brushing against the golden cane and cutting off Mou Jinfu¡¯s power in front of him. In his pupils, the blazing flames instantly arrived in front of Mou Jinfu. Qin Huai, whose eyes were emitting the aura of a king, was also there. ¡°How can¡­¡± Mou Jinfu¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief. He did not understand how the flames of a mere blood refinement realm thunderbolt sword technique could suddenly become so powerful. Before he could think of an answer, the flames instantly split Mou Jinfu into two. ¡°Flame longevity technique, twenty years of strength!¡± Qin Huai passed through the broken part of his body. Behind him, Mou Jinfu¡¯s corpse was set ablaze. The flames from the technique slowly devoured his entire body. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 335 ?335 Massive Experience Points! Mou Jinfu didn¡¯t utter a sound from beginning to end. Phew Qin Huai looked exhausted as he panted heavily. However, with just a few strokes, his expression turned determined. He shouted at Mou Jinfu¡¯s trusted aides not far away, ¡°Mou Jinfu is dead. We won¡¯t kill those who surrender!¡± There were still more than twenty trusted aides around. All the Dark Dragon Gang members have been killed, leaving only a few Thunderbolt Gang martial artists. Most importantly, they were Mou Jinfu¡¯s trusted aides. The onlookers in the distance gazed at the burning figure, their eyes filled with disbelief. They had never imagined that the old man with three full patterns would actually die at the hands of a young boy like Qin Huai,even if they saw it with their own eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Qin Huai is no longer¡­¡± Boom! ¡°Who else?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, glowing with white shock, swept across the remaining people. His heavy heartbeat echoed in the silent battlefield. ¡°Kill the remaining members of the Thunderbolt Gang and work for me in the future. I usually use people and never care about their background. You all know that, right?¡± Qin Huai was good at enticing people, and more than a dozen of Mou Jinfu¡¯s trusted aides began to harbor wicked thoughts. Indeed, Qin Huai was young and talented. He was already the next leader of the Blood Poison Gang. Most importantly, this Fifth Master was unrestrained in recruiting people, never hesitating to take in even the most vicious individuals. The dozen or so Blood Poison Gang experts glanced at the few bone pattern realm experts from the Thunderbolt Gang. The battle instantly turned tragic. These experts, aware that this first battle would likely determine their future status, exerted all their strength. In just a moment, the few bone pattern realm experts of the Thunderbolt Gang died in the hailstorm and foggy night. ¡°I¡¯m willing to die for Fifth Master!¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to go through fire and water for Fifth Master¡­¡± The dozen or so people carried the heads of the bone pattern realm experts and knelt in front of Qin Huai. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t tell anyone about my king¡¯s force.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse. ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Fifth Master. I won¡¯t tell even if they beat me to death!¡± Their voices were loud and sonorous. Puff! Suddenly, one of them raised his hand, about to charge at Qin Huai. In the next instant, more than a dozen people spat out a mouthful of blood. The moment everyone raised their heads, Silver Fox flashed past their eyes like a crescent moon. Dong dong dong More than ten heads fell to the ground. ¡°Your loyalty is not bad.¡± Qin Huai looked at the corpses on the ground. Only the dead could keep a secret. Regardless of whether it was the king¡¯s force or the flame longevity technique, both were Qin Huai¡¯s greatest trump cards. He couldn¡¯t afford to expose them. For this reason, Qin Huai had to bear the pain and kill these bone pattern realm experts. After that, Qin Huai skillfully looted the corpses and picked up the experience orbs dropped by everyone. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] +21%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Rockfall Fist Essence (Red)], [Rockfall Fist Technique] experience points +100,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Five Serpentwing Technique Essence (Red)], [Five Serpentwing Technique] experience points +100,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] +1%!¡± A massive amount of experience flowed into Qin Huai¡¯s body. His blood and qi were steadily rising as he continued to break through the levels of his cultivation technique. The dragon king form on his body was removed, leaving his face pale. It was all thanks to this blood essence that Qin Huai did not collapse. Tonight¡¯s harvest wasn¡¯t considered significant, only a mere 500,000 taels of silver. Mou Jinfu, who had the most wealth, was burned to ashes by the flame longevity technique, leaving behind only a mid-rank treasured weapon golden crutch. Qin Huai¡¯s heart wouldn¡¯t ache too much. Taking advantage of the night¡¯s darkness and the fog, Qin Huai circled around the Blood Poison Gang. As for the battle in the distance, it seemed that it had no intention of stopping. But that had nothing to do with Qin Huai anymore. After a long time, Qin Huai carried his golden walking stick and swaggered into the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s territory. Tonight, the Blood Poison Gang was exceptionally deserted. Qin Huai only saw two martial artists guarding the door. However, his speed was too fast, and the two of them didn¡¯t notice his presence. As for the manpower in other places, they were either dead in the flower workshop or still fighting with the gang leader¡¯s people. Qin Huai safely entered his courtyard and slowly sat cross-legged on the bed. He held his breath and started to review today¡¯s battle. The first thing that appeared in his mind was not Mou Jinfu but the fluctuation that occurred when the two of them fought to the peak, as well as the green qi ¡°That mysterious and strange green gas¡­ Why would it appear in my battle with Mou Jinfu?¡± Qin Huai muttered. He recalled Hua Yanli¡¯s disappearance, which occurred while he was fighting a genius. ¡°Could it be that fighting is a condition for being devoured by the strange green gas?¡± ¡°No, this is just one of the conditions.¡± He shook his head. After all, there were countless people fighting to the death in the outer city every day. However, very few could draw out the strange green qi. Otherwise, this strange green gas would have been known by everyone. It wouldn¡¯t have only been circulated among the few supreme experts in the outer city as a taboo. ¡°And you need to be powerful enough? Or have destructive power?¡± Qin Huai murmured. ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s also the king¡¯s force¡± Qin Huai thought of all the factors that had played out in his battle with Mou Jinfu tonight. The two of them didn¡¯t make any significant moves in the first half of the fight until Mou Jinfu used a special technique to restore his youthful state. ¡°But Why did the strange green gas disappear?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s mind was in disarray, but at least he identified a few conditions that could trigger the appearance of the strange green gas: king¡¯s force and absolute strength, being in third-level bone pattern realm at least, and sufficient destructive power. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 336 - 336 Still Alive 336 Still Alive ¡°When I am trapped in the strange green qi, I feel as if my soul and body are being pulled.¡± Qin Huai looked down at his hands. The sensation from that time still lingered in his mind. ¡°That kind of power would be very difficult to fight against just by relying on individual ability.¡± He frowned. Did this mean he had to limit the use of his power in the future? ¡°No, Mou Jinfu and I were not swallowed by the strange green gas in the end. This proves that our strength has not reached its standard,¡± Qin Huai pondered for a moment. Still unable to find more clues, he decided to focus on increasing his strength first. Qin Huai examined his personal panel, which displayed a substantial amount of experience for dark water manipulation, thunderbolt blade, rockfall fist, and five serpentwing techniques. In addition, the poison king technique had successfully broken through to the second-level bone pattern realm with the experience bar at 53%, which was all thanks to Mou Jinfu. Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the bed, using the divine power book of a thousand creations to stack his temporarily useless techniques on the nine dragons true qi technique. As the night passed, Qin Huai¡¯s four cultivation techniques had all been converted, increasing his level in the bone pattern realm from 15% to 30%. ¡°The higher the realm, the more difficult it is to raise one¡¯s cultivation.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He slowly stood up, pushed open the door, and walked towards the flower boat where the leader Wen Zonghao was. On the flower boat, Wen Zonghao sat on a bamboo chair with a gloomy expression. His cold eyes swept across Second Master Yin Rongen and Third Master Huang Qiguang. ¡°Leader, when we arrived, all the people on the ground were dead. Boss¡¯ trusted aides, the Thunderbolt Gang, and the remaining members of the Dark Dragon Gang¡­ None of them survived. There are about four hundred people in the bone pattern realm and the blood refining realm,¡± Yin Rongen said in a low voice. ¡°You know, that¡¯s not what I want to hear.¡± Wen Zonghao looked down at Yin Rongen, who was kneeling on one knee. ¡°Boss and Fifth Brother¡­ They were not among the identified bodies. But I believe both Boss and Fifth Brother are still alive,¡± Huang Qiguang replied in a low voice. Wen Zonghao narrowed his eyes. ¡°If they¡¯re still alive, why wouldn¡¯t they come back? Are they afraid there are others in the gang who want to kill them?¡± His voice grew colder. Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang¡¯s bodies began to tremble. It was not fear¡­ It was because of the power slowly flowing out of Wen Zonghao¡¯s body that made their bodies quiver involuntarily. But regarding the disappearance of Qin Huai and Mou Jinfu, the two of them were naturally pleased. Their plan had been successful, even beyond their expectations. They had thought they would only eliminate Qin Huai that night but were surprised to see the troublesome Mou Jinfu missing as well. It was a double blessing. ¡°Eldest Brother and Fifth Brother must have the heavens¡¯ blessings. They will be fine,¡± the two of them echoed each other. ¡°They¡¯re fighting with the Thunderbolt Gang and the Dark Dragon Gang,¡± Huang Qiguang lied through his teeth. However, the truth was known to all three of them. ¡°Thank you for your kind words, brothers.¡± At the stairs, Qin Huai slowly ascended and entered their line of sight. Yin Rongen, Huang Qiguang, and even Wen Zonghao were stunned to see him, especially since Qin Huai held Boss¡¯s signature golden walking stick. The pupils of the three constricted. ¡°This is¡­¡± Yi Rongen narrowed his eyes, asking the obvious. The three of them looked at Qin Huai, who had a hint of sadness in his eyes, and remained silent. Anyone who believed such words would be a fool. They all knew that the Thunderbolt Gang and Mou Jinfu were on the same side, and now, Qin Huai had appeared before them. This meant that Mou Jinfu had died in Qin Huai¡¯s hands. Huang Qiguang narrowed his eyes as he looked at his young fifth brother. ¡°Boss has been working hard by my side since he was in his teens. He has worked hard for our Blood Poison Gang all his life and has worked hard without complaint¡­ Now that he¡¯s dead, it can be considered a worthy death.¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice was heavy. ¡°Seven days later, at noon, we will bury Boss! All Blood Poison Gang disciples must attend! Gather all the disciples!¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice paused. ¡°We will definitely demand an explanation from the Thunderbolt Gang!¡± ¡°We accept your orders!¡± The three of them cupped their fists at Wen Zonghao. ¡°These corpses should still be handled according to the old rules. Bring them to my small pharmacy¡­¡± Wen Zonghao instructed Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 337 ?337 Making Money Every Day! ¡°Understood!¡± The two of them exchanged glances and then slowly left the flower boat, leaving Wen Zonghao and Qin Huai alone in the pavilion. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to kill Mou Jinfu and his trusted aides by yourself, even the Thunderbolt Gang and the Dark Dragon Gang?¡± Wen Zonghao recited such a long list of names, even he himself found it hard to believe. How could Qin Huai, who was only at the third or fourth-level bone pattern realm, be so powerful? ¡°Just a little trick In fact, they were not as united as they seemed. If Mou Jinfu and the Thunderbolt Gang hadn¡¯t fought midway, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to take advantage of the situation,¡± Qin Huai explained. In any case, he was the only one left who had witnessed the final outcome of the battle last night, so the truth was up to him. ¡°Not bad, not bad.¡± Wen Zonghao nodded in approval. ¡°From today onwards, you will officially take over all the businesses at the dock!¡± He stood up and patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder meaningfully. ¡°But remember, don¡¯t be too greedy. You must be steady and cautious, especially at your age. Don¡¯t follow in Mou Jinfu¡¯s footsteps.¡± Qin Huai immediately cupped his fists and lowered his head. ¡°Please rest assured, Adoptive Father. I have never had second thoughts about you! Not now, and not in the future.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was sonorous and forceful, causing Wen Zonghao to burst into laughter. After that, Wen Zonghao walked into the distance with his hands behind his back. His house was at the very corner of the Blood Poison Gang, far away from the walls of the bustling Qingzhou City. It was located halfway up a small mountain, and behind the small courtyard was a well-sealed earth castle. There was only one floor, but there were three secret floors underground. He quietly entered. The corpses from the battle last night, from Flower Brewing Restaurant and other battlefields, had all been transported here. This was the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s, or more precisely, Wen Zonghao¡¯s habit. ¡°I wonder what kind of poison technique our leader cultivates. He actually needs to use corpses to refine¡­¡± one of the blood refinement realm members said as they moved the last corpse. ¡°The leader is an immortal. His thoughts are naturally beyond the understanding of small characters like you and me,¡± the other responded. They walked out of the earth castle, chatting and laughing. ¡°But Leader has been here for so many years. I estimate that there have been tens of thousands of corpses, maybe even four to five thousand.¡± ¡°Why is it that one can only enter and not leave¡­¡± one mused. ¡°How can you know that the leader killed someone?¡± the other replied disdainfully. The two of them suddenly froze, and they straightened their backs upon seeing the figure that appeared in front of them. ¡°Greetings, Leader!¡± Wen Zonghao nodded at them. In the next instant, their heads swelled up as if inflated. Bang! Their heads exploded, scattering brains and blood everywhere. Wen Zonghao¡¯s face was stained with red and white. His expression was cold as he reached out his hand to grab the mixture on his face. And then, he sent it into his mouth. A look of enjoyment appeared on his face. ¡°This taste is still so good,¡± he muttered, ¡°Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t even get Mou Jinfu and Qin Huai¡¯s bodies. That would be the best blood food.¡± Wen Zonghao shook his head regretfully, picked up the two headless bodies, and walked into the depths of the earth castle. Outside the flower boat, Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang walked slowly. ¡°This Qin Huai is probably even more difficult to deal with than Mou Jinfu.¡± Yin Rongen¡¯s face was gloomy. ¡°The old wolf is dead, but the tiger cub is here.¡± Huang Qiguang¡¯s expression was equally ugly. Yin Rongen suddenly said, ¡°How about the two of us form an alliance? No matter who ends up in that position, at least we can¡¯t let young boys like Qin Huai and Shao Mo sit on it.¡± Neither of them wanted to give up the position of the future leader of the Blood Poison Gang. Just the income from the pier alone was 600,000 silver taels per month. If they became the leader, how much could they earn every month? Even they themselves couldn¡¯t figure it out. On the other side, Qin Huai had just returned to his courtyard and saw Zhou Cunzhong kneeling in front of it. The current Zhou Cunzhong had not only lost an eye but also a hand, clearly the work of the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s experts. ¡°Fifth Master! Cunzhong is guilty!¡± Zhou Cunzhong knelt on the ground and instantly burst into tears. He sobbed as he recounted his crimes, but Qin Huai did not listen to him at all. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve taken over the dock, you go and organize the manpower and take over Mou Jinfu¡¯s old subordinates. Then, arrange the business and account books of the dock and bring them to me,¡± Qin Huai instructed. ¡°Yes. Yes!¡± Zhou Cunzhong was initially stunned but soon became overjoyed and listened to Qin Huai¡¯s instructions. 600,000 taels of silver per month it was indeed not bad. Qin Huai sat in the courtyard and continued cultivating. Late at night, Zhou Cunzhong returned with a few bone pattern realm experts. They were all unfamiliar faces, people who had come from Mou Jinfu¡¯s side. Qin Huai casually asked for their names and didn¡¯t bother about them further. Three were at the second level and three at the first level. The fact that Mou Jinfu hadn¡¯t brought them with him to kill Qin Huai last night proved that they weren¡¯t his trusted aides at all. But even if they were, Qin Huai didn¡¯t care. ¡°Fifth Master, the account books are here.¡± Zhou Cunzhong gently placed a thick stack of account books on Qin Huai¡¯s desk. ¡°However, Mou Jinfu¡¯s treasury was raided by Leader¡¯s trusted aides last night.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Qin Huai nodded, not surprised by this. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 338 ?338 Collecting More Experience Points Qin Huai was already content with 600,000 taels of silver every month. If he could obtain the red qi tiger wolf pills, he would be able to reach the fifth-level bone pattern realm in a few months. It was even possible that his four-directional tiger-wolf technique would surpass the nine dragons true qi technique and become the first technique he had to use to reach the fifth-level bone pattern realm. In the following days, Qin Huai cultivated in the courtyard every day, waiting for the silver to be transferred into his account. There was also a piece of news that was neither too big nor too small. The Thunderbolt Gang, its four leaders, and the forces under them were all devoured. The fourth head was the Thunderbolt Gang member who had been secretly in contact with Mou Jinfu. His power was severely damaged by him, and in the end, he was eaten by the big boss of the same gang. This kind of thing was not rare for the sects in the outer city. Everyone had stepped on the corpses of their seniors. Therefore, Qin Huai stepping on Mou Jinfu to ascend the throne didn¡¯t cause any so-called condemnation. There was only an endless stream of celebration and rationality. In just three days, Qin Huai was visited by countless people from prestigious families from the outer city, whether they knew him or not. He rejected all the visits, but the gifts sent to him were all accepted by his subordinates. These gifts alone were worth three to four hundred thousand taels of silver, equivalent to a month¡¯s income from the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s dock. Qin Huai often felt like he was in a trance when he realized he could earn a large amount of silver just by sitting still. ¡°This is probably the temptation of power,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. In the end, he stabilized his Dao heart and continued to cultivate silently. Seven days later, Mou Jinfu was buried on the pier. The corpse floated along the Qingzhou River into the distance, while everyone stood at the bow of the boat and watched Mou Jinfu¡¯s empty coffin leave. Qin Huai looked at the weeping and sobbing Wen Zonghao, Yin Rongen, and Huang Qiguang, who were in front of him. He lowered his head and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. Many of the Blood Poison Gang disciples behind him were moved to tears when they saw this. Suddenly, Wen Zonghao turned his head. ¡°The Thunderbolt Gang is going too far! They actually sent a large number of assassins to ambush the leader of my Blood Poison Gang! If we do not take revenge for this, how will our Blood Poison Gang be able to stand in the outer city in the future?¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s aura was like a rainbow. The Blood Poison Gang members standing on the shore heard it clearly. ¡°What do you think we should do?!¡± ¡°Kill them!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Kill!¡± On both sides of the river, deafening roars pierced through the clouds. ¡°Disciples of the Blood Poison Gang, listen up!¡± There were many rivers around Qingzhou City. There were dozens of tributaries, big and small, and the most important ones were basically occupied by the people of the four gangs. In short, they were all businesses. The Blood Poison Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang suddenly started fighting. The two sides were engaged in a fierce battle in the streets and alleys. However, those who were busy were the martial artists who had the most blood refinement in the blood refinement realm. The Bone Pattern Realm experts didn¡¯t attack easily. As for Qin Huai and Yin Rongen, who were at the level of family heads, they would only supervise the battle from afar. They would practically push their opponents away after meeting each other. In the pavilion, Qin Huai gazed into the distance with Zhou Cunzhong behind him. ¡°Fifth Master, what¡¯s the point of watching this kind of fight?¡± Zhou Cunzhong was puzzled. ¡°This battle is nothing more than to avenge the dead Mou Jinfu and to save face for our Blood Poison Gang. The people of the Thunderbolt Gang probably think the same way. They can¡¯t fight at all.¡± This kind of fight often occurred between the four gangs. Usually, it was to appease the anger of the people below, and it would end after a fight. Secondly, through disputes and wars, they could select talents with potential. Therefore, some blood refinement realm and great blood refinement realm martial artists who knew what was going on would work so hard. ¡°Now that you¡¯re at the center of the storm, it¡¯s not just Second Master and Third Master who have designs on you. I¡¯m afraid that the experts of the Thunderbolt Gang and the other two gangs also want to get rid of you.¡± Zhou Cunzhong was worried. The previous incident had already made him a frightened bird. Now that he had lost his left eye and his left hand, would he lose his left leg too? At that time, he would really be crippled. ¡°What are you afraid of If they dare to come, we¡¯ll kill them all.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°The more you hide, the more trouble will come. On the contrary, those demons and monsters won¡¯t dare to find trouble with you because you¡¯ve revealed yourself.¡± Behind him, Zhou Cunzhong looked at the leisurely Qin Huai, his eyes filled with admiration and respect. This Fifth Master was truly not an ordinary person. His thoughts were so strange. Qin Huai looked over and saw experience orbs within a hundred meters flying toward him. Then, he changed direction and continued to collect experience. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Purple)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +3,244!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Blue)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +512!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Blue)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +500!¡± The experience points rapidly increased, allowing Qin Huai¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique¡¯s cultivation progress to surpass normal. Qin Huai looked at the corpses on the ground as they were being carried away by the Blood Poison Gang. He frowned slightly. ¡°I remember that you have been in the Blood Poison Gang for more than ten years.¡± Zhou Cunzhong nodded in response. ¡°Then do you know what kind of poison technique our leader cultivates? Why do we need dead people to refine the poison?¡± Qin Huai could understand why he would stay away from him when he tried the poison on a living person. But taking the dead, Qin Huai exhausted all his knowledge but could not find any high-grade poison that required a corpse. ¡°I don¡¯t know In any case, the gang leader had only started using dead people to test his poison in recent years,¡± Zhou Cunzhong said. ¡°He¡¯s probably an expert at the visceral prefecture realm who possesses extraordinary power.¡± Zhou Cunzhong was equally confused. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 339 - 339 Qin Huais Promotion 339 Qin Huai¡¯s Promotion Another month passed. Qin Huai¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique was steadily improving through the confrontation between the two sects. It increased from 30% to 36%. In comparison, the poison king technique improved faster. After all, it was only at the second-level bone pattern realm. It was still 30% away from the third-level bone pattern realm. As for the concealment of spirit and qi, it had only gone from level 84 to level 85, causing Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan to bounce back by five years. This cultivation technique was even more profound, and the difficulty of cultivating it far exceeded the rest of the cultivation techniques. Even the nine dragons true qi technique and the blood heart technique could not be compared to it. However, the blood heart technique was different from the poison king technique, which required the assistance of poisonous substances. The blood heart technique could be completely replaced by the cultivation of qi and blood medicine. It was just that it would cost too much money. Fortunately, Qin Huai was now very wealthy. He had the money sent by those unknown noble families, the 1.2 million taels of silver that he had received in two months, and the silver that he had plundered from the corpses. Half of the one million taels of silver, close to two million taels of silver, had been exchanged for vitality medicine by Zhou Cunzhong to refine and cultivate. He had pushed the blood heart technique, which was originally at the second-level bone pattern realm, to 46% of the third level. As for the remaining half, Qin Huai was still waiting for the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary¡¯s alchemists to continue refining the red qi tiger wolf pills for him. Other than that, the Blood Poison Gang and Thunderbolt Gang didn¡¯t suffer any losses during the war. Although hundreds of corpses were left on the streets and alleys, the prestige and strength of the two sects were seen by more people after this battle. Many martial artists who had only come to the outer city in the past month or two joined the two sects. Not only did the number of people in the two sects not decrease, but they also had around two hundred more people than before. ¡°We won! Our Blood Poison Gang has won this battle!¡± Late at night, the flower boats on the banks of the Qingzhou River were brightly lit. The red-faced Blood Poison Gang martial artists raised their wine glasses, their faces filled with joy. On the second floor of the flower boat, Wen Zonghao raised his wine cup and announced to the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s martial artists below the stage the gains and losses of the month-long battle. ¡°Fifth Brother, you¡¯ve contributed quite a bit in this war,¡± Wen Zonghao called Qin Huai to his side. ¡°Foster Father!¡± Qin Huai said respectfully. Wen Zonghao nodded his head in satisfaction. He then turned to the crowd and said, ¡°In this battle, Qin Huai protected the disciples of the sect. They made great contributions every day on the battlefield. Earlier, he had also protected the third pier. ¡°Every disciple of our Blood Poison Gang has always been rewarded! It doesn¡¯t look at seniority, age, or realm! It only depends on the credit!¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s powerful voice made the Blood Poison Gang disciples on the boat feel their hearts burn and their faces turn red. ¡°From today onwards, as the leader of the Blood Poison Gang, I appoint Qin Huai as the chief shopkeeper of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s pharmacy!¡± ¡°Congratulations, Fifth Master!¡± ¡°Congratulations, Fifth Master!¡± Qin Huai was slightly surprised. Was Wen Zonghao really going to groom him as the leader of the Blood Poison Gang? He remained calm and raised his glass slowly to the crowd. Then, he drank it all in one go. With Wen Zonghao¡¯s appointment, he had really become a big shot in the Blood Poison Gang. ¡°Congratulations, Fifth Brother. It¡¯s only been a few days, and you¡¯ve directly removed the word ¡®substitute¡¯ in front of the pharmacy¡¯s head shopkeeper.¡± Huang Qiguang carried a bowl of wine and walked to Qin Huai¡¯s side with a smile. ¡°I still have to thank Third Brother for taking care of me so that I could reach this position so quickly.¡± Qin Huai raised his wine bowl to lightly touch Huang Qiguang¡¯s and drank it all in one go. ¡°Fifth Brother, don¡¯t be happy too early. You may not have become the head shopkeeper of the pharmacy because our foster father wanted to nurture you.¡± Huang Qiguang said meaningfully. ¡°Oh, please enlighten me, Third Brother.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Huang Qiguang said unhurriedly, ¡°You and I are both experts in using poison. I¡¯m afraid that no one in the Blood Poison Gang is better than you and me. Fifth Brother, do you know what kind of poison needs to be tested on a corpse?¡± Qin Huai shook his head and smiled. ¡°Maybe my realm isn¡¯t high enough, so I don¡¯t know? The path of poison is difficult and arduous. At the visceral prefecture realm, there might be poisons that can be tested on corpses.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Huang Qiguang chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s reasonable. But I heard there¡¯s a great sect in the west that seems to be particularly fond of corpses. It just so happens that their things have only been in the east for ten years.¡± Qin Huai narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°You can¡¯t say that, Third Brother.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything!¡± Huang Qiguang smiled sinisterly. ¡°Besides, you killed Mou Jinfu¡­ Where did his body go? Did you really destroy the evidence, or did you not care at all? Only you know that.¡± Huang Qiguang patted Qin Huai¡¯s chest lightly. ¡°Mou Jinfu is an old thing who¡¯s about to die. It¡¯s simply wishful thinking for him to want to ascend to the top with his three full patterns realm. But why did he insist on doing something that he shouldn¡¯t have? Anyway, I¡¯ll go ahead now! Fifth Brother, think about it carefully.¡± Qin Huai watched Huang Qiguang¡¯s back disappear from his sight. Mou Jinfu¡¯s corpse had indeed been completely destroyed by his flame longevity technique. There was no doubt that Huang Qiguang¡¯s guess was wrong. His words and thoughts, however, left Qin Huai with no choice but to think deeply. If Wen Zonghao had secretly joined the Sacred Heart sect and cultivated the blood heart technique¡­ It was reasonable that Wen Zonghao had ordered his men to bring the corpses to his own fort. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 340 ?340 The Demon¡¯s Whereabouts ¡°This Blood Poison Gang is really complicated.¡± Qin Huai observed as the martial artists of the Blood Poison Gang drank silently. Bang! Crash! Qin Huai focused his gaze. Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang were at loggerheads. ¡°Yin Rongen, don¡¯t you know that Mother Yun is the golden signboard of my subordinates?¡± Huang Qiguang¡¯s aura surged faintly. ¡°How am I supposed to earn money if you play with people like this?¡± In his line of sight, a girl with an astonishing figure in Huang Qiguang¡¯s arms was currently completely black. She fell weakly into his arms and panted heavily. ¡°Hey, you know very well how our Blood Poison Gang plays with women. The young lady took it out, so isn¡¯t it for people to play with?¡± Yin Rongen looked indifferent. ¡°At worst, I¡¯ll compensate you with money~¡± ¡°Then give me one million taels!¡± Huang Qiguang sneered. ¡°A million? Why don¡¯t you just rob me!¡± Yin Rongen laughed angrily. ¡°Is this woman made of gold?¡± ¡°What else do you think?¡± Huang Qiguang almost pressed his face against Yin Rongen¡¯s. ¡°I don¡¯t have money. Why don¡¯t you kill me?¡± Yin Rongen was also not afraid at all, spreading his hands toward Huang Qiguang. He even raised his neck, looking like he was waiting to be slaughtered. ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t dare to kill you?¡± The sinister smile on Huang Qiguang¡¯s lips became even more terrifying. ¡°Enough!¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice came from upstairs. ¡°Today is the day of our Blood Poison Gang¡¯s victory. How can you fight among yourselves here?¡± The two of them immediately separated and respectfully cupped their fists toward the upper floor. ¡°Father, please punish me!¡± ¡°Father, please punish me!¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Wen Zonghao merely waved his hand, short but forceful. After that, the storm calmed down. Qin Huai quietly retreated and got off the boat. ¡°Fifth Master!¡± Zhou Cunzhong nervously followed behind Qin Huai, his forehead covered in sweat. ¡°What happened? Why are you so flustered?¡± Qin Huai was a little surprised. Currently, Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s position in the Blood Poison Gang was below five or six people and above ten thousand people. ¡°The tracks of the demon in the outer city have been discovered,¡± Zhou Cunzhong reported. ¡°When did this happen? Did you catch it?¡± Qin Huai was a little surprised. ¡°Just four hours ago, at the beginning of the celebration party.¡± Zhou Cunzhong sighed. ¡°I definitely didn¡¯t catch him, or else I wouldn¡¯t be so flustered. That demon is a fruit tycoon in the outer city, Manager Liu.¡± His voice trembled as he spoke the last sentence. ¡°Oh. The one who met him at the dock two days ago, right?¡± Qin Huai narrowed his eyes. Zhou Cunzhong nodded desperately. ¡°Yes, yes, yes, that¡¯s the one We¡¯ve walked through the gates of hell.¡± ¡°Be careful.¡± Qin Huai thought of Manager Liu¡¯s face and felt his hair stand on end. The demon, who was so close to him, actually went unnoticed Qin Huai had no choice but to deal with this demon who had the ability to change the crown prince. The only thing they could do was to keep looking for clues, expose him, and kill him. However, this method was very inefficient. Even if they discovered that they were facing a great demon who was suspected to be at the visceral prefecture realm, they might not be a match for him. ¡°All you and I can do is cultivate diligently,¡± Qin Huai said emotionally once again. There were many opportunities in Qingzhou City, such as the red qi tiger wolf pills that could be used to replace cultivation, as well as many cultivation techniques that could reach five full patterns. But the risk was also huge. The great demon that could transform into another person, and the strange green qi that could devour geniuses Each of them was enough to take the life of a fifth-level bone pattern realm expert. Qin Huai changed into a new set of clothes and walked towards the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary in the city with his bamboo hat on. On the street, it was not as lively as a month ago. The bleak autumn wind blew, and the yellow leaves were like this world, old and full of decadence. Many shops were only half-opened, and even the most popular bars and casinos were less noisy. He could no longer see the fair Jing Hong leaning against the bamboo house, fanning the landscape painting fan to attract the young masters on the street. Everyone was in a hurry. Even the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary had only opened half of its doors. Qin Huai flashed his golden core token in front of the door, and only then did the doorman¡¯s cautious face reveal a smile. ¡°Mr. Long, this way please!¡± The doorman led the way. Halfway there, he was intercepted by the sharp-eyed shopkeeper, who welcomed Qin Huai into the VIP room with a smile on his face. As soon as he stepped through the door, a cup of tea was served to Qin Huai. ¡°The pavilion master is preparing pills for you. Mr. Long, please have some tea,¡± the shopkeeper smiled and reminded him. ¡°Mr. Long, you have to be careful these days. That demon has been attacking frequently in the past month. Three fifth-level bone pattern realm experts have already died.¡± Qin Huai sipped his tea and said, ¡°I heard that the demon¡¯s recent identity seems to be the fruit tycoon from the outer city, Manager Liu?¡± ¡°So you know about it too.¡± The shopkeeper sighed and said in a low voice, ¡°Then you definitely don¡¯t know what that demon did in Manager Liu¡¯s house.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows. The shopkeeper revealed a sly smile. ¡°That Manager Liu is also a playboy. He has a total of eighteen beautiful wives and concubines, all of whom are extremely beautiful. Moreover, Manager Liu fathered seven girls, all of whom took after their mothers¡¯ appearance. Now, they have all been captured by that demon He even got them pregnant!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 341 ?341 Under One Person, a Strange Condition! ¡°Those six women still continued to follow him A prominent figure who visited the pill pavilion shared this story, so Mr. Long, you must not spread it. It¡¯s not a good influence.¡± ¡°Oh right, how was the demon discovered?¡± Qin Huai inquired further. ¡°An important figure of the Ghost Ox sect used the ghost piercing mirror to reveal the demon¡¯s true form.¡± Ghost Piercing Mirror The large sects in Qingzhou City indeed had many tricks up their sleeves. ¡°Mr. Long, sorry to keep you waiting!¡± The door was pushed open by the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary¡¯s Pavilion Master, Fan Ziyu. ¡°The items have been prepared for you. They¡¯re still in the backyard.¡± The shopkeeper hastily stood up to make way for the pavilion master. ¡°Mr. Long, you must be careful these days. The outer city is far from peaceful.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been informed by the shopkeeper that he is a person in the middle of the world,¡± Qin Huai replied with a smile. ¡°Last time, I gave the shopkeeper one million taels of silver. Other than the hundred thousand taels you discounted, I¡¯m still short of eight hundred thousand taels.¡± Qin Huai promptly began counting, taking out a thick stack of banknotes totaling 800,000 taelsno more, no less. Fan Ziyu moistened his hand with saliva before counting the banknotes one by one. Kaka! He then tapped the table neatly, and his smile grew brighter. ¡°Mr. Long, don¡¯t take it to heart. This is the pill pavilion¡¯s rule. Even the most familiar old customers must check in person. Otherwise, misunderstandings might arise, and our friendship could be jeopardized, right?¡± ¡°Pavilion Master is reliable. I can rest assured,¡± Qin Huai replied softly. ¡°I¡¯d like to order another hundred pills.¡± He then handed over one hundred thousand taels as a deposit. ¡°Excellent!¡± Fan Ziyu agreed without hesitation. ¡°But¡­ I have a question for Pavilion Master Fan,¡± Qin Huai interjected. ¡°Mr. Long, please ask.¡± Fan Ziyu chuckled. ¡°We are all friends. If I know the answer, I¡¯ll definitely share it with you.¡± ¡°Pavilion Master Fan, I¡¯ve learned that numerous prodigies have mysteriously vanished in recent months. Do you know the reason behind this?¡± Qin Huai asked solemnly. Fan Ziyu¡¯s expression immediately turned intriguing upon hearing the question. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t share everything, you can at least tell me something, right?¡± Seeing his expression, Qin Huai softened his stance. ¡°For instance, who were the people swallowed by the strange creature? What were their conditions?¡± Ever since the battle with Mou Jinfu, which had directly attracted the peculiar green gas, Qin Huai had been feeling uneasy. ¡°I can only reveal that the monster devoured an expert of the fifth-level bone pattern realm. I really can¡¯t say more.¡± ¡°Thank you for informing me!¡± Qin Huai expressed his gratitude, cupping his fists. The fact that experts at the fifth-level bone pattern realm and above were within the range of the strange green gas was crucial information. However, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t be considered completely safe in the outer city unless he reached the fifth-level bone pattern realm. There were far too many people capable of killing him. Even if he faced the threat of being devoured by the strange green gas, Qin Huai knew he still had to cultivate. Feeling helpless, he acknowledged that there was nothing wrong with continually increasing his strength. As for the rest, they could only handle whatever challenges arose. Afterward, Qin Huai went to the backyard and placed all one hundred red qi tiger wolf pills into his robe. He quickly disappeared into the night. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s that person!¡± Behind him, two sneaky-looking bone pattern realm men stared at Qin Huai¡¯s back. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s that person?¡± The tall man frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t be wrong. That kid¡¯s figure is etched in my mind.¡± The short man licked his lips. ¡°He came out of the pill pavilion¡¯s backyard twice. The treasures he carries must be valuable.¡± The two men understood that those who emerged from the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary¡¯s backyard were typically wealthy but weaker customers. This knowledge was their hard-earned experience over the years. ¡°But, Brother, it seems we¡¯re not the only ones eyeing this big fish.¡± The two glanced towards the end of the alley, where two groups totaling six people were approaching. ¡°Brother, we¡¯ve been targeting this big fish for quite some time,¡± the newcomers greeted menacingly. The two brothers scoffed. ¡°Everyone should understand the rules of the underworldfirst come, first served. If the rules were broken, nobody would have food to eat.¡± The new groups were somewhat stubborn. ¡°The market isn¡¯t great right now. The rules should change with the times, right?¡± ¡°I saw that the person¡¯s footsteps were quite heavy, indicating strong qi and blood. Despite wearing a bamboo hat, a faint aura still emanated from him. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s a master. I¡¯m afraid you two brothers won¡¯t be able to handle him alone.¡± The brothers considered their words and knew they weren¡¯t talking nonsense. Moreover, these two groups seemed determined, making it unlikely they could be sent away. ¡°Decide quickly, or that person will get away,¡± the newcomers urged impatiently. ¡°Fine! We¡¯ll cooperate this time,¡± the brothers finally agreed. As they turned around, their expressions changed. ¡°It¡¯s poison¡­¡± One man¡¯s face turned pale, but before he could finish speaking, he collapsed. Just as their auras rose, a figure flashed before their eyes. Blood splattered in the moonlight as Qin Huai searched the bodies of the seven men, his expression indifferent. Five had just entered the bone pattern realm, while two were in the blood refinement realm. ¡°Only eighty thousand taels¡­¡± Qin Huai pursed his lips. ¡°Looks like the market is really not good.¡± Regardless, he pocketed all 80,000 taels, knowing that even a small gain was still worthwhile. At the fourth-level bone pattern realm, combined with Qin Huai¡¯s poison technique, there was no need to use any king¡¯s force. These first-level bone pattern realm experts couldn¡¯t resist him. He released a poisonous mist from his sleeve, and the seven corpses began to dissolve bit by bit. By the time Qin Huai left the alley, the ground was spotless, as pristine as the bright moon without a speck of dust. ¡°With these one hundred red qi tiger wolf pills, I shouldn¡¯t have any problem cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to the fourth-level bone pattern realm Looks like I need to find a way to improve the nine dragons true qi technique.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 342 - 342 Fourth Master Is Gone? 342 Fourth Master Is Gone? One hundred red qi tiger wolf pills had enabled Qin Huai to break through the bottleneck of the fourth-level bone pattern realm. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Qin Huai gently extended his finger and activated the blood heart technique. In an instant, a mouthful of blood spurted out, drifting around the room according to his will. This was the same technique six-fingered Zou Shuang used in September Hook. Qin Huai then activated the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The blood gathered in front of him and gradually transformed into a small blood wolf, identical to the ones in his dantian world. The power and strength of the fourth-level bone pattern realm made the little blood wolf¡¯s form extremely sturdy. Slowly, Qin Huai injected a white speck of light into the blood, compressing the entire white dragon and infusing it with the long breath forbidden technique, earthquake dragon. His face lit up with joy as he realized, ¡°Blood is still considered your own body.¡± He had used a similar move in his battle with Mou Jinfu, extending the white dragon into the blood. However, Qin Huai had never succeeded since then. He thought it was because his blood essence was not stable enough and needed other moves to complement it. As expected, he could display the four-directional tiger-wolf technique once he reached the fourth-level bone pattern realm. Qin Huai controlled the young blood wolf with his mind as it walked out of the courtyard. As the distance increased, the blood wolf¡¯s body became unstable, and his aura began to scatter. At seven meters, the blood wolf exploded, causing his courtyard to turn red with the eruption of the poison king technique¡¯s poison blood mist and poison dragon shock. ¡°Is it not stable enough?¡± Qin Huai wondered. ¡°Fifth Master! Fifth Master, are you alright?¡± someone shouted outside the courtyard, banging on the door. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just training. If you hear anything, ignore it,¡± Qin Huai replied indifferently. ¡°Understood!¡± came the response from outside the door. The two guards also tactfully moved further away. Qin Huai continued to practice the techniques. This time, he formed a young blood tiger. As it sprinted away from his feet, he became even more focused. The blood tiger managed to reach ten meters before exploding. On the third attempt, Qin Huai condensed a blood dragon. However, when he cut off the blood dragon¡¯s finger, it shattered, causing half of his house to collapse. Broken wood fell on Qin Huai¡¯s head. However, he didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°As expected, I can only use the tiger and wolf forms if I rely on the four-directional tiger-wolf technique because I need this kind of blood essence and power to stabilize the structure,¡± Qin Huai mused. He tried the four-directional tiger-wolf technique twice more but couldn¡¯t break the ten-meter mark. His face grew pale. ¡°I¡¯ve invested too much vitality¡­ It can be optimized,¡± he said. ¡°The tiger wolf created by the blood heart technique and the four-directional tiger-wolf technique doesn¡¯t cause much damage¡­ It¡¯s just a carrier. The true power comes from the poison dragon shock.¡± Qin Huai immediately began optimizing the technique. After resting for two hours, he transformed his blood essence into a hollow shell with a white light dot floating between its eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s feasible.¡± He sighed, controlling the blood wolf to run away. At a full twenty meters, the blood wolf exploded with a loud bang, its shocking power undiminished. Without the support of rich vitality, however, the range of the poisonous fog was smaller. The next moment, he released more than ten young blood tiger wolves at an extremely fast speed. An ordinary bone pattern realm expert would only see a bloody shadow before the tigers and wolves pounced on them. Boom! Boom! Boom! The explosive force was intense, filling the entire courtyard with a bloody mist and blasting the ground into smithereens. It was almost as powerful as Qin Huai¡¯s poison dragon shock. Though not as strong as the three beasts technique, this power was enough to kill a bone pattern realm expert from a distance, reducing the risk and increasing the difficulty exponentially. ¡°Let¡¯s call it the collapsing blood technique,¡± Qin Huai finally decided. ¡°Fourth Master is gone!¡± a wail suddenly came from outside the courtyard. Qin Huai rushed out to see Shao Mo¡¯s trusted aides sitting on the ground, crying. ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Huai asked, picking one of them up. He glanced at the open courtyard door but didn¡¯t enter immediately. ¡°Fifth Master, Fourth Master is dead¡­¡± the man sobbed, trembling. ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Huai frowned deeply, looking at the man for a long time, unable to extract any useful information. He turned to another person, who explained, ¡°Today, we came to deliver food to Fourth Master. Actually, we¡¯ve been delivering food to him these past few days. He instructed us not to enter and disturb him, so we¡¯ve been sliding the food through a small door under the courtyard. In the first few days, there was still some movement. ¡°But things have been different since the day before yesterday. He didn¡¯t touch any of the dishes. When they got cold, we¡¯d take them out and replace them with new ones. ¡°After four days, we couldn¡¯t help but call out a few times. But there was no response. We mustered up our courage and went in. In the end¡­ In the end¡­¡± The person wailed uncontrollably, ¡°In the end, Fourth Master is gone.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the courtyard, sensing that there was no unusual aura inside. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 343 ?343 Demon Pets Only then did Qin Huai quickly walk in. The room was empty. He walked to the bed and touched it with his hand. It was already cold. Apparently, the fourth master had disappeared a few days ago. ¡°Did he run away¡­ Is he dead? Or was he taken away by the strange green qi?¡± Qin Huai was confused, as there was no trace left in the house. Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang walked in quickly. ¡°Fourth Brother is gone?¡± The two of them had different expressions, their eyes filled with panic. ¡°A heaven¡¯s favorite with five full patterns and king¡¯s force shouldn¡¯t have died in his own courtyard,¡± Huang Qiguang hinted. ¡°It¡¯s also possible that he was lured by someone familiar in the middle of the night to assassinate him.¡± ¡°Third brother must be joking,¡± Qin Huai replied coldly. ¡°You said it yourself; Fourth Brother is a prodigy who has cultivated the king¡¯s force with five full patterns. Even if he¡¯s tricked out, falling into a trap would cause enough commotion to attract everyone¡¯s attention.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s opinion of a five-full-pattern expert¡¯s combat power had increased immensely after his battle with Mou Jinfu. ¡°What if it¡¯s Fuzang?¡± Huang Qiguang smiled sinisterly. ¡°The greatest possibility is that it is still strange¡­¡± Yin Rongen snorted coldly. Qin Huai only listened to half of Huang Qiguang¡¯s words, knowing that this guy was skilled at stirring up trouble. ¡°Gang Leader!¡± a voice came from outside the door, and the three of them instantly stepped aside. ¡°There¡¯s no need to investigate this matter.¡± Wen Zonghao waved his hand. ¡°Pass down the order and keep this matter to yourself.¡± After he finished speaking, he left quickly. This time, even the smile on Huang Qiguang¡¯s face disappeared. ¡°Farewell!¡± Huang Qiguang forced a smile and quickly left the troublesome place, muttering, ¡°Damn it, don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m right I need to make money! I¡¯m trying to earn money,¡± he mumbled as he disappeared into the night. Qin Huai and Yin Rongen exchanged a glance and left without saying a word. The atmosphere in the Blood Poison Gang suddenly became heavy. Qin Huai didn¡¯t stay idle either. He walked into the pharmacy and started moving things out. He pocketed all sorts of vitality medicine and poisons. Should he use them to cultivate the blood heart technique or the poison king technique? The people in the pharmacy were all Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®trusted aides,¡¯ so naturally, they turned a blind eye to Qin Huai¡¯s actions and falsified the accounts. At the same time, he could also gain some benefits from it. Regardless of Wen Zonghao¡¯s motive for making him the head shopkeeper of the pharmacy, Qin Huai, with his identity and convenience, naturally wouldn¡¯t be mistreated. When he joined the Blood Poison Gang, he didn¡¯t genuinely yearn for the gang. If he wanted to become stronger and create more glory, they had to be destroyed. And from the looks of it now, Qin Huai¡¯s chances were very high. Even so, his expenses were still substantial. ¡°Fifth Master, this is what you wanted.¡± Zhou Cunzhong carried a wooden box and ran into Qin Huai¡¯s courtyard. He obediently handed over a list of names and a detailed map of some areas in the outer city. ¡°All the properties marked on this are the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s.¡± Qin Huai looked at the detailed map and nodded in satisfaction. To quickly break through to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, he needed to think of some unusual tactics. For Qin Huai, the fastest way to cultivate was undoubtedly to gain experience points. And the best way to quickly collect experience points was, without a doubt, murder! The Thunderbolt Gang was the best choice. The four gangs in the outer city had committed many crimes and drank the blood of innocent people. Of course, Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t claim to be a saint who enforced justice on behalf of the heavens. He had killed countless people, far more than the killers of the four gangs, but he had never killed an innocent person. Practicing martial arts and killing people with punches it was good that he had a clear conscience. As for the members of the four gangs, they wouldn¡¯t die in vain. ¡°Fifth Master, do you want me to bring my brothers¡­¡± ¡°No need,¡± Qin Huai interrupted Zhou Cunzhong. He then frowned when he saw the box in Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s hand shaking. ¡°What¡¯s in the box?¡± He suddenly smelled a familiar scent. ¡°This¡­¡± Zhou Cunzhong smiled obsequiously and opened the box, revealing a small dog. However, this puppy¡¯s fur was black and shiny, and its body emitted vigorous blood essence. ¡°A dog with a demon bloodline?¡± Qin Huai understood. It was banned in the Great Nether to buy and sell creatures with demonic bloodlines. The emperor and the state overseers of the various states all prohibited the sale of such things. After all, no one knew the next stage was it a creature with the bloodline of a demon or a demon? If anything went wrong, the lives of the people might be plunged into misery. However, those wealthy individuals loved these creatures as pets. Zhou Cunzhong quickly said, ¡°Recently, a new batch of goods has been obtained from Qingzhou. They have just arrived in Qingzhou City. There are several kinds of tigers and dogs, and there¡¯s a craze in the city to raise these. Many rich and powerful people were secretly raising their own. Fifth Master, if you like it, I¡¯ll give it to you¡­¡± ¡°No need!¡± Qin Huai loathed demons to the extreme. He could still accept them as warhorses, but not as pets. His mind was filled with the memories of the demon wave in Pingnan City. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 344 - 344 Blood Burst Technique! Another Qin Huai? 344 Blood Burst Technique! Another Qin Huai? Qin Huai recalled the endless stream of fallen elder brothers and the bloody scene atop the tower in Pingnan City¡­ He found the idea of keeping such things as pets unbearable. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, glancing at the map before dismissing Zhou Cunzhong with a wave of his hand. But there was a silver lining. The appearance of these pets, born with demonic bloodlines, would enhance the efficacy of his blood burst technique. ¡­ By the afternoon, Qin Huai was strolling through the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s territory, seeming as if nothing was amiss. Eyes covertly followed him. These were the underlings of Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang, continually probing for Qin Huai¡¯s weaknesses, yearning to eliminate him. Late into the night, Qin Huai donned a fresh outfit. He silently scaled the wall and rapidly faded into the darkness. He moved with caution, winding his way around, ensuring no one tailed him before heading towards the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s dock. The docks under the control of the four gangs were typically guarded by experts at the fourth-level bone pattern realm. At least a dozen elite warriors of various sizes were stationed on the dock ¨C a formidable force that could lay waste to many smaller sects in the outer city. Qin Huai came to a halt at the fourth pier of the river, which was under the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s control and the furthest from their main base. He stared at the well-lit pier, his eyes narrowing slightly. He gauged the wind¡¯s direction and stealthily shifted to the most advantageous position. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he sprayed a large cloud of poison fog. After a considerable amount of time, Qin Huai rose and approached silently. A few Thunderbolt Gang martial artists lurking in the desolate alley ahead of him widened their eyes upon spotting Qin Huai. An attempt to shout was made, only for the realization to hit that no sound could be produced. Blood vessels burst in his eyes as he clawed at his own throat, a vicious expression on his face before he collapsed to the ground. His fall wasn¡¯t particularly loud, but in the stillness of the night, it could be heard within a radius of several meters. Regrettably, those within hearing distance had already succumbed. Qin Huai easily dispatched these minor nuisances and, in a blink of an eye, had stealthily approached the dock. The Thunderbolt Gang warriors, who were stationed there, had all retreated into the fortresses flanking the dock for the night. Based on Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s information, these two fortresses also extended three stories underground. Qin Huai directed his gaze at the door of the fortress. He pushed it open, and the hinges creaked. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Two inebriated Thunderbolt Gang warriors noticed Qin Huai, garbed in a bamboo hat and black attire, and sobered up instantly. ¡°Beware¡­¡± one started to shout but was interrupted as the flaming long sword in his hand swept towards Qin Huai. The other brandished his sword and charged directly at Qin Huai. The two powerful blood refiners exhibited exceptional battle strength and awareness. Unfortunately, the gap in their power levels was too wide. They moved fast, but Qin Huai was faster. The latter swung in the air, releasing ten dragons¡¯ might with his slash. ¡°True qi, long dragon whip!¡± Thrust! Blood spurted as the decapitated bodies crumbled to the ground. The next moment, a rumbling echoed from beneath the fortress. Qin Huai swung open the gate, unleashing his blood burst technique. A dozen blood-red tigers and wolves surged forth, charging into the fortress. He followed, descending slowly into the underground. Within the fortress, several Thunderbolt Gang martial artists hastily moved to open the doors. Suddenly, they halted. ¡°Do you hear that? Those hurried footfalls,¡± one said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound human.¡± ¡°Could it be a demonic beast?¡± another speculated. ¡°I recall today¡¯s list had a batch of wolves and horses with demon bloodlines. They¡¯re all pets sold to high-ranking individuals,¡± a bone pattern realm expert murmured. ¡°Isn¡¯t the sale of such creatures prohibited?¡± A youthful Thunderbolt Gang martial artist looked horrified. ¡°Those high-ranking folks are accustomed to luxurious lives. They fancy such entities,¡± the bone pattern realm expert replied, his lips curled in scorn. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Someone higher up will handle it. We¡¯ll still profit¡­ What¡¯s there to fuss about? We even get an extra share from this deal.¡± Listening intently, they confirmed the sound was indeed of four-legged creatures running. ¡°Probably some mishap by those youngsters,¡± the bone pattern realm warrior surmised, rolling up his sleeves. ¡°Open the gate!¡± The gate creaked open, revealing a group of blood-colored tiger wolf cubs whimpering at them. ¡°Just as I thought,¡± the bone pattern realm expert chuckled. ¡°But why are they blood-colored?¡± The next moment, white spots on the beasts¡¯ foreheads exploded. A group of people, including several bone pattern realm experts, were instantaneously turned into a bloody mist. From a distance, Qin Huai emerged and continued his journey underground, while bone pattern realm experts successively charged out. ¡°Who dares trespass?¡± ¡°How dare you offend the Thunderbolt Gang?¡± Furious shouts reverberated through the walls. An expert at the third-level bone pattern realm, defying gravity by running upside down on the ceiling, charged toward Qin Huai. ¡°Showoff,¡± Qin Huai whispered. Wounds appeared on his body, transforming into blood wolves that pounced on the bone realm expert. In a flash, the blood wolves had sunk their teeth into him. Boom! The blood burst technique detonated, leaving the expert as a pile of dismembered limbs. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thunderbolt Blade Technique Essence (Red)], [Thunderbolt Blade Technique] experience points +100,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four Walls Kick Technique Essence (Orange)], [Four Walls Kick Technique] experience points +23,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four Walls Kick Force Comprehension], [Four Walls Force] +2%!¡± Experience orbs floated towards him. ¡°As expected, killing is the fastest way to gain experience points,¡± Qin Huai mused, looking at the orbs. With the accumulated experience points, he could roughly estimate how much more he needed to upgrade his nine dragons true qi Technique. He continued deeper, eliminating all remaining Thunderbolt Gang martial artists in the fortress. ¡°My luck isn¡¯t the best. The fourth or fifth-level bone pattern realm expert must be in another fortress,¡± he muttered. He then turned and ascended to the first floor. Suddenly, a bellow echoed from outside, ¡°I¡¯m Poison Dragon Qin Huai, and I¡¯m here tonight to claim your lives!¡± The entire dock seemed to quiver. Qin Huai frowned. ¡°Who¡¯s impersonating me?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 345 - 345 The Impostors True Identity 345 The Impostor¡¯s True Identity Qin Huai briskly exited the fortress. Flames ascended towards the heavens while a sharp blade clattered to the ground, giving rise to a cloud of dark fog. The poisonous mist swirled, causing the surrounding flora to wilt instantly. ¡°Could it be another poison king technique?¡± Qin Huai whispered. To his knowledge, that demon was incapable of pilfering the cultivation technique of a disguised individual. ¡°Is he a member of the Blood Poison Gang?¡± he wondered aloud. Three figures flickered in his mind: Wen Zonghao, Yin Rongen, and Huang Qiguang. Wen Zonghao was quickly dismissed due to the considerable difference in their physiques. That left the other two, his so-called brothers who seemed eager for his demise. Had they impersonated him to provoke animosity and reignite the conflict, all to seize an opportunity to eliminate him? Qin Huai continued to ponder over the possibilities. Under the night sky, a fourth-level bone pattern realm expert was locked in combat with a masked individual, who was masquerading as Qin Huai. Meanwhile, the real Qin Huai, hidden a short distance away, eavesdropped on their conversation. ¡°The leader of the Blood Poison Gang is so clumsy,¡± he remarked. ¡°If it were the real Qin Huai attacking, why would he don black clothes and reveal his identity?¡± The Thunderbolt Gang warrior¡¯s sneer echoed in the night air. Their fight raged on, incinerating everything within hundreds of meters. Blazes and poisonous gas consumed the landscape, reducing verdant grasslands to a barren wasteland. The fortress and surrounding structures were decimated in the process. Suddenly, the fourth-level bone pattern realm expert of the Thunderbolt Gang was disarmed. In the nick of time, the expert used his hand as a blade, igniting a line of fire before him. Whoosh! The masked man remained unharmed, but his veil caught the flames. The bright blaze was striking against the darkness of the night. Hidden in the bushes, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes widened as he focused on the face revealed behind the black veil. His pupils constricted. Did the masked man¡¯s face bear an uncanny resemblance to his own? No! Qin Huai squinted, scrutinizing the face. It was undeniably similar to his own, but there were subtle differences. The likeness was about seventy percent. Unless one was intimately familiar with Qin Huai or had interacted with him on a daily basis, it would be nearly impossible to discern the real Qin Huai from the impostor. ¡°So it¡¯s really you!¡± The fourth-level bone pattern realm expert of the Thunderbolt Gang unleashed his fire blades, transforming his palm into a fiery weapon extending more than a meter in length. The flames morphed into blades, whips, and spears, creating an insurmountable firewall. Boom! After dozens of moves, the flames blazed even higher, illuminating the faces of the two combatants. The Thunderbolt Gang expert abruptly retreated, flames igniting beneath his feet. His sword skimmed the ground like a pair of flaming wings, and in an instant, he put a considerable distance between himself and the impostor. ¡°Qin Huai, the Thunderbolt Gang will make you pay double for this!¡± he yelled, sprinting towards the river with incredible speed. The flames under his feet remained unquenched. As he reached the river, the heated bubbles turned to steam, trailing behind him. The man disguised as ¡®Qin Huai¡¯ watched as the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s experts fled, but he made no move to chase them. ¡°Hu¡­¡± The impostor sighed, his gaze falling on the distant pier. A wicked smile curled at the corners of his mouth. He then raised his hand to his cheek and began to peel off his flesh, revealing his true identity. From his hiding spot, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes held a glimmer of understanding. The man was Huang Qiguang¡¯s third brother, Meng Yuliang, a formidable fighter at the fourth-level bone pattern realm. ¡°This human skin mask is indeed useful, but it¡¯s hard to breathe. We¡¯ll have to ask the guys to modify it,¡± Meng Yuliang muttered to himself. Thump, thump, thump¡­ Suddenly, his expression tightened as he glanced down. Several young blood-colored tigers and wolves, no taller than his ankles, with a white light spot between their eyebrows, gathered at his feet. ¡°Is this a new breed?¡± Meng Yuliang mused aloud, a look of delight spreading across his face. Each of these creatures could fetch tens of thousands of taels of silver. With ten of them, he could potentially make hundreds of thousands. Whoosh! However, to his surprise, all ten of the creatures suddenly rushed towards him. Meng Yuliang¡¯s kind eyes turned fearful as he noticed the creatures¡¯ lifeless eyes, radiating with a potent aura of blood and qi. These weren¡¯t breeds. They weren¡¯t even living creatures! Meng Yuliang¡¯s heart pounded in his chest as he quickly launched himself away. However, the blood wolves and blood tigers were faster. They transformed into bloody blurs, pouncing on Meng Yuliang. Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions resounded, and dust filled the air. Meng Yuliang emerged from the bloody mist, bloodied and battered. But before he could even catch his breath, another ten blood-red figures rushed towards him. They were too quick! Caught off guard, Meng Yuliang had no time to dodge before the blood-colored figures descended upon him. Terrifying explosions echoed in the air. Boom! ¡°Ah!¡± Meng Yuliang roared in anger, a silver light suddenly enveloping his body, shielding him from the bloody explosion. ¡°Who¡­¡± he began, only to feel his skin prickling. A pair of hands tore through the silver light surrounding him, ten fingers pressing into his throat like sharp swords. Meng Yuliang swallowed hard. He turned his head, recognizing his assailant. ¡°F-Fifth Master, why are you here?¡± he stuttered, his eyes filled with terror. He hadn¡¯t expected that the first time he impersonated Qin Huai, he would be caught red-handed by the man himself. What rotten luck! But what puzzled him more was why the fifth master, known for his ruthlessness, had not killed him on the spot. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 346 ?346 An Imminent War Meng Yuliang felt a surge of relief. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding,¡± he quickly said, ¡°We¡¯re all family. This must be some sort of misunderstanding.¡± His body was drenched in blood from the consecutive blasts he had endured, his life force rapidly ebbing away. Even an expert of the fourth-level bone pattern realm, with his vigorous blood and qi, couldn¡¯t withstand such massive blood loss. ¡°A misunderstanding?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was frosty. ¡°Perhaps you could enlighten me. How did you acquire this human skin mask, and why did my dear third brother instruct you to impersonate me?¡± ¡°Will I live if I tell you?¡± Meng Yuliang asked, hope flickering in his eyes. ¡°Of course, you can live if you work for me,¡± Qin Huai responded without missing a beat. ¡°Heh. That¡¯s great. I¡¯ve long wanted to switch sides, but I haven¡¯t found the opportunity,¡± Meng Yuliang confessed, excitement flaring in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence that I finally caught it today. Third Master asked me to pretend to be you because he wanted to escalate the conflict between you and the Thunderbolt Gang, instigate a war between the two gangs, and find an opportunity to kill you.¡± Meng Yuliang spilled his secrets without reservation. ¡°Continue,¡± Qin Huai prompted, his voice steady. Huang Qiguang clearly felt threatened by Qin Huai, hence he resorted to such a method. Since Qin Huai spent most of his time cultivating in his courtyard and seldom ventured outside, finding the right opportunity was a challenge. Meng Yuliang stammered, ¡°And then¡­ It¡¯s just You¡¯re the one who should go to hell!¡± With a sudden burst of energy, he sprang up and swung his fist at Qin Huai. Crack! A crisp snap echoed through the air. To Meng Yuliang¡¯s misfortune, Qin Huai¡¯s grip on his neck tightened. Meng Yuliang¡¯s head lolled to one side, his eyes gradually losing their spark. His final words fell flat as his life was extinguished. ¡°How could you possibly let me off You¡¯re quite good at judging people,¡± Qin Huai said, rifling through Meng Yuliang¡¯s pockets. He found a hundred thousand taels of silver and a mask resembling Zhou Cunzhong. Nonchalantly, he tossed Meng Yuliang¡¯s lifeless body onto the ground, a shower of poison powder falling from his sleeves. A sizzling sound filled the air as Meng Yuliang¡¯s corpse began to dissolve. ¡°Even Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s mask is ready?¡± Qin Huai examined the mask. Without paint, Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s features were indistinguishable. Only Qin Huai, who had seen the three small characters carved on the inside, knew. The mask was eerily similar to Zhou Cunzhong, right down to the scar over the left eye. The lines on the mask were so precise that, without careful scrutiny, one couldn¡¯t distinguish it from the real face. ¡°The person who crafted this mask is truly skilled.¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but marvel. The craftsmen of this world had indeed reached the pinnacle of their art. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] +10%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Silver Power Metal Light Technique Essence (Red)], [Silver Power Metal Light Technique] experience points +100,000!¡± After gathering all the experience orbs on the ground, Qin Huai retraced his steps, leaving behind the desolate scene. Though Qin Huai hadn¡¯t slaughtered everyone at the dock, thanks to Huang Qiguang¡¯s meddling, a war was imminent between the Blood Poison Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang. Naturally, Qin Huai¡¯s experience points were bound to increase. As for Huang Qiguang¡¯s interest in his identity, Qin Huai would seize the appropriate opportunity to satisfy his curiosity. At the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s main hall, tempers were flaring. Bang! ¡°That Blood Poison Gang¡¯s Poison Dragon has crossed the line!¡± a man with a fiery temper fumed. The dock was under his charge, and the departing cargo that night included precious goods like gold. The chaos had driven away more than half of the creatures with demon bloodlines. ¡°Are you sure it was the Poison Dragon himself?¡± someone questioned. ¡°Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. I even managed to slice off his veil. It was indeed the Poison Dragon¡¯s face,¡± the fourth-level bone pattern realm expert confirmed, his voice trembling. ¡°I suspect he knew about our shipment tonight and deliberately caused trouble,¡± a tall, thin man remarked with a cold snort. He was Jing Ye, the leader of the Thunderbolt Gang. ¡°Since the Poison Dragon is overstepping his boundaries, our Thunderbolt Gang should teach him a lesson on behalf of that old man Wen Zonghao. He needs to understand the rules and the reality of Qingzhou.¡± Meanwhile, on the flower boat, Wen Zonghao held his teacup, studying Qin Huai and his companions. ¡°You¡¯ve been reckless. Destroying the dock is one thing, but why leave such a mess?¡± Wen Zonghao didn¡¯t chastise Qin Huai for attacking the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s dock. Instead, he criticized him for not finishing the job more thoroughly. ¡°Foster Father is right!¡± Qin Huai agreed sincerely. ¡°Since the Thunderbolt Gang has declared war, we, the Blood Poison Gang, cannot show any signs of weakness. This battle will not be like the previous ones. We may lose some of our core members, but we must display our strength and distinct style. Let the people in the outer city see what we¡¯re made of.¡± Wen Zonghao didn¡¯t express any resistance to the impending clash between the two sects. The Blood Poison Gang had never believed in accumulating wealth in a stable manner, ever since they began their journey with poison techniques. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you!¡± The three of them raised their fists in unison, pledging their commitment. On the other hand, Huang Qi was eyeing Qin Huai with an intriguing expression. Qin Huai had openly admitted to assaulting the port. Coupled with the fact that his right-hand man, Meng Yuliang, hadn¡¯t returned, it was clear that he had unintentionally lost a valuable ally. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 347 ?347 Fifth Level Bone Pattern Realm! Despite his indignation, Huang Qi couldn¡¯t voice his discontent, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger. ¡°Huai¡¯er, stay,¡± Wen Zonghao instructed Qin Huai. The two of them sat on the deck of the flower boat, taking in the magnificent view of the Qingzhou River. ¡°Huai¡¯er, the Blood Poison Gang will eventually be yours. There are some matters that cannot be rushed,¡± Wen Zonghao cautioned, his tone grave. ¡°I am growing old and my time is limited. Though you are young, you must learn to be cunning and patient. Recklessness will get you nowhere.¡± Qin Huai promptly bowed, cupping his fists together. ¡°Foster Father, you are strong and remain a first-rate visceral prefecture realm expert in the outer city. There are countless realms and mysteries still waiting for you to uncover.¡± Wen Zonghao chuckled softly, clearly amused. ¡°Such flattery is better suited to the girls on the boat.¡± Unfazed, Qin Huai expressed his determination, ¡°I will devote myself to cultivation and assist you, Foster Father, in conquering Qingzhou in the future!¡± ¡°Alright, you may leave.¡± Wen Zonghao dismissed him with a wave of his hand, watching Qin Huai depart. A peculiar glint of greed appeared in his eyes, and he licked his lips. ¡°The scent of a genius is truly tempting, enough to make one want to consume it in a single gulp.¡± Upon stepping off the boat, Qin Huai turned back, sensing Wen Zonghao¡¯s gaze. He suspected that the latter had discovered his theft from the pharmacy. However, the leader¡¯s indifferent attitude was unexpected. Did he genuinely intend to relinquish his position to him? That seemed unlikely, considering Mou Jinfu¡¯s fate. ¡°What is he planning?¡± Qin Huai wondered. Or could it be that Huang Qiguang¡¯s claims were true? Was this gang leader actually a Sacred Heart disciple? Strength. Qin Huai realized he still needed more of it. His current power was insufficient, and if Wen Zonghao decided to attack, he would stand no chance. Even escape would be a luxury. The anticipated war soon commenced. The Blood Poison Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang clashed in the suburbs, where dense forests met sprawling buildings. The control of the small rivers was fiercely contested, with territory frequently changing hands. Today¡¯s Blood Poison Gang territory might be claimed by the Thunderbolt Gang tomorrow. Four months quietly passed, the harsh autumn and winter giving way to early spring. The conflict between the two sects didn¡¯t cease but gradually diminished in intensity. The area had nearly become a training ground, with seasoned veterans bolstering their experience. The Blood Poison Gang and Thunderbolt Gang had established a tacit agreement, alternately seizing control of the profitable river channels from the smaller gangs. Those who resisted were promptly eradicated. Those who obeyed¡­ their demise was only delayed. Both large gangs profited immensely from this arrangement, and every time a small gang was wiped out, Qin Huai was at the forefront, reaping substantial rewards. As for Huang Qiguang He was akin to a venomous snake, constantly observing Qin Huai, quietly awaiting the right moment to strike. However, Qin Huai remained patient, awaiting the opportunity to ascend to the fifth-level bone pattern realm. In his courtyard, Qin Huai consumed the last red qi tiger wolf pill. Boom! As the pill took effect, his face flushed, and his body resonated with a rumbling that resembled a tiger¡¯s roar and a dragon¡¯s cry. His eyes glowed a vivid blood-red, and the formidable aura surrounding him could intimidate any novice bone pattern realm expert. ¡°I¡¯ve reached the fifth-level bone pattern realm!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice carried an undercurrent of excitement. As he had predicted, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, combined with the red qi tiger wolf pills, advanced more rapidly than the nine dragons true qi technique. All the profits from the past four months, amounting to 2.4 million taels of silver, were invested in the said pills. For the final stage, each one percent increase in progress required more than two of these pills, amounting to a staggering 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver. Fortunately, Qin Huai possessed the financial means to bear such an enormous expense. Hence, his four-directional tiger-wolf technique, which was literally forged with money, reached the fifth-level bone pattern realmfirst. Nevertheless, the nine dragons true qi technique also saw considerable progress. Over four months, the technique advanced to 86% completion. With the aid of a few fourth or fifth-level bone pattern realm experts, Qin Huai could break into the fifth level. Clenching his fists, Qin Huai hurled a punch into the air. Boom! The atmosphere seemed to tremble in response. As he continued to enhance his physical abilities through the boiling blood and dragon king form, his head of white hair and body exuded an aura akin to a volcanic eruption, emanating a formidable power. His physical form radiated a unique light, akin to a finely crafted treasure, dazzling and captivating. ¡°With my current strength, I could kill Mou Jinfu with just my physical prowess,¡± Qin Huai murmured. Buzz~ Suddenly, a familiar sound echoed in his ears. This time, the noise was unmistakably the roar of a beasta tiger¡¯s roar, a phoenix¡¯s cry, and a dragon¡¯s bellow. It seemed as if a multitude of creatures were wailing in Qin Huai¡¯s ears, causing a chill to run down his spine. ¡°What exactly is that strange phenomenon?¡± Qin Huai pondered, noticing the strange, green aura appearing before him, much clearer than during his battle with Mou Jinfu. He surmised that Mou Jinfu must have stirred this anomaly. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze narrowed as he noticed subtle changes in his surroundings. The courtyard seemed to be fading away, replaced by the faint outline of a new world shrouded in mist. A colossal figure flashed past in the shadows, circling in the air before diving toward Qin Huai. Hastily, Qin Huai dissolved his dragon king form, and the massive figure vanished as suddenly as it appeared. The surreal environment collapsed, and Qin Huai found himself back in his room. ¡°This should be the limit of my current power,¡± Qin Huai murmured, sensing the peculiar boundary of power. ¡°If I exert more than two full patterns and the king¡¯s force I fear I might be ensnared by this strange green gas.¡± At that moment, Qin Huai could distinctly feel the constraints. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 348 - 348 Discovering Some Dirt 348 Discovering Some Dirt Spring arrived and flowers bloomed, painting the world with vibrant hues. Qin Huai stood on the pier, taking in the beautiful scenery. Thousands of boats sailed across the water, heavy with goods. ¡°Fifth Master, this is the qiqiao fruit from Nanhe Prefecture. It¡¯s said to enhance comprehension abilities,¡± one of Qin Huai¡¯s trusted aides approached, presenting a palm-sized purple fruit. ¡°This fruit is worth one tael of gold. I reserved it especially for you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Qin Huai patted the man¡¯s shoulder. He bit into the fruit, savoring its sweet, sour, and crisp flavor, reminiscent of an apple. In truth, it was a purple apple. A fruit that could genuinely enhance comprehension for one tael of gold? That was nothing more than a sales gimmick by greedy merchants, designed to swindle wealthy fools. ¡°Fifth Master, Leader has summoned you to the flower boat,¡± Zhou Cunzhong informed him from a distance. ¡°Understood.¡± Finishing the apple with a few more bites, Qin Huai made his way toward the flower boat. Zhou Cunzhong followed alongside, striking up a conversation. ¡°Fifth Master, do you recall the demon captured last month? The deputy manager of the Lin Gang?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Qin Huai responded nonchalantly. The incident had caused a stir across the outer city, with a demon infiltrating one of the four major gangs and seizing control. He had single handedly wreaked havoc within the Lin Gang, resulting in the demise of half of the six family heads. ¡°Leader¡¯s summons might be in relation to that event,¡± Zhou Cunzhong speculated. ¡°Also, inquire around. Find out if anyone has emerged from the strange gas in the outer city,¡± Qin Huai instructed. ¡°Fifth Master, it may not be easy,¡± Zhou Cunzhong expressed his concerns. Everyone in Qingzhou City feared the strange gas and avoided any association with it, for fear of being consumed. The topic of people disappearing into the city was taboo, rarely discussed. Even the vanishing of the fourth master, Shao Mo, would have remained a secret if not for Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s high position. Most disciples still believed Shao Mo was in seclusion. ¡°If it were easy, I wouldn¡¯t need you,¡± Qin Huai retorted with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I understand, Fifth Master!¡± Zhou Cunzhong acknowledged, trembling slightly. ¡°And Fifth Master, regarding your request to identify city experts at least at the fifth-level bone pattern realm,¡± Zhou Cunzhong continued, ¡°I¡¯ve found two, but their realms surpass two full patterns, and they both possess the king¡¯s force.¡± Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s voice lowered, ¡°Wang Gang and Xiong Yujie.¡± ¡°Are these two the great sect geniuses of Qingzhou City?¡± Qin Huai frowned. ¡°Yes. They emerged from the inner city, intending to eliminate the great demon¡­¡± Zhou Cunzhong quickly confirmed, ¡°They were involved in the Lin Gang rebellion. However, since the incident, there have been no further sightings of them.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Qin Huai rubbed his temples, piecing together the information he¡¯d just received. The coincidences surrounding the mysterious disappearances were starting to align: two full patterns, king¡¯s force¡­ ¡°We need to tread cautiously,¡± he murmured. Once they reached a secluded spot, Zhou Cunzhong lowered his voice. ¡°Fifth Master, Yin Rongen¡¯s habits have been thoroughly investigated. Every three days, he visits a subordinate named Ghost Hand Song A¡¯san.¡± Song A¡¯san was a rare bone pattern realm expert within the Blood Poison Gang, a close ally of Yin Rongen. Their partnership was so well-known within the gang that ¡®Yin and Song share a common fate¡¯ was a popular saying. ¡°Did you know¡­¡± Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. ¡°Song A¡¯san¡¯s wife is exceedingly beautiful.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face lit up with understanding. ¡°So, Yin Rongen and Song A¡¯san¡¯s wife¡­¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Zhou Cunzhong confirmed with a chuckle. ¡°I stumbled upon this information while trying to understand Yin Rongen¡¯s patterns through Song A¡¯san. I noticed Song A¡¯san would leave the city every three days. I sent men to investigate, but they found nothing significant about his travels. ¡°It was only when I retraced my steps that I uncovered Yin Rongen¡¯s secret,¡± Zhou Cunzhong said, sighing. ¡°Yin Rongen is craftier than I thought. He¡¯s been friends with Song A¡¯san for decades, yet he stole his friend¡¯s wife.¡± Qin Huai maintained a poker face. None of the Blood Poison Gang leaders were virtuous men. ¡°Who else is aware of this?¡± Qin Huai queried. ¡°Fifth Master, rest assured. This granddaddy is trustworthy,¡± Zhou Cunzhong assured him, patting his chest. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze wandered into the distance, where several Blood Poison Gang members were carrying squirming sacks, their faces alight with anticipation. Nearby, several half-dressed sect members sat on wooden crates, gambling. Their hands were marred by gruesome scars, and they didn¡¯t even have ten fingers. A few bloody knives were embedded in the crate. Others lay by the warehouse, smoking tobacco, appearing as though they had ascended into an immortal realm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Fifth Master. This secret is known only to us,¡± Zhou Cunzhong reassured, looking somewhat uneasy. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Qin Huai patted Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s shoulder, then made his way onto the boat. The vessel was alive with chatter and the ceaseless clatter of dice. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 349 - 349 Ghost Piercing Mirror 349 Ghost Piercing Mirror Qin Huai strode purposefully through the room, weaving between mahjong and dice tables. ¡°Greetings, Fifth Master!¡± ¡°Greetings, Fifth Master!¡± Upon seeing Qin Huai, the disciples bowed respectfully. After four months of growth, Qin Huai had become a figure of authority in the Blood Poison Gang, second only to the top leader. Power, reputation, and wealth placed him well above Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang. Indeed, wealth was a significant factor. His control of the pier and pharmacy ensured a steady influx of wealth, evoking envy among countless Blood Poison Gang members. Even those under Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang could not help but admire Qin Huai. ¡°Come on, everyone, let¡¯s toast our Fifth Master!¡± someone shouted as Qin Huai reached the table where Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang sat. The people on the first floor of the flower boat rose to their feet, raising their wine bowls towards Qin Huai. The initiator of the toast guffawed, ¡°We¡¯re grateful for all your hard work, Fifth Master!¡± ¡°Fifth Master, you¡¯ve been working hard!¡± The crowd echoed in unison, their faces wreathed in smiles. The sole exceptions were Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang. ¡°Sit down.¡± Huang Qiguang¡¯s icy command rang out abruptly, halting the merriment. The lively hall fell silent as everyone exchanged glances before obediently sitting down. Qin Huai maintained a neutral expression as he calmly took his seat. ¡°Third Brother, your rouge suits you well. It¡¯s even more vibrant than usual, rivaling the lead courtesan¡¯s,¡± he commented with a grin. Laughter reverberated around the room, with Yin Rongen guffawing the loudest. Huang Qiguang¡¯s gaze turned frosty, but Yin Rongen remained oblivious as he lifted his wine bowl in salute. ¡°Here¡¯s to the respect due to elders!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Qin Huai rose, clinking his bowl against Yin Rongen¡¯s. At that moment, a silver needle sped across the table, aimed directly at Yin Rongen. Unfazed, Yin Rongen circulated a dark red poisonous mist, forming a protective barrier resembling an eagle¡¯s beak. The silver needle quivered in mid-air before falling harmlessly to the ground. Yin Rongen¡¯s hand remained steady as he drained his bowl. ¡°Huang Qiguang, aren¡¯t you overstepping?¡± Yin Rongen sneered. ¡°Do you plan on meddling even in my toasts?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a rule of our Blood Poison Gang that power determines control?¡± Huang Qiguang retorted with a malevolent grin. ¡°Indeed¡­ That¡¯s why I¡¯m the second, and you can only be the third,¡± Yin Rongen retorted swiftly. ¡°Age is not always a measure of strength,¡± Huang Qiguang dismissed with a shake of his head, seeming almost theatrical. Bang! Yin Rongen smashed his wine bowl onto the table, rising to his feet and pointing angrily at Huang Qiguang. ¡°I¡¯ve warned you before. You dared to kill my casino staff last month! Do you really think I¡¯m made of mud?¡± Huang Qiguang only smirked in response. ¡°And did you forget that you slaughtered several courtesans on my boat first, Second Brother? Do you realize how much money I¡¯ve lost because of you?¡± Behind them, their respective supporters began to gather, creating an increasingly tense atmosphere. Yin Rongen leaped onto the table, his fists shooting out walnuts like arrows. Huang Qiguang merely sneered, raising his hand and executing the earth dragon finger technique. Bang! Two walnuts exploded in mid-air, marking the start of a fierce face-off between the two men, their hands radiating lethal intent. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Arrow Dragon Technique Essence (Orange)], [Arrow Dragon Technique] experience points +20,000!¡± Qin Huai stood to the side, pocketing all the experience points dropped by the two combatants. ¡°Enough!¡± A stern voice echoed through the room, followed by the sound of footfalls. ¡°Leader!¡± ¡°Leader!¡± The crowd parted instantly, forming a path out of respect. The two men forcefully held back their power, taking several heavy steps backward to distance themselves from each other. ¡°You two only know how to fight amongst yourselves. How do you think outsiders perceive us?¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice resonated through the room as the rotund, white-haired old man stepped into view. Behind him was a tall, stern-faced middle-aged man. ¡°Meet Elder Feng Zhiqun of the Niu Gui Sect!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone present grew more alert. ¡°Greetings, Elder Feng!¡± Qin Huai appraised the new arrival. Dressed in a long gray robe, his muscular physique, marked with black veins, was evident. His powerful aura made Qin Huai¡¯s heart race, and he noticed the middle-aged man¡¯s essence was more potent than Wen Zonghao¡¯s. Beyond the crowd, Qin Huai spotted several disciples dressed similarly to Feng Zhiqun, their expressions as icy as their leader¡¯s. One held a bronze mirror with a gray frame. Understanding dawned on Qin Huai. He now grasped why Wen Zonghao had summoned them. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all aware of the impending demon disaster. I¡¯ve brought my sect¡¯s Ghost Piercing Mirror to scan everyone present for traces of demonic possession. This is for your safety.¡± Feng Zhiqun¡¯s voice echoed through the room, cold and devoid of mockery. He was merely stating facts. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 350 - 350 The Extermination of a Gang 350 The Extermination of a Gang As he spoke, a disciple behind him had already begun scanning everyone with the gray bronze mirror in his hand. The process was slow, each individual needing three to five breaths¡¯ time before moving on to the next. As the mirror passed over each person, it only displayed a blurry human figure, their faces indiscernible. Given that everyone present represented the backbone of the Blood Poison Gang, a demon intending to infiltrate would certainly choose one among them. A full hour passed before the procedure was complete. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation.¡± Feng Zhiqun nodded to everyone, leading his group away promptly. Meanwhile, Wen Zonghao cast a cold gaze at the crowd. ¡°If you want to fight, why not attack the Lin Gang?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°Father means¡­¡± Huang Qiguang pondered over the implications. ¡°The Lin Gang has recently been infiltrated and decimated by the demon, so this is a perfect opportunity for us!¡± Wen Zonghao announced, revealing his strategy. ¡°We will attack the Lin Gang from both the south and the north. We leave tonight.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Qin Huai hadn¡¯t anticipated that the recently bickering Blood Poison Gang and Thunderbolt Gang would unite against the Lin Gang, one of the major factions. The four gangs in the outer city prioritized benefit over everything else. In the face of gain, all grudges could be dissolved. Rumble¡­ The Blood Poison Gang, initially immersed in drunken revelry, swiftly mobilized after Wen Zonghao¡¯s directive. Many sect members were summoned by their leaders to assign tasks. Qin Huai, however, delegated these tasks to his subordinates, realizing this attack on the Lin Gang would enable him to reach the second full mark in his cultivation. The war between the four outer city gangs had begun abruptly. When Qin Huai and his large group arrived at the Lin Gang¡¯s territory as per Wen Zonghao¡¯s orders, they found the area already strewn with corpses. ¡°Damn it,¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but curse. The fallen members of the Lin Gang lay dead, without a single experience orb in sight. ¡°Fifth Master, it¡¯s the Mountain City Gang!¡± Zhou Cunzhong identified from the emblem on a corpse¡¯s clothing. ¡°Tell the brothers to attack with all their might! If we delay, we won¡¯t even get a bite,¡± Qin Huai urged. With a wave of his arm, hundreds of Blood Poison Gang elites charged into the hinterland. The outer city gangs were like bloodthirsty cats, ready to pounce at the slightest movement. The Lin Gang, already heavily weakened by the great demon¡¯s calamity, was incapable of resisting the three-on-one assault. As Qin Huai and his party advanced into the heart of the Lin Gang¡¯s expansive territory, they met with no resistance. The land was bisected by a river, its originally clear waters now stained a deep red, littered with bodies and debris. Numerous large ships fled from the direction Qin Huai¡¯s group had arrived. Boom! Suddenly, flames erupted in the distance. The battle had intensified. Buildings, docks, and warehouses were demolished in the explosive onslaught. Even from a mile away, the raw power was palpable. Rumble¡­ With swift steps, Qin Huai moved forward, his hands launching poison darts with relentless speed. From alleyways to street corners, muffled thuds could be heard repeatedly as one figure after another fell from the shadows. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Green Fist Technique Essence (Purple)], [Green Fist Technique] experience points +3,111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Green Fist Technique Essence (Orange)], [Green Fist Technique] experience points +11,111!¡± As the experience orbs entered Qin Huai¡¯s body, he motioned for his Blood Poison Gang disciples to scatter and continue their rampage. The battle, surprisingly, posed no significant challenge to the Blood Poison Gang. With Qin Huai leading his subordinates in their swift charge, they encountered few corpses. More often than not, they were on the move. The highest-level casualty they found was a martial artist of the Lin Gang, wounded from the four leaders¡¯ battle, who was only at the second-level bone pattern realm. In just four hours, Qin Huai concluded this battle, which had felt strangely devoid of his involvement. Corpses lay scattered across the Lin Gang¡¯s territory. A stream of blood formed under his feet, trickling toward the lower regions. The pungent stench of blood hung heavy in the air. Expertly navigating among the corpses, Qin Huai collected the sparse experience orbs and the money left on the bodies. As for the more lucrative spoils such as money warehouses and treasure vaults, it appeared the three gangs had already divided them amongst themselves. A trusted aide of Wen Zonghao gave the order to split the spoils evenly, a decree which seemed to be carried out systematically. ¡°Fifth Master!¡± A hearty laugh echoed from the front. Qin Huai looked up to see an honest smile on a familiar face ¨C it was Song A¡¯san, Yin Rongen¡¯s sworn brother who he had only learned about today. ¡°A¡¯san, what are you doing?¡± Qin Huai asked, amused to see Song A¡¯san crouched on the ground, ignoring gold, silver, or pills in favor of female accessories like hairpins and jade pendants. ¡°My wife loves gold and silver jewelry, but I don¡¯t know what to get her¡­ I thought women would like what these women warriors had,¡± Song Asan replied, scratching his head. Qin Huai laughed. ¡°Why not go to a cosmetics shop or ask women on the streets what kind of jewelry they prefer?¡± He found it absurd that Song A¡¯san would consider salvaging jewelry from the dead for his wife. But as Qin Huai voiced this thought, Song Asan shook his head vehemently. ¡°No, no, I can¡¯t speak to any woman other than my wife. That would be betrayal!¡± Song Asan declared earnestly. Qin Huai was left dumbstruck, unable to respond to such absurdity. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy,¡± he eventually said, his expression unreadable. He held neither affection nor dislike for Yin Rongen¡¯s sworn brother, but he did feel a pang of sympathy for Song A¡¯san, who was oblivious to the fact that his beloved wife had long been stolen by his best friend, who had gone through life and death with him. ¡°Uh¡­ Fifth Master,¡± Song Asan suddenly called out to Qin Huai. ¡°You¡¯re a man of exceptional ability, so you will certainly be a big shot and ascend to a position of leadership in the Blood Poison Gang in the future. My big brother is ambitious and competitive, and other than being a little lecherous, he¡¯s a good person and values loyalty¡­ ¡°Should a conflict arise between our two families in the future, I will undoubtedly do my utmost to prevent Eldest Brother from attacking you. I¡¯d like to pledge allegiance to you on his behalf now, with the hope that you might show him mercy when the time comes.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 351 ?351 Caught in the Act! Qin Huai regarded Song A¡¯san¡¯s earnest expression and the hairpin and jewelry he held. He allowed a moment of silence to pass. ¡°Third Brother.¡± ¡°Fifth Master!¡± His tone held respect, yet his gaze bristled with caution. Then, pulling Song A¡¯san¡¯s arm, they both sidestepped a few paces. ¡°What instructions does Big Brother have?¡± Song A¡¯san asked solemnly. ¡°Big Brother requested that you lead a team to neutralize the remnants of the Lin Gang,¡± the man stated gravely. ¡°Understood. Just tell Big Brother to leave it to me!¡± Song A¡¯san reassured, thumping his chest with an air of reliability. The man nodded, then glanced at Qin Huai. ¡°Third Brother, you must be wary of Fifth Master¡­¡± He broke off, giving Qin Huai a tight smile. ¡°Fifth Master, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Upon finishing his sentence, he distanced himself quickly. ¡°Fifth Master, if we ever have the opportunity, we should share a drink,¡± Song A¡¯san suggested, gathering up two more hairpins. ¡°I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, did Second Brother task you with another duty?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Yes, although Big Brother has many subordinates, few are trustworthy,¡± Song A¡¯san acknowledged, his tone infused with pride. ¡°Big Brother and I share a bond forged in life-and-death situations. We¡¯re closer than actual brothers¡­ Rest assured, I¡¯ll manage everything for Big Brother.¡± Qin Huai looked at Song A¡¯san with a measure of sympathy. He sighed internally. How could Yin Rongen treat such a loyal brother in this manner? ¡°Today, you¡¯ve bared your soul to me,¡± Qin Huai began. ¡°Leave the duty of hunting down the lingering miscreants of the Lin Gang to me¡­ It just so happens I want to test a new poison.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Song A¡¯san began. ¡°Do you mean to imply that I, as the second leader of the Blood Poison Gang, am less competent than you?¡± Qin Huai questioned, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ve had quite a successful day today. It¡¯s best to reunite with your wife sooner.¡± Song A¡¯san hesitated before responding, ¡°Err¡­ Thank you, Fifth Master! You¡¯re truly different from the previous leaders of the Blood Poison Gang.¡± ¡°Then you must be mistaken,¡± retorted Qin Huai, his voice nonchalant. ¡°I¡¯ve always been a good judge of character!¡± Song A¡¯san slapped his chest before heading home, laden with his collected accessories. Qin Huai lingered a moment before heading toward the Blood Poison Gang. Not long after he¡¯d left, Zhou Cunzhong hurried over. ¡°Fifth Master, I¡¯ve just received some news. Yin Rongen returned early and commanded his men to find Song A¡¯san,¡± he blurted excitedly. ¡°There¡¯s a high chance that Yin Rongen¡¯s plan is to send his brother to search for that beautiful woman again.¡± ¡°And where does Song A¡¯san¡¯s wife reside?¡± ¡°Well, because that woman is beautiful¡­ and our Blood Poison Gang disciples tend to be¡­ um¡­ rather bold in their actions,¡± Zhou Cunzhong explained. ¡°That¡¯s why Song A¡¯san bought a small house on Willow Street in the outer city. I believe it¡¯s number 16.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Qin Huai acknowledged, nodding. ¡°Continue to suppress the remaining members of the Lin Gang. Don¡¯t concern yourself with Yin Rongen for now.¡± ¡°Yes, Fifth Master!¡± Zhou Cunzhong affirmed, quickly taking his leave. Qin Huai then resumed his journey toward Willow Street. Willow Street, house number sixteen. Set within the quiet, tastefully designed courtyard, charming scenery of faux rockeries and water features greeted the eye. A swallow alighted on a branch, chirping cheerfully to its companions. The cobblestone path underfoot was equally exquisite, and an intricate pattern of heart shapes formed from stones of various sizes led from the courtyard entrance to the house. It was clear that whoever laid this path had done so with good intentions. However, at the end of the heart-shaped path, beneath the eaves adorned with an array of vibrant flowers, were not the courtyard¡¯s original owners. Yin Rongen lay sprawled on the bed, gasping for breath, his muscular form on full display. Beside him was a woman, her figure elegant and lithe. She rested in his arms, panting softly. Their complexions were flush with exertion. It was clear they¡¯d just partaken in a fervent tryst. ¡°You little minx, you¡¯re still quite a handful,¡± Yin Rongen murmured, a lascivious smile curving his lips as he licked their corners, savoring the lingering taste. The woman, however, pounded Yin Rongen¡¯s chest with mild annoyance. ¡°When exactly are you going to rid me of that blockhead Song A¡¯san? Every day, the mere thought of having to face him at night makes me nauseous. It¡¯s enough to ruin my appetite.¡± Yin Rongen¡¯s hand traced soothing circles on the woman¡¯s back. ¡°Patience, wait a little longer. Right now, Huang Qiguang, Qin Huai, and I are locked in a power struggle. This is a time when every pair of hands counts. ¡°Song A¡¯san, being at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, is the strongest man within the Blood Poison Gang after us, so we can¡¯t dispose of him yet,¡± Yin Rongen reasoned, his tone gentle. ¡°Alright then¡­¡± The woman¡¯s finger aimlessly traced circles on Yin Rongen¡¯s chest. ¡°But let¡¯s agree on one thing. After this is all over, you must kill him and marry me!¡± ¡°Of course! Don¡¯t you know why I¡¯ve remained unmarried all these years?¡± As their banter continued, their camaraderie intensified. He reached for the blanket, ready for another round, when a jovial voice echoed from beyond the courtyard. ¡°Wifey! I¡¯m back!¡± Song A¡¯san¡¯s strides were brisk. In five or six steps he reached the door. As a proficient poison user, his senses were sharp. The moment he arrived at the threshold, a rotten smell greeted him. Bang! He pushed the door open. In an instant, his eyes were filled with rage. The pristine jewelry in his hands fell and clattered to the ground. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 352 ?352 Song A¡¯san¡¯s Breakdown On the bed, a man and woman, both naked, looked at him with alarm in their eyes. One was his adored wife, his partner of twenty years, and the other was a close comrade, a brother-in-arms who he shared the trials of life and death with, even more than his actual kin. ¡°Big Brother! Wifey! What is happening here?¡± Song A¡¯san¡¯s roar was akin to a raging lion¡¯s. ¡°A¡¯san, let me explain¡­¡± His wife¡¯s face was a mask of panic. Yin Rongen was equally dumbstruck. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve wronged you! I was hit with an aphrodisiac during the battle with the Lin Gang,¡± he stammered. ¡°I wanted to reach our base to detoxify the poison, but it took effect midway¡­¡± Yin Rongen¡¯s words were jumbled. He hadn¡¯t expected that the ruse that Song A¡¯san, the unsuspecting fool, always fell for would fail today. ¡°Yin! Rong! En!¡± Song A¡¯san¡¯s voice was edging towards hysteria. ¡°Do you really expect me to believe that?¡± He was on the brink of detonation. ¡°You dare to violate my wife¡­¡± ¡°Yin Rongen, what are you waiting for? Kill him quickly!¡± The alluring voice of his wife suddenly interrupted him. Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it echoed like a thunderbolt in Song A¡¯san¡¯s heart, leaving it devastated. His eyes trembled as he looked at his wife. ¡°Wifey, did you just¡­ What did you just say?¡± ¡°Husband, if you truly love me, please die for me,¡± his wife¡¯s eyes pleaded, using the most pitiful expression to utter the most heart-wrenching words. Puff! A spurt of blood escaped Song A¡¯san¡¯s mouth. ¡°Why¡­ What did I do wrong? Why are you with him?¡± he croaked, his voice growing hoarse from the agony. However, an explosive killing intent suddenly surged beside him. Whoosh! A gust of wind whistled through the room, its terrifying power shattering several porcelain pieces scattered about. Yin Rongen, his powerful physique radiating menace, descended upon Song A¡¯san. Taken by surprise¡­ or rather, wholly unprepared, Song A¡¯san didn¡¯t stand a chance. Bang! Yin Rongen¡¯s fist punched through the abdomen of the mighty fifth-level bone pattern realm expert, causing fresh blood to gush uncontrollably. Thud! Song A¡¯san collapsed onto the floor. His hands weren¡¯t clutching his pierced abdomen, but his heart. The heartache he felt was so intense that it dwarfed the physical pain in his gut. With wavering strength, he lifted his head to look at the woman on the bed. ¡°When¡­ When did you two start?¡± he managed to ask. ¡°About ten years ago,¡± she replied, without a shred of remorse. Yin Rongen, standing off to the side, looked at the grievously wounded Song A¡¯san and breathed a sigh of relief. This simpleton was probably going to die. A fitting end for one who asked for it. She sneered, ¡°From the day we got married, I was captivated by him at first sight. It was probably the day after our wedding night¡­ I¡¯d told you to go to the city outskirts and raid the pier guarded by the Thunderbolt Gang. The very next day¡­¡± At her revelation, Song A¡¯san¡¯s body began to convulse uncontrollably. The day after their wedding. A full decade of betrayal. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± A terrifying aura erupted from Song A¡¯san¡¯s wounded body. Despite the gaping hole in his abdomen and the severity of his injuries, Song A¡¯san unleashed his rage. Poisonous fog coalesced into a sharp spike in his palm, its icy glint harboring a potent venom. Yin Rongen¡¯s pupils shrunk. The speed of the attack was incredibly swift, faster than his reflexes could comprehend. He could only instinctively dodge, heaving his large frame to the side. Splat! Blood sprayed all over as the sharp, venomous spike impaled Yin Rongen¡¯s shoulder. The violent toxin quickly invaded the wound, spreading its corrosion to the other parts of his body. Fear filled Yin Rongen¡¯s eyes as he recoiled, crashing into a wall to create some distance between him and Song A¡¯san. He grabbed his pierced shoulder with one hand, his fingers digging into the flesh. Then, with a violent tug¡­ Hiss¡­ A chunk of flesh, tainted with black and rotting poison, was ripped off and discarded by Yin Rongen. His ¡®good brother¡¯ had mastered three potent poisons. Even a formidable expert like him couldn¡¯t withstand such venom for an extended period. His combat effectiveness would undoubtedly decline drastically over time. Over the past twenty years, this ¡®good brother,¡¯ armed with these three poisons, had helped him eliminate countless foes. The most effective way to deal with him, now that he couldn¡¯t fathom his brother¡¯s actions, was to remove the poisoned flesh from his body. However, Yin Rongen hadn¡¯t expected¡­ that even in this state, Song A¡¯san could burst forth with such speed. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Yin Rongen¡¯s expression was ruthless. ¡°This strike is my way of repaying you for the brotherhood I¡¯ve shown over so many years.¡± ¡°F*ck you and your damn brotherhood!¡± Song A¡¯san was further enraged by Yin Rongen¡¯s words. Blood spurted from his abdomen, but he paid it no mind as he lunged at Yin Rongen. Boom! The sky was blanketed with poisonous fog, exploding in all directions with the impact of their fists. Song A¡¯san fought recklessly, without a care for his life. He managed to gain the upper hand over Yin Rongen, a man with three full marks. However, his infamous three poison techniques couldn¡¯t breach Yin Rongen¡¯s powerful defense. Song A¡¯san¡¯s eyes were about to pop out with desperation. However, he was helpless as his attacks grew increasingly feeble. ¡°I cannot accept this! I hate it so much!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 353 - 353 Murder! 353 Murder! Tears mixed with blood streamed down Song A¡¯san¡¯s face as he glared at Yin Rongen¡¯s smug expression. He spat out another mouthful of blood. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Yin Rongen reveled in Song A¡¯san¡¯s powerlessness, his grin growing wider. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just follow my command and hunt down the remaining members of the Lin Gang? Why did you have to return? If you return, you risk losing your life, and I lose a useful hound. Even my entertainment in bed will be diminished.¡± Yin Rongen clicked his tongue, eyeing Song A¡¯san, who was wavering yet still throwing punches at him. A glint of pity appeared in his eyes. ¡°Because I¡¯m merciful, I¡¯ll grant you a quick death!¡± Yin Rongen declared through gritted teeth. Power exploded from his hands. His palms, mighty as mountains and seas, hurtled towards Song A¡¯san. ¡°Poison sea three-part palm!¡± Boom! As the staggering power erupted, an overwhelming pressure descended upon them. The majestic king¡¯s force blanketed the sky and earth! It was as if a dragon¡¯s roar echoed in Yin Rongen¡¯s ears. He ground his teeth and maneuvered his body to turn around. A figure with white hair and luminous white eyes had already soared behind him. ¡°Qin¡­¡± Bang! The dragon¡¯s might, as profound as the abyss, instantly razed the remaining dilapidated houses to dust under the powerful airborne force. The ground was upheaved, forming a mini whirlwind in the air. Around Willow Street, townsfolk and warriors fled their homes in panic. However, some were hit by the flying debris, falling to the ground wounded. The poisonous fog solidified into a mountain-like structure in the air, then descended onto Yin Rongen¡¯s body like layers of armor, making him seem even more colossal. His face was pallid, and part of his chest had caved in. Qin Huai¡¯s unexpected punch earlier had almost killed him. If he hadn¡¯t reacted promptly, the punch would have pierced his chest instead of merely breaking some of his ribs. ¡°Fifth Brother, what are you doing?¡± Yin Rongen¡¯s expression shifted. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Qin Huai finding him here. Qin Huai remained silent as he advanced on Yin Rongen. ¡°Blood Burst!¡± Several streaks of bloody light danced around him, its lightning-fast speed crossing the vast sky to shred Yin Rongen¡¯s armor directly. Boom! Boom! Boom! The continuous explosions reverberated, and the surging dust greatly hindered Yin Rongen¡¯s vision. ¡°Qin Huai, don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Yin Rongen roared. The surrounding poisonous fog suppressed the area, and his ¡®armor¡¯ extended nearly two meters from his body. Yin Rongen appeared as if he¡¯d morphed into a small giant in an instant. ¡°Mountains and Seas!¡± His body emitted a cacophony of crackling sounds as his frame grew taller, his spine visible beneath his flesh. His muscles bulked up, his arms thickening to a size greater than two average women combined, making him look even more formidable. He then launched a punch with reckless abandon, generating a tiny whirlwind with his fist. He punched with both fists, the resulting gusts nearly uprooting the delicate trees nearby, leaving them on the brink of collapse. Poison was his armor; his fists were his mountains. Qin Huai¡¯s face was stoic as he observed the colossal fist heading his way. His blood boiled within him, powerful as a tsunami. They were poised for a conflict, inside and out, the tension as turbulent as ocean waves. ¡°Forbidden technique, three beasts!¡± Bang! Fists clashed. In the blink of an eye, Yin Rongen¡¯s body armor shattered, and cracks spider-webbed across his massive arms. At the same time, blood spurted forth, sketching an eerie pattern in the air. His arm was cleanly fragmented, as though sliced by a thousand blades. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Yin Rongen¡¯s eyes widened in fury as he gazed at his ruined arm in disbelief. His physique, lauded even by his foster father, had¡­ A mix of shock and rage coursed through Yin Rongen. He had faced Shao Mo in combat before, but he had never experienced such overwhelming pressure. Could the king¡¯s force really amplify a martial artist¡¯s strength to this extent? His mind was a whirlwind of confusion when Qin Huai¡¯s next punch came hurtling at him. In frustration, Yin Rongen smacked the ground. Several chunks of earth rose up, strangely coated with a viscous poison, and hurtled toward Qin Huai. Qin Huai twirled in the air, his body suddenly illuminated with white light spots. ¡°Poison dragon shock!¡± Rumble! The explosion shattered the airborne rocks and dispersed the poison far and wide. Qin Huai didn¡¯t pause for even a moment. With the power of the dragon King form, if he managed to close the distance, Yin Rongen stood no chance. Yin Rongen clenched his teeth as the armor on his body swelled once again. But this time, it only managed a momentary bulge before it collapsed abruptly. He threw his fists. Each colossal swing was far more menacing than Qin Huai¡¯s, enveloping the latter¡¯s entire form. But Yin Rongen could distinctly hear a faint sound emanating from his arms. Puff! Yin Rongen tried to elevate his blood and qi to their peak, but the next moment, blood gushed from his mouth. His ribs were shattered, and his chest and lungs were severely damaged. Qin Huai¡¯s unexpected attack robbed him of his ability to resist and utilize his full power. He feared he was fast approaching defeat and death. ¡°Qin Huai, you can¡¯t just kill me like this!¡± he shouted, desperation tingeing his voice. ¡°Let¡¯s talk. I can help you become the leader of the Blood Poison Gang! I can ingest your poison to assure your¡­¡± Bang! His words cut off abruptly as he lost control of his body. A pair of burning hands seized him from behind. ¡°Fifth Master! Kill him! Kill this beast!¡± Song A¡¯san¡¯s hoarse voice rang out, his head thrown back in a roaring command. There was a brief pause as Yin Rongen was left exposed. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze hardened as he curled his fingers. His form morphed into a stream of white, flashing through the air. And in an instant, his hand pierced Yin Rongen¡¯s throat. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 354 ?354 Blaming the Third Master His blood surged powerfully, like a pillar of force. Yin Rongen, never having practiced the blood heart technique, was unlike those Sacred Heart disciples who could potentially recover even from a mortal head wound. The moment his throat was pierced, his eyes glazed over, devoid of focus. He turned his gaze to the ruins. His malicious wife, the woman he¡¯d loved for twenty years, had perished in the toxic maelstrom conjured by their battle. His face reflected a complicated blend of emotions, which finally gave way to a resigned smile. He addressed Qin Huai, ¡°Fifth Master, in this life, Song A¡¯san will never be able to repay your kindness. In my next life, I will be a cow or horse and serve you tirelessly, fulfilling my debt.¡± Qin Huai regarded this pitiful man before him. ¡°You have such an opportunity now.¡± ¡°Fifth Master, please instruct me,¡± Song A¡¯san requested, his pallor deepening, his voice faltering. ¡°Just express your gratitude to Third Master,¡± Qin Huai instructed calmly. Song A¡¯san was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly understood Qin Huai¡¯s intentions. He raised his head and bellowed, ¡°Song A¡¯san thanks Third Master for aiding in my revenge!¡± His shout echoed across several kilometers, fuelled by the last of his vital energy. Bang! Spent of his life force, Song A¡¯san collapsed alongside Yin Rongen¡¯s lifeless body. Qin Huai scrutinized Yin Rongen¡¯s corpse, then brought his fingers together. ¡°Earth dragon finger!¡± He imitated Huang Qiguang¡¯s trademark technique, focusing his qi and blood. He struck with precision at Yin Rongen¡¯s heart and other critical areas. ¡°It¡¯s almost done,¡± he muttered, examining Yin Rongen¡¯s body marked with the distinct purple imprint of the earth dragon finger. Though his rendition was a far cry from Huang Qiguang¡¯s mastery, with Song A¡¯san¡¯s assistance, it sufficed. In the ensuing search of the courtyard, Qin Huai found a spy lurking behind a broken wall, already unconscious from the poison Qin Huai had scattered earlier. After ensuring no more surprises, Qin Huai made his escape. The explosive spectacle was bound to draw attention. In no time, Wen Zonghao, Huang Qiguang, Qin Huai, and a host of core members from the Blood Poison Gang converged in the courtyard. Their faces were clouded with gloom. ¡°Who dares to murder a disciple of the Blood Poison Gang in broad daylight?¡± Wen Zonghao growled, his gaze fixed on the corpses on the ground. Yin Rongen was stark naked with Song A¡¯san¡¯s arms wrapped around him. Yin Rongen¡¯s face was frozen in a mask of rage, while Song A¡¯san¡¯s wore a peaceful expression. The bizarre sight twisted the expressions of the onlookers. Wen Zonghao stooped to examine the wounds on the corpse. The fatal injury on the throat, a wound two fingers wide and distinctly finger-shaped, caught his eye. He removed Yin Rongen¡¯s clothes to reveal a series of contusions littering his body. ¡°Could this be the earth dragon finger?¡± one of Yin Rongen¡¯s subordinates gasped. Being Huang Qiguang¡¯s sworn enemies, Yin Rongen¡¯s men knew all too well the nature of Huang Qiguang¡¯s abilities. ¡°Huang Qiguang has slain our boss!¡± The cry rang out among Yin Rongen¡¯s subordinates, triggering an eruption of outrage. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Huang Qiguang was seething. While he wished for Yin Rongen¡¯s demise, he couldn¡¯t afford to have Yin Rongen¡¯s death attributed to him. It had to be an incident devoid of evidence linking back to him. He felt a chill crawl up his spine under Wen Zonghao¡¯s icy stare. Without another thought, Huang Qiguang dropped to his knees. ¡°Foster Father, I assure you, I didn¡¯t do it! You mustn¡¯t heed the slanderous words of these villains.¡± ¡°Who else could it be, if not you? Everyone in the Blood Poison Gang knows about your feud with our boss.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The number of people who¡¯ve died at your hands could easily surpass the Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s casualties.¡± The crowd buzzed with accusations. Huang Qiguang, pointing at Yin Rongen¡¯s body, defended himself loudly. ¡°Foster Father, while it¡¯s true that some of the marks on Yin Rongen¡¯s body resemble the earth dragon finger, I, Huang Qiguang, swear to the heavens that I didn¡¯t kill him. ¡°Take a closer look at Yin Rongen¡¯s injuries. These traces of the earth dragon finger¡­ At most, they reveal the power of someone who has just entered the bone pattern realm. You know the potency of my earth dragon finger.¡± Huang Qiguang pleaded, feeling deeply wronged. The fact that he was being blamed for a crime he hadn¡¯t committed irritated him even more. He was completely unaware of Yin Rongen¡¯s residence on Willow Street. Wen Zonghao studied the injuries on Yin Rongen¡¯s body. The earth dragon finger markings indeed seemed significantly weaker than Huang Qiguang¡¯s. ¡°Find the residents of nearby houses and question them about what they might have heard,¡± he ordered, unwilling to jump to conclusions hastily. Although the longstanding enmity between Yin Rongen and Huang Qiguang made the latter a prime suspect, there was also Mou Jinfu to consider. But Mou Jinfu had already perished at Qin Huai¡¯s hands. ¡°Leader, we also found a female corpse,¡± announced one of the sect members, dragging out a nude woman¡¯s body from the debris. Her face was discolored and her body rigid from death, yet her features were still recognizable. ¡°Speaking of which, who owns this house?¡± Wen Zonghao inquired, awaiting the investigation results. ¡°This house belongs to our Brother A¡¯san. He bought it for Third Sister-in-law,¡± someone answered. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 355 - 355 The Wronged Huang Qiguang 355 The Wronged Huang Qiguang A bone pattern realm expert from Yin Rongen¡¯s camp made the statement. He glanced at the naked Yin Rongen and the third sister-in-law¡¯s body that had been uncovered, an answer already forming in his mind. Yin Rongen¡¯s lecherous reputation was well-known. His subordinates revealed awkward expressions as they looked at Yin Rongen on the ground, their eyes filled with disgust, though they quickly concealed it. As for the others¡ªQin Huai¡¯s and Huang Qiguang¡¯s men¡ªthey didn¡¯t hide the contempt in their eyes. Even in a group like the Blood Poison Gang, known for all kinds of crimes, they despised Yin Rongen, a scoundrel who dared to assault his brother¡¯s wife. ¡°Leader, we¡¯ve brought the people,¡± announced several disciples of the Blood Poison Gang, ushering in the surrounding houses¡¯ owners and servants. At the sight of the Blood Poison Gang members, their legs trembled in fear. The gang¡¯s infamous reputation was known to everyone in the outer city. ¡°Everyone, remain calm. Today, we only wish to ask you some questions,¡± said Wen Zonghao, his face expressionless. ¡°As long as you answer truthfully, a generous reward awaits you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare, I don¡¯t dare!¡± The elderly man in the lead shook his head vigorously. ¡°Leader, if you have any questions, please ask¡­ I¡¯ll tell you everything I know!¡± The people behind him nodded their heads in agreement, eager to conclude this interrogation swiftly. ¡°Excellent,¡± Wen Zonghao responded in a deep voice. ¡°In the previous altercation that took place here, did any of you witness the person who was fighting with Yin Rongen?¡± He gestured towards Yin Rongen on the ground, his fingers sweeping the crowd before halting at Qin Huai and Huang Qiguang. ¡°No, we didn¡¯t. I was sunbathing in the courtyard and didn¡¯t see anyone,¡± replied the elderly man. The others echoed his statement¡ªnone of them had seen anything. ¡°Then, did anyone hear anything?¡± Wen Zonghao asked, unruffled. The elderly man stayed composed, not revealing any signs of discomfort. However, the faces of those behind him visibly tensed. ¡°Take your time, think it over carefully,¡± Wen Zonghao suggested. As he finished speaking, he hoisted up one of the bystanders. ¡°If there¡¯s something you¡¯re hiding, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s methods.¡± His gaze hardened, the coldness in his eyes chilling to the bone. The middle-aged man who was seized became so frightened he wet himself. A foul odor filled the air as a yellow liquid trickled down his pants. ¡°Trash!¡± Wen Zonghao tossed him aside. The man tumbled a few times on the ground before coming to a halt, dead from the casual display of Wen Zonghao¡¯s strength. ¡°Leader, I know something! I heard it!¡± another man blurted out upon witnessing the terrifying display. ¡°Before his death, I heard Song A¡¯san yell, ¡®Song A¡¯san thanks Third Master for helping me take revenge!¡¯¡± ¡°Bullshit!¡± Huang Qiguang roared and raised his hands, ready to end the life of the accuser. ¡°Hmm?¡± Wen Zonghao coldly snorted and turned his palm. To Qin Huai, it appeared as if an unseen beast had growled and made its presence known. Wen Zonghao¡¯s body seemed to emit an ethereal glow. With a swift palm strike, Huang Qiguang was forced onto his knees. Bang! Spiderweb-like cracks sprawled out from under Huang Qiguang¡¯s knees. Yin Rongen was dead, and he was being framed. The one who stood to benefit from this situation was likely the murderer. Both the Mountain City Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang were suspicious, as the chaos within would surely profit them. However, he considered the crafty, young fifth brother, Qin Huai, the most probable suspect. ¡°Third Brother, you can eat whatever you want, but you can¡¯t spew lies as you wish,¡± Qin Huai replied calmly. ¡°These people spoke those words, not me. It has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°Leader! We heard it too. Before Song A¡¯san died, he shouted, ¡®Song A¡¯san thanks Third Master for helping me take revenge!¡¯ If I lie, may lightning strike me down!¡± One after another, the locals and martial artists swore on their lives to affirm the truth of their claims. ¡°Bullshit! This is all nonsense! Complete nonsense!¡± Anxious, Huang Qiguang was on the verge of tears. He moved towards Wen Zonghao, shielding his legs. ¡°Foster Father, I swear on all that¡¯s holy, I¡¯ve never committed such an act!¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s face was somber as he glanced between the corpse and Huang Qiguang. He turned to regard the reactions of the Blood Poison Gang members, finally setting his gaze on Qin Huai. ¡°Fifth, what do you propose we do about this?¡± Qin Huai understood instantly when he met Wen Zonghao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yin Rongen committed an immoral act by taking his brother¡¯s wife and murdering him. He truly deserved his fate!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s unexpected defense stunned Huang Qiguang. ¡°However,¡± Qin Huai continued, ¡°Third Brother¡¯s assault on a fellow disciple is also a grave offense. But given our current need for manpower in the Blood Poison Gang, perhaps we could¡­¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s face broke into a gratified smile. ¡°Fifth Brother, your words hold wisdom. Yet, harming fellow disciples is an act we cannot tolerate.¡± ¡°Leader, I¡¯ll leave my fate in your hands!¡± Huang Qiguang quickly interjected, his voice resonating with defiance, as if he was unafraid of his impending doom. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 356 - 356 Looking for Answers Through Ancient History 356 Looking for Answers Through Ancient History ¡°Relinquish your businesses temporarily. Your fifth brother will oversee them for now.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy, Foster Father!¡± A tearful Huang Qiguang thanked Wen Zonghao profusely as he dropped to his knees and kowtowed. ¡°As for Yin Rongen¡¯s business, I¡¯ll entrust that to Fang Qi.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The middle-aged man, Fang Qi, accepted the order. He was one of Yin Rongen¡¯s trusted, capable men, a fifth-level bone pattern realm expert. With Yin Rongen and Song A¡¯san gone, the responsibility naturally fell onto him. Wen Zonghao resolved the issue with a few words. With a wave of his finger, the Liu Street neighbors who had been summoned here instantly died. ¡°Remember, Yin Rongen is not dead. If anyone inquires, inform them that Yin Rongen is in closed-door cultivation, preparing for his next breakthrough.¡± Wen Zonghao surveyed those present, causing them to lower their heads in acquiescence. ¡°Understood!¡± Everyone acknowledged, each harboring their own thoughts. Qin Huai understood that the upheaval was a consequence of him eliminating too many of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s leaders. Initially, the gang had four experts with three full veins and above. Apart from Shao Mo¡¯s inexplicable disappearance, which was unrelated to Qin Huai, the other two had fallen at his hands. While the Blood Poison Gang wouldn¡¯t suffer as much as the Lin Gang, which had lost half its combat strength due to the great demon¡¯s torture, they were bound to lose a substantial amount of their original territory. Still, Qin Huai had accomplished his goal. He had eliminated Yin Rongen and successfully exonerated himself. As for Huang Qiguang¡¯s life, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad to wait for a while. The room was left vacant. Huang Qiguang, propped up by his subordinates, was visibly shaken. ¡°Boss, Fifth Master is truly a good man,¡± one of Huang Qiguang¡¯s men remarked, sighing as they watched Qin Huai¡¯s departing figure. ¡°Indeed. Despite our usual rivalries, Fifth Master stood up for us during these trying times,¡± others joined in, genuinely admiring Qin Huai¡¯s character. The next instant, Huang Qiguang glared fiercely at his men. ¡°Good, my ass!¡± he spat out. Although he momentarily entertained such thoughts, he quickly recovered. Who else but Qin Huai could be the culprit? In the entire Blood Poison Gang, Qin Huai was the only one who could master the earth dragon finger and the poison king technique in such a short time, exhibiting extraordinary martial arts talent. Huang Qiguang had no clue how Qin Huai had obtained other cultivation techniques, nor did he wish to know. But he was certain that it had to be Qin Huai. Regrettably, no one seemed ready to believe him. ¡°Qin Huai¡­ I swear, I will find a way to kill you!¡± he vowed through gritted teeth. ¡­ Meanwhile, in a small courtyard engulfed in poisonous fog, Qin Huai sat cross-legged on a bed. In his dantian world, the divine power book of a thousand creations shone brilliantly. The thunderbolt blade technique, the various cultivation techniques from the Lin Gang¡¯s corpses, and the techniques obtained from the bodies of Yin Rongen and Song Asan¡ªcountless experience points were refined through the Divine Power Book of a Thousand Creations. Wisps of white gas emerged from it, surging toward the dragon pearl. 86%, 87%, 88%¡­ As night descended, the ten dragon patterns on Qin Huai¡¯s ribs illuminated brightly, along with the dragon king mark. Tiger and wolf patterns intertwined with dragon patterns, all intensifying in brilliance and complexity. They blended seamlessly, unleashing unprecedented power. ¡°Two full marks¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself, feeling the surge of energy within him. ¡°If I unleash all my power now, it would directly draw the peculiar green qi¡­¡± Qin Huai stood up, stepped out of the courtyard, and left the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s territory, heading towards the area beyond the city. He sought to ascertain the extent of the strange green qi ¨C whether it enveloped the whole world or just Qingzhou City. He quickly arrived at the boundary of Qingzhou¡¯s outer city. Upon activating the nine dragons true qi technique, ten dragons swirled around, enveloping Qin Huai completely. Buzz¡­ A bright white light then filled his sight, followed by the slow materialization of the peculiar green gas. In this hazy world, countless large creatures seemed to observe him. He quickly retracted his aura and ventured further from the city. After covering another two miles, he repeated the process, only to be met with the same green gas. Pushing further for ten miles, the result remained unchanged. ¡°Could it be that this peculiar green qi encapsulates Qingzhou whenever I¡¯m here?¡± Qin Huai pondered, furrowing his brows. He didn¡¯t venture any further. Ten miles was enough to demonstrate the situation. He contemplated leaving Qingzhou to cultivate in another city. However, he dismissed this idea almost immediately. The closest state city, located in Barren State, was two large provinces away from Qingzhou, and it would take nearly two months to travel such a distance. Moreover, it was far from Lingjiang, making it impossible for Qin Huai to monitor the county¡¯s movements and safeguard the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°We can only take one step at a time,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°After all, others have navigated through this before. As long as it¡¯s not a place of absolute death, there¡¯s hope. If this strange phenomenon truly blankets the entire Qingzhou, maybe I can find some clues in Qingzhou¡¯s history.¡± Qin Huai disguised himself and headed to the pill pavilion again. ¡°Mr. Long!¡± The shopkeeper greeted him respectfully. At this point, Qin Huai was unarguably their top customer. ¡°The Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary has been established in Qingzhou for several hundred years, correct?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Indeed. The Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary has been rooted in Qingzhou for three hundred and twenty-seven years and has had nine pavilion masters,¡± the shopkeeper responded with unmistakable pride. ¡°The historical records of Qingzhou, any intriguing rumors¡­ The pill pavilion should have quite a few, right?¡± ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re in luck, Mr. Long. You¡¯ve come to the right place.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 357 - 357 Learning the Truth in Another Way? 357 Learning the Truth in Another Way? The shopkeeper chuckled, guiding Qin Huai to the top floor. ¡°Although our Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary can¡¯t compare to the larger sects in Qingzhou City, we have our alchemical expertise and the contributions of the previous pavilion masters to lean on. We¡¯ve collected a wealth of information on the ancient history of Qingzhou. Some of it might even be more comprehensive than that of the larger sects.¡± The shopkeeper radiated pride. Because Qin Huai held the golden core token, they encountered no hindrance in accessing the top floor of the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. Qin Huai beheld the dazzling bookshelf before him, momentarily dazed. These ancient texts emitted an alluring scent, a blend of scholarly wisdom and medicinal herbs, that was so potent it could induce sleep. Following the shopkeeper, Qin Huai skimmed through books detailing Basic Pill Essence, Thousand Taste Code, Pill Fire Technique, and other alchemical techniques, cultivation methodologies, and medicinal recipes preserved by the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. He eventually stopped at a dusty bookshelf displaying titles like Qingzhou Annals, along with several nameless books that consisted of just a few hastily printed pages. ¡°I must apologize. The younger generation tends to favor immediate results over studying ancient history. Even I can¡¯t help dozing off after reading a few pages,¡± the shopkeeper confessed, appearing somewhat embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± Qin Huai reassured him, his spirits buoyed by the sight of the books. He hoped to find the answers he sought here. ¡°Feel free to browse. There¡¯s an attendant by the door. If you need any books, he can assist you,¡± the shopkeeper offered. The Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary was busy and thriving, especially after the great demon tide. The city¡¯s martial artists often purchased calming pills, vitality-enhancing medicines, and training aids. Qin Huai randomly selected a Qingzhou book and began reading: ¡°In the first year of Emperor Dongguang, a divine bird landed on Heavenly Mountain in Qingzhou. It stayed for nine days before departing¡­ In the third year of Emperor Dongguang, Qingzhou suffered a severe drought. Tens of millions were left destitute and starving, trading their children for food¡­¡± He flipped quickly through the thick Qingzhou book, full of orderly historical records, but found nothing pertinent to his inquiry. Perusing a few more editions of Qingzhou Annals and Qingben Official, he noticed that while the content was generally similar ¨C recounting events from different perspectives ¨C there was no mention of any unusual occurrences in Qingzhou. Qin Huai spent the entire day reading, to no avail. His eyes ached from strain, but it was his mental exhaustion that weighed heavier. Leaning tiredly against the bookshelf, he sighed. The shelf wobbled, revealing its long-standing disrepair. However, nothing of use fell from its ancient shelves. Qin Huai returned late that night, heavy with disappointment. As he approached his courtyard door, he noticed Zhou Cunzhong leaning against it, struggling to stay awake. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Qin Huai asked. Startled, Zhou Cunzhong immediately straightened up. ¡°Fifth Master!¡± he exclaimed, excitement evident on his face. ¡°I have important news. There are updates on the young prodigy you asked me to look into.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s interest was instantly piqued. ¡°An elderly storyteller on East Street, who regularly freeloads meals at restaurants and inns, claims he was once a heaven¡¯s favorite whose name resonated through the outer city six decades ago. He boasted about having had five full-pattern king¡¯s force and visiting a peculiar place,¡± Zhou Cunzhong shared, his tone full of excitement. Qin Huai¡¯s brows furrowed upon hearing this. ¡°A five full-pattern king¡¯s force who is now an old storyteller, dining and drinking at various restaurants and inns? That hardly sounds believable.¡± ¡°But the old man tells his tales vividly. I even went to listen to one this afternoon. His stories about his youth¡­ Wow, so thrilling,¡± Zhou Cunzhong said, licking his lips. ¡°It seemed so real.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go take a look tomorrow,¡± Qin Huai conceded with a sigh. His options were running thin. The Blood Poison Gang was powerful, significantly superior to the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. However, they lacked any interest in history or culture. Their only library housed books exclusively on poison making, so Qin Huai had no choice but to look elsewhere in the hopes of finding a solution. Zhou Cunzhong looked startled, then stammered, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m spending time with you? The increase in resources has sped up my progress.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already reached the third-level bone pattern realm,¡± Qin Huai teased. ¡°This rate of improvement surpasses even those so-called elites in the city.¡± Zhou Cunzhong blushed. ¡°I owe it all to you, Fifth Master!¡± Qin Huai burst into laughter, while Zhou Cunzhong offered an apologetic smile before respectfully stepping aside to make way. The smiles faded from their faces just as quickly as they had appeared. ¡­ On East Street, within the Storm Tower, a lively old man was holding court. Standing on a table, one leg propped up, a pot of wine in his left hand and a roasted chicken in his right, his voice rang out loud and clear. ¡°In my youth, I was handsome and elegant, my martial prowess unmatched within the county. I had a beautiful fianc¨¦e¡­ We spent our days practicing martial arts, traveling together, basking in people¡¯s admiration and the envy of our peers,¡± he began, his eyes far away. ¡°Until that day.¡± The old man¡¯s booming voice softened to a hush, his eyes clouded with memory. ¡°It was a day of heavy rain. Cui¡¯er and I had sought shelter in a cave by a mountain stream.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 358 - 358 The Strange Truth 358 The Strange Truth ¡°Her hand slowly slipped into my collar, her fingers gently tracing my skin¡­ all the way to my heart,¡± the old man began, his audience rapt. ¡°My face flushed, and I just knew I was going to have a good time later. But just as I had taken off my shirt, my vision turned black, and my body froze.¡± The old man clenched his teeth, growling like an angry lion, ¡°When I came to, I felt a gaping void in my body. That¡¯s when I realized that my ribs had been stolen. And the culprit was that woman¡­¡± ¡°And then?¡± a curious voice piped up from the crowd. The old man¡¯s wrath subsided, replaced by a tranquil expression. ¡°I chose to forgive her.¡± A wave of confusion rippled through the room. ¡°And then?¡± one person asked, face burning with curiosity. ¡°How did you manage to cultivate the king¡¯s force with five full patterns after having your ribs stolen?¡± As questions tumbled out, the old man resumed his mischievous grin, leaving everyone in suspense. ¡°Please tune in for the next chapter!¡± On the upper level, Qin Huai and Zhou Cunzhong sat near the railing, their identities concealed by bamboo hats. ¡°Invite him up,¡± Qin Huai said, watching the old man relishing his meal. He held out little hope for the veracity of the old man¡¯s story, but it was worth a shot. Zhou Cunzhong moved swiftly. Before long, he ushered the old man to the second floor, pushing him onto a bench. ¡°Sir, which story would you like to hear next?¡± the old man asked, unperturbed. His eyes flicked over the table laden with delicacies, drooling with anticipation. ¡°Eat first. We¡¯ll talk after you¡¯ve had your fill,¡± Qin Huai said, expressionless. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony then,¡± the old man replied before diving into the feast. In no time at all, he had devoured the entire spread. Qin Huai studied the old man. His swift movements and voracious appetite were indicative of a martial artist. However, his dull, yellowed skin hid his true strength. He couldn¡¯t sense any power from him. The old man burped loudly, a sound that rippled through the room, prompting discontent from the surrounding patrons. ¡°We should move this conversation elsewhere,¡± Qin Huai decided, signaling a waiter to reserve a private room. ¡°Guard the door. No one is allowed in,¡± he instructed Zhou Cunzhong. Once in the private room, only Qin Huai and the old man remained. ¡°May I ask your name?¡± the former asked. Gulp, gulp, gulp¡­ Suddenly, the old man¡¯s face turned unsightly, and his stomach growled loudly. ¡°Sir, my stomach seems to be in a bit of distress,¡± he confessed, hastily excusing himself to the restroom within the private room. The echo of his belch was still ringing in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. He maintained his calm, pleased that the laxative he often used on great blood refinement martial artists had worked its magic once again. Before long, the old man returned, carefree demeanor back in place. This buoyed Qin Huai¡¯s suspicion. Was this man a martial artist of considerable talent? The old man¡¯s eyes shone with fervor. ¡°Of course, of course! That place¡­ teeming with terrifying, colossal creatures! There were other travelers too, all geniuses of their kind, yet even they would succumb to these creatures.¡± Qin Huai asked gently, ¡°What was the world like? Was there anything beyond these giant creatures?¡± The old man¡¯s brows creased in concentration. ¡°That world¡­ It felt like an island, a secluded one. Surrounded by a bottomless abyss, the land was bronze-hued with complex, profound patterns all over.¡± Qin Huai listened attentively, thinking of his own bronze-colored dantian world. He wondered if this was somehow connected to his ancient azure illusion force. ¡°And how did you manage to leave?¡± Qin Huai asked. The old man seemed puzzled. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t quite recall how I got out. Nor do I remember much of what I did on the island.¡± Qin Huai tried to probe further, asking about the patterns and the appearance of the giant creatures. However, the old man was of little help. He sighed, another clue ending in a dead-end. Despite this, he believed the old man¡¯s account. It corroborated his own experience when he activated his cultivation technique. It was possible that this man, many decades ago, was indeed a genius with five full patterns and a king¡¯s force. Or, at the very least, he had known such a genius. However, his current circumstances were a far cry from his illustrious past. ¡°Thank you for sharing your story,¡± Qin Huai said, slapping a thousand taels of silver across the table. ¡°This is your reward.¡± ¡°Wow, such a generous amount! I can¡¯t possibly accept this!¡± Despite his protestations, the old man¡¯s hands moved swiftly, greedily pocketing the money. His grin was so wide it seemed to stretch from ear to ear. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 359 - 359 Wen Zonghaos Killing Intent! 359 Wen Zonghao¡¯s Killing Intent! ¡°Master, should you wish to hear more stories in the future, seek me out!¡± The old man bent in a respectful bow towards Qin Huai, not leaving his side until he reached the entrance of the restaurant. ¡°Fifth Master, did you glean anything from him?¡± Zhou Cunzhong inquired. ¡°Not much,¡± Qin Huai replied, not fully divulging his thoughts to Zhou Cunzhong. However, he was now convinced that the strange place wasn¡¯t a realm of absolute death and that it was indeed possible to emerge alive from its depths. ¡­ Meanwhile, at the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s hideout, Wen Zonghao was engrossed in a gruesome feast within his modest pharmacy. The scent of blood filled the air, giving birth to a menacing aura that could unhinge a weaker martial artist instantly. The object of Wen Zonghao¡¯s gruesome attention was Yin Rongen, who had recently met his end. ¡°Leader,¡± a raspy voice sounded from the entrance of the pharmacy. ¡°What is it?¡± Wen Zonghao asked, his mouth full with a chunk of Yin Rongen¡¯s left hand. ¡°Qin Huai visited the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary and the Storm Tower today. He was asking questions to the old man who supposedly escaped from the strange place,¡± the raspy voice reported Qin Huai¡¯s itinerary in detail. Wen Zonghao¡¯s gnawing came to an abrupt halt. ¡°Why has this young man been so interested in tales about the strange place recently?¡± He mused aloud, ¡°Without the king¡¯s force, or at least two full patterns, it should be impossible to interact with such a place.¡± His mind raced with possibilities. ¡°He wanted to kill Mou Jinfu despite being only at the fourth-level bone pattern realm. I highly doubt that his professed conjugation battle techniques alone would suffice¡­ unless he has acquired the king¡¯s force. Then it would all make sense.¡± His eyes narrowed with a sharp gleam of realization. ¡°No, has this blood food cultivated to such a high degree right under my nose?¡± The prospect of Qin Huai possessing the king¡¯s force filled him with both intrigue and dread. ¡°Indeed, that must be the case!¡± With a decisive thud, Wen Zonghao shot to his feet, licking his lips in anticipation. ¡°I missed out on Shao Mo, I can¡¯t let this kid slip through my fingers as well. We can¡¯t afford to wait until he reaches full five marks, so we must act now! Invite Qin Huai to the boat tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± the raspy voice complied. Swoosh! With a swift motion, Wen Zonghao tossed a chunk of flesh into the shadows. ¡°Thank you for the reward, Leader!¡± The hoarse voice crackled with excitement. ¡°I shall not fail you in this mission!¡± With those words, the voice disappeared from the small pharmacy. ¡­ As dawn broke, Qin Huai concluded a night of intensive cultivation and stretched leisurely. Pushing open the courtyard door, he was greeted by the sight of Zhou Cunzhong. ¡°What brings you here today?¡± Qin Huai inquired, raising an eyebrow at Zhou Cunzhong. ¡°Fifth Master, Leader requests your presence on the boat,¡± Zhou Cunzhong said. ¡°None, not at all.¡± Zhou Cunzhong shook his head. ¡°Our leader appears to be in high spirits today. Perhaps he has a rewarding task for you.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Huai fell silent. Venturing out now felt as if he bore a heavy cross. Carrying Silver Fox on his back, he also had Mou Jinfu¡¯s golden walking stick ¡ª symbols of Qin Huai¡¯s extermination. The flower boat he boarded was Wen Zonghao¡¯s private vessel, typically filled with his trusted associates. This group, hand-picked and nurtured by Wen Zonghao himself, was akin to an elite force. Not even Qin Huai, Huang Qiguang, or other family heads could dispute their authority. They were the constant crew of the boat, waiting for Wen Zonghao¡¯s orders. However, today was different. ¡°Where are the Sect Leader¡¯s confidants?¡± Qin Huai wondered aloud. ¡°I¡¯m not certain. Perhaps the leader has assigned them some task,¡± Zhou Cunzhong conjectured. ¡°As you¡¯re aware, the Lin Gang was recently disbanded. There¡¯s bound to be tension, and manpower is needed.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ That makes sense,¡± Qin Huai agreed, slowly ascending the stairs. Suddenly, he halted in his tracks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Cunzhong, trailing behind him, asked hastily. ¡°Nothing,¡± Qin Huai dismissed, shaking his head. He resumed his ascent, but within moments, he veered sharply to the side, his powerful frame splintering the wooden planks of the stairs. Boom! With a deafening explosion, an immense force bore down from above, causing the entire boat to shudder. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes blazed with white light, and his hair instantaneously turned a ghostly shade as he triggered the boiling blood and dragon king form. He was formidable and unyielding. Even before he reached his target, his fist blasted a hole in the side of the boat, revealing the majestic expanse of the Qingzhou River. ¡°Fifth Brother, what are you doing?¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice erupted in his ears. Qin Huai¡¯s body descended abruptly, and a colossal phantom viper plunged down from above, piercing through his body. Blood spurted from his mouth, and his robe was ripped open, revealing an abdomen quickly discoloring to a sickly purple. He crashed through the deck, his body spiraling out of control. ¡°Your sensitivity to poison is truly remarkable¡­ I used the finest poison at my disposal, yet you detected it,¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice floated down to him as sunlight streamed through the gaping hole in the boat, casting long shadows over Qin Huai. Hovering above the damaged flower boat, Wen Zonghao gazed down at the wounded Qin Huai. ¡°So, you do possess the king¡¯s force¡­¡± He spoke with a hint of annoyance, yet his eyes betrayed his excitement. ¡°You almost had me fooled. Thankfully, I wasn¡¯t completely taken in. I assume your poison king technique hasn¡¯t reached its pinnacle yet.¡± He appeared more at ease after his attack. Struggling to his feet, Qin Huai felt the gravity of the situation. If not for the dragon king form, he might not have survived the attack. Could a practitioner from the visceral prefecture realm really wield such formidable power? He cast a frosty glare at Wen Zonghao, realizing the grim reality ¨C there was no chance of winning at all. Boom! Qin Huai pushed his nine dragons true qi technique and the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to their limits, simultaneously. The tremendous power seemed to make the air around him tremble. Then, in the following instant, a peculiar green aura enveloped Qin Huai, radiating from him like a ghostly light. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 360 - 358 The Strange Truth 358 The Strange Truth ¡°Her hand slowly slipped into my collar, her fingers gently tracing my skin¡­ all the way to my heart,¡± the old man began, his audience rapt. ¡°My face flushed, and I just knew I was going to have a good time later. But just as I had taken off my shirt, my vision turned black, and my body froze.¡± The old man clenched his teeth, growling like an angry lion, ¡°When I came to, I felt a gaping void in my body. That¡¯s when I realized that my ribs had been stolen. And the culprit was that woman¡­¡± ¡°And then?¡± a curious voice piped up from the crowd. The old man¡¯s wrath subsided, replaced by a tranquil expression. ¡°I chose to forgive her.¡± A wave of confusion rippled through the room. ¡°And then?¡± one person asked, face burning with curiosity. ¡°How did you manage to cultivate the king¡¯s force with five full patterns after having your ribs stolen?¡± As questions tumbled out, the old man resumed his mischievous grin, leaving everyone in suspense. ¡°Please tune in for the next chapter!¡± On the upper level, Qin Huai and Zhou Cunzhong sat near the railing, their identities concealed by bamboo hats. ¡°Invite him up,¡± Qin Huai said, watching the old man relishing his meal. He held out little hope for the veracity of the old man¡¯s story, but it was worth a shot. Zhou Cunzhong moved swiftly. Before long, he ushered the old man to the second floor, pushing him onto a bench. ¡°Sir, which story would you like to hear next?¡± the old man asked, unperturbed. His eyes flicked over the table laden with delicacies, drooling with anticipation. ¡°Eat first. We¡¯ll talk after you¡¯ve had your fill,¡± Qin Huai said, expressionless. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony then,¡± the old man replied before diving into the feast. In no time at all, he had devoured the entire spread. Qin Huai studied the old man. His swift movements and voracious appetite were indicative of a martial artist. However, his dull, yellowed skin hid his true strength. He couldn¡¯t sense any power from him. The old man burped loudly, a sound that rippled through the room, prompting discontent from the surrounding patrons. ¡°We should move this conversation elsewhere,¡± Qin Huai decided, signaling a waiter to reserve a private room. ¡°Guard the door. No one is allowed in,¡± he instructed Zhou Cunzhong. Once in the private room, only Qin Huai and the old man remained. ¡°May I ask your name?¡± the former asked. Gulp, gulp, gulp¡­ Suddenly, the old man¡¯s face turned unsightly, and his stomach growled loudly. ¡°Sir, my stomach seems to be in a bit of distress,¡± he confessed, hastily excusing himself to the restroom within the private room. The echo of his belch was still ringing in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. He maintained his calm, pleased that the laxative he often used on great blood refinement martial artists had worked its magic once again. Before long, the old man returned, carefree demeanor back in place. This buoyed Qin Huai¡¯s suspicion. Was this man a martial artist of considerable talent? The old man¡¯s eyes shone with fervor. ¡°Of course, of course! That place¡­ teeming with terrifying, colossal creatures! There were other travelers too, all geniuses of their kind, yet even they would succumb to these creatures.¡± Qin Huai asked gently, ¡°What was the world like? Was there anything beyond these giant creatures?¡± The old man¡¯s brows creased in concentration. ¡°That world¡­ It felt like an island, a secluded one. Surrounded by a bottomless abyss, the land was bronze-hued with complex, profound patterns all over.¡± Qin Huai listened attentively, thinking of his own bronze-colored dantian world. He wondered if this was somehow connected to his ancient azure illusion force. ¡°And how did you manage to leave?¡± Qin Huai asked. The old man seemed puzzled. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t quite recall how I got out. Nor do I remember much of what I did on the island.¡± Qin Huai tried to probe further, asking about the patterns and the appearance of the giant creatures. However, the old man was of little help. He sighed, another clue ending in a dead-end. Despite this, he believed the old man¡¯s account. It corroborated his own experience when he activated his cultivation technique. It was possible that this man, many decades ago, was indeed a genius with five full patterns and a king¡¯s force. Or, at the very least, he had known such a genius. However, his current circumstances were a far cry from his illustrious past. ¡°Thank you for sharing your story,¡± Qin Huai said, slapping a thousand taels of silver across the table. ¡°This is your reward.¡± ¡°Wow, such a generous amount! I can¡¯t possibly accept this!¡± Despite his protestations, the old man¡¯s hands moved swiftly, greedily pocketing the money. His grin was so wide it seemed to stretch from ear to ear. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 361 - 359 Wen Zonghaos Killing Intent! 359 Wen Zonghao¡¯s Killing Intent! ¡°Master, should you wish to hear more stories in the future, seek me out!¡± The old man bent in a respectful bow towards Qin Huai, not leaving his side until he reached the entrance of the restaurant. ¡°Fifth Master, did you glean anything from him?¡± Zhou Cunzhong inquired. ¡°Not much,¡± Qin Huai replied, not fully divulging his thoughts to Zhou Cunzhong. However, he was now convinced that the strange place wasn¡¯t a realm of absolute death and that it was indeed possible to emerge alive from its depths. ¡­ Meanwhile, at the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s hideout, Wen Zonghao was engrossed in a gruesome feast within his modest pharmacy. The scent of blood filled the air, giving birth to a menacing aura that could unhinge a weaker martial artist instantly. The object of Wen Zonghao¡¯s gruesome attention was Yin Rongen, who had recently met his end. ¡°Leader,¡± a raspy voice sounded from the entrance of the pharmacy. ¡°What is it?¡± Wen Zonghao asked, his mouth full with a chunk of Yin Rongen¡¯s left hand. ¡°Qin Huai visited the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary and the Storm Tower today. He was asking questions to the old man who supposedly escaped from the strange place,¡± the raspy voice reported Qin Huai¡¯s itinerary in detail. Wen Zonghao¡¯s gnawing came to an abrupt halt. ¡°Why has this young man been so interested in tales about the strange place recently?¡± He mused aloud, ¡°Without the king¡¯s force, or at least two full patterns, it should be impossible to interact with such a place.¡± His mind raced with possibilities. ¡°He wanted to kill Mou Jinfu despite being only at the fourth-level bone pattern realm. I highly doubt that his professed conjugation battle techniques alone would suffice¡­ unless he has acquired the king¡¯s force. Then it would all make sense.¡± His eyes narrowed with a sharp gleam of realization. ¡°No, has this blood food cultivated to such a high degree right under my nose?¡± The prospect of Qin Huai possessing the king¡¯s force filled him with both intrigue and dread. ¡°Indeed, that must be the case!¡± With a decisive thud, Wen Zonghao shot to his feet, licking his lips in anticipation. ¡°I missed out on Shao Mo, I can¡¯t let this kid slip through my fingers as well. We can¡¯t afford to wait until he reaches full five marks, so we must act now! Invite Qin Huai to the boat tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± the raspy voice complied. Swoosh! With a swift motion, Wen Zonghao tossed a chunk of flesh into the shadows. ¡°Thank you for the reward, Leader!¡± The hoarse voice crackled with excitement. ¡°I shall not fail you in this mission!¡± With those words, the voice disappeared from the small pharmacy. ¡­ As dawn broke, Qin Huai concluded a night of intensive cultivation and stretched leisurely. Pushing open the courtyard door, he was greeted by the sight of Zhou Cunzhong. ¡°What brings you here today?¡± Qin Huai inquired, raising an eyebrow at Zhou Cunzhong. ¡°Fifth Master, Leader requests your presence on the boat,¡± Zhou Cunzhong said. ¡°None, not at all.¡± Zhou Cunzhong shook his head. ¡°Our leader appears to be in high spirits today. Perhaps he has a rewarding task for you.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Qin Huai fell silent. Venturing out now felt as if he bore a heavy cross. Carrying Silver Fox on his back, he also had Mou Jinfu¡¯s golden walking stick ¡ª symbols of Qin Huai¡¯s extermination. The flower boat he boarded was Wen Zonghao¡¯s private vessel, typically filled with his trusted associates. This group, hand-picked and nurtured by Wen Zonghao himself, was akin to an elite force. Not even Qin Huai, Huang Qiguang, or other family heads could dispute their authority. They were the constant crew of the boat, waiting for Wen Zonghao¡¯s orders. However, today was different. ¡°Where are the Sect Leader¡¯s confidants?¡± Qin Huai wondered aloud. ¡°I¡¯m not certain. Perhaps the leader has assigned them some task,¡± Zhou Cunzhong conjectured. ¡°As you¡¯re aware, the Lin Gang was recently disbanded. There¡¯s bound to be tension, and manpower is needed.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ That makes sense,¡± Qin Huai agreed, slowly ascending the stairs. Suddenly, he halted in his tracks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Cunzhong, trailing behind him, asked hastily. ¡°Nothing,¡± Qin Huai dismissed, shaking his head. He resumed his ascent, but within moments, he veered sharply to the side, his powerful frame splintering the wooden planks of the stairs. Boom! With a deafening explosion, an immense force bore down from above, causing the entire boat to shudder. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes blazed with white light, and his hair instantaneously turned a ghostly shade as he triggered the boiling blood and dragon king form. He was formidable and unyielding. Even before he reached his target, his fist blasted a hole in the side of the boat, revealing the majestic expanse of the Qingzhou River. ¡°Fifth Brother, what are you doing?¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice erupted in his ears. Qin Huai¡¯s body descended abruptly, and a colossal phantom viper plunged down from above, piercing through his body. Blood spurted from his mouth, and his robe was ripped open, revealing an abdomen quickly discoloring to a sickly purple. He crashed through the deck, his body spiraling out of control. ¡°Your sensitivity to poison is truly remarkable¡­ I used the finest poison at my disposal, yet you detected it,¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s voice floated down to him as sunlight streamed through the gaping hole in the boat, casting long shadows over Qin Huai. Hovering above the damaged flower boat, Wen Zonghao gazed down at the wounded Qin Huai. ¡°So, you do possess the king¡¯s force¡­¡± He spoke with a hint of annoyance, yet his eyes betrayed his excitement. ¡°You almost had me fooled. Thankfully, I wasn¡¯t completely taken in. I assume your poison king technique hasn¡¯t reached its pinnacle yet.¡± He appeared more at ease after his attack. Struggling to his feet, Qin Huai felt the gravity of the situation. If not for the dragon king form, he might not have survived the attack. Could a practitioner from the visceral prefecture realm really wield such formidable power? He cast a frosty glare at Wen Zonghao, realizing the grim reality ¨C there was no chance of winning at all. Boom! Qin Huai pushed his nine dragons true qi technique and the four-directional tiger-wolf technique to their limits, simultaneously. The tremendous power seemed to make the air around him tremble. Then, in the following instant, a peculiar green aura enveloped Qin Huai, radiating from him like a ghostly light. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 362 - 362 Heavens Favorite Tomb! 362 Heaven¡¯s Favorite Tomb! The landscape surrounding Qin Huai was populated with towering trees, reaching hundreds of meters high. Even the weeds were as tall as he was, and pebbles were person-high, further emphasized by a hill-like round rock over ten meters tall in the distance. It was as though he had stepped into a magnified world, a dwarf among giants. ¡°Is this another world?¡± Qin Huai pondered, questioning the strange reality before him. Suddenly, he realized something. After killing the vicious bird, no experience orbs had dropped. ¡°Could this world block my cheat?¡± he questioned, feeling his anxiety rise. Yet, upon checking his personal interface, all his data appeared to be in order. His cheat should still be functional. He puzzled over the scenario, scrutinizing the bird¡¯s corpse on the ground, sniffing its blood, and closely examining its green feathers. However, no matter how long he circled the carcass, he found nothing unusual. ¡°This place¡­ It¡¯s far too strange,¡± Qin Huai murmured, staring at the ground he stood on. The bronze earth had vanished, replaced by mundane yellow soil, as if dust had covered it. Boom! Boom! Boom! Taking a deep breath, Qin Huai punched the ground, each blow forming deep pits, but the bronze earth was nowhere to be seen. Confused and intrigued, he decided to gain a higher vantage point, hoping to survey this enigmatic place in its entirety. Scaling a slightly elevated slope, he began to climb one of the colossal trees. With agility resembling a tiger or leopard, he ascended the towering tree, standing at the summit to observe the world below. His gaze met an expanse of lush greenery, with only massive birds soaring through the sky, some of them heading directly toward him. Retracting back into the foliage, he discreetly watched the approaching creatures. ¡°The strength and blood essence of these birds¡­ They seem to be at the fifth-level bone pattern realm,¡± Qin Huai observed. The thought of all the creatures in this ¡®world¡¯ possessing such strength was chilling. Imagining these formidable beings in Qingzhou sent shivers down his spine. They could potentially wreak havoc in the city. As a flock of giant birds flew over him, Qin Huai sighed in relief. They were heading toward the slain bird, likely attracted by the smell of blood. Sitting cross-legged on a tree branch, Qin Huai started to engage the blood heart technique again to replenish his energy. As the sun set and the moon rose, a full day passed in what felt like a blink of an eye. His wounds had healed over with new flesh, and he appeared healthy again. However, with several broken bones and internal injuries, he still needed a few more days to fully recover. The terrifying power of a great cultivator at the visceral prefecture realm left a lingering fear in Qin Huai. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the edge of the world.¡± Qin Huai recalled the old man¡¯s words. The ¡®world¡¯ he found himself in seemed like an island, finite and bounded. With this thought, he retraced his steps, aiming to reach the world¡¯s end. He committed the path to memory, proceeding with careful determination. However, Qin Huai soon came to a halt, surveying the tranquil landscape. The remnants of the giant bird and the pits he had dug had vanished, leaving the terrain unblemished. The world around him was eerily clean, as if meticulously maintained. The strangeness of this ¡®world¡¯ was becoming more profound, leaving him increasingly unnerved. Resolving not to linger, Qin Huai journeyed cautiously toward the edge of the world. This place was rife with uncertainties as every second here added to the variables of his situation. Here, he would not be surprised by any sudden anomaly, yet the unpredictability was unnerving. After covering roughly ten miles, Qin Huai paused again. Perched atop a treetop tens of meters high, he examined the skeleton before him. The flesh and clothing had long decomposed, leaving only a cross-legged skeleton. The bones, etched with intricate patterns of a cultivation technique, told a story of a martial artist skilled in three full patterns. From the skeletal remains, he seemed to be no older than thirty. ¡°Did an expert with three full patterns die of old age in this ¡®world¡¯?¡± Qin Huai speculated, his expression hardening. He observed the absence of the king¡¯s force, making his earlier predictions appear inaccurate. As he ventured deeper into the forest, he spotted a large tiger leopard sprinting and apes swinging from tree to tree, all of them at the fifth-level bone pattern realm. ¡°The creatures here seem to be at the fifth-level bone pattern realm or above,¡± he noted, becoming more cautious. With numerous uncertainties and potential dangers in this world, even a single misstep could prove deadly. Along the way, Qin Huai discovered the corpses of martial artists, two of which were gruesomely fragmented, with dismembered limbs strewn across the ground. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the complex bone patterns. ¡°Four full patterns. Three full patterns¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered, piecing the bodies together. His findings confirmed that the two had been above three full patterns while alive and had not exceeded thirty years of age. The king¡¯s force wasn¡¯t present in these individuals either, suggesting that it wasn¡¯t a requisite for being whisked away to this world. However, strength undoubtedly played a part, and possibly age too. These individuals had been rare talents in Qingzhou, yet here they met their untimely ends. With this chilling thought, Qin Huai pressed on, only halting after seven grueling days. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 363 - 363 An Encounter! 363 An Encounter! Qin Huai found himself standing at the world¡¯s edge. His injuries were healed, his energy restored. Yet, joy eluded him. Over the past few days, whenever hunger struck, he would hunt a ferocious beast and consume its meat. Although this satiated his hunger, he experienced no enhancement in his blood and qi. These powerful beasts, contrary to his expectations, provided him with no vitality. On his journey, he came across several corpses, each belonging to geniuses who had not exceeded the age of thirty. Among the bodies, particularly Huang Qiguang¡¯s men, he found a photograph of Zhou Cunzhong, revealing that others too had been drawn into this ¡®world.¡¯ There was also Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang and his fourth brother, Shao Mo, among others who had arrived before him. Qin Huai preferred to remain unrecognized in this alien world. Its unpredictability, coupled with the monstrous talents inhabiting it, made him wary. He feared the consequences of provoking someone he shouldn¡¯t, particularly if they managed to return to the real world. Once that happened, his family and friends in the Nine Dragons sect could potentially be at risk. Before him lay a boundless cloud, an empty expanse shrouded in an eerie, quiet fog. The landscape imposed a profound pressure that felt as intense as the weight of mountains and seas. Qin Huai cast a final glance at the sprawling forest behind him, an air of silence enveloping him. ¡°Am I destined to perish here like those lifeless bodies?¡± he murmured after a long while. His thought was quickly replaced by defiance. ¡°No, if that old man could escape, so can I.¡± He swiftly readjusted his mindset, the image of the old man and the bronze earth looming in his mind. ¡°Perhaps the way out is linked to the bronze land,¡± he speculated, glancing at the ground. His resolve hardened. A white light glowed at his fist, his blood and qi converging upon it. ¡°Forbidden technique, three beasts!¡± Qin Huai unleashed a torrent of punches on the ground. The thunderous roars triggered a stir in the forest. Yet, despite his persistent onslaught for fifteen minutes, his endeavor proved futile. The ground before him was unyielding. He realized with a shock that the earth was regenerating visibly fast. The once shattered earth quickly replenished itself, restoring to its initial state. After a quarter of an hour, Qin Huai¡¯s efforts hadn¡¯t even managed to bring forth a single hue of bronze. The ground stood as pristine as before, defying his desperate attempts to escape. Boom! The ground beneath Qin Huai¡¯s feet suddenly quaked with an irregular rhythm. ¡°Is it coming?¡± He braced himself, anticipation coursing through him. But his excitement was short-lived. What greeted him was not the appearance of the bronze land he longed for but rather a cloud of dust sweeping across the forest, stirred by the approach of enormous beasts. Drawn by the disturbance he¡¯d caused, over twenty birds and beasts had emerged. Qin Huai¡¯s heart pounded. With no intent to fight, he decided to flee. After all, these fifth-level bone pattern realm beasts wouldn¡¯t yield any experience orbs upon defeat. Hence, there was no point in a gratuitous battle. As he sprinted, a voice reached his ears. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t run! Save me! Save me!¡± Whirling around, he spotted a small figure in the swirling dust, running with a look of sheer terror etched across his face. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed. A fellow human! ¡°I¡¯m She Wanshan of Wuji Mountain, brother, please save me!¡± The man, with his beast-skin robe and tousled hair, looked more like a deranged primitive man than a distinguished cultivator of Wuji Mountain. ¡°Brother, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll help you!¡± Qin Huai shouted back. ¡°Together, we¡¯ll kill these beasts!¡± She Wanshan¡¯s face lit up with relief. In response, Qin Huai pivoted, charging toward the swarm of giant creatures. But no sooner had She Wanshan joined the fray, Qin Huai whirled around and sprinted away once again. He gained a considerable distance before halting. He had not forgotten that those transported to this bronze land were all prodigies, with many possessing the king¡¯s force. He had no illusions of grandeur to challenge them. Choosing caution, he concealed himself in the grass, watching as She Wanshan charged headlong into the group of twenty beasts. A lotus phantom materialized behind him, blossoming into a radiant flower, creating a platform for him to stand on. With a lotus spear in hand, he struck at the beasts. As a beast lunged, three petals fell from the lotus flower, forming a shield. Boom! As the qi detonated, a plume of dust soared hundreds of meters into the air, yet She Wanshan remained unmoved amidst the petals. The seemingly delicate lotus petals demonstrated incredible resilience, defending against the beasts¡¯ attacks. What appeared fragile was actually stronger than any treasured weapon, offering an impenetrable defense. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 364 - 364 Lotus Flower King! 364 Lotus Flower King! Qin Huai, standing at a distance, watched the spectacle unfold. ¡°As I thought, this man is alarmingly powerful,¡± he muttered, his heart still fluttering with apprehension. Along with the lotus flower, a barely perceptible force cloaked the so-called primitive man, providing an unyielding double layer of defense. ¡°Brother! Brother, where are you? I can¡¯t hold on much longer!¡± the man shouted, desperation coloring his words. But Qin Huai, observing from afar, saw no signs of distress. He understood that the man was still in control. Despite Wuji Mountain being a top sect of the Nine Dragons sect and the possibility of a connection between them, he didn¡¯t consider such bonds reliable in this chaotic world. At the very least, he needed to gauge the other¡¯s strength and be confident before stepping in to assist. The beasts¡¯ assault intensified, with a few falling but quickly replaced by others among the group of twenty-odd behemoths. They were resilient, to say the least. ¡°Curses!¡± The primitive man growled, his lotus phantom abruptly collapsing. Twenty-seven lotus petals materialized and encased his body ¨C shoulders, elbows, knees, heart, abdomen, spine ¨C all shielded by floating petals, resembling a suit of lotus armor. Concurrently, his eyes emitted a pink radiance, a terrifying aura radiating from him and the tide of the battle shifted. Brandishing the lotus spear, the man fended off the encroaching beasts, trading wounds for survival. Meanwhile, Qin Huai remained composed. ¡°As I expected, he was holding back a great deal. Even a prodigy cultivating the king¡¯s force¡­¡± He had already made his prediction: the primitive man would triumph. Launching himself from a treetop over two hundred meters high, he dove towards the battlefield. ¡°Boiling blood! Blood dragon form!¡± The dragon mark on Qin Huai¡¯s body became visible once more. The fierce wind whipped his robe, roaring like thunder. He clenched his fists, raising them high above his head as if wielding divine hammers. ¡°Forbidden technique, three beasts!¡± Boom! The ¡®hammers¡¯ slammed down squarely on a creature with a long neck akin to a giraffe¡¯s. The grating sound of fracturing bones echoed. The beast¡¯s neck, under the weight of Qin Huai¡¯s blow, broke into three parts. Wailing in agony, it crumpled to the ground. Though he had expended a significant amount of strength, Qin Huai was still suspended mid-air. He aimed for the other two beasts. Utilizing the white dragon qi to propel himself in the opposite direction, he accelerated. The wind roared around him like a raging tempest as he descended like a falling meteor, primed for impact. Underneath his feet, dots of white light converged, forming the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. The fierce tiger issued a pained roar, its thick fur visibly changing color. From his sleeves, Qin Huai released his poison king¡¯s power, a blood-red, paralyzing fog that quickly subdued the remaining colossal beasts. Through the dust-filled chaos of the battlefield, Qin Huai exchanged glances with the primitive man, each acknowledging the other with a nod. However, the latter gritted his teeth, harboring a degree of resentment towards Qin Huai. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [True Lotus Technique Essence (Dark Orange)], [True Lotus Technique] experience points +70,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [True Lotus Comprehension], [True Lotus Force] +7%!¡± The experience points orbs swiftly flew through the dust and the beasts, merging into Qin Huai¡¯s body. A surge of experiences washed over his mind, and he felt his knowledge base expand. His anxiety subsided, reassured that his ¡°golden finger¡± had not failed. But it raised a question. What kind of beings were these fifth-level bone pattern realm beasts? His doubts deepened. After gaining the experience points, Qin Huai¡¯s assault became even more ferocious. With the combined force of two prodigies who had cultivated the king¡¯s force, the twenty-plus giant beasts were quickly eradicated. The primitive man, breathing heavily, cast a resentful gaze at Qin Huai. ¡°Brother! You made me suffer so much!¡± He rushed to Qin Huai, his approach resembling a woman scorned. Qin Huai, maintaining his composure, met his gaze. ¡°In unfamiliar territory, caution is warranted given the fickleness of human hearts. I hope Brother Yuan can forgive me,¡± he responded, cupping his fists in a conciliatory gesture. ¡°Forget it, forget it¡­ It¡¯s generous of you to assist,¡± the primitive man retorted half-heartedly. ¡°Otherwise, even I would have been injured while dealing with these troublesome creatures. And by the way, my name is She Wanshan, not Brother Yuan.¡± She Wanshan paused to catch his breath. ¡°May I know your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Cunzhong, a humble level-one rogue cultivator,¡± Qin Huai humbly responded. ¡°I see, I see¡­ Earlier, you seemed to have incorporated some poison in your moves. Although you restrained your actions, it was clear that you¡¯ve mastered them.¡± She Wanshan chuckled. ¡°Brother She is indeed a disciple of a great sect, having such insights into the poison path. Admirable!¡± Qin Huai maintained his calm facade, inwardly noting She Wanshan¡¯s keen observations during the battle. This guy actually had the spare energy to observe him, so he was probably not even at his full strength just now. How terrifying¡­ She Wanshan laughed off the compliment. ¡°Brother Zhou, considering your entry here as a level-one rogue cultivator, your talent and strength must be impressive.¡± ¡°I wonder how much Brother knows about this place? I¡¯m new here and lack knowledge of this land,¡± Qin Huai ventured, desperate for information. ¡°Me? I just arrived here too,¡± She Wanshan revealed, a bitter smile on his face. Qin Huai examined She Wanshan¡¯s attire, his face mirroring disbelief. How could a disciple from a large sect be in such a state? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 365 - 365 A Fake World 365 A Fake World Perhaps a crossdresser from another world could present themselves like this. ¡°I was cultivating in the mountains and had just advanced. In a moment of excitement, I forgot the taboo and practiced¡­ and ended up here,¡± She Wanshan explained, his expression earnest. ¡°Wuji Mountain is a prominent sect in Qingzhou, a branch of the True Path sect. It should have considerable knowledge about this unusual place, right?¡± Qin Huai probed further. ¡°Yes¡­ I do have some knowledge,¡± She Wanshan admitted, maintaining his bitter smile. ¡°The only thing I know is that this strange place kidnaps people. It happens every ten years, and it lasts for a year. During this period, any prodigy under the age of thirty with three or more patterns or two complete patterns and king¡¯s force, will be drawn into this place upon displaying their power.¡± She Wanshan and Qin Huai walked to a tree a few miles away from the beast carcasses. On hearing these revelations, Qin Huai quickly asked, ¡°Has anyone from your sect made it out of here?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± She Wanshan confirmed. ¡°However, the grandmaster who escaped couldn¡¯t remember anything about this place upon his return. His talent, comprehension, and realm remained unaffected. It¡¯s just that¡­¡± he trailed off, ¡°other than occasional absent-mindedness, he seemed to have lost something from his soul,¡± he added in a jesting tone. ¡°Over a thousand ancestors from our sect have entered this place. Very few have come out, and none retain any memories of it.¡± His eyes reflected his confusion. ¡°How long has this place existed?¡± Qin Huai posed his next question. ¡°I don¡¯t know. This anomaly existed even before Wuji Mountain or even Qingzhou were established,¡± She Wanshan replied. Qin Huai sighed, disappointed. He had thought that meeting a disciple from a major sect would help unravel the secrets of the bronze land. However, even those who had escaped from Wuji Mountain couldn¡¯t recall what had transpired on it. How then, he wondered, did the old man from the Storm Tower have this knowledge? This thought flashed through his mind. ¡°Brother Zhou, let¡¯s go find the others,¡± She Wanshan suggested, rising to his feet. ¡°My senior brothers entered a few months ago. Given our current lack of leads, we might as well look for them first. They might have some clues.¡± Qin Huai hesitated momentarily, weighing their respective strengths. Even if She Wanshan found several allies to ambush him, he was confident that he could escape. Furthermore, he had a secret weapon ¡ª the flame longevity technique. Even Wen Zonghao, an expert in the visceral prefecture realm, couldn¡¯t resist it, let alone those in the bone pattern realm. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded. Thus, they both ventured deeper into the forest. ¡°Brother Zhou, how long have you been here?¡± ¡°Only a month,¡± Qin Huai lied, adding a few extra days to deceive She Wanshan. ¡°I walked for five to six days before reaching the edge¡­ Given my speed, this bronze land must be at least three thousand miles in length,¡± he added. ¡°That¡¯s even bigger than Qingzhou City,¡± She Wanshan remarked, taken aback. Without any leads, they chose a random direction and continued their journey. ¡°Brother Zhou, there¡¯s a body here!¡± She Wanshan pointed to a hole in a tree. Qin Huai hurried over. Inside the tree hole, a skeleton rested peacefully. However, unlike other skeletons, its bones had a peculiar luster, adorned with strange, flickering bone patterns ¡°King¡¯s force!¡± they exclaimed in unison, followed by a heavy silence. Even a prodigy with the king¡¯s force was trapped here? Despite Qin Huai having braced himself for this possibility, witnessing the final resting place of those who had truly cultivated the king¡¯s force was still quite sobering. A pang of sadness washed over them. Another month passed. During this time, neither Qin Huai nor She Wanshan encountered a single soul. Neither did they come across the flashing bronze land they saw upon their arrival. A sense of despair started creeping into their hearts. They both sat on the ground, lost in thought. ¡°Are we not even able to find a single living soul, let alone a way out?¡± She Wanshan mused dejectedly, gnawing at his roasted meat. He then vigorously slapped his face, trying to snap out of his despair. ¡°You can do it, Wan Shan! You¡¯re the future Lotus Flower Peak Master!¡± He pulled himself back to his feet, eyes brimming with renewed determination. ¡°The future Lotus Flower Peak Master will not be defeated by such minor setbacks!¡± On the sidelines, Qin Huai observed She Wanshan¡¯s fluctuating moods, his own expression remaining placid. Over the month, She Wanshan had gone through these emotional outbursts at least ninety times, so he had grown accustomed to it. ¡°Let¡¯s continue,¡± Qin Huai decided, finishing his roasted meat and glancing at the nearby dissolving corpse. She Wanshan also looked over at the same time. The sight of the melting bones filled both their hearts with a complex mix of emotions. They were aware that the meat they consumed was peculiar. How could they not know that there was something strange about this meat? However, without it, they would have probably starved in this desolate place. ¡°This really is a dead-end,¡± She Wanshan mused, his face creasing with worry. ¡°Brother Zhou, do you think that after eating this for a month or two, we¡¯ll start to dissolve like these giant beasts?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Qin Huai rejected the idea. ¡°Otherwise, how could we have come across these remains?¡± ¡°But¡­ there were too few remains,¡± She Wanshan pointed out. ¡°Think about it. This strange place has existed for a long, long time¡­ It has been around for thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of years. Every ten years, hundreds of thousands of prodigies are likely drawn in, right? Then, these remains should have piled up like mountains by now¡­ Where did the rest of the bones go?¡± She Wanshan¡¯s questions poured out like torrential rain. ¡°Maybe they weathered,¡± Qin Huai suggested, though he too found this explanation dubious. There was no wind in this world. The temperature remained constant despite the sun¡¯s rising and setting. All in all, the world around them seemed eerily artificial. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 366 - 366 Melting Into the Earth 366 Melting Into the Earth Another seven days went by. Qin Huai and She Wanshan were sitting in the forest with two huge birds roasting in front of them. They had explored every inch of the bronze land but found no clues, only hundreds of scattered remains of past geniuses. Over time, they became numb to the desolation, their days dwindling down to cultivating in the forest and aimlessly eating and drinking. Burp~ She Wanshan burped suddenly. ¡°I¡¯m sick of these! Are we to eat meat like this for the rest of our lives?¡± Qin Huai removed a piece of tree bark from his bosom. Upon it was a crude map of the entire bronze land, carved with a tree branch. Only one uncharted spot remained. ¡°Isn¡¯t there one place we haven¡¯t visited yet?¡± Qin Huai questioned, unruffled. ¡°How can you stay so calm, Brother Zhou?¡± She Wanshan responded with a bitter smile. ¡°You said there was a predecessor who escaped, so this proves that this place isn¡¯t entirely hopeless,¡± Qin Huai reminded him. He stood up, studied the map, and headed to the last unexplored area. ¡°Wait for me, Brother Zhou!¡± She Wanshan called, picking himself up to catch up. Upon reaching the last unknown location, they found nothing remarkable except for a large stone. Near it was a skeleton seated cross-legged. It was the remains of an expert with four full patterns, a sight that no longer stirred any emotion in Qin Huai. ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about this place¡­¡± She Wanshan sighed and walked around the huge stone. ¡°If there¡¯s something special, it¡¯s this stone.¡± Qin Huai also walked forward. Just as Qin Huai was about to turn away, his attention was caught by a line of carved words on the stone behind the corpse. He crouched down and pushed the skeletal remains aside. The instant his fingers made contact, the corpse collapsed into a fine white powder. The remains were older than he¡¯d imagined, likely among the earliest victims on the island. However, Qin Huai¡¯s interest wasn¡¯t in the corpse but in the message etched on the stone. ¡°The beasts here are all poisonous. After eating them for twenty days, the people will dissolve into mud, returning nutrients to the earth.¡± She Wanshan¡¯s voice, shaky with fear, echoed behind him, ¡°It¡¯s over. Our suspicions are confirmed. We¡¯re truly going to die here.¡± Qin Huai replied calmly, ¡°At least we now understand how many perished in this place.¡± He speculated that many of the deceased did not meet their end inside the belly of a beast. Upon seeing this warning, some people might have chosen to starve to death, believing the beasts to be poisonous. Others, skeptical of the message, would have continued consuming the meat until their bodies dissolved. Qin Huai further reasoned that the latter group must have discovered some path to a particular place. Otherwise, there was no explanation for the mass disappearance of individuals throughout history, without their reappearance in this land¡¯s forest. The question remained ¨C where did they eventually end up? ¡°Let¡¯s continue eating the meat,¡± Qin Huai said slowly, sensing a turning point close at hand. ¡°But¡­ isn¡¯t it too risky?¡± She Wanshan asked hesitantly. ¡°One misstep and we might die here.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t eat the meat, we¡¯ll starve to death regardless,¡± Qin Huai countered, silencing She Wanshan. ¡°Besides, we¡¯re not far from the twenty-day mark, are we?¡± he mused aloud. He had arrived on the island six or seven days before She Wanshan, meaning they should be able to verify the boulder¡¯s warning in just a couple of weeks. Their conversation ended in silence. Having completed the map, Qin Huai¡¯s days comprised mainly of practicing the clasping vitality and the blood heart technique, eating meat, and resting. Just like that, a fortnight passed. While consuming the usual roast meat, She Wanshan exclaimed, ¡°Brother Zhou! Your body!¡± Startled, Qin Huai looked down at his lower body and sprung to his feet. His body was visibly dissolving, his feet already a pool of mud merging with the ground. His scalp prickled. He could no longer feel his feet. They, now part of the muddy earth, seemed tethered to his legs even as he leaped into the air. However, elevation did not halt his deterioration. On the contrary, it escalated. Yet, oddly, Qin Huai felt no pain or discomfort. Bang! He fell to the ground, rolling around in a sorry state, then leaned against a colossal tree. He watched as a panicked She Wanshan rushed over, saying, ¡°Brother Zhou, how do you feel?¡± ¡°I feel nothing,¡± Qin Huai answered calmly. Suddenly, the bronze wall in Qin Huai¡¯s dantian world began radiating a brilliant light, and the ancient azure illusion force within his mind surged with power. But¡­ It was useless. Despite these phenomena, none of them could stop his body from melting. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 367 - 367 Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture 367 Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Qin Huai¡¯s vision blurred. The giant tree in front of him and She Wanshan appeared to crumble, seemingly replaced by a spectrum of other colors. As he slowly lifted his gaze, the enigmatic bronze earth reemerged, its intricate indentations forming an expansive pattern stretching into the distance. He even thought he saw numerous figures. ¡°I think Brother She can eat the meat without worry,¡± he spoke, although She Wanshan had dissolved in his sight, his figure blending with the trees, rocks, and ferocious beasts. And then, the world faded into nothingness. Qin Huai¡¯s vision completely dissolved, and he was submerged in darkness, devoid of light or sound. He felt like a lost child adrift in a fathomless sea, floating in endless obscurity. Whether a year or an instant passed, he couldn¡¯t tell. But then, a faint light flickered in his eyes, revealing a completely new world. The forest resumed its ordinary size ¡ª the tallest tree he could see was only about twenty meters high ¡ª and the bronze earth appeared again beneath him, its mysterious patterns pulsating as fleeting lights flashed. An ancient aura flooded into Qin Huai¡¯s mind, and for a moment, he felt as if he had entered another dimension. Before him stretched thousands of barren hills, their sky-covering beasts radiating a powerful, vital energy that shook everything in existence. He climbed a tree, trying to decipher the bronze patterns on the ground. But the twenty-meter-high locust tree was dwarfed by the massive bronze protuberances, and he could only discern a few enigmatic runes. The dense vegetation obscured most of the view. Yet, Qin Huai sensed something. Seated cross-legged on the treetop, he felt his dantian¡¯s bronze ground quiver. The dragon pearl soared into the distance, and even the fearless blood-red tiger wolf began to panic and retreat. The divine power book of a thousand creations also started to drift away. ¡°This bronze land is indeed related to the ancient azure illusion force!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone. When the ancient azure illusion force resonated with the bronze land, he began to piece together the puzzle. ¡°Those behemoths were like the ones at the Nine Dragons sect¡¯s Azure Dragon Pass¡­ They were not real, but illusory constructs of this bronze island,¡± he pondered aloud. ¡°No, the land we were on before was likely an illusion of this bronze land.¡± However, the power of this bronze land seemed more cryptic and unpredictable compared to the Azure Dragon Pass at the Nine Dragons sect. Originally, when he first observed the bronze land, Qin Huai had a similar suspicion, but he quickly dismissed it. After all, at the Azure Dragon Pass, he had gained the ancient azure illusion force by defeating beasts. Here, though, despite slaying countless giant creatures, he hadn¡¯t observed any increase in the ancient azure illusion force. Gradually, Qin Huai¡¯s expression stilled ¡ª he finally had a lead. Unlike his initial disoriented experience on the bronze land, he was no longer blindly groping in the dark. He moved around the tree, hoping to identify more runes that might provide hints. Following the enigmatic patterns, he journeyed through the forest. Soon, the full image of a line formed in his mind. ¡°A rune?¡± Pondering the shape he had outlined mentally, he recognized no such character, and the symbol stirred no associations. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he tried to recall the character in his mind. Ripples spread before his closed eyes, conjuring a vibrant world. The verdant and bustling scenery brought tranquility to his heart. Snow-white rabbits hopped around in the grass, hunting for delectable fresh fodder with contented, serene eyes. A few deer trailed behind, their steps light and agile. After an extended silence, he finally opened his eyes. ¡°A distinct, wondrous concept¡­¡± Peering into his dantian world, he saw sprouts emerging from the bronze ground. They were fresh, tender grass teeming with vitality. ¡°This bronze land¡­ It¡¯s actually a scripture,¡± Qin Huai realized. He quickly glanced at his personal interface, and as he suspected, a new line had appeared: [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture (Level 0, 3/1000)]. Gazing into the distance again, he saw an endless island. He murmured, ¡°It¡¯s as vast as the previous land.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected a cultivation technique to materialize in such a form. The ground¡¯s runes were actually the scriptures of the ancient azure illusion scripture, albeit presented in an unconventional manner. Finding comfort in the peculiar characters and cultivation methods that comprised the entire bronze land as a cultivation technique and an ancient scripture, he pondered, ¡°Could practicing the ancient azure illusion scripture give me a chance to leave this place?¡± He decided to venture further. Over the years, many prodigies must have visited this bronze land. His priority was to find these people, or at least find out their intentions and circumstances. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 368 - 368 Stairway to Heaven 368 Stairway to Heaven Indeed, the strength and influence of these individuals were of great importance. He couldn¡¯t afford to be caught off guard while concentrating on his cultivation. A surprise attack from a hidden adversary could land him in a world of trouble. With caution, Qin Huai navigated through the forest. Suddenly, a figure darted towards him. At the sound, Qin Huai instantly turned his head, spotting an individual garbed in animal skin racing towards him with surprising speed. No, not just speed, there was something uncanny about the figure¡¯s movement. The figure seemed to flicker in and out of existence within the forest, appearing in completely different places with every step. An illusion? Qin Huai quickly deduced that this person was no ordinary individual, likely having considerable understanding of the ancient azure illusion force. ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Cunzhong, a rogue cultivator from Qingzhou. May I ask your name?¡± Qin Huai called out, standing his ground as his palm filled with the power of longevity, ready to strike if necessary. ¡°I¡¯m Yang Tianhan of the Ghost Ox sect,¡± the figure replied, landing not far from Qin Huai. Yang Tianhan had smooth, long hair and clear eyes. His face, though, looked somewhat aged, seeming well over thirty. Recalling She Wanshan¡¯s words, Qin Huai surmised that Yang Tianhan must have been a prodigy from Qingzhou who had entered the academy a decade or two ago. His animal skin attire, however, seemed somewhat out of place. ¡°Your face suggests a new decade has begun,¡± Yang Tianhan observed, his eyes sharp. While Qin Huai sized him up, Yang Tianhan did the same. A vigorous, handsome man with a resolute blood aura, there was an indiscernible power residing between his eyebrows. He was clearly an expert. Yang Tianhan offered a light smile, his eyes revealing little surprise. It was understood that anyone capable of entering this place was an expert, top-notch among their peers. ¡°Junior has just entered this place, so I hope Senior will be generous with your guidance,¡± Qin Huai said, his tone humble. He was aware that his king¡¯s force might not hold much weight here ¡ª there were many others who possessed the king¡¯s force. At the very least, She Wanshan, the first living person he¡¯d met, possessed the king¡¯s force cultivated from the true lotus technique. ¡°In this place, there¡¯s no need to distinguish between seniors and juniors,¡± Yang Tianhan said, dismissing the formality with a wave of his hand. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, call me Brother Yang.¡± ¡°Brother Yang,¡± Qin Huai responded, courteously raising his fists. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Yang Tianhan sighed, a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this further at my place. Follow me.¡± Leading the way, Yang Tianhan began to explain, ¡°This place is known as the bronze realm¡­ The ground here is composed of a divine-powered, mysterious bronze. This entire world is an ancient scripture crafted in bronze. I presume you¡¯ve already experienced its power.¡± Qin Huai offered a wry smile and nodded. ¡°And the place we were in earlier,¡± Yang Tianhan continued, smiling, ¡°was an illusion realm created by the ancient scripture. Essentially, you and I exist simultaneously on the same island but in different realms. Many things are identical, yet due to the illusion realm, we can neither see nor touch each other.¡± Qin Huai felt his head spin slightly. By his understanding, this illusion realm sounded akin to a folded parallel world, controlled by the bronze realm. With Yang Tianhan¡¯s clarification, Qin Huai was beginning to understand. As they continued their journey, fearsome beasts several meters long occasionally swooped past in the sky or prowled nearby. These creatures were fifth-level bone pattern realm beasts but significantly smaller in size. ¡°These beings are what we refer to as bronze beasts,¡± Yang Tianhan explained. ¡°They are creatures that emerged from the ancient scriptures. Essentially, they¡¯re no different from the giant beasts in the illusion realm. They pose a threat to us, but they also serve as our source of sustenance.¡± Curious, Qin Huai asked, ¡°If these creatures are mere illusions, why do we feel full after eating them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Yang Tianhan replied, shaking his head. ¡°But if we¡¯re getting into details, you could ask how we were transported instantaneously from Qingzhou to this bronze realm. How far away is this place from Qingzhou City?¡± Speechless, Qin Huai mulled over these mysteries. Through their brief interaction, he¡¯d gained some insight into Yang Tianhan¡¯s knowledge of the bronze realm. Their journey was slow, and they soon arrived at a makeshift campsite nestled against a massive mountain wall. The wall, bronze like the rest of the surroundings, was adorned with intricate bronze patterns, forming a strange scripture. Although the scripture consisted of only about twenty words, Qin Huai understood that comprehending these twenty runes could take a genius several years, if not decades. In front of the mountain wall sat more than a dozen individuals ¡ª men and women, young and old. They each emanated a commanding aura, their power evident. ¡°They seem to be cultivating. We can talk later,¡± Yang Tianhan suggested with a chuckle. ¡°Do you have any more questions?¡± ¡°Have you found a way or a clue to leave this place?¡± Qin Huai asked abruptly. Caught off guard, Yang Tianhan paused before motioning Qin Huai to follow him. They walked to an open space where Yang Tianhan stepped onto thin air, his body seeming to hover mid-air. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes widened, and he reached out, only to touch something transparent. He asked in surprise, ¡°An invisible staircase?¡± ¡°Follow this staircase straight up. You should be able to exit at the end,¡± Yang Tianhan explained, ascending a few steps. ¡°However, I suspect there¡¯s a perilous trial awaiting at the top of the heavenly stairs¡­ Otherwise, more people would have left, and they wouldn¡¯t have lost their memories.¡± Yang Tianhan jumped back down and clapped Qin Huai on the shoulder. ¡°Instead of risking your life trying to leave, why not cultivate this ancient scripture here? Look at this bronze realm and consider the illusion realm we experienced! What tremendous power!¡± His eyes sparkled with fanaticism as he spoke, ¡°After mastering this ancient scripture, there will be no obstacles on your path to cultivation in the future. I doubt anyone in Qingzhou would be able to match that power.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 369 ?369 Intertwined Fates? Qin Huai studied the zealous figure of Yang Tianhan before turning his gaze to the stunning bronze realm that stretched out before him. Indeed, this bronze realm was the epitome of the ancient azure illusion scripture. If he could master this technique, his battle prowess would undoubtedly skyrocket to unfathomable heights. For a martial artist, such a prospect was extraordinarily alluring. Silently, Qin Huai ascended the transparent staircase. ¡°Brother Zhou, what are you doing?¡± Yang Tianhan called from below. ¡°I want to climb up and take a look,¡± Qin Huai answered with a smile, continuing his ascent. ¡°Indeed, magnificent,¡± Qin Huai murmured, continuing his ascent. He climbed perhaps hundreds of meters. From this height, Yang Tianhan on the ground was merely a small black dot. Pausing, Qin Huai observed the undulating waves in the sky. The sheer power behind these waves was palpable. If he stepped into it, he wasn¡¯t certain he could return to Qingzhou City. It was more likely he would perish with his current strength. Retreating a couple of steps, Qin Huai turned his gaze to the sun not far from him. The golden-red celestial body radiated waves of heat, but it wasn¡¯t as scorching as he¡¯d imagined it felt more like a comforting furnace. Surveying the clear sky, he mused, ¡°The sun, the sky, the bronze beasts on the ground, the plants, and the cycle of the sun and moon All of this must be the bronze realm, crafted by the ancient azure illusion scripture. Its power is indeed terrifying.¡± Other than the bronze ground inscribed with cryptic runes, everything else could be an illusion. In the past, such a scene would have been unfathomable. He thought out loud, ¡°With the temptation of such a cultivation technique, many would choose to remain even without the barrier in the sky. Leaving would mean being forever separated from such a unique scripture.¡± Considering the limited number of years one had before reaching thirty, he figured most people didn¡¯t have a choice. The chance of escaping was minimal. Given the inability to communicate with the outside world, the only information they had was based on the few who had managed to leave the bronze realm. After some time, Qin Huai descended to the ground. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Brother Qin.¡± Qin Huai followed Yang Tianhan back to the mountain wall. By the time they reached it, those who had been cultivating had already opened their eyes, one by one. ¡°Newcomer, what¡¯s your name?¡± a middle-aged man with a hawkish nose and icy eyes, seated at the center, inquired. Simultaneously, a subtle wave of murderous intent leaked from his gaze. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, a wandering cultivator from Qingzhou,¡± Qin Huai replied with cupped hands and a respectful bow. Whoosh! Without warning, the hawk-nosed middle-aged man launched an attack on Qin Huai. His palm, reminiscent of an eagle¡¯s talon, charged forward, carving through the air with a sharp aura that elicited a piercing sonic boom. ¡°Boiling blood! Blood dragon form!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s robe fluttered and his muscles swelled to their limits. Drawing his fists to his waist, he launched them forward like heavy artillery. Bang! The bronze ground beneath their feet vibrated with the impact. An explosive force emanated from their point of contact, sweeping through the surroundings like a razor-sharp blade. Rustle, rustle, rustle The grass was sliced, sent into a wild dance in the air. Leaves rustled down, and branches snapped. ¡°What an impressive physique!¡± The bystanders furrowed their brows. The hawk-nosed middle-aged man withdrew his hand. ¡°Two full patterns? His physical form and blood essence far surpass those of his age¡­ It¡¯s almost the same as four full patterns.¡± Qin Huai remained silent, observing the middle-aged man before him. Clearly, he was dealing with an expert who bore five full patterns. ¡°I¡¯ve only been in Qingzhou for two months¡­ and I¡¯ve never set foot in the inner city.¡± ¡°Has that demon not been captured yet?¡± The girl frowned. ¡°That demon is exceedingly cunning and elusive¡­ A lot of visceral prefecture realm experts dispatched by the city have failed to capture it,¡± Qin Huai answered honestly. Their conversation was brief and didn¡¯t extend further. ¡°I¡¯m Lan Zhengtu, a disciple of the Heavenly Eagle sect in Qingzhou!¡± the hawk-nosed middle-aged man announced. ¡°My apologies for the offense earlier.¡± ¡°Sir, what are you talking about?¡± Qin Huai offered a cordial smile. He noted that the Heavenly Eagle sect was not among the prominent sects of Qingzhou. However, judging by Lan Zhengtu¡¯s demeanor, he appeared to be the group¡¯s leader. ¡°We¡¯re all trapped in the bronze realm, so it¡¯s important for us to cooperate and comprehend this technique. Since we share the same plight, our fates are intertwined,¡± Lan Zhengtu said earnestly. ¡°Fates intertwined? Could you elaborate on that?¡± Qin Huai inquired. He could tell Lan Zhengtu had a hidden agenda in mentioning their connected fates. ¡°Didn¡¯t you explain it to him earlier, Yang Tianhan?¡± Lan Zhengtu chided. ¡°Well¡­ I only told him about the heavenly stairway and some minor details of the bronze realm.¡± Yang Tianhan scratched his head, lowering his voice. Lan Zhengtu snorted disdainfully. This scenario left Qin Huai puzzled. Age-wise, Lan Zhengtu and Yang Tianhan seemed to be contemporaries. And in terms of strength, Qin Huai surmised there wouldn¡¯t be much difference between the two. So, as a disciple of the Ghost Ox sect, Yang Tianhan shouldn¡¯t be so deferential to a member of the Heavenly Eagle sect. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 370 - 370 The Grand Slaughter 370 The Grand Slaughter Observing the reactions of the people around him, it seemed they considered the situation perfectly normal. ¡°I¡¯ve already informed him.¡± The girl who had spoken earlier volunteered to clarify. ¡°Array Master Lan, you should continue your cultivation. After all, that event is approaching.¡± ¡°Very well, I leave it to you.¡± Lan Zhengtu acknowledged without any objection. Then, with a wave of his hand, he signaled everyone to sit back in front of the mountain wall. They resumed their cultivation, delving deeper into the understanding of the bronze patterns. ¡°Yang Tianhan, retrieve today¡¯s hunt,¡± Lan Zhengtu ordered. ¡°Yes, Array Master!¡± Yang Tianhan immediately straightened, offered an apologetic smile to Qin Huai, and darted off into the distance. Array Master¡­ Qin Huai mentally filed the term away. Soon, the girl ushered him to the side, and a young man seized the opportunity to throw a lingering glance at Qin Huai before he resumed his cultivation. Walking a short distance away, Qin Huai accompanied the young lady. ¡°My name is Tang Yuqin, the eldest daughter of the Three Heroes of Five Heroes Manor.¡± Tang Yuqin carried herself with confidence, her speech full of complaints. ¡°Looking at your face, I feel so much better. I not only entered the bronze realm but am also surrounded by monstrous-looking men. ¡°Every one of them is so incredibly hideous. Never have I come across such ridiculously ugly fellows in Qingzhou City. Their sight disrupts my appetite and meditation.¡± The more Tang Yuqin complained, the more animated she became. ¡°Can¡¯t you imagine how risky it is for a beautiful young woman like me to stay among these hideous creatures who haven¡¯t touched a woman in decades?¡± Qin Huai listened to Tang Yuqin¡¯s complaints, shaking his head in disbelief. If Tang Yuqin hadn¡¯t spoken, he wouldn¡¯t have guessed she was a woman. Her physique was among the most robust in the group of twenty, and her looks were far from flattering. Even then, she still found it in her to criticize others¡¯ appearances. ¡°Rest assured, Miss Tang,¡± Qin Huai interrupted Tang Yuqin¡¯s incessant complaining. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about the bronze realm first? And the term ¡®Array Master¡¯ you used earlier, what does that mean?¡± ¡°Why the rush?¡± Tang Yuqin turned to glance at Qin Huai. ¡°If you¡¯re this impatient, what will you do when you¡¯re married in the future?¡± Qin Huai found himself bewildered but decided to remain silent and follow Tang Yuqin quietly. After they had traveled a few miles, they finally came to a halt. ¡°Here, touch this spot,¡± Tang Yuqin indicated an area in the air before them. Qin Huai stepped forward, extending his hand towards the location Tang Yuqin had pointed. Thud! A muffled sound echoed as his palm was forced downward, as if it had collided with a wall. Tang Yuqin slowly began to explain, ¡°This bronze realm is divided into countless segments of varying sizes by this unbreakable transparent wall.¡± As she spoke, Tang Yuqin delivered a punch at the transparent barrier. Boom! The ground appeared to tremble as a terrifying force surged, causing the surrounding vegetation to quiver. ¡°This transparent wall, even if you¡¯re a visceral prefecture realm expert, cannot be breached.¡± After making her point, Tang Yuqin steered back to the main discussion. ¡°Each area differs in size, holds a limited set of ancient scriptures, and contains varying energy levels. ¡°If one wishes to comprehend more ancient scriptures and cultivate faster¡­ Choosing a larger segment is crucial¡­¡± Qin Huai nodded, continuing to listen. However, Tang Yuqin fell silent, fixing her gaze solely on Qin Huai. Slightly confused, Qin Huai didn¡¯t quite understand her intent. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asking for more details?¡± Tang Yuqin looked somewhat discontented. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°So, how do I select a larger segment?¡± Qin Huai asked, slightly helpless. Tang Yuqin responded with a satisfied nod. ¡°Every two months, these invisible barriers recede. Simultaneously, everyone¡¯s other cultivation techniques are suppressed, rendering them unusable. ¡°Then, everyone participates in a grand battle within the bronze realm. Everyone can only utilize the power of the ancient scriptures to fight against others. ¡°After each battle, individuals are reassigned to a new area. Moreover, for each adversary defeated, one earns favor from the ancient scripture. When the battle concludes¡­ The more opponents you¡¯ve defeated, the larger space will be allocated to you next time. ¡°The purer the energy of the ancient scripture, the quicker one can cultivate! Because everyone within a block has a stake in it, we refer to each block as an array. The strongest individual within every array is known as the array master.¡± Tang Yuqin approached Qin Huai and said calmly, ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Qin Huai nodded. He was only allowed to use the ancient azure illusion scripture to fight¡­ ¡°Does killing someone in the bronze realm lead to their actual death?¡± Qin Huai asked further. ¡°Of course not. Killing people during this doesn¡¯t result in their real death. But before the grand slaughter commences, killing is permissible,¡± Tang Yuqin clarified. ¡°Thank you for the explanation, Miss Tang,¡± Qin Huai expressed his gratitude, respectfully cupping his fists again. It appeared that Lan Zhengtu was the highest-ranking cultivator in the ancient azure illusion scripture. It now made sense why Lan Zhengtu could reprimand Yang Tianhan, a disciple of the Heavenly Eagle sect. This explained everything. As they began their journey back, Tang Yuqin issued a warning, ¡°Hey, be cautious of that tall, thin rascal.¡± Tall and thin¡­ Qin Huai pondered for a moment, quickly recalling a lanky young man who seemed to be very close to Tang Yuqin earlier. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 371 - 371 Soaring Advancement 371 Soaring Advancement ¡°That fellow is another one of my overly-ardent admirers. He¡¯s incredibly annoying, constantly attempting to curry favor with me all day.¡± Tang Yuqin sighed in exasperation. ¡°It seems unavoidable that an exceptionally beautiful woman like myself would have such followers. He¡¯s the only son of the two heroes of the Five Heroes Mountain, Fang Chuixue.¡± After assessing Qin Huai, she finally gave a reluctant nod. ¡°If you can help me get rid of him, I might just give you a chance to court me.¡± Qin Huai was left speechless. Was he being roped in as a human shield? ¡°I¡¯m not interested in women,¡± Qin Huai replied, his expression unchanged. ¡°Tsk. I¡¯m offering you an opportunity, but you¡¯re refusing it¡­ Regardless of your choice, he will undoubtedly cause trouble for you. You¡¯re on your own. Consider it my reward for all the explanations,¡± Tang Yuqin declared. Qin Huai remained silent. He studied Tang Yuqin¡¯s waist, which was as broad as a barrel, her coarse and dark skin, and her hands that were as sturdy as millstones. This woman¡­ was certainly overly confident and arrogant. Before long, they returned to the mountain wall. Upon arrival, Qin Huai noticed Fang Chuixue immediately glance at him, his eyes gleaming with hostile intent. Qin Huai and Tang Yuqin parted ways, with her settling next to Lan Zhengtu to meditate. On the other hand, Fang Chuixue approached Qin Huai, took a seat beside him, and glared menacingly. ¡°Kid, I advise you not to seduce my wife.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret, Brother. I have no interest in women,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. ¡°Humph! My wife is as charming as a flower, and you claim not to be interested?¡± Fang Chuixue erupted in anger. ¡°Anyone who insults my wife is essentially insulting me!¡± Qin Huai was taken aback by his words. Since meeting Tang Yuqin and Fang Chuixue, he¡¯d lost track of the number of times he¡¯d been left astounded. They were truly a pair of experts. Fang Chuixue glanced in Lan Zhengtu¡¯s direction and whispered, ¡°Kid, focus on your cultivation¡­ I¡¯ll teach you a lesson once the battle commences!¡± This time, Qin Huai chose not to reply, ignoring Fang Chuixue¡¯s ranting. Although he had anticipated that cultivating in a group might agitate some individuals, he hadn¡¯t imagined provoking someone in such a ludicrous way. Positioning himself behind everyone, he sat cross-legged, quietly comprehending the ancient azure illusion scripture inscribed on the mountain wall. Hours slipped away peacefully. His progress with the ancient azure illusion scripture was satisfactory ¡ª he¡¯d accumulated a total of 300 experience points. Since Qin Huai¡¯s life level had been continuously evolving, his innate ability had begun to develop exponentially. Even with an ancient scripture as challenging as the ancient azure illusion scripture, Qin Huai¡¯s extraordinary abilities enabled him to make astonishing progress. Just as expected, Qin Huai required only slightly over three days to join the sect. However, this was only Qin Huai¡¯s own cultivation. Opening his eyes, Qin Huai glanced at the orange, purple, and blue experience orbs dropped by everyone. With just a thought, these orbs instantly flew toward him. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Blue)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +565!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Dark Blue)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +1,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Orange)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +10,000!¡± Over twenty experience orbs surged into Qin Huai¡¯s body in an instant. In just a fleeting moment, his proficiency in the ancient azure illusion scripture broke through the second refinement level, inching towards the third refinement level. Assessing the experience he¡¯d gathered, Qin Huai deduced that the proficiency level of others in the ancient azure illusion scripture was likely not high. Even Lan Zhengtu, the Array Master, was probably only at the great blood refinement level, having taken twenty years to reach this stage. ¡°It appears that the difficulty of cultivating the ancient azure illusion scripture is even greater than I had anticipated,¡± Qin Huai mused. Raising his gaze to the illusion realm, he considered that this level of difficulty was to be expected. His remarkable cultivation speed was probably due to the 100% efficiency of his ancient azure illusion force. ¡­ At nightfall, Yang Tianhan returned from a hunt, having caught several fierce beasts at the fifth-level bone pattern realm. Everyone gathered around the bonfire, feasting on roasted meat and engaging in light-hearted conversations. Yang Tianhan took a spot not too far from Qin Huai, maintaining a polite distance. After everyone had had their fill, they dispersed to their respective territories, with Qin Huai following suit. Positioned at the edge of the invisible wall, he activated the ancient azure illusion scripture. The next moment, in his palm sprouted a peony from his past life ¡ª a beautiful but illusory manifestation. ¡°It¡¯s still quite astonishing,¡± Qin Huai praised, even as he tested out creating several smaller items. Ultimately, he attempted to recreate himself but, as expected, failed. ¡°One day, I might be able to create a world with a single punch, trapping my enemies in a realm similar to the bronze land. I could utilize these illusory creatures to continuously besiege and vanquish them,¡± he pondered aloud. He visualized the potential of the ancient azure illusion scripture and was convinced that others, too, saw its boundless future, which was why they were persistently cultivating it. This ancient scripture indeed held an infinite potential. In the next month, Qin Huai, much like Lan Zhengtu, spent his time seated before the mountain wall, diligently cultivating. However, Qin Huai had an additional method to enhance his skills ¡ª by collecting the experience points dropped by others. With everyone¡¯s unintentional help, Qin Huai¡¯s proficiency in the ancient azure illusion scripture improved rapidly. He quickly reached the sixth refining level, edging closer to the great blood refinement realm. Simultaneously, Yang Tianhan took the initiative to engage in conversation with Qin Huai, gradually strengthening their rapport. Of course, it was inevitable that Tang Yuqin and Fang Chuixue, this strange couple, would cast malicious glances at them. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 372 - 372 Multiple Deceptions 372 Multiple Deceptions In addition to Yang Tianhan, a young man from the Heavenly Eagle sect named Qiao Shijie frequently engaged Qin Huai in conversation. Their talks initially centered around the scenic locales and noteworthy sites of Qingzhou City, but invariably, the discussion would veer towards Qin Huai¡¯s affiliations and loyalties. Qin Huai could surmise that Qiao Shijie aimed to understand his relationship with the Heavenly Eagle sect and discern if there were any animosities between him and other sects. Nonetheless, Qin Huai consistently reiterated his stance as a rogue cultivator, expressing his neutrality towards all factions with a non-committal, ¡°They¡¯re all good.¡± Being a newcomer to the enigmatic bronze realm, Qin Huai had no intention of courting unnecessary conflicts. He chose to remain unobtrusive, devoting his time to cultivation and rest in a quiet corner. While the destinies of the twenty-two individuals present were intertwined due to the bronze realm array, their alliance was tenuous. This was primarily due to their diverse affiliations with different sects in Qingzhou City. According to Yang Tianhan, the gathering included at least five disciples from distinct sects and factions, with a few others of unknown origins. Moreover, several martial artists came from feuding families, contributing to a complex web of alliances and enmities. If it weren¡¯t for the collective goal of cultivating the ancient azure illusion scripture and escaping their predicament, they likely would have already descended into chaos. Thus, the present fragile equilibrium, though far from unity, was the most favorable outcome. Qiao Shijie¡¯s questioning likely stemmed from this complex situation. ¡­ Elsewhere, an old man with a piercing gaze sat atop a small hill, surveying the bronze realm below. Light footsteps sounded behind him. The newcomer¡¯s eyes were always gloomy, but there was a smile on his lips. There were many pockmarks on his face, a sight which often stirred immediate repulsion. The man was Qiao Shijie, the only one who had spoken to Qin Huai throughout the month. He stopped and bowed to Lan Zhengtu, the man clad in a blue robe, before proceeding to pay his respects to the old man. ¡°Lord Yang.¡± The old man was none other than Yang Tianhan, whose demeanor, previously modest while conversing with Lan Zhengtu, was now unmistakably superior. ¡°You¡¯ve been observing Zhou Cunzhong for a month now, right? What is your opinion of him?¡± asked Yang Tianhan. Qiao Shijie, a member of the Heavenly Eagle sect, was gifted with a peculiar sight. On occasion, he could perceive the subtle aura of luck radiating from individuals. While this ability was beyond his control, over the years, it had honed his skill in reading people¡¯s expressions. Held in high regard by the Heavenly Eagle sect, Qiao Shijie had only recently entered the bronze realm, and now, he was closely aligned with Yang Tianhan of the Ghost Ox sect. Qiao Shijie answered with deference, ¡°That person is quite cautious. He rarely reveals anything of consequence and is entirely devoted to his cultivation. Based on our daily exchanges, I¡¯ve discerned that he likely possesses an extraordinary poison technique. Even in conversation, he seems to subconsciously prepare to unleash his poison and practice his strategy.¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°And what about his luck?¡± ¡°A few days ago, I perceived a faint semblance of a dragon dancing around him, its aura commanding and powerful,¡± Qiao Shijie replied, knitting his brows in concentration. Upon hearing this, Yang Tianhan perked up. ¡°Are you suggesting¡­ Could Qin Huai be a true dragon of the Great You?¡± That¡¯s because during the great conflict in the bronze realm, typically only the power of the ancient scriptures could be harnessed. Fighters relied on their physical strength and the potency of the ancient scriptures to vie for a superior position. However, there were exceptions, one of which was the king¡¯s force. Even the force of the bronze realm couldn¡¯t suppress this particular power. In the bronze realm¡¯s battles, the already formidable king¡¯s force would further augment its prestige. Those who would become king-tier in the future would reign supreme in the slaughter, suppressing the vast majority of martial artists. ¡°King¡¯s force¡­¡± Yang Tianhan mused. Regardless of whether it was the true dragon or the king¡¯s force, Qin Huai was undoubtedly a person worth recruiting. ¡°The two of you should try to win over this Qin Huai¡­ Even if you fail, at least avoid offending him,¡± he instructed. As a seasoned member of the Ghost Ox sect, Yang Tianhan understood the formidable nature of the king¡¯s force. As long as these young ones survived, they were destined for exceptional accomplishments. Cultivating the king¡¯s force also meant that they were blessed with great luck. Unless they encountered a monumental disaster or an overwhelming terror, it would be immensely challenging to kill them effortlessly. Hence, it was best not to antagonize such individuals, and he, even as a master in the visceral prefecture realm, was no exception. In the bronze realm, although the people around him were subject to reshuffling every two months, requiring him to change his dwelling, as long as they remained within this realm, their paths were bound to cross again. The bronze realm was unpredictable, and no one could tell what the future held. It was always wise to have a prodigious genius on one¡¯s side. Yang Tianhan sighed, his voice heavy with regret. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for those scoundrels from Wuji Mountain pursuing me, I wouldn¡¯t have forsaken the chance to comprehend the king¡¯s force and advanced to the visceral prefecture realm to evade danger.¡± His eyes blazed with loathing. He had secretly sworn a lifelong vendetta against those bastards of Wuji Mountain. As long as he had the chance, he would kill them all mercilessly. Meanwhile, Qin Huai was oblivious to the fact that Qiao Shijie, the young man who regularly sought him out for conversation, had ulterior motives. Qiao Shijie¡¯s true intent was to employ his special sight to discern Qin Huai¡¯s potential and aptitude. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 373 - 373 The Jiang Clan 373 The Jiang Clan Qin Huai was deeply absorbed in his practice of the clasping vitality and defending one technique. By the time he awakened, it was already past midday. He opened his eyes and began to traverse the forest, his steps light. Each time he touched down, two ¡®selves¡¯ would diverge in separate directions, only converging again upon landing. It was the same technique he employed during his initial encounter with Yang Tianhan ¨C the power of the ancient azure illusion scripture. Shortly thereafter, Qin Huai arrived at the mountain wall. The atmosphere was noticeably tense. The usual unified congregation was replaced with seven groups, each maintaining a cautious distance from the others. Lan Zhengtu, the array master, was clutching a severed head, his gaze emanating deadly intent. Before Qin Huai had a chance to inspect the scene further, Yang Tianhan, who had been lingering at the periphery, hurried over. ¡°Brother Zhou, it¡¯s best not to approach right now,¡± Yang Tianhan cautioned, pulling Qin Huai back a few steps. ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Huai asked, his gaze fixed on the head in Lan Zhengtu¡¯s hand. ¡°One of Lan Zhengtu¡¯s subordinates has been murdered,¡± Yang Tianhan divulged in hushed tones. ¡°Why?¡± Qin Huai frowned, surmising that such an incident was bound to occur sooner or later. ¡°He may have been a subordinate of Master Lan, but he was a disciple of Six Pavilion Lake,¡± Yang Tianhan explained. ¡°In this place, the enemy of Fengling Mountain is Six Pavilion Lake, and the adversary of the Heavenly Eagle sect is the Earth Tiger Gang.¡± The Fengling Mountain representatives were three young men clad in green robes, while the Earth Tiger Gang consisted of a bald middle-aged man and three young members, their animal skin outfits lending them a savage appearance. The remaining individuals were the oddly garbed couple from Five Gorge Manor. Qin Huai scanned the crowd, uncertain about the identity of the perpetrator and disinclined to find out. His sole desire at the moment was to cultivate his technique in peace. Regrettably, he lamented, ¡°It seems my chances of peacefully cultivating by this mountain wall are dwindling.¡± ¡°Indeed, once someone dies, the situation becomes unavoidably unstable,¡± Yang Tianhan responded, his demeanor nonchalant. ¡°In my experience with countless formations, I¡¯ve found that internal strife and conflict are inevitable.¡± Qin Huai considered this and asked, ¡°Brother Yang, who do you suspect is responsible for the death of the man in Master Lan¡¯s hands?¡± ¡°I believe it could be the three young men from Fengling Mountain. Their cultivation mainly revolves around their agility, allowing them to move with the speed of the wind. Their ancestral home, the Jiang clan, specializes in the wind breath technique, which allows for stealthy, silent movement. A combination of these skills would enable a quiet assassination,¡± Yang Tianhan expounded, revealing the trio¡¯s secrets. ¡°Brother Yang, your deep insights truly reflect your status as a disciple of a great sect,¡± Qin Huai praised. Looking at the three young men in question, he fell into contemplation. The Jiang clan¡­ Wasn¡¯t this the lineage he¡¯d identified while researching the breath control technique? He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter them here. ¡°The wind breath technique is indeed a formidable skill. It¡¯s regrettable, however, to witness the precipitous decline of the Jiang clan, once the rulers of Jiangling country, from nearly ten thousand members to fewer than a hundred within a few years,¡± Yang Tianhan lamented. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai was taken aback, his curiosity piqued. He then ventured, ¡°So, I take it that the Jiang clan¡­ must be struggling at present?¡± ¡°You¡¯re mistaken,¡± Yang Tianhan countered with a smile. ¡°Although fewer than a hundred people remain in the Jiang clan, each of them is an extraordinary talent. Regardless of age or gender, any one of them could assume leadership. Following their decline, they sought refuge in Fengling Mountain and, remarkably, emerged as the uncontested rulers within a decade.¡± ¡°That¡¯s indeed quite inspiring,¡± Qin Huai remarked. Contemplating the three young men before him, Qin Huai deduced a likely scenario. Given his numerous encounters with the Sacred Heart sect, he suspected that the rapid downfall of the Jiang clan was related to the sect¡¯s practices. It was probable that those nearly ten thousand clan members had ended up as blood food for these hundred prodigies. ¡°I believe these three also carry the Jiang surname, correct?¡± Qin Huai asked, recalling Yang Tianhan mentioning this detail previously. ¡°How else would I consider them prime suspects?¡± Yang Tianhan responded, maintaining their distant observation. The stand-off amongst the groups eventually concluded without incident, each person selecting a spot along the mountain wall¡¯s perimeter to settle and cultivate. Naturally, the benefits derived from such training were inferior to those gained from sitting directly beneath the stone wall. Yet, given the tense atmosphere, no one dared to practice too close to an unfamiliar face, wary of potentially fatal consequences. Qin Huai likewise selected a relatively secluded spot to immerse himself in studying the ancient azure illusion scripture . The session proceeded without interruption, and he successfully collected several experience points. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Purple)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +2,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Blue)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +1,300!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Green)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +137!¡± After that, he retreated to his own area. ¡­ Late into the night, the three Jiang brothers, donned in their green robes, gathered together. ¡°I told you two several times to bear with it!¡± The eldest, Jiang Yougeng, was livid. ¡°If you¡¯re so desperate to consume blood, couldn¡¯t you have waited until the final day to strike? By then, we¡¯d be in the middle of the grand slaughter and could easily evade suspicion.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 374 - 374 Completing the Puzzle 374 Completing the Puzzle ¡°If you lack even this level of patience, how can you expect to accomplish great things in the future?¡± Jiang Yougeng berated his brothers, his eyes filled with contempt. ¡°Big Brother, two months is simply too long¡­ We¡¯ve never had to endure such hardship when we were in Qingzhou City,¡± his second brother, Jiang Youyin, responded with a pained expression. Noticing the escalating tension, the youngest, Jiang Youchen, swiftly retrieved a long object wrapped in tree branches, offering it to his eldest brother. ¡°Big Brother, I¡¯ve saved this for you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Jiang Yougeng asked, despite already having a suspicion. Upon unwrapping the object, he discovered an arm, apparently that of a Six Pavilion Lake disciple. ¡°How could you carry around something like this?¡± Jiang Yougeng scolded, though his face betrayed no true anger. Instead, he seized the arm and began to consume it greedily. As his younger brother had pointed out, they had never gone a month without consuming blood while outside. Within a few bites, Jiang Yougeng had devoured the entire arm, bones and all. ¡°Awesome!¡± Jiang Yougeng admitted with sincere satisfaction. ¡°Right, Big Brother? Compare this to the low-quality food we¡¯ve had to settle for outside¡­ the quality of blood food here is far superior,¡± Jiang Youchen argued, his words carrying a hypnotic undertone. ¡°Consider that those capable of entering the bronze realm are all exceptional talents, having at least two or three full patterns. To use them as blood food¡­ it¡¯s nothing short of gourmet.¡± Jiang Yougeng found himself swayed ¡ª the arm had indeed been tantalizingly delicious. ¡°It¡¯s relatively easy for us, each bearing three full patterns, to ambush and kill a lone person,¡± Jiang Youchen pressed further. ¡°But now¡­ I don¡¯t believe there are any individuals left in solitude,¡± Jiang Yougeng countered, still slightly apprehensive and fearing potential backlash. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong! We¡¯ve already identified our next target¡­ It¡¯s the newcomer with the surname Zhou. I¡¯ve been observing him. He¡¯s always alone,¡± Jiang Youyin chimed in suddenly. ¡°Heh¡­ It seems like you two have this all figured out.¡± Jiang Yougeng shook his head, a plan forming in his mind. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do, we split into two groups. You two go after Qin Huai, while I create a diversion near the mountain wall to deflect suspicion.¡± ¡°Big Brother, isn¡¯t that a bit overly cautious¡­¡± Jiang Youyin began to protest. ¡°Better to err on the side of caution,¡± Jiang Yougeng insisted. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll follow your plan!¡± Jiang Youchen instantly complied. ¡°Be careful. That Zhou fellow is formidable, so you must kill him in one blow!¡± Jiang Yougeng warned. ¡°Understood!¡± both younger brothers acknowledged, promptly darting in Qin Huai¡¯s direction. Their individual strengths could be deemed average or even slightly below within the present crowd. However, in the realm of ambushes and assassinations, they ranked among the top twenty contenders. Even those boasting four or five full patterns could potentially meet their end if caught off guard by these brothers. The most crucial factor, however, was their numbers. While others roamed in packs, they specifically targeted lone wolves. Swiftly traversing the forest, the two brothers traversed several miles with ease. ¡°Second Brother, we¡¯re close. Zhou Cunzhong should be encamped just ahead,¡± Jiang Youchen whispered. Exchanging a glance, they stealthily approached Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation site. After a moment, they found themselves standing before a hollowed-out tree, looking at each other in confusion. Jiang Youyin crouched down to inspect the hollow. It was devoid of warmth, indicating that it hadn¡¯t been occupied recently. ¡°Let¡¯s continue the search.¡± Despite prowling the area for another few miles, their efforts bore no fruit. ¡­ Meanwhile, Jiang Yougeng was counting down the time. ¡°Given those two¡¯s speed, they should arrive soon,¡± he mused, rising to approach the mountain wall. Abruptly, he froze, turning to regard a fast-approaching figure. ¡°Why are you back?¡± he asked, an eyebrow rising in mild surprise. The next second, his expression twisted in horror. The newcomer¡¯s eyes blazed with a blinding white light, heralding the descent of an overwhelming power. Bamboo, locust trees, and pines within the vicinity were instantly flattened. Stomping his foot down, Jiang Yougeng attempted to leap into the air. However, his legs felt heavy as if bound to the earth by unseen chains. A massive force hurtled towards him in an instant. ¡°Forbidden technique, three beasts!¡± Boom! Jiang Yougeng¡¯s perception broadened abruptly as he bore witness to his own disfiguration. In the following moment, his eyes burst, his facial bones shattered, and his skull caved in. The resounding explosion of his demise sent his body crashing to the leaf-strewn ground. His body twitched spasmodically a few times before finally growing still. Qin Huai looked upon the corpse before him, his gaze devoid of emotion. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence], [Blood Heart Technique] experience +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Wind Breath Technique Essence (Red)], [Wind Breath Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Lanshan Kick Technique Essence (Red)], [Lanshan Kick Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Wind Breath Technique Comprehension], [Wind Breath Force] +34%!¡± A flood of experience instantly filled Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Qin Huai had been honing his skills in the hurricane of the mountain stream. He was mastering the control of his breath and body within the wind, learning to harmonize his movements with the gusts. In the heart of the wind valley, he threw a punch, experiencing the raw power of the wind. Soon, a vein pattern appeared on Qin Huai¡¯s leg bones, bearing the semblance of a mountain breeze. It was somewhat abstract, but it felt as though a thousand-kilogram boulder had been lifted from Qin Huai¡¯s legs. ¡°Now, I¡¯ve gathered all five cultivation techniques.¡± Qin Huai felt very satisfied, especially with the wind breath technique. He had managed to gather enough pieces to complete this puzzle. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 375 - 375 Its a Free 375 It¡¯s a Free-For-All ¡°I was right. The three Jiang brothers are indeed disciples of the Sacred Heart, cultivating the Blood Heart Sutra,¡± Qin Huai muttered as he searched Jiang Yougeng thoroughly. His findings were modest ¡ª a few hundred thousand silver notes which, unfortunately, held no value in the bronze realm. Their worth couldn¡¯t be realized within a short period. He glanced around, unsure of the whereabouts of the remaining two. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been rather fortunate,¡± Qin Huai murmured, proceeding to obliterate Jiang Yougeng¡¯s head completely, ensuring no evidence of his intervention remained. He initially considered waiting for the remaining two, but after contemplation, he decided against it. He was wary of them using the wind breath technique for assassination and waiting would only give them the upper hand. Additionally, the odds would likely be two against one ¡ª a risk he didn¡¯t need to take. In the bronze realm, Qin Huai dared not underestimate anyone. Everyone here was a genius with an arsenal of tricks. Retracing his steps, Qin Huai considered the poison situation. Not much poison remained in his body, as his robe had been mostly destroyed during his fight with Wen Zonghao, causing the poison to dissipate. The garments had only been repaired after entering the bronze realm, so no need to worry about a corpse. Practicing the newly learned wind breath technique, Qin Huai reduced his footstep noise to nearly inaudible levels. His breath was incredibly light too. Compared to the suppression technique learned earlier, this was far superior. Moreover, the experience gained from Jiang Yougeng propelled his relevant cultivation techniques to the fifth refinement level. Upon returning to his usual residence, he was about to settle down when he noticed two faint footprints in the hollow he¡¯d dug. ¡°Who¡¯s been here¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered, scanning his surroundings. Could it be the other two Jiang brothers? That would be an uncanny coincidence. Choosing caution, Qin Huai relocated another two miles away and dug another hole. Sleep, however, eluded him. Instead, he sat, activating the divine power book of a thousand creations to transform the remaining two cultivation techniques into the ancient azure illusion scripture. His blood heart technique was already at the sixth refinement level, with the experience bar half full. It was not far from the great blood refinement level. In comparison, Lan Zhengtu, who was the strongest in the ancient azure illusion scripture, had only reached the great blood refinement realm after cultivating for decades. Suddenly, a bone-chilling scream pierced the night, instantly shattering the tranquility. ¡°Ah! Big brother!¡± The wails echoed through the camp, setting off a flurry of panicked wildlife. ¡°Could it be the Fengling Mountain brothers were discovered?¡± Qin Huai pondered, looking in the direction of the commotion. It seemed to originate from the area he had visited. ¡°Did they find the headless bodies?¡± Qin Huai had no intention of investigating the commotion. Perched on the tree, he continued to meditate on the divine power book of a thousand creations. Regardless of whether the Fengling Mountain brothers had been discovered or his handiwork was uncovered, he felt safe as neither party bore any grudge against him. At most, they would confront each other and perhaps engage in a skirmish before eventually discontinuing their feud. ¡­ Things progressed as Qin Huai anticipated. The two remaining brothers, Jiang Youyin and Jiang Youchen, returned empty-handed and dejected, only to be confronted by the gruesome sight of their decapitated brother. They were immediately consumed by rage. The relationship between the brothers was extraordinary, far surpassing typical familial bonds. Together since birth, they shared meals, bullied fellow disciples, indulged in the same woman, and combated rival sects and branches. Their decision to join the Sacred Heart sect to cultivate the blood heart technique was unanimous. However, now their elder brother was gone. Blaming Lan Zhengtu and the Heavenly Eagle sect, the brothers swore revenge, gritting their teeth. ¡°We must avenge Big Brother,¡± Jiang Youchen managed to say, his rage barely contained. ¡­ A mournful wail marked the end of the night. By morning, an unrested Qin Huai hastened towards the mountain wall. Before he could reach it, however, an explosion echoed from the direction he was headed. Hastening his steps, he was met with a long log flying across the sky. Whoosh! The log exploded before his eyes, splintering into countless fragments that scattered like stray arrows. Unfazed, Qin Huai allowed the fragments to crash against him, turning to dust on impact. Quickening his pace, he made his way to the center of the battlefield, parting obstructing trees. Despite being prepared for the chaos, the sight still stunned him. Twenty individuals were embroiled in a fierce skirmish. Qin Huai, who was already clueless about everyone¡¯s identities, was even more confused about which camp they belonged to. It seemed that everyone had a bone to pick with anyone who crossed their path, which left him feeling overwhelmed. All of a sudden, Qin Huai¡¯s scalp went numb. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 376 ?376 Joining the Fray A long sword emitting a frigid gleam descended rapidly. Qin Huai¡¯s skin took on a reddish tint as his aura fully deployed. His fists surged forward, colliding with the blade and sparking like a clash of treasured weapons. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, you must be the one who killed him!¡± The person who confronted him was none other than Tang Yuqin¡¯s fianc, Fang Chuixue. As the saying goes, ¡®Seeing your enemy makes your eyes turn red.¡¯ The moment Fang Chuixue spotted Qin Huai, he charged at him relentlessly. ¡°Experience my Five Heroes Manor¡¯s hanging moon sword technique!¡± Fang Chuixue unleashed a ferocious slash, his blade surrounded by an intimidating aura resembling a full moon. The dazzling gleam of each swing made it difficult for Qin Huai to anticipate his attacks. Qin Huai deflected each blow using both fists, leveraging the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and ten-dragon force. Under the emotional onslaught from Fang Chuixue, they retreated from the center of the battlefield, distancing themselves from the conflict. ¡°Your physical strength is indeed formidable, comparable to a treasured weapon,¡± Fang Chuixue commented. ¡°You must have trained a lot to seduce women.¡± His remarks became more biting as his strikes intensified. Qin Huai started to wonder if he practiced some high-grade cultivation technique that bolstered his vitality the more he taunted. Driven by curiosity, Qin Huai found himself retreating more swiftly, struggling increasingly to resist his assault. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Looks like you¡¯re finding this more challenging,¡± Fang Chuixue observed, noting Qin Huai¡¯s unsteady steps. He was no longer agile, instead tracing a clumsy path backward, sometimes nearly collapsing. His arm showed signs of injury, blood staining the skin. ¡°Almost, almost! Almost!¡± The sight of his successful blows exhilarating him, Fang Chuixue knew that Qin Huai was nearing his limit. ¡°No matter how resilient your body is, you¡¯re still an ant in front of my four-full-pattern advantage! Rogue cultivators like you are nothing compared to disciples from large sects like ours!¡± His roar reached a crescendo. And then, with a powerful thrust, he breached Qin Huai¡¯s defense, blood splattering his form. His face lit up with a triumphant grin. ¡°Go to hell, pretty boy!¡± he screamed, his voice breaking with the force of his shout. ¡°Hanging moon sword, falling full moon!¡± Whoosh! A cold light transformed into a round plate, plunging from above. Simultaneously, another disc emerged from the shadow beneath Qin Huai¡¯s feet. With a whistling sound, the sharp radiance slashed through the air. In Fang Chuixue¡¯s eyes, Qin Huai¡¯s body seemed to cleave in two from his private part. ¡°Alright!¡± Fang Chuixue roared triumphantly. But his cheers halted abruptly as an overwhelming force assaulted him from behind. Bang! Bang! Bang! He grunted as his body quivered. Unsteadily, he looked down at the two fists that had pierced his chest. Qin Huai, who had appeared to be cleaved apart, disintegrated into smoke and vanished. ¡°What¡± Fang Chuixue slowly turned, meeting the dazzling white light in his eyes. ¡°King¡± he began but never finished. His body crumbled instantaneously. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Moon Hanging Sword Technique Essence (Red)], [Moon Hanging Sword Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Roaring Breath Technique Essence (Red)], [Roaring Breath Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence (Purple)], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +4,000!¡± Qin Huai absorbed all the experience orbs into his body. ¡°I really didn¡¯t want to kill you But you insisted on confronting me.¡± Qin Huai looked helplessly at the blood and remains scattered across the sky. Although he had a low opinion of this egotistical and peculiar couple, it had not escalated to wanting them obliterated. He could even keep a distance from Tang Yuqin. But he hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Chuixue would seize this opportunity to strike him. ¡°Roaring breathing technique To think there was such a cultivation technique that relied on shouting to increase its power,¡± Qin Huai remarked, amazed. He held endless admiration for the martial arts masters of this world. Just this level of inventiveness deserved his respect. ¡°But it¡¯s a pity that I can¡¯t assess if my acting skills have improved from Fang Chuixue¡¯s perspective,¡± Qin Huai said, shaking the blood off his armor. Fang Chuixue had not suspected him at all. Reflecting on his various actions, Qin Huai was hesitant to score his acting prowess. He resumed his trek towards the mountain wall. In the forest, the battlefield had scattered, with the sounds of fierce combat echoing from all directions. Qin Huai did not want to waste this opportunity he intended to scavenge the aftermath. These combatants were all prodigies, and the experience points they dropped could potentially enhance his blood heart technique or ancient azure illusion scripture. The real killers were the Jiang brothers, the Earth Tiger Gang, and the Heavenly Eagle sect, who were engaged in a brutal conflict. Qin Huai spotted numerous bloodstains in the forest. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 377 - 377 Keeping Secrets! 377 Keeping Secrets! ¡°Just now, near the mountain wall, Lan Zhengtu seemed to have lost an arm,¡± Qin Huai mused, recalling the scene. He was tempted by the notion of an expert with five full patterns being severely injured. Yet, after careful thought, he decided against making a move. Lan Zhengtu was surrounded by a formidable entourage, which would make the task far from easy. As the sun set and the moon rose, the turmoil within the forest began to subside. It appeared as though the warring factions had reached an implicit truce. Unable to locate Lan Zhengtu or the Jiang brothers, Qin Huai eventually gave up his search. Along his path, he had collected various cultivation techniques and a significant amount of experience. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to refine these experience points first,¡± Qin Huai decided, heading back to his territory. It was arguably the safest location, given that nobody paid much attention to an outsider like him. He settled down cross-legged at the edge of an invisible wall, activating the divine power book of thousand creations to transform the accumulated experience points into those applicable to the ancient azure illusion scripture. Inside the world of his dantian, the bronze wall teemed with life, the vibrant grasslands and forests all a lush green. Consequently, the experience points for the ancient azure illusion scripture soared. Within a few hours, Qin Huai had elevated it to the great blood refinement level, which was the seventh refinement tier. ¡°Phew¡­¡± He exhaled softly, then opened his eyes. From his palm, a broken branch shot out like a sharp arrow. Whoosh! The incoming person narrowly dodged the projectile, which then embedded itself in a large tree, buzzing ominously. ¡°Brother Zhou, it¡¯s me,¡± Yang Tianhan called from a short distance away, a smile on his face as he raised his hands placatingly. ¡°So, it¡¯s Brother Yang,¡± Qin Huai said, rising to greet him with a smile. ¡°Brother Zhou, are you alright?¡± Yang Tianhan asked with genuine concern in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I had a few encounters and sustained some injuries,¡± Qin Huai replied, rolling up his sleeves to reveal the wounds inflicted by Fang Chuixue. He had intentionally refrained from using the blood heart technique for healing. ¡°It¡¯s baffling who triggered the disruption, turning the previously peaceful atmosphere into chaos.¡± Yang sighed, then furrowed his brows. ¡°Didn¡¯t Brother Yang mention yesterday? It must¡¯ve been the three brothers from Fengling Mountain,¡± Qin Huai replied, feigning ignorance. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The eldest among the Fengling Mountain brothers is dead! Only their bodies remain in Fengling Mountain, while those from the Heavenly Eagle sect have entirely disappeared. What does that suggest?¡± ¡°There are many possibilities. Brother Yang should be at ease,¡± Qin Huai comforted him. ¡°In any case, in a few days, there will be a significant skirmish, after which everyone will depart.¡± Yang Tianhan sighed again. ¡°It¡¯s futile. If this internal strife continues, everyone will eventually meet their demise.¡± ¡°Big Brother Yang, why do you say that?¡± Qin Huai asked, taken aback. ¡°Even though this ancient scripture is potent, Brother Zhou, you should sense the difficulty in cultivating it,¡± Yang Tianhan pointed out. Qin Huai nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the most challenging thing I¡¯ve ever encountered.¡± ¡°Our array master, Lan Zhengtu, has also been here for two decades. Despite his exceptional talent, he has only cultivated the ancient scripture to the seventh refinement.¡± A realization struck Qin Huai, and his heart skipped a beat. ¡®If Brother Yang has been here for so many years, he must have a grasp on the cultivation level achieved by the elites of the bronze realm with respect to the ancient scripture.¡¯ ¡°As far as I know, over the past two decades¡­ No one has managed to cultivate the ancient scripture to the bone pattern level,¡± Yang Tianhan revealed. ¡°Even those favored by the heavens and with the king¡¯s force are powerless.¡± His expression grew solemn as he spoke. ¡°The highest level attained is the ninth refinement.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Qin Huai asked, startled. Yang Tianhan¡¯s voice deepened. ¡°The higher the level of the ancient azure illusion scripture, the more difficult it becomes to cultivate. But that¡¯s only a part of the challenge. ¡°The most crucial obstacle is deciphering the power of the ancient scripture within the bronze realm. If I can¡¯t cultivate the power of the ancient scripture, naturally, I can¡¯t advance to the bone pattern realm.¡± ¡°So, the power of the ancient scripture is elusive¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered, contemplating. He recalled his experience at the Azure Dragon Pass in the Nine Dragons sect, where he had accumulated his ancient azure illusion power. He wondered whether the Azure Dragon Pass could be a significant component of the bronze realm. If such a secret were to leak, the Nine Dragons Gate would be doomed. Undoubtedly, numerous sects and bandits would vie to seize the Azure Dragon Pass, with attempts to silence him to keep the secret under wraps. However, currently, the bronze realm had successfully remained isolated, shielding the Nine Dragons sect from this potential calamity. In any case, none of the bronze realm inhabitants had reached the great blood refinement realm, suggesting that their mastery of the ancient scripture was no better. Hence, Qin Huai had a fair chance of gaining an advantage in the imminent battle. ¡°Brother Zhou, would you consider joining my Ghost Ox sect?¡± Yang Tianhan extended an invitation. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Before you refuse, bear in mind that my Ghost Ox sect, while not the strongest in our immediate vicinity, has an impressively large number of geniuses across the entire bronze realm. Joining my sect would mean gaining a protective ally wherever you go in the future.¡± Qin Huai politely declined with a smile. ¡°I appreciate your offer, but I value my freedom. I¡¯m not accustomed to being bound by any organization.¡± While the Ghost Ox sect was a formidable entity, it surely had enemies, potentially matching its strength. If Qin Huai allied himself with the Ghost Ox sect, there was no guarantee of his safety, especially as an outsider. Moreover, he was likely to become a target for rival factions. ¡°What a pity,¡± Yang Tianhan said, shaking his head with a smile. ¡°Take your time to think it over. You can give me your decision in a few days.¡± As Yang Tianhan departed, his gaze remained inscrutable. Left alone, Qin Huai closed his eyes once again, activating the divine power book of thousand creations to convert a vast number of cultivation techniques into ancient azure illusion force. Barring any unexpected complications, he expected it to break through to the bone pattern realm within a month. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 378 ?378 Recruiting New Disciples The relationship between the various forces, already fraught with tension and distrust, had been completely torn apart, thanks to the Jiang brothers. Each visit to the mountain wall now resulted in fierce, often brutal, confrontations. Consequently, within half a month, the mountain wall had been transformed into a forbidden zone. Everyone refrained from entering, choosing instead to observe the bronze runes on the ground, using them as an aid to understand and cultivate the ancient azure illusion scripture. Meanwhile, Qin Huai stealthily navigated through the forest, quietly collecting the experience points that others had dropped. Regrettably, this method yielded minimal results. The presence of numerous experts, coupled with their heightened vigilance, made it challenging. Additionally, the various cultivation techniques practiced by these individuals varied widely, each possessing unique divine abilities. Thus, Qin Huai found himself on the run most of the time. Nevertheless, he took solace in the experience points gifted to him by Big Brother Jiang and Fang Chuixue. In half a month, he managed to refine all the cultivation techniques with the aid of the divine power book of a thousand creations. Within the world of his dantian, the vitality on the bronze wall had increased. Blood-red tigers and wolves could often be seen darting through the grass and forest, leaving trails of afterimages on the bronze wall. Even the white dragon, emerging from the dragon pearl, would occasionally wander around the bronze landscape. On occasion, the bronze ground would emit a faint light, revealing more mysterious runes, including the forms of a white dragon and a tiger wolf. Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes, murmuring, ¡°Just a little more.¡± His progress in the ancient azure illusion scripture was neither overly fast nor sluggish. He had reached a frustrating juncture, stuck at level 94 with 5231/10000 points. He had attempted to convert these techniques into the ancient azure illusion scripture and the poison king technique. Surprisingly, he found that the same amount of experience points could be converted into the poison king technique far more efficiently than into the ancient azure illusion scripture. This discrepancy was likely due to the varying difficulties of cultivating the said two techniques. ¡°With only half a month left, I fear I won¡¯t reach the bone pattern realm simply by covertly collecting experience points,¡± Qin Huai mused. If it hadn¡¯t been for the interference of the Jiang brothers, his progress in the ancient azure illusion scripture would have already reached the bone pattern realm. ¡°Every grievance has its master; every debt has its debtor. Looks like I may need to make the Jiang brothers suffer a little,¡± Qin Huai reflected, his gaze drifting toward their location. In addition to his progress with the ancient azure illusion scripture, Qin Huai had also discovered a peculiar aspect of his flame longevity technique. Analyzing his battle with Wen Zonghao, he realized that the power of the flame longevity technique seemed to increase in tandem with his cultivation level. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t explain why the energy derived from a mere five years of his lifespan could harm an expert of the visceral prefecture realm. ¡°The power of the flame longevity technique is impressive, but it comes at the expense of my lifespan,¡± Qin Huai pondered. No matter how extended one¡¯s lifespan was, the anxiety of losing it remained unless one was immortal. Currently, Qin Huai possessed nearly seven hundred years of lifespan, far exceeding even a visceral prefecture realm expert. However, he would still be anxious for a while every time he used the flame longevity technique. Despite his unease, he embarked towards the location of the Jiang brothers, using the wind breath technique to minimize his aura and fluctuations in blood essence. As he stealthily approached, the world around him seemed oddly silent following the demise of those within the array. As he neared the Jiang brothers¡¯ territory, he slowed his pace, proceeding with extreme caution. Suddenly, he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Yang Tianhan? What are you doing here?¡± Peering through the dense forest, he spotted Yang Tianhan standing before the Jiang brothers. Confusion welled up within him. What was Yang doing there? As he listened attentively to their conversation from his hidden position, his confusion deepened. ¡°Actually I¡¯m here to persuade you two,¡± Yang Tianhan addressed the Jiang brothers, his face adorned with a smile. ¡°What?¡± Jiang Youyin retorted sarcastically, ¡°Are you trying to persuade me to apologize to your master?¡± The Jiang brothers, despite being face-to-face with Yang Tianhan, refrained from launching an attack. Their reluctance stemmed from fear any harm inflicted on Yang Tianhan now would only exacerbate their conflict with Lan Zhengtu. With half a month left until the great slaughter, they didn¡¯t believe they could evade the Heavenly Eagle sect¡¯s pursuit completely. So, if they wished to eliminate Yang Tianhan, they would have to wait until the night before the massacre. Unfazed by their hostility, Yang Tianhan shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m here to persuade you to join our Ghost Ox sect. While our status here may not be lofty, we have a multitude of experts across the entire bronze realm. Our young champion, Little Cattle King Le Ji¡¯an, is also in the bronze realm. You two, being of the same generation, should be well aware of his capabilities.¡± In the forest, Qin Huai quietly took in their whispered conversation. It appeared that Yang Tianhan was still attempting to recruit martial artists from various sects to the Ghost Ox sect, likely driven by his desire for revenge for Lan Zhengtu¡¯s humiliation. The Jiang brothers seemed to hesitate at Yang Tianhan¡¯s proposition. Joining the Ghost Ox sect, an undeniable powerhouse in Qingzhou, would undoubtedly ease their journey within the bronze realm. But their shared glance revealed their shared thoughts. They would have readily joined the Ghost Ox sect if they hadn¡¯t been practicing the blood heart technique. Now, they were disciples of the Sacred Heart sect, practicing a forbidden technique. This was a dark art, intolerable within Qingzhou. If the Ghost Ox sect discovered this, they would face not protection but outright attack. Skeptically, one of them replied, ¡°Hehe Who knows if your Ghost Ox sect is on the same side as the Heavenly Eagle sect?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 379 ?379 Another Ambush ¡°What if we fall into a trap after joining? How would we defend ourselves?¡± The Jiang brothers spoke in unison, their words clearly conveying their refusal to join. ¡°Are you absolutely sure you won¡¯t reconsider?¡± Yang Tianhan implored. Their rejection was more steadfast this time, ¡°No!¡± They had experienced enough to know that disciples from the Ghost Ox sect extending such an invitation likely had ulterior motives. It was probable that they intended harm. ¡°Get lost while I¡¯m still in a good mood!¡± Jiang Youchen¡¯s words were laced with lethal intent. ¡°Are you really not going to reconsider?¡± Yang Tianhan asked once more, apparently undeterred by their hostility. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Their suspicion towards the Ghost Ox sect member only deepened. ¡°What a pity. I¡¯ll take my leave then.¡± Yang Tianhan shook his head, turned, and began to walk away. Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Youyin sneered. ¡°This Yang Tianhan is likely a two-faced devil. He appears sincere, but I suspect he harbors sinister intentions.¡± His brother, Jiang Youchen, nodded in agreement. In the forest, Qin Huai observed Yang Tianhan¡¯s departure, a faint white light flickering on his fist. Within his dantian world, the dragon king stirred he was prepared for what was to come. Boom! But before he could make a move, a phantom image of a charging bull suddenly plummeted from the sky. It swooped down with such force that trees bowed and grass whirled wildly in the air. The impact was catastrophic, as if the world was about to collapse. Blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the ground red. Whoosh Whoosh Yang Tianhan returned to the scene, his brows furrowing at the sight of the foul-smelling blood. ¡°This is¡­ the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s cultivation technique?¡± He waved his hand to dispel the stench. ¡°What unfortunate luck. I didn¡¯t expect to cross paths with the Sacred Heart sect here.¡± He quickly rose and ventured deeper into the forest. Yang Tianhan preferred not to provoke the Sacred Heart sect, as he knew about their infiltrations into Qingzhou City prior to his arrival in the bronze realm. Their members were deeply embedded within the major sects of Qingzhou City. If they set their sights on him, even as a visceral prefecture realm expert, his life would be in jeopardy. Qin Huai, still concealed in the forest, watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes. So, Yang Tianhan was a visceral prefecture realm expert. He had done a good job hiding that fact¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s heart pounded at the thought of his recent refusal of Yang Tianhan¡¯s invitation. Witnessing the demise of the Jiang brothers, he felt as though he had narrowly escaped a dance with death. These individuals were elites of Qingzhou City, so it was no surprise their cultivation had advanced after decades in the bronze realm. However, based on Qin Huai¡¯s knowledge, advancing through realms wasn¡¯t a simple matter of cultivation. One needed a compatible spirit item to refine in conjunction with their cultivation technique to achieve a breakthrough. Clearly, it was impossible to find a suitable spirit item to guard one¡¯s self within the bronze realm. Yet, Qin Huai had witnessed Yang Tianhan¡¯s visceral prefecture realm firsthand it couldn¡¯t have been a ruse. This implied that Yang Tianhan might have been a visceral prefecture realm expert even before entering the bronze realm. In other words, he had advanced to the next level before reaching the age of thirty. Fortunately, the experience orbs near the corpses were still present. In his line of sight, those orbs suddenly darted toward him. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Wind Breath Technique Essence (Red)], [Wind Breath Technique] experience points +100,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Wind Breath Technique Comprehension], [Wind Breath Force] +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence], [Blood Heart Technique] experience points +3%!¡± As he absorbed the immense amount of cultivation memories from the experience orb, Qin Huai remained perfectly still, hidden in the grass and silently awaiting the passage of time. Whoosh! Suddenly, Yang Tianhan returned to the chaotic scene. His gaze scanned the surrounding grass and trees before he murmured something under his breath and vanished once again. Hidden in the grass, Qin Huai scarcely dared to breathe. After waiting another fifteen minutes, he stood up and quickly returned the way he came. As night fell, the darkness, albeit artificial, sent a chill down one¡¯s spine. Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the ground, exhaling gently. A green sprout slowly emerged from the top of his head, followed by a robust root. In an instant, a wildflower blossomed atop his head. Weeds began sprouting from Qin Huai¡¯s limbs, as if he were the most fertile land, nurturing the growth of flora with astonishing speed. Soon after, his skin began to shrivel and darken, assuming a texture akin to tree bark. Fifteen minutes later, Qin Huai¡¯s form had been completely transformed into a wooden stake. This stake then began to pulsate with life, growing into a six to seven-meter-high tree, extending its branches, and bearing green leaves and fruits. ¡°Each flower, each blade of grass, each tree¡­ Qi and blood nourish the spirit, thus creating the illusion realm,¡± Qin Huai murmured. Just as in the bronze realm, vitality flourished within Qin Huai¡¯s dantian world, with plants freely growing and swaying. Qin Huai stood and gently punched the tree before him. ¡°Wither,¡± he murmured. His fist never made contact with the tree, but at the sound of Qin Huai¡¯s voice, the tree immediately withered. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 380 ?380 Illusion Realm Fist! The once green leaves withered and fell, disintegrating into dust mid-air. The tree trunk lost its vitality and gradually faded away. ¡°Grow,¡± Qin Huai murmured. Without making a move, the withered trees before him once again shone with life, restoring themselves even stronger than before. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The trees stood tall and vibrant, neither withered nor robust. It was as if nothing had transpired. ¡°My punch can directly imbue the target with the environment I create,¡± Qin Huai mused to himself. Within the illusion realm, he held sway over life and death. However, the adversary wouldn¡¯t truly perish. His move was a spiritual assault, targeting the opponent¡¯s soul directly. If the adversary failed to break free, they would succumb to old age within the illusion realm Qin Huai created, or they would fall to his next strike. ¡°If I can use the ancient azure illusion scripture to manifest a living entity, I should be capable of crafting a world akin to the Azure Dragon Pass¡­ In such a case, it wouldn¡¯t be a mere immobilizing technique, but a direct obliteration of the soul,¡± Qin Huai pondered. Whether it was the illusion realm fist, with its immobilizing effect, or the move he would glean from the ancient azure illusion scripture in the future, both of them bypassed the opponent¡¯s physical attacks and treasured weapons. If implemented in actual combat, the results would undoubtedly be astonishing. Such capabilities were not beyond his reach. He had a feeling that once he cultivated the ancient azure illusion scripture to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, he could accomplish this. Creating a bronze world in the illusion realm wasn¡¯t an impossible feat. The following half month passed quietly. The demise of the Jiang brothers went largely uninvestigated. Even the Earth Tiger Gang, their allies, raised no questions. The tension within the array did not dissipate, however. Everyone endured a silent half month. Yang Tianhan didn¡¯t seek him out again. Everyone remained within their territories, quietly focusing on cultivation. Qin Huai was no different. Not one for trouble, he continued cultivating the blood heart technique and the clasping vitality and defending one technique in seclusion. One morning, Qin Huai sensed something peculiar. He slowly opened his eyes, finding his surroundings unfamiliar. It was no longer the place where he cultivated. A quick check revealed no change in his physique. ¡°The power of the bronze realm is truly enigmatic. Even with the ancient azure illusion scripture cultivated to the bone pattern realm, I can¡¯t discern any anomalies,¡± Qin Huai mused. He executed the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, causing his blood to surge. The divine power book of a thousand creations, the blood heart technique, and the wind breath technique were still accessible. Qin Huai abandoned the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, his eyes gradually glowing white. The dragon king¡¯s qi also followed the meridians and merged with his blood, qi, and muscles. Having reached two full patterns, Qin Huai could force his blood to boil, mimicking the boiling blood effect of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, leading to the completion of his dragon king form. The power was slightly weaker, however. The light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes dimmed. Observing his surroundings, he couldn¡¯t discern the border within this vast, unfamiliar terrain. He had no choice but to take a gamble, choosing a random direction and darting forth. After covering a mile, Qin Huai¡¯s body abruptly sank. Two formidable forces collided within the forest, whipping up a gust that swayed the treetops, causing them to rustle like golden spears. Qin Huai slowed his pace, approaching stealthily. He spotted two groups standing on a slight incline, observing each other from a distance. To the far left were six individuals garbed in loose white robes. The man at the forefront, possessing long hair and a nonchalant gaze, seemed to be their leader. On the right were a total of sixteen people, dressed in various outfits and of diverse ages. The man leading them emanated a deadly aura. He was bald and wore a vibrant red robe. His slender, three-meter-tall body was adorned with red eyebrows, giving him the appearance of an enraged lion rather than an evil creature. This was Thunderbolt Gang¡¯s Hua Yanli. Qin Huai recognized him instantly. The group behind him seemed to comprise itinerant cultivators and geniuses from small sects. ¡°The Cloud Kirin of the White Cloud sect, known as Yun Qi, is rumored to have dreamt of a Kirin at birth and endowed with the innate king¡¯s force. I wonder if it¡¯s true?¡± Hua Yanli spat out flames as he spoke, his intent to fight palpable. ¡°You¡¯ll learn the truth soon enough,¡± Yun Qi yawned, revealing his fair skin. His relaxed gaze held a sense of indifference. ¡°Don¡¯t equate your king¡¯s force with our young sect master¡¯s. You¡¯d only embarrass yourself,¡± a young girl standing in front of Yun Qi retorted coldly before charging at Hua Yanli. She seemed to be lightly treading on air, like walking on clouds and mist. ¡°Is my boss someone you, a mere girl, can defeat?¡± a burly man behind Hua Yanli bellowed like thunder. He stomped his foot, causing the slope to crack. Everyone scattered in all directions to dodge the flying debris. In an instant, the burly man was airborne. He swung a colossal iron hammer, creating a whirlwind that resembled thunder. As the girl launched her punch, rain cascaded from the clouds, transforming into a barrage of ice blades. Suddenly, the hammer halted, then brutally came crashing down. The immense force caused the girl to reveal herself and descend from the sky along with the burly man. Seizing the opportunity, the ice rain penetrated the burly man¡¯s rugged skin. Blood spurted everywhere. Boom! The hammer hit the ground, causing it to shatter like a mosaic and launch debris several meters high. Centered around the burly man, the elevation gradually reduced, forming a hill-like structure. The aftershock mirrored a tidal wave. Blood gushed out in sync with the vibrations. With another earthquake, the burly man swung his iron hammer and smote it down. However, a dense fog suddenly arose, encapsulating the two of them. Only endless rumbling echoed. The two fully engrossed fourth-level masters were considerably more powerful than the Jiang brothers, who Qin Huai had slain. He stood in the forest, reaping the benefits of their battle while accumulating experience. The next moment, the clouds dispersed and the formidable energy within their bodies vanished instantly without leaving a trace. Qin Huai also noticed that, aside from the ancient azure illusion force, all the bone patterns had become dull and lackluster. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 381 ?381 Chaotic Battle of Prodigies! When the clouds dissipated, both the young lady and the burly man from the White Cloud sect were visibly taken aback. What was initially a grand and formidable battle transformed into a close-combat encounter. Neither lacked combat experience, so when their bone patterns dimmed and failed to activate, they instantly engaged in a fierce melee. It was a pure clash of their blood essence combined with the activation of the ancient azure illusion scripture. This was likely nothing more than an afterimage. In actual combat, it held little value. From their expressions and the appalling level of the ancient azure illusion scripture, they should be in the same group of newcomers as Qin Huai. Given that two months had passed, even the most gifted genius would fail to cultivate the ancient azure illusion scripture to a degree that they could participate in a battle of their level. Qin Huai, watching the now boring battle, quickly lost interest. The power they¡¯d displayed earlier had allowed him to formulate his strategy should he fight them. But now, reduced to their physical bodies and blood essence, they posed no threat to Qin Huai. The individuals behind the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli wore frowns as they witnessed this development. ¡°The power of the bronze realm is truly unpredictable¡­¡± ¡°Our cultivation techniques, nurtured for over twenty years, vanished the moment the great slaughter began,¡± a young man behind Yun Qi lamented. ¡°What¡¯s the point of this kind of slaughter?¡± Yun Qi¡¯s voice held a lazy tone as he responded, ¡°The purpose is to select the heaven¡¯s chosen ¨C the one most compatible with the ancient scripture. From the moment we entered the bronze realm, every action taken by this world was towards this goal. It¡¯s waiting for the chosen one it¡¯s been anticipating.¡± Yun Qi¡¯s lazy gaze held a confident glint. ¡°Those who comprehend the ancient scripture will gain recognition from this bronze realm. In the end, they will become the master of this world.¡± And that person would undoubtedly be him, an even rarer king among the rare future kings. ¡°Could this bronze realm be a treasured weapon?¡± Greed flickered in the young man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Perhaps it is, or maybe it¡¯s something formed from some sort of supreme treasure,¡± Yun Qi speculated. No matter the outcome, the person recognized by the bronze realm would unquestionably be sought after by all forces in Qingzhou City. The truth was evident from the massacre in the bronze realm. ¡°No matter what, this bronze realm is an opportunity that belongs to us, the future kings!¡± ¡°The final victor will be chosen through our slaughter and competition,¡± Yun Qi declared in a leisurely tone filled with confidence. The future king tiers held the advantage in the battle, which implied that they would better comprehend the mysteries of the ancient scriptures. Almost simultaneously, Hua Yanli¡¯s eyes ignited with a blazing light, and the flames on his body dramatically surged. The sharp sword qi traversed dozens of meters and crashed down with astonishing flames. ¡°Good timing,¡± Yun Qi¡¯s eyes lit up in response, and a faint Kirin phantom materialized around him. The Kirin shook its head in disdain, its scales producing a subtle sound. It deflected the airborne flames which dissipated, scattering beneath everyone¡¯s feet. A single spark ignited the surrounding ground, causing it to erupt into flames. The reflected firelight lent a tragic aura to the battlefield. Whoosh! The two future king tiers suddenly exploded into action. Their terrifying qi and blood surged, greatly surpassing the strength of the two who had battled previously. Their folding fan and long sword created a spectacular shower of sparks in the air, toppling the surrounding giant trees like wheat stalks under a scythe. The verdant grassland transformed into a desolate wasteland. ¡°A hundred feet fire source!¡± Hua Yanli roared. The flames from the long sword in his hand flared, and circles of red ripples pulsated along the blade. As it swept past a giant tree, the tree was instantly cleaved in half. A burnt smell pervaded the air, and some individuals were inadvertently splashed by the ripples. Their heads fell off, charred. As Hua Yanli brandished his blade, the red ripples changed in intensity sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Like waves, the silent blade swept past, decapitating victims without a single drop of blood. ¡°There¡¯s someone!¡± The moment the tree above Qin Huai fell, both groups of people noticed him. ¡°Kill the outsiders first,¡± came the unspoken agreement between the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli¡¯s freelance cultivator group. As soon as the decision was made, two individuals from each group charged at Qin Huai. The four were heaven¡¯s favorites, the unattainable elite of Qingzhou City. They were top-tier experts with at least three fully activated patterns. Be it in vitality or technique, few could rival them. Qin Huai assessed the four charging at him, their combined efforts effectively blocking his every move. Their eyes were locked onto his vital parts. ¡°As expected of an expert,¡± Qin Huai muttered, knowing he couldn¡¯t evade this attack. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes ignited with resolve. The black threads on his head turned white instantly, and a domineering aura radiated from him, spreading out in all directions. ¡°King¡¯s force!¡± the four of them roared. However, they continued their assault fearlessly, and their eyes gleamed with excitement. ¡°As expected of a genius,¡± Qin Huai murmured under his breath. If it were the Blood Poison Gang, most would have chosen to flee the moment he activated his king¡¯s force. Regardless, the result would be the same. Qin Huai took a step forward, and two phantoms shot out to his left and right simultaneously. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 382 ?382 Killing Kings! Qin Huai unleashed punches with both fists, and simultaneously, six arms occupied the space before him. Boom! Two of them were instantly obliterated by Qin Huai, dissolving into green smoke that swiftly disappeared. Qin Huai¡¯s hands moved with lightning speed as he executed a horizontal sweep, generating a formidable gust of wind. The remaining two individuals reacted swiftly, seizing Qin Huai¡¯s left and right hands. However, the disparity in strength was too significant their feet remained firmly planted on the ground, carving out two arcs in the sky. Then, Qin Huai clapped his hands together. Bang! Their spines collided and shattered. The instant they spat out a mouthful of blood, they disintegrated on the spot. ¡°Who are you?¡± The earlier low roar had drawn the attention of Hua Yanli and the others, who were engaged in battle at a distance. They regarded Qin Huai, his eyes aglow with white light, with a mix of seriousness and excitement. ¡°He¡¯s just a low-level rogue cultivator.¡± Qin Huai assessed, observing the two heaven¡¯s favorites who had also activated their king¡¯s force from afar. Since he commenced cultivation, he had never clashed with a prodigy of this caliber. Furthermore, one of them possessed the rarer innate king¡¯s force, which the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion had referenced. He wondered how it differed from the typical king¡¯s force. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Say it!¡± Hua Yanli abruptly abandoned his opponent, Yun Qi, and dashed toward Qin Huai. The ring of fire swelled, and as it neared Qin Huai, the temperature spiked dramatically. Qin Huai stood his ground. He launched a punch forward. Bang! Something seemed to dance within the exploding flames. Meanwhile, Qin Huai¡¯s dragon king bone pattern radiated with unprecedented brilliance. His fists, like heavy cannons, shattered the oncoming rings of fire. ¡°Fleshly body king?¡± Hua Yanli arched his eyebrows, his sword quivering rapidly. It spewed a variety of fire rings at an angle, even searing and cutting the ground beneath it. A luminous ring of fire scorched the earth several feet deep. The terrifying power and the surging ring of fire caused the surrounding White Cloud sect and the concealed practitioners behind him to momentarily forget their combat. They began to leap left and right, fleeing from the ring of fire. Because they lacked the king¡¯s force, contact with it would mean certain death. They would be bisected at the waist and lose their chance to advance, so the only action they could take was to evade the three future king tiers and escape the range of the fire source. ¡°The two of you are underestimating me,¡± Yun Qi¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°By doing this, you¡¯re causing me to lose face!¡± He sauntered leisurely towards the pair. The ring of fire, bristling with lethal power, penetrated Yun Qi¡¯s body directly this time, but it did not inflict any damage. The iron fan in his hand swung like a hammer or a blade, indiscriminately striking at Qin Huai and Hua Yanli. The iron fan, appearing no more substantial than a short stick, struck Qin Huai¡¯s arm with the weight of thousands of pounds, causing his feet to sink. Most strikingly, Qin Huai¡¯s fist, which could obliterate the ring of fire, had no effect on Yun Qi¡¯s body. It was as though his king¡¯s force had been neutralized or evaded. ¡°I possess the power of the cloud Kirin, so most attacks in this world will be caught in my boundless clouds and rendered ineffective,¡± Yun Qi declared, brandishing his iron fan. The three of them engaged in a wild melee, yet none could breach the others¡¯ defenses. ¡°Of course, there might be some that slip through the net. With the innate Kirin¡¯s power, the likelihood of this happening is amplified. To break it, an even stronger destructive force would be required¡­¡± Yun Qi continued to elaborate on the strength of his innate king¡¯s force to Qin Huai and Hua Yanli. ¡°But it¡¯s evident that even your attacks are ineffective.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Qin Huai and Hua Yanli chimed in almost simultaneously. ¡°Forbidden technique, dragon king¡¯s crush!¡± ¡°Flame slash!¡± Bang! The clouds scattered, revealing Yun Qi¡¯s loose robe bursting apart. His skin cracked open, and fresh blood spurted out, instantly evaporating in the heatwave. His flesh began to lose its moisture, and the scent of charred meat wafted into the distance, carried by the strong wind stirred up by the two combatants. His once elegant long hair was now a shoulder-length mop, its ends charred and matted. However, Yun Qi no longer cared about his hairstyle. His face was contorted due to the burns on his body. ¡°You guys¡­¡± ¡°It seems your so-called innate king¡¯s force isn¡¯t as invincible as you claimed,¡± Hua Yanli scoffed. Seizing the momentum, he conjured the fire ring slightly faster than before. This time, Yun Qi was not careless. He dodged by bending his waist towards the ground like an arch, then propelled himself skyward with a powerful kick that sent Hua Yanli flying. Qin Huai released punches with both fists, aiming directly at Yun Qi¡¯s waist and kidneys. The latter braced himself on the ground with both hands, and his lower body spun in a large circle, alternating with Qin Huai¡¯s punches. Blood splattered in all directions. Qin Huai¡¯s initial punch had obliterated Yun Qi¡¯s shoe, leaving his foot a bloody mess. Qin Huai did not belittle him in the slightest. Yun Qi had blocked their powerful attacks alone and was only injured to this extent, which indicated that the strength of his cultivation technique indeed surpassed the king¡¯s force. Whoosh! The next moment, blazing flames descended from the sky. Hua Yanli executed a 360-degree spin in the air. His sword, engulfed in flames, descended from the sky like a wheel of fire. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 383 - 383 Reunion of Old Friends 383 Reunion of Old Friends His target was not Yun Qi but Qin Huai. ¡°Fire ring punishment!¡± Bang! The fire descended, and the fierce flames immediately tore through Qin Huai¡¯s body, slashing right to the end. Hua Yanli¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, questioning, ¡°So weak?¡± In the next second, he used one hand to brace himself on the ground and, with a logic-defying posture, executed a slash behind him. He arrived at the same time as Yun Qi¡¯s iron fan. Whoosh! Qin Huai¡¯s waist was cleaved in half again, and his head was smashed. Yet, Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®corpse¡¯ turned into smoke and disintegrated. Heavy punches emerged as Qin Huai¡¯s fists continuously hammered Hua Yanli¡¯s back. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten dragons crush!¡± Puff! Hua Yanli spat out a mouthful of blood, his body crashing into the ground due to the massive force on his spine. Fresh blood pooled, submerging his face entirely. ¡°Your mastery in the ancient scripture¡­is it really so terrifying?¡± Yun Qi brandished his iron fan again, but Qin Huai raised his hand to block it. His eyes were filled with disbelief. Judging from Qin Huai¡¯s appearance, he should be around forty years old. As far as Yun Qi knew, it was impossible to cultivate the ancient scripture to such a proficient level within ten years. Bang! Hua Yanli, who lay in the blood pit, crumbled. He died a ¡®tragic death¡¯ under the dual illusions produced by Qin Huai¡¯s ancient azure illusion scripture. Qin Huai naturally wouldn¡¯t respond to Yun Qi¡¯s question. He intended to take advantage of his weakened state. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten dragons crush!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s fists suddenly glowed with white light, and the speed of his punches created afterimages in front of him. His attacks seemed to hail from every direction, bombarding Yun Qi. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Dozens of attacks plunged like boulders into the sea. Qin Huai saw that a faint white Kirin on Yun Qi¡¯s body swallowed his attack. However, at this moment, the heavily injured Yun Qi could no longer fully defend himself. The iron fan in his hand couldn¡¯t be swung either. Under the weight of his injuries, he slowly treaded the path toward death. The barrage of fist shadows overwhelmed Yun Qi. Puff! Qin Huai spat out a mouthful of blood as he finally managed to pierce through Yun Qi¡¯s body. ¡°You¡­ What¡¯s your name?¡± Yun Qi stared intently at Qin Huai, as if he wanted to engrave Qin Huai¡¯s face in his memory. ¡°You!¡± Yun Qi¡¯s eyes widened in fury, followed by a sarcastic remark, ¡°Genius with the king¡¯s force, you don¡¯t dare to reveal your name?¡± ¡°A name is just a name. You can be called Yun Qi, why can¡¯t I be called Yun Qi?¡± Qin Huai responded coldly, withdrawing his fists. If he couldn¡¯t reveal his name to the opponent, it was better not to let them know at all. There was no need to raise the stakes. Bang! The moment he finished speaking, Yun Qi ¡®died,¡¯ his eyes filled with resentment and regret. ¡°These guys are truly abnormal. They possessed such power merely with the king¡¯s force. If they were to unleash the full strength of five complete patterns¡­ I wonder how formidable they would be,¡± Qin Huai contemplated as he looked into the distance. The White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli¡¯s wandering cultivators had already departed. Qin Huai had made every effort to avoid using the power of the illusion realm fist in combat. This technique was lethal, demanding the sight of real blood the moment it was deployed. Furthermore, the recent skirmish had confirmed that Qin Huai¡¯s mastery of the ancient azure illusion scripture was commendable. This unique skill served as a potent tool in combat. By leveraging the multiple ¡°three heads and six arms¡± illusions and the mirage of his figure, he could topple any adversary. ¡°However, this grand slaughter is indeed the platform for future kings,¡± Qin Huai mused, drawing from personal experience. Those whose cultivation techniques were stifled by the bronze realm were left at the mercy of their own blood and qi, elements Qin Huai could manipulate freely. Even a proficient warrior with five complete patterns would be at his mercy if they couldn¡¯t cultivate the king¡¯s force. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate¡­ killing these individuals didn¡¯t yield any experience points,¡± Qin Huai lamented. Nevertheless, after eliminating several people, Qin Huai could discern an additional, or rather, a marked element within his body. Likely a ¡®point system¡¯ in the bronze realm. Without delay, Qin Huai charged into the distance, leaving a trail of slaughter behind. In this battlefield where only the ancient azure illusion scripture could be used, everyone else was akin to a toothless tiger. Most times, Qin Huai didn¡¯t even need to summon his dragon king form. He could easily overpower them with merely his physical strength and the ancient azure illusion scripture. A full day passed. Qin Huai had dispatched about fifty to sixty people. However, he hadn¡¯t encountered any future kings like Hua Yanli and Yun Qi. ¡°Luckily, even in the bronze realm, future kings are not commonplace,¡± he mused. Resting under a tree, Qin Huai strained to stretch his muscles. Suddenly, his gaze turned icy. The entire world began to distort. ¡°Does the grand slaughter only last a day?¡± he questioned. Something was amiss. The conclusion must have arrived because enough individuals had been sorted. Realizing that everyone¡¯s intent to kill was resolute, Qin Huai tensed. A large area had been segmented into different grades within a mere day. Exiting the grand slaughter might not symbolize relaxation but the commencement of an even more brutal war. After all, the great slaughter was genuine. People indeed died. The world was successfully rebuilt, and Qin Huai¡¯s vision cleared. The environment was as verdant and vibrant as before. Taking a deep breath, he murmured, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s different. Even my ancient azure illusion scripture¡¯s bone patterns seem to be excited.¡± Scanning his surroundings with keen eyes, he murmured, ¡°Comprehending the ancient azure illusion scripture here would definitely yield twice the results with half the effort. Moreover, the level of the ancient azure illusion scripture that I¡¯ve spent time on might not be low.¡± ¡°Brother Zhou~¡± A familiar voice approached. Qin Huai spotted a figure dressed in animal skin, hair in disarray. ¡°Brother She!¡± he greeted, cupping his fists in respect from afar. This man was She Wanshan, the first living person he had met in the bronze realm who also possessed the king¡¯s force. ¡°Brother Zhou, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here.¡± She Wanshan¡¯s clear eyes shone with delight. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s indeed our fate,¡± Qin Huai agreed, nodding. Indeed, the other party¡¯s combat prowess was not the same as the first time they met. They both had concealed much of their abilities during that initial meeting. Both of them shared radiant smiles, their thoughts concealed behind these warm expressions. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 384 ?384 The Next Level The two of them shared a smile, maintaining a healthy distance of approximately ten meters. ¡°Brother Zhou, I¡¯ve already managed to find a few of my fellow disciples from Wuji Mountain. Would you care to join me?¡± She Wanshan extended an invitation. ¡°I¡¯m honored,¡± responded Qin Huai, stretching out his hand towards She Wanshan, who in turn kept a distance of about seven to eight meters from Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Zhou, it seems you still had a lot of strength in reserve in the illusion realm,¡± She Wanshan ventured, finding an excuse to continue the conversation. ¡°I¡¯m unfamiliar with this place, so naturally, I need to remain cautious. If I have inadvertently offended you, I ask for your forgiveness,¡± Qin Huai admitted his mistake candidly. ¡°Brother Zhou, your honesty is commendable¡­ Do you know at what level we currently stand?¡± She Wanshan continued, all while keeping an eye on Qin Huai. A faint light glimmered in his eyes, causing some of the wild beasts lurking in the nearby grass to retreat. ¡°Brother, your wisdom is appreciated,¡± Qin Huai gestured respectfully. ¡°According to the estimations of the senior members of our Wuji Mountain, there are five levels in the bronze realm. The energy of the level-five array scripture is the weakest and yields the slowest cultivation speed,¡± She Wanshan started to explain. He continued, ¡°After that, the power increases progressively, with a level-one array at the peak. We are currently in a second level, and the martial artists in the same array are likely to be of the same caliber the future king tiers.¡± Listening to She Wanshan¡¯s explanation, Qin Huai felt a surge of anxiety. The individuals who shared the same array were the top prodigies of Qingzhou City from the past few decades the young future kings. As for those in the level-one array, he had his own speculations. ¡°Does the count accumulate during the battle?¡± Qin Huai asked, shifting the conversation. ¡°Brother Zhou, your mind is as quick as ever,¡± She Wanshan answered with a smile. ¡°According to the seniors of my Wuji Mountain, the death toll of a battle should be continuously rising.¡± ¡°Level-one arrays are dominated by those seasoned geniuses throughout the year, and we can only catch sight of them during significant battles. Nevertheless, there are relatively young geniuses who¡¯ve made their way in¡­ They entered by defeating those seasoned geniuses in the great slaughter.¡± Qin Huai quietly absorbed this information. Then, he asked, ¡°Does that level-one array¡­ contain the power of the bronze realm?¡± This time, She Wanshan replied with uncertainty, ¡°I can¡¯t be certain at this point. Perhaps we¡¯ll find out when we get there.¡± Qin Huai fell silent. He hoped there would be one in the level-one array, which would accelerate his cultivation of the ancient azure illusion scripture. Yet, he feared the existence of an ancient monster, only a step away from mastering the said scripture. As Qin Huai walked, his mind was filled with turmoil. He considered Yang Tianhan, a prodigy in the visceral prefecture realm who had joined the sect a decade ago. With a decade¡¯s worth of experience in this realm, he should have been able to advance into the level-one array Qin Huai narrowed his eyes in thought. Then, why was Yang Tianhan in the lowest level-five array? Was he attempting to avoid drawing attention? That seemed unlikely. After all, no martial artist could resist the allure of the ancient azure illusion scripture. If one were to alter their perspective, realizing that even a level-one array could not grasp the essence of the ancient azure illusion scripture, a wise individual would undoubtedly seek an alternative approach. This might be why Yang Tianhan concealed his identity and realm. Not long after, Qin Huai and She Wanshan reached a forest of stone tablets. Qin Huai noted a sudden gust of wind in the level-two array, and the sun¡¯s heat had also intensified significantly. He could faintly discern the chirping of birds and croaking of frogs, lending a heightened sense of reality to the entire bronze realm. In front of him were hundreds of stone tablets, covered in intricate bronze runes carrying an ancient aura. Twelve people were already gathered by the stone tablet forest. Including Qin Huai and She Wanshan, there were fourteen individuals perfectly enclosing the stone tablet forest. No one spoke. They all sat cross-legged, quietly cultivating. She Wanshan motioned towards Qin Huai, leading him to a handsome young man in a light yellow robe. ¡°Senior Brother Xiang,¡± She Wanshan greeted with a warm smile. ¡°Wanshan,¡± Xiang Mingfeng responded to She Wanshan with a solemn nod. He then turned his attention to Qin Huai, ¡°And this is?¡± ¡°This is Zhou Cunzhong, Brother Zhou. He¡¯s a friend I made upon entering the illusion realm, a free spirit with no sect affiliations,¡± She Wanshan introduced, smiling. ¡°Brother Zhou!¡± Xiang Mingfeng greeted Qin Huai with a curt nod, his face stern. If one wasn¡¯t observant, they would miss the faint smile playing on his lips. ¡°To be able to infiltrate a level-two array as a rogue cultivator, Brother Zhou, you must possess remarkable skills.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Xiang, you flatter me.¡± Qin Huai managed to smile in response. Xiang Mingfeng scrutinized Qin Huai. Arriving at the same time with She Wanshan implied that this stern, one-eyed man wasn¡¯t even thirty years old.Reaching the level-two array so swiftly and cultivating the ancient azure illusion scripture to a considerable extent seemed implausible. Qin Huai must also have the king¡¯s force. Xiang Mingfeng gave Qin Huai a friendly pat on the shoulder, then the trio sat together. ¡°Brother Zhou, do you also possess the king¡¯s force?¡± Xiang Mingfeng asked directly. Qin Huai maintained a neutral expression. ¡°I¡± ¡°Brother Zhou, if you have the king¡¯s force, I have important information to share,¡± Xiang Mingfeng continued. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 385 - 385 Fourteen Kings! Working Together? 385 Fourteen Kings! Working Together? Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words mirrored those of the former boss Qin Huai had met. He seemed to be promising a significant advantage, but it was shrouded in vagueness. Furthermore, his performance and skill in making this promise were subpar. Qin Huai surveyed the crowd at a distance and speculated, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the people surrounding this stone tablet forest should all be future kings.¡± The people around the stone tablet forest didn¡¯t make any conscious effort to conceal their auras. Being a bearer of the king¡¯s force himself, Qin Huai was particularly attuned to the faint pressure emanating from them. ¡°Indeed, most of the individuals here are familiar faces, the top prodigies of Qingzhou City. They¡¯re all future kings.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fought a couple of the unknown ones,¡± Xiang Mingfeng confessed. Qin Huai glanced at the stoic Xiang Mingfeng, contemplating She Wanshan¡¯s invitation. Surely Xiang Mingfeng didn¡¯t bring him over after a round of fighting? Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words stirred something within Qin Huai. Fourteen individuals, fourteen future king-tier warriors¡­ Once, his trump card was deemed unbeatable. However, it might lose its effect in the level-two array of the bronze realm. Here, the king¡¯s force was common like cabbages. Fourteen individuals. If one included Yun Qi from the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang, the total would be sixteen. But considering that Qingzhou was rumored to house nearly a hundred million citizens, Qin Huai found some comfort. ¡°I am.¡± Qin Huai nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I have grand plans. I wish to involve everyone within this array,¡± Xiang Mingfeng revealed. ¡°As you can see, Brother Zhou, future kings are quite common in the bronze realm. ¡°Throughout history, numerous kings have failed to comprehend the ancient scripture¡­ Most fought solo, depending on their strength to understand the power of the ancient scripture. ¡°It¡¯s evident that this is a ludicrous notion. The ancient azure illusion scripture differs from all cultivation techniques in Qingzhou.¡± Xiang Mingfeng wore a grave expression as he continued, ¡°We must work together to have a chance of getting out.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement with Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words. From the outset until now, his progress could be attributed not only to his hard work but also to the support of various benefactors. For instance, there were the saviors from the Sacred Heart sect, the adopted brothers from the county governor¡¯s mansion, and the Blood Poison Gang. All of them had put their lives on the line to assist Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Xiang, what¡¯s your plan?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. I¡¯ve already dispatched a junior brother into the level-one array to persuade those people above,¡± Xiang Mingfeng disclosed in a low voice. ¡°Is it Senior Brother Guo Ze from Lion Spirit Mountain?¡± She Wanshan¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Yes, along with Junior Martial Sister Liu Fang from the Blue Sea Pavilion,¡± Xiang Mingfeng added. Qin Huai listened quietly as the two familiar names were mentioned. Both of them were renowned figures frequently discussed in the outer city. Liu Fang was a well-known admirer of their senior brother. Despite her constant attention, he remained as impassive as a block of wood, impervious to either water or fire. Nevertheless, when a real problem arose, the first person he thought of was Senior Sister Liu Fang. ¡°Besides my fellow disciples from Wuji Mountain, I have the closest relationship with Junior Sister Liu Fang and Guo Ze. Naturally, I¡¯ll seek out those I know best,¡± Xiang Mingfeng stated stoically. His relationship with Guo Ze, born out of shared trials and tribulations in their early years, was as strong as brotherhood. Given the gravity of the situation, Xiang Mingfeng was most comfortable entrusting them with the responsibility. ¡°There should be a fair number of seniors from our sects in the level-one array, so communication shouldn¡¯t be that hard,¡± he commented, ¡°Choosing the two of them also took their status into account¡­¡± The trio discussed the plan further before immersing themselves in cultivation, striving to grasp the mysteries of the ancient azure illusion scripture. ¡­ In the level-one array, a shadow blanketed the ground. At the heart of the bronze realm, an imposing bronze wall stood erect, its cryptic runes pulsating with an indefinable power. In the dense forest, a group of elderly men congregated. Their white hair billowed in the wind, signaling their advanced years. Wearing beast skin, they stood beneath the colossal bronze wall, their eyes reflecting a mix of greed and anger. ¡°Those youngsters surely have an intriguing plan,¡± the elder from Wuji Mountain voiced, sounding like he was about to die. ¡°Working together to explore the mystery of the bronze realm,¡± mused the elder from the Ghost Ox sect, his body bent like a shrimp as he leaned on his crutches. ¡°With dozens of king¡¯s force experts joining forces, we might indeed discover a way out.¡± ¡°We were truly foolish. We only thought of this path after almost a hundred years. Those young ones figured it out the moment they entered.¡± ¡°The Wuji Mountain juniors are indeed exceptional,¡± the elder from the Blue Sea Pavilion remarked, his tone somber and devoid of joy. ¡°But even if we find a way out, that opportunity is destined not to be ours.¡± The others murmured in agreement. A wild glint gradually took over their eyes. They were the oldest inhabitants of the bronze realm. More than a century old and teetering on the brink of death, they had passed their prime years here, from their sprightly twenties to their current old age. They had invested almost their entire lives here. Despite their efforts, they hadn¡¯t broken through the visceral realm nor progressed to the next level. All they could do was wait for the inevitable end, devoid of potential and bereft of a future. ¡°The same old rules,¡± the elder from Wuji Mountain stated. They too had considered banding together, but by the time they thought of it, they were already over a century old and had failed to comprehend the force in the ancient scripture. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 386 - 386 They Wont Get What We Cant Get 386 They Won¡¯t Get What We Can¡¯t Get However, they knew this approach was correct, holding the promise to unravel the bronze realm¡¯s mystery further. But, it required decades of exploration, and their dwindling lifespans could not accommodate such a lengthy endeavor. From that day forward, their cooperation shifted from deciphering the secrets of the bronze realm to eliminating hopeful prodigies. ¡°They won¡¯t get what we can¡¯t get,¡± the old man from the Ghost Ox sect declared, the madness in his eyes intensifying. Decades of harsh confinement had led many geniuses, once renowned in their respective sects, to lose all recognition, leaving behind only twisted resentment. They could not bear the thought of their juniors possibly unlocking the mysteries of the bronze realm. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Guo Ze, whose limbs were broken, lay on the ground, his eyes wide with shock. His body was covered with wounds, his blood and qi pulsating wildly. Such an injury, while severe, was not fatal to a future king. Given some time, his broken limbs would heal. He wouldn¡¯t die due to excessive blood loss. However, he would be left crippled, a fate worse than death. ¡°What should we do with this Lion Spirit Mountain brat?¡± the elder from Wuji Mountain asked, glancing at the tall elder from Lion Spirit Mountain. ¡°Hehe¡­ Let him exist in this state. He can live until the next great slaughter, serving as a spectacle for those young ones.¡± The old men sneered, looking both savage and unhinged. Not far away, a naked young woman from the Blue Sea Pavilion lay in a pool of blood, her clothes disheveled. Her tendons were shattered, and her dantian was destroyed. However, she felt no pain at that moment. She just gazed listlessly at the sky. Or perhaps, she was looking at something else. ¡°Senior Brother¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Liu Fang whispered, but no one paid heed. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] has been upgraded!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] has been upgraded!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] has been upgraded!¡± Two months passed quietly. Qin Huai moved among the dozen or so kings, collecting the experience points they dropped. Despite being future kings, their mastery in cultivation techniques was profound. However, their understanding of the ancient azure illusion scripture still fell short compared to Qin Huai¡¯s. Even so, Qin Huai¡¯s comprehension of the ancient azure illusion scripture had improved to sixty percent in two months, marking a significant leap in progress. Qin Huai had also gleaned substantial insights from other cultivation techniques. When the others practiced their respective sects¡¯ techniques, Qin Huai would collect relevant experience orbs. Then, he would use the divine power book of a thousand creations to refine the blood heart technique. In two months, Qin Huai¡¯s blood heart technique not only successfully broke through the fourth-level bone pattern realm, but also made fifty percent progress toward the fifth level. He only needed to wait another month or two to reach the third full pattern. Whenever their negotiations heated up, Qin Huai would often spot the trio engaged in fervent debates in the forest. As for the reason for the intense discussions, Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s candid nature likely played a significant role. For instance, a prodigy might dismiss Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s proposal, believing that they could accomplish what others couldn¡¯t. Yet, in the next second, Xiang Mingfeng would mercilessly ridicule them: ¡°You can¡¯t even beat me, so how can you talk about being extraordinary? Where does your confidence to understand the ancient scripture come from?¡± Such confrontations typically led to intense, often dramatic, exchanges. In just two short months, Xiang Mingfeng was either in the middle of a debate or en route to one. Meanwhile, Qin Huai dutifully trailed behind the two, soaking up their knowledge. After two months of camaraderie, Qin Huai and She Wanshan had grown significantly closer. The latter¡¯s age was similar to his, but he was only in his prime. He was the youngest of the three kings. ¡­ The wind rustled, and the sun ascended. Qin Huai sat cross-legged on a massive rock, engrossed in his cultivation. His ancient azure illusion scripture had already shattered the barrier of the bone pattern realm, and his cultivation speed was no slower than the process of collecting everyone¡¯s dropped experience points. In his dantian¡¯s bronze world, Qin Huai had been striving to conjure a living, flesh-and-blood creature. Despite battling the blood wolf and the dragon, all attempts had ended in failure. Currently, he could only muster an embryonic form that could neither move nor attack. Not far away, She Wanshan approached, his face streaked with dust. ¡°Brother Zhou, pause your training,¡± he said, patting Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s the matter¡­¡± Qin Huai opened his eyes, taking in She Wanshan¡¯s disheveled state. ¡°Have you been trying to convince yourself?¡± ¡°Ah, that stubborn fellow from Lion Spirit Mountain is nothing like the friendly and humble Senior Guo Ze¡­¡± She Wanshan¡¯s tone was one of resignation. ¡°Senior Brother has been attempting to persuade him for two months, but it¡¯s still a stalemate.¡± ¡°I tried to sway him today, but to no avail.¡± Qin Huai knew that this was the result of ¡®persuasion.¡¯ The ¡®stubborn¡¯ one from Lion Spirit Mountain was indeed the strongest among them, walking a path similar to Qin Huai¡¯s own physical journey. In close combat, no one could match him. ¡°If all goes well, the great slaughter will happen tomorrow morning,¡± She Wanshan mentioned, sitting beside Qin Huai and striking up a conversation while resting. ¡°Brother Zhou, do you know why we¡¯re so obsessed with the bronze realm?¡± She Wanshan, recalling that Brother Zhou was a rogue cultivator, felt compelled to share some secrets about the visceral prefecture realm. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because of the power of the ancient scripture?¡± Qin Huai replied. He surmised that She Wanshan might want to discuss spiritual items. Although he knew that a spiritual item was necessary to advance to the visceral prefecture realm, he was unfamiliar with the finer details. ¡°Whether it¡¯s to break through or to leave the bronze realm, it all ties back to the manor-guarding spirit item!¡± She Wanshan¡¯s eyes sparkled as he spoke. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 387 - 387 Manor 387 Manor-Guarding Spirit Item ¡°The human body is a concealed treasure, teeming with boundless potential,¡± She Wanshan began. ¡°For us martial artists, our cultivation is the process of consistently unearthing the hidden treasures within us. ¡°Starting from the blood refinement realm, we cultivate our blood essence and fortify our physique. Upon reaching the bone pattern realm, we exploit bone patterns and cultivation techniques to amplify our bones¡¯ power and resilience. Whether it¡¯s fortifying our physique or honing our patterned bones, the objective remains the same: gradually unlock the hidden treasure within us, given the human body¡¯s inherent limitations. ¡°The visceral prefecture realm represents the third stage.¡± She Wanshan spoke with a passionate certainty, sharing with Qin Huai the knowledge exclusive to Wuji Mountain. ¡°As the name suggests, the realm involves establishing a manor within one¡¯s organs. Using the bones as a frame, the qi and blood from the cultivation technique in the dantian can be transferred into the organs. However, a medium is required to facilitate this transfer and open up the manor, and this medium is what we call the manor-guarding spirit item. ¡°The manor-guarding spirit item must be compatible with the cultivation technique you¡¯re practicing.¡± She Wanshan extended his hand, and a lotus petal materialized in it. ¡°For example, my cultivation of the true lotus technique from Wuji Mountain requires a lotus flower as my manor-guarding spirit item. ¡°There exist numerous varieties of lotus flowers. You have white lotuses commonly found in ponds, snow lotuses growing on snowy mountains, or power lotuses, inherently robust and fond of power stones. Different manor-guarding spirit items can unlock varying powers of the visceral prefecture realm. The stronger the manor-guarding spirit item, the more potent your visceral realm becomes. ¡°If the manor-guarding spirit item is formidable enough, it can even allow you to harness some of its distinctive features¡­¡± Upon hearing this, understanding dawned on Qin Huai. ¡°So, the pursuit of ancient scriptures by many prodigies is not just because of their power.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also because of this grand bronze realm,¡± She Wanshan confirmed. ¡°This bronze realm may indeed be real, or it may be a construct associated with an ancient scripture. Regardless, this manor-guarding spirit item harmonizes extraordinarily well with the ancient scripture and outclasses other manor-guarding spirit items. ¡°If this item is the guardian spirit item of the ancient scripture¡­¡± She Wanshan¡¯s voice trailed off. Qin Huai didn¡¯t need further explanation. If this item was utilized as a spirit treasure, it would likely command an entire world. A concept as remarkable as it was incredible. ¡°However, the more potent the manor-guarding spirit item, the greater the demands on one¡¯s body and mind. Ordinary people simply can¡¯t bear it.¡± She Wanshan paused before continuing, ¡°But as for us, the future kings¡­¡± Qin Huai followed She Wanshan¡¯s gaze towards Xiang Mingfeng, who returned in tattered attire, his demeanor calm. ¡°It¡¯s time for the great slaughter,¡± he said in a deep voice. ¡°I¡¯ve reached a preliminary agreement with them. Once the battle commences, we disregard everything else and convene at the center.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Qin Huai and She Wanshan nodded in agreement. Suddenly, their world turned black. The familiar realm materialized before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes once again. He didn¡¯t ponder on it much ¡ª even a massacre wouldn¡¯t yield anything for him. He swiftly scaled a tree, assessed the direction, and headed toward the center. Before long, a tree branch soared towards him. He halted abruptly as the branch pierced through his body. ¡°I killed one!¡± A figure plummeted from the tree. His triumphant declaration, however, was cut short as he gaped at the sight before him. The ¡®corpse¡¯ he had expected to see had disintegrated faster than he had anticipated. Crack! With a swift movement, he broke his neck. His entire body instantly shattered into a wisp of green gas, vanishing into the turmoil of the grand battle. Qin Huai proceeded unhindered. ¡°Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s two lackeys?¡± he spat out the words, anger permeating his voice. Qin Huai maintained his usual composure, unperturbed by the accusation. Beside him, She Wanshan let out a soft chuckle, clearly not bothered by the comment. ¡°Humph!¡± The obstinate warrior from Lion Spirit Mountain snorted in derision, visibly disgruntled. The trio, each a future king, journeyed together, leaving three groups of their adversaries slain in their wake. They moved with an ease that appeared almost effortless, unhindered by any resistance or entanglement. They found their rhythm and moved with increased agility, soon catching sight of everyone else. ¡°The scope of this slaughter isn¡¯t as big as I initially thought,¡± Qin Huai mused. After a while, Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s expression turned somber. ¡°Why haven¡¯t Liu Fang and Guo Ze arrived yet? We cannot afford any further delay. If we wait longer, we risk being unable to secure the level-two array.¡± The battle was indeed a race against time. The previous one had ended within a day, and each passing minute could trigger a significant shift in their positions. ¡°I refuse to wait any longer!¡± Xiang Mingfeng yelled, his face grave. Was there a flaw in his persuasive attempt? They had previously agreed to join, regardless of any setbacks. A nagging sense of foreboding welled up within Xiang Mingfeng, but he forcefully subdued it. ¡°Based on our prior two assessments, roughly fifty individuals qualify for a level-two array. Ensure your calculations are precise¡­ not too many, not too few,¡± Xiang Mingfeng cautioned. ¡°Liu Fang and Guo Ze have yet to arrive. They may have encountered some complications.¡± ¡°Pair up, two individuals per group. Stay safe!¡± The consensus was unanimous. With a shared sense of urgency, the group quickly dispersed. Each participant was a future king-level prodigy. There was no need for any sorting as their strengths were evenly matched. Qin Huai and She Wanshan paired up, moving in unison, and dashed in the same direction. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 388 ?388 The Bitter Truth Relying on their king¡¯s force, the duo effortlessly propelled themselves forward. She Wanshan, born and bred in Wuji Mountain, exhibited no surprise at Qin Huai¡¯s use of the dragon king¡¯s transformation. It appeared the nine dragons true qi technique held little fame in Wuji Mountain. Alternatively, there may have been a dearth of skilled practitioners to uphold it. As night descended, Qin Huai and She Wanshan had fulfilled their quota. Their count was spot on fifty each, without a single miss. Qin Huai took a moment to rest beneath a tree, eyes closed in tranquility. ¡°Brother Zhou,¡± She Wanshan asked, his thoughts seemingly astray, ¡°What would happen if Senior Brother Guo Ze and Senior Sister Liu Fang fail to appear as they promised?¡± Qin Huai answered, ¡°Two future kings traveling together¡­ Even if they were to face a formidable opponent within the array, they would not be at a disadvantage.¡± Few individuals, like him, could cultivate the king¡¯s force immediately upon reaching their maximum potential unless they were like Yun Qi of the White Cloud sect, innately born with the king¡¯s Force, as he had learned from She Wanshan. Those who could cultivate the king¡¯s force usually exhibited at least four complete patterns, often five, and only after their entire body¡¯s bone patterns were perfected could they comprehend and cultivate it. Such future king-tier individuals typically exhibited superior combat prowess. She Wanshan agreed, musing, ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s highly probable there were seniors from Lion Spirit Mountain and Blue Sea Pavilion amongst them. Even if they disagreed, they wouldn¡¯t kill a junior from their own sect.¡± Qin Huai hesitated momentarily, contemplating the possibility of a significant event transpiring in the level-one array, given the absence of Guo Ze and Liu Fang. ¡°Who are those cultivators in the level-one array?¡± he wondered aloud. She Wanshan pondered for a moment before revealing, ¡°I heard Senior Brother Xiang mention once that he had seen one at the end of the first round. It resembled a log. Senior Brother Xiang, being well over a hundred years old, is practically an ancestor.¡± ¡°Imagine being trapped in the bronze realm for decades, or even centuries, with no hope of escape. How would you feel?¡± Qin Huai posed. She Wanshan blurted out, ¡°I¡¯d surely go mad.¡± Realizing the implication of his words, he turned to Qin Huai, his voice trembling. ¡°You mean¡­¡± Suddenly, a familiar roar echoed from within the forest. ¡°That¡¯s Senior Brother Xiang!¡± She Wanshan leaped to his feet, instantly awakened from his prior drowsiness. ¡°He¡¯s close by,¡± Qin Huai whispered, and they both sprinted towards the sound. Soon, they found Xiang Mingfeng under a tree, cradling a limbless figure in his arms. The sight was jarring, for Qin Huai had never seen this stoic prodigy of Wuji Mountain display such raw emotion. The pair approached, identifying the figure in Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s arms as Guo Ze, who had been in the level-one array. Hearing Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s roar seemed to breathe life back into his vacant gaze. ¡°Senior Brother Xiang, those old fellows have gone mad. They They want to kill all the geniuses,¡± Guo Ze managed to say. ¡°They neither wish to involve us nor show any intent to work together.¡± ¡°Say no more, brother,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said. With his eyes reflecting a wave of deep, raw anger, he listened to Guo Ze, who managed to offer a bitter smile. ¡°No matter if it¡¯s Lion Spirit Mountain or Wuji Mountain, all the elders in the sects are the same. They spare no one.¡± His expression filled with guilt, Guo Ze murmured, ¡°Junior Sister Liu Fang¡­ I failed to protect her.¡± He glanced at Xiang Mingfeng, his face a mirror of pain. However, regret was not what he felt. In the past, Guo Ze had saved Xiang Mingfeng nineteen times, with Xiang Mingfeng reciprocating twenty times. Now, he had managed to repay the favor. ¡°You know how I am. I never like owing anyone,¡± Guo Ze admitted before slowly closing his eyes. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he was destined to be relegated to a level-five array after the massacre, likely to be killed by the newcomers. Suddenly, a buzzing filled the air, and the world began to shake, signifying the end of the great slaughter. One by one, everyone¡¯s bodies crumbled. Qin Huai, already accustomed to this surreal sensation of ¡®dying¡¯, found himself opening his eyes to a forest of stone tablets within the level-two array. He stood quietly, waiting. Before long, everyone arrived astride a giant dragon. She Wanshan, Xiang Mingfeng, the stalwarts of Lion Spirit Mountain, and the fourteen kings from the previous battle, all reappeared in the level-two array. Pairing up, they sought to mitigate the risk of being killed by a new future king. Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s previous test results were validated once more. Yet, he showed no inclination to celebrate. His countenance remained tense and stern, devoid of any emotion. Only the redness in his eyes betrayed the turmoil in his heart. ¡°What happened?¡± a voice, belonging to the stubborn warrior, broke the silence. ¡°Guo Ze is dead, and if our assumptions are correct, Liu Fang is probably dead too,¡± Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s deep voice resonated, instantly casting a solemn mood over the group. ¡°How could that be? There must have been seniors from our sect amongst them,¡± someone protested. ¡°Surely, they wouldn¡¯t kill one of us.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s the bitter truth,¡± Xiang Mingfeng asserted, his tone unchanged, ¡°They¡¯ve been trapped in the bronze realm for centuries. They¡¯ve entirely lost their sanity.¡± A heavy silence fell upon them. In just two succinct sentences, the group had realized the harrowing reality of what transpired in the level-one array and the deranged state of their seniors. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 389 - 389 Kings Force Showdown 389 King¡¯s Force Showdown Xiang Mingfeng walked to the center of the stone tablet forest, cupping his fists in greeting. ¡°Many of you here are familiar faces¡­ but let me introduce myself. I am Xiang Mingfeng of Wuji Mountain!¡± The crowd was silent, their eyes fixed on Xiang Mingfeng, their ears keen to catch his next words. ¡°Now that we find ourselves in the bronze realm, it¡¯s a result of our past lives¡¯ karma and heaven¡¯s decree.¡± His voice echoed through the forest. ¡°For thousands of years, countless gifted individuals have perished in the bronze realm, their talents no less than ours. Among them was the unparalleled Chu, who was revered as the beacon of hope for all of Qingzhou. ¡°Yet, despite their promise, they ultimately failed¡­ They died in here in the bronze realm.¡± Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s resolve was unwavering. ¡°I believe we can¡¯t continue to fight alone, lest we make their same mistakes and meet a similar fate in the bronze realm.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting we band together?¡± A hunched man with half his face wrinkled and darkened like an old man¡¯s inquired. This was Shen Yansong, known as the Little Cattle King from the Ghost Ox sect. ¡°Indeed,¡± Xiang Mingfeng confirmed, not shying away from his intention. ¡°So what¡¯s your plan?¡± the hunchbacked man pressed. Xiang Mingfeng elaborated, ¡°All of us who can stand in a level-two array possess exceptional combat strength. We are capable of leading a major battle. Our objective is to fight against the common enemy, defend the level-two array, break through the level-one array, and obtain a steady supply of high-level energy from the bronze realm to foster our cultivation of the ancient scriptures.¡± He continued with fervor, ¡°This approach will not only facilitate our steady and efficient cultivation, but it will also allow us to pull down those guys in the level-one array. At the same time, it¡¯s a method of self-preservation.¡± His voice grew louder, his gaze sweeping across the sea of youthful faces ¡ª his contemporaries. ¡°Their actions have proven that they have no chance to cultivate the ancient scripture and get us out of here. They even want to kill us all!¡± Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s voice resonated like a clap of thunder. ¡°It¡¯s time they step aside¡­¡± His declaration was met with unanimous approval. As heaven¡¯s favorites, their confidence and pride outstripped ordinary folk. Qin Huai understood most of Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words. His strategy was simple, captured in four words: group together for warmth. Their venture into the level-one array posed a high risk of them being ambushed by the old geniuses. A single misstep could result in their demise. The formation of a group to stabilize their array was secondary, given their confidence in their power. However, when confronting the old geniuses who had traversed this path for decades, none harbored certainty. Consequently, they resolved to unite against these seasoned experts once they ascended to the level-one array. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll dispatch more than half of our people into the level-one array. The rest will either stay in the level-two array or descend to a lower one,¡± Xiang Mingfeng laid out his plan. ¡°We¡¯ll use our advantage in numbers to eliminate a portion of the old folks. This will facilitate our subsequent operations.¡± The stubborn person from Lion Spirit Mountain chimed in, ¡°This opportunity may only present itself once. They¡¯ll undoubtedly be on high alert.¡± ¡°They may even take the initiative to act against us,¡± Shen Yansong added, underlining that the chosen ones must be the strongest among them. Everyone concurred. Guo Ze and Liu Fang¡¯s fate underlined that no room for reconciliation existed between them ¡ª death was the only path. ¡°How many of them are there?¡± Qin Huai questioned. ¡°Fifteen,¡± Xiang Mingfeng answered, indicating that the numbers were nearly even on both sides. ¡°Given that we¡¯re choosing the strongest, everyone should first reveal their king¡¯s force.¡± At that, a yellow light gleamed in Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s eyes, his body transforming into a resplendent sun ¡ª the king¡¯s force. Qin Huai was taken aback to see Shao Mo. He had assumed Shao Mo perished under Wen Zonghao¡¯s hands and became his blood meal. It was unexpected to find him here in the bronze realm. Previously, Shao Mo and Xiang Mingfeng hadn¡¯t engaged in combat. Following a brief discussion, Shao Mo had agreed to Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s plan. However, Shao Mo didn¡¯t appear to recognize him, which made sense given his ¡®death¡¯. Back then, Zhou Cunzhong had merely been a minor player, far from becoming Qin Huai¡¯s trusted right-hand man. ¡°Ghost Ox Sect, Shen Yansong,¡± declared a peculiar-looking man as he flexed his muscles, his eyes emanating a curious black light. ¡°Lion Spirit Mountain, Fang Huo!¡± another man shouted. Brown hair sprouted on his body, his physique expanding instantly. ¡°Who will challenge me first?¡± Fang Huo bellowed with anger, his gaze unflinchingly meeting Qin Huai¡¯s. ¡°Hehe¡­ Kid, it seems we¡¯re the only two who haven¡¯t dueled yet. What do you say? Do you have the courage?¡± Fang Huo¡¯s bones creaked ominously. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you in battle. It appears you and I tread the same path, that of physical combat.¡± The ensuing showdown of strength unfolded, with each heaven¡¯s favorite introducing themselves and displaying their unique powers. Finally, Qin Huai stepped forward, a white light shimmering in his eyes as his black hair transformed into white from the roots. This battle was a pivotal one, and Qin Huai wasn¡¯t one to shy away. He knew that in order to become the strongest, he needed to suppress the others, and to safeguard those dear to him, he needed to ascend to that position. From Lingjiang to Qingzhou City, his approach had evolved from passive cultivation to active pursuit of the title of the strongest. Influenced by Guo Ze¡¯s actions, he declared, ¡°Rogue cultivator, Zhou Cunzhong.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished from where he was. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 390 - 390 Dragon vs. Lion 390 Dragon vs. Lion Fang Huo resembled a human beast, his body bursting with muscular power and covered in brown hair as tough as stone. He roared, a lion¡¯s cry that reverberated with raw power for dozens of meters. Qin Huai, his white hair fluttering in the wind and eyes alight with a radiant white glow, let loose a might that stemmed from the dragon king. This power clashed with Fang Huo¡¯s roar, shattering it. With the fifth-level bone pattern realm achieved through the nine dragons true qi technique, the dragon king within Qin Huai¡¯s dantian had fully matured, exhibiting power and quantity that differed from before. Within moments, the two were within inches of each other, the hot breath from Fang Huo¡¯s nostrils filling the air. The pounding of his blood and qi echoed like a drum in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. Fang Huo¡¯s hands and feet became blurs of motion, his punches obliterating trees and boulders becoming his makeshift weapons. The heavy stones they held felt as light as cotton, tossed casually aside. Neither had any inclination to dodge, choosing instead to shatter the large rocks before them with their fists. At the same time, shards of gravel flew in all directions, snapping trees and creating holes on the ground. ¡°These two¡­ they¡¯re like human beasts,¡± She Wanshan commented. ¡°If you¡¯re facing them, don¡¯t let them get too close,¡± Xiang Mingfeng advised calmly, seemingly unaffected by his grief. Yet She Wanshan¡¯s response was softer. ¡°I remember the beating I took from Fang Huo.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to join the fight against the level-one array. You lack the battle experience this group has,¡± Xiang Mingfeng told She Wanshan. ¡°And your heart is too kind for you to deliver a decisive blow.¡± His words stripped She Wanshan of his participation. ¡°Brother Xiang, I promise you I¡¯ve grown. I can defend myself!¡± She Wanshan said forcefully. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about you. I¡¯m worried about your comrades,¡± Xiang Mingfeng replied coldly. ¡°If your kindness kills you, that¡¯s one thing. But if it kills us all, that¡¯s not acceptable.¡± She Wanshan started to object, his face reddening, but Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s determined gaze silenced him. Meanwhile¡­ ¡°Berserk lion technique!¡± Fang Huo called, his brown fur glowing faintly gold. His aura transformed from dominant to murderous. His arm muscles bulged once more and his punches were now unleashed without restraint. Qin Huai struggled to predict the trajectory of Fang Huo¡¯s blows. Their speed increased, with Fang Huo forming a punch barrier that looked like a lion opening its bloody maw, consuming Qin Huai. But the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock, countered this. The light spots on Qin Huai¡¯s fist detonated, shredding the terrifying punch barrier. The balance in their duel was restored. ¡°I think we should reserve two spots for them,¡± a young man in an aqua-blue robe suggested. He then cupped his fists at everyone and said, ¡°I¡¯m Xu Tong of the Blue Sea Pavilion. I have to see what¡¯s in that level-one array.¡± His eyes shimmered with deep blue waves, captivating the remaining future king tiers. Battles started around them, with everyone fighting amid the stone tablet forest, their individual brilliance shining forth. The duel between Qin Huai and Fang Huo lasted from sunrise to sunset, continuing even as the sun and moon changed places. Meanwhile, Xiang Mingfeng and the others had already completed several rounds and changed multiple opponents. As the participants took a break for dinner, She Wanshan observed Qin Huai and Fang Huo, still locked in combat. ¡°They¡¯re still fighting,¡± he noted, astonished. ¡°How can they maintain such a high-intensity duel for so long?¡± Xu Tong, too, was surprised as he enjoyed a roast cow. He already had the upper hand, having defeated six opponents in a row and confirmed the candidates for the level-one array. ¡°I understand Fang Huo. He practices Lion Spirit Mountain¡¯s top healing technique, allowing him to recover as fast as wild beasts. But Zhou Cunzhong seems even more at ease.¡± She Wanshan nodded. ¡°Senior Brother Xiang is right.¡± Another day passed. The golden hair on Fang Huo started to darken to brown, and his muscular form began to shrink. Qin Huai, still in his dragon king form, felt his arms starting to numb with each punch. He noticed a purple hue spreading across his skin. Fang Huo, realizing he was at a disadvantage, ended the fight, shouting, ¡°I¡¯m not fighting anymore! I¡¯m not fighting anymore!¡± He had lost his temper in the battle. He knew that if he continued to fight like this, he would definitely lose. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, right? I¡¯ll remember you!¡± He sighed and shook his hand, instantly distancing himself from Qin Huai. As he moved away, he admitted, ¡°I can¡¯t beat you in this kind of fight. Only a life-and-death battle could turn the tide.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 391 - 391 Hiding the Trump Cards 391 Hiding the Trump Cards Fang Huo was slightly embarrassed. He was regarded as one of the strongest among the younger generation in Qingzhou, so his defeat by Qin Huai, who he had challenged, was a real blow to his pride. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Brother Fang. I¡¯m nearly spent,¡± Qin Huai cupped his hands and bowed. For the first time, he truly felt his physical limits. Having developed two full patterns, his body was stronger than ever before. He was well adapted to the dragon king qi, blood, and muscle fusion. Along with the blood heart technique¡¯s powerful healing, Qin Huai figured he could keep this up for a few more days. After all, the blood heart technique, a foundation of the Sacred Heart sect, had the miraculous ability to repair flesh and blood. It was far superior to the healing methods of Lion Spirit Mountain. Fang Huo nodded. ¡®Nearly spent, huh? Who are you trying to fool?¡¯ He eyed Qin Huai¡¯s lively complexion, clearly seeing that he was still full of energy. Rubbing his belly, Fang Huo moved towards the roast meat, not giving Qin Huai another look. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you fighting anymore?¡± She Wanshan asked, looking puzzled at Fang Huo. ¡°Are you on a break?¡± Fang Huo frowned. ¡°Can you shut up, future Lotus Peak Master?¡± ¡°Okay, Brother Fang.¡± She Wanshan promptly closed his mouth upon hearing this. Qin Huai joined Xiang Mingfeng and the others, his dragon king form gone and his clothes ripped to shreds. Luckily, he had wisely replaced his remaining poisonous creatures with animal skins, so he fit right into the group. ¡°Brother Zhou, your strength is far beyond what I had imagined,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said, surprised by Qin Huai¡¯s power. He had expected Qin Huai to be strong, but not strong enough to beat Fang Huo senseless. Even though it wasn¡¯t a fight to the death, the significance of this victory was not lost on anyone. ¡°Do you have any secret moves left?¡± Xiang Mingfeng asked directly. Qin Huai was taken aback. He was not used to such blunt honesty, so much so that he did not know what to say. ¡°If this is the case, then it¡¯s still going to be very difficult to defeat those old monsters,¡± said Xiang Mingfeng. ¡°The fighters from the major sects have highly compatible cultivation techniques, and they strive to perfect their patterned bones to best match their techniques. Plus, these major sects have deep roots and their fighters have deadly moves as their trump cards.¡± He added, ¡°I¡¯m concerned about your life. Even if you manage to beat Fang Huo now, you might not be able to kill him in a life-or-death battle.¡± ¡°Brother Xiang, don¡¯t worry. I still have some tricks up my sleeve,¡± he said quietly. Xiang Mingfeng looked seriously at Qin Huai. ¡°Think carefully before you answer. Emotion can cloud judgment, and there is no room for error when your life is on the line. You¡¯ve seen what happened to Guo Ze.¡± He added, ¡°Can I take a look?¡± Qin Huai shook his head, smiling. ¡°Brother Xiang, you know it¡¯s not smart to reveal your trump cards to others.¡± Though aware of Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s good intentions, Qin Huai remained wary. He didn¡¯t want to reveal his flame longevity technique or illusion realm fist prematurely. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s a tough one,¡± Xiang Mingfeng acknowledged, falling into silence. Qin Huai didn¡¯t add anything more, understanding his concerns. This upcoming battle was extremely important, potentially deciding the fate of the entire bronze realm and the destinies of future kings. A single mistake could cost everyone their lives. Another half month passed. Qin Huai¡¯s blood heart technique finally reached the fifth-level bone pattern realm. He sat cross-legged at a quiet spot away from the stone monument forest, his back itching as if something was growing there. Kakaka¡­ Loud noises erupted from within Qin Huai¡¯s body, sounding like internal firecrackers going off. With a puff, hot air streamed out of his nostrils, his skin turning a lava-like red. ¡°Has my strength increased again?¡± he wondered aloud, examining his hands and rising to his feet. He seemed to have grown slightly, gaining a height of one or two centimeters. Taking another deep breath, he mused, ¡°The air feels much fresher now¡­¡± This familiar sensation brought back memories of his training in the qi confinement and one body technique. He paused in surprise. ¡°Could it be that the blood heart technique also has the power to transform life levels?¡± He commended, ¡°Truly, a top-notch cultivation technique.¡± However, he felt a sense of regret thinking about how the Sacred Heart sect had deviated from their path. By corrupting the blood heart technique into an evil technique, they¡¯d reduced many people to a state somewhere between human and ghost. Raising his head, he glanced into the distance where She Wanshan was approaching. The latter stopped at a safe distance from Qin Huai, calling out to him from afar, and only walked nearer after gaining his permission. ¡°Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Xiang is requesting your presence,¡± he said, a faint bitterness playing across his smile. ¡°Is the selection done?¡± Qin Huai inquired, to which the latter affirmed with a nod. Together, they walked towards the forest of stone tablets, their strides matching. The stone tablet forest was now teeming with ten prodigies. As Qin Huai¡¯s gaze swept over them, he noted they were all masters from the five great sects in Qingzhou¡¯s inner city: Xiang Mingfeng of Wuji Mountain, Fang Huo of Lion Spirit Mountain, Xu Tong of Blue Sea Pavilion, and Little Cattle King of Ghost Ox sect. There was also a unique individual from the Thousand Divination Tower. He was garbed in a long robe that was half Daoist, half monk, standing out amidst the crowd. In his left hand, he held a horsetail whisk, while a sandalwood bead was clasped in his right. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 392 - 392 Conviction! 392 Conviction! Upon careful inspection, Qin Huai discerned that both the rather plain-looking robe and the objects he held were indeed treasured artifacts. He remembered that this man from the Thousand Divination Tower was named Gou Jie. Out of the remaining five, three were not members of the five great sects but prodigies from top-tier sects within the inner city. These included Wang Gang and Xiong Yujie, whom Qin Huai recognized from his time with the Blood Poison Gang. The two had unexpectedly found themselves in the bronze realm after leaving the inner city on a mission to slay a demon. Another was Liu Laicheng, a disciple from a large inner-city sect. In addition, there was a pair of siblings from the Twin Stars sect, both exhibiting a king¡¯s aura and possessing a potent joint attack. This reminded Qin Huai of the twins he¡¯d encountered from the Sacred Heart sect, although their combat power greatly differed. Throughout the recent days, he had never witnessed this sibling duo lose a two-on-two match. The same went for Xiang Mingfeng and Fang Huo. In total, there were ten individuals, each showcasing their own unique abilities. The remaining four, excluding Qin Huai and She Wanshan, were Shao Mo and another prodigy from Qingzhou. These two had the lowest win rates and were promptly eliminated. ¡°Brother Zhou,¡± Xiang Mingfeng began, his tone as straightforward as ever. ¡°Let me ask you again. Are you prepared to reveal your trump card?¡± Qin Huai, resolute in his decision, shook his head. ¡°Then I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Fang Huo interjected, ¡°I think we should give Zhou Cunzhong a chance.¡± He continued, ¡°Even without revealing his trump card, Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s demonstrated strength is still superior to Liu Laicheng¡¯s.¡± His unfiltered remarks left Liu Laicheng with a sour expression. Gou Jie, flicking his horsetail whisk, squinted. ¡°I also perceive that Zhou¡¯s fate is vague and highly fluctuating. He seems to be an unpredictable factor.¡± He had been tirelessly calculating everyone¡¯s destiny for the past few days and found Zhou Cunzhong particularly odd. ¡°Is that a good thing or a bad thing?¡± She Wanshan inquired. Gou Jie chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure.¡± She Wanshan pulled a face at his noncommittal answer. Le Ji¡¯an, the Little Cattle King, chimed in, ¡°Given that our opponents are those old fellows, Fang Huo and Zhou Cunzhong, who possess strong physiques, should have an upper hand.¡± He continued, ¡°When confronting these old folks on the brink of death, once they get within range, they¡¯ll crumble like dried weeds and decaying wood!¡± The rest nodded in agreement, finding his argument sensible. ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Xiang Mingfeng concurred. ¡°I might have been a bit too hasty.¡± He admitted his error promptly, although he still believed Qin Huai to be less reliable than Liu Laicheng. However, under the present circumstances, there were no better alternatives. ¡°Then, Brother Zhou, let¡¯s proceed. Do you have any objections?¡± Xiang Mingfeng said. ¡°None.¡± Qin Huai shook his head in firm agreement. He was eager to confront and defeat those old geniuses to enhance his cultivation level. With that, everyone reached a consensus. In the next confrontation, they would directly send the ten of them into the level-one array. To ensure that nothing would go awry, everyone intensively trained in the stone tablet forest, anticipating all possible scenarios. One day, Qin Huai suddenly remarked, ¡°By the way, those old fellows might have an expert among them who¡¯s reached the visceral prefecture realm.¡± He was reminded of Yang Tianhan and wondered if the man was a deranged old genius or still harboring ambitions to vie for the bronze realm and comprehend the ancient scriptures. Once again, everyone devoted themselves to reasoning and cultivation¡­ A month and a half passed unnoticed. ¡°Remember, stick to the plan.¡± Qin Huai, Xiang Mingfeng, and the rest shared a knowing look. Qin Huai sensed a mixture of tension and excitement in the group. These were expected traits of exceptional beings capable of cultivating the king¡¯s force. In the blink of an eye, they all vanished from their locations. Their unity and understanding of each other were strong enough to vanquish any god or Buddha standing in their way. For this round, Qin Huai was partnered with Fang Huo. They charged straight from one end of the illusion realm to the other, even encountering Hua Yanli along the way. It only took them ten moves to eliminate this prospective king of the Thunderbolt Gang. ¡°That should be enough.¡± Qin Huai and Fang Huo halted at the same spot. ¡°According to Xiang Mingfeng and the others, eighty kills are the sweet spot for stability. If we target the more proficient ones, we can reduce the numbers,¡± Qin Huai pondered aloud. ¡°Hey, make sure you don¡¯t die once we enter the level-one array. You still owe me a good fight.¡± Fang Huo laughed. ¡°You won¡¯t beat me,¡± Qin Huai replied confidently. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Alright then. After we finish off those old nutcases, it¡¯s you and me!¡± Fang Huo said with genuine enthusiasm. After two months, it wasn¡¯t She Wanshan but Fang Huo who Qin Huai shared the best rapport with, courtesy of their frequent sparring sessions. Their bond had strengthened through numerous battles, making them quite familiar with each other. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a few more rounds,¡± Qin Huai uncharacteristically joked. Buzz¡­ Suddenly, their figures started to blur. Fang Huo, who was originally smiling, immediately became serious in a heartbeat. Bang! The world seemed to break apart instantaneously, revealing an immense bronze wall that covered the sky. Looking at the majestic bronze wall that resembled the world¡¯s barrier, Qin Huai could sense its ancient, desolate aura, along with an incredible vitality. Numerous runes were etched on the bronze wall, and Qin Huai could vaguely make out images of many formidable creatures: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise ¡ª the legendary four sacred beasts ¡ª appeared lifelike. Other ancient beasts like Green Luan, Taotie, Torch Dragon, and Qiongqi were also present, making him feel as if a lifetime had passed. The next moment, Qin Huai snapped back to reality, finding himself in the first place. ¡°This indeed is the level-one array,¡± he noted. Boom! A distant, violent tremor caught his attention ¡ª it was the signal from Fang Huo. It has started. ¡°My luck could have been better,¡± he remarked, observing the distant cloud of dust which was quite far from his current location. Boom! Stomping his foot heavily on the ground, Qin Huai instantly activated his dragon blood form and sped toward Fang Huo. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 393 ?393 Another Reunion Boom! But Fang Huo¡¯s expression was grave. He had just released the signal and already someone had responded. ¡°Wow, my luck seems to be so good today,¡± he commented, eyeing an aged figure emerging from the forest. A terrifying aura burst from the figure, a palpable wave of murderous intent discernible even from tens of meters away. Neither party bothered to hide anything. Or perhaps, they had made up their minds the moment they saw Guo Ze¡¯s pitiful condition. Thick brown hair sprouted on Fang Huo¡¯s chest as he bared his teeth, emitting a low growl. He watched the figure approach, then abruptly withdrew his sharp fangs. His eyes reflected a measure of shock. ¡°Great¡­ Great-grandfather?¡± Fang Huo stared in disbelief at the figure before him, who looked eerily similar to the image in the ancestral hall portrait back at his imperial clan¡¯s home. Their resemblance was uncanny they were practically identical. ¡°Great-grandfather?¡± The old man looked taken aback, examining Fang Huo. ¡°Your grandfather is¡­?¡± ¡°Fang Chengcai!¡± blurted Fang Huo. ¡°And your name?¡± asked the old man, excitement flaring in his eyes. His hands trembled noticeably. ¡°I¡¯m Fang Huo! As a kid, I was always causing trouble. They said my name should reflect my nature in hopes of keeping me in check and bringing me good fortune,¡± he said, flashing a toothy grin. ¡°Hahaha! That little rascal learned this trick from me.¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°I had planned to change his name to Fang Bucai, but I wound up in this wretched place before I could. ¡°Yes, the resemblance¡­ Your eyes, your nose¡­ and especially your attitude. You¡¯re just like that little rascal in his younger days!¡± The old man ambled towards Fang Huo, the killing intent previously surrounding him vanished. He appeared as benign as an old man soaking up the sun in a typical alleyway. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d live to see my descendant,¡± he mused. ¡°And what a talented one at that! Hahaha¡­¡± As the old man erupted into peals of laughter, tears welled up in his eyes. He opened his arms to embrace Fang Huo, who reciprocated. Bang! Suddenly, blood sprayed out. Fang Huo gazed in shock at the hole in his chest, his hot blood pouring out like a stream. His eyes became red, and the sight of his own blood made him seethe with rage. ¡°Why?¡± Fang Huo yelled at the old man. The old man only answered Fang Huo¡¯s question with a powerful punch, deploying the power of a king. His body hair turned a dark brown instantly as he roared fiercely, throwing punches that reverberated like thunder. Bang! Fang Huo raised his hand in defense and threw a punch of his own. The force was evenly matched, allowing Fang Huo to use the clash as an opportunity to retreat a significant distance. However, the old man was quick to deny Fang Huo this advantage. His century¡¯s worth of experience allowed him to read Fang Huo¡¯s intentions in a blink. He chased after him, unleashing a series of unrelenting punches. ¡°What a pity. I couldn¡¯t take you down in one hit,¡± the old man remarked, his eyes reflecting a blend of regret and wild jealousy. ¡°Why? Why did you attack me?¡± Fang Huo asked in confusion. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you¡¯re trapped in the bronze realm for over a hundred years, burning through your vitality and blood essence!¡± the old man raved. ¡°What good is a shared bloodline or kinship? It¡¯s all worthless! I haven¡¯t seen my so-called family in more than a hundred years.¡± His sanity seemed to slip away as he spoke, his earlier warmth disappearing, replaced by a potent, murderous intent. The old man seemed to have lost his mind completely. The realization hit Fang Huo, making his face pale. His chest bore a gaping hole, his internal organs only slightly damaged. But if he didn¡¯t tend to the wound soon, it could prove fatal. Even if he survived, his lifespan would be significantly diminished. But survival was his primary concern. He needed to endure for the next fifteen minutes. A sound from the distant forest was rapidly approaching, which brought a surge of hope to Fang Huo. His aura actually grew stronger. The brown fur on his body started to glow faintly gold, enhancing his fighting prowess. Using a blood replenishment technique, he temporarily sealed the wound on his chest, allowing him to maintain his peak condition. He engaged the old man using both fists and legs, relying on his vast combat experience. The old man switched his tactics suddenly, adopting more devious moves and tricks. Yet, Fang Huo easily parried them after a brief pause. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Brother Zhou. His varied combat strategies during our fights really come in handy now,¡± Fang Huo said to himself. He realized if he hadn¡¯t sparred with Qin Huai for two months, he would have been at a severe disadvantage. ¡°I owe that guy half my life¡­ I¡¯ll buy him a drink when I get back,¡± he thought, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°You still find the strength to laugh?¡± The old man was infuriated to see Fang Huo holding his own despite his state. ¡°Heh, you guys are indeed past your prime. Even at my worst, you find it difficult to gain an upper hand,¡± Fang Huo retorted, his words piercing the old man¡¯s ego. ¡°Little punk!¡± The old man gritted his teeth. Whoosh! A spear cut through the air in the forest. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 394 ?394 The Final Destination? The spear thundered through the air, narrowly missing Fang Huo as he jerked his head back. ¡°If only I were a second quicker,¡± lamented a second elderly man emerging from the forest. Fang Huo¡¯s heart sank, feeling like his luck had taken a turn for the worse. Given the circumstances, it was likely that ten people had arrived in this vicinity. Yet, he had already bumped into forty percent of the rival group. Whoosh! A second spear flew from behind. The wielder moved silently like a ghost, catching Fang Huo off guard. He barely twisted his wounded body aside as the spear sliced past the muscles under his armpit. ¡°Damn it!¡± he muttered, as the old man slipped back into the forest, leaving him to face the imminent threat alone. In front of him was a bold adversary, and lurking behind him was a predator. Such a duo was indeed a formidable challenge. Fang Huo anxiously waited, his gaze slowly turning blurry. The golden fur on his body flickered weakly. ¡°Waiting for backup?¡± the elder from the Fang family taunted. ¡°Do you think we¡¯d dare to confront you without having made proper arrangements?¡± Fang Huo¡¯s heart pounded nervously. ¡°We are as much in this fight as you are. We all possess the king¡¯s force, which gives us an edge in this battle, even if our vitality is waning,¡± he continued, his grin growing sinister. ¡°The illusion realm can only hold so many people. As long as we eliminate them quickly enough, even the most powerful opponent won¡¯t find enough people to fight.¡± His smile grew wider, revealing a chilling malice. ¡°At worst, we¡¯d end up in a one-on-one duel. You were too hasty, too driven by the sight of your fallen comrades. Your confidence betrayed you. You believed that being young and prospective kings gave you an upper hand.¡± The elder from the Fang family mocked him openly. Suddenly, he roared at Fang Huo, the veins on his forehead throbbing visibly, ¡°Who are you to look down on us!¡± The next moment, a spear emerged silently from behind, striking Fang Huo. The impact drew blood that trickled down the spear¡¯s tip. Fang Huo glanced at the spear that had breached his shoulder armor and clenched his teeth. He roared in fury. His dulled golden fur sprang back to life amidst his desperation. ¡°Lion spirit, help me!¡± he implored. Boom! Fang Huo¡¯s eyes sharpened, taking on a wild, beast-like glint. His body tensed for a moment as his normally faintly glowing yellow pupils turned vertical. He roared, channeling his inner beast. Crack! The spear impaled in his body snapped under the pressure of his flexing muscles. He thrust his palms forward with an imposing force, sending the opponents in front and behind him flying, albeit only by a couple of meters. The old man holding the spear silently retrieved another spear previously planted in the ground and vanished from sight. ¡°The legendary spirit of a divine beast has descended to protect him,¡± the great-grandfather from the Fang family murmured. ¡°But you can¡¯t maintain it for long. Once the incense stick burns out, your soul will be torn by the summoning. You¡¯ll end up either as a madman or an empty shell.¡± The old man didn¡¯t rush to attack. Instead, he evaded Fang Huo¡¯s fierce onslaught, staying hidden. But he kept close whenever Fang Huo tried to flee. ¡°I¡¯m intimately familiar with the Lion Spirit Mountain¡¯s cultivation techniques, so your moves won¡¯t work on me.¡± Despair seeped into Fang Huo¡¯s heart, a despair unlike anything he¡¯d experienced before. If his great-grandfather hadn¡¯t plotted against him successfully, he was confident he could fight the two alone. But now time was their ally, and death was all he could foresee. Mockery tainted the great-grandfather¡¯s voice once more. ¡°At best, one person will come to your rescue. No matter who it is, no matter how strong you can¡¯t escape death. Why not just surrender and meet your end under my hands?¡± Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted into Fang Huo¡¯s nostrils. A faint trace of poisonous mist in the air, harmless but a clear signal. His comrades were almost here. ¡°How could my king¡¯s heart be shattered by your foul words?¡± he roared defiantly, his aura visibly strengthening. ¡°Stubborn!¡± The elder from the Fang family scoffed, launching a punch at Fang Huo. All the hair on Fang Huo¡¯s body stood on end in response. He decisively turned his back to the elder, swinging his fist. Bang! His punch met another, their forces evenly matched. ¡°Is this your reinforcement?¡± the elder sneered. But then, Qin Huai in front of him vanished. Stunned, he swung his fist again, missing his target. Not only was the person gone, but Fang Huo had disappeared as well. Even his partner was missing. He looked around in confusion, seeing only the forest and the sweet-smelling grass. The bronze wall that was once in the distance was now replaced by a floating bronze chest. ¡°What happened?¡± he cried out in bewilderment. ¡°Where am I? Have I arrived at the final destination?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 395 - 395 One 395 One-Punch Illusion Realm! Killing and Harvesting! The eyes of the great-grandfather from the Fang family suddenly lit up with ecstatic delight. He darted toward the bronze chest in the distance. Unexpectedly, a giant tree sprouted beneath his feet, lifting him into the air. ¡°Could it be¡­ Have I unknowingly deciphered the ancient scripture¡¯s secret?¡± He gazed in disbelief at the enormous tree growing underneath him. With a slight flicker of thought, grass began to sprout in the sky. ¡°Haha! I did it! I¡¯ve finally done it!¡± Riding on a bridge formed by giant wooden branches, he reached the bronze chest. With eager excitement, he unlatched the chest. Squeak~ A sound, old and filled with decay, echoed as the chest opened. The old man¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation. But then¡­ Boom! An unexpected fist launched from the chest, blasting half of his head instantly. His world crumbled. A bright white light mirrored his devastation. He could still discern his old partner¡¯s yelling, ¡°What are you waiting for? Fight back!¡± But the voice seemed distant and muffled. ¡°What¡­what just happened¡­¡± The draining life force and the loss of blood left him disoriented. ¡°Each flower, each grass, each tree, each punch builds the illusion realm.¡± Qin Huai, with a detached look, watched the old man collapsing to the ground. ¡°You¡¯ve been fooled.¡± Fang Huo gazed in disbelief at Qin Huai, who appeared out of nowhere. He was puzzled. Why did his great-grandfather freeze in place after trading a punch with Qin Huai? He allowed Qin Huai to land another punch, reducing his head to a pulp. ¡°What happened¡­¡± Fang Huo murmured to himself. The elder with the spear was also puzzled. Could it be that the old man¡¯s time was up? It seemed the only plausible explanation for the abrupt halt of the elder from the Fang family. ¡°Remember, you owe me your life.¡± Qin Huai patted Fang Huo¡¯s shoulder before darting toward the spear-holding old man. Whoosh! Qin Huai appeared in front of the elder in a split second. The sudden proximity caused the elder¡¯s hair to stand on end. He swung his spear like a whip at Qin Huai. But Qin Huai didn¡¯t flinch. He flexed his muscular biceps, taking the blow head-on. Bang! A portion of Qin Huai¡¯s strong flesh burst open. Nevertheless, his face remained unfazed. Seizing the spear, he took a large stride, pressing his entire body forward, closing the distance even further. Their eyes locked. Qin Huai¡¯s expression was as grim as the Grim Reaper. ¡°Got you.¡± He released the illusion realm fist. His blood seemed to drain in an instant, his face turning pallid. A punch, full of force, connected with the old man¡¯s body. Bang! The spear-wielding old man¡¯s eyes clouded over, and he froze in place. Qin Huai¡¯s fist, now flashing with white light, executed the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock, slamming directly into his mouth. Boom! Just like that, Qin Huai had taken down the two kings, who had ruled the bronze realm for a century, with just four punches. Whoosh! Qin Huai stumbled, the world before him splitting into three. He quickly grabbed a nearby tree as his body and vision swayed. The illusion realm fist could send a skilled opponent into the illusion realm he created with one punch, paralyzing them. However, it used up a lot of energy. Qin Huai¡¯s blood, qi, and energy were depleted after just two punches. He sat on the ground, panting, his eyes still somewhat white. ¡°Brother Zhou, are you okay?¡± An anxious Fang Huo ran to Qin Huai¡¯s side to help him up. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± responded Qin Huai, perking up at the scent of blood. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you first.¡± He began to search through his beast skin attire. ¡°You know medicine?¡± Fang Huo was relieved to hear Qin Huai speaking. ¡°I¡¯m skilled in poison techniques, so treating a minor injury like this shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Qin Huai assured him. Minor injury? Fang Huo glanced down at his empty chest. It was a serious injury! ¡°I¡­ Ah!¡± Before Fang Huo could protest, Qin Huai had already applied a handful of poisonous powder to his wound. He grimaced in pain, his tough face turning pale. ¡°Your internal organs are damaged, so it might affect your cultivation in the visceral prefecture realm. Furthermore, your vitality will decline. In the future, you¡¯ll need to find a legendary ten-thousand-year-old medicine to restore your lost flesh and blood,¡± Qin Huai muttered as he continued applying the medicine. ¡°Is your poison really a cure? It¡¯s burning,¡± Fang Huo joked to distract himself. ¡°If you¡¯re skilled enough with poison, you can kill and save lives,¡± Qin Huai replied confidently. ¡°This particular poison will coagulate your wounds. I also have a few medicines that can boost your qi and blood to save your life.¡± Qin Huai applied the medicine faster and faster. He had used up most of his precious medicines, which could easily poison a bone pattern realm expert to death. He had never expected to use his poison to save someone¡¯s life. He finished treating Fang Huo in a hurry, then sat cross-legged. ¡°Stand guard!¡± he instructed Fang Huo, then activated the blood heart technique. After some time, his pale face regained some color, but his vision was still blurry. Thankfully, Fang Huo¡¯s wound was large enough for him to apply the treatment, or else he might not have survived. He looked into the distance where experience orbs littered the ground. He wished they were as plentiful as they appeared. Then, a thought crossed Qin Huai¡¯s mind. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Divine Spirit Lion Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Divine Spirit Lion Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Breath Recovery Technique Essence (Red)], [Breath Recovery Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blue Sea Body Movement Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Blue Sea Body Movement Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +3%!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 396 - 396 Overwhelmed with Memories 396 Overwhelmed with Memories Qin Huai¡¯s mind was flooded with countless memories flashing by. The disarray of vivid memories gave him a headache as images of vast oceans, towering mountains, lions, seas of blood, and sturdy bronze walls imprinted themselves into his mind. After some time, he opened his eyes, realizing that collecting too much experience at once could be overwhelming. He rubbed his face in slight frustration. The two seasoned warriors he had faced had been honing their skills here for over a century, so the depth of their abilities was impressive. The knowledge they passed on to Qin Huai was sufficient to advance his poison king technique, already at the second-level bone pattern realm, to the fifth level. Qin Huai remained in a cross-legged position, using the blood heart technique to recover. The illusion realm fist¡¯s power was extraordinary, but it also used an incredible amount of energy ¡ª two punches had nearly cost him half his life force. After a while, Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. ¡°How long have I been recuperating?¡± he asked, looking at Fang Huo. ¡°Over a day,¡± replied Fang Huo, his eyes red with exhaustion. He had withstood his own pain for a day, guarding Qin Huai while he recovered. Qin Huai listened carefully to distant sounds of chaos and saw dust rising in the air. Within the massive first-level formation, battles were happening everywhere. ¡°We should join the others,¡± Qin Huai said, getting up. Fang Huo also stood, looking surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve recovered?¡± Just a day before, Qin Huai had been severely weakened. His energy and vitality were drained, his aura was weak, and his eyes were lifeless. How had he recuperated in just over a day? ¡°My recovery is a bit better than most people,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. ¡°You¡¯re more than just a ¡®bit better,¡¯ you know.¡± Fang Huo was speechless. If it were him, he¡¯d need ten days to two weeks to recover. Yet Qin Huai seemed to have regained seventy to eighty percent of his strength already. Choosing a direction, the two started moving. ¡°Even without our help, the outcome would¡¯ve been the same,¡± Fang Huo remarked, confident they¡¯d win a one-on-one fight. ¡°The older ones indeed lack the energy for prolonged fights.¡± ¡°But then, how did you get hurt?¡± Qin Huai questioned, interrupting Fang Huo¡¯s train of thought. Fang Huo¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The first person you killed was my great-grandfather,¡± he confessed, a bitter smile on his face. ¡°He¡¯s the one who dealt this blow to my chest. As Xiang Mingfeng said, these old warriors have gone mad. They don¡¯t recognize their own family. They¡¯re only driven by the need to kill, to compensate for and vent the frustration of being trapped in the bronze realm all these years.¡± His voice grew colder with each word. ¡°This is absurd. How can a weak-willed person be considered ¡®chosen¡¯? We need to take them down.¡± After a pause, he asked, ¡°Was that your secret weapon? Making people pass out momentarily? Was it a rare attack that could bypass defenses and directly target the soul?¡± Before Qin Huai could answer, Fang Huo continued, ¡°With such a move and your exceptional physical abilities, no wonder you¡¯re so fearless!¡± Qin Huai looked at Fang Huo, puzzled. ¡°Does the bronze realm¡¯s illusion realm mess with people¡¯s minds?¡± ¡°Why do you ask that?¡± Fang Huo seemed confused. ¡°I¡¯m always modest,¡± Qin Huai stated calmly. Taken aback, Fang Huo¡¯s face turned red. He wanted to argue that defeating him, the top talent from Lion Spirit Mountain, in front of everyone wasn¡¯t exactly modest. But it would be even more embarrassing to bring it up himself. Suddenly, a figure charged through the forest, knocking down several trees as thick as two people hugging. Dust flew up and deep tracks stained with blood were left on the ground. Xiang Mingfeng arrived, his long hair untamed and his animal skin attire in tatters. His muscular body was covered in blood. He gasped for breath, clutching an arm in his mouth and another in his hand. Xiang Mingfeng shook his head and tossed the arm from his mouth before Qin Huai and Fang Huo. ¡°This is my hand,¡± he declared, throwing the other arm to the ground. A fountain of blood erupted. Bang! A furious roar echoed from the distant forest, followed by the sound of tearing air as a one-armed old man appeared. He carried an imposing aura, seemingly dragging a massive stone statue phantom with his lone arm. A mysterious energy radiated from the shadow, marking him as a visceral prefecture realm expert! Both Qin Huai and Fang Huo tensed, ready to fight. But Xiang Mingfeng stopped them. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this guy. You two help the others.¡± His words were laced with a murderous intent. Understanding that this old man was likely the one who had gravely injured Guo Ze, Qin Huai and Fang Huo nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard!¡± Fang Huo called out before darting away. Qin Huai quickly followed. ¡°You seem to trust Xiang Mingfeng a lot,¡± Qin Huai observed, surprised at Fang Huo¡¯s quick decision to leave. ¡°Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s strength is equal to mine. Even though that old man is a visceral prefecture realm expert, his vitality is waning. Plus, Xiang Mingfeng has already ripped off one of his arms,¡± Fang Huo explained. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 397 - 397 Another Great Harvest 397 Another Great Harvest Fang Huo gave a confident smile. ¡°Brother Zhou, I figured it out when you asked. You haven¡¯t fought with this type of near-death old monster before, have you?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°These old creatures indeed have a wealth of combat experience and a variety of tricks,¡± Fang Huo explained. ¡°But their most fatal flaw is the well-known decline in vitality. As long as I can seriously hurt them, I don¡¯t need to kill them¡­ Their strength would diminish quickly as their vital energy drains away. Their aura, bone patterns, and even their guardian spirits are all dependent on this energy.¡± Fang Huo added, ¡°We young fighters often exploit this weakness. Some elderly guys who are nearing the five full patterns or visceral prefecture realm are really envious of us¡­ even though they¡¯re not as desperate as the folks from the bronze realm.¡± Qin Huai nodded, finally understanding these old timers¡¯ critical weakness. In his resource-rich home city, Qingzhou, he¡¯d never encountered such an opponent. The city was not only home to many experts, but also provided access to longevity techniques and powerful factions that cared for their elders. There was no need to fight and kill out of desperation for resources. Soon, the pair covered a good distance and ran into another figure. This individual¡¯s hands formed symbols, and his fingers moved so fast that it blurred the vision. An elderly man opposite him mirrored his actions. Both were deeply engrossed in their standoff. Suddenly, they both cried out, ¡°Void lightning technique!¡± Bang! Simultaneously, lightning and a blinding blue light flashed, and an instant later, both were stumbling backward, their bodies wreathed in evaporating blood. Qin Huai and Fang Huo took advantage of the moment, sprinting past the younger man. They also left Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s arm next to him. Qin Huai¡¯s white hair whipped in the wind as Fang Huo¡¯s mane of brown hair expanded, his lion¡¯s roar echoing like thunder. Their ground-breaking steps marked an impressive tactic. Before they knew it, they were face-to-face with the old man. He moved his fingers rapidly, and lightning bolts struck Qin Huai and Fang Huo. Bang! Bang! Bang! Despite the successive explosions and rising black smoke from their chests, their pace never faltered. They attacked with their respective forbidden techniques, poison dragon shock and spirit lion furious fist. In an instant, their fists collided with the old man¡¯s body. Remarkably, he twisted his body to dodge within the limited space. His feet moved like phantoms, evading Qin Huai and Fang Huo¡¯s attacks while his fingers flicked even faster. However¡­ The terrifying gusts that came from Qin Huai¡¯s poisonous dragon shock kept blasting the old man. Gradually, purple-black bruises began to cover his body, and more wounds kept appearing. ¡°Spare me!¡± the old man pleaded. ¡°I can help you find the others. I have a big secret!¡± He held up his hands in surrender, a hoarse desperation in his voice. In front of him, the fists of Qin Huai and Fang Huo halted abruptly. A murderous glint flashed in the old man¡¯s eyes as he flipped his hands. Behind them were two dim balls of lightning. ¡°Let me explain¡­¡± But before he could finish, two enormous fists pierced through his chest. Bang! ¡°Don¡¯t get us wrong, old man, we were just building up our power,¡± Fang Huo said to the old man who stared wide-eyed. His tone was mockingly sweet. ¡°Really, you¡¯re so naive. Why would we go easy on you?¡± Bang! With a resounding crash, a white light exploded, reducing the old man¡¯s body to pieces. The air filled with flying chunks of flesh, raining down like a gruesome storm. Fang Huo looked at Qin Huai, slightly taken aback. This Brother Zhou, being a rogue cultivator, always had to make his kills so bloody. Either their heads or bodies were blown up. Calmly, Qin Huai retracted his fist, collecting all the experience orbs scattered around him. A series of notifications flooded his consciousness. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Hollow Thunder Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Hollow Thunder Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [[Long Wind Seal Technique Essence (Red)], [[Long Wind Seal Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± An ocean of experience poured into Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Closing his eyes, he sifted through the vast sea of memories. ¡°Thank you.¡± Wiping the blood off his face, a young man revealed a charred visage. It was Wang Gang. ¡°If not for you two, I might¡¯ve died here,¡± he admitted with a wry smile, before collapsing. Fang Huo, serious-faced, told him, ¡°You can rest here or come with us.¡± ¡°You go ahead. If I come now, I¡¯ll just slow you down.¡± Wang Gang slumped on the ground, looking pale. Without another word, Qin Huai and Fang Huo pressed on. After a two-hour sprint, they halted once more, the sight of fresh blood flowing into the grass at their feet. Le Ji¡¯an, known as the Little Cattle King, stood in a pool of blood, his face as gaunt as tree bark. ¡°Too bad, you¡¯re late,¡± he said, flexing his muscles. The ground around him was strewn with body parts. At a glance, it was impossible to piece together a complete human figure. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 398 - 398 Battle Record 398 Battle Record The disparity between the disciples of the five great sects and those of the smaller sects was evident. While Wang Gang had nearly met a tragic end, Le Ji¡¯an, known as the Little Cattle King, seemed to have dispatched his adversary with ease. And Xiang Mingfeng from Wuji Mountain had even managed to duel to the death with a visceral prefecture realm expert. No wonder Xiang Mingfeng had been so confident. They likely had a good understanding of the fighting prowess of disciples from the larger sects. ¡°Let¡¯s move on,¡± Le Ji¡¯an suggested, getting up and gesturing to Qin Huai and Fang Huo. ¡°We should split up,¡± proposed Qin Huai. ¡°You head left, Brother Fang and I will head right.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Le Ji ¡®an nodded, his eyes widening at the sight of the hole in Fang Huo¡¯s chest. ¡°I was set up by two of them,¡± Fang Huo explained. Le Ji ¡®an gave a slight nod, not saying more, and quickly darted off towards the left. ¡°Crap, my reputation is ruined now.¡± Fang Huo grimaced, leading the way into the distance. The battle waged on for an entire day and night. With the advantage of numbers, Qin Huai, Fang Huo, and Le Ji¡¯an managed to dominate the entire level-one array. As night fell, everyone gradually regrouped. Qin Huai and Fang Huo were the first to reach the center of the level-one array, followed by Le Ji¡¯an, Wang Gang, and Xu Tong from the Blue Sea Pavilion. ¡°The twins didn¡¯t make it,¡± reported Xu Tong. The twins had had a run-in with a youthful elder who was in the visceral prefecture realm. In the end, they traded their lives for their opponent¡¯s. After a while, Xiang Mingfeng staggered over, blood-soaked, holding a severed head in his hand. The outcome was clear. ¡°Looks like we pulled it off,¡± Xiang Mingfeng managed to say through blood-spattered lips. It was evident his injuries were severe. He took the severed arm from Wang Gang¡¯s hand and reattached it to the stump. Blood surged toward the freshly-attached limb, and soon it started oozing out of the wound. The blood seemed to act like glue, sticking the break together. After that, Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s arm dropped to his side, limp but reconnected. As blood flowed out, his pale skin started to regain some color. They waited for a while longer, but Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower and Xiong Yujie never showed up. ¡°They probably didn¡¯t survive,¡± suggested Fang Huo. ¡°Brother Zhou and I took out some, and the number of old maniacs we¡¯ve run into matches the number of people left.¡± There was a moment of shared relief as everyone looked around at each other. ¡°After this fight, only half of those old lunatics will be left,¡± noted Fang Huo as he sat down cross-legged on the ground, beginning his recuperation. ¡°Everyone, take the time to recover. The next battle will come soon,¡± said Xiang Mingfeng. After speaking, he went to one side to gather his strength and heal his wounds. As for planning and strategy, they still had plenty of time to discuss. Everyone nodded in agreement. They found a secure spot in the forest and started to recuperate. Qin Huai was perched on a stubby tree, as wide as five people. He began to channel the divine power book of a thousand creations within him. In the recent battle, he had collected the remains of five fallen enemies, all experts who had managed to cultivate five complete patterns in the bronze realm over the years. The radiant divine power book of a thousand creations broke down all the lifeforce objects that Qin Huai had laboriously cultivated. He planned to remold them into new blood essences and incorporate them into other blood essence items in his dantian world. Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, over a month had gone by. Qin Huai¡¯s vast blood essence was on the verge of overflowing. His veins bulged and his muscles seemed a tad more robust than usual. Moreover, his poison king technique had advanced to the fifth-level bone pattern realm. Simultaneously, even his newly acquired wind breath technique had progressed from the great blood refinement to the third-level bone pattern realm. An unseen ball of wind formed in his dantian world. In this massive world, he moved silently, creating unseen waves and blending in with the bronze earth. His mythical beast, marked with a triangle, wings, and a snake-like tail, was also growing stronger. The blood wolf, blood tiger, and the ten white dragons had all turned a darker shade. Only the dragon king remained unchanged, staying pure white and spotless. ¡°I¡¯m very close to having five complete patterns,¡± Qin Huai whispered. He still had two cultivation techniques left to convert. This was a significant gain that could directly elevate him to the realm of five complete patterns. Qin Huai activated all the bone patterns in his body, and his body instantly brimmed with power as if it had been recharged. His bones felt as though they had been rejuvenated and strengthened. At the intersection of the two types of bone patterns, the once distinct boundary became increasingly blurred. A mysterious power seemed to be quietly growing in the darkness. ¡°If I can cultivate all five full patterns in my body, my strength, speed, and the toughness of my bones will probably increase by a level,¡± Qin Huai suspected. Most importantly, his understanding of force became clearer. Looking at the grass and trees in front of him, he could faintly see the almost invisible force within them. ¡°This must be why those with five complete patterns find it easier to understand the secrets of the king¡¯s force,¡± he mumbled to himself. He sensed something beyond the normal from the aura of countless living beings. Currently, with only four complete patterns, he could sense all of this. With five full patterns, no wonder they could comprehend the king¡¯s force. But to connect all the bone patterns in his body, he needed six full patterns. His dragon king force was largely due to luck. If he hadn¡¯t cultivated the qi nurturing technique first and cultivated the unprecedented ten white dragons in the end, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to understand the dragon king force. ¡°This bronze realm is truly profound. Even the power of these plants can be harnessed,¡± he mused. ¡°What a shame, though. It¡¯s not real, so I can¡¯t comprehend it.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s ancient azure illusion scripture had already entered the bone pattern stage, enabling him to see through the fake force in front of him at a glance. ¡°I wonder, can I sense the legendary emperor¡¯s force?¡± he thought, going into deep meditation again, contemplating the rumored emperor¡¯s force. He had already cultivated the king¡¯s force, and with five complete patterns, he could potentially comprehend force to a higher level. Finally, he decided to refine the last two portions into experience points for the wind breath technique. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 399 - 399 Qin Huas Roars 399 Qin Hua¡¯s Roars Blood Poison Gang, Qingzhou City Wen Zonghao maintained a calm expression as he observed the flourishing members of the Blood Poison Gang on the dock. Of his five adopted sons, two had been killed, and two were consumed by the strange green mist. Only Huang Qiguang remained. Huang Qiguang stood nearby, a crestfallen expression on his face. He had thought that after eliminating four people, his time to rise had come. But surprisingly, the crisis that followed Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®death¡¯ had quietly resolved on the seventh day. His foster father, Wen Zonghao, had adopted two more sons who were even stronger than him. Stealing a glance at Wen Zonghao¡¯s back and the two towering men behind him, Huang Qiguang felt the surge of their powerful presence. ¡°Qiguang, go handle your duties,¡± Wen Zonghao commanded. ¡°Yes, Foster Father,¡± Huang Qiguang replied, a cautious expression on his face as he left the area. Wen Zonghao admired the beautiful river scenery. The great demon tide showed no signs of abating. The two other major gangs in the outer city, the Mountain City Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang, had both been damaged by the Great Demon¡¯s invasion. Choosing to stay low, they had reduced their territories. However, the Blood Poison Gang, relying on the two new adopted sons and their significantly strong subordinates, had expanded their territories, leading to double the profits compared to before. The saying about making a fortune every day no longer fit Wen Zonghao¡¯s current situation. Wen Zonghao gently raised his hand, a line of blood floating on his palm. The two burly men behind him simultaneously extended their hands, producing a similar line of blood. This was their way of confirming each other¡¯s identities, a unique method used by the Sacred Heart sect disciples. It ensured that any disguised demon couldn¡¯t approach him. Or perhaps¡­ they were hoping for a demon to come, as it would mean a hearty meal. It was uncertain who the actual prey was between them and the demon. However, Wen Zonghao had been feeling uneasy lately. The image of Qin Huai kept appearing in his dreams. ¡°I keep dreaming that Qin Huai will escape the strange world and come to kill me,¡± he confessed, looking unhappy. ¡°Impossible, Leader,¡± one of the burly men refuted. ¡°The bronze realm has been around for at least ten thousand years. Nobody has ever walked out of it unscathed, and most survivors lose their memories.¡± ¡°Even if Qin Huai does manage to escape, it will take decades,¡± he continued. ¡°The fastest escape record from Qingzhou is twenty-seven years, set by Wuji Mountain.¡± ¡°And besides, even if Qin Huai comes out, so what?¡± the man on the left added, his voice low but filled with confidence. ¡°A mere bone pattern realm martial artist isn¡¯t a threat to us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Wen Zonghao agreed, his smile becoming more relaxed. The Blood Poison Gang had two visceral prefecture realm experts. Even if Qin Huai managed to escape from the strange situation, he would still be doomed. ¡­ Rumble¡­ Another month passed. The level-one array shrouded by the bronze wall began to sprinkle a light rain. This abrupt change stirred Qin Huai from his meditative state. He gazed up at the sky, saying, ¡°This drizzle doesn¡¯t feel celebratory.¡± A soft breeze whistled within his body. He then activated his five fully-mastered techniques. Immediately, the bone patterns on his bones illuminated and converged on his chest, radiating a bright, glorious light. This brilliance was due to Qin Huai¡¯s two techniques, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and nine dragons true qi technique, which were both located on his ribs. They intertwined with each other, their bone patterns coexisting in harmony. Roar¡­ Qin Huai let out a low growl that sounded like a blend of a dragon¡¯s roar and a tiger¡¯s cry. Feeling a strange sensation, he drew in a deep breath, causing the bone patterns on his ribs and chest to shine even brighter. He roared forcefully, awakening the dragon king within him as well as the blood-red tiger wolf in his bronze world, both roaring in unison. Sound waves burst forth from his mouth, transforming into layers of compressed air currents that became rings of energy, shooting outwards. Boom! The trees ten meters ahead were instantly toppled, followed by the forest further away. The destructive shockwave expanded, obliterating the trees in its path and even shattering a thirty-meter-tall giant tree in the direction of the roar. Gradually, the radiance of Qin Huai¡¯s bone patterns dimmed. ¡°This is¡­ the combined tiger roar and dragon roar.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected that he would awaken a new skill, even without igniting all the bone patterns in his body. ¡°A direct attack like this could damage an expert with five fully mastered techniques,¡± Qin Huai mused, speaking quietly. This was one of his few long-range attacks. In the future, if he faced an enemy who could fly, this tiger roar and dragon roar technique would undoubtedly prove useful. Thump thump thump¡­ The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the distance. Fang Huo was rushing over, with Xiang Mingfeng and the others not far behind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother Zhou?¡± they asked, expressions filled with tension. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just felt like roaring,¡± Qin Huai reassured them. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± they responded, visibly relieved. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 400 - 400 The Way to Break the Situation! 400 The Way to Break the Situation! Xiang Mingfeng let out a long sigh. ¡°Perfect. Now that we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s discuss our next move. For the upcoming battle, our first step is to find the remaining people and return together to the level- two array.¡± He paused thoughtfully before continuing, ¡°After reflecting on this over the past two months, I¡¯ve been wondering¡­ What kind of realm exists above a level-one formation?¡± ¡°Indeed, you had the same notion as well,¡± Le Ji¡¯an remarked, sounding somewhat unimpressed. The others responded with nods of agreement. ¡°A level-one array isn¡¯t the same as a level-two array. We can sense its power, but it¡¯s too faint to grasp or understand,¡± Le Ji ¡®an added. ¡°Given that these arrays are layered, what we believe to be the highest level, level one, may not be the pinnacle. Perhaps there¡¯s a level-zero array. ¡°We¡¯ve assigned the term ¡®level-one array¡¯ based on our own understanding. Perhaps it should be considered a level-two array, or even a level-tarray,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said. This sparked a lively discussion among the group. ¡°So, our current objective is to figure out how to reach the true level-one array?¡± Wang Gang questioned. ¡°Considering that the array¡¯s level depends on the number of casualties from the battles, there¡¯s no doubt that the prerequisite for entering the true level-one array is also linked to the number of people killed,¡± Wang Gang hypothesized. ¡°We just haven¡¯t determined the exact number yet.¡± Everyone shared their input, contributing to the discussion. As for Qin Huai, he merely listened quietly without rushing to comment. A level-two array was worth fifty points, while a level-one formation was worth roughly eighty. Xiang Mingfeng and the others speculated about a potential level-zero array, even suggesting it could be worth double the points. However, they lacked substantial evidence to support these bold conjectures. ¡°I believe¡­ your assumptions may not be entirely correct,¡± Qin Huai eventually voiced, speaking slowly. ¡°If it were really ¡®that simple¡¯, those old lunatics would have figured it out long ago. Considering their obsessive state, they surely must have dedicated all their time and energy into finding the answer.¡± ¡°Whether the total number of kills required is a hundred and sixty or half¡­ I believe that group of people must have tried it already,¡± he continued. ¡°Though it sounds difficult and only a rare prodigy with the king¡¯s force might achieve it, I believe that in the past century, someone must have accomplished it by chance.¡± Those guys were so crazy that they didn¡¯t even let their descendants off. They didn¡¯t hesitate to kill, so this must have been done before. ¡°You mean¡­¡± Fang Huo¡¯s voice trembled slightly as he processed Qin Huai¡¯s words. Everyone was smart, yet Qin Huai had outright contradicted their theories. They found themselves revisiting an idea they had only briefly considered before. ¡°The bronze realm is vast, covering the entirety of Qingzhou,¡± Qin Huai continued. ¡°If it¡¯s designed to select an exceptional prodigy, it must be someone invincible, capable of controlling a state and ruling an entire world. ¡°There can only be one criterion to filter out such a person¡­¡± Suddenly, Qin Huai fell silent. ¡°Kill all the opponents¡­.¡± Xiang Mingfeng suggested in a low tone. A collective gulp echoed amongst the group. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± murmured Fang Huo. ¡°No matter how strong you are, you can¡¯t defeat everyone before they defeat each other.¡± ¡°This is a dead end,¡± Wang Gang said with a bitter laugh. ¡°I now understand why those old monsters went mad. They likely already suspected this requirement. Anyone who¡¯s able to reach a level-one array should have guessed it.¡± The future kings exchanged glances. Despite their confidence, they felt this condition was an insurmountable hurdle. ¡°What about leaving via the stairway to heaven? There have been successful cases,¡± Qin Huai suggested subtly. He was certain that the older generation¡¯s stubbornness to leave the bronze realm, even at the cost of their lives, had to have a significant reason. Fang Huo responded to Qin Huai¡¯s query, ¡°It¡¯s understandable you might not know this. Those people can indeed leave¡­ However, they end up losing a large portion of their memories and forget many people. Most importantly, their martial arts journey ends here. Over time, their power continues to diminish until they ultimately become mortal.¡± Qin Huai gasped, finally grasping the dilemma. For martial artists, memory loss might be bearable. However, the ceaseless decline of their cultivation level until they ended up as mortals¡­ that kind of despair was utterly unacceptable. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a shot,¡± Xiang Mingfeng proposed. ¡°Regardless of the outcome, we have to try¡­ What the old lunatics couldn¡¯t achieve, we might.¡± ¡°But first, even if we successfully convince everyone, who among us will be the sole invincible one?¡± As Le Ji¡¯an voiced this critical question, the air seemed to stiffen. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the remaining few old lunatics first,¡± Xiang Mingfeng suggested, somewhat easing the tense atmosphere. Nevertheless, it was evident that everyone was wrestling with complicated emotions in their hearts. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 401 - 401 Emperors Force 401 Emperor¡¯s Force The group gradually scattered, leaving only Fang Huo behind. ¡°If you ever need assistance, don¡¯t hesitate to ask,¡± he said, touching his gradually healing chest wound. Qin Huai had used all his available antidotes to create a potent healing potion, which had prolonged Fang Huo¡¯s life. If not for Qin Huai, Fang Huo might not have survived these past two months. ¡°If I require help, I won¡¯t shy away. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Qin Huai reassured, patting Fang Huo¡¯s shoulder. When he spoke those words, he had already contemplated them. He was only lacking the ancient azure illusion scripture to perfect his bone strength. With the help of those old lunatics, it had broken through the second-level bone pattern realm barrier. During the past two months, Qin Huai had consistently studied the bronze wall, aided by Xiang Mingfeng and others, and his personal understanding. Progress towards the second-level bone pattern realm had already reached approximately fifty percent. Meaning, even without the old lunatics, Qin Huai could still accumulate fifty percent of his earnings over two months. At most, he could cultivate the ancient azure illusion scripture to the fifth-level bone pattern realm in a year. At that point, he was confident he would undergo another transformation. As the first ancient martial artist in the bronze realm to cultivate the ancient azure illusion scripture to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, he knew he would stand out. Qin Huai thought this to himself, honestly. Suddenly, he stopped Fang Huo. ¡°Brother Fang, what do you know about the emperor¡¯s force?¡± ¡°The emperor¡¯s force?¡± Fang Huo paused, a bitter smile creeping onto his face. ¡°Brother Zhou, do you intend to use the emperor¡¯s force to overcome our predicament?¡± Although Fang Huo¡¯s words hinted at mockery, his tone suggested surprise. ¡°The emperor¡¯s force is just something that exists in legends.¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Qin Huai settled down. He had only ever asked Yang Erbao about it. Unfortunately, his level was too low and he had no way of coming into contact with something like the emperor¡¯s force. Despite uncertainty regarding its existence, Qin Huai firmly believed in the emperor¡¯s force. Upon receiving hints from Fang Huo, Qin Huai felt a spark of excitement. Fang Huo settled down next to Qin Huai. ¡°I asked the same question in my youth. For this reason, I specifically searched the sect¡¯s Mountain King Book Room for related scriptures. ¡°I managed to gather some information from ancient¡­ well, they could be considered mythological books.¡± A reminiscent look appeared in Fang Huo¡¯s eyes. ¡°Magnificent and intimidating, filled with intense aggression, one could dominate a region and establish oneself as a ruler. All conquered lands become their territories. Those who transform into rulers are the emperors,¡± Fang Huo explained slowly. ¡°This is recorded in ancient scriptures. I read through many ancient texts that mentioned the last emperor force martial artist in Qingzhou existed ten thousand years ago. ¡°Ten thousand years ago seems more like a legend,¡± Fang Huo added with a bitter smile. ¡°I remember¡­ that person was revered as the emperor of Qingzhou. ¡°In Qingzhou, no one could rival the emperor. He killed a prehistoric beast, countless demons and devils, and was undefeated in countless battles¡­¡± His voice trailed off, filled with awe and emotion. ¡°That¡¯s about all I know.¡± ¡°Thank you for the explanation, Brother Fang,¡± Qin Huai said with a bow of his head. Despite the details being quite vague, he was relieved to have confirmation that the emperor¡¯s force really existed. ¡°Brother Zhou, you should stop obsessing over these mythical things. They¡¯re out of our reach,¡± Fang Huo advised, giving Qin Huai a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°If you have spare time, why not delve into the ancient scripture? Maybe you can understand its power better¡­ and find a way out?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Brother Fang,¡± Qin Huai replied, his mind wandering. Shaking his head in exasperation, Fang Huo quickly departed. ¡°In Qingzhou, no one can rival the emperor,¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself, reminiscing over the earlier conversation. Was the emperor only unrivaled in Qingzhou? Were the experts from other regions too strong, or did Qingzhou provide some unique advantage to its emperor? ¡°Regardless of the possibilities, I should focus on cultivating the ancient azure illusion scripture,¡± he resolved, shaking his head and returning to his studies of the said scripture. Suddenly, his figure began to fade. Yes, two months had passed. Boom! Qin Huai found himself once again in the middle of a battlefield. Maintaining his strategy, he targeted eighty opponents. With his mastery of the illusion realm fist, he wasn¡¯t afraid of even the old lunatics. Even if they collaborated, he had the power to defeat them. ¡°Hey! You!¡± A familiar voice echoed nearby. Qin Huai quickly turned to see Yun Qi, holding an iron fan, glaring at him. ¡°You again,¡± Qin Huai responded nonchalantly, charging at Yun Qi. ¡°You scoundrel! You¡¯ve killed me twice while I was off guard, forcing me to stay in the level-five and level-four arrays for four months!¡± Yun Qi growled, an ethereal Kirin roar enveloping him. Bang! But the next moment, he was defeated. His eyes widened in disbelief as Qin Huai, who was supposedly more than ten meters away, suddenly appeared before him and brought him down. ¡°What just¡­ happened?¡± he stuttered as he vanished. Qin Huai withdrew his hand, the illusionary figure of himself shattering. Given his current mastery of the ancient azure illusion scripture, it was child¡¯s play to confound Yun Qi. Coupled with the advantages of the scripture, Qin Huai felt invincible on the battlefield. ¡°However, to kill everyone¡­ my current capabilities are not enough,¡± he pondered, feeling no satisfaction. All his current plans were overly optimistic. The only certainty he had was to use his present abilities to find a way to defeat everyone. Qin Huai swiftly completed the level, vanquishing eighty opponents in just four hours, including Hua Yanli. For some strange reason, after three battles, he encountered Yun Qi and Hua Yanli quickly and dispatched them immediately. The massacre ended even faster this time, taking only half a day. ¡°It appears they¡¯re trying too,¡± Qin Huai mused, sensing that Xiang Mingfeng and the others were also making efforts. Signs of fractures were beginning to show in their previously solid alliance. Opening his eyes, he found the enormous bronze wall in front of him, still firm and unyielding. ¡°The level-one array¡­ also¡­¡± he thought, noting a wizened figure not far off, staring at him intensely. A gift awaited him. ¡°I¡¯m so lucky to run into the little brat here,¡± the old man smiled brightly. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 402 - 402 Divination 402 Divination Splatter! Fresh blood sprayed out in a wide arc. Qin Huai withdrew his fists from the body in front of him, blood clinging to his hands. The old man¡¯s eyes were still wide in shock as his lifeless body hit the ground with a loud thud. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Grass Script Sword Qigong Essence (Dark Red)], [Grass Script Sword Qigong] experience points +400,000!¡± Complex memories rushed into Qin Huai¡¯s mind like a turbulent wave. Moments later, he snapped back to reality and indifferently squatted down. Using the old man¡¯s animal skin, he wiped off the blood from his body. Then, with a respectful nod towards the old man¡¯s wide-eyed stare, he said, ¡°Thank you for your gift.¡± Qin Huai reached for the longsword that the old man had gripped tightly in his hand. He tugged hard, but the sword remained fixed. Finally, he had to cut off the old man¡¯s fingers one by one to claim the sword. He then found a hidden crevice in a tree to take shelter. The experience points he had gained couldn¡¯t currently be converted to the ancient azure illusion scripture, so he transferred them to the divine power book of a thousand creations instead. ¡­ Elsewhere, in the level-one array, the old man of Wuji Mountain sat perched on a tree. Opposite him, an older man held a wooden fish instrument, using a corpse as a makeshift seat. If Qin Huai were present, he would have recognized the corpse immediately ¡ª it was Shao Mo from the Blood Poison Gang. Once a dominant force in the outer city, Shao Mo now met a pitiful end. His body was similar to Guo Ze¡¯s, reduced to a mere husk, used as a seat by the unkempt elder. The old man from Wuji Mountain scoffed. ¡°You youngsters always assume you¡¯re at an advantage, that you can escape this predicament¡­ Little do you realize we were once just like you.¡± ¡°Once the truth is revealed, you too will become like us¡­¡± he continued, watching Shao Mo¡¯s life force slowly drain from him under his oppressive foot. ¡°Otherwise, why would you be here alone?¡± The old man from Wuji Mountain didn¡¯t hesitate to ridicule Shao Mo¡¯s foolishness. Indeed, Shao Mo¡¯s greed had led him here, hoping to uncover more secrets in the level-one array. His current state was the outcome of his ambitious pursuit. The old man from the Thousand Divination Tower joined the conversation. ¡°However, they managed to eliminate so many of our people at such a minor cost.¡± He slightly furrowed his brows. ¡°This is a bit strange. According to our previous analysis, both sides should be evenly matched.¡± ¡°What are you implying?¡± the old man from Wuji Mountain demanded, his voice grave. The duo was formidable ¡ª one a prodigy who had honed the king¡¯s force and ascended to the visceral prefecture realm during his youth, and the other an expert from the Thousand Divination Tower, proficient in complex calculations and the rare destiny-seeking technique. Together, they¡¯d suppressed countless gifted individuals in the bronze realm for a hundred years. ¡°These youngsters must be hiding a secret variable,¡± deduced the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower. His fingers traced patterns in the air, and a concentrated essence of blood gathered at his fingertips, pulsating rhythmically. Puff! Suddenly, his face flushed a deep red. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he splattered a large pool on the ground that slowly flowed toward him, forming an irregular pattern. Strangely, the blood stains on the grass took the shape of a human face, only revealing the upper half before the blood ceased to flow. Observing this from a distance, the old man from Wuji Mountain walked over and shook his head as he studied the half-formed face. They exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting nothing discernible. They had never seen this face before. Standing up, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower grabbed Shao Mo¡¯s head and dragged him to the blood painting. ¡°Tell me who this is, and I¡¯ll give you a quick death.¡± Shao Mo¡¯s vacant eyes slowly focused on the bloody depiction, and he seemed taken aback. Yet, he remained silent. The old man from the Thousand Divination Tower smirked malevolently. ¡°I have a few torture methods used by the four gangs in the outer city. Care to give them a try?¡± Shao Mo shivered. ¡°His name is Zhou Cunzhong, a rogue cultivator,¡± he blurted out. As one of the leaders of the Blood Poison Gang, he was well acquainted with the four gangs¡¯ torture methods. Having originated from such gangs themselves, they would stop at nothing to extract information. Despite having no hope of survival now, he was unwilling to endure such torment again. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, rogue cultivator¡­ give us more details. The more specific, the better!¡± The old man from the Thousand Divination Tower placed two fingers on the back of Shao Mo¡¯s head. Then, he squinted, his spirit needle technique enabled him to gauge whether a martial artist was lying by observing their blood essence fluctuations. ¡°He has a robust physique, on par with Fang Huo from Lion Spirit Mountain. His king¡¯s force is white¡­ it can turn your hair white. His punches carry immense power¡­ That¡¯s all¡­¡± With a swift movement, the elder from the Thousand Divination Tower removed his fingers, abruptly piercing through Shao Mo¡¯s head. Shao Mo died instantly. ¡°Could this Zhou Cunzhong actually be capable of killing us?¡± The old man from Wuji Mountain found it hard to believe. ¡°I can only ascertain that he¡¯s the biggest variable. As you know, the more detailed the calculation, the greater the price.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 403 - 403 Longing for Retribution 403 Longing for Retribution The old man from the Thousand Divination Tower slowly closed his eyes, his lips repeating a name, ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, Zhou Cunzhong¡­Zhou Cunzhong¡­¡± Despite being on the brink of death, their will to live remained undeterred. Their desire to stir up a final grand spectacle in their twilight moments was unquenchable. The old man¡¯s face drained of color, making him appear almost spectral. Moments later, his eyes snapped open and he spat out another mouthful of blood onto the ground. Splatter! This time, however, the blood didn¡¯t form any discernible pattern. ¡°How is it that I¡¯m unaware of this individual?¡± he mused aloud, giving Shao Mo¡¯s corpse a swift kick. ¡°Could he have died just now? Could that be why I failed?¡± The old man from Wuji Mountain appeared equally shocked. He hadn¡¯t anticipated this result. ¡°Perhaps he is indeed dead,¡± he proposed, his countenance darkening. He didn¡¯t want to believe it, yet his old companion¡¯s deductions had rarely been inaccurate over the decades. Steadying himself against a nearby tree, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower rose to his feet, his technique having consumed a significant amount of his energy and lifespan. His vision was blurry, rendering his sight unclear. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for a couple of days. Then, we¡¯ll deal with those greedy youngsters hiding in the level-one array,¡± proposed the old man from Wuji Mountain, a hint of excitement in his voice. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the level-five array, Yang Tianhan expressed his gratitude to the two young men standing beside him, both soaked in blood ¡ª Yun Qi from the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang. The trees within a mile radius were damaged, and several spectators trembled on the perimeter, focusing on the trio at the center. Nearby lay an elderly corpse, bearing signs of a violent death. ¡°Thank you, sirs, for saving me! If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have been killed by that madman,¡± Yang Tianhan said, his face glowing with appreciation. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We were just defending ourselves,¡± Yun Qi replied dismissively, his expression impassive. They hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such a prodigy in a place like the level-five array. During the recent battle, their adversary had executed an exceptional ancient scripture technique, indicating mastery of the ninth refinement. His choice to vent his emotions in such a low-ranking area seemed madness. ¡°The two sirs are too modest. With your remarkable king-level abilities, surely it¡¯s below you to visit our humble level-five array for three consecutive massacres?¡± Yang Tianhan returned the compliment. Upon hearing this, Yun Qi and Hua Yanli¡¯s stoic expressions instantly became awkward. Hua Yanli was somewhat more composed, whereas Yun Qi¡¯s fair complexion flushed red with embarrassment, leaving him tongue-tied. Did they want to come to the level-five array? They were being hunted by a pest who made every entrance into the array a nightmare. They longed for retribution, yet, achieving mastery of the ancient scripture in the level-five array within a short time was nothing but a pipe dream. For top-tier prodigies like them, their talents and foundational skills were near equal. The road to recovery was strenuous and incremental. However, surrender wasn¡¯t an option. If they were to accept defeat, what would be left of their genius status or potential future rule? Reading each other¡¯s resolve, the two shared a tacit understanding. Half a year together, being placed in the same level-five array three times successively, had fostered a unique camaraderie between them. Despite minimal conversation, they saw each other as close allies, their bond further reinforced by their common goal. Alone in the dense forest, Yang Tianhan¡¯s smile dissolved into a serious expression. ¡°As expected, the day when the older generation will confront the young talents has finally arrived,¡± he mused, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. He might profit from this upcoming conflict. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the level-one array within a tree hollow, a faint rhythmic sound reminiscent of hammering metal echoed. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound wasn¡¯t loud, but it subtly permeated the hollow, producing a crisp sound under the skin and muscles. As the divine power book of a thousand creations improved, in his energy center, the great sun and the divine power book began to converge, with the sound of metal striking emanating from this convergence. The vibration from the sounds seemed to resonate with the blood in Qin Huai¡¯s body, as if undergoing some form of tempering. Qin Huai abruptly opened his eyes. ¡°The divine power book of a thousand creations has now reached the pinnacle of the third-level bone pattern realm,¡± he murmured. ¡°By advancing the divine power book to the fifth-level bone pattern realm, some form of anomaly should occur with the blood heart technique, triggering a new ability.¡± Prodigies always pursued enhanced capabilities. Their aim was to unlock unique abilities arising from the interaction between different cultivation techniques. This would undoubtedly serve as a formidable weapon in their quest for domination or increased strength. Moreover, it was highly compatible with him. ¡°I need to find another person,¡± Qin Huai declared, emerging from the tree hollow. Spotting a large, adorable, gray-skinned rabbit, they shared a silent standoff from several meters apart deep within the forest. Roar! A deafening tiger¡¯s and dragon¡¯s roar erupted from Qin Huai, unleashing a terrifying shockwave that plunged dozens of meters into the forest. Startled, the rabbit swiftly turned around, covering its ears, frozen mid-hop. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 404 - 404 Six Full Patterns! 404 Six Full Patterns! Then, the rabbit froze¡­ and tumbled to the ground. A while later, Qin Huai savored the freshly roasted rabbit meat. Most beasts in a level-one array boasted battle strength equivalent to a master with two fully enhanced abilities, with a few even exhibiting three-full patterns. If a martial artist from the fifth-level bone pattern realm, notorious for his ferocious battles, were to accidentally wander here, it wouldn¡¯t be a stroke of luck. Rather, he would face a significant catastrophe, likely undergoing the toughest two months of his life. Survival itself would be a strenuous challenge, let alone cultivation. Only beings like Qin Huai, destined to be a future king, could transform this place into a training sanctuary teeming with nearly fifty beasts. Qin Huai ventured deeper into the forest. Suddenly, a figure rapidly darted toward him. Whoosh! As the figure came into view, two flying needles had already covered a distance of a hundred meters. With a light tap on the ground, Qin Huai observed as the needles swiftly sank into the earth beneath his feet. These were flying needles fashioned from bones, equivalent to a common treasured weapon. As the needles dove into the ground, Qin Huai¡¯s sword simultaneously left his hand. Roar! A tiger and a dragon roared. Charging at his sword, Qin Huai¡¯s furious roars augmented its speed. The longsword, initially swift as lightning, traced a cold arc in the air, its trajectory becoming unstable due to Qin Huai¡¯s roar. The oncoming figure was clearly taken aback. He hadn¡¯t anticipated the unpredictable sword path. His steps faltered, but the advancing sword only accelerated, etching a silver arc in the air. The figure¡¯s pupils constricted as he didn¡¯t foresee the sudden shift in the sword¡¯s direction. ¡°Shock!¡± the old man roared. Ripples circulated around his rapidly distorting body as he faced the descending sword. Whoosh! The sharp sword cut through the ripples and lodged into the old man¡¯s shoulder. There was no time for the old man to catch his breath as Qin Huai was already before him. His blood essence surged into the old man¡¯s face, the blinding white light making it hard for him to keep his eyes open. ¡°Forbidden technique, poison dragon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± the old man retorted, his eyes radiating a fierce glow. Layered ripples formed around his fists, mirroring the king¡¯s force. The two kings, who had been rivals for over a hundred years, exchanged blows. Bang! Blood spilled from the old man¡¯s mouth, his pupils quivering. Why did this young man¡¯s fist feel so heavy? It significantly surpassed the power of five full patterns. This onslaught felt heavy, sinking the old man into a deep abyss. His shoulder wound worsened, and Qin Huai¡¯s forceful blows didn¡¯t afford him any respite. They exchanged nearly a hundred blows amidst the forest. The old man bled profusely, the ripples around his fists gradually weakening until barely noticeable. Bang! When the final punch landed, Qin Huai cut through the old man¡¯s increasingly feeble form. He grasped the old man¡¯s throat and gave a firm pull. Splatter! A flood of blood gushed out, staining the ground crimson. ¡°Just like Fang Huo mentioned, once injured, these older warriors start the countdown to their end,¡± Qin Huai observed. ¡°Especially when they confront people like us, who excel in physical combat. They¡¯re merely lambs awaiting slaughter.¡± During the fight, Qin Huai could clearly sense the old man¡¯s combat strength rapidly deteriorating. No wonder Xiang Mingfeng had dared to risk his life against the visceral prefecture realm expert. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Ripple Haste Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Ripple Haste Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence] ¡­¡± A flood of experience points poured in. This time, Qin Huai didn¡¯t experience the previous headache. He effortlessly browsed through all the experience points. Afterward, he moved dozens of miles from the battlefield and, as usual, dug out a hole in a tree for rest. He sat there in a cross-legged position. ¡­ A heavy rainfall began once again in the level-one array, its loud patter muffling the sound of a hammer striking down. Bang! Bang! Bang! The thunderous noise grew increasingly louder. Blood and qi flowed out of the sun, traveled through the divine power book of a thousand creations, and ultimately settled in Qin Huai¡¯s heart. This organ seemed to have become the point where the powers of the two cultivation techniques converged. After seven days, Qin Huai opened his eyes. ¡°Six full patterns¡­¡± he murmured. As expected, he had entered the fifth-level bone pattern realm with the divine power book of a thousand creations. His qi and blood were becoming stronger. Facing adversity, he no longer needed to rely on the recovery ability of the blood heart technique to bide his time until victory. Now, he only needed sheer force to entirely defeat Fang Huo. Qin Huai closed his eyes slightly, the crisp sound of his heartbeat having ceased. He looked at his skin, which was growing brighter. ¡°With my current physical form, even without any defense, ordinary weapons won¡¯t be able to harm me at all,¡± he thought. However, Qin Huai speculated that the blood heart technique and the divine power book of a thousand creations had granted him more than just the enhancement of blood, qi, and skin. ¡°I need to find someone to test this,¡± he thought, emerging from his tree hole. A harsh storm raged on, its powerful rain pelting the ground and Qin Huai¡¯s body. He remarked, ¡°The force of this rain could pierce an expert who has just entered the bone pattern realm.¡± He had a peculiar feeling that the bronze realm was growing stronger alongside him. Suddenly, he lifted his gaze towards the horizon. ¡°I¡¯ve been rather fortunate recently,¡± he thought. In the torrential rain, two figures materialized one after another. One was fleeing, while the other was in hot pursuit. ¡°Hey, kid, don¡¯t run! You were so confident a moment ago!¡± The old man aggressively chased the young man. Suddenly, a gust of wind barreled down. The old man¡¯s pupils constricted as he instinctively threw a punch. Clang! A clear sound reverberated from Qin Huai¡¯s body. He felt as if an invisible force was permeating his blood and qi. Glancing at his personal panel, he noticed his vitality seemed to have increased by 0.1. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 405 - 405 Endless Blood 405 Endless Blood Power surged from Qin Huai¡¯s heart, spreading to every part of his body. The abrupt increase in his vitality left him astounded. With his current level and physical strength, a regular blood essence soup could not enhance his power ¡ª only the vitality pill had some effect. The result of his recent punch was surprisingly similar to the effects of several qi and blood pills, which delighted Qin Huai. ¡°Little brat, what are you staring at?¡± A voice laced with murderous intent echoed in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. But a fist arrived before the sound did. The fist was heavy, but a phantom spear cut through it. This thick spear, winding around Qin Huai¡¯s arm like a python, reminded him of Mou Jinfu¡¯s cultivation technique. The two likely had some connection. However, this python was even thicker and stronger. Its fierce strangling force made the veins on Qin Huai¡¯s arms bulge out. The sharp tip of the spear penetrated his skin, sparking and causing blood to spurt out. The old man¡¯s eyes were filled with a dark light, while Qin Huai maintained a calm demeanor. ¡°Dragon king form!¡± A white light instantly lit up, and Qin Huai¡¯s black hair turned pure white. Amidst the downpour, hot steam gushed from his mouth. His bound arm exerted force, and the spear¡¯s forward movement abruptly stopped. Qin Huai¡¯s arms suddenly clashed. ¡°It¡¯s useless! This is a king¡¯s spear!¡± The old man¡¯s sinister face revealed a taunting expression as he observed Qin Huai¡¯s actions. From his left fist, a long spear-like snake erupted. He believed the two spears would thoroughly tear this young man apart. Bang! The thick spear wrapped around his arm shattered. The sudden turn of events froze the old man¡¯s expression. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that the young man before him could smash his king¡¯s spear with sheer force. Momentarily stunned, the old man lost his advantage. Qin Huai seized the opportunity and swung his fists. The six-full-pattern realm had once again elevated his combat prowess, making his dragon king¡¯s power even more potent than before. Now, even though the fight was between future kings, Qin Huai widened the gap. The old man couldn¡¯t really be called a future king anymore, given he didn¡¯t seem to have a future left. Qin Huai aimed his two fists at the old man¡¯s face. Bang! Two hefty punches, one above and one below, along with the poison dragon shock, exploded on the old man¡¯s body. Blood flowed, and even the old man¡¯s chest bones were exposed. His vibrant bone patterns emitted light, gathering massive power in his body¡¯s secret chamber. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky!¡± The old man snorted, forcing himself to stay calm. Despite blood spurting from his mouth and losing a few teeth, his gaze remained unchanged. The python-like spears on his fists shot out again, but this time in a defensive stance, wrapping his arms layer by layer. Bang! There were no exceptions the second time. Using the forbidden technique, poison dragon, Qin Huai smashed the pythons on the old man¡¯s arms into pieces, and his heavy fist went straight in. The old man grunted and was propelled backward, akin to a sharp arrow. Unlike before, there was no energy flowing into Qin Huai¡¯s body this time. Witnessing this intense battle, Liu Laicheng, who was initially fleeing, was left dumbfounded. He stared, perplexed, at Qin Huai¡¯s unstoppable figure, wondering, ¡°This guy¡­ Are we really at the same level?¡± Qin Huai quickly closed the distance with the old man. His fists, heavy like hammers, delivered dozens of unreserved punches within moments. Then, all that echoed in the dark night was the sound of icy rain and cold blades crashing onto the ground. Clang! A crisp sound resonated in Qin Huai¡¯s ears as he observed the pile of minced meat in front of him. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Five Serpents Wings Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Five Serpents Wings Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture Essence], [Ancient Azure Illusion Scripture] experience points +3%!¡± ¡°Ding! You¡¯ve collected¡­¡± A series of notifications pinged, indicating he had collected various experience points and technique essences. As expected, the old man¡¯s faction was associated with Mou Jinfu. The latter had dared to compete for the leadership of the Blood Poison Gang due to the power, connections accumulated over decades, and this force behind him. But none of that mattered now. However, when Qin Huai glanced at his character panel, he noticed a slight increase in his vitality. ¡°Now, I can also gain vitality by fighting and killing people,¡± he murmured. He found this ability useful. With it, his physical body could become peerless in the world. Suppression of all his equals and those of the same realm would no longer be a problem. An ordinary expert with five full patterns would only have five hundred or more points of vitality at level five, not exceeding level six. Even Fang Huo, a top-notch prodigy who focused on body refinement, wouldn¡¯t exceed level eight vitality. Now, Qin Huai¡¯s vitality had already broken through to level nine, with room still for improvement. Even with his current physical strength and blood essence, he undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of his realm. ¡°This ability¡­ Let¡¯s call it Endless Blood,¡± Qin Huai decided. He roughly figured out how this ability gathered vitality. It worked similarly to the restriction of collecting experience points ¡ª they could be collected once during a fight and once during a kill. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 406 - 406 Guarding Against Each Other 406 Guarding Against Each Other ¡°I believe this ability should also be limited to once a day,¡± Qin Huai pondered quietly. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Turning around, he saw Liu Laicheng and forced out a smile. ¡°Brother Liu.¡± Liu Laicheng, looking extremely grateful, responded with a bright smile. ¡°Brother Zhou, I owe you my life. If you hadn¡¯t saved me, I would have died here.¡± Qin Huai shrugged it off. ¡°We¡¯re allies, so it¡¯s only natural to help.¡± His relationship with Liu Laicheng was nothing deep, as they hadn¡¯t interacted much. Liu Laicheng¡¯s encounter with the old man had merely been a fortuitous gift of experience for Qin Huai. Suddenly, Qin Huai swiftly punched at Liu Laicheng. The latter, sensing danger, instantly threw a counterpunch. Bang! As they clashed, Qin Huai checked his character panel, noticing a slight increase in his vitality. Taken aback, Liu Laicheng asked, ¡°Brother Zhou, what¡¯s happening?¡± Qin Huai casually remarked, ¡°Just checking to see if your injuries are severe.¡± Liu Laicheng, still suspicious, admitted his good fortune. ¡°I encountered them early on, but my cultivation technique, which favors speed, allowed me to escape relatively unscathed.¡± As he spoke, he leaned against a tree to rest, but kept a wary eye on Qin Huai. It was obvious that he didn¡¯t trust Qin Huai. When he looked at the latter, his eyes would also reveal intense jealousy. It was just that he hid it well. ¡°Them? How many people did Brother Liu encounter?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s sharp senses caught the message in Liu Laicheng¡¯s words. ¡°Three. One is this man you saw, another from Wuji Mountain, and the last, a madwoman from the Thousand Divination Tower. She was holding some mysterious things in her hands. It was a bad stroke of luck, encountering three powerful enemies the moment I arrived.¡± While sharing his story, Liu Laicheng stammered as he recalled, and he couldn¡¯t help but shiver. But he omitted crucial details. He had indeed encountered three old lunatics as soon as he arrived. However, not far away from him was Shao Mo of the Blood Poison Gang. He and Shao Mo had initially planned to fight against the three formidable opponents together. But, after realizing the incredible strength of the man from Wuji Mountain, Liu Laicheng had cowardly abandoned Shao Mo and fled. He dared not share these details with Qin Huai, fearing his reaction if he knew the truth. Having observed Qin Huai¡¯s brutal strength earlier, Liu Laicheng knew he was no match for him. He couldn¡¯t comprehend how Qin Huai had managed to grow so powerful in just half a year, which filled him with a mix of jealousy and resentment. ¡°How strong are the other two?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°I believe one is at the visceral prefecture realm. His strength was¡­overwhelming, way beyond my capabilities,¡± Liu Laicheng answered, fearing that underestimating the enemy could lead to disastrous consequences later. He cared little about Qin Huai¡¯s fate but was wary that he might be the last surviving target for these powerful adversaries. His abilities had advanced beyond Xiang Mingfeng, who had successfully battled a visceral prefecture realm opponent. Given his progress and the enhancement of his illusion realm fist, he could potentially challenge two such experts. However, deciding not to take unnecessary risks, he chose to reserve this battle for a later stage. After making up his mind to not take this risk for the time being, Qin Huai turned around and looked at the huge bronze wall in the distance. The most important thing now was to cultivate the ancient azure illusion scripture. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the bronze wall to cultivate¡­ We have to get through the remaining time first,¡± Qin Huai murmured. ¡°Sounds good!¡± Liu Laicheng agreed readily. He was about to suggest that, excited about his first time in a level-one array. Sitting in the center of the bronze wall¡¯s level-one array, Liu Laicheng attempted to reassure himself, ¡°It should be safer here¡­ We can advance or retreat freely without obstruction.¡± Qin Huai, who was standing at the side, frowned slightly as he looked at him. Observing Liu Laicheng, he noticed that he seemed unusually shaken, completely different from his previous confident demeanor when he volunteered for the level-two array. This should not be the mentality of a future champion. Qin Huai speculated that Liu Laicheng might have encountered a traumatic incident that he was deliberately concealing. This was one of the reasons why Qin Huai chose to maintain peace between them for now. Both sat cross-legged, positioned in a way that allowed them to observe each other. The ample distance between them ensured that either one would have enough reaction time if attacked unexpectedly. They maintained a wary understanding, each conscious of the other¡¯s actions. Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation with the ancient azure illusion scripture had already reached more than halfway to the third-level bone pattern realm, thanks to the gifts from the old lunatics. Now, he focused on utilizing the remaining experience points. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 407 - 407 Destiny Ends Here? 407 Destiny Ends Here? Qin Huai decided to concentrate all his energy on the nine dragons true qi technique. After breaking through to the fifth-level bone pattern realm with the divine power book of a thousand creations, he refined his skills at an increasingly rapid pace. Within a day, he fully assimilated the experience points earned from the old lunatic, advancing his nine dragons true qi technique to the peak of the bone pattern realm. All he needed now was some spirit items to break through the barrier of the inner realm. Next, Qin Huai devoted his attention to understanding the bronze wall. Each morning, he would punch Liu Laicheng a few times, under the pretense of body-strengthening exercise. Whether Liu Laicheng believed him or not, Qin Huai¡¯s vitality was visibly improving. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the level-two array¡­ Xiang Mingfeng, Fang Huo, and others wore somber expressions. Apart from She Wanshan, Little Cattle King, and Le Ji¡¯an, the rest were noticeably absent. Even Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower had not arrived as promised. Le Ji¡¯an commented sarcastically, ¡°Just as expected. Once the secret was out, the unity broke.¡± ¡°Even though I anticipated this, I didn¡¯t imagine it would dissolve to such an extent,¡± Xiang Mingfeng admitted, his face hardening. ¡°All these are trials and tribulations. In the end, they will serve as stepping stones on our journey to kingship.¡± ¡°Despite all, our plan stays the same. What do you think?¡± he asked, his gaze surveying the four individuals before him. He remained relatively undisturbed. He had prepared for the worst-case scenario, such as everyone becoming like the old lunatics. In his view, the current situation was far better. ¡°I have no objections.¡± She Wanshan was the first to express his opinion. He and his senior brother were in the same boat. ¡°I still want to leave,¡± Le Ji¡¯an commented nonchalantly. ¡°But the same issue remains. Even if you succeed, have you considered who you will pick in the end?¡± Fang Huo laughed lightly. ¡°I can accept it even if Brother Zhou chooses you.¡± ¡°Beautiful words are easy to say,¡± Le Ji ¡®an retorted, his tone turning sour. ¡°Moreover, your savior isn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°Brother Zhou has his own reasons,¡± Fang Huo interjected immediately. One should reciprocate a life-saving favor with utmost gratitude, not to mention just voicing support at this point. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t hold back. The decision was almost instinctive. Le Ji ¡®an just shook his head. They all held a pessimistic view about the final outcome. After a few months, only four of them remained from the once mighty cohort of fourteen kings. How could this not make people despair? ¡­ A month passed, during which Qin Huai¡¯s vitality showed a slight improvement. His understanding of the ancient azure illusion scripture had progressed from fifty to sixty-five percent. Slowly, Qin Huai rose from his meditative state, then mentally gauged the time. The moment for the great slaughter was fast approaching. ¡°Brother Liu, will you join me?¡± Qin Huai asked, approaching Liu Laicheng¡¯s tree hollow. Liu Laicheng, having been awake the moment Qin Huai stirred, anxiously twiddled his fingers. ¡°Only a day left before the great slaughter,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Brother Zhou, are you¡­¡± he began, filled with apprehension. ¡°On the final day, it¡¯s only natural that I face off against the old lunatic one more time,¡± Qin Huai casually replied. ¡°If we win, wouldn¡¯t we have fulfilled our mission ahead of schedule?¡± He alone had dispatched half of the surviving old lunatics, and adding these two to the toll could effectively eradicate the remainder. After that, there would be no more unstable factors, and Qin Huai¡¯s chances of breaking through the level-zero array would significantly increase. ¡°Alright¡­¡± Liu Laicheng acquiesced, not so much in support of Qin Huai, but out of fear that if Qin Huai left, he might inadvertently encounter the old lunatics nursing similar thoughts. Wouldn¡¯t that be a peaceful death? He resolved that if Qin Huai ever found himself at a disadvantage or in danger, he would flee. He could endure until the great slaughter. ¡°Let¡¯s set out now. Given the vast expanse of the level-one array, locating them may take more than half a day,¡± Qin Huai whispered. He didn¡¯t possess absolute confidence in eliminating the two elderly experts, but at least, his life wasn¡¯t at immediate risk. Two hours ticked by. They stood motionless in the forest. ¡°Luck is not on my side this time,¡± Qin Huai muttered. In the forest, four of them unexpectedly encountered each other on a narrow path. All of them frowned ¡ª they hadn¡¯t anticipated such a meeting within the first couple of hours. ¡°Did you kill those three?¡± the old man from Wuji Mountain questioned. This made Liu Laicheng, who was standing beside Qin Huai, gasp. Had Zhou Cunzhong already slain two before killing the snake-spear old man? No wonder his confidence brimmed. What kind of monster was he? Qin Huai remained silent, his gaze fixed on the old man from Wuji Mountain. The old man, whose qi and blood were abnormally vibrant and vigorous, hardly resembled a man in his twilight years. Danger loomed. Qin Huai¡¯s expression tightened as the energy of his lifespan gradually gathered at his fingertips, preparing his two trump cards. ¡°Brother Zhou, we need to be careful. These two aren¡¯t like the ones we faced earlier,¡± Liu Laicheng advised. ¡°Despite the old madman¡¯s frail appearance, he¡¯s a master from the Thousand Divination Tower with exceptional calculation skills!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know,¡± Qin Huai assured him as all of them started circling the forest. Meanwhile, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower observed Qin Huai with a puzzled expression. The latter seemed vaguely familiar but not entirely so. Then, in a certain instant, both parties launched their attacks. Boom! Qin Huai and the old man from Wuji Mountain collided head-on, and both fists flew out. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes sparkled, his speed doubling. White light erupted, and his dark hair strands instantly turned white. On the other side, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower was startled. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± he rasped out hoarsely. ¡°Beware of this man!¡± ¡°Haha! I won¡¯t lose!¡± The old man from Mount Wuji laughed maniacally. ¡°Your destiny ends here!¡± he roared, his long hair whipping about in the wind like a mad deity descending upon the world. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 408 - 408 Inside the Illusion Realm 408 Inside the Illusion Realm Unwavering, the old man¡¯s face stayed the same. Yet, his energy aura grew gradually with the settling of his voice. The dust around him stirred and started to float off the ground, much like the old man¡¯s fluttering white hair. The latter danced in the wind, generating airwaves that spiraled up into the sky. ¡°The unique technique that Old Fei practices isn¡¯t part of the Wuji Mountain teachings. It¡¯s the extreme dao qi xuan technique,¡± explained the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower leisurely. Neither he nor Liu Laicheng showed any signs of tension. They stood distant from each other, seemingly awaiting the outcome of the impending showdown between Qin Huai and the Wuji Mountain elder. ¡°As long as his innate qi remains, even at death¡¯s door, he will retain his peak physical state,¡± the old man continued. ¡°So, you¡¯re not confronting a declining visceral prefecture realm expert, but rather one still in his prime.¡± Despite his confusion as to why he would disclose such hidden knowledge to Qin Huai, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower met his gaze confidently. As for the old man from Wuji Mountain, he seemed unbothered by his revelations ¡ª his confidence was evident as his aura intensified with the escalating airwaves. Qin Huai stood his ground silently, his fists radiating with heated life energy gathering beneath his skin, a torrent of power primed to erupt. ¡°Old Fei¡¯s guardian spirit item is a sphere of divine qi we found in a deity¡¯s cave when we were young,¡± shared the man from the Thousand Divination Tower. ¡°This divine qi can slice through anything in the world. When unleashed, it¡¯s a formidable force even for reincarnated immortals.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained steady as he continued to harness his life energy. On the other hand, Liu Laicheng, standing nearby, couldn¡¯t maintain his calm anymore. ¡°Divine qi? What a joke!¡± he burst out, scorn etched across his face. ¡°That¡¯s the stuff of legends, said to be the essence of a fallen deity. It¡¯s notoriously powerful and immensely heavy.¡± He recollected passages from his sect¡¯s ancient records. ¡°A mere wisp of divine qi weighs over ten thousand pounds. Wouldn¡¯t a sphere of it be as heavy as a mountain? It would be unbearable, not just for a visceral prefecture realm expert, but even those of higher realms.¡± The more Liu Laicheng spoke, the more his conviction grew. Many young prodigies from Qingzhou City had been enthralled by such mythical tales in their early years, and of course, he claimed to be more familiar with this lore than with actual cultivation techniques. ¡°If your divine qi theory holds¡­then the deity you refer to must be a hoax!¡± Liu Laicheng stated confidently. A chuckle escaped from the old man of the Thousand Divination Tower. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that these youngsters would know so much about the legend. ¡°A semi-divinity realm expert could eliminate a visceral prefecture realm expert instantly,¡± he sneered. He and his sworn brother had faced countless perils together in their youth, and this sphere of divine qi had helped them eliminate numerous formidable foes. Unfortunately, only a meager amount of the divine qi remained. But it seemed fitting to use it to eliminate Zhou Cunzhong, who was a huge threat to their plans. Boom! Qin Huai and the old man from Wuji Mountain launched their attacks almost simultaneously. The sheer force of the attack seemed to push Qin Huai back several meters, as though a mountain was advancing towards him. ¡°Gokudo path, innate qi sea!¡± Utilizing his technique, the old man from Wuji Mountain swung his fist, stirring up his internal life energy as if he were causing a sea to churn. This energy took on many forms, like a sword, spear, hammer, or even an entire army. The ground was torn apart and surrounding trees were uprooted. Qin Huai, however, stepped forward. His body was strong enough to withstand this onslaught of energy. His skin clung tightly to his muscles, veins visibly throbbing beneath. He launched a counterattack, his fists smashing through the threatening wave of energy. However, blood began to seep from Qin Huai¡¯s mouth and nose. The elder¡¯s energy had penetrated his protective blood qi armor and infiltrated his body. If Qin Huai weren¡¯t incredibly durable, his internal organs would have been destroyed by this force. Despite this, the clash was only the result of a single punch from each of them. The initial ten-meter gap between them was now gone. The old man¡¯s eyes filled with murderous intent. He lifted his fist, gathering immense power at his fingertips. In contrast, Qin Huai¡¯s fist seemed ordinary ¡ª his strategy was speed. With a swift punch, Qin Huai used his illusion realm fist. His attack landed on the elder¡¯s chest as lightly as a baby¡¯s tap with a hammer. The elder paused before breaking into a chuckle. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Did you exhaust all your strength just to get this close to me?¡± His eyes gleamed with deadly intent as he threw a punch. But then¡­ his fist swished through empty air. Confused, the old man from Wuji Mountain gazed at the forest before him. He was surrounded by lush grass and blooming flowers. A gentle breeze blew, carrying away the bronze wall that had haunted him for decades from his vision. His punch seemed to have transported him to a paradise. ¡°What happened?¡± The old man from Wuji Mountain was taken aback. He immediately felt a sense of danger. His hair stood on end. No! He had been fooled! Having been trapped in the bronze realm for over a century, the old man instantly understood what was happening. In a desperate attempt, he threw two punches into the void before him, but nothing happened. Reacting swiftly, the old man activated the divine qi within him. Opening his mouth, he spewed out a silver light. The mystical force instantly twisted the entire illusion realm, creating a deafening sound of cracks. Bang! The world before him crumbled in an instant. The heavy smell of blood once again assaulted his nostrils, and the distant shouts of his old friend reached his ears. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 409 - 409 Divine Anger! 409 Divine Anger! Before the old man from Wuji Mountain could celebrate his escape, a golden flame suddenly erupted, washing over him. His entire body bristled in fear, his formidable aura exploding. It was like a pair of iron clamps launched from his body, hurtling toward Qin Huai¡¯s hands. The old man breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had narrowly dodged a bullet. The next moment, however, the dreadful power surrounding him was instantly cleaved by the golden flames as easily as slicing through tofu. The brilliant flames acted like the sharpest blades in existence. Under his horrified gaze, the old man saw a large hand lodge itself into his skull, before it swiftly slashed downwards. ¡°Forbidden technique, twenty years of life, flame longevity technique!¡± Boom! Qin Huai had delivered a powerful blow. Under the watchful eyes of the Thousand Divination Tower elder and Liu Laicheng, the old man from Wuji Mountain appeared to be exhausted from the fight. As he was about to unleash his divine qi, he was disassembled by the golden flames suddenly produced by Qin Huai¡¯s hand. Qin Huai exhaled deeply. Looking at the fallen elder, he frowned slightly. It was a close call. Regardless of whether the old man¡¯s spirit treasure was the so-called divine qi, its power was undeniable. The old man had used it to penetrate his illusion realm fist. Its power was almost on par with his flame of longevity. Qin Huai was only capable of suppressing the power of a deity¡¯s qi with his flame longevity technique once he reached the visceral prefecture realm. Fortunately, he had gathered his longevity power in advance, not allowing the old man any opportunity to strike. This battle, although only comprising three moves, had been fraught with danger. If Qin Huai had been even slightly slower, he could have been taken down by the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower. The battle was essentially a contest to see who could deploy their finishing move first. And evidently, the old man from Wuji Mountain was overconfident. Had he used his divine qi from the outset, he might have won. At this moment, the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower stared blankly at the body on the ground. ¡°Old Meng¡­ You indeed were the chosen one.¡± He admitted with a bitter smile, then threw a wooden fish toward Qin Huai. However, Liu Lai Cheng, who was in a favorable position, wouldn¡¯t allow the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower to have his way. Still, he didn¡¯t stop the flying wooden fish. Instead, he launched himself at the old man, his feet igniting like a wheel of fire as he executed an airborne kick. His foot, trailing a brilliant flame, aimed directly at the old man¡¯s face. Boom! The gathered power on the old man¡¯s face was blown apart. The flames were like venomous snakes, branding his face in an instant. A piercing burning sound echoed as the old man¡¯s left eye shriveled up, half of his face turning a burnt black and red. Bang! Not too far away, the thrown wooden fish exploded. The ensuing fragments shot out in all directions, shattering the ground and raising a cloud of dust. The tiny fragments swiftly pierced through over ten trees, their momentum unyielding as they continued to shoot into the distance. Liu Laicheng, standing opposite the elder from the Thousand Divination Tower, was not spared. More than ten pieces of the wooden fish embedded into his body, soaked in blood. Liu Laicheng turned pale, feeling as if his life force was being siphoned by the fragments of the elder¡¯s wooden fish. He realized the wooden fish, although thrown at Qin Huai, was also aimed at him. Neither of them could ward off the other¡¯s attack, and both were heavily wounded. Ding ding ding¡­ Qin Huai emerged from the cloud of smoke, shards of the wooden fish embedded in his body. Traces of blood seeped out, but this was not a concern for him. He started to sprint towards the elder from the Thousand Divination Tower. In the blink of an eye, he covered a significant distance. ¡°Forgive me!¡± cried the elder from the Thousand Divination Tower. Suddenly, a blood-colored puppet burst out of his chest. It wore a crown, wielded a horsetail whisk, donned a long robe made from animal skins, and exuded a strange, dominating aura. Liu Laicheng, bearing the brunt of the attack, felt a gust of wind at his feet. Fire was fanned by wind. He produced a wall of fire with a kick, which enveloped the elder from the Thousand DivinationTower like a monstrous, blood-thirsty mouth. Bang! The wall of fire shattered, and the horsetail whisk and crown on the blood-red puppet were engulfed in flames. With wrathful eyes, it launched Liu Laicheng into the air. A fist came from the side. ¡°Forbidden technique, poison dragon shock combo!¡± A bright light, like a massive star, illuminated Qin Huai¡¯s fist in an instant. His heavy fist rained down on the blood-colored puppet like a mountain. Bang! The blood-red puppet exploded in mid-air. The elder from the Thousand Divination Tower, already heavily injured, couldn¡¯t fully wield the power of the visceral prefecture realm. The moment the puppet was destroyed by the punch, the elder already knew his fate. He managed a bitter smile and murmured, ¡°I can¡¯t see through it. I can¡¯t see through it¡­¡± His whisper was heard by none. In the next second, Qin Huai delivered a lethal punch, instantly killing the elder. ¡°Hu¡­¡± Qin Huai looked at the puddle that was once the elder and sighed deeply. Then, he turned to look at Liu Laicheng. The latter¡¯s body was riddled with holes, and his left hand was fractured by the final blow of the blood-red puppet. If it hadn¡¯t been for Qin Huai¡¯s intervention, Liu Lai Cheng would have fallen to the elder from the Thousand Divination Tower. Comparing the two of them, Qin Huai had a more accurate measure of the combat strength of a future king. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 410 - 410 Guardian Spirit Fragment 410 Guardian Spirit Fragment The future kings of the five major sects were capable enough to eliminate these weakened elders, but these future kings from smaller sects could only manage a one-to-one trade at best. ¡°It¡¯s over, Brother Liu,¡± Qin Huai said softly. He had noticed Liu Laicheng¡¯s intentional attempt to sacrifice him earlier. Although it was a strategic decision weighing the benefits and drawbacks, Qin Huai understood this man¡¯s thought process. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t in a rush to eliminate Liu Laicheng, though. He knew he could use the latter as a trailblazer. The current Liu Laicheng, like the old visceral prefecture realm experts, could be easily handled with just a single illusion realm fist and a series of poisonous dragon shock forbidden techniques. Qin Huai didn¡¯t even need to use the illusion realm fist. The dragon king form alone could annihilate him. Clang! Clang! The echo of heart steel resonated in Qin Huai¡¯s ears, fortifying his blood and qi. Accompanying this sound was a flurry of experience orbs entering Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thousand Divination Blood Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Thousand Divination Blood Technique] experience points +800,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Dao Zuo Scripture Essence (Red)], [Dao Zuo Scripture] experience points +333,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Extreme Qi Xuan Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Extreme Qi Xuan Technique] experience points +800,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thousand Divination Blood Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Thousand Divination Blood Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding¡­¡± Qin Huai was momentarily stunned. Among the multitude of experience orbs, there were two that didn¡¯t merge into his body at his command. They weren¡¯t spherical but shattered, and they lay silently on the ground. Qin Huai focused on these two shards, willing them to merge into his body, and only then did the two shattered experience orbs fuse into him. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Pseudo-Divine Qi (Fragment)], [Pseudo-Divine Qi (1/3)] !¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Puppet (Fragment)], [Blood Puppet (1/3)]!¡± ¡°Are these¡­ the shards of the guardian spirit item?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. His cheat had unveiled a new function as his cultivation technique reached the pinnacle of the bone pattern realm. The ability to collect the shards of the guardian spirit item meant that Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t have to expend as much effort searching for suitable items for specific cultivation techniques. ¡°The pseudo divine qi is quite good, but the blood puppet of the elder from the Thousand Divination Tower is somewhat useless,¡± Qin Huai murmured. The blood puppet was clearly not proficient in offensive techniques. Perhaps it was because it held a magical effect on the Thousand Divination Tower¡¯s cultivation technique. Qin Huai looked at the thousand divination blood technique. As he expected, the blood puppet had the effect of mitigating the backlash from the thousand divination blood technique. ¡°Can I predict fortunes¡­ It¡¯s a decent support method,¡± Qin Huai murmured. ¡°If there¡¯s an opportunity, the former could become the guardian spirit item for the wind breath technique¡­¡± As for the latter, given the chance, Qin Huai wouldn¡¯t hesitate to push himself to the next realm. Suddenly, he turned around, shocked to see Liu Laicheng lying on the corpse of the old man from Wuji Mountain. Liu Laicheng was breathing in a peculiar way, inhaling a strange gas from the corpse. Qin Huai¡¯s brows furrowed. He noticed a faint silver light emerging from the body. Divine energy¡­ This guy was trying to absorb the divine qi for himself, taking advantage of the situation. A cold laugh escaped from Qin Huai. He slowly advanced toward Liu Laicheng. He was fine with Liu Laicheng not helping, but now the latter wanted to snatch his spoils? The world doesn¡¯t work that way. Puff! Suddenly, Liu Laicheng coughed up blood. The silver aura he had swallowed earlier drifted out again. His face turned pale as he quickly sat cross-legged, circulating his cultivation technique to regulate his breathing. He was already severely injured and the divine aura had made it worse. ¡°Brother Zhou, this divine anger¡­ Its power is terrifying. I fear we won¡¯t be able to take it,¡± Liu Laicheng slowly opened his eyes and tried to dissuade Qin Huai, attempting to maintain a straight face. ¡°Thank you for your reminder, Brother Liu!¡± Qin Huai responded, his fists held up in a formal salute. In the next instant, he activated his dragon king form, rapidly closing the distance to Liu Laicheng. ¡°Forbidden technique, poison dragon shock!¡± With a terrifying punch and a deafening scream, Qin Huai smashed Liu Laicheng¡¯s head. Bang! Blood splattered everywhere as Liu Laicheng¡¯s headless body fell forward. Qin Huai noticed the two poisonous needles clutched in Liu¡¯s hands. He gave a cold smile. ¡°Ridiculous. You think you can kill me with such measly power?¡± Qin Huai obtained a large amount of experience points effortlessly. Searching the trio¡¯s bodies, he found they were penniless. But Qin had made a fortune from defeating two visceral prefecture realm experts and a future king with five full veins. This gain was enough to bring all of Qin Huai¡¯s cultivation techniques, except the thousand divination blood technique, to a critical point. Buzz¡­ As Qin Huai prepared to sit and cultivate, a familiar sound filled the air. The world around him started to shatter and once again, he found himself on a familiar battlefield. Glancing around, Qin was taken aback. Standing opposite him were his old acquaintances, Yun Qi of the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli of the Thunderbolt Gang. They usually had a few steps head start before bumping into each other. But this time, they encountered each other right off the bat. ¡°You¡­ It¡¯s you, you bastard!¡± Hua Yanli was furious, veins bulging on his forehead as he pointed at Qin Huai and cursed. Yun Qi, standing beside him, didn¡¯t utter a word. Instead, he grabbed Hua Yanli¡¯s hand and started running away. They knew they stood no chance against Qin Huai in a fight, so their only option was to flee, hoping to enter a higher-level array first. Qin Huai shook his head. With a gentle push off the ground, he caught up to them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please die again,¡± he said, throwing his fists and promptly ending the one-sided battle. The fight ended without any suspense. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 411 - 411 Desperation 411 Desperation If Qin Huai was correct, the old men from Wuji Mountain and the Thousand Divination Tower were the heads of the old lunatics. He had killed seven or eight of those lunatics already. Along with Xiang Mingfeng and others, they were mostly wiped out. The next step was to devise a way to carry out the seemingly impossible plan, and this thought made Qin Huai¡¯s skin crawl. Even with his ancient azure illusion scripture cultivated to the peak of the bone pattern realm, he had no idea or confidence in how to execute this task. ¡°Let¡¯s take it one step at a time,¡± he decided. He had no plans to meet with Xiang Mingfeng for now, as neither party had come up with a feasible way to conquer the bronze realm. ¡°Unless something unexpected happens, we should run into each other in a level-one array.¡± Once all the old lunatics were taken care of, the remaining opponents were a group of young future kings. After a few major battles, Qin Huai had grown more proficient at eliminating his opponents. He cleared eighty percent of them within a few hours. Then, he found a quiet mountain to sit and activate the divine power book of a thousand creations to convert his experience points, awaiting the end of the battle. Bang! Bang! Bang! There was a faint sound in his heart, similar to metal being hammered. The conversion from the blood heart technique to the four-directional tiger-wolf technique and others occurred in the same sequence¡­ After countless hours, Qin Huai had converted all the experience points gained from the three individuals. He pushed the blood heart technique, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, and the poison king technique to the peak of the bone pattern realm. His skin grew tougher, and a very faint black light ran through his veins. Qin Huai held out his hand and forced a drop of blood to seep out from his finger onto the grass. Hiss¡­ Immediately, his blood pierced through the fresh grass, causing it to wither and decay around the hole. His blood even created a small hole in the ground. ¡°Now that the poison king technique has reached its peak, my blood has become a deadly poison,¡± he observed. Even a small drop of his blood could probably kill a martial artist who was just at the great blood refinement Realm. Next, he summoned the divine qi within his dantian again. The divine qi flowed freely in his dantian in sync with his heartbeat. Unlike Liu Laicheng who had struggled to absorb it, Qin Huai was able to absorb the divine qi effortlessly and without any suffering. As Qin Huai looked at the horizon, he noticed it was already nightfall. This great slaughter was still not over. ¡°It appears that Xiang Mingfeng and the rest have already started their persuasive efforts,¡± Qin Huai noted with a certain amount of skepticism regarding their naive plan. The complexity of human nature and the presence of people like Yang Tianhan, who were experts at concealing their true intentions, made it hard for him to believe in the plan¡¯s success. Yang Tianhan and others like him probably had hidden motives beyond simply escaping the bronze realm ¡ª they were likely drawn by the immense power the bronze realm offered and wanted to take it for themselves. Qin Huai speculated that there were many more like Yang Tianhan. Especially after Xiang Mingfeng publicly revealed that it was possible to leave the bronze realm, those who had already perished might be filled with an unrealistic hope. Being famous geniuses from Qingzhou, they were likely to risk everything once they found a potential way out. Qin Huai decided not to join this frenzy. He stayed put and focused on cultivating the clasping vitality and defending one technique, which he had not practiced in a while. ¡­ Meanwhile, on another part of the battlefield, the crowd stirred. Xiang Mingfeng, She Wanshan, Fang Huo, and other future kings from the five great sects were gathered around a small depression, surrounded by hundreds of Qingzhou prodigies. ¡°Now, I hope that everyone can work together to escape the bronze realm!¡± Xiang Mingfeng declared, revealing everything. The crowd immediately became a chaos of voices. A middle-aged man with a beard retorted indignantly, ¡°So, we have wasted decades of our youth trapped in the bronze realm, all for others¡¯ benefit?¡± ¡°But we have found a way to break free now, right?¡± someone else interjected. ¡°Why can¡¯t we have a fair competition?¡± ¡°Yes, why not? It¡¯s fine to let the strongest person get that spot in the end.¡± Everyone was talking at once. Those words ignited discussions of a fair competition, where the strongest one would earn the privilege to leave. ¡°Fair competition? A tournament?¡± Xiang Mingfeng contemplated. ¡°This method is feasible. Does anyone agree?¡± While the idea of a competition was acceptable, there were concerns about how to conduct it, especially since everyone was scattered across different levels of arrays. ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± Fang Huo declared. ¡°In the battle, we decide who goes to the tournament. Then, we send them directly to the level-five array or the level-one array to determine the victor.¡± But the crowd was still worried. ¡°What if someone doesn¡¯t accept the result after the fight?¡± ¡°What about those with bad character? Why don¡¯t we team up to eliminate them first?¡± A flurry of voices erupted, with various names being suggested for elimination, exposing the depths of their resentment and thirst for revenge. The suggestions flew so fast that Xiang Mingfeng and the others could not pinpoint who was making them. ¡°Heh, I can name a few individuals who are nothing but trouble. I propose we deal with them first,¡± a voice chimed in. ¡°Wang Tuo from the Wind Hawk sect has done enough harm. He must pay the price!¡± came another declaration. And then a chilling accusation rang out, ¡°Old Man Liu from the White Cloud sect is another one who deserves to be killed. His continuous bullying led my junior sister to end her life after two months of torment!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 412 - 412 The Plan Failed 412 The Plan Failed ¡°Bullsh*t! Your junior sister was spreading lies, inciting everyone into a frenzy of mutual destruction.¡± There was a cacophony of voices around, their words littered with accusations of the other party¡¯s alleged wrongdoing. The truth of the matter, however, was undecipherable. The bronze realm was a labyrinth of complexity, so the information between them was blocked. Xiang Mingfeng surveyed the pandemonium before him, his face sullen and voice silent. Bang! Suddenly, an explosion echoed. The surrounding area devolved into a chaotic battle zone immediately. In a matter of moments, nearly a hundred people had fallen¡­ ¡­ Several hours later, under a clear sky, Qin Huai¡¯s vision blurred once again. The massive bronze wall still stood. With a determined thought, Qin Huai activated the thousand divination blood technique to calculate the number of visceral prefecture realm experts in the level-one array. He coughed up a mouthful of blood. The light emitted from the blood puppet in his dantian had notably dimmed. Five streaks of blood crawled across the ground, indicating that five individuals were on the move. ¡°It seems that after the truth was revealed, all sorts of hidden figures have begun to exert their influence,¡± Qin Huai noted, narrowing his eyes. The old lunatics had nearly been eradicated, and the upcoming king-tier group was far from reaching the visceral prefecture realm. These five individuals were likely experts hidden within the bronze realm. As he had hypothesized, the current level-one array was a hodgepodge of strengths and weaknesses. It was hard to discern how many of the remaining individuals were familiar faces. He rose to his feet. The use of the thousand divination blood technique didn¡¯t consume one¡¯s lifespan, but it did severely drain vitality. Furthermore, according to his understanding of the art, the blood essence consumed by it was irreplaceable. The technique didn¡¯t merely consume vitality, it sacrificed it. There was no way to replenish it. Qin Huai then activated the blood heart technique, hoping to recover his blood essence. But, to his surprise, there was no response. A frown etched on his face, he muttered, ¡°It appears I cannot carelessly use this thousand divination blood technique.¡± No wonder the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower was so weak. It was likely related to the overuse of this blood technique. It made sense when he considered it ¡ª if the price for unveiling the secrets of the heavens was insignificant, then chaos would ensue. It would involve one spying on the heavenly secrets, carting a large stack of blood tonics, and life-prolonging medicines. Only then, after hundreds or even thousands of calculations, would they dare to move. A war could even break out after a few decades or a hundred years. Qin Huai rose to his feet. Following the trail of his memory, he headed toward the lifeless bodies of the old man from Wuji Mountain and Liu Laicheng. The ground was barren. It was as if the entire level-one array had been reset, and the corpses buried. Turning around, Qin Huai walked to the bronze wall. Identifying a hollow in a tree as usual, he took a seat and started comprehending the ancient azure illusion scripture. In Qingzhou City, atop Wuji Mountain, a middle-aged man stood surveying the vast Qingzhou landscape. Despite his elegant and refined robe, his robust muscles were hard to conceal. This man, Kong Binghuang, was the lord of Wuji Mountain and one of Qingzhou¡¯s most formidable figures. A tall, concerned-looking middle-aged man standing behind him broke the silence. ¡°Mountain Chieftain, in recent months, the disappearance rate of young experts in Qingzhou has spiked. Some are even being abducted without provocation!¡± Kong Binghuang furrowed his brows. ¡°Such an occurrence¡­ Ancient history has no records of this. I fear something substantial has transpired in that peculiar place. Regrettably, despite its existence for ten thousand years, we¡¯re still in the dark about it. Our only choice is to wait.¡± With a sigh, Kong Binghuang gazed into the distance, a look of helplessness clouding his face. ¡­ Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. Roused from his meditation, Qin Huai stirred and slowly rose from his seated position in the tree hollow. The crackling sound of his joints reverberated in the stillness. He had been in a cross-legged position for too long, and his body felt as if it had rusted over. ¡°Brother Zhou?¡± a surprised voice sounded from nearby. Qin Huai turned to find Fang Huo approaching him. ¡°Fang Huo? I see you¡¯re still alive¡­¡± Fang Huo approached quickly, exhaling deeply. ¡°I figured you¡¯d wind up in the level-one array. Is that where you were last time?¡± Qin Huai merely nodded, not bothering to refute. ¡°It must¡¯ve been hard to hide. What were those old lunatics up to?¡± Fang Huo asked, laughing. ¡°They were incredibly powerful, beyond what I could have imagined. But you¡¯re right, we young ones, with our strong physical bodies, do have an edge against them.¡± ¡°And did you manage to kill one or two?¡± Fang Huo inquired further. Qin Huai simply smiled, not uttering a word. A couple should still be alive. ¡°I¡¯ve spent this time hunting for their traces but found none. I wonder what those old fools are scheming,¡± Fang Huo mused aloud, an expression of vexation on his face. ¡°How is Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s plan progressing?¡± Qin Huai queried, genuinely curious. A bitter smile stretched across Fang Huo¡¯s face. ¡°The negotiations collapsed. Those people sought both an exit and the grand opportunities the bronze realm can offer. Their greed knows no bounds.¡± Fang Huo scoffed disdainfully. ¡°They have no comprehension of their own abilities yet they yearn for this grand opportunity. Their greed is as limitless as a snake. No wonder they¡¯re so weak.¡± Qin Huai listened silently. Just as he anticipated, the inherent nature of humans had set the plan up for failure. The negotiations were a complete disaster, as evidenced by Fang Huo¡¯s scathing tone. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 413 - 413 Hidden Rules 413 Hidden Rules Qin Huai paused, then said, ¡°There¡¯s a flaw in the plan¡­The expectation of single-handedly eliminating everyone else in a massive fight is unrealistic. Because once there are enough people, the massacre will cease, and everyone will be assigned to various arrays.¡± Fang Huo slapped his forehead. ¡°How did such an important thing slip my mind?¡± He looked despondent as he added, ¡°It seems we were overly eager that we overlooked such a simple loophole.¡± Qin Huai remained silent. Clearly, the stress had gotten to everyone, causing them to miss this important issue. Now, this loophole had just occurred to him. A wave of despair began to wash over him. How could he possibly eliminate everyone in one fell swoop? The challenge seemed to have just amplified. ¡°Regardless,¡± Fang Huo declared, ¡°Brother Zhou, whenever you need my help, just call for me. Even if I¡¯m millions of miles away, I¡¯ll rush to your side.¡± He pounded his chest. The act of having his life saved wasn¡¯t something he would forget easily. ¡°Next, I plan to continue my hunt for those old lunatics. Would you like to join me, Brother Qin?¡± Fang Huo invited. ¡°I¡¯ll pass for now. Recently, I¡¯ve had some breakthroughs in understanding the ancient scripture,¡± Qin Huai declined politely. There were only one or two of the old lunatics left, which shouldn¡¯t pose much of a problem for someone as capable as Fang Huo. After parting ways, Qin Huai¡¯s gaze turned intense. His body shook, and the long sword strapped to his back suddenly sprang into action. A fierce roar escaped his lips. Just then, another familiar voice echoed out, ¡°Brother Zhou, hold on! Please wait, Brother Zhou!¡± A frantic Yang Tianhan emerged from the bushes. ¡°It¡¯s me¡­ Yang Tianhan!¡± he shouted, his eyes gleaming with excitement. The sword that had been airborne now plunged into the earth, leaving only the hilt visible. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Brother Yang,¡± Qin Huai feigned surprise, asking, ¡°Has Big Brother Yang also entered a level-one array?¡± Yang Tianhan chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t Brother Zhou also enter a level-one array?¡± He rubbed his hands together, grinning. ¡°Truth be told¡­ I, Big Brother Yang, have already reached the visceral prefecture realm.¡± ¡°Visceral prefecture realm?!¡± Qin Huai exclaimed in disbelief. He immediately bowed in respect and said, ¡°I pay my respects, Senior Yang!¡± Yang Tianhan frowned. ¡°What are you doing, Brother Zhou? If you bow like this, won¡¯t we be like strangers?¡± ¡°That¡­ is true,¡± Qin Huai replied, feeling a bit uncomfortable. ¡°Then I¡¯ll continue addressing you as Brother Yang.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it,¡± Yang Tianhan said with satisfaction. ¡°Earlier, I saw you deep in conversation with an expert like Fang Huo¡­ You two seem to have a close relationship?¡± ¡°To be honest, we once fought alongside each other, so we are more or less acquainted,¡± Qin Huai replied sincerely. ¡°Oh?¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. After some hesitation, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your opinion on Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s proposition?¡± ¡°That proposition?¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°It won¡¯t work. It¡¯s unrealistic to expect to eliminate everyone in an instant.¡± Yang Tianhan smiled. ¡°Actually¡­ they are missing a crucial piece of information. There are hidden rules in this world related to the massacre.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qin Huai was instantly intrigued. ¡°Please, do share more, Brother Yang!¡± Cautiously, Yang Tianhan scanned their surroundings before leading Qin Huai to a secluded corner. ¡°In reality, a similar massacre occurred twenty years ago, led by those deranged old lunatics. They initiated an onslaught from the illusion realm that swept across our world.¡± He paused, glancing around once again, before continuing, ¡°I discovered it by accident and trailed them to observe. They were ruthlessly efficient in their killing, yet¡­ the massacre concluded rather slowly. It took about a day, even though, given their speed, it should have ended in four to six hours.¡± Qin Huai studied Yang Tianhan. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting¡­¡± ¡°My theory is that if we manage to eliminate enough people within a short span of time, we¡¯ll trigger the illusion realm¡¯s hidden rules. This would temporarily halt the previous division of the array, allowing it to conclude only after everyone has finished fighting.¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s revelation hit Qin Huai like a bolt from the blue. ¡°But how did you figure out that it would wait until everyone finished fighting?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Because I survived till the end, only to be slain by a prominent figure from Wuji Mountain,¡± Yang Tianhan confessed. ¡°But still¡­ this doesn¡¯t meet the criteria of killing everyone single-handedly,¡± Qin Huai observed, scratching his head in confusion as he looked at Yang Tianhan. ¡°There is a way,¡± Yang Tianhan countered, smiling. ¡°Just as Xiang Mingfeng gathered everyone to discuss leaving the bronze realm, wouldn¡¯t there be an opportunity if we did the same?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Brother Yang! With the groundwork from the last meeting, if we call another one, everyone is likely to assemble. Even if someone had ulterior motives, they would wait until after the meeting to act. So, with careful planning, we could actually fulfill this requirement?¡± Yang Tianhan smiled, visibly relieved. ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying!¡± He then leaned in closer to Qin Huai, anxiously murmuring, ¡°I¡¯m only sharing this with you. Please, don¡¯t tell anyone else. I believe you deserve this opportunity¡­¡± Qin Huai was taken aback, stammering, ¡°But Brother Yang, why don¡¯t you seize this opportunity yourself?¡± ¡°If I were twenty years younger, I certainly would¡­ But now, I¡¯m old. All I wish for is to leave this world and reunite with my wife. Then, I want to see my dear mother¡­¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s voice choked as tears welled in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Yang! I won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± Qin Huai asserted, his voice resolute. ¡°I¡¯ll find Xiang Mingfeng and ask him to arrange another meeting.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Yang Tianhan clapped Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 414 - 414 Sharing the Secret 414 Sharing the Secret After Qin Huai and Yang Tianhan went their separate ways, Qin Huai ran through the forest for several miles before gradually slowing down to a walk. As he reflected on Yang Tianhan¡¯s words about the loopholes in the illusion realm¡¯s rules, he found it difficult to settle his mind. ¡°What strategy does Yang Tianhan have to eliminate everyone in a single moment?¡± Qin Huai pondered aloud. Then, as if spurred by an invisible force, he turned around and rushed back toward Yang Tianhan. It was clear that instantly eliminating everyone in a massive battle couldn¡¯t solely rely on one¡¯s level of cultivation. After all, even the strongest individual couldn¡¯t wipe out everyone with a single blow. King¡¯s force? The bronze realm was teeming with five-full-pattern experts. There were as many of them as hairs on an ox, so it was not feasible to obliterate everyone with the king¡¯s force, let alone suppress everyone even momentarily. Qin Huai furrowed his brows, unable to fathom how a visceral prefecture realm expert could achieve such a feat. Could it be a guardian spirit item left behind by a being far superior to the visceral prefecture realm? Qin Huai could only make guesses in that direction. The divine qi from Wuji Mountain¡¯s elder had opened Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. However, Liu Laicheng¡¯s performance had already demonstrated that the more powerful the guardian spirit item was, the harder it was to refine and consume. But the strength of a visceral prefecture realm expert was primarily dictated by the potency of their guardian spirit item. Whether in the bone pattern realm or blood refinement realm, the primary objective was to establish a sturdy foundation for future levels. ¡°The stronger the body, the greater the number of pattern bones, and the higher the potential for future accomplishments,¡± Qin Huai whispered to himself. The title of the future king now held a profound significance to him. He hastened his pace, looking for Xiang Mingfeng, Fang Huo, and the others. Luckily, he quickly caught up with Fang Huo, who was on the trail of an old lunatics¡¯ footprints. ¡°Brother Zhou?¡± Fang Huo looked surprised. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Is Brother Xiang in the level-one array?¡± ¡°Xiang Mingfeng, that guy, hasn¡¯t given up yet. He could be in a level-one or level-two array¡­ He¡¯s certainly persuading those top-tier geniuses to give it another try.¡± Fang Huo smiled wryly. ¡°I wonder what his reaction would be if he suddenly realized the rules of the slaughter in the illusion realm.¡± He still found this loophole somewhat ridiculous even when he thought about it. ¡°At that time, none of the young or old geniuses from Qingzhou considered this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that those old geniuses didn¡¯t consider it,¡± Qin Huai interjected. ¡°What do you mean by that, Brother Zhou?¡± Fang Huo inquired. ¡°Brother Fang, think about it. The levels in the bronze realm are stringent, with explicit rules for screening. The ultimate goal of the bronze realm is undoubtedly to select a specific genius,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°Since the objective is precise, the rules must be flawless.¡± Qin Huai was good at leading people along in conversation. ¡°Did you ever think about the rules?¡± Fang Huo asked, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Brother Fang, can you remember how long the battle in the illusion realm lasted? How many people fell before it ended?¡± Qin Huai asked. Although he wasn¡¯t part of the discussion, he could guess the scale of casualties. A significant number of people would perish instantly once the fight began. Fang Huo was taken aback. ¡°Many people did die before it ended.¡± Suddenly, he realized what Qin Huai was implying. ¡°Brother Zhou, are you suggesting¡­ As long as enough people are eliminated within a certain time frame, the slaughter will continue?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really smart, Brother Fang,¡± Qin Huai complimented. ¡°But in terms of insight, it¡¯s still Brother Zhou who surpasses. How did you come up with this, Brother Zhou? As far as I remember, you weren¡¯t there at that time, right?¡± ¡°I merely noticed that the great slaughter this time concluded unusually late and pondered Brother Xiang¡¯s plan. That¡¯s how I came up with this idea¡­¡± Qin Huai explained. If they followed the train of thought sparked by Fang Huo¡¯s insight, the condition to access the so-called level-zero array wasn¡¯t to single-handedly eliminate everyone. Instead, was the goal to be the last person standing in the illusion realm? If this was the case, the primary challenge would be establishing the conditions to extend the duration of the battle. This would drastically reduce the difficulty of the seemingly impossible task. Qin Huai mentally organized the conditions to access the so-called level-zero array. Firstly and most importantly, one had to be the last person standing in the illusion realm. Secondly, by eliminating swiftly, they had to prolong the duration of the battle until they were the last one standing. If this was indeed the case, then the previously impossible task would transform into an extremely difficult ultimate challenge. Was this the source of Yang Tianhan¡¯s confidence? ¡°Brother Zhou, you¡¯re a genius!¡± Fang Huo expressed in awe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Zhou. I¡¯ll definitely help you,¡± Fang Huo assured, patting his chest. He then hesitated, ¡°Should we let Xiang Mingfeng in on this?¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°You know Brother Xiang¡¯s personality better than I do. If we tell him about this, I guarantee that the entire bronze realm will know in a heartbeat.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 415 - 415 The Emperor of Qingzhous Secret Treasure 415 The Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s Secret Treasure ¡°What if someone decides to hide until the end of the extended time period? After one, two, or even three or four failures, more and more people would realize what¡¯s happening,¡± Qin Huai pondered. ¡°At that point, we might truly struggle to meet the conditions.¡± The old lunatics from Wuji Mountain might have also understood these laws, but it¡¯s very likely they did so after failing a few times. They lost the capacity to gather everyone in one spot, which hindered their entry into the level-zero array. The biggest challenge Qin Huai and the others currently faced was gathering everyone together, something Xiang Mingfeng was already attempting. While the first attempt wasn¡¯t very successful, they should have one or two more opportunities. Both of them started searching for Xiang Mingfeng in the forest. On the third day, they finally found him. ¡°Brother Xiang!¡± Qin Huai called out, approaching quickly with Fang Huo. Xiang Mingfeng was huddled with She Wanshan, Le Ji¡¯an, and Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower. They appeared to be engrossed in discussing myths and legends ¡ª Qin Huai overheard mentions of the ¡®Emperor of Qingzhou.¡¯ ¡°Brother Zhou, Brother Fang!¡± They appeared a little surprised to see the two. ¡°Do you guys have so much free time?¡± Fang Huo teased. ¡°You¡¯re not practicing or planning the next move, instead, you¡¯re sitting around discussing the legend of the emperor of Qingzhou?¡± Despite his teasing, he seemed eager to join in the conversation. ¡°So you were saying that the emperor of Qingzhou was able to ward off the eight kings of Great You, right? The eight kings must have been very strong,¡± Fang Huo continued. ¡°The eight kings of Great You are all talk,¡± Le Ji ¡®an responded with a dismissive smile. ¡°The so-called eight kings were vanquished by the emperor of Qingzhou with just eight punches.¡± Fang Huo sat beside them, chuckling at Le Ji ¡®an¡¯s remarks. ¡°I¡¯ve read the Biography of the Kings of Great You. Each of the eight kings experienced extraordinary celestial phenomena in their lives, possessed unusual bloodline power, and was incredibly powerful. ¡°Furthermore, they had Emperor Youyu, the supreme figure of Great You, as their mentor. Within twenty years, they emerged as victors in the half-nether realm, becoming an invincible force among their generation. Their strength can¡¯t be underestimated. It¡¯s just that the emperor of Qingzhou was exceptionally strong.¡± Qin Huai listened with interest as the top geniuses of Qingzhou discussed the myths and legends of the Great You. These stories were believed to be from ten thousand years ago, and whether they were true or not was already a mystery. Although he was merely a listener, Qin Huai could sense the enthusiasm of these top talents of Qingzhou as they delved deep into these mythological stories. When anyone among them made a bold claim, they would substantiate it with references from books. He found it quite curious why they suddenly decided to discuss this topic. Unable to hold back his curiosity, Qin Huai asked, ¡°Why did you start discussing this all of a sudden?¡± Their conversation paused. Xiang Mingfeng then said, ¡°I have a daring theory.¡± Qin Huai listened attentively. Xiang Mingfeng cleared his throat and continued, ¡°I happened to recall a record from the Book of Qingzhou that states that Qingzhou was a bronze producer. The emperor of Qingzhou was also known for his interest in bronze and frequently wore bronze artifacts.¡± ¡°Then, Brother Le and Brother Gou also remembered some other records about the emperor of Qingzhou.¡± Gou Jie chimed in, ¡°The emperor of Qingzhou was said to have divine abilities that could cause plants to grow and die. He could create a whole new world and draw thousands of enemies into it.¡± These stories about the emperor of Qingzhou flowed smoothly, as if they all knew them by heart. Qin Huai listened carefully and started piecing together what they might be suggesting. ¡°So, you¡¯re suggesting that this bronze realm could be the remnants of the emperor of Qingzhou?¡± Qin Huai asked. Xiang Mingfeng nodded. ¡°If these records are correct, then the bronze realm could be a test established by the emperor of Qingzhou to find worthy inheritors for his legacy.¡± ¡°The similarities are too striking to ignore,¡± he continued. ¡°Whether it¡¯s the bronze or the descriptions of the plants and flowers¡­ If this isn¡¯t a trial by the emperor of Qingzhou, what else could it be?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°So, do you have any other theories?¡± Gou Jie smiled. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re hypothesizing that the key to the level-zero array is hidden somewhere in the bronze realm. Or perhaps it¡¯s a method or treasure to fulfill the nearly impossible condition of the illusion realm¡¯s great slaughter.¡± Qin Huai fell silent. Though some of the myths and legends they discussed might contain exaggerated elements, the striking similarities with the bronze realm were indeed suspicious. Could it be that his guess was incorrect, and the real answer to the level-zero formation was a key left by the emperor of Qingzhou? However, he then realized that no one was necessarily wrong. Both his deductions and the findings from Xiang Mingfeng and others could be correct. He either needed to single-handedly annihilate all the gathered geniuses in the illusion realm quickly or they needed to find the key or treasure left by the emperor of Qingzhou to directly enter the level-zero array. ¡°So, Brother Xiang, are you suggesting we should focus on finding the key left by the Emperor of Qingzhou within the array?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°No, we need to do both.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 416 - 416 The Truth! 416 The Truth! Xiang Mingfeng said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle persuading the others. You all can start looking for the key left by the emperor of Qingzhou.¡± ¡°But if we find the key, won¡¯t Brother Xiang lose out?¡± Qin Huai asked with a smile. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. As long as I can lead everyone out of here, I don¡¯t mind giving up my share,¡± Xiang Mingfeng replied, showing an easy-going attitude. ¡°You¡¯re much more noble than me, Brother Xiang!¡± Qin Huai confessed, feeling a bit embarrassed. He then shared the guess he and Fang Huo had made. He had no other option. Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s approach was so transparent, almost to the point of being naive. Given that they had discovered another path, they would undoubtedly disclose the clues about the emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s key. This would lead to significant disruption, with many people choosing to search for the key rather than gathering together. Keeping the secret then made no sense. Upon hearing Qin Huai¡¯s revelation, everyone was visibly shaken. ¡°Brother Zhou, you¡¯re a genius!¡± Xiang Mingfeng and the others couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, enlightened by the new perspective. ¡°Indeed, it makes perfect sense,¡± they admitted, reflecting on their past encounters. ¡°When we split up and fought for the second or third time, the fights that should have ended early didn¡¯t. They lasted for four to six hours.¡± Eventually, they confirmed the accuracy of Qin Huai¡¯s theory. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you share this sooner, Brother Zhou?¡± Xiang Mingfeng asked directly. Qin Huai just chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you.¡± Xiang Mingfeng seemed taken aback, but Gou Jie and Le Ji¡¯an nodded in agreement. ¡°I just wanted to provide a fair competition for everyone. Martial arts should be about the pursuit of the Great Path!¡± Xiang Mingfeng stated resolutely. The others just shook their heads and chuckled. They were obviously accustomed to Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s remarks. But this honesty was precisely why these exceptional talents from the five major sects could sit together peacefully. It was all thanks to the straightforward nature of this prodigy from Wuji Mountain. ¡°Let¡¯s rely on our own abilities then!¡± Fang Huo slapped his thigh and stood up. ¡°Since our killing speed was enough to meet the conditions, why don¡¯t we speed up even more!¡± Gou Jie twirled the horsetail whisk in his hand. ¡°If it¡¯s truly destiny, no hardship will be effective.¡± ¡°Enough with the nonsense.¡± Fang Huo scoffed at Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower. Ignoring Fang Huo¡¯s disdain, Gou Jie put his palms together and waved his horsetail whisk, chanting, ¡°Amitabha.¡± Observing Gou Jie, Qin Huai finally understood that this fellow neither believed in Buddhism nor religion ¡ª he was just trying to annoy the two groups. No, more accurately, the Thousand Divination Tower was probably trying to vex the two great sects. Everyone dispersed and began to search for the so-called key left by the emperor of Qingzhou in the level-one array. The consensus was that if a key did exist, it would be in a level-one array. One would have to reach the threshold to even have a chance at finding it. Qin Huai advanced rapidly, punching indiscriminately like a bulldozer, leaving behind craters. After all, these were not real trees, so he just symbolically smashed them in hopes of a lucky find. ¡°If the key truly exists in a level-one array, then this bronze wall is the most likely spot,¡± he reasoned as he gazed at the bronze wall. The bronze wall, the most distinctive aspect of the level-one array, towered into the sky. Its surface was covered with intricate patterns, symbols, fierce beasts, and some unidentifiable rules and regulations. Suddenly, Qin Huai leaped upward, his feet landing on the protruding patterns as he raced skyward. He scanned the entire bronze wall, trying to spot any anomaly. He even activated his ancient azure illusion scripture, hoping it would resonate with the wall. However, despite his frenzied search on the massive bronze wall, he found nothing. ¡°Does the key even exist in a level-one array?¡± Qin Huai pondered, falling silent. He had scoured the entire bronze wall for two days and two nights without any luck. ¡°Could it be that the key isn¡¯t in a level-one array? Or is it that I¡¯m just not destined to find it?¡± he wondered, sitting cross-legged in a tree hollow facing the bronze wall. ¡°I¡¯ll focus on cultivation for now,¡± he decided, giving up on the search. If he had examined the entire bronze wall and found nothing, it meant either the key wasn¡¯t there or he wasn¡¯t meant to find it yet. He activated the ancient azure illusion scripture and began to comprehend the essence of the bronze wall. In the blink of an eye, another two months quietly passed. Qin Huai opened his eyes, exhaling. His breath turned into a bird-like figure in the air and floated off into the distance, then morphed back into gas and vanished. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to cultivate the ancient azure illusion scripture up to the fourth level of the bone pattern realm,¡± he noted, standing up and gently caressing the bronze wall. ¡°Still no reaction, huh? It seems like I¡¯ll have to wait for the next two months before entering the rumored level-zero array.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts started to wander. ¡°Yang Tianhan divulged this information to me to create an opportunity for himself. But even though he¡¯s at the visceral prefecture realm, he doesn¡¯t have a clear advantage in the illusion realm.¡± Qin Huai recalled his analysis of Yang Tianhan¡¯s use of the ancient azure illusion scripture. That man¡¯s mastery of it was far inferior to the seasoned veterans. It seemed to be mostly blood refinement and didn¡¯t surpass the bone pattern realm level. ¡°Where did he get such confidence¡­ Could it be¡­¡± A daring thought suddenly emerged in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. ¡­ Meanwhile, on a slope in the level-one array, Yang Tianhan was observing the distant forest. ¡°These youngsters are quite clever,¡± he mused. ¡°They managed to connect the emperor of Qingzhou with the bronze realm so quickly.¡± He smiled confidently and continued, ¡°But what good will it do them? They¡¯ll never find the key.¡± Yang Tianhan stood up, his eyes radiating confidence. That was because the key left by the emperor of Qingzhou was in his possession, and he was the one destined to have it! These young people were clever, but they had arrived too late. ¡°In this world, the early bird gets the worm! Age can¡¯t be altered, but one can certainly catch up in terms of cultivation level,¡± Yang Tianhan thought, knowing that his twenty years had not been wasted. Even without the king¡¯s force, he was still capable of beating these youngsters. Suddenly, a familiar sound echoed, and the world around him began to shatter. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 417 - 417 A Gathering in the Illusion Realm 417 A Gathering in the Illusion Realm Qin Huai descended from the bronze wall, meeting the agitated Fang Huo. ¡°Brother Zhou, did you find the key?¡± Fang Huo asked. Qin Huai simply shook his head in response. ¡°We haven¡¯t found it either¡­ We suspect that the key might not be in this level-one array, but perhaps in another,¡± Fang Huo explained. ¡°Since the key is supposedly fated, there shouldn¡¯t be a set threshold¡­¡± He gave a bitter smile and added, ¡°Gou Jie even daringly speculated that the key might not even be in the bronze realm.¡± Qin Huai was taken aback at this idea. While reluctant to believe it, he had to admit that Gou Jie¡¯s theory had some merit. ¡°Seems like we really aren¡¯t destined for the emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s key.¡± Qin Huai sighed, shifting the conversation, ¡°But just because someone¡¯s fated to it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean they¡¯ll really end up with it, right¡­¡± Fang Huo chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head, Brother Zhou.¡± Buzz¡­ Suddenly, the world started spinning around them. Fang Huo quickly yelled, ¡°Brother Zhou, you take the lead!¡± His voice abruptly cut off as the world collapsed into darkness. ¡°What do they want me to do¡­¡± Qin Huai sighed, quietly waiting for the world to regain clarity. As he surveyed the barren landscape, a booming roar echoed in his ears. ¡°Everyone, pay attention! We¡¯ve found a way out of the bronze realm! Gather at the center! Ignore this and you¡¯ll regret it for life!¡± Listening to these loud and clear messages, Qin Huai mused, ¡°So this is Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s strategy¡­ It¡¯s quite straightforward.¡± Though crude, he had to admit that the strategy was appealing for those who didn¡¯t know the truth or had only a few clues. The approach was simple, yet effective. Qin Huai dashed toward the center of the illusion realm, repeating the message as he moved. ¡­ Meanwhile, on the other side, Yang Tianhan was listening to the echoing roars in the forest, a smile playing on his lips. ¡°Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, I owe this to you.¡± He chuckled, quickening his pace towards the center of the illusion realm. He pulled off the green bronze pendant around his neck, holding it tightly in his hand. As he walked, flowers seemed to sprout and vanish under his feet. ¡­ Elsewhere, within the thick forest, Hua Yanli was nervously looking around. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. That rascal is finally gone!¡± he yelled out, raising his arms. He felt a surge of relief, as if on the verge of tears. ¡°My path to glory in the bronze realm begins now!¡± Though he didn¡¯t say the words out loud, his determination was palpable. Suddenly, from behind a distant tree, an elegant young man with an iron fan emerged. ¡°Brother Yun!¡± ¡°Brother Hua!¡± They greeted each other enthusiastically, shaking hands. ¡°Let¡¯s start by getting out of this level-five array!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Then, a loud roar filled with potent energy reverberated in their ears. They looked at each other and, without any need for further discussion, they were of the same mind. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡­ In the center of the illusion realm, rookies and veterans from Qingzhou started to gather. Some stood proudly in the center, while others remained cautiously on the outskirts. Everyone was there with a single purpose ¨C to seize the grand opportunity within the bronze realm and make it out. The crowd kept swelling until the area was jam-packed. Qin Huai arrived late, taking a position on the periphery of the throng. Surveying the scene, he noted more experts than he had anticipated. The area was swarming with people, around four to five thousand. ¡°There are a lot of people,¡± he murmured, his brows furrowing slightly. Despite the known existence of prodigies with full patterns in the past hundred years, this number seemed excessive, given the frequent deadly encounters within the bronze realm. Suddenly, a raspy voice sounded by his ear, ¡°Brother Zhou.¡± He turned to see the newcomer. ¡°What a huge crowd!¡± Fang Huo exclaimed. ¡°We didn¡¯t have nearly this many at the last gathering.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ve eliminated too many old lunatics, and these folks have taken their places?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a possibility,¡± Fang Huo agreed. ¡°But more likely, our simple method this time worked and lured all these people over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Qin Huai agreed, nodding. As they were talking, a figure swiftly made his way to the top of the hill. Instantly, all eyes turned towards him. Xiang Mingfeng, despite donning a beast robe, showed no signs of savagery. He appeared calm and dignified, emitting an aura of trustworthiness. ¡°I am Xiang Mingfeng from Wuji Mountain!¡± he greeted everyone with a booming voice, his eyes sweeping over the assembled crowd. ¡°We¡¯ve met before.¡± ¡°Enough with the chit chat, get to the point!¡± someone from the crowd interrupted Xiang Mingfeng. ¡°Exactly. This is the bronze realm, not your Wuji Mountain¡­ Our time is valuable,¡± another voice, sharp and cold, chimed in, likely bearing a grudge against Wuji Mountain. ¡°Just spill the so-called true method to leave the bronze realm.¡± The crowd echoed this sentiment, throwing the scene into an instant uproar. ¡°Alright, since no one wants to listen to small talk, I¡¯ll be straightforward,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said. ¡°The true rule of the illusion realm isn¡¯t to kill everyone with a single person¡¯s might, but to kill the last person alive.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 418 - 418 The Illusion Realm in the Illusion Realm! 418 The Illusion Realm in the Illusion Realm! ¡°In order to extend the time of this grand slaughter, we must quickly incite mass killings¡­¡± Xiang Mingfeng continued his speech, causing an immediate stir among the crowd. Everyone began discussing simultaneously, some with understanding dawning in their eyes. People started subtly exuding their auras, wary of their immediate neighbors. In an instant, the atmosphere became charged. Xiang Mingfeng then dropped another bombshell, ¡°I don¡¯t know how many of you are aware of the legend of the Emperor of Qingzhou. I¡¯m here to tell you that the emperor of Qingzhou indeed exists! Moreover, this bronze realm is very likely the legacy trial set by him.¡± Boom! The mere mention of the ¡®Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯ threw the crowd into a frenzy. Everyone present had heard about the emperor of Qingzhou in their youth, and many had been inspired by his legends when choosing their martial path. Their eyes burned with an intense desire at the thought that the bronze realm was the emperor¡¯s legacy. ¡°If we can secure the emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s legacy, we¡¯ll be invincible.¡± ¡°I, Liu, will claim the legacy of the emperor!¡± Boom! Suddenly, a fist came flying from the side, killing the speaker outright. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the Qingzhou Emperor¡¯s legacy is mine!¡± The battle royale kicked off without warning. Xiang Mingfeng didn¡¯t even get the chance to speculate about the Qingzhou imperial key. Qin Huai and Fang Huo exchanged glances, noting that the few large exits in the center were almost entirely blocked off. Suddenly, a fist targeted Qin Huai. The strong energy behind it revealed the attacker¡¯s rank ¡ª four full patterns. A woman with a good figure sneered, ¡°Too slow.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, though. He responded with a backhand punch. Upon contact, the woman¡¯s slender, fair arm shattered instantly. His fist didn¡¯t lose momentum and pierced through the woman¡¯s chest. Bang! Just like that, Qin Huai killed a four-pattern expert with a single punch without even needing to invoke his dragon king force. The next moment, over ten people charged toward Qin Huai. ¡°Let¡¯s take down these potential kings first! Especially this one!¡± Several of his attackers were familiar faces, or at the very least, they had engraved Qin Huai¡¯s image in their minds. The determination in their gritted teeth was no less intense than a life-or-death grudge. However, Qin Huai remained unfazed. A flash of white light sparkled in his eyes as he swung his fist, his force akin to a thousand razor-sharp blades. One punch wiped out two or three people. A few more punches and the prodigies of Qingzhou fell. ¡°In the illusion realm, my advantage has significantly increased,¡± Qin Huai murmured. Beside him, Fang Huo had already paved a path of destruction, blocking those trying to escape. Known for his strength, Fang Huo¡¯s formidable power made the surrounding people hesitate, and many turned around to flee. ¡°We need to kill them faster!¡± Qin Huai called out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Fang Huo replied as he rushed to the center of the crowd. Qin Huai followed suit, his fists swinging like a moving city wall, obliterating enemies in his way. At the same time, he remained vigilant of his surroundings, particularly for Yang Tianhan. He felt that Yang Tianhan surely had some secret weapon up his sleeve. The headcount in the illusion realm rapidly decreased amidst the fierce battle. In mere moments, a third of the people had died. ¡°We can¡¯t hold them back here!¡± a loud cry echoed from afar. Qin Huai glanced over to see She Wanshan, his lotus petals fluttering as he attempted to stop an expert from escaping. It seemed they realized that She Wanshan was the weakest line of defense, which attracted the most people toward him. ¡°This is a trap! Their ¡®fair competition¡¯ is a ruse!¡± someone in the crowd yelled. ¡°They have a big secret! Let¡¯s not cooperate with them¡­ Even if we die of old age here, we can¡¯t let them have the emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s inheritance.¡± Many of those who were battling also aimed to escape to the outskirts. ¡°This is bad. If they manage to escape and buy time in the illusion realm, our plan will fail¡­¡± Fang Huo warned Qin Huai, anxiety filling his voice. Qin Huai stayed calm, having spotted Yang Tianhan¡¯s figure. Yang Tianhan was leisurely moving towards the center of the battlefield, a crazed smile on his face. Qin Huai muttered, ¡°Please don¡¯t disappoint me¡­¡± Suddenly, Yang Tianhan raised his right hand, emitting a green light that filled the entire illusion realm. Everyone¡¯s sight went white for a second and when they opened their eyes, they found themselves in a different Illusion Realm. Qin Huai looked around. The verdant grass stretched as far as the eye could see and the world¡¯s boundary was visible. It spanned ten miles at most. ¡°Where are we?¡± The fighters looked around, baffled. ¡°Who did this? Are we in the level-zero array?¡± Some panicked, while others rejoiced. ¡°It¡¯s his doing!¡± Someone pointed at Yang Tianhan in the middle of the illusion realm. Immediately, all eyes fell on him. ¡°What did you do?¡± they demanded, looking at Yang Tianhan with suspicion. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 419 - 419 Whos the Chosen One? 419 Who¡¯s the Chosen One? ¡°Where is this place?¡± Whoosh! Suddenly, one of them launched a surprise attack on Yang Tianhan, punching him through. ¡°Playing tricks,¡± he scoffed. ¡°Watch out behind you!¡± someone shouted. The man turned in surprise only to see Yang Tianhan standing behind him. A punch landed and his body shattered instantly. The prodigies of Qingzhou watched Yang Tianhan with serious expressions. ¡°How did he do that?¡± ¡°His ancient scripture level seems to be¡­¡± They appeared to understand something. ¡°Indeed, my ancient scripture level has surpassed the blood refinement level,¡± Yang Tianhan confirmed. ¡°Xiang Mingfeng hasn¡¯t shared everything with you. The emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s test actually has a shortcut key that allows someone to easily pass the test.¡± He looked around and smiled. ¡°And I happen to be the owner of that key!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he revealed a bronze pendant to everyone. Whoosh! Simultaneously, three figures rushed at Yang Tianhan, one of them being the future king, Wang Gang. A yellow light flashed from his eyes, only to be extinguished immediately as Yang Tianhan appeared behind him like a phantom. Bang! One punch was all it took to shatter Wang Gang. The other two met the same fate as Yang Tianhan simultaneously took them down. In mid-air, three Yang Tianhan figures merged into one. Hiss¡­ Gasps echoed around them. ¡°King¡¯s force¡­ It doesn¡¯t work anymore?¡± Even Xiang Mingfeng frowned as he noted Wang Gang¡¯s suppressed king¡¯s force. ¡°Correct. The king¡¯s force is useless in this illusion realm I¡¯ve created,¡± Yang Tianhan declared confidently. ¡°Not only that, the original rules about prolonging the great slaughter are also inapplicable here. ¡°You might understand it this way: time inside this illusion realm is parallel to the outside world. No matter where you hide, you won¡¯t be able to delay until the end. And as you¡¯ve noticed, this illusion realm spans only five kilometers.¡± Yang Tianhan smiled proudly. He had been waiting for this moment for twenty years ¡ª a chance to ensnare everyone at once. ¡°Here, I am god,¡± he roared, venting out years of pent-up frustration. ¡°In the real world, my ancient scripture level with the key is only at the perfected blood refinement. But in this illusion realm, it breaks through to the bone pattern realm, even reaching the second level. I believe you all understand the difference between a second-level bone pattern realm and a group of blood refinement realm warriors.¡± Yang Tianhan scanned everyone, his expression smug as he observed the dispirited faces of the Qingzhou geniuses. Finally, his gaze stopped on Qin Huai. ¡°Oh, by the way, I must thank you, Brother Zhou. If not for you, I wouldn¡¯t have found such a good opportunity to trap everyone,¡± he said, flashing a brilliant smile. Everyone turned to look at Qin Huai, their eyes filled with mixed emotions. ¡°Brother Zhou, you¡­¡± Xiang Mingfeng began, wanting to say something but eventually just sighed. Le Ji¡¯an sneered, ¡°Brother Zhou, you¡¯re the perfect example.¡± His contempt was evident. Nearby, Gou Jie began to calculate something but abruptly stopped, not daring to delve into it further. He knew that the emperor¡¯s inheritance was at stake, and any misstep could cost him his life. ¡°In order to repay your kindness, I¡¯ll answer any question you have,¡± Yang Tianhan said, walking towards Qin Huai. On his way, several people charged at him, hoping to try their luck. But multiple illusory figures zipped across the sky, effectively countering the attackers. ¡°Not only the king¡¯s force, even their vital force is suppressed?¡± asked Fang Huo. ¡°That¡¯s right. I forgot to mention that once you enter this illusion realm, you essentially become a spirit body. Even your vital force is suppressed,¡± Yang Tianhan said. ¡°In here, only the ancient scripture holds sway! Only I can prevail! I am the chosen one fated to inherit the emperor¡¯s legacy!¡± His voice was thunderous, shaking everyone¡¯s hearts. Suddenly, dozens of Yang Tianhan¡¯s duplicates emerged, attacking the people around him. Some were pierced, while others were outright killed. He seemed to be toying with the Qingzhou prodigies. Ten years ago, he had accidentally entered a level-one array and was pursued relentlessly. He could not utilize his visceral prefecture realm powers due to numerical disadvantage and the presence of experts from large sects. However, at a crucial moment, he managed to break off a piece of the bronze wall, which turned out to be the key he now held. He spent a decade hiding and sacrificing many lives to understand the key¡¯s secrets. It was a bizarre set of circumstances, but it seemed like destiny! ¡°Brother Zhou, let¡¯s team up and give it a try,¡± Fang Huo suggested gravely, approaching Qin Huai. Qin Huai ignored him and just asked slowly, ¡°You just mentioned¡­ What¡¯s your realm level in this illusion realm?¡± ¡°Second-level bone pattern realm,¡± Yang Tianhan replied, noting Qin Huai¡¯s resolute gaze. ¡°It seems you want to try.¡± Whoosh! In a flash, Yang Tianhan disappeared and then reappeared right before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. More than ten duplicates instantly launched an attack at Qin Huai. Calmly, Qin Huai raised his hand and effortlessly caught Yang Tianhan¡¯s fist. The phantom assailants vanished instantly. ¡°Second-level bone pattern realm¡­ Not impressive,¡± Qin Huai remarked coolly. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 420 - 420 The Power of the So 420 The Power of the So-called Chosen One The many copies of Yang Tianhan converged into one. He was a man who had consistently succeeded and was like a god of death. At that moment, Qin Huai easily parried his punch, causing the atmosphere to feel tense and almost frozen. Everyone watched the two locked in this standstill. Whoosh! Suddenly, more than a dozen people charged from behind Yang Tianhan, aiming for his waist, head, lower body, chest, ankles¡­ Although they were stripped of their cultivation levels and even their king¡¯s force was suppressed, years of combat and life-risking experiences had honed their exceptional fighting skills. Despite their lack of vitality advantage, they saw an opportunity as Qin Huai had managed to grab Yang Tianhan¡¯s fist. However, dozens of Yang Tianhan duplicates materialized and turned to counter the oncoming attackers. Undeterred, they yelled in unison, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, these are illusions! The real one is still in his original spot!¡± They were all desperate to claim the key from Yang Tianhan¡¯s grasp. Just as they believed they had shattered Yang Tianhan, they found themselves still airborne, only to plummet to the ground near Qin Huai. ¡°You want to kill me, Yang Tianhan? It¡¯s still too early!¡± Yang Tianhan roared. Bang! Bang! Bang! A series of explosive punches pierced their backs, killing more than ten of the attackers. Yang Tianhan reappeared five meters away from Qin Huai, the hand Qin Huai had gripped was now gone, replaced by a bloodied wrist. He had paid a hefty price to escape. Looking seriously at Qin Huai, Yang Tianhan asked, ¡°Brother Zhou, has your ancient scripture reached the bone pattern realm?¡± This was hard for him to accept. Over the last ten thousand years, countless Qingzhou geniuses had attested to the difficulty of mastering the ancient scripture. Yet, Qin Huai appeared to not only have mastered the ancient scripture technique but seemed to have surpassed him. ¡°Brother Zhou, you have the talent, and I have the key¡­ If we team up, we could undoubtedly unravel the mystery of the bronze realm,¡± Yang Tianhan suggested, extending a hand in a friendly gesture. Whoosh! However, Qin Huai took a step forward instead, which made Yang Tianhan react in alarm. ¡°Brother Zhou! If you intend to kill me, don¡¯t blame me for fighting to the death! If I destroy this key in my hand, none of us will be able to access the level-zero array!¡± Yang Tianhan lifted his right hand, revealing a continuously shining green light within his palm. He looked ready to shatter the bronze pendant he was holding. But the next instant, a powerful hand pressed down on his wrist. The hand was as pristine as a beautifully crafted piece of art, yet it exerted a terrifying force that far exceeded any ancient beast Yang Tianhan had previously faced. Despite his robust visceral prefecture realm essence, Qin Huai had the upper hand. Confronting someone who had truly honed the ancient scripture to the level of bone pattern realm, Yang Tianhan felt his vitality force less dominant than before. Yang Tianhan¡¯s body trembled as Qin Huai materialized before him like a specter. This uncanny movement sent chills down the spines of the surrounding Qingzhou geniuses. They hadn¡¯t even noticed when Qin Huai vanished from his spot, only to reappear in front of Yang Tianhan. Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s gaze darted to the place where Qin Huai had previously stood, where another Qin Huai was slowly fading away. ¡°In this illusion realm¡­ those two who cultivated the ancient scripture to the bone pattern realm seem almost godlike,¡± Le Ji ¡®an whispered. ¡°We stand no chance here¡­ regardless of who we face.¡± Gou Jie squinted, his fingers nimbly moving under his robe. He couldn¡¯t comprehend why Yang Tianhan, who was supposed to control this illusion realm, was being dominated by Qin Huai like a helpless creature. ¡°Is destiny¡­ not absolute?¡± he mused. Despite being the only cultivator in ten thousand years to find the key left by the emperor of Qingzhou, Yang Tianhan was struggling. Bang! In the middle of the battlefield, images of Qin Huai and Yang Tianhan multiplied into numerous phantoms, filling a small radius around them. The sound of their intense struggle echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. The area within their radius had become a death zone. Anyone who ventured near, regardless of their numbers, met a swift end. As the two formidable opponents decided who would claim the prize, the Qingzhou geniuses were like helpless lambs waiting to be slaughtered. Qin Huai tightened his grip on Yang Tianhan¡¯s hand, causing the latter to lose his grip on the key. ¡°I won¡¯t lose. How can I?¡± Yang Tianhan growled defiantly. ¡°I am the successor chosen by the emperor of Qingzhou!¡± As his aura intensified, the bronze key in his hand, on the verge of falling, began to glow even more brightly. Qin Huai felt Yang Tianhan¡¯s strength growing, escalating from the second-level bone pattern realm at an alarming rate. Was this the true power of the so-called chosen one? The surge of energy made him anxious. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 421 - 421 Twists and Turns! 421 Twists and Turns! Qin Huai sought to engage his king¡¯s force. A soft white glow ignited in his eyes, yet it was rapidly extinguished by a blinding green light. ¡°It¡¯s pointless, futile. Here¡­I am the god!¡± Yang Tianhan roared. ¡°I claim the inheritance of the emperor!¡± Without uttering a word, Qin Huai began channeling the divine qi within him, as well as the guardian spirit item he had acquired from the old man from Wuji Mountain. In a contest between the semi-divinity realm and the emperor realm, who would prevail? Gradually guiding the divine qi, he found it began to move. A sliver of energy surged from his dantian. Buzz¡­ Suddenly, a green beam of light shot from Yang Tianhan¡¯s palm, piercing Qin Huai¡¯s abdomen. Puff! Coughing up blood, Qin Huai felt his abdomen and the precious bit of divine qi within it get obliterated. Overjoyed by this, Yang Tianhan¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Hahaha! Brother Zhou, you¡¯re running out of tricks,¡± he taunted. His previously pale hand slowly regained its color. His trembling fingers began to tighten around the bronze pendant in his hand, as he could feel a surge of untamed energy coursing through his body ¡ª an age-old blessing from the emperor of Qingzhou. In the distance, onlookers like Xiang Mingfeng quickly grasped the sudden shift in the situation. Gou Jie, previously perplexed, mused, ¡°So it seems¡­ destiny is indeed invincible.¡± ¡°That Yang Tianhan belongs to your Ghost Ox sect, right?¡± Fang Huo asked Le Ji ¡®an. They and other young prodigies remained still, having learned from Wang Gang¡¯s earlier demise. They knew they didn¡¯t stand a chance in this illusion realm ¡ª any attempt to engage would lead to instant death. Despite their reluctance, they were reduced to mere spectators, eager to see which of the two formidable contenders would come out on top. Le Ji ¡®an nodded. ¡°I vaguely remember¡­ He was somewhat renowned in the Ghost Ox sect a few decades ago, but not greatly.¡± In large sects like theirs, only those who had comprehended the king¡¯s force or advanced to the visceral prefecture realm would have their achievements chronicled. These records were kept in the sect¡¯s library for future generations to learn from. Although Yang Tianhan had reached the visceral prefecture realm at a young age, he had only broken through when he was on the verge of death. Soon after, he entered the bronze realm, and as a result, his fame was limited. Only Le Ji¡¯an, known as the Little Cattle King ¡ª a title hinting at future leadership of the Ghost Ox sect ¡ª knew about him. It was crucial for potential sect masters to be well-versed in the sect¡¯s history. ¡°He hails from a small city, hardly even a county city, named Qingshui City¡­ It¡¯s said to be the birthplace of the legendary emperor of Qingzhou, but sadly, the city has long been lost to the demon onslaught,¡± Le Ji¡¯an recounted. ¡°Yang Tianhan is from Qingshui City?¡± Fang Huo exclaimed, his voice echoing surprise. ¡°No wonder¡­¡± Suddenly, it all made sense to everyone why Yang Tianhan was considered the chosen one. ¡°The bronze realm is likely a test left by the Qingzhou Emperor for his successors,¡± surmised She Wanshan. ¡°We¡¯re just fodder for training.¡± Xiang Mingfeng mused, ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. For us, who are not descendants of the Qingzhou Emperor, receiving this inheritance is just more challenging.¡± ¡°This seems like an impossible challenge,¡± said Fang Huo, recalling the conditions he and Qin Huai had hypothesized earlier. He shook his head with a wry smile. She Wanshan slowly added, ¡°Regardless, Yang Tianhan obtained the key due to his direct lineage to the Qingzhou Emperor.¡± There was no disagreement on this point. ¡°Brother Zhou, I fear we¡¯re facing defeat.¡± Gou Jie sighed. ¡°Possessing the key is akin to being blessed by the heavens. Despite Brother Zhou¡¯s remarkable abilities, this may be as far as you can go.¡± Le Ji¡¯an chuckled. ¡°Reaching the fourth-level bone pattern realm¡­ truly unexpected. As a member of the Thousand Divination Tower, shouldn¡¯t you be pleased?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Gou Jie sighed again, but there was no joy on his face.. All eyes were on the heart of the battlefield where Qin Huai was clearly struggling. His strength and speed were failing ¡ª the tables had turned. ¡°Brother Zhou, wouldn¡¯t it have been better if you had taken my advice earlier?¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s expression was one of triumph. With his internal organs trembling under the onslaught of punches, Qin Huai felt his strength draining rapidly, especially after his chest was pierced by the green light. He couldn¡¯t activate his blood heart technique, and his decline suggested he might not hold on much longer. Could he really be headed for defeat? The thought echoed in his mind. No, he wasn¡¯t done yet. He still had one move he had yet to use. Boom! An explosion of rich longevity power started to seethe within his body. His eyes sparkled ¡ª it was effective after all. ¡°Brother Zhou, your hand!¡± Fang Huo called out from a distance. Both Qin Huai and Yang Tianhan looked down simultaneously to see Qin Huai¡¯s left hand disintegrating from the fingertips. Qin Huai felt a jolt of fear, realizing this was probably the price for using the flame longevity technique in the illusion realm. ¡°Brother Zhou, it seems you¡¯ve used a secret technique to enhance your cultivation level.¡± Yang Tianhan finally relaxed, but his cautiousness grew. He hoped for Qin Huai¡¯s immediate demise. That way, he wouldn¡¯t have to take any risks. After Qin Huai¡¯s death, the rest would be trivial. Suddenly, a streak of golden flame shot out from Qin Huai¡¯s body. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 422 - 422 Bronze Mountain and River Diagram 422 Bronze Mountain and River Diagram Qin Huai struck a fiery path before him. He didn¡¯t halt, slicing off Yang Tianhan¡¯s arm and then dislocating his shoulder. Bang! A loud crash echoed as the severed arm disintegrated mid-air. Yang Tianhan gaped at the brilliant golden light, his heart sinking in disbelief. Despite his illusion realm suppressing all power except ancient scripture cultivation, how was Qin Huai able to do it¡­? The golden flames persisted, creeping up from the severed limb. What was about to be Qin Huai¡¯s downfall swiftly turned the tide of the battle. Only the bronze pendant, radiating a green light, fell slowly. The world seemed on the brink of disintegration, with countless opportunists ready to strike. The next second, a wave of green light engulfed their vision. Bang! Bang! Bang! The Qingzhou geniuses disintegrated in a series of blasts. At the same time, the bronze pendant found itself in a pale hand. Pa! As soon as Qin Huai held the key, the world regained its stability. The next moment, a torrent of power surged from his palm up his arm, reaching his heart, legs, and even his missing left arm. Tens of millions of fragments coalesced on Qin Huai¡¯s arm, and within moments, his shattered left hand was instantly restored. ¡°This¡­ does holding the key possess healing abilities?¡± Qin Huai marveled at the surging power within. His ancient azure illusion scripture cultivation had reached the peak of the fifth-level bone pattern realm. Above all, he felt an inexplicable control over the entire world. ¡°It¡¯s over, Yang Tianhan.¡± Qin Huai glanced at the man being consumed by the golden flames. ¡°No, I won¡¯t accept this!¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s eyes bulged, screaming at Qin Huai. ¡°All of this should be mine!¡± Despite his protest, his fate remained unchanged. His body was entirely swallowed by the golden flames, collapsing to nothing. Exhaling deeply, Qin Huai addressed the spectators, ¡°Everyone, thank you for your gifts.¡± No sooner had he spoken than his figure vanished. At the same time, hundreds of figures launched themselves at the bystanders. With one punch, a hundred lives were extinguished. The five-kilometer illusion realm turned into Qin Huai¡¯s killing field. He single-handedly crushed everyone, even the future kings weren¡¯t an exception. After what felt like an eternity, Qin Huai stood in the desolate illusion realm. No signs of life met his gaze. ¡°I fulfilled the condition¡­ Has the end been reached?¡± he pondered aloud. ¡°Ah, congratulations on completing the test,¡± a voice sounded beside Qin Huai. Whirling around, he found a tall figure standing beside him. The figure had green eyes and green hair, his robe patterned with the same strange runes found on the bronze wall. ¡°Young Qin Huai pays his respects to the emperor of Qingzhou!¡± Qin Huai bowed. ¡°You¡¯re quite clever,¡± the emperor of Qingzhou chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re not actually my descendant, huh?¡± Disappointment flashed in the emperor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Has my descendants become so incompetent? Despite my attempts to aid them, they were defeated?¡± The emperor of Qingzhou grumbled. Qin Huai watched as the grand, mysterious image he had of the emperor of Qingzhou disintegrated at the sight of his frustration. ¡°What a shame, such a shame¡­¡± The emperor gave Qin Huai a heavy pat on the shoulder, his eyes filled with regret. ¡°Good lad, you actually pulled off a victory.¡± Qin Huai felt a shiver run down his spine. ¡°Sir, it was merely a stroke of luck.¡± ¡°No worries, no worries¡­ If someone has lost, then it¡¯s done.¡± The emperor sighed again. ¡°What year is it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the seventh year of peace,¡± Qin Huai answered truthfully. ¡°What¡¯s this year of peace? Shouldn¡¯t it be following the Shou Di calendar?¡± The emperor began to tally the years on his fingers. ¡°The First Emperor, the Great Emperor, Emperor Shou, Emperor Yan¡­ Has it been a millennium since my demise?¡± Qin Huai listened to the emperor¡¯s ramblings, shaking his head. ¡°According to legends, you¡¯re from at least ten thousand years ago.¡± ¡°Ten thousand years?!¡± The emperor jumped in astonishment. ¡°Are all the successors that followed so useless? Even though my ancient azure illusion scripture is indeed difficult to cultivate, it¡¯s impossible for no one to comprehend it in ten thousand years. ¡°Those demons referring to themselves as the Dark Clan, have they been annihilated?¡± he inquired. ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± Qin Huai paused, puzzled. ¡°The Dark Clan?¡± ¡°Yes, those big demons that escaped from the Demon Valley.¡± The emperor furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never heard of them¡­ Oh, that¡¯s actually a good sign. It seems those demons have met their end.¡± Qin Huai cautiously said, ¡°The land I currently inhabit is called the Great You.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The Emperor¡¯s voice went up several pitches, his eyes wide with rage. Flames leaped from his eyes, making the world seem to tremble. After a long silence, he finally spoke, ¡°Well done, You Clan, well done, Great You Dynasty!¡± His eyes showed sorrow, eventually settling into a deep sigh that echoed through the illusion realm. The emperor didn¡¯t elaborate further, and Qin Huai wisely chose not to press him. The topic was evidently too heavy, too distant. ¡°Follow me,¡± the emperor commanded, leading the way. He waved his hand and the world shifted, revealing a cave. Hovering in mid-air was a palm-sized square piece of bronze. The bronze was intricately engraved with mountains, rivers, and seas, as well as exotic beasts. ¡°This is the heart of the bronze realm, the Bronze Mountain and River Diagram. It depicts the ancient land of Qingzhou. Once you refine it, you¡¯ll possess the entire bronze realm. You will also become the son of Qingzhou, the future king of Qingzhou!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 423 - 423 The King of Qingzhou 423 The King of Qingzhou ¡°King of Qingzhou¡­¡± Qin Huai echoed. The emperor explained, ¡°The ancient azure illusion scripture is a cultivation method devised by an esteemed predecessor who journeyed throughout Qingzhou. Its power embodies the essence of Qingzhou, its grandeur and mysticism. ¡°This bronze mountain and river diagram was meticulously etched by that same predecessor using a unique force stone, now extinct in Qingzhou. It features the mountains, seas, flora, and a myriad of rare creatures. ¡°When the ancient azure illusion scripture is cultivated to the pinnacle of the bone pattern realm, you can use this bronze mountain and river diagram as a spirit treasure, refine it and break through the barrier.¡± As the emperor¡¯s gaze swept over the surroundings, life sprouted and vanished in an endless cycle. ¡°With this, you can harness the power of Qingzhou to triumph over world adversaries. Back then, I wielded Qingzhou¡¯s power to outmatch the world¡¯s heroes, hence my title ¡®Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯.¡± Qin Huai suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯m invincible in Qingzhou.¡± He had learned all this from Xiang Mingfeng and the others who held the emperor in high reverence, his tales and words treasured like heirlooms. ¡°Haha¡­ Indeed.¡± The emperor laughed heartily before his demeanor turned serious again. ¡°Yet, lad, while you show some promise in cultivating the ancient azure illusion scripture, refining this bronze mountain and river diagram won¡¯t be simple. ¡°At your stage, you should understand that greater power brings greater challenges. To command the power of Qingzhou, you must first endure it. But there¡¯s no rush¡­ Your ancient azure illusion scripture hasn¡¯t reached perfection yet.¡± The serious expression on the emperor¡¯s face faded, and he patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Cultivating in the presence of the bronze mountain and river diagram will expedite your progress.¡± ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± the emperor waved off, his form slowly fading. ¡°Senior, what is¡­¡± Qin Huai started, taken aback. ¡°The time is up, I¡¯ve been long deceased. This is a force I¡¯ve sealed in the diagram,¡± the emperor replied. ¡°Had you come a few thousand years earlier, we might have had a few days to chat¡­ But now, it¡¯s absolutely impossible.¡± The emperor shrugged, seeming helpless, before his figure disappeared entirely. Qin Huai stared at the spot where the emperor vanished, feeling a sense of loss. ¡°I was actually conversing with an extraordinary figure who lived ten thousand years ago¡­¡± Qin Huai mumbled to himself, finding the whole thing quite absurd. Furthermore, the emperor was far from what he¡¯d imagined. He lacked the typical composure of a master. Instead, he was more like an eccentric uncle with a quirky temper, prone to ranting and showing a wealth of emotions. He also seemed to favor his own descendants. ¡°What a strange uncle,¡± Qin Huai muttered, shaking his head. He turned his gaze to the bronze mountain and river diagram before him and positioned himself cross-legged in front of the hovering bronze painting. Slowly, he began activating the ancient azure illusion scripture. Buzz¡­ In a flash, Qin Huai felt as if he had been transported into the ancient world of Qingzhou. Massive trees rose high over the mountains and rivers. A ten-meter-tall beast with three horns and dragon-like scales on its back stampeded across the terrain, its four pillar-like legs causing the earth to quake. A six-winged bird, its body aglow with flames, soared through the sky, an enchanting sight. Qin Huai moved towards the grand mountains and rivers, his body seemingly merging with this world. The ancient azure illusion scripture within him was progressing rapidly, going from 43% to 47% to 51%¡­ Meanwhile, outside the illusion realm, Xiang Mingfeng, She Wanshan, Fang Huo, and the others were all engaged in the level-one array. All of them were in a level-one array but were also part of a merged level-five array within the bronze realm. ¡°Given the current situation, it seems that Brother Zhou has really received the emperor¡¯s legacy,¡± She Wanshan commented, gazing at this world with a complex expression. Seated near a forest of stone tablets, they were within sight of the towering bronze wall where a group of martial artists was practicing. ¡°This is also a good thing. We can finally get out,¡± Xiang Mingfeng remarked, his expression unchanging. Le Ji¡¯an laughed mockingly. ¡°We¡¯ll acknowledge it, but will the sects in Qingzhou do the same? Will the five great sects behind us acknowledge it? This is the legacy of the emperor of Qingzhou, a legendary figure from ten thousand years ago that has now resurfaced.¡± His words were harsh, but everyone knew they were truthful. Fang Huo also appeared conflicted. ¡°Brother Zhou obtaining the emperor¡¯s legacy is not the conclusion, but the beginning.¡± They all knew that the real test was likely still on the horizon. ¡°But¡­ The sun right now is a little dim¡­¡± She Wanshan looked up at the sky, feeling a little puzzled. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Qingzhou City, within the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s flower boat, Wen Zonghao was feasting amidst a room filled with blood. Suddenly, the door to the room was flung open. ¡°Leader! There¡¯s trouble!¡± The man who entered was horrified by the sight of Wen Zonghao feasting on a corpse. ¡°What happened?¡± Wen Zonghao raised his head slowly to ask. The man, trembling but trying to suppress his fear, reported, ¡°Numerous sinkholes have appeared outside Qingzhou City!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 424 - 424 Great Change in Qingzhou! 424 Great Change in Qingzhou! ¡°Sinkholes?¡± Wen Zonghao expressed surprise. ¡°What¡¯s so concerning about that? What¡¯s inside the sinkholes?¡± ¡°There are numerous skeletons in the sinkholes!¡± the man reported. ¡°Get to the point!¡± Wen Zonghao grew impatient, wondering if his subordinate was merely beating around the bush. ¡°The bones in the pit¡­ their patterns indicate that they¡¯re beings with at least three complete patterns!¡± the man finally stated. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Wen Zonghao abruptly stood up. He knew exactly what that implied. Those sinkholes were likely the final resting places of the top geniuses from Qingzhou who had disappeared over the past ten thousand years. ¡°And how many people are aware of this?¡± Wen Zonghao asked. ¡°It¡¯s spreading like wildfire! Countless people in the outer city are rushing towards the sinkholes, but don¡¯t worry, Leader. There are many sinkholes, and they¡¯re all enormous! We won¡¯t miss this golden opportunity,¡± the man chuckled. ¡°What about the inner city?¡± Wen Zonghao inquired further. ¡°They¡¯re hesitant, fearing that demons might seize the opportunity to infiltrate the inner city,¡± the man explained. As he finished, he launched himself toward Wen Zonghao. Caught off guard, Wen Zonghao raised his hand. But he was surprised that his subordinate wasn¡¯t attempting to flee or beg for mercy but was lunging at his meal. The man bit into a chunk of flesh, declaring, ¡°Leader! I wish to join you! I want to become a disciple of the Sacred Heart sect!¡± ¡°Good! What¡¯s your name?¡± Wen Zonghao laughed heartily. ¡°I¡¯m Gu Anwen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re worth teaching!¡± Wen Zonghao patted the man¡¯s head, then tossed him a cultivation technique. ¡°Take it and cultivate.¡± ¡°Thank you, Leader, for your reward!¡± Gu Anwen was overjoyed, staring at the secret manual of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s cultivation method in his hands. ¡°Furthermore, starting today, you¡¯ll be my eighth adopted son and in charge of the sinkhole matter,¡± Wen Zonghao added. ¡°Understood!¡± Gu Anwen beamed, surprised at his fortune born out of a mistake. It was a blessing in disguise. ¡­ Meanwhile, at Wuji Mountain¡­ Kong Binghuang gazed in the direction of Qingzhou City, a confused expression on his face. Behind him was a report detailing the sudden appearance of numerous sinkholes outside the city. ¡°Currently, the large sects in the outer city and countless freelance martial artists have headed towards the various sinkholes. Mountain Chieftain, should we also¡­¡± a refined-looking man hesitated. ¡°There¡¯s no rush. We can let the people in the outer city scout for us first,¡± Kong Binghuang said calmly. ¡°If there truly is a great opportunity, it won¡¯t be seized by just that group of people. If they get it, it means those opportunities aren¡¯t significant enough for us to risk the danger of demonic invasion.¡± The refined man hesitated, knowing that this could be a chance to locate the missing geniuses from Qingzhou over the past ten thousand years. ¡°What if one of our own from Wuji Mountain is on the brink of death and gets targeted and killed by other sects?¡± the man voiced his concern. ¡°If they die¡­that just proves their lives were fated to be doomed,¡± Kong Binghuang said coldly. ¡°Our Wuji Mountain will avenge them!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, at the Thousand Divination Tower, a bare-chested elderly man with a white beard clutched a string of prayer beads, gazing into the distance with a frown. ¡°A great upheaval! Qingzhou is on the verge of a massive change!¡± he exclaimed. At the same time, all the sects and forces within and outside of Qingzhou City have stirred, with countless individuals heading toward the sinkholes. ¡­ In the illusion realm, Qin Huai suddenly emerged from his ¡®dream.¡¯ Under his flesh and blood, marked bones began glowing brightly. All his cultivation techniques activated, causing complex bone patterns to appear on his body. Beginning from his chest, his nine dragons true qi and four-directional tiger-wolf techniques activated. Then, it extended to his arms and legs, with the divine power book of a thousand creations, poison king technique, and wind breath technique initiating. Finally, the energy surged into his spine and head, triggering the blood heart technique and the ancient azure illusion scripture. Lines of patterns flashed, and Qin Huai¡¯s aura intensified. His bones shone all over his body, unleashing a surge of power. Boom! Qin Huai¡¯s hair streamed backward, and his eyes lit up with dazzling white light. Behind him, ten white dragons, phantom beasts, tigers, wolves, and golden book apparitions materialized. Qin Huai felt as though the world in front of him became clearer and more condensed, with a sense of anticipation stirring within him. ¡°What a strange sensation,¡± he mused. He extended his hand towards the grass beneath him. The next moment, the green grass disintegrated. He extended his hand again, and a soft white light flickered around him. Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the ground, inspecting his dantian. In his dantian world, the green bronze ground was lush with vegetation. Behemoths roamed, while blood-colored tigers and wolves attacked randomly. The ten white dragons flew in the sky, and the golden ancient book hovered beneath the sun. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the venomous beast to look around in confusion. Everything appeared normal. However, his blood essence seemed more ¡®real¡¯ or perhaps more vibrant and natural. It felt as though everything was in its rightful place and harmony was achieved. Finally, Qin Huai¡¯s gaze rested on the dragon pearl, where the adult dragon king still preferred to slumber. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 425 - 425 Emperors Force 425 Emperor¡¯s Force This time, however, there seemed to be an almost imperceptible shadow over the dragon king¡¯s head. A halo, or perhaps, a crown? Qin Huai was startled. This nearly invisible transparent crown was suspended over the dragon king¡¯s head, pressing down like a heavy mountain, making it hard for him to breathe. Suddenly, the voice of the emperor of Qingzhou rang out, breaking Qin Huai¡¯s concentration. Qin Huai turned to look at the middle-aged man in front of him, his eyes wide with surprise. ¡°Senior, didn¡¯t you already¡­¡± ¡°Haha, I was just pulling your leg,¡± the emperor interrupted with a hearty laugh. Qin Huai was at a loss. The emperor of Qingzhou certainly had an unconventional way of joking, even with a junior like him. The emperor of Qingzhou, who had just evaluated the realm and strength of the younger generation, began to speak his mind. ¡°Each era has its own unique talents. I respect the choices of this era and the laws of time.¡± Qin Huai found the emperor¡¯s words slightly cryptic. He barely understood his meaning and asked, ¡°Are you implying that they are inadequate?¡± ¡°Their bodies are too frail! That kind of body can¡¯t refine top-tier guardian spirit items. Powerful beasts, divine scrolls, mountains, and rivers¡­none could be refined. All would be destroyed in an explosion,¡± the emperor of Qingzhou ranted. ¡°Why don¡¯t they prioritize physical cultivation?!¡± Then, he abruptly fell silent. Seeing the emperor¡¯s expression, Qin Huai realized something and wisely kept quiet. If he was not mistaken, the emperor¡¯s criticism had something to do with the so-called demons of the Dark Clan. The emperor of Qingzhou regained his composure in an instant, resuming his playful demeanor. ¡°Seven full patterns¡­ Are you a monster?¡± He looked at Qin Huai in disbelief. ¡°Even in my era, no one ever achieved seven full patterns¡­ ¡°Why didn¡¯t your bone shatter when two types of bone patterns overlapped on the same bone? How are you still able to use the power of the bone patterns normally?¡± The emperor of Qingzhou bombarded Qin Huai with questions. ¡°I¡¯ve faced tens of thousands of life-and-death situations before succeeding,¡± Qin Huai replied gravely. He was not being dramatic. In his ¡®memory¡¯, he had died over ten thousand times in the pursuit of balancing the two types of bone patterns. ¡°What a monster,¡± the emperor of Qingzhou couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration. ¡°When I first comprehended the king¡¯s force, I tested the transcendent comprehension of force that came with five full patterns. And you, you have seven full patterns. It¡¯s like you were gifted the emperor¡¯s force.¡± The emperor of Qingzhou was at a loss for words. However, achieving seven full patterns was not necessarily easier than cultivating the emperor¡¯s force. ¡°Could this be the emperor¡¯s force?¡± Qin Huai exclaimed with delight. ¡°But the power of this force seems to be a bit¡­¡± ¡°Your emperor¡¯s force is not completely formed yet¡­¡± The emperor of Qingzhou spoke, a complex expression crossing his face. ¡°Majestic and intimidating, filled with killing intent, it¡¯s a force that allows one to rule a region, to become a king. The lands one can conquer become one¡¯s territory, and those who can evolve into rulers become emperors.¡± As if lost in his thoughts, the emperor continued, ¡°If one can say the king¡¯s force is about maximizing one¡¯s killing power, then the emperor¡¯s force is about creating a small world. The bronze realm is my emperor¡¯s force.¡± Looking at Qin Huai, the Emperor of Qingzhou said, ¡°Here, my powers are multiplied, while all your powers, including your qi and blood, are suppressed by me. Even those with a higher cultivation level than me can¡¯t defy the rules of my world! In this world, I am¡­ Achoo!¡± The emperor of Qingzhou sneezed suddenly. ¡°I feel like someone¡¯s missing me¡­¡± Qin Huai could only stare, taken aback. The next moment, the emperor of Qingzhou was surrounded by a green light that quickly rushed toward him. Qin Huai¡¯s heart pounded, his eyes glowing with white light, as a protective white light screen instantly flared up. Bang! The green light shattered, and Qin Huai¡¯s white light quickly enveloped the emperor of Qingzhou. Qin Huai looked at the Emperor, feeling as if this legendary figure had suddenly become insignificant. ¡°Forbidden technique, poison dragon shock!¡± A burst of white light swiftly condensed on Qin Huai¡¯s fist, and the speed at which it fired was staggering. Bang! The air in front of him exploded, creating an energy storm covering a radius of five meters. The energy winds kept whistling around, and Qin Huai stared in astonishment. His moves had been amplified to an unprecedented level in his own world. ¡°Come on! Hit me!¡± the emperor bellowed, throwing a punch at him. Qin Huai didn¡¯t dodge and brashly punched out, using his poison dragon shock. A flash of white light was seen before the emperor¡¯s punch connected with Qin Huai¡¯s face. Bang! Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®world¡¯ instantly shattered. Dong, dong, dong¡­ Qin Huai rolled on the ground, in a pitiful state. ¡°The second lesson for you,¡± the emperor lectured, ¡°is that all restrictions and rules are useless against absolute strength. Don¡¯t be arrogant and overconfident.¡± Smirking smugly, the emperor stood with his hands on his waist, looking like a mischievous child who had just pulled off a prank on his friend. ¡°Thank you for your guidance, Senior!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes glowed with a white light. The light seemed to flow around his body and charge toward the emperor of Qingzhou. He activated his dragon King form, causing his eyes to shine even more brightly and his black hair to turn silver-white. His hair also grew significantly longer. Qin Huai¡¯s back began to bulge, and the next second¡­ Bang! A pair of gigantic silver-white dragon wings, over three meters long, sprouted from his back. His speed suddenly increased by several times, and he appeared in front of the emperor in a streak of silver light. ¡°Stop!¡± The emperor quickly reached out to block Qin Huai¡¯s fist. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°There are guests outside. Use them to practice and master your emperor¡¯s force,¡± the emperor responded. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 426 - 426 Looking for Target Practice 426 Looking for Target Practice Qin Huai stared in wonder at the silver-white wings on his back. Had the power of the strange beast from the poison king technique combined with his dragon king form under the influence of the emperor¡¯s force? The emperor looked at Qin Huai, who now had wings on his back and sharp tiger-like teeth protruding from his mouth. ¡°When the power of a king extends to birds and beasts, the white tiger appears,¡± he explained. ¡°Using the True Path sect¡¯s nine dragons true qi technique to understand the emperor¡¯s force and cultivating the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, the blood tiger within you woke up to its white tiger form under the influence of the emperor¡¯s force, giving birth to this pair of wings.¡± The emperor then continued, ¡°However, it seems that you¡¯ve also practiced the poison king technique and the wind breath technique¡­ After ten thousand years, I didn¡¯t expect these techniques to still be handed down. I don¡¯t know whether to feel happy or sad at this.¡± The emperor sighed. He knew many cultivation techniques and was able to discern characteristics of various sect techniques, such as bone patterns, at a mere glance, which allowed him to understand Qin Huai¡¯s method of cultivation. However, the emperor couldn¡¯t identify the bone patterns on Qin Huai¡¯s spine. It was a rare humanoid bone pattern. ¡°White Tiger, huh¡­¡± Qin Huai could feel an intense killing power surging from his wings. It seemed like the emperor¡¯s explanation was correct ¡ª his wings were born out of the combination of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, the poison king technique, and the wind breath technique. As his wings flapped, a strong wind filled with a killing intent swirled around him. ¡°In my ¡®world¡¯, can all my cultivation techniques be upgraded?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°Indeed, but your ¡®world¡¯ is still incomplete,¡± the emperor replied, scrutinizing Qin Huai¡¯s current form. ¡°You¡¯re like a peculiar beast of indeterminate form. You haven¡¯t truly integrated this power into your body. In simple terms, this should be resolved after a few battles.¡± Qin Huai nodded and then asked, ¡°What did you mean when you said there were guests outside just now?¡± In response, the emperor waved his hand. A pool of spring water suddenly bubbled up from the ground between them, reflecting a vague scene within its rippling surface. On the water¡¯s surface, countless martial artists could be seen entering the collapsed sinkhole and scouring the ground for bones marked with many bone patterns. Observing the scene, Qin Huai furrowed his brows slightly. The corpses seemed vaguely familiar to him. ¡°This is the bronze realm,¡± the emperor explained. ¡°The bronze realm is an enormous formation that I created underground with the aim of finding a worthy successor. The bronze mountain and river diagram symbolizes this world and serves as the formation core, continuously drawing power from all of Qingzhou to sustain its operation. ¡°The bronze realm¡¯s materials, which I used for its construction, have melted away over the course of ten thousand years,¡± the emperor continued to explain. ¡°Most importantly, your understanding of the diagram disrupted the delicate balance between the inherent power of the formation and the energy it absorbs from Qingzhou. In essence, this bronze realm¡¯s lifespan is nearing its end.¡± Qin Huai was taken aback. How much skill and knowledge would it take to maintain such a grand formation for ten thousand years? ¡°If there were no successors for ten thousand years, would this grand formation continue running?¡± he asked. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be the case. Judging from the current situation, the formation¡¯s pillars will collapse in another two to three hundred years at most,¡± answered the emperor, smacking his lips appreciatively. ¡°That old man is pretty decent. I didn¡¯t overcharge him too much.¡± The corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitched. The old man the emperor referred to must have been a master of formations who would leave his name in history, able to set up a formation covering the entire Qingzhou. The emperor squatted in front of the small pool, stirring the water¡¯s surface gently with his fingers. The scene reflected in the water quivered wildly. ¡°Young girls these days¡­they¡¯re becoming more and more lively. This skin moisturizer must be selling well in Qingzhou,¡± he remarked, observing a little girl in the scene. ¡°It should be pretty good,¡± Qin Huai responded half-heartedly, not knowing much about it. He recalled his past life where, as long as there were women around, cosmetics businesses would inevitably thrive. ¡°Hey, kid, come and look around. See if you can spot any enemies in Qingzhou City,¡± the emperor said, patting Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and pulling him closer. ¡°I¡¯ll teleport you directly there. It would be like killing two birds with one stone if you could use them for practice.¡± Qin Huai, standing beside the middle-aged man, reached out cautiously and manipulated the scene in the water. It wasn¡¯t much different from using a tablet in his previous life. As he rapidly scanned for any traces of the Blood Poison Gang members, he realized that his current appearance could easily expose him, especially to Wen Zonghao, who had seen his true form and dragon king form in the outer city. As long as Wen Zonghao was eliminated, the only person left to inherit the emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s legacy would be Zhou Cunzhong, who had narrowly escaped death. Remembering the emperor¡¯s previous advice, Qin Huai knew he couldn¡¯t reveal his true identity. Otherwise, an unimaginably powerful person might be attracted to his presence. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 427 - 427 The Bronze Emperor 427 The Bronze Emperor ¡°You¡¯re quite good at this,¡± the emperor said, surprised as he watched Qin Huai expertly navigate the scene. ¡°Could it be that you come from an ancient clan?¡± He tried to probe Qin Huai¡¯s body for any telltale signs of heritage but found nothing. Qin Huai just smiled faintly, deciding not to mention his past life knowledge. Suddenly, his fingers paused and he zoomed into a particular part of the image. He had found them. ¡­ On the outskirts of Qingzhou City, in a massive sinkhole¡­ Wen Zonghao led his subordinate Huang Qiguang, the adopted son of a Blood Poison Gang disciple, and a large group of Blood Poison Gang members. There were more than a hundred people, including the most elite members of the Blood Poison Gang. Looking at the gaping entrance to the sinkhole, akin to a bottomless abyss carved into the mountain, Wen Zonghao commanded, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He signaled to Huang Qiguang, ¡°You lead the team in!¡± Huang Qiguang gestured at one of his subordinates who, despite panicking, couldn¡¯t find anyone willing to meet his gaze. ¡°If I tell you to go, then go. Why are you talking so much nonsense!¡± he scolded, slapping the back of the bone pattern realm expert¡¯s head. The latter reluctantly led a group of men into the pit. ¡°Leader, everything is fine down there!¡± a voice echoed from the depths of the pit after a while. Exchanging glances, Wen Zonghao and Huang Qiguang entered the sinkhole. Torches flared to life one by one, illuminating their surroundings. A broken bronze pillar emitted a green glow and gray flowers, already turned into stone, littered the ground. As Wen Zonghao bent down to touch one of the flowers, it disintegrated into dust. ¡°It¡¯s been too long,¡± he murmured, his eyes drawn to the broken bronze pillar. ¡°Qiguang, I remember that young people these days enjoy reading myths,¡± Wen Zonghao said, abruptly changing the subject. ¡°Yes,¡± Huang Qiguang replied, puzzled as to why his leader would bring up such a trivial topic at this moment. ¡°About two to three decades ago, even since I was a teenager, there were these elderly men, vibrant and lively in their attire, who would appear from nowhere. Similarly, there were storytellers at various local restaurants, spinning tales dating back to ten thousand years ago ¡ª they were like fairy tales. ¡°They would speak of the eighth underworld king and the emperor of Qingzhou,¡± he continued. ¡°These people were talented storytellers. Some of their tales were true, others fabricated. Regardless, these stories captured the imaginations of the young, leading to their immense popularity. As a result, several booksellers decided to compile these myths into books and sell them. The sales were remarkably impressive.¡± ¡°How much do you know about the emperor of Qingzhou?¡± Wen Zonghao asked, steering the conversation back to their current situation. Huang Qiguang¡¯s face lit up at the question. ¡°The emperor of Qingzhou? In the stories I read, he was a mighty demon who could consume the heavens and the earth. He was an orphan who survived by scrounging for food on the streets. But his unique talents led him to the path of martial arts. Despite his potential, he was petty, holding grudges over the smallest slights, which caused him to make countless enemies. He even murdered his own teacher.¡± He continued, ¡°This led to him being universally hunted. Despite that, his incredible talent helped him weather the storm and become the strongest martial artist in Qingzhou, thus earning him the title of ¡¯emperor¡¯. He drew power from the state itself, developing a technique known as the emperor¡¯s force. In the end, he supposedly killed everyone in Qingzhou, causing rivers of blood.¡± Huang Qiguang chuckled. ¡°He supposedly challenged the eight wise kings of the Great You and defeated them all. I can¡¯t recall the details afterward, but the emperor of Qingzhou was undoubtedly powerful, though morally questionable. There are many versions of the story, all with different descriptions of the emperor.¡± Wen Zonghao, eyes sparkling, cut him off, ¡°You¡¯re not entirely clueless.¡± He turned to Huang Qi and gestured for him to continue leading the way. As they moved deeper into the cavern, they discovered several lifelike murals made of bronze pottery. ¡°The emperor of Qingzhou might have actually existed,¡± Wen Zonghao mused, ¡°And we could be standing in his ruins!¡± His excitement was palpable as they ventured further, surrounded by an array of bronze artifacts: pillars, murals, trees, and beast statues. The group¡¯s anticipation grew. If the emperor of Qingzhou was the legendary figure they had heard about, imagine the wealth hidden in his treasure trove. ¡°If we discover this treasure, we might become the most powerful force in Qingzhou!¡± Huang Qiguang¡¯s eyes glowed with desire. Wen Zonghao just smirked, silently contemplating. If they indeed found the emperor¡¯s secret treasure, he was ready to eliminate everyone, including his own allies from the Sacred Heart sect, to claim it all for himself. Boom! Suddenly, a loud sound echoed in the chamber. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 428 - 428 Crushing Defeat! 428 Crushing Defeat! A brilliant flash of white light illuminated the inky darkness of the sinkhole, and the ground trembled as dust billowed out in every direction like a volley of arrows. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The very dust alone took down many of the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s elite warriors on the spot. In a split second, the white light, like a rainbow in the dark, targeted the heart of the Blood Poison Gang. An overwhelming force surrounded them, akin to a mighty wave crashing from the heavens. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! With a series of sickening thuds, the bone pattern realm experts burst into a crimson mist. ¡°Enemies!¡± Huang Qiguang bellowed. But the attack was too swift and too sudden. This devastating ambush unfolded in mere moments. By the time Huang Qiguang had sounded the alarm, only Wen Zonghao and his two adopted sons, including Huang Qiguang, remained from the Blood Poison Gang. One after another, torches toppled to the ground, casting eerie shadows and amplifying the fear etched on the trio¡¯s faces. Wen Zonghao squinted at the figure who emerged from the darkness, his pupils narrowing in surprise. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong?¡± He paused, correcting himself, ¡°No, you¡¯re Qin Huai!¡± he roared as the memory of Qin Huai, who had been absent for more than half a year, suddenly flashed across his mind. ¡°Qin Huai? You¡¯re still alive?¡± Huang Qiguang was equally shocked, turning to his ashen-faced leader. Just a few months ago, Qin Huai was supposedly executed by his foster father for conspiring with their enemies. But now¡­ he had an ominous feeling about this situation. With a stern voice, Wen Zonghao spoke, ¡°So, the mystery indeed has something to do with the emperor of Qingzhou?¡± He then proposed, ¡°Tell me what happened and I may let you live.¡± But he scoffed the next second and said, ¡°Never mind. Once I capture you, I¡¯ll surely find a way to make you talk.¡± Instead of initiating an attack, Wen Zonghao glanced at the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciple and Huang Qiguang next to him, instructing, ¡°You two go first.¡± They hadn¡¯t seen Qin Huai for over half a year, and if he dared to reveal himself now, he must have something up his sleeve. ¡°Understood!¡± Both the muscular man and Huang Qiguang bowed respectfully, although the latter was inwardly cursing Wen Zonghao. The burly disciple charged at Qin Huai like a bull in a china shop, while Huang Qiguang held back. ¡°I heard Foster Father mention your incredible strength?¡± The burly man growled, his muscles swelling and veins protruding. His body expanded slightly, radiating an intimidating aura. ¡°Let me test it!¡± he roared, his bone patterns lighting up as his power surged, heating up the entire sinkhole. This was the all-out attack of a five-full-pattern physical combat expert. A sudden gust of wind picked up, carrying a sharp whistle through the air. Whoosh! Qin Huai¡¯s figure instantly blocked the burly man¡¯s path, his eyes glowing white. His fist, like the scythe of the grim reaper, swung out. With a horrific crash, the burly man¡¯s face imploded, and the back of his head swelled momentarily before bursting in a gruesome explosion. Red and white remnants splattered everywhere, forming a macabre abstract painting on the ground. The fight was over in a blink of an eye. Huang Qiguang, who was already behind, came to a halt, his scalp prickling as he stared at Qin Huai¡¯s face, dimly lit in the darkness. This man¡­ was he some sort of beast? Did he really just kill a five-pattern expert with a single punch? Huang Qiguang wiped the sweat off his forehead, stuttering, ¡°Fifth Brother, you know me. I have always cared for you¡­¡± But before he could finish, the familiar yet alien face was already in front of him. ¡°Thank you, Third Brother, for your care,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice was frosty as he threw a punch, striking straight through Huang Qiguang¡¯s heart. Bang! Huang Qiguang gaped at Qin Huai as if he wanted to say something, but all that came out was a mouthful of blood. His eyes fixated on Qin Huai¡¯s pair of snow-white wings in his final moments, dying with a lingering sense of injustice. With a dull thud, the corpses of the once fierce Blood Poison Gang littered the ground, blood flowing freely. Only their leader, Wen Zonghao, was left facing Qin Huai. ¡°Foster Father, we meet again,¡± Qin Huai said slowly, his words carrying a chilling hint of murderous intent. ¡°Your physical strength seems to have grown yet again. Is this what gives you confidence?¡± Wen Zonghao¡¯s face twisted with deadly intent. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the gap between the visceral prefecture realm and bone pattern realm!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he lifted his hand and a giant phantom of a venomous snake emerged, lunging at Qin Huai. But the next instant, the white light barrier enveloping Qin Huai expanded, covering the entire vicinity, including Wen Zonghao. The massive phantom of the poisonous snake weakened as Wen Zonghao felt as if his energy had been siphoned away, replaced with an immense pressure weighing down on him. His feet sank into the ground from the overwhelming force. ¡°What is this?¡± Wen Zonghao was taken aback, unable to discern what technique Qin Huai had used. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know!¡± Qin Huai retorted, flapping his wings and whipping up a fierce gale that collided with the poison snake in the air. The venomous fog swirled around, whistling within a two-meter radius before it began to dissipate. ¡°You seem to be much weaker than I imagined,¡± Qin Huai assessed, looking at the elderly man. Although both were visceral prefecture realm experts teetering on the brink of death, Wen Zonghao¡¯s combat prowess was vastly inferior to the old man from Wuji Mountain. ¡°Right, you didn¡¯t reach the visceral prefecture realm with five full patterns, nor do you possess the king¡¯s force,¡± Qin Huai continued. ¡°Your guardian spirit item is probably not worth much, and¡­ you¡¯re too old.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s words, though merely an analysis, felt like a knife stabbing into Wen Zonghao¡¯s heart. The latter¡¯s veins popped out as his eyes seethed with murderous intent. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± he roared, and in a split second, vanished from his spot, charging straight at Qin Huai. Boom! Venomous snakes materialized from his fists and countless snake phantoms surged from the ground towards Qin Huai. Qin Huai stood his ground, watching as Wen Zonghao barreled toward him. With a flap of his wings, more than half of the encroaching viper phantoms shattered. The remaining snakes lunged at Qin Huai, but he seemed unfazed. Pulling back his fist, ten rays of white light gathered beneath his skin. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten dragons crush!¡± They were just two meters apart when the fists flew. A rumbling echoed through the air as it split, the ten dragon¡¯s roars creating a gust of wind similar to surging waves. In an instant, Wen Zonghao was swallowed up by the onslaught. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 429 - 429 Blood Rebirth 429 Blood Rebirth In Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®realm¡¯, the enhanced poison dragon shock was immensely powerful. Wen Zonghao¡¯s bones were shattered, his blood seemingly extinguished. His aged and frail body didn¡¯t even have a chance to cry out before life left him under Qin Huai¡¯s violent onslaught. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Poison King Technique Essence], [Poison King Technique] experience points have increased¡­¡± ¡°Ding! Your [Poison King Technique experience points] are maxed out. Experience points are temporarily stored.¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Thousand Viper King (Fragment)], [Thousand Viper King (1/3)]¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Sacred Heart Technique Essence]¡­¡± Qin Huai briefly glanced over the experience points and collected them all. Standing amidst the blood-scented battleground, his expression remained unchanged despite the bloodshed that lay everywhere. He had long grown accustomed to such scenes. Staring at the puddle of blood before him, Qin Huai frowned, lost in thought. ¡°The difference within the same level is too great,¡± he pondered, ¡°This is especially true as one¡¯s cultivation level rises. Each time one enters a major realm, previous shortcomings cause the difference in combat power to increase.¡± While Wen Zonghao had entered the visceral prefecture realm, he only had three patterns and lacked the king¡¯s force. Moreover, his blood refinement realm blood essence was unreliable. But the most critical weakness was Wen Zonghao¡¯s guardian spirit item ¡ª it was inferior even to the blood puppet of the old man from the Thousand Divination Tower. No, comparing it to the elders of the Thousand Divination Tower was almost insulting. The thousand viper king was exceedingly ordinary, compounded by Wen Zonghao¡¯s advancing age. Considering all these factors, Qin Huai felt no pressure from Wen Zonghao. ¡°Times have changed,¡± Qin Huai murmured. Just over six months ago, he could only flee from Wen Zonghao¡¯s wrath. But now, he was assessing why Wen Zonghao was so weak. How unpredictable the world could be. However, with Wen Zonghao and Huang Qiguang out of the way, the lingering worry in his mind was finally gone. But on the other hand, Wen Zonghao¡¯s newly adopted son was a Sacred Heart follower who practiced their technique. ¡°These lowlifes¡­ Have they managed to attract the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s attention?¡± Qin Huai frowned. The issues concerning the great demon and the Sacred Heart sect made Qingzhou quite chaotic. Shaking his head, Qin Huai shouted at the sky, ¡°Senior!¡± ¡°Coming, coming!¡± A strange mist swiftly enveloped Qin Huai, as if a bloodied mouth had risen from the ground to consume him. Buzz¡­ This time, he calmly watched the gray fog roll in, and when he reopened his eyes, he was back on the lush green grassland. The emperor was still crouched in front of the scene, observing the battle in the sinkhole. ¡°So, lad, how do you feel now?¡± the emperor asked in a teasing tone. ¡°Even within the visceral prefecture realm, there are disparities,¡± Qin Huai honestly stated. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not that your opponent is weak. It¡¯s just that, with the support of the emperor¡¯s force, the other party¡¯s combat strength is significantly suppressed. Without it, you would likely need to exert a lot of effort to defeat him.¡± As the emperor spoke, his form gradually faded. ¡°Senior, you¡­¡± Qin Huai quickly noticed the change in the emperor¡¯s form. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Every time I transport you in and out like this, it uses a lot of my energy. Although I¡¯m very powerful, I¡¯ve been dead for ten thousand years. My strength can¡¯t be recovered. I can only quietly watch as my strength steadily dwindles¡­until I fade away.¡± The emperor laughed, seemingly indifferent to the topic of life and death. ¡°Come, come, come. You can continue to search for your next target. Quite a few visceral prefecture realm experts have entered the sinkhole this time. Although most of them aren¡¯t worthy of your attention, they should be enough for you to gain experience.¡± As the emperor continued his search, Qin Huai could feel his emperor¡¯s force being honed. For instance, the range of the emperor¡¯s force had increased from one meter to five meters, a significant improvement. ¡°Wait until you fully master the emperor¡¯s force before you refine this bronze mountain and river diagram,¡± the emperor instructed, giving Qin Huai a goal. ¡°Hey! What about this guy?¡± The emperor suddenly drew Qin Huai¡¯s attention to someone. Qin Huai looked into the water. A small, tower-like figure appeared, with a faint glimmer of misfortune in his eyes, and an odd aura surrounding him. Most shockingly, he was gnawing on a severed arm. ¡°A Sacred Heart disciple!¡± Qin Huai exclaimed. ¡°Sacred Heart?¡± The emperor looked surprised. He leaned closer to examine the figure in the water. ¡°You¡¯re saying this guy is a Sacred Heart disciple?¡± ¡°Senior, you¡¯re aware of the Sacred Heart sect as well?¡± Qin Huai was taken aback. The Sacred Heart sect was known to have emerged and flourished in the Great You in recent decades. ¡°Of course, I know. Those folks are famous for being freaks. Their sect¡¯s most treasured technique, the sacred heart technique, claims that as long as the Sacred Heart is unextinguished, one can be reborn even if only a drop of blood remains!¡± ¡°Blood Rebirth? Sacred heart technique?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows. It¡¯s different by one word, but it sounded similar to the blood heart technique he cultivated. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 430 - 430 Complete Comprehension 430 Complete Comprehension Qin Huai wondered if the emperor had remembered incorrectly or if there was something unusual about his cultivation technique. The idea of immortality seemed too fantastical. ¡°Sadly, the difficulty of cultivating the sacred heart technique is incredibly high,¡± the emperor explained. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect never had many disciples. In fact, in my time, it even dwindled to just one disciple¡­ ¡°However, this group possesses remarkable combat strength. Their bodies are formidable, their vitality and blood strong¡­ They¡¯re also highly skilled in being persistent. If anyone offends the Sacred Heart sect, they might not live in peace for decades.¡± The emperor held his forehead, his expression suggesting he was recalling a distressing memory. ¡°However, this fellow¡¯s aura¡­it seems a bit odd,¡± the emperor pondered, rubbing his chin. Qin Huai stated gravely, ¡°The Sacred Heart sect has now become a great threat in the Great You. They have numerous disciples, and they sustain their cultivation by feeding on living beings. Wherever Sacred Heart sect members go, lives are plunged into misery and not even a blade of grass grows. They¡¯re even worse than demons. Additionally, they don¡¯t cultivate the sacred heart technique but the blood heart technique.¡± The Emperor of Qingzhou fell silent for a moment. ¡°Everything has changed,¡± he finally remarked. ¡°In the past, those from the Sacred Heart sect were at the forefront of battling demons. Each Sacred Heart disciple rose to fame with the heads of great demons and devils.¡± He sighed, able to speculate some reasons for this transformation. It was mainly due to the long history of the Sacred Heart sect¡­ ¡°Wait! You must have cultivated the blood heart technique!¡± The emperor had a sudden realization. He¡¯d been wondering about the bone patterns on Qin Huai¡¯s spine and the peculiar aura about him. Seeing this man, the emperor finally understood. ¡°Senior, I certainly didn¡¯t¡­¡± Qin Huai began to refute, but the emperor interrupted. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t eat people. Although your auras are similar, you don¡¯t have the disgusting aura they possess,¡± he clarified. ¡°But the bone patterns of your cultivation method are a bit unusual. I can¡¯t pinpoint exactly what¡¯s strange about them. Regardless, you should be cautious when you cultivate.¡± ¡°How does one cultivate the true sacred heart technique?¡± Qin Huai asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure,¡± the emperor admitted, shaking his head. ¡°The Sacred Heart sect is quite enigmatic, and there are very few disciples in the sect. Hardly anyone knows their cultivation method.¡± ¡°Alright, young man, this guy will be your opponent!¡± With that, the emperor pushed Qin Huai, who instantly fell into a strange state. Bang! In the next instant, a punch pierced through, its dark skin carrying the strong scent of blood. As Qin Huai was about to raise his fist, a ghastly white bone broke through his skin along with blood and flesh! The white bone grew rapidly, carrying a sharp killing intent and a powerful gust of wind. Qin Huai tilted his head to the side. The white bone grazed his cheekbone, causing sparks and a shudder. Flesh and blood splattered everywhere, with a piece of his skin still clinging to the tip of the white bone. Simultaneously, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Emperor¡¯s force!¡± A white light screen surrounded the battlefield, and a heavy pressure immediately descended upon the burly man from the Sacred Heart sect. Activating the poison dragon shock, a fist erupted right above the burly man¡¯s taut abdomen. Rumble! Thump, thump, thump¡­ Both of them recoiled a step, their bodies bleeding. Qin Huai¡¯s head was buzzing, and he felt disoriented due to the violent shaking. Luckily, there was a brief pause that allowed him to catch his breath. The difference between visceral prefecture realm experts was indeed enormous. The flesh on his face healed almost instantly, as did the flesh on the burly man¡¯s abdomen. ¡°You¡­ Hmm?¡± The burly man glanced up at Qin Huai¡¯s undamaged cheek, then down at the blood-stained bone spike on his fist. ¡°Are you also a Sacred Heart disciple?¡± he asked in a deep voice. The next moment, a stream of blood spurted from his fingertip. Immediately, the sky was filled with blood, as if it formed a horizontal cage intending to impale Qin Huai. Qin Huai sneered as a pair of silver-white dragon wings unfurled behind him. As the wings flapped, numerous wind blades emerged, carrying a fierce killing intent. The bloody lines and wind blades dominated the sky. The shattered blood thread transformed into drops of blood that descended from the heavens, like a rain of blood that showered the two of them. Qin Huai¡¯s killing intent continued to escalate with each explosion in the air. ¡°It appears that the four-directional tiger-wolf technique has a remarkable effect on the blood heart technique,¡± he noted with satisfaction. There seemed to be a flash of red in his eyes, and a low growl, similar to a bloody tiger, seemed to echo from his throat. On his skin, white smoke rose from the blood, seemingly highly corrosive. ¡°You¡¯ve walked into my trap!¡± The burly man lunged forward, the ground beneath his feet breaking apart like a spider web. The shattered stones flew backward, destroying numerous ancient bronze artifacts. His body moved like lightning, leaving a bloody trail in the air. ¡°These poisons can weaken your physical strength!¡± The burly man laughed. The bone spike at the tip of his right fist was like a long white blade, thrusting toward Qin Huai¡¯s throat. Qin Huai¡¯s expression was frosty, and he made no attempt to evade. His right fist launched forward, a white dot of light also targeting his throat. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 431 - 431 Black Dragon World 431 Black Dragon World The burly man grinned maliciously. Didn¡¯t this guy see the length of his bone spur? Bang! The sharp bone spikes crumbled like decayed wood the instant they tried to penetrate Qin Hua¡¯s throat. Seeing this, the burly man felt a chill run down his spine. The disintegration of the bone spur caused its advantage to visibly vanish. Suddenly, he was sent flying backward. In his eyes, a blinding white light flashed. Bang! A powerful wind swirled, carrying thousands of white dragons that gnawed at the burly man¡¯s face and skin. This terrifying force directly slammed him into the ground. Immediately, a second punch followed. ¡°Iron blossom armor!¡± the burly man cried out in his heart. The next moment, an iron bloom sprouted from his navel. Bang! The horrifying impact, mixed with a surging poisonous gas, caused the outer petals of the iron bloom growing from his navel to wither. However, it wasn¡¯t decay, but an explosive scattering. Qin Huai folded his wings, shielding himself from all the petals of the exploding iron blossom. Bang! Bang! Bang! Sparks scattered in all directions, and the huge iron blossom petals lodged themselves into the sinkhole¡¯s ceiling. The falling rocks and debris made the already deep pit look even more eerie. The burly man seized this opportunity to rapidly retreat. The blood on his body was quickly drying up, and his wounds were healing rapidly. ¡°How did my bone spikes¡­¡± The burly man glanced at his shattered bone spurs and suddenly realized something. ¡°Your blood is also poisonous?!¡± With a flap of his wings, Qin Huai¡¯s figure appeared instantaneously in front of the burly man. What astounding speed! The burly man paled with fear, finding that his speed had increased drastically. Boom! Qin Huai retaliated with a barrage of heavy punches. The burly man swung both his fists, clashing with Qin Huai without showing any signs of weakness. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bones crumbled, and blood sprayed¡­ The burly man appeared unaffected, his blood heart technique continuously repairing his damaged body. But he was feeling anxious. What kind of monster was this person before him? Why was it that whenever he appeared next to him, he would feel incredibly oppressed? He could no longer unleash his full strength ¡ª he could only muster about eighty percent of his combat power. What terrified the burly man the most was that Qin Huai¡¯s punches became heavier and faster, as though Qin Huai was growing stronger over time. The pressure being exerted on him was intensifying. Puff! His fingers, sharp as the finest blades in the world, pierced through the burly man¡¯s skin. ¡°Lock!¡± the burly man roared. His chest muscles tightened, trapping Qin Huai¡¯s palm within them. Even the white light from the poison dragon shock couldn¡¯t detonate. ¡°What are you going to do now?!¡± The burly man¡¯s face bore a sinister smile. He lunged into Qin Huai¡¯s arms, their faces only a few inches apart. He swung his fists, and streams of blood erupted from beneath his skin. The bone spikes that were wrapped around them resembled a blood-red demon with two horns. Qin Huai folded his wings. His immobilized right hand arched, and his thumb, exposed to the air, jabbed into it. Crack! His palm sank in, seizing the burly man. However, the blood-colored bone spikes pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s wings. Fresh blood splattered all over, staining Qin Hua¡¯s face and even his eyes. A look of despair painted Qin Huai¡¯s fair face. Yet, the blood-colored bone spikes that penetrated the wings also started to crumble bit by bit, revealing the solid white bones within. At the same time, Qin Huai¡¯s wings seemed to be withering. Seeing this, the burly man¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°The bone pattern realm is still the bone pattern realm!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged. In his eyes, the white light began to dim. The burly man quickly withdrew his fists. ¡°Blood dance technique!¡± Launching another ferocious attack at Qin Huai¡¯s throat, blood poured out from his body and pierced Qin Huai¡¯s body. Sparks scattered all over Qin Huai¡¯s body. The white light on his left hand continued to shine as he counterattacked the burly man. Using his forbidden technique, poison dragon shock, he caused the iron flowers to bloom and fall in front of the burly man, blocking all of his attacks. The white light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes dimmed further, and his white hair also began to turn black. ¡°Die! Die! Die!¡± The burly man¡¯s eyes were filled with madness. The man in front of him was sure to become his most excellent meal. However, a black light started to devour the space that originally belonged to the white light. The burly man¡¯s body also began to float eerily. Finally, at a certain moment¡­ Bang! The silver dragon wings protruding from Qin Huai¡¯s back shattered instantly. The bone spike charged straight toward Qin Huai¡¯s throat. But¡­ the burly man suddenly lost his balance and was lifted by Qin Huai. Almost simultaneously, the sharp blood lines that erupted from the burly man¡¯s body instantly withered. One by one, they fell limply and finally vanished. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± Qin Huai declared, slowly uttering these words. A deep black light flooded his eyes, and he felt as if he had become one with the pitch-black pit. The wings on his back had long disappeared. Inside Qin Huai¡¯s body, in his dantian world, the originally pure white dragon king¡¯s body turned black, and the crown on his head seemed to have materialized. Qin Huai¡¯s black hair reached his shoulders, appearing as wild as thorns. ¡°What¡­¡± The burly man fell silent. He looked around in panic as the pitch-black world enveloped him. Suddenly, his body sank as Qin Huai pushed him into the ground. In this pitch-black world, the burly man found it extremely difficult to breathe, and the strength in his body diminished as though he had lost control. Less than fifty percent of the original was left. ¡°Iron blossom armor!¡± the burly man roared internally, and an iron bloom sprouted from his navel. He felt a surge of joy. However, Qin Huai¡¯s fist descended upon him with the might of the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. Boom! This time, there was an explosion. The energy surged, but it was tightly controlled. The explosion swallowed the iron blossom, and even the flesh and blood beneath the iron bloom disappeared into the poison dragon shock. The burly man¡¯s mind went blank, and blood gushed out like a river. However, this time, his cultivation technique did not heal his wounds as quickly as it usually did. ¡°What is this?¡± The burly man looked horrified. ¡°Thanks to you, my emperor¡¯s force has been completed,¡± Qin Huai gently spoke, revealing the full name of his emperor force, ¡°Emperor¡¯s force, black dragon world.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 432 - 432 Black Coffin! 432 Black Coffin! Blood poured out of the man from the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s abdomen, as if someone was draining his blood in a silent frenzy. He watched helplessly as the blood flowed toward Qin Huai. The terrifying murderous intent on his body mingled with astonishing power, condensing into an expanding black dragon phantom. The burly man even felt his life force being siphoned off by Qin Huai, who was like a blood-sucking demon at the moment. As time passed, he was destined to become weaker and weaker in this space. Puff! Taking a step forward, the burly man spat out a mouthful of black blood. He looked down at his hands, which had turned a dark, purplish-black. His fatigue clouded his mind. ¡°What kind of cultivation technique is this? Why does it feel like you¡¯re stealing everything from me?!¡± The man looked terrified. He had never seen anyone like this in the Sacred Heart sect. Moreover, the speed at which his energy was being drained was shocking. He suddenly understood. ¡°As long as I¡¯m injured, you¡¯re stealing my vitality and strength from my wounds, aren¡¯t you?¡± His mind raced as he trembled, trying to find a flaw in Qin Huai¡¯s peculiar methods. In the next instant, the burly man launched an attack. He charged straight at Qin Huai, and the formidable power of an expert in the visceral prefecture realm surged. ¡°Please, Lord!¡± The burly man roared, striking his chest, and a phantom of a stone pillar appeared behind him. The stone pillar phantom rotated, and waves of ripples burst forth, colliding with Qin Huai¡¯s black dragon world. Qin Huai narrowed his eyes, noticing the human figure totem on the stone pillar. Even after members of the Sacred Heart sect advanced to the visceral prefecture realm, they still revered the head of their sect. The spirit item the burly man chose must have belonged to his sect leader. Qin Huai immediately understood the other¡¯s guardian spirit item. The ripples from the stone pillar totem and the surging power counteracted the absorption of Qin Huai¡¯s black dragon world. ¡°Hahaha¡­ The power of our sect¡¯s sacred sovereign can resist any demons and monsters in this world, not to mention your so-called emperor¡¯s force,¡± he gloated. ¡°Even if you set up a great array, I can move freely under the protection of our lord!¡± The moment the burly man produced his guardian spirit item, his confidence seemed to return. The strength in his body was no longer being weakened by the pulling sensation. Activating the blood heart technique again, his face flushed, and his abdominal wound started to heal. The next moment, his punch packed with surging force charged at Qin Huai from a distance of two to three meters. The burly man, with his formidable physique, swung his fist with the weight of a mountain behind it. But Qin Huai didn¡¯t dodge. The black dragon behind him surged with his punch and collided with the burly man¡¯s attack. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Several punches were traded rapidly, their force dissipating around them. However, it disappeared without a trace a few meters away. The black dragon¡¯s energy shattered, only to gather again. The ripples around the burly man caused the ground to cave in repeatedly. With each blow, the intensity of the duel escalated, plunging both combatants a meter underground in just a few strikes. The burly man grimaced, looking at the increasingly noticeable purple-black color at his fist¡¯s tip. Even after summoning his guardian spirit item, the sacred sovereign totem, he found himself on equal footing with Qin Huai. This fact was an immense insult, considering he was a respected visceral prefecture realm expert. It was an absolute humiliation. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that your so-called emperor¡¯s force can last forever!¡± he bellowed. ¦Ñ Such overpowering strength surely had a time limit. He believed that if he could endure until then, the scales would completely tip in his favor. Bang! Suddenly, the sacred sovereign totem behind the burly man started to disintegrate. It crumbled piece by piece, forming a red trail in the air that gathered towards Qin Huai. The next moment, the healing wound on the man¡¯s abdomen started to rupture again, with an even stronger force attempting to extract the man¡¯s flesh and organs. ¡°What¡­¡± The burly man¡¯s eyes were filled with fear. As he opened his mouth, he felt a stream of life energy flow out. Quickly, he covered his mouth to halt the escape of his essence. He realized that the qi and blood extracted from him earlier were only passively drawn by the barely visible barrier. Now, Qin Huai was on the offensive. He looked at Qin Huai¡¯s palm, which was filled with thousands of blood essences, the projection of the lord¡¯s totem, his own flesh and blood, and even his life force, quickly condensing into a black orb of light. It appeared as if a black dragon was roaming within the orb. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Enraged, the burly man charged toward Qin Huai without regard for the essence energy lost earlier. Boom! But the terrifying suction force surged again, weakening the man¡¯s body. His muscular build was gradually shrinking, and his strength dwindled as he got closer to Qin Huai. Gritting his teeth and seeing Qin Huai so close, he decided to fight to the death. ¡°Please, Lord!¡± he roared, once again invoking the essence in his mouth. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and his aura turned malicious. Whoosh! Swift as lightning, his fist drew a fierce wind. A white bone spike unexpectedly emerged mid-punch, taking Qin Huai by surprise. The meter-long bone spike instantly coated in blood pierced Qin Huai¡¯s body. The burly man didn¡¯t even have time to reveal a victorious smile. Boom! The figure before him vanished, and the white bone plummeted, whistling through the air and leaving a white mark in the black dragon world with a heavy thud. Qin Huai¡¯s body was severed at the waist. But it was an illusion. Bang! The white bones in the burly man¡¯s hand instantly crumbled and were siphoned off into the air, just like his blood and qi. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 433 - 433 The Black Dragon Pearl 433 The Black Dragon Pearl Yet, this time, it happened faster than before. ¡°You possess such tremendous power! Yet, in the end, you lack the courage to face a direct confrontation?!¡± the burly man bellowed, his face growing even paler. ¡°What sort of prodigy are you? Even if you kill me, your martial arts accomplishments will remain limited.¡± Despite the burly man¡¯s taunts, Qin Huai did not react. He reappeared and looked at the burly man, now resembling a cornered animal. His gaze was indifferent, filled with the black dragon crafted by the nine dragons true qi technique, the blood heart technique¡¯s devouring method, and the sharp killing intent and vigorous blood and qi brought by the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. The poison king technique swarmed with poisonous creatures, while the wind breath technique and the ancient azure illusion scripture allowed silent mobility. Earlier, his incomplete form seemed like the power of these cultivation techniques merely manifesting on his body surface. And now¡­ All the power was contained, becoming part of the black dragon world. ¡°I just want to test if my emperor¡¯s force can drain your life away,¡± Qin Huai declared calmly. The next moment, the burly man suddenly powered his legs, not to attack Qin Huai, but to escape from the black dragon world. He moved as fast as lightning, gliding across the ground. However, the feeling of separation clung to him like a shadow, an element he couldn¡¯t shake off. ¡°This is too much! This is far too much!¡± The burly man¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. He spun around abruptly and launched himself back at Qin Huai. The black dragon orb in Qin Huai¡¯s hand seemed to have solidified, resembling a black pearl housing a black dragon. Qin Huai stood still, watching the burly man rushing towards him. The burly man from the Sacred Heart sect let out a roar, his massive fist hurtling straight for Qin Huai¡¯s face. And then¡­ It was as if a stone statue had been weathered by a sandstorm over thousands of years. The moment his fist met Qin Huai¡¯s face, the visceral prefecture realm body began to disintegrate. It turned into grayish-white powder from the fist¡¯s edge, scattering in all directions like a stone tossed into a pond. The burly man watched helplessly as his body lost balance due to the collapse of his fists and arms. ¡°I¡­¡± the burly man began, only to realize that his body had started to fall. He lifted his gaze to the face that was once at his level but was now looking down at him. A bitter smile crept onto his face. ¡°Monster¡­¡± His lips moved, and Qin Huai understood the implied meaning. Bang! With a thunderous crash, the burly man¡¯s entire body crumbled, hitting the ground as a pile of ashes. As the black veil drew close, the black light in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shifted to white. His shoulder-length spiky hair fell to the ground, reverting to its original length. Qin Huai gazed at the black dragon pearl in his hand. ¡°This thing actually didn¡¯t collapse?¡± he murmured. Qin Huai sensed the immense energy enveloped within the black dragon pearl. He speculated that should this pearl detonate, it would unleash a devastating power. ¡°Perhaps even a visceral prefecture realm expert might be gravely wounded after consuming this black dragon pearl,¡± Qin Huai mused. After all, this pearl held the life¡¯s work of a visceral prefecture realm expert. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence]¡­¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Sacred Sovereign Totem (Fragment)], [Sacred Sovereign Totem (1/3)]!¡± Qin Huai sensed an additional stone pillar fragment within his dantian world. The peculiar power it offered sparked a strange feeling within him, which felt slightly mismatched with the sacred heart technique he had cultivated. Buzz¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s figure gradually solidified, seemingly rising from the ground. ¡°Your emperor¡¯s force possesses an unusual killing power,¡± the voice of the emperor of Qingzhou echoed in his ears. ¡°Plunder, insidious poison, wind breath technique, and the ancient azure illusion scripture are used for concealing your presence¡­ Impressive¡­¡± The emperor couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration. ¡°Moreover, your body is so resilient. If you pull an enemy into your black dragon world, aren¡¯t they simply marching to their doom? ¡°In truth, no matter how much energy I exert, it would only serve to empower you¡­ How revolting,¡± the emperor bluntly stated. ¡°If I wish to defeat you, I must rely on absolute strength to kill you before you drain me, or I must use my emperor¡¯s force to shatter your emperor¡¯s force. Either way, it¡¯s going to be tough~¡± While the Emperor of Qingzhou spoke, he did not focus on Qin Huai. He continued observing the female martial artist in front of the water. Speaking to Qin Huai was just a small part of his multitasking efforts. ¡°As expected of the emperor of Qingzhou. Even when multitasking, your attention to detail is unparalleled,¡± Qin Huai complimented. ¡°When you reach my level of strength, you¡¯ll be capable of this as well.¡± The emperor casually glanced at the black dragon pearl in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. ¡°Hmm? This bead is quite interesting. It represents the life and energy of the Sacred Heart sect disciple, and it didn¡¯t vanish with your emperor¡¯s force. An ordinary visceral prefecture realm expert would surely struggle against this bead.¡± The emperor clicked his tongue in wonder, then redirected his gaze to the water. ¡°You should refine the bronze mountain and river diagram. If my hunch is correct, the days ahead might not be so smooth.¡± ¡°Junior will comply!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists. Qin Huai speculated that the emperor¡¯s ¡®difficult times ahead¡¯ might be related to the Great You. ¡°However, Senior, the present Great You is on the brink of collapse,¡± Qin Huai began, pausing for a moment before explaining to the emperor, ¡°Almost all the sixteen states of Great You have declared their independence. I¡¯m afraid the problem you¡¯re concerned about¡­¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 434 - 434 The Emperors Backup 434 The Emperor¡¯s Backup Qin Huai abruptly fell silent. More than half a year ago at the docks, people had already begun using goods and gold as a form of barter, instead of silver or coins. The currency imprinted with ¡°Great Nether Treasure Store¡± had started to lose its value. When a dynasty¡¯s currency begins to crumble and devalue, it says a lot about the state of the dynasty itself. ¡°Haha¡­¡± The emperor shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Those guys have probably already infiltrated the various major powers.¡± He then gestured at Qin Huai and said, ¡°Come and take a look.¡± Qin Huai quickly approached, observing the scene in the water that the emperor had magnified. A woman walked by, her skirt fluttering with her movement, hinting at powerful legs underneath. ¡°From the definition of her muscles, this woman¡¯s legs are incredibly strong, suggesting her overall physique is very strong. However, her slender arms are not as sturdy. It appears she focuses on martial arts that emphasize leg strength.¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Qin Huai inspected the scene but couldn¡¯t identify anything suspicious. ¡°Ahem, that¡¯s not the point. Look at this.¡± The emperor adjusted the focus of the water surface, revealing a man next to the woman. The man¡¯s clothes were ragged, and his lips were constantly moving, indicating a heated argument with someone. ¡°Look at his chest,¡± the emperor instructed. Qin Huai noticed a gray bird symbol on the man¡¯s chest. ¡°One of the eight kings of the Dark Clan was a dark-winged roc. He supposedly possessed the ancient demon Kun Peng¡¯s bloodline and was incredibly powerful. Back then, the clan didn¡¯t have any distinguishing marks. But considering your earlier comment about the Great Nether, and now this symbol¡­¡± The Emperor of Qingzhou let out a sardonic laugh. ¡°The world has truly changed.¡± Qin Huai stayed silent, a sense of dread creeping over him. He despised demons and devils. If such beings had penetrated the state capital or even the entirety of the Great You, what would become of the human race? ¡°Senior, I¡¯m going to cultivate,¡± Qin Huai announced, feeling an invisible pressure bearing down on him. He moved to the bronze mountain and river diagram, sat down cross-legged, and began to refine this artifact using the ancient azure illusion scripture. ¡°In the visceral prefecture realm, inject the qi and blood of your dantian world¡¯s cultivation technique into the guardian spirit item. Nourish it over time, so you can refine it as per your will,¡± the emperor advised. ¡°You can think of refining the guardian spirit item like taming a wild dog, feeding it until it trusts you enough to come close and follow your commands¡­¡± Qin Huai laughed hearing the emperor¡¯s analogy of refining the guardian spirit item to befriending a wild dog. It must be said that the emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s words and demeanor were unlike those of traditional experts. Qin Huai, still chuckling, forced the bronze earth in his dantian world into a ball of blood essence and exuded it through his pores. In an instant, his face turned pale as a sheet, as if all his energy had been drained. Trembling, he transferred his blood essence into the bronze mountain and river diagram. He then shut his eyes and activated the ancient azure illusion scripture fervently. Buzz¡­ In the pitch-black world, Qin Huai seemed to perceive a faint green light. Rumble¡­ Qin Huai heard an odd sound from the bronze mountain and river diagram. Excited, he continued activating the ancient azure illusion scripture, trying to manipulate the diagram. Dang dang dang¡­ Qin Huai had a faint impression of the bronze mountain and river diagram drawing closer to him. As it absorbed his blood essence, it fused with his body. Puff! Suddenly, Qin Huai coughed up blood. An overwhelming pressure surged from every part of his body, even causing blood to seep out of his pores. It felt like the weight of an entire prefecture had descended upon him. ¡°Dragon king form!¡± Qin Huai quickly activated his dragon king form, resulting in a bright white light. The seven patterns on his body lit up with crackling sounds, causing him to sit up straight. Boom! Inside his dantian world, the bronze land teemed with life ¡ª plants and animals were living harmoniously, resembling a fully-realized world. ¡°Calm your mind. The next step is critical,¡± the emperor¡¯s voice reverberated in his ears. ¡°The biggest mistake when sending the guardian spirit item into your organs is rushing. Guide the qi and blood slowly into your liver.¡± Qin Huai steadied his mind and started pushing a large amount of blood and qi gradually into his organs, helping to move the guardian spirit item. ¡­ In Qingzhou, inside a modest and unpretentious manor spanning about a thousand square meters, an elderly man in simple clothes sat in an armchair looking out the door. ¡°The imperial edict has arrived!¡± A shrill voice rang out from the distance. A man leisurely approached, holding an imperial edict. His face was pale, and he wore a purple robe adorned with oxen and tiger designs, signifying he was a eunuch of the Great You. ¡°Lord Prefecture Overseer, please accept the decree?¡± the eunuch asked, smiling. The old man, unmoving like a mountain, slightly raised his head. ¡°Proceed.¡± The eunuch nodded. ¡°Currently, there are numerous disputes within the Great You. Demons are causing chaos, and rebels are everywhere. It¡¯s causing sleepless nights¡­¡± ¡°Eunuch Gong, get to the point.¡± The old man laughed, interrupting the eunuch. ¡°I¡¯m too old to listen to your nonsense.¡± ¡°The lord said it was urgent.¡± The eunuch maintained his pleasant demeanor. ¡°Now that the military policy is relaxed, the prefecture overseers can assemble their own armies to quell the chaos and restore peace in the Great You. Starting today, each of the sixteen states will have a state chief martial lord, and the state overseers will take up the post.¡± A flicker of surprise flashed across the old man¡¯s eyes. ¡°In that case, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty,¡± he said as he cupped his hands. The eunuch was so frightened that he quickly retreated. ¡°Martial Lord, you must be joking.¡± ¡°Eunuch, if there is nothing else, please leave.¡± The old man dismissed him with a wave. The eunuch promptly departed. As he left the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor, a hint of gloom flashed across his eyes. ¡°This martial lord of Qingzhou is so arrogant.¡± Back in the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor, a young man burst in and knelt on the ground. ¡°My lord! I couldn¡¯t help but find many skeletons with three full bone patterns in the sinkhole, as well as many bronze artifacts. I suspect that the strange occurrences in Qingzhou for the past ten thousand years were all the work of the emperor of Qingzhou!¡± he reported. The old man instantly rose to his feet, his expression becoming grave. ¡°Emperor of Qingzhou¡­ Does he really have a backup plan?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 435 - 435 Enemy of the Whole Province? 435 Enemy of the Whole Province? The elderly gentleman stood upright and quickly walked to the backyard. He nudged open the door to a small room, revealing a portrait that adorned the wall. If Qin Huai were present, he would immediately recognize the figure in the portrait: the Emperor of Qingzhou. ¡°Great-grandfather, is this the emperor of Qingzhou?¡± a young man inquired as he followed behind. His eyes examined the portrait of a striking but carefree man. Had it not been for his great-grandfather¡¯s treasured placement of this artwork, he might have thought the artist had randomly found a rich young master to show off his exquisite skill. ¡°Indeed¡­ He was the undisputed emperor of this place, Qingzhou. While he reigned, all immortals, gods, and demons were dealt with in Qingzhou,¡± the old man replied, a complex expression on his face. ¡°Sadly, he was our enemy.¡± The elderly man¡¯s sigh was barely audible, and his eyes glinted with an intense will to fight. ¡°And his descendants and successors are doomed to be our enemies as well! ¡°A plot that has been brewing for ten thousand years, the persistent strangeness that has gripped Qingzhou for ten thousand years¡­ I didn¡¯t expect it to be the handiwork of the emperor of Qingzhou.¡± He shook his head in disbelief. ¡°He orchestrated this mystery, abducting the young geniuses under the age of thirty. Clearly, he was seeking an heir. ¡°No wonder no one from our family has ever been swept away by those strange occurrences. Perhaps he foresaw this scenario.¡± Once upon a time, the old man rejoiced that his family seemed chosen, as they remained untouched by the bizarre force that had been operating for ten thousand years. But now, it seemed as though the emperor of Qingzhou had intentionally overlooked them. ¡°Perhaps this mystery is his final gambit.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes narrowed in contemplation. ¡°Given that this sinkhole has appeared, and the schemes of the emperor have been exposed, it¡¯s likely that he has found his successor. ¡°Peng¡¯er, lead our forces to the sinkhole personally and search for the one who inherited the legacy of the emperor¡­¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Peng¡¯er immediately bowed in acknowledgement, prepared to depart. ¡°Wait! First, visit your second uncle and get a record of all the prodigies who have vanished in Qingzhou City over the past twenty, no, thirty years!¡± the old man commanded assertively. ¡°Also, take the Qingzhou guards with you and secure all entrances and exits of the sinkhole.¡± ¡°Great-grandfather, you mean¡­¡± Peng¡¯er sounded astonished. ¡°Kill anyone who comes out of the sinkhole!¡± the old man said firmly, leaving no room for discussion. ¡°I will do as you say!¡± Peng¡¯er promptly responded, ready to carry out the task. The old man gazed into the distance and murmured to himself, ¡°No matter how much the world changes, no matter how much the empire evolves¡­ the human race must always prevail!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in Wuji Mountain¡­ Kong Binghuang found himself amidst the clouds. The ethereal white smoke he spewed out coiled into a long river-like dragon, and the energy it radiated lingered and seemed to merge with the clouds. Despite this serene scene, Kong Binghuang felt restless. ¡°Bronze artifact¡­¡± He had grown up on tales and legends about Qingzhou. As a child, the story of the emperor of Qingzhou intrigued him, but his knowledge was primarily based on ancient texts originating from the prefecture overseer¡¯s estate. The elders in his sect had once validated these tales, claiming they were once the talk of the town. Interestingly, in those legends, the revered emperor of Qingzhou was referred to as the Demon of Qingzhou. The title of emperor only began to gain popularity in recent years. ¡°Do you think the owner of the bronze artifact is the Emperor of Qingzhou or the Demon of Qingzhou? Which narrative holds true?¡± Kong Binghuang asked slowly. The middle-aged man replied with conviction, ¡°I personally believe that the recent discoveries at the bronze sinkhole suggest that the mystery that¡¯s been haunting Qingzhou for ten thousand years is the work of its owner. ¡°Over these millennia, numerous Qingzhou prodigies have lost their lives because of him, shattering the hopes of many sects. The weakness of the region can be largely attributed to this individual. If I were to choose, I¡¯d label him as the Demon of Qingzhou. He invaded Qingzhou in life and continued to do so for ten thousand years after death!¡± Kong Binghuang remained silent, deep in thought. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡­ Shortly, another young man ascended from the mountain peak. ¡°Mountain Chief, there¡¯s fresh news from the city. The bronze sinkhole¡¯s owner is likely the villain who¡¯s tormented Qingzhou¡¯s geniuses for ten thousand years. I found multiple ancient books in the prefecture overseer¡¯s storehouse that confirm the bronze sinkhole¡¯s owner is the Demon of Qingzhou, a dreaded demon who escaped from the Demon Valley. The eight virtuous kings of Great You sacrificed their lives to defeat him ten thousand years ago.¡± As he spoke, the young man presented a thick pile of proclamations, all originating from the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor to corroborate this claim. ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected this demon to have a contingency plan¡­ a disaster stretching over ten thousand years. What does the prefecture overseer intend with this?¡± Kong Binghuang asked. ¡°The prefecture overseer is convinced that the bronze sinkhole and the mystery persisting for ten thousand years result from the Demon of Qingzhou¡¯s scheme to convert prodigies into demons, eventually finding a suitable host among them. Hence, the prefecture overseer has commanded his eldest grandson, Pang Huiwu, to lead the Qingzhou guards to the sinkhole. ¡°Also, he requested the assistance of the five great sects to seal all the sinkhole¡¯s entrances and exits, and eliminate anyone who might emerge from it. This includes people from the outer city¡¯s sects or the prodigies from Qingzhou involved in this mysterious situation.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 436 - 436 Collapsing Bronze Realm 436 Collapsing Bronze Realm The young man hesitated before speaking again, ¡°It¡¯s better to mistakenly kill a thousand than to let one escape. Mountain Chieftain, should we also¡­?¡± Kong Binghuang remained silent for a while before decisively stating, ¡°No! Everyone must stay put.¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t! I need to go.¡± Kong Binghuang abruptly changed his mind. ¡°What if the children of Wan Shan and Ming Feng emerge from the sinkhole? We must help them.¡± ¡°But Lord Prefecture Overseer suggested that among the prodigies taken away, some might be possessed by the Demon of Qingzhou,¡± the middle-aged man replied with concern. ¡°Lord Prefecture Overseer, Lord Prefecture Overseer¡­ Are you an elder of my Wuji Mountain or an advisor of his estate?¡± Kong Binghuang retorted, his eyebrows arching in annoyance. Instantly, his muscles bulged, and a palpable pressure crushed the middle-aged man, who broke out in cold sweat. He was certain that if he uttered ¡®Lord Prefecture Overseer¡¯ one more time, Kong Binghuang would strike him. After all, Kong Binghuang was a renowned tyrant. ¡°Regardless of whether our Wuji Mountain¡¯s disciples are demons or not, they¡¯re not for others to kill. If they¡¯re guilty, I¡¯ll be the one to execute them,¡± Kong Binghuang declared, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Are you going to¡­¡± the middle-aged man began, taken aback. ¡°I¡¯ll personally visit the sinkhole and see if I can encounter the demon in the outer city.¡± Kong Binghuang started marching forward, the earth seemingly trembling with each step. The young man hastily followed him. ¡°Mountain Chieftain, there¡¯s something I forgot to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The emperor of Great You sent a representative to the prefecture overseer¡¯s residence today to establish a new position, the Chief Martial Lord of Qingzhou. The prefecture overseer now has the power to recruit soldiers at will and expand their army.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kong Binghuang continued without slowing down. ¡°The little emperor is indeed foolish. It seems Great You is truly finished¡­¡± ¡­ At the Thousand Divination Tower, an old man with a youthful face but white hair sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. His body seemed frail, almost skeletal. Suddenly, he opened his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s coming, the great change we¡¯ve anticipated!¡± His old voice, as hoarse and rough as an ancient tree, echoed throughout the room. Opposite the prayer mat, a wooden door slowly creaked open. ¡°The legendary legacy of the Emperor of Qingzhou has surfaced. It¡¯s time to determine if it¡¯s of an emperor or a demon.¡± Clang! Clang! Clang! Sixteen copper coins were flung through the gap in the wooden door, rolling on the mahogany floor before eventually settling down. All sixteen landed face-down. ¡°Tsk tsk, as expected.¡± The old man who seemed on the brink of death clucked his tongue. ¡°Send the order to fully support our primary candidate, the Chief Martial Lord of Qingzhou!¡± At the same time, the five major sects, along with numerous smaller ones, reached a decision. A massive army of warriors poured out of Qingzhou¡¯s inner city, all moving toward the bronze sinkhole. Meanwhile, in the bronze realm, Xiang Mingfeng and the others were trying to comprehend the bronze wall. Suddenly, everyone¡¯s eyes opened. ¡°The earth¡­ It¡¯s shaking!¡± She Wanshan remarked, puzzled. They had been in the bronze realm for almost a year, yet they had never experienced such a tremor. ¡°Look, the trees are vanishing¡­¡± someone exclaimed in shock. Xiang Mingfeng and the others surveyed their surroundings to find the trees crumbling one by one, and the ground along with the grass was decaying, revealing the dark gray earth beneath. ¡°The bronze realm¡­ It seems like it¡¯s about to collapse,¡± someone realized, and the group shared worried glances. Fang Huo broke into hearty laughter. ¡°It looks like Brother Zhou has found the bronze realm¡¯s core. He¡¯s probably about to refine it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s incredibly fast. It¡¯s only been two months since Brother Zhou disappeared, hasn¡¯t it?¡± She Wanshan said, his expression complex. ¡°It seems like we¡¯ll soon have another powerful rival in Qingzhou,¡± Le Ji¡¯an added calmly, his gaze focusing on Xiang Mingfeng and Fang Huo. Despite acknowledging others as prodigies possessing the king¡¯s force, he never truly considered them competition. ¡°Hehe, Brother Le is correct,¡± Gou Jie agreed, narrowing his eyes into a gentle smile. As they conversed, the collapse of the world accelerated. Even the forest of stone tablets they had been studying began to vanish. The towering bronze wall also started deteriorating from the top, bit by bit. The bronze realm¡¯s elites observed the gradual collapse of their world with mixed emotions. ¡°We¡¯re finally going back¡­¡± one murmured. ¡°But I¡¯ve been trapped here for years. Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d waste my youth waiting in vain,¡± a middle-aged man lamented, pounding his chest. ¡°My vitality has already diminished. I failed to gather anything in the end,¡± an old man wailed. Feelings of envy and resentment washed over the crowd upon hearing about Qin Huai acquiring the bronze realm¡¯s secret treasure. Bang! Suddenly, the world plunged into darkness. But then, cheers erupted. They noticed debris, scattered bronze artifacts, and numerous bodies. ¡°It was really an illusion realm¡­ Everything was just an illusion¡­¡± someone whispered. ¡°Hahaha, have I really been sitting here for the past twenty years?¡± another one said, noticing the deep imprint on his buttocks with a bitter smile on his face. Their faces were pale, and their bodies had grown thin. It was clear that the food they had been surviving on was likely dead rats and underground creatures. Some of the geniuses had even gone insane. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 437 - 437 The King Is Back 437 The King Is Back Those who were driven into madness started fighting indiscriminately, only to be promptly killed by the surrounding prodigies. Xiang Mingfeng watched it all unfold and said, ¡°Everyone, calm down! Let¡¯s escape this place first.¡± To control the situation, he and others like She Wanshan, Fang Huo, and Le Ji¡¯an released their king¡¯s force. The combined force from all of them resonated, causing many martial artists to turn pale. The chaotic scene became eerily quiet. However, they too were far from well. Their bodies were weak, their vitality compromised from surviving in the bronze realm on what little food they could find ¡ª rat meat, earthworms, even grass. In addition, the bronze realm¡¯s interference made them feel burdened. Surprisingly, the soil layer of the so-called level-one array around them seemed unaffected. There were even some large beast corpses nearby, suggesting better food availability in the level-one array, which allowed the future kings to retain some strength. Unfortunately, many older geniuses weren¡¯t as fortunate. Some fell the moment they tried to stand, their lives snuffed out. Xiang Mingfeng frowned and flicked his fingers, releasing beams of white light in all directions. It illuminated the entire world. After that, the experts from the five great sects led the way, guiding everyone toward the light source. ¡°Find Zhou Cunzhong first!¡± someone in the crowd suggested. With that, all eyes began frantically searching for any trace of Qin Huai, particularly those of Yun Qi from the White Cloud sect and Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang. But they found nothing. Not long after, they reached the end of the light source. ¡­ Meanwhile, just outside the bronze sinkhole, the group of sect martial artists and wanderers from the outer city watched as a massive army approached. They felt a shiver run down their spines. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Gao He from the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor! And Tang Xinglong, the prefecture overseer¡¯s grandson is here too!¡± someone exclaimed. ¡°Prefecture Overseer Tang has been at the five-full-pattern stage for years. They say he¡¯s attempted to reach the legendary six-full-pattern stage, but has failed several times,¡± another added. ¡°But he¡¯s persisted, using his incredible physical strength. The prefecture overseer even went into seclusion for this, disappearing for two years. Now that he¡¯s back, does it mean¡­¡± the crowd broke off, murmuring in hushed voices. Tang Xinglong wasn¡¯t just the prefecture overseer¡¯s grandson, he was also the unrivaled number one on the Green Hero Ranking. ¡°His king¡¯s force is impressive. It seems he¡¯s setting his sights on Qingzhou City. With such backing, his combat power would far surpass his peers,¡± someone noted. Others whispered about his grand ambition to be the world¡¯s number one. Newcomers to Qingzhou couldn¡¯t help but gasp in awe, their gaze filled with respect for the young man with black hair. ¡°Everyone, evacuate the sinkhole quickly!¡± Tang Xinglong¡¯s voice echoed loud and clear. ¡°This bronze sinkhole is a relic left by the Demon of Qingzhou ten thousand years ago. The anomalies over the past years are all due to the vile techniques he left behind. ¡°Now that the sinkhole has reappeared, it signifies that the demon has found a body to possess and aims to return. We¡¯re here today to eradicate this evil!¡± His voice rang out, strong and resolute. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Someone is coming out of the sinkhole!¡± Panic ensued, and they scrambled into the distance, afraid of becoming collateral damage. And then, under the watchful eyes of all, Xiang Mingfeng and other distinguished individuals, both old and new, emerged. ¡°We¡¯ve finally seen daylight again,¡± Gou Jie sighed with relief, only for a long spear to suddenly whiz past, embedding itself into the ground before him. ¡°Kill them!¡± Tang Xinglong coldly ordered from a distance. ¡°Wait! We are¡­¡± Xiang Mingfeng began, only to be interrupted as a rain of spears descended from hundreds of meters above. ¡°Qingzhou guards¡­ Tang Xinglong, are you trying to murder us?¡± Fang Huo bellowed, his voice frail. His body, once robust, was now significantly weakened. ¡°Everyone, the Demon of Qingzhou might be among you. For the safety of Qingzhou¡¯s people, I must ask for your cooperation!¡± Tang Xinglong declared, his tone firm and resolute. ¡°We know who the heir of the demon is!¡± Yang Tianhan shouted back. ¡°His name is Zhou Cunzhong. He has nothing to do with us.¡± However, it seemed Tang Xinglong was not interested in listening. A torrent of spears descended, each one a broken artifact brimming with deadly power. Boom! Boom! Boom! This display of force would ordinarily have been nothing to these prodigies, but in their weakened state, these broken artifacts became harbingers of death. The long spears pierced through more than half of them, extinguishing their life forces. Simultaneously, a formidable force of a hundred thousand Qingzhou guards charged at them. The overwhelming presence of the vast army turned many faces white with fear. ¡°Is this how it ends? Am I really going to die here?¡± came the despairing cries. They had seen through the prefecture overseer¡¯s intentions: eliminate them before their sect¡¯s experts arrived, under the noble guise of ensuring public safety. Even Xiang Mingfeng and the others, with only half of their combat power left, knew they couldn¡¯t break through the formidable guards. Rumble! Suddenly, a man in green robes fell rapidly from dozens of meters above the army. The violent wind howled around Qin Huai, his eyes flashing with a brilliant white light that quickly turned black. All the Qingzhou guards lifted their heads to see the plummeting figure, akin to a pitch-black abyss descending from the sky, ominously consuming their lives. Boom! With a resounding explosion, Qin Huai landed, shattering the ground into fragments. It was as if a grand drum celebrated his arrival. Blood surged around him, forming a broken sea dozens of meters away, littered with severed limbs and shocked faces. Crash¡­ Like a waterfall, blood and body parts rained down, a morbid welcome to their king. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 438 - 438 Two Sides 438 Two Sides ¡°Who is that person?¡± ¡°How did he suddenly appear here¡­¡± From afar, martial artists in the outer city watched a figure abruptly emerge from the front of the army formation, causing chills to run down their spines. Tang Xinglong scrutinized Qin Huai, who had materialized out of nowhere, a flicker of intrigue crossing his eyes. ¡°This man¡¯s aura is slightly peculiar,¡± he remarked. ¡°Young Master, what makes you say that?¡± asked Gao He from behind, who could only detect the stranger¡¯s extraordinary strength. The newcomer seemed to be a future king at his peak. Even though Xiang Mingfeng and others behind him were not even half as strong, they should have been able to match him in a short period. ¡°My king¡¯s force seems to be resonating,¡± Tang Xinglong replied, licking his lips. The man before him surely possessed some treasure. Perhaps it was a guardian spirit item, something perfectly compatible with his king¡¯s force and cultivation technique. At this, Gao He¡¯s eyes sparkled with surprise. ¡°Do you want me to¡­¡± ¡°No need! If I desire something, I¡¯ll obtain it myself,¡± Tang Xinglong cut him off, his eyes radiating absolute confidence. As long as they were within Qingzhou City¡¯s boundaries, he, Tang Xinglong, feared no future king. He was the only king in Qingzhou. A decade ago, the Emperor of Qingzhou reigned. A decade later, Tang Xinglong aspired to fill that position. With a wave of his hand, Tang Xinglong dispatched two gray-robed martial artists toward the battlefield. On the battlefield, Qin Huai¡¯s imperial might was profound, blanketing the entire fifty-meter radius. The black dragon world had not been activated, but the emperor¡¯s force alone already suppressed the life force of many present great blood-refining martial artists. Their armor seemed to possess some unique ability to negate the king¡¯s force, but unfortunately, Qin Huai was using the emperor¡¯s force. ¡°That man is the one who obtained the emperor¡¯s inheritance!¡± A few martial artists standing behind Xiang Mingfeng pointed at Qin Huai, shouting. One of them was moving towards the army, likely in an attempt to prove his innocence. ¡°We can all testify that he is the successor. We all witnessed.¡± ¡°Yes, Prefecture Overseer, just execute this Zhou Cunzhong! We are not involved,¡± the martial artists chimed in, understanding the situation. They all surrendered to the Qingzhou guards, pledging their loyalty. ¡°Brother Zhou risked his life to save us, yet you betray him?¡± Fang Huo¡¯s tone shifted drastically. A roar resembling a lion¡¯s echoed from his throat, the force rippling outwards, resonating dozens of meters into the sky. Bang! The heart of the middle-aged man who had been yelling the loudest was pierced. He dropped to the ground, lifeless. Fang Huo¡¯s unexpected attack altered the expressions of those fleeing in panic. Fang Huo, an older man with a severe expression, addressed the crowd, ¡°Young man, you heard it too. The so-called Emperor of Qingzhou you speak of is actually a demon. We have been ensnared in the bronze realm for decades, falling prey to the machinations of this demon¡­¡± Before Fang Huo could complete his sentence, Yang Tianhan interrupted, ¡°Over the past ten thousand years, how many prodigies have met their end here? The origin of the ailment that has weakened our Qingzhou for years is this demon! Indeed, it¡¯s uncertain whether Zhou Cunzhong received the inheritance of the demon or was possessed by him. Regardless, he must be eliminated.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Le Ji¡¯an scoffed at Yang Tianhan. ¡°If my memory serves me right, in the illusion realm, you claimed to be destined to the emperor. You might be the only martial artist who has discovered the key to the bronze realm in the past ten thousand years. Considering this, who knows if you have some unsavory connection with the so-called Demon of Qingzhou?¡± ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯t defame me!¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s hair stood on end in response to the allegation. This kind of accusation couldn¡¯t be taken lightly, as it could result in a death sentence. ¡°But ultimately, Zhou Cunzhong acquired everything. He¡¯s the only one to blame. As long as Zhou Cunzhong is eliminated, we don¡¯t have to die,¡± voices chimed in agreement. Most of them belonged to the older prodigies, who had been trapped in the bronze realm for decades or even centuries, causing significant shifts in their mental states. No longer as passionate or fiery as their younger selves, they yearned to live, see their families, and enjoy the rest of their lives. ¡°You guys have grown old and confused.¡± Xu Tong of the Blue Sea Pavilion shook his head. ¡°Our only chance of survival is to support Brother Zhou and wait for reinforcements from various sects.¡± It was clear to him that the Qingzhou guards aimed to seize this opportunity to annihilate them and weaken the power of different sects. After all, the two to three thousand people present were either former or current prodigies of Qingzhou, all possessing at least three full patterns. And presently, they were at their weakest. ¡°You haven¡¯t been trapped in the bronze realm for decades, of course, you¡¯d say that!¡± someone retorted anxiously. The two to three thousand prodigies immediately divided into two camps. Most of the older ones, led by Yang Tianhan, sided with those advocating for Qin Huai¡¯s execution. Fang Huo and Xu Tong led the younger group, siding with Qin Huai. It mattered little whether the bronze realm¡¯s ruler was a demon or not. Survival was their only concern. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 439 - 439 One 439 One-Man Defense! ¡°If they want our lives, they¡¯ll have to prove they can take them!¡± The younger prodigies were brimming with vigor. All eyes, however, were on Xiang Mingfeng. ¡°I won¡¯t hinder anyone wishing to leave. That¡¯s your right,¡± Xiang Mingfeng declared calmly. ¡°Just as long as you don¡¯t harm Brother Zhou. Brother Zhou led us out of the bronze realm, saving our lives. At the very least, I can¡¯t do anything that will betray him.¡± Xiang Mingfeng was known for his straightforwardness. The older prodigies who recognized this about him blushed in silence. As soon as Xiang Mingfeng finished his speech, he moved toward the Qingzhou guards. ¡­ At the center of the battlefield, Qin Huai¡¯s emperor force transformed a radius of several dozen meters into a forbidden zone for all living beings. Countless great blood refinement realm guards felt like they had been hit hard the moment they entered this power¡¯s range ¡ª their bones fractured, blood seeping out. The emperor¡¯s prestige was enormous, too much for ordinary people to withstand. Ropes of murderous intent coiled around Qin Huai. ¡°Four-directional tiger-wolf technique, blood fury!¡± A trace of blood trickled from Qin Huai¡¯s mouth. The killing intent around him seemed to solidify ¡ª a mere flick of his fists conjured a terrifying wind, annihilating all the bone pattern realm experts who had intruded. Whoosh! Suddenly, a powerful force surged towards him from afar, riding the faint might of the Qingzhou guards. A tall, green-armored man launched an attack, and a huge shadow descended from the sky. Qin Huai looked up abruptly, spotting a rock over twenty meters long plummeting towards him. ¡°Break!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes grew cold as he hurled a bullhorn-like fist upwards. The armored man seized this chance to attack. A dim green light formed around his body, turning him into a small giant about four to five meters tall. ¡°I¡¯ve got him!¡± the green-armored general exclaimed in delight, his massive fists aiming straight at Qin Huai¡¯s chest. Bang! The boulder overhead crumbled under Qin Huai¡¯s fists, and the resulting rock debris crushed many of the Qingzhou guards. Amid the stone rain, two enormous fists landed on Qin Huai¡¯s chest simultaneously. Still, Qin Huai didn¡¯t budge an inch. His hair was as white as snow, his gaze icy. ¡°Dragon king form!¡± The green-armored general saw those indifferent eyes, as if they were saying ¡®Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡¯. His face reddened in embarrassment, and he withdrew his fists to his waist. ¡°Ah!¡± A furious roar erupted from his throat. Pa! Qin Huai brought his palms together in front of him. Like a bursting watermelon, a mixture of red and white sprayed out in front of Qin Huai. Even the armor on the green-armored general¡¯s upper body shattered. The green-armored general, his muscles straining, died silently, half-squatting in a perfect horse stance. ¡°Idiot, why would I wait for your punch?¡± Qin Huai mumbled softly. Ash¡­ Bear¡­ Qin Huai frowned slightly, recalling the words of the emperor. Clang! Suddenly, over ten green spears jabbed at Qin Huai¡¯s body, sparking off harmlessly. Qin Huai remained unfazed, though. In just a few moments, he had eliminated over a thousand Qingzhou guards. As he surveyed the vast sea of warriors, he realized that his current approach wouldn¡¯t solve the situation. Amid the wave of green were several experts launching assaults on him one after another. They were all middle-aged martial artists with four full patterns or more. These individuals may not have been able to reach the visceral prefecture realm, so they likely chose to cultivate more suitable techniques, aiming for maximum combat strength by breaking through to the five-full-pattern level. Coupled with the one hundred thousand Qingzhou guards, their collective power was not to be underestimated. ¡°Phew¡­ Consider this a test of my combat limits,¡± Qin Huai mused, his eyes blazing with the will to fight. He was unconcerned by the commotion stirred by Xiang Mingfeng and the others behind him. After receiving the emperor¡¯s inheritance and understanding certain truths, he anticipated that he might become the enemy of all Qingzhou. Qin Huai focused on the green-armored general trying to hide himself. Simultaneously, he was keenly aware of Tang Xinglong and Gao He, both positioned on a distant city carriage, emanating formidable auras. At the tip of his fist, a dot of white light condensed. In the next second, a black shadow fell from the sky. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Qin Huai whirled around and launched a strike. Bang! Sparks erupted, and a trickle of blood dripped from Qin Huai¡¯s fingers. A sharp spear, driven with tremendous force, crashed onto his body. ¡°Yang Tianhan,¡± Qin Huai said, his gaze frosty. Several figures launched from a small hill adjacent to the battlefield, charging toward Qin Huai. They were all prodigies of Qingzhou that Qin Huai had released from the bronze realm. Yet, they were now attacking him. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice brimmed with murderous intent. Whoosh! The stupefied Yang Tianhan barely had time to react before Qin Huai¡¯s mighty illusion realm fist crashed into him. At the same time, Qin Huai¡¯s poison dragon shock hit him. The fierce might of the roaring dragon erupted in the air, causing shockwaves and a spray of blood. ¡°Ah!¡± Yang Tianhan let out a pitiful cry. He came to his senses at the last moment, but his entire right arm had been shattered by Qin Huai. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong!¡± Yang Tianhan¡¯s eyes blazed with hatred. He loathed Qin Huai deeply ¡ª had it not been for Qin Huai stealing his chance, he would have been the one causing the heavy injuries. ¡°Black dragon world!¡± Yang Tianhan was instantly swallowed by a black curtain. The next moment, the familiar poison dragon shock was unleashed once again. This time, there was no explosion, no sound. It was as if all noise had been swallowed up. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 440 - 440 A Crazy Harvest 440 A Crazy Harvest The terrifying force pulled away his blood, energy, and life force. His aura seemed to dwindle. Puff! A weakened Yang Tianhan spat out a mouthful of blood. Right after, he saw fresh blood gather at Qin Huai¡¯s fingertips. ¡°You¡­¡± Before he could utter a word, a punch had already landed on his heart. In silence, the power and flesh from Yang Tianhan¡¯s chest were instantly consumed. Yang Tianhan spat out another mouthful of blood. The black curtain that had enveloped him disappeared. Bang¡­ For the surrounding Qingzhou guards, it was like a momentary blackout. When they could see clearly again, the previously vigorous Yang Tianhan had lost all his life force. ¡°Gulp¡­¡± The surrounding Qingzhou soldiers retreated a few steps involuntarily. If their sight served them right, that middle-aged man should have been a visceral prefecture realm expert. But in front of this demon-like warrior from Qingzhou, he only lasted for a moment. He didn¡¯t even get the chance to call upon his guardian spirit item. ¡°The Demon of Qingzhou is alive!¡± someone shouted. At this, the once formidable army instantly fell into disarray. Countless people jostled, each trying to step back. This triggered a chain reaction, sending the formerly majestic Qingzhou guards into chaos. The confusion in the army was one thing. But those who felt the most regret and despair were the people who had jumped down from the hill with Yang Tianhan. They had been misled by the latter to target Qin Huai. If Qin Huai was killed, they might have a chance to survive. But now¡­ They were still in mid-air, but their leader had been killed by Qin Huai? He was a visceral prefecture realm expert! Now, they all felt a sense of impending doom. As their faces turned pale, they saw Qin Huai looking directly at them. Whoosh! White dots of light erupted, and a powerful wind rose from the ground. The already weakened group had nowhere to hide in the air. If possible, at that moment, they all wished they could fly. Suddenly, the sound of the wind in their ears ceased. Everyone¡¯s fall seemed to pause. But there was no joy on their faces. Their expressions were ghastly. The next moment, they saw a massive wave of blood surge before their eyes. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten dragons crush!¡± Boom! Everyone in the air was instantly turned into a bloody mist. A shower of blood and severed limbs rained down from twenty meters in the air, causing the surrounding Qingzhou guards to blanch even more. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Cold Mountain Fist Technique Essence (Red)], [Cold Mountain Fist Technique] experience points +200,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Three Stars Stealing Moon Steps Essence (Red)], [Three Stars Stealing Moon Steps] experience points +100,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s mind was flooded with countless experiences. After cultivating the seven full patterns, illuminating all the bones in his body, and even nurturing the emperor¡¯s force, Qin Huai discovered his body was starting to become versatile. Any cultivation technique he used to focus qi and blood within his body wouldn¡¯t cause any conflict or discomfort as before. Instead, he thrived naturally in the environment of his dantian world. Even the unfamiliar bone patterns followed suit, sprouting vigorously. Qin Huai¡¯s footwork also began to change unpredictably. Various forms of footwork, seemingly practiced thousands of times, were effortlessly incorporated into his moves. This left the Qingzhou guards, who had been discreetly observing his movements, perplexed. ¡°This guy¡­ How many different techniques has he cultivated?¡± they questioned. All of them were elites in the army, assassins who specialized in dealing with top-notch experts. They would risk their lives to find weaknesses in these experts, waiting for an opportunity to strike. They knew that no one could stay invincible forever, not even the strongest prodigies. But the man before them seemed to be an exception. He appeared to have dozens of cultivation techniques at his disposal, each attack similar yet distinct. If they had to describe it, he was undoubtedly a combat prodigy, a battle fanatic. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s figure suddenly appeared in front of an assassin, his piercing eyes exerting immense pressure. The next moment, Qin Huai had already vanished. Utilizing the movement technique, three stars stealing moon steps, a punch landed behind the assassin, killing him instantly. Qin Huai could smell the strong stench of blood around him. The more people he killed, the stronger he became. Especially after cultivating the emperor¡¯s force, all painful side effects vanished. He only needed to move according to his body¡¯s instincts to form unpredictable maneuvers. Although these moves weren¡¯t high-level, he could master them on his own, thanks to his cheat. Clang! Clang! Clang! An excited smile appeared on Qin Huai¡¯s face as he felt an endless surge of blood essence. The sensation of continuous growth made him wish for more Qingzhou guards to appear. To the surrounding guards, Qin Huai¡¯s smile made him look like a true demon of Qingzhou. ¡°This guy must be the Demon of Qingzhou!¡± ¡°He¡¯s possessed by the demon!¡± ¡°How can a regular martial artist cultivate so many techniques at the same time?¡± Everyone was in a state of panic. Meanwhile, Qin Huai continued to collect the experience points around him. If he managed to defeat all these Qingzhou guards, he might gather enough experience to advance to the second-level visceral prefecture realm. Suddenly, two figures launched themselves toward Qin Huai from a carriage. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 441 - 441 Fated Enemy? 441 Fated Enemy? ¡°A monster.¡± Tang Xinglong, aboard the carriage, watched Qin Huai on the battlefield. His eyes held no fear, instead, they gleamed with anticipation. ¡°The bizarre power this man suddenly unleashed is likely his trump card, his confidence to dare leap into the fray.¡± He had been carefully observing Qin Huai¡¯s attacks. Like the assassins in the army, he found the thrill of the battle escalating as he watched Qin Huai¡¯s moves. ¡°Exceptional learning ability. He seems to have a photographic memory of his opponent¡¯s movements¡­¡± Tang Xinglong¡¯s hands rubbed together eagerly. ¡°Young Master, the prefecture overseer has instructed us to merely observe this battle from a distance,¡± Gao He warned. The perilous situation Zhou Cunzhong was in made him question whether his young master would stand a chance against him in a direct fight. ¡°Do you mean to say you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll lose?¡± Tang Xinglong¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°This subordinate wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Gao He bowed his head. ¡°I merely watched the Qingzhou guards fall. Their lives may not be worth much, but if their deaths can conserve my strength, it¡¯s a worthy trade.¡± ¡°But this doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m afraid of that Zhou Cunzhong.¡± Tang Xinglong¡¯s voice dropped colder. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Gao He didn¡¯t argue. Tang Xinglong stretched himself. ¡°The Qingzhou guards are ridding the people of a menace. As their master, I cannot simply stand idle.¡± He added nonchalantly, ¡°You know those elders at the Thousand Divination Tower. They frequently babble about fate and luck, but there might be some truth to it. Just like this man before me, I can sense a power similar to destiny from him. How fascinating¡­¡± A faint aura started emanating from Tang Xinglong¡¯s body, and he murmured, ¡°Perhaps, he will be my arch-nemesis. A rival fighting for the throne of Qingzhou.¡± Tang Xinglong thought that this Zhou Cunzhong might be the result of the emperor¡¯s resurrection through a startling method a millennia ago. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t possibly be this powerful. Plus, only the emperor from ten thousand years ago was worthy of being his mortal enemy. Tang Xinglong¡¯s aura continued to rise. Several miles away, Qin Huai abruptly raised his head, his gaze meeting Tang Xinglong¡¯s. Invisible sparks seemed to dance in the air. Boom! Suddenly, a few more dark silhouettes materialized in the sky. As Qin Huai prepared to throw a punch, he heard a booming voice echoing from above. ¡°Brother Zhou!¡± The voice was as thunderous as a lion¡¯s roar and as swift as the wind. Several figures descended from the sky among the thousands of soldiers, accompanied by a clear spring and a brilliant white light. Bang! Bang! Fang Huo and Xiang Mingfeng intercepted the two generals in green armor, while the other areas, devoid of high-level experts, were barricaded by Xu Tong of the Blue Sea Pavilion, Gou Jie of the Thousand Divination Tower, and Le Ji¡¯an of the Ghost Ox sect. The top elites of the five major sects of Qingzhou City had Qin Huai surrounded. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Brother Zhou,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said, ¡°I arrived a step too late.¡± Suddenly, Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s body emanated a dazzling light. Like a saint, he directly neutralized the power of the surrounding Qingzhou guards. He threw his fists, and the white light glowed as hot as fire. This was Qin Huai¡¯s first time watching Xiang Mingfeng fight someone head-on. Despite only having half his usual strength, his force was terrifying. Not wanting to be outshone, Fang Huo¡¯s brown fur shimmered, his body enlarging. Like a humanoid demon, he charged into the army. While the Qingzhou elites at the back lacked the boldness of the five, they gradually whittled away the strength of the Qingzhou guards from the fringes. Despite the Qingzhou guards being recognized as the strongest army in Qingzhou, and over half of the one hundred thousand armored soldiers being great refined blood martial artists handpicked from all over, these weakened Qingzhou elites were not to be underestimated. The battle quickly escalated. ¡°Brother Zhou, you can rest for a bit. If all goes as planned, Tang Xinglong will make his move,¡± She Wanshan advised Qin Huai. ¡°Is Tang Xinglong very strong?¡± Qin Huai had scant knowledge about the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor. ¡°Tang Xinglong, known as the prefecture Overseer of a small prefecture, is virtually unbeatable in Qingzhou City among his peers,¡± She Wanshan answered, then explained the power of Tang Xinglong, shedding light on his deep-rooted family background and the cultivation techniques designed to control Qingzhou City as a king. ¡°But we don¡¯t have to fight to the death to win. The commotion here will undoubtedly attract the attention of the five great sects of Qingzhou City. As long as we can hold out until our sect¡¯s reinforcements arrive, we¡¯ll be saved.¡± ¡°Better to be self-reliant than to depend on others,¡± Qin Huai responded indifferently, patting She Wanshan¡¯s shoulder. It was his advice to his comrade¡ª had already planned for the worst-case scenario. After traversing several miles, he looked again at the figure on the carriage, and his pupils constricted. Tang Xinglong had disappeared! ¡°Brother Zhou, be careful!¡± Fang Huo¡¯s warning echoed. However, in the next second, a figure appeared before him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 442 - 442 Black Dragon World vs. Qingzhou City 442 Black Dragon World vs. Qingzhou City It was Tang Xinglong. ¡°Lion spirit mountain seal!¡± Tang Xinglong launched a sudden punch. The phantom of the lion spirit mountain seemed to manifest at his fist¡¯s end and then rapidly enlarged. Puff! Caught off guard, Fang Huo spat blood as the sound of cracking bones was obscured by the colossal mountain. His body was propelled like a sharp arrow, the brutal momentum killing over a dozen Qingzhou guards who couldn¡¯t dodge in time. Tang Xinglong¡¯s expression remained icy throughout. A large hand appeared behind Fang Huo, its gentle force guiding him back over ten meters and softly catching him. Coughing up another mouthful of blood, Fang Huo disregarded his wounds to caution. ¡°Brother Zhou, you must not underestimate Tang Xinglong!¡± ¡°He will die here,¡± Qin Huai responded, his calm eyes masking a growing killing intent that made the surrounding Qingzhou guards¡¯ eyes turn bloodshot. He suddenly flashed and went over to She Wanshan. ¡°Take good care of him,¡± he said, before charging straight at Tang Xinglong. ¡°Good!¡± Tang Xinglong laughed. ¡°I heard your body is exceptionally strong?¡± Qin Huai stayed silent. Harnessing the wind¡¯s might, he appeared instantly before Tang Xinglong. ¡°Wind breath, wind treading steps!¡± Tang Xinglong retaliated with dual punches, two mountain phantoms faintly appearing at the tips of his fists. ¡°Wuji mountain seal! Lion spirit mountain seal!¡± Two distinct forces converged on Tang Xinglong¡¯s fist and rapidly expanded. It was as though he had struck with the power of two real mountains. ¡°Why not try bearing two mountains on your back?¡± Tang Xinglong scoffed. Bang! Qin Huai didn¡¯t dodge. His muscles turned a fiery red. He held a strength powerful enough to shatter mountains and rivers, and his blood surged like a demon. A bloody mist seeped from the corner of his mouth, lit up by the glaring white light. The fallen bodies of the Qingzhou guards fueled his four-directional tiger-wolf technique, manifesting a boundless killing intent. ¡°Blood fury!¡± The forceful impact shook the ground. The two were locked in a standoff, the twin mountain seals making a shattering noise. Unfazed, Tang Xinglong punched once more. ¡°Blue sea pavilion water seal! Bull ghost sect mountain seal!¡± A chilling light poured down from the sky, saturated with spectral energy. As the two forces merged, numerous dark spots marred Qin Huai¡¯s flawless body. Suddenly feeling drained, he watched as the two mountain seals descended yet again. However, Qin Huai¡¯s expression was impassive. ¡°Illusion realm fist, ten thousand beasts devouring the heavens!¡± Bang! With a loud crash, an apparition of a human body materialized, soon followed by a myriad of colossal beasts appearing in mid-air. A green bird, black tiger, white dragon, black turtle, and other ferocious creatures directly shattered the mountain seal. Having mastered the ancient azure illusion scripture to the peak of the bone pattern realm, life forms had successfully materialized on the bronze land. Qin Huai¡¯s illusion realm fist was no longer just a trap ¡ª it had become a lethal weapon. Bang! Bang! Bang! Loud thuds followed as the sky-filled phantoms disintegrated. ¡°Interesting.¡± Tang Xinglong¡¯s expression lit up with excitement. ¡°Legend claims that the Demon of Qingzhou mastered this illusionary life-like technique. It seems you are indeed possessed by the demon. My feeling was correct. You are indeed my fated enemy. ¡°Sadly, your time has passed. You are a character from ten thousand years ago. This era doesn¡¯t belong to you.¡± Tang Xinglong laughed maniacally. ¡°Ridiculous,¡± retorted Qin Huai, unfazed. Tang Xinglong looked down upon Qin Huai. ¡°You seem to have forgotten something. From the beginning, you¡¯ve been fighting me with the king¡¯s force. But I¡­ I¡¯ve never used my king¡¯s force.¡± Suddenly, specks of green light appeared within a dozen meters of Tang Xinglong, rising and rapidly linking to form a map of Qingzhou City under his feet. As Qin Huai studied the green light in Tang Xinglong¡¯s eyes, power surged toward him like a tidal wave. Tang Xinglong¡¯s aura also increased, seemingly endless, resonating with the distant city of Qingzhou. ¡°The moment you failed to destroy my seals, the battle¡¯s outcome was already decided,¡± Tang Xinglong declared, stepping towards Qin Huai. Puff! The surrounding Qingzhou Guards exploded, blood spraying, while many fifth-level bone pattern realm assassins fled in terror. The ground fractured with each of Tang Xinglong¡¯s steps, stirring up dust and debris. ¡°My fated enemy, it is a pity that you will die here,¡± Tang Xinglong said, looking down on Qin Huai like a god. ¡°Use that black curtain you used earlier. Otherwise, you won¡¯t even have a chance to resist. I don¡¯t want my enemy to die with regrets, feeling it was an unfair victory.¡± His words dripped with arrogance. Tang Xinglong insisted on defeating his enemies at their peak. This was his path to becoming the emperor of Qingzhou. Immediately, a black curtain enveloped Tang Xinglong. ¡°Emperor force, black dragon world!¡± With a thunderous boom, the representation of Qingzhou City under Tang Xinglong¡¯s feet began to crumble, and the green light in his eyes started to dim. ¡°W-What is this?¡± Tang Xinglong stuttered in shock, looking at the collapsing Qingzhou City. An unseen pressure crashed down. Qin Huai materialized instantly before Tang Xinglong, black light glowing in his eyes, and his black hair radiating a lethal intent. ¡°Dragon emperor form, black emperor! Black dragon world, black coffin!¡± In this new realm, black light condensed instantly, accelerating the collapse of Tang Xinglong¡¯s Qingzhou City. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 443 - 443 A Silent Battlefield 443 A Silent Battlefield Qin Huai hurled both fists forward, the black light emanating from them carried an aura of deadly destruction. Tang Xinglong¡¯s long hair flew back, and his eyes suddenly turned a bloodshot red. ¡°Qingzhou City, lion spirit mountain seal!¡± His two fists overlapped, releasing a massive phantom. However, the moment the phantom materialized, it seemed to lose much of its energy. Its light was faint, lacking the previous intimidating aura. Bang! With a loud crash, the two fists collided. The mountain seals were instantly obliterated by Qin Huai¡¯s poison dragon shock. Tang Xinglong spat out a mouthful of blood. He had anticipated that upon stepping on Qingzhou City, his mountain seal¡¯s power would multiply. However, now, with his Qingzhou City¡¯s collapse, his seal¡¯s power diminished to less than ten percent. All boosts were ineffective. ¡°Illusion realm fist!¡± Qin Huai thrust another fist forward, causing the air to tremble. Tang Xinglong¡¯s gaze became blurry, as if his soul had been displaced. Bang! Suddenly, Tang Xinglong¡¯s vision filled with singing birds and blooming flowers, a peaceful quietude enveloping him. However, moments later, his hair stood on end. ¡°Break!¡± he bellowed. In the distant Qingzhou City, a hint of power seemed to descend from afar. With a loud crash, the illusion realm shattered, and he released the mountain seal once more. Then, a manor descended from the sky. ¡°Prefecture overseer¡¯s manor, seal of surrender!¡± Boom! A flash of white light streaked the sky, and Qin Huai tilted his head back, releasing a sound reminiscent of a dragon¡¯s roar. ¡°Tiger roar, dragon roar!¡± he called out. A wave of light that seemed almost solid shot out from Qin Huai¡¯s mouth. It was like a thick, invisible barrier that soared into the sky. The manor landed swiftly, collapsing upon impact. Bang! Qin Huai turned his calm gaze to Tang Xinglong, ¡°Is this the strength of my so-called archenemy?¡± At that moment, Tang Xinglong¡¯s face flushed bright red. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong!¡± he bellowed, wings appearing to sprout from his back. Before he could throw another punch, a strong gust swept in. Qin Huai had already appeared in front of him using the wind breath technique¡¯s gale steps. Qin Huai pointed his finger forward, his face calm and stoic. ¡°Tiger wolf, bloody finger.¡± The murderous energy filling the sky condensed on his fingertip, which instantly pierced through Tang Xinglong¡¯s forehead. With a crash, Tang Xinglong¡¯s aura disintegrated. The light in his eyes began to dim. He tilted his head slightly, looking at the pitch-black sky, muttering to himself, ¡°How did I get here? How did this happen? We were supposed to be fated enemies. Why is there such a huge difference? What is this?¡± Tang Xinglong, surprisingly resilient, looked at Qin Huai. ¡°I have the emperor¡¯s force,¡± Qin Huai responded, indifferent. He looked at the gray wings on Tang Xinglong¡¯s back and thought, ¡°A descendant of the eight virtuous kings?¡± ¡°Emperor¡¯s force¡­ So it wasn¡¯t just a legend?¡± Tang Xinglong murmured. Qin Huai didn¡¯t respond. The wind from his fist surged forward. With a loud sound, Tang Xinglong¡¯s head burst apart. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Mountain Mantra Essence (Red)], [Mountain Mantra] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Grey Roc Bloodline Technique Essence (Red)], [Grey Roc Bloodline Technique] experience points +500,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± Various notifications echoed in Qin Huai¡¯s mind, informing him about his increased experience points. His surrounding black dragon world closed instantly. On the battlefield, everyone was fixated on the decisive battle shrouded in darkness. They were eager to witness the final clash between the two strongest contenders of Qingzhou. In fact, the moment Qin Huai activated the black dragon world, everyone paused to observe, not wanting to miss this pivotal moment. After all, the war had essentially begun because of these two. ¡°Will Brother Zhou win?¡± She Wanshan asked, hugging the blood-covered Fang Huo. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It depends on the number of inheritances Brother Zhou has received¡­¡± Fang Huo confessed, lacking certainty. ¡°It¡¯s very difficult,¡± Le Ji¡¯an stated rationally. ¡°After all, this is happening within the boundaries of Qingzhou City. That Tang Xinglong can borrow the city¡¯s power.¡± Xiang Mingfeng also spoke up. ¡°This battle might drag on. Their physical abilities and combat prowess are unquestionable. But considering Brother Zhou, who has the inheritance of the emperor, and Tang Xinglong, who considers Qingzhou City as his king¡¯s force, they seem to be long-standing rivals.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the black curtain disappeared instantly, revealing a headless body lying on the ground. Qin Huai stood in the center of the battlefield with fresh blood splattered on the ground, just like his usual killing style. The battlefield fell into a deadly silence. ¡°Tang Xinglong¡­ Is he dead?¡± Le Ji¡¯an asked in disbelief, his eyes wide. No one had anticipated the battle to end so quickly. ¡°It seems¡­ it lasted less than a hundred breaths,¡± She Wanshan murmured, his voice trembling. ¡°Young Master!¡± Gao He cried out in sorrow, his cry echoing in the battlefield. Suddenly, a surge of power rushed toward Qin Huai, Xiang Mingfeng, and the others. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong, you will pay with your life!¡± Gao He threatened, his eyes almost bulging out. He reached out, and a phantom of a golden ancient bell descended from the sky. ¡°Brother Zhou, be careful!¡± From Qin Huai¡¯s hand, a black dragon pearl was tossed toward the charging Gao He. The small black dragon pearl didn¡¯t catch much attention until it exploded, releasing a dragon¡¯s roar that seemed to rock the world. The energy of a visceral prefecture realm expert erupted. Boom! The black dragon pearl transformed into a vast sphere that covered several hundred meters radius. Everything within it ¨C weapons, clothes, and lives ¨C was obliterated. With one explosion, a thousand injured people vanished quietly. At the same time, the ancient bell phantom heading towards Qin Huai also shattered. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong!¡± Gao He roared furiously. His robe was torn, and he was drenched in blood. The killing intent in his heart reached its peak. His young master¡¯s death meant he had to pay with his life! A second ancient bell descended from the sky. With a dull bell sound, Qin Huai¡¯s vision blurred, and he seemed to freeze on the spot. The ancient bell crashed down, burying him completely. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 444 - 444 A Demon! 444 A Demon! ¡°Brother Zhou!¡± Fang Huo yelled, preparing to charge toward the ancient bell phantom. ¡°You want to die?¡± Gao He, his eyes red with anger, launched an attack on Fang Huo from dozens of meters away. The golden ancient bell crashed down, emitting a buzzing sound. The sound was poisonous, weakening Fang Huo and making his face even paler. As the majestic ancient bell enveloped him, Gao He shouted, ¡°Die!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Fang Huo. With golden eyebrows and hair and a robust figure, he held back the ancient bell with one hand and shattered it with a punch. Bang! Golden fragments rained from the sky, sending a chill across the battlefield. ¡°Lion Spirit Mountain Sect Master!¡± The sight of the newcomer made the Qingzhou guards retreat even further. Dozens of important figures had hurried over from the Qingzhou guards¡¯ ranks, including many elders and sect masters from various Qingzhou sects. Their presence and imposing aura disrupted the Qingzhou Guards¡¯ formation. ¡°Gentlemen, these individuals might be connected to the Demon of Qingzhou. For safety, I hope everyone understands!¡± Gao He addressed the crowd coldly, showing no intention of backing down. ¡°Gao He, the fate of my Wuji Mountain disciples is not yours to decide,¡± Kong Binghuang interjected, pulling Xiang Mingfeng, She Wanshan, and other Wuji Mountain prodigies behind him. From the five great sects, Lion Spirit Mountain, Blue Sea Pavilion, and Wuji Mountain readily shielded their disciples. However, the next sect master, Little Cattle King Le Ji¡¯an, was overlooked by the elder of the Ghost Ox sect, who showed an ambiguous attitude. Interestingly, the Thousand Divination Tower didn¡¯t send anyone over at all. ¡°Do none of you intend to cooperate?¡± Gao He squinted his eyes. ¡°What? Are you planning to use these hundred thousand Qingzhou guards to detain us all here?¡± Kong Binghuang mocked. The words of Wuji Mountain¡¯s sect master immediately heightened the tension, seeming to freeze the air. ¡°Master, we must save Brother Zhou first!¡± An injured Fang Huo, struggling to stand, pleaded. ¡°Brother Zhou is still under Gao He¡¯s power.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to save him. The person you mentioned is not among us anymore.¡± The Lion Spirit Mountain Chief responded coldly. ¡°That Zhou fellow is undoubtedly the successor of the Demon of Qingzhou, or even the original body of the demon, possessed through some secret technique,¡± Gao He asserted. ¡°Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill the young master. They were on the same level.¡± The influential figures from Qingzhou City¡¯s sects fell silent. Although they hadn¡¯t witnessed the battle, they were still taken aback. Understanding that the individual was in the same realm as Tang Xinglong, they inferred that he was likely connected to the Demon of Qingzhou. ¡°At the very least, we can confirm Zhou¡¯s identity. There¡¯s no doubt he¡¯s related to the true perpetrator behind the abnormalities of the past ten thousand years,¡± Kong Binghuang redirected the conversation. ¡°As for the rest, we¡¯ll investigate them thoroughly.¡± Kong Binghuang wanted to take Xiang Mingfeng and She Wanshan away, but a surprised cry from the crowd interrupted him. ¡°Look at the corpse of the prefecture overseer!¡± Everyone turned their gaze to the body of Tang Xinglong. The headless corpse twitched on the ground as if being lifted from behind. His back started to rise, blood pouring out like a stream, and a pair of gray wings sprouted from it. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Even the elders and sect masters of the Qingzhou sects exchanged concerned looks. ¡°Gao He, explain what¡¯s happening!¡± Kong Binghuang demanded. Gao He, the chief honored guest of the prefecture overseer, was just as stunned. ¡°How is this possible? The young master is the grandson of the prefecture overseer! How did he become a demon?¡± Gao He and many sect leaders gathered around the still twitching body of Tang Xinglong, bewildered. Fortunately, the corpse only sprouted wings and underwent no further transformation. ¡°Elder He, please bring over the ghost piercing mirror from the Ghost Ox sect. Let¡¯s examine the situation with this prefecture overseer,¡± the robust master of Lion Spirit Mountain requested. ¡°I brought it with me.¡± Elder He, clad in a gray robe, pulled out a bronze mirror with a gray frame from his sleeve, a serious look on his face. Everyone watched intently as the mirror was trained on Tang Xinglong¡¯s body. Whoosh¡­ A beam of light from the ghost piercing mirror hit Tang Xinglong. ¡°As long as you are illuminated by my Ghost Ox sect¡¯s ghost piercing mirror, it will reveal your true form,¡± Elder He nervously informed the surrounding martial artists. He was worried that he might expose Tang Xinglong¡¯s true identity, which could become a massive scandal. If the respected grandson of a state leader was a demon, what did that imply about the leader himself? The Tang family of Qingzhou had a legacy spanning thousands of years, believed to be linked to one of the legendary eight virtuous kings. ¡°Elder He, steady your hands,¡± the burly man from Lion Spirit Mountain joked, patting Elder He¡¯s shoulder to reassure him. Elder He regained his composure. Soon, an image appeared in the bronze mirror. Tang Xinglong still looked like himself, except for the pair of gray wings on his back. There was nothing unusual about his headless corpse. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 445 - 445 The States Most Wanted 445 The State¡¯s Most Wanted ¡°Take off his shoes and clothes,¡± Kong Binghuang instructed. Gao He automatically stepped in front, acting as a barrier, before receding quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this.¡± He bent down, removing Tang Xinglong¡¯s boots and robes. The exposed skin was pale and his muscles were well-defined, with no signs of beastly claws or scales. Everyone exchanged puzzled looks. They hadn¡¯t encountered such a thing before. ¡°Regardless of a demon¡¯s level of cultivation, they all have a ferocious beast form,¡± someone said. ¡°Although a demon can assume human shape and possess high intelligence, they¡¯re essentially human-shaped beasts. It¡¯s impossible for them to just grow a pair of wings and have normal human limbs.¡± The sect masters and elders from the major Qingzhou sects were all experienced experts who had been around for decades. Yet, this was a first for them. Gao He sighed in relief upon seeing the image in the mirror. ¡°But how did Tang Xinglong end up like this?¡± someone else asked. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget the crucial factor here, Zhou Cunzhong, who¡¯s deeply connected with the Demon of Qingzhou,¡± the sect master of the Heavenly Eagle sect reminded with a sneer. ¡°That man could likely be the reincarnation of the demon. If he can transform a person into a demon, it wouldn¡¯t be too far-fetched, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the demon emissary who appeared in Qingzhou forty-five years ago. He could bestow humans and demons with a bloodline, increase their vitality, and even prolong their lifespan. That incident caused an uproar.¡± At this reminder, the expressions of the sect masters turned grim. It was a painful memory for Qingzhou. ¡°Many elders close to death and weak-willed young geniuses succumbed to the demon emissary back then. Had the prefecture overseer not suppressed the emissary and destroyed his lair, the people of Qingzhou would¡¯ve been thrown into chaos.¡± Gao He sighed. ¡°Since then, I¡¯ve pledged my loyalty to the prefecture overseer.¡± The burly man from Lion Spirit Mountain pondered, ¡°So, it seems like Zhou Cunzhong was the one who caused this transformation in the prefecture overseer?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. I saw a black curtain flash by and wrap around the two of them. It might be the work of the demon,¡± an old warrior who had escaped from the Bronze World exclaimed. ¡°Yes, I saw it too.¡± ¡°Everyone here must¡¯ve seen it, right?¡± Several people raised their hands and echoed the sentiment. The Qingzhou Guards and the martial artists, even those who had disagreements with Xiang Mingfeng, all nodded in agreement. Even Fang Huo, usually stoic, wore a grim expression, unable to refute the claim. ¡°However, it¡¯s premature to jump to such a conclusion,¡± Xiang Mingfeng advised calmly. ¡°If we blame Zhou Cunzhoing for Tang Xinglong¡¯s transformation so casually, any mistakes could still end up harming the people and martial artists of Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Exactly. All we can say is that Zhou Cunzhong may be related to this incident. Besides, who gave you the authority to declare that it¡¯s not the emperor but the demon involved?¡± Fang Huo added. ¡°Shut your mouth, Fang Huo!¡± The burly man from Lion Spirit Mountain rebuked Fang Huo after his remark. ¡°Humph! So, you¡¯re suggesting that the grandson of the prefecture overseer, who has been battling demons all year round, is a demon himself? And that the prefecture overseer is a wicked demon?!¡± Gao He responded indignantly. ¡°In the sixteen prefectures of Great You, the prefecture overseers have retained their family names for thousands of years, many of them intermarrying. ¡°You aren¡¯t just accusing the Qingzhou Prefecture Overseer, but the whole sixteen prefectures of Great You. If you¡¯re using this incident to trouble the prefecture overseer, just say it! But if you want to discredit the prefecture overseer¡¯s achievements over the years, I, Gao He, will be the first to disagree!¡± ¡°Yes! We won¡¯t agree either!¡± the Qingzhou guards echoed behind him. Many elders and sect masters fell silent, feeling that Gao He¡¯s argument was reasonable. If Tang Xinglong was a demon, then all of them would be confused. Had the rulers of Great You turned into demons? ¡°Actually, the suspicion on Zhou Cunzhong is stronger,¡± someone ventured. ¡°His background is unknown, and he was directly involved in the incident. You youngsters can¡¯t defend him just because you¡¯ve received his kindness.¡± As the elders gradually joined the conversation, their voices drowned out Xiang Mingfeng and the others. ¡°In my opinion, no matter what, capturing Zhou Cunzhong is the most important thing!¡± Gao He declared. ¡°Agreed! Once we capture Zhou Cunzhong, everything will become clear. If he resists, execute him on the spot!¡± Suddenly, Fang Huo¡¯s aura turned deadly, but he was knocked out by the man from Lion Spirit Mountain. ¡°Ridiculous,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said bluntly, but no one paid him any attention. The tension in the atmosphere was deflected due to Tang Xinglong¡¯s issue. Many promising individuals were escorted away by their respective sect elders, suspected of being demons and probably facing imprisonment. Soon after returning to Qingzhou, the various sects announced throughout the state that the great demon, Zhou Cunzhong, had inherited the Demon of Qingzhou¡¯s lineage and was responsible for the disappearances of the prodigies. A bounty was placed on Zhou Cunzhong across the entire state. ¡­ ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x5], [Kun Peng Seed (5/2,000)]!¡± Qin Huai examined the Kun Peng fragment thoughtfully. In the bronze realm, Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the grass, activating the blood heart technique to heal his wounds. Earlier, he was interrupted during his spirit channeling into visceral organs by the Emperor of Qingzhou. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 446 - 446 Kun Peng Seed Fragments 446 Kun Peng Seed Fragments Charging headlong into the battlefield to secure a path for Xiang Mingfeng and the others also served as an opportunity for Qin Huai to confirm a particular suspicion. After a while, Qin Huai gradually opened his eyes. He had been injured by Gao He¡¯s assault, and his wounds were not light. As expected, an expert who had reached the third-level visceral prefecture realm possessed tremendous fighting prowess. ¡°Senior, when I defeated Tang Xinglong, I noticed he could actually grow gray wings on his back, identical to the totems on their bodies,¡± Qin Huai said right away. Unquestionably, Tang Xinglong and the entire Prefecture Overseer Estate had transformed into demons. The revelation sent shivers down Qin Huai¡¯s spine. Did this mean that the Tang family, who had governed Qingzhou for thousands of years, were actually demons? Qin Huai then recounted how everyone had transformed the Emperor of Qingzhou into a demon. Not far away, the emperor himself slowly rose to his feet. ¡°It appears the worst-case scenario has arrived,¡± the emperor said, his expression unchanged. ¡°In the aftermath of my death, demons run rampant.¡± He then gestured to Qin Huai, and they moved toward the water¡¯s edge. ¡°Experts from various Qingzhou sects surround this sinkhole. Evidently, they¡¯ve internally agreed to consider you the demon¡¯s successor or reincarnation, and they¡¯ve joined forces to eliminate you.¡± The emperor turned, his eyes sparkling with an intense fervor. ¡°Grow up quickly. Your time is running out,¡± he urged, patting Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder and revealing a sinister grin. ¡°Senior, what¡¯s your plan?¡± Qin Huai asked, grasping the situation quickly. ¡°I still have one last attack left in me. Given they want to eliminate you now, they must have dispatched their top-tier experts. We might as well use you as bait,¡± the emperor suggested with a wicked chuckle. Qin Huai nodded, feeling a pang of sorrow. A character like the Emperor of Qingzhou had been reduced to a demon, wreaking havoc in Qingzhou ten thousand years later. Who could guess what was going through this Qingzhou legend¡¯s mind? The emperor carried on, ¡°Concerning Tang Xinglong¡¯s demise, only a pair of gray wings emerged. It¡¯s likely their method to blend into the human race, or should I say, evolution?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai perked up, paying close attention. This was because what the emperor was revealing would directly impact Qin Huai¡¯s future. ¡°They started experiments ten thousand years ago, attempting to harness the potent physique of demons and the cultivation talents of humans. It seems they might have succeeded,¡± the emperor unveiled the secret. Unfortunately, no one would believe Qin Huai¡¯s words, as Qingzhou was under the covert control of the demons. ¡°They are neither demons nor devils anymore. If you want to label them, call them demonic,¡± the emperor said after a moment of silence. ¡°As for their identities, they should be easy to figure out. In the future, you just need to investigate those prominent families that only intermarry within a few specific clans. We can eliminate them straight away. They are undoubtedly demonic!¡± Qin Huai committed to memory all of the emperor¡¯s words. He then relocated to a nearby spot and sat in a meditative pose, persistently guiding the bronze mountain and river diagram into his organs. In the blink of an eye, a month went by. At a certain moment, Qin Huai, who had been in deep meditation, vanished from his spot. His figure surfaced dozens of meters away, silent and without any trace. With a slight shift in his mind, he instantly materialized in the darkness of the pit, examining the faint figure in the distance. The next second, he returned to the bronze realm. Having refined the bronze mountain and river diagram, he could now fully command the bronze realm. In other words, he had a new bronze realm at his disposal. As for the bronze realm beneath his feet, it was a tad more complex, as most of its power stemmed from the broken array in the sinkhole. ¡°Visceral prefecture realm¡­¡± The emperor appeared next to Qin Huai and patted his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve achieved this breakthrough faster than I anticipated,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Did you originate from this broken formation, Senior?¡± Qin Huai asked, curious. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to execute the plan,¡± the emperor said seriously. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left.¡± Qin Huai promptly fell silent. ¡°I¡¯ve been observing the disciples guarding the sinkhole and found some intriguing details.¡± The emperor squatted near the water, studying the martial artists who were hunting for traces of Qin Huai in the sinkhole. ¡°Despite their different attire, they all bear similar totem tattoos on their bodies. Most likely, they are the descendants of the Eight Virtuous Kings, today¡¯s demons.¡± ¡°Demonic infiltrators within the various sects¡­¡± Qin Huai examined the images that continued to spin. While some figures clearly displayed totem patterns on their bodies, others did not. However, based on their attire, it seemed like Lion Spirit Mountain, Wuji Mountain, Blue Sea Pavilion, and the five great sects had all been infiltrated by demons. The entire Qingzhou was compromised. There were probably numerous demons amongst the leaders of the five great sects. ¡°It seems inevitable that you¡¯ll clash with the entirety of Qingzhou,¡± the Emperor of Qingzhou joked, ¡°Conveniently, this is the true path to becoming an emperor. To slaughter all powerful entities in the world, and single-handedly dominate the world. Go, carry out my plan.¡± As the emperor nudged Qin Huai, the latter acknowledged, ¡°As you command, Senior!¡± with cupped fists. ¡°Remember, catch me a big fish. Ideally, the prefecture overseer or a sect master from the five great sects.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s figure slowly faded from the bronze realm. The very next second, he materialized directly before the martial artists guarding the sinkhole. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong!¡± everyone instantly cried out. However, with a calm demeanor, Qin Huai silently strolled past everyone. Moments later, the group of warriors guarding the sinkhole spontaneously exploded. Their blood, transformed into black blood in mid-air, corroded the sinkhole¡¯s ground, emitting a sizzling sound. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (6/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (7/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (8/2,000)]!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 447 - 447 Heavens Favorite! 447 Heaven¡¯s Favorite! The warriors defending the sinkhole weren¡¯t very strong. A group of second or third-level bone pattern realm experts could merely be considered the backbone of the sects in Qingzhou City. Their sole purpose of being there was to relay information and gather intelligence. In essence, they were nothing more than cannon fodder. However, Qin Huai was taken aback as he thought, ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate obtaining the Kun Peng Seed Fragments by slaying these weak people who carry the bloodline of the ancient demon Kun Peng.¡± He had previously assumed that he could only obtain the Kun Peng fragment from an expert at Tang Xinglong¡¯s level. Even though Qin Huai had swiftly eliminated more than twenty people and acquired only four Kun Peng fragments, it was still an unexpected boon. The drop rate was nearly twenty percent, which was already worthwhile for the ancient demon Kun Peng. In his dantian world, there was only a faint gray seed drifting around, with no signs of power or aura leaking out. Yet, Qin Huai knew that the power symbolized by the name Kun Peng was certainly not any weaker than the dragon skeleton beneath the Nine Dragons sect. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Outside the sinkhole, several strands of colorful smoke had already erupted into the sky. Qin Huai took a step forward, using a blend of the wind breath technique and the ancient azure illusion scripture. The shapeless illusion was blown away by the wind. In an instant, Qin Huai had spanned several hundred meters. As he unleashed the poison king technique, his fists flew simultaneously, instantaneously wiping out the experts guarding the bronze sinkhole¡¯s perimeter. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (10/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (11/2,000)]!¡± Qin Huai quickly walked out of the bronze sinkhole. On the ground, reinforcements were already rushing towards the area, presumably the nearby stationed Qingzhou guards. However, Qin Huai had no intention of confronting this group of Qingzhou guards. The Emperor of Qingzhou only had one last opportunity to strike, and it had to be used wisely to bait a formidable foe. Although the emperor assured him that he could bring him back to the grand array from anywhere within the Qingzhou radius, an attack could only be launched within the bronze sinkhole. Therefore, Qin Huai had to lure the big fish back to the bronze sinkhole. Besides, Qin Huai was also looking to find a suitable guardian spirit item in Qingzhou to safeguard and unlock the subsequent organ manors. He planned to use the dragon bones hidden at the Nine Dragons sect as his guardian spirit item, with the bronze mountain and river diagram already assigned to the liver. The wind breath technique had temporarily classified Qin Huai as the fragment of the potential Kun Peng seed. However, suitable matches for the remaining blood heart technique, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, and even the divine power book of a thousand creations had yet to be found. Now, what Qin Huai wanted to do was enter the city! He removed his clothes, put on fresh ones, donned a bamboo hat, and quickly made his way toward the outer city of Qingzhou. As there were no city walls in the outer city, he met no resistance upon entering. Qingzhou City was the same as when he had left it a year ago. However, the status of the four gangs in the outer city had completely changed. ¡­ The master of the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary, Fan Ziyu, welcomed Qin Huai with a warm smile and even prepared a pot of tea for him. ¡°You¡¯ve been away for a year, Mr. Long. You may not know that there have been major changes in the outer city,¡± Fan Ziyu commented with a sigh. ¡°First, the Lin Gang was annihilated. Last month, the leader of the Blood Poison Gang and a group of elites entered the bronze sinkhole and disappeared without a trace. All because of¡­that¡­¡± ¡°Demon of Qingzhou!¡± The shopkeeper, who was serving them, interjected. ¡°Watch your words!¡± Fan Ziyu admonished seriously. ¡°Get back to your work.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± The shopkeeper quickly bowed his head and left. ¡°Presently, the Blood Poison Gang has been overtaken by the Thunderbolt Gang. All their possessions were seized, and it is said that a lot of people from the slums were imprisoned as medicinal apprentices. The number exceeds a thousand! Even prominent figures in the inner city are shocked by this,¡± Fan Ziyu added. ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s a good thing that the Blood Poison Gang has been destroyed,¡± Qin Huai responded, his expression unchanging. He considered the extermination of the Blood Poison Gang a fulfillment of his wish. ¡°What about the demon? I was traveling out of town to avoid the disaster brought by the demon,¡± Qin Huai confessed. ¡°The grand honored guest of the prefecture overseer personally killed the great demon. Just ten days ago, the southern part of the outer city collapsed,¡± Fan Ziyu responded, sighing profoundly. ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°I would like to purchase some medicinal herbs from you.¡± ¡°Absolutely! You just name them!¡± Fan Ziyu replied cheerfully, patting his chest. Qin Huai then proceeded to list a series of rare medicinal herbs, including a three-hundred-year-old demonic snake flower, five-hundred-year-old snake scorpion grass, a seven-petaled ice mountain lotus, and bone powder of the bone pattern realm mountain bull. Upon hearing this, both Fan Ziyu and the shopkeeper were left speechless. ¡°You know how to refine pills?¡± they asked. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with pill refining, but I do have some proficiency with medicinal skills,¡± Qin Huai admitted. ¡°You have these medicinal ingredients, right?¡± ¡°Certainly! Our Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary is unrivaled in the entire outer city. Even within the inner city, there are few who can compete with us,¡± Fan Ziyu assured him confidently. ¡°Please wait here while I prepare your order.¡± Before long, Fan Ziyu returned with the medicinal herbs for Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯m thankful for your assistance today,¡± Qin Huai said, standing up to leave and cupping his fists in gratitude. ¡°Take care, Mr. Long!¡± Fan Ziyu called out as he escorted Qin Huai to the door, watching until Qin Huai¡¯s figure disappeared at the end of the road. Turning back, Fan Ziyu returned to the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. ¡°Pavilion Master! Pavilion Master!¡± The shopkeeper, after speaking with a few new customers, came rushing out in panic. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 448 - 448 Mask! 448 Mask! ¡°What¡¯s the fuss about?¡± Fan Ziyu asked, his face stern. ¡°I just got word from a few customers that the demon from the bronze sinkhole escaped. He¡¯s killed all the guards and is now at large,¡± the shopkeeper said, mopping his brow with his sleeve. ¡°I see.¡± Fan Ziyu nodded. ¡°Just make sure that the disciples in the pavilion stay put and out of trouble.¡± ¡°Pavilion Master, I heard that when the demon was fighting outside the sinkhole, he exuded a powerful killing intent. Rumor has it that the Qingzhou guards could hear tiger and wolf sounds,¡± the shopkeeper spoke softly. ¡°What¡¯s your point?¡± Fan Ziyu asked, staring at the shopkeeper. ¡°Just do your job.¡± The shopkeeper seemed worried. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the characteristic of the four-directional tiger-wolf technique? There are very few practitioners of that technique in Qingzhou City, and most of them are older people. ¡°Mr. Long, the young man who disappeared suddenly a year ago, likely wasn¡¯t seeking refuge but was kidnapped by the demon. Now that he¡¯s reappeared, it coincides with the emergence of the demon,¡± the shopkeeper continued, looking pleased with himself. He prided himself on his keen observation and exceptional memory, qualities that had secured him his current role at the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary. ¡°A remarkable coincidence. The only young and physically strong genius who vanished around the same time a year ago was Qin Huai. He was supposedly killed by the leader of the Blood Poison Gang, Wen Zonghao, who had an assistant named Zhou Cunzhong. Now that all members of the Blood Poison Gang are dead, the only ones aware of this coincidence in the entire Qingzhou are you and me. ¡°The prefecture overseer has announced a reward of a county governor¡¯s post to anyone who uncovers the demon¡¯s identity and whereabouts,¡± the shopkeeper added, rubbing his hands in anticipation. He knew his master wasn¡¯t interested in administrative positions, so he proposed a partnership where they could share the bounty. ¡°You have a point. We need to keep this between us,¡± Fan Ziyu responded, patting the shopkeeper¡¯s shoulder and leading him to the backyard. ¡°Pavilion Master, should I¡­?¡± the shopkeeper started, but he was interrupted when Fan Ziyu suddenly struck him in the chest. The shopkeeper looked at his master in disbelief, not understanding why Fan Ziyu wanted to kill him. ¡°You¡¯re too clever for your own good. That can be a problem,¡± Fan Ziyu said indifferently, watching the life drain from the shopkeeper. He sprinkled some black powder over the shopkeeper¡¯s body, which silently dissipated in the backyard. After dealing with the shopkeeper, Fan Ziyu quickly retreated to his room. He triggered a secret compartment on the top of a bookcase, which rotated to reveal a hidden chamber. Rumble¡­ The hidden room contained a simple sleeping mat and rows of ancient books neatly organized on either side. Each cover bore the inscription ¡°Qingzhou Biography.¡± The centerpiece was a portrait of a man ¨C the Emperor of Qingzhou. ¡°So many smart people in this world¡­ I must be prepared,¡± Fan Ziyu murmured, addressing the portrait. ¡°I hope you can forgive me, Senior.¡± He bowed three times before the portrait and scattered a handful of powder over it, causing the image to quietly dissolve. Outside the secret chamber, Qin Huai observed everything. He had initially visited the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary out of concern that they might uncover something. To his surprise, his visit had confirmed their speculations. However, he hadn¡¯t anticipated that the pavilion master would share a mysterious connection with the Emperor of Qingzhou, even murdering the shopkeeper to keep the news quiet. It seemed that Qingzhou was not only infiltrated by demons but also by the emperor himself. As a gentle breeze blew, Qin Huai¡¯s figure vanished. ¡­ In the original base of the Blood Poison Gang, now occupied by the Thunderbolt Gang, Qin Huai strolled in as if he owned the place. He was now disguised in the garb of a new Thunderbolt Gang member, complete with a bamboo hat. He carried a bag, handing out its contents ¡ª vitality pills ¡ª as he went. With the Thunderbolt Gang now dominated by two families and expanding their ranks daily, unfamiliar faces were common, so no one suspected the newcomer Qin Huai. Thus, Qin Huai had free reign to explore without encountering troubles. Relying on his memory, he boarded the flower boat which served as Huang Qiguang¡¯s residence. The boat was filled with revelers, an atmosphere of indulgence permeating the air. Using the wind breath technique, Qin Huai gradually blended into the crowd. He effortlessly entered Huang Qiguang¡¯s room. His aim was to find the mask that Huang Qiguang had crafted to frame him. The mask¡¯s quality was so high that it could even endure attacks from a bone pattern realm expert. However, after numerous intense encounters and especially after Gao He¡¯s assault, Qin Huai¡¯s face was severely damaged. Moreover, the face was too risky to maintain. If he was identified by a member of the Blood Poison Gang and associated with it, it could have unforeseen consequences. He scanned the room, reasoning that if Huang Qiguang was hiding the mask, he wouldn¡¯t keep it in an obvious place, but he wouldn¡¯t stash it somewhere too remote either. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 449 - 449 Entering the Prefecture Overseers Manor 449 Entering the Prefecture Overseer¡¯s Manor The ideal hiding spot would be in plain sight but extremely secretive. Qin Huai considered this as he scanned the room. ¡°Quite a lucky break,¡± he mumbled to himself. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside, followed by the squeak of the door opening. The newcomer was a strikingly handsome man with a gleam of joy evident on his face. It was Hua Yanli, a talented member of the Thunderbolt Gang and an associate of Qin Huai. Hua Yanli sauntered in with a small wooden box, taking a seat at the table, a smug look on his face. Meanwhile, Qin Huai was stealthily perched on a roof beam above him. Fortunately, when Huang Qiguang had renovated the ship, he had made the beams high enough to provide a perfect hiding spot. ¡°Brother Hua, why did you ask me here?¡± Yun Qi, holding an iron fan, walked in with a frown. ¡°You know I despise places like this.¡± He was so reluctant, he didn¡¯t even sit. Yun Qi would never have associated with the Thunderbolt Gang if it wasn¡¯t for Hua Yanli. ¡°Didn¡¯t you vouch for me last month? I need to express my gratitude,¡± Hua Yanli replied with a chuckle. Both men had taken a stand alongside Qin Huai and others against the Qingzhou guards. Following that incident, Hua Yanli, who lacked connections, was punished by the prefecture overseer out of anger for Tang Xinglong¡¯s death. Yun Qi had stepped in to save him. ¡°We¡¯re friends, there¡¯s no need to thank me,¡± Yun Qi responded, dismissing Hua Yanli¡¯s gratitude. Their bond was solid, forged in the trials of the bronze realm. Without this bond, Yun Qi wouldn¡¯t have put his life on the line to save Hua Yanli, even resulting in a ten-day confinement by his sect master. ¡°If I don¡¯t show my gratitude, am I even human?¡± Hua Yanli asked earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ll never forget the kindness you¡¯ve shown me by saving my life.¡± He opened the small wooden box to reveal a collection of ordinary-looking masks. ¡°I found these in Courtesan Belle Le¡¯er¡¯s room. They were supposedly made by Huang Qiguang, the former third leader of the Blood Poison Gang.¡± He handed a few to Yun Qi. Up in the beams, Qin Huai watched intently, using the wind breath technique to remain undetected. The wooden box contained over thirty masks, including faces of important figures like Wen Zonghao, Mou Jinfu, Yin Rongen, and even the leaders of the Thunderbolt Gang and the Mountain City Gang. Huang Qiguang¡¯s ambitions were clear. ¡°These are quite valuable,¡± Yun Qi acknowledged. He understood the masks¡¯ usefulness in concealing identities, and he praised their high quality. The two friends began to reminisce about their bitter days in the bronze realm, constantly thwarted by Qin Huai. Their memories brought tears to their eyes. ¡°Brother Yun, what¡¯s your opinion on Tang Xinglong sprouting wings?¡± Hua Yanli changed the subject. ¡°Given the strangeness of the bronze realm, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of the potential effects of the ancient scriptures,¡± Yun Qi responded in a hushed tone. ¡°Most importantly, both of us know Zhou Cunzhong well enough to not mistake his aura, even if we were to die! ¡°It can¡¯t be some kind of possession. Even if he¡¯s somehow become the so-called successor of the Demon of Qingzhou, there¡¯s no way he could have transformed a five-pattern prodigy into a demon in just a month or two, right?¡± Hua Yanli nodded. ¡°It seems like we¡¯re on the same page, Brother Yun.¡± From above, Qin Huai eavesdropped on their conversation, feeling touched and a little speechless. Honestly, he hadn¡¯t planned to target them intentionally ¡ª it was more of a convenient situation. ¡°But concerning Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s situation, the upper ranks of the major sects have made their intentions pretty clear,¡± Yun Qi expressed confusion. ¡°Claiming that he killed Zhou Cunzhong and was the reincarnation of the demon¡­ it all seems very suspicious.¡± Hua Yanli replied earnestly, ¡°I suspect all of Qingzhou is in danger. I¡¯m considering reaching out to the Chosen from the major sects to discuss this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of contacting fellow practitioners from the bronze realm to talk about this,¡± Yun Qi added. Laughing, they both exclaimed how well they knew each other and how in sync they were. Their smiles, however, froze when they spotted a face that haunted their dreams: Zhou Cunzhong. ¡°Hello to both of you,¡± Qin Huai greeted as he gracefully landed on the ground, his expression unchanging. ¡°Thank you for your trust.¡± He picked up two of the ordinary-looking masks. ¡°For now, I can only advise you to be wary of those bearing unknown totems, especially gray ones. There is indeed something suspicious occurring among Qingzhou¡¯s upper ranks, including the major sects. So it¡¯s best to stay low, recover, and conserve your strength.¡± He hoped his advice would prevent these two promising individuals from getting killed while investigating the prefecture overseer manor¡¯s activities. Hua Yanli and Yun Qi reacted with hostility. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll listen to you? Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°The grudges from the bronze realm aren¡¯t something you can dismiss with a few words,¡± they declared. But by then, Qin Huai had already vanished. ¡°Unknown totems?¡± The two shared a look. Qin Huai¡¯s words confirmed some of their suspicions, and this information was undeniably valuable. They agreed that they couldn¡¯t delay contacting Xiang Mingfeng and the others, and they¡¯d have to be extra cautious as there might be spies among those who had sided with Qin Huai. They continued discussing their strategy in hushed tones. ¡­ Meanwhile, Qin Huai had already donned his new mask and left the boat. Walking through the bustling streets, he crossed the city gate and entered the inner city of Qingzhou. This part of the city was a picturesque landscape of mountains and rivers. In fact, the inner city felt more like a mountain city, with all the towns built on the mountainside and the sects located at the mountaintops. As he gazed at the distant prefecture overseer¡¯s manor, Qin Huai muttered, ¡°Time to return to my old job.¡± Poisonous mist swirled within his sleeves, indicating the danger he was about to unleash. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 450 - 450 A Perfect Home 450 A Perfect Home East of Qingzhou, Lingjiang Cranes soared into the cloud-dappled sky, their calls echoing through the distance. A group of Nine Dragons disciples garbed in green and white robes glided across a forested training field, practicing their martial arts. At the peak of Nine Dragons Mountain, Li Shaoxiang stood tall, her soft armor accentuating her perfect silhouette. She brandished a spear with practiced vigor. ¡°Sis, last month¡¯s profits are in,¡± announced Li Buhu, his face flushed with excitement as he approached Li Shaoxiang. ¡°Are they satisfactory?¡± she asked, pausing her spear moves and turning to face him. ¡°How did you know?¡± Li Buhu was surprised. ¡°I heard your laughter halfway up the mountain,¡± Li Shaoxiang replied. Li Buhu laughed again. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. The results are just too incredible. In just two short years, we¡¯ve transformed the originally decrepit Lingjiang. Thanks to the disciplined efforts of our sect¡¯s disciples and my supervision, most of the city¡¯s populace now lives comfortably. About eighty percent of them have enough to eat.¡± He continued in disbelief, ¡°And it¡¯s all because of your husband that you invented a ¡®chemical fertilizer¡¯ that significantly increases crop yields.¡± Li Shaoxiang smiled wistfully. ¡°Not to mention, the officials who took office were all capable individuals, handpicked by my father, me, and several elders. At the very least, they were obedient and not overly greedy, easing the tax burden.¡± ¡°More importantly,¡± she added, ¡°in the past, after paying Qingzhou¡¯s tax, we also had to pay the imperial tax. Now, with the disappearance of imperial tax officers, our burden is significantly reduced.¡± But then, Li Shaoxiang soberly reminded Li Buhu, ¡°Don¡¯t become arrogant or complacent because of this. We are merely aligning ourselves with the currents of history.¡± What the people really wanted wasn¡¯t necessarily honest officials, but officials who weren¡¯t overly corrupt. As long as the commoners had enough to eat, they were satisfied. This was what Li Shaoxiang and the others had achieved. The Nine Dragons sect served as a cautionary symbol to city lords, keeping their excesses in check. Without this, the benefits of the ¡®chemical fertilizer¡¯ would merely line the pockets of the corrupt officials and local tyrants, never reaching the common people. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re being too modest.¡± Li Buhu chuckled. ¡°Our neighboring Linshui Prefecture and Shangyao Prefecture are engulfed in strife. Only our Lingjiang lives in peace under your and brother-in-law¡¯s leadership.¡± Li Shaoxiang replied, ¡°This is all thanks to Master Tong.¡± ¡°Madam, I can¡¯t bear to hear you say such words!¡± At the foot of the mountain, an old man with a stooped figure climbed up the slope, flanked by a few children. They are the members of the Tong family, whom Qin Huai had rescued from the Tong Treasure Shop in Qingzhou. Upon returning, they were inundated with tales of Qin Huai¡¯s heroic deeds. Realizing that the famed Qin Huai was their savior, they immediately joined the Nine Dragons sect. ¡°Master Tong, you¡¯re too modest. If it weren¡¯t for your excellent forging skills, Lingjiang wouldn¡¯t be experiencing this era of peace and prosperity,¡± Li Shaoxiang sincerely acknowledged. The Tong family¡¯s forging techniques made a significant impact on Lingjiang and its neighboring counties. In an attempt to express their gratitude for Qin Huai saving their lives, they worked tirelessly. They established the Tongduan Peak at the Nine Dragons sect and began training students. Over eighty percent of the forging masters and experts from the surrounding counties sought their knowledge. Within just two years, Lingjiang¡¯s forging standards saw a consistent rise, and the production capacity surprisingly surged. The Nine Dragons sect established the five-thousand-strong White Dragon Army, all equipped with high-quality white dragon armor. Some power stone fragments were mixed in, though not potent enough to match even a broken artifact. Nonetheless, to the armies of neighboring counties, this White Dragon Army appeared invincible, capable of bulldozing any obstacles. Elder Erlong and Sun Yuanshan, both known for their eloquent speeches and blatant boasts, traveled across prefectures promoting the virtues of Lingjiang. They painted it as a peaceful haven contrasting the chaotic neighboring prefectures. As a result, countless refugees migrated to Lingjiang, catapulting it to the top among the ten counties of East Qingzhou in just two years. ¡°By the way, how much did you say last month¡¯s tax was?¡± Li Shaoxiang inquired. ¡°Three million vitality pills,¡± Li Buhu said. Modern Lingjiang no longer uses the Great Nether Treasure Shop¡¯s gold and silver notes for transactions. Even silver was forsaken. Gold and vitality pills became the primary currency. Additionally, Lingjiang took this opportunity to mint the Nine Dragons Lingjiang Copper Coins, which became extremely popular locally. This was largely due to the recent chaos in Qingzhou, and the fact that the ten counties were on the border, so there was nothing to squeeze out. Each county had its own currency, but none were as widely accepted as the Nine Dragons Lingjiang Copper Coin. ¡°Tell the disciples to stay vigilant about the other nine counties. We must not let our temporary prosperity breed arrogance or complacency,¡± Li Shaoxiang instructed. ¡°I will gather intelligence from time to time. I¡¯m not concerned about maintaining the so-called fraternal relations.¡± Li Shaoxiang pointed her spear¡¯s tip at Li Buhu¡¯s heart. The latter grinned deferentially, well aware that she was not jesting. ¡°I will spare no effort to build a perfect home for my husband.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 451 - 451 The Next Target 451 The Next Target Li Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes radiated with determination. ¡°Sis, what kind of home does our brother-in-law desire?¡± Li Buhu curiously questioned. Even Old Master Tong seemed interested, keenly listening. ¡°A place where everyone can live peacefully, wear warm clothes, have a safe shelter, no longer suffer from hunger, and are not subjected to others¡¯ oppression.¡± Li Shaoxiang¡¯s eyes softened as she spoke. This vision was what she had learned from her deep conversations with Qin Huai. For now, they dared not covet too much land. Their only desire was to establish stability and prosperity in their region. Towards this goal, Qin Huai traveled to Qingzhou to seek more power, while she was entrusted with establishing a home in Lingjiang. The couple utilized their own strengths, tirelessly working towards their shared objectives. ¡­ Blue Sea Pavilion stood by the Blue Sea Lake, its name inspired by the location. Disciples in the pavilion excelled in water combat, each one a specialist in their own right. In the heart of the Blue Sea Lake, a water pavilion stood isolated. Xu Tong, shackled at his hands and feet, sat quietly in the center of the pavilion, his hair disheveled. It was a pitiable sight for the one who was destined to be the future king of the Blue Sea Pavilion, its eldest senior brother. Ripples danced across the surface of the lake. ¡°Tong¡¯er¡­¡± A beautiful figure embraced Xu Tong. ¡°Mother, you¡¯re back.¡± Xu Tong looked up at the woman in front of him with calm eyes. ¡°How was your trip to Qingzhou?¡± Xu Tong still managed to maintain a sense of humor. But his mother saw his condition as a provocation. ¡°Those old fools are nothing but bullies!¡± Anger seethed in the woman¡¯s eyes. Despite her youthful face and slender figure, she spoke with a mature aura. This was Xu Yuexin, the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion, whom Qin Huai had previously met. ¡°Who dared to confine my son?¡± Xu Yuexin¡¯s voice turned frosty. ¡°Mother, let it be. This matter involves the demon, so I can¡¯t blame them for locking me up for two months. It actually gave me a chance to quietly cultivate and process my recent gains¡­ But, their attitude was indeed strange¡­¡± Xu Tong¡¯s voice was slightly raspy. Since his return from the bronze realm, he had been confined in this water pavilion without uttering a word. ¡°I suggest that you secretly watch over the four elders, He, Sun, Li, and Tang. Their reactions are oddly suspicious,¡± Xu Tong lowered his voice. ¡°Forget about Elder He,¡± Xu Yuexin calmly replied. ¡°Why? Are you aware of his background?¡± Xu Tong looked surprised. ¡°No, I have already killed him,¡± Xu Yuexin spoke in a steady voice. ¡°He dared to torment my son. He should¡¯ve anticipated the consequences.¡± Xu Tong was taken aback. ¡°If you continue spoiling me like this, I¡¯ll lose my mind. This time, I met several prodigies in the bronze realm. Their ruthlessness and decisiveness surpass mine¡­ I feel weaker than them now because you pamper me too much!¡± Xu Tong jested. ¡°If I don¡¯t spoil my own son, then who should I spoil?¡± Xu Yuexin shrugged it off nonchalantly. The two of them spent some time talking about ordinary life topics ¡ª food, clothing, housing, and potential romantic interests. Aside from a slight impatience that led to her inadvertently killing an ailing visceral prefecture realm expert, she didn¡¯t seem much different from any typical mother. ¡­ In front of the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor, Qin Huai surveyed the small courtyard, which was roughly a thousand square meters in size. It wasn¡¯t as large as the county governor of Lingjiang¡¯s residence ¡ª it was just a house befitting a local tycoon. He had spent a day and night squatting near the entrance, finally managing to observe a servant emerging from it. ¡°His strides are forceful, reminiscent of a tiger or a leopard. Is it possible that even a servant of the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor has reached the bone pattern realm?¡± Qin Huai pondered, slightly surprised. He wondered if bone pattern realm experts were so commonplace. Seeing the servant walking away, Qin Huai used the wind breathing technique to quickly approach and capture him with a single move. Even a full five-pattern expert could not resist Qin Huai, let alone a mere servant. ¡°Do you realize who I am?¡± The servant¡¯s face turned red as he confronted the formidable Qin Huai. He displayed no fear. Instead, he audaciously issued a threat, ¡°If you kill me, your entire lineage up to the ninth generation will not be spared!¡± His voice was harsh as he spat out these venomous words. Unfazed, Qin Huai produced some medicinal powder from his palm and stuffed it into the servant¡¯s mouth. Using a powerful memory recovery technique, Qin Huai quickly discerned the lay of the land and the basic structure of the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor. ¡°A mere chef dares to be so insolent¡­¡± Qin Huai, somewhat amused, reduced the chef to ashes with the last bit of his powder. ¡°The prefecture overseer isn¡¯t in his residence. He has gone to recruit young and able-bodied men from the areas around Qingzhou City. There are also two visceral prefecture realm guest elders and a personal guard commander. Three miles away from the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor lives the prefecture overseer¡¯s younger brother, the notorious Second Master Tang, Tang Ying. ¡°The Tang family resides a hundred miles east of the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor. It¡¯s too far from the bronze sinkhole. Moreover, if we assault the Tang family¡¯s ancestral home and retreat to the sinkhole, we¡¯re likely to be intercepted by the experts from the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor.¡± Muttering to himself, Qin Huai quickly chose his target: Tang Ying. Known as the Flying Peng General, Tang Ying was revered as the most courageous warrior in the Tang family, second only to the State Patriarch and the Tang family¡¯s patriarch. His strength was renowned and deeply respected. Twenty years ago, he was already a top-tier expert at the third-level visceral prefecture realm. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 452 - 452 Theyre All Demons! 452 They¡¯re All Demons! According to the chef, Second Master Tang was known to be audacious and somewhat reckless. He seemed like the perfect target for Qin Huai¡¯s purposes. After bypassing the prefecture overseer¡¯s manor, Qin Huai located the residence of Second Master Tang. The grand property stretched over several acres and featured tall structures and more than ten opulent palaces. One palace, fashioned entirely from green jade, was likely as luxurious as an emperor¡¯s dwelling. Qin Huai activated blood burst, and more than thirty blood-red tiger wolves materialized from his body. Like a spectral figure in red, he vaulted over the wall and infiltrated the palace grounds. Rumble! Successive explosions echoed throughout the palace, punctuated by the anguished cries of the palace occupants. Qin Huai, standing atop the wall, surveyed the debris of bodies left in the aftermath. His expression turned icy when he noticed that half the deceased experts from the palace had sprouted a pair of gray wings after dying. This discovery affirmed his suspicion: every member of the Tang family was a demon, descendants of the ancient demon bloodline of Kun Peng. Suddenly, an outraged roar echoed through the night, ¡°Who dares to offend my Tang family!¡± The powerful resonance carried over a hundred meters, reaching Qin Huai¡¯s ears. The sound waves rippled visibly through the air and set his nerves on edge. Bang! In a swift move, the stone pillars of a nearby hall were uprooted and hurtled toward him. Without missing a beat, Qin Huai countered with a double-fisted strike, causing the stone pillar to fragment into dozens of pieces mid-flight. He found himself face-to-face with the intimidating Tang Ying, who sneered at the sight of the gray-winged corpses. ¡°Brat, whatever your motive, there¡¯s a price to pay for seeing what you shouldn¡¯t,¡± he declared, moving toward Qin Huai with remarkable speed. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Qin Huai turned and sprinted away, using his wind breath technique and ancient azure illusion scripture. As he ran, he projected five figures of himself running in different directions. But Tang Ying was not fooled. He pursued Qin Huai¡¯s actual form, seemingly undeterred and heading directly for the city gate of Qingzhou City. ¡°You¡¯re not as foolish as the rumors suggest,¡± Qin Huai commented. Tang Ying retorted, ¡°I may be reckless, but I¡¯m not stupid!¡± His sinister smile was chilling. ¡°At this point, who else would dare to provoke us? You must be one of those so-called heaven¡¯s favorites from Qingzhou City or that Zhou Cunzhong.¡± Tang Ying had quickly discerned Qin Huai¡¯s intentions. However, he did not slow down nor did he send out any signals for reinforcements. ¡°It¡¯s naive of you to believe you can eliminate me with your limited abilities.¡± ¡°Is this the famed confidence of Second Master Tang?¡± Qin Huai shouted back. In the very next moment, Tang Ying spread a pair of gray wings, instantly boosting his speed. He was frighteningly fast! Qin Huai felt his heart lurch as the sound of something tearing through the air echoed behind him. His wind breath technique, he realized, was no match for the speed granted by those gray wings. A white light flared in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes as he activated his dragon king form. His hair turned from black to white instantly, and his muscles hardened, resembling the tough exterior of a cannonball. His speed increased, but it was still not enough. The distance between him and Tang Ying continued to shrink. ¡°If I kill you now, I can head to the bronze sinkhole myself. The outcome will remain the same,¡± sneered Second Master Tang. ¡°You miscalculated, boy.¡± His face bore an expression of giddy anticipation. Suddenly, his pair of massive gray wings, spanning five to six meters, flapped again, giving Tang Ying another boost in speed. Gritting his teeth, Qin Huai called forth his blood burst technique. Several streaks of blood shot out from his body, and the blood-red tiger wolf sprang into the air, charging toward Tang Ying. ¡°Scatter!¡± Tang Ying commanded. A wave of sonic energy emanated from him, shattering the blood-red tiger wolf mid-air. At the same time, dozens of trees in the vicinity exploded, their splintered fragments mixing with tufts of grass in a flurry of airborne debris. The distance between them was closing: a hundred meters, eighty meters, seventy meters¡­ ¡°Brat, I¡¯m about to catch you,¡± taunted Tang Ying, obviously enjoying this cat-and-mouse game. ¡°I¡¯ve been cooped up in the palace for too long, and it¡¯s become quite boring. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve found some entertainment.¡± He didn¡¯t regard Qin Huai as a threat, whether he was a future king with five full patterns or just a newcomer to the visceral prefecture realm. Tang Ying was confident that the outcome would remain the same. Suddenly, when the gap closed to just twenty meters, Tang Ying¡¯s eyes emitted a chilling, scarlet light. Qin Huai felt a shiver run down his spine and quickly condensed a thick blood qi armor around him. But in the next instant, the blood qi armor was pierced by the crimson light, along with Qin Huai¡¯s body in its dragon king form. A bloodied hole, two fingers wide, appeared in his abdomen. The opponent, he realized, was a formidable adversary, at least having reached the fourth level in the visceral prefecture realm. Furthermore, he surmised that Tang Ying¡¯s guardian spirit item was likely a rarity in Qingzhou, considering it could penetrate his defenses so effortlessly. ¡°Little brat, your blood is running out fast! The next attack won¡¯t just hit your abdomen.¡± Tang Ying cackled ominously. But his expression froze when he noticed the wound on Qin Huai¡¯s abdomen rapidly healing until it was as if the injury never existed. ¡°Is this the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s cultivation technique? Are you a member of the Sacred Heart sect?¡± Tang Ying snorted derisively. ¡°Just a bunch of bugs!¡± His disdain for the Sacred Heart sect was evident. Tang Ying¡¯s eyes lit up again, but he quickly dimmed the light. He realized they had unknowingly arrived at the bustling city gates. His wings discreetly retracted, and he deliberately reduced his speed, maintaining a distance of over ten meters from Qin Huai. Boom! With a thunderous crash, they both stormed into the city, causing chaos. Buildings, including gambling dens, brothels, and shops, were rammed by the two combatants. ¡°Who dares to barge into the brothel? Don¡¯t you value your life¡ª¡± Bang! A thug trying to block Qin Huai¡¯s path was abruptly silenced by a punch that exploded on contact. ¡°He¡¯s the Demon of Qingzhou! Stop him!¡± Tang Ying yelled, ¡°I am Tang Ying of the Tang family. If you stop this villain, I will reward you generously!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 453 - 453 Bronze Mountain and River Diagram, Bronze Realm! 453 Bronze Mountain and River Diagram, Bronze Realm! Tang Ying¡¯s repeated calls spurred many of the city¡¯s martial artists into action. Several young masters at the bone pattern realm rushed toward Qin Huai. Yet, before they could even take their first steps, streaks of blood light were faster, pouncing onto their faces. In an instant, they were blasted into oblivion. A handful of more seasoned martial artists reacted more prudently to Tang Ying¡¯s provocation. Instead of advancing, they retreated. A casino manager even warned his nephew, ¡°Kid, we shouldn¡¯t involve ourselves in such matters.¡± ¡°Why?¡± his nephew asked. ¡°Do you know who Tang Ying is? Even he¡¯s struggling to deal with this person. If we intervene, wouldn¡¯t we be seeking our own death?¡± While they were discussing this, Qin Huai had already wreaked havoc down the entire street of gambling dens, which were quite common around the city pass. ¡°Close the city gates!¡± Tang Ying roared. His furious voice reverberated for hundreds of meters, the force of it causing some spectators to bleed from their various orifices. In Qin Huai¡¯s sight, the thick city wall began to close slowly under the efforts of numerous martial artists operating rotating gears. Undeterred, Qin Huai pressed forward, summoning a gust of wind beneath his feet that lifted him off the ground. Effortlessly, he strode atop the ancient city walls as if walking on level ground. Bang! With a loud boom, Qin Huai soared into the sky like a grand roc spreading its wings, taking in the sweeping view of the city tower and its surroundings. Hundreds of Qingzhou guards, armed with spears, stood on the city walls and the periphery of the outer city. Atop the city tower, a burly man in green armor, a red feather attached to his helmet, locked eyes with Qin Huai. Grinning, the burly man said, ¡°Second Master Tang, I¡¯ll lend you a hand!¡± Boom! The green-armored man shot into the air, supported by a phantom of a featherless eagle demon beneath his feet. The man was a guard general at the visceral prefecture realm. Qin Huai frowned at the sight of the eagle demon phantom. Generally, the carcasses of fiendish demons were highly valued in the visceral prefecture realm. If refined into the organs, they could imbue demonic traits when activating the guardian spirit item. It was common to see those with wings, tough armor, and horns ¡ª but these were usually living phenomena that disappeared after death. However, people like Tang Xinglong, who sprouted wings only after death, were a peculiar anomaly. This, coupled with the information he had received from the chef and the strange impression held by the higher-ups of various large sects in Qingzhou City about Tang Xinglong, aroused his suspicions. Many speculated that the gray-winged roc, which had been refined into Tang Xinglong¡¯s dantian, had influenced his physical constitution and lineage. Some even suggested that Tang Xinglong had attained the visceral prefecture realm. They suggested that his post-death transformation was caused by an infection from a great demon¡¯s blood, hinting at an unusually high ¡®degree of fusion¡¯. While a few sect masters had proposed a blood test to validate his innocence, there was no conclusive explanation. As for Tang Ying, his hesitation to reveal his gray wings in public could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. Moreover, since he also possessed the wings of a gray-winged roc, revealing them might attract unnecessary trouble. However, the general guarding the city was quite brazen, openly spreading his black feathers. Dozens of black lights arose from the ground and rushed towards Qin Huai. Qin Huai, suspended in the air, quickly rolled and dove into the black light. Boom! There was a loud explosion as airwaves surged around him. Sparks flew, and clanging noises echoed as the black feathers pierced Qin Huai¡¯s skin, causing blood to rain down from the sky. The city guard general sneered at Qin Huai¡¯s seemingly suicidal charge. ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± he gloated. His task was merely to delay Qin Huai, not to defeat him. With Second Master Tang in hot pursuit, he didn¡¯t need to make a considerable effort to claim credit. However, as Qin Huai came within inches of the general, he suddenly sprawled onto the city gate tower. Now separated by a few meters, both men eyed each other cautiously. In response to the bright white light that Qin Huai emitted, the general unleashed a flurry of black feathers, like a dark tide surging into the sky. Yet, Qin Huai retaliated with his poison dragon shock, which created a white streak of light that tore the black tide apart. With the sounds of explosions echoing, Tang Ying, who was following behind, crashed down with a thunderous thud. He was now less than three meters away from Qin Huai. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s over!¡± Tang Ying said with a wicked smile, his terrifying fist glowing with a faint aura of death. However, Qin Huai remained calm, keeping his gaze fixed on the city guard general. He unleashed a punch, a green light illuminating it and encapsulating the city guard general as if it were mountains and rivers. ¡°Bronze mountain and river diagram, bronze realm!¡± The city gate tower was shattered by the force of Tang Ying¡¯s punch, bricks and tiles flying everywhere. The city guards standing nearby were caught in the collateral damage, with many blasted apart. Bones and blood sprayed in all directions. Yet, Qin Huai and the city guard general, the intended targets, had mysteriously vanished from the city gate tower as if evaporated. ¡°Milord, look at your feet,¡± a brave guard shouted. Looking down, Tang Ying saw the place where the city guard general had once stood, now replaced by a bronze carving board depicting mountains, rivers, and cities. However, the scenery on the bronze plate felt eerily familiar ¡ª it resembled Qingzhou. With a frustrated roar, Tang Ying punched the ground. Boom! The city gate tower cracked like a spider web, rubble cascading down. Even the soldiers closest to the impact struggled to maintain their footing. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 454 - 454 Inside the Bronze Map 454 Inside the Bronze Map The crack spread several meters along the wall, causing gravel and dust to fly out and prompting panic among those below the city gate tower who were unaware of the circumstances. ¡°A guardian spirit item,¡± Tang Ying muttered, staring at the undamaged bronze mountain and river diagram beneath his fist. A glimmer of surprise crossed his face. ¡°Did those two enter the bronze mountain and river diagram?¡± Tang Ying murmured. Even for someone of his stature, such a treasure was merely hearsay. Such a treasure that could construct a space and encase living beings surpassed the concept of a conventional weapon. To create such an item would require the craftsmanship of the world¡¯s top treasured weapon master. However, the cost to produce such an extraordinary treasure would be priceless, as the materials required were unparalleled in the world. One such treasure was the bronze sinkhole, but time had worn it down, transforming it into fragile ruins. Many of the bronze objects were reduced to dust and carried away by the wind. A greedy glint appeared in Tang Ying¡¯s eyes. He immediately reached down, attempting to pick up the bronze mountain and river diagram. ¡°Rise!¡± Tang Ying grunted, straining to lift the seemingly small object. But to his surprise, it didn¡¯t budge. Despite his immense strength, he could not gauge how much force was needed to lift it. ¡°Rise!¡± Veins throbbed on his forehead, his muscles straining, turning his entire face red. Yet, the bronze mountain and river painting remained unmoved. ¡°Is this the power of a space-type treasure?¡± Tang Ying mused, not angered but amused. His resolve to acquire this supreme treasure intensified. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you can hide in this bronze map forever,¡± he declared, standing guard by the bronze landscape painting. He then commanded his troops, ¡°Transfer all the surrounding city guards here. Seal off the entire city tower!¡± The generals promptly acknowledged the order and dispatched to carry it out. ¡­ Within the bronze mountain and river painting, General Cheng gazed at the world in bewilderment. Giant trees encircled the area, towering more than ten meters high. In the sky, ferocious beasts that were dozens of meters long roamed. Sweating profusely, the city guard general recounted legends about guardian spirit items. These protectors were divided into three categories: those that use fiendish demons as their organs; those that use mystical items as their protective elements; and those that could open up a world of various forms, collectively referred to as ¡®realm¡¯-shaped guardian spirit items. Ordinary fiendish demons were the most common and least risky, hence they were the preferred choice for breakthrough realm guardianship. Typically, martial artists who utilized these demons as their spiritual objects were less potent than their same-realm counterparts. He murmured, ¡°The second type is stronger, given those items are already remarkably powerful. When refined into guardian spirit items, their power becomes even more magical. As for the third category, each could be called the strongest. In their respective realms, they are akin to gods. Their power is amplified endlessly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± a booming voice echoed from all corners of the bronze realm. The city guard general abruptly looked up to see a massive green palm dozens of meters wide descending from the sky. At the same time, countless ferocious beasts charged toward him. ¡°Bronze realm, green sky palm!¡± The city guard general attempted to flee but was ensnared by the bone pattern realm fierce beasts. His punches were like thunder, cutting down the beasts with deadly precision. Yet when he looked up, the enormous green palm hung over him, a looming symbol of his impending doom. ¡°Eagle sword!¡± the city guard general roared, his wings forming sharp swords, emanating a razor-like aura as they clashed with the massive green palm. However, his figure was insignificant against the giant palm, akin to an ant beneath a towering tree. Boom! With just one palm strike, the city guard general¡¯s wings shattered, and his arms exploded in mid-air. He fell limply to the ground. This entire encounter unfolded in mere moments. Qin Huai, floating in the sky, abruptly retracted his attack. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Azure Sky Breath Technique Essence (Red)], [Azure Sky Breath Technique] experience points +666,666!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Swordfeather Black Eagle Demon Seed (Fragment) x1], [Swordfeather Black Eagle Demon Seed (1/3)]!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, outside the bronze mountain and river diagram, Tang Ying¡¯s eyes snapped open. He drove his palm into the diagram, causing the city tower to collapse, sending soldiers tumbling from the high structure. However, the bronze mountain and river diagram had vanished. Qin Huai, a few meters away, used the debris from the broken city gate tower to make his escape. The lifeless body of the city guard general plummeted from the city gate tower. The pair of inky-black wings evaporated into thin air, reduced to ashes. This was a typical sign of death for humans ¡ª all strange powers had receded, returning to their original state. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± Tang Ying bellowed at Qin Huai, cursing him silently. The city guard general had only managed to delay Qin Huai for a few moments before his demise. These good-for-nothings that his big brother had raised would all pay with their lives eventually, he vowed. But as Tang Ying chased, he sensed something was amiss. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 455 - 455 Kirin Blade White Flame! 455 Kirin Blade White Flame! The speed of this Demon of Qingzhou appeared to have increased compared to before. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Tang Ying was baffled. Not even the cultivation of the blood heart technique would grant such speed. Even if he were devouring humans, he wouldn¡¯t be able to cultivate this quickly. Tang Ying could see, with his own eyes, that he and Qin Huai were racing faster and faster. This only fueled his growing anxiety and intensified his urge to kill. This lack of control and unfamiliar developments made Tang Ying very uncomfortable. However, he still held absolute confidence. His goal now wasn¡¯t just to kill this demon. He wanted all the secrets Qin Huai might be hiding, along with any potential allies Qin Huai may have conspired with, and even the secrets of the Emperor of Qingzhou. He wanted them all! The two raced rapidly through the outer city, blurring like phantom figures. An hour later, they had already burst out of the outer city. Tang Ying could already see the bronze sinkhole with his naked eye, and the surroundings were gradually becoming less populated. Boom! Suddenly, Tang Ying¡¯s gray wings unfurled, and his speed soared, faster than when he was in the inner city. ¡°Little brat, if you have any more tricks, use them now!¡± he taunted Qin Huai. Qin Huai remained stoic. He had already sensed that Tang Ying had plenty of energy left and intended to eradicate his ¡®alliance.¡¯ Yet, Tang Ying¡¯s arrogance could be his downfall. Just as Qin Huai, who was only a short distance away from the bronze sinkhole, was about to rush in, he slowed down. In the distance, two figures blazed across the sky like meteors. The roaring flames were dazzling. Both Qin Huai and Tang Ying turned to face the extraordinary aura. Qin Huai looked puzzled, but Tang Ying sneered, ¡°Just as I thought, you have allies!¡± It wasn¡¯t until the two figures entered his field of vision that Qin Huai recognized them as Hua Yanli from the Thunderbolt Gang and Yun Qi from the White Cloud sect. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong!¡± Hua Yanli¡¯s body was wrapped in rising flames, distorting the air around him. The fiery pillar ascended over ten meters, seeming almost solid. Next to him, Yun Qi sat on a Kirin phantom, his body enveloped in an ethereal aura, appearing like a banished immortal reincarnated. As a ten-meter-long pillar of fire came crashing down, Qin Huai countered with an illusion realm fist. In an instant, Tang Ying was frozen in shock. But when his eyes regained clarity, it was too late. The flames immediately consumed the ground beneath him, swallowing him whole as if opening a bloody mouth. The next moment, the ten-meter-long pillar of fire retracted, transforming into a fireball revolving around Tang Ying. The raging storm spread endless wisps of flames in all directions. Yun Qi, at the side, pushed his arms forward, and the Kirin he was riding rushed into the fireball, causing it to seem to condense in mid-air. Immediately after, the scarlet flames abruptly turned white. The ground cracked instantaneously, and a surge of blazing fire and wind shot skyward. Boom! The surrounding land within dozens of meters was upheaved, and dust rose as if in the face of a natural disaster. This was their joint attack skill, the Kirin blade white flame! ¡°You two have actually mastered a joint attack,¡± Qin Huai observed Hua Yanli and Yun Qi, feeling a pang of unease. As future top-tier fighters, the duo held the power to take down experts in the visceral prefecture realm. Even seasoned warriors with higher rankings in this realm wouldn¡¯t escape unscathed from their combined assault. The power of these young prodigies was not to be underestimated. ¡°Hmph! This move was originally intended for you, but plans change,¡± Hua Yanli responded, his face slightly pale. This attack had depleted half of his power. As for Yun Qi, he didn¡¯t seem to be faring much better. ¡°Acting this recklessly is too dangerous,¡± Qin Huai admonished, disapproving of their hasty actions. ¡°We had no choice. I fear something has occurred among the prodigies of the inner city,¡± Hua Yanli explained. He and Yun Qi shared solemn expressions, revealing to Qin Huai that many people were confined within their sects, and the others, fresh out of the bronze realm, had been sent into forbidden areas. They feared the situation was even graver than they¡¯d initially thought. Their desire for revenge against Qin Huai¡¯s repeated humiliations and killings in the bronze realm had now been overshadowed by a threat that could compromise the safety of all Qingzhou. ¡°The influence of those strange demons has likely spread throughout Qingzhou,¡± Hua Yanli asserted. They believed the other prodigies had also recognized this threat, which was why they¡¯d been sent to the forbidden areas. They had witnessed the incident with Tang Xinglong and understood the gravity of the situation. ¡°We¡¯re uncertain whether our sect masters are allies or enemies,¡± Hua Yanli continued, ¡°and how many spies have infiltrated the higher ranks of our sects?¡± The more they discussed, the more they sensed the impending danger. ¡°That¡¯s why we followed you when we saw you being chased. We hoped to extract some truth from Second Master Tang,¡± Hua Yanli added. Hearing this, Qin Huai became grave. He acknowledged that if they wished to emerge from this situation, they had to start with the Tang family. He hoped to eliminate Second Master Tang without using the power of the emperor. If Tang Ying were taken out of the picture, it would be much easier to provoke the other power figures. Suddenly, the earth trembled, drawing their attention. ¡°You little brats are indeed sharp¡­ but what does it matter?¡± A pair of gray wings flapped vigorously, instantly dissipating half of the white flames. Tang Ying emerged, completely naked and covered in burn marks. His dead and charred skin began visibly sloughing off, revealing a healing process beneath. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I won¡¯t hide anymore. We are descendants of Kun Peng! Eighth Prince!¡± Tang Ying declared, laughing uproariously. His eyes held nothing but contempt for the three before him. ¡°All of you will die!¡± In the blink of an eye, Tang Ying closed the distance between them, radiating intense killing intent. ¡°No matter how talented you are, one¡¯s realm is everything in this world! As long as my realm is superior, you¡¯ll never bridge the gap.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so too,¡± a lazy voice replied. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 456 - 456 Kun Peng Clans Trump Card 456 Kun Peng Clan¡¯s Trump Card The pair of gray wings flapped, emitting a gust of wind carrying an ancient aura as it rushed toward the trio. Hua Yanli and Yun Qi found themselves struggling to breathe, feeling as if they were enveloped by an ominous aura of death. This attack could be fatal. However, just as the lazy voice finished speaking, their surroundings transformed in an instant. The desolate outskirts became a lush paradise. Besides Qin Huai, the other three faces fell instantly. Recognizing this familiar landscape, Hua Yanli and Yun Qi turned deathly pale. The one with the worst expression was Tang Ying. He turned to face the middle-aged man who had abruptly appeared before him. ¡°Emperor of Qingzhou?¡± His eyes flickered as he studied the man. ¡°You¡¯re still alive? No, you¡¯re just a phantom from ten thousand years ago!¡± Upon scrutinizing the Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s form, he noticed a critical difference: the emperor¡¯s figure was too ethereal. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯re merely an empty shell now. Can you kill me?¡± The more Tang Ying spoke, the more confident he sounded. Bang! Suddenly, a slap connected with Tang Ying¡¯s face without warning. The clear sound of cracking bones echoed, and Tang Ying¡¯s face twisted grotesquely. Over a dozen teeth and fragments of bone were expelled from his mouth, and his face visibly swelled. ¡°What? What did you say?¡± The emperor feigned confusion as he cleaned his ears. He didn¡¯t exhibit any imposing demeanor. Instead, he seemed more like a jobless bum in flip-flops, a slum-dwelling ruffian who acted arrogantly due to possessing some minor skills. ¡°Ah!¡± Tang Ying roared. Scales began to emerge on his body, and his broken teeth and bones started to regenerate. ¡°Us ancient demon descendants possess powerful life force. Our internal organs are even stronger than those enhanced by the blood heart technique of the Sacred Heart sect.¡± Tang Ying¡¯s expression was menacing as he glared at the emperor. ¡°As a relic from ten thousand years ago, a misfit who doesn¡¯t belong in this era¡­ You can¡¯t defeat me.¡± Tang Ying cackled sinisterly. He lunged at the emperor, his eyes radiating beams of red light. ¡°Gale aurora!¡± Bang! Suddenly, a second slap made contact. The red light beam shattered instantly, and Tang Ying¡¯s freshly regenerated teeth were spat out yet again. After the two slaps, his cheeks had puffed up, and his entire face was swollen. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this, kid,¡± the emperor remained relaxed. He casually addressed Tang Ying, ¡°Even your ancestor was no match for me. How could you possibly kill me?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Tang Ying¡¯s face flushed. He struggled to suppress the rising panic within him, yet the fear growing deep within was uncontrollable. Despite his boasting and forced bravado, the two slaps from the emperor were a harsh reality check. Even as a shadow, the emperor still possessed the power to easily kill him. ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible for anyone to retain such power after being dead for ten thousand years. I¡¯m a master at the peak of the visceral prefecture realm!¡± Tang Ying gestured at Qin Huai and the others. ¡°No matter what secret technique they possess, none could withstand a full-powered attack from me. ¡°I was merely toying with them! The gap between us is as enormous as the difference between Qingzhou City and a tiny border town! I, an expert and a descendant of the Kun Peng, how can I not triumph over you?¡± Tang Ying¡¯s gaze swept across the vicinity, and a burst of purple light emanated from his eyes, piercing through the bronze array. He then saw the bronze artifacts in the sinkhole. ¡°Haha¡­I¡¯ve figured it out. You depend on these artifacts to maintain your strength!¡± In an instant, Tang Ying flew toward the bronze artifacts. ¡°Your ¡®realm¡¯ can constrain the ordinary and the weak, but it can¡¯t confine me!¡± The emperor¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°Oh no!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Bloodline secret technique, atavism!¡± Tang Ying¡¯s instant joy was palpable. His wings suddenly sprayed a bloody mist, the gray feathers darkening. ¡°You¡¯re just a paper tiger! As long as I destroy these bronze artifacts, you¡¯ll be nothing but a paper tiger in this broken bronze array!¡± Tang Ying¡¯s speed kept increasing, his body losing more and more blood. Disregarding the consumption of the secret technique, his only focus was survival. With a powerful flap of his wings, he shattered over ten bronze artifacts across the ¡®realm¡¯. Joy washed over Tang Ying¡¯s face ¡ª he immediately understood. Activating his secret technique to destroy it, he proudly declared, ¡°This array has lost its core, and with it, the power of the Emperor of Qingzhou. Hence, I have a chance to exploit this. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Zhou Cunzhong¡¯s guardian spirit item is probably the original core of this array. In that case, I owe you my thanks.¡± Tang Ying turned to look at Qin Huai in the distance and laughed heartily. Meanwhile, the emperor regarded Qin Huai unhurriedly. ¡°Hey, have you seen the ancient Kun Peng clan¡¯s trump card?¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°They are extremely fast. Our movement techniques are a joke in comparison. Moreover, he possesses the atavism technique. His eye-bloodline techniques are also quite potent, and his physical body is extraordinarily strong.¡± Qin Huai scrutinized carefully, contemplating a countermeasure. ¡°You want to take on this race and limit their speed?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 457 - 457 Absolute Power! 457 Absolute Power! ¡°Their ability to kill is largely driven by their speed.¡± The emperor nodded approvingly. ¡°You¡¯ve paid close attention.¡± He then turned to Hua Yanli and Yun Qi and said, ¡°And what about you two?¡± Startled, Hua Yanli and Yun Qi grew alert at the emperor¡¯s question. They had once been the future stars of Qingzhou City, full of audacity and even demanding Qin Huai pay in blood. Now, they barely dared to raise their voices. ¡°If you want to defeat these demons on equal footing, it¡¯s safer if many of us attack together,¡± Yun Qi suggested tentatively. Hua Yanli was bolder in his approach. ¡°We should take the initiative, plan, and attack first!¡± ¡°You all have potential.¡± The emperor chuckled. ¡°But none of you hit the mark.¡± They all listened attentively, curious about his insights. ¡°Didn¡¯t this little bird just claim that only absolute power counts?¡± The emperor looked at Tang Ying, who was busily using his bloodline secret technique to destroy the bronze artifacts. The latter lifted his head and smirked at the emperor. ¡°How much power do you still have left, Emperor of Qingzhou?¡± Bang! Another slap landed on Tang Ying from afar, sending him spinning more than ten times. Gray feathers fell from his body, and chunks of flesh tore away, blood dripping down as if someone was being skinned alive. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. ¡°How¡­ How can you still be so powerful?¡± Tang Ying, lying in a pool of his own blood, was a battered mess. ¡°I was merely toying with you,¡± the emperor said nonchalantly. ¡°Since you¡¯ve all seen how this demon fights, there¡¯s no need to hold back any longer.¡± With that, the emperor approached Tang Ying. ¡°You demons sure have many tricks. You¡¯ve managed to blend your bloodline with the human race, preserving a part of the ancient demon¡¯s power and absorbing the cultivation talent of humans. What a shame though. By doing this, your cultivation technique pollutes your blood essence, making it unfit to use your corpse as a spirit treasure.¡± The emperor shook his head in regret. ¡°Why are you so strong¡­¡± Tang Ying felt the imminent threat of death. In the presence of the emperor, he felt as helpless as a newborn, easily crushed. ¡°Well, I am the Emperor of Qingzhou,¡± he said calmly. He then pointed at Tang Ying¡¯s forehead. Bang! Just like that, Tang Ying¡¯s eyes lost their life and he collapsed heavily onto the ground. ¡°Is¡­ Is this the Emperor of Qingzhou?¡± Hua Yanli¡¯s voice trembled, his eyes full of awe. Yun Qi, standing nearby, was equally astounded. Growing up on the legends of Qingzhou, every young man dreamed of becoming an invincible figure like the Emperor of Qingzhou. Now, they were witnessing him in person, a full ten thousand years after his supposed death. ¡°Isn¡¯t fate marvelous?¡± Yun Qi mused. ¡°Little brats, the future of Qingzhou is in your hands,¡± the emperor said, walking up to the trio. ¡°What do you mean by that, Senior?¡± Hua Yanli asked, puzzled. ¡°This is Senior¡¯s last bit of strength. After this attack, he will fade away completely,¡± Qin Huai explained, sadness creeping into his voice as he watched the emperor¡¯s shadow start to dissipate. ¡°Haha! Life is full of goodbyes and regrets.¡± the emperor laughed heartily. ¡°But I don¡¯t want this to be something you regret.¡± The trio listened solemnly. They understood what the emperor meant by ¡®this¡¯. ¡°Let me share a little secret with you,¡± the emperor whispered, suddenly appearing several hundred meters away with Qin Huai. ¡°Please go ahead,¡± Qin Huai encouraged. ¡°Cherish your life,¡± the emperor said. Qin Huai was taken aback by his words. ¡°As long as there¡¯s life, there¡¯s hope. An emperor like you might not come around again for ten thousand years,¡± the emperor of Qingzhou said seriously. ¡°Really?¡± Qin Huai felt that his king¡¯s force and emperor¡¯s force were both pretty natural, just another aspect of his cultivation progression. ¡°Heh, you remind me of myself,¡± the emperor confessed. ¡°But, Senior, didn¡¯t you say we could only manifest ourselves by luring them to the bronze sinkhole?¡± Qin Huai asked, puzzled. ¡°Ah, that was just a small lie. I didn¡¯t want you to rely too heavily on my power,¡± the emperor confessed, coughing slightly. ¡°Are you still lying to me?¡± Qin Huai asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. ¡°Haha¡­ I still have a heart, you know,¡± the emperor admitted, his eyes filled with a hint of melancholy. ¡°If I were still around, I would certainly crush anyone who dared to challenge us. Unfortunately, it¡¯s no longer my time.¡± ¡°I will do my best,¡± Qin Huai said resolutely, not making any promises. The emperor patted Qin Huai on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t try to be me. The Emperor of Qingzhou is too weak.¡± Qin Huai stayed quiet. Perhaps only the emperor himself could say he was weak. Even ten thousand years after his death, he was still capable of defeating a top-notch Qingzhou expert. His combat prowess was remarkable. ¡°Can we trust those prodigies who entered the bronze realm?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°You¡¯ve finally thought about this.¡± The emperor smiled. ¡°Why did you think I put in all this effort just to find a successor?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 458 - 458 Qin Huais Bold Plan 458 Qin Huai¡¯s Bold Plan ¡°I had foreseen the possibility of demons returning and harming humans, so I set up this system to protect those youngsters and give them a chance to grow,¡± the emperor explained. ¡°But what I didn¡¯t anticipate was that instead of making a comeback, the demons blended with us and just took over our territories.¡± He shook his head with a bitter smile. ¡°Alright, off you go! Don¡¯t let my last moments go to waste!¡± the emperor waved them off. As images of attractive, long legs began to ripple on the water¡¯s surface, Qin Huai stared at the emperor¡¯s increasingly transparent body, lost for words. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x500], [Kun Peng Seed (528/2,000)]!¡± Qin Huai then grabbed Hua Yanli and Yun Qi, and they vanished from the bronze realm. ¡­ At the Thunderbolt Gang, the headquarters of the original Blood Poison Gang, Hua Yanli and Yun Qi chatted animatedly. Behind them, a fierce-looking attendant carrying a large bag entered the top floor of the flower boat. ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡± Hua Yanli and Yun Qi turned to Qin Huai. ¡°I plan to bring together all the forces we can,¡± Qin Huai said quietly. ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Those prodigies from the bronze realm can be trusted,¡± Qin Huai told them. ¡°If we bring those prodigies here and show them this corpse, they¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°But most of them have been imprisoned by their sects. They claim it¡¯s to prove their innocence,¡± Yun Qi pointed out, worried. He was part of a sect in the inner city, though not one of the five great ones. However, he had numerous connections and knew the status of some of the prodigies. ¡°For example, if I weren¡¯t this powerful, they¡¯d probably have locked me up too,¡± Yun Qi continued. ¡°I¡¯m even the son of the White Cloud sect master. The only reason Hua Yanli and I have our freedom is because he¡¯s the last future king in the outer city and I¡¯m the second-in-command of the Thunderbolt Gang. No one can detain us.¡± ¡°Should we rob a sect?¡± Hua Yanli suggested boldly. ¡°Are you out of your mind? The inner city sects aren¡¯t like those in the outer city. They have plenty of formidable experts,¡± Yun Qi replied, shaking his head. ¡°But aren¡¯t the three of us as strong as three visceral prefecture realm experts?¡± Hua Yanli laughed. ¡°We might not be able to kill them, but we can surely kidnap people.¡± Yun Qi fell silent at that. Their contrasting personalities, shaped by their backgrounds, were evident. ¡°We¡¯ll start with the smaller sects,¡± Qin Huai suggested. ¡°Brother Yun, find out about the major sects and see if there are any elite members who can move around freely.¡± Now, they had to rely on Yun Qi to gather information. ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Yun Qi agreed. ¡­ Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Qin Huai secluded himself within the Thunderbolt Gang, using the divine power book of a thousand creations daily to reflect on and learn from his experiences over the past few months. He had reached the second-level visceral prefecture realm, which meant he had amassed the power needed to unlock the second palace. The wealth of experiences he had, especially the impact of Tang Ying¡¯s death, caused his experience pool to skyrocket. In two months, he had gathered enough power to unlock the second palace. He now just needed a suitable spirit item to advance to the next level. Tang Ying¡¯s death sent shockwaves in Qingzhou. The bronze sinkhole was completely leveled and even excavated three feet down by numerous Qingzhou guards, but they found nothing. The so-called bronze artifact turned into ashes when exposed to sunlight and disappeared within a few hours. Qin Huai had gone to watch the extensive process, and watching the bronze sinkhole disappear filled his heart with profound sadness. Along the way, he used the wind breath technique to eliminate several unfamiliar faces who participated in this. He later found out they were all demons of the ancient Kun Peng clan and managed to collect dozens of Kun Peng fragments. Meanwhile, Yun Qi had been making progress too. Over the past two months, he had recruited several experts he had encountered multiple times in the bronze realm. However, some of the recruits had tasted a bitter defeat by Qin Huai, which made the latter question Yun Qi¡¯s standards for finding people. One day, atop the flower boat, the three of them sat together, overlooking the river. ¡°We¡¯ve got twelve people onboard now, all of them experts with four full patterns,¡± Yun Qi reported. ¡°I also got in touch with Fang Huo from Lion Spirit Mountain. That guy is tough. Apparently, he¡¯s had several clashes with the elders who wanted to lock him up, but he managed to settle things.¡± He appeared at a loss as he added, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that guy is in the shattering realm. I¡¯m not sure if my message will reach him,¡± he admitted, a trace of nervousness in his voice. He had used a letter as a means of communicating, boldly delivering his message directly into the heart of potential disaster. There was no alternative as contacting Fang Huo directly was impossible. Even the people at Lion Spirit Mountain, including those close to Fang Huo, couldn¡¯t be fully trusted. So in the end, he was left with no choice but to make this risky move. Thump, thump, thump¡­ As they were discussing, they heard the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs. Even though Hua Yanli barked out an order for the person to stop unless they had important news, the footsteps continued. Qin Huai quickly put on his bamboo hat, but relaxed when the figure finally appeared. ¡°Brother Zhou!¡± Fang Huo¡¯s cheerful face greeted them. ¡°Brother Fang!¡± Qin Huai sighed in relief. The two embraced tightly. ¡°Brother Fang, you¡¯ve broken through?¡± Hua Yanli asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Fang Huo nodded. His aura felt even stronger than before. ¡°How did Brother Fang manage to get in?¡± Hua Yanli questioned. ¡°Well, that rascal Yun Qi challenged me earlier, so I showed up today!¡± Fang Huo replied. His meaning was clear. After hearing a brief summary of Qin Huai and the others¡¯ plan, he looked excited and banged the table. ¡°This matter is easy. Brother Zhou, you¡¯ll be my assistant. I¡¯ll challenge the geniuses from the five major sects, then you and I will take the chance to talk to them.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 459 - 459 Returning to Lingjiang! 459 Returning to Lingjiang! When the trio heard Fang Huo¡¯s strategy, they agreed that it was indeed quite characteristic of him. ¡°Only you, Fang Huo, could pull off something like this so naturally,¡± Hua Yanli remarked, shaking his head. Grinning proudly, Fang Huo responded, ¡°There¡¯s more subtlety to my rough approach than you think. What you often see is just the surface, a facade.¡± He continued, ¡°To avoid drawing attention prematurely, I¡¯ll start by challenging the smaller sects in the outer city before moving on to the inner city¡¯s five major sects. At that point, countless eyes will be watching, and amidst the chaos, we¡¯ll naturally find opportunities to exploit.¡± Fang Huo went on to explain a Lion Spirit Mountain tradition unique to their eldest senior brother. They would challenge the strongest of their generation in Qingzhou to announce their breakthrough and join the ranks of the strong. This was the usual style of Lion Spirit Mountain¡¯s martial artists. Though Fang Huo¡¯s method was a bit brusque, it was indeed very effective. Qin Huai and the others didn¡¯t have any better ideas to gather more prodigies. ¡°Brother Zhou, shouldn¡¯t we have a name by now?¡± Fang Huo asked, looking at Qin Huai eagerly. ¡°With so many gifted individuals here, it won¡¯t look good if we don¡¯t have a name in the future.¡± Hua Yanli and Yun Qi agreed. ¡°We do need a name. Explaining to people earlier took up a lot of time.¡± Unable to wait any longer, Fang Huo suggested, ¡°Since it¡¯s an alliance of prodigies, why don¡¯t we call it Heaven¡¯s Favorites Alliance?¡± With a sigh, Hua Yanli waved his hand. ¡°Our goal is to slay demons. How about we call ourselves Demon Slayers?¡± Yun Qi chimed in with a smile, ¡°Actually, most of us are on the Qingzhou Green Hero Ranking List. Why not simply call it the Green Heroes?¡± Slowly, Qin Huai said, ¡°I feel that we are united by the destiny we share with the Emperor of Qingzhou. He is also the one who knows the truth about Qingzhou. In the future, we¡¯ll aim to follow Senior¡¯s example and become invincible prodigies of the entire province.¡± He scanned the faces of the three men. ¡°How about we call it the Qingzhou Alliance?¡± Fang Huo slapped his thigh in agreement. ¡°I have no objections. Then, as the one who inherited the legacy of the emperor, Brother Zhou, you will be the leader of the Green Alliance, right?¡± ¡°I might not want to admit it, but this guy does have some fighting strength,¡± Hua Yanli reluctantly admitted, speaking of Qin Huai. They were all very impressed with Qin Huai¡¯s ability to defeat Tang Xinglong. ¡°By the way¡­ Did you really meet the Senior Emperor of Qingzhou?¡± asked Fang Huo, his eyes gleaming with excitement once the decision on the Qingzhou Alliance was made. ¡°Yes,¡± Hua Yanli confirmed with a nod. ¡°Really? Was Senior very tall and born with three heads and six arms?! Even from miles away, did his appearance stun you all?¡± Fang Huo was quite excited. However, Hua Yanli and Yun Qi found it a little difficult to respond. ¡°Senior is formidable, but your description¡­¡± Yun Qi chose his words carefully, ¡°is a bit exaggerated. He¡¯s quite nonchalant.¡± Hua Yanli couldn¡¯t help but give him a thumbs up. ¡°As expected of someone who¡¯s studied for several years. That is¡­just perfect.¡± ¡°Then, for now, I¡¯ll use Brother Fang¡¯s approach to get in touch with the prodigies of various sects,¡± Qin Huai abruptly suggested. ¡°Brother Zhou, do you have something urgent to attend to?¡± Fang Huo asked, puzzled. ¡°Well, I do have something, but it¡¯s not suitable to discuss at the moment,¡± Qin Huai answered, keeping them curious. Even to his trustworthy friend Fang Huo, he chose not to disclose that he was from Lingjiang for now. ¡°Leave these tasks to us. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult until we reach the five major sects,¡± assured Fang Huo, thumping his chest confidently. Qin Huai hesitated for a moment. ¡°If you can¡¯t win, you three must think carefully. Though the prodigies who entered the bronze realm aren¡¯t demons, no one can guarantee they won¡¯t join them. Especially now, when the demons are so influential, they practically dominate the higher ranks of Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll aim to approach those we know first. As for mistakes and accidents¡­ I¡¯m afraid they¡¯re inevitable,¡± Yun Qi reasoned thoughtfully. They all understood the risks when they undertook this mission. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started!¡± Bang! Fang Huo pushed the table and stood up, revealing a huge grin at Hua Yanli and Yun Qi. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not going to¡­¡± Boom! Suddenly, the boat erupted into flames. Waves splashed onto the dock as the river water stirred. In the ensuing chaos, Qin Huai quietly walked in the opposite direction of the crowd. He had gathered enough knowledge to unlock the second palace. Now, he needed to return to Lingjiang and utilize the dragon corpse as his second guardian spirit item. ¡­ After more than two years, Qin Huai finally returned to Lingjiang. His own speed now surpassed that of a demon-blooded horse ¡ª a journey that took over half a month now only took him ten days. Stepping on the border, Qin Huai caught sight of the city in the distance, a familiar scent hitting his nose. He mused, ¡°This is probably what they call the scent of home.¡± Emerging from the forest, he saw a group of commoners covered in dust on the main road. Families were dragging along their belongings, their faces thin and their expressions exhausted. Qin Huai frowned as he looked at the long line that stretched for miles. According to his plan before he left, Lingjiang should have been flourishing by now. Had the disciple from the Nine Dragons sect turned into another corrupt county governor in just two years? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 460 - 460 Four 460 Four-legged Immortal?! Qin Huai found it hard to believe. The Nine Dragons sect couldn¡¯t have deteriorated with his wife overseeing it. ¡°Uncle, where are you headed?¡± Qin Huai stopped a family of three to ask. Although the old man had rough skin, his muscles were well-formed. The woman beside him was clad in a large cotton jacket, showing signs of wear but free from patches. Their son, despite his young age, wasn¡¯t short, implying his daily meals were fulfilling. This family seemed to represent an average family among the long line of people. It appeared that Li Shaoxiang¡¯s management wasn¡¯t too poor. ¡°We¡¯re headed to Fan City County.¡± The old man sighed. ¡°Why? You all look well-fed and adequately clothed. Why are you abandoning your hometown?¡± Qin Huai queried. The old man looked bitter as he said, ¡°If we could stay, we wouldn¡¯t leave. Our Lingjiang finally has a great leader. Sect Master Qin was like a reincarnated deity, allowing us to live comfortably¡­ but too bad¡­¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°It¡¯s just that the county governor of Fan City County broke through the legendary barrier to reach the immortal realm about half a month ago. That four-legged immortal is all-powerful. He slaughtered hundreds of soldiers and made five out of the ten counties of East Qingzhou submit. Now, they are marshaling the troops of those five counties to attack our Shallow Water City,¡± the old man explained, urging Qin Huai, ¡°Young man, you should run too. If you don¡¯t hurry, you might not get away.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the old man quickly gathered his wife and son and resumed their journey. ¡°Four-legged immortal,¡± Qin Huai murmured, suspecting that he was a master of the visceral realm. Fan City County was a remote part of Qingzhou, where most of the county governors were fifth-level bone pattern realm experts, and their realms wouldn¡¯t exceed three complete patterns. It had been a while since a visceral prefecture realm expert emerged. Such truly ambitious and talented individuals usually moved to Qingzhou City, with very few returning to this desolate land. For instance, the Tong family¡¯s business had gone to Qingzhou City in search of superior smithing techniques. If not for their encounter with the Blood Poison Gang, they wouldn¡¯t have left. This led to the gradual desolation of the ten counties of East Qingzhou. Qin Huai quickly made his way to Shallow Water City. As the boundary of Lingjiang, this place would be the first obstacle if Fan City County decided to attack. Hence, it wasn¡¯t surprising that the locals were fleeing in a panic. Qin Huai observed a constant flow of people on the streets. Some were heading toward Fan City County while a small number moved toward Lingjiang City. ¡°Why bother running to Lingjiang City at such a time? Have you lost your mind?¡± a city official berated a little girl near the eastern gate of Lingjiang. He was wearing a long robe adorned with several jade pendants on his waist. ¡°That four-legged immortal has already reached the immortal realm. What good is your so-called White Dragon Army?¡± ¡°It was the current master of the Nine Dragons sect who allowed our family to live a good life. Abandoning the city now would be letting him down,¡± the little girl stammered out, courage barely concealing her shaking voice. The official, a rotund man with an intimidating glare, scoffed at her remark. ¡°Who do you think you are? Your departure won¡¯t make a difference to the sect master. Shouldn¡¯t saving your own life be more important? The four-legged immortal is omnipotent and could squash the sect master with one finger.¡± The girl¡¯s voice dwindled to a whisper as she questioned, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t that so-called immortal let everyone in Fan City County eat?¡± This innocent inquiry seemed to strike a nerve, as the official¡¯s face instantly reddened. However, a surge of support came from behind the girl, with a small group of locals affirming their faith in the sect master. ¡°If there¡¯s an immortal in this world, it would be the sect master.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The sect master will definitely win.¡± Seeing the crowd gathering and echoing the term ¡®sect master¡¯, the official couldn¡¯t hide his murderous intent anymore. ¡°Since you refuse the easy way, then I can only invite you to die!¡± He raised his hand, his bone pattern realm power erupting. The little girl flinched and shut her eyes in fear. But the expected blow never came. When she dared to open her eyes again, she saw a handsome man holding the official¡¯s arm. ¡°I gave you authority not to use it against our own people,¡± said Qin Huai, his voice low but clear in the official¡¯s ears. Startled, the official blustered, ¡°Who are you?¡± Despite his bravado, he was genuinely scared. Who was this young man possessing such strength? As the official tried to justify his actions, Qin Huai coldly retorted, ¡°Is the ¡®right path¡¯ leading to Fan City County, where common folks can¡¯t even afford a meal?¡± Unabashed, the official said, ¡°You¡¯re clearly not a mortal. You should understand the power of the four-legged immortal, which makes him unbeatable for all experts of Lingjiang.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re accepting the salary from Lingjiang, killing Lingjiang¡¯s people, and driving them to Fan City County because of this?¡± Qin Huai challenged. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 461 - 461 Greetings, Sect Master! 461 Greetings, Sect Master! Qin Huai¡¯s tone dropped to a frigid chill. In response, a throng of armored soldiers flooded the scene, forming a human barrier around the street. ¡°Kid, let go of me now,¡± the city official demanded, his confidence growing upon seeing the sea of reinforcements. ¡°If I get hurt even a little, you won¡¯t leave here unscathed!¡± Although he appeared confident, he studied Qin Huai, finding something vaguely familiar about his handsome face. Qin Huai retorted, ¡°You don¡¯t even recognize me, yet you dare to cause such chaos in Shallow Water City.¡± Suddenly, he released the official¡¯s arm. Before the latter could rejoice, Qin Huai landed a fierce slap, sending him spinning through the air. Bang! Landing with a heavy thud, the official lay twisted and twitching on the ground, a pool of blood spreading around him. Witnessing this display of power, the surrounding soldiers instinctively recoiled, their eyes filled with apprehension. ¡°Go find the strongest backer you can muster,¡± Qin Huai coldly instructed. The battered official immediately scrambled to his feet and limped away. As he fled, he yelled, ¡°Stop him! Don¡¯t let him escape! I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± Meanwhile, at Shallow Water City¡¯s city lord¡¯s mansion, the city lord, Zhang Meng, was studying a map when the official barged in, filling the room with the stench of blood. Seeing the official¡¯s sorry state, Zhang Meng frowned. ¡°What happened? How did you get like this?¡± ¡°An unknown tough guy assaulted me,¡± the official whimpered, adding, ¡°He dared to belittle you, the city lord of Shallow Water City.¡± Zhang Meng seemed unphased, though. He continued to scrutinize the map, noting, ¡°The two armies are nearing a confrontation, barely tens of miles apart. If we can halt the Li family¡¯s grain supply, their chance of victory diminishes to nothing, ensuring a triumphant win for our five-county alliance. That woman is far too arrogant and places too much trust in us¡­¡± He let out a sigh. ¡°In the end, my youth betrays me. I was foolish to believe that the feud between our Zhang and Li families could end with Zhang Wu¡¯s passing. We¡¯ve been at odds for a century, and it has escalated to the point where only the demise of one family will bring peace.¡± Zhang Meng turned to the official, ¡°What¡¯s that guy¡¯s realm?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a young man with impressive strength. He shouldn¡¯t exceed the third-level bone pattern realm, possibly a patrol sent by the Li family,¡± the official speculated. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Zhang Meng commanded, heading towards the scene. ¡°At this point, we can¡¯t afford mistakes. It¡¯s time to show our hand to the Li family.¡± His eyes gleamed with avarice, yearning to reclaim the Nine Dragons sect and the position of sect master. He also knew that the current sect master, the most formidable opponent, had gone to the prodigies¡¯ gathering in Qingzhou, his fate unknown. Zhang Meng, clad in a gray robe and straw sandals, radiated an increasingly powerful aura with each step. Seeing this, the official, who trailed behind him, felt a wave of relief. At the fourth level of the Tattoo Bone Realm, they were safe. At the Eastern Gate. ¡°Make way, make way!¡± echoed the city official¡¯s voice, reaching Qin Huai from a distance. The official, though bloodied, appeared brave and spirited. A pathway instantly opened through the crowd of armored soldiers. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, kid!¡± The city official smirked. ¡°No matter who you are, your fate is sealed! The man standing before you is the head of our Nine Dragon sect¡¯s Zhang family, the future governor of Lingjiang County¡­Zhang Meng, Lord Zhang!¡± As the city official concluded, Zhang Meng made his appearance. His simple gray robe contrasted his extraordinary aura, making the surrounding commoners tremble and fall to their knees. ¡°Let¡¯s see who we have here¡­¡± Zhang Meng glanced up, his calm eyes suddenly filled with surprise. Recognizing the handsome face before him, his mind went blank. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you kneeling and accepting your fate?¡± the city official barked, adding to Zhang Meng¡¯s shock. Bang! The response was a slap to the city official¡¯s face, spinning him around and sending him crashing to the ground. Stunned, he watched as the lord he once revered fell silent and knelt before the young man. He even noticed Zhang Meng trembling uncontrollably. ¡°Lord¡­ Sect Master¡­ I¡­¡± Zhang Meng stammered, his face pressed tightly to the ground. ¡°Is this how you repay my trust?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°I offered your Zhang family a last chance to fight, even entrusted you with the crucial role of guarding this border. Haven¡¯t I treated you fairly?¡± As Qin Huai slowly approached Zhang Meng, the latter tried to muster a response. At the same time, the city official, stunned, muttered, ¡°Sect Master? Young man¡­¡± Suddenly, recognition flickered in his eyes. ¡°I remember now¡­ I¡¯ve seen your portrait in the head of the family¡¯s study¡­ You are¡­ You¡¯re the master of the Nine Dragons sect, Qin Huai!¡± A wave of realization washed over the official, and he remembered where he had seen this young man before. This was Lingjiang¡¯s savior! Thud! Upon hearing ¡®master of the Nine Dragons sect¡¯ and ¡®Qin Huai¡¯, the surrounding commoners, including the soldiers who¡¯d been threatening him, instantly dropped to their knees, bowing repeatedly towards Qin Huai. ¡°Salutations, Sect Master!¡± ¡°Greetings, Mr. Qin!¡± ¡°Hail, Saint!¡± Though the titles varied, the reverence behind each one was unmistakable. This chorus of respect and devotion reverberated across Shallow Water City, echoing in Qin Huai¡¯s ears as the pious voices of its citizens. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 462 - 462 The Zhang Familys Plan 462 The Zhang Family¡¯s Plan ¡°Do you have nothing to defend yourself with?¡± Qin Huai halted before Zhang Meng, looking down at the middle-aged man. ¡°Please spare the rest of my Zhang family. I will bear the consequences of my actions!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Qin Huai replied coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve exhausted all the trust I once held for the Zhang family.¡± He then lifted his hand and struck Zhang Meng¡¯s head. The dreadful force came down like a landslide. Bang! Zhang Meng¡¯s body immediately exploded into a cloud of blood mist. The leader of the Zhang family, once considered a towering figure by the city officials and soldiers, was now utterly powerless before the master of the Nine Dragons sect. No, it would be more accurate to say they didn¡¯t even dare to resist. This stark difference sent the city official into shock that he crumbled to the ground, crying hysterically. ¡°Tell me your plan, and I¡¯ll grant you a quick death.¡± A white light flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. The city official was frozen in place. Then, he spilled everything about his rebellion and scheme. ¡°Intercepting the food supplies¡­ Quite a clever strategy.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained indifferent. Soon, many city guards rushed over, and a group of Shallow Water City¡¯s officials arrived as well. They all kneeled before Qin Huai, not daring to make a sound. ¡°So where are the two armies planning to clash?¡± Qin Huai surveyed the crowd. ¡°The battlefield is estimated to be on the plains fifty miles southwest of Shallow Water City,¡± a general said. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°This general¡¯s name is Li Si, from the third branch.¡± ¡°I seem to have some recollection of you. I¡¯ll temporarily assign you as the city lord of Shallow Water City.¡± Qin Huai patted Li Si¡¯s shoulder and moved past the crowd. ¡°Sect Master, I fear there may still be hidden remnants of the Zhang family in the city. They might target the grain! Please oversee the overall situation!¡± Li Si was fraught with anxiety. He knew the gravity of the situation, so now was not the time for bravado. ¡°No need for supplies. This will all be over soon,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. ¡°But the enemy has a legendary expert in the visceral prefecture realm. They also have a powerful guardian spirit item¡­¡± Li Si¡¯s voice trailed off as Qin Huai was no longer in sight. He then turned to the rest of the group and said, ¡°Listen to my command now. Confiscate all properties linked to the Zhang family within the city and arrest all their members!¡± Li Si then picked up the token from the pool of blood and quickly got into action ¡­ Li Shaoxiang was clad in armor, sitting astride a horse, leading the army. In her grip was a spear, making her appear quite the warrior. Flanking her were her father, Li Zeren, the sect master of the Twin Extreme sect, the great dragon elder, the third dragon elder, and a group of fifth-level bone pattern realm martial artists. Over the past two years, the Nine Dragons sect had flourished tremendously. Their power escalated rapidly, and three to four fifth-level bone pattern realm experts emerged from both the Nine Dragons sect and Twin Extreme sect. Compared to two years ago, their bone pattern realm experts had doubled. Their prosperity now was unmatched in history. Following this was the White Dragon Army founded by Tong Duanfeng, the former master of the Tong family. His aura was imposing, seemingly on par with the allied forces of the five counties before him. However¡­ ¡°Though I foresaw this day, I didn¡¯t anticipate its arrival so soon.¡± Li Shaoxiang observed the figure from a mile away. Even though the outline was unclear, the majestic aura erupting from it was akin to a ferocious mountain-sized beast. This made breathing difficult for them. ¡°Is this the pressure coming from a visceral prefecture realm expert?¡± The elderly sect master of the Twin Extreme sect chuckled, his expression relaxed. ¡°When the battle begins, we will stake our lives to provide an opening for you.¡± ¡°No!¡± Li Zeren declined flatly. The Twin Extreme sect master sighed. ¡°I¡¯m already a dying old man. My years are numbered. Swapping this waning flame of life for the perpetuity of my sect doesn¡¯t seem like a bad deal, right?¡± He then chuckled as he looked at Li Shaoxiang. ¡°Certainly. Yet, with only one old sect master¡¯s death today, I¡¯m afraid this war is far from over.¡± Li Shaoxiang gripped the reins tighter, her eyes mirroring her readiness to embrace death. Before her, the overwhelming aura, capable of shattering mountains and turning over seas, rushed forth. ¡°Let me guess. You must be thinking how to trade your life for another, aren¡¯t you?¡± The voice of the governor of Fan City County echoed over a mile and bellowed on the restless battlefield. ¡°If you harbor such thoughts, then you¡¯re incredibly weak, pitifully so.¡± He mumbled, ¡°Once, I too held the same thoughts as you, but only upon reaching this realm did I realize my mistake. I was wrong, gravely wrong!¡± The governor of Fan City County scoffed. ¡°This realm is entirely different from the previous ones.¡± Rumble¡­ As he spoke, a twenty-meter-tall phantom materialized behind him. It was a gigantic brown centipede, its menacing fangs and claws displayed as it hovered above the allied forces of the five counties. At the same time, thirty middle-aged martial artists emerged from his rear, their lifeblood surging and forming a towering wall of vital essence in the air. They were all fifth-level bone pattern realm experts. Such an unguarded display of strength and power represented absolute confidence. Indeed, compared to this unsettled army behind Li Shaoxiang, the gap in power was simply too vast. ¡°If only I had another two years¡­¡± Li Shaoxiang clenched the reins. She gazed in the direction of Qingzhou City. ¡°My dear, I fear Shaoxiang won¡¯t be able to fulfill her promise to you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 463 - 463 As if a God Descended 463 As if a God Descended In the following moment, a faint shadow materialized behind the White Dragon Army. The unexpected surge in speed threw the formation into disarray. Many armored soldiers were unceremoniously toppled, thrown into a state of disarray on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± Li Zeren and his companions spun around in surprise. The sudden shock wave rippled through their ranks. Despite the disruption, they fought to maintain their military discipline. Then, without warning, a brilliant white light cut through the air, leaving them momentarily blinded. The mysterious figure tore through the mile-long battlefield, charging directly at the formation of the five counties¡¯ alliance army. ¡°Who is that? Did anyone catch a glimpse of his face?¡± Li Zeren and the others could only squint at the retreating figure, their expressions fraught with confusion and disbelief. The county governor of Fan City, observing the white light streaking toward them, narrowed his eyes. ¡°Where did this arrogant scum come from?¡± he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. ¡°Watch me stop him.¡± An expert at the fifth-level bone pattern realm took a step forward, dismounting from his horse. ¡°The number one general of the three counties, the man who¡¯s claimed the lives of most generals in the last decade¡­ Li Tianqi.¡± Some voices chimed in, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect General Li to be so quick at taking credit.¡± Bang! But their jesting conversation was abruptly cut short by the sudden eruption of blood that splashed into the mouths of those laughing the loudest. The laughter died in an instant. Li Tianqi, who had leaped out earlier, had vanished. The white light was still hurtling toward them. The few men, confused, could only wonder, ¡°What just happened?¡± But in the blink of an eye, the Qin Huai¡¯s figure materialized before them. The piercing white light seemed to carry with it the overwhelming authority of an emperor. With nothing more than an exchange of glances, their bodies were punctured as if struck by a powerful blow. Rumble¡­ The thirty top experts, each influential figures in their respective counties, now fell like a scattering of rain. Silent explosions of blood mist were all that was left behind, a rain of blood descending from the sky. The governor of Fan City, outraged, bellowed, ¡°How dare you!¡± The shadow of a centipede writhed behind him, launching itself at Qin Huai. Yet, in the very next moment, Qin Huai stood before him. The governor, one of the most powerful figures in the ten counties of East Qingzhou, could not suppress his trembling. ¡°Is this your visceral prefecture realm?¡± Qin Huai, his eyes shining with an intense white light, launched a punch. His long, white hair fluttered in the wind, dissolving the silver strands at the corners of his eyes. Bang! With a deafening sound, blood erupted like a geyser. The governor of Fan City¡¯s arms were obliterated by Qin Huai¡¯s forceful punch. ¡°Foolish boy, how dare you!¡± the governor roared in fury. From the remnants of his broken arms, two bloody hands erupted, reaching for Qin Huai¡¯s midsection. Bang! The heavy punch landed with a thud, akin to a powerful drumbeat. This elicited a savage grin from the county governor of Fan City. However, in the next moment, he found himself staring at Qin Huai¡¯s impassive face. ¡°Did you think that would work?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s nonchalant voice echoed in the air. Before the governor could retract his fists, Qin Huai had seized his bloody hands, pulling them apart. Rip! In an instant, blood sprayed like a fountain once more as Qin Huai mercilessly ripped off both of the governor¡¯s arms. The scene was a brutal spectacle, a clash of titanic forces. The remaining warriors of the five counties stood aghast, momentarily forgetting who among the two was the true expert. How could this fight be so one-sided? ¡°Do you have any other tricks?¡± Qin Huai questioned, glancing at the blood-soaked governor of Fan City, his face twisted in fury. ¡°Of course I¡­¡± But before the governor could finish his sentence, a massive hand had pierced his heart. ¡°Fool, why would I give you a chance?¡± The icy coldness in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes was palpable. He swiftly withdrew his hand, revealing a beating heart still connected to its vessels. The governor gasped in shock and fear, his eyes wide. However, his body had stopped responding. ¡°How? Why is he so powerful?¡± he stammered, glaring at Qin Huai in shock and anger. ¡°Who are you?¡± His last words barely left his lips when Qin Huai crushed the heart in his grasp. The once arrogant governor, considered the invincible expert in East Qingzhou, was now dead in just a few breaths. Qin Huai, drenched in blood, turned to the petrified fifth-level bone pattern realm warriors still standing. ¡°Who am I? I¡¯m Qin Huai, master of the Nine Dragons sect.¡± His voice was steady, his gaze sweeping over the expert in front of him and the five-county alliance army behind them. An official stuttered, ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ Didn¡¯t you die in Qingzhou City?¡± ¡°These rumors aren¡¯t bad. Let¡¯s clear up any misunderstandings.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes glowed with white light, and a terrifying force immediately swept across a hundred meters. Rumble¡­ Soldiers of the five-county alliance near Qin Huai instantly perished. The fifth-level bone pattern realm warriors weren¡¯t faring any better ¡ª they were visibly trembling and sweating profusely. The next moment, Qin Huai had already closed the gap, his fists striking like thunderbolts. ¡°Don¡¯t think about killing me!¡± a fifth-level bone pattern realm martial artist bellowed before turning to flee. But Qin Huai was already there, materializing before him like a specter. One punch was all it took. ¡°Everyone, fight him together!¡± the bone pattern realm experts yelled in unison. But in the next moment, they were all swallowed by the army formation. ¡°Too slow, too weak,¡± Qin Huai murmured. He then activated the wind breath technique in dragon king form, making his body swift as lightning. With his powerful punches, he took down all the fifth-level bone pattern realm warriors. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 464 - 464 The Dragon Emperor 464 The Dragon Emperor The anticipated great battle came to an abrupt end. Relying on his unmatched strength, Qin Huai had annihilated all the leaders of the five-county alliance army, including the audacious visceral prefecture realm expert. He didn¡¯t stand a chance against Qin Huai, falling within a few breaths. ¡°Lay down your weapons, and I¡¯ll spare you,¡± Qin Huai announced calmly, surveying the seemingly endless army before him. Faced with the terrifying carnage, the soldiers collectively disarmed. Qin Huai had single-handedly subdued an army of a hundred thousand. ¡°We¡­we won!¡± The realization took a while to dawn on the White Dragon Army. Cheers echoed loudly as they swiftly surrounded the disarmed troops on Li Shaoxiang¡¯s command. The armor was removed, and captives were taken. It was a victory of five thousand against a hundred thousand. ¡­ Back in Lingjiang City, Qin Huai, Li Shaoxiang, and the others gathered on Nine Dragons Peak. ¡°All thanks to your timely return, husband. Otherwise, I don¡¯t know how we would¡¯ve managed,¡± Li Shaoxiang confessed, nestled in Qin Huai¡¯s arms, behaving like a young girl only when he was present. Li Buhu looked on, gobsmacked, but a stern glance from Li Shaoxiang forced him to retreat to a corner, rendered silent. ¡°Perhaps this is the destiny my wife spoke of,¡± Qin Huai mused. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve eliminated the leaders of the five-county alliance army, you can take this chance to gradually take over these territories.¡± ¡°But the prefecture overseer¡­¡± Li Shaoxiang began, her voice filled with hesitation. ¡°Even though the ten counties of East Qingzhou are far, such a significant event will surely draw the attention of the prefecture overseer. They can¡¯t just let us govern the ten counties.¡± Their concerns were voiced one after another. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the prefecture overseer is too preoccupied to bother about other counties,¡± Qin Huai assured confidently. ¡°Oh?¡± Li Shaoxiang responded, her face revealing a hint of excitement. ¡°Must be your handiwork causing the storm.¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°I was merely defending myself. But the world is so unpredictable, it¡¯s absurd.¡± He smiled wryly. Who could have imagined that the Tang family, which had ruled Qingzhou for a millennium, would turn out to be a demonic force? Moreover, the key powers in Qingzhou City had long been under the sway of these demons. It was a truth too hard to believe. ¡°In short, don¡¯t fret over ruling the ten counties. But be careful when recruiting. More power can lead to more issues, especially in the details.¡± Qin Huai offered his advice, ¡°If things don¡¯t work out, take it slow. It¡¯s all up to you.¡± They then talked about the development of Lingjiang over the past two years. When Qin Huai learned of the Tongduan Peak, established by the former Tong family patriarch, he was both startled and amazed. He hadn¡¯t expected that the Tong family¡¯s ancestral home would be Lingjiang. His unintentional actions in the past had laid a sturdy foundation for Lingjiang, providing a pillar of strength for its growth. After many discussions, Qin Huai and Li Shaoxiang enjoyed some quiet time as a couple. After sharing a round of intimacy, Qin Huai sat up, his face serious. ¡°I can¡¯t stay long this time. There are pressing matters waiting for me in Qingzhou City.¡± His face was solemn, tinged with guilt. Though their marriage was born out of unusual circumstances, they had developed common interests and goals. Li Shaoxiang had contributed so much for him, yet he hadn¡¯t been able to spend much time with her. ¡°From the moment I first saw you, I was prepared for this,¡± Li Shaoxiang responded generously, not pretending to be upset. ¡°I¡¯ll continue learning and striving to match you in other aspects.¡± Qin Huai nodded, then spat out fragments of the Blood Puppet, a massive figure standing two meters tall, wrapped in a dense blood aura with a hint of bewitching malevolence. The puppet, although incomplete, was well-preserved inside. Next, Qin Huai spat out fragments of the Thousand Viper King and Swordfeather Black Eagle. Once they left Qin Huai¡¯s dantian world, they transformed into a thick essence of blood and were absorbed by the blood puppet. The surge of blood essence turned Li Shaoxiang¡¯s face rosy. ¡°These are some spoils of war from Qingzhou,¡± Qin Huai explained. ¡°This blood essence can drive this incomplete blood puppet into battle. Though it may not match a visceral prefecture realm expert, it should handle those below that level without trouble.¡± He further demonstrated how to use it. If the puppet were complete, it would rival a visceral prefecture realm expert. However, it was perfect for the Nine Dragons sect and Lingjiang. ¡°Thank you, husband,¡± Li Shaoxiang said, pressing herself against Qin Huai. Hours passed in what felt like seconds. ¡­ Qin Huai rose from bed and stepped out of the study. He headed to the back mountain, where the dragon corpse lay. Touching the corpse, he could still sense its astonishing power. ¡°This dragon corpse is as valuable as a bronze realm.¡± He sighed. Only at his level could he truly comprehend its formidable power. He then sat cross-legged on the dragon skull and activated the nine dragons true qi technique. Buzz¡­ At the same time, the dragon emperor inside his dantian world was awakened. The enormous dragon bone trembled and then slowly floated in the air, its supreme power merging with Qin Huai. ¡°Just as I thought,¡± Qin Huai said, a smile playing on his lips. The dragon emperor¡¯s power was the reason why Qin Huai had chosen the dragon bone as his second spirit treasure. His emperor¡¯s force could suppress the bone¡¯s dominance, and with this power, Qin Huai¡¯s lethal strength would surely soar. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 465 - 465 Qin Huais Wealth 465 Qin Huai¡¯s Wealth Two weeks later, a dragon¡¯s roar echoed from Nine Dragons Mountain. Following that, a beam of white light streaked through the sky and vanished in a flash. From the depths of the pit, Qin Huai emerged. ¡°Husband,¡± called Li Shaoxiang, standing in the breeze. Her red dress was billowing and her hair swayed gracefully in the wind, her allure undeniable. Beside her were three familiar faces: Old Master Tong, head of the Tong family¡¯s Tong Treasure Shop, and his son and grandson, Tong Shou and Tong Maosheng. ¡°Benefactor,¡± they greeted, bowing their heads. It had been two years since they last saw Qin Huai. Old Master Tong and his family were overcome with emotion. ¡°I never thought we¡¯d be fortunate enough to see our benefactor again in this lifetime.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t be so formal, Old Master,¡± Qin Huai responded, smiling. ¡°The Tongduan Peak you built single-handedly has significantly bolstered my strength. You¡¯ve also made Lingjiang the top forging county in the ten counties of East Qingzhou, drawing countless forging talents.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s hair now had streaks of white, but he didn¡¯t appear aged, only more striking. Old Master Tong and the others felt an inexplicable pressure meeting his warm gaze. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your kindness, providing us with a new life and opportunities, our Tong family wouldn¡¯t be where it is today,¡± the old man replied humbly. When he learned that Qin Huai had easily killed the governor of Fan City County, a visceral prefecture realm expert, he became even more convinced of Qin Huai¡¯s boundless potential. The master of the Nine Dragons sect¡­ Two years prior, he was only a newcomer at the second or third-level bone pattern realm, barely a third-rate genius in Qingzhou City, a city teeming with talent. However, in just two years, Qin Huai had soared to the top of Qingzhou City¡¯s most promising individuals. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll have to rely on Old Master Tong¡¯s help for Lingjiang¡¯s development,¡± Qin Huai said, bowing slightly. The older man quickly replied, ¡°If we can help you, our Tong family will definitely do our best.¡± After the Tong family left, only Qin Huai and Li Shaoxiang remained on the mountaintop. ¡°Here¡¯s the money I made in Qingzhou City. I don¡¯t need it for now, so I¡¯ll leave it to my wife to manage,¡± said Qin Huai, producing a thick stack of cash. ¡°Husband, I doubt you¡¯re aware of how staggering Lingjiang¡¯s monthly income is,¡± Li Shaoxiang said, a confident smile gracing her lips. Nevertheless, she accepted the stack of notes from Qin Huai. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to look at the amount?¡± Qin Huai asked, surprised. ¡°Lingjiang¡¯s tax revenue last month was three million vitality pills,¡± Li Shaoxiang boasted. ¡°Thirty million taels? That¡¯s certainly impressive.¡± Qin Huai clicked his tongue. ¡°When it comes to cultivating talent, I can¡¯t compare to you, but in business and governance, I do have some skills,¡± Li Shaoxiang replied confidently. ¡°True, I mostly rely on the generosity of others to earn money,¡± Qin Huai teased. ¡°You¡¯re leaving again?¡± Li Shaoxiang asked, standing next to Qin Huai. ¡°Yes, I told you, there are still crucial matters in Qingzhou that I need to attend to,¡± he answered. ¡°Then I wish you success in your martial arts journey,¡± Li Shaoxiang said earnestly, not showing any false pretense. ¡°If you need anything, just send a letter¡­ Lingjiang will do its best to help.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if that day comes, I won¡¯t hold back,¡± Qin Huai assured with a smile. ¡°In fact, I have a favor to ask¡­¡± ¡°What a coincidence. I have something to ask you too.¡± ¡°Please, ask your question first,¡± Li Shaoxiang offered. ¡°When was the last visceral prefecture realm expert born in the ten counties?¡± ¡°That¡¯s interesting, I¡¯ve been wondering the same,¡± Li Shaoxiang said with a smile. ¡°After the governor of Fan City County advanced, I already had people investigating. A year ago, a group of mysterious people entered the county governor¡¯s estate and never came out again. In just over half a year, the county governor of Fan City County advanced.¡± ¡°I see, I¡¯ll head out then.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the Balance Army now?¡± ¡°Just a few days ago, it was still an alliance of five counties. The Balance Army deserves most of the credit. They held back the other four counties and boldly set up camp at their borders. They took on four counties single-handedly and even used this as a base to forcibly take over twenty cities.¡± Qin Huai raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Oh? So, could the Balance Army become the force that competes with Lingjiang for control over East Qingzhou in the future?¡± ¡°Based on the current information, it seems unlikely. They didn¡¯t win over the hearts of the people in the city, nor did they implement any policies. They just used these cities as temporary strongholds,¡± Li Shaoxiang explained. ¡°According to Elder Erlong¡¯s reports, they may just want to fight. They¡¯ll keep fighting to achieve their goals.¡± Qin Huai was intrigued by the peculiar strategy of the Balance Army. After they had defeated the county governor of Lingjiang and the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army, they had unexpectedly turned around and attacked the other counties, showing no intention of seizing Lingjiang. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re testing their strange armor,¡± Qin Huai suggested thoughtfully. ¡°However, it seems like the Balance Army has deliberately avoided our Lingjiang. Or rather, they might not know about the current situation of the Nine Dragons sect,¡± Li Shaoxiang added. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 466 - 466 Visiting Fan City 466 Visiting Fan City ¡°The truth will surface eventually. For now, just be wary of this Balance Army,¡± Qin Huai advised Li Shaoxiang. They discussed a lot while standing on the peak of Nine Dragons Mountain. After a while, Qin Huai tenderly kissed Li Shaoxiang¡¯s forehead and said his goodbyes without notifying anyone else. ¡°Has my brother-in-law left?¡± Li Buhu came rushing up the mountain, carrying two jars of good wine in his hands. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What a pity. I was hoping to have a practice match with him,¡± Li Buhu said, disappointed. ¡°Give this money to Father. Use it for the development of the Nanshan mine,¡± Li Shaoxiang instructed as she handed Li Buhu the money Qin Huai had given her. ¡°Alright.¡± Taking the stack of bills, Li Buhu turned to leave but then stopped and turned back. ¡°Sis, are you sure you want to use all this money for the development of Nanshan Mine?¡± he asked, his voice shaking slightly. ¡°Hmm?¡± Li Shaoxiang frowned, snatching the money back from Li Buhu¡¯s hand. ¡°Forty million vitality pills,¡± she mumbled to herself, recalling Qin Huai¡¯s earlier words. ¡°The generosity of kind-hearted people¡­It¡¯s the equivalent of Lingjiang¡¯s tax for a whole year. These kind people are really generous.¡± With a smile playing on her lips, Li Shaoxiang¡¯s stunning beauty seemed to eclipse the world around her. ¡°Invest all this money into the development of the ten counties. Also, gather the sect¡¯s higher-ups. It¡¯s time we discuss the establishment of the Ten East Green Commandery,¡± she ordered before striding down the mountain. The larger the territory, the more areas there were to invest in. Lingjiang, at present, was like a carriage hurtling down a mountain road ¨C it couldn¡¯t afford to stop, or it would plummet into a pit of disaster. This money could be the much-needed fuel to resolve the immediate crisis. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Fan City County, at the governor¡¯s manor, the governor¡¯s son, Gui Weixing, stood nervously in the center of the hall. ¡°Sir, you must stand up for us,¡± he pleaded, his shoulders shaking. ¡°Lingjiang¡¯s army will reach Fan City in a few days. And the murderer who killed my father¡­ He¡¯s a top-tier visceral prefecture realm expert!¡± At the head of the hall, a masked middle-aged man covered in intersecting black patterns sipped his tea slowly. Hearing Gui Weixing mention a peak visceral prefecture realm expert, he couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Do you know what a top-tier visceral prefecture realm expert is? How many visceral prefecture realm cultivators have you actually seen?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face bore an expression of contempt. ¡°Frankly, your father was just a visceral prefecture realm expert groomed by our Sacred Heart sect,¡± the middle-aged man declared, undeterred by Gui Weixing¡¯s distress. ¡°I could defeat a guy like that single-handedly. However, the person who killed your father is indeed intriguing.¡± ¡°Likely someone from Lingjiang who made a name for themselves in Qingzhou City,¡± he continued. ¡°Qingzhou City has been in turmoil recently, so it¡¯s not surprising that some less competent folks would retreat to their hometowns to throw their weight around. They get to avoid the chaos and relish the feeling of being a big fish in a small pond.¡± His smile, dripping with scorn, never left his face. He gave Gui Weixing a quick look, and the latter hurried to his side and bent down before him. ¡°Don¡¯t fret. When has our Sacred Heart sect ever failed?¡± He patted Gui Weixing¡¯s shoulder confidently. ¡°If that guy has the guts to show up, I¡¯ll show him what a real visceral prefecture realm expert is.¡± ¡°Really?¡± A soft voice echoed in the meeting hall. Everyone jumped to their feet instantly. ¡°How did you get in?¡± They stared at the handsome man standing quietly in the center of the hall. ¡°I walked in, naturally,¡± Qin Huai replied casually. He scanned the crowd, finally resting his gaze on the middle-aged man. ¡°Sacred Heart sect. It¡¯s you guys again.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ So you¡¯re the one who killed the governor of Fan City County,¡± the middle-aged man, whose name was Lu Zifu, mused. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so young.¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re¡­ You¡¯re Qin Huai, the master of the Nine Dragons sect?¡± Gui Weixing recognized the newcomer. ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zifu looked taken aback. He was a top-tier expert at the second-level visceral prefecture realm, dispatched to the seemingly insignificant region of the ten counties. Yet, before he had arrived, he¡¯d researched everything about these counties. In his view, the only person worth his attention was the young sect master of the Nine Dragons sect, Qin Huai. Qin Huai had resolved the sect¡¯s internal feud, defeated the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s army led by the governor of Lingjiang and Zou Shuang, and almost single-handedly dragged the Nine Dragons sect from the brink of collapse. However, the young man had been missing for over two years. ¡°Breaking through to the next level in such a desolate land¡­ You¡¯re indeed talented,¡± Lu Zifu acknowledged, showing no sign of hostility or annoyance. Instead, he extended his hand to Qin Huai. ¡°How about it? Want to join me? I can¡­ No, the Sacred Heart sect can make you the ruler of the ten counties!¡± ¡°But, sir, you promised me¡­¡± Gui Weixing began to protest. Pa! With a swift slap, Lu Zifu silenced him. Gui Weixing fell to the ground, clutching his reddened cheek. He glared at Qin Huai but didn¡¯t utter a word. Lu Zifu didn¡¯t spare him another glance. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 467 - 467 The King of Qingzhou? 467 The King of Qingzhou? ¡°As long as I have the time, the ten counties of East Qingzhou will be mine,¡± Qin Huai stated confidently, studying Lu Zifu with interest. He wanted to use this influential person to investigate the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s strength in Qingzhou. ¡°Ha, as long as I¡¯m here, I can easily dismantle everything the Nine Dragons sect has built,¡± Lu Zifu retorted arrogantly. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve reached the visceral prefecture realm, you should realize we¡¯re not on the same level as those insignificant ants. We can control their fates.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Lu Zifu continued, ¡°perhaps the control over the ten counties isn¡¯t appealing enough for a prodigy like you.¡± He continued, ¡°A visceral prefecture realm prodigy, just twenty years old and risen from a barren land. I haven¡¯t seen one like that in a while.¡± He smiled, seemingly at ease around Qin Huai. ¡°So here¡¯s my proposal. There should be twenty counties east of Qingzhou City. How about you take charge of all of them?¡± He confidently laid out his offer. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°The eastern part of Qingzhou is the largest but also the poorest among the fifty prefectures,¡± he slowly responded. ¡°Though the twenty eastern counties don¡¯t have many resources to fight for, they¡¯re also quite far from Qingzhou City. However, they cover about forty percent of Qingzhou¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°Such a promise makes me, Qin Huai, seem like half the king of Qingzhou when viewed on a map,¡± he concluded. ¡°So, what do you think about this offer?¡± Lu Zifu asked confidently. ¡°Forgive my frankness, but I don¡¯t believe the Sacred Heart sect holds that much power,¡± Qin Huai responded, shaking his head. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, the Sacred Heart¡¯s territory is in Great You¡¯s west. Especially in Qingzhou, they don¡¯t hold much sway.¡± Lu Zifu laughed heartily again. ¡°If everyone knew about the movements of my Sacred Heart sect¡¯s disciples, we couldn¡¯t have become the number one sect in Great You. The largest power in Qingzhou isn¡¯t the five great sects, it¡¯s our Sacred Heart, the Holy Church, and another faction. Only the two clans can genuinely impact Qingzhou¡¯s situation,¡± he proclaimed, extending two fingers toward Qin Huai. Qin Huai maintained his calm, though his heart was pounding. He knew that the other party was one of the eight sage kings mentioned by the Emperor of Qingzhou, a descendant of the ancient demon Kun Peng clan. Yet, he had not expected the Sacred Heart sect to have such a deep reach in Qingzhou. Were they already on par with the demons who had been operating here for thousands of years? ¡°Words are useless,¡± Qin Huai said, his expression calm. ¡°Heh¡­ As I thought, a Chosen One. Even after hearing such news, you have kept your composure,¡± Lu Zifu mused. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯ve been to Qingzhou City before.¡± Qin Huai nodded, confirming it. There was no need to hide it. ¡°Good. In half a month, you¡¯ll receive a letter from Wuji Mountain,¡± Lu Zifu announced, a slight smile playing on his lips. ¡°The letter¡¯s sender will be the new Mountain Chief of Wuji Mountain.¡± At this, a strange expression finally crossed Qin Huai¡¯s face. Of course, he understood Lu Zifu¡¯s meaning: the Sacred Heart sect was on the verge of taking over Wuji Mountain. ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have the time to wait that long,¡± Qin Huai said, his expression turning serious. ¡°What a shame,¡± Lu Zifu said, standing up as his smile faded into a cold expression. ¡°The main issue with prodigies like you is they often misjudge the situation, thinking they are the only heroes in this world.¡± Lu Zifu¡¯s potent life force started to flow out, making the entire meeting hall tremble. ¡°Do you know when a prodigy dies?¡± He looked intently at Qin Huai. Answering his question, he said, ¡°Before they fully mature. A deceased prodigy is no different from any average person. They¡¯re both just corpses. Right now, I¡¯ll offer you one final chance.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Qin Huai replied with a resolute tone. The moment he finished speaking, Lu Zifu found his vision blur as Qin Huai, who was previously several meters away, threw a punch toward his face. Bang! A sacred sovereign totem manifested. Lu Zifu¡¯s body became covered with mysterious, blood-colored patterns. His face started to decay in an instant but was restored just as quickly. He threw his fists, blood arcing through the air like a blood-red scimitar, aiming to hit Qin Huai¡¯s vitals from every direction. Buzz¡­ Suddenly, Lu Zifu staggered and fell, finding himself in a lush, green area. Growls echoed from all directions as countless beasts with bone pattern realm strength rushed at him, baring their sharp fangs. It was the bronze realm! ¡°Small tricks!¡± Lu Zifu scoffed, and thousands of blood lines shot out from his fists, slaying all the bone pattern realm beasts. ¡°Is this all you have?¡± He looked up just as a gigantic palm slammed down from the sky. ¡°Bronze realm, green sky palm!¡± Trees within hundreds of meters radius collapsed, and the ground cracked open, swallowing the flowing blood as if it were a bottomless pit. ¡°Do you really think you can kill me so easily?¡± Lu Zifu¡¯s voice echoed from the dust. In the next second, the ground shook, and dust rose into the sky. From the swirling smoke and dust, Lu Zifu burst out, blood around his body surging like a tide. His injuries healed visibly fast, and hundreds of thousands of blood veins formed a huge wing that flew towards Qin Huai. The gust caused by the blood-colored wings caused the surrounding bone pattern realm beasts to explode on contact. Boom! The blood-colored wings slammed into Qin Huai, causing a ripple effect in the sky. ¡°How is it, brat? The power of my Sacred Heart¡¯s disciples is not to be underestimated,¡± Lu Zifu gloated, looking up at the sky. But his expression gradually stiffened. White hair fluttered in the wind, and a dazzling white light shone in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes as if he was looking down at him like a king. ¡°Are you trying to tickle me?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 468 - 468 The Phantom Dragon Appears 468 The Phantom Dragon Appears Lu Zifu stared at the radiant glow in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, his own eyes reflecting surprise. ¡°King¡¯s force?¡± he muttered, ¡°Is this the reason for your confidence¡­ Indeed, it is the king¡¯s force.¡± Lu Zifu¡¯s face took on a serious look. He surveyed the world in front of him, growing more anxious. ¡°A realm guardian spirit item. So, that¡¯s why,¡± he sighed. His gaze hardened. ¡°This will be my last offer. If you join the Sacred Heart sect, I¡¯ll overlook the attack you just made.¡± His voice grew colder. ¡°Show me how you plan to kill me.¡± Qin Huai descended from the sky, a terrifying aura surrounding him, rapidly intensifying. At the same time, the figure of a white dragon materialized behind him, its mighty presence manifesting in a deafening roar. Boom! Lu Zifu watched Qin Huai plummet, his skin shattering under the powerful wind of Qin Huai¡¯s palm. ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± Surprise flashed in the former¡¯s eyes. The next moment, the broken skin and blood on his body transformed into a massive, blood-red hand that struck the sky. ¡°Blood print palm!¡± With a resounding boom, the blood-red hand shattered, its remnants scattering across the bronze realm like a flood, only to be consumed by the cracks in the ground. Just like Lu Zifu, Qin Huai¡¯s palm pierced through the blood print palm effortlessly. Lu Zifu¡¯s fists flew out in response, constantly striking Qin Huai¡¯s palm. With each passing second, the totem patterns on his body intensified. The broken blood lines reconvened on Lu Zifu¡¯s body, meticulously crafting a protective armor. Starting from his feet, it spread upwards, enhancing his formidable strength. Then, the ground beneath Lu Zifu cracked, sinking him further into the earth. His ankles, calves, and then his lower body disappeared underground. The armor covering Lu Zifu was complete. The intricate patterns on the blood-colored armor grew more defined, a strange power visibly consuming Qin Huai¡¯s palm wind. ¡°Enough!¡± Lu Zifu roared. His terrifying, bloodthirsty aura devoured all of Qin Huai¡¯s remaining power. Qin Huai was launched into the air, tracing a graceful arc before softly landing on the ground. ¡°The totem armor is a product of the Lord¡¯s mighty power,¡± said Lu Zifu. ¡°It¡¯s stronger than any protective spirit item in the world.¡± He looked at Qin Huai with an emotionless expression. ¡°Isn¡¯t your guardian spirit item starting to break apart?¡± Qin Huai glanced at the bronze realm, noticing it was indeed starting to crumble and disintegrate since the appearance of the totem armor. ¡°That fellow is truly extraordinary,¡± he muttered to himself. In a flash, Qin Huai was in front of Lu Zifu. He threw his fists, glowing with a white light. He used a forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. His powerful punches shattered Lu Zifu¡¯s totem armor instantly. Boom! Boom! Boom! But the next moment, the totem armor was replenished by a flood of blood. Whether it was his face, chest, heart, kidneys, or arms, Qin Huai¡¯s relentless punches shattered Lu Zifu¡¯s totem armor again and again. Lu Zifu was on the defensive, losing ground. He wondered how Qin Huai had come by such strange strength. He was a Sacred Heart disciple. How could his blood heart technique be weaker in comparison? ¡°So what if you overpower me?!¡± he challenged, ¡°Unless you can destroy my totem armor, you won¡¯t harm me. But I can exhaust you with my blood heart technique! Until you¡¯re drained, you won¡¯t break my defense.¡± However, Qin Huai remained silent, continuing to pummel Lu Zifu. Ten punches, fifty, a hundred¡­ No matter how many punches, he never broke through the totem armor and injured Lu Zifu substantially. The totem armor isolated all vibrations and devoured force effortlessly. Lu Zifu, protected by the armor, seemed invincible. Even the bronze realm had no impact on him. His opponent was merely trying to wear him down¡­ ¡°But,¡± Qin Huai began slowly, stopping his attacks, ¡°It seems my strength isn¡¯t enough. If I can¡¯t kill you in one hit, this fight could drag on.¡± Lu Zifu laughed mockingly. ¡°Even if you know, what can you do?¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°I thought it might not work on you, but I underestimated your power.¡± He took a deep breath, his eyes glowing brighter. The beams seemed to penetrate the earth. Suddenly, behind Qin Huai, a phantom dragon skeleton, hundreds of meters long, materialized. The giant dragon skeleton shrank rapidly, its spine perfectly aligning with Qin Huai¡¯s own, leaving no gaps. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 469 - 469 Dragon Emperor Transformation! 469 Dragon Emperor Transformation! The dragon bones seemed to fuse with Qin Huai¡¯s body, forming an extension of his own skeleton. The colossal bones became part of his limbs, and smaller bones even latched onto his fingers. A frightening aura began to emanate from him, and the surrounding earth stirred in response to his transformation. The dragon¡¯s head split apart, morphing into a ring that hovered above Qin Huai¡¯s head. He had become a dragon emperor. ¡°Now, please take my punch,¡± he declared, his voice reverberating through the air. With that, he threw a punch that rippled through the sky. Boom! A dreadful power erupted instantly, sending Lu Zifu flying back. The totem armor on his chest instantly broke apart, and even his chest muscles collapsed. Blood spurted out, a chilling wind blowing into the gaping wound, freezing his heart with fear. ¡°How do you find this punch?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice echoed in Lu Zifu¡¯s ears. Lu Zifu gaped at the figure before him. The latter¡¯s body melded seamlessly with the dragon bones. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re a monster¡­¡± he stammered, his voice trembling. He knew that Qin Huai had used the dragon bones to single-handedly defeat the Sacred Heart sect and the former county governor of Lingjiang. But no one had ever imagined that someone could transform those dragon bones into a guardian spirit item. The news that Qin Huai could activate the dragon bones had shocked Lu Zifu for an entire month. He had spent countless days and nights wondering how Qin Huai had managed such a feat. Everyone he knew had told him that attempting to do so was a suicide mission. Despite their value, the dragon bones had remained untouched under the treasure pavilion of the Nine Dragons sect. No one had dared to use them because a divine weapon that couldn¡¯t be wielded was worthless. But now¡­ the ¡®monster¡¯ before him had done the impossible. ¡°How did you manage this?¡± he asked, coughing up blood. ¡°That¡¯s a dragon¡¯s skeleton¡­ Even dead, it remains a true dragon¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Qin Huai replied, his eyes cold. ¡°As long as you cultivate the emperor¡¯s force and strengthen your body, everything falls into place.¡± ¡°Emperor¡¯s force¡­¡± Lu Zifu murmured. He had only heard of it in passing. Rumor had it that only the Sacred Sovereign had mastered it, an entity powerful enough to conquer the Great You and fated to dominate the Great Nether. ¡°Do you have any final words?¡± Qin Huai asked, looking at the steadily weakening Lu Zifu. ¡°Join my Sacred Heart sect!¡± Lu Zifu shouted, ¡°We can offer you everything you want! Wealth, power, women¡­ If you follow our lord, all your desires will be fulfilled. Above all, our lord walks the true path of justice. He is destined to reshape this era.¡± His eyes shone with fanaticism. ¡°Are these your final words?¡± Qin Huai asked, before landing a final punch on his head. Bang! The bronze realm faded away abruptly. In the county governor¡¯s estate, the thick scent of blood permeated every part of the meeting hall Qin Huai was no stranger to dealing with the Sacred Heart sect members. The bloody pulp at his feet, all that remained of his foe, silently declared his victory to everyone. Thud! Suddenly, Gui Weixing fell to his knees before Qin Huai. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m ready to serve you, even if it means sacrificing my life!¡± he pledged, bowing his head to Qin Huai immediately. The sight of their powerful leader being instantly defeated by Qin Huai had made a profound impression. It was clear how terrifying Qin Huai truly was. Therefore, Gui Weixing didn¡¯t hesitate. If he could align himself with this powerful figure, his future would certainly be bright. His desire for revenge for his father¡¯s death paled in comparison to his own survival and future¡­ ¡°I accept you as my foster father. I, Gui Weixing, swear to the heavens that if I ever betray you¡ª¡± Bang! Suddenly, Gui Weixing¡¯s head fell to the ground, his wide eyes full of genuine eagerness and anticipation. ¡°Let chaos reign in Fan City County for a few days,¡± Qin Huai said coldly. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Sacred Sovereign Totem (Fragment) x1], [Sacred Sovereign Totem (2/3)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Sacred Sovereign Totem (Fragment) x1], [Sacred Sovereign Totem (3/3)]!¡± ¡­ In a desolate land, Qin Huai stopped in his tracks. He found a hidden cave and went inside. Inside his body¡¯s energy center, the sacred sovereign totem stood upright on the bronze ground, radiating a soft scarlet light. Qin Huai sat down, cross-legged. Cold sweat poured from him ¡ª he could feel an unfamiliar force beginning to gather within him. At his command, the bronze realm activated, and he instantly transported his entire body into it. The next moment, even his internal energy world seemed to blur. His appearance and aura morphed entirely, turning him into an unrecognizable hunchbacked old man. The air within the bronze realm began to warp. Red threads appeared from thin air, gathering before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. His expression grew increasingly grave, and he felt a sense of dread creeping up his spine. His anxiety continued to grow. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 470 - 470 Sacred Heart Sect Master 470 Sacred Heart Sect Master Qin Huai quickly understood what was happening. ¡°Who are you?¡± A distinct voice rang out before him. The blood-red threads slowly formed into a figure, but it was extremely blurry and seemed ready to dissipate at any moment. Bang! Without hesitating, Qin Huai threw a punch, breaking the figure apart. However, in the next moment, the figure reformed elsewhere. Not giving up, Qin Huai continued his onslaught, breaking the figure apart time and again. ¡°Who are you?¡± the voice echoed again and again, casually repeating the question in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. Eventually, Qin Huai gave up on the idea of eliminating this illusory figure. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve met someone who can take my totem,¡± the voice stated, sounding intrigued. ¡°And you seem to have used some kind of ability to alter the landscape around you and even your own appearance. Interesting.¡± The voice seemed youthful, but Qin Huai knew the entity it belonged to was anything but young. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Oh, are you afraid I¡¯ll discover your identity through your voice? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that resourceful.¡± Qin Huai stared at the figure, staying silent. He tried to distance himself from it, but it seemed to cling to him relentlessly. ¡°You¡¯re a tough one. You still won¡¯t speak, huh?¡± The figure sounded displeased. ¡°Even though you¡¯ve changed your appearance and aura to hide your identity, I still know where you are.¡± The entity sounded excited. ¡°Qingzhou!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he heard that. Was this the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s master? He had appeared before him from who knows how many miles away and pinpointed his location accurately. ¡°So, do you want to join our Sacred Heart sect?¡± the entity asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t come across someone as unusual as you in quite some time. If you join us, I might consider making you the deputy sect master in the future.¡± Qin Huai remained silent. Against the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s master, he resolved to make fewer mistakes by keeping quiet. He didn¡¯t believe he was a match for such a being. One needed to know their limits. ¡°Oh, was the offer of future deputy sect master too unrealistic?¡± the voice questioned. ¡°How about I offer you the position of the second Holy Son?¡± The Sacred Heart Sect Master laughed. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Seems like I really can¡¯t win you over now.¡± It sounded as though he wasn¡¯t bothered in the least. ¡°Since you managed to get my totem, you should understand how powerful my sect is,¡± said the Sacred Heart Sect Master slowly. ¡°In half a year, you can announce your decision to join us anywhere in Qingzhou City. My offer will still stand. ¡°But after half a year, I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll be able to survive without the protection of the Sacred Heart sect.¡± The figure of the Sacred Heart Sect Master gradually vanished, leaving Qin Huai sitting on the ground, reeling from the encounter. He felt as if he had just narrowly escaped death. ¡°Even if I did manage to get the sacred sovereign totem, does that mean I¡¯m linked to the Sacred Heart Sect Master? After all, this sacred sovereign totem was made by that person¡­¡± Qin Huai was deep in thought. He was certain that the other¡¯s power had fully disappeared. Even the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s master wouldn¡¯t be able to use this ability too frequently or for long durations. ¡°Will something significant happen in half a year?¡± Qin Huai recalled the last words of the Sacred Heart sect¡¯s master, feeling more and more uneasy. It seemed likely that they were planning something big in Qingzhou. Pondering these matters, Qin Huai could only conclude that Qingzhou was in for some major changes. ¡°The chaos is only going to increase,¡± he muttered, gradually retreating from the bronze realm and sitting down in the cave, sweat pouring down his face. But soon, he stood up and continued his journey toward Qingzhou City. He couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on these matters now. The most important thing now was to secure the leadership of Wuji Mountain before the new chief could take over. At the very least, he couldn¡¯t let it fall into the hands of his opponent. Whether it was Wuji Mountain, Xiang Mingfeng, or She Wanshan, they all played crucial roles in his future plans. ¡­ Elsewhere, at a roadside tea stall in Great You, a man in a blood-red robe was sipping his tea. Bang! A rag landed on the table. ¡°What kind of person are you? You¡¯ve been holding that one cup of tea for an hour!¡± exclaimed the waiter, glaring at him. ¡°You dress well, so you can afford to pay, right?¡± ¡°Hahaha! Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get your money,¡± the man in red laughed heartily. ¡°Alright then, pay for the tea first. It¡¯s just one copper coin,¡± the waiter demanded, holding out his hand. The red-robed man sighed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out half a red copper coin. ¡°Here, I really don¡¯t have any more money. I¡¯ll use this half copper coin to settle the debt. This coin can ward off evil spirits. With this, even a mighty demon wouldn¡¯t dare to touch you.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s that great, you should keep it! Can this thing be traded for two pig kidneys?¡± The waiter was unimpressed. ¡°Listen, if you have money, pay. If not, you can wash dishes for me!¡± ¡°Young man, you¡¯re missing out on a big opportunity¡­¡± The red-robed man sighed. ¡°And do you realize you¡¯re about to get a beating?¡± the waiter retorted, cracking his knuckles. Silently, the red-robed man stood up, pocketing the half copper coin. He walked over to the waiter, his face impassive. ¡°Where are the dirty dishes?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 471 - 471 Big Shot From Wuji Mountain 471 Big Shot From Wuji Mountain It was a gloomy day with a light drizzle. The weather had turned chilly, and frost was starting to form on the ground. After a journey of nearly ten days, with a slight hiccup along the way, Qin Huai reached the outskirts of a small town, just twenty miles from the outer city. In a dilapidated shack on the main road, he was enjoying a hot bowl of beef soup, dipping his pancakes into it. As he ate, he pondered about his return to Qingzhou City. He needed to uncover who the next leader of Wuji Mountain was and how he could relay this information to Xiang Mingfeng. ¡°Sir, you ordered three portions of pancakes,¡± said the waiter, placing a tower of pancakes on Qin Huai¡¯s table. Besides Qin Huai, only one other table at the soup stall was occupied, a duo seated there. They were dressed in coarse cotton clothing, adorned with over a dozen patches, yet they were surprisingly clean. Their hair was free from dirt or oil, even the soles of their shoes were mud-free. And their cotton robes were immaculately free of wrinkles and showed no signs of frequent washing. Their chests bulged abnormally under their clothing. These two men appeared to be rough yet strong, emanating energy that was hard to miss. Qin Huai realized that he had stumbled upon two bone pattern realm experts at the edge of a small wilderness town. There had to be a story behind this, but he had his own important matters to attend to and chose not to pry. Noticing the two men glancing at him, he asked the waiter for a newspaper from Qingzhou City. ¡°Sir, do you see where we are? Newspapers made from high-quality paper are an expensive luxury we don¡¯t have here,¡± the waiter replied. After finishing three large bowls of soup, and feeling somewhat satiated, Qin Huai continued on his journey. But just as he stepped out of the shack, his path was blocked by the two burly men from the soup stall, spinning their half-meter-long daggers menacingly. ¡°What¡¯s this about? We have no quarrel, do we?¡± Qin Huai asked, his expression slightly changing. He had made sure to don a simple white robe and a plain mask before venturing out, making sure he looked unremarkable. ¡°You were staring at us at the soup stall, weren¡¯t you?¡± the burly man on the left sneered. ¡°And what if I was?¡± ¡°You were very discreet, but I still noticed you kept your gaze on us for more than five breaths. Normal folks would avert their gaze after two breaths,¡± said the man on the right. ¡°This tells us you were thinking and observing a lot. You must¡¯ve noticed our disguised appearances.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, though,¡± Qin Huai retorted, keeping his face impassive. ¡°Since we¡¯ve met by chance, can¡¯t we just part ways amicably?¡± The two burly men shook their heads in unison. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to get it. We¡¯re always cautious and we can¡¯t let any uncertainty interfere with our mission,¡± one of them said. The daggers in their hands paused for a moment, ¡°So, unfortunately, you need to die.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to give yourself a way out?¡± Qin Huai countered, shaking his head. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to kill anyone.¡± ¡°Arrogant!¡± they yelled, lunging at Qin Huai at the same time. Their daggers were sharp and their movements synchronized, aiming for Qin Huai¡¯s vital points with a force like a roaring tiger. A loud clang resonated and sparks flew. The men¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as their daggers seemed to disappear, and they found themselves abruptly thrown to the ground. ¡°Tiger Roar¡­ The tiger qi technique from Wuji Mountain?¡± Qin Huai mused, revealing their fighting style. ¡°Hmph! Now that you know we¡¯re from Wuji Mountain, why don¡¯t you let us go?¡± one of the men said. Though they were bruised and battered, they showed no signs of panic. ¡°Interfering with our mission would mean death for you, no matter where you go.¡± ¡°But, if you let us go, we might offer you a chance to join Wuji Mountain,¡± they added, narrowing their eyes temptingly. Their offer was a clear bluff ¡ª their only intention was to get back at Qin Huai once they escaped. ¡°A mission?¡± Qin Huai smirked. ¡°Then you two have to tell me about it.¡± He squatted down and turned them over. ¡°Since you want me to join Wuji Mountain, then I¡¯ll take up that offer.¡± ¡°Kid, you¡¯re not worthy yet!¡± one of them sneered. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you to join.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion,¡± Qin Huai said coolly. A pinch of medicinal powder slid out of his sleeve and sprinkled onto their faces. Their screams of agony echoed through the forest shortly after. A while later, Qin Huai stood up and mused aloud, ¡°To receive a big shot hidden in the mountains and do a mission¡­¡± The men didn¡¯t know much ¡ª they were merely messengers sent to pick someone up. However, they did mention that this person was an expert at the visceral prefecture realm. ¡°Wuji Mountain. Visceral prefecture realm. A big shot¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained indifferent. It seemed he had inadvertently stumbled upon a lead to the real troublemaker. He examined the token in his hand. It wasn¡¯t an identity card of the disciples of Wuji Mountain, but a pure black wooden card, engraved with the word ¡®Ji¡¯. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 472 - 472 Good News and Bad News 472 Good News and Bad News Based on what the two men had shared earlier, the token Qin Huai held appeared to be a trusted aide¡¯s badge belonging to the ninth elder of Wuji Mountain. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Tiger Energy Technique Essence (Dark Orange)], [Tiger Energy Technique] experience points +66,666!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Tiger Energy Technique Essence (Dark Orange)], [Tiger Energy Technique] experience points +66,636!¡± Having gathered his thoughts, Qin Huai proceeded toward the secret location. After covering ten miles, several bamboo skewers whizzed through the air, landing at Qin Huai¡¯s feet and embedding themselves in the ground. ¡°Who are you?¡± a voice called out from the forest. ¡°Someone from Wuji Mountain,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°The dragon boat flies thirty thousand miles,¡± the voice prompted further. ¡°Return to the nest in the water,¡± Qin Huai responded in a calm manner. ¡°Token,¡± the voice demanded. Qin Huai lifted his hand, revealing the token. His fingertips surged with energy, emitting a faint roar of a tiger. Finally, a figure descended from the trees. ¡°Follow me,¡± the man commanded, leading the way. Before long, they came across a small courtyard hidden deep within the forest. ¡°Sir, the ninth elder has sent someone here,¡± the guide announced, stopping in front of the courtyard. An elderly man with white hair and a ruddy face emerged from the courtyard. His muscles bulged and traces of blood were visible at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Haha. A young prodigy personally came to pick me up?¡± he exclaimed, appearing before Qin Huai in a blink, even leaning in to sniff at him. ¡°Though you can conceal it, this old man can still sense the strong qi and blood in your body.¡± ¡°Senior, you have a keen eye! I¡¯m just an ordinary disciple,¡± Qin Huai replied, lowering his gaze to notice the old man¡¯s six fingers. Typically, followers of the Sacred Heart sect would exhibit physical mutations due to their rapid progress. They could become bloated, grow extra limbs, or even lose their minds, turning into zombies. It was evident that the old man had not mastered the blood heart technique, which was possibly why he was isolated in the mountains away from Qingzhou City. Having had multiple encounters with Sacred Heart disciples, Qin Huai could make such deductions with a single glance. ¡°Hahaha! Are you concealing your strength?¡± The old man laughed, patting Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You seem quite ambitious.¡± ¡°Is it wrong for a young man to be ambitious?¡± Qin Huai replied with a smile. ¡°Good!¡± The old man beamed. ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed and return to the outer city first.¡± The old man seemed serious now. The young man who had led them here gathered the group, over ten people strong, and they began their journey toward Qingzhou City. On their journey, Qin Huai learned the young man¡¯s name was Wu Shaojun. Despite being a gifted individual with five complete patterns, Wu Shaojun had yet to grasp the power known as king¡¯s force. Qin Huai was able to piece together the connection between the old man and Wu Shaojun. The old man was Wu Feng, the former thirteenth elder of Wuji Mountain. It was rumored that he had vanished from Wuji Mountain thirteen years prior, and later, during a journey, his son Wu Shaojun and their family were mysteriously wiped out. This became a significant unresolved mystery in Qingzhou City. Many city dwellers believed it was due to internal conflicts among the elders of Wuji Mountain. But it now appeared that Wu Feng had erred while practicing the blood heart technique and was forced to fake his death. Upon reaching the outer city, they parted ways immediately. Wu Feng¡¯s family vanished into the crowd, obviously taking great care to remain unnoticed. Similarly, Qin Huai managed to sneak into the Thunderbolt Gang and boarded a flower boat, the secret base of the Qingzhou Alliance. The next day, Qin Huai met with Hua Yanli and Yun Qi. ¡°It seems that the situation is more complicated than we thought,¡± Yun Qi said with a serious expression. ¡°What did you find out?¡± asked Qin Huai. Yun Qi sighed. ¡°We will use the opportunity when Fang Huo challenges the prodigies of various sects to infiltrate their organizations. I found out that most of those who escaped from the bronze realm were under house arrest, but in reality, half of them died during this supposed ¡®house arrest¡¯. Some bodies were decomposing, others were missing entirely, leaving behind only empty rooms.¡± Qin Huai frowned. It appeared those individuals hadn¡¯t considered defensive strategies ¡ª they¡¯d been the ones on the attack. ¡°Brother Zhou, did you learn anything from your trip?¡± Hua Yanli asked. ¡°I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear the bad news first,¡± Yun Qi said, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Otherwise, I may not be able to cope.¡± Their repeated failures over the past few days had left them feeling downcast. ¡°The bad news is that the leadership of Wuji Mountain is likely to change soon,¡± Qin Huai started. ¡°Those demons are moving quickly, aren¡¯t they?¡± Hua Yanli exclaimed, startled. Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°The Tang family from the prefecture overseer¡¯s estate aren¡¯t behind this. It¡¯s the Sacred Heart sect.¡± ¡°Sacred Heart sect! They have their roots this deep in Qingzhou¡­¡± Yun Qi and Hua Yanli looked serious. They were surprised that the Sacred Heart sect had the power to overthrow the master of Wuji Mountain, one of the five great sects. ¡°What about the good news?¡± ¡°The good news is that I¡¯ve identified some of the individuals involved in their scheme to take over,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°They include the ninth elder of Wuji Mountain, Shi Hu, and the thirteenth elder, Wu Feng, who disappeared thirteen years ago, and their family. We need to find out who Shi Hu and Wu Feng were close to. The overlapping contacts are likely the main culprits.¡± ¡°How much time do we have?¡± Hua Yanli asked. ¡°Five days.¡± ¡°For something like this, we may need to involve Xiang Mingfeng and She Wanshan,¡± Yun Qi suggested. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 473 - 473 Sneaking In 473 Sneaking In People like them, who were outsiders, could only see a small fraction of the whole picture. ¡°That¡¯s why we need to hasten Brother Fang¡¯s coming-of-age ceremony,¡± Qin Huai told the others. ¡°From what I understand, while the five great sects superficially rule all of Qingzhou, in truth, the city has been carved up between the demons and the Sacred Heart Sect. Most of the disturbances in Qingzhou are likely due to the conflict between these two major factions,¡± he continued. He had obtained plenty of valuable insights from the brothers. Even though they were not high-level cultivators, they had witnessed many incidents. Many of the significant cases in Qingzhou were secret conflicts between these two powers. ¡°So, the master of Wuji Mountain Master might also be a demon?¡± Hua Yanli wondered, his eyes dark and filled with despair. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, but it seems quite likely,¡± Qin Huai replied. ¡°I¡¯ll contact Fang Huo right away,¡± Yun Qi said, standing up and rushing out of the boat. That night, Fang Huo secretly joined them on the boat. ¡°So, the demons and even the Sacred Heart Sect want to meddle¡­¡± After hearing Qin Huai¡¯s report, Fang Huo¡¯s eyes filled with a resolve to kill. ¡°Qingzhou shouldn¡¯t belong to the demons, nor should it be ruled by the Sacred Heart Sect. It should be ours. Tomorrow, I will announce that we are going to challenge Wuji Mountain the day after,¡± he declared. The next morning, word that Fang Huo was planning to ignore the minor sects and challenge the prodigies of the five great sects spread throughout the city. Many called him arrogant but others acknowledged his strength. Sitting at a tea stall, Qin Huai remarked, ¡°The power of the five great sects is indeed formidable. They were able to spread the news across the city overnight.¡± ¡­ At Wuji Mountain, the second elder, Shang Yinzhong, smirked at the news brought to him by an underling. ¡°So, the disaster will come knocking on our door tomorrow?¡± he wondered aloud. Behind him stood a group of powerful individuals, some of whom had never interacted with each other before. But at that moment, they were all respectfully standing behind Shang Yinzhong. ¡°Let¡¯s seize this moment when all eyes are on the battle between the prodigies,¡± he suggested, to which the crowd unanimously agreed. ¡°Since the heavens have given me this opportunity, I must seize it.¡± ¡­ At the tea stall, a man wearing a bamboo hat suddenly sat opposite Qin Huai and said, ¡°The dragon boat flies thirty thousand miles.¡± Qin Huai answered, ¡°Return to the nest in the water.¡± Whoosh¡­ Without another word, the man handed him a piece of paper and quickly left. On the note was one sentence: ¡°We¡¯ll make a move tomorrow.¡± Qin Huai was taken aback. He realized he wanted to use Fang Huo¡¯s challenge to contact Xiang Mingfeng and She Wanshan to find the culprit, but had overlooked that this opportunity was also perfect for those planning a coup. ¡°How decisive,¡± he muttered, frowning. This tea stall was the meeting place for the two brothers and the mastermind of Wuji Mountain. According to the sect¡¯s instructions, he was supposed to secretly escort Wu Feng and the others to Wuji Mountain. But now, he decided not to pass on the news. Qin Huai decided it would be best to delay any dealings with Wu Feng and his side until after the current situation had been resolved. After leaving a letter on the boat, he headed towards the inner city, planning to risk a covert entry into Wuji Mountain. ¡­ Late at night, the weather turned colder and the wind wailed like a mournful song. Against this wind, Qin Huai used the wind breath technique and silently made his way up the mountain. Wuji Mountain was vast with sixteen mountains in total. Relying on the route Fang Huo had shown him, Qin Huai navigated carefully. In the forest, there were many subtle auras intertwining, any of which could alert others to his presence if he wasn¡¯t careful. As a result, he moved very cautiously, covering only five kilometers in two hours. He spotted a run-down temple in the distance. That was the confinement area of Wuji Mountain where Xiang Mingfeng was held. Approaching slowly and carefully, he remained as inconspicuous as possible. Just as he was about to vault over the temple¡¯s high walls, a voice suddenly sounded behind him. Qin Huai spun around, a flash of white light in his eyes. Activating the bronze mountain and river diagram, he prepared for a confrontation. Swoosh! In an instant, the voice stopped, and even Qin Huai¡¯s figure had vanished. Shortly after, more than ten figures appeared in the area where Qin Huai had been. Despite their thorough search around the dilapidated temple, they found no traces of anyone. ¡°Are we just imagining things?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue patrolling. These two days are crucial!¡± Deeming it an illusion due to their heightened nerves, the group finally dispersed. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the bronze realm, Qin Huai was looking down at the old man lying on the ground. The man was badly injured with blood pouring from a severed arm and a pair of torn-off gray wings. ¡°Are you Zhou Cunzhong?¡± the old man managed to ask, his face paling from blood loss. ¡°Do you know who you are going against?¡± ¡°Demons and the Sacred Heart Sect.¡± Despite his threatening words, Qin Huai remained unfazed. ¡°Hahaha! You actually knew about it, yet you still dared to do this. You really don¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth. Back then, I was the same¡ª¡± Bang! But he was abruptly cut off as Qin Huai¡¯s fist pierced his chest. ¡°You really talk a lot of nonsense,¡± Qin Hua said. As the old man¡¯s life faded, Qin Huai received notifications about his gains. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x3], [Kun Peng Seed (531/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence], [Blood Heart Technique] has been upgraded!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 474 - 474 Wuji Mountains Heavenly Master 474 Wuji Mountain¡¯s Heavenly Master Qin Huai studied the experience orb, slightly surprised. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought the gatekeeper was such a character?¡± He hadn¡¯t expected this elder from Wuji Mountain to possess the Kun Peng bloodline and practice the powerful blood heart technique. This left Qin Huai unsure about the elder¡¯s true allegiance. ¡°Or maybe he¡¯s playing both sides,¡± Qin Huai speculated. After using poison powder to dispose of the corpse, Qin Huai retracted the bronze landscape diagram. He landed lightly on the grass, leaving no trace of his footprints on the yellow, withered grass. Scaling the top of the dilapidated Taoist temple¡¯s wall, he slipped inside. The temple was in ruins with nothing notable but a clear flow of aura. Approaching it, Qin Huai saw Xiang Mingfeng sitting on a futon in the unclosed inner hall of the temple. In front of him was a half-destroyed, seven-meter-tall stone statue. ¡°One of the founders of Wuji Mountain, and for a time, one of the strongest in the True Path Sect, Wuji Heavenly Master,¡± Xiang Mingfeng started to explain. ¡°Despite cultivating only one qi technique in his lifetime, he was invincible in his realm. A breath of his qi could allegedly kill a dragon or phoenix.¡± Listening quietly, Qin Huai knew that Xiang Mingfeng was aware of the extensive corruption within Wuji Mountain. Keeping such a straightforward man silent for so long must have taken a lot of inner turmoil. ¡°But what I admire most about you, Heavenly Master, is your upright life. You never tolerated any wrongdoings. If a demon emerged, you¡¯d risk your life to eliminate it.¡± Xiang Mingfeng continued, ¡°Do you know how the Heavenly Master met his end?¡± ¡°How did he die?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°He ventured into the Demon Valley, the origin of demons.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°For thirty years following his journey, no demon from the Demon Valley entered the human world,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said somberly. Looking at the stone statue, Qin Huai felt a surge of emotions. Yet, despite the Heavenly Master¡¯s greatness, his temple had fallen into such disrepair. Turning around, Xiang Mingfeng spoke, ¡°I am not strong like the Heavenly Master¡­ but if I can¡¯t even protect Wuji Mountain, I would not be able to face him even in death.¡± A dazzling light suddenly erupted from his body, illuminating the night sky. The half-statue in the temple began to vibrate, and in the next moment, genuine qi flowed from it into Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s body. Boom! His figure seemed to grow taller, and a shift occurred across Wuji Mountain as multiple peaks started to move. A powerful aura surged toward the mountain. Whoosh! ¡°Brother Zhou, find somewhere to hide first,¡± Xiang Mingfeng advised. ¡°There¡¯s a secret room behind the stone statue.¡± Qin Huai quickly surveyed the room before disappearing into a small secret room behind the stone platform. Activating the bronze landscape diagram, he concealed himself without revealing any aura. ¡°I knew something like this would happen when I came to find Xiang Mingfeng,¡± he admitted, having anticipated this situation. He manipulated a stream of spring water to emerge from the ground, revealing the surroundings of the dark room. Even in the pitch-black darkness, he could hear the sounds echoing from the temple. A series of mighty auras suddenly descended on the run-down temple. ¡°Mingfeng, you¡¯ve broken through?¡± Kong Binghuang¡¯s laughter filled the air as he examined the vacant stone platform. ¡°You managed to refine the ancestral master¡¯s stone statue into a guardian spirit item¡­ Impressive!¡± However, a disapproving voice interjected, ¡°To turn the ancestral master¡¯s portrait into a guardian spirit item¡­ It¡¯s a disgrace! This is a serious crime against our ancestors!¡± A rugged figure with a full beard and large frame strolled in ¡ª Second Elder Shang Yinzhong, a prominent expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm. ¡°Second Brother, you¡¯re too old-fashioned. How many years has it been since anyone cared for the Taoist temple the grandmaster left behind?¡± A tall figure walked in. Grand Elder Yu Tiancong, another top-notch expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm, argued, ¡°Now that it¡¯s a guardian spirit item under Mingfeng¡¯s care, it¡¯s worth it, isn¡¯t it?¡± Smiling, Grand Elder Yu Tiancong patted Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Now that Mingfeng has progressed to the next level, tomorrow¡¯s battle with Fanghuo will be quite interesting.¡± Ignoring Yu Tiancong¡¯s comments, Second Elder Shang Yinzhong insisted, ¡°How could the portrait of an ancestor be handled so casually?¡± He proposed to Kong Binghuang, ¡°Mountain Chief, I suggest we punish Xiang Mingfeng severely! Exile him to the Qingzhou border for two years to reflect on his arrogance! He has been out of control for the past two years!¡± Xiang Mingfeng remained unfazed, challenging Shang Yinzhong, ¡°Since Second Elder is so concerned about the Heavenly Master¡¯s image, may I ask how many times you¡¯ve visited here in the past few years?¡± Shang Yinzhong¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Your disrespect to your elders is an additional crime.¡± Throughout this, Kong Binghuang stood aside with closed eyes, seemingly indifferent, keeping everyone guessing his thoughts. Laughing, Yu Tiancong tried to mediate the situation. ¡°Second Brother, you claim to be rigid, and here you prove it. Mingfeng is our senior brother from Wuji Mountain. To exile him¡­ seems a bit excessive.¡± Finally, Kong Binghuang spoke again, ¡°Indeed.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 475 - 475 Whos the Traitor? 475 Who¡¯s the Traitor? ¡°Mingfeng, now that you¡¯ve advanced to the visceral prefecture realm, you need to contribute more to our sect,¡± Kong Binghuang said, patting Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s shoulder heavily. His demeanor had turned serious, a stark contrast from his initial cheerful entry. Just then, another figure hurried in from the doorway ¡ª Wu Jin, the third elder of Wuji Mountain, and another top-tier expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm. ¡°Apologies for my tardiness, I was preparing tomorrow¡¯s arena for our troublemaker,¡± he said, appearing drained. Despite his exhaustion, he congratulated Xiang Mingfeng, ¡°With you present tomorrow, the arena will not be a wasted effort!¡± Yu Tiancong, amused, announced, ¡°It seems all four titans of our Wuji Mountain have finally assembled.¡± Kong Binghuang then motioned everyone to disperse and prepare for the next day. As they left, their reluctant gazes lingered on Xiang Mingfeng. Surprisingly, no one mentioned when they would release Xiang Mingfeng. After waiting a moment, Xiang Mingfeng called out, ¡°Brother Zhou, you can come out now.¡± Only then did Qin Huai emerge from the underground secret room. ¡°Brother Xiang, I need to discuss something important with you¡­¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t waste any time, recognizing the urgency of the matter. ¡°Are you close to the ninth elder, Shi Hu, and the former thirteenth elder, Wu Feng¡­¡± ¡°I was quite young when Wu Feng disappeared, so I wasn¡¯t very familiar with his relationships,¡± Xiang Mingfeng started. ¡°As for Ninth Elder Shi Hu, he is seen as one of Second Elder¡¯s allies. They were both taught by the same master and have been practicing together since they were young. Furthermore, when Shi Hu became an elder, it was Second Elder who promoted him.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement. ¡°Moreover, the second elder seemed eager to exile you earlier. He appeared quite hostile.¡± However, Xiang Mingfeng quickly dismissed this thought. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right. Second Elder is a principled person. He is so dogmatic that he treats the sect¡¯s rules as if they were sacred text. ¡°Even when Master makes routine decisions, Second Elder often disagrees and obstructs him.¡± Xiang Mingfeng sighed. ¡°The second elder, a follower of the Sacred Heart Sect¡­ Pardon me for being blunt, but I find it hard to believe.¡± Nonetheless, Qin Huai cautioned him, ¡°You can¡¯t judge a person by their appearance. The Sacred Heart Sect has many means of enticing people¡­¡± He elaborated on the cult¡¯s offerings, from longevity and healing old injuries to enhancing cultivation ¡ª all of which would be attractive to martial artists. ¡°Shi Hu is surely a follower of the Sacred Heart Sect now, but who is controlling him¡­ Brother Xiang, you still have to think carefully,¡± Qin Huai said. Given what he heard, he suspected Second Elder Shang Yinzhong was involved. However, as Xiang Mingfeng knew Wuji Mountain better than anyone, his opinion would be decisive. ¡°Also, I believe there are still demons present on Wuji Mountain,¡± Qin Huai continued. ¡°I¡¯ve already eliminated a visceral prefecture realm demon at the entrance. This creature even had a demon bloodline and the blood heart technique.¡± On hearing this, Xiang Mingfeng sighed in exhaustion. ¡°Has Wuji Mountain been infiltrated by these two forces?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you have any info about these demons?¡± Qin Huai shook his head. ¡°I stumbled upon this only by chance. However, we suspect that the current Mountain Chief of Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang, could be involved.¡± Xiang Mingfeng was silent. He had trusted his sect members and never imagined such a scenario. If it weren¡¯t for Tang Xinglong¡¯s death and his own imprisonment, he wouldn¡¯t have suspected anyone in the sect. ¡°But it couldn¡¯t be Master, right?¡± His voice wavered, the present situation was too confusing with the Sacred Heart Sect, demons, Qingzhou Alliance, and Wuji Mountain all intertwined, making it difficult to differentiate friend from foe. ¡°If we can¡¯t determine who is on our side, we will have to take action tomorrow,¡± Qin Huai suggested, considering the certainty of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s impending attack. It would at least reveal the enemy¡¯s identity. ¡°But we could incur significant losses by then,¡± he added honestly. ¡°Is it highly probable that Master¡¯s life will be in danger? Could he die?¡± Xiang Mingfeng inquired. ¡°Yes. After all, Mountain Chief Kong Binghuang is the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s target this time,¡± Qin Huai confirmed. Deep in thought, Xiang Mingfeng considered potential suspects within Wuji Mountain. ¡°Only four people in the sect have the capacity to bring down Wuji Mountain. They¡¯re the four titans: First Elder Yu Tiancong, Second Elder Shang Yinzhong, Third Elder Wu Jin, and my master Kong Binghuang.¡± Excluding the possibility that his master was not part of the Sacred Heart Sect, he was left with three options. ¡°Those who are close to Shi Hu include Second Elder Shang Yinzhong¡­ Perhaps the grand elder is also one of them.¡± Xiang Mingfeng looked at Qin Huai. ¡°Grand Elder is a mediator within the sect, and he maintains good relations with everyone. His ties with Ninth Elder Shi Hu are strong and given his personality, he likely had a good rapport with the former thirteenth elder, Wu Feng.¡± He concluded, ¡°Without the information you provided about Wu Feng, the Second Elder would be the prime suspect.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 476 - 476 The Qingzhou Alliance! 476 The Qingzhou Alliance! ¡°But, only the ones who are friendly with the ninth and thirteenth elders would be possible¡­ Wuyi must be the great elder¡¯s! And the great elder is certainly from the Sacred Heart Sect!¡± Xiang Mingfeng was sure of it. ¡°Oh¡­ This trip was not a waste of time.¡± Qin Huai sighed in relief. At least, he had almost confirmed that the people from the Sacred Heart Sect were involved. As for the demons¡­he¡¯d figure it out slowly. ¡­ The next morning, the whole of Wuji Mountain was buzzing with excitement. A challenge from Lion Spirit Mountain¡¯s number one prodigy to all sects in Qingzhou City was a big deal. This tradition from Lion Spirit Mountain had grown popular over the years. Whenever their prodigies visited, local sects would hold a competition and invite everyone for a feast. They¡¯d share experiences and talk business. If someone could beat Lion Spirit Mountain¡¯s prodigy, it would be a great honor and could bring wealth. In the early morning, many disciples from Wuji Mountain went to Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s ruined temple and asked him to leave his isolation. Once everyone left, Qin Huai went to the competition site. His face was unknown to all. The site, or rather the feast, was bigger than he expected with over a thousand people. Qin Huai scanned the crowd. Hua Yanli, Yun Qi, Wang Gang, and Xiong Yujie had fought alongside him in the bronze realm. Surprisingly, he also saw Gou Jie who was supposed to be in isolation. He walked towards him. ¡°Are we going to fight the Sacred Heart Sect today?¡± Gou Jie asked, a slight smile on his face as he tossed some coins into the air. ¡°How did you know?¡± Qin Huai was curious. They hadn¡¯t met any of the top fighters from the five sects yet. ¡°Haha! You make me sound like I¡¯m the best at predicting. I¡¯m good, but not the best.¡± Gou Jie stayed calm. ¡°You predicted this?¡± Qin Huai was skeptical. The prediction ability sounded troublesome. It made him worried that the Sacred Heart Sect might have seen their plans. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just because I can predict doesn¡¯t mean others can,¡± Gou Jie assured him, confident. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Qin Huai half-joked. ¡°Can you tell who¡¯s the demon in Wuji Mountain and who belongs to the Sacred Heart?¡± ¡°We only predict possibilities, not specific people. If we could, our prediction ability would have been destroyed long ago,¡± Gou Jie explained, ¡°Also, predicting drains us. The more accurate, the more draining.¡± ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know.¡± Qin Huai also had a prediction ability, but he wasn¡¯t very good at it. It drained his energy and life force, so he only half-believed Gou Jie. The other half of him thought that Gou Jie was hiding something big. ¡°It¡¯s starting.¡± Qin Huai, Hua Yanli, and others exchanged glances from a distance. Close by, Wu Jin, the third elder of Wuji Mountain, slowly approached. ¡°Something¡¯s not right. Usually, all four leaders of Wuji Mountain show up.¡± Gou Jie looked worried. ¡°I thought you¡¯d predict what we know.¡± Qin Huai turned serious. The chief, Kong Binghuang, and the first and second elders, Yu Tiancong and Shang Yinzhong, were missing. Could they both be with the Sacred Heart? This daring thought crossed Qin Huai¡¯s mind. He saw Xiang Mingfeng and Fang Huo slowly approach from the north and south. Hundreds of meters away, both looked at Qin Huai, and he nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Xiang Mingfeng, I¡¯ve been waiting for this fight!¡± Fang Huo¡¯s body hair started to grow rapidly. ¡°Nobody can beat me.¡± The aura around Xiang Ming grew stronger, shining as bright as the sun. In a split second, both vanished from their spots. There was no idle talk. Boom! In the sky, powerful energy swept around as if it had taken a physical form. Everyone¡¯s hair fluttered in the wind. In no time, strong winds whistled and swept the ground. ¡°Is this how top talents from the five great sects fight?¡± ¡°In such a short time, they¡¯ve already exchanged more than ten blows.¡± ¡°This is just a warm-up¡­ It seems Fang Huo hasn¡¯t shown his full strength yet.¡± ¡°Truly scary, the power of a future leader.¡± Everyone sighed watching the fierce fight. But soon, they got distracted by the feast. ¡°Those two are getting further away.¡± ¡°Stay in the arena, both of you!¡± Elder Wu Jin¡¯s strong voice echoed for miles. But the two fighters were lost in their battle and didn¡¯t listen to him. In fact, they were moving away faster. ¡°Darn, they¡¯re heading towards the main peak!¡± Everyone finally left their food and rushed towards the main peak of Wuji Mountain. The fastest were Qin Huai and Gou Jie. ¡­ At Wuji Mountain¡¯s main peak, Kong Binghuang stood, staring coldly at two groups in front of him. The first group was led by First Elder Yu Tiancong, followed by ten deacons and elders of Wuji Mountain, including Ninth Elder Shi Hu. But Yu Tiancong looked worried. The second group, led by Second Elder Shang Yinzhong, had dozens of people, all experts of different ranks. ¡°Who are you?¡± Yu Tiancong asked Shang Yinzhong, his voice shaky. ¡°I¡¯m Shang Yinzhong from Wuji Mountain!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 477 - 477 Unparalleled Power 477 Unparalleled Power First Elder Yu Tiancong squinted, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m going to believe that? Or will Elder Brother believe you?¡± Shang Yinzhong slightly bowed towards Kong Binghuang. ¡°Mountain Chief, I belong to the Kun Peng Clan, but my loyalty to Wuji Mountain is absolute. However¡­ Wuji Mountain today is too weak. When our founder established Wuji Mountain, ¡®Wuji¡¯ meant endless power, and we could do anything to achieve it!¡± He added, ¡°But, Mountain Chief, you¡¯re too lenient, leading to Wuji Mountain¡¯s decline.¡± At this point, First Elder Yu Tiancong burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha! A demon claiming loyalty to Wuji Mountain.¡± He then said, ¡°However, I agree with you. Wuji Mountain is weak, Senior Brother is weak. I seek the power of the Sacred Heart Sect, for our Wuji Mountain to become stronger!¡± After that, Yu Tiancong made a small cut on his finger. Thick blood oozed from the wound, but in the next moment¡­the wound healed instantly. ¡°Senior Brother, take a look. It¡¯d be a waste not to use this power.¡± Yu Tiancong smirked at Kong Binghuang. The two elders exchanged looks and turned towards Kong Binghuang. ¡°Is this what you¡¯ve chosen?¡± Kong Binghuang looked at the two men, casually flexing his muscles. Then, he removed his thick robe, revealing his powerful muscles. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I got some action.¡± Kong Binghuang stood alone, fearlessly. His muscles bulged, seeming to pulsate, and a strong aura radiated from him. A gusty wind swept the main peak of Wuji Mountain. Yu Tiancong and Shang Yinzhong¡¯s expressions tightened. Despite having the numerical advantage, they didn¡¯t dare let their guard down facing their senior brother. ¡°I¡¯ll break his momentum!¡± A young figure rushed out from behind Yu Tiancong. ¡°Get back!¡± Yu Tiancong bellowed, but the young elder had already lunged forward. The man opened his mouth wide, seemingly to gulp down the air currents swirling in the sky. ¡°Old man, it¡¯s time you step down!¡± The sky full of airflow surged into his belly. ¡°Shang Yinzhong, let¡¯s begin.¡± Yu Tiancong coldly grunted. Both elders glanced at each other and charged toward Kong Binghuang. ¡°Too late!¡± Kong Binghuang roared. The air currents solidified and rushed into the young elder¡¯s stomach, his stomach swelling. Suddenly, air currents burst out of his eyes and body holes, and his body floated in the air. His eyes turned red. Bang! The eyeballs, hair, and shredded skin hovered in the air. The skinless elder fell to the ground, blood spurting everywhere. However, his wounds were visibly healing. But in the next moment, the young elder¡¯s mouth sprung open uncontrollably, and a large claw emerged from within. Crunch¡­ Blood and saliva splattered as the two halves of the body were torn apart ¡ª the young elder was ripped in two. This scene lasted only a moment. The faces of Yu Tiancong and Shang Yinzhong turned serious, while the expressions of the junior elders and deacons standing with them changed dramatically. They never expected their comrade to be killed by Kong Binghuang in such a simple way. ¡°Supreme wind, windward charm!¡± The energy swirling in the air suddenly coalesced around Kong Binghuang. Despite their slick movements and quick reactions, the hook-like wind blades instantly drew blood from the two unprepared sides. They had nowhere to hide in front of the invisible wind blades forming a net. Behind Shang Yinzhong, over ten attendants unfurled their wings and took to the sky, their gray wings stirring up a hurricane as they ascended. But the next moment, those hurricanes became their guillotine. As they were drawn towards Kong Binghuang, his unleashed wind force sliced the gray wings into over ten parts. Some of them were even diced into pieces on the spot. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Yu Tiancong bellowed. Everyone instantly froze. The raging wind around them subsided as they ceased moving. ¡°So, I¡¯ll die if I don¡¯t move?¡± Kong Binghuang laughed wildly. With a light tap of his foot, he vanished. ¡°Presumptuous!¡± Yu Tiancong also vanished from his spot, but a substantial amount of blood was left suspended in the air. Bang! The two of them exchanged a punch in front of an elder. The elder felt the wind just inches from his face. His pupils dilated, and his hair stood on end. Since reaching the visceral prefecture realm, he had never felt so powerless. ¡°If I want to kill someone, can you stop me?¡± Kong Binghuang coldly snorted. Behind him, Shang Yinzhong arrived almost simultaneously. Roar! A tiger¡¯s roar echoed through the clouds, and a massive tiger and a heavy fist lunged toward Kong Binghuang. Whoosh! Kong Binghuang didn¡¯t even glance back, but a dozen solid qi shields appeared behind him. Accompanied by shattering noises, Shang Yinzhong¡¯s fierce momentum abruptly weakened. The shattered fragments of the qi shield scattered in all directions, grazing the elders and deacons who didn¡¯t dare to budge. Some were even pierced by the fragments on the spot. At the same time, Kong Binghuang continued to punch forward, his muscles bulging with each punch. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 478 - 478 Prodigies Thrive Best in Groups 478 Prodigies Thrive Best in Groups Kong Binghuang became stronger with each punch he threw. The rising pressure from his shadow loomed over Yu Tiancong and the young elder, making them feel an enormous force bearing down on them. ¡°Isn¡¯t the chief at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm?¡± asked the young elder nervously. He wasn¡¯t dismissing the importance of seniority. It was simply that Kong Binghuang¡¯s attack had left him exhausted. His body was at breaking point, with his bone patterns showing signs of shattering. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you using your guardian spirit item or your ultimate technique?¡± he continued. ¡°There¡¯s a considerable difference between the levels of the visceral realm.¡± Yu Tiancong barely managed to get the words out. The two elders made an attempt to attack Kong Binghuang but were suppressed by him. Surprisingly, neither Yu Tiancong nor Shang Yinzhong showed any signs of shock. They were well aware of Kong Binghuang¡¯s power. Within Qingzhou, Kong Binghuang was considered one of the top three fighters, and that¡¯s including the descendants of the Kun Peng Clan and the leaders of the Sacred Heart Sect. Otherwise, the master of their Wuji Mountain could easily be considered the strongest in Qingzhou. ¡°If we don¡¯t risk something, we¡¯ll all be defeated one by one!¡± Yu Tiancong yelled. Shang Yin Zhong agreed, albeit in a quiet voice. ¡°If we don¡¯t take action, we¡¯ll both be finished!¡± In response, several fierce tigers emerged from Shang Yinzhong¡¯s body, all bearing huge black wings over ten meters wide. A protective qi shield started to fail visibly. Yu Tiancong retaliated with his own aura, which formed a halo over his head. Beams of light fell from his bones, washing away the force on his body. On his fists, jade bracelets appeared to fend off Kong Binghuang¡¯s attack. ¡°No matter how powerful you are, Eldest Senior Brother, you won¡¯t be able to take all of us on your own.¡± ¡°What if we join the fight?¡± Suddenly, an aurora flashed across the sky. In a blink of an eye, the whole main peak of Wuji Mountain began to crumble. A deacon, decorated with five intricate patterns, was launched into the air, only to explode into a cloud of blood. A burst of fiery energy plummeted from the sky, severing a portion of the main peak, along with an unfortunate visceral prefecture realm elder trapped by the windward charm technique. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one on!¡± Full of righteous fury, Hua Yanli charged down the mountain, his body radiating an aura akin to a phoenix¡¯s. ¡°How reckless,¡± remarked Yun Qi, shaking his head as he descended to the ground. ¡°Brother Hua is sly. Now that he¡¯s left, he has to deal with only one opponent,¡± Gou Jie observed, standing next to Xiang Mingfeng. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯ll defeat them all!¡± A determined roar echoed from the mountain¡¯s base. ¡°I beg to differ,¡± countered Fang Huo, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he surveyed the battlefield. Qin Huai and Xiang Mingfeng stood together, backed by Wang Gang, Xiong Yujie, She Wanshan, and other future kings. In addition to them, promising young fighters from smaller sects, adorned with four or five patterns, joined the fray. Even though reinforcements arrived to assist, Yu Tiancong was unimpressed. ¡°Even with your numbers, you can¡¯t change the outcome.¡± The ninth elder, Shi Hu, stepped forward. He released an aura that matched the power of the third-level visceral prefecture realm, casting a gloom over everyone. At this moment, the demon men and the Sacred Heart Sect made up half of the visceral prefecture realm fighters on Wuji Mountain, with a total of sixteen experts in their ranks. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you know that gifted fighters thrive in numbers?¡± Gou Jie teased with a smirk. ¡°We¡¯ve always been tested as a group. Ah, I almost forgot, you¡¯ve never been a prodigy, so you won¡¯t understand the prestige of our level.¡± ¡°Little brat from the Thousand Divination Tower, you are quite eloquent.¡± Yu Tiancong only responded with a contemptuous look, but his eyes betrayed a brewing killing intent. Among the eight future kings, only She Wanshan and Wang Gang were still struggling to advance to the next level. The others had already anticipated this crisis and chosen to break through. Fang Huo said matter-of-factly, ¡°I¡¯m just stating the truth. It¡¯s only a two-to-one battle.¡± His eyes were already gleaming with golden light. Simultaneously, the eight future kings¡¯ eyes lit up, their impressive king¡¯s force creating a tangible, intense atmosphere. Boom! Suddenly, cracks started to appear on the main peak due to the intense pressure exerted by the eight future kings. Elsewhere, the spectators had already started their own skirmishes, adding to the chaos. ¡°Master, I apologize for being late,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said, his gaze falling on Kong Binghuang, who was battling the first and second elders. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Kong Binghuang reassured him. ¡°You guys handle the others, and I¡¯ll take care of these two. But be wary of Shi Hu. He¡¯s at the third or fourth-level visceral prefecture realm.¡± Seeing Xiang Mingfeng and the others rushing to his aid filled him with hope. ¡°With you young folks around, Qingzhou still has hope and a fighting chance. ¡°Originally, I wanted to die together with these guys.¡± Kong Binghuang laughed. ¡°Die together? Eldest Senior Brother, aren¡¯t you thinking too highly of yourself?¡± Yu Tiancong sneered. ¡°What? Aren¡¯t you flattered?¡± Kong Binghuang appeared confused. In the blink of an eye, the windward charm¡¯s binding instantly disappeared, and Kong Binghuang compressed it to within ten meters. Boom! A clash ensued, with sparks and blood flying in the air. A cruel smile appeared on Kong Binghuang¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Try saying another word!¡± ¡­ Qin Huai turned his attention to Shi Hu and stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this ninth elder.¡± ¡°You want to fight me alone?¡± His words surprised Shi Hu, who immediately charged toward him. His body abruptly expanded, and a symbol representing ¡®king¡¯ materialized above his head. At the same time, a roaring sound akin to a tiger¡¯s bellow turned into a wave of energy. But in an unexpected turn of events, the energy retracted back into his body, and he slowly darkened to an almost black shade. ¡°Tiger skin, stone king!¡± Neither of them attempted to evade. Qin Huai¡¯s fist, pure and white as jade, clashed head-on with his opponent¡¯s. Boom! Their impact was the epicenter of an explosive force that radiated outwards in all directions. Hairline fractures, reminiscent of spiderwebs, began to spread under their feet inch by inch. The sheer strength emitted by the two individuals made the mountain peak shudder with intensity. In the very next moment, the pair traded more than a dozen blows on the spot. In between the exchange of blows, Shi Hu managed to admit, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so confident. You¡¯re quite strong.¡± His attack weakened slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but that was all. But Qin Huai wasn¡¯t phased. ¡°I haven¡¯t even used my full strength yet.¡± The next moment, his hair instantly turned white and his eyes flickered with a faint white light as he activated his dragon king form. A potent energy erupted from deep within his heart and his dantian. Qin Huai¡¯s blood surged with fervor, and the emperor¡¯s force around him gradually intensified. Shi Hu¡¯s fist, with its swift and ruthless movement, was targeted directly at the side of Qin Huai¡¯s temple. ¡°Too slow, too weak.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s form seemed to dissolve into thin air. The taunting voice echoed in Shi Hu¡¯s ears. He retaliated with a punch and leaned his body forward. Snap! The clear sound of bone splintering echoed through the air. Qin Huai¡¯s punch landed squarely on Shi Hu¡¯s elbow, making him lose control of his arm. ¡°It¡¯s useless!¡± Shi Hu roared, activating the blood heart technique. His wounded arm began to regenerate swiftly. Rip! Despite Shi Hu¡¯s quick recovery attempt, however, Qin Huai went in for the finishing blow. Shi Hu¡¯s entire arm was ripped off, leaving him shocked and severely wounded. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s useless,¡± Qin Huai declared, standing over his fallen opponent like a victorious god of death. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 479 - 479 Two Worlds at the Same Time? 479 Two Worlds at the Same Time? ¡°Ah!¡± cried Shi Hu, a wave of anger flashed in his eyes as he looked at his missing arm. He couldn¡¯t believe what had just happened. Considering his strong physique, he was one of the toughest people on Wuji Mountain. He was baffled to see himself so vulnerable to Qin Huai¡¯s attacks. Shi Hu¡¯s sudden outcry drew attention from the bystanders. Fang Huo stared at Shi Hu¡¯s missing arm and he couldn¡¯t help but admire Zhou¡¯s increasing strength. Fang Huo found himself imagining what it would feel like if he were in Shi Hu¡¯s position. He thought it probably wouldn¡¯t have been much better. What shocked him the most was the speed at which the fight had escalated. They had barely started fighting, and Shi Hu had already lost an arm? The difference in their abilities had grown so much since their last encounter? Gou Jie, with a smug look, chimed in, ¡°Zhou, aren¡¯t you being a little too harsh? Regardless of his standing, he is still a respected elder of Wuji Mountain. You¡¯ve inflicted severe injury on him right at the beginning of the fight. Even in the afterlife, he¡¯d find it hard to recover.¡± Xiang Mingfeng watched the fight, his face calm. ¡°Zhou, quickly deal with your opponents and lend a hand. Any delay might change the tide of this battle.¡± Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words, devoid of sarcasm, infuriated the already angry Shi Hu to a boiling point. ¡°This is unacceptable!¡± Shi Hu shouted. Blood spurted out from his amputated arm. Then, thick blood veins started forming an arm shape. Suddenly, Shi Hu felt a crushing weight pressing down on him. He was hit with the illusion realm fist from Qin Huai, leaving no room for recovery. He roared furiously, ¡°Black rock embryo technique!¡± The next moment, his body started turning into stone, coiling up on the ground, and glowing with a dim light. Upon seeing this, Qin Huai was slightly taken aback. Shi Hu was trying to counteract his illusion realm fist with this method? That was just asking for death! Qin Huai launched another attack, his fist showing a hint of dragon bones ¨C the localized dragon emperor technique. This technique helped him conserve energy and use it precisely. The majestic dragon¡¯s power created ripples in the air, followed by the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. With a thunderous sound, cracks started forming on the stone that was once Shi Hu, with blood oozing out. But, surprisingly, the stone didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Did he seal his consciousness in the stone embryo?¡± Qin Huai wondered. It must be said that the defensive power of this stone embryo technique was truly impressive. However, against Qin Huai, it was destined to fail. Once again, Qin Huai punched at the stone embryo. Then, to his surprise, the embryo disappeared into the ground. ¡°Black rock embryo, earth evasion technique!¡± However, Qin Huai dismissed it as a petty trick. Dragon bones appeared on his fists, ready for another strike. Boom! Boom! Boom! Qin Huai¡¯s power slammed into the ground, causing the main peak to crumble. His speed in pursuing underground was just as fast as Shi Hu¡¯s escape Suddenly, a strand of black hair shot out from Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, initiating the bronze mountain and river diagram technique. Boom! In an instant, both fighters vanished into the mountain. Bang! The black rock embryo struggled to burrow further into the ground, but it couldn¡¯t penetrate the defenses of the bronze mountain and river diagram. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Where am I¡± As the black rock crumbled away, a pair of bewildered eyes looked at the green world around them. ¡°This is¡­your grave.¡± Qin Huai appeared, not just in front of him, but everywhere around him. ¡°Azure illusion, four-sided dragon bone strike!¡± Bang! As Qin Huai swung his fist, four simultaneous punches landed, causing the black rock embryo to shatter in four directions. Stone fragments turned into flesh, and blood spurted out, soaking the ground in a wide radius. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Stonebirth Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Stonebirth Technique] experience points +333,333!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Tiger Energy Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Tiger Energy Technique] experience points +444,444!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Black Rock Embryo (Fragment) x1], [Black Rock Embryo (1/3)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Earth Tiger Demon Seed (Fragment) x1], [Earth Tiger Demon Seed (1/3)]!¡± Several notifications popped up, showing that Qin Huai had obtained multiple skill essence upgrades and collected fragments. ¡°I¡¯m at the second stage of the visceral realm. I bet I could even take down a fourth-stage martial artist,¡± Qin Huai mused, reflecting on his recent battles with the elders of the five major sects. He had a clear understanding of his strength. His extraordinary physical power allowed him to overpower most close-combat opponents without needing to use the emperor¡¯s force technique. If he could use both the bronze and the black dragon worlds simultaneously, he would be virtually invincible. Qin Huai stood in a hole dozens of meters deep. With a powerful leap, he launched himself high above the peak, providing an overview of the entire battlefield. Seeing that the martial artists from all sides were already engaged in intense combat, his attention turned to the first and second elders of Wuji Mountain who were fighting Kiong Binghuang. He changed his direction mid-air and then kicked the air behind him, executing the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock. In a flash, a burst of white light exploded, the immense force propelling Qin Huai toward the heart of the battlefield. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 480 - 480 The New Black Dragon Pearl 480 The New Black Dragon Pearl ¡°Shi Hu is dead! Let me give you a hand!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s shout echoed across the battlefield, drawing the attention of everyone present. The news of Shi Hu¡¯s defeat startled Yu Tiancong, Shang Yinzhong, and their allies. ¡°Impossible! Shi Hu is a third-level visceral prefecture realm expert,¡± they exclaimed in disbelief. Seeing Qin Huai rushing toward them, other visceral prefecture realm fighters felt a wave of fear. Shi Hu¡¯s quick demise meant they couldn¡¯t afford to overlook Qin Huai ¡ª they had to focus on him rather than their immediate opponents. They knew well that ignoring the attack of their current adversary might lead to injury, but ignoring Qin Huai could result in a fate similar to Shi Hu¡¯s. Bang! Bang! Bang! Seizing the moment of distraction, several warriors launched intense attacks on their opponents. ¡°Scared of Qin Huai, but not of me?¡± Fang Huo laughed menacingly. His blood energy erupted, bathing his body in a crimson glow. His golden eyes and the blood-red aura surrounding him momentarily stunned his opponent. Xiang Mingfeng, She Wanshan, and others also seized the advantage. In the blink of an eye, the evenly matched and stagnant battlefield took a drastic turn because of Qin Huai¡¯s action. Qin Huai¡¯s illusory figures shattered after flying a short distance, leaving just one true form that rushed toward Shang Yinzhong. ¡°Humph! Overconfident!¡± Both Shang Yinzhong and his ally sneered at Qin Huai¡¯s audacity to attack them. With his astonishing physical power, Qin Huai crashed onto the battlefield like a falling meteor. The impact shook the main peak and caused a cloud of dust to rise. With this, he successfully split the battlefield, turning the clash into one-on-one fights. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll finish this battle quickly,¡± Kong Binghuang assured Qin Huai confidently. ¡°Humph! Let¡¯s see who falls first, you or that reckless youngster,¡± Yu Tiancong countered, although he didn¡¯t dare to predict Kong Binghuang¡¯s defeat. A brief encounter with the mountain chief had made it clear how powerful he had become. ¡°I¡¯ll defeat you in less than the time it takes to brew tea,¡± Shang Yinzhong whispered confidently. He charged toward Qin Huai with his wings flapping, causing a deafening sound. Suddenly, Qin Huai and Shang Yinzhong disappeared, only to reappear in the bronze world. ¡°Is this the emperor¡¯s inheritance? A realm type, guardian spirit item¡­¡± Shang Yinzhong muttered, displaying a hint of admiration. ¡°You¡¯re a genius, but you rushed too quickly.¡± He charged at Qin Huai, leaving behind a terrifying gray energy trail. The entire bronze world seemed on the verge of collapse. In response, Qin Huai summoned the dragon emperor technique. He transformed into a flash of white light, breaking through the gray storm and landing a powerful punch on Shang Yinzhong. Shang Yinzhong managed to retreat, but not before his gray feathers withered from the energy impact. ¡°As expected, I mustn¡¯t underestimate you,¡± he admitted. With a sudden, painful tug, he tore off his pair of Kun Peng wings and used them like a bow, pulling an invisible string to gather a powerful gray airflow. The tension in the air felt like all oxygen had been sucked away. Even the sky seemed to bow under the pressure of the imminent attack. ¡°This attack will pierce your heart,¡± Shang Yinzhong declared, his voice resounding through the bronze world. Qin Huai dashed toward Shang Yinzhong with a hand outstretched. ¡°Dual realm, black dragon world!¡± Suddenly, the world around them plunged into total darkness, as if a switch had turned off all light. ¡°What¡¯s this?!¡± Startled by the sudden blackness, Shang Yinzhong tried to calm himself. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t attack you just because I can¡¯t see you?¡± He attempted to sense Qin Huai¡¯s presence, but more than ten of Qin Huai¡¯s auras appeared simultaneously in the darkness, confounding him. ¡°It¡¯s useless!¡± Undeterred, Shang Yinzhong focused his energy on the Kun Peng wing bow, sending a barrage of arrows into the darkness. Briefly, it looked like the dark world was tearing apart, revealing slivers of light. But this was short-lived. Qin Huai¡¯s dragon bones had transformed into a deep black, mirroring his hair. A chilling aura of death emanated from him, sweeping across the land. The arrows shot by Shang Yinzhong dissipated gradually under its influence. Boom! In the blink of an eye, Qin Huai appeared before Shang Yinzhong. A new wave of arrow energy was forming on the Kun Peng wing bow, but it was too slow and too weak. Qin Huai launched a punch that sent Shang Yinzhong flying back. Pieces of his energy armor shattered in the process, unable to resist the overpowering force. Blood trailed down the corner of Shang Yinzhong¡¯s mouth, painting an arc in the air. Fear and shock overwhelmed him as he tried to comprehend his swift defeat at the hands of a younger adversary. The humiliation was unbearable. ¡°You¡¯re a monster¡­¡± His voice trembled. Just as he was reeling from the impact, Qin Huai closed in again. Shang Yinzhong spread his wings once more, the feathers trembling and falling off to form a shield in the air. But everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. ¡°What happened?¡± Shang Yinzhong realized that his body was becoming sluggish, and the energy from the bow was dissipating. He then heard Qin Huai say, ¡°Black coffin!¡± His power seemed to be draining away bit by bit. Then, he noticed Qin Huai was holding a bean-sized black dragon pearl in his palm, which he gently thrust into the winged bow. Boom! The result was catastrophic. The winged bow, along with Shang Yinzhong, exploded, sending a shower of blood and feathers into the air. But instead of falling to the ground, they gravitated toward Qin Huai¡¯s hand where a new black dragon pearl was forming. Despite his severe injuries, Shang Yinzhong could feel his strength dwindling rapidly. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Qin Huai then amplified the power of the black coffin, reducing the blood essence and broken pieces of the Kun Peng wings to dust, which then fused into a larger black dragon pearl. Six figures of Qin Huai surrounded the injured Shang Yinzhong. The Kun Peng¡¯s wings were shattered, leaving only bones, and Shang Yinzhong was in no condition to fight back. ¡°If only I¡¯d known about your power earlier, I wouldn¡¯t be in this state!¡± cried Shang Yinzhong, filled with regret. ¡°The outcome would have been the same,¡± Qin Huai mumbled, pressing down on the black dragon pearl once again. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 481 - 481 Wheres the Heart? 481 Where¡¯s the Heart? With an explosion, the heat wave rolled over, completely engulfing Shang Yinzhong. ¡°No!¡± Even at the brink of death, Shang Yinzhong stared defiantly at Qin Huai, as if intending to consume him with his gaze. After that, the bronze world returned to tranquility, with the massive crater left by the black dragon pearl vanishing without a trace. The only remnants were a few experience orbs, which Qin Huai absorbed. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x53], [Kun Peng Seed (584/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x77], [Kun Peng Seed (661/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x111], [Kun Peng Seed (772/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x53], [Kun Peng Seed (825/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Demon Thousand-Year Flower (Fragment) x1], [Blood Demon Thousand-Year Flower (1/3)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± Notification after notification chimed in Qin Huai¡¯s mind as he collected a plethora of fragments. He was then reminded of the fragment dropped by Tang Ying, the prefecture overseer¡¯s third in command. Since it was similar to the one he received from Shang Yinzhong, he hypothesized that this group of demons was using their own blood essence as a spirit item, a method not unheard of but rarely used due to the superior combat capabilities of guardian spirit items and demons. ¡°This is good,¡± Qin Huai remarked. The world¡¯s energy flowed like a torrent into his body as the illusion merged with reality, revealing the harsh battlefield once again. Whoosh¡­ Qin Huai found himself on the main peak of Wuji Mountain, his gaze fixating on Yu Tiancong, who was also under attack by Kong Binghuang. At this moment, the first elder of Wuji Mountain was already covered in blood and was in a sorry state. Qin Huai lightly tapped his foot, causing the ground to shatter and sending dozens of debris pieces into the sky. He appeared instantly behind Yu Tiancong, activating the dragon emperor. Bang! Yu Tiancong blocked Qin Huai¡¯s attack with a short knife, sparks flying as disbelief filled his eyes. ¡°Take this!¡± Kong Binghuang called out a windward charm, releasing a hundred thousand wind blades that blasted Yu Tiancong away. The wind blades cut through Yu Tiancong¡¯s flesh, revealing his white bones in the air. However, his wounds visibly healed, and the sight of his squirming flesh was grotesque and unnerving. Realization dawned on Yu Tiancong when he saw the blood-soaked ground ¨C Shang Yinzhong had fallen at the hands of this young man. ¡°You must be possessed by the Demon of Qingzhou. There¡¯s no other way a brat like you could defeat Shang Yinzhong, who was at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm!¡± Yu Tiancong sized up Qin Huai cautiously, his wariness outweighing even that for Kong Binghuang. He found it hard to believe that this young man, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, had risen to power so quickly. ¡°Good job, kid.¡± Kong Binghuang patted Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, his eyes filled with both gratification and surprise. ¡°Yu Tiancong, seems like this farce is about to end.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than he disappeared, his figure blurred by the fierce wind blades, only to reappear like a phantom behind Yu Tiancong. Activating windward charm¡¯s latent wind, Kong Binghuang¡¯s fists landed on Yu Tiancong¡¯s back like heavy hammers. Crack! ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me, Kong Binghuang!¡± Yu Tiancong roared. Blood spurted from his mouth, curiously suspending in midair before transforming into a guillotine, slicing down an arc in the air. The blood-drenched guillotine was stopped mid-strike by Kong Binghuang¡¯s bleeding fists. The guillotine and fists were in a stalemate ¨C any slackening in Kong Binghuang¡¯s effort might lead to his fists breaking. ¡°Can you block a second strike?¡± Yu Tiancong asked with a sinister smile, spitting out more blood essence. ¡°Your arrogance will be your undoing!¡± His blood essence formed two blood arrows, shooting toward Kong Binghuang from his sides. He knew this might be his only chance to kill him. Bang! Suddenly, a fist pierced through Yu Tiancong¡¯s heart. Yu Tiancong, his eyes widened in shock, could only stare at Qin Huai. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°How could you make such a small mistake?¡± Qin Huai slowly withdrew his fist, which was now covered in sticky, congealed blood. It wasn¡¯t so much that Yu Tiancong made a small mistake, it was more that his fear of Kong Binghuang was so deep that he had momentarily forgotten about Qin Huai, who had swiftly eliminated Shang Yinzhong. Regardless, his death was now imminent. Qin Huai¡¯s eyebrows suddenly twitched in realization. Yu Tiancong¡¯s heart was not on the left. With a resounding bang, Yu Tiancong¡¯s body exploded into a bloody mist. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 482 - 482 Purgatory on Earth 482 Purgatory on Earth The next moment, a beam of red light shot into the sky. ¡°You think you can kill me? You¡¯ve got to be joking!¡± Yu Tiancong bellowed. A cloud of red mist lifted him into the air, and he tried to fly away. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Kong Binghuang scoffed. Up in the sky, the wind and clouds shifted, and a white phoenix emerged from the clouds ¡ª the windward charm¡¯s technique, fallen phoenix. The hundred-meter-long white phoenix spiraled in the air, stirring a violent storm. The blood mist beneath Yu Tiancong was instantly scattered, and his body was swept away by the white phoenix¡¯s tempest-like assault. Qin Huai quietly observed the unfolding spectacle. Indeed, the gap between each of the five levels of the visceral prefecture realm was immense. The battle prowess of Kong Binghuang, the master of Wuji Mountain, was truly fearsome. Bang! With a loud crash, Yu Tiancong landed on the nearly destroyed main peak of Wuji Mountain. This was akin to the last straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Giant rocks crumbled and rolled down the mountain like an earthquake, causing the fighting prodigy elders to scatter and look for shelter in panic. ¡°Is Brother Zhou out?!¡± She Wanshan glanced at Qin Huai in disbelief, suddenly realizing that this meant the second elder, Shang Yinzhong, must have been defeated. A chill ran up his spine. ¡°Just how strong is Brother Zhou?¡± More than a year ago, they were almost evenly matched, but now¡­ Could Brother Zhou actually kill a top-tier expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm? Nearby, Fang Huo and others noticed Qin Huai¡¯s reappearance. Their expressions varied as they considered the implications. ¡°Do you think you can win this way?¡± Yu Tiancong¡¯s voice echoed again. He rose from the ruins, his body covered in blood. Pustules of blood continuously erupted from his body, regenerating new flesh. But with no bones to adhere to, the new flesh liquefied into a pool of congealed blood on the ground. Half his body had been decimated by Kong Binghuang. ¡°This world will eventually be transformed by the Sacred Sovereign! This world will ultimately belong to the Lord!¡± Yu Tiancong kneeled on the ground, looking up at the sky with a fervent expression as he chanted. Suddenly, a bloody aura began to permeate between heaven and earth. Half of the sixteen peaks of Wuji Mountain started to rumble and collapse, giving off a blood-red glow. ¡°What are you up to?¡± Kong Binghuang demanded, staring at the trembling Wuji Mountain. ¡°The Lord¡¯s fifty-year plan will not be derailed by you insects,¡± Yu Tiancong retorted. Qin Huai observed the collapsing mountain peak in the distance, where a thick stream of blood was flowing, accompanied by countless bones. ¡°Look at those mountains!¡± She Wanshan shouted. Many others took note and looked over. The sight of white bones and fresh blood left them horrified. ¡°Blood sacrifice,¡± Qin Huai muttered under his breath. ¡°So, you¡¯re quite familiar with our Sacred Heart Sect.¡± Yu Tiancong laughed heartily, looking at Qin Huai. ¡°Indeed, this is a blood sacrifice. For fifty years, we have been planning for the Lord¡¯s great purpose, and it¡¯s finally about to happen.¡± His eyes blazed with craziness. ¡°This is a blood sacrifice that has been prepared for fifty years. The entire Qingzhou City is filled with the corpses and lives taken from all over the sixteen provinces.¡± Rumble¡­ As Yu Tiancong finished speaking, distant rumbling noises were heard. Columns of blood exploded from the mountains where blood and bones had flowed out, making the clear sky turn dark and red. ¡°What is this?!¡± Everyone was taken aback, even Qin Huai. He noticed that it wasn¡¯t just the sixteen peaks of Wuji Mountain experiencing this, but other locations seemed to be affected too. ¡°That¡¯s where the Thousand Divination Tower is.¡± Gou Jie looked at his sect in the distance with a calm expression. ¡°Master!¡± Fang Huo looked in the direction of his sect as well and clenched his teeth. A lion¡¯s roar echoed around him, and his hair stood on end. ¡°Even the outer city¡­¡± Hua Yanli looked towards the city far away. Even from this distance, a faint red light could be seen. ¡°What have you done?!¡± Kong Binghuang erupted, aiming to kill Yu Tiancong. But Qin Huai quickly stepped in, ¡°Wait! This guy doesn¡¯t have much time left. Your attack earlier destroyed his inner organs. The blood heart technique can¡¯t repair that damage.¡± Yu Tiancong eyed Qin Huai suspiciously. ¡°How much do you know about our Sacred Heart Sect?¡± He continued, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m about to die anyway. It¡¯s a shame I won¡¯t see the golden era the Lord prophesied.¡± He smiled. ¡°But, I initiated this golden era. My name will forever be engraved in Qingzhou¡¯s history.¡± His laughter echoed as he saw the shock on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Soon, Qingzhou will welcome a city where everyone is equal! Your birth, background, talent, or physique won¡¯t matter. You just have to strive to reach the realm you desire. ¡°Whether it¡¯s the blood refinement realm, bone pattern realm, or visceral prefecture realm, all are top-notch experts. All you need to do is eat people! You will be able to advance your cultivation technique by ten days or even a hundred days!¡± Yu Tiancong became increasingly excited as he spoke, his face turning redder. ¡°Then, Qingzhou City will thrive like never before. It will be a sanctuary for ordinary and hardworking people!¡± ¡°Lunatics! You¡¯re all lunatics!¡± Kong Binghuang scowled. ¡°Do you realize how many people will die?¡± Yu Tiancong retorted, ¡°In the grand scheme of things, people die all the time. Also, the worthless who only profit from others and disregard human life¡­ they¡¯ll be cleansed in this new era.¡± Not only Yu Tiancong, but other followers of the Sacred Heart Sect also kneeled, echoing his sentiments. Kong Binghuang¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°That¡¯s just your ideal world.¡± Yu Tiancong disagreed, ¡°At least it¡¯s better than your pathetic era.¡± In his final moments, Yu Tiancong mocked everyone, ¡°You might question it, but you can only watch. I want to see how the era created by the Lord will unfold.¡± His voice weakened, his face turned pale, and then his body exploded. The blood mist spread across miles, merging into the bloody pillar. Qin Huai looked up at the blood-red sky. The massive wave of blood spread from the pillar at its center. At the same time, rain began to fall, but the raindrops were all blood-red. Catching the blood rain, Qin Huai thought, ¡°This feels like the blood sacrifice from the secret manual¡­ But now, it¡¯s affecting the entire world?¡± His expression grew cold. If Yu Tiancong¡¯s words were to be believed, this bloody phenomenon would engulf the entire Qingzhou City. It was turning into the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s testing ground¡­ No, it was very likely a purgatory on earth. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 483 - 483 Great Chaos! 483 Great Chaos! ¡°Brat, let¡¯s defeat these monsters and Sacred Heart followers first!¡± Kong Binghuang¡¯s loud voice rang in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. With a tap of his toes, Qin Huai rushed toward the monsters. He and Kong Binghuang also tackled the Sacred Heart followers. Some folks started running away, while some fanatics chose to blow themselves up. They turned into a blood mist that moved towards the distant bloody pillar. Only the monsters were left now. They tried to fly away using their gray wings. Kong Binghuang called upon his power to create a massive net of wind blades that trapped the monsters, while Qin Huai¡¯s eyes shone with black light, and he used his black dragon world¡¯s power to cage the monsters completely. The monsters were weaker than Yu Tiancong of the Sacred Heart Sect and now found themselves trapped by two powerful beings. In the end, the monsters were quickly defeated by Fang Huo, Xiang Mingfeng, and the others! ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x13] ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x19] ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x13] ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± A ton of experience points and fragments surged into Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Despite the victory, no one could relax. Everyone looked at Xiang Yuanshan, their faces serious. All around them, blood pillars filled the sky. It was an eerie sight. ¡°We messed up. They weren¡¯t just working in Wuji Mountain. They were in the five great sects and even throughout the whole city of Qingzhou,¡± Fang Huo told Qin Huai. ¡°I wonder how the major sects like Lion Spirit Mountain and Ghost Ox Sect are doing,¡± Yun Qi added. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good news,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said. ¡°At best, the sect masters have run away with their close people. At worst, they¡¯ve been taken over by the monsters or the Sacred Heart Sect.¡± Kong Binghuang added, ¡°We messed up. Even though we knew there was a traitor, we couldn¡¯t figure out who. We don¡¯t even know if the five sect leaders are friends or enemies.¡± He laughed bitterly. ¡°The best of Qingzhou were tricked by the enemy. We¡¯re such fools.¡± Hua Yanli added, ¡°We managed to protect Wuji Mountain, but my Thunderbolt Gang is definitely lost¡­¡± They all turned to Qin Huai. ¡°What do we do next?¡± Xiang Mingfeng, Fang Huo, and the others also looked at Qin Huai. ¡°I can¡¯t say if the sect masters and elders are friends or enemies, but I can confirm that Little Cattle King Le Ji¡¯an and Blue Sea Pavilion¡¯s Xu Tong are on our side. We need all the help we can get for what¡¯s coming. A new era for Qingzhou,¡± Qin Huai said quietly. If Yu Tiancong¡¯s prediction was accurate, then Qingzhou would face its darkest time. All the ambitious people from Qingzhou and even the entire Great You would rush here, hoping for the so-called quick breakthrough. This place would become the holy land for extreme fanatics. ¡°First, let¡¯s head to the Ghost Ox Sect. It¡¯s the closest to Wuji Mountain,¡± someone said. ¡°Then, we should split up.¡± Kong Binghuang¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°I¡¯ll clear out any leftovers from the two groups in Wuji Mountain, securing a safe place for us.¡± His eyes were filled with fury. Not too far, there was a fierce fight going on between Third Elder Wu Jin and a group of guests. Everyone got moving. Kong Binghuang dashed to the secondary battlefield where Wu Jin and his crew were, while Xiang Mingfeng and other skilled warriors headed towards the Ghost Ox Sect. As for Qin Huai, he walked towards the nearest blood-red light pillar. This bloody pillar was rising from a mountain. The blood and bones from the mountain melted as the pillar shot up. ¡°Will the blood pillar disappear if I destroy this mountain range?¡± Qin Huai wondered aloud. Power was building up in his fist, and dragon bones climbed his body. As an endless surge of power flooded his body, he unleashed a forbidden technique, dragon shock combo! Rumble¡­ The mountain shook, and blood and debris flew everywhere. Qin Huai¡¯s bones also shattered and got expelled from the bloody pillar. But it was pointless¡­ The blood and bones were absorbed in mid-air and were drawn toward the bloody pillar. Even Qin Huai could feel a massive pull wanting to drag him in. ¡°Shattering it is useless¡­¡± Qin Huai mumbled. He then used the bronze mountain and river diagram, pulling in tens of thousands of corpses into the bronze world. This interrupted the pulling force on the skeletons. But it wasn¡¯t enough. That mountain had at least a hundred thousand corpses. The amount of resources the Sacred Heart Sect had collected over fifty years was astounding. There was no stopping it. Qin Huai put away the bronze diagram. At this, the corpses started piling on the mountain again. He attacked the blood pillar once more. His powerful punch created a hurricane, throwing the bloody pillar off balance and even punching through it. But in the end, it was useless. ¡°There¡¯s no solution¡­¡± Qin Huai fell silent and had no choice but to give up. The image of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s master, whom he had met miles away, popped up in his mind. Was this testing ground in Qingzhou City very important to that person? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 484 - 484 Demon of Qingzhous Ambush 484 Demon of Qingzhou¡¯s Ambush Could the leader of the Sacred Heart Sect be in Qingzhou right now? If he was as powerful as they said, no one in Qingzhou could stop him. ¡°Even if there¡¯s no hope, I have to try.¡± Qin Huai thought of Lingjiang. If Qingzhou City plunged into chaos, the madmen there would undoubtedly become Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s most loyal followers. Eventually, they would spread throughout the Qingzhou counties, raising their powers through senseless violence. In Qingzhou City, there were also descendants of the ancient demon Kun Peng clan. Their strength was not to be taken lightly. Who knew what ancient resources this family, which had ruled Qingzhou for thousands of years, still had? These two powers stood like unmovable giants. Qin Huai was at a loss for where to start. Qin Huai left the vicinity of the bloody pillar, sprinting towards the Ghost Ox Sect. Now, he could only take one step at a time. ¡­ In the Thunderbolt Gang, the leader, Jing Ye, stood. His long hair, soaked with blood, fell around his shoulders, and he held two iron balls in his hands. More than ten cold-looking killers were around him. The Thunderbolt Gang, one of the two main gangs in the outer city, was drenched in blood. If Hua Yanli were here, he would have noticed that he had never seen these people before. Over half of the original core members of the Thunderbolt Gang had been killed. The remaining members were kneeling at Jing Ye¡¯s feet, their eyes full of fear and fanaticism. ¡°From today, we abandon the divide between prodigies and commoners,¡± Jing Ye said. ¡°We are all chosen by Heaven! With hard work, you¡¯ll have endless resources and status.¡± At the center of the hall, a sacred sovereign totem had appeared, emanating a red glow from the intricate runes. ¡­ At the Ghost Ox Sect, Le Ji¡¯an looked around at the once familiar faces, now turned into Sacred Heart followers and demons. Beside him, there was only one Ghost Ox Sect elder left, Feng Zhiqun. ¡°No wonder the great demon calamity outside of Qingzhou has not been resolved for ages. It¡¯s all because of you lot.¡± Feng Zhiqun looked coldly at the people around him. ¡°Hehe¡­ Don¡¯t throw around accusations. Our esteemed Kun Peng clan has nothing to do with that guy,¡± the winged Ghost Ox Sect elder sneered. Both Le Ji¡¯an and Feng Zhiqun had barely escaped the Ghost Ox Sect, only to be surrounded by enemies. The Ghost Ox Sect¡¯s situation was even more dire than that of Wuji Mountain. Long ago, the demons of the Ghost Ox Sect and the Sacred Heart disciples had allied, wiping out all the top fighters of the Ghost Ox Sect who were not part of their alliance. ¡°Little Cattle King, stop struggling,¡± a sinister voice taunted Le Ji¡¯an. ¡°Even your master is dead. Why keep fighting? So what if you¡¯ve become a future leader after breaking through? In the end, you couldn¡¯t dodge your fate of being killed.¡± An elder at the third-level of the visceral prefecture realm strolled towards Le Ji¡¯an, his face twisted into a wicked grin. ¡°Brat, you can get out of here first¡­ I¡¯ll hold them off for you.¡± The moment Feng Zhiqun finished speaking, he slapped Le Ji¡¯an, sending him flying. In his hands, two ox-shaped demons appeared. Suddenly, the demons grew, becoming as large as two mountains. Feng Zhiqun charged the demons forward. The ground shattered, dust flew up, and smoke and debris quickly filled the area. ¡°Small tricks!¡± Amid the smoke, figures charged toward Feng Zhiqun. ¡°You guys go after Le Ji¡¯an, leave Feng Zhiqun to me!¡± the elder in the lead roared. The black spear in his hand thrust out instantly, and dozens of meters of dust and smoke were swept away in its wake. They eyed each other, their gazes seething with murderous intent. ¡°You wish to cross? Did I give my consent?¡± Feng Zhiqun stood firm like an immovable mountain. The next moment, Feng Zhiqun summoned a massive bull¡¯s head from the ground. With a bang, dozens of people were sent flying. Feng Zhiqun fought fiercely, stopping the Ghost Ox Sect experts trying to break through his line of defense. All the while, he retreated, maintaining his position as a bulwark. But despite his strength, Feng Zhiqun was just one man against many. The group he was holding back stopped their chase and turned to fight him instead. Their well-coordinated attacks gave Feng Zhiqun no time to rest. In only twenty moves, Feng Zhiqun was bleeding heavily, his feet buried deep in the ground. The blood seeped into the soil, flowing towards the bloody pillar. ¡°It¡¯s over, Feng Zhiqun,¡± one of the elders said, his black spear reflecting in Feng Zhiqun¡¯s eyes. However, the next moment was filled with a dazzling array of lights ¨C golden, white, pink, and fiery red. To the members of the Ghost Ox Sect, it felt as if the god of death had arrived. ¡°King¡¯s force!¡± someone muttered in shock. As the dust cleared, the source of the light revealed itself. ¡°It¡¯s Xiang Mingfeng from Wuji Mountain and She Wanshan from White Cloud Sect!¡± ¡°Hua Yanli of the Thunderbolt Gang, Gou Jie of the Thousand Divination Tower. And the leader¡­¡± As they recognized each figure, a sense of dread filled the crowd. ¡°Aren¡¯t these people supposed to be at Wuji Mountain?¡± ¡°Has Wuji Mountain fallen?¡± ¡°What are Yu Tiancong and Shang Yinzhong doing?¡± The elder with the black spear cursed under his breath and started running. He felt instinctively that he couldn¡¯t win this battle. The group was made up of heaven¡¯s favorites ¨C individuals capable of defeating opponents beyond their realms. Even Le Ji¡¯an alone would require dozens of people to defeat. Now, there were eight of them. The elder felt as if he was facing a dire situation. As he fled, he came face to face with a pair of bright white eyes. ¡°You are¡­ the Demon of Qingzhou!¡± he gasped, seeing the person standing in his way. With a flash of resolve, the elder decided, ¡°Even if I die, I¡¯ll take a prodigy with me!¡± He then summoned a black spear imbued with a deadly aura. But before he could attack, his spear broke. Standing in front of him, the Demon of Qingzhou had his fist covered in white bones, exuding overwhelming power. ¡°How is this possible¡­¡± the elder muttered. But before he could finish, the demon¡¯s fist smashed down. The elder quickly curled into a ball to dodge the attack. Seeing his chance, he sprang up, eyes full of resolve and killing intent. But the demon had disappeared. ¡°Where are you looking at?¡± a voice echoed from behind him. Before he knew it, he was impaled. He turned around, only to see the demon¡¯s figure. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Idiot.¡± Another blow landed, piercing his heart. The elder watched helplessly as another punch came right between his eyebrows. As he fell, red and white objects poured down, creating a dazzling arc in the air. At the same time, notifications rang in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Death Energy Black Spear (Fragment) x1], [Earth Tiger Demon Seed (1/3)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Ghost Life Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Ghost Life Technique] experience points +666,666!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 485 - 485 Qingzhou Citys Refugees 485 Qingzhou City¡¯s Refugees Over ten powerful warriors appeared and quickly eliminated the ones chasing Le Ji¡¯an and Feng Zhiqun. Both were surrounded by the blood of their enemies. Everyone stared at the direction of the Ghost Ox Sect, where a tower of blood had risen, with serious faces. ¡°It¡¯s time to move,¡± said Qin Huai, revealing himself. He had just killed an enemy, the remains of which were falling from the sky. Le Ji¡¯an, seeing this, did not show any sign of discomfort. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten a lot stronger since we last met, haven¡¯t you, Zhou?¡± He thought they were equally matched, but now it was clear that he was lagging behind. Feng Zhiqun, who had fought alone and was severely injured, thanked everyone for saving him, saying, ¡°Thanks for your help!¡± ¡°Next, we¡¯ll head to the Blue Sea Pavilion,¡± said Qin Huai, leading the way. Their journey was marked by the corpses of their defeated enemies from the Sacred Heart Sect and the demon followers. The former had used a powerful charm to corrupt ambitious martial artists in fifty years, while the demons had been a part of this land for thousands of years. As they moved along, Qin Huai was concerned about the bodies that would momentarily float into the sky and dissolve into the blood tower. He wondered if the blood tower was powered by the deaths they caused. Qin Huai also felt something ominous about the red cloud that loomed over the city. He felt there was a secret waiting to be uncovered. While they were moving, Qin Huai asked about the current state of the Ghost Ox Sect. Le Ji¡¯an replied calmly, ¡°I believe it¡¯s only me and Elder Feng who are not in cahoots with the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons. The sect master and those loyal to him, as well as some of the others, either joined the cult or were killed. The sect is divided into two factions now.¡± Xiang Mingfeng expressed his relief, ¡°We¡¯re lucky you came on time, or our Wuji Mountain would¡¯ve faced the same fate.¡± The group then discovered that even small towns had been infiltrated by the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons. After a brief stop to deal with a cult member causing trouble, Xiang Mingfeng shared his realization, ¡°These two factions have not only infiltrated the higher ranks of major sects but also have reached these small towns.¡± ¡°The most terrifying thing is that the moment the blood tower rose, the city probably fell under the control of these two powerful forces,¡± said one of the heroes. As they prepared to leave, survivors from the town emerged from their hiding places in houses and underground, thanking them for their help. Fear filled their eyes. An old man from the crowd, trembling, asked the group, ¡°Are you heading out to fight the demons?¡± He knelt in respect, but She Wanshan quickly helped him up. ¡°No, we¡¯re going to save people,¡± Xiang Mingfeng clarified. ¡°But when will the evil end?¡± the old man asked, uneasy. Xiang Mingfeng was honest with him. ¡°I don¡¯t know. In a few years, even our sects might fall. Half of the city might be taken over.¡± The townspeople turned pale at this news. A young girl, crying, asked about her brother in the Ghost Ox Sect. ¡°My Brother Qing is still a servant disciple in the Ghost Ox Sect. Is the sect alright?¡± Le Ji¡¯an responded with a grim face, ¡°The Ghost Ox Sect is gone. If your brother survived, I might have to fight him in the future.¡± The girl fainted at his words. The people of the town had witnessed the horrifying transformation of their familiar faces into violent killers. Some even grew demon wings. The old man asked for their advice on survival. ¡°Qingzhou City isn¡¯t safe anymore. If you can, escape to the provinces around the city,¡± Xiang Mingfeng suggested. He looked at the crowd, mostly women, children, the elderly, and saw that most of the young had already fled or been killed. ¡°But the surrounding provinces are far, and you¡¯re not familiar with them,¡± Xiang Mingfeng continued. ¡°Why not try East Qingzhou? It¡¯s remote and less populated. The demons might not bother with it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master!¡± The townspeople bowed and expressed their gratitude. Then, they hurried home to prepare for the journey to East Qingzhou. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 486 - 486 The Truth About the Pill Pavilions Master! 486 The Truth About the Pill Pavilion¡¯s Master! ¡°Let¡¯s go, Brother Zhou,¡± Xiang Mingfeng suggested, nodding at Qin Huai. ¡°Okay,¡± Qin Huai agreed. He then suggested a change in plan, ¡°If we go directly to the Blue Sea Pavilion now, it might be too late. Let¡¯s try to intercept Xu Tong and the others as they escape.¡± They had wasted a lot of time along the way. In addition, the Blue Sea Pavilion was located at the edge of the inner city. From the information they had gotten along the way, the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons had attacked at the same time, so it was likely that the Blue Sea Pavilion had become a wasteland by now. ¡°The Blue Sea Pavilion is linked to the Qingzhou River. If Xu Tong plans to escape, he¡¯ll likely choose the water route, which would significantly decrease the number of experts capable of pursuing him,¡± Hua Yanli said. ¡°Our Thunderbolt Gang and the Blue Sea Pavilion do a fair amount of business together, so it¡¯s not uncommon for us to see their martial artists using the waterway.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get moving then,¡± Qin Huai suggested. Hua Yan¡¯s reasoning seemed sound. Plus, the outskirts of the city were much safer than the heart of it. The only person with a notable realm in the Thunderbolt Gang was their leader. Aside from him, they didn¡¯t have many other formidable forces to rely on. Everyone agreed and took the route following the Qingzhou River straight to the outskirts of the city. ¡­ The outer city was in chaos. A group of martial artists, clad in the uniforms of the Thunderbolt Gang, roamed the streets and alleys. ¡°Search! Search every house!¡± commanded a boisterous leader of the Thunderbolt Gang. Blood marked the corner of his mouth, but it was not his own. His underlings¡¯ eyes shone with an unsettling excitement. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve found the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion and Xu Tong, we can choose any secret technique or treasure from the five great sects¡¯ vaults!¡± ¡°Find the remaining evil spirits and seize their treasure!¡± Their chorus filled the air, completely ignoring the absolute difference in power between them. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Even if we¡¯re in danger, reinforcements from our sect will arrive soon. Now, all of Qingzhou belongs to our Sacred Heart Sect.¡± Brandishing long knives, they kicked open a door. Desperate screams from a young girl and pleas from an elderly couple echoed through the streets. Then, the long blade fell, blood splattering the windows and walls. The crimson stains transformed the once pristine courtyard into a scene of horror. Such scenes were a common sight in the inner and outer cities of Qingzhou. Suddenly, a crisp crack echoed from a room. Moments later, Qin Huai emerged, trailed by two raggedly dressed girls and a frantic woman. ¡°Take your valuables and run out of the city¡­¡± he instructed, kicking the door open. People, shocked and scared, fled their homes and ran out of the city along the main road. ¡°Who dares to kill a member of my Sacred Heart Sect?!¡± an angry voice echoed from the sky. A man, his body enveloped in flames and a flaming tiger etched on his back, crashed to the ground. He was Jing Ye, the leader of the Thunderbolt Gang. As he landed, the people running for their lives felt a sudden surge of heat. Their legs buckled under the weight of despair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just keep running. Leave the rear to us,¡± a calm voice assured. This comfort came from the young warriors, their eyes ablaze with determination. Jing Ye, taken aback, stammered, ¡°You¡­ You guys¡­¡± ¡°Leader, I didn¡¯t expect that we¡¯d meet again this way,¡± Hua Yanli said, advancing toward Jing Ye. The latter, his eyes moist with tears of joy, confessed, ¡°To save you, I joined the Sacred Heart Sect. I am relieved to see you¡¯re still alive.¡± Hua Yanli, however, was skeptical. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s not what you said earlier.¡± He knew the leader¡¯s true colors too well. ¡°Are you really trying to betray your leader and dishonor your ancestors?¡±Jing Ye was incensed, his face turning a bright shade of red in an instant. He whirled around, intending to make a quick escape¡­ However, unbeknownst to him, there were already prodigies both in front of him and behind him. They were all influential individuals he recognized but with whom he rarely had the opportunity to converse. Jing Ye¡¯s expression eased into a more placid one. He spoke earnestly, ¡°For the sake of our bond as master and disciple, please let me go. I can act as your spy, aiding in Qingzhou¡¯s future revival.¡± Moved by his plea, Hua Yanli replied, ¡°I won¡¯t take your life. You¡¯re free to go.¡± He then dismissed Jing Ye with a wave of his hand. Jing Ye was overjoyed. But his clemency was short-lived. As he turned to leave, Qin Huai, Le Ji¡¯an, and Fang Huo moved in. Boom! A loud explosion marked the end of Jing Ye, the leader of the Thunderbolt Gang. Qin Huai and the others, already in the visceral prefecture realm, felt no pressure in killing the fledgling leader. As they regrouped, their expressions were somber. ¡°Is there still no sign of Xu Tong and the others? They shouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± Their faces clouded with uncertainty. Just then, Qin Huai and Le Ji ¡®an turned to an alleyway. ¡°Mr. Long.¡± From the shadows, Fan Ziyu, the master of the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary, suddenly emerged. ¡°Huh? Mr. Long?¡± Le Ji ¡®an and the others trailed Fan Ziyu¡¯s gaze to rest on Qin Huai. ¡°Just an alias I used in the past,¡± Qin Huai clarified. ¡°So, Pavilion Master Fan, you didn¡¯t attempt to flee. Were you waiting for us here?¡± he mused. He had discovered some of Pavilion Master Fan¡¯s secrets. There was a high probability that Fan Ziyu was connected to the Emperor of Qingzhou or privy to certain secrets. In short, he was an ally. This was the reason Qin Huai spared his life. ¡°Please, follow me.¡± Fan Ziyu sidestepped, clearing a path for the group. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Pavilion Master Fan can be trusted.¡± Qin Huai gestured to the group, and the ensemble of Qingzhou¡¯s elites trailed behind Fan Ziyu. At his beckoning, the group followed him to the end of the narrow alley. Fan Ziyu lifted his hands and whispered, ¡°Rise!¡± Instantly, a large, square stone rose from the flat ground, revealing a stone staircase. Qin Huai and the others followed Fan Ziyu down the stairs. With a loud thud, the stone settled back into its original position. Hua Yanli flicked his finger and a flame quickly lit the whole underground space. The staircase was quite long, over ten meters, and the underground passage was very wide. ¡°This is a tunnel my family, the Fan family, built a long time ago,¡± Fan Ziyu began. ¡°We¡¯re in the business of selling pills, and it¡¯s a big business. But we didn¡¯t have any skilled martial arts genius in the family to protect it. ¡°So, starting from my grandfather¡¯s time, we built these tunnels leading out of Qingzhou. That way, if we ever faced a disaster that could wipe out our family, we¡¯d have a way to escape.¡± Fan Ziyu paused here, his voice turning serious. ¡°But over thirty years ago, I found out some important historical facts. Because of that, I decided to change what we use the tunnel for.¡± Behind Qin Huai, Xiang Mingfeng and the others listened closely. They had never found any signs of this in the five great sects. What could this pill pavilion master, who was pretty well-known in the outer city, have discovered? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 487 - 487 The Emperor of Qingzhous Descendant 487 The Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s Descendant In the city, people were frantically escaping into the distance. However, there were others who ran towards Qingzhou¡¯s inner city. Among them were monstrous beings with wings on their backs and ordinary people who looked as though they had lost their minds. Most of these folks were young men and women, their eyes alight with excitement. Meanwhile, at the Blue Sea Pavilion, the sect master gazed at the chaotic scene from his hilltop view. ¡°The weak run away, the strong come in,¡± he mused, ¡°This is the future of Qingzhou.¡± Behind him, a man in a long robe stood lazily. ¡°Have we found those brats yet?¡± ¡°Not yet, but even if we do, they aren¡¯t likely to cause much trouble, right?¡± A sly grin appeared on the Blue Sea Pavilion Master¡¯s face. ¡°The more of them we get rid of, the stronger the survivors will become! Eventually, we will have a group of true prodigies, who have climbed up from being ordinary folks. We¡¯ll bring down those who were born into greatness and send them into oblivion¡­¡± ¡­ Inside the tunnel, Fan Ziyu shared his story. ¡°Over thirty years ago, I met a middle-aged man who emerged from the bronze world. Like others, he had forgotten his experience there. But, he seemed to have lost his sanity. He¡¯d spend his days telling tales of the so-called bronze world in the outer city¡¯s restaurants. ¡°At first, many believed him, asking questions and indulging him. But eventually, everyone thought he was mad. I was no exception, until one day¡­¡± Fan Ziyu paused. ¡°He came to my pill shop to buy pills with the money he¡¯d earned as a storyteller. ¡°I was intrigued and wanted to talk to this man who¡¯d walked out of the bronze world. I saw him holding a bronze tablet near the shop entrance, mumbling something. He was talking about the Emperor of Qingzhou¡­ ¡°I went in to chat with him. He told me he wanted to create and sell storybooks based on his tales. All the profits would be mine.¡± Fan Ziyu looked conflicted as he continued, ¡°I was curious, so I agreed. The story was indeed exciting. We sold those books in just over a month, making a lot of money. ¡°Years later, he returned to re-edit the story, which was originally strange and violent. The revised version became a moralistic tale of good versus evil, which was well-received and exciting¡­¡± ¡°Wait a minute. The storybook you¡¯re talking about, could it be ¡®The Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s Biography¡¯?¡± Hua Yanli interrupted Fan Ziyu. ¡°Exactly. Have you seen it before?¡± Fan Ziyu asked, surprised. ¡°Is it really that?!¡± Xiang Mingfeng, Le Ji ¡®an, and the others reacted with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ve read more than just that. I¡¯ve read Qingzhou¡¯s Strange Events and Qingzhou¡¯s Historical Records,¡± She Wanshan said, eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°We¡¯ve even read all the works about the emperor.¡± Their eyes reflected a nostalgic expression. ¡°I can vouch for them being hardcore fans,¡± Qin Huai said with a complex look. Xiang Mingfeng and the others were definitely hardcore fans. Even in the bronze world, the idea that the bronze world was some sort of test left by the emperor was based on these people¡¯s deep dive into the emperor¡¯s tales and mythological books. Wait a second¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. If this was true, then all of this was likely not a coincidence. Fan Ziyu was also surprised. He listened as She Wanshan and the others recited the stories from the myths as if they were sharing precious family heirlooms. He never imagined these top talents of Qingzhou would be so engrossed in such a book of myths. ¡°Wait a second. Are you saying all the mythology books we¡¯ve read recently were written by you?¡± Xiang Mingfeng asked, noting something unusual. ¡°To be exact, they were written by the crazy man who came out of the bronze world,¡± Fan Ziyu clarified. ¡°That¡¯s the man who told stories in the restaurant, right?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him,¡± Fan Ziyu confirmed. ¡°Is his last name Yang?¡± Qin Huai tentatively inquired. ¡°How did you know?¡± Fan Ziyu was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Qin Huai to know the other man¡¯s last name before he had even mentioned it. ¡°Oh, right. You seem to have received the emperor¡¯s inheritance,¡± Fan Ziyu realized, slapping his forehead. ¡°Yes, the man¡¯s last name is Yang, but I can¡¯t remember his first name.¡± ¡°That man must be a descendant of the emperor,¡± Gou Jie said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Yes, that Yang Tianhan seems to be from the emperor¡¯s lineage.¡± Fang Huo smirked. ¡°But that fool appears to have sided with the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons. In the end, Brother Zhou killed him.¡± ¡°Both are descendants of the emperor, but they¡¯re worlds apart,¡± everyone lamented, having figured out the truth. ¡°The madman from the restaurant might have received the emperor¡¯s approval.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 488 - 488 A Ten 488 A Ten-Thousand-Year Plan? The Last Pure Land! ¡°He came out of the bronze world and pretended to be mad, risking his life to share the true history of Qingzhou little by little,¡± Xiang Mingfeng stated. ¡°Follow me. That old man is at the end of the tunnel,¡± Fan Ziyu said. ¡°He¡¯ll share the rest with you. Your friend Xu Tong from the Blue Sea Pavilion is also there.¡± Fan Ziyu increased his pace. They came to a three-way split and picked the leftmost path with a dim light. After a while, everyone saw a bright light. Exiting the underground, they were hit with fresh air. They were also met with a wide and barren landscape. Nearby, a bunch of people had set up tents and were sitting around, their eyes void of life. ¡°This is¡­ We must be outside Qingzhou City already,¡± She Wanshan realized in surprise. He looked back. The barren outskirts of the city were already very blurry. Meaning, this secret tunnel was over ten miles long. Everyone walked forward. Occasionally, someone would stand up and bow deeply to Fan Ziyu. It seemed that the old man had used this secret tunnel to save numerous lives over time. The air was heavy with the smell of blood. Many people were injured, with some seriously hurt and near death. Lying on the ground, they were taken care of by their remaining family, quietly waiting for their end. There were many such elderly, weak, women, and children scattered around the barren land. ¡°Brother Xu!¡± Upon seeing a familiar face, everyone hurried over. ¡°Brother Zhou, Brother Xiang, Brother Fang¡­¡± Xu Tong stood up, covered in wounds and wrapped in white bandages, revealing only his head. ¡°Brother Xu, did only you manage to escape from the Blue Sea Pavilion?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°No, my mother and her students, along with some trusted helpers are safe,¡± Xu Tong answered. ¡°But when we got to the outskirts of the city, there were too many enemies, so I acted as a decoy to draw them away. I don¡¯t know where they are now.¡± ¡°They should be alright.¡± Qin Huai sighed with relief. With Xu Tong¡¯s mother and the great elder of the Blue Sea Pavilion protecting them, Luo Ya and the others should be safe. ¡°Senior!¡± Qin Huai spotted the mad storyteller with whom he¡¯d once shared a meal. ¡°This is¡­¡± She Wanshan and the others also noticed. They quickly bowed to the man. ¡°I¡¯m okay, I¡¯m okay¡­¡± This old man, who used to be mad, was now entirely different. His eyes were clear and he had a refined air about him. Fan Ziyu clarified Qin Huai and the others¡¯ confusion. The old man also smiled and said, ¡°I happened to be telling Little Xu¡­ ¡°I entered the bronze world about fifty years ago. Not long after, I found the key. Then I entered the level-zero array and saw the core, the bronze mountain and river diagram.¡± Everyone exchanged glances. This was different from the conditions they had to complete after finding the key. ¡°Then, I tried to understand the diagram. But my comprehension was poor, and I didn¡¯t have enough physical strength or blood essence. In the end, I failed¡­ ¡°But, I refused to give up. I continued to cultivate in the level-zero array, trying to forcibly refine the bronze mountain and river diagram. I hoped to use it as my first guardian spirit item to enter the visceral prefecture realm.¡± The old man¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°However, even after more than ten years, I still couldn¡¯t understand it. But one day, I accidentally discovered a big stone slab in the level-zero array. From the bronze slab, I learned the truth about what happened ten thousand years ago. ¡°It even knows the true identities of the people in charge of the Great Nether and Qingzhou. You also know who I am. I think this is the guidance my ancestor gave me. In the end, I used that stone slab as a guardian spirit item and broke through the visceral prefecture realm. After that, I walked out of the heavenly stairs¡­¡± Everyone listened carefully and began to understand the full story. The old man used the story on the stone slab as a way to trick and distract the demons bit by bit. Ultimately, he used the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary to share the truth of what happened ten thousand years ago with all of Qingzhou. ¡°We¡¯ve been guided by Senior and the Emperor of Qingzhou,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said, revealing the emperor¡¯s plan. ¡°Or you could say¡­ We are the ones chosen by the emperor.¡± Gou Jie smiled slightly. ¡°All coincidences are predestined.¡± ¡°A great expert like the Emperor of Qingzhou has long calculated everything,¡± Le Ji¡¯an added. ¡°Indeed, this generation has the most future kings in Qingzhou. Brother Zhou has also appeared. He was the first person in ten thousand years to understand and refine the bronze mountain and river diagram. All grudges will end in our era. It¡¯s either you die or I die.¡± Qin Huai was quiet, feeling the responsibility weighing heavy on him. He looked at his hands. It felt like the massive gears of history were slowly turning, subtly pushing him, an unknown martial artist who only wanted to protect his family, to the forefront of history¡¯s current. The Eight Virtuous Kings, the Sacred Heart Sect¡­ these fearsome enemies were all standing against him because of the Emperor of Qingzhou. And these people directly threatened the lives of those he cared about most. ¡°Send these civilians to the ten counties of East Qingzhou,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°We¡¯ll establish checkpoints on the roads between the East Qingzhou Ten Commandery and Qingzhou City as the last line of defense.¡± ¡°The ten counties of East Qingzhou? That¡¯s a barren land¡­ It¡¯s also the furthest from Qingzhou City,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said. ¡°But we don¡¯t know much about East Qingzhou, and we don¡¯t know if there are demons or arrangements by the Sacred Heart Sect there.¡± ¡°There are very few in the ten counties, but there are definitely none in Lingjiang,¡± Qin Huai said confidently. ¡°Zhou Cunzhong is also my alias. My real name is Qin Huai, the master of the Nine Dragons Sect in Lingjiang. I¡¯ve already killed all the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s disciples there.¡± Qin Huai continued, ¡°To ordinary people, that place is definitely safer than Qingzhou City and other places in Qingzhou.¡± Xiang Mingfeng and the others weren¡¯t too surprised. They had long realized that the name Zhou Cunzhong was likely a false name, especially Hua Yanli and Yun Qi. After finding the human skin mask that Huang Qiguang was hiding, they already knew Qin Huai¡¯s true identity. ¡°If Brother Qin¡¯s ten counties of East Qingzhou are trustworthy, it¡¯s a blessing for the people.¡± Xiang Mingfeng sighed. ¡°However, these refugees might encounter Sacred Heart believers and evil people. I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll ruin the last untouched land, right?¡± Yun Qi asked. ¡°Leave this to me,¡± the old man said slowly. ¡°My bronze diagram can see through the identities of those demons. It¡¯s much more convenient than the Ghost Ox Sect¡¯s ghost piercing mirror.¡± Feng Zhiqun also added, ¡°That¡¯s true. Now that we know the characteristics of those demons, we just need to drip a drop of the demon¡¯s blood essence into the ghost piercing mirror to see some truth. And even the disciples of the Sacred Heart Sect can be screened.¡± He continued, ¡°Moreover, our Ghost Ox Sect¡¯s ghost piercing mirror can be mass-produced. No matter how powerful Senior¡¯s bronze diagram is, it can¡¯t cover everyone.¡± Qin Huai said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave the screening work to the two of you.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s still one problem¡­¡± Feng Zhiqun said. ¡°I know of a small warehouse for the materials for the Ghost Piercing Mirror. There are quite a few of them in there. But as for the treasure master, I¡¯m afraid we wouldn¡¯t be able to find many in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°As long as there¡¯s a treasure master?¡± Qin Huai asked. Feng Zhiqun nodded. ¡°In Lingjiang, we have dozens of treasure masters. That should be enough, right?¡± Qin Huai replied. Feng Zhiqun couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows. Even the richest county in Qingzhou probably couldn¡¯t find dozens of treasure masters. If he remembered correctly, Lingjiang was considered to be in the middle and lower levels among the ten counties of East Green. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, the demons and the Sacred Heart believers shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 489 - 489 Losing Doesnt Mean Youre a Loser 489 Losing Doesn¡¯t Mean You¡¯re a Loser ¡°Is the treasure weapon master Mr. Qin mentioned from the Tong family¡¯s treasure shop?¡± Fan Ziyu asked. Qin Huai turned to him. ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°Yes. After I learned about your identity, I investigated you secretly and found out that you had some dealings with the Tong family¡¯s shop. After that, it seemed like the Tong family suddenly disappeared,¡± Fan Ziyu explained. ¡°Now that you mention the dozens of treasure masters, I think of the Tong family.¡± There was a touch of sadness in Fan Ziyu¡¯s eyes. Then, he smiled and said, ¡°Tong Shou and I are from the same generation. We grew up together in the outer city. One family made artifacts, while the other made potions. We¡¯ve been friends for decades. Now, we are both working under Mr. Qin.¡± ¡°Is this your plan, Mr. Fan?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows slightly. ¡°If the ten counties of East Qingzhou are your territory, Mister Qin, then I want to join in,¡± Fan Ziyu said. ¡°Now that Qingzhou City is in such a bad state, my pill pavilion¡¯s business can¡¯t continue. Moreover, you have received the legacy of the Emperor of Qingzhou¡­ ¡°If I follow you, there is a chance to return to Qingzhou City and reopen the pill pavilion in the future, right?¡± Fan Ziyu smiled bitterly. He was choosing Lingjiang out of necessity as well as desire. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll offer Master Fan a position as guest elder and set up a location for you to focus on making pills,¡± Qin Huai agreed. The influx of people into the ten counties under Lingjiang¡¯s rule would provide protection, a vast market, and cheap labor. With the help of the Tong family¡¯s treasure master and the blacksmiths of the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary, the ten counties would develop quickly. Moreover, Fan Ziyu and the pill makers could help keep Lingjiang safe. Everyone stood on the cliffs bordering the road leading to East Qingzhou. Below them, a large crowd of people was heading towards it. ¡°What¡¯s your next move, Brother Qin?¡± Gou Jie asked, standing next to Qin Huai. His plain clothing made him stand out among this group of exceptional people. ¡°First, we¡¯ll completely cut off the ten counties from Qingzhou City and create a temporary ¡®utopia.¡¯ Then, we need to find a way to break the blood pillar and the grand array of the Sacred Heart Sect,¡± Qin Huai replied. He looked towards Qingzhou City where the blood-red clouds were rolling like waves. The soft rumble of thunder sounded like whispers from demons, a terrifying music seemingly from the depths of hell. ¡°If we don¡¯t stop the blood sacrifice in Qingzhou City, it could spread across the entire province. At that point¡­¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t finish his sentence. If the terrible blood sacrifice kept going, nobody knew what would happen next. But for ordinary people, it would certainly be like living in hell. His loved ones would also be plunged into never-ending darkness. ¡°Brother Qin, don¡¯t you have any questions for me? After all, I belong to one of the five great sects of Qingzhou,¡± Gou Jie asked, narrowing his eyes at Qin Huai. ¡°Aren¡¯t you planning to tell us, Brother Gou?¡± Qin Huai responded calmly. ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re good at staying calm, Brother Qin. Is it because you inherited the legacy of the Emperor of Qingzhou?¡± Gou Jie asked, looking curiously at Qin Huai. ¡°Do you think you stand a chance against the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons who¡¯ve been preparing in Great You for thousands of years?¡± Gou Jie then looked towards the bloody scene that filled people with despair. ¡°A hundred years ago, the old guys from the Thousand Divination Tower predicted this catastrophe. With time, those old fellows predicted the same result even on their deathbeds¡­¡± Gou Jie¡¯s voice trailed off. ¡°Destruction. Qingzhou will fall into an abyss. It¡¯ll be turned into hell by the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons. ¡°Their predictions were always right. There might be ups and downs, but the final result always matched their predictions. So¡­¡± Gou Jie¡¯s face held a mocking smile. ¡°They decided to accept the outcome and surrender. ¡°The master of Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang, fought many battles and held his ground¡­ and the masters of Lion Spirit Mountain and Ghost Ox Sect died on the battlefield. ¡°Even though the master of the Blue Sea Pavilion has gone down a dark path, the great elder and a few other elders are still fighting fiercely. ¡°However, the Thousand Divination Tower, one of the five great sects of Qingzhou, surrendered without a fight. All three thousand disciples joined the Sacred Heart Sect peacefully. ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Gou Jie¡¯s eyes showed a sorrow he¡¯d never felt before. Then, looking at Qin Huai, he regained his usual playful expression. ¡°Brother Qin, what do you think after hearing the truth? Do you still think you can win?¡± Qin Huai shook his head slowly. ¡°If the disaster before us is so powerful that no one can resist, then what¡¯s the point of escaping? Might as well give it a shot¡­ In my hometown, we say that losing doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re a loser, but if you win, you gain.¡± Gou Jie laughed. ¡°Your interpretation, Brother Qin, is really interesting.¡± ¡°Brother Gou, why didn¡¯t you choose to join the so-called ¡®winners¡¯ like the elders of your sect and save your life?¡± Qin Huai asked, looking at the prodigies around him who always mumbled nonsensically and were not good with words. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 490 - 490 Another Great Gift 490 Another Great Gift ¡°So, you don¡¯t believe in the heavens or destiny?¡± Qin Huai asked, surprised. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why do you practice the thousand divination blood technique, Brother Gou?¡± Gou Jie paced back and forth. ¡°My calculations are a bit different from those old fellows. Even though the sky shows a bloody moon and a heavenly wolf consuming the sun, there¡¯s a hint of dragon energy in the east. This could be a wild card.¡± ¡°A dragon¡­ What do you think?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°The old dragon holds the life spring and carries the aura of a king,¡± was the reply. Suddenly, a loud yell echoed from the bottom of the cliff. ¡°Where are you running to, demon?!¡± Hearing this, Qin Huai wasted no time and raced down the cliff. Gou Jie watched him, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. Brother Qin was born in Lingjiang, the easternmost of the ten counties of East Qingzhou. It¡¯s where the dragon rises from the wilderness, carrying the power of a king¡­or rather, an emperor. In the end, is it the blood moon in the sky or the dragon carrying the sea of life that will change the world?¡± Just then, one of the wooden beads on Gou Jie¡¯s necklace suddenly broke, and blood gushed from his nose. ¡°Forget it, it doesn¡¯t matter. Let destiny take its course!¡± After wiping away the blood, he staggered and nearly fell, then hurried down the mountain. ¡­ Not long after, peace returned to the main road leading to the ten counties of East Qingzhou. On the third day, another group emerged from the secret tunnel in the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary leading to Qingzhou City. ¡°Hurry up!¡± called an ancient martial artist dressed in white, looking wise. He and his group were carrying stacks of scriptures, old books, and many large wooden crates. Among them were Xiang Mingfeng and She Wanshan, who had just returned from Wuji Mountain. The last person out was Kong Binghuang, the master of Wuji Mountain who had recently been in a fierce battle. ¡°Mountain Chief Kong!¡± Qin Huai rushed over to him. ¡°Qin. Alliance Master Qin,¡± Kong Binghuang greeted him with a look of respect. ¡°You are indeed talented. Not only have you managed to get these proud geniuses to follow you willingly, but you also defeated Shang Yinzhong, a fifth-level visceral prefecture realm expert, at such a young age.¡± With that, Kong Binghuang patted Qin Huai on the shoulder with approval. ¡°Mountain Chief, you give me too much credit. If Shang Yinzhong was prepared, I might not have been able to defeat him.¡± Qin Huai was being humble and truthful. Shang Yinzhong had underestimated him due to his higher level in the visceral realm, which led to his quick defeat. However, even if Shang Yinzhong had been cautious, he probably still wouldn¡¯t have been a match for Qin Huai. It would have just taken a bit longer to defeat him. ¡°What are your next plans, Mountain Chief?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Well, naturally, I¡¯m returning to Wuji Mountain,¡± Kong Binghuang replied with a smile. ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. ¡°But Qingzhou City is now like a lion¡¯s den. With the overseer and the Sacred Heart Sect constantly watching, I fear¡­¡± He thought that Kong Binghuang returning now would be too risky. Moreover, as one of the top fighters in Qingzhou, having him on their side would make their next moves easier. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once we eliminate the traitor within us, we can activate our sect¡¯s protective formation,¡± Kong Binghuang explained. ¡°Unless the demon and the followers of the Sacred Heart Sect are extraordinarily powerful, they won¡¯t be able to take down our Wuji Mountain.¡± He added that this is also why they wanted to destroy the sects from within. Despite the differences in strength of the protective formations of the sects, they were all built with the blood and sweat of many ancestors and were extremely strong. Kong Binghuang continued, ¡°Also, I don¡¯t think you created the alliance to share Qingzhou with the demons and the Sacred Heart Sect, did you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°As long as the blood sea in Qingzhou City remains, we don¡¯t know what kind of monsters it will produce in the future. It would be a constant source of trouble.¡± ¡°In that case, we need to leave some people in Qingzhou City to monitor the situation,¡± Kong Binghuang said gravely. ¡°The disciples of Wuji Mountain and I will take on this responsibility. We will guard Wuji Mountain and keep an eye on the movements of the demons and the leaders of the Sacred Heart Sect. We will send you information regularly.¡± Qin Huai looked at Xiang Mingfeng. The latter bluntly said, ¡°Master doesn¡¯t want our ancestors¡¯ heritage to fall into the hands of those thieves. Plus, there are weapon tombs and various ancient items preserved on Wuji Mountain that must be protected, even if it costs my life.¡± ¡°Stop bragging!¡± Kong Binghuang rolled his eyes at Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s statement and gave him a good-natured shove, sending him sprawling on the ground. Xiang Mingfeng quickly got up, dusted himself off, and acted as if nothing had happened. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t listen to my advice on our way here,¡± he said, pointing to the large pile of scriptures and wooden boxes on the ground. ¡°Master asked me to bring them out to be sent to the Nine Dragons Sect of Lingjiang.¡± Along the way, Xiang Mingfeng had revealed Qin Huai¡¯s true identity. Kong Binghuang laughed. ¡°The Nine Dragons Sect and my Wuji Mountain share the same lineage. We¡¯re both sub-sects of the True Path Sect.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 491 - 491 The Blood Seas Wraiths 491 The Blood Sea¡¯s Wraiths ¡°I¡¯ll leave these books and treasures with your Nine Dragons Sect for now,¡± said Kong Binghuang. ¡°Lots of people are going to Qingzhou now. Their fighting skills vary, and if left unchecked, they could cause problems. Some of the talismans and items can be used to increase power, and they all carry our Wuji Mountain mark. It¡¯s a good way to scare off and defeat weaker opponents. It¡¯s a win-win.¡± Kong Binghuang was generous, but he also seemed sad. He never thought Wuji Mountain would face such danger. ¡°We¡¯ve also been working overnight to dig a tunnel as an escape route from the sect. Even if we can¡¯t beat them with the sect¡¯s main array, we can still run away.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re in any danger, please let me know, Mountain Chief!¡± Qin Huai promised. Kong Binghuang had given a huge favor to Lingjiang and the Nine Dragons Sect. If he could, he would do everything possible to protect the Nine Dragons Sect¡¯s traditions. ¡°But¡­ what are you planning to do next?¡± Kong Binghuang asked. ¡°I tried to destroy the blood pillar, but I couldn¡¯t,¡± answered Qin Huai. ¡°The blood pillar is like a river. It can¡¯t be completely cut off or destroyed, and it would heal quickly. The piles of bodies and pools of blood on the ground are too vast to destroy¡­¡± As Qin Huai¡¯s voice faded away, everyone turned their attention to Qingzhou City. The base of the blood pillar started to disintegrate, as if it had been burned out. It was rising towards the sky. The color of the blood sea deepened. In the vast sea of blood, Qin Huai thought he could see a figure struggling within. Thousands of angry souls reached out to the ground, as if shouting in anger. Then, they were pulled back into the blood sea by red vines. The last blood pillar vanished, leaving only the churning sea of blood in the sky. Crash¡­ Suddenly, it began raining blood, and a strange aura slowly filled the air. Qin Huai stretched out his hand and a blood raindrop landed on his palm. He felt an uneasy feeling, as if his blood was boiling. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, there was a scream from the crowd. One person¡¯s body began to swell up, with blood-colored flesh bulging out. They grew six fingers and became fat. Then¡­ Bang! With a loud noise, the mutated person exploded into a pile of bloody flesh, splattering on the ground and the people nearby. ¡°Has the blood heart technique been activated?¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°No, the effect of that technique has been boosted by the blood rain¡­¡± He was all too familiar with this sight. Looking at the blood sea in the sky, Qin Huai pondered. What was the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s master trying to achieve? ¡°I¡¯ll try to fly above the blood sea to see if I can find a way to destroy it,¡± Qin Huai said, turning to Kong Binghuang with a complex look in his eyes. Kong Binghuang¡¯s forehead creased slightly. ¡°This idea makes sense, but the blood sea is incredibly high, at least ten thousand meters. Even experts who have mastered the powers of bird demons can¡¯t fly that high. The physical demands are enormous, not to mention the specific requirements for the bloodline of the bird demons. As far as I know, we don¡¯t have the manpower for this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this, Mountain Chief. I can find a way,¡± Qin Huai reassured, keeping them in suspense. He wasn¡¯t trying to be secretive. He was just cautious about possible enemies within this alliance. His plan was to use the fragments from the ancient demon Kun Peng bloodline he obtained from slain Tang family members to create a spirit item. Then, his physical abilities would allow him to investigate the blood sea. Since the pillars of blood had already been severed, the mass of bodies and blood on the ground should have melted away. This made his task simpler ¡ª he only needed to examine the blood sea. ¡°I¡¯ll head back to Wuji Mountain first. I¡¯ll try to uncover the connection between the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons,¡± Kong Binghuang suggested. ¡°Perhaps causing internal conflict and making them fight each other might be a solution.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you, Mountain Chief!¡± Qin Huai respectfully replied. Both knew that they were in precarious positions, like dancing on the edge of a knife. One false move could lead to disaster. ¡­ Meanwhile, a report came in from the Ghost Ox Sect. A man in a blood-red robe, more than five meters tall, with a shocking skeleton but little flesh, stood. He wore a long robe that barely concealed his protruding bones. His long hair hung loosely, creating a terrifying image. ¡°Are the people of Qingzhou City moving to the ten counties of East Qingzhou¡­ Don¡¯t tell me we don¡¯t have any people there? I recall that Lu Zifu is responsible for that area. He told me half a month ago that the ten counties were under his control,¡± the tall man said, addressing the blue-robed man kneeling behind him. He added, ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can break the ghost piercing mirror of the Ghost Ox Sect and send our men in. Contact Lu Zifu to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a barren land with only a few five full patterns. Lu Zifu can¡¯t die there, right? Why don¡¯t you leave the matter of the ghost piercing mirror to us?¡± A figure suddenly appeared in the sky, flying across and stopping in mid-air, at eye level with the man in the blood-red robe. The blood-robed man disdainfully threw the mirror in his hand. ¡°Hmph, since you want my favor, I¡¯ll grant your wish!¡± ¡°Hey, what if those brats from the so-called Qingzhou Alliance attack us?¡± the demon asked. ¡°Attack us? That¡¯s a good thing!¡± The blood-robed man laughed sinisterly but didn¡¯t give a straight answer. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 492 - 492 Refining Experience Points! 492 Refining Experience Points! East of Qingzhou City, Spirit Gate. The Earth Spirit Mountains, which were around thirty-seven thousand feet tall, flanked Lingkou Pass. These mountains were steep, tall, and usually covered with heavy snow due to their cold climate. During autumn and winter, even a bone pattern realm expert wouldn¡¯t dare cross these mountains. It¡¯s as if a barrier, naturally created, separated Qingzhou City from the ten counties. This pass was the only connection to Qingzhou City. Halfway up the mountain, Qin Huai climbed step by step against the wind and snow. His body was surrounded by icy dragons which were frozen on the outside, protecting him from the cold. In half a month¡¯s time, Qin Huai used the divine power book of a thousand creations to refine the experience points gained from killing demons and Sacred Heart disciples during his rescue mission in Qingzhou City. As a result, this brought him closer to refining the guardian spirit item for the third time. However, his most significant challenge now was the Kun Peng fragments. Less than half of these fragments had hindered his progress in refining the guardian spirit item for the third time, posing a barrier to his investigation of the blood sea. He stared at the towering blood sea in the distance. ¡°That sea of blood seems even higher than I thought.¡± Xiang Mingfeng, who was wearing a white robe, followed closely beside him. Once Lingkou Pass was established, many prodigies backed Qin Huai, leading him to become the leader of the Qingzhou Alliance. Soon after, the alliance announced that Xiang Mingfeng would serve as deputy master. But, the battle for the other deputy alliance leader position was intense, with Little Cattle King Le Ji¡¯an, Fang Huo, and Xu Tong being the main contenders. The contest was more about martial arts competition than power or status. ¡°There are seventy-two geniuses in the alliance, including you and me,¡± Xiang Mingfeng reported. ¡°The least experienced is at four patterns, and none of them are older than thirty. These people were saved by you from the bronze world, handpicked by the Emperor of Qingzhou, and they are completely trustworthy in terms of bloodline techniques.¡± ¡°Only seventy-two people? Are there any others in the city that we can recruit?¡± Qin Huai asked. The current number was indeed a bit disappointing compared to the hundreds of prodigies who originally sided with them after they first left the bronze world. ¡°During this past half-month, we¡¯ve been in a critical period for rescuing people. I plan to take Fang Huo and others into the city for support. The news we¡¯ve received is not good,¡± Xiang Mingfeng shared. ¡°Most of the top talents who left the bronze world were killed while being held in their sect, while those who escaped assassination would still face heavy protection during this blood sea crisis. Most would die surrounded and killed.¡± Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s voice was filled with sorrow, and his fists were clenched so tightly that beads of blood dripped. However, these hot drops froze mid-air and then fell to the ground. ¡°These seventy-two people are likely the last survivors from the bronze world,¡± he added. ¡°Out of the fourteen future kings who fought with us in the past, only nine remain.¡± He listed off the survivors, ¡°Me, Wan Shan from Wuji Mountain, Fang Huo from Lion Spirit Mountain, Gou Jie from the Thousand Divination Tower, Xu Tong from the Blue Sea Pavilion, Yun Qi, Hua Yanli, Xiong Yujie, and Wang Gang. We can consider ourselves lucky.¡± By the time they finished talking, they had reached the top of the Earth Spirit Mountain. Despite being thirty-seven thousand feet high, they still couldn¡¯t see the scene above the blood sea. Qin Huai frowned, realizing that the blood sea was much higher than they had initially thought¡ª at least twenty thousand meters. ¡°If the blood sea is more than sixty thousand feet high, even if we manage to get people up there, the qi, blood, and body of a typical fifth-level bone pattern realm warrior may freeze to death,¡± Qin Huai noted. Xiang Mingfeng candidly added, ¡°I¡¯m afraid our prepared team won¡¯t be able to make it.¡± This was much higher than their original estimate of ten thousand meters. The cold wind was severe, almost like it was attacking them. ¡°I¡¯ll think of another solution,¡± Qin Huai said as he looked at the resentment-filled sea of blood. He knew they were short of experts. Only the master of Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang, and the alliance master could defeat a fifth-level visceral prefecture realm expert. Also, even though Xiang Mingfeng and the other future kings had broken through the visceral prefecture realm barrier, they were still far from the forthcoming battle. Those who could stand at the peak of Qingzhou, such as the chief martial lord and the important figures of the Sacred Heart Sect, were all extremely difficult opponents with shocking strength. Xiang Mingfeng then suggested, ¡°Should we try to enter the city? Those who are able to move have already left, and those who can¡¯t are likely dead. Now, anyone who enters Qingzhou City only needs to be killed. It¡¯s foolproof.¡± Qin Huai agreed, but added, ¡°However, the Sacred Heart Sect and the prefecture overseer will definitely have a plan. I¡¯ll give it a shot first¡­ You guys hold down Lingkou Pass. Also, keep an eye on those trying to sneak into the ten counties to cause chaos.¡± Xiang Mingfeng reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already prepared for this. I¡¯ve also stationed people in the ten counties. We¡¯ll definitely stop those villains.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 493 - 493 The Missing Demons 493 The Missing Demons The two of them discussed some specifics about their plan. Afterward, Qin Huai made his way down the mountain toward Qingzhou City. Arriving outside the city, Qin Huai observed the multitude of martial artists coming from all directions. Many bore scars on their bodies and faces, evidence of their battles, covering their sturdy bodies. Some, like Qin Huai, wore bamboo hats and black muslin, silently making their way through the crowd. Qin Huai felt the aggressive energy around him as he walked, noting that he was being targeted by seven or eight individuals. A glance at his smooth palm made him realize that its delicate appearance could incite some wild ideas among these desperate people. However, he didn¡¯t take them seriously and confidently headed into Qingzhou City. After advancing to the visceral prefecture realm, Qin Huai¡¯s lifespan increased by several decades. His internal organs were still strong, and his energy remained high. He briskly entered the city, surveying the surroundings. The ground was stained dark red from fresh blood, nourishing the soil and causing some beautiful flowers to bloom amid the dirt and gravel. They flourished amongst the corpses, bones, and blood. Suddenly, in a ruined building, he heard a woman¡¯s scream, the splashing of water, and a man¡¯s weak pleas for mercy. The pleas were long and desperate, filled with the man¡¯s fury and curses. Bang! A door from the second floor was suddenly kicked down, landing just in front of Qin Huai. He heard slow footsteps on the veranda of the pavilion, then saw the man¡¯s face. Despite being covered in blood and having a dull expression, the man didn¡¯t seem scared. The cold wind lifted Qin Huai¡¯s bamboo hat, revealing his face for a moment. ¡°Hello, Mr. Qin,¡± the man said in a dazed tone after recognizing Qin Huai. Qin Huai scrutinized the man¡¯s features and the large knife in his hand, which was typically used for slicing tofu. The man owned a tofu shop Qin Huai frequently visited when he worked in the Blood Poison Gang. The tofu was famous, and the man¡¯s life in the outer city seemed pleasant, except for his wife¡¯s infamy as a flirtatious woman and the spread of many rumors. Suddenly, two dismembered corpses were thrown from the second floor by the tofu maker. They were a man and a woman, and Qin Huai recognized the woman as the tofu maker¡¯s wife from her facial features. Then, another headless body was tossed out from upstairs. The tofu maker, expressionless, tied a head to a hemp rope and hung it outside the corridor. The eyes, still filled with grievances, stared at the adulterous couple¡¯s bodies. ¡°Watch carefully. This is what happens when you bully me!¡± the tofu maker yelled, his teeth gritted in anger. Looking at the bodies, there were old people, children, and women, including an old man and a child who resembled the tofu maker. Qin Huai quickly pieced together what had transpired ¡ª the tofu maker had slaughtered the man¡¯s entire family, possibly in front of many witnesses. ¡°Mr. Qin, do you want to mock me too?¡± The tofu maker glared at Qin Huai. Qin Huai shook his head, walking past him without stopping. He then heard the tofu maker¡¯s raspy voice, ¡°Why do they have the right to bully me? They bullied me, so I¡¯ll eat them! I want to keep their eyes, to let them see how I reached the peak of martial arts!¡± Nowadays in Qingzhou, anyone could become a prodigy. He wanted to make them regret it for the rest of their lives. Qin Huai paused and looked back at the tofu maker¡¯s distorted face. Suddenly, there was a gust of wind, a cold sharp light in the bloody scene, and an explosion. Looking back, Qin Huai saw the tofu maker, now half a body, teetering on the brink of death. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not a prodigy after all¡­ I always knew I¡¯m not¡­¡± He spat out blood, mixed with tears. ¡°Mr. Qin, I just wanted a good life. Am I wrong? Is it my fault?¡± His eyes were full of bewilderment and grief. ¡°You are not the one at fault¡­¡± Qin Huai placed his hand on the tofu maker¡¯s head. With a loud noise, the tofu maker¡¯s body exploded. Even such a decent person had become part of the Sacred Heart Sect and was now involved in a mass killing. He pondered what kind of chaos the ambitious martial artists, attracted to the city with the intention of becoming stronger, would cause. Looking at the tofu maker¡¯s body, Qin Huai noticed red specks flying toward the bloodied sky. He threw a punch, but it only scattered the red lights ¡ª they still merged into the blood sea in the sky. ¡°There must be a greater plan behind the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s actions,¡± Qin Huai thought, quickening his pace towards the inner city, a likely place to find demonic traces, particularly the sects. Soon, he arrived at a small sect. The sign of the Gao Family¡¯s Martial Arts School lay shattered. Using the wind breath technique, he dashed through the forest. The Gao¡¯s disciples had now donned blood-colored robes, similar to those worn by the Sacred Heart Sect. However, despite the sect members wearing these robes, he found no traces of demons. ¡°If it were the Tang family, they wouldn¡¯t wear these robes. Even if they¡¯re currently allied, it¡¯s unlikely they¡¯d forsake their eight virtuous kings¡¯ reputation to become subjects of the Sacred Heart Sect,¡± he mumbled. Considering the demons¡¯ long-established influence over various large sects, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the two forces had divided territories. He hurriedly moved to the next sect, but again found no demon traces. The pattern continued across other sects, including the top-ranking White Cloud Sect. Days passed, and he only saw disciples wearing Sacred Heart Sect robes. In a deep forest, he overheard two drunk disciples patrolling. ¡°Do you think the boss still wants us to keep watch?¡± ¡°Those outsiders have been treating us like heroes for a long time.¡± ¡°And that Qingzhou Alliance thing, started by the supposed heir of the Emperor of Qingzhou, we haven¡¯t seen a single one of them in two weeks.¡± ¡°I bet they figured out that messing with us means asking for trouble, so they probably ran off to other places¡­¡± The two of them stood in front of the tree, pissing on it. Whoosh! Suddenly, two red streaks shot past them, piercing the tree. Terrified, they turned to see Qin Huai in a black robe. ¡°M-My lord¡­¡± ¡°Is this how you¡¯re supposed to be guarding the White Cloud Sect?¡± Qin Huai scolded. ¡°Please, sir, don¡¯t kill us! Have mercy!¡± Both of them dropped to their knees onto the wet ground with a thud, frantically bowing their heads to Qin Huai. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 494 - 494 The Enemy Is One of Us? 494 The Enemy Is One of Us? The two Sacred Heart Sect disciples couldn¡¯t shake the sight of the scarlet blood lines. These fine, powerful lines weren¡¯t like any others they¡¯d seen before. They were pure and perfect, suggesting that the masked person in front of them must be a powerful, trusted aid on some mission. Could this person be the rumored inspector? Fang Tiezheng, brave yet cautious, stole a quick look at Qin Huai. The latter was wearing a mask, so he probably didn¡¯t want them to know his real identity yet. Fang Tiezheng gathered his courage and said, ¡°My lord, if you have any orders, we will do our best to follow them.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just brave, you¡¯re cunning,¡± Qin Huai responded coolly. His mastery of the blood heart technique was clearly advanced, a useful trick to fool Sacred Heart Sect disciples. His cold tone sent chills through Fang Tiezheng and his companion. Even though they were both strong cultivators, they were shaking uncontrollably in front of Qin Huai, not from fear, but due to his overpowering aura. They both bowed their heads to the ground, begging for mercy. ¡°What have the demons been up to recently?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Demons?¡± Fang Tiezheng and his companion exchanged confused glances. ¡°The demons disappeared long ago.¡± ¡°Disappeared?¡± Qin Huai was surprised. ¡°I think it was three days ago?¡± the other disciple chimed in. But Fang Tiezheng corrected him, ¡°Four days ago! They all vanished suddenly overnight.¡± ¡°Are there any left in the Tang family?¡± Qin Huai probed further. ¡°We don¡¯t know. We¡¯re just guarding the White Cloud Sect. Right now, Qingzhou City is a battlefield. We would barely make it to the mountaintop alive if we leave the gate,¡± Fang Tiezheng replied with a forced smile. Qin Huai didn¡¯t react. He had indeed seen a lot of fights among martial artists on his way. Fights would break out for no reason, often escalating to the point where dozens of bodies littered the ground. Afterward, the remaining people would start fires and cook meat. These fights seemed to boost their cultivation skills, regardless of whether they used the blood heart technique or their own methods. Some of those killed were even wearing the Sacred Heart Sect robes. ¡°What is the White Cloud Sect doing?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°My lord, the masters are following orders to monitor the movements of the Qingzhou Alliance and find vulnerabilities in Wuji Mountain. They are also observing the situation in Qingzhou City¡­¡± Fang Tiezheng answered, revealing everything he knew. ¡°The masters have worked tirelessly and have never complained.¡± ¡°Kid, you¡¯re pretty sharp,¡± Qin Huai said, patting Fang Tiezheng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You can go now. Remember, I wasn¡¯t here today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my lord. We understand!¡± the two of them assured him, nodding vigorously. After receiving Qin Huai¡¯s approval, they sprinted off like racehorses. ¡°Why are we running?¡± the other disciple asked when they were almost at the sect gate. ¡°Are you really that clueless? If that person was a real envoy, wouldn¡¯t he know where the demons went?¡± Fang Tiezheng responded, looking both disappointed and scared. ¡°But¡­ but that person¡¯s blood heart technique was flawless,¡± the other man said, clearly confused. He had his doubts initially, but they were dismissed when he saw Qin Huai¡¯s pure blood heart technique. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know why either. Anyway, we should inform our superiors. That person is definitely trouble,¡± Fang Tiezheng declared confidently. Whoosh! Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them. ¡°My lord¡­¡± Fang Tiezheng stuttered, looking at the tall figure in the bamboo hat. ¡°It seems we were all holding back earlier,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice drifted over. ¡°My mistake. I should be more open with people. Let¡¯s change the way we talk.¡± He slowly removed his bamboo hat to reveal his face. ¡°My lord, you¡¯re so handsome. You look like a god among men,¡± Fang Tiezheng couldn¡¯t help but comment, filled with regret. ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize me?¡± Qin Huai asked, smiling. ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± Fang Tiezheng shook his head vigorously. It was Qin Huai! He couldn¡¯t believe it. He had bumped into Qin Huai, the leader of the Qingzhou Alliance. What terrible luck! But how could the leader of the alliance know the blood heart technique? ¡°Since you don¡¯t know me, allow me to introduce myself. I am Qin Huai, the leader of the Qingzhou Alliance and the successor of the Emperor of Qingzhou,¡± Qin Huai said, his smile warm. ¡°Are you¡­ one of us?¡± Fang Tiezheng asked cautiously. The question even sounded ridiculous to him. If there was anything they should worry about, it was not the remnants of Wuji Mountain but the Qingzhou Alliance, with its countless strong prodigies and unlimited potential. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 495 - 495 Plundering Treasures 495 Plundering Treasures But now¡­ the leader of the alliance was actually one of them? ¡°Shh¡­¡± Qin Huai signaled for silence, putting a finger to his lips. Fang Tiezheng¡¯s face lit up in understanding. ¡°My lord, feel free to ask anything you need!¡± He was confident. If the alliance leader was on their side, then there was nothing to fear in Qingzhou. This land was like a playground for the Sacred Heart Sect. ¡°Where did the demons go?¡± Qin Huai asked again. His face hardened as he mentioned his long-standing grudge against the Tang family. ¡°They targeted me relentlessly once, so I can¡¯t let that go unanswered.¡± ¡°Those demons have all gone to heaven,¡± Fang Tiezheng replied. ¡°Heaven?¡± Qin Huai queried, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Yes, literally to the sky. Four nights ago, they all flew up. The higher-ups ordered a citywide curfew that night in Qingzhou. But we had to relieve ourselves, and oddly enough, we prefer doing it under a tree.¡± Fang Tiezheng and his companion bashfully admitted. ¡°So, I sneaked out and unexpectedly witnessed the spectacle. Even though it was dark, and I couldn¡¯t see where they went, I¡¯m pretty sure they ¡®ascended¡¯ to the blood sea.¡± ¡°The blood sea?¡± Qin Huai looked up at the expansive, ominous sea of blood, his face unreadable. What could they possibly be doing there? He then turned again to the two men in front of him, their eyes eager. ¡°Anything else you can tell me?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Both Fang Tiezheng and his companion exchanged puzzled looks. They were beginning to doubt if the alliance leader really was one of them. Why was he so clueless? Noticing their confusion, Qin Huai gave a wry smile. ¡°Then let¡¯s change how we talk.¡± He then produced a needle and thread from his pocket, along with several poison kits he had looted from unattended medicine shops amidst the city¡¯s chaos. Deep in the forest, Qin Huai stuffed cloth strips into their mouths. A long, intense ¡®conversation¡¯ ensued. Eventually, he stood up, looking at the two now lifeless bodies on the ground. They had reiterated that the demons had indeed flown into the sky. ¡°What¡¯s above the blood sea? What could be so beneficial there¡­ The Tang family wouldn¡¯t abandon Qingzhou, their base for thousands of years, without good reason,¡± he mused aloud. Though he couldn¡¯t decipher what deal the Sacred Heart Sect had made with the demons, he had learned something valuable. ¡°The blood heart technique I practice could be incredibly useful in Qingzhou, which is currently under the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s control.¡± He then hurried towards the Tang family¡¯s home. Reaching the Tang family¡¯s residence, he pricked his finger and sent a blood-red wolf-tiger creature over the wall to scout the premises. After a period of silence, he followed suit, jumping over the walls and following the creature¡¯s trail. The house was empty, but the golden pillars and colorful glass gave off an eerie glow in the sunlight, creating an almost fantastical scene. Upon reaching the main hall, Qin Huai noticed a pure white chair made of bones, intricately carved with complex patterns. His brow furrowed as he stepped closer to inspect it. ¡°This is the work of a bone pattern realm expert, and even a visceral prefecture realm expert¡­ They were all killed by the demons and turned into furniture and tea bowls,¡± said Qin Huai, observing his surroundings filled with items crafted from experts¡¯ bodies. He noticed a unique furnace, crafted from a human skull, still burning with a particular type of coal. Eerie flames spouted from its eye and nose sockets, like a vengeful spirit from hell. On the wall, there was a string of blood beads, made from organs and possessing a significant power ¡ª it was a ruined artifact. He then walked into the study and looked over the numerous books on the shelves. His eyes eventually landed on a fresh copy of the ¡°Eastern Qingzhou Shepherd¡¯s Book.¡± ¡°In the third year of Chengping, during the Great Grazing Competition, Xinglong, Xingfeng, and Xingwu used the ten prefectures of East Qingzhou as their ranches,¡± he read. His hands trembled as he realized that the demons in Lingjiang were the result of these actions. ¡°The demons made humans their food and toys for thousands of years,¡± Qin Huai mumbled, anger stirring within him. ¡°How can I ever find peace in this world if I don¡¯t kill all the demons?¡± He tightened his grip on the Eastern Qingzhou Shepherd¡¯s Book, looking at the bookshelves. They displayed records of the various atrocities committed by the demons throughout the years in Qingzhou, causing widespread suffering and displacement. ¡°And the demons recorded all these horrendous acts without remorse,¡± he noted, mentally quoting an old saying, ¡°Those who are not of our kind surely bear different hearts.¡± After resting for a bit, he carefully put all the books back where they belonged, then left the room, making sure to leave no trace behind. His search of the Tang family¡¯s residence didn¡¯t yield any useful treasures, but he found plenty of gold, silver, and other valuable items. Looking at the treasure in the basement, worth at least tens of millions of gold taels, Qin Huai decided to take it. He kept all of it in his bronze diagram, a unique storage artifact that can hold anything non-living, similar to the storage rings of his previous world¡¯s fantasy novels. But, they were much more precious here. Suddenly, he felt the weight of all the stored treasure on his body. That was a downside of his storage artifact. Even though it provided a vast space, it added the weight of the stored items to his body. Thankfully, his physical strength was beyond ordinary, allowing him to bear the burden without being crushed. His hair turned white as he powered through the added weight, walking as if he were on flat ground. After securing the treasure, the Qingzhou Alliance and the ten counties of East Qingzhou wouldn¡¯t face financial issues for a while. ¡°Perhaps¡­ I could make a flying artifact?¡± Qin Huai pondered. With Old Master Tong¡¯s methods and his team of treasured weapon masters, it might be possible. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 496 - 496 White 496 White-Robed King! In Qingzhou City, at the base of the Thousand Divination Tower, the headquarters of the Thousand Divination Tower remained well preserved. This organization, being one of the top five forces in Qingzhou, had never faced opposition. A man in a loose white robe, bare-chested in the winter snow, ascended the long stone stairs with a smile. As he walked, intricate patterns etched on the bluestone steps grew more vibrant. These patterns moved and eventually formed a black turtle design. ¡°King, the Thousand Divination Tower predicted this a hundred years ago,¡± said a disciple from the Sacred Heart Sect, dressed in a red robe. He was a towering figure, humbly standing next to the man called ¡®King¡¯. ¡°That¡¯s why everything went so smoothly.¡± The white-robed man looked at the long stone stairs with slight scorn. ¡°Predicted a hundred years ago? The world of martial arts is full of surprises. We shouldn¡¯t underestimate it.¡± Suddenly, the black turtle pattern under him broke through the bluestone, releasing a deafening roar. Green copper coins sprung from the ground, circled in the air, and finally landed on the stairs, creating ripple-like effects that surged toward the man. With each step, the ripples grew more intense, forming a formidable black turtle beast. Bang! The moment the black turtle arrived in front of the white-robed man, it dissipated with the wind. However, more and more black turtle beasts were coming from the top of the long steps. As more of these beasts started to appear, the atmosphere grew tense, and the surrounding trees rustled, creating a storm of fallen leaves. The red-robed man, intimidated, retreated behind the white-robed man, blood trickling from his mouth. ¡°Are they trying to defy us?!¡± he yelled, anger in his eyes. With a smile, the white-robed man said, ¡°This little trick is far from a rebellion.¡± Unfazed, he continued to climb. Boom! Suddenly, a gigantic silhouette of a black turtle appeared at the top of the stairs. Standing over a thousand feet tall and radiating green light, it drew the attention of cultivators within several miles. The white-robed man and his companion looked like ants in comparison. ¡°King!¡± cried the red-robed man, seemingly willing to sacrifice himself to protect the white-robed man. ¡°So noisy.¡± The white-robed man simply scratched his ears, annoyed at the noise. His soft voice was drowned out by the earth-shattering roar. The next moment, the blue turtle rushed forward. But as it neared the white-robed man, it shrunk until it was the size of a palm. The little black turtle roared at the man¡¯s feet, a sound akin to a dragon¡¯s roar. ¡°How adorable,¡± the white-robed man said with a smile, stepping on the turtle. With a crunch, the creature shattered. Bang! Suddenly, the green copper coins that had been scattered shot up into the sky and rained down like a green shower. Despite this, the pair kept their pace and finally reached the top of the bluestone stairs. On a stone platform etched with Yin-Yang fish, dozens of warriors clad in Taoist and monk robes bowed toward the white-robed man. ¡°Thousand Divination Tower Lord Yue Yang greets the Lord White Robe King!¡± the old man said, stumbling and falling to his knees. His knees bled from the impact, and a line of blood shot back, disappearing into the sleeve of the red-robed man. Bang! Suddenly, the towering arm of the red-robed man broke, spouting fresh blood onto the Yin-Yang fish platform. ¡°Is this how you treat my friends?¡± the white-robed king asked. ¡°Underlings. I admit my sins!¡± the red-robed man answered, gritting his teeth and kneeling on the ground. His arm¡¯s blood continued to flow freely. ¡°Let it go. One knee for one hand,¡± the white-robed king said nonchalantly, ¡°Wait until the Tower Lord¡¯s injuries are healed, then you can take him back.¡± The red-robed man silently picked up his severed arm from the ground. He made no complaint, just watched as blood flowed from the wound, reattaching the limb. ¡°Lord White-Robed King, the commotion earlier was because this negligent fool accidentally caused it,¡± Yue Yang said, pulling forward a middle-aged man. He was about to slap the man when an invisible force held his hand in mid-air. ¡°Why? I¡¯m fine. Why do you want his life?¡± the white-robed king asked, showing his disapproval. ¡°Since I¡¯m fine, he should be fine too.¡± The white-robed king approached the middle-aged man and squatted down to meet his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked. ¡°Gou Xinyue!¡± the man retorted, a glint of confusion in his eyes. ¡°Do you think I will submit to you using this method?¡± Gou Xinyue sneered. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 497 - 497 Qin Huais Way to Enter the Heavens 497 Qin Huai¡¯s Way to Enter the Heavens ¡°Submit? There¡¯s no need for that. It¡¯s simply fair, considering the heavens above us,¡± the white-robed king said indifferently. He regarded Gou Xinyue as if he was looking at something unimportant. ¡°The Supreme One has brought fairness to Qingzhou. All fighters start from the same point and have the opportunity to reach the highest realm. Life and death are the same, so there¡¯s no longer any difference between high and low, birth or talent. And I am the judge of Qingzhou,¡± the white-robed king continued, rising slowly. ¡°Humph! You¡¯re nothing but a heretic spreading lies. I¡¯ll kill you one day!¡± Yue Yang retorted, his eyes radiating a fierce cold light. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting here for you to reach the level where you¡¯re qualified to fight me. This is the fairness I¡¯m granting you,¡± the king answered casually. He then proceeded to the interior of the Thousand Divination Tower, the red-robed man trailing close behind with devotion in his eyes. They halted to examine three headless stone statues. The leftmost statue was clothed in a Buddhist robe and held prayer beads, while the rightmost wore a Taoist robe, had a long beard, held a whisk, and carried a wooden sword. The middle statue combined the two, with half in a kasaya and half in a Taoist robe. Among the three stone statues, only the statue of the Thousand Divination Tower had a head. ¡°Mocking Buddhism and Taoism as brainless, huh? Quite an interesting sect,¡± the king mused, observing two individuals writing on a piece of paper. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± the king asked, approaching to see what was on the paper. ¡°Is it me?¡± he realized. ¡°Yes, sir. Your stone statue will be placed beside those three statues,¡± Lord Yue Yang responded. ¡°Does it have a head?¡± the king asked. ¡°No¡­ Yes!¡± Yue Yang stammered, apologizing. ¡°Then cut it off. My looks are too grand for the heavens and earth. I don¡¯t want to steal your sect¡¯s fortune,¡± the king suggested, leaving Yue Yang flustered, uncertain if he was joking. ¡°Just do as he says,¡± the red-robed man intervened. ¡°Do you think he would lie like you?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Yue Yang quickly agreed. The king continued to explore the Thousand Divination Tower. After about two hours, Yue Yang asked, ¡°Sir, what do you plan to do about the Qingzhou Alliance? They could all become leaders in the future, especially the leader Qin Huai. ¡°After getting the inheritance of the Emperor of Qingzhou, his strength has become terrifying. He¡¯s only at the second-level visceral prefecture realm, yet he was able to kill the second elder of Wuji Mountain, Shang Yinzhong.¡± ¡°He managed to kill an elder? Isn¡¯t that because of his hard work in cultivation?¡± the king replied, leaving Yue Yang speechless. ¡°Let them cultivate then. If they can defeat me, doesn¡¯t that make them the chosen one?¡± With that, the king left, disappearing from sight. The red-robed man sneered. ¡°Hmph, those people aren¡¯t at the king¡¯s realm yet. The white-robed king is a true king! I¡¯m also a future king!¡± He revealed his sharp fangs when he wasn¡¯t facing the white-robed king. ¡°That Qin Huai¡­ You can fight him,¡± the king¡¯s voice echoed from afar. ¡°Understood!¡± The red-robed man lowered his head slightly, his strong aura making the Tower Lord step back. ¡®These guys from the west¡­ They¡¯re all beasts.¡¯ ¡­ At the Spirit Gate, Qin Huai landed smoothly. ¡°The demons have all gone to the blood sea¡­¡± he shared with his team, explaining everything he¡¯d learned on his journey. ¡°That¡¯s good, isn¡¯t it? We only need to deal with the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s forces,¡± Fang Huo hastily responded. ¡°But Brother Fang, did you notice? The blood and bone fragments of those we killed in Qingzhou City ended up in the blood sea,¡± Gou Jie noted. Le Ji ¡®an added, ¡°The blood sea could be an energy pool, absorbing life essence from all the people who died in Qingzhou City. We might be helping the enemy by killing people.¡± Fang Huo stood up and said, ¡°Not really. The blood sea is the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s creation. If we destroy them, the blood sea¡¯s power will weaken significantly. Now is not the time to protect everything. We have to sacrifice some things.¡± Fang Huo¡¯s blunt and grim thoughts left everyone speechless. After a moment of silence, all eyes turned to Qin Huai, their leader. ¡°I¡¯ll think of a plan. I¡¯ll inspect the blood sea before making a decision. For now, find out where the enemy is and assess their strength. When the time comes, we¡¯ll wipe them all out,¡± Qin Huai instructed before quickly leaving. ¡­ Ten days later, Qin Huai met with Old Master Tong in Lingjiang. ¡°Make a flying artifact?¡± Old Master Tong was surprised. ¡°I had such a dream when I was young¡­ But I could only fly ten thousand feet. If all my people work together, maybe we can achieve twenty thousand¡­ no, thirty thousand feet! But I can¡¯t guarantee success,¡± Old Master Tong speculated. ¡°I need to go sixty-three thousand feet,¡± Qin Huai revealed. ¡°Ah? Even if the Patriarch Creation came back to life, it¡¯d be hard to achieve that,¡± Old Master Tong claimed. ¡°But the demons can¡­¡± Qin Huai gritted his teeth. ¡°All of them are offspring of demons, naturally in sync with the universe. Even though treasured weapons are made in line with the natural flow of the universe and exist in the world, they still defy the laws of nature. ¡°In terms of relationships, a real son might cross boundaries and seize the throne, maybe earning a scolding or a beating. But if an adopted son tries to seize the throne¡­ The result is certain death.¡± Qin Huai fell silent, contemplating if a flying artifact was feasible. He mused, ¡°If I have demon wings, I can fly up¡­¡± He retreated into a secret room, pondering his next steps. ¡°If the guardian spirit item is destroyed, will it affect me? Can the blood heart technique and the divine power book of a thousand creations be restored?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts started to go crazy as he looked at the various spirit items that were floating in the air in his dantian world. Gritting his teeth, he instantly activated his cultivation technique to draw it into his internal organs. The experience he needed to reach the third-level visceral prefecture realm had already been replenished on the way back. Boom! Activating his cultivation technique, he drew a strange drop of blood essence into his spleen. The whole process went remarkably smoothly. It wasn¡¯t as tough or painful as the time he refined the bronze mountain and river diagram or the true dragon bone. This wasn¡¯t because Qin Huai had grown stronger, but rather because the blood essence, being a guardian spirit item, was not of a very high grade. In under two hours, Qin Huai surprisingly advanced to the third-level visceral prefecture realm. Then, he broke apart the blood essence, using the blood heart technique to repair the forcefully created hole in his internal organs. The divine power book of a thousand creations absorbed the shattered blood essence to replenish his spleen. After some time, Qin Huai opened his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°I did it.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 498 - 498 The Flame Lotus 498 The Flame Lotus Qin Huai sat in the secret room, his face glowing with health. As he gently called upon his energy and vitality, he could hear the strong, drum-like vibration of his organs. ¡°With the support of the blood heart technique and the divine power book of a thousand creations, pulling off such a miracle isn¡¯t a big deal for me,¡± Qin Huai quietly said to himself. But his smile slowly faded because this was just the first step in his ambitious journey. He stepped out of the secret room and shut himself in his study for four hours. Afterward, he took out a painting and handed it to the guard at the door. ¡°Give this to Old Master Tong,¡± he instructed. ¡°Understood¡­¡± the guard replied. ¡°You can leave. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± From a distance, a beautiful figure approached. ¡°Madam,¡± the young man, quick on his feet, immediately bowed and tactfully retreated. Li Shaoxiang took the scroll and looked at the peculiarly shaped object on it ¡ª a spherical cloth bag with a basket underneath it, like a round lantern. The size indicated in the painting left Li Shaoxiang startled. It was over a hundred feet in size. ¡°What is this artifact? Why haven¡¯t I seen it before?¡± Li Shaoxiang asked casually. ¡°It¡¯s just a little thing from my hometown,¡± Qin Huai replied, without providing further details. ¡°Tell Old Master Tong that I need this thing. Use the best materials and deliver it directly to Lingkou Pass.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Li Shaoxiang acknowledged, committing it to memory. The couple then strolled along the long path of the Nine Dragons Sect. The sect was much more than it used to be, housing over fifty thousand disciples. With their disciples occupying significant positions all over East Qingzhou, the Nine Dragons Sect had arguably become the leading sect in the ten counties. ¡°By the way, there are two more from Qingzhou City. The elder brought a letter written by her husband,¡± Li Shaoxiang said cautiously. ¡°Although I offered them important positions, they all declined.¡± She described the personalities of the two men, Mr. Feng, who was quiet and cold, volunteered to guard the library, and Mr. Yang, who was eloquent, opted to guard the gate. Li Shaoxiang sighed. She knew her husband¡¯s acquaintances usually had special skills. For example, Old Master Tong¡¯s family were excellent blacksmiths who trained many treasure masters for the Nine Dragons Sect. Some of them were superb alchemists, recruiting many experts to be Lingjiang¡¯s guest elders. But this time, the two men¡¯s choices were unconventional. They volunteered to be gatekeepers. She worried that the two might have peculiar temperaments and she didn¡¯t want to accidentally offend them, hence, her cautious approach. ¡°Guards¡­¡± Qin Huai reflected for a moment. ¡°Then let them guard. They also have exceptional combat abilities in the visceral prefecture realm. Now that they¡¯re hidden in plain sight, it¡¯s a good thing for the Nine Dragons Sect.¡± Qin Huai quickly figured out what Feng Zhiqun and Old Master Yang were planning. These days, the Sacred Heart Sect disciples and demons were everywhere. Despite the increased number and enhanced capabilities of the ghost piercing mirrors, it was still inevitable that individuals with hidden agendas would manage to infiltrate. With the two gatekeepers covertly protecting the Nine Dragons Sect, Qin Huai had fewer worries. He could focus on tackling the Sacred Heart Sect and the demonic Kun Peng Clan. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s another strange thing,¡± Li Shaoxiang started. ¡°Ever since Lingjiang began to thrive, its population has been on the rise. Over the past few months, an increasing number of disciples have been reporting that their cultivation speed seems to have improved.¡± ¡°Really? Something like that happened?¡± Qin Huai asked, surprised. ¡°Did you notice anything unusual?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve sent people to investigate. Everything in Lingjiang seems peaceful. There are no traces of the Sacred Heart Sect for now. Also, such large-scale and voluntary reporting is unlikely to be the work of the Sacred Heart Sect, right? If it were them, they¡¯d surely try to remain hidden,¡± Li Shaoxiang reasoned. ¡°Okay, I understand,¡± Qin Huai said, after listening to the latest updates about the Nine Dragons Sect and Li Shaoxiang¡¯s plans. They bid each other farewell at the gate. Qin Huai paused and glanced at the elderly man guarding the door, who was regaling a group of children with an enchanting tale by his candy stand. Their eyes met and they exchanged knowing glances. ¡­ Qin Huai found himself at Spirit Gate. The crowd, once dense, was now much thinner. ¡°Alliance Master,¡± Hua Yanli greeted, his body occasionally emitting bursts of flame, making him look like a deity emerging from the fire. Qin Huai examined Hua Yanli, who seemed stronger than a few months prior, especially the flames engulfing him that gave Qin Huai pause. ¡°What is this?¡± he inquired. Hua Yanli chuckled, looking quite pleased with himself. ¡°I gained some insights while dealing with some small fries in the city. Since I can¡¯t match your physical strength and techniques, I decided to pursue a different path. I aim to master my flames to their utmost potential.¡± As Hua Yanli explained, he stretched out his hand and a perfect lotus flower materialized. Qin Huai was taken aback. Upon closer inspection, he realized the lotus was made of flames, but of a peculiar pink hue, which left him momentarily stunned. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 499 - 499 Dead End! 499 Dead End! ¡°This is the purifying lotus flame I¡¯ve cultivated,¡± Hua Yanli announced, looking at Qin Huai with a smug smile. ¡°That¡¯s indeed remarkable,¡± Qin Huai acknowledged, giving a genuine nod. Regardless of their origins, these prodigies who could harness the king¡¯s force were not to be taken lightly. Hua Yanli, whose combat power was once considered average among the nine kings, might now give competitors like Gou Jie and Xu Tong a run for their money with his new technique. ¡°We¡¯ve been working hard over the past few months,¡± said Xiang Ming Feng as he joined them. His long hair now had a slightly golden hue, and his eyes flashed with a strange, piercing light even without using his king¡¯s force. ¡°It looks like Brother Xiang has also made progress,¡± Qin Huai remarked. ¡°These folks are all exceptional. They defeat a few opponents and suddenly their combat abilities skyrocket.¡± She Wanshan sighed, looking rather downcast. Behind Xiang Mingfeng, the surrounding light was entirely obscured. ¡°In the past, I thought you were too young. Now it seems I was wrong. You are too indulgent,¡± he stated sharply, leaving She Wanshan looking pale. ¡°Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll send you to the most dangerous part of Qingzhou City,¡± Xiang Mingfeng then turned to Qin Huai. ¡°Have you figured out how to implement your plan?¡± ¡°I believe so. Let¡¯s discuss what has changed in the past two months,¡± Qin Huai suggested. ¡°The audacity of the Sacred Heart Sect is exactly as we suspected,¡± Xiang Mingfeng explained, ¡°When we kill people in the blood sea, most of the blood, qi, and even the bones of the dead turn into fine ¡®sand¡¯ and are absorbed by the blood sea. ¡°We¡¯ve also been tracking various warriors. We found that over time, the cult followers¡¯ cultivation speeds increased. The more people they kill, the faster they progress in Qingzhou City.¡± Xiang Mingfeng sounded resigned. ¡°No wonder the Sacred Heart Sect followers are so fearless. They probably prefer it when we kill more.¡± ¡°I suspect it¡¯s not just about blood and bones¡­¡± Qin Huai pondered aloud, ¡°There might also be some ¡®death energy¡¯ involved. After all, those from the Sacred Heart Sect feed on blood too. Without it, the weaker ones or those with weak wills or demonic possessions would turn into walking corpses.¡± Knowing a lot about the Sacred Heart Sect and its followers, Qin Huai could identify clues even from Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s account. ¡°Does this cultivation speed increase occur anywhere else outside of Qingzhou City?¡± Qin Huai asked, thinking about the unusual events in Lingjiang County. ¡°No, it¡¯s only confined to Qingzhou City,¡± Xiang Mingfeng confirmed. Upon hearing this, Qin Huai shared the anomalies he noticed in Lingjiang. Being experienced and knowledgeable, Xiang Mingfeng replied, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Master and others that the concentration of spiritual energy varies from place to place, influencing the cultivation speed of martial artists. ¡°The energy can be influenced in many ways. The most common one is the presence of a hero. The stronger the hero, the richer the energy in their frequent locations. This explains the phrase ¡®extraordinary people from the earth¡¯s land¡¯.¡± He continued, ¡°The other, more mysterious influences are population and fortune. The larger the population, the greater the spiritual energy and luck. Although it sounds vague, there are examples.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Huai felt some relief. The changes in Lingjiang were likely due to the population increase. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s about setting up an array,¡± Xiang Mingfeng added, ¡°To set up such an array, one has to tap into the heaven and earth¡¯s fortune, which is akin to defying the heavens and could result in divine punishment.¡± He glanced at the distant blood sea, his gaze heavy with unspoken thoughts. Despite their madness, the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s ability to set up a formation that could change the spiritual energy of an entire city was undeniably impressive. ¡°There are two more matters to address¡­¡± Xiang Mingfeng said, his eyes becoming serious. ¡°A leader of the Sacred Heart Sect has finally shown up. It¡¯s a giant named Zhou Chuanyong, nearly nine meters tall. His strength is unmatched, and he could easily overpower Fang Huo with his sheer power alone. ¡°Last month, he confronted our master at Wuji Mountain all by himself, leading to a massive fight.¡± ¡°What was the outcome?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell. Our master was also leveraging the power of Wuji Mountain¡¯s array to combat him. Plus, the guy has this incredible recovery ability through the blood heart technique¡­ ¡°But, Master¡¯s moves are unpredictable. It¡¯s tough to say if Master has played all his cards yet.¡± Xiang Mingfeng chose his words carefully. ¡°Fang Huo, Le Ji¡¯an, and the others tried to seize the moment to eliminate him and used the power of Wuji Mountain¡¯s array to hold him there¡­ but they failed and even lost a few of their people. ¡°Anyway, his life isn¡¯t in danger. It was because of this that we began to train even harder. You could say it was a blessing in disguise¡­¡± Xiang Mingfeng glanced at his palm. That battle reminded them of their own limitations in strength. Qin Huai breathed a sigh of relief. A giant figure was not typical for humans ¡ª he was more like a titan. Even lower-ranked monsters weren¡¯t as big as him. ¡°Can you provide me with information on the current martial arts groups in Qingzhou City, especially the characteristics of the sect¡¯s powers?¡± Qin Huai started to discuss the main issue. ¡°Brother Gou has already prepared for this.¡± Xiang Mingfeng then led Qin Huai to a small room behind the Spirit Gate. There was a map on the wall facing the door, surrounded by bookshelves. Each sect¡¯s name, their corresponding cultivation method, and characteristics were clearly noted. Qin Huai walked in and quickly browsed through the books. ¡°Earth Dog Villa, Earth, Mansion Viscera One¡­ Fangshan Sect, Wood, Mansion Viscera Two¡­¡± The names of the sects and some important details were clearly noted on the sides of the brand-new books. From the specifics, he found that the leaders of these sects had all fallen into the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s and the demons¡¯ trap without exception. Qin Huai quickly searched for clues. After an entire day and night, he finally pinpointed his target. ¡°White Cloud Sect, Heavenly Eagle Sect, Nine Regions Wind Chasing Divine Legs Gang¡­¡± Qin Huai chose based on a single criterion: whether there were any important figures in the sect who used bird-type monsters as their spirit treasures. ¡­ Thousand Divination Tower. The white-robed king sat in the main pavilion, on top of the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion. Behind him, Zhou Chuanyong, who had just waged a great war with Kong Binghuang and gained fame from it, stood respectfully. ¡°Milord, I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy these past few days.¡± Zhou Chuanyong stooped, his damaged right hand already mended. ¡°Speak.¡± The white-robed king toyed with a jade fish in his hand. The jade seemed to breathe out green bubbles. ¡°I suspect those guys might have discovered a way to break the blood sea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s indeed a possibility.¡± The white-robed king was unmoved. ¡°Then you should devise a plan to eliminate them before they find you.¡± ¡°I will definitely do my best and not let you down!¡± Zhou Chuanyong quickly responded, his fists shaking with determination. He then quickly retreated from the top of the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion. He knew his master was displeased with his failure to kill that stubborn old man on Wuji Mountain. He felt like he was too weak and undeserving of being his follower. Outside the pavilion, the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower chuckled as he trailed Zhou Chuanyong. ¡°Lord Zhou, those guys might have discovered a way to break it,¡± the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower spoke. ¡°Oh? Tell me!¡± Zhou Chuanyong showed interest. ¡°For instance, they could find a monster that can fly seventy thousand feet or refine it into a guardian spirit¡­ Then, they would eliminate all the Kun Peng clans that have been rooted in Qingzhou for thousands of years.¡± The Lord of the Thousand Divination Tower laid out the plan. ¡°Hmm, only the Kun Peng Clan can fly up to seventy thousand feet. The Lord had them eliminated considering this, to completely eliminate their chances of flying up. They¡¯re not even given a chance¡­ ¡°Moreover, it¡¯s impossible to exterminate all of the Kun Peng clan¡­¡± Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s voice trailed off as he gave the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower a cold, stern look. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± The lord of the Thousand Divination Tower quickly bowed. ¡°The so-called prodigies can¡¯t even destroy the Kun Peng clan on the ground, let alone in the air. The strength of the Kun Peng demons would only increase a bit. They have no chance at all, so please don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Zhou Chuanyong felt better after this conversation. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 500 - 500 Heavenly Eagle Sect 500 Heavenly Eagle Sect At the base of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, corpse qi filled the sky and a heap of skeletons silently scattered around the foot of the mountain. Blood formed a thick stream, appearing as if it was carving out a protective moat around the mountain. It was clear that this place had seen endless fierce battles and had finally turned into its present state. In the sky, massive eagle creatures circled and screeched. On the mountain slope, a bunch of warriors dressed in brown robes stared with their eagle-like eyes, a chilling coldness in their gaze. The group was led by a tall, young man. Many fighters looked at the young man, a sense of fear unwillingly creeping into their eyes. ¡°Who is he? He can hold back dozens of us single-handedly.¡± A martial artist nursing a broken arm had a mix of greed and fear in his eyes. Holding his broken arm, he pushed it against the fracture. Shortly after, a surge of blood spurted from the wound and stitched it up. ¡°That guy is Ma Dongfa, a young man who suddenly became prominent in the Heavenly Eagle Sect. No, he didn¡¯t show any significant abilities before the blood sea era. He was a low-ranking member of the Heavenly Eagle Sect. ¡°But, since the Heavenly Eagle Sect allied with the Sacred Heart Sect, in only a few short months, Ma Dongfa climbed the ranks and became the pride of the sect¡¯s younger generation. In fact, he¡¯s almost reached the visceral prefecture realm.¡± In a few sentences, everyone had uncovered all of Ma Dongfa¡¯s past. They gazed at him with a mix of fear and admiration. ¡°He¡¯s a native of Qingzhou City. He grew up in a humble alley and in poverty. It¡¯s quite an inspiring tale of how he got to where he is now.¡± ¡°Who cares about that? As long as we conquer him, we can live forever and ascend to the ultimate realm!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes were fiery. Clearly, their vision had been clouded by the allure of blood and rapid progress. In just a few months, they felt like they¡¯d been training for years, decades, or even longer. This sensation drove them to insanity. ¡°You lot really don¡¯t know what¡¯s best for you.¡± Ma Dongfa observed them coldly. ¡°Do you believe that the Holy Church¡¯s leader restricts us from leaving the mountain for our protection? No, no, no¡­¡± He shook his finger. ¡°That¡¯s because the lords of the Sacred Heart Sect pity you. In the eyes of our sect, you¡¯re all insignificant, just stray dogs on the street. I can eliminate you anytime!¡± A cold sparkle appeared in Ma Dongfa¡¯s eyes. The next moment, a flying feather covered dozens of meters in an instant and pierced an expert straight through. ¡°Just like that,¡± Ma Dongfa said casually. ¡°That¡¯s Tu Guyu, a fearsome warrior and a fourth-level bone pattern realm expert. He was really defeated by Ma Dongfa in just one move?¡± Everyone immediately felt a chill run down their spine. The eldest brother of the Heavenly Eagle Sect was incredibly powerful. ¡°I believe¡­ even if we bring out those so-called elites of the Qingzhou Alliance who only dare to lurk in the shadows like street rats, they¡¯d still be no match for Ma Dongfa.¡± At the base of the mountain, exclamations filled the air. They were once again stunned by Ma Dongfa¡¯s formidable skills, and they began to reconsider whether they should continue their assault on this mountain gate. ¡°Qingzhou Alliance?¡± A scornful smirk appeared on Ma Dongfa¡¯s face. ¡°When I was young, I admired those rats, thinking they were strong. But now¡­ they¡¯ve stooped so low that they only dare to carry out assassinations. They¡¯re not worthy of being called prodigies. They¡¯re a disgrace to true prodigies!¡± Ma Dongfa¡¯s confidence was obvious. If he had the chance to face those people, he would certainly use his fists to show them. Times have indeed changed. Everyone went silent, and many had already started to discreetly retreat. Tu Guyu¡¯s death had made them aware of the huge gap between them. There were certain things that couldn¡¯t be understood by simply observing mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Only by seeing with one¡¯s own eyes would it be real. And then¡­ They saw a figure moving against the current, walking toward the Heavenly Eagle Sect at a leisurely pace. ¡°How dare you? Die!¡± A man behind Ma Dongfa leaped up and surprisingly flew over ten meters in the air. He wielded a serrated longsword and brought it crashing down. Bang! A solid gust of wind materialized in the air, stopping both the sword and its wielder. The man¡¯s hands shook slightly, but he couldn¡¯t move further. Whoosh! A brown feather whizzed through the sky. With a clanging sound, sparks flew, but the gentle breeze still wouldn¡¯t let it pass. ¡°Interesting.¡± Ma Dongfa looked at the feathers blocking his way and instead of anger, he felt amusement. ¡°These weaklings are really boring. They don¡¯t pique my interest at all.¡± He licked his lips, and in the next moment, he disappeared from his spot. A piercing cold light sliced through the air in a flash, a nimble sword tracing an arc in the sky. It seemed aimed at the temple of the young man in black, but in reality, it was pointed straight at the forehead. Slash! Brilliant sparks erupted, narrowly missing the man¡¯s face. Sparks danced as if they could explode into the man¡¯s eyes at any second. However, the handsome man didn¡¯t even blink, completely ignoring the surrounding hostile crowd and Ma Dongfa. The latter¡¯s nimble sword aligned step by step with the man¡¯s pace. ¡°Arrogant!¡± Ma Dongfa exclaimed coldly. ¡°Your shield may block one sword, but what about dozens of swords?!¡± In the air, dozens of cold lights suddenly darted toward the man. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 501 - 501 Slashes Four Wings, Slaughtering a Sect Alone! 501 Slashes Four Wings, Slaughtering a Sect Alone! The brown wings radiated a startling sword aura, cutting through the air with a shrill whistling sound. Boom! The pure white air current remained as gentle as ever, yet it was strong enough to fend off these ferocious attacks. ¡°What¡­¡± Ma Dongfa¡¯s eyes narrowed. Was this guy a turtle shell? ¡°Who is this guy? Why is he so brazen?¡± The nearby martial artists who had intended to retreat halted their steps, disbelieving the spectacle before them. From their perspective, they were powerless against Ma Dongfa, yet multiple fierce attacks failed to penetrate this man¡¯s defenses? Moreover, the man completely disregarded him! ¡°This guy¡­ He looks so familiar.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I think I¡¯ve seen him before?¡± Whispers spread through the crowd, then a few courageous martial artists turned back to get a better look at the man¡¯s face. Moments later, gasps could be heard. ¡°It¡¯s him! He¡¯s the master of the Qingzhou Alliance!¡± ¡°What?¡± Numerous people rapidly retreated, attempting to escape from Qin Huai. This was because the members of the Qingzhou Alliance were notorious for hunting down these ¡®orthodox martial artists¡¯ who ruthlessly killed and devoured others. However, some people dared to get a closer look. ¡°It really is the master of the Qingzhou Alliance! He¡¯s even more handsome than in his portraits¡­¡± ¡°He has the complexion of a noble¡¯s pampered servant, even fairer than a lady¡¯s.¡± These spectators gazed at Qin Huai as if watching a drama unfold. The name of the alliance¡¯s master hadn¡¯t been heard for a long time. Most of them had never seen him in battle ¡ª it was only the elites like Le Ji¡¯an and Fang Huo who had demonstrated their prowess. Given Qin Huai¡¯s appearance, nobody was particularly scared of him. More importantly, he himself seemed to have no interest in them. ¡°The master of the Qingzhou Alliance?¡± Ma Dongfa eyed Qin Huai, the fighting spirit in his eyes flaring like wildfire. ¡°You¡¯re a relic of the old era, so just become a stepping stone for my rise, Ma Dongfa!¡± Ma Dongfa roared, and hundreds of brown feathers instantly stirred violently around him. Boom! Brown eagle feathers exploded out from Ma Dongfa¡¯s body like a tornado, immediately sending earth, stones, and bones flying into the air. The blood formed serpentine streaks in the sky, adding a mesmerizing tint to the tornado. Countless eagle feathers enveloped the battlefield. Sparks and the sound of clashing metal erupted from the heart of the conflict. Dozens of meters away, the scattering eagle feathers instantly pierced the forehead of a bone pattern realm expert with incredible speed. The unfortunate victim, even as he teetered on the brink of collapse, maintained a look of excitement as if enjoying a spectacle. But the next second, he slumped to the ground. Qin Huai, standing at the epicenter of the explosion, didn¡¯t even glance at him. He merely lifted his hand slightly. Bang! The feathers enveloping his body instantly shattered, piercing through the bodies of hundreds of martial artists around him like arrows. As cries of pain echoed through the mountains, countless martial artists started to sense something was amiss and fled into the distance. ¡°Seems like I really have to show some of my real power.¡± Ma Dongfa¡¯s expression remained unfazed. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear. It¡¯s just stepping into the visceral prefecture realm. As long as I reach that, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Rumble¡­ Suddenly, four large bulges started to form on Ma Dongfa¡¯s back, squirming like a larva breaking free from its cocoon. Bang! Two pairs of enormous wings sprouted from his back and waist simultaneously. The brownish-black wings made him resemble a fallen angel, radiating an ominous aura. Qin Huai finally paused and glanced sideways at the current eldest senior brother of the Heavenly Eagle Sect. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you acting high and mighty anymore? Why aren¡¯t you ignoring me and walking on?¡± The smile on Ma Dongfa¡¯s face was almost contorted. ¡°Looks like you finally understand fear.¡± Ma Dongfa spread his four wings and began to lift off the ground, looking down at Qin Huai. He was certain that as long as they were in the same realm, he would be unbeatable. ¡°I have extraordinary power, the spirit treasure of a four-winged eagle demon with a trace of Kun Peng bloodline, and the exceptional healing abilities provided by the blood heart technique. How can you defeat me?¡± He looked at Qin Huai with arrogance. The next moment, Qin Huai¡¯s figure appeared before him in an instant. Their gazes met, only ten inches apart. Ma Dongfa¡¯s hair stood on end, preparing to leap away. But then, he sensed an abrupt void behind him, accompanied by a harrowing tearing sound. Crack! Blood splattered before his eyes. Taken by surprise, not only was Ma Dongfa left aghast, but the surrounding warriors and members of the Heavenly Eagle Sect who had been watching also found themselves stunned. ¡°H-How is this possible¡­¡± Ma Dongfa croaked, finding it hard to speak. ¡°If you had such capabilities, you should have said so earlier,¡± Qin Huai said, looking down at the fallen Ma Dongfa. A faint white light flickered in his eyes, and reflected on them, a pair of blood-stained wings traced a sorrowful arc in the air, painting a poignant backdrop. ¡°How could it be like this?¡± Ma Dongfa¡¯s face turned crimson. ¡°I fell seriously ill when I was three, my mother died from overwork when I was five, and I became an orphan at six. I grew up fighting wild dogs for food. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been striving to cultivate! Pushing with all my strength! ¡°Do you have any idea how many times I¡¯ve skirted death to reach this point? Do you understand the hardship I¡¯ve endured?!¡± Ma Dongfa roared at Qin Huai, his voice sounding more like a plea than a question. ¡°I cannot accept this!¡± The blood and qi within his body surged, his entire form seemingly ready to rise from the ground supported by this energy. The blood around the ground crept up his body like mud, slowly forming a meter-thick, tortoise-shell-like blood wall before him. Bang! However, a large hand punctured the blood wall and crushed his heart. ¡°I¡¯ll borrow your life for a bit,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s impassive voice echoed. ¡°If an opportunity arises to eradicate the demons and Sacred Heart Sect, I¡¯ll erect a monument for you.¡± Qin Huai slowly withdrew his blood-soaked arms. A young man who had managed to enter the visceral prefecture realm with two full patterns was indeed a prodigy. But that was all he was. In the Qingzhou Alliance, his talent only ranked at the bottom. At present, all the rising stars in Qingzhou City had either fallen to the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons or had joined the Qingzhou Alliance. Others, aware of the formidable adversaries they faced, sought seclusion within their respective sects. That¡¯s why the young man before him appeared so obnoxiously arrogant. ¡°It¡¯s only been a little over a year¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Four-Winged Eagle Demon (Fragment) x2], [Four-Winged Eagle Demon (2/4)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Sky Eagle True Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Sky Eagle True Technique] experience points +666,666!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Heart Technique Essence]¡­¡± As Qin Huai felt the experience surging within his mind, he straightened his back and continued to walk toward the Heavenly Eagle Sect. It wasn¡¯t enough, nowhere near enough. Meanwhile, behind him, the dying Ma Dongfa looked at his hands. ¡°How could I be so weak¡­¡± The power of the blood heart technique activated wildly within his body, striving to save him subconsciously. However, for Ma Dongfa, whose heart had already been shattered, this was merely a delay of the inevitable. ¡°I want to see you die with my own eyes¡­ No matter how strong you are, it¡¯s hard to fight four hands with just two.¡± ¡°Eldest Senior Brother!¡± Many disciples of the Heavenly Eagle Sect surrounded him, their faces filled with despair. ¡°There are six visceral prefecture realm experts in the Heavenly Eagle Sect, including the sect master and the elders. Additionally, we have numerous treasured weapons, talismans, and secret techniques. Keeping the master of the Qingzhou Alliance at bay is only a matter of time and cost.¡± The surrounding martial artists who had initially distanced themselves now regrouped, drawn by this intriguing turn of events. ¡°Young and hot-headed¡­ I wonder what kind of feud exists between them.¡± ¡°The master of the Qingzhou Alliance is too arrogant.¡± ¡°Challenging a sect singlehandedly¡­ Does he fancy himself as that lord from the Sacred Heart Sect?¡± Everyone gleefully watched the direction of the Heavenly Eagle Sect. At the same time, some looked at Ma Dongfa with eyes filled with greed. In fact, it wasn¡¯t just them. The eyes of the Heavenly Eagle Sect disciples also flickered with a peculiar glint. This made the dying Ma Dongfa¡¯s hair stand on end. He could already feel the hot breath and the greedy saliva nearby. Boom! Staggering rumbles echoed from the mountain. Before long, a black-robed man, covered in blood, descended the mountain. He walked in a different direction¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 502 - 502 Seven Spirits Entering the Body 502 Seven Spirits Entering the Body Descending the mountain, Qin Huai was trailed by a powerful gust of wind. His body, drenched in blood, exuded a tangible murderous aura. The warriors of the Heavenly Eagle Sect inhabiting the mountain were undoubtedly formidable, with their sect master even reaching the third-level visceral prefecture realm. However, that was all they were. Not far away, the martial artists from Qingzhou City, who had come to attack the mountain, stood dumbfounded upon witnessing Qin Huai¡¯s departing figure. They hadn¡¯t anticipated that the alliance master would singlehandedly infiltrate a sect and escape unscathed. ¡°The master of the Qingzhou Alliance¡­ He truly is a monster.¡± ¡°Thank heavens he didn¡¯t attack us. He didn¡¯t even consider us worth his time.¡± Everyone glanced down at the deceased Ma Dongfa, and, exchanging glances, they comprehended the truth. They had just narrowly avoided death¡¯s door. ¡°Brothers! Attack!¡± ¡°The Heavenly Eagle Sect¡¯s experts have all been killed by the Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s master. The remaining underlings will serve as our blood food!¡± ¡°Perhaps even the corpses of the sect master and some visceral realm experts are available!¡± Upon uttering these words, everyone¡¯s eyes burned with desire. They had initially planned to assault the Heavenly Eagle Sect due to the abundance of experts present, ensuring ample blood and fodder. Furthermore, in the ongoing blood sea era, these sects¡¯ mountains offered accelerated cultivation speeds. It was a treasure trove of favorable feng shui. That was why everyone coveted it and yearned to claim it as their own. ¡°Charge!¡± The crowd surged forward. Among them were the disciples of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, who had initially fought tooth and nail alongside them, guarding the sect at the base of the mountain. Now that the battle at the summit was over, they had defected. The mountain-attacking cultivators didn¡¯t hesitate or reject them, readily accepting all of them. In the distance, Qin Huai, who had emerged from the mountain, observed the spectacle unfolding before him. He remained unperturbed as he took in the sight of the burning mountain and the echoing screams. ¡°This is the bewitching power of the blood sea era. When a formidable person falls, their old companions and kin turn into ravenous beasts that smell blood. They leap at the opportunity, consuming them to augment their own strength. ¡°Disregarding the lives of the elderly, the young, the women, and the children, they¡¯ve perverted the harshest law of the jungle into an era of prosperity and justice. ¡°Now, they should have a good taste of their own golden age.¡± Qin Huai listened to the wails filling the landscape. Then, he slowly turned and strode into the distance. ¡­ Qin Huai sat cross-legged in the mountain¡¯s heart, resting against a boulder. He activated the wind breath technique within his body. His abundant life essence surged, guiding the countless fragments of the eagle demon, which began to rush toward his lungs. Without much effort, Qin Huai channeled the four-winged eagle demon seed into his lungs. There was none of the difficulty he¡¯d experienced when refining the bronze mountain and river diagram or the dragon corpse. The process was as effortless as quenching his thirst. ¡°Different guardian spirit items have their peculiarities,¡± Qin Huai murmured, opening his eyes. His inner sanctum remained resilient, showing no signs of being overfilled or overwhelmed. ¡°No one has ever claimed that a single organ can only contain one guardian spirit item. As long as one¡¯s physique, blood, bones, and organs are strong enough, they can theoretically accommodate an infinite number of them. Even swallowing the entire world wouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± As Qin Huai spoke, he gently guided the second fragment of the bird into his lungs. The pressure immediately amplified, reminiscent of when he had stowed away the treasures of the Tang family into the bronze landscape painting. The weight on his body was incredible, yet Qin Huai¡¯s face lit up. ¡°As expected.¡± In high spirits, Qin Huai felt the two demon beasts lay quietly within his lungs. For the third one, Qin Huai¡¯s body was adorned with glowing bone patterns. The seven full patterns were entirely activated, covering his skin. The terrifying power formed an energy wave and caused his body to start distorting. Like the others before, the implantation of the third demon seed went as smoothly. After what seemed like an eternity, Qin Huai opened his eyes. ¡°Hard work indeed pays off.¡± He had finally discovered a method to ascend the blood sea, and his experiment was a success. The next course of action was to find more fiendish demons to provide logistical support as a safety measure. The sky¡­ Nearly seventy thousand feet above was the realm of the Kun Peng. A single misstep could lead to a fatal fall. Even with Qin Huai¡¯s robust physique, such a fall would be catastrophic. Qin Huai left the cave and made his way toward the remaining encampments of the White Cloud Sect and the Nine Regions Wind Chasing Divine Leg Sect. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the Thousand Divination Tower¡¯s Rain Divination Pavilion, Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s imposing figure sat cross-legged on the top floor. His brows were furrowed, and his aura was commanding. At the staircase, Yue Yang, the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower, hurried towards Zhou Chuanyong. ¡°My lord!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Chuanyong slightly opened his eyes, gazing down at the stooped old man before him. He had little respect for such lackeys. In the vast expanse of Qingzhou, the only person he admired was Kong Binghuang, the master of Wuji Mountain. Despite having fought him to a stalemate using the array, reaching that stage was proof enough of his extraordinary abilities and combat prowess. ¡°The Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s master has been spotted!¡± Yue Yang announced. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Chuanyong instantly sat up straight, eager to confront the alliance master. As he prepared to rush to the Heavenly Eagle Sect, however, Yue Yang interjected, ¡°My lord, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s too late. That man has already escaped.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 503 - 503 Ascending to the Heavens! 503 Ascending to the Heavens! ¡°What?¡± Zhou Chuanyong spun around, his gaze landing on Yue Yang with lethal intensity. ¡°Lord Yue, I trust that with your intellect, you haven¡¯t overlooked why the white-robed king chose your establishment for rest and surveillance of Qingzhou, have you?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course, I know,¡± Yue Yang responded, his face reflecting a hint of apprehension. Aside from being one of Qingzhou¡¯s five great sects, the Thousand Divination Tower was also the largest hub for information trading in the region. It was privy to the daily happenings of Qingzhou, with half of their knowledge obtained through predictions while the other half relied on human intelligence. They often knew more than the parties involved. Both the white-robed king and Zhou Chuanyong had chosen this place to monitor Qingzhou City¡¯s movements, ensuring access to crucial information at the earliest opportunity. ¡°It¡¯s not negligence on our part, but the alliance master moved too quickly,¡± Yue Yang explained with a wry smile. ¡°He ascended and descended the mountain in less than fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°What did he accomplish on the mountain?¡± Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s eyes narrowed, and the discomfort he had been suppressing surged up once more. ¡°He killed the recently renowned eldest disciple of the Heavenly Eagle Sect, the sect master, and a group of visceral prefecture realm elders¡­Then, he simply floated away,¡± Yue Yang explained. ¡°All in less than twenty-five minutes?¡± ¡°Potentially even less time than that! The current Heavenly Eagle Sect has already been carved up by the sect¡¯s disciples and other martial artists. It¡¯s likely to fall apart within days.¡± Yue Yang¡¯s face showed a residual fear as he spoke. The increasing discomfort in Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s heart was indicative of Qin Huai¡¯s strength surpassing his expectations. Even though Qin Huai was only a few realms in, he could effortlessly¡­ annihilate an entire sect? This wasn¡¯t an ordinary bout between prodigies. If the lethality was potent enough, it could determine the outcome. They had to confront countless experts¡¯ tactics, the grand array of the sect, and the sect¡¯s foundation. With the odds stacked against them, lethality, endurance, and even escape methods were paramount. ¡°Keep a close eye on this man,¡± Zhou Chuanyong instructed. ¡°Understood¡­¡± Thump, thump, thump! At the staircase, an old man hurried upstairs. ¡°Tower Lord, there¡¯s news about the Nine Regions Wind Chasing Divine Legs Sect,¡± he reported, his face grim. ¡°Speak!¡± Zhou Chuanyong ordered. ¡°The Nine Regions Wind Chasing Divine Legs Sect has been completely wiped out, and the perpetrator was the master of the Qingzhou Alliance.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Zhou Chuanyong could no longer maintain his composure. He rose from his seat, making his way toward the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion without a word. Thump, thump, thump! His rapid footsteps echoed along with his massive frame, each step resonating like a tremor. However, as he reached the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, an anxious Zhou Chuanyong deliberately slowed his pace. ¡°King!¡± He knelt on one knee, bowing before the white-robed king. ¡°It seems something interesting happened?¡± The white-robed king opened his eyes, calmly regarding Zhou Chuanyong. ¡°The Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s master has annihilated two sects. His true strength may well be at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm.¡± ¡°A monster?¡± the white-robed king remarked nonchalantly. ¡°Definitely stronger than I was at his age,¡± Zhou Chuanyong stated candidly. Given that the Qingzhou Alliance members were all prodigies around thirty years of age, he surmised that the alliance master was of similar age. ¡°It appears that Qingzhou¡¯s legendary emperor is indeed quite proficient,¡± the white-robed king calmly observed. ¡°Your Majesty, the most significant point is that the alliance master¡¯s targets are quite specific,¡± Zhou Chuanyong began his analysis. ¡°Both the Heavenly Eagle Sect and the Nine Regions Wind Chasing Divine Legs Sect predominantly have members whose spiritual entities are flying demons. I believe the alliance master aims to ascend to the heavens in a certain manner.¡± ¡°However,¡± he continued, ¡°utilizing ordinary demons and attempting to ascend to the blood sea is as difficult as scaling the heavens itself. And even if he manages to ascend, he will not be able to sustain it for long. Frostbite, damage to the spirit¡¯s treasure, and harm to his blood, flesh, and qi are all afflictions a martial artist cannot withstand.¡± The more Zhou Chuanyong pondered, the more ludicrous it seemed. ¡°Is the alliance master a madman?¡± ¡°Madman?¡± the white-robed king retorted. ¡°In the eyes of the world, aren¡¯t we all madmen? That lord was the greatest madman of all. ¡°This world belongs to geniuses and madmen. The former receives from the world, while the latter seizes for themselves!¡± The white-robed king smiled. ¡°The alliance master is striving to make the impossible possible. Intriguing. ¡°Should such a fellow join the Sacred Heart Sect, he would undoubtedly be of great help to that lord.¡± The white-robed king wasn¡¯t annoyed, instead, he showed an expression of admiration. ¡°Spread the word. If he is willing to join the sect, I can make an exception for him.¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s wait for his return first.¡± The white-robed king suddenly changed his mind. ¡°Even I can¡¯t envision being in his shoes. Even if he successfully ascends the blood sea, how could he return alive?¡± ¡°Do you mean, we do nothing?¡± Zhou Chuanyong seemed a bit unwilling. ¡°Why should we interfere? Don¡¯t we still need the Qingzhou Alliance to work for us?¡± A mysterious smile graced the white-robed king¡¯s face. Zhou Chuanyong silently nodded in agreement. He turned around and left the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, followed closely by the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower. Yue Yang was visibly anxious. ¡°Sir, are we just going to let this pass?¡± As the most prominent traitor in Qingzhou, he had killed countless idealistic people relying on his and his sect¡¯s calculations. If the Qingzhou Alliance had even the slightest chance, he wouldn¡¯t be able to rest or eat in peace. It wasn¡¯t just him, but his entire sect could potentially be tarnished in history, which was something he could never permit. ¡°Then what do you propose? In any case, we definitely can¡¯t kill him now.¡± Zhou Chuanyong was equally reluctant. ¡°Actually¡­I¡¯ve discovered the true identity of the alliance master,¡± Yue Yang broke his silence. ¡°He¡¯s the king of East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties, Lingjiang, and the leader of the True Path Sect¡¯s Nine Dragons Sect, Qin Huai! ¡°That¡¯s why they fortified the defense line at Lingkou Pass and relocated the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled to the ten counties of East Qingzhou. We can¡¯t deal with Qin Huai, but we can target their kin and friends. ¡°As the saying goes, concern causes confusion. As long as we control these factors, even if Qin Huai survives the blood sea and sees this scene, he will undoubtedly expose his vulnerabilities. At that time¡­ it will naturally be his end.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Zhou Chuanyong, seemingly relieved, patted Yue Yang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Proceed with the plan¡­ But I doubt Qin Huai will return from the blood sea. Even if he doesn¡¯t, Ling Jiang can gradually push him into a corner.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the outskirts, Qin Huai emerged from a pit near the Nine Regions Wind Chasing Divine Legs Sect. His eyes were slightly reddened, and his chest seemed to be swollen. In the manor not far away, the sounds of battle were deafening. Boom! Every step Qin Huai took felt as though he wanted to stomp on the ground. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve reached my limit,¡± he mused. In Qin Huai¡¯s lungs, seven demonic entities rested, fed by the coursing blood and qi. In addition to that, he had also accumulated substantial experience from annihilating the two great sects. His experience bar was at its brim. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t sure which of the seven demonic entities in his lungs or the overflowing experience points would explode first. He exhaled gently and began to head towards Lingkou Pass. ¡­ At Spirit Gate, Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the pass, meditating. As he adjusted his condition, he awaited Old Master Tong to deliver his equipment. After a month, a massive creature could be seen advancing towards Lingkou Pass from the direction of East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what¡¯s that?¡± She Wanshan peered curiously into the distance. ¡°It¡¯s huge. Could it be some sort of siege weapon?¡± Fang Huo was also deep in thought. Qin Huai, who had been cultivating, slowly opened his eyes. It seemed like the time had come. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 504 - 504 Departing So Quickly 504 Departing So Quickly ¡°What is that thing?¡± Even the prodigies grew curious, ascending the city wall to get a better look at the colossal object. ¡°Could it be a long cloth for catapults?¡± ¡°Or the skin of a giant beast?¡± Fang Huo speculated. ¡°No, it¡¯s my tool for ascending to the heavens.¡± Qin Huai quietly appeared atop the city gate tower, observing the approaching behemoth. In this world, he couldn¡¯t construct wings to serve as a treasured weapon, nor could he create an airplane with intricate components and profound knowledge. However, a hot air balloon was feasible. ¡°Alliance Master, I don¡¯t know why, but lately, I¡¯ve felt an unusual sense of ease and happiness when I¡¯m around you. It seems like the blood flow in my body is smoother,¡± She Wanshan voiced his curiosity. ¡°I share the same sentiment with Wanshan,¡± Xiang Mingfeng added, directing a questioning gaze at Qin Huai. Qin Huai could only respond with a helpless smile. This was likely due to his overflowing experience points. Although he had already reached the third-level visceral prefecture realm, his experience points were at a standstill. The surplus had transformed into an illusory ¡®spiritual energy¡¯, causing everyone to feel an inexplicable sensation. The combined experience points of two sects were not a trivial matter. ¡°Perhaps this is the so-called aura of a king?¡± Gou Jie teased as he joined the group. ¡°After all, our alliance master has inherited the emperor¡¯s legacy. Given the current dynamics between our alliance, Sacred Heart Sect, and the demons, he controls roughly thirty percent of Qingzhou.¡± ¡°We should refrain from such declarations,¡± Qin Huai waved him off. ¡°Certain words could invoke heavenly retribution. Considering you¡¯ve learned the thousand divination blood technique, shouldn¡¯t you be aware?¡± ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve already calculated that number?¡± Gou Jie replied, a playful smile gracing his face. Qin Huai shook his head in disagreement. His primary desire was for his friends and family not to become the bloodthirsty monsters residing in Qingzhou City. He merely wished for a place where he could eat in peace. Late into the night, everyone congregated on the wasteland near Lingkou Pass. The massive umbrella cloth, made of natural power treasures mixed with demon skin and feathers, was extraordinarily sturdy. The connecting ropes, constructed from bones and power stones, resembled white pythons, their skins illuminating mesmerizing mystical patterns. ¡°This thing¡­ It must have been created from ten treasured weapons.¡± Xiang Mingfeng and the others couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Qin Huai¡¯s ingenious idea upon witnessing the colossal ¡®hot air balloon.¡¯ They were people of experience and knowledge, yet this sight left them astounded. ¡°But how can this thing fly without wings?¡± Fang Han posed the most critical question. ¡°We rely on flames or qi,¡± Qin Huai replied as he climbed into the hot air balloon, diving under the umbrella. With a slight gesture, the nine dragon qi burst forth, promptly elevating the enormous hot air balloon. The object resembled a fully inflated balloon, round and sturdy, with a soft glow surrounding it. As Qin Huai¡¯s energy continued to increase, the hot air balloon began to sway and ascend. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s really airborne!¡± She Wanshan exclaimed, gawking at Qin Huai who was now hovering mid-air. ¡°Is this a wingless bird?¡± Xiang Mingfeng couldn¡¯t help but admire Qin Huai¡¯s imagination. ¡°I¡¯ve been part of the five great sects for so long, but this is a first.¡± ¡°Hey, Alliance Master, are you leaving already?¡± Fang Huo called out as he watched Qin Huai drifting further away. ¡°Naturally,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice faintly floated back. ¡°That was quick¡­ We had no time to prepare.¡± The group on the ground exchanged bewildered glances. They hadn¡¯t anticipated Qin Huai¡¯s quick departure. ¡°What¡¯s there to prepare? Our priority should be finding a way to break through the blood sea,¡± Xiang Mingfeng asserted. ¡°The more deaths, the stranger the atmosphere in Qingzhou City. Haven¡¯t you noticed a rise in your murderous intent after entering the city?¡± ¡°I suppose¡­¡± Fang Huo admitted. ¡°Just two days ago, I encountered some arrogant Lion Spirit Mountain people. I was close to flaying them and hanging their skins on the city gate.¡± ¡°Then you might not be affected by the city, but expressing your true feelings,¡± Xiang Mingfeng bluntly remarked. ¡°But your master truly is admirable,¡± Fang Huo voiced his awe. ¡°Over a hundred groups have besieged the sect in the past month. Though most of them are lackeys, there were many experts among them. No one has survived more than three moves from your master.¡± He vividly recalled this, having helped them and witnessed the spectacle himself. For ten continuous days and nights, the master held the sect, not sleeping, resting, or retreating an inch. His resilience was monstrous. ¡°So what? Even with a figure like the master, the leader of the Sacred Heart Sect remains untouchable, despite assistance from Wuji Mountain¡¯s great array,¡± Xiang Mingfeng noted, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. ¡°We can only depend on ourselves.¡± He turned to face the group. ¡°I suspect that after the alliance master¡¯s skyward journey this time, his strength will likely increase even more. If we still can¡¯t assist at our current levels upon his return, how can we expect to eliminate the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons? Are we destined to live forever under the protection of our seniors or the alliance master? If so, we should renounce the title of prodigies right now.¡± Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words wiped the smiles off everyone¡¯s faces. The group remained silent, eventually dispersing, leaving only She Wanshan standing behind, observing the retreating figures with a troubled expression. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 505 - 505 Blood Ice Sculpture 505 Blood Ice Sculpture ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. These lunatics are about to start again¡­¡± She Wanshan brought his palms together, praying skyward, ¡°May Buddha and Dao Lord bless me!¡± Meanwhile, midair, Qin Huai stood at the precipice, peering down at the increasingly distinct Qingzhou City. Wisps of blood reached for the sky, creating an almost visible heaven-connecting blood waterfall. ¡°I wonder how many lives will be claimed,¡± he murmured, his gaze fixed on the rapidly ascending hot air balloon, propelled by his dragon energy. In no time, it had soared over twenty thousand feet high. The biting wind screeched through the sky, slicing the air like icy blades, and pelted the umbrella fabric, eliciting loud noises. Eventually, even Qin Huai had to squint against the forceful wind and snow. The encroaching blood sea was making him increasingly tense. His presence might alert the Kun Peng clan above the blood sea, and they might send their members to bring him down. In that case, Qin Huai stood ready at the battlefield¡¯s edge, primed to launch himself at the demons at any moment. Yet, even after ten minutes, there was no stir above the blood sea. ¡°What are they up to?¡± Qin Huai was puzzled. The demons usually wouldn¡¯t ignore such a significant presence, unless they were confident in their aerial supremacy, being from the Kun Peng clan after all. Bang! Suddenly, a loud blast resounded. Qin Huai looked up to see a wide hole torn in the once sturdy umbrella fabric. The blistering cold wind flooded in, disrupting his dragon energy. Was this an attack? No, it was the balloon¡¯s limit. Gazing down, he couldn¡¯t discern the ground anymore, hidden beneath layers of clouds and blood qi. ¡°About forty thousand feet up,¡± he estimated as the deflating balloon began to descend. Without a second thought, Qin Hua leaped from the falling balloon. The rushing wind echoed like a knife slicing the air. His blood surged, and in the next moment, a pair of brown wings, three meters long, unfurled from his back. His plunging body suddenly ascended, easily surpassing the fallen balloon. However, frost instantly covered his wings. Despite being nurtured by blood and qi, this altitude was still harsh on his guardian spirit item. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it can make it to the blood sea,¡± Qin Huai muttered, feeling a hint of fear. Failure would mean certain death. He braved the chilling wind, advancing towards the blood sea. As he climbed higher, his wings grew increasingly rigid, gradually icing over. Qin Huai invoked the nine dragon qi to shatter the ice and shield against the cold. But, even the nine dragon qi froze after a short while, hindering the wings¡¯ mobility. Qin Huai was stuck in a repetitive cycle of breaking ice, boosting the nine dragon qi, and flying higher. This struggle lasted two hours before he finally arrived at the blood sea. A hot current cascaded from the sky, enveloping his entire body, melting the ice and snow on his wings. However, Qin Huai¡¯s wings were far from intact. Several feathers had fallen off, leaving them battered and ragged, making it seem like he could plummet any moment. With a powerful flap, Qin Huai soared, keeping close to the blood-tinted clouds. Boom! A hand emerged from the clouds, attempting to grasp Qin Huai, but he deftly evaded it. Finally, after flying another forty to fifty meters, Qin Huai reached the blood sea. The vast sanguine expanse stretched to the horizon, enveloping the entire Qingzhou City. Due to the thick clouds and blood, his visibility didn¡¯t exceed a hundred meters. He had no way of seeing the full scope of the blood sea. Qin Huai attempted to step on the blood sea but failed. It seemed to exude a pulling force, attempting to suck him in. He managed to break free hastily, perplexed. ¡°This is strange.¡± Leaning against the blood sea, he tried to discern what lay within. However, visibility was too poor to see anything. Raising his fist, a flash of white light followed. Boom! He used the forbidden technique, poison dragon shock, and the venomous power instantly targeted the blood sea. But despite its deceptive softness, the blood sea exhibited impressive resilience. With Qin Huai¡¯s current prowess, the poison dragon shock could only manage to form a shallow pit a few inches deep. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s not that simple.¡± Qin Huai was not taken aback by this. He immediately adjusted his position and continued his swift forward motion. Another gust of fierce wind attacked, troubling his wings. He did his best to fly close to the blood sea, wondering, ¡°Where did those Kun Peng demons go?¡± He had not encountered any life form for quite a while. Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from the depths of the blood sea, attempting to grab his waist. Chills ran down Qin Huai¡¯s spine. He activated his blood qi armor, and the dragon energy and blood poured from his body, creating a hard protective layer around him. Bang! The hands were repelled, unable to reach him. Taken aback, Qin Huai flew higher, staring at the gradually calming blood sea. ¡°What just happened?¡± He wondered if there were creatures lurking within the blood sea or if the demons were hiding there. Despite trying, he couldn¡¯t confirm the identity of the strange hand. For a long while, the blood sea was silent. Tension gripped Qin Huai, fearing a disturbing secret lay hidden in the mysterious blood sea. He pressed on towards its center. He had no landmarks to guide him in the extensive sea of clouds, so his only option was to head toward the endless red middle. He tried to protect his wings from frostbite, remaining vigilant for any more unexpected attacks. After another fifteen minutes, Qin Huai stopped. Not far from him, several crystalline forms floated on the Blood Sea, like blood-colored ice sculptures. Upon a closer look, he found a living creature frozen within the blood sculpture ¡ª a Kun Peng demon. ¡°What happened?¡± he wondered, speculating if a conflict had arisen between the demons and the Sacred Heart Sect, or if they were conducting some daring experiment. Without hesitation, Qin Huai shattered the ice sculpture with a punch, instantly killing the frozen demon. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (903/2,000)]!¡± ¡°The Kun Peng fragment has finally been absorbed.¡± He sighed in relief. ¡°As long as the Kun Peng clan¡¯s members are on the blood sea, it¡¯s only a matter of time before we discover the truth.¡± His immediate priority was to find a way to sustain long-term flight over the blood sea, so he used the nine dragon qi to shatter the frost accumulating on his wings again, which was slowing him down and threatening their structural integrity. The idea of his wings shattering mid-flight, causing him to plunge into the blood sea was horrifying. After traversing another two miles, Qin Huai heard a cheer, ¡°Yahoo!¡± Suddenly, a tremor in the air accompanied a sharp, cold light approaching from the distance. ¡°Let me see, where did this little mouse come from?¡± an excited voice echoed. Qin Huai focused his gaze, spotting a pair of immense gray wings, seven meters long, soaring high in the sky. Compared to his trembling wings, the Kun Peng wings were still radiant, even at nearly seventy thousand feet. ¡°What a treasure,¡± Qin Huai commented, flapping his wings and slowly rising into the sky. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 506 - 506 The Blood Crystal Pillars 506 The Blood Crystal Pillars The newcomer emitted an unusual radiance, hovering midair as he looked down at Qin Huai. His intact wings, compared to Qin Huai¡¯s frost-bitten, fragmented wings, created an image reminiscent of a nobleman standing beside a beggar. ¡°Little rat, tell me your name. I will grant you a quick death,¡± the demon called from above. ¡°My name is Qin Huai, the leader of the Qingzhou Alliance,¡± Qin Huai calmly answered, his gaze fixed on the demon. ¡°Qin Huai? Qingzhou Alliance? What is that?¡± The demon chuckled in disdain. ¡°Ah, I forgot. You may not recognize me by that name¡­ I¡¯m also known as Zhou Cunzhong. Does that ring a bell?¡± ¡°Zhou Cunzhong¡­ the Demon of Qingzhou!¡± The demon¡¯s pupils narrowed, but his expression quickly morphed into one of amusement. ¡°So what if you are the Demon of Qingzhou? This is the blood sea, our Kun Peng clan¡¯s territory. Even if you are the Demon of Qingzhou, you might not be my equal. With those broken wings of yours, do you think you can catch up to me?¡± Snickering, the demon lunged at Qin Huai. His wings trembled, and with a bang, he disappeared from sight. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes followed the swift black shadow that reappeared in front of him. Such speed¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s own wings flapped, and an air kick exploded with white light. Bang! The demon, who seemed to be playing the role of the hunter, swayed in mid-air, narrowly dodging Qin Huai¡¯s assault. ¡°Phew¡­ That was close,¡± the demon said, his face reflecting residual fear. One of his wings had been grazed, causing feathers to scatter in the air. But his face quickly turned smug again. Remarkably, as a fifth-level bone pattern realm entity, he had resisted Qin Huai¡¯s attack without injury and even managed to taunt him. ¡°I never expected that facing even the top prodigies of Qingzhou, I could rise above my level.¡± The demon¡¯s smile remained, despite his close brush with death. If he had been even a step slower, Qin Huai¡¯s attack would have struck through him. However, he had survived ¡ª a feat that would have been unlikely on the ground. ¡°Let me guess, how long can your shaky wings hold out?¡± the demon began to jest audaciously. As long as he didn¡¯t initiate the attack, he wasn¡¯t in danger. Judging by the situation, even if Qin Huai had another pair of wings, catching up with his great roc wings would be impossible. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Given the state of your wings, it¡¯s hard to believe you managed to ascend this high. It must be your remarkable vitality. Truly impressive,¡± the demon teased. ¡°Silent, are we?¡± The demon¡¯s gaze lingered on Qin Huai. ¡°Isn¡¯t it ridiculous for me to be talking to myself?¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you attack?¡± Qin Huai queried. ¡°Do you take me for a fool? Although you can¡¯t keep pace with me, if I give you a chance to get close, I¡¯ll surely die. I won¡¯t give you that chance. All I need to do is call¡­¡± Boom! Suddenly, Qin Huai materialized in front of him. As ice fragments dispersed midair, the battered flesh and feathers from his damaged wings cascaded down. ¡°What¡­¡± The demon¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Qin Huai¡¯s sudden burst of speed. Bang! A punch landed squarely between the demon¡¯s eyes, obliterating his head instantly. A resounding clang echoed as Qin Huai¡¯s face momentarily reddened. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (904/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You¡¯ve collected¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for a trial. Your speed is apparently at this level,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. He had managed to match this demon¡¯s speed and defeat him, but at a substantial cost ¡ª the lifespan of his wings. Each time he accelerated to such speeds, his wings deteriorated a bit further. While the altitude of seventy thousand feet was like a casual stroll in the garden for the Kun Peng¡¯s wings, for Qin Huai¡¯s, it was a dangerous journey through blade-edged mountains and fiery seas. This was only possible due to the support of his robust blood essence. ¡°The gap between bloodlines is as wide as a chasm,¡± Qin Huai muttered. He continued his journey towards the center. As time passed, he could increasingly spot demons cavorting above the blood sea, in various postures ¡ª standing, lying, or even hanging upside down. Qin Huai took a deep breath, drawing in the frigid air like a blacksmith¡¯s bellows. His breathing gradually slowed as he invoked the wind breath technique, trying his best to explore the center of the fog and the sea of clouds. Occasionally, he could spot blood crystal pillars hovering over the sea of blood. These silent monoliths neither sank nor emitted sound. They seemed devoid of life, as if frozen into eternal silence. Qin Huai ran his hand over one of these pillars, carefully probing for some hidden depth. But ultimately, he found nothing. ¡°What are these blood crystal pillars?¡± Qin Huai muttered softly. ¡°These things must be some form of life essence,¡± a sudden voice whispered in his ear. Qin Huai¡¯s hair stood on end as he reflexively swiped his palm to the side. ¡°Wait!¡± Bang! A broad palm suddenly grabbed Qin Huai¡¯s wrist. The tremendous force was startling, successfully suppressing his attack. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 507 - 507 The Mystery of the Crystal Pillar 507 The Mystery of the Crystal Pillar Qin Huai was taken aback. Since comprehending the king¡¯s force, he had never been bested in terms of strength ¡ª he had never even met anyone whose power matched his own. As he stared at the man in front of him, he took in his disheveled red hair cascading onto his shoulders, a scruffy beard contrasted against smooth, fair skin, and a faint trace of charm lingering on his features. This man was peculiar. Qin Huai mused. Based on his overall appearance, the man seemed around forty or fifty years old, but his complexion and features suggested he was closer to twenty. If not for the beard, Qin Huai would have struggled to determine his gender. ¡°We¡¯re on the same side! Absolutely!¡± The man waved his hands emphatically, attempting to put on an innocent smile. ¡°Same side?¡± Qin Huai looked down to find the man standing on the sea of blood. ¡°I¡¯ve got wings!¡± The man hastily turned around, revealing a pair of wings not bigger than Qin Huai¡¯s palm. These tiny gray wings flapped at a furious pace, preventing the man from descending into the sea of blood. ¡°What kind of guardian spirit item is this? How can it fly so freely at an altitude of seventy thousand feet?¡± Qin Huai questioned. ¡°Anyway, who are you? How did you reach this height?¡± This man was suspicious. He had never heard of such a person in Qingzhou City. With his strength rivaling Qin Huai¡¯s own, he should¡¯ve been well-known there. ¡°My name is Wang Kun, an elder of South Mythical Sect, originally from Fang Mountain City in Long Corridor County,¡± the man introduced himself. Qin Huai was familiar with the South Mythical Sect. It was home to only two visceral prefecture realm experts and was ranked lowest amongst the sects in Qingzhou¡¯s inner city. The sect was perhaps not even equivalent to the four gangs in the outer city. Qin Huai recalled the South Mythical Sect because it was one of the few sects that had been razed by the Sacred Heart Sect and the demons. The South Mythical Sect community was loyal to a fault, none of them surrendering. Tragically, all thousand and three hundred seventy-six disciples, including servant disciples, were massacred. It was a rare occurrence in Qingzhou. Qin Huai had once visited the South Mythical Sect to pay his respects to the fallen disciples. But now, he found himself standing face-to-face with a man claiming to be an elder of the demolished South Mythical Sect. ¡°I don¡¯t recall a Wang Kun amongst the two visceral prefecture realm experts of South Mythical Sect,¡± Qin Huai retorted. ¡°I¡¯m the peak master of Bitter Cliff Peak. I was indeed at the level of three full patterns.¡± Bitter Cliff Peak. Wang Kun¡­ A vague memory surfaced. ¡°How did you get up here?¡± Qin Huai scrutinized Wang Kun, who didn¡¯t appear to be deceitful. ¡°I¡­ I have my ways,¡± Wang Kun replied with a wry smile. ¡°When I came to, I was already here. I don¡¯t even know how I broke through to the visceral prefecture realm.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Qin Huai was taken aback. Not knowing how he had advanced to the visceral prefecture realm? ¡°I recall that the South Mythical Sect cultivates the south mythical flame technique. You should be quite skilled in it, Elder Wang,¡± he probed. ¡°Indeed.¡± Wang Kun didn¡¯t hesitate. His fist traced an arc in the air, releasing an inch of force, materializing a flame character that dissipated moments later. ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± Wang Kun asked with a grin. ¡°I apologize for my earlier offense, Elder Wang,¡± Qin Huai said, now more convinced of Wang Kun¡¯s identity. The flawless execution of the south mythical flame technique couldn¡¯t be easily replicated. As for Wang Kun¡¯s strange claim of realm advancement without his knowledge, Qin Huai chalked it up to some fortunate event. After all, the greater world was filled with unusual occurrences. ¡°I haven¡¯t asked for your name yet,¡± Wang Kun realized belatedly. ¡°I¡¯m Qin Huai. You can think of me as a heaven-sent demon,¡± Qin Huai said, without disclosing his true identity. After all, there were still too many uncertainties surrounding Elder Wang. ¡°We¡¯re here to vanquish demons. I¡¯m an exorcist too,¡± Wang Kun said, his smile radiant. ¡°There are too many demons here, so I can¡¯t handle them alone. With Brother Qin¡¯s help, we can surely achieve great things.¡± As he spoke, he clenched his fists and continued, ¡°These demons annihilated my sect, so their deaths are not worth regretting! Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I, Wang Kun, will kill them all!¡± ¡°Elder Wang, why don¡¯t you share what you¡¯ve discovered here first?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Oh¡­ Alright.¡± Wang Kun extended his hand to touch the blood crystal pillar standing before them. ¡°These blood crystal pillars are formed from the mysterious liquid spurting from the blood sea beneath us. I suspect they were frozen into these icy structures by the cold winds here. ¡°Looks like these guys were accidentally trapped inside.¡± Wang Kun hesitated before adding, ¡°However, it seems the demons have found that these ice sculptures possess an extraordinarily dense life essence, capable of healing injuries and enhancing one¡¯s strength. ¡°So, some have started willingly entering, hoping to increase their power.¡± ¡°Increase their power?¡± Qin Huai stared at the blood crystal pillar, trying to determine the truth of Wang Kun¡¯s claim. Could this blood crystal pillar function as a sort of medicinal reservoir? ¡°Come with me, Brother Qin, and you¡¯ll see.¡± Wang Kun took hold of Qin Huai¡¯s sleeve, leading him eastward. Before long, Wang Kun decelerated. They looked ahead through the dense clouds to see a group of demons surrounding the blood sea¡¯s edge. Using their wings, they generated a whirlwind that hoisted a blood pillar from the sea. Suddenly, one demon leaped inside. Within moments, it was fully encased within the blood crystal pillar. ¡°So it¡¯s true.¡± Qin Huai, engrossed in the unfolding scene, asked, ¡°But if this blood sea is beneficial, why not just dive into it? Wouldn¡¯t that be more convenient?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know much about that.¡± Wang Kun shook his head. ¡°But I suspect it¡¯s hard to get out of the blood sea once you¡¯re in. I saw two people enter the blood sea directly and never resurface. However, above the blood sea, one can awaken their companions by shattering the blood crystal pillar.¡± Qin Huai nodded, his mind teeming with thoughts. Could this be why demons sought to ascend the heavens? The power of this blood sea, the accumulated energy of countless deceased individuals, allowed these demons to heal and even enhance their strength while floating above it. Exchanging their territory in Qingzhou for personal strength seemed like a worthy trade. Perhaps after growing stronger, they could revolt against the Sacred Heart Sect and reclaim their territory. Likely, the Sacred Heart Sect had similar plans: filling Qingzhou City with their followers and utilizing the blood sea¡¯s current speed. Then, when both sides clashed, the victor wasn¡¯t certain. ¡°Is this the agreement between both sides?¡± Qin Huai rubbed his chin. Each faction had hidden intentions, exploiting the other¡¯s strength for their own gains. The sole cost was the suffering of Qingzhou¡¯s citizens. But how could Qin Huai let them succeed? Turning to Wang Kun, Qin Huai hesitated before asking, ¡°Elder Wang, can we find a way to destroy the blood sea? The essence of this blood sea is actually amplified by absorbing the blood, qi, and vitality of Qingzhou City¡¯s martial artists. This is why it can heal injuries and enhance strength.¡± This information wasn¡¯t a secret. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Wang Kun didn¡¯t display much surprise, as if he already knew. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to destroy the blood sea, but¡­¡± His voice trailed off. Both of them stood back-to-back, scanning the sky. At this moment, they were surrounded by demons bearing vicious expressions, glaring at them like a tiger stalking its prey. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 508 - 508 Boiling Sea! 508 Boiling Sea! ¡°Do you really believe you can escape us?¡± ¡°Wang Kun! We¡¯ve been looking for you for a long time!¡± A horde of demons bared their teeth and glared at Wang Kun as if they desired to devour him. ¡°How many members of my Kun Peng clan have you stealthily murdered? Today, you¡¯ll pay with your own blood!¡± One demon, flapping his wings, lunged at Wang Kun. ¡°Kill that young man first! He¡¯ll be an easy target!¡± In an instant, four demons surged toward Qin Huai with greater speed. ¡°Brother Qin, watch out! These demons have incredible powers. Consider the fifth-level bone pattern realm as the equivalent of the visceral prefecture realm.¡± Wang Kun let out a roar, leading the charge. Boom! A horrifying tremor detonated behind. Qin Huai glanced at Wang Kun, who was locked in combat with a powerful demon, hovering close to the blood sea¡¯s clouds. The Kun Peng clan was indeed impressive. A demon from the visceral prefecture realm was deeply engaged in a fierce battle with Wang Kun. Despite the latter¡¯s small palm-sized wings, its speed was equally formidable. ¡°What are you looking at? Give up now!¡± A demon¡¯s roar rang in his ears, its eyes gleaming with anticipation. Then, Qin Huai spun around, his bright white eyes piercing directly into the demon¡¯s heart. Bang! The demon¡¯s vision became distorted, and the world flipped upside down. Soon, everything faded to black. All that was left were red and white fragments in the air, which quickly crystallized and plummeted into the blood sea. From the other demons¡¯ perspective, Qin Huai¡¯s lightning-fast punch had instantaneously obliterated the head of the bone pattern realm demon. Meanwhile, the pair of demons who were swooping in on Qin Huai abruptly stopped. ¡°You¡¯re dead.¡± No sooner had Qin Huai spoken than they felt their bodies plunge. Two pairs of massive wings flapped but froze mid-flight. Qin Huai gripped them with both hands, and a devastating force detonated. Qin Huai forced the two demons into the blood sea. After a brief moment, the two demons stopped moving. Qin Huai put forth his strength, trying to extract the two demons from the blood sea. With a snap, he retracted his hands, now holding only a rapidly decaying feather. His hands weren¡¯t spared either ¡ª they appeared as if they had been scalded, steaming. ¡°Were those two guys boiled to death?¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. He began to seriously question the validity of Wang Kun¡¯s words. Once removed from the blood sea, would the blood really become beneficial? What was the logic behind this¡­ The swift and brutal scene left many airborne demons stupefied. ¡°Who is this guy? Where did such a ferocious person come from?¡± ¡°Qin Huai¡­ I¡¯ve never heard this name before.¡± The crowd exchanged glances and gazed at Qin Huai, who lay on the ground like a war god. ¡°Charge! Don¡¯t be afraid! With that guy¡¯s wings, how long can he last?¡± A one-eyed demon at the visceral prefecture realm stared down at Qin Huai, confidence obvious on his face as he keenly pinpointed Qin Huai¡¯s vulnerability. ¡°Focus your attack on his wings,¡± he ordered. ¡°Let him fall into the blood sea to become its nourishment!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± With a distinct command, the spirits of the demons stirred once again. They launched themselves at Qin Huai, but this time, they avoided reckless close combat. Instead, they began to unleash wind blades formed by their wings, targeting Qin Huai¡¯s wings from all angles. ¡°Hey, this is a guardian spirit item. Unless I get close, your wind blades won¡¯t work on me,¡± Qin Huai taunted. He remained calm and composed as he faced the barrage of wind blades filling the sky like tidal waves. The nine white dragons emerged from his body, forming a wind barrier around him, deflecting all the wind blades. Then, his attention shifted to Wang Kun, who was not far away. The man wasn¡¯t bluffing. Each of his moves was lethal. Engaged in a fierce battle with a visceral prefecture realm Kun Peng demon, he was drenched in blood. The fight¡¯s outcome would likely be decided in a few more moves. ¡°It appears to be one of ours,¡± Qin Huai observed, as the battle gradually neared its end. The demon, who had been suppressed all this while, roared, ¡°Help me, you coward!¡± In mid-air, another visceral prefecture realm demon pounced on Wang Kun. Qin Huai¡¯s feet stomped hard on the ground. The surrounding dragon energy exploded, scattering the wind blades and creating an instantaneous vacuum. At the same time, ripples appeared on the blood sea beneath him. Flapping his wings, Qin Huai rocketed into the sky. Frost rapidly encased his wings, but he dismissed it. A sharp howl ripped through the air and almost instantaneously struck Wang Kun. With a bang, the two fists met at Wang Kun¡¯s back, only a meter apart. A dreadful force resonated in the air, slicing through the sea of clouds like the world¡¯s sharpest blade. Their eyes locked. The eyes of the demon flashed with shock. ¡°Your strength is actually comparable to Wang Kun?¡± ¡°You¡¯re mistaken,¡± Qin Huai corrected, just as his eyes emitted a dazzling white light and his hair turned snow-white. A formidable power burst from his dantian like an erupting volcano. With another punch, he met the demon¡¯s oncoming fist. Bang! Blood and flesh splattered. The twisted arm pointed upwards, distorting the demon¡¯s expression. ¡°Ah! My hand!¡± With a flap of his wings, he rocketed into the sky at a speed that made Qin Huai¡¯s pupils contract. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Qin Huai activated the bronze mountain and river diagram. In an instant, they both vanished. The world seemed to turn upside down. The next moment, the visceral prefecture realm demon plummeted heavily onto the green grass. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 509 - 509 Black 509 Black-Red Fish ¡°What happened?¡± The demon looked at the landscape in front of him, confused. Suddenly, a strong feeling of danger came from behind. Turning around, he saw a massive hand blocking out the sky, coming down on him. It moved so fast he had no chance to dodge. Crash! In a flash, the powerful palm attack wiped out the visceral prefecture realm demon. Qin Huai quickly put away the bronze mountain and river diagram. He swallowed hard, and when he surfaced, he found himself in a pool of blood. He was covered in the sea of blood, the liquid seemingly sticking to him. He could even feel a great pull from those unseen hands, trying to take away his power. Everything around him was covered in blood, making it hard to see. Yet, he could still make out the shapes of many dark figures showing their fangs and claws at him, and he could hear faint voices whispering to him. Moving his wings and limbs, Qin Huai swam with all his strength. In one push, he was able to cover ten meters. After a tiring twenty meters, he seemed to have gone deep into the blood sea. Crash! By chance, Qin Huai shot out of the blood sea at a great speed. He could not help but take in the cold air greedily, feeling as if he had just avoided danger. ¡°It looks like the bronze world can¡¯t be used on the blood sea for now,¡± Qin Huai said, still shaking from fear. Being in the blood sea was much more uncomfortable than he had expected. Whoosh! As soon as he surfaced, a strong wind blew towards him. His wings were now back to their normal size. ¡°Brother Qin! Are you okay?¡± Wang Kun¡¯s rough voice came from far away. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elder Wang! Focus on defeating the enemy. As long as you¡¯re alive, I¡¯ll survive,¡± Qin Huai replied, then flew towards the demons in the sky again. ¡°Hahaha¡­ You¡¯re pretty confident, aren¡¯t you? Can your wings handle more attacks?¡± The demons felt their hair rise when they saw their visceral prefecture realm experts were missing from the shore. They had completely given up the idea of fighting Qin Huai up close. They moved wildly, using wind blades to attack Qin Huai¡¯s wings. But each strong flap of Qin Huai¡¯s wings took the lives of one or two demons. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x20], [Kun Peng Seed (927/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (928/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x3], [Kun Peng Seed (933/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1], [Kun Peng Seed (940/2,000)]!¡± ¡°Ding! have collected¡­¡± Many Kun Peng fragments passed before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, gathering in his dantian world. As time went on, Qin Huai¡¯s wings got weaker. Finally¡­ Crash! With the sudden breaking of the ice, Qin Huai¡¯s body started to lose balance. He moved sideways in the air, slowly falling towards the blood sea. ¡°Hahaha¡­ His guardian spirit item has reached its limit!¡± ¡°Attack!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± The eyes of many demons shone with a strong will to kill. They had been waiting for this moment for a long time, so many figures rushed towards Qin Huai. Sets of big gray wings that blocked out the sun surrounded him, who was looking up at the sky. Below him was a red sea. In the cold wind, a single ray of sunlight broke through the heavy clouds to light up Qin Huai¡¯s face. The scene looked like a big funeral, but the man in the middle wore a calm smile. His expression slowly became clear to the strong mourners. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± someone shouted. The next second, he yelled, ¡°Quick, everyone, hurry up!¡± Boom! The demons sped up. The loud sound of the air being torn apart almost echoed in Qin Huai¡¯s ears. ¡°I don¡¯t think you, now like a bird without wings, can pull off any more tricks!¡± said the leader, a fifth-level bone pattern realm demon, smiling evilly. But the smile on his face stopped. In his sight, a new pair of wings had grown from Qin Huai¡¯s back, and he was floating in the air. Watching their comrades attack him, they opened their blood-filled mouths. Roar! A loud tiger and dragon roar suddenly came from Qin Huai¡¯s mouth, reaching all the demons he could see. The horrible explosion made the demons who were first hit shout and blow up right away. The remaining demons also started to fall to the ground, their eyes white. Qin Huai¡¯s wings beat hard. He drew quick, sharp lines in the air, taking the lives of all those demons. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x1]¡­¡± As Qin Huai collected more Kun Peng fragments, he saw the endless blood scatter and mix with the blood sea. He started to look for Wang Kun in the sea of clouds. The latter, who had fought for his life with a visceral prefecture realm demon, was almost done with the fight. With a strong punch, he smashed the other¡¯s face. The fight to the death between the two was also over. The demon fell heavily into the blood sea and didn¡¯t get up again. ¡°Brother Qin.¡± Wang Kun looked up at Qin Huai, who had landed next to him. Then, he looked at the empty sea of clouds around him. ¡°Did Brother Qin kill all those people?¡± Wang Kun was surprised. ¡°I remember there¡¯s still a visceral prefecture realm expert. And Brother Qin¡¯s wings are also¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re just small fries, not worth mentioning.¡± Qin Huai waved his hand humbly. ¡°Elder Wang, on the other hand, has really impressed me. You were able to kill a visceral prefecture realm demon almost unhurt despite being in the same realm and in such bad conditions. You¡¯re really impressive.¡± He was smiling happily, but his heart was shocked. Earlier, he had clearly seen many wounds on Wang Kun¡¯s body, but now, those wounds had gone. Also, it was really hard to understand why a South Mythical Sect elder of the same cultivation level could kill the Kun Peng demon in such a place with such a great advantage. Unless Le Ji¡¯an and the others grew wings, they could do it. But who were Le Ji¡¯an and the others, and what level was the South Mythical Sect elder¡­ This wasn¡¯t looking down on him, it was seeking truth from facts. Qin Huai hid the beating in his heart because Wang Kun¡¯s eyes were clear and he didn¡¯t seem to be hiding anything. He didn¡¯t know if it was because he was good at acting or if it was really a great chance. In any case, with such a capable helper, his trip to the blood sea would be easier. As for the other¡¯s plans in the future, he would have to handle them based on his abilities. ¡°Brother Qin, let¡¯s get out of here first¡­¡± Wang Kun pulled Qin Huai and ran. ¡°The demons¡¯ army will surely come after us later.¡± The two of them ran wildly, flying close to the blood sea. ¡°There are a lot of demons in this blood sea. I think there are tens of thousands of them!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s words surprised Qin Huai a little. He had thought there would be more demons. After all, the Kun Peng clan had ruled Qingzhou for thousands of years and their influence spread all over it. Now, it seemed that although the Kun Peng clan was strong, their fertility was very average. After thousands of years, they had only grown their race to ten thousand people. Though ten thousand people wasn¡¯t a small number, compared to the hundreds of thousands of people Qin Huai had imagined, this could be considered a lucky break. The two of them ran for dozens of miles before finally stopping. They had already reached the edge of the blood sea. Qin Huai had just opened his mouth when his stomach started growling. After a long fight, he was naturally very hungry. ¡°Elder Wang, I wonder how you managed to eat in this blood sea?¡± Qin Huai asked. Wang Kun¡¯s eyes squinted as he suddenly dived into the blood sea below him. Bang! When Wang Kun came back, he had a half-meter-long fish that was totally black and had no scales in his hand. ¡°Here it is.¡± Wang Kun took a bite. The fish was black on the outside and red on the inside, and it had a jelly-like texture. ¡°I call this a black-red fish.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 510 - 510 The Weird Wang Kun 510 The Weird Wang Kun Qin Huai accepted the half-eaten fish from Wang Kun and put it in his mouth. The texture of the jelly-like black and red fish was just as he had imagined. It was soft and smooth, and as hot as boiling water. After it entered his stomach, it felt like an energy bomb exploding inside him. He was full. ¡°One black-red fish a day is enough to keep me full,¡± Wang Kun said, grinning proudly. Qin Huai carefully examined the black-red fish in his hands. It had no bones, no internal organs, and not even a brain. Every part of its body was a single entity. It didn¡¯t seem like a living creature at all. However, even after half of the black-red fish was eaten, its body could still move freely. Most importantly, in the blood sea, where even a visceral prefecture realm expert would be devoured if they stayed for too long, this black-red fish could actually survive¡­ ¡°How long have you been eating this black-red fish, Elder Wang?¡± ¡°A few months.¡± Wang Kun thought for a while. ¡°I can¡¯t remember exactly how long it¡¯s been.¡± Qin Huai looked at Wang Kun¡¯s expression and decided not to dig too deep into the matter. Instead, he continued to ask, ¡°How do you catch fish in the blood sea, Elder Wang? Could you teach me some techniques?¡± In the blood sea, his vision was extremely poor. Finding a half-meter-long black-red fish in such a vast sea seemed like a fantasy. ¡°That¡¯s simple. Just feel it. With our senses, we should be able to easily locate the black-red fish in the blood sea,¡± Wang Kun said as if it was the most obvious thing. The corners of Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily as he looked down at the sea of blood. ¡°Elder Wang, are you making fun of me? Even the visceral prefecture realm experts would struggle to find it.¡± ¡°You must be joking, Brother Qin. It¡¯s truly quite simple.¡± With that, Wang Kun dove into the sea of blood again to demonstrate. Qin Huai watched Wang Kun closely. The latter moved through the sea of blood as effortlessly as a fish through water. All Qin Huai could see was a fleeting black shadow, then it disappeared from his sight. Bang! A moment later, Wang Kun¡¯s figure shot out from the sea of blood, a black-red fish in his hand. ¡°See? It¡¯s that simple,¡± Wang Kun said as he split the black-red fish in two again and tossed one half to Qin Huai. Qin Huai caught the black-red fish, looking at its ¡®corpse¡¯ which was still very active and showed not even a drop of blood. His mind was filled with countless thoughts, but he couldn¡¯t piece the clues together. ¡°Elder Wang, you¡¯re really lucky,¡± he finally said, summarizing his many thoughts in one sentence. Qin Huai swallowed down the remaining half of the black-red fish in his hand. Immediately, his vitality was replenished. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look underwater.¡± Having said this, Qin Huai dove into the water like an eager student. Boom! A blood-red world filled his entire field of vision. Qin Huai looked at the foggy surroundings, and a cacophony of moans echoed in his mind. He did his best to shut these noises out and focused on searching for traces of the black-red fish in the blood sea. His speed within the Blood Sea wasn¡¯t slow. His exceptional physique allowed him to swim swiftly through the sea of blood like a cheetah. However, he occasionally felt a strange sensation on his skin. Ignoring it, Qin Huai continued to scan the surrounding sea of blood with his eyes. The burning sensation on his body grew stronger, and he was about to rush out of the sea of blood. Suddenly, he saw a black shadow dart past in the distance. It was a black-red fish! He then surged forward at a remarkable speed towards the black shadow. Bang! He stirred up huge waves in the sea of blood. He was fast, but the black-red fish was faster. With a swift flick of its tail, the black-red fish became a blur to Qin Huai, and then it was gone. Qin Huai gritted his teeth, wanting to give chase, but his wings were starting to ache. Looking back, he saw his feathers showing signs of evaporation and melting. He couldn¡¯t drag it out any longer. He had no choice but to resurface from the blood sea. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Qin Huai gasped heavily. Moving through the sea of blood had consumed more energy than he¡¯d expected. The speed of the black-red fish was beyond his imagination. The fact that Wang Kun could easily catch the black-red fish in such a condition and environment hinted at combat strength even more formidable than he¡¯d previously shown. That was why Qin Huai maintained high vigilance towards this stranger he¡¯d met by chance. Of course, he wasn¡¯t about to immerse himself in the blood crystal pillar to experience the recovery of his injuries and the enhancement of his strength. ¡°Didn¡¯t catch one, Brother Qin?¡± Wang Kun looked at Qin Huai with surprise, as if he¡¯d seen something unbelievable. ¡°Seems like I still have a couple of days of exploring to do,¡± Qin Huai said with a chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s true. I also spent a few hours fumbling around at the start.¡± Wang Kun¡¯s comment made Qin Huai¡¯s mouth twitch slightly. However, the other party¡¯s sincerity made Qin Huai feel he might be unfairly judging. ¡°Brother Qin, there¡¯s another crucial skill for survival above the blood sea.¡± Wang Kun walked over to Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Qin Huai watched as Wang Kun slowly lay down. The latter¡¯s body turned in the air, parallel to the sea of blood. His palm-sized wings started to flap less frequently, and Wang Kun himself slowly closed his eyes. Qin Huai immediately grasped what he meant. ¡°Sleep?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 511 - 511 The Five Great Commanders 511 The Five Great Commanders Following Wang Kun¡¯s example, Qin Huai suspended himself in midair. He closed his eyes and maintained control over his muscles and wings. For a visceral prefecture realm expert, this level of muscle control wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°This can be done,¡± Qin Huai remarked, ¡°but I suspect there¡¯s more to Elder Wang¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°Sleep, Brother Qin. You¡¯ll understand when night falls,¡± Wang Kun replied, leaving him in suspense. Qin Huai also drifted into sleep. Having battled for an entire day and immersed himself in the blood sea twice, his body was saturated with exhaustion that needed to be relieved. He could have slept for the time it takes to burn half an incense stick or perhaps four hours, when he felt a hand grasp his wings. Startled, he opened his eyes. With a twist of his body, he shattered the incoming palm. Bang! Blood rained down from above in his field of vision. He looked at the disembodied arm ¡ª it was a blood-colored hand, attached to the sea of blood. Around them, more than a dozen hands were reaching out of the blood sea, grasping at something in the air, attempting to drag it down. ¡°So the blood sea becomes active at night?¡± Qin Huai muttered to himself. He turned to look at Wang Kun, who was peacefully asleep not far away. Wang Kun seemed enveloped by the wind. He undulated with the gentle breeze brought by the bloodied hands emerging from the depths of the blood sea, skillfully evading them each time. ¡°What kind of body control is that?¡± Even Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Could Wang Kun perceive changes in his surroundings and respond to them even in his sleep? ¡°The obscure South Mythical Sect can hide such a formidable person. This is truly unimaginable.¡± Such physical prowess couldn¡¯t simply be ascribed to luck. It required years of cultivation and accumulation, or countless life-and-death battles to attain. Qin Huai attempted to sleep using the same technique as Wang Kun, but he was repeatedly caught and drawn into the blood sea. When he managed to avoid this, he found that he was too alert to fall asleep at all. Persistent, he tried again and again to find the right balance. The night passed in the blink of an eye. As expected, Qin Huai didn¡¯t get any sleep. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Wang Kun stretched and rose from his sleep. ¡°How did you sleep last night, Brother Qin?¡± he asked with a smile. ¡°It appears I still have much to learn from Brother Wang,¡± Qin Huai replied, shaking his head. ¡°Let¡¯s continue battling those demons then.¡± Qin Huai looked at his wings. After the previous night¡¯s exposure and being dipped twice in the blood sea, they still retained their potency. The second pair of spiritual treasures at his back had also begun to crumble. If he didn¡¯t obtain the Kun Peng fragments to refine it into a guardian spirit item soon, it was uncertain how long his remaining six guardian spirit items would last. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Without further words, Wang Kun led Qin Huai toward the center of the blood sea. Both of them had formidable combat abilities, especially Wang Kun. Whether it was strength or speed, he held an absolute advantage in their realm. Even the Kun Peng wings didn¡¯t have an edge against his palm-sized wings. By comparison, Qin Huai was considerably less agile. He often risked the degradation of his guardian spirit items to harm these deadly pests. However, one thing was certain ¨C Qin Hua¡¯s attacks were more lethal. Whenever he encountered a demon, he was guaranteed to take a life. Through their seamless collaboration, in merely half a month, Qin Huai had amassed a thousand and five hundred Kun Peng fragments. He had also gradually perfected the technique of sleeping in a semi-conscious state, which improved the quality of his rest at night. Besides that, Qin Huai¡¯s efficiency in using his power had significantly enhanced. He had become adept at catching fish as well. However, his success rate was not very high. He typically needed to dive into the blood sea two or three times to catch a single fish. If luck was not on his side, he might even have to try four times. This was nothing compared to Wang Kun¡¯s aptitude, who was like a fish in water. What was worse was that every plunge into the blood sea resulted in severe damage to the spiritual items. In this brief half-month period, due to a variety of reasons, Qin Huai had already lost four pairs of wings. There were only three spiritual items left that could be utilized. Contrarily, Wang Kun was looking more vibrant. Not only were his speed, strength, and combat techniques becoming more refined and fierce, he was also easily executing some peculiar martial arts techniques that made Qin Huai seriously doubt if he had reached the visceral prefecture realm with just a few full patterns. From what he could identify, there were seven different cultivation techniques. In fact, even the small wings on Wang Kun¡¯s back seemed to show signs of growth. This left Qin Huai even more puzzled. ¡­ At the center of the blood sea, numerous blood crystal pillars strewn across could be seen. The thick blood sea, like a hot spring, surrounded these blood crystal pillars. At the center, Tang Pi, the head of the Tang family, was actually bathing in the boiling blood sea with a look of contentment on his face. ¡°Using the blood of an ant to activate the pure bloodline strength¡­ I must admit, those guys from the Sacred Heart Sect are truly competent.¡± Tang Pi scooped up the blood with one hand and watched as the sticky liquid trickled into the blood sea, leaving traces of blood on his hand. His eyes reflected a fascinated expression. ¡°No wonder those people in the capital are so distant from the Sacred Heart Sect and Shangxin seems indifferent. At first, I was confused, but after experiencing the allure of this blood sea, I understand why those fellows were swayed.¡± Tang Pi closed his eyes slightly and felt the surging power flooding out from within him. ¡°I even feel as if I¡¯ve become younger. What do you think, Gao He?¡± He turned around and addressed the man who was approaching from a distance. ¡°My lord, those two intruders have started moving again. Over the past few days, hundreds of our men have been killed by those two, including thirteen visceral prefecture realm warriors.¡± ¡°Thirteen? Why so many?¡± Tang Pi raised his eyebrows. ¡°Do you realize that when we challenge the Sacred Heart Sect in the future, these men would have been our main force?!¡± In a fit of anger, Tang Pi punched the blood sea. His body gradually rose from the blood sea, entirely enveloped by the blood crystal pillar, with only his head and arms exposed. ¡°Luckily, I was cautious and did not fall asleep¡­ Otherwise, would my Kun Peng clan have been exterminated by these two intruders by the time I woke up?¡± Gao He lowered his head and replied slowly, ¡°Logically, no living creature from any other race should be able to ascend to this altitude of seventy thousand feet. I suspect that the Sacred Heart Sect is attempting to sabotage us.¡± Tang Pi waved his hand dismissively. ¡°No matter who these two intruders work for, there¡¯s only one consequence for killing our people. That is death!¡± Tang Pi asked again, ¡°What level are those two at? What characteristics do they possess?¡± ¡°Based on my observation, the older one is well-rounded. His speed, strength, and skills are all exceptional. He can be considered a formidable foe of our Kun Peng clan. ¡°As for the other one, he¡¯s much easier to handle. Although his offensive power is strong, the wings on his back are of an inferior quality. They can¡¯t withstand prolonged combat at all¡­ However, I¡¯m not sure what method he¡¯s using to regenerate his wings, but as far as I can tell, he¡¯s been in a few battles. There should be a limit to how many times he can do this.¡± Gao He had not taken any action in the past half a month. However, he had covertly assessed Qin Huai and Wang Kun thoroughly. ¡°Then let Ninth Brother¡­ No, awaken the five commanders and have them kill those two intruders on the spot! Don¡¯t give them a chance!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s eyes flashed a ruthless light. ¡°Wake up all five commanders?¡± Gao He was taken aback. ¡°The strength those two have displayed is at most at the second-level visceral prefecture realm. Isn¡¯t this overkill?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been with me for so many years, and you still don¡¯t understand me? I don¡¯t like to give others a chance. Especially after Xinglong¡¯s death¡­ If I can crush the opponent with absolute strength, I¡¯ll definitely do it! Let those ants die in despair!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 512 - 512 A Betrayal? 512 A Betrayal? No sooner had Tang Pi finished speaking than the blood crystal pillar not far from him started to quiver. Crash¡­ The seething blood sea crystal pillar vibrated and crumbled, and the tiny crystal fragments plunged back into the blood sea, merging with it. From within the blood crystal pillar, dense gray wings leisurely unfurled. One man, with his upper body bare and possessing a robust physique, slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Sect Master, you summoned me?¡± The man glanced in Tang Pi¡¯s direction. Next, he unhurriedly extricated his hands and feet. Sparks flickered around his body, giving him an odd appearance. In the four other directions, four more figures identical to him emerged. After rousing from the blood crystal pillar, they turned their gaze towards Tang Pi. ¡°There are two intruders in the blood sea,¡± informed Tang Pi. ¡°Two intruders? Five commanders at the visceral prefecture realm¡­¡± A woman possessing an admirable figure spoke from behind. Flowers blossomed beneath her feet, and her entire body appeared to be suspended mid-air by a bouquet of flowers. The five commanders of the Kun Peng clan were indeed the leaders of the five branches of the clan. The five clans had five surnames: the eastern clan was called Mu, the western clan Jin, the southern clan Huo, the northern clan Shui, and the central clan Tu. Gao He declared, ¡°Our initial assessment is that those two intruders are likely at the first-level visceral prefecture realm.¡± ¡°First-level visceral prefecture realm?!¡± The leader of the western clan, a tall and hefty man with a shining bald head resembling a lethal weapon, questioned. ¡°Sect Master, are you joking? We¡¯re all at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm. Wouldn¡¯t it be an overkill to deploy us to eliminate two novices who¡¯ve just entered the visceral prefecture realm?¡± ¡°You could simply awaken any of the elders. Is there a necessity to rouse all five of us?¡± An old man, one of the five commanders, expressed his dissatisfaction. ¡°Exactly. Is the Sect Master toying with us?¡± Tang Pi, witnessing the expressions on the faces of the five clan leaders, said with a stern countenance, ¡°Those two intruders are not to be underestimated. I suspect they¡¯re withholding their full power. ¡°I also do not wish for innocents to die because of them. Also, I want to nip in the bud any chance they might have to grow stronger through killing. I expect everyone to secure the heads of those two.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the leader of the central clan affirmed in a low voice. After saying this, he departed without a backward glance. Upon seeing this, the other four didn¡¯t even offer a salute to Tang Pi before taking their leave. Tang Pi watched the departing figures, his eyes revealing a trace of murderous intent. ¡°It seems they¡¯ve enjoyed peace for too long. They¡¯ve forgotten who dealt with their cultivation resources and troubles while they were detached from worldly affairs, engrossed in their secluded cultivation.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re implying is¡­¡± Gao He raised his gaze to meet Tang Pi¡¯s. ¡°They are, after all, leaders of the five prominent clans. I will devise a suitable method for their demise, but not at this moment.¡± Tang Pi¡¯s eyes, fixated on the backs of the five individuals, glinted with an unveiled murderous intent. These disobedient fellows would ultimately fall on the battlefield against the malicious zealots of the Sacred Heart Sect. After that, he would bestow upon them the title of heroes, receiving adulation from countless people. It would be their rightful end. ¡­ Meanwhile, the five clan leaders halted not far from the blood sea. Around them lay the unending expanse of the blood crystal pillar. In front of them, two demons kneeled, recounting their encounter with Qin Huai and Wang Kun in great detail. ¡°That old man is clearly afraid we¡¯ll outshine him by breaking through the blood crystal pillar. That¡¯s why he¡¯s using insignificant pests to impede our progress,¡± stated Huo Huan, the tall and lean leader of the southern clan. ¡°Two first-level visceral prefecture realm experts with fair competencies in all aspects. In other words, they¡¯re mediocre but resilient, akin to cockroaches.¡± The woman lazily added, ¡°Any objections? After all, I still aspire to become the sect master.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you all?¡± ¡°Then, each one of you should assign a clan member to proceed and return to continue their cultivation.¡± A malevolent grin spread across their faces. ¡°Sounds perfect to me!¡± The group expressed their consent. ¡°Allow me to lead the team,¡± the leader of the central clan proposed, his voice deep.¡± The others, Huo Huan included, responded with equanimity, ¡°Since Clan Leader Tu is taking charge, that¡¯s indeed the best. May Clan Leader Tu¡¯s mission be successful!¡± Their words of congratulations echoed one after the other, yet their faces revealed their lack of sincerity. After that, they pointed their fingers into the distance. Streams of energy spanned hundreds of meters, colliding into a few blood crystal pillars. Bang! The blood crystal pillars instantly shattered, and a handful of masters with potent blood qi slowly opened their eyes, walking towards Huo Huan and the rest. ¡°Greetings, clan leaders!¡± Huo Huan and the others lifted their hands, signaling the figures before them to rise. Then, they turned to the central clan leader. ¡°Clan Leader Tu, we entrust these four elders to you!¡± ¡°You must ensure their safe return.¡± The woman playfully touched Clan Leader Tu. ¡°Everyone, rest assured.¡± Clan Leader Tu¡¯s face remained impassive, not bothering to respond to the crowd. He just glanced at them, turned, and dashed into the distance. ¡°Everyone, proceed with your cultivation. With Clan Leader Tu¡¯s fifth-level visceral prefecture realm strength, if he fails to exterminate those two rats¡­ I¡¯ll pluck out my own eyes and let you eat them.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ We¡¯ll hold you to that.¡± The remaining four exchanged glances. ¡°Once we ascend to the position of the sect master in the future, we mustn¡¯t forget Clan Leader Tu¡¯s favor today.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 513 - 513 Feather Cage! 513 Feather Cage! While the other three laughed, the blood sea beneath them bubbled, splashing over their bodies before crystallizing into an icy sheen that enveloped them. Then, their eyes gradually closed, feeling the energy pulsating from within their bodies. ¡­ Meanwhile, Qin Huai stirred from his slumber. Almost at the same time, Wang Kun opened his eyes. ¡°Brother Qin, a powerful enemy approaches!¡± Wang Kun said, a note of panic in his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve never sensed such a strong wind before.¡± A powerful wind, coupled with a chilling light, raged from hundreds, perhaps even thousands of miles away, unseen by the naked eye. There was no need to perceive the enemy¡¯s surging blood essence and aura ¡ª both understood that the approaching entity was a high-ranking member of the Kun Peng clan. Boom! The thunderous sound of the air being ripped apart reached them the very next moment. Qin Huai and Wang Kun simultaneously turned their gaze toward the sky, seeing five burly men gazing down at them, their eyes devoid of emotion. ¡°It appears we¡¯ve found you two.¡± The central clan leader coldly regarded Qin Huai and Wang Kun on the ground, then cast a glance at the others behind him. ¡°You guys go first. Remember, show no mercy.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Four supreme experts at the first-level visceral prefecture realm launched themselves at Qin Huai and Wang Kun. With a hissing sound, two pairs of gray wings, nearly ten meters in length, unfurled like deadly scythes from hell as they whooshed toward Qin Huai¡¯s neck. Qin Huai¡¯s countenance remained calm, though. His eyes swirled with a murderous glint, flashing with a blinding white light. His hair turned white, his physique abruptly amplifying. Then, his palm cut through the air like a blade, aiming at one of the visceral prefecture realm experts. From the base of his palm, a white light emanated. The two demons were extraordinarily fast, yet in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, they were far from enough. Now, with their charge, it was akin to stepping into a trap. Apparently, these demons hadn¡¯t fully comprehended their fighting strength even after losing hundreds of their brethren. Or perhaps, their actions were far too predictable. Suddenly, Qin Huai watched as a feather gently descended onto his palm. The next instant, the gray feather seemed to be crushed by an enormous weight, plunging downwards. Qin Huai hastily withdrew his hand and recoiled. Two sets of sharp wings skimmed past the tip of his nose. More alarmingly, the feather punctured the surface of the blood sea. In Qin Huai¡¯s perception, the fiery blood sea failed to mend itself immediately. After a moment, the feather-shaped gap filled up. He raised his head to look at the man standing not far off. ¡°Brother Qin, be careful of the fellow in the sky! He¡¯s likely a clan leader!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice rang in his ear. ¡°A clan leader?¡± Qin Huai appeared puzzled. Wasn¡¯t Tang Pi, Qingzhou¡¯s prefecture overseer, the leader of the Kun Peng clan? ¡°The prefecture overseer, Tang Pi, should be the leader of the Kun Peng clan, or perhaps, Brother Qin, you can consider him as the primary clan leader. Beneath his rule are five subsidiary leaders, and they govern five clans each with distinct surnames. The leaders of these five great clans are all supreme experts at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm,¡± Wang Kun shouted out, informing Qin Huai about the structure of the Kun Peng clan. The central clan leader regarded Wang Kun with astonishment. ¡°Who exactly are you to have such detailed knowledge about my Kun Peng clan? It¡¯s impossible for my clan members to divulge our secrets to inferior beings such as you.¡± The central clan leader¡¯s expression was stern. The Kun Peng clan had maintained its secrecy for thousands of years, thanks to their stringent family rules. One leak could result in the annihilation of the leaker¡¯s direct bloodline spanning three generations. This allowed the Kun Peng Clan to govern Qing Province for thousands of years without exposure. Yet, the fact that their closely guarded secrets were so readily known by this Wang Kun was a shock. ¡°I¡­¡± Wang Kun stuttered, then retorted, ¡°Why does it matter how I know?! Brother Qin, keep your eye on this man¡­ His power is likely beyond imagination!¡± However, there was no need for Wang Kun to expound further. The power of the feather had already allowed Qin Huai to perceive the adversary¡¯s strength. ¡°I¡¯ll pry the information from your mouth, slowly but surely,¡± the central clan leader yelled from the air. The next moment, over a dozen gray feathers materialized around Qin Huai, nearly sealing all escape routes. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed. The central clan¡¯s leader had already materialized in front of him, his wide body thrice as Qin Huai¡¯s width. His muscular frame rippled with power, an intimidating aura spilling out from between his sinews, crashing into Qin Huai¡¯s face like a wave. His towering figure cast a shadow over Qin Huai as he gazed coldly down at him, an overwhelming sense of oppression enveloping the air, making the atmosphere more tense. ¡°Insect, can you withstand my blow?¡± A heavy punch sheathed in a gust of wind hurtled past Qin Huai¡¯s ear. Bang! The punch halted at Qin Huai¡¯s temple, obstructed by a smaller palm. Qin Huai stared at the central clan leader before him in disbelief. ¡°What immense strength.¡± Qin Huai had not encountered such formidable power since his breakthrough. This was a first. ¡°What¡­¡± The central clan leader was stunned. Then, his eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Interesting vermin!¡± He launched another punch towards Qin Huai, so rapid that the surrounding visceral prefecture realm experts could only see a dark shadow. Bang! The energy dispersed like ripples on water, spreading in every direction. The central clan leader hunched over, his eyes bulging as he felt an intense force in his abdomen. Bang! Then, a succession of explosions resonated from his abdomen. The overwhelming force launched the central clan leader into the air with the last punch. As feathers fluttered around Qin Huai, he surged forward like an arrow, his eyes fixating on the gray feather. The feather was as light as it appeared, weightless. ¡°Give up now!¡± the central clan leader yelled from a distance. The feather on his shoulder suddenly growing heavy, Qin Huai¡¯s body twirled twice in mid-air before regaining balance. That heavy feather on his shoulder plummeted into the blood sea. ¡°What kind of strange cultivation technique is this?¡± Qin Huai eyed the floating feathers around him. Was he trying to entirely enclose himself within a confined area? ¡°This is a unique bloodline technique of our clan. A roc can be as light as a feather or as heavy as a mountain. I can freely shift between these states. This is a god-given technique, the privilege of a higher being. You lower beings exhaust all your wisdom, yet you only grasp a mere fragment of our knowledge.¡± The central clan¡¯s leader, despite his composed demeanor, felt shock when confronting a human like Qin Huai. They never missed an opportunity to flaunt their race¡¯s superiority and took pleasure in belittling humans like Qin Huai. ¡°You¡¯ll meet your end in my feather cage.¡± The central clan leader massaged his abdomen. He still felt lingering trepidation towards Qin Huai¡¯s strength. In the next second, he materialized in front of Qin Huai again. This time, he didn¡¯t hesitate. A fearsome punch cloaked in gray feathers zoomed toward Qin Huai¡¯s face. Immediately, Qin Huai activated the dragon emperor. White dragon bones sprouted instantly from between Qin Huai¡¯s muscles. At the same time, a formidable dragon¡¯s aura radiated, and boundless power surged from the depths of his dantian. Bang! With a punch, the chilling wind was punctuated with the clear sound of bones shattering. The central clan leader looked taken aback. He stared at his twisted fingers, his face mirroring his disbelief. More importantly, the terror emanating from the man in front of him was causing him to tremble. What was happening? He was from the Kun Peng clan! ¡°What¡­ What kind of guardian spirit item is this?¡± The central clan leader stepped back, but he stopped. The pride of the Kun Peng clan did not allow for retreat. He drew his fist back and mustered all the strength in his body and directed it towards Qin Huai¡¯s face. Qin Huai¡¯s cold voice echoed in his ears, ¡°It¡¯s just a true dragon bone.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 514 - 514 Chosen by the Heavens 514 Chosen by the Heavens Two combatants clashed, their powerful attacks sparking around them. The central clan leader felt a shiver run down his spine, his muscles trembling. He looked at the young man, disbelief etched on his face. He was utterly beaten. In a test of strength, he was no match for his opponent. It¡¯s worth noting that he was renowned as the strongest among the five great clans. Qin Huai emanated a tremendous aura, like the power of a dragon erupting in a furious torrent. This force permeated through his body, reaching the depths of his soul, and the sheer intensity caused his mind to become momentarily hazy. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged a flurry of moves above the blood-red sea. Bang! A heavy hit landed, and blood sprayed from the central clan leader¡¯s body. His once robust frame was gradually torn apart under Qin Huai¡¯s relentless assault. From a distance, the cries of their fellow clansmen filled the air, causing both fighters to glance over to the other battlefield. The Kun Peng clansmen, despite their superior numbers, struggled against Wang Kun, leaving him battered and bloody. In several places, his white bones were visible through his wounds. It was a pitiful sight. However, the central clan leader¡¯s brows furrowed. As time passed, Wang Kun was surprisingly turning the tide. His strength, speed, and battle techniques steadily improved, holding his own against his four attackers. In his hundreds of years of life, the central clan leader had never witnessed such a rapid improvement. ¡°Don¡¯t prolong this! Finish him off!¡± the central clan leader roared. Now he understood why their leader had been so cautious. To exterminate these two threats, all five clan leaders had been summoned. There was something unsettling about them. Leaving aside the fighter who grew stronger with every passing moment, radiating a peculiar aura¡­ The young man before him was formidable, unlike any human he¡¯d encountered before. They were from the Kun Peng clan, known to rival the legendary five great beasts with their durable bodies. Despite being one of the top warriors of the Kun Peng clan, he was being overpowered by this young man. Regret filled the central clan Leader. He should have brought two more clan leaders with him. Then, victory would have been guaranteed. ¡°But what¡¯s done is done!¡± The central clan leader yelled out, ¡°Feather cage!¡± With this command, all the feathers from his wings fell off, leaving only the bare bones to keep him airborne. Gray feathers flooded the sky, surrounding Qin Huai. The thick curtain of feathers covered everything, creating an oppressive atmosphere. ¡°Sword fall!¡± The central clan leader summoned all his remaining strength to attack Qin Huai. Gray feathers swarmed towards the latter like a storm. With a calm expression, Qin Huai extended his hand toward the central clan leader, activating the black dragon world. Boom! His once-white hair turned jet black, cascading down to his waist. His eyes mirrored this transformation, becoming as dark as a bottomless chasm, swallowing both the central clan leader and his gray feathers. The rapid storm of gray feathers abruptly slowed down, as if caught within Qin Huai¡¯s shadowy realm. Their speed dropped drastically, then they disintegrated mid-air, turning into a fine powder that gently vanished without a trace. After that, the dispersed particles congregated in Qin Huai¡¯s palm, gathering an ominous power. The central clan leader felt as if Qin Huai was siphoning away all the energy from his dantian. His heart pounded as he spread his wings and soared towards the black dragon world. Boom! In the next instant, Qin Huai was suddenly before him. His pair of wings, though worn, fluttered rapidly without any frost encumbering them. Despite their battle scars, the central clan leader felt an unsettling presence within this dark realm. What he saw wasn¡¯t Qin Huai but a glimpse into his possible future. ¡°You want to kill me? You¡¯re far too naive!¡± The central clan leader flapped his wings once more, jetting off in the opposite direction. His speed was remarkable. Even Qin Huai, now unaffected by the biting winds of the black dragon world, could only match him. ¡°Maintaining a formation like yours at such a height must drain a lot of energy. If you keep pace with me, how long can you hold out?¡± the central clan leader taunted. He knew endurance was their new battleground. If he outlasted, this pest would fall to him. If he failed, he would meet his end at the hands of a human, a grim fate for a leader of the Kun Peng clan, and a first in millennia. Time passed by. The central clan leader felt an increasing drain on his strength, but his mood had improved. He could no longer sense the piercing murderous intent from behind ¡ª the feeling of impending doom seemed to have lessened. ¡°You¡¯re finally running out of steam¡­¡± he mumbled loudly, aiming to shatter Qin Huai¡¯s resolve. ¡°We, the Kun Peng clan, are chosen by the heavens. We are superior to you in every way. ¡°You have good potential. I even admit your strength is extraordinary. Perhaps in a few decades, you would be able to kill me easily, but now¡­ You¡¯ve rushed and wasted such a promising future.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 515 - 515 Killing the Clan Leader, Refining the Kun Peng Seed 515 Killing the Clan Leader, Refining the Kun Peng Seed The central clan leader pivoted, fixing his gaze on Qin Huai. But then¡­his smile froze. ¡°Where is he?¡± He whirled around, looking behind him. Qin Huai was merely a few steps away. An illusion¡­ A sudden shiver coursed down the central clan leader¡¯s spine. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not paying attention,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice echoed. The central clan leader trembled, and in a blink, Qin Huai was gone. No, the voice came from behind him. Bang! A hand effortlessly impaled his back. Crack! Blood spurted out. One of his wings had been violently ripped off by Qin Huai, and he couldn¡¯t hold back his scream. He mustered all his strength and wrenched free from Qin Huai¡¯s grasp. Left with just one wing, he floated in mid-air, wavering. ¡°How did you¡­ Why are you suddenly so fast?¡± The central clan leader stared at Qin Huai in terror, disbelief seeping from his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s slowed down.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s figure reappeared before him. The black dragon pearl in his hand was now fist-sized. During their chase, Qin Huai had already drained more than half of the central clan leader¡¯s strength. If one chose to flee in the black dragon world, their fate was sealed: death. Yet, even if they wished to fight Qin Huai to the end, they would face countless restrictions. Bang! Without hesitation, Qin Huai thrust the black dragon pearl into the central clan leader¡¯s body. The clan¡¯s protective artifacts appeared to be tied to their bloodline power. A silent explosion ripped through the central clan leader¡¯s chest. The attack, like a black hole, caused large chunks of flesh and blood to vanish instantly. The central clan leader appeared to choke as he reached out toward Qin Huai. Then, his body erupted with blood. Not much blood essence gushed out, since over half had already been devoured by the black dragon pearl. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x333], [Kun Peng Seed (1,821/2,000)]!¡± Qin Huai absorbed a staggering number of fragments. The very next moment, Qin Huai dismissed the black dragon world. A harsh, cold wind swept over his face, yanking him back to reality. His eyes landed on another battlefield. Wang Kun, blood-soaked, had just ended his own fight. He had singlehandedly defeated four first-level visceral prefecture realm Kun Peng clan elders. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re done too?¡± Wang Kun looked up. Their eyes met, a shared joy in their gazes. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x43]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x56]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x50]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x66], [Kun Peng Seed (2,036/2,000)]!¡± The final notification rang out. Inside Qin Huai¡¯s dantian, a complete gray entity was assembled, and the cry of a Kun Peng seemed to echo in his mind. ¡°This is enough,¡± Qin Huai thought. He landed gently beside Wang Kun, surveying the four bodies lying in the blood sea. ¡°Brother Qin, your skills are beyond belief. What was that black formation just now? Just watching from afar fills me with dread, as if death is near,¡± Wang Kun marveled. ¡°How could I compare to Elder Wang? I always feel like I can¡¯t surpass you, but in the end, victory always favors you.¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t answer directly. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I¡¯m not sure either. I always feel that the more I get injured and the more I think I¡¯ll lose, my body erupts with a force that flips the tables.¡± Elder Wang scratched his head bashfully. ¡°Elder Wang¡¯s stories are just myths and legends,¡± Qin Huai said, half-jokingly eyeing the so-called ¡®serious injuries¡¯ on the other man¡¯s body. Wang Kun¡¯s wounds had already healed, and Qin Huai couldn¡¯t find a single scratch on him. Even Qin Huai, adept in the blood heart technique, was amazed by this level of recovery. That was why despite having been friends with Wang Kun for a long time, he found it difficult to fully trust and rely on him. ¡°Elder Wang, I might have to go down for a while,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°Go down?¡± Wang Kun was taken aback. ¡°Brother Qin, do you have a plan?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been above the blood sea for a month. I need to go down to recuperate and exchange information,¡± Qin Huai shared, but only half of his plan. The rest involved refining the seed into a guardian spirit item to balance the scales in the blood sea. ¡°Elder Wang, would you like to go down? For instance, do you have any family you wish to see?¡± Qin Huai asked, curiously. Wang Kun shook his head, his face shadowed with sorrow. ¡°I was alone to begin with. Now, with my sect decimated, all I can do is eliminate these demons in the blood sea,¡± he said, patting Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°How long will you be gone, Brother Qin?¡± Qin Huai considered. ¡°At least half a month, at most a month.¡± This was typically the time he needed to refine guardian spirit items. ¡°Good! I¡¯ll wait for you and find a way to break the blood sea. This blood sea is certainly a grand array. If it¡¯s an array, there must be an array core. We just need to find and destroy it,¡± Wang Kun said. This aligned with Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts. They had already searched the vast blood sea for half a month but found no clues. ¡°I suspect the array core is likely hidden in a place guarded by demons,¡± Wang Kun shared a startling theory. ¡°There¡¯s a high chance it¡¯s in the heart of the Kun Peng clan¡¯s cultivation grounds!¡± He added, ¡°I¡¯ll gather as much information as I can while you¡¯re gone, Brother Qin. You can rest easy.¡± Wang Kun speculated that the core was in the demon¡¯s central area, while Qin Huai felt it was likely in the heart of the blood sea. They had debated this extensively but unfortunately, both places were forbidden zones, out of their reach, leaving them temporarily stranded. ¡°Elder Wang, you must prioritize your safety,¡± Qin Huai insisted earnestly. In this sea of blood, Elder Wang was his sole ally. ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± After exchanging words of reassurance, Qin Huai walked to the edge of the blood sea and dove in. Following today¡¯s battle, he had gauged the difference between the central clan leader and himself. It was marginal. In terms of physical strength or attack strategies, he was vastly superior. The only drawback was his lack of Kun Peng wings, which slowed him in the blood sea. This was manageable in one-on-one fights, but in larger battles, he felt cumbersome, easily manipulated. To annihilate the Kun Peng clan, he needed to refine the Kun Peng wings. Qin Huai plummeted from a height of seventy thousand feet, the wind roaring in his ears, and the air beneath gradually warming. Bang! He spread his wings. The snapping sound of bones echoed ¡ª his demon wings had reached their lifespan limit. Bang! A new pair of demon wings unfolded, the last on Qin Huai¡¯s body. He halted his fall at the last moment, gently descending into a mountain range. With ease, Qin Huai dug out a cave dwelling and settled in. Inside the cave, he activated the divine power book of a thousand creations and the blood heart technique. Then, he began cleansing his lungs of broken blood essence and guardian spirit items. This was a painful process, but Qin Huai was used to the pain. The price he paid for the intertwining of seven bone patterns on his body was enduring this agony. Yet, he marveled at how harmoniously his distinct cultivation techniques melded within him. Meanwhile, memories etched in his heart. His actual past surfaced¡­ Unbeknownst to him, Qin Huai¡¯s lungs were now free of impurities. He then directed the complete Kun Peng seed from his dantian to his lungs. After a long time, Qin Huai slowly opened his eyes. Along with them, ten-meter-long gray wings unfurled. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 516 - 516 Chasing the Sun 516 Chasing the Sun Qin Huai exhaled slowly, the terrifying energy coalescing into what seemed like a gentle energy sword. In an instant, it pierced the ground over ten meters away. Standing up, he flexed his muscles, feeling the vigorous surge of qi and blood within his body. The intensity of this power seemed to amplify with each passing second. Lowering his gaze, Qin Huai studied his arm. The well-defined muscles pulsed with his thoughts. He gently flapped his wings. Boom! He vanished instantly from his original spot, leaving behind a whirlwind. The storm roared, toppling trees in its wake. Qin Huai had inadvertently cut them down with his wings. ¡°What astonishing speed,¡± Qin Huai observed, looking at the ground beneath him before glancing back at his previous position. He ran his fingers over the lustrous gray feathers. ¡°This pair of wings is far more resilient and sharp than I imagined. Its prowess surpasses even that of a treasured weapon.¡± With extreme speed came extreme offensive power. Flapping his wings, Qin Huai soared into the sky. The earth shrunk beneath him, while the entire Qingzhou City sprawled out before his eyes. As he refined the Kun Peng seed, his vision too had amplified, allowing him to discern even the smallest details. From several kilometers above, he could see the insects on the ground and even make out the patterns on a seven-spot ladybird. Overwhelmed by his enhanced eyesight, Qin Huai felt slightly dazed. It was as though he had gained access to a world he couldn¡¯t ordinarily perceive. Once he adjusted to his new vision, he set his sights on Lingkou Pass. Boom! With a deafening sound, Qin Huai disappeared once again. ¡­ At Spirit Gate, Qin Huai found himself standing alongside Gou Jie. ¡°Where is Brother Xiang?¡± he asked, puzzled. Xiang Mingfeng had been steadfastly guarding Lingkou Pass, his cultivation efforts relegated to a grass hut nearby. His presence was needed to coordinate operations and mobilize manpower as the vice leader of the Qingzhou Alliance. Gou Jie had a complicated expression. ¡°That fellow¡­ he went off chasing the sun,¡± he revealed, leaving Qin Huai taken aback. Gou Jie elaborated further, ¡°That lunatic wants to use the sun as his treasure.¡± Qin Huai frowned, finding this audacious idea far-fetched. ¡°Does that guy want to be a god?¡± Refining the sun into a guardian spirit item seemed an impossible feat, destined to end in disaster. ¡°Maybe he suffered too much of a blow,¡± Gou Jie mused. This stirred Qin Huai¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Something happened at Wuji Mountain?¡± Gou Jie explained, ¡°Over the past few months, Kong Binghuang had several encounters with an important figure of the Sacred Heart Sect, but without a clear winner. But half a month ago, Kong Binghuang was lured into the mountains by Zhou Chuanyong of the Sacred Heart Sect, and they fought there¡­¡± Qin Huai tensed at this information. Kong Binghuang was an important combatant on their side and had managed to draw significant attention from the Sacred Heart Sect. If he died, it would increase the pressure on Lingkou Pass and the ten counties of East Qingzhou. However, Gou Jie¡¯s tale took an unexpected twist. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Mountain Chief was actually hiding his strength,¡± he sighed. ¡°In the previous exchanges, he¡¯d been pretending to be weak, waiting for this opportunity. ¡°The ensuing battle had been earth-shattering, with a mountain peak decimated in the process. But just as Kong Binghuang was about to win, another person appeared.¡± Gou Jie¡¯s voice trembled as he narrated the next part, ¡°That person used just one move to defeat him.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed in shock at this revelation. ¡°One move?!¡± he echoed, incredulous. Kong Binghuang, one of Qingzhou¡¯s top three figures, defeated in a single move? ¡°There was no sneak attack, no tricks. He just defeated Mountain Chief in one move,¡± Gou Jie clarified. Overcoming his initial shock, Qin Huai steadied his voice and asked, ¡°And then?¡± Impressed by Qin Huai¡¯s resilience, Gou Jie shared the rest of the tale. ¡°That person didn¡¯t kill Mountain Chief, but let him go,¡± he said with a bitter laugh. ¡°The other party didn¡¯t put Mountain Chief in his eyes at all. Instead, he reprimanded Zhou Chuanyong, and the two of them left.¡± He went on to explain the aftermath, ¡°Mountain Chief is now in a slump, hiding in Wuji Mountain. Xiang Mingfeng is off chasing the sun, and She Wanshan has taken control of the situation at Wuji Mountain. Fang Huo and Le Ji¡¯an have also started to cultivate, leaving me to guard Lingkou Pass.¡± Gou Jie let out a sigh, jesting with a hint of exhaustion, ¡°Hey, Lord Alliance Master, why don¡¯t you just give me the second vice alliance master position on account of my hard work here?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 517 - 517 A Long 517 A Long-Dead Person Soars ¡°If you wish to be at the top, Brother Gou, I¡¯ll gladly offer you a spot,¡± Qin Huai joked, maintaining a straight face. However, Gou Jie failed to share the humor. ¡°Brother Gou, do you regret it now? If you had surrendered along with the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower, perhaps you wouldn¡¯t be so afraid,¡± Qin Huai probed. Gou Jie chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ve come this far already. There¡¯s no turning back now. We can only strive forward.¡± Qin Huai, finding the sentiment strangely familiar, quickly refocused the conversation. ¡°Help me investigate someone,¡± he requested. ¡°Who might that be?¡± ¡°Elder Wang Kun of the South Mythical Sect.¡± ¡°South Mythical Sect?¡± Gou Jie raised his eyebrows. ¡°The one obliterated by the Sacred Heart Sect and demons?¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°I remember that no one from the South Mythical Sect survived. Why the sudden interest in this person?¡± ¡°I met him in the sky.¡± ¡°In the sky? Someone ascended? But how?¡± Gou Jie blurted out, unable to mask his shock. ¡°Among us, we¡¯ve privately debated the likelihood of ascending to the heavens, concluding it to be nearly non-existent. Only you, the anomaly, managed it,¡± Gou Jie continued, ¡°And while the South Mythical Sect folks were devoted, they were generally mediocre in talent and combat strength.¡± He went on, ¡°Their ranks were filled with leftover talent from the five great sects or even higher-ranking sects. Even if those sect elders gave him top-notch spirit items, his body might not be able to endure it. There must be a problem with this person!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I asked you to investigate him,¡± Qin Huai confirmed. ¡°He fought alongside me in the sky, and I couldn¡¯t see anything wrong with him.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Gou Jie vowed. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he set off promptly towards the ruins of the sect in the south of Qingzhou, promising, ¡°No matter the results, I will return.¡± Qin Huai had killed one of the five leaders of the Kun Peng clan, inciting their fury. With only Wang Kun left in the sky, the pressure Wang Kun had to face was enormous. His stay here had to be brief. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Gou Jie¡¯s fading voice reassured him. ¡­ Five days later, a disheveled Gou Jie returned to Qin Huai. He got straight to the point. ¡°South Mythical Sect¡¯s mountain is severely damaged, so I could only reconstruct the mountain¡¯s structure from survivor accounts at the foot of the mountain. Anyway, there was indeed an elder named Wang Kun who lived on Bitter Cliff Peak.¡± This news slightly lifted Qin Huai¡¯s spirits. ¡°However¡­¡± Gou Jie continued, ¡°According to these accounts, Wang Kun fell at the hands of a visceral prefecture realm expert in the initial stages of the battle. Many witnessed this scene.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± Qin Huai pressed. ¡°Yes,¡± Gou Jie confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s said that Wang Kun¡¯s limbs were all torn off. His death was incredibly gruesome.¡± ¡°Is there any other news?¡± Qin Huai enquired. ¡°Well, he¡¯s dead. What other news could there be?¡± Gou Jie chuckled bitterly. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Qin Huai sighed. Gou Jie proceeded to share details of Wang Kun¡¯s past, aligning with what Qin Huai had heard from Wang Kun himself. Despite minor discrepancies, the general accounts matched. This assuaged some of Qin Huai¡¯s suspicions, though a nagging sense of peculiarity lingered. ¡°If there is indeed resurrection in this world, then Wang Kun has surely seized an extraordinary opportunity,¡± Gou Jie mused. ¡°Yes, based on the current information, it seems Wang Kun has stumbled upon a heaven-defying opportunity,¡± Qin Huai concurred. ¡°Temporarily credible,¡± Gou Jie concluded. ¡°Thank you!¡± Qin Huai expressed his gratitude, cupping his fists with a solemn air. After that, Gou Jie shared more information about the ten counties. The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s followers had infiltrated the Nine Dragons Sect, planning to behead them to destabilize the situation. Ultimately, they were killed by the guards, Uncle Yang and Uncle Feng. The culprits were a single visceral prefecture realm expert and fifteen bone pattern realm experts. Their dead bodies were hung at the city gate as a public spectacle, boosting the Nine Dragons Sect¡¯s reputation. The ten counties ceased their infighting and pledged their allegiance to the Nine Dragons Sect, with Lingjiang leading the ten counties. Over time, more and more people migrated to Lingjiang. The capability to defeat a visceral prefecture realm expert offered reassurance in this volatile world. Gou Jie also provided detailed information about the other prodigies. For instance, after Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s pursuit of the sun, Hua Yanli grew fascinated with unique flames. He was committed to refining these strange flames into a guardian spirit item. Le Ji¡¯an embarked on an archaeological journey, intending to excavate the graves of important figures to summon their souls. His first target was the legendary Emperor of Qingzhou, the reputed number one individual in Qingzhou. Fang Huo planned to invade Lin Province, utilizing his demonic blood to strengthen his body. Gou Jie was also planning to excavate ancestral graves but his approach was more dutiful compared to Le Ji¡¯an. He targeted the graves of his Thousand Divination Tower ancestors, aiming to transform the bodies of the old undying men into guardian spirit items, or more precisely, divination sacrifices. He believed that using the bones of those proficient in divination as sacrifices would be significantly more effective. In essence, the Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s elites were beginning to flaunt their abilities, frantically exploring the limits of their visceral prefecture realm. ¡°Alliance Master, rest assured. We won¡¯t hold you back,¡± Gou Jie pledged on the mountain peak, bidding farewell to Qin Huai. ¡°I look forward to the day when it will be uncertain who is stronger,¡± Qin Huai replied solemnly. The next moment, he surged into the clouds, his wings trembling powerfully. The wind seemed to bend to his wings. The usual chill and sharpness, as well as the suppressive forces, were no longer a concern. His gray wings blended seamlessly with the sky, allowing him to ascend effortlessly. So far, the ascent was smooth, with no element of weather posing a threat to Qin Huai¡¯s wings. He reveled in this sensation, his eyes shining brighter with the aid of the Kun Peng seed. He now had the advantage of wings against the demons in the blood sea. Qin Huai pierced through the sea of clouds at an extraordinary speed, arriving above the blood sea. He peered down at the sea of blood, his expression turning grave. A fierce battle was about to begin as he stepped into the blood sea once more. ¡­ Meanwhile, Wang Kun sprinted wildly across the blood sea¡¯s surface. A pair of arm-sized wings flapped rapidly behind him, keeping him afloat. Behind him, hundreds of Kun Peng clansmen, with murder in their eyes, pursued him by flapping their wings. Their gray feathers shot toward Wang Kun like sharp arrows, covering him in blood. However, the feathers were consumed by his blood the next moment. The gruesome wounds visibly healed within seconds, keeping Wang Kun energetic as he continued his frantic escape. Suddenly, he halted and soared into the sky with his gray feathers, charging at the demons. The moment he turned around, the pursuing demons recoiled in unison, creating distance between them and Wang Kun before attacking again. The two sides were evidently familiar with each other, hinting at numerous previous encounters. Wang Kun ground his teeth and turned around to continue his escape. ¡°Brother Qin. Brother Qin¡­I can¡¯t hold on much longer,¡± Wang Kun muttered. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 518 - 518 Whos the Real Demon? 518 Who¡¯s the Real Demon? Wang Kun¡¯s vision began to blur, and he grew dizzy. He even saw visions of his deceased parents. Suddenly, a surge of power erupted from within him. His pale face instantaneously turned ruddy, his eyes sparkling with life. This phenomenon wasn¡¯t new. It had happened numerous times since his arrival in the blood sea. Each time he was on the brink of death, his body would burst forth with extraordinary power, making him stronger than before. Unlike protagonists of stories who stumbled upon ancient inheritances in unknown caves, Wang Kun¡¯s evolution was more direct ¨C he simply grew stronger. This was why he dared spout such nonsense to Qin Huai, insisting on exploring the mysteries of the blood sea alone and finding its core. He wanted to discover his own limits. Boom! His small wings flapped, and he turned to face the sky-filling army. ¡°There¡¯s still strength left?¡± Huo Huan¡¯s eyes brimmed with both surprise and anger. He had switched out his pursuers, yet Wang Kun seemed unaffected. Huo Huan raised his hand, and his clansmen immediately understood, distancing themselves from Wang Kun. Even Huo Huan, a formidable expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm, was not careless. He did not want to give Wang Kun a chance. The demise of the central clan¡¯s leader, whose bones now rested in the blood sea beneath them, served as a cautionary tale. The sky full of Kun Peng demons dispersed, leaving an energetic Wang Kun with no one to fight. ¡°No matter how extraordinary your methods, they¡¯re useless if you can¡¯t reach us,¡± Huo Huan calmly observed, looking down at Wang Kun as if he were a caged beast. He added, ¡°Tens of thousands of years ago, your kind used so-called wisdom to hunt us demons in a similar fashion. Now, we¡¯ll use the same method to hunt and rear you. Look, in the river of time, all races are equal. You¡¯re just like cattle and sheep now.¡± Huo Huan was undisturbed by the energized Wang Kun. He believed that as long as he continued to tire Wang Kun out, eventually, the latter would exhaust all his resources. Boom! All of a sudden, a gust of wind ripped through the sky. Several figures exploded, spewing a blood mist that painted a red river in the sea of clouds. Screams echoed everywhere. The previously orderly formation collapsed, many clansmen knocked off balance. Huo Huan swiftly lifted his head to identify the perpetrator. He frowned when he saw what seemed to be their own clansmen. Upon closer inspection, he discovered a lone figure slaughtering against the current of people. Huo Huan was taken aback by the swift speed. Without delay, he soared into the air and charged at Qin Huai. ¡°Kid, have you lost your mind? How dare you kill your own clansmen?¡± he roared. Observing the youthful face, Huo Huan¡¯s expression began to harden. He was surprised to find it difficult to catch up with Qin Huai. He found it incredulous. The strength of their Kun Peng clan had always relied on the purity of their bloodline. The purer, the stronger their power and potential. The leaders of the five great clans belonged to the purest of lineages. With the massive blood crystal pillars purifying their bloodline, though their realms hadn¡¯t increased much yet, their power was vastly different than before. ¡°Which family do you come from?¡± Huo Huan asked. From below, Wang Kun¡¯s surprised shout, ¡°Brother Qin!¡± reached Huo Huan¡¯s ears. ¡°Brother Qin? Are you the second rat?¡± Huo Huan¡¯s expression froze. Was there a traitor within his clan? Looking at the pair of lustrous Kun Peng wings on Qin Huai¡¯s back, he knew he was not mistaken. Such wings could only be produced by the top bloodline of their Kun Peng clan. ¡°Fire!¡± Huo Huan roared. A feather shot out from behind him, rapidly igniting mid-air, transforming into a massive flaming roc that shot towards Qin Huai. Qin Huai¡¯s sprint instantly halted. The flaming roc¡¯s speed was beyond imagination, reaching him almost instantaneously. Qin Huai folded his wings and used them as a shield. An explosion echoed through the air as the terrifying storm enveloped Qin Huai. The next moment, his gray wings swept away the exploding flames. Qin Huai reappeared before everyone, completely unscathed. Encased within his wings, he hadn¡¯t even felt the explosion¡¯s impact and high temperature. It was as if his wings transported him to another realm. ¡°It has a great defense,¡± Qin Huai mumbled to himself, making an unexpected discovery. ¡°I see now¡­¡± Huo Huan looked at Qin Huai, realization dawning on him, a cold smile playing on his lips. Their eyes met from a distance. ¡°You must be the true successor of the sect master hidden in the shadows. A top-notch bloodline¡­ Your bloodline¡¯s purity surpasses even our five great clan leaders, no, it¡¯s purer than the sect master¡¯s.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 519 - 519 Kill the Clan Leader 519 Kill the Clan Leader ¡°It¡¯s a rare seed that only emerges once every ten thousand years within our Kun Peng clan,¡± Huo Huan mused, ¡°No wonder the sect master didn¡¯t seem overly upset when that Xinglong died. That child was merely a sacrificial pawn pushed to the forefront.¡± He sneered, ¡°The sect master has concealed this well.¡± Boom! A strong wind roared in Huo Huan¡¯s ears, and in a blink of an eye, Qin Huai materialized before him. Not tolerating Huo Huan¡¯s constant chatter, Qin Huai was unwilling to provide any opportunity for his opponent. He knew that time was against him. If reinforcements were to arrive, assassinating Huo Huan would become a much harder task. In the blink of an eye, the gap between them was reduced to a fist¡¯s distance. Terrifying murderous intent rose from each of their bodies. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes glowed brighter as his black hair transformed to pure white. A brilliant power poured out from his body and wings. He threw a punch and Huo Huan¡¯s face instantly paled. Bang! Before he could respond, Qin Huai¡¯s wide Kun Peng wings, as sharp as the world¡¯s finest guillotine, slashed down. A cold, sharp light flashed in Huo Huan¡¯s pupils as blood splattered, blurring his vision. Reacting instinctively, Huo Huan retreated from Qin Huai. Gasping heavily, he looked at his hands in disbelief. ¡°How can he be so quick? Why is he so fierce?¡± He examined his damaged wings, noticing a shocking crack caused by Qin Huai¡¯s wings. He touched his cheek, feeling a bleeding wound. However, Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®blade¡¯ was so swift that Huo Huan hadn¡¯t felt any pain. What truly astounded Huo Huan was the trembling fear he sensed from the depth of Qin Huai¡¯s soul. This originated from his bloodline, a primal dread evoked by pure bloodlines. ¡°More than ten thousand years ago, our demon race chose to evolve to dismantle and control the human race,¡± Huo Huan reflected, ¡°We willingly adopted a human form to explore their secrets and cultivation potential, allowing us to ascend from mere mortals to the strongest among us in a matter of decades or centuries. ¡°The price we paid was the weakening and degeneration of our bloodline power. We succeeded, acquiring not only the human race¡¯s cultivation talent, but we also divided them, treating them as food and livestock to be slaughtered and toyed with. ¡°However, at the same time, we desperately sought ways to preserve our bloodline power. For thousands of years, we struggled down this path.¡± Huo Huan lifted his head and gazed at Qin Huai. ¡°Now, it appears the sect master has indeed nurtured an entity that transcends the era. I understand, I truly understand.¡± He became increasingly agitated. ¡°The five clan leaders are mere stepping stones for you to ascend as the sect master. All the rats were merely bait to draw us out. Your plan is truly commendable.¡± Qin Huai watched Huo Huan¡¯s ramblings with disinterest. In a way, his opponent had guessed correctly. Qin Huai did desire to eliminate them all. He hadn¡¯t anticipated the acquisition of the Kun Peng seed. It was possibly the purest bloodline of the Kun Peng clan. Against the Kun Peng demons, there was an innate suppression emanating from the power of the bloodline. This meant Qin Huai, who had invoked the Kun Peng seed, was far superior to the demons from the Kun Peng clan. ¡°How can I let you get what you want?!¡± Huo Huan roared suddenly. Above the sea of blood, a rain of flames descended from the heavens. The sky filled with fiery arrows that pierced through the clouds and mist, aiming straight for Qin Huai¡¯s head. Raising his gaze, Qin Huai looked at the flames formed by wind-wrapped feathers. His expression was unfazed. It was a technique similar to that of the central clan Leader, albeit this leader was clearly more adept in offensive methods. ¡°Flaming sun, heavenly feathery Peng!¡± Huo Huan roared. The fiery feathers blanketing the sky instantly morphed into a Kun Peng. The dense flames, in an instant, obscured the sky. The air was filled with flaming rocs, leaving no space for movement. ¡°You have no choice but to face my attack or plunge into the sea of blood,¡± Huo Huan declared, a prideful look on his face as he offered a ¡®considerate¡¯ reminder. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± Boom! Without hesitation, Qin Huai¡¯s wings flapped, propelling him toward the fire illusion. The ten-meter-long purebred Kun Peng soared through the air. The flaming rocs aiming for Qin Huai¡¯s body couldn¡¯t harm him. On close inspection, it seemed that the moment these giant flaming rocs made contact with Qin Huai, they trembled as if alive, their potency unintentionally weakening. It was as if Qin Huai had opened the black dragon realm. His Kun Peng wings provided impressive defense, ensuring he didn¡¯t sustain much damage as he navigated the flaming sea. Any minor injuries were quickly healed by Qin Huai¡¯s formidable blood heart technique. Boom! Qin Huai passed through the sea of fire in an instant, invoking the dragon emperor. Dragon bones wrapped around him under his skin, crowning him with an astonishing power. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes radiated an indifferent white light as he gazed at the nearby fire illusion. His wings, sharp as the world¡¯s deadliest weapons, descended on Huo Huan, accompanied by an intense white light. The icy slash left a long afterimage in the air. Accompanied by blood and explosions, Huo Huan¡¯s shock transformed into a ferocious smile. ¡°I got you!¡± he roared, grabbing Qin Huai¡¯s wings. However, his sturdy body was slashed by Qin Huai¡¯s wings, blood spouting from the wounds. Even his shoulders had been cut several inches deep. If the fire illusion had been a fraction slower, it¡¯s likely he wouldn¡¯t have been able to grab Qin Huai¡¯s wings and would have instead lost his arms. Yet, Huo Huan paid it no mind, his focus entirely on Qin Huai. ¡°Do you think that the battle-hardened me will be distracted by such a thing?¡± Huo Huan¡¯s face was grim. Hundreds of fire feathers condensed into a ball in front of his chest, the terrifying flames accumulating without dispersing, the intense heat distorting the surrounding air. ¡°The moment I realized the difference between our bloodlines, I decided to pay a price. I will kill you in one strike! I won¡¯t give you any chance! Arrogance¡­ It will always be the cause of death for you talented people!¡± Huo Huan roared. ¡°Go to hell! You and the painstaking efforts of the sect master!¡± With these words, he unleashed a fireball that was as big as a person and instantly spewed terrifying flames that engulfed Qin Huai¡¯s entire body, which began to melt upon contact with the flames. His white hair evaporated in the blink of an eye, dissipating into the air. Only the edges of his body and the pair of wings that the fire illusion tightly gripped remained, emitting a charred smell. ¡°Haha¡­ Hahahaha!¡± Huo Huan roared in triumph. Bang! Suddenly, he grunted, his eyes filled with confusion. He slowly looked down at the hand buried deep in his heart. ¡°I also respect you,¡± a familiar voice rang in his ears. The next moment, the wings in Huo Huan¡¯s hand shattered into green fragments, disappearing with the wind. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 520 - 520 The Hope of the Demon Race 520 The Hope of the Demon Race The sky was filled with green light dots that broke apart. Despair filled Huo Huan¡¯s expression as he turned his head, looking at the handsome face before him. ¡°Is this¡­ the technique of the Emperor of Qingzhou?¡± In his mind, Huo Huan sifted through memories, uncovering the knowledge of the emperor. Only the Emperor of Qingzhou, as recorded in ancient books, had ever used such an illusion technique that could fool him. ¡°Illusion realm fist,¡± Qin Huai lightly spat out, withdrawing his fist. Then, he targeted Huo Huan¡¯s kidneys, his firm palm piercing through Huo Huan¡¯s body as easily as a sharp saber. Puff! Huo Huan spewed another mouthful of blood, feeling his life force rapidly depleting. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the sect master would indeed have such a profound plan¡­ to allow your demon bloodline to gain the inheritance of the Emperor of Qingzhou.¡± He coughed, laughing as blood continued to spray from his mouth. ¡°If the undefeated emperor knew the truth, I wonder if he¡¯d be so angry he¡¯d crawl out from the Netherworld.¡± Huo Huan continued, ¡°Our sect master has quite the ambition.¡± He laughed again, his voice carrying a bitter edge. ¡°Let me guess¡­ He was definitely coveting the position of the Eight Virtuous Kings. All of my Kun Peng clan¡¯s hopes rest on you.¡± Huo Huan¡¯s gaze shifted from Qin Huai, his expression transforming from previous hatred to something softer. Before death, seeing a descendant of the Kun Peng clan reclaim their rightful glory might not be such a bad thing, even if it meant stepping over his own bones. ¡°Those wings are really beautiful,¡± Huo Huan admired, fixating on the wings on Qin Huai¡¯s back. ¡°Pure-blooded Kun Peng wings, both in terms of skeletal structure and aura, are far beyond what I can compare to.¡± As Qin Huai took in Huo Huan¡¯s words, he noted that while their Kun Peng wings were similar, they were not identical. There were many differences in the details. ¡°The strong prey on the weak. It¡¯s the survival instinct of the demon race,¡± Huo Huan declared. ¡°We relied on our instincts to evolve into human form and control the human world.¡± As soon as Huo Huan finished speaking, he abruptly thrust his hands into his own chest. Bang! Fresh blood sprayed onto Qin Huai¡¯s face. Startled, Qin Huai quickly withdrew his hands and stepped back. However, the expected self-destructive blow that Huo Huan should have delivered did not come. Huo Huan, bereft of Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®support,¡¯ swayed in the air. He slowly turned around to face Qin Huai, his blood-stained hand pulling out from his chest, carrying with it a ball of blood that radiated a strange power. ¡°This is the blood essence of our demon race. Only those who have cultivated to the peak of the visceral prefecture realm have a chance to cultivate it,¡± Huo Huan explained. ¡°To cultivate this ball of origin blood means that you can step into the next realm. This is the recognition of the bloodline.¡± Huo Huan offered the ball of origin blood to Qin Huai. ¡°I have no use for this now, so I give it to you.¡± His face held a smile, the kind an elder might wear, showing humility and satisfaction. Looking at Qin Huai, the one who had ended his life, he didn¡¯t show hatred but rather satisfaction. It was as if his earlier intent to die together with Qin Huai had been completely forgotten. ¡°Recast the glory of our Kun Peng clan!¡± Huo Huan roared. The next moment, he fell, like a kite with a severed string, descending into the sea of blood. Qin Huai watched Huo Huan¡¯s fall with an impassive expression. ¡°I really am not a demon,¡± he muttered to himself. This clan leader seemed to believe that he was the secret weapon of the pure-blooded Kun Peng clan leader, closely related to the Kun Peng ancestor. He even thought that Qin Huai had somehow tricked the emperor¡¯s inheritance. Yet, Qin Huai did not refute. If this could provide some comfort to the dying demon, he would not mind telling a white lie. Perhaps this was what Buddhism referred to as compassion. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Kun Peng Seed (Fragment) x233!¡± A notification echoed in his mind. He withdrew his gaze from the falling Huo Huan and focused on the origin blood in his hand. A potent power radiated from it, warming the surrounding area like a ball of fire. With a wave of his hand, Qin Huai absorbed the ball of origin blood into his body. Boom! An incredible heat engulfed him, as if his body had been set aflame. Tiny flames flickered around his body, and his gray wings began to burn. The tiny flames quickly turned into a roaring fire, and in an instant, his gray Kun Peng wings had morphed into flaming wings. Whoosh! Qin Huai stood mid-air, his blazing wings flapping, sending waves of heat around him. His white hair floated about, and his eyes shone with white light as he overlooked the world below. He resembled a deity descended upon the human realm. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± Hearing the worried shout from not too far away, Qin Huai snapped back to his senses and looked in Wang Kun¡¯s direction. Qin Huai noticed that his mysterious comrade had already killed all enemies around him, with the corpses of Kun Peng demons still falling into the sea of blood. Whoosh! With a flap of his wings, Qin Huai instantly appeared in front of Wang Kun. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 521 - 521 Two Protagonists? 521 Two Protagonists? After absorbing the fire illusion¡¯s blood essence, Qin Huai¡¯s speed significantly increased. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡­¡± Wang Kun stuttered, his mouth agape as he stared at Qin Huai, whose wings were now aflame. He had never seen such a powerful guardian spirit item. ¡°It¡¯s just a small opportunity. It¡¯s nothing compared to Elder Wang,¡± Qin Huai responded, watching as Wang Kun¡¯s energy surged, completely unlike someone who had just been in a life-or-death fight. Just moments ago, there were over a hundred demons. Even Qin Huai himself would have to expend a lot of vitality to defeat them, yet Wang Kun seemed even stronger than before. This puzzled Qin Huai. Could it be that Wang Kun was bound by some legendary protagonist¡¯s fate? ¡°My luck is indeed better. I¡¯m already at the second-level visceral prefecture realm,¡± Wang Kun admitted, scratching his head shyly. ¡°Not long ago, I caught a black-red fish king. It looked extraordinary. At that time, I was being chased by a clan Leader, so I decided to go all out and use the black-red fish king as a guardian spirit item to break through to the second level. ¡°Black-red fish king?¡± Qin Huai was left speechless. He was curious to know more but understood that details about guardian spirit items were personal. So, instead of prying, he changed the subject. ¡°Elder Wang, you¡¯ve been working hard for more than a month. Did you gain anything?¡± ¡°If Brother Qin hadn¡¯t saved me, I would have died at the hands of that clan leader.¡± Wang Kun looked at Qin Huai with reverence. The fact that Qin Huai had single-handedly defeated two top-notch experts at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm from the Kun Peng clan was astounding. ¡°Because I have refined the black-red fish king, I also received a pleasant surprise,¡± Wang Kun continued, his face calming a bit. ¡°Now that I¡¯m roaming the blood sea, I don¡¯t have to worry about being corrupted by it.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai perked up. ¡°I was like a fish in the blood sea. Moreover, I had an extraordinary sensitivity towards it,¡± Wang Kun explained. ¡°After I entered the blood sea, I keenly sensed the strength of the ¡®energy¡¯ in it. I swam towards the place with the strongest ¡®energy¡¯. But before I could get there, I was discovered by the clan leader.¡± Wang Kun then concluded, ¡°I think the secret of the blood sea is in the center of their territory.¡± ¡°In other words, this is no different from our previous guess,¡± Qin Huai surmised. ¡°Yes. If we want to find the secret, we can only go deep into the tiger¡¯s den!¡± Wang Kun confirmed. The two chatted as they traveled. Qin Huai, with his flaming wings, flew across the sea of blood. Beside him, Wang Kun¡¯s strangely shaped wings flapped, keeping a pace only slightly slower than Qin Huai¡¯s. Despite not using his full strength, Qin Huai was still using seventy percent of it, which made Wang Kun¡¯s ability to keep up all the more impressive. Even the two clan leaders might not match Qin Huai¡¯s speed. After all, he was a pure-blooded Kun Peng, and coupled with the support of the fire illusion¡¯s blood essence, his speed far surpassed that of the Kun Peng demons. However, to Qin Huai¡¯s surprise, Wang Kun, standing next to him, was able to keep pace with his speed. Qin Huai found this baffling and couldn¡¯t help glancing at Wang Kun¡¯s peculiar wings. Suddenly, he noted a striking resemblance between Wang Kun¡¯s wings and his own. Aside from the size, the patterns, feathers, and the skeleton shape were identical. Despite Wang Kun¡¯s self-proclaimed level at the second-level visceral prefecture realm, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but speculate that Wang Kun¡¯s wings were also from a pure-blooded Kun Peng. But that seemed impossible, given that all Kun Peng clansmen in this world should have evolved into demons. Qin Huai found himself questioning Wang Kun¡¯s abilities. Did he have a system similar to Qin Huai¡¯s that enabled him to collect and refine Kun Peng fragments? It might explain Wang Kun¡¯s repeated instances of near-death ¡°resurrection¡±, each time emerging stronger than before. This intriguing possibility whirled in Qin Huai¡¯s mind, but he was pulled out of his deep thoughts when Wang Kun asked about their plan. ¡°Ah?¡± Qin Huai blinked, then quickly laid out a bold strategy. He suggested that they use their individual abilities to divide and conquer, attracting the demons¡¯ attention while gradually depleting their numbers. The goal was not just slaughter but to force the demons into a desperate situation, driving them out of their core area and luring them into a trap. Then, either he or Wang Kun could enter the core and find the array core of the blood sea. ¡°It¡¯s very risky¡­¡± Wang Kun wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. The plan was indeed dangerous, and he couldn¡¯t hide his apprehension. ¡°What you and I did earlier, the risk wasn¡¯t high?¡± Qin Huai laughed lightly. He was already dancing on the tip of a knife when he stepped onto the sea of blood. When he made the choice to step into the blood sea, he had already let go of his fear of death. He wasn¡¯t being noble. But if he let the current situation continue, in the near future, he, along with his family and friends, would be pulled down into the abyss by the demons and the wicked followers of the Sacred Heart Sect. By then, they wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to fight back and would be swallowed up by the overwhelming power. Rather than that, it was better to take a risk now. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Wang Kun gave a wry smile. ¡°Then let¡¯s follow Brother Qin¡¯s plan.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a moment to gather ourselves before we begin.¡± Qin Huai murmured, ¡°Now that two of their clan leaders have been killed, it¡¯s about time for them to start panicking. The more they panic, the more likely they are to mess up, and the better our chances.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Wang Kun nodded. The two of them settled into a cross-legged position in the air and started to recuperate. Qin Huai quietly observed Wang Kun, who was deep in meditation. Various thoughts swirled in his head. Regardless of Wang Kun¡¯s past, at least for now, they were on the same team. He would first survive this test of life and death, and then he¡¯d look into Wang Kun¡¯s background. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 522 - 522 The Same Cheat? 522 The Same Cheat? In the heart of the blood sea, Tang Pi, the sect master of the Kun Peng clan, addressed the three remaining clan leaders with a gloomy expression. ¡°I told you earlier that those two ants are quite capable,¡± he admonished them, reminding of his earlier warnings about the two intruders. Tang Pi¡¯s voice resonated with resentment, ¡°Arrogant! Insufferably arrogant! Stubborn and paranoid! They even suspect that I, the sect master, have ill intentions¡­¡± He forcefully recounted the downfall of their clan, ¡°Do you know why the Kun Peng clan was pushed to the bottom of the Eight Virtuous Kings and why we haven¡¯t had a king for thousands of years?! It¡¯s because of what I said!¡± His words echoed with a profound disappointment in their arrogant ways. Finally, the bald-headed leader of the western clan, Jin Jianghong, asked impatiently, ¡°Sect Master, since the matter has already happened, just tell us the solution!¡± Tang Pi scathingly responded, ¡°Now you know how to ask me for a solution!¡± He emphasized the severe losses they had suffered, notably two fifth-level visceral prefecture realm experts and hundreds of clan elites, which would severely handicap them in the impending conflict against the Sacred Heart Sect. ¡°Sect Master, please tell me the method quickly,¡± the old man from the eastern clan said. Tang Pi then shared his strategy, ¡°The method is simple. Those two ants entered the blood sea alone. They wanted nothing more than to destroy the blood sea array and ruin the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s plan. If they want to complete their mission, they will definitely think of a way to reach this place. Then, they will lure us away and search for the array core of the blood sea¡­¡± Jin Jianghong¡¯s voice broke in, expressing his displeasure at the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s manipulative tactics, ¡°Those people from the Sacred Heart Sect have a good plan. They deliberately revealed this place to us so that we can work for them for free.¡± The old man of the eastern clan added his cryptic wisdom, ¡°There are quite a number of people who want to endure the eagles, but have their eyes pecked by the eagles. Moreover, we are not eagles, but the Kun Peng clan.¡± After imparting his advice, Tang Pi dismissed the clan leaders, instructing them, ¡°Everyone, go and do your work.¡± He watched them leave, deep in thought about the unfolding situation. ¡­ Qin Huai found himself amidst the boundless sea of blood, under the celestial river, disturbed by the increasing wails of vengeful souls. The haunting cries signal that the death toll in Qingzhou City has at least doubled in the past two months. He feared that the blood sea could collapse into Qingzhou, leading to a massive disaster. Despite knowing the impending disaster, Qin Huai felt helpless as he neither could predict nor prevent it. The only option for him was to destroy the blood sea array. While contemplating this grim scenario, Qin Huai noticed a figure, Wang Kun, immersed in the blood sea. The figure appeared to be growing at a remarkable rate, taking advantage of the blood sea to improve his blood, qi, and body. This cultivation process worried Qin Huai ¡ª Wang Kun could reach the third-level visceral prefecture realm within a fortnight, all thanks to the effects of the black-red fish king, a guardian spirit item. Although Qin Huai was intrigued by the fast-paced progress, he understood that the blood sea¡¯s power was born out of the blood essence and bones of the Qingzhou martial artists. The method reminded him of his system but seemed even more efficient as it does not require killing. Yet, Qin Huai noted that only Wang Kun can harness such potential from the blood sea. Suddenly, Qin Huai observed Wang Kun¡¯s lips moving rapidly, as if mumbling something. He attempted to read Wang Kun¡¯s lips but failed due to the speed of his movements. However, the blood sea around Wang Kun began to freeze and condense into blocks, indicating a cultivation technique that can release ice. Qin Huai was stunned, recalling that Wang Kun previously used fire techniques. A martial artist cultivating both ice and fire simultaneously was highly risky as it could cause their bodies to explode due to the clash of the two types of blood essence. For those martial artists who had cultivated to five full patterns, the cultivation methods were all compatible, at least similar. That was why this act of cultivating two opposing natures further fueled Qin Huai¡¯s worries. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 523 - 523 Attack the Center! 523 Attack the Center! The five cultivation techniques allowed one another to harmonize. Although Qin Huai¡¯s array of techniques varied greatly in terms of compatibility, he had ¡®died a thousand deaths¡¯ to gain them. But the case was different with Wang Kun¡­ Qin Huai¡¯s suspicion that Wang Kun also had a system grew increasingly certain. It was a hard pill to swallow, yet if he himself could transmigrate and obtain a system, it made sense that others might have that chance too. He even started harboring a more audacious idea ¡ª could they possibly have the same system? Bang! A thunderous explosion shattered the silence as the sea of blood exploded. Drenched head to toe, Wang Kun broke out of the crimson wave. ¡°Brother Qin, are you done adjusting?¡± he asked, exuding vitality, but there was a weariness in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s too uncomfortable. Those voices are making it difficult for me to recuperate,¡± Wang Kun complained vehemently. The voices of the evil spirits in the blood sea were more harrowing than any other place. Qin Huai agreed, nodding in deep understanding. But Wang Kun disagreed ¡ª it wasn¡¯t simply more harrowing, the voices had invaded his mind, he explained, sighing deeply. ¡°Sometimes, I even feel like I am one of them¡­ After staying in the blood sea for so long, I seem to be able to see their experiences. No, I seem to have become like those people, experiencing their lives.¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s so painful, you might as well not cultivate in the blood sea next time,¡± Qin Huai teased. ¡°Ah¡­ Then forget it,¡± Wang Kun retorted. ¡°Haha! Although cultivating in the blood sea is tough, the effects are still shocking.¡± He then revealed a surprising fact, ¡°Brother Qin, you don¡¯t know, but my cultivation speed in the blood sea is at least ten times faster than those demons who cultivate in the blood crystal pillar!¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s more than ten times. I saw the power on your body rising outside the blood sea. Your blood essence is visibly red and majestic.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ Brother Qin, if we meet the black-red fish king again, I will definitely catch one for you. After refining it into a guardian spirit item, we only need to stay on the blood sea for a few more months. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll be able to reach the peak of the visceral prefecture realm!¡± Qin Huai interjected, ¡°Even so, we still need to have enough guardian spirit items, right? Besides, Elder Wang, don¡¯t forget why we¡¯re here.¡± His voice grew solemn. ¡°The power of this blood sea is getting more terrifying by the day. The longer we delay, the more risk we face.¡± Wang Kun immediately sobered up, patting his forehead, ¡°Look at my head, I almost fell for it.¡± Fear flashed across his face, ¡°Now I finally understand why those evil cult followers are so insane. ¡°A double cultivation speed can make a warrior obsessed. It can make someone kill people who have nothing to do with him, and a ten times cultivation speed is enough to make a person ignore his family and forget everything. This is even more terrifying.¡± He broke out in a cold sweat, for this intense cultivation speed was accumulated at the cost of human lives. ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Qin Huai stated curtly. ¡°Alright!¡± Wang Kun nodded, plunging back into the blood sea. Qin Huai observed Wang Kun, who dove into the blood sea like a fish in water, then directed himself towards the core area where the Kun Peng were. Before long, he saw the blood crystal pillars standing on the sea of blood. ¡°These people are really enjoying themselves,¡± he remarked. Suddenly, the gray wings on Qin Huai¡¯s back burst into flames. The fiery feathers detached themselves and floated in the wind, becoming arrows targeted at the blood crystal pillars. Boom! Flames ripped through the sky, using the hurricane¡¯s power to trigger a sea of fire. From a distance, it looked like a golden kasaya had streaked across the sky, engulfing the densely packed blood crystal pillars. Explosions followed, weak and miserable wails echoing in the aftermath. After a series of explosions, the blood sea slowly regained its calm. Qin Huai stood on the periphery, silently gazing out across the expansive sea of blood. He watched as demons awoke from their blood crystal pillar slumber and glared angrily in his direction. Yet, to his bewilderment, they ran towards the center of the blood sea. Confused, he questioned, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t these demons have any pride as part of the Kun Peng clan?¡± He had provoked them and yet, they fled. ¡°Have they seen through me?¡± he wondered, his expression barely changing. Undeterred, he challenged, ¡°Then let me see how long you guys can remain cowards.¡± With a mighty flap of his wings, Qin Huai took flight, diving deeper into the blood sea. His speed was incredible, covering hundreds of meters with each beat of his wings. All around him, many demons were still struggling to escape their blood crystal pillar encasements. Flames fell relentlessly from his wings, piercing the blood crystal pillars. Blood wolves and blood tigers charged forth, exploding upon contact with the pillars. Like a bomber, Qin Huai wreaked havoc wherever he flew, leaving only the tranquil sea of blood in his wake. Suddenly, he stopped. Before him, the sky swarmed with countless demons, their eyes filled with murderous intent. At their forefront was a woman with a striking figure. Her aura was overwhelming, the pulsating blood essence evident even from hundreds of meters away. Another clan leader. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect a demon of the Kun Peng clan to be killed by me and then flee. I was still wondering whether I had killed a demon of the Kun Peng clan or the demon of the Turtle clan,¡± he taunted, his mockery unmistakable. His words sparked an uproar among the demon ranks. Curses filled the air, accompanied by the surge of qi and blood. The ensuing energy stirred the sea of blood into waves, whipping Qin Huai¡¯s black hair around. But, as spiteful as their words were, their feet remained glued to the spot, betraying no intent to confront Qin Huai. Meanwhile, the woman leading the group extended her hand, bringing an instant silence over the horde. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so handsome. Do you want to be my servant? We can write off our past grudges.¡± The leader of the northern clan smiled charmingly. Her eyes were as gentle as water, as if they could seduce one¡¯s soul. Qin Huai smirked. ¡°You make it sound so easy. I killed two Kun Peng clan leaders and hundreds of elites. How can such a grudge be offset by a single sentence from you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one who died,¡± she retorted. ¡°The elites who were killed were not my clansmen¡­ It¡¯s all thanks to you that our northern clan¡¯s power has grown quite a bit. Do you think I should repay this favor?¡± Qin Huai feigned interest, ¡°How about you devote yourself to me? It would be the first time in the world that an expert at the peak of the visceral prefecture realm served. Then¡­,¡± he hesitated, then added, ¡°Why don¡¯t you kill everyone around you first? I don¡¯t like having people watch me while I¡¯m doing things.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we just chase them away?¡± she asked, maintaining her composure. ¡°When I¡¯m working, I can¡¯t let anyone within a hundred miles because the commotion is too big,¡± he responded, evading her proposition. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you come over? I really want to give it a try,¡± she suggested, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. ¡°Then I¡¯m coming,¡± Qin Huai said, instantly vanishing from his position. Boom! The skyful of flames abruptly dissipated. Within the blink of an eye, Qin Huai reappeared, less than ten meters away from the woman. She was taken aback by his speed, having underestimated his agility. In a low voice, she warned, ¡°Killing people is not something that can be done quickly!¡± Boom! Her words were followed by a sudden flare of flames in front of her eyes. Strangely, the flame¡¯s color was different from those on Qin Huai¡¯s back. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 524 - 524 The Legendary Pureblood 524 The Legendary Pureblood The golden flame, pulsating with a powerful life force, allowed the flirtatious woman to make an immediate judgment ¡ª she couldn¡¯t take it head-on. Frantically, she flapped her wings and attempted to evade. But Qin Huai was too quick, his assault came without delay. The golden flames exploded right before the woman¡¯s eyes. The northern clan¡¯s leader felt warmth seep into her being, as though something had penetrated her body. This entity was massive, however, and instantly tore through her. She stiffly lowered her gaze to the golden flames consuming her body, gnawing at her flesh and blood bit by bit. No matter how desperately she tried, the golden flame couldn¡¯t be extinguished. ¡°It¡¯s useless. I kindled this flame with my life force,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice echoed in the woman¡¯s ears. It was akin to a demon¡¯s whisper, causing her spirit to plummet instantly. Being at the receiving end, how could she not feel the futility of escaping this power? Furthermore, that golden flame was extraordinarily sharp. In a fleeting moment, her body was cleaved in half. Now, only half of her body remained, and she was barely managing to stay afloat by fluttering her wings. ¡°When did it start¡­¡± the woman lamented, her tone bitter. Even on the brink of death, she maintained an inexplicable grace. Unfortunately, Qin Huai could afford no mercy. ¡°I never engage in pointless chat with my enemies,¡± he stated calmly. ¡°If you do, you better tread carefully.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson,¡± the woman replied, her smile growing more desolate. ¡°I was overly arrogant. I assumed that with our numbers and your reluctance to venture out, no matter how strong you were, you wouldn¡¯t break through our defenses.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate¡­¡± she trailed off. She hadn¡¯t expected Qin Huai to dare to rush to her side alone, in the face of her impressive troop arrangement. Moreover, his killing power was shockingly strong. ¡°I refuse to accept this!¡± she yelled. ¡°I am the leader of the northern clan, a top-tier expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm. How could I meet such a fate?¡± She hadn¡¯t even unleashed her full strength, and there were numerous trump cards she hadn¡¯t yet played. Bang! A hand thrust through the woman¡¯s heart once again. A mix of white and blood gushed from the wound before being fully consumed by the golden flames. It was the final blow that led to her downfall. The moment Qin Huai retracted his arm, the woman could no longer withstand the sight of her remaining half-body devoured by the golden flames with a resounding explosion. From the instant Qin Huai initiated his attack to the moment the woman was wholly engulfed by the golden flames, mere moments had passed. The surrounding northern clan experts seemed as if frozen in time, their expressions vacant as they took in the horrific scene. ¡°The clan leader¡­ is our leader dead?¡± the trembling members of the northern clan murmured, disbelief shrouding their features. ¡°How is that possible? She¡¯s the pride of our northern clan!¡± Their cries reverberated throughout the area. As they stared at the last shimmering vestiges of the golden flames, their eyes filled with astonishment. Most of them temporarily lost control of their faculties. The notion of attacking Qin Huai, who they had surrounded, didn¡¯t even cross their minds. ¡°Kill this wretch! Avenge our leader!¡± a few of them bellowed. These were all experts in the visceral prefecture realm, the first to recover and launch themselves at Qin Huai. ¡°Block his escape! Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± some visceral prefecture realm experts quickly decided, positioning themselves at Qin Huai¡¯s rear. However, Qin Huai had no plans to flee. His wings quivered, and in an instant, his figure emerged amongst the multitude of paralyzed Kun Peng demons. His astonishing speed left these mixed-blood demons unable to react at all. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes radiated a brilliant white light. The spectacular display of imperial power descended upon them like an enormous mountain. Boom! All the demons in the sky were shaken, even those at the fifth-level bone pattern realm staggered, almost losing control and plummeting through the air. However, those who had recently attained the bone pattern realm weren¡¯t as lucky. An unusual spectacle unfolded above the blood sea as hundreds of demons fell towards it, like kites severed from their strings. ¡°Those at the visceral prefecture realm, muster your strength!¡± The ones hoping to cut off Qin Huai¡¯s escape route were flabbergasted at the sight. They hastily advanced towards Qin Huai. They hadn¡¯t anticipated that this bold fellow wouldn¡¯t retreat after slaying their clan leader. Instead, he brazenly charged into their ranks. Wasn¡¯t he willingly walking into a trap? But now, they could only roar helplessly as they watched their kin falling into the blood sea like powerless arrows. This baffling event echoed the demise of their clan leader. ¡°How can it be? How can a single person¡¯s aura be so strong¡­?¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s the king¡¯s force, this shouldn¡¯t be possible. We are the Kun Peng clan.¡± Many of the visceral prefecture realm experts were confused. Only when they approached Qin Huai did they feel the suffocating sensation emanating from the depths of their bloodline. ¡°Those wings?¡± They glanced at each other, taken aback. Even though the flames blazed fiercely, as members of the Kun Peng clan, they could still discern the details of Qin Huai¡¯s wings from the patterns beneath the flames. ¡°Pureblood! He¡¯s of the legendary pure bloodline!¡± Someone of pure blood was the aspiration of all Kun Peng demons because the purer the bloodline, the greater the talent, and consequently, the stronger the power. The Kun Peng clansmen had spent thousands of years researching how to purify their bloodline. Yet, this person before them was the pure-blooded species they had dreamt of. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 525 - 525 The Angry Kun Peng Clan Leaders 525 The Angry Kun Peng Clan Leaders ¡°This is a conspiracy! It¡¯s the sect master¡¯s plot!¡± blurted out a visceral prefecture realm expert. ¡°The sect master wants to eradicate us collateral kin!¡± Qin Huai, in the midst of slaying the demons, was stunned when he heard this. These fellows seemed to harbor no doubts about his identity as a pure-blooded demon and a spy raised by their sect master. He didn¡¯t even need to provide any explanation ¡ª they were already concocting an intricate conspiracy theory. ¡°It¡¯s too late for realizations.¡± Qin Huai swept his gaze across the crowd with a nonchalant expression. ¡°You won¡¯t have the chance to spread the word about this so-called conspiracy¡­ because all of you will die here.¡± A fourth-level visceral prefecture realm expert laughed. ¡°I see. I understand everything now! You were the one who killed the leaders of the central clan and the southern clan, weren¡¯t you? Sect Master, you¡¯re truly merciless!¡± His voice quivered, and his eyes seemed aflame. ¡°Everyone, scatter! Spread out in every direction! Find the remaining two clan leaders and inform them about the sect master¡¯s plot!¡± he roared out. ¡°This guy is a pure-blooded cultivator nurtured by the sect master. Now that his training is complete, he plans to sacrifice us to fill the gap in the blood sea!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyebrows shot up. The northern clan experts seemed to have inadvertently divulged some important information. The next moment, the surrounding Kun Peng demons dispersed instantly, scattering in all directions. ¡°Do you believe you can escape?¡± Qin Huai roared. Immediately after, flaming feathers filled the sky, and star-like flames materialized above many demons¡¯ heads. A fourth-level visceral prefecture realm expert¡¯s pupils constricted upon seeing this. ¡°This is the clan leader¡¯s secret technique, fire illusion! As I suspected¡­ You truly aim to use us as bait!¡± Shui Sheng gritted his teeth. Initially, he contemplated engaging Qin Huai in combat, but immediately reconsidered and decided to flee. As a spy for the sect master, Qin Huai must possess a trump card, given his audacious unveiling. On the surface, they held a significant advantage. They could potentially defeat Qin Huai on the spot. However, an intuition warned him that if they stayed to fight, they would surely perish. It could even result in the loss of all northern clan elites. Shui Sheng¡¯s clear reasoning and animosity towards the sect master instantly awakened him. As he departed, he roared, ¡°I will certainly expose your conspiracy!¡± Only when Shui Sheng, the top-notch expert, had almost moved beyond his range, did Qin Huai lower his raised finger. The incredible flames plummeted towards the ground. It was an all-encompassing firestorm. Despite its shocking aura, many demons stood rooted to the spot when they witnessed it. However, its actual power was far less than before. ¡°As expected of a northern clan demon, their speed is truly impressive,¡± Qin Huai remarked nonchalantly, observing the fleeing demons in the distance. The dense fire rain resulted in the tragic deaths of only a few dozen demons, proving less deadly than the imperial might Qin Huai had earlier displayed. Bang! Suddenly, a figure surfaced from the sea of blood. It was Wang Kun, who had separated from Qin Huai earlier. ¡°Brother Qin, I finally found you.¡± He appeared considerably worse for wear and seriously injured. Two of his wounds were bone-deep, perilously close to his organs, but were healing at a visibly rapid pace. Qin Huai turned his gaze away from the fleeing demons and asked, ¡°How did it go on your end?¡± ¡°Not well. Those guys are bastards. No matter how much I tried to provoke them, they wouldn¡¯t surface. I had to take a risk, but it didn¡¯t have much effect,¡± Wang Kun replied with a bitter laugh. He observed the fleeing demons, ¡°Seems like your situation isn¡¯t much better, Brother Qin.¡± He sighed. ¡°What should we do next? Those demons must have seen through our plan. They won¡¯t show themselves for a while. However, there¡¯s still some gain. Their determination to hide in the central region and not emerge, does it confirm our guess?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Qin Huai responded. ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡± Wang Kun queried anxiously. ¡°We¡¯ll cultivate and recover. Elder Wang, you¡¯re gravely injured¡­¡± Qin Huai began, pacing away. He paused and turned back to observe Wang Kun¡¯s deep wound, bone now clearly visible. ¡°We need to continue cultivating,¡± he decided. ¡°But time is of the essence. If we don¡¯t devise a way out of this predicament soon, then¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Let the arrow fly for a while longer,¡± Qin Huai interjected calmly. Taking a cue from Qin Huai¡¯s composed demeanor, Wang Kun chose to remain silent. ¡­ At the center of the blood sea, Shui Sheng, scarred and battered, arrived at an area densely populated with blood crystal pillars. A brawny, bald man sat cross-legged atop a massive pillar. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Shui Sheng? Accompanied by a companion? Why spare the time to visit me?¡± Jin Jianghong teased, eyeing Shui Sheng¡¯s injuries with a smirk. ¡°Been playing a bit too hard, have you?¡± ¡°The clan leader is dead,¡± Shui Sheng announced, his words wiping the smile off Jin Jianghong¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. Those two incompetents, Huo Huan and Tu Fang, perished because they were careless and walked into an ambush. But you led the half-race elite to hunt down a bug!¡± Jin Jianghong¡¯s eyes expressed disbelief. He¡¯d personally intercepted Wang Kun. Despite his formidable strength, he wasn¡¯t at the level to kill a clan leader. That could probably only be achieved by two bugs working together. ¡°That young man, he¡¯s a pureblood!¡± ¡°A pureblood?¡± Shui Sheng¡¯s revelation left Jin Jianghong stunned. ¡°A pure-blooded member of the Kun Peng clan.¡± Even a clan leader like Jin Jianghong couldn¡¯t help his drastic change in expression upon hearing the word ¡®pureblood¡¯. ¡°Tang Pi!¡± He spat out the name through gritted teeth. If anyone in the entire Kun Peng clan could nurture a pure-blooded member, it would undoubtedly be their leader, Tang Pi, who controlled the majority of the clan¡¯s resources. ¡°That sneaky Tang Pi. I should¡¯ve seen this coming,¡± he muttered, ¡°Especially when his pride and joy, Tang Xinglong, died and he barely showed any sadness. That young bug must be Tang Pi¡¯s secret, favored son.¡± He visualized Tang Pi¡¯s scheme, as Shui Sheng narrated Qin Huai¡¯s demonstration of the rain of fire. Any lingering doubts were swept away, leaving Jin Jianghong enlightened. ¡°No wonder Tu Fang died, no wonder Huo Huan perished. Using all of us side branch members as blood sacrifices, stepping stones? He¡¯s ruthlessly heartless!¡± Jin Jianghong stood and began to stride in another direction. Shortly after, the two remaining branch clan leaders had assembled. Shui Sheng of the northern clan, alongside the leaders of the central clan and the southern clan, joined them. ¡°Everyone, the truth is now clear,¡± Jin Jianghong said. ¡°The untimely deaths of our brethren, including our leader, were all part of Sect Master Tang Pi¡¯s scheme! He¡¯s become entirely unhinged in pursuit of the so-called pure-blood dream! He has disregarded the kinship of our race, he has disregarded the lives of his clansmen! He is no different from the malevolent disciples of the Sacred Heart Sect.¡± He continued, ¡°We must fight for the future of the Kun Peng clan and our survival! We have to eliminate Tang Pi, the crazed cultist!¡± Jin Jianghong¡¯s roar filled the air as he raised his fist. ¡°For the Kun Peng clan!¡± they echoed, fists held high, eyes brimming with resolve. In the following moment, Jin Jianghong was the first to rise, charging towards the heart of the blood sea. His clansmen followed suit, forming an imposing swarm behind him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 526 - 526 Kun Peng Clans Evolution 526 Kun Peng Clan¡¯s Evolution At the center of the blood sea, Tang Pi was seated cross-legged atop a massive blood crystal pillar. Power surged forth from his form, while an elusive aura emanated from his body, making Gao He, who was nearby, slightly tremble. ¡°Congratulations, my lord. You are close to success.¡± Gao He watched as Tang Pi¡¯s eyes slowly opened. ¡°Almost there, just a bit more¡­ Two more months is all I need. No, make that one!¡± Tang Pi exclaimed, his eyes ablaze with anticipation. ¡°Then, I can fully transform into a pureblood.¡± Tang Pi marveled, ¡°The master of the Sacred Heart Sect is truly remarkable for devising such a magnificent array like the blood sea. It enhances the aptitude of creatures, refines their qi, blood, and physique, and even purifies their bloodline. The cost? Mere lives of insignificant beings.¡± He looked at his wings with a captivated gaze. Intricate patterns had begun to appear on them, and an ancient aura slowly pervaded his body ¡ª indicative of the power of a pure-blooded Kun Peng. ¡°The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s method of cultivation involves using living beings as sustenance for growth and transformation. It¡¯s no wonder they were capable of creating the wondrous blood sea,¡± Gao He commented. The lord before him had struck a bargain with the white-robed king of the Sacred Heart Sect. The Kun Peng clan was tasked with safeguarding the blood sea array and protecting its core. On the surface, the price the Sacred Heart Sect paid was allowing the entire Kun Peng clan to benefit from the blood sea¡¯s bounty ¡ª a boost in strength. However, the true cost was granting the sect master the opportunity to ascend to a pure-blooded creature. This chance lay at the center of the blood sea, the hub of life essence and pure power. Such potent energy could elevate a being¡¯s aptitude and strength to unimaginable heights in a remarkably short period. ¡°But¡­ the Sacred Heart Sect divulged this secret quite readily. Could they have ulterior motives?¡± Gao He expressed his concern, which had been nagging him for some time. ¡°Undoubtedly, the Sacred Heart Sect has plans of their own. But as you are aware, this is an offer we simply can¡¯t refuse,¡± Tang Pi replied. ¡°Once I reclaim my pure-blooded lineage, I¡¯ll outpower even those so-called prodigies with the king¡¯s force among the human race!¡± His grin took on a sinister edge. ¡°When I ascend to the king realm, not even the white-robed king will be my equal. Does their alleged conspiracy even matter then?¡± Upon the maturation of their pure-blooded Kun Peng, they would be tremendously powerful. However, there was a downside ¡ª the purer the bloodline, the lower their fertility. In the worst case, the entire Kun Peng race could face extinction due to a severe drop in fertility. Ultimately, they were forced to resort to crossbreeding to multiply their species and preserve their dominion. As time passed, their bloodlines grew increasingly mixed, and the apex of their realms continually declined. Eventually, they sought progress by transforming into human forms, adopting the human race¡¯s cultivation talent. This strategy not only enhanced their combat strength but also led to a significant increase in their population. However, it seemed they were now beginning another cycle, this time, in pursuit of purity in their bloodlines. Tang Pi aimed for perfection ¡ª he envisioned a Kun Peng race of robust fertility and pristine bloodline. Upon achieving this, they would reign supreme amongst the eight royal families, standing once more at the top of the world. And Tang Pi would secure his place in history as the leader of the Kun Peng race. Under such a tantalizing prospect, the death of a son seemed a small sacrifice. With this thought, an audacious grin crept onto Tang Pi¡¯s face. Then, he restrained himself and reassured Gao He, ¡°Fear not, when the time is right, your bloodline will be entirely replaced with Kun Peng blood. You¡¯ve followed me loyally for decades since the incident, resolving countless issues for me. You¡¯ve proven to be even more reliable than my own son. Following my transformation, you¡¯ll be the second pureblood.¡± Tang Pi chuckled while Gao He bowed humbly in response. ¡°Even without this assurance, I would still follow you.¡± The demon that had once caused havoc in Qingzhou City was none other than Gao He. Although Tang Pi had defeated him, he didn¡¯t kill Gao He as the rumors suggested. Instead, Gao He pledged his allegiance to Tang Pi. For decades, Gao He had been a prominent figure in the prefecture overseer¡¯s estate, ruling over Qingzhou City. He personally eliminated many who accidentally discovered or suspected the truth about the prefecture overseer¡¯s Tang family. ¡°Rest assured, you know me. I¡¯ve always been fair when it comes to rewards and punishments,¡± Tang Pi said, his gaze drifting over the residences of the clan leaders and members. ¡°We just need to sacrifice the lives of some of our collateral relatives.¡± The blood sea could enhance the aptitude, blood, and even bloodline of creatures, but it required some beings of the same species as a catalyst. The dirty work of implementing this strategy fell to Gao He, whose methods were so covert that the clansmen remained oblivious. They continued to believe that those who perished had merely fallen into the blood sea and dissolved while cultivating in the blood crystal pillar. Tang Pi then observed, ¡°However, you seem to have changed recently. You wouldn¡¯t ordinarily say such things to secure my promise.¡± Caught off guard, Gao He lowered his head. ¡°I apologize, my lord.¡± Tang Pi dismissed it with a wave of his hand. ¡°Never mind. The allure of becoming a pureblood is irresistible, even for me. It¡¯s understandable that you lost your composure.¡± Tang Pi held considerable trust in Gao He. After all, they had worked together numerous times. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 527 - 527 The Stunned Tang Pi 527 The Stunned Tang Pi Suddenly, Tang Pi was taken aback. In the distance, there was a crescendo of screams. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he questioned, his brows furrowing. ¡°Did those two pests manage to fight their way here?¡± That seemed impossible, given the surrounding five great clans. Even a herd of pigs shouldn¡¯t have been dispatched so swiftly. Then, with a loud crash, a figure traced a graceful arc in the sky, landing at Tang Pi¡¯s feet. ¡°Tang Song? What happened outside?¡± Tang Pi left the blood crystal pillar and scooped up the man at his feet. Tang Song was a reliable general in his clan, a steadfast pillar of support who had just advanced to the visceral prefecture realm. ¡°It was the five great clans, the five great clans¡­ ugh.¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Tang Song coughed up a mouthful of blood and drew his last breath. Tang Pi examined Tang Song¡¯s chest, noticing a sharp, conspicuous cut. A potent aura emanated from the wound. ¡°How familiar¡­¡± Tang Pi thought, his eyes quivering as he considered the possibilities. In the next instant, the face of the killer materialized in the air. ¡°Old Tang!¡± a familiar voice boomed. The figure stood tall in the air, his robust wings spread wide, basking in the descending light. A horrifying pressure swept down like a tidal wave. ¡°Jin Jianghong! Are you rebelling?¡± Tang Pi asked incredulously, his eyes bulging as he stared at the figure. ¡°Rebellion?¡± Jin Jianghong retorted with a cold chuckle, shaking his head. ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯m here to purge my clan of evil!¡± ¡°Evil?¡± Tang Pi laughed. ¡°The evil you¡¯re referring to is Tang Song? If you fail to provide a reason today, I¡¯ll¡­¡± ¡°Sect Master, have you grown senile? Or do you assume we¡¯re all idiots?¡± Jin Jianghong interjected. ¡°You are the true embodiment of evil!¡± Before Tang Pi could react, there was a sound of tearing air from above. Shui Sheng, the interim leader of the northern clan, stormed forward in rage. ¡°You!¡± he roared at Tang Pi. ¡°You plotted against your own kind, sacrificing our lives as a catalyst to produce a pure-blooded species!¡± His voice was soon echoed by the elder of the Eastern Clan, who materialized in the sky, glaring at Tang Pi with an indifferent expression. ¡°Sect Master, your end is near!¡± Tang Pi was stunned. He thought he¡¯d carried out his plan secretly. How had they found out? He turned to Gao He, instinctively suspecting that he had divulged their secret plans. But Gao He looked just as incredulous. ¡°Sect Master, remember this. If you don¡¯t want others to know, don¡¯t do it,¡± Jin Jianghong advised, his sneer widening. ¡°You bred a pure-blooded species and planned to use us as blood sacrifices. We were the true prey in your eyes.¡± Confused, Tang Pi pondered his words. Were those two ¡®pests¡¯ actually purebloods? What kind of joke was this? He desperately wanted to dismiss the notion, to claim they had nothing to do with him. But the truth was, he had indeed committed the atrocities that Jin Jianghong and others had accused him of. However, he was oblivious to the fact that he had inadvertently exposed himself because of these two ¡®pests.¡¯ Now, as long as Jin Jianghong made a move, he would certainly learn about Tang Pi¡¯s bloodline. ¡°I really didn¡¯t anticipate something going wrong at this stage,¡± Tang Pi muttered, slowly ascending into the sky. ¡°Originally, I planned to ensure your dignified deaths, leaving your names to echo through history and be honored by your clansmen. But now, you will be remembered as traitors!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s long hair fluttered in the wind as his aura began to soar. ¡°Now you¡¯ll witness the terrifying power of a pureblood!¡± As he spoke, the wings on Tang Pi¡¯s back kept growing ¡ª ten meters, fifteen meters, twenty meters¡­ Even his body expanded, and within moments, he had transformed into an eight-meter-tall giant. Tang Pi hovered mid-air, surveying Jin Jianghong and the others as if they were mere ants. ¡°I see, so you too are a pureblood? But remember, size alone does not dictate the outcome of a battle!¡± Jin Jianghong felt an immense pressure washing over him, causing cold sweat to break out on his face. Despite this, his eyes flickered with increasing excitement. The unfolding scene suggested that once they killed Tang Pi, they too might have a chance to ascend to pureblood status. He exchanged glances with the other clan leader and the shared understanding between them was evident. ¡°Given that we¡¯re both top fifth-level visceral prefecture realm experts, and taking into account your limited support, I refuse to believe you can defeat us!¡± Jin declared. In an instant, the airborne figures disappeared. Even Gao He, previously below, was swept up into the chaotic fray. Explosions echoed across the skies, and a rain of blood and wing debris cascaded down, stirring up the previously placid blood sea. ¡­ On the other side of the blood sea, the handsome Qin Huai effortlessly navigated the battlefield, his wings beating rhythmically. Accompanying him was Wang Kun, his wings conspicuously smaller. The pair, those ¡®bugs¡¯, brazenly traversed the blood sea. Occasionally, the chaotic battles around them would impact them, but any threat was swiftly neutralized by the duo. ¡°Is this Brother Qin¡¯s strategy¡­¡± Wang Kun stared at the chaotic skirmish, his eyes wide in disbelief. ¡°Brother Qin, how did you manage this?¡± ¡°Perhaps our perseverance moved the heavens and altered our fate,¡± Qin Huai replied, offering a casual excuse. ¡°If I truly had the power to influence the heavens, my South Mythical Sect wouldn¡¯t have been destroyed,¡± Wang Kun said, a hint of sorrow creeping into his voice. Qin Huai fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words. As they ventured deeper into the blood sea, the aftermath of the high-powered battle waged overhead was still visible. Despite the turmoil, their journey to the heart of the blood sea was surprisingly unhindered. ¡°Elder Wang, can you determine where the blood sea is most concentrated?¡± Qin Huai asked. Ever since Wang Kun had claimed to have refined the black-red Fish King, his sensitivity to the blood sea had soared to an unimaginable level. ¡°There!¡± Wang Kun gestured towards the location where Tang Pi had previously been meditating. As they hurriedly approached, Qin Huai bent down to scrutinize the seemingly calm sea of blood. Suddenly, spectral hands of vengeance burst forth from the blood, but a swift stroke of Qin Huai¡¯s sword sliced them all in half. ¡°As expected, this place is far more terrifying than the rest!¡± Qin Huai noted, seeing the signs of corrosion on his arm. However, his potent life essence swiftly overpowered the corrosion, healing him via the blood heart technique. ¡°If I cultivate here, the effects could be astounding!¡± Wang Kun breathed, excitement seeping into his voice. ¡°Perhaps it could even trigger a mutation in our bodies to adopt a unique physique!¡± ¡°Does the blood sea possess such a power?¡± Qin Huai questioned, surprised. He looked at Wang Kun, asking, ¡°How did you know, Elder Wang?¡± ¡°I¡­I¡­I don¡¯t really know. It¡¯s just a feeling,¡± Wang Kun stuttered, unable to provide a concrete answer. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on locating the array core for now,¡± Qin Huai suggested, dismissing the unanswered query. ¡°If it¡¯s not on the surface, it¡¯s probably submerged in the blood sea.¡± He took a deep breath, preparing to dive into the Blood Sea. ¡°Brother Qin, allow me to do this!¡± Wang Kun interjected. ¡°The power of this blood sea is immense, its corrosiveness far surpassing other places. Without the black-red fish king to aid you, I¡¯m afraid that even with your superior physique¡­¡± Wang Kun pulled Qin Huai back and with a determined look, insisted, ¡°Let me try.¡± ¡°No, absolutely not! We should stay together. If something happens, we can support each other!¡± Qin Huai responded adamantly. He couldn¡¯t let Wang Kun, who carried numerous mysteries, face this final step alone. Without waiting for a response, Qin Huai plunged headfirst into the crimson sea, leaving no room for further discussion. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 528 - 528 The Omniscient Wang Kun? 528 The Omniscient Wang Kun? Bang! The heavy scent of blood permeated the environment, accompanied by an intense heat. It felt as if countless insects had invaded Qin Huai¡¯s body. However, contrary to his expectations, there was no wave of agony. The center of the blood sea was oddly serene. Qin Huai inspected his skin, realizing that his blood, qi, and stamina were rapidly diminishing. ¡°Sneakily draining my power?¡± he thought. This silent assault was far more lethal than any surge of pain, for it made it impossible for him to gauge the condition of his body through discomfort. Perhaps at any moment, the blood sea would engulf him without a warning. Yet, he had no time for extensive contemplation. He scanned the heart of the blood sea, aiming to locate the array core in the vast crimson expanse. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice echoed from behind him. Turning, Qin Huai saw Wang Kun, seemingly in his element amidst the blood sea. He was even capable of speech. Despite knowing about Wang Kun¡¯s refinement of the black-red fish king, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the sight. ¡°Brother Qin, refining the black-red fish king has granted me exceptional speed and vision here. Just follow my lead,¡± Wang Kun assured, his confidence evident even in the midst of the bloody waters. Qin Huai nodded in agreement. With a wave of his hand, a white dragon erupted from his body, obliterating the few spectral arms that hovered nearby. However, the white dragon qi could only neutralize threats within a ten-inch radius, any further and it would be devoured by the blood sea, leaving him powerless. For Qin Huai, the spectral arms were a boundless menace. He had to continuously unleash the white dragon qi to fend them off. If they ensnared him, he would be as helpless as a man entangled by seaweed in the deep sea ¡ª escape would prove extraordinarily challenging. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Brother Qin, keep up!¡± Wang Kun hollered, disregarding the spectral arms that surrounded him. In fact, they recoiled, as if sensing a formidable adversary within him. Even though Qin Huai was exceptionally fast, he struggled to match Wang Kun¡¯s pace. Fortunately, Wang Kun seemed to swim with a clear goal, as if he had already found something. They swam tirelessly. The blood sea was vast, covering almost the entirety of Qingzhou City, but its depth was around a mile. Despite his prolonged breath-holding capacity, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t endure the exhaustion. Luckily, he managed to evade the spectral creatures, quickly entered the bronze mountain and river diagram for a brief respite, and then swiftly emerged again. This tactic ensured he didn¡¯t sink into the blood sea, or lose sight of Wang Kun. Soon, Wang Kun stopped. ¡°Found it,¡± he announced. Arriving slightly late, Qin Huai floated next to Wang Kun, following his gaze to the skull hovering not far away. ¡°Even a visceral prefecture realm expert would struggle to resist being consumed by the blood sea. Yet, this skull rests here undisturbed, perfectly intact,¡± Wang Kun mused aloud. ¡°This must be the array core.¡± He turned to Qin Huai, seeking his opinion, ¡°What do you think, Brother Qin?¡± ¡°In the vast expanse of the blood sea, this is indeed the only anomaly,¡± Qin Huai conceded. Despite his limited vision, he had been traversing the heart of the blood sea for quite some time. Among the countless vengeful souls, he could distinguish the black skull as a unique entity. ¡°Brother Qin, this array core seems to be an exceptional treasure,¡± Wang Kun murmured thoughtfully. ¡°Let¡¯s bring it out first!¡± Qin Huai proposed, gritting his teeth. His strong body was nearing its threshold, with his skin starting to peel away, revealing raw flesh and blood. The surrounding vengeful souls were like wolves drawn to the scent of blood, converging swiftly toward Qin Huai. ¡°Alright!¡± Wang Kun reacted in alarm upon seeing Qin Huai¡¯s deteriorating condition. In the next instant, he propelled himself towards the black skull and, without hesitation, clutched it in his arms. Almost simultaneously, all surrounding vengeful spirit arms froze, then redirected their assault towards Wang Kun. Vengeful souls from all directions started congregating, amassing until their density formed a black ocean. ¡°Elder Wang!¡± Qin Huai shouted. Regardless of his reservations about Wang Kun¡¯s true identity, he couldn¡¯t let Wang Kun perish now. Furthermore, they had been battle comrades for several months. He was about to plunge into the sea of souls to save Wang Kun when an odd sight unfolded. The infinite arms of the vengeful souls halted two meters away from Wang Kun, seemingly immobilized. Even as Wang Kun advanced, the spectral arms would politely retreat. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Brother Qin, it appears my decision to refine the black-red fish king was correct!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice echoed from within the mass of souls. Qin Huai, who had been preparing for a rescue, sighed in relief. ¡°Brother Qin, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m unharmed. They don¡¯t even dare to touch me!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice exuded confidence. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Let¡¯s retreat first,¡± Qin Huai suggested. Thanks to Wang Kun, he was now clear of the surrounding vengeful souls. While the corrosion rate of the blood sea remained unchanged, Qin Huai¡¯s speed improved significantly now that he didn¡¯t have to fend off the vengeful spirit arms. Moments later, they arrived at the periphery of the blood sea. From beneath the sea¡¯s surface, Qin Huai watched the fierce battle ensuing above. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he spread his wings and surged out of the blood sea. Exhaling deeply, Qin Huai gulped in the crisp air. He lifted his gaze to the sky where the Kun Peng clan¡¯s sect master, exuding a familiar aura, was still locked in combat with the other clan leaders. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 529 - 529 Ethereal Mirage 529 Ethereal Mirage Tang Pi was holding his own, even in a five-against-one combat scenario. The staggering display of lethal prowess sent a wave of awe coursing through Qin Huai. ¡°A pureblood? And he has already reached the level above the visceral prefecture realm?¡± Qin Huai wondered, a slight frown on his face. Initially, he had contemplated sitting back and reaping the benefits, but seeing the aura emanating from Tang Pi, he abandoned the notion. ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s best we disrupt the blood sea array first.¡± As if on cue, Wang Kun emerged from below, a black skull cradled in his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Without any hesitation, they swiftly made for the outer edge of the blood sea. Soon after, the clamor in their ears faded away. They journeyed cautiously, only coming to a halt once they reached the blood sea¡¯s boundary. ¡°That was surprisingly smooth,¡± Wang Kun remarked, cradling the black skull as though it were a precious gem. ¡°I was expecting a life-or-death ordeal.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a better outcome?¡± Qin Huai echoed, his gaze affixed on the black skull, lost in contemplation. Beneath their feet, innumerable vengeful souls stretched their arms, yearning to reclaim the skull. Yet, under Wang Kun¡¯s divine power, they were confined to merely snarling and clawing at the blood sea¡¯s surface, unable to pose any real threat. ¡°Brother Qin, what¡¯s our next move?¡± Wang Kun inquired, his gaze shifting between reluctance and pleading. ¡°My suggestion is to destroy it,¡± Qin Huai answered promptly. ¡°This blood sea array holds the souls of millions from Qingzhou City, including warriors. If you¡¯re looking to refine it, you¡¯ll first need to contend with those million souls. The moment the skull integrates into your body, it¡¯ll be like ingesting a million vengeful souls.¡± Qin Huai evaluated the situation objectively. While the prospect of controlling the blood sea array intrigued him, the million vengeful souls posed a hard challenge, one he didn¡¯t have the confidence to face. ¡°But I possess the black-red fish king. Notice how these vengeful souls won¡¯t even approach within two meters of me?¡± Wang Kun reasoned, still wavering. His explanation seemed directed at Qin Huai, but it was more an internal debate. ¡°True. Elder Wang, you¡¯re the only one with a shot at refining it,¡± Qin Huai acknowledged, not dissuading him. If Wang Kun could successfully refine the skull, it could prove to be a potent weapon against the Kun Peng clan and the Sacred Heart Sect. ¡°I¡¯ll keep a watch here. If Elder Wang succeeds, it¡¯ll be a win for us. If you fail, I¡¯ll destroy it immediately. The choice is entirely yours,¡± Qin Huai offered, situating himself in a cross-legged posture mid-air. Given that Wang Kun had played a great role in procuring the black skull, he deserved the right to decide its fate. Wang Kun wrestled with his decision for a long while, while Qin Huai patiently waited. Time passed, day turned into night, and back again. ¡°Alright! Destroy it!¡± Wang Kun finally declared, seemingly defeated. ¡°If I willingly refine this black skull within me, it¡¯s uncertain whether these million vengeful souls would follow¡­ I can¡¯t take the risk. I fear death too much. It¡¯s better we destroy it.¡± With a heavy heart, Wang Kun handed the black skull to Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Qin, please do it. I can¡¯t bring myself to,¡± he said, his back turned to Qin Huai, a forlorn expression on his face. ¡°Very well.¡± Accepting the black skull from Wang Kun, Qin Huai felt an immediate surge of vengeful souls. His scalp prickled at the sensation. Without a second thought, he struck the black skull. His eyes flashed white as he activated the dragon king form. A corresponding white light streaked across his fist, culminating in a poison dragon shock. Boom! A muffled explosion echoed, and the black skull in Qin Huai¡¯s grip fragmented with a resounding crack. Countless pieces scattered in the air before cascading toward the ground. The vengeful souls beneath the blood sea reached out in a futile attempt to catch the fragments. However, as the shards neared their hands, they disintegrated into dust, dispersing in the wind. Rumble¡­ The blood sea began to shake, its vibrations sending ripples through the once calm surface. Dark clouds in the sky tilted ominously, throwing the world into a disorienting whirl. Qin Huai and Wang Kun also wobbled violently, tossed like leaves in a tempest. Despite their attempts to stabilize themselves, they seemed to have lost their bearings, tumbling erratically through the sky. ¡°Is the blood sea about to collapse, Brother Qin?¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice echoed, filled with panic. ¡°Stay steady!¡± Qin Huai shouted back, striving to maintain calm. His eyes darted around the spinning sky, seeking any clue that could give them an advantage. After a period of intense turbulence, the world gradually steadied. Standing aloft in the sky, Qin Huai and Wang Kun exchanged a wordless glance. They cast their eyes downward, surveying the scene beneath them. The blood sea remained unchanged, silently floating amid the clouds. The once ominous sky had regained its tranquility, devoid of any apocalyptic indication. ¡°What just happened?¡± Wang Kun asked, confusion etched across his face. ¡°We definitively destroyed the array core. Why is the blood sea still undisturbed?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s descend and investigate.¡± Without waiting for a response, Qin Huai dove toward the ground along the blood sea¡¯s edge, hoping to discern whether the sea had indeed collapsed. Yet, the scene below was disappointingly peaceful, with blood obscuring the sky above Qingzhou City. Resurfacing, Qin Huai shook his head at the expectant Wang Kun. ¡°I can¡¯t see any change. What could have gone wrong?¡± His eyes were filled with doubt. Wang Kun chimed in, ¡°The tremors suggest that the black skull was connected to the blood sea array. We¡¯re not mistaken about that. Could there be another core?¡± Their realization struck simultaneously. Could there be more than one array core? ¡°That makes sense. An array as powerful as this would likely have multiple cores,¡± Qin Huai mused. ¡°I remember that the True Path Sect¡¯s five-element heavenly array had five array cores. And the Three Mountains Sect in Qingzhou City had three cores for their mountain suppressing array,¡± Wang Kun said. Qin Huai glanced at him, surprised. ¡°Elder Wang, do you have knowledge about arrays?¡± Not only did Wang Kun possess this knowledge, but he also knew about the cores of the Three Mountains Sect¡¯s array ¨C information only shared among a select few within the sect. The elder of a low-tier sect in Qingzhou City certainly didn¡¯t have such abilities. It was beyond belief that he even knew the True Path Sect¡¯s five-element heavenly array had five array cores. Additionally, he was aware of the five branch families within the Kun Peng clan and was familiar with the sect¡¯s deepest secrets. His proficiency in array formations and diverse cultivation techniques was simply astounding. There were countless such anomalies. The more time Qin Huai spent with Wang Kun, the more he felt a chilling sense of awe towards him. This man was truly formidable. But it brought up an inevitable question: who exactly was he? Suppressing his curiosity, Qin Huai suggested, ¡°Elder Wang, you should investigate around the blood sea again.¡± ¡°And where will you be, Brother Qin?¡± Qin Huai pointed upward. ¡°I suspect there might be another core hidden in the clouds.¡± Wang Kun grinned. ¡°Indeed, Brother Qin is smart! I also think that if another core exists, it¡¯s likely in the clouds directly above where we found the black skull. This is known as the illusionary flower and water moon in the array. Even if one of the cores is missing, the array will still function normally.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s divide and conquer,¡± Qin Huai suggested, to which Wang Kun agreed. Qin Huai ascended to seventy thousand feet above the ground, unhindered due to his pure-blooded Kun Peng prowess. Before long, Qin Huai heard the echoes of battle below, accompanied by an occasional feather floating past his ear. With his enhanced vision, he peered through the thick clouds and spotted a white skull suspended in the mist, just as Wang Kun had predicted. Bang! Without hesitation, he struck, shattering the white skull with a thunderous punch. However, as seconds passed, the blood sea remained silent, its response or lack thereof, a mystery. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 530 - 530 Going Down Again 530 Going Down Again In a secluded corner of the blood sea, Qin Huai and Wang Kun reconvened. A frosty silence enveloped the pair as they sat, cross-legged in mid-air, immersed in deep contemplation over the enigma that was the blood sea. After a prolonged period of quiet introspection, Qin Huai broke the silence with a resigned sigh. ¡°I¡¯m at a loss. I have no clue at all.¡± Wang Kun opened his eyes slowly, his voice laced with frustration. ¡°We¡¯ve scoured every inch of the blood sea, but not a single clue has surfaced. The black and white skulls in the ethereal mirage array were destroyed, so the blood sea should have ceased to exist.¡± He scratched his head in frustration. Observing Wang Kun¡¯s flushed countenance and the trace of blood on his nose, Qin Huai pointed out, ¡°Elder Wang, you have a nosebleed.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Wang Kun responded in surprise. Touching his nose, he found his hand smeared with blood. It was as if a dam had broken, and blood began to flow unabated from his nostrils. ¡°F*ck, f*ck¡­¡± Startled, Wang Kun quickly sat down and started a cultivation technique to regain his balance. Observing Wang Kun¡¯s vitality spike once again, Qin Huai was left with a sense of perplexity. How could Wang Kun¡¯s vitality be so robust that even in his advanced stage of visceral prefecture realm, he experienced nosebleeds? After a moment, Wang Kun opened his eyes. Looking a bit sheepish, he admitted, ¡°Brother Qin, ever since we destroyed the black skull, I feel my strength growing.¡± Qin Huai chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed it too. Have you stumbled upon another great fortune, Elder Wang?¡± He had not anticipated Wang Kun broaching this subject willingly. Wang Kun shook his head. ¡°Apart from you and me, only the demons of the Kun Peng clan inhabit this blood sea. No other entities exist unless you consider the black-red fish king an entity.¡± Qin Huai nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. ¡°There are countless mysteries in this world beyond our comprehension. Since it benefits you, Elder Wang, just appreciate the boon.¡± His emotions regarding Wang Kun were complex. On one hand, he was a trustworthy ally, a comrade with whom he¡¯d braved the jaws of death. Yet, Wang Kun¡¯s inexplicable traits added an element of mystery and potential danger. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t discern whether Wang Kun¡¯s innocent demeanor was genuine or an impeccably crafted facade hiding his true nature. He decided it was best not to dwell on it for now. With a resigned shake of his head, Qin Huai began, ¡°We¡¯ve already destroyed the two array cores, but the blood sea remains impervious to any change.¡± Wang Kun followed up with, ¡°Then we¡¯re left with two options. As the Kun Peng demons are engaged in their internal conflict, we could seize the opportunity to intervene and eliminate more of them. Or, I could descend the mountain and probe into the mysteries harbored by the various sects in Qingzhou City?¡± Qin Huai agreed. ¡°Indeed. While we may lack understanding of the blood sea¡¯s secrets, that doesn¡¯t mean the five major sects share our ignorance, particularly Wuji Mountain, a branch of the True Path Sect.¡± ¡°However, Wuji Mountain is one of the five major sects. Even though it remains intact, we don¡¯t have a familiar rapport with its disciples.¡± Wang Kun appeared uncertain. ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t mentioned this to Elder Wang. Within the Qingzhou Alliance¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice trailed off abruptly. He cast a bewildered look at Wang Kun. ¡°How did Elder Wang know that Wuji Mountain wasn¡¯t annihilated? Didn¡¯t you say that you appeared in the blood sea the moment the South Mythical Sect was obliterated? And it seemed your sect was the first sect to be destroyed.¡± A broad smile spread across Qin Huai¡¯s face. ¡°I¡­ Yes, how did I come by that knowledge?¡± Wang Kun looked perplexed. He abruptly clasped his head and dropped into a squat, grimacing in pain. ¡°How did I know¡­? My head, it¡¯s throbbing!¡± Wang Kun writhed mid-air in evident agony. All the while, Qin Huai observed silently from below, his eyes calm. Several hours later, Wang Kun finally landed, appearing as drained as one recovering from a severe ailment. He gazed tiredly at Qin Huai and asked slowly, ¡°Brother Qin, if I claim I don¡¯t know either, would you believe me?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Qin Huai replied without missing a beat. He then offered, ¡°I have a proposal. We can do our previous strategy. You stay in the blood sea, uncover the Kun Peng clan¡¯s weakness, and try to thin their ranks. I¡¯ll head to Wuji Mountain to investigate any array-related texts and search for a solution to break the blood sea.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Wang Kun nodded without any hesitation. ¡°However, Elder Wang, you must be careful. The Kun Peng clan¡¯s leader, Prefecture Overseer Tang Pi, is nearly at the king realm. His battle prowess surpasses that of an average visceral prefecture realm expert by far,¡± cautioned Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Qin, worry not!¡± Wang Kun reassured, thumping his chest. With an understanding nod, the two parted ways. After journeying a significant distance, Qin Huai looked back at Wang Kun. His superior vision, a gift from the pure-blooded Kun Peng, allowed him to discern Wang Kun¡¯s expressions clearly despite the intervening layers of clouds and mist. Elder Wang was still in his sight, waving with a broad grin. But Qin Huai¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t on his smile or wave. His eyes were fixated on Wang Kun¡¯s face and the pair of wings on his back which had grown even larger. Qin Huai gazed at the majestic gray wings. They bore a striking resemblance to his own pure-blooded Kun Peng wings. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 531 - 531 Nine Dragons Empress! Blood Sea Array Core! 531 Nine Dragons Empress! Blood Sea Array Core! Boom! Without further hesitation, Qin Huai plunged from the sky towards Spirit Gate. As he touched ground, a gentle flap of his wings shattered the thick frost clinging to his feathers, sending shards of ice cascading to the ground. Barely had he landed when Gou Jie materialized at his side. ¡°I counted the days on my fingers and knew Alliance Master would return today,¡± he said, squinting slightly. The number of decorative cats on the whisk in his hand had noticeably decreased. ¡°Seems your mathematical skills have vastly improved,¡± Qin Huai commented. He folded his wings and took in the scene outside the Spirit Gate in the company of Gou Jie. Compared to several months prior, not only had the number of individuals not reduced, but it had escalated. Commoners in ragged attire, carrying their families on their backs, queued dispiritedly in front of Lingkou Pass. ¡°Why?¡± inquired Qin Huai. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the handiwork of the Sacred Heart Sect?¡± Gou Jie answered with a resigned expression. ¡°Qingzhou City is now a slaughterhouse for their followers. Some, despite their lack of strength, are loath to abandon this quick-progress cultivation method. Hence, they propagate the Sacred Heart¡¯s teachings in other counties of Qingzhou, bringing about widespread suffering.¡± Qin Huai interjected, ¡°Aren¡¯t those county governors capable of sealing off the borders to¡­¡± His voice trailed off, followed by a mirthless laugh. ¡°Could it be that many cult followers in Qingzhou City were originally high-ranking officials or county governors?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Gou Jie confirmed with a bitter smile. ¡°That¡¯s why those county cities crumble with the slightest push.¡± ¡°Indeed, this is what happens when those Sacred Heart Sect fanatics are allowed to run rampant,¡± Qin Huai muttered, clenching his fists. From Gou Jie, he got an overview of the refugee situation. As per Lingkou Pass, the population of the ten counties had swelled beyond hundreds of millions, over tenfold the populace of Qingzhou City. Now the demographic hub of Qingzhou, the vast influx of labor, capital, medicines, and seeds from various provinces rapidly developed the initially barren East Qingzhou counties. With the martial might of the Nine Dragons Sect keeping them in check, any minor unrest was promptly quelled. ¡°Initially, we feared this massive demographic shift might be detrimental to the ten counties. But your wife efficiently managed every crisis and established her authority and rules,¡± praised Gou Jie. ¡°In half a year, the ten counties have flourished beyond recognition.¡± Gou Jie didn¡¯t hold back his admiration for Li Shaoxiang. ¡°The most crucial achievement is the introduction of a potent fertilizer from an unknown source, which escalated the food production in the East Qingzhou counties. The stockpiled food of several years is more than enough to feed the massive influx of refugees.¡± ¡°Madam¡¯s capability indeed surpasses my expectations,¡± Qin Huai acknowledged, aware of the tremendous efforts behind Gou Jie¡¯s few words. Gou Jie couldn¡¯t resist a jab, ¡°The alliance master¡¯s wife has quite a fan base among the populace now.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai turned to Gou Jie with curiosity. ¡°They call her the Nine Dragons Empress!¡± ¡°Empress¡­¡± Qin Huai chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty good title.¡± As he surveyed the mountain teeming with refugees, he could feel his responsibilities weighing heavier. Suddenly, he paused, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Gou Jie queried. ¡°Do you see any starlight?¡± ¡°Starlight? What starlight?¡± Gou Jie followed Qin Huai¡¯s gaze to the crowd of refugees. ¡°No?¡± Qin Huai observed the long line of refugees, seeing specks of pure white starlight floating gently from their bodies. Suspended mid-air, they merged into a faintly luminous river of stars, a sight of breathtaking magnificence. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Gou Jie asked, casting a dubious glance at Qin Huai. ¡°Alliance Master, perhaps you¡¯re too tired,¡± he suggested solemnly, ¡°You should rest for a while. Even as visceral prefecture realm experts, overexerting our mental strength could lead to our downfall.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± Qin Huai shook his head, pushing the peculiar sensation to the back of his mind. While he acknowledged the validity of Gou Jie¡¯s words, he had no luxury of time for respite. ¡°How¡¯s Wuji Mountain now?¡± Qin Huai inquired, veering straight to the point. ¡°Wuji Mountain remains undisturbed. That white-robed king hasn¡¯t shown up since his last attack, as though he deems Wuji Mountain unworthy of his attention,¡± Gou Jie replied, his mood plummeting at the memory. The white-robed king¡¯s onslaught had cast a heavy pall over everyone in the Qingzhou Alliance, a stifling shadow of impending danger. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe. I plan to visit Wuji Mountain soon. Anything I need to pay attention to¡± Qin Huai asked as they strolled. ¡°Are you seeking information on array formations?¡± Gou Jie ventured a guess. ¡°How did you know?¡± A surprised Qin Huai asked. ¡°As a scholar, it¡¯s only logical,¡± Gou Jie gloated. ¡°I¡¯ve already gathered books on array formations for you, over there in that small house.¡± As they moved along, Gou Jie continued, ¡°These books are not just from Wuji Mountain but also from all over Qingzhou City. Considering the grand array the Sacred Heart Sect has managed to establish, it won¡¯t easily be destroyed. ¡°Even though they have an arrangement with the Kun Peng clan for guarding the array, I doubt these two groups are genuinely collaborating. Each must have its own ulterior motives. That¡¯s why I decided to prepare in advance.¡± Upon reaching the house, or more accurately, a two-story attic, they pushed open the door and stepped inside. Hundreds of books lay before them, covering basic array formation arrangements to more complex concepts. ¡°Seems I¡¯ve got some research to do.¡± Qin Huai sighed, commencing his exploration of the book-filled attic. Ten days later, Qin Huai¡¯s face wore a grave expression. ¡°It all leads back to the game.¡± Despite reading all the books, he couldn¡¯t discern the location of the array eye of the blood sea. According to these books, the blood sea should have dissipated after the shattering of the black and white skull. He picked up the final book, documenting the True Path Sect¡¯s five-element heavenly array from Wuji Mountain. As he read through the initial chapter, he couldn¡¯t help but admire the audacious claim of forming an independent world through the array. Nonetheless, this audacity sparked hope within Qin Huai. The five-element heavenly array was divided into the bright eye and dark eye, also known as the ¡°dead eye¡± and ¡°living eye¡±. The bright eye was the elemental object of the five directions, while the dark eye served as the array¡¯s focal point, where all the energy returned. Even if the bright eye collapsed, its energy would flow into the dark eye, thereby preserving the array. Moreover, the energy of the bright eye would reinforce the dark eye, making the array¡¯s eye virtually unbreakable. Reading these lines, Qin Huai experienced a tremor of profound understanding. ¡°I see¡­¡± Upon studying the layout of the five-element heavenly array, he finally made sense of the enigma of the blood sea. All his questions were answered ¡ª why Wang Kun grew stronger over time, why he possessed the resilience of an undying cockroach, bursting forth with formidable strength at death¡¯s door, and why Wang Kun¡¯s nose bled after the shattering of the black-and-white skull due to his potent vitality. At that moment, the answers crystallized in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Wang Kun was the array core of the blood sea! If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 532 - 532 White Starry Sea 532 White Starry Sea A myriad of thoughts converged, and the image of Wang Kun materialized before Qin Huai¡¯s mind¡¯s eye. Closing the ancient book in his hand, he strode out of the pavilion. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Gou Jie, who had been sitting cross-legged by the door, leaped to his feet, his face lit up in anticipation. ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Do you remember Wang Kun, the person I mentioned last time¡­¡± He recounted the entire story to Gou Jie. ¡°An array can be established in such a way?!¡± Gou Jie was visibly taken aback by the revelation. ¡°Using living creatures as the core¡­ Experts unfamiliar with arrays would likely spend a lifetime attempting to dismantle it without success.¡± He marveled, ¡°Only top-tier array masters from the Great Nether could construct such an elaborate array.¡± Qin Huai shared the sentiment. He stared at the horizon and murmured, ¡°The establishment of such a grand array is actually based on the grand array¡¯s location. There are only two ways to dismantle such a sophisticated array. Either sever the energy source of the formation or extract the formation core.¡± ¡°But the energy source of the blood sea is likely the entirety of Qingzhou City¡­ The notion of completely evacuating Qingzhou City, leaving not a single soul, is preposterous,¡± Gou Jie chimed in, laughing bitterly. ¡°Furthermore, even if we were to evacuate Qingzhou City now, the life force and blood qi already imbued in the blood sea would probably sustain the blood sea array for centuries.¡± Qin Huai exhaled deeply. ¡°Then only the second method remains.¡± ¡°We must kill Wang Kun!¡± Gou Jie declared resolutely. ¡°Alliance Master, you mustn¡¯t let sympathy cloud your judgment. Even though Wang Kun stood alongside you for over half a year, his survival makes him a potential traitor. He may simply be using you for his purposes.¡± Qin Huai raised his hand to silence Gou Jie. ¡°Do I strike you as someone easily swayed by sentimentality?¡± Gou Jie chuckled. ¡°Even though you¡¯re ruthless when confronting enemies, you exhibit an endearing gentleness towards those you care for. You harbor a great deal of empathy for the innocents. You¡¯ve proven yourself time and again. ¡°Outside the bronze world, when you could have stayed hidden, letting us fight the Qingzhou guards from the prefecture overseer¡¯s estate, you made your presence known. Unhesitatingly, you intervened when you uncovered the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s conspiracy. You climbed Wuji Mountain, established Lingkou Pass, ascended the blood sea¡­ never once did you waver. This is why we trust you so implicitly.¡± Gou Jie sighed. ¡°I may sound conceited, but before the calamity of the blood sea, we were unquestionably the top prodigies of Qingzhou. Our personalities may differ, but we each possess a pride that towers high above the heavens, and we do not easily yield to anyone.¡± ¡°Of course, your prowess in battle played a significant role in your success as the alliance leader,¡± Gou Jie added with a chuckle. Unquestionably, they fell short of matching Qin Huai¡¯s capabilities. Whether considering his physical prowess, his might, or his combat strength, all were unparalleled. Qin Huai¡¯s strength was such that he appeared to transcend human limits. Gou Jie, with sudden seriousness, said, ¡°According to you, Alliance Master, Wang Kun¡¯s current realm aligns with yours. Logically, it should be easy for you to win. But¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t afford to deliberate any longer,¡± Qin Huai interrupted, his gaze directed at the crimson sea above. ¡°Even if he wields the blood sea as his weapon, I have to confront him. The longer we delay, the worse our situation becomes.¡± Over the past six months, Qin Huai had observed Wang Kun¡¯s astonishing pace of advancement. With the aid of every martial artist in Qingzhou City, his progression outstripped even Qin Huai¡¯s own. ¡°Brother Gou, I must ask you to pay extra attention to the Spirit Gate matter,¡± Qin Huai said, patting Gou Jie¡¯s shoulder heavily. Then, his gaze shifted to the dragon at Lingkou Pass, its white light as dazzling as a galaxy. His eyes reflected his perplexity. What exactly was this entity? Gou Jie traced Qin Huai¡¯s gaze and suddenly smiled. ¡°A few days ago, Alliance Master, you mentioned perceiving a galaxy formed by white stars?¡± ¡°Did you find the answer?¡± Qin Huai questioned. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly an answer. The story of the Emperor of Qingzhou written by Mr. Yang, the gatekeeper of the Nine Dragons Sect, mentioned a scene that was similar to what the Alliance Master saw,¡± Gou Jie shared. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s interest was instantly piqued. ¡°Please, go on.¡± ¡°The emperor engaged the elites of the eight royal families in numerous battles before earning his royal title. He rescued the people from peril, earning their deep trust and affection. Regrettably, due to numerical disadvantage, the emperor experienced both victories and defeats, often finding himself in a desperate retreat. ¡°In the final realm before becoming a king, the Emperor of Qingzhou beheld a pillar of white light bridging heaven and earth. It seemed as if the hearts of millions had morphed into a bridge. Enlightened by this vision, he journeyed onto this celestial bridge for cultivation, ultimately transmuting it into a spiritual treasure. ¡°Once this realm was breached, the potential of the Qingzhou Imperial Residence became limitless, continuously growing and harnessing boundless power. They overcame countless geniuses of the eight royal families¡­¡± Gou Jie narrated the entire story to Qin Huai as if unveiling a precious family heirloom. Qin Huai scrutinized the river of white stars before him, lost in contemplation. ¡°I¡¯ll think about this further, should I return,¡± he murmured, drawing in a deep breath. He was keenly aware of the pressing nature of the situation. With a mighty flap of his wings, he instantly surged towards the blood sea overhead. From the ground, Gou Jie respectfully bowed to Qin Huai¡¯s departing figure, his voice resonating with profound gravity, ¡°May the martial fate of Alliance Master continue to flourish!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 533 - 533 Fighting a Million Alone 533 Fighting a Million Alone Qin Huai propelled himself towards the clouds, his resolve solidifying with each increasing altitude. He had mentally prepared himself for this journey could potentially be his last. He had personally witnessed Wang Kun¡¯s formidable power and enigmatic capabilities. Although he had numerous aces up his sleeve, Wang Kun was supported by millions of evil cult followers from Qingzhou. Life and death, the outcome remained uncertain. Qin Huai cast a reluctant glance downwards, encompassing the ten counties of East Qingzhou and the Nine Dragons Sect. And then¡­his gaze fell upon a vast, brilliant sea of stars. ¡°I hope I¡¯ll return to unravel the mystery of this radiant stellar sea,¡± he muttered. Then, with an increased pace, he flew towards the looming blood-red sea above. Boom! At seventy thousand feet, an explosion of vivid flames cut through the white fog. His ten-meter-long wings, enflamed, slashed through the clouds. His eyes shimmered with intense light as he scanned the extensive blood sea. Within a heartbeat, he spotted his comrade, his battle ally. The two of them stared at each other, obviously knowing the truth. Flames spread across the heavens. In mere moments, Qin Huai was before Wang Kun. The latter¡¯s once familiar countenance was now transformed ¨C cold, disdainful, and mocking. His aura had altered entirely, no traces of the Wang Kun he once knew remained. ¡°Brother Qin, run!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s sudden exclamation startled Qin Huai. For a moment, Qin Huai felt a familiar presence return. Yet, it was fleeting and soon vanished, replaced by a stranger¡¯s cold stare. The words reverberating in his ears felt illusory. ¡°I have to say, your disguise is really amazing. For several months, I failed to spot a single flaw,¡± Qin Huai spoke languidly. ¡°If not for your astonishing pace of cultivation, I wouldn¡¯t have doubted you. I would¡¯ve suspected the Kun Peng demons instead.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a disguise,¡± Wang Kun said. His voice shifted seven times, like a malfunctioning, mechanically synthesized sound from another lifetime. Suddenly, Wang Kun vanished from Qin Huai¡¯s sight, only to reappear instantly, looming before him. Flames erupted, cascading from the sky like a fiery wave. Qin Huai unfurled his wings, sweeping up the flaming debris. Boom! In an instant, his fiery wings expanded from ten to twenty meters. He folded his wings, diving downwards. His wings traced a burning cross in mid-air, the resultant force charring the air. The usually calm blood sea boiled under the thermal shockwave, sending blood droplets flying. Qin Huai¡¯s arm suddenly felt heavier, surprising him. As his body circled over the blood sea, his robe bore a single gray feather. It was the central clan leader¡¯s move! Qin Huai¡¯s heart clenched. He realized that the earlier sea of fire was the fire illusion technique. How did this man learn the techniques of that Kun Peng clan leader? ¡°I nearly overlooked your powerful fire technique. Once it makes contact, it incinerates bones, blood, and life essence alike. Its power is immense but requires power accumulation,¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice drifted in the air. Qin Huai¡¯s pupils dilated in surprise. ¡°How did you know?¡± It was a secret that anyone who had seen his flame longevity technique was dispatched to the underworld without exception. ¡°Brother Qin, haven¡¯t you noticed? The array manuals of Wuji Mountain may contain records, but they¡¯re superficial. The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s blood sea array is a top-tier rarity since its core isn¡¯t a person, but a lifeform infused with the memories of all the vengeful souls in the blood sea¡­ ¡°No, in the blood sea, perhaps you can address me as God!¡± Wang Kun¡¯s confident smile sent chills down Qin Huai¡¯s spine. The next moment, a bloody mist began descending from the sky. With a single sniff, Qin Huai could detect the distinctive odor. It was the poison king technique of the Blood Poison Gang. Boom! A chilling pressure emanated from above as five beams of distinct colors plummeted abruptly. It was the five elements spirit pillar! In an instant, these luminary pillars expanded from a tiny line and swallowed Qin Huai in the blink of an eye. Wang Kun¡¯s smirk punctuated the tension as he compressed the flames in his hand into a sword, swinging it around in an arc. With a resounding clash, his palm met the flames. Brilliant sparks fragmented, scattering in the air. Wang Kun¡¯s eyes gleamed with intense light. Qin Huai, initially ensnared within the five elements spirit pillar, was suddenly reduced to green fragments, dispersed by the wind. ¡°It¡¯s useless. Even the Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s blind-blocking technique cannot evade my hundred eye techniques,¡± Wang Kun sneered. ¡°Your physical form seems to be invincible in Qingzhou?¡± As the words left his lips, he effortlessly crushed the flaming sword in his hand, launching a fist at Qin Huai. His body was etched with an assortment of patterns ¨C tigers, leopards, wolves, bears, plants, and spirits. These curious designs, in tandem with his enlarged frame and discolored skin, expelled a terrifying energy. Wang Kun¡¯s form showed signs of deterioration from this exertion of power, but he remained resolute. Bang! The force of his punch rippled out like a colossal wave, disturbing a concentric circle of white rhythm. The two figures at the epicenter of the battlefield trembled under the immense force. ¡°You can withstand this blow?¡± Wonder flickered in Wang Kun¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m using dozens of physique-strengthening techniques at the same time.¡± ¡°No matter the amount of strengthening methods, it still depends on the strength of the original body, right?¡± Qin Huai retorted. As they spoke, the two traded dozens of blows mid-air. It was a deadlock, with no discernible advantage for either party. Qin Huai¡¯s entire form radiated a crimson hue as he strained his qi and blood to their utmost. His body, honed by countless bloodbaths, reaped a smidgen of blood essence power with each adversary defeated. Coupled with the numerous demons in the blood sea, each confrontation led to substantial improvements to his physique, which had experienced drastic transformations since the year before. Qin Huai¡¯s white hair billowed back. Then, a black light spread out from his body, covering a two-mile radius. His hair grew longer and turned black, and his eyes became pitch-black again. Dragon bones surfaced from his skin, forming an armor around him. The formidable emperor¡¯s force crashed upon Wang Kun. Witnessing this earth-shaking aura, Wang Kun¡¯s expression faltered. He barely had time to react when Qin Huai was already before him. ¡°Black dragon world, black coffin!¡± A powerful sucking force came from all sides, stripping Wang Kun bare. His abundant blood essence and power were rapidly drained, slowing his reactions. Qin Huai¡¯s punch descended. ¡°Dragon king shock!¡± Boom! Wang Kun¡¯s vision distorted as the explosive force instantly decapitated him. His head disintegrated in a cloud of bloody mist. The remains, both red and white, were consumed by the darkness, condensing into a black dragon pearl in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. ¡°Is this the legendary might of an emperor?¡± Wang Kun¡¯s half-bodied form somehow managed to speak. ¡°Do you really think you can kill me like this?¡± An enraged roar echoed from the black dragon world. Shortly after, countless bloodstreams surged into the realm. Qin Huai¡¯s brows furrowed as he pushed the black dragon world¡¯s power to its limit. Numerous blood droplets were swallowed by the darkness and vanished. Seizing the remaining half of Wang Kun¡¯s body, Qin Huai took to the sky. As he ascended, he kept punching, pulverizing what was left of Wang Kun¡¯s body. However, the blood sea was vast, and the waves it churned reached towering heights, consuming Qin Huai¡¯s black dragon world at an alarming pace. Within the black dragon world, a grand rain of blood splattered down. The shredded flesh and blood slowly reformed into a human shape. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 534 - 534 The Sacred Heart Sects Purpose! 534 The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s Purpose! Thousand Divination Tower, Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion. Basking in the rare sunlight of Qingzhou City, a man attired in a white robe and wearing a carefree expression appeared quite relaxed. In front of him, the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower, Yue Yang, stood hunched over, delivering a report on the recent city updates. ¡°We currently have nine hundred thirty-two bone pattern realm experts and ten visceral prefecture realm experts in Qingzhou City. It¡¯s nothing short of a miracle!¡± Yue Yang exclaimed. ¡°In the past, it would take decades of cultivation for any force to produce such a number of experts. However, under your sagacious leadership, Qingzhou City managed to generate this astonishing number of experts in just a little over a year.¡± Although Yue Yang¡¯s flattery was blatant, his words were heartfelt and pleasing to the ear. The white-robed king, however, seemed indifferent to the praise. ¡°What has the struggle of mortals to do with me?¡± he asked nonchalantly. ¡°This is the result of the collective effort of all living beings. There¡¯s no need to attribute the credit solely to me.¡± Slowly, the white-robed king rose to his feet and stretched. Suddenly, he raised his head to gaze at the blood sea. His aura, which had been relaxed, condensed instantly into a force as vast as the ocean. With a resonating thud, Yue Yang was brought to his knees. Unaffected by Yue Yang¡¯s reaction, the white-robed king continued observing the blood sea. ¡°It seems that the array core has awakened a bit earlier than I anticipated,¡± he mused, calculating with his fingers. ¡°The Supreme One distinctly mentioned it would take three years.¡± Turning his attention to Yue Yang, he spoke, ¡°Lord Yue, since you are proficient in divination, let¡¯s find out who is disrupting the situation in the blood sea.¡± He turned around, noticing Yue Yang still frozen on the ground, and extended a hand to help him up. ¡°My lord, I have already instructed the pavilion elder to do this,¡± Yue Yang hastily replied. ¡°The person causing the disturbance is the leader of the Qingzhou Alliance, Qin Huai, who has inherited the legacy of the Emperor of Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The white-robed king¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity. ¡°The second emperor succeeding the Emperor of Qingzhou¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡± Yue Yang confirmed. ¡°Your Thousand Divination Tower must have paid a high price to pry into the emperor¡¯s secrets,¡± the king observed, opting not to inquire further. ¡°My lord, rest assured, it¡¯s merely led to the end of a few elder pavilion members¡¯ lifespans,¡± Yue Yang replied with utmost deference, bowing his head so as not to meet the gaze of the white-robed King. ¡°Hehe¡­ If a few perished, just mark them on the record and consider it a recompense from the Sacred Heart Sect.¡± The white-robed king spoke with an air of magnanimity. ¡°Working for a great one such as you, Yue Yang would not dare harbor any illusions!¡± It was at this moment that Yue Yang looked up. ¡°This subordinate has but a single request¡­ Please grant it!¡± ¡°Speak,¡± the king commanded. ¡°Wuji Mountain!¡± Yue Yang requested. Without so much as turning his head, the white-robed king replied, ¡°It seems you are eager, Lord Yue, to eliminate your greatest threat. Once the battle in the sky concludes, you may lead your people into Wuji Mountain.¡± His tone was casual, as if Wuji Mountain was nothing more than an unclaimed, desolate hill. ¡°Thank you for your generosity, my lord!¡± Yue Yang exhaled in relief upon receiving the response. ¡°And who, according to you, will be the victor in this skybound battle?¡± the white-robed king asked, seemingly intrigued by the aerial conflict. ¡°Qin Huai, as the successor of the emperor, has cultivated an unparalleled emperor¡¯s force. His combat strength is extraordinary, far beyond what the term ¡®genius¡¯ can describe,¡± Yue Yang began, carefully choosing his words. ¡°Though my current cultivation level is slightly lesser, I fear even the sect master of the Kun Peng clan may find him formidable.¡± ¡°Who told you Qin Huai¡¯s adversary was Tang Pi?¡± the white-robed king interjected, prompting a look of confusion from Yue Yang. ¡°Then, may I ask who Qin Huai¡¯s opponent is?¡± Yue Yang sought clarification. ¡°It¡¯s the collective power of millions of warriors from Qingzhou City,¡± the white-robed king stated calmly. Yue Yang¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he looked up at the blood sea overhead, his heart pounding with awe. He suddenly comprehended the true intention behind the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s creation of the blood sea. It wasn¡¯t purely to reward hard work. At its core, it was a ploy to use the lives of countless warriors in Qingzhou City to forge an unparalleled beast of destruction. It aimed at amalgamating various martial arts, sidestepping the restrictions and limitations that bind a martial artist, to craft the ultimate weapon. ¡°It appears Lord Yue has pieced together the puzzle,¡± Zhou Chuanyong remarked, having approached Yue Yang unnoticed. ¡°Perhaps¡­I have a vague idea,¡± Yue Yang admitted, his voice shaking slightly. If such a creature were to be unleashed, who in the world could possibly stand against it? Could even the haughty white-robed king beside him be a match? What was the Sacred Heart Sect truly planning? Was it really intending to reshape the world around this Great Nether? ¡°Lord Yue has yet to answer the lord¡¯s question.¡± Zhou Chuanyong smiled, bringing the conversation back on track. ¡°Do you still need to think about it? Even if Qin Huai possesses the emperor¡¯s force, he certainly isn¡¯t a match for the power of a million living beings,¡± Yue Yang declared, a trace of bitterness coloring his features. Perhaps the only unexpected variable was the premature awakening of the creature, adding an element of suspense. But even that was a slim chance and highly uncertain. ¡­ Above the blood sea, the black dragon world was devouring the seeping blood qi, yet it could not halt the overwhelming power of the millions of entities in the blood sea. This mountainous force bore down upon the black dragon world, making Qin Huai feel as if he were shouldering a massive weight, causing him to grit his teeth in response. ¡°The emperor¡¯s force is indeed extraordinary,¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice slowly echoed, as the sky-filling blood converged into a humanoid form at an ever-increasing pace. ¡°Without the blood sea as support, I might not have been your match. The trivial tricks in my memories wouldn¡¯t have been able to harm you.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 535 - 535 The Fear of the Undying Body 535 The Fear of the Undying Body ¡°Even if the strength of numerous mediocre people were combined, it would only reach a certain limit,¡± Wang Kun mused to himself, his demeanor shifting between mirth, passion, and icy calm. But his words were heavy with lethal intent. As soon as he finished speaking, the blood filling the sky came to a sudden halt, followed by a gust of wind coursing through the black dragon world. Numerous droplets of blood morphed into scarlet spears, launching toward Qin Huai with a chillingly murderous intent. ¡°Your emperor¡¯s force is indeed intriguing and powerful,¡± Wang Kun admitted. ¡°Even peak experts at the visceral prefecture realm would certainly die if they fight you. However, those ordinary people can only absorb so much energy. Once you exceed your limit, your vaunted emperor¡¯s force will naturally crumble.¡± His calm demeanor vanished, replaced once again by arrogant confidence. ¡°While others can¡¯t do it, I can! I¡¯ve condensed the power of a million martial artists! Furthermore, these spears aren¡¯t ordinary ones. They carry the essence of my soul!¡± he roared, propelling the scarlet spears through the sky even faster. Streams of blood surged up from the blood sea into the black dragon world, intensifying the onslaught. ¡°How long can you endure this kind of attack?¡± Wang Kun taunted. Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained composed as he slowly lifted his palm. ¡°Black dragon world, quell!¡± The rain of scarlet spears halted mid-air, as if subjects bowing before their emperor, then descended all to the ground. Their murderous aura dissipated, and the infinite black tide swallowed and disintegrated the airborne spears. The black dragon pearl in Qin Huai¡¯s hand swelled momentarily to the size of his head before he shrank it back to the size of a fist. ¡°How is this possible?¡± A stunned Wang Kun watched the spectacle unfold. ¡°In my recollections, your black dragon world doesn¡¯t possess such capabilities.¡± ¡°When did I claim to have revealed the full potential of the black dragon world?¡± Qin Huai retorted, locking eyes with Wang Kun. ¡°The emperor¡¯s force is far more complex than you imagine.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Qin Huai vanished from his spot. Wang Kun abruptly felt a chill up his spine and spun around. Yet, before he could spot Qin Huai, a gaping hole appeared in his body. He staggered, engulfed by an eerie silence that permeated his being. ¡°How could that be? So fast¡­¡± Wang Kun gasped in disbelief, failing to detect even a trace of Qin Huai¡¯s aura. It was as though Qin Huai had materialized out of thin air behind him. The next moment, Wang Kun¡¯s limbs, and even his head, detached and flew in various directions. Maintaining his composure, Qin Huai moved again, this time appearing near Wang Kun¡¯s severed arm, which he promptly crushed with a punch. Wang Kun, witnessing the scene, questioned, ¡°Teleportation?¡± He quickly dismissed the thought. ¡°No, it¡¯s just his speed¡­ Has Qin Huai¡¯s guardian spirit items and martial arts techniques been amplified in the emperor¡¯s domain?¡± He quickly realized why Qin Huai was so powerful. Boom! Another thunderous sound echoed as Qin Huai materialized in front of Wang Kun¡¯s disembodied head, instantly shattering it with a punch. However, Wang Kun promptly reassembled, his form intact and centered around his feet. ¡°Did you guess wrong again?¡± Qin Huai asked, turning to face a fully restored Wang Kun, a hint of frustration in his gaze. ¡°Are you joking? Do you still think I have any flaws?¡± Wang Kun retorted, a savage expression on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t be too arrogant. I¡¯m merely acquainting myself with the full potential of this body. Once I¡¯m completely used to it, it will mark your end. I¡¯m just letting you show off your so-called emperor¡¯s force before your death. Shortly, your cherished killing power will be completely crushed by me, and you will die in despair.¡± Qin Huai replied slowly, ¡°Is that so? Then why are you hiding?¡± With that, the atmosphere in the Black Dragon World instantly froze. ¡°Me, hiding?¡± Wang Kun managed a strained smile as he glared at Qin Huai. ¡°So desperate you¡¯d have me break my limbs and head to avoid the range of your black dragon pearl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid, aren¡¯t you?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s words echoed eerily in Wang Kun¡¯s ears, sounding like a demon¡¯s whisper. Alongside the chilling words, Qin Huai himself resonated a cold, ominous intent. Bang! A resounding explosion echoed, followed by red and white matter splattering all over. Qin Huai¡¯s fists multiplied into phantoms, and in an instant, it seemed as if hundreds of fists had swooped by. Wang Kun¡¯s body disintegrated piece by piece, exploding into a bloody mist in mid-air. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze darted across the pool of blood, searching, but in the next moment, Wang Kun¡¯s body reassembled at a speed faster than ever. Whoosh! A blood sword fell, heralding a million bloody slashes. Countless vengeful souls emerged from the bloody weapon, coiling around Qin Huai before the blade could even touch him. Bang! Another explosion followed as the bloody sword shattered under the force of Qin Huai¡¯s dragon bone fist. Still, a significant amount of blood splattered onto Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, staining the black dragon world. He furrowed his brows, acknowledging silently that Wang Kun was indeed speaking the truth. His strength and recovery speed had transcended any previous limit. ¡°If this duel persists, a day will be enough to bring you down,¡± Wang Kun boasted, grinning malevolently. ¡°When that time comes, how will you defeat me? I can recuperate endlessly, but you? You can¡¯t. All I need is a single opportunity to kill you.¡± He continued, ¡°Your power will dwindle as you continue to sustain injuries, just like the helpless bleeding from your arm. In the end, you¡¯ll watch helplessly as I chop off your head.¡± Wang Kun¡¯s voice dropped to a sinister whisper, reverberating in Qin Huai¡¯s ears, trying to infiltrate his mind. This was a spell designed to affect the soul. ¡°I¡¯m afraid your wish is about to be shattered,¡± Qin Huai retorted, activating the blood heart technique while hovering in mid-air. Almost instantly, the wound on his shoulder healed. ¡°You¡­ You know the blood heart technique too?¡± Wang Kun¡¯s smile froze on his face, his voice filled with shock. His surprise was not misplaced as Qin Huai¡¯s understanding of the blood heart technique was as profound as Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s, a top expert in the Sacred Heart Sect. ¡°A defector of the Sacred Heart Sect?¡± Wang Kun looked at Qin Huai, slightly bewildered. Qin Huai flexed his arms, feeling no discomfort from the previous attack. Wang Kun¡¯s slash, filled with a significant amount of poisonous blood, had no effect on him. He lifted his gaze, meeting Wang Kun¡¯s stunned expression. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± ¡°You¡­ Damn you¡­¡± Wang Kun was furious at Qin Huai¡¯s nonchalant demeanor. The wind howled, blowing back his hair. Once again, Qin Huai¡¯s striking face came into view. This time, however, his fists did not aim for Wang Kun¡¯s head but speared through his kidneys and lungs. All his anger evaporated, replaced by a glimmer of fear. He flapped his wings, dragging his injured body out of Qin Huai¡¯s lethal punch range. ¡°So, you are indeed scared,¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice echoed from behind Wang Kun as another punch lanced through his kidney. His other fist, however, was blocked by Wang Kun. ¡°Bastard¡­¡± Wang Kun snarled in anger. ¡°No one is invincible, especially you who relies on the array,¡± Qin Huai said unhurriedly. ¡°Since you¡¯re the heart of this blood sea array, you must have a genuine core that can be destroyed. Once that core is gone, your so-called immortal body will disintegrate along with this sea of blood.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Wang Kun broke into laughter. ¡°What are you blathering about?!¡± Qin Huai, however, seemed unbothered. His gaze, sharp as a viper, pierced Wang Kun. ¡°Let me guess, the core is hidden within a particular piece of your flesh, isn¡¯t it?¡± At this point, Wang Kun could no longer stifle the fear bubbling within him. He roared at Qin Huai, ¡°Stop saying those baseless, stupid assumptions!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 536 - 536 Same Techniques 536 Same Techniques Anger and fear surged within Wang Kun. ¡°No matter how clever your tongue is, on this sea of blood, you¡¯ll never escape me!¡± The blood sea, encircling the black dragon world, began to heave, forming colossal waves akin to ancient beasts. They ceaselessly battered the black screen, striving to shatter the emperor¡¯s domain in an instant. Thousands of vengeful souls wailed, their anger palpable, desiring to consume Qin Huai through the oppressive darkness. Blood began to seep slowly from the black curtain, reminiscent of dew in a cave, resonating an ominous rhythm of conquest in the silence. The blood that filled the sky converged abruptly at a singular point, coalescing into a blood-hued storm. It then morphed into a roc and bore down on Qin Huai. With a determined step forward, Qin Huai roared the tiger and dragon roar. The roc¡¯s body began to ripple, and to Qin Huai, it seemed as though a ferocious tiger had leaped from the skies to meet him. Bang! The roc and tiger clashed, the resulting scarlet light condensed into a sword-like form in mid-air. Alongside it was Wang Kun, his Kun Peng wings unfurled. ¡°Rattan armor! Giant pattern! Blood surge technique! Three beasts power imbuing secrets¡­¡± Wang Kun chanted the names of various martial techniques, his body undergoing simultaneous transformations. Bloody patterns spread across his skin, his form enlarging while demonic fur sprouted. The most notable thing was the surging blood essence within him. Compared to his previous haphazard power growth, it was clear Wang Kun had mastered the cultivation of these techniques. He chose the techniques that synergized best, maximizing their effectiveness. Bang! Qin Huai met the power head-on. The resulting collision caused the energy to ripple outwards, even causing the blood sea and Qin Huai¡¯s black dragon world to fluctuate. ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Secret Skill Essence]. You have obtained the secret skill [Giant Pattern]!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Blood Surge Essence (Orange)]¡­¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected a [Three Beasts Power Boosting Technique Essence (Red)]¡­¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± A deluge of memories flooded Qin Huai¡¯s mind, eliciting a fleeting wince of pain on his face. At the same time, Qin Huai¡¯s left hand, clutching the black dragon pearl, began to amass an incredible power once again. Wang Kun¡¯s gaze fixated on Qin Huai¡¯s left hand. Could holding this potent pearl mean that Qin Huai could only fight with one hand? This thought had barely crossed Wang Kun¡¯s mind when his fist was already rocketing toward Qin Huai. ¡°Poison soul curse fist!¡± Hundreds of faces emerged on his fist, mouths agape, homing in on Qin Huai¡¯s left side. Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained calm as he casually tossed the black dragon pearl upwards. The orb instantly floated beside him. Ten stars emerged on his fist, which shot forward, seemingly ignoring the hundreds of menacing faces. ¡°Black dragon world, Suppress!¡± The once clamoring vengeful souls were now frozen in place, their energy draining rapidly. Treading on the incapacitated vengeful souls, Qin Huai charged straight toward Wang Kun. ¡°Forbidden technique, ten-dragon tremor!¡± A terrifying explosion reverberated through Wang Kun¡¯s body. In the face of imminent danger, he managed to form a shield, yet it was no match for Qin Huai¡¯s relentless assault. Half of his body exploded, revealing a macabre mixture of red and white matter from his brain. Simultaneously, hundreds of vengeful souls clawed through Qin Huai¡¯s back and wings. Still, his dragon bones shielded his body, causing most of the lethal force to impact his surface. His wings flapped, cutting through the vengeful souls that had breached his defense. ¡°Bastard¡­¡± Wang Kun recoiled, widening the gap between them. His gaze fell upon the black dragon pearl floating near Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, and his voice wavered. ¡°Do you even need to consider such things?¡± His past encounters with Qin Huai always showed the pearl held in his hands. He had assumed this was a limitation. However, had this beast delved so deeply into the art of attack and destruction? ¡°In a life or death battle, it¡¯s natural to strategize for survival, isn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Huai responded indifferently, as if it were a matter of course. ¡°Too bad my move didn¡¯t take your life the first time. It appears the real core in your body can move swiftly. I must completely destroy your body to locate it.¡± A strained smile tugged at Wang Kun¡¯s lips. ¡°So what if you know? Time is on my side. In terms of strength, we are equals. Also, I saw the pain on your face earlier. That means this is your limit.¡± Despite his words, Wang Kun¡¯s tone betrayed a hint of uncertainty. If it were about the black dragon pearl, he would trust his own observations and memories. Yet, looking at the pearl hovering near Qin Huai¡¯s shoulder, he had no confidence at all. He couldn¡¯t discern whether this was another vulnerability that Qin Huai had intentionally revealed. ¡°Rattan armor! Giant pattern! Blood surge technique¡­¡± The familiar names echoed once again. However, it was not Wang Kun who spoke them. Startled, Wang Kun looked up at Qin Huai, who was mimicking him. ¡°Qin Huai, are you mocking me¡­¡± he roared. But his expression changed as Qin Huai¡¯s body began to grow larger, vines intertwining to form armor around him. Boom! In the blink of an eye, Qin Huai was already looming before him. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 537 - 537 Swallowing a Million Essences 537 Swallowing a Million Essences Qin Huai¡¯s terrifying speed was much faster than before. Almost in an instant, Wang Kun turned, raising his phantom-like fist to block Qin Huai¡¯s blow. Bang! The resulting sound resembled a roaring tsunami, shaking the expansive sea. Wang Kun grunted and spat out blood. Unyielding, Qin Huai continued his pursuit, his fists crashing down like mountains. Momentary errors led to glaring wounds on Wang Kun¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s useless! You can¡¯t kill me like this!¡± Wang Kun spat out fresh blood, pounding his fists into Qin Huai¡¯s body with wrath. What he found most shocking was the uncertainty. Initially, he believed that persistence would guarantee him victory. However, now he was unsure if he would make it to the next phase. Not only did Qin Huai have a deep understanding of the blood heart technique, but he could also cast the techniques he had devoured. Although these techniques were quite unrefined, combined with Qin Huai¡¯s already formidable physical prowess, Wang Kun felt an unimaginable pressure. There was a moment when Wang Kun couldn¡¯t tell who the real master of the blood sea was ¨C himself or Qin Huai. Who was the real monster? Whoosh! Suddenly, a golden flame appeared in Wang Kun¡¯s sight. Despite seeing Qin Huai¡¯s deadly move, he didn¡¯t dodge. In his view, this move was the same as Qin Huai¡¯s previous ones, offering him the perfect opportunity to end Qin Huai. To him, this was undoubtedly the best opportunity to kill Qin Huai. He can¡¯t let this guy continue to stall for time! Wang Kun steeled his heart, and the blood tide on his fists turned into blades. Even the scarlet blood that remained in the black dragon world turned into thousands of weapons and charged at Qin Huai. Suddenly, Wang Kun noticed a hint of white appear in Qin Huai¡¯s originally black hair. Was the emperor¡¯s domain about to dissipate? ¡°You¡¯ve finally reached your limit!¡± Wang Kun laughed manically. He had placed the right bet! The energy required to use the emperor¡¯s domain was indeed immense. Even a creature like Qin Huai couldn¡¯t sustain it for long. But in the next moment, the golden flame turned into a golden sea of fire, swallowing Wang Kun like a tiger seizing its prey. ¡°Flame longevity technique, hundred lives tiger!¡± ¡°Ah! Is this also part of your plan¡­¡± Wang Kun let out a piercing scream before completely vanishing. Qin Huai looked at the golden flames that flickered and then died. His expression was calm. As he was about to turn and leave, a speck of light caught his eye. He caught it with a swift move ¡ª a thumb-sized, diamond-shaped, blood-colored crystal. ¡°This is¡­the true core of the blood sea array?¡± Qin Huai could sense the potent power within. ¡°The essence of a million beings¡­¡± he muttered to himself. He considered using this as the fourth guardian spirit item, as it would be perfectly compatible with the blood heart technique. Suddenly, Qin Huai deactivated the black dragon world. His body swayed, and visible exhaustion took over his features. He staggered mid-air, nearly falling into the blood sea. ¡°The consumption of the black dragon world¡­ It¡¯s a bit more than I expected.¡± Qin Huai hadn¡¯t considered this during the battle. Instead, his mind was solely focused on finding a way out. He had forgotten to consider his body¡¯s limits. Looking at the light filtering through the clouds, he noted, ¡°Already four hours?¡± He sat cross-legged on the sea of blood, surrounded by the palace. This time, there were no more vengeful souls trying to drag him down or kill him. Holding the blood sea core in his hand, Qin Huai felt like a deity of the blood sea. All living things retreated. ¡°This is it,¡± he murmured. Deciding to use the core as the fourth guardian spirit item, he hesitated for a moment before leaping into the sea of blood. It remained still and silent, ignoring Qin Huai¡¯s intrusion. Qin Huai took a deep breath in the sea of blood, only absorbing the oxygen within. ¡°As expected, holding the blood sea core is like holding a water-repellent pearl. It lets me move freely in the blood sea.¡± Feeling weak, he recognized the toll the black dragon world had taken on him. His sudden loss of a hundred years of lifespan made recovery difficult, even with the blood heart technique. The destruction of the Kun Peng clan wouldn¡¯t be easy. He quickly navigated through the blood sea, reaching the original battlefield. The battle was over, and the Kun Peng clan was nowhere to be seen ¡ª it was already impossible to determine their location under the sea of blood. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll first advance to the fourth-level visceral prefecture realm.¡± Giving up on locating them, Qin Huai lowered his eyes, his mind slowly sinking into his dantian. ¡­ Far above, at fifty thousand feet, Tang Pi stood, covered in blood. He held Jin Jianghong in his hand, but the Kun Peng clan leader was barely breathing. On the other hand, Tang Pi was covered in blood, but his eyes were shining bright. ¡°Thanks to you guys, I finally took the final step,¡± he exclaimed, feeling the power surging in his body. ¡°True purebloods, huh? That¡¯s a bloodline refined through countless life and death battles, breaking free from the chains of lineage.¡± Tang Pi laughed out loud, his laughter echoing around. ¡°We¡¯re ultimately beasts, needing our basic instincts to evolve.¡± He glanced down at Jin Jianghong in his hand. The old clan leader was now lifeless. ¡°Too bad,¡± he said, flinging the lifeless body down from the sky. ¡°Sect Master, next we return to the blood sea, right?¡± asked Gao He. Behind them, the clan members were eager to test their new power. ¡°Can¡¯t go back yet,¡± Tang Pi replied in a serious tone. ¡°You¡¯ve felt the weird vibes from the blood sea. Either the Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s got a new plan or the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s grabbed what they wanted.¡± Gao He looked disappointed. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t go above the blood sea, but we can hit Qingzhou City within its reach,¡± Tang Pi answered with a chuckle. ¡°We¡¯re going to compete with the Sacred Heart Sect for their prey?¡± Tang Pi just smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s just take them out quietly. That white-robed king is too full of himself.¡± And with that, under Tang Pi¡¯s command, the Kun Peng clan, flocking the sky, surged towards Qingzhou City again. ¡­ In the Heart Eye Pavilion, the white-robed king finally opened his eyes. Yue Yang and Zhou Chuanyong, who had been waiting for him, quickly rose. ¡°Master, did we win?¡± Yue Yang asked anxiously. ¡°We did. The blood sea has settled down. No more crazy fluctuations,¡± he replied. Yue Yang breathed out a sigh of relief and smiled. ¡°That Qin Huai is quite something, huh? Fighting against a million souls¡¯ power for half a day?¡± ¡°The potential of a king is truly unmatched,¡± the white-robed king murmured, gazing at the sky. ¡°If he could grow fully, not even I would stand a chance against him¡­ ¡°But then, there are no ¡®ifs¡¯ in this world.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 538 - 538 Be Careful of That Young Man 538 Be Careful of That Young Man The three of them gazed at the sky¡¯s sea of blood, sighing with relief. ¡°Your Majesty, now that the Qingzhou Alliance issue has been resolved, I believe all hurdles to Qingzhou¡¯s grand plan have been cleared,¡± said Zhou Chuanyong, his sturdy frame seeming small next to the white-robed man. ¡°Not necessarily,¡± the white-robed king said, shaking his head. ¡°Do you know why I care so much about the Qingzhou Alliance?¡± Zhou Chuanyong perked up, eager to know the answer to a question that had lingered in his heart for a while. It puzzled him why the king had overlooked the master of Wuji Mountain, who had caused the Sacred Heart Sect significant trouble, and instead focused on the Qingzhou Alliance, a group of promising yet inexperienced young individuals. ¡°Because the Supreme One met an interesting young man from Qingzhou who stole the Supreme One¡¯s essence totem,¡± explained the white-robed king. ¡°This young man didn¡¯t believe in the Supreme One or the Sacred Heart Sect. Most importantly, his cultivation method seemed unique.¡± Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s face showed shock, while Yue Yang merely looked surprised. ¡°Someone that even the Supreme One thinks is different?¡± Zhou Chuanyong questioned, trying to guess the young man¡¯s identity. ¡°What instructions did the Supreme One give?¡± ¡°The Supreme One only said one thing: be careful of that young man. If found, he must be delivered alive.¡± Yue Yang asked if the Supreme One had been to Qingzhou, to which the king replied, ¡°The Supreme One¡¯s whereabouts are unpredictable, and not something I can discern. But I¡¯m certain he hasn¡¯t been to Qingzhou recently.¡± Confused, Yue Yang asked, ¡°Then¡­How did the sect master meet that young man?¡± Zhou Chuanyong replied condescendingly, ¡°The Supreme One¡¯s aura is connected to everything. Wherever believers go, they step on the Supreme One¡¯s path. There¡¯s nothing he can¡¯t do, only things he doesn¡¯t want to.¡± Continuing their discussion, Yue Yang pondered if this youth might be in the Qingzhou Alliance, as they have all the talented individuals from Qingzhou. The white-robed king agreed, chuckling, ¡°If that young man caught the Supreme One¡¯s eye, he must have great fortune. He won¡¯t die easily.¡± ¡°It seems we can now eliminate the master of the Qingzhou Alliance.¡± Yue Yang sighed, his eyes showing a complex emotion. ¡°Even emperors eventually turn to dust in the grand course of time. Those who oppose the natural flow, prodigies or not, will perish.¡± The white-robed King looked cold. ¡°Yet, Qingzhou, weak for so long, has now produced two remarkable individuals, Qin Huai and this unknown youth. Could it be a sign of Qingzhou¡¯s rising fortune?¡± ¡°My lord, did you select Qingzhou for your plan because you anticipated its changing fate?¡± The white-robed king muttered and began calculating something with his fingers as he looked into the distance. Yue Yang rubbed his hands impatiently. ¡°King, about what you mentioned earlier¡­¡± Understanding what the king intended, Zhou Chuanyong immediately responded, ¡°I accept the order!¡± With a jump, he left the pavilion, his large shadow descending like a small mountain. The entire pavilion was in shock. A smile tugged at Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s lips. ¡°Kong Binghuang of Wuji Mountain¡­ let¡¯s see where you can run now!¡± Yue Yang quickly followed Zhou Chuanyong, who looked down at him and cautioned, ¡°Lord Yue, don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my lord. Though I lack talent, I understand the bigger picture,¡± Yue Yang reassured him. ¡°Do you?¡± Zhou Chuanyong sneered. ¡°Then what about the informant who went against the king and secretly contacted the Qingzhou Alliance? You wouldn¡¯t claim ignorance, would you?¡± Yue Yang¡¯s expression turned troubled. ¡°Well¡­ that¡­¡± He quickly dropped to his knees, begging, ¡°Please, forgive me!¡± ¡°Gou Jie, a rare prodigy from the Thousand Divination Tower, had mistakenly joined the Qingzhou Alliance, but he has mended his ways,¡± Yue Yang explained. ¡°I can swear to it.¡± ¡°I asked his father, Gou Xinyue, to send him an ancient book on arrays to help Qin Huai reveal the truth. However, it was actually a trap, intended to push Qin Huai to his doom with the help of the Kun Peng clan! After all, it¡¯s difficult to capture him with his group of talented followers on the vast land. But in the blood sea, nobody can outrun the Kun Peng clan.¡± Yue Yang¡¯s words were heartfelt, and he was near tears. Zhou Chuanyong approached Yue Yang step by step. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me this before? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°I¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure I could pull it off. If it failed, wouldn¡¯t the blame fall on me?¡± replied Yue Yang. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 539 - 539 Breaking Through the Realm! 539 Breaking Through the Realm! Yue Yang averted his gaze. ¡°Furthermore, if I had any doubts, why would I be the one to suggest we attack Wuji Mountain?¡± Only then did Zhou Chuanyong stop. ¡°I was just joking. I believe there¡¯s no one in Qingzhou City who wants the five great sects gone more than you. After all, among the five great sects, the Thousand Divination Tower is the only one that has completely turned its back on the Sacred Heart Sect. It has even wholeheartedly helped our sect kill countless traitors. I wonder how many of the five sects¡¯ martial artists have blood on their hands. If they don¡¯t perish, I fear you wouldn¡¯t sleep well.¡± Yue Yang forced a smile. This indeed was a shared concern between the two. They walked towards the mountain gate. A large number of martial artists were gathered at the foot of the mountain. Almost every leader from the sects and factions in Qingzhou City was present, including several formidable fighters from neighboring counties. Some unfamiliar faces were also present, dressed simply, their wild expressions causing a stir. The white-robed king had summoned half of the top martial artists in Qingzhou City, preparing to attack Wuji Mountain in one go. Five hundred people were present, even the least skilled among them being in the fifth-level bone pattern realm. The powerful army of experts began their march towards Wuji Mountain. ¡­ Meanwhile, at the blood sea, a tall figure floated casually. Tiny blood veins continuously entered his body, healing his wounds. Suddenly, Qin Huai opened his eyes. Instead of the sea of blood, numerous scenes flashed before him. The overwhelming sight caused a sharp pain in his eyes. ¡°Ahh!¡± Qin Huai cried out, the pain causing him to roll in the sea of blood. He quickly shut his eyes, which alleviated the pain slightly. Panting heavily, he wondered, ¡°What happened? Is this a side effect of refining the blood sea core?¡± Various possibilities raced through his mind. After a moment, he carefully opened his eyes again, focusing on the multitude of images. Scenes from a mountain village, a stone well, a frightened child in ruins, a disheveled woman with vacant eyes, hiding martial artists stained in blood¡­ These were images from Qingzhou City. Qin Huai was shocked. The pain returned, forcing him to close his eyes again. Was he seeing the city¡¯s memories or the real city? The thought sent a chill down Qin Huai¡¯s spine. ¡°The pain is due to the large number of images. It¡¯s similar to when I collected the cultivation method experience balls. I just need to organize them and view them one by one.¡± With a deep breath, Qin Huai opened his eyes again. The number of images had indeed reduced. His heart rate increased, and the images further decreased. Eventually, he could ¡®see¡¯, not with his eyes, but with his mind or will. He saw a group of martial artists split into three, standing off in the ruins of a tavern. The reason for the confrontation was a distressed young girl caught between them. Her skin was pale, her clothes partly torn, and her hair, matted with blood, clung to her body. ¡°We found this girl first. Finders keepers,¡± a lean man asserted, his eyes reflecting a killing intent towards the other two groups. The man had a peculiar deformity ¨C a small arm, the size of a palm, under his right armpit, a sign of his body¡¯s degradation from cannibalism. ¡°First one there gets the spoils. It¡¯s the blood sea era now, so old rules don¡¯t matter,¡± said the bald man, licking his knife. ¡°In thirty years in Qingzhou City, I¡¯ve never seen such a beauty. We won¡¯t let her go.¡± The rest seemed eager for a fight, but the fatty man, his body clearly collapsing under the weight of eight belly wrinkles, looked unbothered. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of killing these past days. My body can¡¯t take it.¡± As the tension grew, the lean man proposed, ¡°Why not we take turns?¡± His suggestion sent the terrified girl into further trembling, an amusement to the rest. ¡°Sounds good!¡± the bald man shouted. The girl burst into tears, inciting more laughter from the group. Watching from the blood sea was Qin Huai, his gaze filled with intent to kill. Qingzhou City, once vibrant, was now a wasteland with chaos and death in every corner. ¡°We must kill all these monsters!¡± he vowed as he clenched his fists, his eyes piercing through the fatty man as he reached out for the girl. Bang! Suddenly, a pillar of blood fell, piercing the fatty¡¯s head. His body collapsed, a gaping hole in his head, blood spurting out to mend the wound. But it was too late for him. As he reached out to the girl, he fell, dead. ¡°What happened?!¡± Panic ensued among the group. They hadn¡¯t even seen what had happened, only that the fatty was instantly killed. ¡°Is it Senior?¡± The bald man, mustering his courage, offered the girl to the unseen attacker. ¡°If Senior takes a fancy to this woman, then I¡¯ll let Senior have her!¡± As he turned to run, another pillar of blood fell, piercing him from top to bottom. ¡°It¡¯s from below! Everyone, be careful of the ground!¡± a warrior shouted, leaping onto a second-floor corridor, eyes on his feet. But he, too, was pierced by a blood pillar, falling down, eyes wide in disbelief. The remaining men scattered in panic, but Qin Huai had no intention of sparing them. Four more pillars of blood fell, finishing off the rest. The young girl looked around in shock, then up at the sky, her hands clasped in prayer. ¡°The divine master! They¡¯ve been punished by the heavens!¡± She was so happy that she cried. Above the blood sea, Qin Huai studied the seven corpses, deep in thought. ¡°The sea of blood can fire energy¡­ Its coverage is the blood sea area? ¡®Heaven¡¯s punishment¡¯¡­ It¡¯s a fitting name.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 540 - 540 The Way of Eternal Life 540 The Way of Eternal Life Looking at the villain he had slain with a mere thought, Qin Huai was swept over by a wave of emotions. Being in control of the blood sea felt like being a god, able to observe and even dictate the lives of the martial artists under its purview in Qingzhou City. He could kill them instantly with a single thought. ¡°The core of the blood sea resonates with the heart. A single thought pierces through countless hearts. Human secrets are truly amazing,¡± Qin Huai murmured, deep in contemplation. He recalled the images on the water surface shown to him by the Emperor of Qingzhou in the bronze world. It was reminiscent of his current method of surveillance. Soon, he felt a faint surge of power flowing into the blood sea from Qingzhou City. This power didn¡¯t enter his body, but rather nourished the operation of the grand array. ¡°It appears that my previous losses have been replenished,¡± Qin Huai reflected, feeling subtle changes in his body. Having refined the blood sea core, he was highly attuned to each shift in the blood sea array. It felt as if the array had become part of his soul and body. He knew that if he died, the array would shatter, but the collapse of the array would not affect him. ¡°Interesting. The blood sea array is undeniably connected to my soul. Could it be that my soul can coexist with the blood sea array even after my body dies?¡± He contemplated this possibility. Then, his thoughts shifted to the bronze world array, which was said to envelop the entirety of Qingzhou, drawing upon its power. ¡°It¡¯s far more sophisticated than the blood sea array,¡± Qin Huai mused, thinking about its features. ¡°There should be elements of light and dark, life and death, right?¡± He speculated that the bronze mountain and river diagram he possessed was the dead eye of the bronze world, and the never-fading ¡®power body¡¯ of the Emperor of Qingzhou was its living eye. It was similar to his current situation. ¡°If so, as long as the array¡¯s energy doesn¡¯t run out, one could theoretically survive for a very long time, even thousands of years, despite a body¡¯s decay,¡± Qin Huai hypothesized. This could be why the Emperor of Qingzhou had endured for ten thousand years. ¡°Arrays, arrays, I¡¯ve gained a new perspective on you. Your path is as mysterious and profound as the Great Dao of martial cultivation,¡± Qin Huai marveled, a sense of awe in his voice. Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts drifted to the various provinces and the Great You. He wondered if the higher-ups there might employ a similar tactic to the bronze world¡¯s array formation to prolong their lives when they were nearing their ends. ¡°Or perhaps, the Senior Emperor of Qingzhou isn¡¯t really dead?¡± He laughed at this audacious idea, pushing it to the back of his mind. His thoughts danced as he continued to observe the varying states of the human world. Suddenly, he froze, his gaze resting on the spot where he had killed a few people. Experience orbs had materialized there. ¡°These¡­ They can actually materialize from tens of thousands of feet away?¡± Qin Huai was thrilled. With just a thought, an experience orb traveled thousands of feet, infusing him with its power. ¡°Ding! You have collected [Four Square Fist Skill Essence (Orange)],[Four Square Fist Technique] experience points +10,000!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Nourishing Blood Essence (Orange)],[Nourishing Blood Technique] experience points +11,111!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected [Tiger Leopard Kick Essence (Orange)],[Tiger Leopard Kick Technique] experience points +11,110!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± In an instant, a myriad of ¡®pasts¡¯ entered Qin Huai¡¯s ¡®life¡¯. As time went on, more diverse cultivation techniques started to manifest in his body. The converted blood essence, now conflicting qi and blood, constantly clashed within him. Every time this happened, he had to endure countless life-threatening experiences to adapt to this sensation. Eventually, Qin Huai¡¯s body seemed to develop a tolerance to the pain. Many cultivation techniques, even those not from a high realm that conflicted with one another, could now smoothly fuse with Qin Huai¡¯s body. The experience he needed to break through to the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm had been fully accumulated through the divine power book of a thousand creations. Any excess had been stored in his body, unable to be converted. The main contributor to this was Wang Kun. Upon his death, Qin Huai had absorbed an impressive number of experience orbs. In the span of half a day, he spent a significant portion of his time ¡®forging¡¯ these cultivation techniques. ¡°Now, my ¡®vision¡¯ encompasses the entirety of Qingzhou City. Among the millions of martial artists, there are at least a few thousand different cultivation techniques. When I gather them all, won¡¯t I be wielding thousands of techniques simultaneously?¡± Qin Huai felt a headache coming on. Despite his body being the most resilient in Qingzhou, he wasn¡¯t certain it could bear such an immense number of cultivation techniques. For the first time, he was confronted with the challenge of mastering countless techniques. However, he could only take things one step at a time. His first aim was to push his body to its limits. His gaze started to project images, allowing him to observe the happenings in Qingzhou City. He saw acts of bullying, deception, and mischief occurring in every corner of the city. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 541 - 541 Turn Enemies into Friends 541 Turn Enemies into Friends In this environment, the genuinely good individuals were a rare treasure. It could be argued that 99 out of 100 people slain by Qin Huai had earned their fate. Over time, Qingzhou City developed a new ecosystem. No one farmed or sold food. The city was overrun by martial artists feasting on one another, sustaining themselves with each other¡¯s blood. The powerful had taken over the former sect grounds in the inner city, hoarding the precious weapons, secret techniques, books, pills, and talismans. They slayed challengers daily to survive. The elite, those still affiliated with the original four major sects, had joined the Sacred Heart Sect and submitted to the demons. They remained atop the city¡¯s hierarchy. The sects that had previously established themselves in the inner city underwent significant changes ¡ª some were annexed and ruined, while others rose to power overnight, second only to the five major sects. Next came the challengers. Town and outer city rulers increased their strength through extensive killing and blood consumption, vying for the opportunity to challenge the status of the major sects. Those in even worse positions would escape from the outer city and go to the county city or lower towns, spreading news of Qingzhou City¡¯s grandeur to attract fresh blood. Qin Huai continued to collect the experience orbs dropped during their conflicts. Initially, he intended to kill these people one by one through divine punishment to gain more experience orbs. However, when he thought of the white-robed king, he suppressed this impulse. If discovered, the king might have unique methods to counteract him, so it was best not to engage directly for the time being. Moreover, Qin Huai feared that his divine retribution would incite panic among the villains. Should millions of villains flee Qingzhou City, it could create massive upheaval, especially in the direction of East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties. Instead, he preferred to keep them contained in Qingzhou City, slowly whittling them down like a frog in warming water. Suddenly, Qin Huai¡¯s gaze froze. He began to observe images of several people. Though he couldn¡¯t hear their conversations, he could deduce much from their actions and movements. Experts with powerful auras were converging on Wuji Mountain. There were hundreds of them, the weakest among them being at the fifth-level bone pattern realm. The Sacred Heart Sect was making a big move, a likely disaster for the deteriorating Wuji Mountain. Before Qin Huai could continue his observations, he felt peculiar movements in the blood sea. The energy of the blood sea seemed to be getting extracted. Jumping out of the blood sea, Qin Huai scanned his surroundings, soon identifying the culprits ¡ª returning demons from the Kun Peng clan. ¡°No wonder I couldn¡¯t spot you in the ¡®painting¡¯,¡± he thought, observing the group from a distance, but he didn¡¯t make a move. He was afraid of Tang Pi, the sect master of the Kun Peng clan, who had pure-blooded heritage and was on the verge of the king realm. Qin Hua¡¯s plan was to wear the enemy down. In the blood sea, he held the advantage. He had just sunk back into the blood sea when he heard Tang Pi call out, ¡°Qin Huai! I know you¡¯re here. Will you meet with me?¡± he taunted, ¡°The great leader of the Qingzhou Alliance, you claim the lives of millions of beings, yet you lack the courage to face me?¡± Qin Huai furrowed his brows upon hearing Tang Pi¡¯s words. How did this man know of his victories? As far as he remembered, there was no one around when he had fought Wang Kun. The surrounding area had transformed into a purgatory under the influence of Wang Kun¡¯s frenzied blood sea. Anyone who ventured near would be consumed by the blood sea, feeding Wang Kun¡¯s power. After a brief pause, Qin Huai heard Tang Pi¡¯s laughter echoing through the air. ¡°What a joke! How could that brat from the Qingzhou Alliance possibly defeat a being like you?¡± Tang Pi questioned, clearly trying to coax Qin Huai out of hiding. ¡°It¡¯s regrettable that such a spiritual object of nature is wielded by mere mortals and fanatics from the Sacred Heart Sect,¡± he sighed. Qin Huai took a moment to ponder. From Tang Pi¡¯s words, he deduced that the Kun Peng clan must have suffered a blow from the Sacred Heart Sect during his retreat. He moved closer, observing Tang Pi from above the sea. Despite everything, Tang Pi appeared strong and lively, showing no signs of defeat. Qin Huai recalled the rumors about the white-robed king¡¯s audacious demeanor. His way of thinking and acting was quite different from ordinary people. The king had once defeated Kong Binghuang, the master of Wuji Mountain, but spared his life and only took Zhou Chuanyong, who was on the brink of death. ¡°Humph! If you have something to say, just say it. You don¡¯t need to provoke me,¡± Qin Huai responded, impersonating Wang Kun¡¯s voice from beneath the sea of blood. ¡°If you¡¯re aware that I¡¯m a creature created from millions of living beings, then there¡¯s no need for these childish tests.¡± Tang Pi¡¯s face lit up with joy upon hearing this response. ¡°Hahaha! Mysterious beings like you are more direct than I¡¯d imagined,¡± he replied, lowering his guard. ¡°You are the living eye of the blood sea, controlling the entire array, and your killing power is formidable. However, while you control the array, that white-robed king controls your life!¡± Tang Pi continued, explaining that the Sacred Heart Sect had introduced the Whale Eating Gu worm into Qin Huai¡¯s soul. The worm would turn into an invisible mist, capable of detonating and destroying his soul at any time. While a million souls would indeed give birth to a new him, he would lose his current self. Tang Pi seemed certain Qin Huai would understand. Even magical beings couldn¡¯t remain calm in the face of life and death, especially for Qin Huai, who had fused with the millions of vengeful souls in Qingzhou City, experiencing a multitude of lives. ¡°Do you have any way to remove it?¡± Qin Huai asked, maintaining his calm. After all, Wang Kun was dead, and he was Qin Huai, not a being transformed from millions of vengeful souls. ¡°I know that the tranquil fragrance flower in Ling Prefecture to the north can cure soul poison. You can¡¯t leave Qingzhou City, but I can fetch it for you,¡± Tang Pi offered. ¡°And what are your conditions?¡± Qin Huai queried. ¡°No conditions! Or rather, our goals align. Eliminate the white-robed king of the Sacred Heart Sect!¡± Tang Pi gritted his teeth, revealing that the king had rejected and humiliated him despite his proposition for a partnership to safeguard the Great You. ¡°I¡¯ll reclaim Qingzhou from him, and you¡¯ll free yourself from his control. Your life will no longer be under threat!¡± he declared. Qin Huai felt there was more. ¡°That can¡¯t be all,¡± he said, already anticipating Tang Pi¡¯s conditions. ¡°Haha¡­ As expected of the Blood Sea Spirit. To defeat the white-robed king, our current strength isn¡¯t enough. Even though I¡¯ve evolved into a pure-blooded species and am close to breaking through to the king realm, it will still take years. But with your assistance, I might achieve it in months, or even a year!¡± Tang Pi admitted. ¡°Exchanging the tranquil fragrance flower for the king realm¡­ Demons do know how to trade,¡± Qin Huai replied, amused by the proposal. ¡°We¡¯re simply providing for mutual needs.¡± Tang Pi smirked. ¡°Alright, I agree to your terms. However, for now, I¡¯ll just consider that white-robed king¡¯s name as my incentive,¡± Qin Huai decided, his gaze landing on the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s martial artists, who were closing in on Wuji Mountain. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 542 - 542 Secret Realm? 542 Secret Realm? Tang Pi perked up upon hearing that the white-robed king could suffer. ¡°Do you have any interesting strategies?¡± Qin Huai waved his hand beneath the sea of blood, clearing the red waters under Tang Pi¡¯s feet. An image appeared before him, showing a group of experts from Qingzhou City steadily navigating the river, headed towards a specific location. As the prefecture overseer of Qingzhou for over a century, Tang Pi was familiar with the city¡¯s terrain. Instantly recognizing their destination, he wondered aloud, ¡°Is the Sacred Heart Sect preparing to attack Wuji Mountain?¡± Astonished, he mused, ¡°Has Wuji Mountain not fallen yet? Kong Binghuang, the old fox, is indeed remarkable. He even dared to compete with Zhang Fan for the title of Dao Child in his youth. The top three of Qingzhou truly underestimate themselves.¡± Tang Pi had returned to the blood sea promptly after his setback at the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, intending to recruit Wang Kun as an ally. He had assumed that the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s aggressive move had already conquered the territory. The resilient stand of Wuji Mountain was unexpected. Had he known, he would have first approached Kong Binghuang to potentially turn a foe into a friend in the fight against the Sacred Heart Sect. Listening to Tang Pi¡¯s revelations, Qin Huai discovered some of Kong Binghuang¡¯s impressive feats from his younger days. He had competed with the current sect master for the title of Dao Child, extorted the master of the Buddhist Sect, and even publicly criticized the master of the Confucian Sect at the city gates of Great You Capital. Quite the accomplishments. Tang Pi¡¯s tone shifted, ¡°Regrettably, the man is overly arrogant. After his defeat back then, he angrily left our sect, swearing to build Wuji Mountain into a second True Path Sect. Yet, the world isn¡¯t governed by ¡®genius¡¯ alone.¡± Intrigued, Qin Huai asked, ¡°How do you know Kong Binghuang so well?¡± ¡°Haha. Truth be told, when I heard that an unknown young sect master from the True Path Sect had appeared at Wuji Mountain, I was shocked,¡± Tang Pi confessed. ¡°I feared the True Path Sect was plotting to take over Qingzhou, so I investigated Kong Binghuang. The more I discovered, the more I lost sleep. I was caught between the fear of drawing the wrath of the True Path Sect¡¯s master if I killed Kong Binghuang and the fear of my Kun Peng clan being obliterated if he became too powerful.¡± Tang Pi sighed, reminiscing about those tumultuous years. It seemed as if he had been in a coma for a long time. As the Prefecture Overseer of Qingzhou, Tang Pi felt like he was treading on thin ice. A single misstep might lead to his beheading at the hands of the True Path Sect¡¯s proud heir. ¡°Fortunately, even heaven¡¯s favorites are not omnipotent. They are no mere myths or legends,¡± he breathed, a relieved expression crossing his face. ¡°Following his departure from the True Path Sect, it appears Kong Binghuang, having severed his connections, lost access to a huge amount of cultivation resources. Most critically, he lost the privilege to enter the spirit realm.¡± His prospects of advancing to the king realm dramatically decreased. Consequently, despite his talent, he was stuck at the peak of the visceral prefecture realm for decades, unable to progress further. Qin Huai remained silent at the mention of the ¡®spirit realm,¡¯ not wishing to reveal a flaw that might expose his true identity as Wang Kun. He chose to silently commit the name ¡®spirit realm¡¯ to memory. ¡°We should wrap this up. It¡¯s getting late,¡± Qin Huai commented, glancing at the people¡¯s activities in the image. Agreeing, Tang Pi said, ¡°Indeed. So, we have an agreement. I¡¯ll exchange the heads of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s martial artists for my clansmen¡¯s safety within the blood sea.¡± ¡°I suggest you also safeguard the people of Wuji Mountain. They are our natural allies,¡± Qin Huai advised. Tang Pi chuckled. ¡°That might prove challenging. My Kun Peng clan just weathered a significant upheaval and remains vulnerable. Completely defeating this group would be extremely difficult.¡± Having seen Qin Huai¡¯s image of Qingzhou City, Tang Pi was aware of the recent internal conflict within his clan that led to the death of all four branch clan leaders. Therefore, he didn¡¯t conceal this fact, hoping to regain Qin Huai¡¯s trust. Qin Huai replied, ¡°Just give it your best shot, Lord Prefecture Overseer. What matters is not the number of people saved, but your sincerity in working with me.¡± Nodding in understanding, though inwardly gritting his teeth, Tang Pi assured, ¡°I will undoubtedly give it my best.¡± He knew he had to make some sacrifices to acquire the blood sea, this precious Feng Shui land. With a flap of his wings, Tang Pi soared into the sky, leading his numerous subordinates toward Wuji Mountain. ¡­ At Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang surveyed the barren land from the peak. What was once a lush forest now lay devoid of green, replaced by pools of blood scattered across the wasteland and inside craters. Several mountains of the once majestic Wuji Mountain were now ruins, with broken walls and collapsed buildings. Behind him, the few remaining peak masters of Wuji Mountain assembled. Out of the initial fifteen, only three remained: Lotus Peak¡¯s Lu De, Cliff Peak¡¯s Yu Zugui, and Tiancheng Peak¡¯s Shi Molin. In the wake of recent events, only about three hundred disciples of Wuji Mountain remained. Those with insufficient cultivation levels had been sent out of Qingzhou City through secret passages overnight by the peak masters. They went to the ten counties of East Qingzhou, under the protection of the Qingzhou Alliance. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 543 - 543 Attack on Wuji Mountain 543 Attack on Wuji Mountain Led by the Qingzhou Alliance, elite survivors from the Ghost Ox Sect and the Blue Sea Pavilion amassed. Their combined strength was formidable. ¡°Mountain Chief, all the disciples have been dispatched,¡± Lu De, clad in a robe adorned with five-colored flowers, informed, his fists cupped in respect. Yu Zugui added, his voice low, ¡°According to recent intelligence, approximately eight hundred people are heading towards Wuji Mountain. The weakest among them is at the fifth-level bone pattern realm. The exact count of visceral prefecture realm experts is unknown, but likely no fewer than fifty. It¡¯s probable that the frontline is held by the giant Zhou Chuanyong. I fear this battle does not bode well.¡± Shi Molin, the elder, tapped his hunched back and offered a smile. ¡°We have to defeat Zhou Chuanyong this time. While the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s cannibalistic methods can generate visceral prefecture realm experts quickly, it cannot spawn a titan like Zhou Chuanyong. Their goal is likely more complex than merely nurturing one such as him.¡± Kong Binghuang, gazing at the vast blood sea, felt a twinge of uncertainty. He speculated that the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s intention behind this monstrous array extended beyond just raising an army of soldiers. These people, though powerful, were completely uncontrollable, akin to a dish of scattered sand. Yet, if they nurtured a king realm martial artist, the scenario would shift dramatically. He had long suspected the Sacred Heart Sect was secretly cultivating a monster. The oppressive sensation he felt when he looked at the blood-filled sky intensified these suspicions. Strangely, this sensation had vanished over the past fortnight. The absence of this familiar pressure puzzled him as he looked at the still-operating blood sea. Had the Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s master successfully disrupted the blood sea array in his quest to seize the ancient array books? But if that was the case, why was the blood sea still operating steadily¡­ ¡°Forget it. We¡¯ll think about this when we¡¯re underground,¡± Kong Binghuang chuckled. He could run, but the white-robed king¡¯s battle prowess had left him stunned. Rather than fleeing, he preferred to remove the king¡¯s key supporters, thereby paving the way for the young generation. In other words, they were prepared to stake their lives on this new era. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Lu De¡¯s voice pulled Kong Binghuang back to reality. From afar, an imposing army swept across the wasteland, their energy tangible. Leading the charge was a massive figure that shook the earth with each step. ¡°Kong Binghuang! You were lucky last time, but your luck won¡¯t hold!¡± Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s booming voice reached their ears even before his arrival. ¡°A defeated opponent dares to be arrogant?¡± Kong Binghuang sneered, his eyes scanning for Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s allies. He knew Zhou Chuanyong wouldn¡¯t be so bold if alone. Spotting the figure trailing Zhou Chuanyong, his gaze sharpened. It was the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower, Yue Yang. ¡°Is this the source of your confidence?¡± Kong Binghuang shouted. As he finished speaking, the Wuji Mountain behind him erupted in radiant light. Countless rays drew a spectacular, holy arc in the air before converging into Kong Binghuang¡¯s body, causing his aura to surge visibly. An unseen titan seemed to expand around him. Suddenly, a thunderous eagle¡¯s cry echoed. In the sky, the wings of a great roc obscured the heavens as they swooped down. ¡°It¡¯s the Kun Peng clan!¡± Kong Binghuang¡¯s heart sank at the sight of the sky filled with the long-lost race. With the added might of the Sacred Heart Sect, the Thousand Divination Tower, and now the Kun Peng clan, his crumbling Wuji Mountain stood little chance. The three peak masters at Kong Binghuang¡¯s side had a determined glint in their eyes. ¡°This battle seems to be a one-way ticket to death,¡± Lu De said with a hearty laugh. ¡°Mountain Chief, allow me to lead the charge!¡± Lu De roared, and twenty-seven enormous lotuses bloomed around him. They scattered, transforming into a vast lotus-shaped armor that enveloped him. With a fearless look in his eyes, he charged toward Zhou Chuanyong. ¡°Kun Peng clan?¡± Zhou Chuanyong glanced skywards at the demons and its leader, Tang Pi, confusion crossing his features. ¡°How have they returned? Are they hoping to gain the king¡¯s favor by involving themselves in Wuji Mountain affairs?¡± Zhou Chuanyong inwardly smirked. The world now belonged to his Sacred Heart Sect, and the seventeen states beyond had their own rulers. The Kun Peng clan had little choice but to submit to the king and admit their transgressions. ¡°Lord Prefecture Overseer, you¡­¡± Before Zhou Chuanyong could finish, his pupils suddenly constricted. Tang Pi¡¯s wings trembled, the killing intent in his eyes surging forth like a monstrous wave, directed at Zhou Chuanyong. Bang! There was a deafening impact as forces clashed, sending a shockwave of energy over the barren landscape. Dust and blood were thrown into the air. ¡°Are you inviting the king to exterminate your Kun Peng race?¡± Zhou Chuanyong roared, his eyes bulging in disbelief. Kong Binghuang seized the moment. The murderous intent radiating from Tang Pi was unmistakably genuine. Although unclear about the conflict between the two sides, Kong Binghuang knew not to squander this opportunity. Wuji Mountain quaked as he crossed the several hundred meters distance in an instant, arriving in front of Zhou Chuanyong. Bang! As Zhou Chuanyong threw another punch, Kong Binghuang countered with a fist of his own, blood gushing out. His giant fist, now bloody, seemed to transform into a lethal weapon. With the windward charm technique, Kong Binghuang disrupted Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s balance, sending his massive figure flying to the ground. Boom! Rocks scattered in all directions. Elsewhere, Tang Pi seemed to be perfectly synchronized with Kong Binghuang, as if they had practiced this move a thousand times over. Tang Pi¡¯s wings beat swiftly as an ancient and powerful aura surged from him. The pure-blooded Kun Peng struck so fast that Zhou Chuanyong had no time to react. Caught in a pincer attack by two top-tier experts, Zhou Chuanyong found himself covered in wounds within moments. ¡°Do you think you can kill me like this?¡± Zhou Chuanyong roared. ¡°Blood moon slash!¡± The blood in the sky seemed to freeze for a moment, then the stagnant blood exploded outwards like a blade, tearing through the air, and providing a brief respite. Zhou Chuanyong panted heavily, his heart pounding. His meticulously planned attack had gone awry from the start. Humans and demons had been natural enemies for centuries, and Tang Pi and Kong Binghuang had been at odds for years. Yet, they had united without warning. His gaze hardened on Yue Yang, who was lurking nearby. ¡°This coward couldn¡¯t have betrayed us, could he?¡± He took solace in the fact that there were only two opponents. While he might not defeat them, he could still make a safe retreat. However, a sudden tightening of his heart and an uncontrollable freezing of his body interrupted his thoughts. His life force was draining at a noticeable rate. ¡°What? What happened?¡± He touched the stream of blood trickling from the corner of his eye and realized, with a jolt of horror, that a bloody hole had appeared on his head. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 544 - 544 A Strike From Above 544 A Strike From Above Not just Zhou Chuanyong, but all surrounding warriors were taken aback as well. They raised their heads to the blood-filled sky, panic evident on their faces. ¡°Did something just fall on the leader¡¯s head?¡± one of them wondered aloud, only to be met with an obvious, ¡°Otherwise, why would he bleed?¡± They looked at Tang Pi and Kong Binghuang, the two exceptional fighters who had also paused momentarily to scan the sky with caution. While others might not have clearly seen the swift, bloody pillar descending from above, these two had. What truly disturbed them was their uncertainty about whether the hidden assailant was friend or foe, combined with their inability to sense any concealed presence around them. As everyone watched, Zhou Chuanyong slowly rose, his enormous body unsteady. He lifted his foot, stepping forward with a thud that disturbed the dust, generating a gust of wind. Sweat mixed with blood beaded on his forehead, cascading down in a terrifying spectacle. A sense of dread gripped him. The attack had not only penetrated his skull but seemed to have damaged his nerves as well, resulting in compromised body control. But at least it hadn¡¯t taken his life. With an exhale that resembled a celebration of his narrow escape, he realized his body was still trembling uncontrollably. Above the sea of blood, Qin Huai observed Zhou Chuanyong, who had barely avoided disaster, with a hint of pity in his eyes. ¡°Too bad the power of the heavenly punishment is still too weak against a peak visceral prefecture realm expert like Zhou Chuanyong.¡± Qin Huai had timed his attack perfectly, striking during the distraction provided by Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi, giving Zhou Chuanyong no chance to evade. ¡°The visceral prefecture realm is indeed the visceral prefecture realm,¡± he thought, noticing Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s unsteady stance and sensing his change. It seemed his attack had indeed been effective. With a gentle tap of his finger, Qin Huai launched another attack. On the ground, Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s heart clenched. He mustered all his strength to dodge the incoming blood pillar, which disappeared as soon as it struck, leaving a massive hole in the ground. Bang! His body swayed, barely missing the deadly attack. The head wound had left him disoriented and vulnerable. A chilling killing intent rose behind him. Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi, in tacit understanding, charged toward Zhou Chuanyong. They had been unsure of the first attack¡¯s origin, but they saw the second one clearly. Tang Pi knew that this was undoubtedly the work of the entity residing above the sea of blood, Wang Kun. Despite his shock at the incredible long-range attack, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time pondering. Opportunities like these were fleeting. The two former adversaries, who once stood at the pinnacle of Qingzhou, were now united against Zhou Chuanyong. Kong Binghuang¡¯s wind technique unfurled, transforming into a gigantic dragon that spiraled in the sky. Its gray feathers were soft as snow yet brought a bone-chilling cold. As the dragon draped its gray plumage, it stirred up the ground¡¯s sand and stone. Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi, already fast fighters, had the added advantage of Qin Huai¡¯s divine assistance, leaving Zhou Chuanyong effectively cornered, exposed to their onslaught. ¡°Attack! I¡¯ll hold these two off,¡± Zhou Chuanyong commanded, attempting to imbue dignity into his predicament. He then turned to Yue Yang with a ferocious roar. ¡°Lord Yue, you wouldn¡¯t betray us now, would you?¡± ¡°Eliminate them!¡± Yue Yang, after only a brief hesitation, commanded the dozen or so visceral realm experts he had brought from the Thousand Divination Tower to attack the Kun Peng clan. With the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower leading, the formidable martial artists of the Sacred Heart Sect no longer wavered. Accustomed to relentless killing, they perceived the people before them not as warriors of Wuji Mountain or demons of the Kun Peng clan, but merely as prey ¡ª their food. The remaining Wuji Mountain members and the grievously injured Kun Peng clan struggled to compete with the powerful Sacred Heart Sect army. The cult¡¯s astounding recovery technique, the blood heart technique, was fully manifested in this battle, making any minor injury a prime target for their aggressive onslaught. Chuckles of satisfaction escaped Zhou Chuanyong as the battle swayed in his favor, his initial apprehension gradually fading. He engaged in close combat with the two adversaries, ensuring the hidden attacker could not injure him accurately. His blood heart technique could easily repair his arm and ankle wounds, posing no significant threat. Even though Yue Yang¡¯s attitude irked Zhou Chuanyong, he remained a valuable asset. His status as an expert at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm could help Zhou Chuanyong withstand the dual attack for a considerable time. At this moment, the Sacred Heart Sect, with its numerical and combat advantages, was quickly overwhelming the remaining members of the Kun Peng clan and Wuji Mountain. The tide of battle was indeed in his favor¡­ Or so Zhou Chuanyong thought, until his vision was abruptly flooded by a sea of red. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 545 - 545 Heavens Wrath! Golden Cicada Body! 545 Heaven¡¯s Wrath! Golden Cicada Body! What was happening? Was blood spurting from his head? No, his body seemed unharmed. A momentary lapse in focus caused Zhou Chuanyong to be startled by the simultaneous wails resonating around him. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Heavenly Punishment! It¡¯s heavenly punishment!¡± ¡°Watch the sky!¡± The battlefield dynamics shifted abruptly. The Sacred Heart Sect members, once aggressive and relentless, were now frantic, dodging the onslaught of surrounding martial artists and demons. Many retreated, disrupting the initial rhythm of their attack. Zhou Chuanyong abruptly looked upward. Above him, dozens of blood-red light beams rained down as if signaling the apocalypse. But curiously, the catastrophe appeared to target only the Sacred Heart Sect members. The sounds of collapsing earth and screams formed a cacophony, amplifying Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s growing desperation. As he observed, the light pillars didn¡¯t vanish instantly but fell in sequence, causing an earth-shattering impact. The blood pillars transformed the battlefield into a horrifying spectacle. Zhou Chuanyong stared in disbelief at the blood sea in the sky. The king had never mentioned such a power. Moreover, the blood sea array was supposed to be under the king¡¯s control. The entity birthed from the blood sea, Wang Kun, should be an ally. How could this be happening? An outrageous thought suddenly flashed in Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s mind. Could it be that Wang Kun, imbued with the power of a million vengeful souls, had been defeated by Qin Huai? The mere thought sent chills down his spine. In the midst of his horror, Zhou Chuanyong realized his Sacred Heart Sect army had suffered over twenty casualties ¡ª all elite warriors of at least fifth-level bone pattern realm. They were strong fighters, their loss equivalent to a major blow to the sect. ¡°Zhou Chuanyong, your end is near,¡± Kong Binghuang declared coldly, confident about the identity of the unseen figure orchestrating the attack from the blood sea. The tactics resembled those of the Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s young master, Qin Huai. ¡°My end?¡± Zhou Chuanyong snarled back, ¡°If I¡¯m going to die, I¡¯ll take you both down with me!¡± His body swelled suddenly, as if inflated, while an enormous amount of blood and qi surged out. The explosive sound echoed in Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi¡¯s ears, causing them to freeze momentarily before retreating. ¡°Move! Zhou Chuanyong is self-destructing!¡± Kong Binghuang bellowed. But it was too late. Zhou Chuanyong lunged at them, his gigantic body ballooning further, bearing down on them like an avalanche. The mention of a self-destruction by a fifth-level visceral prefecture realm expert sent chills down the spines of those present, prompting them to flee. Boom! A massive explosion followed, with flesh and blood transforming into deadly projectiles. The blood and qi adhered to the ground and the warriors, gnawing at them relentlessly. Even the most resilient bodies and skin were shattered by these blood-colored parasites. ¡°Ahh!¡± A Wuji Mountain warrior shrieked in agony as his arm slumped weakly to his side, ravaged by the deadly blood parasites. Not just him, the surrounding Kun Peng demons and Sacred Heart Sect disciples were equally horrified after being infiltrated by the blood-colored worms. Their bodies would instantly go numb and lose control. ¡°What¡¯s happening? I can¡¯t move my hands!¡± Panic set in, and everyone frantically tried to escape from the encircling blood worms. In the ensuing chaos, some even wielded their weapons against their enemies. Within moments, numerous martial artists fell. In the vicinity, Kong Binghuang, the primary target of the attack, sat cross-legged on the ground. His face pale, he activated the windward scroll, using wind blades to cut through the blood worms on his skin. Nearby, Tang Pi adopted a different strategy. He sat quietly, attempting to use his blood essence to eradicate the worms. ¡°You¡¯re using your blood essence to eliminate these blood worms?¡± Kong Binghuang asked, surprised. ¡°Humph! I¡¯m a pure-blooded species, unlike you low-grade humans,¡± Tang Pi retorted. Despite their exchange, both shared a similar sentiment regarding Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s extreme measures. A fifth-level visceral prefecture realm cultivator had sacrificed himself so readily, a clear indicator of the fanaticism within the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s core members. The thought of meeting the cult¡¯s leader, who could inspire such devotion, intrigued Kong Binghuang. Despite past grievances, the immediate concern was to join forces with the Kun Peng clan to fight the white-robed king, a formidable opponent already in the king realm. ¡°Let¡¯s eliminate these obstacles first,¡± Kong Binghuang suggested, standing and expelling a mouthful of black blood before charging at the remaining Sacred Heart Sect disciples. ¡°Humph! Sounds good to me,¡± Tang Pi grumbled, struggling to his feet, his body swaying from the injuries. Unfazed, he joined Kong Binghuang in the attack against the remnants of the Sacred Heart Sect. ¡­ A few miles away, on a haystack, a bloodied, thin figure collapsed. It was Zhou Chuanyong, but he was no longer the towering figure from before, his body now that of an ordinary person. ¡°I never imagined I¡¯d have to use the golden cicada technique, honed over eighty years, in such a place,¡± Zhou Chuanyong muttered, resentment filling his eyes. He had planned a total annihilation of Wuji Mountain and the Kun Peng clan, leaving Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi without a force to command. But things had taken an unexpected turn. He glared at the blood sea overhead. ¡°Qin Huai! One day, I¡¯ll take your head and make you beg for death!¡± Suddenly, a blood pillar expanded in his field of vision, causing Zhou Chuanyong to dodge abruptly. It left a deep crater where he had just stood, a chilling reminder of the close call. No, he thought, I must report this to the king. This is beyond the capability of the blood sea array. The array was designed to harness life, blood, and soul power to nurture a king realm entity under their control. This god-like ability was unexpected. With this thought, Zhou Chuanyong dashed toward the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, dodging the continuous rain of blood pillars. His nimble movements, now free of his giant physique, even outpaced Kong Binghuang. ¡°Hahaha¡­ You think you can kill me with these little tricks?¡± Zhou Chuanyong jeered at the sky, venting his anger. The setback in his cultivation progress due to the golden cicada technique angered him. He had many more decades of cultivation ahead, and he wondered how many of these cycles he could complete in his limited lifespan. As the blood pillars fell more frequently, Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s defiant smile grew brighter. ¡°Are you flustered and exasperated? If you can¡¯t handle it, come down and face me!¡± He continued his provocations, attempting to regain his equilibrium. Suddenly, he felt an unmistakable killing intent looming overhead. He looked up to see a familiar, handsome face, one he had never seen before, yet was deeply etched in his heart. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 546 - 546 The Mysterious Young Man 546 The Mysterious Young Man Boom! The ground abruptly caved in, sending up a dust cloud seven to eight meters high. The barren terrain spread like a spiderweb, its advance leaving the once-green forest littered with fallen leaves. From the dust and smoke, Zhou Chuanyong emerged, his body smeared in blood. He darted towards the Thousand Divination Tower, moving through the forest with agility reminiscent of a monkey on flat land. Behind him, a pair of giant Kun Peng wings unfurled, their black glow hinting at deadly sharpness. They easily sliced through the surrounding giant trees, the trunks as thick as several people¡¯s arms falling effortlessly in their wake. The forest echoed with the thunderous sound of falling timber as Qin Huai passed by, the noise akin to demonic whispers in Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s ears. The whispers grew louder, closer, until several feathers fell into Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s line of sight. Suddenly, they ignited, turning into a fiery cage. Within moments, several rocs sprang forth, transforming into giant beasts that lunged at him. Boom! An explosion ensued, forcing Zhou Chuanyong to stagger back. With narrowed eyes, he retaliated against the murderous aura advancing from the dust, throwing punch after punch. Bang! Bang! Bang! Each hit forced Zhou Chuanyong back, and after a dozen or so blows, he had been driven hundreds of meters into the ground. His feet were blood-soaked, his fists bruised, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. But what stunned him most was not his physical condition ¡ª it was the overwhelming force Qin Huai had just displayed. The luminous, black-feathered Kun Peng wings were unlike those of any ordinary Kun Peng demons. They bore the distinctive pattern of a pure-blooded breed. How had Qin Huai acquired a pure-blooded Kun Peng to refine into a guardian spirit item? It would explain how he could keep up with Zhou Chuanyong. However, as far as Zhou Chuanyong knew, the last pure-blooded Kun Peng in existence was Tang Pi, who had recently allied with Kong Binghuang. And even Tang Pi had only recently come into this power. Furthermore, how was Qin Huai¡¯s strength so formidable? It was vastly more terrifying than rumors suggested. Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s mind swirled with questions, but one thing was clear: the blood sea spirit, formed from the power of millions of vengeful souls, had likely fallen into Qin Huai¡¯s possession. Zhou Chuanyong knew he was no match for Qin Huai in direct combat. He needed to devise a way to calm him down, at least until Wang Gan arrived to settle matters. Given the chaos unfolding on Wuji Mountain, he was confident that the seers from the Thousand Divination Tower would have detected the unusual activity. The choice of the Thousand Divination Tower as a base was due to its martial artists¡¯ exceptional intelligence. They were adept at calculation, able to discern even the most minute movements. This ensured that the Sacred Heart Sect maintained a formidable intelligence network. It was a virtually failsafe setup. Zhou Chuanyong owed his escape from Kong Binghuang¡¯s previous trap to the exceptional calculative abilities of the Thousand Divination House members. As for the impact of such high-intensity computation on their lifespans, neither Yue Yang nor the Sacred Heart Sect expressed any concern. ¡°Qin Huai, we could perhaps¡­¡± Boom! Before he could finish, a burst of white light exploded. A sharp force immediately crossed the ten-meter gap to reach Zhou Chuanyong. Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s body reacted, his pores opening wide as blood surged out like a fountain. Within moments, it enveloped him, transforming him into a towering blood giant. His figure swelled and a forceful punch struck his left leg, causing blood to spurt out like a pillar. The bloody, squirming locusts scattered everywhere, seemingly poised to climb onto Qin Huai. A wicked smile played on Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s lips. This move would likely buy him some time. However, his expression soon froze. Beads of blood began to ooze out of Qin Huai¡¯s pores, the volume matching Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s. A barrier of concentrated energy, several layers thick, materialized in front of Qin Huai. Despite their apparent weakness, the blood-red worms pierced Qin Huai¡¯s defenses with ease. Observing the blood-colored maggots on his body, Qin Huai felt a strange numbness accompanied by a disorder in his blood and qi. ¡°Has my qi and blood circulation become stagnant¡­?¡± he wondered, instantly grasping the root cause. He then activated the blood heart technique, expelling all the stagnant blood from his body, which left him drenched in blood. Upon seeing this, Zhou Chuanyong sneered. But his smirk was short-lived as he recognized Qin Huai¡¯s technique. ¡°This is the blood heart technique?!¡± he exclaimed, his pupils narrowing in shock. This revelation was more startling than his initial guess of Qin Huai defeating Wang Kun. ¡°How do you know the blood heart technique?¡± he demanded, observing Qin Huai¡¯s astonishing recovery ability. It appeared that Qin Huai¡¯s proficiency in the blood heart technique rivaled his own. ¡°Are you¡­ Are you the young man mentioned by the Supreme One?!¡± Zhou Chuanyong blurted out. The identity of the young man deemed significant by the Supreme One had remained a mystery following Qin Huai¡¯s presumed death. Now, here was Qin Huai, very much alive and demonstrating mastery of the blood heart technique. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 547 - 547 The Strange Stone Token 547 The Strange Stone Token The person the Supreme One had mentioned was now evidently Qin Huai. Upon hearing the reference to ¡®His Lord,¡¯ Qin Huai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. They had met in a dream, and the other party was indeed aware of it. Murderous intent flared in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, and a black veil erupted from his body, enveloping several miles around him. At this moment, Zhou Chuanyong sensed his impending doom. Even as a fifth-level visceral prefecture realm practitioner, he felt a deep-seated dread upon entering the black dragon world. ¡°Wait! We can negotiate!¡± he bellowed. ¡°If you join us, the Supreme One will grant you the position of Saint!¡± ¡°I have no interest in a deluded cult leader!¡± retorted Qin Huai, his voice icy but his hands swift. A chilling murderous intent materialized within the black dragon world, launching at Zhou Chuanyong from all directions. Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s heart lurched. This wasn¡¯t merely intent ¡ª it was an actual assault! Suddenly, a cold, unseen attack struck him. Puff! Blood spurted from his wounds, and as Qin Huai loomed larger before him, he found resolve. ¡°Supreme One, I will go ahead!¡± His murderous intent flared in an instant. ¡°Golden body blood burst!¡± Bang! The blood detonated just a meter from Qin Huai, its explosive force propelling fragments into Qin Huai¡¯s skin like crossbow arrows. The close-range self-destruction of a fifth-level visceral prefecture realm expert was indeed terrifying. The black dragon world collapsed, and Qin Huai clutched at his bleeding chest. Blood streamed from the punctures on his arms and thighs. Even Qin Huai¡¯s bones were slightly fractured. ¡°I underestimated his willingness to self-destruct twice,¡± he mused. ¡°I was careless.¡± As Qin Huai slowly rose to his feet, his wounds and fractures visibly began to heal. Such injuries were inconsequential to him, and he knew he could recover quickly as long as his internal organs remained unharmed. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze fell upon the bloodied remnants on the ground ¡ª fragments of artifacts, scraps of notes from the Great You Trading Company soaked in blood, and a token. He picked up the blood-stained token and shook off the debris. The token appeared to be made of an unusual stone that had withstood the self-destruction of a visceral prefecture realm expert ¡ª a finding worth exploring. The token bore a single word: spirit. The material used for the word was different and seemed to be melded to the token through a unique refining method. ¡°Spirit. Spirit realm?¡± Qin Huai contemplated, reminded of the secret Tang Pi, the leader of the Kun Peng clan, had revealed. The legendary spirit realm appeared to be closely connected with the king realm, which was a tier above the visceral prefecture realm. ¡°I should ask Mountain Chief Kong when I return,¡± Qin Huai thought, looking towards the Thousand Divination Tower before making his way to Wuji Mountain. Having lost Zhou Chuanyong, an important and powerful figure, Qin Huai had also annihilated the Sacred Heart disciples on the ground in a rage. Although the encounter was brief and the damage minimal, his spirit and aura had significantly shifted. With Tang Pi and Kong Binghuang, two formidable allies, he was confident of turning the tides. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze sharpened as he caught sight of the scene at Wuji Mountain. As he had predicted, Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s disappearance had promptly ended the battle. Even Yue Yang, the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower, seemed unable to hold out much longer. The moment Zhou Chuanyong vanished in death, those who followed him scattered in panic, like monkeys fleeing a felled tree. ¡­ At the base of Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi stood side by side. ¡°I never thought the day would come when we¡¯d fight together,¡± said Tang Pi, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°Our interests align for the time being,¡± Kong Binghuang replied coldly. ¡°Why act so aloof? As if I owe you something!¡± ¡°Tell me, how many humans have your Kun Peng clan murdered in secret?¡± Kong Binghuang¡¯s tone grew frostier. ¡°Then how many of my Kun Peng brethren have you humans slain?¡± Tang Pi sneered. ¡°Where do you suppose human experts acquire their guardian spirit items? Aren¡¯t they forged from the blood and organs of my race? ¡°We¡¯re often kept alive as we¡¯re turned into objects, tortured a thousandfold¡­ And still, you human martial artists feign righteousness and act as if it¡¯s justifiable. You¡¯re all hypocrites. When it comes to killing, you may not have slain as many humans as us, but you¡¯ve undoubtedly killed more demons.¡± Kong Binghuang fell silent. ¡°This is also why I didn¡¯t immediately report your presence to the sect for elimination,¡± he finally said. His expression was complex, his gaze distant, as if reminiscing. He had known that the prefecture overseer of Qingzhou was a demon, and that Great You harbored more secrets before he had arrived. However, upon his arrival, he found Qingzhou¡¯s citizens living happier lives than he had anticipated. The situation was far from disastrous. Under demonic rule, order prevailed, and the living conditions were considerably better than many counties he knew. Thus, he chose to bide his time. It wasn¡¯t until recent decades, when the demons ruling Qingzhou began to treat human lives as trifles, that Kong Binghuang resolved to eradicate the Kun Peng race. However, time had passed, and the situation in Great You had changed. Even the True Path Sect couldn¡¯t dispatch forces to Qingzhou to quell the demons. A moment of silence passed between them. ¡°At least until the Sacred Heart Sect is entirely eradicated from Qingzhou, I promise to cooperate fully,¡± Kong Binghuang declared his position. ¡°In that case, contact me when needed!¡± Tang Pi replied, spreading his wings to take flight. He shouted, ¡°Erlang, follow me!¡± and led the hundreds of Kun Peng elites from the ground into the sky, towards the blood-red clouds above. Kong Binghuang held a gray feather in his hand. ¡°Mountain Chief, what¡¯s our next move?¡± the Lotus Flower Peak Master asked, approaching from a distance. ¡°Retreat,¡± Kong Binghuang answered. ¡°Retreat?¡± The Lotus Flower Peak Master was stunned. ¡°To where? Are we abandoning Wuji Mountain?¡± ¡°We are,¡± confirmed Kong Binghuang, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°Everyone, scatter and seek refuge in the mountains and forests of Qingzhou City. The deacon will lead the teams. ¡°After Zhou Chuanyong¡¯s death, the white-robed king will undoubtedly be enraged. With his strength, we can¡¯t fight against him solely relying on Wuji Mountain¡¯s grand array. Our best move is to hide in Qingzhou City and wait for an opportunity. ¡°If the white-robed king retaliates against the ten counties of East Qingzhou, we¡¯ll dismantle all important bases he relies on in Qingzhou City. The death of numerous experts will inevitably hurt him.¡± Kong Binghuang¡¯s eyes narrowed. Though the white-robed king saw these people as pawns, losing too many would make fulfilling the Sacred Heart Sect Master¡¯s mission challenging. Lacking the strength to confront him, their best option was to resort to this strategy. The master of Lotus Flower Peak and the other two peak masters acknowledged his plan and set off to relay the orders. Soon after, a figure appeared beside Kong Binghuang. ¡°So, it is you, kid,¡± he said, detecting the dangerous aura and smiling. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to defeat the blood sea¡¯s core¡­¡± ¡°I was lucky,¡± Qin Huai responded calmly. ¡°Mountain Chief, your plan might be a bit risky. That white-robed king controls the Thousand Divination Tower, which boasts impressive divination abilities,¡± Qin Huai warned. ¡°It won¡¯t happen. Or at least, not so soon¡­¡± Kong Binghuang assured him with a knowing smile. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 548 - 548 The Three Realms 548 The Three Realms In front of Wuji Mountain, numerous figures were bustling about. Carriage after carriage laden with packages streamed out of Qingzhou City, transported by the remaining martial artists of Wuji Mountain. ¡°I thought this battle would be our end,¡± said Kong Binghuang, looking towards the Thousand Divination Tower with Qin Huai at his side. ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate that a game-changer like you would emerge. What did you use to win over old Tang Pi after gaining control of the blood sea? Does the blood sea have some special influence?¡± He asked the question that had been bothering him, knowing that mere hatred and pride wouldn¡¯t have persuaded Tang Pi to stand firmly against the Sacred Heart Sect. ¡°You can consider the blood sea a treasure trove, a concentrated essence of life. Training within it can enhance one¡¯s aptitude, cultivation, and even bloodline¡­¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t hold back any information, revealing all the blood sea¡¯s secrets to Kong Binghuang. ¡°The master of the Sacred Heart Sect is indeed a genius,¡± he said, a complex expression on his face. ¡°He even intended to create a puppet in the king realm. I really wonder what goes on in that man¡¯s mind.¡± ¡°What are all these items?¡± Qin Huai gestured towards the carts of goods departing from Wuji Mountain. He was unfamiliar with the items, but he knew that a substantial amount of secret manuals, pills, and artifacts from Wuji Mountain were being transported to Lingkou Pass and distributed across the ten counties of East Qingzhou. ¡°These are materials used for Wuji Mountain¡¯s protective array. We¡¯re taking them down and moving them to either Lingkou Pass or Jiang City,¡± Kong Binghuang explained. ¡°You can disassemble and reassemble it?¡± Qin Huai was intrigued. He hadn¡¯t come across such practices in his extensive reading on arrays. Even the blood sea array and the protective array of Wuji Mountain contained minor variations not documented in the ancient texts. Kong Binghuang laughed. ¡°The world of martial arts is always evolving. While my own martial arts haven¡¯t advanced much over the past ten thousand years, I¡¯ve made considerable progress in alchemy, arrays, forging, talismans, and the like.¡± His laughter faded into silence. ¡°Is it because of the demons?¡± Qin Huai ventured a guess. ¡°Indeed.¡± Kong Binghuang sighed. ¡°The eight royal families that once invaded Great You have now established themselves as its rightful rulers. They¡¯ve spread throughout the sixteen states of Great You, occupying key positions everywhere. They fear the human race surpassing them and have resorted to killing prodigies and even severing the illusory fate of the human race.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the True Path Sect, Buddhist Sect, and Confucian Academy be the only three major powers in Great You?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Those three factions have only just regained some vitality after nearly a thousand years, giving them the strength to counter the eight royal families.¡± ¡°But centuries have passed,¡± Kong Binghuang continued, ¡°Numerous loyal lackeys have emerged from the human race, diligently working against these three factions. Their relentless moves have made it difficult for us to gain momentum, hampering our efforts to resurrect our grand cause.¡± Kong Binghuang sneered. ¡°Many schemes the demons couldn¡¯t even conceive of have been devised and shattered by these sycophants. What an irony. However, the core issue is the dispersion of fate and public sentiment, leading to a stagnation in Great You¡¯s martial arts development. In the last ten thousand years, there has been no advancement in martial arts.¡± ¡°Are fate and the human heart truly connected to martial arts?¡± Qin Huai asked. Kong Binghuang nodded, explaining, ¡°Indeed. Those who are revered by the masses can perceive aspects that elude ordinary people. They can see the brilliant galaxy formed by human hearts and the dense power of faith. This power fuels the prodigies, continually driving them forward, and in the end, they repeatedly create what we call miracles. Hence, there¡¯s a saying among the three factions: all miracles leave traces. This is the basis of our True Path Sect¡¯s belief that the Heavenly Dao bears the weight of karma.¡± At this, Qin Huai thought back to the scene at Lingkou Pass and the radiant galaxy formed by the ten counties when he entered the blood sea. Its splendor had stirred his heart. Now, thanks to Kong Binghuang¡¯s explanation, he understood what those mysterious specks of light were. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Kong Binghuang sighed, ¡°these elements have been shattered by the eight royal families, making them impossible to reassemble.¡± As they conversed, the large group from Wuji Mountain behind them had already started to withdraw. They didn¡¯t dare linger, and promptly made for Spirit Gate. ¡°On another note, are you familiar with the spirit realm?¡± Qin Huai asked as they journeyed. ¡°The spirit realm¡­ Oh, I nearly forgot.¡± Kong Binghuang slapped his forehead. ¡°Tang Pi informed you, didn¡¯t he?¡± Qin Huai nodded in confirmation. Kong Binghuang paused for a moment before explaining, ¡°Martial arts encompass four realms. The first realm involves refining blood, where one uses martial arts to temper their blood and strengthen their body. The second, the bone pattern, involves incorporating martial arts into the body, tempering one¡¯s bones and muscles, nurturing one¡¯s qi, and accumulating energy. The third, the visceral prefecture, uses heavenly spiritual objects and living treasures as guides to open the body, essentially further tempering the organs to make them stronger. ¡°The aging and death of a person are actually due to the decrease in organ vitality as one¡¯s lifespan increases. The visceral prefecture realm not only boasts an astounding lethal power but also significantly increases a martial artist¡¯s lifespan. Free from illnesses and diseases, they can live for five hundred years. ¡°Ultimately, these three realms aim to train one¡¯s physique and maintain physical vitality.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 549 - 549 The White 549 The White-Robed King¡¯s Worry ¡°However, the fourth realm transcends to an arcane and mystical level of the soul. It merges the fragile soul of a being with its body. Even when one steps into this fourth realm, also known as the spirit altar realm, the soul and the body become one, using the body as a foundation,¡± Kong Binghuang explained. Listening attentively, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but question, ¡°The soul is delicate. If it tries to align with a powerful physical body, isn¡¯t that¡­?¡± It was like inviting death. An expert at the peak of the visceral prefecture realm would possess an incalculable volume of blood and qi energy. That, however, was not the core issue. The main point was that the power nurtured by the bone pattern realm, the force, was the power of the cultivation techniques. These techniques were all based on the patterns of heaven and earth, the power of the universe, and the power of profound cultivation. When a soul becomes so immersed that it seeps into the bones, it battling the power of heaven and earth is no different than an ant trying to topple a tree or an egg trying to crack a rock. ¡°Indeed,¡± Kong Binghuang agreed. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s fatal for average peak stage visceral prefecture realm cultivators without a method to train their souls. There are no exceptions.¡± He continued, ¡°And if you desire to train your soul, one of the most effective methods in this world is entering the spirit realm, which you mentioned earlier. ¡°The spirit world¡­ Its main purpose is to train you for the spirit realm. However, the entry conditions are quite stringent. You need the legendary spirit stone as a guide to connect your soul to the spirit world. Spirit stones, however, are incredibly rare, and most are in the possession of the eight royal families. Even the Confucian, Buddhist, and True Path sects hold very limited quantities.¡± A touch of regret appeared on Kong Binghuang¡¯s face as he spoke, ¡°When I was a candidate for the Dao Child, I was lucky enough to enter the spirit world for cultivation. Unfortunately, after leaving the True Path Sect, I lost that privilege. Not that I lack the privilege, it¡¯s just that as a young man carrying such a precious artifact, if I were assassinated and the spirit stones stolen, wouldn¡¯t the True Path Sect suffer considerable loss? In the end, the human race is just too poor.¡± After they had guided the team out of Qingzhou City, they returned to the inner city forest hideout. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What¡¯s the spirit world like?¡± ¡°The spirit world¡­¡± Kong Binghuang mused. ¡°To my understanding, the spiritual world is the final resting place for the souls of this world¡¯s formidable warriors. In it, you can witness the remnant souls of people from ancient books and historical texts, even the traces left behind by ancient legends thousands of years ago. ¡°There are even remnants of the heads of the eight royal families, the true emperors of the Great Nether, the dragon clan. The dragons have reportedly spotted the legendary ancestral dragon in the spirit world¡­¡± With just a few sentences, Kong Binghuang had vividly illustrated a fascinating world for Qin Huai. History seemed in disarray with countless prodigies traversing thousands, even tens of thousands, of years to conquer the spiritual world. ¡°However, the spirit world has three levels. I¡¯ve only cultivated in the first level, the spirit blood level,¡± Kong Binghuang continued. ¡°The method of cultivation is quite straightforward: kill other souls and absorb them¡­ Or, seek opportunities in the spirit world, which is replete with endless treasures. ¡°Essentially, the spirit world is a land of opportunities. The windward charm I rely on was discovered in a spirit treasure left behind by a True Path Sect senior in the spirit world.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Qin Huai was brimming with anticipation. The so-called three levels of the spirit world were the spirit blood level, where the soul and flesh fuse, corresponding to the level of blood refinement. At the first level, he could harness the power of his blood essence but wouldn¡¯t sense the power of the bone pattern and visceral prefecture realm. The second level would activate the power of patterned bones, and its might could be used. ¡°Thank you for sharing those, Mountain Chief!¡± Qin Huai respectfully bowed with cupped fists. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Given your talent, you¡¯re destined to ascend to the king realm. Even if Qingzhou still falls into the hands of the Sacred Heart Sect, I¡¯ll do my best to get you out. ¡°Besides, I nearly forgot you¡¯re a member of the Nine Dragons Sect and a disciple of my True Path Sect.¡± Kong Binghuang slapped his forehead, laughing. ¡°You could directly go to the True Path Sect. Given your strength and age, you should have no problem besting the current Dao Child!¡± Kong Binghuang gritted his teeth, seemingly holding back some sentiments. Clearly, he had a deep impression of the term ¡®Dao Child¡¯. ¡°The matters concerning Qingzhou will surely be resolved smoothly,¡± muttered Qin Huai. ¡°The white-robed king¡¯s realm isn¡¯t invincible, is it?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I hope so.¡± Kong Binghuang didn¡¯t dare give a definite answer, having personally fought with the white-robed king and knowing firsthand his terrifying power. ¡°However, if you encounter him, don¡¯t hesitate to run. Remember, as long as there¡¯s life, there¡¯s hope!¡± Kong Binghuang earnestly advised. ¡°Look at my vast Wuji Mountain, a top-tier sub-sect of the True Path Sect. The journey of life is long. Don¡¯t ruin your bright future due to a moment of impulsiveness. If I remember correctly, you are now¡­ twenty-three?¡± Upon saying this, Kong Binghuang felt a touch of amazement. This youngster was merely twenty-three years old but already at the top of Qingzhou?! ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Huai counted on his fingers. Honestly, he had lost track. Ever since he embarked on the martial path, he had barely experienced a peaceful day. ¡°Mountain Chief, do you still plan to hide your disciples in the forest?¡± Qin Huai crouched amidst the woods, voicing his doubts. Having cultivated the thousand divination blood technique, he knew this method could vaguely track a person¡¯s location. Probably, the Thousand Divination Tower wouldn¡¯t use it on ordinary disciples of Wuji Mountain. However, as one of the top three figures in Qingzhou, Kong Binghuang was certainly a worthwhile target. Unless¡­ Qin Huai noted the faint smile crossing Kong Binghuang¡¯s face. ¡°Shh¡­ Don¡¯t talk too much. The secrets of the heavens must not be revealed.¡± Kong Binghuang motioned Qin Huai to silence. ¡°Then, please take care of yourself, Mountain Chief!¡± Qin Huai bowed once more. ¡°If there¡¯s anything, leave a message at the Blood Poison Gang¡¯s old location in the outer city. I¡¯ll check it every day. When the time comes, I can ask the Kun Peng clan to lend a hand!¡± ¡°Good!¡± Kong Binghuang nodded. ¡°Tang Pi probably isn¡¯t aware of your true identity yet.¡± ¡°Yes, he always thought that I was the lifeform born from the blood sea, Wang Kun. The real Qin Huai supposedly perished at Wang Kun¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s good.¡± Kong Binghuang nodded approvingly. ¡­ In the Heart Eye Pavilion, the white-robed king sat in seclusion, attempting to cultivate. After a while, he opened his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Why can¡¯t I calm down? Even in the spirit world, I¡¯m distracted.¡± The white-robed king gazed at the blood sea in the sky, a troubled expression on his face. He toyed with a red bead in his hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The white-robed king scrutinized the bead, uncertain. The bead was a device that controlled the blood sea. Once activated, it could manipulate Wang Kun¡¯s body, regardless of whether he was in the visceral prefecture realm or the king realm. However, it had side effects. If used prematurely, and the target had not reached the king realm, Wang Kun might abandon his progress, even if control over him was relinquished. If that happened, their blood sea plan would come crashing down. He needed to wait a little longer. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t possibly have acquired a huge amount of power, thought the white-robed king. Thump thump thump¡­ Suddenly, a sequence of frantic footsteps echoed from the staircase, accompanied by a potent scent of blood. The white-robed king¡¯s heart skipped a beat. As expected, the problem wasn¡¯t with the blood sea. Did something happen at Wuji Mountain?! ¡°Speak! What happened?¡± He spun around, staring intently at the person who had just arrived. ¡°Dead¡­ Lord Zhou is dead!¡± The warrior, at the fifth-level bone pattern realm, had a grim expression. He had just rushed back from Wuji Mountain. Thump thump thump¡­ More footsteps sounded from the stairs. This time, the one who returned was covered in blood, Yue Yang, who only had one arm now. ¡°King! We were ambushed!¡± Yue Yang let out a cry, breaking into a wail. ¡°Dead! They¡¯re all dead! Everyone is dead!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 550 - 550 A Traitor? 550 A Traitor? The white-robed king stared at the tear-streaked Yue Yang before he grabbed him off the ground. ¡°Although Kong Binghuang is strong, both you and Zhou Chuanyong shouldn¡¯t have met your end even if defeated¡­ So why is he the one who perished while you survived?¡± The white-robed king¡¯s voice was steady, but the potent killing intent within his words was near its breaking point. Every martial artist within the pavilion shivered involuntarily. Some even lost their footing and collapsed on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s the Kun Peng clan causing trouble! Kong Binghuang and Tang Pi joined forces, taking us by surprise.¡± Yue Yang¡¯s tears streamed down his face unabated. The sight of a two-hundred-year-old visceral prefecture realm expert weeping so bitterly made several Sacred Heart Sect martial artists scoff. However, the white-robed king was indifferent. He didn¡¯t address this matter but kept his gaze on Yue Yang. ¡°Why didn¡¯t the elders under your command anticipate the danger immediately? As I recall, you guys were fairly skilled in such calculations. Wuji Mountain is just a hundred miles from the Thousand Divination Tower. If we had detected the danger sooner¡­ with my speed, I might have made it in time, right?¡± The white-robed king¡¯s words carried an underlying significance. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know either.¡± Yue Yang¡¯s face was streaked with tears, his expression filled with confusion. ¡°I¡¯m aware of these things. I¡¯ve entrusted them to the elders.¡± The white-robed king signaled to a person standing beside him, who understood and promptly rushed towards a small building not far from the pavilion. The original occupants of the pavilion had relocated due to the arrival of the Sacred Heart Sect. No sooner had the man left than a hunchbacked elder began ascending the stairs. The elder¡¯s complexion was ashen, and he trembled as he moved. He gazed at Yue Yang, suspended in mid-air by the white-robed king, and looked momentarily taken aback. He then regained his composure. ¡°Cheng Li pays his respects to the tower lord and the white-robed king!¡± Cheng Li bowed deferentially towards the two figures, then handed over a yellow paper with shaking hands. The white-robed king paused before accepting the note from the elder. Reading the contents, he let out a chuckle. The note warned of imminent danger at Wuji Mountain, predicting death. The next moment, his eyes were alight with killing intent. The grip on Yue Yang¡¯s neck tightened. ¡°King, I¡¯m innocent¡­¡± Yue Yang¡¯s face started to turn purple, his breath becoming increasingly shallow. ¡°Innocent? Zhou Chuanyong is dead, and your men only now deliver this note. What do you take that to mean?¡± The white-robed king¡¯s ominous smile widened. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that this wasn¡¯t your doing!¡± ¡°Master¡­ This servant truly didn¡¯t know¡­¡± Suddenly, there was a flurry of footsteps from the top of the stairs. The Sacred Heart Sect martial artist, whom the white-robed king had previously dispatched, returned from the small building and rushed to the white-robed king¡¯s side. ¡°Four elders from the Heart Eye Pavilion have exhausted their lifespans and died. Furthermore, several others exude a weak aura, clearly having expended a great deal of energy¡­¡± The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s martial artist recounted the unfortunate state of the pavilion¡¯s elders to the white-robed king. Hearing this grim report, Yue Yang, held in the white-robe king¡¯s grasp, found his breathing eased significantly. With a thud, he dropped heavily onto the ground. He promptly knelt before the white-robed king and bowed deeply. ¡°Heaven and earth are my witnesses! I am wholly loyal to the king and the Sacred Heart Sect! I beseech Your Excellency to understand!¡± The white-robe king gazed at the kneeling Yue Yang, digesting his subordinate¡¯s report on the pavilion¡¯s condition. ¡°Such a heavy price¡­ This isn¡¯t the work of some lucky person. There¡¯s a deliberate hand behind this.¡± The white-robed king, after a moment of silence, shared his conclusion. ¡°Indeed! By your description, even if the sect leader of the True Path Sect arrived in person, we wouldn¡¯t have lost so many pillars of my pavilion. I fear someone employed a treasure capable of concealing fate. No, it¡¯s more likely some form of divine ability or array!¡± Yue Yang asserted confidently. ¡°That¡¯s why we paid such a heavy price to predict information that was already outdated.¡± ¡°Do you have any leads, Lord Yue?¡± the white-robed king inquired. Yue Yang shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know who specifically, but they must be associated with Wuji Mountain. Perhaps the Kun Peng clan has a hidden trump card?¡± Yue Yang added, ¡°In the past, the eight royal families entered the underworld to contend for supremacy, aided by an innate spiritual object that could confound celestial calculations, leading to several human defeats.¡± The white-robed king¡¯s eyes sparked with surprise. ¡°Lord Yue, you¡¯re aware of this too?¡± ¡°Over thousands of years, the Thousand Divination Tower has amassed an extensive database. Naturally, we can discover certain secrets,¡± Yue Yang replied modestly. ¡°Of course, we can¡¯t rule out that the True Path Sect has meddled in this matter. After all, Kong Binghuang holds the additional identity of a Dao Child candidate. His competitor for that position is the current master of the True Path Sect, so we need to stay vigilant against this person.¡± Yue Yang¡¯s words were loaded with implications. The white-robed king moved slowly to Yue Yang¡¯s side, then gently helped him to his feet. As he brushed the dust from Yue Yang¡¯s body, his eyes seemed somewhat more at ease. ¡°With Zhou Chuanyong gone, you¡¯re my only capable assistant, Lord Yue. Do not let me down.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 551 - 551 Sneaking Into the Spirit World! 551 Sneaking Into the Spirit World! The white-robed king¡¯s face broke into a relaxed smile. ¡°Yue Yang will pledge his loyalty to the king and the Sacred Heart Sect, even if it means walking through fire and water!¡± ¡°Excellent! That¡¯s what I wanted to hear from you, Lord Yue!¡± The white-robed king slapped Yue Yang¡¯s shoulder heartily. ¡°Then I request your help, Lord Yue, in determining Kong Binghuang¡¯s location and tracking down the key players from Wuji Mountain. No matter how strong their fate-concealing treasure might be, it can¡¯t shield everyone, can it?¡± Yue Yang kept his gaze lowered but didn¡¯t hesitate to agree. ¡°I will obey, my liege!¡± ¡°Then, I will have to ask you, Lord Yue, to personally handle this matter.¡± The white-robed king patted Yue Yang¡¯s shoulder, a look of relief washing over his face. He then observed as Yue Yang swiftly took his leave towards the pavilion. ¡°My lord, this situation is suspicious. The chance of Yue Yang working against us is high. Instead of targeting Zhou Chuanyong, I believe Kong Binghuang would rather eliminate Yue Yang. After all, he¡¯s a traitor to the five great sects. ¡°Logically, this man, with his mastery in calculations, could disrupt their well-crafted plan, yet the one who survives is this tower lord¡­¡± The lean young man said gravely. The white-robed king raised his hand, silencing him mid-sentence. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether he¡¯s a friend or a foe. What matters is his ability to calculate. Whether he¡¯s a loyal servant or part of a sinister plot, his calculations will eventually lead us to the last obstacle in the Saint¡¯s plan in Qingzhou. In the end, everything comes down to power.¡± The white-robed king¡¯s voice was calm. All strategies and plots pale before absolute power. ¡­ At the blood sea, Qin Huai stared at the Kun Peng demons meditating within the blood crystal pillars, his eyes glinting with an eerie light. As these demons trained within the blood crystal pillars, they didn¡¯t only drop qi and blood experience orbs, but also sacred heart technique experience orbs. Despite the fierce battle between the main and the five branches, thousands of people still remained in the Kun Peng clan. Such a large number provided Qin Huai with a significant amount of vitality and experience points. Beneath him, in the city of Qingzhou, frenzied warriors continued their battles. The sudden disappearance of Wuji Mountain did nothing to dampen their fervor. Instead, it seemed to have invigorated them, and their lust for power grew more rampant. As for Zhou Chuanyong and several other experts who had fallen to the martial artists of Wuji Mountain and the Kun Peng clan, they were all but forgotten overnight. At this moment, Qingzhou City was a place devoid of any rationality, transformed into a city of pure slaughter. For Qin Huai, the master of the blood sea, this was undoubtedly advantageous. As he continued to amass experience points from hundreds of cultivation techniques, his strength diversified increasingly. If anyone could peer into Qin Huai¡¯s dantian, they would surely be astounded. For within his dantian world, hundreds of various beasts, monsters, and spiritual plants, formed from his blood essence, thrived. It was like a miniature world teeming with diverse life forms. For anyone else, even seven or eight such miniature worlds in their dantian would cause an explosion, leading at least to crippling injuries, if not instant death. Yet, in Qin Huai¡¯s body, these hundreds of vital creatures coexisted harmoniously. Qin Huai extended a finger, squeezing out a drop of blood. It danced on his palm, morphing into tigers, leopards, wolves, plants, stone tools¡­ Hundreds of transformations occurred at his fingertips. ¡°I wonder where I might find the last guardian spirit item,¡± Qin Huai pondered. Whether it was the true dragon corpse, the bronze world, the core of the blood sea, or the pure-blooded Kun Peng, each one was an exceptional spirit item. Moreover, Qin Huai had firsthand experience with the might of a potent guardian spirit item. His thoughts fluctuating, Qin Huai opened the scroll and glanced at the spot once occupied by the Blood Poison Gang. On the ground, Kong Binghuang had etched a line of words: ¡°Can you see?¡± Reacting immediately, Qin Huai projected a thin blood pillar through the ground at Kong Binghuang¡¯s feet. It created a small hole, about the size of a pinkie. Kong Binghuang, who was positioned on the ground, recoiled in surprise. He hastily continued his writing, ¡°No need for you to come down. I¡¯ll write for you to see.¡± Qin Huai silently read the words that Kong Binghuang had inscribed on the ground. ¡°The white-robed king will not make a move until the spirit of the blood sea ascends to king realm. In other words, we have a brief respite until you are discovered.¡± He added, ¡°According to reliable sources, we have about half a year.¡± Qin Huai considered Kong Binghuang¡¯s message with growing curiosity. Could it be that the True Path Sect had spies within the Sacred Heart Sect? If not, how could he possess such a profound understanding of the blood sea? Qin Huai continued to read Kong Binghuang¡¯s messages. ¡°In this half a year, you and I will do our utmost to elevate our realms and strive to find a spirit stone to enter the spirit world to cultivate to the king realm.¡± After leaving these messages, Kong Binghuang erased the words on the ground and swiftly retreated. Qin Huai stowed the vision away. He contemplated aloud, ¡°In half a year¡¯s time, the moment the white-robed king discovers the spirit of the blood sea isn¡¯t Wang Kun, he will likely strike against the ten counties¡­¡± He furrowed his brows, well aware that time was of the essence. ¡°The trials ahead are countless¡­¡± With a sigh, he gazed out at the sea of blood. The Kun Peng clan¡¯s sect master, Tang Pi, appeared lost in thought. After his conversation with Kong Binghuang, he had gained a deeper understanding of the spirit world. To enter it, aside from needing a spirit stone, a martial artist had to attain the visceral prefecture realm. But death in the spirit world didn¡¯t result in immediate death in the primary world. Instead, it would inflict harm on the soul, necessitating a long recuperation period. ¡°Never mind,¡± Qin Huai decided. ¡°Let¡¯s explore the spiritual world first.¡± He brought out the stone tablet, the spirit stone that Kong Binghuang had mentioned. As he submerged into the sea of blood, he clutched the spirit stone in one hand. The spirit world held the promise of ancient treasures and inheritances. Perhaps he could discover the fifth spirit item or gather relevant information there. As these thoughts swirled in his mind, a gentle light enveloped his entire body. He instantly felt a pull, as if something was yanking him, separating him from his body. Bang! His vision abruptly darkened. He felt as if he were drowning, as though every pore on his body was inundated with water. Abruptly, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes snapped open. Panting heavily, he promptly stood and surveyed his surroundings. A primitive world, replete with towering mountains and vast forests, spread out before him. He examined his hands, noting no signs of a translucent or spirit body as he had anticipated. His flesh and blood were palpable, his skin unchanged. Glancing at a small pool nearby, he made his way over. His reflection showed no changes, and sensing his own life essence again, he found it identical to reality. The only difference was his inability to summon the power of the patterned bones, though he still possessed the emperor¡¯s force. ¡°As expected, I¡¯ve indeed arrived in the spirit world,¡± Qin Huai confirmed to himself. ¡°Let¡¯s see what treasures I can find!¡± Suddenly, a boisterous shout echoed from a distance. Qin Huai¡¯s head shot up, but he saw no one. The next moment, a long spear cut through the air, the fierce wind it generated tearing through the atmosphere as it plummeted from the sky, crossing hundreds of meters. Bang! As dust and smoke billowed from the ground, a figure slowly descended from the distant sky. The man was garbed in a white robe with golden trim, a green dragon embroidered with silver thread adding to his grandeur. ¡°Speak! Which clan are you from?¡± The man¡¯s voice echoed like thunder across the land. He waited for a response, but received none. With a note of disappointment, he muttered, ¡°Oh no, he¡¯s just a novice. Isn¡¯t it said that newcomers entering the spirit world become more abnormal each time?¡± As he shook his head and prepared to leave, a colossal fist rocketed toward him. The man sneered, ¡°Too slow!¡± He dodged the punch by leaping backward. Boom! The ground shook, and it felt as though the entire world had been shaken. Landing on the ground, the man confidently wiped his nose. ¡°Humph! Just this kind of¡­¡± His voice abruptly stopped as he glanced at the ground that had sunk dozens of meters, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 552 - 552 The Spirit World Guide 552 The Spirit World Guide ¡°Hey, hey, hey, is this the latest newcomer?¡± Long Huixing gazed at the exaggerated destruction caused. It was known that the power of spirit blood could only be displayed at the refined blood level ¡ª talismans, artifacts, pills, and other external forces could not be used. Thus, one could only rely on pure blood essence for battle. More plainly, whoever had the more vigorous blood essence would be stronger in the spirit blood level. ¡°I¡¯m already a little excited!¡± Long Huixing licked the corner of his lips. ¡°Apart from the eight royal families, I¡¯ve never encountered a stranger with such potent vitality.¡± To his naked eye, a handsome face emerged from the smoke. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes filled with surprise as he looked at the equally handsome man before him. ¡°As expected of the spirit realm. Any random person I encounter can actually dodge my punch,¡± he commented. ¡°Even if the threshold of the spirit realm is only the visceral prefecture realm, the quality is still quite high.¡± Qin Huai could clearly sense the surging blood and qi in the other man¡¯s body. ¡°Any random person?¡± Long Huixing raised his eyebrows arrogantly. ¡°What kind of joke is this? I¡¯m the relative of the Great You Emperor, the White State Supreme, the White Flow Prince Long Shiqing¡¯s personal guard, Long Huixing!¡± ¡°A royal family relative.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes turned icy and impassive. He had no impression of the White State Supreme or White Flow Prince, Long Shiqing. To his knowledge, the Long family of the Great You royal family was teetering on the edge of ruin. The titles of prince or guard captain were just scare tactics. Furthermore, the white region was thousands of miles away from Qingzhou. By the time he arrived there, it might have already been decimated by the white-robed king. Even though the family tree was withered, had Long Huixing¡¯s pompous and high and mighty demeanor not changed? Qin Huai took a step forward, his terrifying qi and blood erupted like a geyser. In an instant, he appeared in front of Long Huixing, his fist carrying an astonishing lethal force as it whistled through the air toward Long Huixing¡¯s face. However, the next moment, Long Huixing opened his mouth wide, letting out a roar at Qin Huai. The sound was like a tempestuous sea, louder than the wind Qin Huai¡¯s fist had created. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll be your spirit world guide. It¡¯ll certainly help you get acclimated to the spirit world faster!¡± Long Huixing¡¯s words came out startlingly fast and were incredibly clear. The moment Qin Huai¡¯s fist came to a halt in front of his face, this sentence was clearly transmitted to Qin Huai¡¯s ears. Whoosh! The fist wind exploded, the fist radiating with blood and qi mere inches away from Long Huixing. The terrifying wind caused Long Huixing¡¯s hair to instantly stand on end. ¡°You?¡± Qin Huai looked at Long Huixing, who wore an elegant smile on his face. ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Long Huixing responded. ¡°I am a human,¡± Qin Huai said, looking at the man before him. ¡°From what I understand, the Great You Emperor¡¯s lineage should be one of the eight royal families, right?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with humans?!¡± This time, it was Long Huixing who looked at Qin Huai strangely. As if observing a rare creature, he rubbed his chin slowly. ¡°Kid, which corner of the world did you crawl out from? You¡¯re so powerful, yet you¡¯re so unfamiliar with the Great You?¡± Qin Huai remained silent, only raising his fist. Immediately, Long Huixing coughed lightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me! You live in seclusion, devoted to cultivating and comprehending martial arts to the extreme. You have no interest in worldly affairs.¡± ¡°No wonder you have such strength,¡± Long Huixing smoothly answered his own question. ¡°More or less,¡± Qin Huai admitted. Since entering Qingzhou, he had spent most of his time figuring out how to escape from the bronze world, handle the blood sea, and contend with the Sacred Heart Sect. His knowledge about the stance and situation of the entire Great You was limited. The issue of life and death had consumed him completely. His primary goal in entering the spirit world was to find the final appropriate guardian spirit item and train his soul to break through the king realm barrier. ¡°Ahem¡­ The reason our Great You imperial family has declined to this state,¡± Long Huixing began, his voice heavy with regret and sadness, ¡°is because the former emperor and the young emperor advocated for the coexistence of humans and demons.¡± He went on to describe how the former emperor died abruptly twenty years later, and the seven kings overpowered the young emperor. The subsequent chaos led to the current disorder where heroes rose together. ¡°You should have said less,¡± Qin Huai advised, glancing at the guard captain who seemed lost in sorrow. ¡°Haha¡­ I haven¡¯t finished yet.¡± Long Huixing scratched his head. ¡°In the end, my dragon clan started pursuing the power of pure blood again, resulting in a decrease in our numbers over time¡­ We failed to control and suppress the various vassal kings, leading to the significant reduction of the Great You royal family¡¯s power.¡± Listening to Long Huixing¡¯s words, Qin Huai felt it was closer to the truth. Did the pursuit of the power of pure blood, aiming to increase combat strength, lead to a downfall similar to the Kun Peng clan¡¯s? It appeared that the eight royal families were reverting to their original state, with the Great You Emperor as the pioneer, resulting in the current predicament. Qin Huai stared at Long Huixing, contemplating whether his words were genuine or not. The final conclusion? He might as well give it a try. After all, one couldn¡¯t truly die in the spirit world. Following this guard captain, who claimed to be of royal lineage, to explore the spirit world didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 553 - 553 Invincible in the Spirit World! 553 Invincible in the Spirit World! Choosing this path was certainly better than moving ahead cluelessly. ¡°Then lead the way,¡± Qin Huai said, looking at Long Huixing without any hint of emotion. ¡°Alright!¡± Long Huixing accepted immediately, his enthusiasm shining through. ¡°I happen to know that a great opportunity has surfaced in the spirit blood level recently. It¡¯s an opportunity that can enable a martial artist to merge their blood essence and soul overnight!¡± Long Huixing revealed a startling piece of news. As Kong Binghuang had informed, once his blood, bones, and organs fused with his soul, ascending to the king realm or the spirit realm, would be natural. ¡°You may not be aware, but ordinary martial artists need at least five to ten years to achieve the fusion of their blood essence and soul in the spirit blood level,¡± Long Huixing explained. ¡°And as you already know, any martial artist who can enter the visceral prefecture realm and secure spirit stones to enter the spirit world is highly talented and possesses great status. ¡°Yet, even they must painstakingly devote five to ten years in this spirit world where geniuses are as common as dogs. I¡¯m sure you understand the importance of this rare opportunity, right?¡± Long Huixing hammered on the significance of this opportunity, his words almost having a hypnotic effect. ¡°Then let¡¯s go and have a look,¡± Qin Huai said, his voice steady and resolute. He was curious to evaluate his current blood essence power level within the entirety of Great You. As for this rare opportunity, he was naturally inclined towards it. The prospect of saving five to ten years was enticing for any martial artist. Qin Huai followed behind Long Huixing through the surrounding forest, the trees appearing incredibly lifelike. Even upon touching them, he couldn¡¯t discern any difference from the real world. The spirit world was truly mystical, he pondered. ¡°Judging by your accent, I believe you¡¯re not from the provinces near Youzhou. I¡¯ve traveled extensively and am proficient in local dialects,¡± Long Huixing casually conversed while leading the way. ¡°And where do you think I¡¯m from?¡±Qin Huai asked, unflustered. ¡°What a coincidence! There are only two places in the sixteen prefectures of Great You that I¡¯ve yet to visit. One is the remote Qingzhou, under the protection of the Kun Peng clan, and the other is the northernmost part of Great You near the Demon Valley, known as the Cold Region. If my guess is correct, you¡¯re from one of these two places,¡± Long Huixing declared, his face beaming with smugness. Despite his question, he seemed to have already reached an answer. Qin Huai remained silent, choosing not to respond to Long Huixing¡¯s conjecture. The latter proved himself deserving of his role as the head of the prince¡¯s guards with his impressive knowledge. Yet, Long Huixing didn¡¯t press further, changing the topic instead. ¡°The strongest person in the spirit blood level currently is Bai Shiquan of the Tiger clan. Along with his robust blood essence, he possesses the tiger stripe soaring body technique. This enables him to maximize his blood essence within a short span. In the entire spirit blood level, he remains unmatched!¡± Long Huixing¡¯s tone turned grave. Bai Shiquan, a name Qin Huai embedded in his memory. Since Long Huixing had ascertained his origins, Qin Huai made an effort to remain silent, aiming to prevent Long Huixing from harboring any ulterior motives that might pose unforeseen problems for his journey to Qingzhou. Qin Huai also learned the name of their destination from Long Huixing: Flourishing Water Lake. Also known as Ancestor Blood Lake, it supposedly contained the blood of numerous ancestors. Regardless of one¡¯s clan, one could always find their bloodline ancestor in this lake. One might even obtain an inheritance from it. Not long after, Qin Huai arrived at the lakeside. Around him, there were no less than a hundred martial artists, their formidable blood qi serving as a stark contrast to the serene blue lake before them. Qin Huai was acutely aware that he needed to be on high alert. The hundred people around him were far from insignificant. These were genuine visceral prefecture realm experts, extraordinarily talented individuals who had transcended their peers to enter the spirit world. ¡°Over a hundred visceral prefecture realm experts¡­¡± Qin Huai surveyed the overwhelming auras surrounding him and couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Such a remarkable sight was seldom seen, even in the chaotic province of Qingzhou. ¡°My lord, be careful. While most of these people match my strength, their advantage lies in their numbers,¡± Long Huixing warned Qin Huai, his expression serious. ¡°Once they realize your strength significantly surpasses theirs, they¡¯ll likely collaborate to eliminate you before proceeding to the next stage of the competition.¡± ¡°The same level as you?¡± Qin Huai raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. ¡°Well¡­ That might be a bit exaggerated. At least one-third of them could either match me or surpass me by a hair¡¯s breadth!¡± Long Huixing quickly amended, a hint of arrogance seeping into his words. However, Qin Huai brushed off his comment. The punch he had thrown at Long Huixing only constituted thirty percent of his strength. His qi and blood essence were far more profound than anyone could fathom. Whether it was accumulating experience orbs or stockpiling endless blood, his gains over the years far exceeded everyone¡¯s understanding and imagination. If it were solely a contest of vitality, Qin Huai felt confident he could rival the white-robed king. His mind returning to the task at hand, Qin Huai focused his attention on the tranquil blue lake. No disturbances arose, yet the water¡¯s surface rippled subtly, each wave causing hearts to pound. ¡°As the ripples continue to intensify, the lake will turn a blood-red hue. Then, the water before us will become sacred,¡± a voice emanated from the bushes. ¡°It takes merely three days for it to enable us to fuse with our spirit blood, advancing us to the second level!¡± Qin Huai tuned in, trying to determine the source of the voice. This was an interesting situation ¡ª everyone here had a mix of intentions. He could feel the robust blood and qi around him¡­ Boom! Suddenly, it felt like a mountain was plummeting from the sky. The ground trembled, and the forest swayed under the terrifying pressure, fallen leaves dancing in the air. All eyes, including Qin Huai¡¯s, turned towards a figure in the nearby forest. The person was as white as snow, his eyes radiating golden light, his muscles chiseled and defined. ¡°In the spirit world, not only can one leverage their blood essence, but the power of that essence also amplifies,¡± Long Huixing managed to explain, despite the mounting pressure. ¡°In simpler terms, it¡¯s like I¡¯ve infused my soul into my blood essence. Hence, the peculiar aura.¡± As he spoke, Long Huixing subtly retreated behind Qin Huai. ¡°Now you understand what it means to be superior.¡± He flashed a toothy grin. ¡°Given the rules you mentioned earlier, right now, we should¡­¡± Before Qin Huai could finish his thought, a chorus of defiant roars rang out. ¡°Once we get rid of Bai Shiquan, we¡¯ll rely on our own abilities for this opportunity!¡± With that, dozens of martial artists lunged toward Bai Shiquan. ¡°Ridiculous,¡± the snow-white man scoffed, hardly bothered. The next moment, his body radiated a wave of potent blood essence, causing a shockwave within the spirit world and catapulting those nearest to him. Whoosh! A flicker of cold light later, Bai Shiquan had intercepted one of the attackers. ¡°Pathetic ant.¡± His scornful aura and indifferent gaze caused the martial artist¡¯s face to flush instantly. ¡°You crazy¡ª¡± But before the man could finish his retort, Bai Shiquan¡¯s fist connected with his face. Boom! With a thunderous explosion, he disappeared instantly from the spirit world. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 554 - 554 Golden Spirit Temple 554 Golden Spirit Temple Qin Huai watched as the defeated martial artist¡¯s form crumbled into pure white stars, which then surged towards Bai Shiquan like a swarm of fireflies. ¡°Is this how one cultivates in the spirit world?¡± he wondered aloud, finding the concealment of souls method seemingly crude. ¡°Essentially, it¡¯s still about seizing,¡± Long Huixing admitted, forcing a smile. ¡°The progress of martial artists and evolution of beings all boil down to competing for the world¡¯s resources, challenging all life forms.¡± ¡°However, it appears we are not destined for this opportunity,¡± he added, his face solemn. ¡°With a strong expert like Bai Shiquan, we stand no chance. That man is a direct descendant of the white tiger clan, one of the eight royal races, granting him an inherent advantage. As for Bai Shiquan, he has the most solid foundation among his peers.¡± Long Huixing attempted to coax Qin Huai away from the troubling scene, but his attempts were in vain. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes remained glued to Bai Shiquan, the crowd¡¯s harbinger of doom. ¡°We¡¯ll make our stand here,¡± Qin Huai said calmly. ¡°My time is limited, so I see no need to waste it seeking the next opportunity. I believe I can defeat Bai Shiquan. After all, dying in the spirit world does not equate to real death.¡± His words were modest, yet Long Huixing could feel the confidence radiating from him. ¡°My lord, you are being irrational!¡± he protested. ¡°Repairing a damaged soul is no trivial task. When I said it could be healed, I meant we would require the backing of a significant faction and the power to utilize a supreme artifact for nourishment. How could an ordinary person have such resources?¡± Long Huixing wore a grim expression. He understood from Qin Huai¡¯s inquiries that the latter must have hailed from a modest background, possibly unaware of even the rulers of the sixteen states of Great You. How, then, could he possess a treasure capable of nourishing the soul? Any such artifact could incite a bloody upheaval in a province. Bang! Suddenly, the ground beside them gave way as a figure crashed heavily at Qin Huai¡¯s feet. The starry spiritual light scattered across the sky, slowly gravitating towards Bai Shiquan, the perpetrator. Qin Huai instinctively reached out to intercept the spiritual light. However, as his hand closed around it, the spiritual light slipped right through his flesh. ¡°Is it some form of soul fragment that can¡¯t be captured?¡± Qin Huai murmured. He decided to activate the black dragon world again. The dark domain didn¡¯t envelop the surrounding area, and Long Huixing¡¯s expression remained unchanged. No aura emanated from Qin Huai¡¯s body. It appeared useless¡­ Yet, Qin Huai¡¯s gaze sharpened suddenly, as if the spiritual light had drifted slightly closer to him. Was it an illusion? Qin Huai activated the black coffin once more. To his surprise, the spiritual light gravitated toward him. He had the power to wield the black coffin here! Previously, this skill was only working within the black dragon world. Perhaps, in the spirit world, the black dragon world¡¯s domain was active but suppressed by the spirit blood level, causing it to lose most of its power. Eager to test his capabilities further, Qin Huai attempted to use his king¡¯s force. However, the dragon king within his dantian remained unresponsive. Only the emperor¡¯s force managed to display a sliver of power under the spirit world¡¯s laws, suggesting that not even this place could entirely suppress an emperor¡¯s strength. Bang! Suddenly, a muscular man with golden pupils landed heavily before them. ¡°I thought you were someone else!¡± he scoffed. ¡°Just a royal family¡¯s stray dog. You stole my white tiger Clan¡¯s throne once, and now you¡¯ve stooped to stealing this pitiful bit of spiritual energy?¡± Bai Shiquan¡¯s words dripped with scorn. Behind him, only a dozen or so visceral prefecture realm experts remained from the original hundred. Bai Shiquan had eliminated those who were imprudent, while most of the others had withdrawn, cowed by his formidable strength. Bai Shiquan, towering over two meters tall with his snow-white body, presented an eerie sight. Even for Qin Huai, who had encountered grotesque followers of the Sacred Heart Sect, Bai Shiquan¡¯s appearance seemed alien. ¡°The Golden Spirit Temple is soon to open,¡± Bai Shiquan announced, glancing at Long Huixing. ¡°I see you still cling to unrealistic hopes, don¡¯t you?¡± Without giving Qin Huai a second glance, Bai Shiquan strolled past them. Once Bai Shiquan had departed, Qin Huai turned his gaze to the lake, now shimmering with golden light. ¡°Are you giving up this opportunity?¡± he asked. ¡°Ahhh!¡± His query was answered by a sudden scream. Qin Huai and Long Huixing turned to see a figure desperately trying to escape the lake¡¯s embrace. However, the water acted like a quagmire, pulling the struggler deeper as he fought to free himself. To their horror, the person began to disintegrate, turning into wisps of spiritual energy that faded into the air. ¡°What is¡­¡± Qin Huai started, furrowing his brows. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± Long Huixing exclaimed, breaking into a cold sweat. ¡°In the spirit world, the deadliest threats aren¡¯t just the remnants of old demons and elite warriors of different eras. Some places hold an equally great danger. ¡°When those opportunities appear, they¡¯re often accompanied by traps that mimic these opportunities to lure in martial artists, devour them, and convert them into nutrients.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 555 - 555 The Tragic Kun Peng Clan 555 The Tragic Kun Peng Clan ¡°We call it the spirit prison,¡± Long Huixing said. ¡°Once trapped, your spirit body disintegrates instantly, becoming nourishment for the next opportunity to manifest.¡± He wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead. ¡°In other words, while we vie for a significant opportunity, that same opportunity waits to devour us¡­ I almost overlooked this.¡± ¡°You¡¯d do well to remember,¡± Qin Huai retorted, his gaze falling upon the tragic scene by the lake. ¡°I indeed forgot,¡± admitted Long Huixing, a bitter smile playing on his lips. ¡°Truth be told, it¡¯s been a while since I last ventured into the spirit world. The horrors outside are enough to drain me.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Great You¡¯s royal family essentially puppet-like?¡± Qin Huai asked nonchalantly as they followed Bai Shiquan¡¯s trail toward the Golden Spirit Temple. ¡°Puppets have their work cut out for them too, you know¡­¡± Long Huixing chuckled wryly before sharing a few tales of their hardships. To sum it up, he and his companions spent their days being paraded around by the powerful elites, humiliated both publicly and privately. A pitiful plight, indeed. ¡°So, what about the Golden Spirit Temple Bai Shiquan mentioned?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a renowned opportunity within the spirit blood level, a place where dozens of Buddhist Sect sages breathed their last,¡± explained Long Huixing. ¡°Their souls, unlike the pure white of ordinary people, are pure gold. This golden spiritual energy condenses into tiny pagodas. If you meditate within one, the energy seeks your body and refines your blood and qi. Yet, the real attraction is the chance it offers to cleanse your tendons and marrow, a rebirth of sorts. This allows for the refinement of the legendary invincible vajra blood.¡± Long Huixing¡¯s voice filled with awe as he continued, ¡°In the past, warriors with invincible vajra blood had a single drop of blood that was similar to a precious weapon. It was immune to all poisons, and its power was impenetrable. ¡°Even a natural-born king would have to back down when facing a martial artist with invincible vajra blood. But remember, the Golden Spirit Temple only emerges once every hundred years. If not for Bai Shiquan¡¯s reminder, I might have forgotten about it.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we should take this opportunity at the Golden Spirit Temple,¡± Qin Huai declared slowly. Although his body was already formidable enough, even Bai Shiquan from the white tiger clan, whom Long Huixing had previously deemed invincible, paled in comparison. Yet, no matter how mighty his essence and body were, no one would turn down a chance for further power. Especially, the prospect of invincible vajra blood seemed like it could potentially counter the blood heart technique¡¯s blood control. ¡°Aside from Bai Shiquan, is there anyone else we need to be wary of?¡± Qin Huai asked, enjoying the ambient fragrance permeating the spirit world. ¡°Ordinarily, we wouldn¡¯t have to be very cautious. But, with the Golden Spirit Temple¡¯s appearance,¡± Long Huixing paused for a moment, ¡°I anticipate that the top experts from the eight royal clans, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism will not miss out. Apart from the Great You¡¯s royal family, the Kun Peng clan from Qingzhou may also be a concern.¡± As he mentioned this, Long Huixing carefully watched Qin Huai¡¯s expression for any signs of recognition. ¡°What about the Kun Peng clan?¡± Qin Huai asked, feigning confusion. ¡°When the eight royal clans claimed the Great You, the Kun Peng clan chose the remote Qingzhou, an area largely uninfluenced by the three sects. They thought it would be an easy conquest. However, they met with unexpected resistance,¡± explained Long Huixing, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. ¡°At first, the other races couldn¡¯t comprehend the Kun Peng clan¡¯s motives, but it has become clear. They probably aim to conserve their strength and wait for the eight royal clans and the three great sects to weaken each other. It¡¯s just that they didn¡¯t anticipate the formidable opposition in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Who could possibly surpass the three sects?¡± asked Qin Huai, his face a picture of curiosity. ¡°In the past, a Qingzhou emperor harnessed the spiritual power of Qingzhou as a protective charm for his body, fortifying his spiritual altar with the incense and faith of Qingzhou¡¯s inhabitants. No one in Qingzhou could equal him,¡± Long Hui said, his eyes scanning the surroundings. ¡°The eight kings from the eight royal clans were dispatched to challenge him, but each one fell to the emperor¡¯s strength. An army of one hundred thousand was decimated in a single move. You could even call it a miracle!¡± Long Hui exclaimed. ¡°And the Kun Peng clan bore the brunt of it all. Their top-notch experts were nearly annihilated, and they lost more than half of their crucial forces.¡± Long Hui paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, ¡°It was only when the powerless Kun Peng clan took control of this place that they used their longer lifespan to torture the emperor to death.¡± ¡°From that moment, the eight royal clans subtly began manipulating the dynastic shifts within the Great You, capitalizing on humanity¡¯s inherent vices.¡± Long Hui couldn¡¯t help but notice the look of surprise that kept crossing Qin Huai¡¯s face. His heart stirred slightly, suspecting that this monstrous creature was likely from Qingzhou. ¡°What kind of monster is this¡­¡± Qin Huai sighed. The story never failed to astonish him, no matter how many times he heard it. ¡°There¡¯s a secret about the eight royal clans I can share with you,¡± Long Hui said, rolling up his long sleeves. ¡°Because when the Emperor of Qingzhou was alive, the other seven royal families hadn¡¯t set foot in Qingzhou for ten thousand years. Not even once!¡± ¡°As the captain of the guards, you seem to know quite a lot about the eight royal clans.¡± Qin Huai simply smiled, choosing not to probe further. ¡°By your account, there should be at least nine individuals as formidable as Bai Shiquan among the six clans and three sects.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct!¡± Long Xing replied, leading the way before halting abruptly. Meanwhile, Qin Huai spotted a golden light piercing through the trees and flowers ahead. He stepped forward, watching as a spire rose slowly from the ground. Numerous individuals, each with an extraordinary aura, sat perched on the surrounding treetops, all within close proximity of the Golden Spirit Temple. Qin Huai carefully studied the temple and its surroundings, a radius of about a hundred meters. ¡°So, the spirit prison will materialize within this hundred meters?¡± ¡°Yes, until the Golden Spirit Temple is fully formed, its emitted golden light will act as a potent blade,¡± Long Huixing confirmed, nodding. ¡°Enter the hundred-meter zone, and your body will be disintegrated by the golden light, serving as nourishment for the emergence of the Golden Spirit Temple.¡± ¡°In other words, the Golden Spirit Temple won¡¯t appear unless enough lives are lost?¡± Qin Huai questioned, raising an eyebrow. Whoosh! Suddenly, the sound of a rushing wind from behind filled the air. A fist, riding the gales and accompanied by the splintering noise of breaking trees, rapidly approached Qin Huai. A cold glint flashed across his eyes as he retaliated with a swift whip kick. His attacker exploded upon contact, turning into spiritual energy that filled the sky and integrated into Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°This feeling¡­ It¡¯s incredible,¡± Qin Huai muttered, his gaze sparkling. At this point, Bai Shiquan¡¯s voice echoed in their ears once more. ¡°Your guard boasts an extraordinary vitality.¡± Looking up, Qin Huai and Long Huixing spotted Bai Shiquan atop a tree, less than ten meters away. ¡°The saying ¡®a starved camel is still bigger than a horse¡¯ holds true. The dragon clan may be in dire straits, but they still have such talent in their service,¡± Bai Shiquan sneered, looking down on Qin Huai. ¡°But serving the dragon clan has its consequences,¡± he added, his voice colder than ice. ¡°Just like your journey to the Golden Spirit Temple, you¡¯re doomed to be cannon fodder.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 556 - 556 The Clans and the Three Sects 556 The Clans and the Three Sects Bai Shiquan looked at Qin Huai, whose expression remained unmoved, the mockery in his gaze intensifying. ¡°Truly a pawn¡­¡± he mused, observing Qin Huai¡¯s indifferent demeanor. Likely, he was a death warrior, raised since childhood by the royal family. There was no value in recruiting him. ¡°What a pity,¡± Bai Shiquan lamented, shaking his head as he left Qin Huai¡¯s side. He had initially sought Qin Huai to see if he could poach this young man, who seemed to have extraordinary vitality. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze swept over their surroundings, attempting to spot any familiar faces from Qingzhou. Recognizing someone could speed up his attack and minimize any trouble. However, Qin Huai had no intention of forgoing the opportunity to acquire the invincible vajra blood. According to Kong Binghuang, not many people in Qingzhou possessed spirit stones. Perhaps only a handful did. Considering that even Kong Binghuang, the master of Wuji Mountain, did not have one, it was clear that such stones were exceedingly rare in Qingzhou. ¡°My lord, there are far too many experts here this time,¡± Long Huixing cautioned, looking around them apprehensively. ¡°It would be wiser for us to stay inconspicuous. Once someone seizes the cultivation spot at the heart of the Golden Spirit Temple, a golden spirit auspicious sign will appear. Even by basking in the light of the surrounding trees, we can cleanse our essence and fuse our spirit blood.¡± ¡°Do you mean to say that once inside the Golden Spirit Temple, one cannot be attacked from the outside?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°I seem to remember reading something to that effect¡­¡± Long Huixing scratched his head, hesitant to confirm. As they conversed, a commotion stirred in the surrounding forest. Qin Huai noted that numerous martial artists had begun to retreat, some even turned and left. Following their gaze, he spotted four individuals, clad in plain robes, approaching the Golden Spirit Temple. They varied in appearances, yet shared a unique feature. Each had nine slender, dark blue stripes beneath their eyes, shimmering like an unconventional rouge adornment. ¡°Who¡­¡± Qin Huai trailed off. ¡°Fuzhou, Heaven Mountain, the Ying family, hereditary Nine Supremes King,¡± Long Huixing identified, recognition flaring in his eyes. ¡°Which of the eight royal clans does this group belong to?¡± Qin Huai questioned, watching them carefully. Long Huixing paused before he replied, ¡°In the Nine Supremes clan, the purer an expert¡¯s bloodline, the more lives they have. They can survive up to nine times.¡± At this, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. ¡°Previously, I speculated that the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s blood heart technique was derived from the members of the Nine Supremes clan,¡± he commented, musing over the new information. ¡°The woman in the center of the three must be the one with the purest bloodline of the current generation. She¡¯s known as the Fourth Generation Fairy.¡± Long Huixing seemed well-versed with the current affairs. Suddenly, he pointed to the other side of Qin Huai where an elderly man and a young man were approaching. Both were tall but grotesquely ugly. Even the worldly Qin Huai found himself recoiling at their sight. They had thick eyebrows that resembled brush strokes hanging high above their hairlines, disproportionately large eyes with minuscule pupils, wide and lengthy lips, and bulbous noses. Even more unsettling were the two uneven, horn-like bumps on their heads. The pair¡¯s smile sent shivers down the spines of onlookers. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that their portraits could frighten children into silence or ward off evil spirits. ¡°This is the Qiong Qi family from the Qiong clan of Barren State¡¯s northern lands,¡± Long Huixing identified, scrunching his brows at their sight. ¡°This clan is odd, fond of bullying the good. Hence, it¡¯s an exile for bandits and felons in many parts of the Barren State. There are incessant killings every day.¡± ¡°The older one seems to be a guardian emissary, while the younger one appears to be the third young master of the Qiong family, the current Patriarch¡¯s third son,¡± he explained further. ¡°Despite their unappealing appearance, the Qiong Qi family is formidable and possesses a rather terrifying ability. Besides cultivation, they can augment their realm by consuming other living beings.¡± Qin Huai was taken aback at this revelation. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the characteristic of the Sacred Heart¡¯s cultivation technique?¡± ¡°Indeed. That¡¯s why the Sacred Heart Sect Master is regarded as divine,¡± Long Huixing confirmed. ¡°The blood heart technique he developed has incorporated the innate abilities of the top demons from the eight royal clans.¡± With a sigh, Long Huixing added, ¡°It¡¯s regrettable that they¡¯ve strayed from the righteous path. Nowadays, many of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s followers have become human-shaped Qiong Qi.¡± ¡°Is the cultivation speed of the Qiong Qi clan as rapid as the Sacred Heart disciples?¡± Qin Huai asked, intrigued. ¡°Absolutely not. Their conversion rate of blood food into cultivation is slow, and every time they use their divine ability, they need substantial rest before they can use it again,¡± Long Huixing clarified. ¡°Therefore, the Qiong Qi clan is very selective about their blood food. The good thing is there¡¯s no risk of Qi deviation.¡± He continued, ¡°However, this is not the case for the Sacred Heart Sect followers. According to our years of observation, although the evil cult members of the Sacred Heart Sect progress quickly, only ten percent of them live past forty years of age, and only ten percent of those make it to eighty.¡± As Qin Huai listened to Long Huixing¡¯s revelations about the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s secrets, the shadowy figure of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s Sect Master appeared in his mind once again. Following Long Huixing¡¯s explanation, Qin Huai started to piece things together. The surnames of these eight royal clans seemed quite arbitrary. Often, they¡¯d use a word that represented their race as their surname, such as Bai Shiquan of the white tiger clan, Long Huixing of the dragon clan, and the Ying family of the nine supremes clan. The only exception seemed to be the Tang family of the Kun Peng clan from Qingzhou. As they conversed, representatives from the three human sects began to make their appearances. The six clans and three sects that Long Huixing had mentioned earlier were all present now. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 557 - 557 Invincible Vajra Blood! Qin Huais Punch! 557 Invincible Vajra Blood! Qin Huai¡¯s Punch! The allure of the invincible vajra blood was evidently too great to ignore. With the arrival of these influential people, the atmosphere around the Golden Spirit Temple became increasingly fraught. ¡°Let¡¯s clear the space first, everyone,¡± proposed the Third Young Master Qiong, licking his lips in anticipation. Without waiting for any response, he lightly tapped his foot, causing the ground to crumble, and he propelled forward like a speeding boulder. The surrounding figures responded swiftly, converging to engage Third Young Master Qiong in combat. Despite the powerful blood essence possessed by these four adversaries, they paled in comparison to the Qiong Qi clan¡¯s scion. In the ensuing melee, dozens of blows exchanged, resulting in the immediate demise of two people. Their attacks seemed to barely register on Third Young Master Qiong, resembling mere tickles rather than actual harm. Although the fight appeared evenly matched at first, it was, in reality, a one-sided slaughter. However, the victims moved with surprising agility. As Qin Huai observed Third Young Master Qiong¡¯s moves, he noted that the latter far surpassed his peers in terms of strength and defense. In the spirit world, the eight royal clans unquestionably held an absolute racial advantage. ¡°Prepare to die!¡± a furious roar sounded from behind Qin Huai. Without even sparing a glance, he turned and delivered a crushing blow. Bang! The offending figure exploded instantly into a crimson mist. Startled, Long Huixing, who was on the verge of launching his own attack, withdrew his fist. He eyed the surrounding nine experts, looking at Qin Huai as if he were a beast. Each time Qin Huai struck, Long Huixing was taken aback by his power, effortlessly killing anyone with a single punch. Remembering the time when Qin Huai had attacked them, he reached a sobering conclusion. That punch was likely just a trial. ¡°Lucky for me that I surrendered right away,¡± Long Huixing muttered to himself. Soon, the battlefield was cleared. The six clans and three sects had a total of twenty-nine representatives. With Qin Huai and Long Huixing, the count was 31. At the center of the battlefield, the Golden Spirit Temple¡¯s radiant light softened, and the entire pagoda, now fully unearthed, towered five meters tall. Its golden light was almost palpable, emanating a solemn and sacred aura. ¡°Could it be that the dragon clan still has the strength to contend for this invincible vajra blood?¡± Third Young Master Qiong remarked, his gaze landing on Qin Huai. ¡°Impressive, guardian. How about handing it over to me?¡± His intent, insinuated by his licking the corner of his mouth, was clear. ¡°I can¡¯t make that decision,¡± Long Huixing said, his voice barely audible and hinting at his exhaustion. ¡°Heh, since you can¡¯t decide, I¡¯ll do it for you!¡± With that, the Third Young Master of the Qiong Clan sped across the battlefield with lethal intent. But midway, he abruptly pivoted and headed towards the Golden Spirit Temple. ¡°Third Young Master Qiong, it¡¯s wise not to entertain any twisted ideas,¡± advised the Fourth Generation Fairy, blocking his path. She gently placed her slender hand on his enormous palm. Boom! Suddenly, an explosive force detonated in the surrounding forest, cutting swathes of vegetation like a sweeping blade. ¡°The disciples of my Buddhist Sect are best suited to inherit the things of my Buddhist Sect,¡± the plump monk suggested, moving towards the Golden Spirit Temple with a smile. ¡°No. The fated person should receive it,¡± interjected a ruddy man in red, surging forward and unleashing a powerful punch. The onslaught from the surrounding individuals came to a halt. Not only were the younger combatants formidable, but their followers also demonstrated exceptional blood essence. During their earlier dispatch of irrelevant participants, no one had exerted their full strength. ¡°Brat, I¡¯ll offer you another opportunity,¡± Bai Shiquan, leading his two companions towards Qin Huai, declared with an impassive expression. ¡°Swear allegiance to my white tiger clan, and I guarantee glory, wealth, and an endless future.¡± Qin Huai glanced at them briefly before returning his focus to observing the fights around him, keen on understanding their combat styles. ¡°If you refuse the gracious offer, then leave!¡± Bai Shiquan sneered, his eyes filled with a murderous intent that seemed to swell his entire body, and lunged at Qin Huai. His colossal fist descended from above, the lethal intent locked onto Qin Huai, leaving him seemingly without an escape route. Feeling the horrifying killing intent, Qin Huai¡¯s instincts signaled that evading this punch was impossible. Was this the might of the white tiger clan? In response, Qin Huai immediately elevated his vitality to its peak, a surging force pulsating from his dantian to the tip of his fist. It was as though layers of white mist were radiating from Qin Huai¡¯s fist. Bang! With a loud crash, the two fists collided, neither side retreating. The malicious grin on Bai Shiquan¡¯s face instantly stiffened as he felt his arm fracturing and his power diminishing. Like a spear piercing through tofu, Qin Huai¡¯s fist relentlessly advanced, his fractured blood morphing into spiritual energy and dissipating around him. Bai Shiquan desperately attempted to dodge, but the punch was too swift. It reached his head visibly, striking him with an unyielding force. The resulting explosion of spiritual energy slowly integrated into Qin Huai¡¯s body. The swift battle and its destructive force left Long Huixing, who was observing from the sidelines, once again flabbergasted. He watched as even a warrior of Bai Shiquan¡¯s caliber fell to a single punch. Bai Shiquan¡¯s two subordinates were equally shocked, their eyes nearly bulging from their sockets at the sight of the spectral light filling the sky and their leader¡¯s vanishing figure. Their momentary bewilderment marked their exit from the spirit world as Qin Huai¡¯s fist promptly shattered them both. The spectral light pouring into Qin Huai¡¯s body seemed to enhance his blood essence power, a spectacle noticed by many around them. The fierce battle gradually ceased as the representatives from the three sects and remaining five clans stared in disbelief at Qin Huai. ¡°What just happened?¡± The fairy inquired, diverting her attention from the battle to glance in the direction of the handsome man. ¡°Fairy, that dragon guard killed Bai Shiquan with a single punch,¡± the attendant beside her echoed. ¡°With a single punch?¡± The fairy raised her eyebrows, finding the notion absurd, yet her rational side told her that the surrounding people had no reason to lie. ¡°Who is he? I¡¯ve never seen him before,¡± the people around her admitted with a shake of their heads. The plump monk from the Buddhism Sect cupped his hands towards Qin Huai from a distance, asking, ¡°May I know your name?¡± ¡°Is the dragon clan¡¯s fortune about to turn?¡± The fairy mused, a smile gracing her beautiful face that left those around her spellbound. ¡°Would you like to marry into my Ying family? I assure you, you will not be treated poorly.¡± Observing the halted battle, Qin Huai knew he had been discovered. Without a word, he rushed straight toward the Golden Spirit Temple. ¡°Stop him!¡± Over a dozen voices resounded almost simultaneously. The collective pride of the six clans and three sects was set aside as everyone charged toward Qin Huai. They knew that without getting rid of him first, not only would the opportunity of the Golden Spirit Temple slip away, but their stay in the spirit world would also depend on this formidable being¡¯s whim. As Qin Huai observed the people closing in, his pace remained steady, his fists ever-moving. Regardless of the number of fists that made contact with his body, his strikes remained relentless. No one could survive where his fist landed. His strikes shattered opponents upon contact, transforming them into spiritual energy that slowly funneled into Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Stop! Or I¡¯ll kill your master!¡± The voice of Third Young Master Qiong echoed from behind, clutching Long Huixing¡¯s neck in one hand and bellowing at Qin Huai. But Qin Huai didn¡¯t pause or even glance back. ¡°So, you don¡¯t care for your master?!¡± Third Young Master Qiong was taken aback. ¡°Could it be possible that he¡¯s the master?¡± Long Huixing suggested weakly. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 558 - 558 Venerable Golden Guardian 558 Venerable Golden Guardian Their eyes locked. A shudder ran through Third Young Master Qiong as he registered the surrounding cries. Anyone who had made it into the spirit world was certainly an elite of the Great You, especially those who lingered around the Golden Spirit Temple to engage in this battle. They were renowned experts from the six clans and sects. Although the spirit world allowed only the manifestation of blood essence power, all present were exceptional, akin to dragons and phoenixes among men, and the ancestors among demons. However, this impressive gathering was being decimated by a young man as if he were merely slicing through melons and vegetables. What was even more vexing was the handsome appearance of this ruthless attacker. ¡°Speak up! Who is he?¡± Third Young Master Qiong demanded. Faces of the Long family and the royal family of Great You raced through his mind, but none resembled the man in question. ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± Long Huixing responded with a wry smile. ¡°I met him on the way and was captivated by his aura. That¡¯s why I guided him through the spirit world.¡± Long Huixing himself was keen to know the true identity of the other party. ¡°Why does he have a hint of dragon scent on him?¡± Third Young Master Qiong pondered aloud, raising an eyebrow. He understood what Long Huixing meant by being ¡®captivated by his aura.¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t there also the Kun Peng qi¡­¡± Long Huixing retorted sardonically. ¡°Useless!¡± Third Young Master Qiong threw Long Huixing aside. Surveying the active battlefield, a sinister smile crept onto his face. Quietly, he began to circle around the periphery of the battlefield¡­ Meanwhile, at the Golden Spirit Temple, Qin Huai was besieged by a group of people. As they eyed each other warily, none of them wanted to provide the others with an opportunity to infiltrate the Golden Spirit Temple. Simultaneously, they launched their attacks on Qin Huai. ¡°If we don¡¯t work together, I¡¯m afraid this youngster will defeat us one by one,¡± the elder accompanying the fairy pointed out. ¡°Humph! Do you really believe that by joining forces, we can kill him?¡± Feng Shaocong, clad in red, scoffed. A member of the Feng family from the phoenix clan, he and a woman from the Huang family were celebrated as the Phoenix Twin Prides of their generation. ¡°As long as any of you can withstand his punch and survive, we have a chance to eliminate him.¡± Feng Shaocong glanced at the woman beside him and slightly raised his eyebrows. His face flushed crimson. No sooner had he finished speaking than all eyes turned to a lean man donned in a green robe. ¡°Why are you all staring at me? Are you joking? Who can withstand a punch from this guy?¡± The man looked around innocently. ¡°Just because I¡¯m from the black tortoise clan, you think I can bear a punch from this man? This is the spirit world, after all.¡± In an instant, the man lightly touched the ground with his toes, spinning on his heel to bolt towards the Golden Spirit Temple. Almost at the same time, martial artists from the six clans and three sects abandoned their attempts to fight Qin Huai, opting instead to run for their lives in the same direction. Since victory against Qin Huai seemed impossible, the situation took a turn. Those being pursued by Qin Huai could only consider themselves unfortunate. Regardless of whether they fought or fled, the end result seemed inevitable. Entry into the Golden Spirit Temple promised a great advantage. ¡°What an injustice. In all my years, I¡¯ve never encountered such a dismal scenario!¡± Feng Shaocong spat, seething with anger. Despite his words, his pace didn¡¯t wane. ¡°Hehe. You¡¯ll understand once you encounter this humble monk on your journey to the province,¡± the burly monk beside them said, narrowing his eyes and smirking. Although he was large, his speed was remarkably fast. In a matter of two strides, he had overtaken the phoenix duo. Meanwhile, Qin Huai, who had been encircled by the crowd, also broke into a run. Yet, the Golden Spirit Temple was just a stone¡¯s throw away from the battlefield. Given the athletes¡¯ physical prowess present, they¡¯d only need two quick bursts to reach the temple. The previous battle had indeed been a precarious dance on a razor¡¯s edge. ¡°I apologize, everyone. This spot is mine,¡± a voice rang out, stopping everyone in their tracks. The Golden Spirit Temple was already claimed. Its occupier was none other than the Third Young Master of the Qiong Qi Clan, who had recently threatened Qin Huai with Long Huixing. Third Young Master Qiong stuck out his tongue at the crowd in a mischievous, childlike taunt. Upon his entry into the Golden Spirit Temple, a pair of large hands slowly ascended the top of the tower. A towering figure emerged, muscular and solid like an iron tower, draped in a half-kasaya, one hand resting on his chest. His golden eyes flashed like lightning, piercing through everyone present. ¡°It¡¯s the venerable golden guardian!¡± Everyone stared at the figure, frowning and coming to a halt. Nevertheless, two people continued their charge toward the venerable golden guardian. ¡°Amitabha!¡± The venerable golden guardian bowed slightly, swinging his enormous palm forward. The terrifying force of the wind preceding his strike whistled through the air. Even Qin Huai, stationed several meters away, could clearly sense the horrifying power. Bang! Similar to Qin Huai¡¯s earlier confrontation with the six clans and three sects, the two people were knocked away with a single slap. It was an instant kill! ¡°Damn it, I didn¡¯t expect that Qiong family brat to claim it.¡± ¡°Damn, wasn¡¯t he just apprehending that youngster from the Long family¡­¡± The surrounding figures grumbled. Seeing the might of the venerable golden guardian¡¯s attack, no one had the intention to continue the fight. ¡°Just like what the ancient books say, this venerable golden guardian is deadly upon contact.¡± ¡°Indeed. This is the collective soul of hundreds of eminent monks from the Buddhist Sect,¡± the fat man from the Buddhist Sect chimed in jovially. ¡°He¡¯s as abnormal as that young one¡­¡± The crowd fell silent. Someone flicked their sleeve, disappearing into the distance. Not far off, Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained stoic. Long Huixing, who had been lingering behind him, watched the dispersing crowd and cautiously moved closer. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 559 - 559 Invincible! 559 Invincible! ¡°As soon as someone enters the Golden Spirit Temple, a venerable golden guardian emerges from the temple to ensure its safety,¡± Long Huixing explained. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly powerful. Ancient records indicate that his attacks have always resulted in instantaneous death without exception. This is why Third Young Master Qiong chose to meditate after entering the Golden Spirit Temple.¡± Qin Huai studied the venerable golden guardian thoughtfully, posing a question, ¡°If we kill the venerable golden guardian, will a second one appear from the Golden Spirit Temple?¡± Upon hearing this, Long Huixing was left dumbstruck. He thought to himself, ¡®This guy sure knows how to dream big.¡¯ ¡°Since ancient times, at least as far as the records indicate, no one has accomplished such a feat,¡± he said, trying to dissuade Qin Huai. ¡°Many predecessors claiming to be invincible in vitality challenged the guardian, but all met with defeat. They wasted months recuperating their souls in vain.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t the point of our existence today to achieve what our predecessors couldn¡¯t and create a precedent?¡± Qin Huai responded calmly, charging toward the Guardian Golden Venerable. Boom! A gust of wind blew past everyone, causing the fairy to glance at the figure of Qin Huai charging forward. She frowned slightly and remarked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he realize the power of the venerable golden guardian?¡± ¡°Speaking of which, that fellow might actually exchange a couple of blows with the guardian,¡± the rotund monk from the Buddhism Sect speculated, his expression as impassive as ever, confident that the venerable golden guardian could not lose. ¡°Two blows seem unlikely,¡± the thin man from the black tortoise clan countered. ¡°I believe you¡¯re aware that the venerable golden guardian possesses a degree of power. In the spirit world, this kind of attack is like a dimensional drop.¡± Bang! No sooner had the black tortoise man finished speaking than a terrifying energy wave surged towards them like a lethal sickle. Everyone¡¯s long robes rippled in the wind, exploding with sharp sounds. In an astonishing display, Qin Huai matched the venerable golden guardian blow for blow. ¡°How is that even possible?¡± The black tortoise man gasped, his pupils shrinking. Even the optimistic Buddhist monk was caught off-guard, his smile frozen on his face. ¡°When did such a monster appear in the dragon clan?¡± the young man from the True Path Sect wondered, his expression unreadable. Those who were leaving stopped, their mouths agape as they witnessed the spectacle before them. Qin Huai landed another punch, his muscles trembled due to the clashing surge of blood and qi. He could sense countless invisible forces attempting to disintegrate his physical body under the golden light. The guardian was invincible indeed, merging a robust body with power nearly impossible to manifest in the spirit world. However, these techniques proved ineffective against Qin Huai. The energies dissipated in his presence, yielding to him like commoners before an emperor. Bang! After the second punch, the venerable golden guardian was forced to stagger back half a step, although it was barely noticeable. ¡°Could he possibly withstand a third punch?¡± Fairy Four queried, her brows furrowed. ¡°Memorize that man¡¯s face. Upon our return, we must find him, no matter what the cost,¡± one of the warriors commanded. ¡°We need to determine which branch of the Long family he¡¯s from.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± the young man beside him quickly acknowledged. The third punch landed. Both the man and the protector stood their ground, engaging in a brutal exchange of blows. The guardian¡¯s foot dug into the ground, leaving a footprint. The warriors from the six clans and three sects widened their eyes in disbelief, questioning if they had seen correctly. Before they could process, Qin Huai¡¯s fourth and fifth punches were already in motion. Now privy to the guardian¡¯s secret, Qin Huai¡¯s attacks were evidently fiercer. His fists moved in rapid successions, like a relentless crossbow. Bang! Bang! Bang! The guardian stumbled backward, his previously sturdy stance reduced to an awkward stagger. His large frame caused the ground to tremble violently with each retreating step. Yet this commotion paled in comparison to the shock in the hearts of the crowd. ¡°Could he actually accomplish what no one in ancient times managed to do¡­¡± Long Huixing mused, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at Qin Huai, who resembled a god of death. ¡°Perhaps my dragon clan needs to disregard the ancestral teachings to regain our glory¡­ to achieve our grand ambitions.¡± When Long Huixing first encountered Qin Huai, he was persuaded by the latter¡¯s formidable strength and an obscure trace of pure dragon energy radiating from him, perhaps a sign of a dormant dragon bloodline. Long Huixing initially intended to lend assistance, but he stumbled upon an unprecedented opportunity instead. As Qin Huai¡¯s punches became faster, the tide of the battle became increasingly evident. The guardian, once perceived as invincible, was now visibly damaged by Qin Huai¡¯s relentless attacks. His golden body was on the brink of collapse. After the guardian¡¯s body shattered, the formerly transparent Golden Spirit Temple began to solidify, starting from the base and gradually extending upwards. As the temple morphed, the idea of creating a new clan crossed Third Young Master Qiong¡¯s mind ¡ª a clan for those with the invincible Vajra blood, perhaps named the Vajra clan. While lost in his fantasies, Third Young Master Qiong suddenly felt as if his body was seized. Opening his eyes, he found himself in the grip of Qin Huai. ¡°How could it be you! Where¡¯s the guardian?¡± he exclaimed, looking around. Apart from the faint figures of the Fourth Generation Fairy and the phoenix duo, there was no sign of the guardian. ¡°I¡¯ve already destroyed him,¡± Qin Huai replied calmly. ¡°Impossible!¡± Third Young Master Qiong¡¯s eyes widened in shock. As Qin Huai began to exert force, Third Young Master Qiong was abruptly pulled out of the Golden Spirit Temple. Stunned, he heard Qin Huai say, ¡°As the saying goes, timing is more important than speed.¡± Bang! Qin Huai¡¯s face lit up with joy as he launched a punch at Third Young Master Qiong, shattering his head. His body disintegrated into spiritual energy, slowly absorbed by Qin Huai. Afterward, Qin Huai entered the still-solidifying Golden Spirit Temple and settled down cross-legged. A new golden hand extended from the temple, and the familiar venerable golden guardian rose once more, protecting the temple with a resolute aura. ¡°So, he can resurrect. Impressive¡­¡± Qin Huai nodded, gratified, and closed his eyes, feeling the mysteries of the temple. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 560 - 560 The Young Princes Torture 560 The Young Prince¡¯s Torture In a wasteland, the setting sun bathed the damp yellow earth in a blood-red glow. The lingering scent of blood wafted into the distance, attracting droves of vultures to circle above. A desolate city stood eerily quiet beneath them, and beyond the reach of the sunset, a massive earthen castle emerged. This was the northern Qiong clan ¡ª the dwelling of the Qiong Qi clan, one of the eight royal clans. In a hidden chamber, the third young master suddenly spat a mouthful of blood, abruptly awakening from his spirit world meditation. His complexion was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury. ¡°What happened to the young master?¡± A group of guards, alerted by the scent of blood, rushed into the room. Towering in stature and bearing peculiar appearances, they were only slightly less noticeable than Third Young Master Qiong. ¡°Bring me a pen and paper!¡± the young master bellowed. Almost instantly, a servant spun around and returned within moments, a pen and paper in hand. Adjacent to Third Young Master Qiong¡¯s secret room lay a small warehouse, stocked with everything from writing supplies and talismans to ancient books and enticing companions ¡ª all available at a moment¡¯s notice to satisfy the Young Master¡¯s whims. This was the foundation of the Barren State¡¯s preeminent clan. With an air of authority, Third Young Master Qiong grasped the pen and began sketching a face on the fine goatskin parchment ¡ª the face of Qin Huai. With a swift flick of his wrist, he tossed aside the pen and presented the parchment to his men. ¡°Dispatch all our spies to the imperial city. Unearth everything there is to know about this man!¡± he commanded in a grave tone, his eyes seething with lethal intent. He viewed this formidable adversary as a grave threat who needed to be eliminated, especially given the dragon energy coursing through him. Though he anticipated the downfall of the Long family, Third Young Master Qiong preferred not to leave anything to chance. ¡°Understood!¡± his men responded, kneeling on one knee. They pledged their loyalty to Third Young Master Qiong, ready to obey any order ¡ª even if it meant their own demise. Once they left, Third Young Master Qiong reached up to touch his face, his large hand skimming over his head. ¡°So this is what death feels like¡­¡± He studied his trembling hand, a grim expression on his face. Beside him, a young woman delicately lit three sticks of blue incense. The faint smoke started to fill the chamber, the soothing scent permeating the air. Third Young Master Qiong slowly closed his eyes, commencing the process of mending his battered soul. ¡­ In the spirit world, Qin Huai found himself immersed in an all-encompassing golden world. The golden oceans washed over him as the melodious ring of Sanskrit sounds filled his ears, instilling tranquility in his mind. He felt a curious kinship with the blood within him. As time progressed, this sensation grew stronger, so much so that Qin Huai felt like he had become a mere droplet of blood, drifting along the vast oceanic currents. It coursed through his meridians, organs, and bones, eventually reaching the starry world within him. The increasingly overwhelming sensations and enigmatic world caused Qin Huai to lose himself momentarily, the only certainty being his deepening comprehension of his body. The once crimson blood within him had mysteriously transformed into a vibrant golden hue. The golden blood chanted Sanskrit hymns, morphing into billions of golden monks seated cross-legged, in deep meditation within Qin Huai¡¯s body. His dantian world was now populated by these golden monks, attracting the gaze of awakened deities and lurking predators. A golden sun, resonating with his internal changes, hung high in the sky, inciting a dark undercurrent to stir. Meanwhile, every surviving member of the six clans and three sects held their ground. They surrounded Long Huixing, vigilantly eyeing the Golden Spirit Temple under the protection of the venerable golden guardian. ¡°Young prince, won¡¯t you enlighten us about the dragon clan¡¯s eminent figure?¡± the fairy inquired coldly, not bothering to mask the threat in her voice. She traced her fingers delicately over Long Huixing¡¯s body, causing him to tremble. However, this was far from seduction. Long Huixing¡¯s body was being torn apart, bleeding profusely. ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve long been fascinated by the dragon clan¡¯s secrets. Why don¡¯t you share them with us?¡± the phoenix twins chimed in. Their words carried a more direct threat, demonstrated by the methodical snapping of Long Huixing¡¯s fingers. Crack! A blood-curdling roar echoed through the forest as Long Huixing¡¯s torment continued. Out of ten fingers, only three remained unbroken. Regrettably, despite such brutal torture, they were yet to extract the desired information. Surrounded by influential figures, Long Huixing, on the brink of death, could only grimace in pain. He had been speaking until his throat was dry, but no one believed his words. His body was marred with deep wounds, having endured every possible method of torture imposed by the six clans. ¡°I truly do not know who he is. I don¡¯t even know his name!¡± Long Huixing shouted hoarsely, his tone marked with despair. ¡°The young prince is indeed different from the rumors,¡± the portly monk from the Buddhist Sect remarked, a look of admiration on his face. ¡°The six clans¡¯ torture failed to make the young prince speak. Clearly, rumors can be deceiving,¡± the fairy added, her voice filled with reluctant praise for the beleaguered prince. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 561 - 561 The Dao Child, Daozi 561 The Dao Child, Daozi Initially, they were dismissed as a group of spoiled individuals with no real resilience, but the young prince¡¯s tolerance exceeded expectations. Even under such torment, his resolve was unshakeable, something even the toughest among them might fail to endure. A flicker of sympathy passed through the eyes of a seemingly unremarkable youth from the True Path Sect, though he chose not to do anything. ¡°Since the young prince is reluctant to speak, perhaps we should intensify our methods,¡± suggested a saintly-looking man, rising to his feet. He was a Qilin warrior from one of the eight royal clans and a prodigy of the Qi clan. ¡°Damn you all!¡± Long Huixing finally couldn¡¯t help but curse, consumed by anger. He knew well that these people would neither believe him nor show mercy. With the decline of the Long family, they became easy targets. His dragon identity couldn¡¯t shield him anymore, but rather, it seemed to invite hostility. The six royal clans bore no love for them, and the three sects harbored a deep-rooted suspicion towards different races. The lingering enmity from demons and devils subjugating the human race for thousands of years didn¡¯t help either. Even the common folk blamed them for the hardships of recent years. To say that everyone was eager to attack the Long family would be an understatement. He found himself a target for aggression at every turn. ¡°The decree of ¡®humans and demons coexisting¡¯ has dragged the Long family from one eternal damnation to another,¡± Long Huixing lamented through his sobs, glaring at the crowd. ¡°But when that lord emerges, you all will meet your end!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The phoenix duo replied in unison. ¡°You think that just because you refuse to disclose any information, we can¡¯t find out on our own? Your Long family can only hide in a few places ¡ª the capital, a few prince residences. It¡¯s impossible for anyone to attain such a level of cultivation without leaving traces. No matter where you hide, you can¡¯t evade the scrutiny of the six royal clans.¡± Suddenly, a golden light shot up from the apex of the Golden Spirit Temple. In a blink, a man radiating golden light appeared before them, his speed leaving everyone awestruck. Even before their bodies could react, Qin Huai¡¯s fist had already descended, causing a warrior to explode instantly. ¡°Stop him! Run!¡± the fairy ordered in a panic. ¡°Split up and run!¡± Realizing that even their combined might wasn¡¯t a match for this man, she proposed a tactical retreat. However, in the next instant, her vision went dark. Qin Huai¡¯s speed was simply too fast for them to comprehend. With nimble steps, he navigated through the forest, swiftly eliminating the warriors of the six royal clans. He showed no mercy to the martial artists of the Buddhist and Confucian Sects either. Soon, only the battered Long Huixing remained. Qin Huai reappeared before him, surveying the gruesome sight of his bloody body, a pang of pity arising within him. Despite concealing some information, Long Huixing had been generous with guidance about the spirit world and its rules. ¡°My lord¡­ may I know your name?¡± a weakened Long Huixing inquired. ¡°I can¡¯t disclose that,¡± Qin Huai answered calmly. The more information he revealed, the easier it would be for others to track him. Though his face was already exposed, he intended to retain as much secrecy as possible. The Great You was immense and abundant in resources, yet their knowledge of it remained limited, making the task of finding Qin Huai difficult. He toyed with the idea of using the enemy¡¯s strength against them, instigating conflict between the six royal clans and the white-robed king, if Qingzhou¡¯s situation became dire. However, this was merely a contingency plan. ¡°You know more than I presumed,¡± Long Huixing said, a hint of relief coloring his features. His voice waned as he continued, ¡°It appears my end is near. I didn¡¯t trust you fully before and kept something from you. I am not just a prince¡¯s guard captain, but also Prince Bai Liu¡¯s son, Long Huixing.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained neutral upon hearing this, having already learned of it from the six royal clans. Despite Qin Huai¡¯s indifference, Long Huixing was unperturbed, attributing it to his overwhelming combat power. ¡°If you wish to ascend to the spirit bone level or the spirit viscera level, head to the center. There, a spirit bridge will guide you across. But beware, these levels are treacherous. They are filled with powerful old-timers, relegating the young geniuses to the lower levels¡­because the inhabitants are those once deemed geniuses during their time in the Great You.¡± Despite his deteriorating condition, Long Huixing coughed out invaluable information. For martial artists like Qin Huai, whose souls and qi and blood were still in the process of merging, they could traverse the various levels of the spirit world freely. However, those who had completed the fusion and cultivation of these elements were restricted to the second and third levels. He ended with an important piece of advice, ¡°The only way to exit the spirit world is to achieve a tranquil state for two seconds and visualize the space where you originally entered.¡± ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Qin Huai cupped his fists and thanked him solemnly. With that, the prince¡¯s life force ebbed away. Qin Huai contemplated the next time he¡¯d encounter the young prince. Then, testing his newfound power, Qin Huai clenched his fists, marveling at the dramatic increase in his blood essence. ¡°This invincible Vajra blood has boosted my blood essence by nearly fifty percent.¡± He wondered how much more potent it would be if applied to the top geniuses of the six clans and three sects, finally understanding why the Golden Spirit Temple was considered a supreme opportunity within the spirit blood level. Boom! Suddenly, Qin Huai pivoted and threw a punch, reducing three trees several meters away to splinters. As the dust settled, his gaze fell on a figure emerging from the smoke. He realized he hadn¡¯t accounted for the one from the True Path Sect earlier, having forgotten about his existence due to his subdued presence. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you running?¡± Qin Huai asked, to which the young man responded, ¡°Why should I? Aren¡¯t we on the same side?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Huai¡¯s eyebrows slightly rose. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the six royal clans or the other two sects, but I am Daozi, the Dao Child of the True Path Sect,¡± Daozi said, standing thirty meters away from Qin Huai. ¡°The Kun Peng qi on you implies you¡¯re from Qingzhou, or at least from the neighboring states,¡± Daozi continued. ¡°And there¡¯s dragon energy on you, which is quite puzzling. ¡°However, observing your previous actions, despite the tendency to mimic the six royal clans, you couldn¡¯t completely mask the influence of the sect, especially the traces of my True Path Sect.¡± A faint smile appeared at the corners of Daozi¡¯s mouth. On hearing this, Qin Huai let his body relax, quietly listening to the other party continue. ¡°Assuming you¡¯re a member of my True Path Sect and you¡¯re close to Qingzhou¡­ I recall a long time ago there was a sub-sect called Nine Dragons Sect. The Nine Dragons Daoist had slain numerous true dragons and even mastered the true dragon technique to develop the nine dragons true qi technique. ¡°Legend has it that the Nine Dragon Adept left behind a true dragon¡¯s skeleton¡­ The place where the Nine Dragons Sect was established, if I¡¯m not wrong, was in Qingzhou. If you were to use a true dragon¡¯s corpse as a spirit treasure, it could explain the dragon energy in your body.¡± ¡°Daozi, you¡¯re as expected.¡± Qin Huai sighed, seeing the significance of information come to life. ¡°I am Qin Huai, the sect master of Nine Dragons Sect,¡± he openly admitted. Since the other party had already deduced this much, there was no point in hiding it any longer. ¡°I am Zhang Youji from the Dao Sect!¡± Zhang Youji greeted with a fist and palm salute. ¡°And what¡¯s the situation in Qingzhou now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a catastrophe. The Sacred Heart Sect has created a blood sea array here to nurture a puppet for the king realm. Their plans are grand¡­¡± Qin Huai briefly described what had transpired in Qingzhou. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 562 - 562 The Great Yous Situation 562 The Great You¡¯s Situation Qin Huai shared the tumultuous state of Qingzhou with Zhang Youji. ¡°That explains the increased activity of the Sacred Heart Sect. They¡¯ve been covering for Qingzhou,¡± Zhang Youji said, understanding dawning in his eyes. ¡°What else is the Sacred Heart Sect doing outside of Qingzhou?¡± inquired Qin Huai. ¡°Their Sect Master¡¯s actions are perplexing. He has declared war on the Qiongqi clan of the Barren State and the Phoenix clan of Lu State.¡± Zhang Youji voiced his astonishment at these developments. Both tribes, deeply entrenched in the Great You for nearly ten thousand years, had substantial influences in their respective regions. However, they found themselves outmatched by the zealous believers of the Sacred Heart Sect. Qin Huai, recalling the frenzied scenes in Qingzhou City, was unsurprised by the cult¡¯s success in instigating conflict between the two states. ¡°Our assessment of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s strength was too conservative,¡± admitted Zhang Youji. He estimated that the cult could mobilize a fighting force of hundreds of millions. Hearing this staggering number, which equated to half the population of Qingzhou, even Qin Huai was taken aback. ¡°And the reaction of the three sects?¡± Qin Huai asked abruptly. Zhang Youji smirked. ¡°Of course, they didn¡¯t miss this opportunity. The Sacred Heart Sect ignited a chaotic war, and the three sects responded by declaring war on the eight royal clans. Now, the factions are engaged in skirmishes along the borders of several states in the Great You¡­¡± Qin Huai fell silent. He had planned to request the True Path Sect¡¯s military aid to quell the disorder in Qingzhou, but it was clear that the sect couldn¡¯t spare any troops. He had previously assumed Qingzhou to be the most chaotic place in the world. However, amidst the war involving the seven kings, three sects, and a religion, it was, in a way, a haven. He felt as if he had lived a lifetime since he reached this seemingly bizarre conclusion. His previous belief in the peaceful coexistence of the six royal clans and the three sects had led him to be overly optimistic about the situation beyond Qingzhou. ¡°The audacious maneuver of the Sacred Heart Sect suggests that the king realm puppet they aim to create using the blood sea array will be no ordinary entity. Once it comes into being, it will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, capable of defeating the most formidable in the Great You. We must prevent this from happening!¡± declared Zhang Youji fervently. He added, ¡°Upon my return, I¡¯ll report this matter to my master. I¡¯ll attempt to leverage the time gap in the information flow to dispatch a king realm martial artist to address the situation in Qingzhou.¡± Upon hearing Zhang Youji¡¯s suggestion, Qin Huai quickly waved his hand and vehemently declined. ¡°I have already taken care of the blood sea array issue. The only remaining concern is the white-robed king, who remains uninformed. Let the True Path Sect focus on the frontlines. I¡¯ll figure out a way to handle Qingzhou.¡± Qin Huai wasn¡¯t a hero, but he recognized the danger in Zhang Youji¡¯s offhand mention of ¡®exploiting the information time difference¡¯. It was a precarious gambit that could backfire terribly if not cautiously executed. The potential failure could not only prevent them from saving Qingzhou but might also lead to the human race becoming entirely subservient to the eight royal clans, with no possibility of resistance. ¡°Exactly how many king realms exist in this world?¡± Qin Huai asked, resigning to the fact that no assistance was forthcoming, and tried to gather whatever information he could. ¡°Not many. Among the eight clans and three sects, there are only dozens at most,¡± answered Zhang Youji. ¡°The Long family, for instance, only has one elderly prince still in the king realm. In fact, you met him earlier. He¡¯s the father of that young prince, Prince Bai Liu. The Kun Peng clan of Qingzhou still hasn¡¯t recovered from their emperor¡¯s defeat ten thousand years ago. ¡°Nonetheless, the remaining six royal clans remain at their peak, each protected by eight or nine king realm experts. The three sects are weaker due to limited resources and the short lifespan of the human race, which hinders the cultivation of top-tier experts. Each family would have four or five at most.¡± As Zhang Youji calculated with Qin Huai, they concluded that even accounting for the potential king realm experts in the Sacred Heart Sect, the combined power of the six royal clans was still twice that of theirs. ¡°The three sects were completely unprepared for this battle,¡± Zhang Youji admitted, holding his head in his hand. ¡°Without our support, the Sacred Heart Sect will surely fall. Once consolidated, the six royal clans would seize the momentum to eradicate the three sects after crushing the Sacred Heart Sect. We have to engage in this fight.¡± Qin Huai studied the ordinary-looking Daoist before him. A closer inspection revealed Zhang Youji¡¯s concealed fatigue. The pressure on him must have been immense. ¡°Regardless, I will find a way to help with the Qingzhou situation,¡± Qin Huai stated firmly. Zhang Youji patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Brother Qin, don¡¯t feel guilty for us just because the Sacred Heart Sect is on our side. And don¡¯t believe you were wrong to destroy the blood sea array.¡± Qin Huai looked at Zhang Youji in surprise, causing the latter to become equally startled. ¡°I guess I was overthinking.¡± ¡°Brother Zhang, rest assured. I¡¯m not that great,¡± Qin Huai confessed, explaining that given a choice between justice and his loved ones, he would prioritize the latter. ¡°If I can¡¯t even protect my own family, what right do I have to talk about righteousness? I¡¯m not a saint. I¡¯m just an ordinary man. But if I have the power, I will certainly use it.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s good.¡± Zhang Youji smiled, then slowly sat cross-legged on the ground. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already seized the great opportunity from the Golden Spirit Temple, there¡¯s no reason for me to linger.¡± With that, Zhang Youji¡¯s figure began to fade gradually. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 563 - 563 Puppeteer Technique! 563 Puppeteer Technique! Qin Huai followed suit, settling into a cross-legged position on the ground before he too faded from sight. ¡­ At the True Path Sect, an inconspicuous young man slowly rose from a concealed chamber. Pushing the door open, he made his way into the bustling crowd. Astonishingly, the multitude of True Path Sect disciples in attendance paid no heed to this Dao Child. More accurately, they didn¡¯t recognize him at all. He swiftly navigated through the mountainous terrain, making his way to the highest peak of the True Path Sect. There, a bearded elder clad in a purple-gold robe practiced gentle boxing techniques mid-air. Man and landscape seemed to blend seamlessly into each other. ¡°Master,¡± Zhang Youji said quietly. The bearded elder¡¯s movements stuttered momentarily before resuming their fluidity. Once he completed his series of punches, he turned as though nothing had interrupted his practice. Seeing Zhang Youji now less than five meters behind him, the elder¡¯s eyes twitched involuntarily. ¡°Youji, your concealment skills are advancing rather impressively,¡± the True Path Sect¡¯s master commented, a wry smile on his face. ¡°Did I deceive you, Master?¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s expression remained neutral, his intentions inscrutable. The sect master laughed softly. ¡°I only realized you were approaching when you were within thirty meters of me.¡± He retained his composure, adding, ¡°However, there¡¯s still plenty of room for improvement.¡± Zhang Youji slightly shook his head. ¡°If you have the time, you should focus on honing our sect¡¯s unique lightning technique. How are you going to defeat enemies relying solely on these unconventional methods?¡± The sect master tried to persuade his disciple. ¡°Master, you misunderstand. My father named me hoping that I would always remember to avoid confronting enemies directly. It¡¯s risky and inefficient,¡± Zhang Youji explained. ¡°It¡¯s better to strike from the shadows¡­¡± Interrupting the repetitious lesson he¡¯d heard countless times, the Sect Master of the True Path Sect sighed. ¡°Alright, alright. Why are you here?¡± The sect master seemed a little worn out. He had been tolerant of his disciple¡¯s unusual approach because Zhang Youji was the Dao Child of True Path Sect, yet he had never practiced the sect¡¯s lightning technique. His victories had always relied on stealthy attacks. Even during the fight for the title of Dao Child, his methods were unconventional. This made Zhang Youji¡¯s reputation within the True Path Sect less than ideal. ¡°There¡¯s been a big development in Qingzhou¡­¡± Zhang Youji shared the full account of events with the sect master, whose expression shifted from grave to shocked, then back to grave. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that the youngster named Qin Huai has actually refined the true dragon bone?¡± he asked. ¡°The boy¡¯s blood essence must be stronger than I¡¯d thought.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ He nearly annihilated everyone in the spirit blood level. Even the guardian of the Golden Spirit Temple was defeated by him,¡± Zhang Youji admitted, feeling as though he was reliving a dream. ¡°Third Young Master Qiong, who had originally entered the Golden Spirit Temple, was forcibly removed by Qin Huai.¡± The sect master¡¯s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. ¡°That young man has potential. If you wish to assist him in Qingzhou, go. I don¡¯t need you at the moment,¡± the sect master of the True Path Sect conceded. ¡°Thank you, Master!¡± Two voices echoed in unison. The sect master abruptly turned around, to find an identical Zhang Youji standing behind him. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve recently mastered the puppeteer technique. Even I struggle to differentiate between the real and the fake when I split my consciousness,¡± Zhang Youji said calmly, looking at the sect master he had successfully tricked. ¡°Did you draw out a soul strand?¡± The sect master instantly understood. ¡°Wise as always, Master,¡± Zhang Youji responded respectfully, adding, ¡°My spirit is intact, and the death of the puppet doesn¡¯t affect me. This puppet possesses one-third of my strength. Deploying them at the frontlines will undoubtedly fool the enemy.¡± The sect master could only shake his head. If only Zhang Youji¡¯s talents had been utilized in the cultivation of the lightning techniques, he would have long surpassed him. What a waste¡­ ¡°The white-robed king is one of the four great protectors serving under the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s master. His king realm combat power far surpasses those of the visceral prefecture realm,¡± the sect master muttered to himself. When he looked around, Zhang Youji ¡ª both the real and the fake ¡ª had already vanished. ¡­ Meanwhile, the Ying clan, Bai clan, Phoenix clan, Huang clan, along with the other royal clans, dispatched their experts to the Great You Imperial City. Numerous scouts were sent out with one common objective: to find out Qin Huai¡¯s identity. ¡­ In the blood sea, Qin Huai gradually opened his eyes. A drop of golden blood seeped from his body, suspended in his hand and radiating a brilliant light like a precious artifact. ¡°My soul and blood essence have fully merged,¡± Qin Huai mused, using the drop of blood to understand the changes within himself. The cleansing effect of the Golden Spirit Temple¡¯s invincible Vajra blood provided him with the treasure many craved, while also facilitating the first necessary transformation to reach the king realm. ¡°My strength hasn¡¯t noticeably increased, but it feels more profound,¡± he observed. ¡°It¡¯s not just about the power, but my understanding of blood essence has deepened. I had been wasteful in the past.¡± Qin Huai quickly grasped the cause of the change. ¡°The advancement of martial arts goes from the physical cultivation to a deeper comprehension.¡± This was evident in the spiritual altar realm. He waved his hand gently, and countless images of Qingzhou City appeared before him. Scenes of crumbling walls, ruins, and dried blood flashed by, with endless battles continuing as time went on. With a thought, Qin Huai brought the image on the scroll closer to the Thousand Divination Tower. Soon, he spotted cultivators wearing a blend of Daoist and monk robes. His movements grew more cautious as he neared the central area, and eventually, a familiar figure came into view ¡ª the white-robed king. Opposite the white-robed king stood Gao He, the former governor of the state. Gao He, on one knee, was speaking to the white-robed king. The conversation lasted an hour, after which Gao He, sprouting wings akin to a Kun Peng, took off towards the blood sea. ¡°Gao He should be one of Tang Pi¡¯s most trusted men,¡± Qin Huai thought. He remembered Gao He and Tang Pi being inseparable, with the former having saved the latter multiple times. However, now, with Tang Pi and the white-robed king at odds, why was Gao He still in the Thousand Divination Tower? Was it an act, or did Gao He hold a different identity? Unable to decipher their intentions, Qin Huai turned his attention back to the white-robed king, who sat at the edge of the pavilion, eyes closed. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve yet to be discovered. At least the white-robed king hasn¡¯t launched an assault on East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties yet.¡± Closing his eyes, Qin Huai sifted through countless cultivation techniques. Soon, he found a disguise technique. Now that he possessed hundreds of these techniques, his conflicting blood essences coexisted harmoniously within him, a phenomenon that would surely stun other martial artists. His hands molded his face like clay, quickly transforming his appearance into that of Wang Kun. Emerging from the blood sea, he was promptly approached by dozens of Kun Peng demons. ¡°Who are you¡­¡± Just as one of them was about to raise an alarm, another quieted him, greeting Qin Huai respectfully, ¡°Greetings, Lord Wang!¡± Qin Huai nodded naturally. ¡°Bring me to see¡­¡± he started, only to be interrupted by a boisterous voice from afar. ¡°Brother Wang! It¡¯s been a while!¡± The figure that followed was Tang Pi. Unlike before, he appeared younger, his wrinkles lessened, and his vitality surged. ¡°How long has it been?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°Ten days,¡± Tang Pi replied with a chuckle. ¡°Judging by Brother Wang¡¯s aura, it¡¯s clear you¡¯ve gotten spirit stones and retreated to the spirit world for cultivation.¡± ¡°Sect Master Tang, your perception is commendable,¡± Qin Huai replied without denying the fact. He was slightly taken aback by the time he had spent in the spirit world. It felt like only a few days had passed, yet in the real world, it had been ten days. ¡°May I ask what brings Brother Wang here today?¡± ¡°There is indeed something I¡¯d like to discuss with Sect Master Tang.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 564 - 564 Deception 564 Deception ¡°Do you mean to tell me that you saw Gao He enter the Thousand Divination Tower?¡± Tang Pi expressed his disbelief. ¡°How could that be? He¡¯s my most trusted aide! Why would he betray me now?¡± His voice trembled with uncertainty. ¡°But that¡¯s not possible. Had he wanted to rebel, he could have taken advantage of the earlier revolt by the five clans,¡± Tang Pi reasoned. ¡°Brother Wang, are you really sure it¡¯s him?¡± Qin Huai nodded confidently. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. I may not be able to oversee the blood sea, but every blade of grass and tree beneath it is within my control.¡± His face wore a smug expression. Tang Pi bowed respectfully towards Qin Huai, his face serious. ¡°Brother Wang, your generosity is beyond measure. I will be sure to pay you back in the future.¡± He then added, ¡°Brother Wang, the spirit world has been quite turbulent lately. A powerful figure has appeared, slaying nearly all the cultivators of the six clans and three sects to obtain some great inheritance, so please be careful when traversing the spirit world.¡± His tone was sincere and grave. ¡°Thank you, Sect Master Tang, for the information,¡± responded Qin Huai. They continued to exchange pleasantries, expressing mutual concern, as if they were long-lost kin. After the exchange, Qin Huai descended back into the blood sea. As a crimson veil separated them, Qin Huai¡¯s expression relaxed and his composure returned. Quickly navigating the blood sea, he emerged after a few miles, concealed within the clouds. A tap of his finger conjured an image featuring Tang Pi and the esteemed guest, Gao He. ¡°Sect Master, why the rush?¡± Gao He had barely stepped into the blood sea when Tang Pi¡¯s men stopped him. ¡°Silence, and follow me into the clouds,¡± commanded Tang Pi, snatching Gao He and soaring into the skies. As they ascended, the cold wind grew more intense, with each ascent seemingly transporting them to a different world. Finally, Tang Pi stopped. ¡°Sect Master, did something happen?¡± Gao He asked, his wings encrusted with silver frost. From Tang Pi¡¯s cautious behavior, he suspected this was no small matter. ¡°Wang Kun has discovered that you visited the Thousand Divination Tower.¡± Gao He¡¯s expression subtly shifted. ¡°Didn¡¯t I call him earlier to confirm he had entered the spirit world?¡± Ordinarily, a martial artist¡¯s journey into the spirit world for cultivation would span at least two months. They had all been keeping track of the time. ¡°So, about our current predicament,¡± Gao He began, but Tang Pi interrupted. ¡°I fooled him earlier. Also, he admitted that he could only monitor the area beneath the blood sea, not above,¡± Tang Pi revealed without waiting for Gao He¡¯s response. ¡°And even if he disclosed this intentionally, so what? He should only have visual access, not auditory. Otherwise, our earlier conversation wouldn¡¯t have proceeded so smoothly, and he wouldn¡¯t have probed me.¡± ¡°Then what should we do now?¡± a puzzled Gao He asked. ¡°Next is¡­¡± Tang Pi couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. This situation had not been anticipated. He had initially planned to collaborate with Kong Binghuang and Wang Kun against the white-robed king. However, upon contemplating, the chances of victory seemed minuscule. Especially after receiving news of the current situation in Great You, where he learned that the Sacred Heart Sect had initiated a war with two races, he was taken aback. He was aware of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s strength, but this exceeded his expectations. Coincidentally, during this time, the white-robed king offered him an alliance. In exchange for providing a king realm puppet with the lives of half the top martial artists in Qingzhou, the Kun Peng clan would retain its top position and prestige. If he, Tang Pi, truly ascended to the king realm and became the first of the Kun Peng clan in ten thousand years, he would have readily agreed. As for the sincerity of the white-robed king¡­ Qin Huai, concealed amidst the clouds using the wind breath technique, conjured another image. A man in a white robe was quickly advancing toward the blood sea from the sky. His formidable aura was palpable even thousands of feet away ¡ª a chilling shock to the soul, the immense pressure of the king realm. The man stood on a glazed jade plate, his speed rivaling Qin Huai¡¯s Kun Peng wings despite lacking wings of his own ¡ª an extraordinary flying artifact. Faced with this, Qin Huai¡¯s figure kept retreating, on the brink of collapse. His aura dwindled significantly as he seemed to merge with the turbulent wind. With the cover of the dense fog, Qin Huai appeared virtually non-existent. However, he couldn¡¯t retreat any further lest he miss their conversation. The white-robed king didn¡¯t attempt to disguise his trail, his intense aura unabated even as he plunged into the blood sea ¡ª it was a clear challenge. As he paced on the clouds, reaching Tang Pi, he declared, ¡°I could obliterate all of you at any given time. The sky isn¡¯t a safe haven.¡± He seemed aware of their earlier exchange, his booming voice echoing across the blood sea, addressing both Tang Pi and Wang Kun. ¡°Assist me in eliminating those human nuisances, and I¡¯ll provide what you desire.¡± The white-robed king¡¯s gaze, ablaze with a dazzling white light, bore down on Tang Pi as though he were a deity, much to Tang Pi¡¯s displeasure. Nonetheless, the circumstances coerced Tang Pi to yield. ¡°Very well! Let¡¯s make a deal. I¡¯ll stay out of the blood sea¡¯s chaos.¡± Tang Pi decisively concurred, flicking his sleeves. His choices were limited. If he refused, his life would be in jeopardy. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 565 - 565 The Kun Peng Clan Makes a Move Again! Golden Rain! 565 The Kun Peng Clan Makes a Move Again! Golden Rain! The fact that the white-robed king hadn¡¯t killed anyone before didn¡¯t imply he wouldn¡¯t do so now. His trusted aides had been eliminated, as had many of his followers. If Tang Pi were in his shoes, Kong Binghuang¡¯s head would already have been severed. Tang Pi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he noticed the white-robed king appeared to clutch a human head. Not far off, Qin Huai was in a similar predicament. The commanding presence of a king realm expert had made him overlook the head in his hand. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the biggest traitor of Qinzhou ¡ª Yue Yang, the lord of the Thousand Divination Tower. ¡°Your plot of self-sacrifice has indeed deceived me. Using the lives of disciples from the other four sects to gain my trust¡­ quite the plan, quite the patience,¡± the white-robed king commended. ¡°Regrettably, power remains the most important in this world.¡± His indifferent gaze swept over the blood sea. ¡°How did you discover Yue Yang¡¯s¡­?¡± Tang Pi couldn¡¯t resist asking. He still suspected the white-robed king had potentially executed the wrong individual. After all, the Thousand Divination Tower had greatly aided in exterminating the remnants of the five great sects. Their contributions were substantial. ¡°How many visceral prefecture realm experts fell due to their calculations?¡± the king mused. ¡°All it took was several attempts to locate Kong Binghuang¡¯s position to clarify everything. Kong Binghuang may have been lucky once or twice, but not thrice, certainly not four times. That rendered Yue Yang useless.¡± At this, Tang Pi¡¯s eyebrows shot up. It seemed Yue Yang was assassinated because he couldn¡¯t decipher what the white-robed king desired. ¡°Then what of the Thousand Divination Tower¡­?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been obliterated,¡± replied the king casually. ¡°If they can¡¯t locate Kong Binghuang, they might as well strengthen the blood sea and hasten the puppet creation.¡± Tang Pi felt his heart pounding ¡ª this white-robed king was insane. His claim of valuing all life equally was merely a facade. The man was a consummate hypocrite. ¡°Won¡¯t you worry that Wang Kun will lose hope and abandon the idea of advancement, of fusing with your blood essence and soul? Won¡¯t your plan go awry then?¡± Tang Pi couldn¡¯t help but question. ¡°There¡¯s always an alternative, albeit the puppet¡¯s power may be slightly reduced,¡± the king said, summoning a scarlet pearl in his hand. It emitted a radiant scarlet light, causing the entire blood sea to surge. Countless waves rolled towards the center, similar to when Wang Kun had controlled the blood sea. ¡°I can forcibly infuse this energy into the puppet. However, there¡¯s a considerable difference between this puppet and one I¡¯ve personally cultivated,¡± the king stated, his gaze falling on the sea as though he were conversing with Wang Kun. ¡°You might still stand a chance. Ascend to the king realm yourself, and freedom might be within your reach.¡± It was a transparent scheme ¡ª a proposition Wang Kun couldn¡¯t reject. The only regret was¡­ Wang Kun was no longer around. The blood sea now belonged to Qin Huai. ¡°According to my sources, Kong Binghuang has proceeded to the Spirit Gate. No need for further explanation, I presume?¡± the white-robed king addressed him. ¡°Take your entire clan. Transport the blood sustenance from that desolate land to Qingzhou City.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s pupils contracted at his command. The white-robed king then plunged straight into the blood sea like a comet, piercing through the sea and into the ground. The only thing remaining airborne was Yue Yang¡¯s head, which helplessly descended. ¡°It appears the white-robed king is truly in a rush,¡± Tang Pi commented as he caught Yue Yang¡¯s head, letting out a sigh. ¡°Likely due to the unfavorable circumstances at the front line,¡± Gao He added gravely, ¡°The three sects and the Sacred Heart Sect find it difficult to fight the six royal clans at their peak. Each king realm expert could alter the state¡¯s situation, and every peak king realm expert could trigger a great wave. It¡¯s best not to antagonize the Sacred Heart Sect.¡± Tang Pi observed the head in his grasp. Yue Yang¡¯s expression was placid, as though he had accepted his fate long ago. ¡°The five great sects truly lack no courageous souls. What a shame¡­¡± He tossed Yue Yang¡¯s head aside nonchalantly. ¡°Grandchildren!¡± Tang Pi shouted. Behind him, thousands of Kun Peng demons followed closely. Previously, he had been ready to face the white-robed king with the might of his entire clan. Fortunately, the resolution had been more fortunate than anticipated. ¡°Prepare to slaughter the human race. It¡¯s time to unleash the hounds,¡± Tang Pi declared with a wild laugh. The thick clouds parted with the forceful gust of wind, revealing the scene in the air to all. ¡°You are¡­Qin Huai?¡± Tang Pi asked, his face etched with disbelief. ¡°How are you still alive?¡± Ignoring Tang Pi, Qin Huai held up Yue Yang¡¯s head. ¡°Lord Yue, I don¡¯t have any training materials. I¡¯ll use the blood of the Kun Peng clan.¡± His words incited outrage among the demons. ¡°Arrogant!¡± they shouted angrily. ¡°So it was you who killed Wang Kun¡­ That¡¯s truly impressive,¡± Tang Pi commented. ¡°He must have refined the entire sea of blood into a guardian spirit item.¡± As Tang Pi spoke, he feverishly strategized about countermeasures, considering all the abilities Qin Huai possessed. He had a strong body and extremely quick reflexes. Perhaps, after refining the blood sea, he¡¯d also acquired the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s blood control technique, making his recovery abilities significantly potent. Yet, there was one consolation ¡ª Qin Huai likely didn¡¯t possess Wang Kun¡¯s ability to resurrect using the blood sea array. ¡°No matter how powerful you are, you stand no chance against my Kun Peng clan,¡± Tang Pi asserted, devising Qin Huai¡¯s combat style and identifying his opponent¡¯s fatal weakness. ¡°Even if I have to amass every resource, I¡¯ll ensure your downfall!¡± His disdain for Qin Huai was palpable. Had it not been for Qin Huai¡¯s meddling, his Kun Peng clan would never have been so drastically weakened. Killing Qin Huai was, therefore, a matter of personal vendetta. ¡°The heavens indeed have a sense of justice!¡± Tang Pi exclaimed, exhilaration creeping into his voice. ¡°It feels like my blood is boiling.¡± As Qin Huai unveiled his blood control technique, Tang Pi¡¯s excitement grew. ¡°Do you think I wouldn¡¯t have strategized for Wang Kun?¡± Before he even finished, the thousands of Kun Peng demons had already assembled, their auras blending into a formidable force. A colossal pair of Kun Peng wings materialized, blocking the barrage of blood beads. Even Qin Huai felt as if he was trapped within an invisible cage, akin to his own domain or perhaps, the bronze world. ¡°Your blood control technique may have unique abilities, but it lacks killing power. It can¡¯t penetrate my Kun Peng wing formation,¡± Tang Pi gloated. ¡°Even the might of the blood sea can¡¯t dismantle my formation swiftly.¡± Once this formation was established, it was equivalent to amputating one of Qin Huai¡¯s arms. Unable to quickly decrease the number of his enemies, Qin Huai would have to resort to inefficient and cumbersome methods! ¡°My blood is not ordinary,¡± Qin Huai responded coldly. ¡°Humph! What could possibly be extraordinary about a human¡¯s blood?¡± Tang Pi scoffed. ¡°Are you the one who seized the Golden Spirit Temple¡¯s opportunity?¡± Although Qin Huai was an anomaly, there were probably none in Qingzhou who could match him. However, the spirit world did not lack such oddities. ¡°Unfortunately, you guessed right,¡± Qin Huai replied. Just then, beams of golden light poured down from the sky, enveloping the entire battlefield. Tang Pi and the rest of the Kun Peng clansmen couldn¡¯t help but look up. The drops of scarlet blood had all turned to gold. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 566 - 566 Atavism! 566 Atavism! The sky was filled with blood beads that abruptly morphed into a golden hue. From the emptiness emerged Sanskrit chants, with droplets of invincible Vajra blood materializing as though genuine Vajras were present. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes reflected rage, and his murderous intent surged like a relentless wave. ¡°Blood release technique, Vajra rain!¡± The blood droplets in the sky began to plummet like sharp swords. Carried by a powerful gust, the whistling sound echoed like a golden thunderclap. The immense illusionary wings created by the thousands of Kun Peng demons were instantly perforated by Qin Huai¡¯s invincible Vajra blood. ¡°How can this be?¡± Tang Pi¡¯s pupils contracted. Around him, the clansmen who had just entered the bone pattern realm began to drop from the sky like raindrops. Tang Pi roared, thrusting his hands toward the sky. The massive Kun Peng wings at his back conjured up a tempest, attempting to counter the dense golden rain above. With every golden raindrop that fell on Tang Pi¡¯s wings, his body trembled as if struck by a massive stone. Hiss¡­ A corrosive sound emanated from Tom¡¯s wings, and upon close inspection, Tang Pi noticed his pure-blooded wings were emitting a fog-like substance, their feathers seemingly damaged. Although this was a minor setback, he was nearly a pure-blooded Kun Peng, with his body¡¯s resilience surpassing imaginable bounds. Even a treasured weapon might not have much impact, let alone a drop of blood. A chilling realization swept over Tang Pi as he sensed the lethal potency of the golden rain. The golden deluge that blanketed the sky possessed the destructive power of a treasured weapon. Though he was shaken, the clansmen in the visceral prefecture realm beside him were relatively unharmed. However, hardly any of the pillars in the Bone Pattern Realm could withstand even a few drops of the golden rain. The Kun Peng formation, which he had specifically devised to counter Wang Kun¡¯s blood sea, had been riddled with holes under Qin Huai¡¯s golden onslaught. Had it not been for the protection of this formation, Tang Pi would have suffered substantial losses among his ranks. ¡°Qin Huai! Let¡¯s talk!¡± Tang Pi cried out, his heart sinking. Despite his extreme reluctance, he had no choice but to extend this proposal. If he didn¡¯t, only a handful of his Kun Peng clan would remain, hardly a clan by any standards. ¡°Sure.¡± Qin Huai stood aloof in the distant sky. The cries of the Kun Peng demons rose and fell, but his expression remained unaffected. To him, his experience points were rapidly increasing, and he discovered a surprising bonus: his Vajra rain could trigger endless blood. As blood was a part of his body, when it landed on the demons¡¯ bodies, it felt as though Qin Huai¡¯s main body was engaged in combat with them. Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of tempering resonated in his ears, signifying that Qin Huai would earn double the vitality experience points for slaying a demon. He absorbed countless orbs of qi and blood experience, further enhancing his already formidable qi and blood power. ¡°Qin Huai, could you stop the rain for a moment?!¡± Tang Pi pleaded, his forehead veins bulging as he observed Qin Huai¡¯s indifference. ¡°Why not try persuading me before all your clansmen die?¡± Qin Huai responded calmly. Ever since the opposing side planned to massacre the ten counties of East Qingzhou, Qin Huai had resolved to retaliate. Regardless of what Tang Pi might say, Qin Huai was unshakeable. Expecting mercy was like threading a needle ¡ª extremely precarious. His return at this juncture was fortuitous. Had he been delayed a few more days in the spirit world, the ten counties could have descended into despair, a thought Qin Huai didn¡¯t dare entertain. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t the first time Sect Master Tang had overstepped his boundaries. ¡°I swear on my blood, I will help you fight the white-robed king and the Sacred Heart Sect!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s voice reverberated loudly. Yet, the golden rain showed no signs of relenting, and the ongoing wailing echoed a heart-wrenching tune. ¡°I will never be your enemy in this life, nor will I ever harm a single soul from the ten counties of East Qinzhou!¡± Tom proclaimed through gritted teeth. However, Qin Huai remained unmoved. ¡°You have no intention of reconciliation, do you?¡± Tang Pi finally acknowledged. ¡°If you wish to fight to the death, I shall keep you company!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s aura surged, his body swelling to multiple times its original size. His limbs started to morph, his skin wrinkling and sprouting gray scales, which gradually became cloaked in feathers. His fingers began to resemble the razor-sharp talons of a predatory bird. Atavism. The human form of a pure-blooded Kun Peng was not their most formidable form. Only by reverting to their original form could they exhibit their genuine strength. A Kun Peng cried out. It wasn¡¯t a dragon or an eagle, but a sound that echoed through the skies. The resonating sound waves seemed to slow the golden rain in the air. As the sound of exploding wings resonated, Qin Huai swiftly pivoted and delivered a punch. Bang! His force cleaved through the sky¡¯s clouds like a knife. Sparks flew as the Kun Peng claw and Qin Huai¡¯s fist collided like premier treasures, their residual force scattering the surrounding clouds and fog. Golden light flickered in Tang Pi¡¯s eyes as he observed Qin Huai, whose arm was torn apart by his own claws, spewing a considerable amount of blood into the air. ¡°It seems I underestimated the terror of atavism¡¯s power! No, I overestimated your physical strength,¡± Tang Pi said confidently. Although he hadn¡¯t reached the pure-blooded stage, his body, bolstered by the power of atavism, had attained an unprecedented level of strength. ¡°No wonder the dragon clan is so obsessed with pure bloodlines. This power is too astounding!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 567 - 567 Blood Sacrifice! Extermination! 567 Blood Sacrifice! Extermination! ¡°Regrettably, they were too hasty and proposed too many absurd strategies, leading the dynasty they ruled to fall short!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s attacks grew increasingly reckless. With each swipe of his claws, a spray of blood filled the air. Although Qin Huai¡¯s recovery was astoundingly swift, Tang Pi was starting to see a glimmer of victory. Over a hundred moves had been traded in a flash. Boom! Tang Pi¡¯s gaze shifted toward the distant sky. The golden rain had notably decelerated, both in volume and speed. Several clansmen had already reached safe ground while others from the visceral prefecture realm surrounded the battlefield, waiting for a chance to attack. ¡°It appears the tables have turned.¡± Tang Pi smirked at Qin Huai, who was still full of stamina. ¡°Your blood heart technique¡¯s healing power is impressive. With the blood sea as your reserve, perhaps your recovery prowess surpasses even the white-robed king¡¯s. But what if your bones are crushed? Can you still recover?¡± Tang Pi maintained his pressure on Qin Huai through a combination of verbal jabs and physical assaults, aiming to locate a lethal weakness. ¡°My lord, I¡¯m here to support you!¡± came a voice from the distance. In the sky, Gao He¡¯s wings beat rapidly as he hurtled toward Qin Huai. Simultaneously, over a dozen experts from the visceral prefecture realm, the Kun Peng clan¡¯s last remaining top-tier warriors, prepared to join the fray. Boom! Suddenly, they accelerated mid-flight, disappearing in a loud boom, only to reappear beside Qin Huai moments later. Just as Qin Huai extended a hand to seize the wings, they reappeared behind him, sharp as peerless blades. Bang! Bang! Bang! Blood splattered in the direction where the two demons had vanished. The pair of wings materialized and vanished beside Qin Huai at an incredible speed, with flawless coordination. More importantly, they bore the formidable power of Tang Pi¡¯s atavism. ¡°Swear a blood oath to the heavens, vowing eternal loyalty to me, and I¡¯ll spare your life,¡± Tang Pi proposed, his eyes greedy. Killing a prodigy like Qin Huai seemed wasteful when he could be a powerful weapon against the white-robed king. ¡°You must have suffered a lot recently.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice carried a trace of sympathy. ¡°From the start of the war, you¡¯ve been cornered by the white-robed king, haven¡¯t you? You seem to have lost your rationality.¡± ¡°Are you implying you don¡¯t wish to live?¡± Tang Pi¡¯s eyes clouded with misfortune. The past two years had been the darkest period of his life, constantly under fire from the white-robed king and Qin Huai. ¡°You still don¡¯t believe me.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s body suddenly froze, his hands reaching out to the side. Crack! With a loud sound, sparks flew as he gripped a Kun Peng wing. A pair of Kun Peng wings materialized on Qin Huai¡¯s right hand, crashing into his empty hand. The formidable power held the two demons¡¯ space-rending slash in check, disrupting their previously seamless combination. Bang! Two beams of golden light shot out from beneath Qin Huai¡¯s feet, catching the two demons off guard. The golden light pierced through their foreheads. With disbelief etched on their faces, the two demons¡¯ bodies fell limply to the ground as Qin Huai released his hold. ¡°What!!!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s pupils constricted as Qin Huai lifted a finger. The brilliant golden light replaced the blood sea beneath them, turning the demons¡¯ faces golden. Underneath the clouds, beams of golden light shot skyward, shattering the clouds and piercing the bodies of the overconfident Kun Peng demons. The golden rain that filled the sky simultaneously shot out, catching even the visceral prefecture realm experts unprepared. ¡°Vajra rain, reverse!¡± With a flap of his wings, Qin Huai appeared in the clouds, his fist descending like a mountain. Bang! A demon, who had just entered the visceral prefecture realm, was obliterated by Qin Huai¡¯s punch! The continuous, shocking scenes nearly made Tang Pi¡¯s eyes pop out of their sockets. ¡°Qin Huai!¡± Tang Pi roared in frustration. He was already upon Qin Huai, his claws, sharp as blades, lunged for Qin Huai¡¯s heart. Thrust! Sparks erupted. Qin Huai¡¯s fist met the sharp claws, and a faint sound of breaking echoed. Tang Pi¡¯s claws, which had always struck true, were shattered by Qin Huai¡¯s punch. ¡°How is that possible¡­The physical body enhanced by the power of atavism¡­ Only the other demons of the eight royal clans should match him.¡± Tang Pi¡¯s eyes were slightly unfocused. ¡°I just wanted to kill more of your clansmen and intentionally expose a weakness. After all, if these beings fled to the ten counties, it would be very troublesome to deal with them,¡± Qin Huai explained, his voice icy. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect much from this move, but to my surprise, you fell for it.¡± Despite Tang Pi being aware of his background and cultivation technique, he couldn¡¯t detect a trap of this level. That was the reason why Qin Huai had said that. The Kun Peng clan¡¯s sect master had let defeat and hatred cloud his judgment. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ll lose!¡± Tang Pi¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his sanity slipping. ¡°Even if your invincible Vajra blood can kill half of them, I still have two to three thousand clansmen! Even if I have to pile them up, I¡¯ll make sure you meet your end!¡± Tang Pi spat through gritted teeth. ¡°What about now?¡± Qin Huai asked. Tang Pi was stunned. There were no clansmen around him. Even the blood sea beneath him had vanished. ¡°What happened?¡± A chilling realization dawned on him. Bang! Suddenly, he flapped her wings. His wings were sliced off from behind. At the same time, he thrust his claws again, aiming for Qin Huai, who was within reach. Bang! Tang Pi¡¯s claw pierced through Qin Huai¡¯s heart. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his wings had also cut through Qin Huai¡¯s body with a single slash! It was an illusion! A moment of dread swept over Tang Pi. He shielded his flank with his right wing instantly. The next moment, a terrifying impact sent him flying. His severed wings quivered, and blood sprayed into the air. Their roles had reversed in a disturbing turn of events. What a terrifying strength! Tang Pi had no time to absorb the shock, though. He lifted his gaze and found dozens of Qin Huai¡¯s charging at him from all directions. ¡°Ten thousand miles slash!¡± Enraged, Tang Pi roared, flapping his wings, and ascended the heavens. His aura was intimidating, shaking the sky. Bang! Tang Pi crashed into a barrier, blood oozing from his head. ¡°A guardian spirit item¡­¡± Tang Pi¡¯s voice trembled involuntarily. ¡°Ah, one could say it¡¯s a relic left by the Emperor of Qingzhou.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice echoed, emanating from over ten locations around him. Tang Pi glanced at the Qin Huais encircling him, a bitter smile gracing his lips. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± He finally recognized the difference in their strengths. Qin Huai had never pondered how to kill him, but when to do so. ¡°Give me some valuable information. Perhaps I¡¯ll let your clansmen go and allow your Kun Peng clan to maintain its lineage.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s expression was frosty. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Given what I know of you, you¡¯ll definitely kill them all, won¡¯t you?¡± At that moment, Tang Pi had a moment of clarity. ¡°You want information from me? No way!¡± A fierce determination flashed in his eyes. His pupils contracted sharply, locking onto Qin Huai, who had a subtle change in expression. ¡°Ten thousand miles slash!¡± With the last of his strength, Tang Pi attacked. Even his originally gray wings were abruptly stained red with blood. ¡°Forbidden technique, blood sacrifice atavism!¡± At that moment, the aura of the Tang clan soared to an unprecedented height. He burned his life force to reach the pure-blood realm. Boom! A curtain of darkness immediately enshrouded the entire area. Qin Huai, with his white hair and eyes, now appeared like a king descending from the dark abyss, looking down upon him. Their fists collided, but he did not evade. ¡°Black dragon fist!¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! In mid-air, they exchanged dozens of blows. Each strike landed true, each punch resulted in spilled blood. But in the end, Tang Pi couldn¡¯t alter the outcome. Drained, he fell to the ground, his body covered in blood. ¡°What a monster¡­¡± In his final moment, he found a sliver of peace. Staring at Qin Huai in the sky, his eyes filled with resignation. Despite having been the prefecture overseer of Qingzhou with a great advantage, he couldn¡¯t understand how he ended up in this dire situation. Such a tragic end¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 568 - 568 Great You Imperial Capital 568 Great You Imperial Capital Great You Imperial Capital. The streets, paved with bluestone bricks, were wide enough to accommodate three carriages running side by side. The buildings lining the road were imposing, sporting a variety of peculiar shapes. There were expansive courtyards spanning over a thousand square meters and pavilions fashioned with cow heads as adornments. Iron chains stretched across the sky, forming a foundation for airborne castles built atop a few towering buildings. A snake-like seductive woman, partially hidden behind the gauze curtain of a pavilion, drew the gazes of passersby. The onlookers were no less noteworthy. Armored warriors, wealthy young masters and mistresses adorned in luxurious attire and precious artifacts, and officials sporting dragon-scale hats were a common sight. A random throw of stones could likely reveal the existence of a visceral prefecture realm cultivator. Nestled among these was an inconspicuous inn facing the street. Seated at a wooden table inside was a well-dressed child bearing a gloomy expression. Behind him stood two stern men with piercing gazes. A faint aura emanated from them, indicating the child they were protecting was no ordinary individual. However, in the imperial capital, ¡®ordinary people¡¯ were anything but ordinary, so the patrons around didn¡¯t hold back. They reveled in food, drink, amusement, and crude humor, secrets traded freely. ¡°Dear customer, here are the best dishes you requested¡­ fried carp with scallion, steamed pork trotters, Dragon Gate Leap, Sea Big¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright, continue your work,¡± the child interrupted impatiently. On closer inspection, the child¡¯s ears were erect, twitching occasionally, indicating his ¡®eavesdropping¡¯ on nearby conversations. He was particularly focused on the discussions at the tables before and behind him, where the guests appeared more knowledgeable. From the confrontation between the six royal clans and the three sects to the secrets of the royal family, the topics flowed like water. The child casually ate while listening, his interest piqued. Bang! A customer at the rear table, his face flushed, slammed his hand on the table mid-conversation. The child jolted in response, his guards ready to retaliate. However, the child¡¯s tiny, fair hand signaled them to halt. ¡°Today, I¡¯m drinking happily. I¡¯ve got a major scoop for you!¡± The man had one foot on the stool and the other on the table. ¡°Tsk, what news could possibly outdo the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s master facing off against two kings alone?¡± countered a blood-stained, armor-clad young man sitting across him, evidently from a military background. The affluent guest cast a cold glance at the military man. ¡°Hmph, a god of death has appeared in the spirit world. He killed all the prodigies of the eight kings and three sects with a single punch!¡± The entire inn gasped. They knew a great deal about the spiritual world, though none had ever ventured there. They were aware that only the era¡¯s geniuses could enter, future rulers of Great You. The military man seemed momentarily taken aback, before scoffing dismissively. ¡°Hmph, I know a bit about this. I even heard that this person is very likely a prince or a prince¡¯s son!¡± Whoosh! The moment these words escaped his lips, the inn burst into a flurry of chatter. The child¡¯s eyes sparkled upon hearing this. He gestured to his two companions and then leaned on the table, who considerately leaned forward as well. ¡°Do you know who this imperial uncle could be?¡± he asked. One of the men responded, ¡°My lord, I only heard of such a person, but all the information is merely hearsay, so I cannot vouch for its authenticity.¡± ¡°We must find these surrounding imperial uncles. My royal brother, I fear the prosperity of my Dark Dragon Room depends on him,¡± the child said hopefully. The two men beside him remained silent. The child, known as Long Ren, was the reigning emperor of Great You. It was a pitiful sight to see a mighty emperor of Great You having to eavesdrop in the inns of the imperial capital to uncover the truth. At the same time, numerous elite scouts swarmed around the various prince residences of Great You. Their mission was to find Qin Huai, who had obtained the invincible Vajra blood in the spirit world. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Qingzhou, above the blood sea, a golden light radiated, piercing the clouds like sunlight, illuminating the demon of the Kun Peng clan. But this sunlight was painfully sharp, instantly slicing through the demons¡¯ lives. Experience orbs fired from all directions, intensifying the surge of Qin Huai¡¯s blood essence. Then, a black dragon pearl materialized in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. This was a trophy from his fight with Tang Pi, including the spirit stone that originally belonged to Tang Pi. ¡°Spare my life! I am willing to serve you as my master!¡± ¡°I beg you, I have elders and children¡­¡± Desperate pleas echoed around Qin Huai. However, he paid no heed to them. He fixed his gaze on Gao He, who was struggling amid the relentless golden rain. Gao He gritted his teeth, yearning to escape, but was immobilized under the golden rain¡¯s pressure. ¡°Don¡¯t think that you¡¯ve won just because you destroyed my Kun Peng clan,¡± Gao He spat out, his face contorted in hatred. ¡°If the ten counties of East Qingzhou weren¡¯t in chaos, what do you think the white-robed king would have done? I¡¯ll be waiting for you in hell!¡± In the next instant, he abandoned all defense, lunging toward Qin Huai in a last-ditch attempt. But mid-leap, he was impaled by dozens of golden rain droplets. Hiss¡­ The invincible Vajra blood not only possessed the strength of a treasured weapon, but it also held corrosive and purifying properties, making it exceedingly lethal to poisonous beings, demons, and other vile, filthy creatures. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 569 - 569 Qin Huais Ultimate Technique 569 Qin Huai¡¯s Ultimate Technique Soon enough, the Kun Peng clan that once filled the sky lay either injured or dead. An entire clan had been annihilated by Qin Huai single-handedly. Gao He¡¯s lifeless body fell weakly from the heavens. With a mere wave of his hand, Qin Huai instantly stripped Gao He of all his possessions. These included a few gold notes and several talismans designed to mask one¡¯s aura. As for artifacts, the demon clan seemed indifferent to them. To these creatures, their own bodies were the ultimate weapons. Even as demons, their physical strength wasn¡¯t as strong as in their primitive forms. And then¡­ Qin Huai picked up a broken mirror. It seemed like an ordinary, ancient mirror with an ordinary reflective surface. Yet, a red line, elusive and agile like a fish in a lake, swam across the mirror. ¡°Eh¡­¡± Qin Huai murmured, looking at his reflection, which appeared blurry in the mirror, while the objects behind it seemed remarkably clear. ¡°Is this a magnifying glass? Or is it¡­ glass?¡± A ridiculous thought crossed Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Suddenly, Gao He¡¯s body hit the sea of blood and was swallowed by the pitiless abyss. A flood of memories surged before Qin Huai. ¡°So this is actually the rebirth mirror. It can reveal the strength of a living being¡¯s fortune, the extent of their lifespan, and even fragments of their recent memories.¡± Mimicking Gao He¡¯s movements from his memories, Qin Huai used the rebirth mirror on the fallen corpse. A black flame and a cultivation memory instantly appeared in Qin Huai¡¯s Life of Restoration. As the body was wholly consumed by the sea of blood, Qin Huai extracted that memory again for comparison. They were identical. ¡°The blood sea only unveils the memories of those devoured by it, but the rebirth mirror can see the past of the living¡­¡± Qin Huai mused, intrigued by the mirror¡¯s power. He also found himself puzzled about how an artifact like the rebirth mirror could be created. As he examined Gao He¡¯s memories, Qin Huai uncovered some secrets. When Gao He was wreaking havoc in Qingzhou City, he encountered Tang Pi, who came to subdue him. Recognizing his good fortune, they immediately surrendered and pledged their allegiance. Gao He proved himself to be hardworking and diligent, eventually becoming Tang Pi¡¯s trusted aide. However, upon noticing Tang Pi¡¯s waning luck, Gao He secretly allied himself with the white-robed king. During this trip, Gao He intended to disclose Tang Pi¡¯s recent movements and plans. Unfortunately for him, Qin Huai intervened, leading to his demise. Through the rebirth mirror, Qin Huai observed Tang Pi enveloped in enormous white flames, which enabled him to rule Qingzhou for decades. But when he looked at the white-robed king, the white flames were bigger and brighter. ¡°Tang Pi¡¯s luck is on par with the prefecture overseer of Qingzhou, but the white-robed king¡¯s luck is many times stronger. Why?¡± Qin Huai pondered. Was he fated to lose this battle? A moment of uncertainty gripped him, but he pushed it aside. There was no room for surrender now. If the white-robed king learned that Qin Huai had killed Wang Kun and even refined the blood sea, his dream of the king realm puppet would be utterly destroyed. He would undoubtedly pursue Qin Huai to the ends of the earth. Qin Huai dove into the sea of blood to recuperate and acclimatize to his enhanced strength. From Gao He and Tang Pi¡¯s memories, he gleaned that Qingzhou City had been experiencing turmoil. Kong Binghuang and his followers were causing constant disturbances in the city, unsettling traitors and causing them to neglect the ten counties of East Green. Following several blunders by the Thousand Divination Tower, the white-robed king, in a fit of rage, slaughtered the entire organization. The dying cultivators of the Thousand Divination Tower took many core members of the Sacred Heart Sect with them. Then, the white-robed king¡¯s subordinates and even the king himself began to chase after the people of Wuji Mountain. In his memory, Qin Huai had observed the white-robed king¡¯s attacks from a distance a few times. The terrifying momentum had already far exceeded the visceral prefecture realm¡¯s capacity. Towards Lingkou Pass, the white-robed king¡¯s subordinates had also clashed several times with the Qingzhou Alliance. After a considerable time, Qin Huai opened his eyes and sighed involuntarily, ¡°The white-robed king is too strong¡­¡± He knew he had to push himself. ¡°I must push my killing power to the limit.¡± Relying solely on the flame longevity technique would not be sufficient. ¡°If I aim to kill a king realm expert, I might have to sacrifice more than half of my lifespan,¡± he reflected. Furthermore, it might not even hit the white-robed king. The risk was too high. A method with sufficient killing power and extensive range was needed. Racking his brains, Qin Huai suddenly became still. He glanced at the warm fluid enveloping him and contemplated, ¡°The blood sea is already my spirit treasure. Can I use my organs to transform it into invincible Vajra blood?¡± He aspired to combine Vajra Rain and Heaven¡¯s Wrath, replacing them with the Vajra Pillar. His plan was to crash the entire sea of blood down. Without any hesitation, Qin Huai began his attempt. Activating the blood heart technique, he started to slowly absorb a part of the blood sea into his heart. Even though he could fully absorb the sea of blood, the premature start of the final battle due to the white-robed king¡¯s discovery deterred him from doing so. A significant amount of blood was consumed by Qin Huai¡¯s heart. Under his guidance, countless invincible Vajra blood merged with the sea of blood. Immediately, Qin Huai triggered the divine power book of a thousand creations and began forging, attempting to unify the two powers. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of hammering echoed within Qin Huai¡¯s body. Watching as the invincible Vajra blood gradually disappeared into the sea of blood, the golden hue turned into red. Undeterred, Qin Huai frantically activated the blood heart technique, constantly producing new blood. Fifteen minutes, two hours¡­ A day passed. With weary eyes, Qin Huai slowly opened them. For a whole day and night, he had been repeating the steps of blood production, forging, and compatibility. Despite his efforts, the color of the blood sea remained a deep red. And this was only an insignificant portion of the blood sea. ¡°I was too naive.¡± A bitter laugh escaped Qin Huai. He had overestimated his ability to replace the blood sea, formed from the blood and qi of millions of beings, with his invincible Vajra blood. Feeling defeated, he could only return the blood in his heart to the sea of blood. Then, in the following instant, Qin Huai¡¯s face broke into a smile. ¡°No! There¡¯s a chance!¡± He suddenly realized his control over the blood sea seemed to have become more refined. A sudden thought struck him. The sea of blood that he had released, along with ten times the amount of surrounding blood, was instantly gathered by Qin Huai. He compressed the energy of the blood sea with a single thought. Within a thousand meters, the sea of blood was compressed into a ten-meter-long spear. The tremendous energy caused the blood sea to solidify entirely. Something like this would have been impossible for Qin Huai in the past. Now, looking at the spear before him, with withering, decay, collapse, purification, Sanskrit, power swirling within¡­ It resembled a world-destroying spear. ¡°Yes, this is it.¡± Hope reignited in Qin Huai¡¯s heart. He calculated that he would need only a month. He let the entire sea of blood spread freely. Then, he sat down cross-legged again and swallowed another piece of the blood sea into his heart. The hammering sound of the divine power book of a thousand creations echoed again in the peaceful blood sea. Qin Huai began to repeat the process, injecting new blood sea energy into the sea of blood with increasing enthusiasm. As time passed, the entire sea of blood shifted form and shape at Qin Huai¡¯s whim. ¡­ Half a month later, at the ruins of the Thousand Divination Tower, the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion was still intact. The white-robed king was seated peacefully by the side of the pavilion, his eyes closed as if he was resting. ¡°My lord, there is no news from the ten counties of East Qingzhou and Lingkou Pass.¡± A man quietly appeared behind the white-robed king. ¡°It seems Wang Kun has made a move,¡± the white-robed king replied, not showing any sign of surprise. He sighed, ¡°In the end, I still have to forcefully inject it into Wang Kun and turn him into an emotionless puppet.¡± A red pearl in the white-robed king¡¯s hand started to emit light. At the same time, the vast sea of blood in the sky began to surge. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 570 - 570 Spear of Annihilation 570 Spear of Annihilation Above the blood sea, Qin Huai abruptly emerged from his cultivation and opened his eyes. The dense killing intent, having condensed into a substance, shot out for a hundred meters. It made the sky crack and the clouds scatter, all due to the recoil of the killing intent. In a blink, this frightening killing intent had dissipated like smoke. ¡°Long exposure to the blood sea has affected the vengeful spirits,¡± Qin Huai mused to himself, his body radiating astonishing killing intent. An ordinary bone pattern realm martial artist would struggle to approach him, as their patterned bone¡¯s power would be choked by Qin Huai¡¯s murderous aura. His eyes swept across the sea of blood beneath his feet. The once tranquil sea instantly raged. Wild waves leaped up, morphing into thousands of blood-red beasts that seemed to be sprinting through a wilderness. The crashing blood exploded into dazzling blooms. With a shift of Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts, the vast sea of blood had already transformed into dozens of different forms. All the plants and animals moved freely in Qin Huai¡¯s mind. ¡°After half a month, I¡¯ve finally fused the blood sea and the invincible Vajra blood,¡± he said, clenching his fists in the air. In the next instant, an endless sea of blood surged and assembled before Qin Huai. The blood-red ocean, vast enough to blanket the entire city of Qingzhou, continued to condense and solidify. The awe-inspiring killing intent seemed to solidify, rising from the ground like a towering structure. The boundless blood slowly solidified, transitioning from blood-red to dark red, and then to nearly black. Like a river flowing into a reservoir, the spear that was initially as thick as an arm swallowed the sea of blood like a bottomless abyss. Then, as time passed, the spear reached its limit and began to expand and grow¡­ Qin Huai could hear the cries of countless vengeful spirits, and the thick aura of death seemed to originate from the underworld. It was enough to make anyone shudder. His body was even covered in a layer of frost. Unfazed, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes were fixed on the ever-expanding Spear of Annihilation. Three meters, seven meters, nineteen meters, a hundred meters¡­ He glanced at the sea of blood beneath his feet. As the Spear of Annihilation in his hand continued to grow, the blood sea became more and more transparent. The spear had already absorbed seventy percent of the blood sea. The long spear pierced the sky, standing nearly a thousand meters tall and hundreds of meters wide. Like a pillar that held up the heavens, it towered before Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. Qin Huai immediately stopped. He could vaguely see the scene beneath the sea of blood. If he continued to condense it, he would probably attract the white-robed king¡¯s attention. Buzz¡­ Waves that Qin Huai couldn¡¯t control suddenly appeared on the surface of the sea of blood. His thoughts stirred slightly, and he smoothed out the ripples. ¡°Could it be due to controlling too many blood seas?¡± Qin Huai questioned, his tone serious. For a quarter of an hour, he maintained the form of the Spear of Annihilation. Small waves occasionally arose, but Qin Huai easily subdued them. Gradually, the blood sea ceased its fluctuations. ¡°Sure enough, familiarity first is key,¡± Qin Huai mused, relaxing only then. This experience with such minor waves was enlightening. Should he prematurely engage in battle with the white-robed king prior to reaching the king realm, the slightest mistake could spell his doom. ¡°It will take about twenty minutes to fully condense the blood sea into the Spear of Annihilation,¡± he estimated. Having never fought against a king realm expert before, he dared not make premature conclusions. All he could do was give his all. So far, the fluctuations emitted from the spear far exceeded Qin Huai¡¯s initial expectations. His intention was to kill, or at the very least, heavily wound the white-robed king. With the wide reach of the Spear of Annihilation, a hit was almost guaranteed once it was formed. Now, Qin Huai¡¯s only concern was how to secure those twenty crucial minutes should the situation escalate. After all, he couldn¡¯t just attack the white-robed king with this move as it would undeniably attract attention. It would have to serve as a contingency plan. ¡°What a headache,¡± Qin Huai sighed, rubbing his forehead. He had inherited Gao He¡¯s memory fragments and had witnessed the entire destruction of the Thousand Divination Tower. More than ten visceral prefecture realm experts were in the tower, including Tower Lord Yue Yang at its peak, who was comparable to Tang Pi. However, they couldn¡¯t withstand the white-robed king¡¯s attacks, and he seemed to have an easy time handling it, making it impossible for Qin Huai to devise a stalling strategy. Relaxing, the massive Spear of Annihilation instantly collapsed, triggering a spectacle as if a dam had burst. Countless blood droplets fell from the sky, the vast momentum creating a thunderous roar in the clouds. ¡­ Meanwhile, the white-robed king, listening to the booming sounds echoing from the sky, revealed a satisfied look. ¡°The scarlet blood bead gifted by the master is indeed extraordinarily powerful,¡± he murmured. ¡°Even if Wang Kun was formed from the blood sea, the core wouldn¡¯t be as useful as the scarlet blood pearl.¡± He gazed at the sea of blood overhead, marveling at the power of the scarlet blood pearl. Yet, the potency was alarmingly intense. ¡°Master is indeed remarkable,¡± he finally conceded, attributing it to the mysterious lord. ¡­ At Spirit Gate, Gou Jie stood on the city tower, observing the bustling crowd below. Ragged commoners from afar had journeyed with their families across the Lingkou Pass into the ten counties of East Qingzhou. Sincere smiles adorned their faces as if they had reached a sacred land. Their frosty expressions seemed to have thawed, and their footsteps became light. Upon asking directions from the city guards, they quickly proceeded towards their desired destinations. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 571 - 571 Long Dragon of Fate, Mysterious Golden Body 571 Long Dragon of Fate, Mysterious Golden Body Gou Jie stood silently, a letter held tightly in his grasp as he ascended the frost-laden hill. He journeyed to the hill¡¯s peak, permitting the biting chill to lash against him. From his elevated position, he looked out over Qingzhou City. The inner city walls were visible from here, and behind the city¡¯s tallest tower lay the Thousand Divination Tower. However, he could no longer see it. He unfolded the letter, skimming over the few lines it contained. ¡°We calculated that ending a few hundred years ago.¡± ¡°But we are still calculating.¡± ¡°The reason is simple.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°What a coincidence. You don¡¯t believe me either.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, we didn¡¯t seem to succeed. Then you can do the rest.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try. Maybe it will work.¡± The message was brief and unadorned, like a mundane letter from home, trivial in its tone. Gou Jie noted the signatures ¡ª his master, Yue Yang, and his father, Gou Xinyue. ¡°These old fellows are all so self-righteous and stubborn,¡± he scoffed, disdain coating his words. Carefully, he tucked the letter away. The frigid wind howled as a figure silently landed beside Gou Jie. ¡°Alliance Master!¡± he bowed, respectfully acknowledging Qin Huai. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°I can¡¯t accept Alliance Master¡¯s words,¡± Gou Jie responded, a nonchalant smile on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve seen everything Alliance Master has done during this period. You¡¯ve given your all.¡± ¡°Can you contact Fang Huo and the others?¡± Qin Huai inquired further. ¡°Yes. Before they left, I gave each of them a blood talisman seal,¡± Gou Jie confirmed, pulling out a yellow paper from his robe. ¡°As long as you write words on this blood talisman seal, their talismans will reflect the same.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a treasure.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Have them return.¡± Gou Jie paused. Was this leading to a decisive battle? ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t hide the matter of the blood sea any longer. Regardless of how confident the white-robed king is, the Kun Peng clan has been annihilated. In less than one or two months, he¡¯ll arrive at the ten counties to force me out,¡± Qin Huai explained, summarizing the recent happenings in the blood sea. Gou Jie frowned at the revelation that Qin Huai had wiped out the Kun Peng clan, especially given Qin Huai¡¯s casual demeanor. He felt that this alliance master was even more devilish. ¡°It has been two years since they left¡­ It¡¯s time for them to return,¡± he sighed, calculating the time. ¡°Alliance Master, will you be visiting Lingjiang?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. Tell me about the recent situation in the ten counties. After that, I¡¯ll enter the spirit world again,¡± Qin Huai said, his determination bolstered by the invincible Vajra blood. He believed the spirit world was the best place to enhance his strength quickly. ¡°The ten counties are now the true heart of Qingzhou. I suspect half of Qingzhou¡¯s population has already congregated here. People are abundant, and so is the spiritual energy,¡± Gou Jie reported. ¡°In the past two years, countless young talents have emerged in the ten counties, particularly in Lingjiang, which are full of bone pattern realm experts. It already possesses the ambiance of Qingzhou City from days past.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Qin Huai felt somewhat relieved at Gou Jie¡¯s account. He gazed towards the ten counties of East Qingzhou, the river of stars shining brightly as if connecting to the world¡¯s end. Suddenly, he contemplated using his rebirth mirror to observe the ten counties. As soon as he placed the rebirth mirror before him, the scene shifted. An enormous dragon, spanning ten thousand miles, hovered in the sky above the ten counties. The colossal dragon swam in the void sea, its body shedding ¡®raindrops¡¯ that revitalized the lands they fell upon. ¡°Is this¡­¡± Qin Huai was momentarily taken aback. ¡°Is this the dragon of luck the ancients mentioned?¡± The sight was truly shocking. As Qin Huai observed the long dragon extending over ten thousand miles, he came to understand why so many skilled practitioners were springing up like bamboo shoots after rain in the ten counties n. The gathering of fate caused the spiritual energy to flourish, naturally leading to an endless emergence of experts. ¡°It¡¯s rewarding to be virtuous, indeed,¡± Qin Huai murmured, about to put down the rebirth mirror. However, something caught his eye, making him pick the mirror back up. He scrutinized the area of Lingjiang. Was that a glint of golden light? It seemed even the dragon of fate was avoiding this golden radiance. Intrigued, Qin Huai made his way across the mountain, drawn closer by the mystery of the golden light. Eventually, upon reaching the other end of the mountain, he was finally able to discern the form hidden within the golden gleam. It was a humanoid figure, seated cross-legged. Or rather, it seemed to be some sort of fortunate essence, invisible to the naked eye. Who might it represent in Lingjiang? The Emperor of Qingzhou? The founder of the Nine Dragons Sect? Or some sage from Lingjiang? Countless questions flooded Qin Huai¡¯s mind. ¡°What did you find, Alliance Master?¡± Gou Jie called out, catching up to him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Qin Huai replied, waving off Gou Jie. He decided not to share what he¡¯d discovered ¡ª the mysterious golden figure and the dragon of fate ¡ª just yet. There was no time to probe the mystery of the golden figure right now, given how much time they¡¯d spent on the journey. Besides, uncovering the secrets of this figure would likely take additional time, which was a luxury they didn¡¯t have. Shortly thereafter, Qin Huai accompanied Gou Jie to a secluded chamber. He handed over the spirit stones he¡¯d taken from Tang Pi, instructing Gou Jie to find a way to deliver them to Kong Binghuang. With that settled, Qin Huai began his meditation. Holding the spirit stone in his hand, he focused his mind. Ever since discovering that the white-robed king could ascend the blood sea, Qin Huai had abandoned that area as a training ground. It was no longer safe. Instead, this secluded forest, unknown to others, was a far better choice. His mind began to drift, the familiar sensation of his physical body and soul separating reappearing. Moments later, Qin Huai found himself amidst a mountain strewn with corpses. Giant bones towered hundreds of meters tall, densely packed bone patterns glowing faintly as if on the brink of springing to life. ¡°A newcomer?¡± A voice resounded beside him. Qin Huai turned but saw no one. He frowned slightly. ¡°Down here!¡± The voice piped up, sounding displeased. Looking down, Qin Huai found a little girl standing there, barely reaching his thigh. ¡°This is¡­ the spirit bone level?¡± Qin Huai asked, keeping his tone humble. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? If you¡¯re just here to admire the view, you can leave,¡± the girl retorted, her voice carrying an elderly authority. ¡°The people from the spirit blood level can only rely on brute force,¡± the little girl added, pausing as if a thought had struck her. ¡°Well, ahem, except for that Uncle Dragon Emperor. That guy¡¯s an oddball, so he doesn¡¯t count,¡± she dismissed with a wave of her hand. ¡°In the spirit bone level, the important figures can already use the power of patterned bones and their own auras. The king¡¯s force and a top-notch cultivation technique truly stand out here! ¡°Also, the spirit bone level and the spirit palace level are domains where only the top force experts get to rule because they have huge resources backing them up. A random person from here can easily defeat two or three of you at the same realm!¡± Listening to her, Qin Huai nodded from time to time, his confidence unshaken. ¡°Then, who is this ¡®Uncle Dragon Emperor¡¯ you mentioned earlier?¡± ¡°Uncle Dragon Emperor,¡± the girl began with a solemn expression, ¡°is a monster capable of crushing six clans and three sects single-handedly. He is the hope of the Great You royal family. Many with noble aspirations are searching for him, intending to support the Long family in regaining power.¡± She continued, ¡°That person was capable of destroying six clans and three sects in the spirit blood level with a single punch!¡± Qin Huai¡¯s pupils contracted in surprise. The world was indeed vast. He had thought his physical strength was unparalleled, but now it seemed he had a formidable contender to contend with. Uncle Dragon Emperor¡­ Could he possibly be a certain prince? If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 572 - 572 Vibrating the Blade! 572 Vibrating the Blade! ¡°By the way, are you from Qingzhou?¡± the little girl asked, placing her hands behind her back and sizing Qin Huai up with a sidelong glance. Her demeanor mirrored that of the pompous elders and seniors Qin Huai had encountered before, a characteristic he didn¡¯t particularly admire. That was why he was taken aback, both by the girl¡¯s question and her demeaning behavior. He had made a point to obscure his origins, applying layers of heaven secrets fog to his face using the thousand divination blood technique. This method blurred his features, making his true appearance nearly unrecognizable to the naked eye. Qin Huai was confident in this protective measure, especially here in the spirit bone level where he wasn¡¯t as skilled in the thousand divination blood technique. ¡°You smell like a bird. If you¡¯re not from Qingzhou, where else could you be?¡± she said, her lips pursed in disdain. Bird smell? Qin Huai was confused until a realization dawned on him. He recalled the Dao Child, Zhang Youji, mentioning that he carried the scent of a dragon and a Kun Peng. He had figured that after bathing in the invincible Vajra blood and layering the thousand divination blood technique fog, his scent would have been masked. He wondered if the girl was detecting the scent from the two spirit items he possessed ¡ª a dragon skeleton and a pure-blooded Kun Peng. As the thoughts whirled around his head, he came to the conclusion that the truth was probably something along these lines. ¡°Your intuition is remarkable! Indeed, I am a disciple of the Kun Peng clan,¡± Qin Huai said, maintaining his humility. Considering that the girl was here in the spirit bone level, she must be at least at the visceral prefecture realm. She could either be a prodigious eight-year-old expert or an old master capable of appearing youthful. Regardless, she was clearly no simple character. ¡°Impressive that you¡¯ve reached this stage,¡± the girl conceded, a sigh slipping past her lips. ¡°I haven¡¯t encountered anyone from Qingzhou for a long time, let alone a young face. There used to be an abundance of spirit stones there, but they were all excavated by the Emperor of Qingzhou to construct a large array.¡± ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± Qin Huai asked. ¡°Me?¡± She replied, ¡°I¡¯m the head of the ascetic monks of the Buddhist Sect, the eldest disciple of the imperial capital branch of the sect, the second Dao Child of the True Path Sect, and the guest elder of the six clans¡­ Zhang Youji!¡± Qin Huai managed to keep a straight face. ¡°Greetings, Dao Child Zhang!¡± Internally, however, he suspected that the girl bore a grudge against Zhang Youji. Otherwise, why would she brazenly use his name? Whoosh! Suddenly, a sharp, cold light slashed down from several directions. The intense killing intent, like mercury spilling over the ground, loomed ominously over them. It was only then that Qin Huai realized his ¡®starting point¡¯ was in the midst of a turbulent battlefield. ¡°Kid, take care of yourself!¡± The little girl¡¯s voice echoed in his ears just before she was propelled by the force of the sword, moving with the speed of a shooting star. ¡°How dare you bully me?!¡± she roared, her anger reverberating through the battlefield. She quickly returned, her feet stomping on the ground to propel her body back toward her opponent. She attacked with her head first, a peculiar strategy that left spectators stunned. Bang! In an explosive clash, the sword¡¯s light directly hit the little girl¡¯s head, sending her bouncing back like a ball. Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but twitch his lips. The girl¡¯s style of combat was peculiar, childlike in its spontaneity and whimsy. Without warning, bone patterns across his body began to illuminate. His bones started to tremble violently, even causing the ground beneath them to rumble incessantly. The earth upheaved in layers, while the sword trembled at such a fast rate it was almost undetectable to the naked eye. With a display of the sword vibration technique, Qin Huai calmly extended two fingers. The blade halted just inches away from his eyes. The near miss made him tremble slightly, feeling as if he was momentarily losing control. ¡°Not bad.¡± He acknowledged the prowess of his opponent. As expected of a top expert from the sixteen states. He was indeed extraordinary. The opponent¡¯s eyes widened as he watched Qin Huai effortlessly hold his blade between his fingers. He attempted to pull out his blade but to no avail. Qin Huai¡¯s grip was like iron pliers, firmly clenching the weapon. With a swift backhand punch, Qin Huai retaliated. The opponent hastily raised his hand to block, simultaneously launching a kick at Qin Huai. His hand trembled violently, stirring the air and obscuring Qin Huai¡¯s vision. The next moment, the man¡¯s arm was shattered, and his kick fell short, sending him flying just like the girl. ¡°He only broke his hand?¡± Qin Huai mused, swiftly catching up with the flying figure and grabbing his right leg. With a fierce swing, he sent his opponent crashing to the ground. Bang! As the man disintegrated, the spiritual energy that filled the sky began to surge into Qin Huai¡¯s body. Unlike previous experiences, the spiritual energy was channeled into his bones through his bloodstream, radiating an indescribable sense of comfort. ¡°Deal with that person first!¡± came the cry from a group not too far away. They had been engrossed in their own fierce battle, but witnessing Qin Huai¡¯s near-instantaneous kill made them reconsider their strategies. Now, they encircled Qin Huai, launching an attack from three different directions. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 573 - 573 Spirit Bone Level Guide 573 Spirit Bone Level Guide The killing intent of the three people was focused on Qin Huai¡¯s weak points, leaving him unable to guard his blind spots simultaneously. ¡°There are no weaklings in the spirit world,¡± Qin Huai stated as he flexed his muscles. Ignoring the threat, he moved directly toward his enemies. Bang! Suddenly, he vanished, reappearing with his fist colliding into one person¡¯s face. The man¡¯s face caved in and his head exploded into a cloud of spiritual energy that surged into Qin Huai¡¯s body. Qin Huai then lifted his knee and smashed it straight into the ground, causing the earth to cave in and splatters of blood to paint the ground. The chilling sound of bones cracking echoed across the battlefield. Behind Qin Huai, another person lunged forward, thrusting his sword at Qin Huai¡¯s waist. Sparks flew as the blade clashed against Qin Huai¡¯s body. Despite the opponent¡¯s strength, the blade left no mark on Qin Huai¡¯s skin. Instead, a faint golden glow emanated from beneath his skin. The man could only watch as Qin Huai threw a punch that ended his time in the spirit world. In a matter of moments, Qin Huai had eliminated a third of the combatants on the chaotic battlefield. Among the remaining warriors, some were engaged in fights, while others were drawn toward the little girl. Qin Huai¡¯s attention was also pulled toward the girl. Despite being outnumbered, the little girl remained unscathed. Every attack on her seemed to hit an invisible armor. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t powerful, but the little girl¡¯s moves were too immature. It would be easy for those people to overpower her. ¡°How strange.¡± Qin Huai frowned slightly. It was impossible to bring in ordinary armor and artifacts here. What did this little girl rely on? Suddenly, the girl called out to Qin Huai, ¡°Birdman, come and help!¡± The battlefield¡¯s attention shifted to Qin Huai. ¡°We met by chance. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not appropriate to risk our lives for each other,¡± Qin Huai responded indifferently. ¡°If you help me, I¡¯ll show you ten treasure troves!¡± the girl exclaimed. Qin Huai, who was about to intervene, smirked. The girl may have looked innocent, but she had a knack for making grand promises. Nonetheless, he leaped into action. As he dashed into the center of the battlefield, one of the remaining men turned and lunged at him. Qin Huai dodged with ease, letting the sparks from the clashing weapon explode on his face. Unfazed, he ended the man¡¯s life with a single punch, then repeated the action with two other opponents. Witnessing this, the remaining fighters retreated. However, one of them took a step forward, possibly to save face. ¡°Kid, among those you killed were people from the six clans and three sects. Their elders will come to avenge them,¡± he shouted. ¡°You will be hunted the moment you set foot in the spirit world. From now on, you will have no place in here!¡± In response, Qin Huai picked up a pebble from the ground and tossed it. Like a sharp arrow leaving a bow, the stone shattered air barriers, instantly piercing through the head of the man who had been speaking. ¡°So much talk,¡± Qin Huai remarked, clapping his hands together to rid them of dust. The one who had previously brandished his sword seemed to be one of the few strong warriors in this group. The rest couldn¡¯t withstand even a single punch of his. ¡°You¡­ You can kill one with one punch?¡± The girl at his side was struck dumb. ¡°Incredible,¡± she mused after a moment. ¡°Considering you¡¯re from Qingzhou, a place so poor in resources it¡¯s almost disappeared from the spirit world. For someone like you to suddenly appear, you must be extraordinarily talented.¡± Then she seemed to remember something. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for me to fulfill your promise,¡± she announced, grinning up at Qin Huai. Qin Huai returned her smile, remembering how useful having a guide had been in the spirit blood level. ¡°What¡¯s your proposition?¡± he asked. The little girl chuckled, scratching her head. ¡°Unfortunately, most of the worthy opportunities in the spirit bone level are still far off. You might find some great opportunities in the wild, but that depends on luck. However, I still have a method!¡± She glanced at Qin Huai¡¯s clenched fist, quickly continuing, ¡°Since you¡¯re so strong, I have a method that¡¯s specially tailored for you. I can help you quickly fuse your soul with your bone patterns.¡± Qin Huai kept his smile, nodding for her to continue. ¡°The six clans and three sects, in order to avoid chaotic battlefields or simply to avoid appearing in enemy camps, have particular locations to enter the spirit world. I know where these locations are! They rotate guards. We just need to kill them and wait for the others to be killed one by one. This way, your cultivation speed will be amazing!¡± The girl¡¯s excitement about her own plan was infectious, and the joy on her face made Qin Huai suspect she held a grudge against the three sects and six clans. ¡°How about it? Are you confident in your strength?¡± she squinted her eyes, attempting to challenge him. ¡°Those people from the six clans and three sects have some peak experts who have cultivated the king¡¯s force. You¡¯re still¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Qin Huai cut her off. ¡°Do I have to repeat myself?¡± He kept his face expressionless. Time was of the essence to him, and if he couldn¡¯t grab a big opportunity, the little girl¡¯s method was indeed the most efficient one. Throughout their journey, the little girl continued to express her disbelief. ¡°You really aren¡¯t afraid of anything. I¡¯ve already thought of a strategy. You¡¯ll be the one fighting while I act as a shield. We¡¯ll catch them off guard¡­ We¡¯ll definitely have the advantage!¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as you say,¡± Qin Huai didn¡¯t reject the proposition. He was confident in his own abilities but also wanted to test the limits of the little girl¡¯s resilience. Their first target was the Northern Qiong clan of the Barren State. After a day and night of racing through the spirit bone level, they finally saw the destination the little girl had mentioned. An incredibly ugly, towering figure, akin to some of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s demons, stood beside a massive tree. The moment the two of them stepped into its range, the monster locked its eyes on them. It charged towards the pair, a sinister smile on its face, and shouted, ¡°Where did this rat come from? Since you¡¯re here, play with me!¡± But the little girl was faster. With a powerful thrust from Qin Huai, she tore through the sky, distorting the air around her. ¡°Invincible! Super! Windflame Wheels!¡± she shouted. She was whispering more to herself than anything, but as she spoke, actual flames appeared around her. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 574 - 574 A Formidable Pair 574 A Formidable Pair Qiong Sicheng watched in disbelief as the tiny figure charged at him, flames swirling around her in mid-air. She looked like a firework rather than a weapon, her energy colorful and lacking any apparent killing intent. He thought she seemed more like an innocent child than a warrior. ¡°No, this is the spirit bone level. There are no innocent children here!¡± he chided himself, shaking his head violently. He reached out to grasp the little girl, but as he made contact, a tremendous force jolted his arm, making him tremble. Qiong Sicheng¡¯s pupils constricted as he struggled to maintain his grip, intending to crush the small intruder. But a strange light enveloped the girl, making her immovable regardless of how much strength he exerted. A faint aura seemed to radiate from within her, disrupting his actions. Suddenly, a pair of indifferent eyes met his. Before he could react, an arm came swinging down towards him. He recognized Qin Huai, the man who had just delivered a punch to his head. Qiong Sicheng retaliated by launching two balls of green and white light from under his arms. ¡°Spirit-gathering ball!¡± he yelled triumphantly, a sinister smile playing on his lips. ¡°Kid, you¡¯ve fallen for it!¡± He had already experienced Qin Huai¡¯s physical strength, so he knew better than to engage him in a contest of power. Boom! With a resounding explosion, the spirit-gathering balls burst, sending sharp wind blades flying in all directions. The blades slashed through countless trees and plants, transforming the immediate surroundings into chaos. A golden scar briefly flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s arm, followed by a single drop of blood. That was the extent of his injury. Despite the blast, his fist only paused momentarily before smashing into Qiong Sicheng¡¯s arm. The bone-cracking sound echoed ominously, and in the next moment, he exploded into a cloud of blood mist. Qin Huai advanced, his footstep causing the ground to shatter. Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward as dust and debris flew. Without missing a beat, he threw another punch, causing an explosion in the air that rustled the leaves in the surrounding forest. Qiong Sicheng, having been thrown dozens of meters away, landed heavily. He held the little girl tightly, sweat dripping down his forehead. ¡°That was too close!¡± he thought. A split-second slower, and he would¡¯ve been dead. ¡°Kid, which family are you from?¡± Qiong Sicheng demanded, clutching the little girl tighter, his eyes never leaving Qin Huai. ¡°Do you know that invading the spirit world is tantamount to declaring war on my Qiong family? If you leave now, I can pretend that this never happened. How about it?¡± But his words fell on deaf ears. Qin Huai ignored him and charged again. ¡°The consequences of your actions are beyond what you can handle, kid!¡± Qiong Sicheng warned Qin Huai, who showed no signs of slowing his advance. Holding the little girl in front of him, he threatened, ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, your companion will die!¡± A ball of green-white spiritual energy formed before his chest, aimed at the girl¡¯s throat. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on me! Do you think a mere spirit-gathering ball of the Qiong Qi clan can claim my life?!¡± the girl retorted, her voice cold despite her head being firmly grasped in Qiong Sicheng¡¯s hand. Her defiance remained unbroken. ¡°As you wish. If you are set on your path to demise, I won¡¯t be courteous,¡± Qiong Sicheng stated, his forehead veins bulging. He hurled the spirit-gathering ball directly at the girl¡¯s face. Boom! With a thunderous sound, the force erupted, enveloping her head. Green smoke wafted from Qiong Sicheng¡¯s hand, but his face lacked any hint of triumph. His left hand was still solid, proving the girl was right: his spirit-gathering ball had no effect on her! Qiong Sicheng¡¯s pupils constricted as he saw Qin Huai suddenly appear before him. He remembered the unstoppable momentum and the shocking strength. Instead of resisting, he fixed his gaze on Qin Huai¡¯s face, intending to etch it into his memory. ¡°You won¡¯t find a place to hide in the spirit world anymore. Your reign will end now!¡± Bang! A heavy punch landed on Qiong Sicheng¡¯s abdomen, causing his upper body to slump powerlessly. Even the towering figure of Qiong Sicheng now appeared shorter than Qin Huai. ¡°Savor your last moments in the spirit world!¡± Qiong Sicheng sneered, finding solace in the fact that this was not true death. He would soon return. Bang! But before he could savor the thought, Qin Huai¡¯s second punch landed without hesitation, sending Qiong Sicheng out of the spirit world. Blood trickled from Qin Huai¡¯s hands. The sensory experiences in the spirit world perfectly mirrored the real world, even the smell of blood. ¡°We sure make a formidable pair,¡± the little girl remarked, her hands on her hips and her face radiating pride. ¡°We¡¯ve successfully won the first battle against the Qiong Qi clan!¡± ¡°How large is their entrance¡¯s range?¡± Qin Huai asked, surveying the terrain. Amidst the dense forest, only this spot hosted a flat grassland approximately a hundred meters wide. ¡°Should be within a hundred meters,¡± the girl replied. ¡°This suggests that the six clans and three sects have attained terrifying proficiency in array formations,¡± Qin Huai mused. The extent was similar to his expectations. ¡°They¡¯re quite advanced, yes. Over the years, the experts of the eight royal clans have focused on reaching the pure-blood realm, neglecting their array skills. Only the Long family, even the current imperial family, has deep expertise in array formations. Most of the locating formations of the six clans and three Sects involve the participation of the princes of the imperial family,¡± the girl responded knowledgeably. She knew these secrets like the back of her hand. ¡°You certainly know a lot,¡± Qin Huai remarked, impressed by her understanding of the world they were navigating. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 575 - 575 The Three Heroes! 575 The Three Heroes! ¡°You certainly are an impressive one,¡± Qin Huai acknowledged, skirting around the topic. The little girl beamed as she expanded her list of titles, ¡°Not only am I the leader of the ascetic monks from the Buddhist Sect, I¡¯m also the eldest disciple of the imperial capital branch of the Confucian Sect, the second Dao Child of the Dao Sect, and a guest elder to the six clans¡­¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the northern region of Barren State at the Qiong family estate, Qiong Sicheng coughed up blood within a secret chamber. ¡°Aaaaah!!!¡± With a furious roar, he leaped from the bed and smashed into the ceiling. His outburst startled the young members waiting outside, instantly silencing their playful chatter. ¡°My lord, may I ask what angers you?¡± The servants trembled as they kneeled before him. With a brutal swing of his hand, Qiong Sicheng smashed the questioning servant into oblivion. The others fell prostrate, pleading for their lives in terror. Unmoved by their pleas, Qiong Sicheng grabbed another woman, sinking his bloodstained teeth into her, slowly savoring the woman as his vitality gradually returned. ¡°Ah! Damn bastard!¡± This gruesome scene was nothing new for the Qiong family¡¯s younger generation. The servants, or more aptly, living sustenance, were carefully chosen by them for their exceptional aptitude and souls. They provided aid during ordinary times but turned into the best tonic when the clansmen hit a cultivation bottleneck or needed recovery. ¡°What happened in the spirit world, Elder? If you share, perhaps we can help,¡± a few younger members of the Qiong Family offered respectfully. Qiong Sicheng, their elder, had lived for centuries and wielded unfathomable strength. He was the backbone of the Qiong Qi clan. ¡°Has the sect master arrived?¡± Qiong Sicheng asked. ¡°The sect master and the elders are present. Given the ongoing war, they hold meetings every two or three days in the temple,¡± a quick-witted young member informed, leading the way for Qiong Sicheng. The two of them rushed to the temple. Upon entering, Qiong Sicheng announced, ¡°Disciple Qiong Sicheng greets the sect master!¡± His sudden entry interrupted the ongoing discussion. The temple, the heart of the Qiong Qi clan, was massive with a twenty-meter tall gate. Though every clansman stood at least five to six meters tall, they seemed reasonably sized in the vast structure. ¡°Sicheng? What brings you here?¡± The sect master, towering even while seated, asked. He and the other people in the temple were the decision-makers of the Qiong Qi clan, representing the top-tier combat power. All present were visceral prefecture realm experts, including the Third Young Master Qiong, whom Qin Huai had previously killed. ¡°Two intruders breached our encampment in the spirit world,¡± Qiong Sicheng growled, twisting the truth to a surprise attack to preserve his dignity. His statement immediately caused a stir among the group, who rose and opened their blood-filled mouths, filling the temple with the strong smell of blood. ¡°Intrusion into our spirit world equates to declaring war on the Qiong Qi clan! Are these intruders from the Buddhist Sect? Daoist Sect? Or the Confucian Sect?¡± an elder inquired. ¡°None of them¡­ One had the aura of the Kun Peng clan,¡± Qiong Sicheng revealed. He then called for a brush and ink to sketch the images of Qin Huai and the little girl as seen in the spirit world. ¡°The Kun Peng clan,¡± the Qiong Qi Sect Master murmured, deep in thought. In the temple, mocking laughter echoed. ¡°The Kun Peng clan, I haven¡¯t heard that name in ages,¡± someone scoffed. ¡°I assumed they had been wiped out,¡± another voice chimed in. ¡°A bunch of trash. They were obliterated by the Emperor of Qingzhou alone, losing all their foundations. Almost ten thousand years have passed without a single king realm expert emerging from their ranks,¡± someone recalled. ¡°Could it be that the Emperor of Qingzhou cut off their luck when he massacred the Kun Peng clan?¡± one pondered. ¡°Why would the Kun Peng clan provoke us now?¡± another wondered. ¡°Are they hoping we¡¯ll help rid them of the shame of the eight royal clans?¡± The sneering discussions continued. ¡°Enough,¡± the Qiong Qi Sect Master commanded, raising his hand. Silence instantly descended upon the temple. ¡°Are you certain it¡¯s the Kun Peng clan?¡± he asked, his gaze piercing Qiong Sicheng. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt!¡± Qiong Sicheng quickly lowered his head in a show of deference. ¡°Given it¡¯s confirmed as the Kun Peng clan, they must be trying to exploit our conflict with the three sects and the Sacred Heart Sect for their own gain.¡± ¡°With the current state of chaos and the Sacred Heart Sect stirring the pot,¡± the sect master began. ¡°Plus, with the recent emergence of Uncle Dragon Emperor in the spirit blood level, announcing his intent to revive the dragon clan¡­ it¡¯s indeed a good time for them to ask for a price. Their plan isn¡¯t bad. I¡¯m just curious about their strength.¡± His expression remained impassive as he glanced at his hand. ¡°Siren, Siyao, Simo, the three of you will go meet these two from the Kun Peng clan,¡± he directed. ¡°If they can survive, we¡¯ll see what price they can offer. If not¡­¡± He tapped his finger on the stone bench. ¡°We will lend a hand in Qingzhou.¡± As he finished speaking, three men of differing appearances immediately stood up. ¡°Understood!¡± they said in unison. Qiong Sicheng, who was standing in the middle, was relieved to see the three men rise. These three brothers were renowned heroes, all top-notch experts at the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm. Their bloodline was already seventy percent pureblood, and they took delight in hunting down rising future kings. Their methods were notoriously brutal. He had been concerned that his intentional deception might cause the Qiong Qi clan to suffer, but with these three heroes taking action, he felt more reassured. ¡°Those two might have already fled, but my spirit-gathering balls hit them before. Third Hero can use the spiritual scent I left to track them.¡± As he spoke, a small light of spirituality blossomed from Qiong Sicheng¡¯s palm. The three heroes of Qiong Qi waved their hands, and the speck of spiritual light instantly divided into three parts, each inhaling a portion. ¡°We appreciate your efforts!¡± Qiong Siren, the eldest of the three brothers, grinned, clapped Qiong Sicheng¡¯s shoulder, and strode past him. They then entered the secret chamber. Inside, Qiong Siren sat on the bed in a cross-legged position, a spirit stone in his hand. His mind was at peace. At the same time, the sky outside the secret chamber filled with a green glow. A huge shadow of Qiong Qi flashed past, as the breathing of the three heroes in the secret chamber steadied. Boom! In the spirit world, the eyes of the three Qiong Qi heroes snapped open. ¡°Split up¡­¡± Bang! Before Qiong Siren could finish speaking, a gory scene unfolded before his eyes. As his head spun in midair, blood and flesh splattered everywhere. His large head rolled on the ground a few times before his eyes finally found the culprit. The figure stood in a pool of blood, maintaining his punching posture. Where the fist pointed, a pair of feet seemed to be deeply rooted in the ground. The scent of spiritual energy that Qiong Sicheng had given him earlier slowly awakened his memory of Qiong Sicheng. So this was the guy¡­ His ambush was extraordinarily fast. ¡°That scoundrel Qiong Sicheng!¡± Qiong Siren seethed with rage, swearing to force that bastard Qiong Sicheng to explain how this little fellow from the Kun Peng clan had managed to ambush him. ¡°Big Brother!¡± Meanwhile, Qiong Siyao and Qiong Simo gazed at their elder brother, their pupils constricting. Blood splattered on their faces, causing their eyes to twitch. Their gaze shifted, almost unwillingly, to the tiny figure. Instantly, rage surged through their veins. ¡°Little brat, you¡¯re seeking death!¡± But before they could finish their sentence, dozens of spirit-gathering balls were already flashing around them. They completely blocked Qin Huai¡¯s retreat. ¡°Go!¡± Qin Huai waved his hand. Only then did the three heroes notice that Qin Huai was carrying a little fellow in his arms. However, their relationship seemed a little mysterious. The small one was treated like a hidden weapon, directly hurling toward the surrounding spirit-gathering balls. He even had a saint bound to his body. Bang! Bang! Bang! One by one, the spirit-gathering balls exploded. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 576 - 576 Myriad Elixir 576 Myriad Elixir A force wave roared, decimating the earth and trees around them. Amidst the destruction, the little girl stood untouched. Wood chips and sand speckled her face, but otherwise, she was unharmed. Even the rope she had provided, still in Qin Huai¡¯s hand, bore no signs of wear. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze darted around, alert and assessing. He scrutinized the unique characteristics of the little girl¡¯s body while also evaluating the spirit-gathering balls from the three heroes of Qiong Qi. Qiong Simo growled, his patience waning. He raised his hands above his head, and an astonishing force of suction materialized. The surrounding sand and grass were instantly drawn into his grasp. Within moments, a shadow loomed over Qin Huai, the world darkened, and breathing became a struggle. ¡°Myriad elixir!¡± Qiong Si Mo roared, hurling his amassed forces downwards. The hill-sized myriad elixir fell relentlessly, absorbing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. No martial arts expert below the king realm could defend against or disregard this move ¡ª even an invincible body would be shattered. Qiong Simo appeared livid, but beneath his wrathful exterior, he was a picture of calculated calm. Each move, each expression, was a part of his carefully crafted strategy to destroy his enemies. Judging by their ignorant calmness, he deduced they were likely descendants of the Kun Peng clan, one of the eight royal clans that had all but disappeared in name alone. On the other side, Qin Huai calmly pinched another section of the rope. The little girl in his hand whirled at high speed, like a wheel aflame. An invisible wind wall formed above him. Boom! Boom! Boom! A potent wind blew as the spinning girl met the myriad elixir. Like an unstoppable sword, she shattered the massive object inch by inch. When the debris of sand and grass fell, it lost its original luster, becoming dark and gloomy before scattering like ashes on the ground. Qin Huai frowned slightly but soon discovered the deeper mystery. Underneath the seemingly crude myriad elixir was an even larger, green-white spirit ball. Was it a move meant to devour the essence of all things? ¡°Can you hold it?¡± Qin Huai asked softly. ¡°Who are you looking down on!¡± the little girl retorted, her voice slightly shaky as though her mouth was filled with something. The next moment, she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and spat out the gray powder that scattered on the ground. Compared to the myriad elixir¡¯s onslaught, this feeling of dizziness was clearly more potent. With a resounding bang, they clashed again. The little girl¡¯s sharp blade retained its formidable edge, easily cleaving iron as if it were mere mud. Even the myriad elixir¡¯s core couldn¡¯t shift the balance of power. Gradually, they morphed into sharp wind blades, obliterating the surrounding shrubs. In their wake, they left a path of complete devastation. ¡°What kind of joke is this? The myriad elixir¡­ it¡¯s ineffective?!¡± Qiong Simo exclaimed, staring in disbelief at the little girl before him. Unscathed, she stood her ground, as did the rope held by the demon. ¡°Kid, who are you?¡± Qiong Si Mo roared at Qin Huai, his face riddled with fear. ¡°Small tricks,¡± Qin Huai responded coldly. His empty left hand swiftly swung into a fist behind him. Bang! A resonating explosion followed, as though the air itself had been struck by a heavy blow. A fierce force whirled and surged, almost as if Qin Huai had erected an air wall behind him. A spirit-gathering ball shattered under the force of his fist, blood scattering in the air. Gritting his teeth, Qiong Siyao bore the violent tremors coursing through his arm. He steeled his resolve and bit down on Qin Huai¡¯s arm. His snow-white teeth instantly enlarged, glinting with a cold, threatening light, reminiscent of a sword concealed within his flesh. Crack! Sparks flew as Qiong Siyao bit down as if he were biting into a precious weapon. Qin Huai¡¯s skin emanated a faint golden glow as his teeth clamped shut. Bang! With a sudden exertion of strength, Qin Huai¡¯s arm expanded. His eyes shone with a stark white light, his hair instantaneously whitening ¡ª the dragon king form! The terrifying power seemed unstoppable, catching Qiong Siyao off guard. His sharp fangs shattered into fist-sized fragments upon impact. Qin Huai flipped his hand and gripped Qiong Siyao¡¯s tongue. A muffled groan echoed like thunder as Qin Huai hoisted the nine-meter-tall Qiong Siyao off the ground. In a display of raw power, he slammed Qiong Siyao repeatedly on the ground like a toy. Bang! Bang! Bang! Dust and rocks flew, mixing with the cries of the withered flowers. The forceful attacks created a huge pit, several meters deep. Qiong Siyao, bearing the brunt of the assault, was a bloody mess. He felt as if his internal organs were corroding, his strength waning over time. A faint chant echoed in his mind, suggesting poison, but there was something else too¡­ something nauseating. In a miserable state, Qiong Siyao had intended to use a strange move to gain the upper hand, but he found himself at a severe disadvantage instead. Rendered immobile by Qin Huai¡¯s grip, he realized the stranger¡¯s unique strength and oddity made close combat an impossibility. His entire Qiong Qi clan would be utterly disadvantaged against this monster. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on Qiong Si Yao. The six royal clans often used their bodies to intimidate others, but now the tables had turned. With another echoing bang, Qin Huai once again slammed Qiong Siyao forcefully onto the ground. The indescribable pain in the latter¡¯s body reached its peak, and his ¡®body¡¯ in the spirit world could no longer endure. Qiong Siyao shattered, dissolving into spiritual energy that filled the sky, subtly merging into Qin Huai¡¯s body. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 577 - 577 Unparalleled Physical Body! 577 Unparalleled Physical Body! ¡°Ding! Large amount of spiritual energy acquired. Current spirit bone fusion rate: 1%!¡± A notification flashed across Qin Huai¡¯s sight. His spiritual altar structure had successfully navigated the first phase, and it was progressing into the second. However, the fusion rate was a mere 1%. The three big shots, powerful enough to shake the main world, along with the ordinary martial artists killed at the entry point, had only contributed this much. The weapon in Qin Huai¡¯s hand stopped abruptly, and with a thud, the little girl dropped to the ground. ¡°Hey! Can¡¯t you be a bit more gentle?!¡± She spun around, scowling at Qin Huai, who was already out of sight. Meanwhile, Qiong Simo, engrossed in smashing the unfinished myriad elixir, swore under his breath. With a nonchalant flick of his fingers, the floating myriad elixir exploded, its potent spiritual energy smacking against Qin Huai. A golden light flickered around him, revealing slight flaws in his invincible Vajra blood. The power of the myriad elixir surpassed that of the previous spirit-gathering balls ¡ª it seemed to harness a hint of the universe¡¯s might, nearly invincible. But that was all. Boom! Kun Peng wings unfurled from Qin Huai¡¯s back, boosting his speed another notch. He quickly closed the distance between himself and Qiong Simo, landing relentless blows. Bang! Bang! Bang! Clouds of crimson mist filled the air, shimmering like fireworks. It had only been a short while since the three heroes of Qiong Qi entered the spirit bone level. ¡°The first battle seems to have gone well,¡± Qin Huai muttered, turning towards the little girl. His body was emitting steam ¡ª a visible ¡®wound¡¯ left by resisting the myriad elixir. ¡°Your shield is indeed of extremely high standard,¡± he admitted, before he started calculating the number of kills he¡¯d need to maximize his spirit bone fusion rate. Assuming three spirit bone level martial artists and a few ordinary ones to achieve 1%, he¡¯d need to eliminate around three hundred individuals, or maybe eight hundred, or even thousands. Moreover, this was based on the assumption that all martial artists were at the level of the previous few. Otherwise, the number would only increase. A daunting task indeed. ¡°Hey, are you scared?¡± the young girl teased, a provocative tone evident in her voice. ¡°If you plan on using a stupid method like killing to complete the fusion of the patterned bone and the soul, it will take a very long time and a lot of people¡¯s spiritual energy.¡± ¡°Yes, so I was wondering¡­ Are there enough people from the six clans in the spirit world? Eight hundred?¡± Qin Huai asked the young girl earnestly. ¡°What¡­¡± she started, slightly taken aback by Qin Huai¡¯s sincere demeanor. ¡°Good! As expected of someone I regard highly!¡± she forced a smile to save face. ¡°Those three were the Three Heroes of Qiong Qi, the top figures in the Qiong clan. I didn¡¯t expect them to fall by our hands. I acknowledge your strength!¡± ¡°What are their ranks within the Qiong Qi clan?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°Top twenty! If you exclude the king realm within the top fifteen, each of them would be equally powerful,¡± she replied. ¡°Then I hope they send more next time,¡± Qin Huai remarked, surprised that he¡¯d overestimated the Qiong Qi¡¯s fighting prowess. He hadn¡¯t even used his king¡¯s force, just his seven-pattern bones against the Qiong Qi¡¯s three heroes. Maybe, he¡¯d underestimated his own strength. This thought crossed Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Pondering over it, he was no match for the white-robed king, or rather, any king realm martial artist. ¡°However, your physical body and blood qi are quite potent. I bet you could challenge Uncle Dragon Emperor,¡± the young girl circled around Qin Huai, inspecting his muscular form, her eyes wide in awe. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s also Uncle Dragon Emperor¡­¡± Qin Huai muttered. Given a chance, he would like to fight with the said person, to see if he was as formidable as rumored. ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡± the girl asked. ¡°If we continue to fight, the next wave from the Qiong Qi clan will likely consist of half of their experts.¡± ¡°Do you know the essence of stealing wool?¡± Qin Huai questioned. ¡°What?¡± the little girl asked curiously. ¡°If you want to shear, then shear to the end!¡± Qin Huai sat cross-legged on the ground after speaking. He stirred the dragon king within his dantian world and slowly woke him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Getting ready to send them a big wave.¡± ¡­ In the temple of the Qiong family, the Three Heroes of Qiong Qi entered with cold expressions. The discussion about the war had not yet concluded. Seeing the three brothers depart in haste, everyone present was briefly taken aback. Some even laughed. ¡°It seems the Kun Peng clan will be wiped out in a matter of days.¡± ¡°We wagered on when you three brothers would resolve the situation in the spirit world.¡± A few people teased from near the head of the table. ¡°I bet it would take fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°I bet ten breaths. Those two brats wanted the chips, so they certainly wouldn¡¯t run but would stay at the encampment.¡± An elder who barely resembled a human spoke, ¡°Looks like I won.¡± Qiong Sicheng¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw the three people¡¯s composed expressions. A silent communication occurred between them. His normally tranquil demeanor quickly boiled over and then cooled again, becoming as deep as an abyss. ¡°We lost.¡± Qiong Siren, the leader of the three brothers, admitted. The entire temple was in an uproar. ¡°What a joke!¡± exclaimed an elder who¡¯d wagered they¡¯d last ten breaths. ¡°The three heroes of our Qiong Qi clan were defeated?!¡± ¡°Is there any useful information?¡± the sect master asked, his gaze drifting to the three of them. ¡°I¡­ We were ambushed to death the moment we entered the encampment. We couldn¡¯t even see the opponent¡¯s move clearly.¡± Qiong Siren¡¯s face turned crimson as he confessed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid he has precious spirit weapons protecting him, and there¡¯s more than one,¡± Qiong Simo added, describing the opponent. ¡°One of them is tall and the other is short. The short one is very strange. His body is hard to gauge, but his defense is extremely strong. Even my myriad elixir couldn¡¯t harm him.¡± ¡°That tall one¡­possesses an unparalleled physical body!¡± the three of them exclaimed in unison. Gasps filled the room. They knew the arrogance of the Three Heroes of Qiong Qi. To give an evaluation of ¡®unparalleled physical body¡¯ was a rare acknowledgment. ¡°It seems the Kun Peng clan is about to rise,¡± the Qiong Qi Sect Master mused. ¡°Since a one-on-one fight won¡¯t work, everyone present can go together. At least we can put up a fight.¡± With the elders gone, many Qiong Qi disciples outside the temple bowed. These were their forebears, figures of unfathomable power who could decide the fate of millions with a word. Many young disciples lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly. ¡°Did you notice all the elders heading toward the spirit room?¡± one of the younger men noted. ¡°The three heroes were the same. Earlier, they left in a hurry but returned quickly.¡± ¡°Ahem, I¡¯m aware of this¡­ Something happened in the spirit world.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I know.¡± ¡°Tsk¡­¡± Many youngsters looked at him dismissively. ¡°In any case, all the elders have been called to action. If there¡¯s a problem, it¡¯ll be sorted out quickly, right?¡± The young man¡¯s face turned red as he defended himself. ¡°You all just wait and see. The elders will be back soon, and after that, the world will be peaceful once more!¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 578 - 578 The Only One Left 578 The Only One Left ¡°Those two are strange. Everyone must exercise extreme caution on this journey!¡± Qiong Siren warned the elders sternly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± replied the group¡¯s leader, a short elder barely taller than those around him. He chuckled, ¡°I understand you covered for Qiong Sicheng¡¯s mistake of withholding information, leading to your underestimation of the enemies and the ambush. Now that we know of their abilities, we won¡¯t underestimate them.¡± Seemingly absentmindedly, the short elder patted Qiong Siren¡¯s shoulder in a patronizing manner, then turned and walked into the secret room. Qiong Siyao, who remained behind, frowned. ¡°That old man really thinks highly of himself because of his seniority!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Although the grand elder is over eight hundred years old, even the kings were tutored by him when they were young,¡± said someone matter-of-factly. ¡°Whether it¡¯s about prestige or strength, he still commands respect.¡± ¡°In fact, his bloodline has reached 90% purity. I¡¯m afraid in a few years, he¡¯ll reach the king realm. I wouldn¡¯t dare say he¡¯ll breach the king realm, but he should be able to extend his lifespan by a century. ¡°Moreover, all thirteen clan elders are mobilized this time. Regardless of how strange those two from the Kun Peng clan are, they will be defeated,¡± QiongSiren analyzed calmly. The thought of the Qiong Qi clan failing to defeat the two enemies despite such formidable force made him shudder. ¡­ At the spirit bone level, Qin Huai sat cross-legged while the young girl next to him studied the extraordinarily strong demon they¡¯d recently encountered. She squatted on the ground out of boredom, digging into the earth, then suddenly looked up at Qin Huai. His form began to distort in her gaze. A familiar sensation emerged from Qin Huai, causing her blood to ripple. Suddenly, thirteen towering figures materialized around them. Boom! Landing heavily, they raised a cloud of dust. They immediately noticed Qin Huai and the young girl sitting cross-legged in their midst. ¡°Looks like our luck is good. We managed to secure the best spot instantly,¡± one of them noted. ¡°Also, it appears this kid has been injured by the three heroes?¡± the grand elder sneered. Boom! An overwhelming pressure instantly radiated within a hundred-meter radius. The tangible wave, both solid and ethereal, bore down on them like a mountain. Puff! Several elders instantly spat out mouthfuls of blood. Their massive bodies collapsed to the ground, blood and sweat pouring out of them. The next moment, three of them disintegrated into the air, their spiritual energy surging into Qin Huai. ¡°Kill him!¡± roared the grand elder. Five people at his side, despite their injuries, lunged at Qin Huai. The little girl leaped up and intercepted two of the heavy punches. The remaining three blows approached Qin Huai in the blink of an eye. At that moment, Qin Huai¡¯s hair turned snow white. His previously closed eyes slowly opened, emitting a white light so bright it seemed to leech the color from the world. The almost tangible pressure surged. A dragon¡¯s roar thundered as leaves danced wildly and flowers, grass, and sand seemed to harmonize. One by one, the elders, renowned for their formidable physiques, knelt to the ground. Six of them perished instantly. Without even throwing a punch, half of the thirteen elders of the Qiong Qi clan had been obliterated. ¡°Peak king¡¯s force!¡± The grand elder¡¯s voice wavered. Future Kings were also divided into varying degrees of strength, particularly in relation to their king¡¯s force. Some king¡¯s force could merely intimidate those in the blood refinement realm, while others could daunt martial artists in the same realm. However, there were select few, true prodigies, whose king¡¯s force could directly obliterate those in the same realm. This axiom was vividly illustrated in the preeminent king¡¯s force. The man before them was, without a doubt, one such legendary figure. Within the eight royal clans, those young people who had reached 90% or higher bloodline purity were considered future kings. Yet, this man before them was pure among the pure. Whoosh! A streak of white light split the sky, bearing a lethal intent infused with an unstoppable king¡¯s force. A pair of dazzling white eyes appeared before the grand elder. The surrounding aura diminished as a brilliant white shield materialized before him. Bang! The grand elder¡¯s formidable fist tore through the light screen, propelling him dozens of meters forward. His eyes trembled. In that instant, he found himself alone ¡ª the only remaining member of the thirteen clan elders. ¡°How fast,¡± Qin Huai remarked, staring at the grand elder. To the grand elder, these words were a bitter insult. He was an ancient creature, alive for over eight hundred years. He had seen the Great You dragonclan¡¯s downfall, and even the imminent change of rulership over the Great You. Having witnessed countless historical events, he was a revered elder among the eight royal clans. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 579 - 579 Prince Qing Cang 579 Prince Qing Cang Now, he was receiving praise from a brat still wet behind his ears. ¡°Future king tiers¡­ In the span of my eight hundred and ninety years of existence, I¡¯ve cultivated dozens of them,¡± he said, his aura beginning to surge. ¡°Four have already ascended the throne.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too confident in your victory!¡± The grand elder¡¯s expression turned fierce as he glared at Qin Huai. ¡°Your technique merely involves continuous release and suppression of top-notch king¡¯s force, culminating in a timed explosion! As Qiong Sicheng and the Three Heroes of Qiong Qi said, your proficiency lies in ambushes. But that¡¯s it!¡± As his words ended, the grand elder charged at Qin Huai. Whoosh! Qin Huai spread his wings, and a powerful gust of wind swept up. The airborne feathers ignited into a rain of fire. Unfazed, the grand elder produced a cold gleam in his hand, which momentarily hung suspended in the air before transforming into a massive swath of white light slashing at Qin Huai. Along its path, the rain of fire was wholly consumed, and even Qin Huai¡¯s surging king¡¯s force lost its potency. ¡°Qiong Qi secret technique, Devour Slash!¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Qin Huai said, intrigued by the white light¡¯s ability to devour something as ethereal as a king¡¯s force. Quickly, he hoisted the little girl beside him, their eyes meeting. She gave a snort and turned her head, the implication clear. Without further ado, Qin Huai flung her into the fray. The little airborne bundle collided with the white light, stopping the previously unstoppable Devour Slash in mid-air. Even the grand elder, emerging from the other end of the white light, was taken aback. He marveled at the two youths¡¯ prowess ¨C one possessing the aura of a top-notch king, the other resisting his devour slash. In an instant, the grand elder reached the floating girl and pulled her from the devour slash, concentrating all his energy into his fingertips. An overwhelming force erupted, causing the grand elder¡¯s face to redden. Yet, the girl remained unscathed. ¡°Spirit artifact, flowing dragon scaly armor? You¡¯re a member of the dragon clan!¡± the grand elder exclaimed, instantly exposing the girl¡¯s secret. She reacted with feigned surprise. ¡°I¡¯m not! You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± she retorted, though her unconvincing denial confirmed the elder¡¯s suspicion. ¡°Only two pieces of flowing rainbow dragon scales exist. One resides in the dragon cave of the imperial palace, the other in Prince Qing Cang¡¯s residence. Coincidentally, the prince has a single daughter roughly your age.¡± Having lived for more than eight centuries, the grand elder was well-versed in the imperial clan¡¯s secrets. Almost instantly, he deduced the girl¡¯s true identity. He cast a glance at Qin Huai. ¡°A prodigy of the azure heaven lineage¡­ It seems Prince Qing Cang is aspiring for the throne.¡± The grand elder¡¯s feelings were mixed. He wondered if someone would genuinely emerge to turn the tide when the dragon clan was on the brink of collapse. Standing before him was the unseen Uncle Dragon Emperor and, behind him, the peak king¡¯s force of the Qing Cang lineage. ¡°Prince Qing Cang!¡± The grand elder narrowed his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice thundered in his ears. The grand elder felt a chill run down his spine as he saw Qin Huai¡¯s fist heading for his chest. Frantically, he slashed at Qin Huai¡¯s arm. Yet, Qin Huai¡¯s fist was relentless. A bloody hole materialized in the grand elder¡¯s heart. It was only then he realized that Qin Huai¡¯s arm had already impaled him. ¡°Illusion Realm Fist, Slow Form!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The grand elder¡¯s eyes brimmed with murderous intent. In an instant, his figure vanished, replaced by a surge of spiritual light flooding into Qin Huai¡¯s body. ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Current spirit bone fusion rate: 4%!¡± Outside the secret chamber of the Qiong family, a cluster of youth squatted, watching as the elders exited. Thirteen clan elders surrounded the grand elder, each bearing stern, solemn expressions. ¡°Look, I told you¡­ No matter the issue, if the clan elders intervene, all difficulties will be resolved effortlessly!¡± The youth who had earlier made a wager smugly declared. But in the next moment, blood erupted from his neck like a geyser, his head nowhere in sight. ¡°Useless! A bunch of trash!¡± The grand elder suddenly materialized before the youth, his fearsome expression sending several of the Qiong Qi juniors sprawling on the ground. ¡°A group of old fools who can¡¯t even reach pureblood!¡± The image of Qin Huai flashed across the grand elder¡¯s mind, and then he glanced at the youth, so easily terrified. They were the future of the Qiong Qi clan, and the disappointment in his heart intensified. ¡°Cast these fools into the Great Desolate Field of the Barren State!¡± the grand elder commanded, and instantly, several burly figures descended from the sky. ¡°Grand Elder! Spare us!¡± ¡°Grand Elder, we won¡¯t repeat our mistakes.¡± The young men collapsed to their knees, pleading. The Great Desolate Field, teeming with the most vicious raiders, was the most tumultuous region in the Barren State. The Qiong Qi clan, fearing that these raiders could trigger significant unrest if they roamed freely, had specifically established an array to confine them. It was known as the Great Barren Field. Undeterred by their pleas, the grand elder continued his stride toward the temple. Inside, the atmosphere was oppressively stifling. Thirteen clan elders, led by the grand elder, stood before a stone bench. Behind them were the three heroes of Qiongqi and Qiong Sicheng. ¡°Essentially, the Qiong Qi clan has been entirely eradicated in the spirit bone level,¡± the sect master of the Qiong Qi clan stated calmly, showing no signs of anger. ¡°The two intruders are likely from Prince Qing Cang¡¯s lineage. Even though the youngster possesses Kun Peng wings, they¡¯re most likely an illusion. His king¡¯s force emanates a formidable oppressive force, signature of the dragon clan.¡± The sect master¡¯s expression changed, his gaze growing deeper. ¡°In these turbulent times, geniuses that are seldom seen in centuries of tranquility emerge like bamboo shoots after the rain. ¡°I recall a monster on the eastern battlefield wielding a five-colored heavenly flame, annihilating all in its path. There¡¯s also a mutant clad in living armor, his body as robust as a demon¡¯s ¨C possibly a savage cultivator, a lion demon. He withstood the assaults of nine visceral prefecture realm experts for a full quarter of an hour without sustaining any injuries. ¡°Additionally, there¡¯s a peculiar young man, who emanates light wherever he goes, as if he is a banished immortal reincarnated. According to investigations, both Taoist and Buddhist sects are vying fiercely for his loyalty. Legend has it that he might indeed be a reincarnation of a banished immortal. ¡°All these individuals share a trait: they gravitate towards the most dangerous situations. Consequently, they progress the fastest. This seems to be a characteristic of this generation¡¯s young prodigies who can ascend to kingship. ¡°The grand elder was right to dispatch those young men to the Great Desolate Field. They are overly coddled,¡± the sect master murmured. ¡°If one desires blood food, they must fight for it themselves. Otherwise, even if we survive the chaos instigated by the three sects, another will emerge. As we age, they may vanish into the annals of history like the Kun Peng clan.¡± ¡°Sect Master is wise!¡± everyone chorused, fists cupped in respect. Then, the temple fell into silence for a few breaths. No one dared to breathe audibly, for the sect master¡¯s change of topic signaled the complete obliteration of their spirit world base. ¡°Regarding the spirit world, let¡¯s set it aside for now. The war is of utmost importance¡­¡± The Qiong Qi Sect Master said casually before his stone stool exploded beneath him. He leaped up and sprinted out of the temple. ¡°Sect Master! Where are you going?¡± Everyone scrambled to catch up, their voices tinged with anxiety. ¡°Obviously, to the Qing Cang Palace! Let¡¯s see what Prince Qing Cang is up to!¡± the Qiong Qi Sect Master bellowed. To them, the obliteration of the spirit world base was akin to losing a prime cultivation ground for the experts of the visceral prefecture realm. Such a transgression was worse than patricide. This wasn¡¯t the norm for trading blows. Prince Qing Cang had crossed a line. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 580 - 580 The Uncle Dragon Emperor is Me! 580 The Uncle Dragon Emperor is Me! Qing Cang Palace. A portly middle-aged man was nestled in his garden, jade and gemstone-inlaid scissors in hand. He hunched over, meticulously pruning the flower bed before him. Each of the plants was a rarity, some even classified as extinct. Yet, they thrived vibrantly within the confines of his few hundred square meters plot. Prince Qing Cang, upon finishing with one plant, patted his belly contentedly. ¡°Not bad, not bad,¡± he mumbled, humming a little melody as he strolled towards the next plant. The peculiar flowers and herbs in his garden had cost him hundreds of thousands of gold taels. As for the mother qi soil that nurtured these plants, he had spent two-thirds of his wealth acquiring it. ¡°Your Highness, another letter has arrived from the capital and Prince Bai Liu,¡± a guard reported, approaching Prince Qing Cang. ¡°What are they up to now?¡± Prince Qing Cang frowned, glancing at his trusted aide and godson, Long Ping¡¯an. ¡°Take a look at me. Do I appear capable of murdering Imperial Uncle Wushuang, who has support from six clans and three sects, with a single punch?¡± As Prince Qing Cang spoke, he patted his belly angrily. The skin and flesh that could support a boat instantly stirred up a ripple of waves. ¡°Isn¡¯t it common knowledge what level I was at when I was in the palace? I¡¯ve merely leveraged the resources of the dragon clan to reach this fifth-level visceral prefecture realm.¡± He continued, ¡°I¡¯ve spent all these years in the residence, not amassing an army nor flaunting power. I¡¯m just a simple, idle prince tending to flowers and plants!¡± Prince Qing Cang¡¯s cynical laughter echoed around the garden, leaving his godson, Long Ping¡¯an, with a bitter smile. The latter had witnessed Prince Qing Cang¡¯s conduct over the years. However, the outside world refused to believe that such a respected prince could be devoid of ambition at the brink of a world collapse. ¡°The patriarch of the Qiong family, Qiong Mou, is here for a visit!¡± A robust voice rang from outside the gate, causing Prince Qing Cang¡¯s expression to shift. He turned and headed towards the entrance. Before he could reach there, the formidable overlord of the Barren State, Qiong Mou, barged into his residence. ¡°Patriarch Qiong, it¡¯s inappropriate to intrude into the imperial residence like this,¡± Long Ping¡¯an remarked, his expression darkening. ¡°Inappropriate? Then why did you seal off my Qiong Qi clan¡¯s base and massacre all my elders?¡± Qiong Mou countered, his eyes narrowed. He neither had the time nor the inclination to maintain formalities with Prince Qing Cang. ¡°I¡¯m at a loss, Patriarch Qiong. I have no idea what you¡¯re implying,¡± Prince Qing Cang answered, his face a mask of confusion as he stared at Qiong Mou. ¡°Prince, there¡¯s no need for pretense. I¡¯m being quite straightforward,¡± Qiong Mou stated urgently. ¡°If you have any terms, speak them now.¡± He was in a rush due to the ever-changing war situation in the east. A single misstep could spell disaster for the Qiong Qi clan. Everyone in the Great You was aware of the oddities surrounding the Sacred Heart Sect. Also, the six royal clans had their own agendas, and it was unclear whether the three sects, the single sect, or the other six clans were their deadliest enemies. Qiong Mou wouldn¡¯t have risked coming here if the matter regarding the spirit world hadn¡¯t been of paramount importance. ¡°I genuinely have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. No one from my Qing Cang Palace has meddled with your Qiong Qi clan¡¯s base,¡± Prince Qing Cang declared, feigning innocence, though his mind whirled with questions. Was the Qiong Qi clan using the imminent collapse of the structure as a ploy to extort him? Or were they trying to find a valid excuse for their future machinations? ¡°So, we have nothing to discuss?¡± Qiong Mou retorted sarcastically. The flowing rainbow dragon scaly armor was an undeniable proof. If Prince Qing Cang wasn¡¯t involved, was it the young emperor? The palace inhabitants were constantly on edge, focusing on self-preservation. Why would they agitate the Qiong Qi clan unprovoked? Qiong Mou glanced at a corner, spotting a little girl hiding behind a pillar. She matched the description provided by the grand elder. It had to be them! ¡°If there¡¯s nothing to discuss, then there¡¯s nothing to discuss,¡± Prince Qing Cang replied coldly. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll settle this once the situation in the east stabilizes and the imperial palace¡¯s support wanes,¡± Qiong Mou warned, his rage intensifying upon observing Prince Qing Cang¡¯s reaction. ¡°Great! I look forward to it,¡± Prince Qing Cang replied, sighing. Qiong Mou¡¯s sudden departure left only the flustered servants and the infuriated Prince Qing Cang. Wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, the prince said, ¡°It seems I must devise an escape plan. Ping¡¯an, get things ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Long Ping¡¯an bowed slightly before vanishing from the scene. ¡­ In the spirit world, Qin Huai waited an entire day, but no one from the Qiong Qi clan appeared. ¡°It seems they¡¯ve temporarily given up on the spirit world,¡± the little girl remarked, dusting herself off. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to conclude so swiftly and effortlessly.¡± Her mind was still reeling from the suddenness of it all. She had anticipated a drawn-out chase, a battle of attrition. However, their opponent was stopped at their doorstep. Most importantly, she couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Are you from the Kun Peng clan or the dragon clan?¡± ¡°Dragon clan,¡± Qin Huai answered without hesitation. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m that Uncle Dragon Emperor!¡± If he could claim the identity of the enigmatic Uncle Dragon Emperor, he¡¯d gladly do so. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 581 - 581 Destroying the Six Clans 581 Destroying the Six Clans At least with this identity, the others would not cause trouble in East Qingzhou. ¡°Hmph,¡± the girl scoffed, not quite believing Qin Huai¡¯s confident declaration. She scrutinized his wings closely, her eyebrows furrowing as she moved closer. ¡°Your markings¡­ pureblood! A pure-blooded Kun Peng! No wonder¡­ but wait, your aura doesn¡¯t seem that dense.¡± The little girl¡¯s surprise was evident. Her mind reeled with confusion, but she had entirely verified Qin Huai¡¯s identity as a Kun Peng. The purported dragon qi was likely just a diversion. What a sly character. ¡°Indeed, the daughter of a prince possesses such a profound knowledge that she can even discern the wings of a pure-blooded Kun Peng,¡± Qin Huai commended, clicking his tongue. The knowledge held by these large sect disciples dwarfed that of ordinary folks in countless states, let alone their prowess in martial arts. ¡°Let¡¯s move to the next location,¡± Qin Huai said firmly. Time was not on his side, and he could not afford to linger. ¡°Onward! Our next destination is the white tiger clan!¡± ¡­ ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± At the base of the white tiger clan, Qin Huai sat with his eyes slightly closed, feeling the spiritual energy from the sky flood into his body. Scattered around him were elder members of the white tiger clan, on the brink of death, embedded in the ground or trapped in broken wood, a pitiful sight. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them,¡± the little girl warned. ¡°The younger generation of the white tiger clan has a leader named Bai Shiquan. He has completed the pureblood transformation, and his strength surpasses that of ordinary future king tiers. The most powerful individual in the white tiger clan¡¯s spirit bone level should be him. However, he¡¯s been recuperating recently because he was one of the six clans and three sects that Uncle Dragon Emperor had killed in the previous level.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qin Huai was intrigued. He wanted to gauge the difference between the purebloods of the six clans and his seven-patterned bones. He also wanted to assess how much his combat abilities had improved. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± the little girl shouted, pointing to a tall figure emerging from the nearby forest. Qin Huai felt a surge of surprise. This was the same person he had slain at the Golden Spirit Temple. ¡°Lately, it seems like¡­prodigies are becoming worthless? Monsters are popping up everywhere,¡± Bai Shiquan muttered. Invoking the tiger pattern bone strengthening technique, he roared, his body rapidly expanding. An overwhelming killing intent loomed overhead, and a colossal white tiger phantom sprang from his body, reaching Qin Huai in a split second. The vegetation in its path wilted instantly, and the earth and rocks cracked and flew in all directions. Cracks rapidly spread across the uprooted ground. Qin Huai¡¯s wings fluttered, producing a sound akin to a divine drum, and a white light flashed in the air. The gigantic white tiger paused, its body suddenly shattering. The once formidable white tiger instantly crumbled, with its shadows flooding the vicinity. The next moment, a real white tiger descended from the sky, its cold eyes glowing with a white light, and its killing intent piercing the sky like a sharp arrow. Before the claws even arrived, the killing intent formed a cage, trapping Qin Huai¡¯s bones. Qin Huai glided over the invisible barrier, flapped his wings again, and soared into the sky. Sparks flew and feathers scattered. After clashing for more than ten rounds, man and tiger finally separated. ¡°Kun Peng wings? No, the aura isn¡¯t strong enough,¡± the tiger, surprisingly conversant in human speech, said. The sound was thunderous, causing Qin Huai¡¯s wings to tremble. Qin Huai remained silent. The eight royal clans didn¡¯t possess superior or inferior bloodlines. Upon reaching pureblood status, the opponent¡¯s strength was quite akin to his, using the power of the Kun Peng. When comparing pureblood and seven-patterned bones, the match seemed even, or perhaps he was slightly less powerful. The enemy¡¯s strength could be attributed to their ancestral relics or items that synchronized well with their bloodline and race, like the white tiger clan favoring rare treasures or spirits of killing intent to cultivate fiendish demon bones. These could only be nurtured on battlefields ¡ª the larger and crueler the battlefield, the better. Therefore, the white tiger clan often instigated massacres and was regarded as the most violent clan in the Great You. In the end, his lack of perfect compatibility to unleash a technique¡¯s maximum power was evident, yet it lent an element of unpredictability to his strategies, making him harder to anticipate. ¡°Such a stark difference,¡± Qin Huai muttered, caught in a reverie. ¡°Hahaha¡­ It appears you¡¯re aware,¡± Bai Shiquan responded, ¡°You¡¯re strong, but under my king¡¯s force, all your strength will reduce to mere flesh and blood. It is the instinctive reverence and worship of flesh and blood toward a king!¡± Bai Shiquan had naturally noticed Qin Huai¡¯s trembling wings. ¡°Indeed,¡± Qin Huai admitted, before suddenly appearing before Bai Shiquan, his silver hair floating in the air, surrounded by white light. Behind him, the ground cracked open, and rocks erupted into the air. Boom! This display of tremendous power caused Bai Shiquan¡¯s pupils to contract. An overwhelming aura of royalty emerged from his body, instantly suppressing the white tiger force that surged from Bai Shiquan. In the clash of the two powers, white waves rippled in the air. Without the restraint of the king¡¯s force, Qin Huai¡¯s power burst forth once more. With the augmentation of his dragon king form, his strength ascended to a whole new level. Boom! With just one punch, Bai Shiquan could hear his bones shattering, and his giant paw gradually paralyzed. This familiar feeling of violence allowed him a glimpse of the dragon emperor¡¯s face. ¡°Who are you?¡± Bai Shiquan demanded in shock and fury. Qin Huai did not respond, instead following up with a barrage of punches, reducing Bai Shiquan¡¯s body to spiritual energy that slowly infused into his body. ¡°Ding! The current spirit bone fusion rate is at 9%!¡± As the energy vanished, the little girl, hands on her hips, surveyed the damaged white tiger base. ¡°Another one down. Let¡¯s move to the next,¡± she declared with growing enthusiasm. Along the way, Qin Huai inquired about the Uncle Dragon Emperor¡¯s specific achievements, strategies, and interactions with the six clans and three sects. ¡°So if we run into each other, I¡¯ll have a way to deal with it.¡± When he saw Bai Shiquan, he had made a bold assumption. Could it be that the Uncle Dragon Emperor that many were seeking was him? Upon reflection, history only recorded a few capable of defeating the six clans and three sects single-handedly. Having two in one generation didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Uncle Dragon Emperor made his name by decimating the six clans and three sects at the Golden Spirit Temple in the spirit blood level. Having obtained the invincible Vajra blood, his combat prowess has risen another notch. That¡¯s why I hesitate to say whether you can fight him or not¡­ After all, Uncle Dragon Emperor handled them with ease back then!¡± she explained. ¡°I see,¡± Qin Huai mused, feeling a bitter laugh rise in his chest. It turned out that the enemy he had anticipated was none other than himself. Over the following days, Qin Huai used the same tactics, easily obliterating all the encampments of the phoenix clan, Qilin clan, black tortoise clan, and Nine Supremes clan. Be they elders or elites, anyone who entered the spirit bone level would fall to Qin Huai. ¡­ Meanwhile, at the six clans¡¯ headquarters, the elders and sect masters seethed with anger and resentment, all high-ranking figures who stormed aggressively toward the imperial capital¡¯s Qing Cang Palace¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 582 - 582 Spirit Dragon Duo Demons 582 Spirit Dragon Duo Demons ¡°What is this?!¡± Prince Qing Cang demanded, pacing the main hall with a fretful expression. His usual enthusiasm for the exotic flowers and herbs decorating his abode had dissipated. Representatives from all six clans had arrived, each either a clan leader of significant stature or a sect master in person. Such a grand gathering hadn¡¯t been witnessed in decades. Even the palace had sent delegates for a special greeting, but the reason behind this gathering remained elusive. Adding to his bewilderment, the ¡®Spirit Dragon Duo Demons¡¯ Little Spirit Dragon, as portrayed by the six clans¡¯ painters, bore a striking resemblance to his only daughter. Donning the vibrant dragon scales and her face, anyone could be forgiven for mistaking the prince himself for the splendid spectacle. ¡°Unfair! This is an outrage!¡± Prince Qing Cang bemoaned, his fat body hunched in despair within the hall. The guards and maids attending to him dared not even breathe too loudly. His godson, Long Ping¡¯an, shared a similar bitter expression. ¡°Ping¡¯an, swiftly uncover who¡¯s behind this smear campaign!¡± Prince Qing Cang ordered, ¡°Spread the word. Anyone providing valid information, no matter how trivial, will be handsomely rewarded! Ten Thousand Gold Rise!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Long Ping¡¯an immediately bowed and exited the hall with his entourage. ¡°All of you, leave me be. I need some quiet,¡± Prince Qing Cang weakly dismissed the rest of his attendants. Left alone in the now deserted hall, he murmured, ¡°Jing¡¯er, was it truly not you?¡± Unexpectedly, a young lady materialized behind him. If Qin Huai had been present, he would have recognized her as the girl he¡¯d crossed paths with during the battle. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± she said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve been engrossed in my training these days. I¡¯ve yet to attain the fourth-level visceral prefecture realm. I¡¯m encountering a bottleneck.¡± Her serene voice bore a hint of disappointment. ¡°If you¡¯ve reached a bottleneck, take a break and do something else. Indulge in delightful cuisine, wear beautiful clothes, engage in entertaining activities. The capital has much to offer. Anything you wish for, I¡¯ll make sure you have it,¡± Prince Qing Cang suggested, squinting his eyes and flashing a warm smile, a stark contrast to his previous aura. No one within Qing Cang Palace was aware that their master¡¯s favorite daughter had already advanced to the third level, at only twelve years of age. ¡°I don¡¯t want to indulge in such pastimes. I only want to train. This way, I can assist Father more efficiently,¡± Long Jing said, clinging to Prince Qing Cang¡¯s knee, her eyes radiating determination. ¡°My Jing¡¯er is very considerate,¡± he responded, patting her back. ¡°For my Jing¡¯er¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll redouble my efforts!¡± Following his reassurance, Long Jing vanished without a trace. Narrowing his eyes, Prince Qing Cang peered toward the palace, musing aloud, ¡°Have I been discovered? Or is it mere coincidence?¡± His concerns hung unanswered in the air. That little emperor was about the same age as his daughter. It was plausible that someone was impersonating her. Nevertheless, whoever was cloaked in the colorful dragon scales surely had connections within the palace. Could it be the doings of that elder? However, his prevailing concern was identifying the Great Spirit Dragon of the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons. The obliteration of all six clans was a feat unheard of since ancient times. ¡°This world is getting more and more mysterious,¡± he murmured. ¡­ Meanwhile, in another part of the imperial capital, a throng of patrons gathered outside the bustling Longevity Building, the queue extending around the corner. Regardless of their opulent attire and noble lineage, they waited patiently, not daring to overstep their boundaries. They even humbly smiled at the manager standing by the entrance. Their compliance owed to the fact that the Longevity Building was a joint venture of the six royal clans, its larder directly stocked from the clans¡¯ vaults. Alongside delicacies of astonishing value, the establishment offered high-quality medicinal pills, talismans, and life-prolonging treasures. The saying went that there was no treasure you couldn¡¯t buy at the Longevity Building, only treasures you couldn¡¯t afford. At that moment, a party of over ten people, clad in bamboo hats and long muslin, strolled through the main entrance. The smiling manager stood frozen, then quickly bowed. Neither party exchanged a word throughout the encounter. Soon after, in a room at the top of the Longevity Building, the group shed their disguises, revealing their identities as the emissaries from the six clans who had confronted Qing Cang Palace. ¡°Everyone, we¡¯re pressed for time,¡± asserted a middle-aged man with an almost divine aura. Everyone nodded in agreement, offering respectful salutations. ¡°Regardless of the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons¡¯ identities, we mustn¡¯t let this affront slide!¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± echoed the others. ¡°They dared to intrude on our white tiger clan¡¯s base? The audacity!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing martial arts for five hundred years and never encountered such insolence!¡± The assembly, all elders of various clans who had fallen to Qin Huai¡¯s might, voiced their indignation. ¡°We must retaliate,¡± the middle-aged Qilin elder declared. ¡°But how? You must realize that our six clans have been defeated. Even though I don¡¯t want to admit it, if we were to face off in the spirit bone level once more, the outcome would likely be the same.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 583 - 583 The Six Clans Declared War! 583 The Six Clans Declared War! The elder of the black tortoise clan spoke in a somber tone, ¡°The world today is indeed different from the past.¡± The middle-aged man from the Qilin clan said slowly, ¡°The chaotic world has begun, and heroes have gathered. It¡¯s no longer the era where any one of us can suppress everything and make the three sects suffer. For example, the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons this time. Just the two of them destroyed the encampment of our six clans. So¡­¡± He paused for a moment, then slowly continued, ¡°It¡¯s time for us to work together to overcome this chaotic world. We can only abandon our past grudges and truly cooperate with the six clans. Only then can we destroy those sects. As for how the world will be divided after the person in the imperial palace dies of old age, we¡¯ll just have to rely on our own abilities.¡± The people of the other five clans all smiled. ¡°When I came, the sect master told me this. I didn¡¯t expect Brother Qi to say it first.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ What a coincidence, our sect master also said the same thing.¡± There was no resistance at all. The representatives of the six clans instantly agreed. This was also the reason why they still sent a large number of people to the imperial city to denounce them in such a battle. An alliance was formed. ¡°Then let¡¯s start with the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons!¡± The middle-aged man from the Qilin Race clenched his fist. ¡°If one clan can¡¯t do it, the six clans will do it together!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the spirit world, Fangde Mountain Range¡­ ¡°This Earth Longevity Spring! I want it!¡± a malevolent-looking man roared wildly. ¡°Hahaha¡­ Brother, why don¡¯t you give this place to me?¡± another man said, ¡°Anyway, the Banished Immortal Flower is about to bloom. Without the tyrannical actions of the six great royal clans, there are plenty of opportunities in the spirit bone level.¡± ¡°Even if we each get one, we can still get enough.¡± ¡°These words are somewhat reasonable. Without the six clans, I feel like I¡¯ve cultivated for a year in two days.¡± Two others agreed, ¡°I¡¯m really going to leave here and give up this chance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons. I wonder if it¡¯s the work of the dragon clan¡­ But he¡¯s really strong!¡± The few of them sighed with emotion, and someone suddenly said, ¡°Eh, it seems like this Earth Longevity Spring is enough for each of us.¡± ¡°There are still nine cups left! Those two fellow daoists left early!¡± The group of people smiled happily. ¡°It¡¯s different. It¡¯s really different. In the past, the six royal clans were really overbearing. Even if they couldn¡¯t finish it, they wouldn¡¯t be willing to give us a share.¡± ¡°If those two are in front of me, I¡¯ll kowtow to them!¡± ¡°Then come!¡± A slightly childish voice sounded like a ghost beside the man. ¡°Ahh!¡± The few people holding the cups were obviously shocked and fell back one after another. They saw a young girl with a porcelain doll-like face looking at them with a smile. ¡°Little Spirit Dragon!¡± ¡°Damn, I actually saw her in person!¡± The few people sitting around were so excited that their faces turned red. In front of the little girl, they were like fanatic fans, a complete contrast to the big shots outside the spirit world. Anyone here was a sect leader or an elder with immense authority, but they had become admirers of the new power that was reshaping their world. ¡°Then¡­¡± The few of them looked behind the little girl with trembling eyes, spotting the tall, ordinary-looking figure who was now in their sight. He was forgettable at a glance, but there was something in his presence that evoked fear. ¡°Ah¡­ Great Spirit Dragon!¡± they stammered. ¡°Great Spirit Dragon¡­¡± Qin Huai mused, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly at this form of address, his feelings indescribable. ¡°Why are you here?¡± one of them finally asked. ¡°Ah, because we¡¯ve killed all the people from the six clans. We¡¯re going to find trouble with the Sacred Heart Sect and the three sects,¡± the little girl declared, raising her head. Her smug expression sent a shiver of fear through those around her. The six clans were all killed¡­ Such a casual statement could set off a storm. ¡°The people of the six clans are really despicable,¡± Qin Huai commented, growing impatient. He¡¯d thought the pride of the six clans would drive them to seek revenge, but instead, they¡¯d retreated, halting his progress in fusing with his spirit bone. From the look of things, he didn¡¯t want to move against the three sects and the Sacred Heart Sect, especially since it would reduce the human camp¡¯s strength on the battlefield. And the Sacred Heart¡¯s master¡¯s method of meeting him in a ¡®dream¡¯ from thousands of miles away made Qin Huai feel extremely wary. When the surrounding people heard Qin Huai¡¯s words, they could only twitch their lips, knowing that few could make such a claim. Swoosh! A white light suddenly flashed beside them. ¡°A newcomer has arrived,¡± the little girl announced, looking towards the flickering light with an experienced eye. ¡°Everyone, something big has happened!¡± a new arrival shouted, running towards them. ¡°The six royal clans have formed an alliance!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Good fellow!¡± ¡°This is great. The advantage of the Sacred Heart Sect is gone,¡± the crowd responded, their faces a mix of shock and confusion. ¡°There¡¯s still one more important matter!¡± the newcomer continued. ¡°The first thing the six clans did after forming an alliance is a declaration of war against the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons! They will use the power of the six clans to fight against them! I swear on the heavens and earth that the loser will never enter the spirit world!¡± ¡°Damn it! Betting on the big shot? The six clans really don¡¯t want any face anymore!¡± the crowd roared in disbelief. The rough man with the message scoffed. ¡°This is an open plot, right? Everyone knows that there¡¯s no chance of winning this matter. The Spirit Dragon Duo Demons naturally know as well. They wouldn¡¯t have fought this battle that they were bound to lose. If they didn¡¯t fight the six clans, wouldn¡¯t they have won?¡± ¡°In any case, the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons definitely won¡¯t go to this battle!¡± he concluded. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m going to go away,¡± a light voice interjected. The rough man glared. ¡°Who are you? Do you think the Spirit Dragon Duo are as brainless as you?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ He is one of the dragons,¡± someone said quietly. ¡°Then it¡¯s fine.¡± The rough man patted his pants and naturally knelt down in front of Qin Huai. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 584 - 584 King Bone Holy Altar 584 King Bone Holy Altar ¡°Please, don¡¯t take my words to heart,¡± the rough man said, his flexibility evident in his smooth kneeling. ¡°Quickly, get up,¡± the little girl insisted, helping the rough man to his feet. ¡°We are magnanimous and won¡¯t be bothered by such small matters. Where did you say the six clans¡¯ invitation is?¡± ¡°At the King Bone Holy Altar, in the center of the spirit bone level,¡± he replied. Before the rough man could finish, the surrounding crowd gasped. ¡°King Bone Holy Altar? Are the six royal clans insane? That¡¯s a true forbidden area! Ordinary martial artists like us would be shattered with just one step!¡± Their voices shook with the profound respect they held for the King Bone Holy Altar. ¡°Legend has it that after death, king realm creatures¡¯ corpses remain incomplete because the spirit world devours a certain bone in their bodies. Some say it¡¯s a mark of an expert, bestowed by the Heavenly Dao,¡± they shared. ¡°They¡¯re not stupid,¡± the little girl interjected, her face a sneer. ¡°Each king realm expert¡¯s bone possesses tremendous power. The so-called ¡®Great Path power¡¯ is nothing but the remnant power from those king realm bones. The accumulation of tens of thousands of these bones turned the King Bone Holy Altar into a forbidden area, too potent even for purebloods and future kings to traverse freely. They are, after all, true king¡¯s bones.¡± The crowd listened, entranced by the depth of knowledge the little girl offered. But just as abruptly as she began, she stopped speaking. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We should get ready!¡± she commanded, disappearing into the forest. Qin Huai, seemingly unfazed by her domineering demeanor, followed. After several miles, the little girl stopped, hopping around as if searching for something. Suddenly, she landed, her expression severe as she addressed Qin Huai. ¡°You can¡¯t go! You absolutely can¡¯t go! The six royal clans are truly shameless.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Qin Huai asked, ¡°In the King Bone Holy Altar, isn¡¯t the pressure from the king¡¯s bones lenient toward them?¡± ¡°You¡¯re correct!¡± the little girl asserted, hands on her hips. ¡°Not only can they be lenient, but they can also wield the power of those king bones against us. Many of them are their ancestors. Even in death, their auras can be discerned. With the use of certain supreme clan treasures, they can control these bones as if they were an extension of themselves. In the king realm, even after death, the remnants of their bodies and souls retain formidable power.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you also a member of the eight royal clans, Princess Qing Cang? Don¡¯t you have treasures befitting your status?¡± Qin Huai asked casually. ¡°I¡­ My father is merely a prince, he wouldn¡¯t command the treasures of the past sages,¡± the little girl responded, her eyes evasive. ¡°In essence, we aren¡¯t just fighting the six royal clans. Upon entering the King Bone Holy Altar, we¡¯ll have to face the top experts of those clans from ancient times.¡± ¡°Is there no possibility of victory?¡± Qin Huai pressed. ¡°That¡¯s absurd! The six royal clans have been at their peak for countless years, never declining. Though time may have eroded the king bones¡¯ power, they still count more than a hundred king tier entities amongst them. I fear only our Great You¡¯s founding emperor, the Dragon Emperor¡¯s ancestor, could suppress them.¡± The little girl sighed. ¡°Regrettably, my Dragon Emperor ancestor was the only emperor realm expert since the dawn of the Great You, counting both the human and demon races. Perhaps the Qingzhou Emperor, who almost eradicated eight clans in Qingzhou, could be considered half a candidate.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qin Huai asked, hearing the name of Senior Emperor of Qingzhou from the little girl once again. ¡°Because the Qingzhou Emperor, though invincible in Qingzhou, can no longer reach that invincible realm. Although Qingzhou still boasts top-notch king realm experts and has even surpassed the three sects to become the human race¡¯s peak, they¡¯re no longer invincible.¡± As time passed, Qin Huai began to understand the power of the senior Huang of Qingzhou. Even the world¡¯s overlords held immense respect for the Qingzhou Emperor. From the little girl, he learned about the change in power in the Great You ten thousand years ago, including the invasion of the eight great royal clans and the world¡¯s transformation. In essence, the human race¡¯s peak was maintained by the three sects, which took turns producing emperors. However, ten thousand years ago, with the death of the last emperor, the human race no longer had an emperor. The appearance of the True Dragon Emperor in the dragon clan triggered a world-changing event. The True Dragon Emperor, according to the little girl, didn¡¯t annihilate the human race out of his desire for all races to coexist. ¡°In conclusion, we absolutely must not go to this battle!¡± the little girl insisted. ¡°Alright.¡± Qin Huai nodded casually. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 585 - 585 The Grand Scenery of East Qingzhou 585 The Grand Scenery of East Qingzhou ¡°I need to return.¡± Saying this, Qin Huai sat cross-legged with a calm demeanor. In the following moment, the world shifted, a cold breeze drifting in through the cracks beside him. Qin Huai slit his finger, and a drop of blood leaped from his body, swirling like a living dragon. Eventually, it solidified into a pool of blood in his palm. Ripples spread across this pool, revealing an image of the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, where the white-robed king remained seated, unmoving. With a squeak, Qin Huai pushed open the door to the secret room. Shortly after, Gou Jie arrived, familiar with the room. The latter reported on recent developments. ¡°The Sacred Heart Sect has been silent over the past three months, and we haven¡¯t found any trace of the white-robed king. On the other hand, visceral prefecture realm experts in Qingzhou City have begun to appear like bamboo shoots after a rainstorm.¡± He sighed. ¡°Logically, according to the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s cultivation method, the increase in visceral prefecture realm martial artists should decrease those below. However, recent turmoil throughout the Great You has caused a surge of refugees in this remote province. Many ambitious people, upon hearing about Qingzhou City, have flocked here, causing the city¡¯s population to swell.¡± Hearing this, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows, wondering if the Sacred Heart Sect Master had miscalculated or if he had foreseen all this. ¡°Given this situation, even without the blood sea, a king realm expert might emerge from Qingzhou City¡­¡± Qin Huai murmured, rubbing his forehead. After a pause, he instructed, ¡°Regardless, we must monitor the white-robed king¡¯s movements. As long as he doesn¡¯t make a move, it¡¯s still a good thing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Alliance Master,¡± Gou Jie assured him. ¡°Regarding Fang Huo and the others¡­¡± He paused. ¡°I fear their journey back will be prolonged. They¡¯re all tied up in the war and can¡¯t free themselves. Furthermore, their exceptional performance on the battlefield attracted the attention of the six clans¡¯ experts. They¡¯re under constant surveillance. Returning recklessly may bring more trouble than help to Qingzhou, given the traitors among us.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ After all, they¡¯ve been under the rule of the eight royal clans for ten thousand years. Traitors are to be expected.¡± Qin Huai nodded, recalling rumors he had heard from the little girl about the six clans and three sects. ¡°Then let them act according to the situation,¡± he decided. He and Gou Jie proceeded to Lingkou Pass, where a long line of people extended as far as the eye could see. Comprised of displaced residents of Qingzhou and refugees from other provinces escaping the war, they were distinguished by their varying accents and diverse attire. ¡°Send a message to the Nine Dragons Sect, advising them to maintain stability,¡± Qin Huai instructed, observing the crowd. ¡°Among these refugees, many possess potent blood essences. In a minor place like the ten counties, they¡¯d be regarded as experts capable of single-handedly defending a city.¡± Gou Jie laughed. ¡°Alliance Master, don¡¯t worry. Your empress¡¯s rule is different now.¡± His face beamed with pride as he spoke. ¡°Aside from Elder Yang and Feng Zhiqun, four visceral prefecture realm experts guard the Nine Dragons Sect.¡± ¡°Elder Sanlong and father-in-law?¡± Qin Huai asked, prompting Gou Jie to respond, ¡°It seems you already have a plan in mind, Alliance Master.¡± ¡°And Shaoxiang?¡± Qin Huai continued. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Gou Jie confessed. ¡°Earlier, I tried to divine her whereabouts on a whim but was unsuccessful. It seems the empress has managed things well and amassed a significant amount of fortune. She may not hold an emperor¡¯s title, but she possesses an emperor¡¯s reality. In any case, apart from the six visceral prefecture realm experts, there are a lot of bone pattern realm experts in the Nine Dragons Sect, probably in the hundreds. As for the entire ten counties of East Qingzhou, there are even more¡­¡± As Qin Huai listened to Gou Jie describe the transformations in the ten counties, his gaze strayed toward the horizon. His rebirth mirror, resting on his lap, reflected a fate dragon growing increasingly majestic, its head already lost amongst the clouds. Its aura was impressively mighty. ¡°To have achieved such a realm, Alliance Master, your efforts have not been in vain,¡± said Gou Jie sincerely. Qin Huai let out a sigh of relief. His eyes sparkled with renewed energy. The rising realms of his loved ones and comrades, along with the prosperity of his homeland, nothing could be more motivating to him. ¡°Thank you for your dedication, Brother Gou!¡± He patted Gou Jie¡¯s shoulder before turning to depart. ¡°Alliance Master, don¡¯t you plan on visiting Lingjiang this time?¡± Gou Jie asked, taken aback. ¡°No, I won¡¯t. Just give me a concise report on the ten counties of East Qingzhou and the Great You and send it to the secret room,¡± Qin Huai answered. ¡°It¡¯s already prepared for you,¡± replied Gou Jie, clapping his hands. From a distance, two figures approached, carrying two hefty stacks of sheepskin scrolls that almost towered over them. ¡°Seems like I have enough reading material for a couple of days,¡± Qin Huai remarked, smiling as he shook his head. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, a youthful face fretted in the royal study. His slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the wooden table. This was the current little emperor. ¡°Oh, the six great royal clans, the six great royal clans¡­¡± ¡°Your Majesty, the mysterious man¡¯s willingness to stir up the storm isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing,¡± came a voice from a shadowy figure standing behind the little emperor. ¡°With him stirring the storm, that imperial uncle of yours will be safe, right?¡± ¡°But the Great Spirit Dragon is my imperial uncle!¡± the little emperor retorted, his anger flaring. Even though his imperial uncle refused to admit it, he would never mistake the dragon energy emanating from his body. The claim of being a pureblooded Kun Peng? It was a mere facade. Since the other party didn¡¯t admit it, he naturally wouldn¡¯t expose him. And as for his identity, the imperial uncle was probably aware of it in his heart. Everyone was clever; they were just playing dumb. The shadowy figure was momentarily speechless before breaking into a laugh. ¡°How could there be two invincible beings in the spirit world? If they were one and the same, that would make sense.¡± The little emperor scratched his head. ¡°Even though Imperial Uncle promised not to visit the King Bone Altar, from our recent interactions, I¡¯m certain he will! I don¡¯t know where this imperial uncle comes from, but he fears nothing. Sweeping away the six royal clans wasn¡¯t enough, and now he aims to clean them all up together. Does he think he¡¯s the reincarnation of the True Emperor?¡± He let out a long sigh. ¡°I guess it¡¯s not a problem for now. The six royal clans have already pinned the blame on Prince Qing Cang,¡± the shadowy figure added. ¡°Right. My imperial uncle, Qing Cang, has been playing the fool for years. The power he has accumulated is probably immense by now. With him drawing attention, the truth can¡¯t be uncovered anytime soon,¡± the little emperor said, a wicked grin playing on his lips. If it were merely an idle king, the six royal clans would soon discover that his Imperial Uncle was not Prince Qing Cang. But the fact was, his uncle was quite capable. He had been patient for years, merely to claim the throne. ¡°Uncle, you¡¯ve left me no choice. Don¡¯t blame me for collecting some interest,¡± the little emperor hummed happily. His face suddenly turned grave, as if a troubling thought had crossed his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We must keep a close watch on that Imperial Uncle in the spirit world.¡± He jumped down from the chair, strolling towards the dragon bed where he sat down. ¡°No, I must defeat a few of the six clans¡¯ brats in advance to lighten Imperial Uncle¡¯s burden.¡± He paused, his gaze sweeping over the vast Dragon Palace. ¡°Sigh, there¡¯s no one to depend on in such a vast Dragon Palace. I¡¯ll have to do it myself.¡± ¡­ Two days later, Qin Huai finally finished reading Gou Jie¡¯s detailed briefing, his eyes bloodshot from intense reading. ¡°I¡¯ll still have to rely on you, Brother Gou!¡± Qin Huai said to Gou Jie, who had just arrived. ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± Gou Jie asked, a bitter smile playing on his lips. ¡°Ah, I still have an important task to do in the spirit world.¡± Qin Huai lowered his voice, his expression serious. ¡°We can¡¯t keep hoping the white-robed king won¡¯t make a move. That would be too passive.¡± As long as the white-robed king wasn¡¯t dealt with, the metaphorical sword over his head would keep him awake, causing constant unease. ¡°May the Alliance Master¡¯s martial luck ever flourish!¡± Gou Jie bowed respectfully as he watched him leave. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 586 - 586 The Sects Discussions 586 The Sects¡¯ Discussions Qin Huai darted through the spirit bone level, with the King Bone Holy Altar as his destination. It was easy to find, as it was located atop the highest mountain range within sight. Suddenly, Qin Huai came to a halt. With a swift motion, he flung a droplet of blood from his hand. With a ¡®whoosh¡¯ sound, the ground exploded two meters away. Turning sharply, he found himself mere inches from another face. He managed to suppress the explosive power that was on the brink of bursting from his body. ¡°Zhang Daozi.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s aura receded. ¡°Your concealment technique is formidable. It was only when I was two meters away that I became aware of your presence, something I haven¡¯t experienced in my life before,¡± he expressed, a hint of emotion in his voice. ¡°Haha¡­ Brother Qin, you are too modest. If you discovered me only two meters away, it means that you and my master are on the same level,¡± Zhang Youji replied, laughing heartily. But beneath his jovial exterior, his mind was in turmoil. Not because Qin Huai had discovered him from two meters away, but the near-death sensation he¡¯d experienced as he tried to approach further. He had a growing feeling that this person standing before him could obliterate him in a single blow. ¡°What brings you here, Zhang Daozi?¡± Qin Huai got straight to the point. ¡°The Great Spirit Dragon of the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons, that¡¯s you too, isn¡¯t it, Brother Qin?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct,¡± Qin Huai confirmed without hesitation. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re heading to the King Bone Holy Altar, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zhang Youji inquired further. ¡°Indeed, I have to go and take a look. After all, death isn¡¯t permanent in the spirit world. It¡¯s a rare opportunity to challenge the six clans, so why not seize it,¡± Qin Huai replied nonchalantly, disclosing his intentions. ¡°Do you have any brilliant strategies, Brother Qin?¡± ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t.¡± Zhang Youji was at a loss for words. ¡°How long do you reckon you can hold off the group, Brother Qin?¡± Zhang Youji opted for a more pragmatic question. Recalling the pressure he¡¯d felt from Qin Huai earlier, he realized that Qin Huai¡¯s combat strength was far beyond his imagination. He probably wouldn¡¯t last a second against him in the spirit world. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It could be a short while, or it could be a bit longer,¡± Qin Huai contemplated. As per the little girl¡­or rather, the little emperor¡¯s description, emperors were invincible, and only time could defeat them. In the spirit bone level, the emperor¡¯s force could obliterate anything, including the bones of the kings from the king¡¯s altar. However, that would require some time. As for how long, Qin Huai honestly didn¡¯t know. ¡°A quarter of an hour?¡± ¡°An hour!¡± Qin Huai made a rough estimation. If the six royal clans didn¡¯t escape, he should be able to vanquish them all. ¡°Do the three sects have a plan?¡± Qin Huai regained his focus. ¡°Well, you could say we do. However, this plan is highly risky. I suppose I¡¯ll have to count on my persuasion skills,¡± Zhang Youji answered, flashing a mischievous grin. It was impossible to tell if he was being truthful or not. ¡°The Gratitude of the World¡± Qin Huai spoke in hushed tones, ¡°What news?¡± This time, Zhang Youji was the one caught off guard. Qin Huai¡¯s words were enigmatic. ¡°As long as Zhang Daozi keeps a watchful eye on the King Bone Holy Altar, he should be aware,¡± Qin Huai stated, not planning to probe into the plans of the three sects. He could discern from Zhang Youji¡¯s demeanor that he likely wasn¡¯t getting the full story. He understood the necessity of caution in a matter of such grave importance for the human race. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll await Brother Qin¡¯s positive news!¡± Zhang Daozi cupped his fists at Qin Huai and watched him depart. ¡°So, Master, what is your impression of Brother Qin?¡± Zhang Daozi produced a jade bottle from his sleeve. ¡°I can¡¯t quite read him.¡± The water inside the jade bottle stirred, and the voice of the True Path Sect¡¯s master echoed from within. ¡°Are you old men still undecided?¡± Zhang Youji asked. ¡°The risk is too great. If we lose, we lose everything¡­ We, as humans, cannot afford to gamble.¡± Zhang Youji couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see what kind of surprise Brother Qin brings us. The heir of the Qingzhou Emperor¡­ Tsk, tsk¡­¡± ¡­ King Bone Holy Altar. Nestled amongst mountains, swirling clouds enveloped the region like turbulent waves. Verdant forests stretched upward, their sharp aura subtly rippling from the branches and treetops. Near the restricted area, numerous figures began to gather, rushing towards this location with great speed. Their auras were imposing, their eyes bright, and their forms robust. Their chiseled figures appeared as though they¡¯d been refined thousands of times, inspiring a sense of awe and admiration. However, subtle tensions pulsed beneath the surface. Each of them made discrete defensive gestures, on guard against the others. A single misstep could lead to conflict. Surveying the scene, there were over a thousand individuals, each of them at least in the visceral prefecture realm, with some having achieved remarkable expertise in this domain. This was because typical visceral prefecture realm martial artists lacked access to precious resources like spirit stones. Regrettably, these numerous experts were merely supporting actors and spectators on this day. They were all gathered to potentially witness a historic moment. ¡°Sect Master Wang! You¡¯ve emerged from your seclusion?¡± A wave of astonishment swept across the crowd. Everyone respectfully greeted an elderly man with a bow, their faces adorned with ingratiating smiles, regardless of their actual relationship with him. ¡°Good heavens, Old Master Wang is already five hundred years old¡­ We thought he¡¯d perished in his seclusion, but here he is, looking hale and hearty.¡± ¡°Three hundred years ago, Old Master had already achieved the fifth-level visceral prefecture realm. I wonder if he¡¯s made further progress after coming back this time¡­¡± ¡°Those who appear in the spirit world are naturally not at the king realm. If a martial arts expert who has entered the king realm wants to re-enter the spirit world, it would be fatal.¡± ¡°Regardless, it seems like the Invincible Divine Leg Gang can continue for at least another decade without declining.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 587 - 587 Lesser Eight Kings Formation 587 Lesser Eight Kings Formation Every person present was filled with anticipation. A cultivator who had reached the peak of the visceral prefecture realm was of significant importance to a faction since it could determine a sect¡¯s status. As for the king realm, that was a plateau most could only aspire to reach. ¡°Do you think the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons will show up, Old Master?¡± someone inquired bravely. ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s difficult to predict,¡± replied Old Master Wang, smiling. ¡°The younger generation is quite unlike us. Times have changed. Logically, only the ones who are mentally unstable would dare to challenge the six royal clans. Yet, the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons not only confronted them, they prevailed. ¡°As to whether they¡¯ll arrive at the King Bone Holy Altar, I wouldn¡¯t presume to say. Personally, I do hope they show up,¡± he added with a chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s a free-for-all, after all. I¡¯ll be satisfied if there are casualties.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ Old Master is so straightforward!¡± Laughter rang out from the crowd, all of whom were peak martial artists. They all had some understanding of the Great You¡¯s secrets and knew who stood above them. They¡¯d seen the underhanded tactics each one employed in secrecy. Unfortunately, they lacked the power to do anything about it. ¡°It¡¯s said that members of the six royal clans have already entered the King Bone Holy Altar and are waiting. Why aren¡¯t the three sects seizing this opportunity to strike?¡± One excited voice rang out from the crowd, ¡°This is a golden opportunity.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ The leaders of the three sects surely see further than we do,¡± Old Man Wang mused, stroking his beard. ¡°In my humble opinion, it¡¯s uncertain whether this King Bone Holy Altar is a stage set for the Spirit Dragon Duo or a trap laid by the three sects. What if it¡¯s a net cast by the dragon clan and the six royal clans, waiting for the three sects to plunge into it?¡± His words left the crowd aghast, as though they¡¯d been doused with cold water. The human race was weak. The three sects could only ensure their own survival and maintain their ability to make a last stand. However, if they were to recklessly venture into the territories of the six royal clans, the outcome would be uncertain. The human race was evidently weaker in terms of military and elite combat strength. Each individual present gazed at the towering King Bone Holy Altar with a stony expression, knowing that this battle could potentially alter the balance of power in the Great You. Inside the King Bone Holy Altar, at the peak of the mountains, each of the six royal clans stood on top of their own mountaintop. Over twenty elite warriors were behind them, ready for the imminent battle, having prepared to the best of their abilities and taken considerable risks. ¡°We¡¯ve set up the camouflage, Grand Elder,¡± spoke a member of the muscular, grotesque Qiong Qi clan. ¡°We¡¯ve also established several front-line checkpoints. The king is hidden somewhere only he knows. The three sects won¡¯t receive any information¡­ If they dare to attack at this point, they¡¯ll surely face massive losses!¡± ¡°Your foresight is commendable, Sect Master,¡± the grand elder replied, stroking his beard with relief. ¡°Indeed, Patriarch Qiong¡¯s strategy is brilliant. Even if this doesn¡¯t kill the three sects¡¯ experts, it will certainly frighten them,¡± stated an expert from the white tiger clan in the distance. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since the six royal clans have collaborated on such a grand scale. The last time was¡­¡± The voice of the white tiger clan¡¯s grand elder trailed off as he wore an awkward expression. The previous friendly ambiance also grew awkward. This was because the last time the royal clans had united, it was against the Emperor of Qingzhou. That battle had yielded unexpected results. ¡°In any case, if the Spirit Dragon Demons dare to appear, we will ensure their downfall,¡± declared the great elder of the black tortoise clan in a hushed voice. The six royal clans had each sent their grand elders to represent them. Each of them held significant status within their respective clans, having reached the pinnacle of the visceral prefecture realm. Their combat prowess and qualifications were just shy of the king realm. ¡°After this battle, the elder in the palace should finally be able to put his worries to rest and pass away in peace,¡± chuckled a man and woman from the phoenix clan. An eminent king realm expert, a dragon ancestor, resided in the palace. Within the confines of the imperial capital, he could harness the power of providence to progress half a step forward, making him virtually unbeatable in the king realm. However, age had caught up with him and he had consumed all available life-prolonging substances. His remaining lifespan was now limited. ¡°Prince Qing Cang has kept himself well hidden. I presumed him to be a lazy prince until I inspected more closely last time. He¡¯s quite remarkable,¡± said a member of the Qilin clan. ¡°He secretly attained the king realm and duped us all. Moreover, he¡¯s nurtured a pair of aberrations, the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons¡­¡± Each member of the Qilin clan emanated a sacred aura, providing observers a sense of calm and tranquility. A stark contrast to the grotesque clan. ¡°Do the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons lack the courage to show up?¡± There was a hint of anxiety in the air. Swoosh! As the words left their lips, all eyes converged on a solitary figure in a black robe, appearing in their line of sight on the distinct mountain path of the King Bone Holy Altar. ¡°He¡¯s here at last!¡± They collectively felt their spirits stir. They had all experienced defeat at the hands of Qin Huai, and his face was indelibly imprinted on their minds. His silhouette alone was enough to identify him. ¡°Activate the Lesser Eight Kings Formation!¡± A chorus of over a hundred visceral prefecture realm martial artists echoed across the six mountains. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thunderous roars echoed. The entire spirit bone level shuddered as eight shadows materialized above the massive King Bone Holy Altar. True Dragon, Phoenix, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Nine Supremes, Qiong Qi, Qilin, and Kun Peng¡­ These mythical beasts filled the sky, towering like mountains, exuding an aura that was both majestic and intimidating. The world seemed to warp under their presence as if bowing before these eight beasts. An overwhelming pressure poured down from the sky like a torrential deluge. The ensuing shockwave leveled the vegetation around the king bone altar and toppled the giant trees. Thousands of visceral prefecture realm experts struggled to maintain their footing in the face of this wave. Those caught off-guard were instantly crushed by the force and dispersed into the spirit world. The survivors wasted no time underestimating this invisible wave. They retreated to higher ground, employing their bone patterns to withstand this terrifying power. ¡°It¡¯s like the pressure of eight peak king tiers. How terrifying is that?¡± Old Master Wang commented, looking at the sky-filling shadow with a sorrowful gaze. It reminded him of the precarious situation of the human race, much like the panicked humans in the face of this phantom. On the main path of the King Bone Holy Altar, Qin Huai¡¯s black robe fluttered in the wind, but he stood resolute and tall. ¡°The wind is quite noisy today,¡± he remarked with a slight smile, striding towards the six mountains. His black hair gradually turned white. A formidable pressure emanated from his dantian, coursing through his blood and qi, permeating his bone marrow, and seeping out from his skin. Boom! In the air, the eight beasts dove down. Their momentum grew with each step, like swelling waves. The Kun Peng was the fastest, arriving in front of Qin Huai in the blink of an eye. Its massive claw obscured the sky, bearing down on him. Qin Huai raised his left arm, gripping the Kun Peng¡¯s claw. His right fist was delivered instantaneously. The energy in his body peaked in an instant ¡ª the dragon qi in his dantian roared, as though ready to break free. Bang! One punch. The colossal Kun Peng started disintegrating. ¡°Let¡¯s kill the eight rascals first to warm up,¡± he said. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 588 - 588 The Eight Demons Are Like Chickens 588 The Eight Demons Are Like Chickens Outside the King Bone Holy Altar. The group of human warriors, previously taking shelter from the qi sea waves, had managed to climb up the mountain. The visibility from this vantage point was incredibly clear, enabling them to distinctly discern the situation within the King Bone Holy Altar. Of course, it was hard to miss the eight colossal beasts anyway. ¡°This is an advantageous position. Weren¡¯t we told that the mountain peak was heavily oppressed by the aura of the King Bone Holy Altar, making it an unscalable place?¡± one of them asked. ¡°It appears that¡¯s not the case,¡± retorted a young Visceral Prefecture Realm expert. Old Master Wang, observing the eight beasts, said, ¡°The emergence of these eight beasts likely influenced the energy of the entire King Bone Holy Altar, forcing it from the top to the ground. Consequently, this mountain has now become a refuge. After this incident, that power will likely slowly rebound¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, everyone watched in awe as the gargantuan Kun Peng dove toward the ground. Echoing sound waves radiated from the King Bone Holy Altar, causing everyone¡¯s hair to flutter wildly. ¡°How terrifying¡­¡± a man started to exclaim. Before he could complete his statement, the mountain-sized Kun Peng disintegrated piece by piece. ¡°How terrifying,¡± he muttered, his pupils shrinking. Everyone¡¯s attention then shifted to the area beneath the disintegrated Kun Peng. A diminutive figure stood amid the rubble. The immediate vicinity, a hundred-meter radius, was in shambles. Forget the vegetation ¡ª even the ground had sunk several inches. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, that person must be the Great Spirit Dragon of the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons,¡± Old Master Wang speculated, visibly taken aback. ¡°What a creature,¡± came a chilly voice of admiration from the side, rendering more people speechless. Atop the King Bone Holy Altar, the eyes of the demons from the six royal clans twitched uncontrollably at the sight. ¡°As expected, indeed¡­¡± muttered the Qiong Qi grand elder, his mouth twitching in the process. ¡°Everyone, I suggest we simply call him Wang Gu,¡± he proposed, looking around at his kin. ¡°Indeed. Despite the various tactics we have at our disposal, considering this youngster dared to confront our six royal clans alone, we should at least extend him some courtesy,¡± stated one of the white tiger elders, his features unchanged. The grand elders from the remaining four clans nodded in agreement. ¡°If it¡¯s impossible, then it¡¯s impossible. Why make so many excuses?¡± retorted Bai Shiquan with disdain. ¡°You senior members are all bound by some so-called face. Eventually, it will turn minor issues into major calamities.¡± ¡°You have a loose tongue?¡± retorted a white tiger elder, casting a frosty glance at Bai Shiquan. ¡°When I inherit my father¡¯s position, I¡¯ll make it a point to eliminate anyone posing even the slightest threat to our white tiger clan¡¯s rule,¡± proclaimed Bai Shiquan, leveraging the surrounding scenery to emphasize his sentiments. In his perspective, the progress of the six royal clans was constantly obstructed across various main world battlefields. He believed the primary reason the human race sent many prodigies to disrupt their rule was because these families overly prized their reputations. The various clans, overly concerned about their prestige and stubborn to boot, had unknowingly nurtured small issues into the significant problems they faced today. As a result, they had to dedicate many times the usual manpower and combat power just to keep an eye on the opposition. The person confronting them likely was a spy raised by Prince Qing Cang¡¯s allies, who had also probably been hunted by the six royal clans somewhere else. ¡°Everyone, prepare yourselves!¡± ¡°To the hill!¡± The leaders of the phoenix clan roared out their orders. Qin Huai, situated on the flat mountain path, suddenly quickened his pace and set his sights on the mountain. ¡°Charge! Attack!¡± Qiqi, one of the demons from the six royal clans, commanded in a roar. The remaining seven beasts lunged at Qin Huai. Descending from the mountain, the white tiger exuded divine might, its menacing aura morphing into a surging river of blood. As this river approached, Qin Huai¡¯s hair stood on end. A faint golden light shimmered beneath his skin. Any encroaching killing intent instantly disintegrated within an inch of him. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, stark white as before, reflected a blood-colored tiger and wolf rising from his back. Initially quivering, they grew exponentially more formidable under the influence of Qin Huai¡¯s vigorous blood and qi, their killing intent even surpassing that of the White Tiger. Bang! Qin Huai¡¯s fist caused the killing intent to shatter incrementally, much like fragile paper. From the horizon emerged a phoenix, its fiery glow cascading down from the sky. Another punch from Qin Huai sent his energy skyrocketing into the clouds. The fist carved a path wherever it went, dissipating the surrounding clouds and mist. Whoosh! In mid-air, the phoenix split into two, converging like giant pincers toward Qin Huai¡¯s ribs with uncanny precision. Its beak, as red as blood and hefty, sought to penetrate Qin Huai. Its searing flames attempted to burn through him. However, Qin Huai¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°A phantom is ultimately a phantom, externally formidable but internally frail,¡± he retorted coldly. A single move was all it took for him to grasp the offensive capabilities of the eight beasts. He threw another punch, and the phoenix shattered into pieces. Instead of evading, Qin Huai used his body to block the oncoming assaults and quickened his advance. His hooves suspended in the air, a stomp ushered in a flurry of clouds and mist. Without affording it a look, Qin Huai launched another punch. Bang! The punch fell short of its target. The Qilin¡¯s hoof crashed down onto Qin Huai¡¯s head. The ground split open for thousands of feet, causing the surrounding mountains to shudder. A slight raise of his eyebrow at his miss, Qin Huai shifted his gaze to the formidable Qilin. Previously clad in scales and fur, the creature had now lost more than half of it. Scales scattered across the grounds of the King Bone Holy Altar, some embedding themselves deeply into the earth, as if fallen from the heavens. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 589 - 589 Together With the King! 589 Together With the King! Some of them were obliterated by the enigmatic aura in the air, dissipating into nothingness. Qin Huai was fully focused as he launched a second punch at Qilin. Boom! As he punched, the black tortoise burrowed out from beneath. The huge waves it sent out upon emerging shot Qin Huai into the sky. His left hand clawed against the current, and he managed to grasp the sharp tail of the black tortoise. The black tortoise suddenly lifted off the ground as Qin Huai held onto its tail. He was in a hurry. Boom! The waves receded, and the ground beneath Qin Huai cracked once more. Rocks and the black tortoise flew through the air. Bang! The entire King Bone Holy Altar vibrated as the black tortoise was smashed into the ground. Its body disintegrated, and the waves surged anew. Qin Huai dashed into the waves and emerged shortly after, having torn the black tortoise apart in the waves. He had also decapitated a baby. The Qilin, next to him, charged over again, its aura markedly different than before. It was enveloped in dazzling light, causing Qin Huai¡¯s blood and qi to show signs of stabilizing. ¡°Interesting,¡± Qin Huai remarked, throwing another punch at the suns. Bang! The Qilin¡¯s horn collided with Qin Huai¡¯s body, and his fist missed its mark. However, Qilin dodging Qin Huai¡¯s two punches was its limit. The auspicious scales on its body had vanished without a trace, revealing bare flesh from which blood flowed incessantly. Indeed, Qilin was unable to dodge Qin Huai¡¯s third punch. Qin Huai had also slayed Qiong Qi. Qin Huai had engaged the most with the ferocious beast Nine Supremes. Even if he destroyed its body, all damage was attributed only to its head. A head exploded. Despite having its body completely destroyed, it could still recover. ¡°His life-saving methods are excellent and can be considered invincible. Unfortunately, his cultivation methods are among the weakest of the eight clans,¡± Qin Huai commented as he crushed the heads. Then, he turned his gaze to the immobile azure dragon, his eyes gleaming with white light, causing it to back away. Those outside the King Bone Holy Altar were left speechless. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the Great Calamity Formation¡¯s power in the western battlefield. A single ferocious beast could rival a peak visceral prefecture realm expert. Whether in terms of killing power or survivability, it¡¯s superior to living beings. But this person¡­¡± someone remarked. ¡°I never imagined someone could overlook the attacks of the eight beasts¡­ He didn¡¯t pay any mind to their attacks at all,¡± another added. The eight vicious formation had claimed seven beasts, with one still motionless. How could they not be moved by the events? The turmoil they¡¯d seen was far beyond their previous experiences. The six royal families on the King Bone Holy Altar were also gritting their teeth. The grand elder of the Qiong Qi clan held a large beast skin, faintly floating in the air, emitting a dark light. Upon close inspection, one could see it was an intact piece of Qiong Qi hide covered in ancient patterns, suggestive of a long history. Black waves of light emanated from it, causing the mountain beneath to tremble continuously, as if something was about to manifest. The other five members of the clans held various treasures as well. The phoenix clan produced two seven-colored feathers, while the white tiger clan revealed a pair of seven-meter-long canine teeth. The Qilin clan had scales, and the Nine Supremes clan was carrying a withered baby corpse, bizarrely featuring three heads and six arms. The black tortoise clan¡¯s shell was pressing down on the mountaintop, causing the most violent shaking. ¡°This won¡¯t work. If this kid arrives, we may not finish in time,¡± the grand elders collectively sighed, looking at each other with visible concern. They¡¯d assumed that the formations, while not enough to kill Qin Huai, would stall him sufficiently. They were, of course, a little uncomfortable. If the news of the six royal clans dealing with two of them were to spread, it would be enough to incite mockery. If they were to prepare on the battlefield in advance, it would indeed be shameless. However, they didn¡¯t foresee Bai Shiquan being so straightforward. They found themselves in a predicament. Bang! At that moment, seven figures stepped out from the mountain peak almost simultaneously. Bai Shiquan looked around at his companions and wore a bright smile. ¡°It appears we¡¯re all on the same page,¡± he commented. The Fourth Generation Fairy toyed with her hair, replying nonchalantly, ¡°Who among us isn¡¯t a future king? We suffered a defeat at the Golden Spirit Temple. Isn¡¯t it time we exacted revenge?¡± The twin phoenixes chimed in harmoniously, ¡°We¡¯ve long awaited this day.¡± Third Young Master Qiong gnashed his teeth, ¡°Indeed.¡± Young Master Qi of the Qilin clan shone brightly with a holy light, his presence alone enough to demand everyone¡¯s attention. Meanwhile, the man from the black tortoise clan donned a blue-green robe and remained silent. He hefted a large shield, leading the charge down the mountain. ¡°Don¡¯t hold it against us, Young Master Long, for having superior numbers,¡± Third Young Master Qiong noted with a sinister smile. ¡°One on one, you may outmatch the Chief and Extinction. Even the future kings might struggle against you. But you are different. You have the strength that warrants our besieging.¡± Bai Shiquan added, ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re truly dead.¡± Their consciences remained clear, knowing they were unlike the old, tradition-bound figures behind them. ¡°Times have changed,¡± the fairy remarked, a teasing smile playing at her lips, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a saying? A dead fairy is but a skeleton. Only those alive can be beauties.¡± As her words hung in the air, they began to make their moves. The ground beneath Qin Huai instantly crumbled, and an earth spike, wrapped in king¡¯s force, thrust upward, targeting his toes. Surprised, he thought, ¡®Can king¡¯s force really be used this way?¡¯ There was no time for further contemplation as hundreds of fire feathers descended from all directions. As Qin Huai made a defensive fist throw, the feathers exploded into white marks on his sturdy body. ¡°Interesting,¡± he noted, the white light in his eyes intensifying. His white hair fluttered freely, and a smile tugged at his lips. In the midst of the chaos, Bai Shiquan appeared in the air with a roar, wielding a long spear and carried by the black tortoise demon atop the earth spike. As Qin Huai threw a punch in response, he felt his heart racing with excitement. Yet his momentum wavered uncontrollably, and his skin split open, blood spilling forth. The white tiger¡¯s attack was formidable indeed, heightened further by the fing¡¯s force. Third Young Master Qiong seemed to be orchestrating this unmanageable momentum. As if intending to embrace the entire sky, he shouted, ¡°Surrender!¡± Meanwhile, Young Master Qi of the Qilin clan was caught by a youth from the phoenix clan. Their combined forces caused Qin Huai¡¯s aura to weaken again, allowing Bai Shiquan to press his attack. Blood splashed through the air in response to the assault, and the blood-filled sky instantaneously turned golden, forming into tigers and wolves that sprang at their enemies. But Young Master Qi was prepared, his cry of ¡°Intimidation!¡± causing the beastly figures to dissolve back into blood droplets. Even so, the collapsing blood technique remained intact and the figures regenerated, assaulting the phoenix twins, Young Master Qi, and Bai Shiquan once more. Qin Huai seized the opportunity, grabbing Bai Shiquan¡¯s ankle and delivering a punch. A white dragon appeared from his fist, radiating potent power. Bai Shiquan¡¯s own counterpunch exploded into spiritual energy, filling the air. ¡°What other tricks do you have?¡± Qin Huai demanded, his eyes fixed on the mountain peak where the other elders stood in front of their artifacts. It seemed impossible now to remove the eight royal clans before their sacrifice was complete. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 590 - 590 Phoenix Fire! Death Substitution Technique! 590 Phoenix Fire! Death Substitution Technique! The moment his voice faded, the sky became a canvas of fiery rain, weaving an unyielding net of fire. Qin Huai appeared unfazed as he let the flames descend upon him. However, as he advanced, he stopped. The engulfing flames around him refused to wane, instead transforming the skies into a forest of fire, with him at its center. From above, the phoenix twins cast an imperious gaze at their captive. ¡°The phoenix fire is unparalleled,¡± one of them said. ¡°A mere spark can burn for decades.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just eternal,¡± the other added, ¡°but can elongate one¡¯s life. And it will continue to sear you for the remainder of yours.¡± Qin Huai strained against the fiery chains with his potent blood and qi, yet the fire remained steadfast. A realization dawned upon him: his king¡¯s force might just counteract the fire¡¯s force. Wasting no time, he amplified his king¡¯s force, which roared to life around him, clashing with the phoenix fire. Suddenly, a dark, formidable spear thrust through the flaming barrier, its presence chilling Qin Huai to the bone. He swiftly parried with his hand, seizing the weapon. Outside the fiery fortress stood Bai Shiquan, grinning ominously. ¡°Once again, our paths cross,¡± he sneered. The spear¡¯s lethal aura began to seep, trying to invade Qin Huai¡¯s defenses. But Qin Huai¡¯s composure remained intact, his grip on the spear tightening. Under his overwhelming force, Bai Shiquan was utterly outmatched. Raising the spear and with a swift motion, Qin Huai repelled Bai Shiquan and charged forth, trying to break free from the blazing confinement. But as he neared the boundary, a vast green barrier stood in his way. Without missing a beat, Qin Huai unleashed a resounding dragon roar, its power so immense that even the surrounding phoenix fire faltered. He relentlessly assaulted the green obstruction with a barrage of punches. Muffled thuds echoed, a testament to the sheer force of his blows. Yet, his usually dominating strength seemed to be waning. A combination of the Qilin clan¡¯s mystical formula, the phoenix fire, and the formidable defense of the mountain-like shield had diminished his power. To shatter through completely, he would need more time than he anticipated. As he surveyed the area, Qin Huai¡¯s attention was drawn to the waning aura of the Fourth Generation Fairy outside the fiery net. The unexpected resurgence of Bai Shiquan seemed intertwined with the machinations of the Nine Supremes clan. Years of combat had honed Qin Huai¡¯s instincts ¡ª he could discern even the most subtle irregularities on a battlefield. ¡°Why would the Nine Supremes clan shoulder someone else¡¯s blame?¡± he mused aloud, all the while warding off Bai Shiquan¡¯s advances and the persistent defenses of the black tortoise clan. ¡°Indeed, the Nine Supremes clan possesses a clandestine art known as the death substitution technique. It¡¯s a life-for-life exchange. However, many of its members possess dual lives. Who wouldn¡¯t appreciate an extra life, after all?¡± the fairy responded, her gaze lingering on Qin Huai, an intent so intense as if she wished to consume him. ¡°I never imagined the Fourth Generation Fairy would exhibit such altruism,¡± remarked Qin Huai, sidestepping an onslaught of phoenix fire and, with a series of strikes, shattered Bai Shiquan¡¯s spear. The fairy chuckled. ¡°This little one isn¡¯t that magnanimous or loyal. I¡¯ve merely found certain loopholes in the spirit world.¡± Enlightenment dawned upon Qin Huai. Death within the spirit world wasn¡¯t a genuine death. Leveraging the Nine Supremes clan¡¯s death substitution technique held minimal repercussions here, rendering a significant advantage. As for the motivations of the seven imminent kings¡­ The fairy and Young Master Qi exchanged knowing glances. ¡°We should be able to maintain the balance,¡± she said. They both realized that even a coalition of the seven wouldn¡¯t be enough against Qin Huai. Their true agenda was biding time until the activation of the ancestral king bone, a tool they hoped would be effective against Qin Huai. Boom! Suddenly, the skies were cleaved by a descending figure. The encompassing net of celestial flames crumbled, revealing a vast rift. ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to wait for me?¡± The figure, initially mistaken for a young girl but unmistakably the little emperor, fumed. Extricating himself from the molten ground, he noticed Qin Huai¡¯s absence. But, looking up, he saw Qin Huai unfold his Kun Peng wings and ascend with unparalleled speed, evading both the phoenix fire and Young Master Qi¡¯s purifying radiance. The phoenix twins above mirrored the little emperor¡¯s alarm and immediately fled. But Qin Huai¡¯s chilling voice stopped them. ¡°Do you truly believe you can escape?¡± With a swift motion, he flung out droplets of blood toward the fleeing pair. As they coursed through the air, the droplets transformed, shimmering gold, and metamorphosed into golden-winged rocs. Imbued with the king¡¯s force, these creatures seemed to pulsate with life, majestic and formidable. Bang! As he used the collapsing blood technique ¨C golden roc, the two phoenixes were obliterated in an explosive flare. The residual force created a tempestuous wind, rendering it near impossible for onlookers to see. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 591 - 591 All Kings, Listen to My Order! 591 All Kings, Listen to My Order! ¡°Do you really believe such tactics will kill me?!¡± The phoenix boy¡¯s voice resonated with fury. Yet before he could react further, a pair of luminescent white eyes materialized behind him. ¡°Why not compensate for it?¡± With a fierce punch propelled by a gust of wind, Qin Huai obliterated the phoenix prodigy. Even the formidable earthen spikes that erupted beneath him stood no chance, disintegrating instantly. Not far behind, the matriarch of the phoenix clan found herself under relentless assault as three avatars of Qin Huai bore down on her. Desperate, she targeted what she presumed was Qin Huai¡¯s genuine form, finding a slender window of vulnerability. Her optimism, however, was short-lived. With a deft maneuver, Qin Huai retaliated without so much as glancing in her direction, laying to rest the two phoenix combatants. As they perished, the spiritual energy enveloping the vicinity gravitated toward him. ¡°Ding! Spiritual energy assimilated, spirit bone fusion rate +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Current spirit bone fusion rate: 41%.¡± Plummeting to the ground, the impact fractured the earth, sending rocks skyward. Alongside him, the little emperor, who¡¯d just joined the fray, was ensnared mid-air by Qin Huai. ¡°This flowing rainbow dragon scale¡¯s resilience surpasses even my expectations,¡± Qin Huai remarked. Flashing a mischievous grin, the little emperor said, ¡°Precisely why I risked joining this battlefront.¡± With armor as resilient as the dragon scales, not even the formidable white tiger spear or phoenix flames could dent him. In the spirit bone level, his scaled armor rendered him virtually unbeatable. Yet, in a blink, the scenario shifted. Using the little emperor as a projectile, Qin Huai launched him directly at the fairy. Bereft of their phoenix allies¡¯ aerial defenses and assistance, the remaining five combatants were powerless to further delay the inevitable. Eyes cold, Qin Huai taunted, ¡°Will you come to his rescue, or will you cower?¡± The fairy, torn between choices, repositioned into a meditative stance. ¡°Hold off that kid!¡± she ordered. Radiant light emerged, but it couldn¡¯t hinder the nimble little emperor. The Qilin clan demon emerged, effectively immobilizing the youthful monarch. Switching his attention, Qin Huai faced the black tortoise. Channeling his energy to its pinnacle, his punches became more potent, accompanied by both tiger and dragon roars. The malevolence emanating from him was palpable, further amplified by the four-directional tiger-wolf technique. His formidable ten dragon shock technique obliterated the black tortoise¡¯s protective shield, revealing a rugged, burly face beneath. Despite the black tortoise¡¯s last-ditch efforts to fortify itself with thicker barriers, Qin Huai¡¯s relentless blows proved overwhelming. Three successive punches, and the tortoise demon was reduced to rubble. In the midst of this chaos, Bai Shiquan attempted a sneak attack. His plans, however, were foiled when a staff parried his assault, splintering his spear yet again. Without the phoenix twins and Young Master Qi¡¯s constraints, Qin Huai¡¯s might was unchecked, and one by one, the prospective king-tiers fell, their essences absorbed by him. ¡°You can¡¯t save them anymore,¡± Qin Huai said, shifting his focus to the fairy and Young Master Qi. Up above, from the remnants of the fallen phoenixes, new spiritual entities began to manifest. These beings, however, were short-lived. As they emerged, they found themselves ensnared by numerous gilded projectiles. The phoenix twins, mere moments after their rebirth, were doomed once more. ¡°You deduced their rebirth locations?¡± The fairy¡¯s complexion paled further, her dismay evident. The weight of her decisions pressed heavily upon her. She had sacrificed so much, only to watch her allies fall once again. Qin Huai merely smirked. ¡°If their resurrection were purely random, the chances of them reappearing right before us in the vast spirit world would be minuscule. Not to mention that Bai Shiquan almost killed his way back a moment after his death.¡± His voice grew contemplative, ¡°Moreover, I¡¯ve fought with an undying adversary before. With each confrontation, I¡¯ve gleaned insights into their revival patterns.¡± The little emperor, previously used as a projectile, was now immobilized on the ground by Young Master Qi¡¯s ensnaring white light. The fairy mused, an undertone of begrudging respect evident, ¡°You¡¯re actually still so calm in this dangerous battle. It¡¯s clear why you¡¯ve made it this far.¡± Qin Huai raised a brow, amusement dancing in his eyes. ¡°Dangerous? This? I hardly feel threatened. And deathmatch? This hardly qualifies.¡± His nonchalance seemed to rub Young Master Qi the wrong way. With a swift punch, radiant beams emanated from beneath, an aura both divine and treacherous surrounding them. Yet, Qin Huai¡¯s power rose to meet the challenge, nullifying the attack. In mere moments, Young Master Qi was reduced to fragments, although a last-ditch effort allowed him to evade a deadly strike. Still, the subsequent assault ensured his defeat. All that remained was the Fourth Generation Fairy, her vitality visibly sapped, likely due to the taxing death substitution technique. She cast Qin Huai an admiring gaze. ¡°Only a man of your caliber is worthy of me,¡± she declared with a hint of allure in her voice. ¡°How about I help you?¡± Yet, Qin Huai¡¯s answer was brutal, his fists striking without hesitation. ¡°They say that beautiful women can¡¯t be trusted,¡± he remarked coolly. Surveying the battlefield, his eyes sought out one elusive adversary. Third Young Master Qiong then made a grand re-entry, unveiling a potent myriad elixir from the depths of the earth. ¡°A parting gift, courtesy of the black tortoise clan and me,¡± he declared with manic glee. His resentment was palpable. ¡°To think I¡¯d be overshadowed by you!¡± With a grand flourish, the massive myriad elixir was catapulted toward Qin Huai. The elaborate scheme, a collaboration of their clans, was evident. The collective might of their united front was formidable, placing unprecedented strain on their enemies. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze became more determined, understanding the gravity of this moment in the spirit world. Reaching out, he tried to intercept the myriad elixir. Third Young Master Qiong sneered, ¡°It¡¯s useless! Accept your defeat!¡± The moment he finished speaking, six beams of light surged into the sky behind him. ¡°All Qiong Qi Kings, heed my command! Phoenix Kings, to my call! Nine Supremes Kings, hear me! Black Tortoise Kings, follow my lead! White Tiger Kings, answer to me¡­¡± From the mountains of the King Bone Holy Altar, overpowering and grand auras emerged. ¡°Hahaha¡­ The king¡¯s bone sacrifice is complete,¡± Third Young Master Qiong declared with a proud laugh. ¡°My plan succeeded.¡± ¡°Ah, so has mine¡­¡± Qin Huai observed the emerging king bones, each unveiling unfamiliar faces. These were the monarchs of the six clans from the past ten thousand years. A smirk formed on his lips. That was enough¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 592 - 592 The Gathering of Ancient Kings 592 The Gathering of Ancient Kings ¡°This is the last gift I will give you,¡± Third Young Master Qiong declared, a triumphant gleam in his eyes as the myriad elixir enveloped Qin Huai. But in mere moments, the colossal myriad elixir, renowned for its overwhelming power, began to diminish rapidly. ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± muttered Third Young Master Qiong, disbelief evident in his narrowed eyes. He could only watch as the myriad elixir transformed into a minuscule speck of light, nestling in Qin Huai¡¯s outstretched hand. Whoosh! The winds surged, gusting with such ferocity that Third Young Master Qiong had to shield himself. The very bones within him began to resonate with a sonorous roar. Before he could react, the bone-chilling sound of bones cracking filled the air, followed by the eerie sound of a body being impaled. Staring deep into Qin Huai¡¯s eyes, Third Young Master Qiong rasped, ¡°We will meet again¡­ in the main world.¡± It was as if he sought to imprint Qin Huai¡¯s face in his mind forever. The spirit world¡¯s moon cast its radiant glow, revealing tens of thousands of king bones emanating astonishing spiritual energy. In this moonlit spectacle, shadowy figures emerged, escorting Wang Gu into their midst. From the fringes, the elders of the six royal clans observed with satisfaction. The grand elder of the Qiong Qi clan boomed, ¡°Our seven descendants may have faltered, but their unity proves our familial bonds.¡± Nodding in agreement, the elder of the white tiger clan remarked, ¡°Such unity among our seven kings only reiterates the shared bloodline that binds the eight royal clans.¡± The charismatic Qilin grand elder added, ¡°Their efforts only fuel our determination to unite. With the inclusion of the Kun Peng and dragon clans, no force, not even the Great Spirit Dragon, can defeat us.¡± Their moment of unity, however, was abruptly disrupted. A tangible shift occurred in the atmosphere, a swell of unprecedented energy that resonated in the ground beneath and the very air they breathed. One by one, the elders felt the ground give way, with the weaker among them buckling under the pressure, their glowing bone patterns the only defense against the overwhelming force. ¡°Who summoned me?¡± The voice, seemingly from the ether, reverberated throughout the King Bone Holy Altar, its sheer power causing the surrounding flora to quiver. Next to the white tiger elders, a mysterious finger bone levitated, its aura morphing into a distinct humanoid silhouette. ¡°I¡­ Is that you, Great-grandfather?¡± The grand elder of the white tiger clan gasped in disbelief, eyes widening at the familiar figure. The spectral figure tilted his head, his gaze settling on the tear-brimmed eyes of the grand elder. ¡°Second grandson, is that truly you?¡± he asked in a voice that echoed with centuries of wisdom. The white tiger grand elder¡¯s tears spilled over, but he quickly recomposed himself, cheeks reddening with embarrassment. ¡°Ahem, Great-grandfather, I¡¯ve grown now. I serve as the grand elder of our clan.¡± The elderly apparition chuckled. ¡°After all these years, and you¡¯re still just a grand elder? Haven¡¯t reached the king realm yet?¡± He looked affectionately at the white-haired man before him, noticing the visible signs of age. Surveying his surroundings, he remarked, ¡°So, this is the King Bone Holy Altar?¡± His aura intensified, spreading outwards like a shockwave, and settled on Qin Huai. ¡°You summoned me to handle this brat?¡± He assessed Qin Huai critically, ¡°He¡¯s a top-tier king with uneven aura flow. How did someone like him even make it this far?¡± The white tiger grand elder inquired urgently, ¡°What do you mean, Great-grandfather?¡± Those who had ascended to the king realm possessed heightened senses, able to perceive nuances that others couldn¡¯t. Hence, their remains, post-mortem, became invaluable artifacts. A nearby Qilin elder chimed in, ¡°He¡¯s used seven techniques to craft the bone patterns on his entire physique.¡± A ripple of shock coursed through the gathering. ¡°There must be overlaps in the bone patterns then. How does he even maintain the integrity of his bones?¡± someone exclaimed. Others murmured in agreement, ¡°Even our esteemed royal clans couldn¡¯t bear such strain.¡± The whispers conveyed a newfound respect for Qin Huai¡¯s prowess. Further observations were shared, ¡°His chosen techniques are at odds with one another. Their clashing auras are incredibly dangerous.¡± Two phoenix elders added, ¡°If a mortal gets close to him, he would be crushed by this killing aura. He¡¯s like a fortress even in sleep.¡± A black tortoise elder interjected, ¡°His protective aura is quite distinct from ours. It¡¯s drenched in the aura of battles and bloodshed.¡± The gathering of ancient kings exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation evident. ¡°Good job in summoning us,¡± the elder apparition finally said, his tone grave. ¡°This person poses a serious threat to our clans. Tell me, have you brought the Soul Slayer?¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 593 - 593 The Altar Turned Silent 593 The Altar Turned Silent An elder from the white tiger clan stepped forward, bowing deeply. ¡°Ancestors, we have made preparations as instructed.¡± The other clan elders behind him reverently presented an assortment of items: robes, bones, weapons, incense burners, horsetail whisks, and other peculiar artifacts. The ancient kings, in a synchronized movement, gathered these items. They seemed to merge into a singular form, pulsing with overwhelming energy. The magnitude of this energy was such that the very atmosphere began to tremble. Qin Huai, positioned at the base of the mountain, remained stoic, yet his gaze sharpened. He locked eyes with the assembly of kings. ¡°Do these items hold a similar power to your rainbow dragon scales?¡± The little emperor scowled in response. ¡°How dare you compare them to the illustrious rainbow dragon scales? Those artifacts don¡¯t even hold a candle to them.¡± Qin Huai raised a brow, intrigued. The little emperor, confident in his assertion, declared, ¡°The rainbow dragon scales have the power to shield me in the spirit world.¡± Observing the little emperor¡¯s conviction, Qin Huai remarked, ¡°Oh?¡± A hint of hesitation clouded the little emperor¡¯s features. ¡°While it¡¯s true those items have their uses, particularly their capacity to obliterate souls¡­ if you were to be struck by one, you¡¯d either die in the main world or forever be severed from your destined path.¡± He continued with a grave tone, ¡°Such soul tools are invaluable. Each has been crafted using the essence of a king. However, not all kings leave remains suitable for such creations. These tools lose a bit of power with every use.¡± He glanced down at the colorful armor draped over his body. ¡°This flowing rainbow dragon scale was bequeathed to me by my forebears.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes flickered with recognition. ¡°From the Dragon Emperor?¡± The little emperor nodded in confirmation. With a surge of determination, he removed the radiant armor, presenting it to Qin Huai. ¡°Now, the rainbow dragon scale is yours.¡± Qin Huai looked at the little emperor, genuinely taken aback. ¡°You¡¯d part with an heirloom of the Dragon Emperor?¡± ¦Ñ¦Á¦°d¦Ás¦­¦Ïvel.c¦Ïm The little emperor fixed his gaze intently on Qin Huai. ¡°If it serves the grander purpose of the six royal clans, then yes. You, of all people, should understand my identity and significance.¡± Qin Huai questioned further, ¡°And that identity is?¡± With an air of regality, the little emperor proclaimed, ¡°I am the emperor. Even in my reduced circumstances, I still hold the grandeur of my lineage. My clan has long championed a world where humans and demons coexist, and this is the reason why we¡¯ve been betrayed by everyone and have come this far. My heart holds the world, and the people within.¡± Qin Huai observed him, his expression inscrutable. Though these words came from a kid, they carried the weight of emperors. One mustn¡¯t be deceived by age, for even a young emperor, if truly wise, could deftly navigate the treacherous waters of the imperial palace. ¡°I¡¯m not suited to join you in this fight. My abilities are limited, and I¡¯d only become a hindrance,¡± the little emperor admitted somberly. ¡°But this flowing rainbow dragon scale, I can offer you.¡± He quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s a loan. Once everything¡¯s settled, return it to me in the palace.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Qin Huai replied succinctly, accepting the dragon scales without hesitation. He had only a rudimentary understanding of such artifacts, having known of their power only through sparse references. Buzz¡­ As he took hold of the luminous scales, a resounding dragon¡¯s roar echoed within his mind, momentarily overwhelming him. It felt as if millennia had transpired in a mere instant. Beads of sweat formed on Qin Huai¡¯s forehead, but he swiftly recovered. Observing this, the little emperor remarked with a hint of awe, ¡°You truly are formidable. What did you see just now?¡± Unperturbed, Qin Huai mused, ¡°The Dragon Emperor¡¯s artifact is impressive. Merely touching it granted me a brief encounter with the most dangerous aspect of the spirit world.¡± He added reflectively, ¡°The spirit world might be a realm where both body and soul can coexist. My physical strength endures there, and this unity strengthens my soul and has brought about profound changes within me.¡± The little emperor sighed, confessing, ¡°I was just thinking of running away with you. Facing the might of the ancient kings of the six royal clans seems an insurmountable challenge. Even if you wear the dragon scales, I fear the outcome would remain grim.¡± Qin Huai maintained his stoic demeanor. ¡°If fate allows, I¡¯ll return this artifact to you within the walls of the imperial city.¡± ¡°I hope that day won¡¯t come,¡± Qin Huai murmured, using a surge of his energy to propel the little emperor away, ensuring his safety. The force of the thrust was such that the little emperor vanished from sight, quickly distancing himself. Soon after, he left the spirit world. Slipping on the vibrant dragon scale armor, it seamlessly melded with Qin Huai¡¯s form. Gazing at his hands, he observed intricate vein-like patterns, resembling dragon scales, materializing on the back of his hands. A warm, comforting sensation enveloped him, reminiscent of the soothing embrace of a hot spring. ¡°This power¡­ it¡¯s surprisingly calm,¡± Qin Huai whispered, his attention then shifting to the fully manifested ancient kings hovering above. Atop the King Bone Holy Altar, the lush forest and dense vegetation had been decimated by the combined aura of the lesser eight kings formation and the hundred kings. The barren mountain laid bare, leaving every figure exposed and clear to the eye. An oppressive aura, spanning several miles and transcending time, bore down upon Qin Huai. The ancient kings, with their powerful auras in resonance, remained mostly motionless. Above them, phantoms of eight mighty beasts, identical to those of the little eight kings formation, loomed. Their dazzling energy rained down, colliding with Qin Huai. Despite the onslaught, Qin Huai took determined steps, beginning his ascent up the mountain. His flowing hair, once stark white, began to regain its natural color, and the brilliant light in his eyes dimmed. The formidable aura that once surrounded him weakened under the pressure of the hundred kings. Yet, in his left palm, an orb of light was shining brightly. ¡°Is he¡­ nearing his limit?¡± the white tiger grand elder asked, his voice filled with doubt. ¡°He¡¯s likely being suppressed by the hundred kings¡¯ aura,¡± another elder conjectured. Even standing near the kings, he felt the air grow dense, making it difficult to breathe. This sensation, despite having ancestral protection, made him wonder about the immense pressure Qin Huai faced. Remarkably, under such immense strain, Qin Huai¡¯s aura was merely subdued, his steps unwavering. ¡°Such resilience¡­ What a beast,¡± an ancient king mused, lauding Qin Huai for the second time in quick succession. ¡°But he¡¯s a future king, not a true king. Reaching this point is already commendable.¡± As the words settled, one of the ancient kings from the Qiong Qi clan charged forth. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re truly made of.¡± Though he had but one toe bone remaining, he relied on it for agility and speed. With every touch of his toe bone to the ground, his speed surged, creating whirlwinds that whipped up waves of dust and debris. But before the waves even reached their peak, he stood face-to-face with Qin Huai. Their eyes locked. The ancient king felt an inexplicable pull in those pitch-black eyes, diminishing his aura and instilling a fleeting desire to yield. ¡°You truly are something,¡± the ancient king remarked, raising his foot high, aiming straight for Qin Huai like a piercing spear. It felt as though the very fabric of time and space was being torn apart. Calmly, Qin Huai raised his left hand, gently parrying the toe bone¡¯s assault. Boom! A deafening collision echoed, and both the toe bone and the ancient king¡¯s form disintegrated. The shockwave they produced vanished as quickly as it had formed. Around the King Bone Holy Altar, a heavy silence reigned. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 594 - 594 Kings Combined Attack 594 Kings¡¯ Combined Attack Qin Huai dispelled the powerful aura surrounding him, drawing the spiritual energy within himself. He examined the translucent toe bone in his hand, now rid of all impurities. Instead of appearing as bone, it closely resembled a toe-shaped crystal, radiating a pure light with an elusive aura encased within. Casually knocking on it, Qin Huai commented, ¡°Its durability is remarkable, surpassing the strength of typical artifacts.¡± He pondered its potential. Properly utilized, this king bone could become a powerful protective treasure. Even unrefined, if worn continuously, it could perhaps imbue a person with an aura, rendering common weapons ineffective against them. Absorbed in thought, he wondered if combining these king bones could forge a formidable spirit item. Among his five organs, neither the spleen, associated with the poison king technique, nor the divine power book of a thousand creations had corresponding spirit items as he hadn¡¯t found any suitable for them. But would the bones from these numerous ancient kings suffice? As Qin Huai contemplated, murmurs and exclamations filled the air, especially around the King Bone Holy Altar¡¯s peaks. The many ancient kings, who had been keen to discern Qin Huai¡¯s combat abilities from his previous confrontation, had been utterly taken aback. The instant defeat of an ancient king was an event even they, in their vast experiences within the spirit world, found astounding. ¡°I¡¯ve always felt something extraordinary about that brat,¡± said the ancient king of the black tortoise clan. All eyes turned to him, and the Qiong Qi clan¡¯s ancient king asked, ¡°What exactly did Brother Wu Shan perceive?¡± Wu Shan, momentarily lost for words, finally exclaimed, ¡°His strength¡­ It¡¯s beyond anything we¡¯ve imagined!¡± He laughed, though there was a hint of disbelief in his mirth. The white tiger clan¡¯s ancient king remarked with a smirk, ¡°Quite the cold jest, Brother.¡± Stepping forward, the ancient king of the Qilin clan asserted, ¡°Together, we will face this era¡¯s prodigy. Alone, given our diminished state, I fear we stand no chance.¡± It was seldom that these ancient kings lacked confidence. But Qin Huai, seemingly of dragon lineage, had showcased a power that dwarfed their own. The ease with which he defeated an ancient king had not only baffled them but had also instilled a hint of trepidation. Recognizing the shared sentiment among his peers, the ancient king of the Qilin clan realized that, like him, many were deeply unsettled. As legends whispered among their descendants suggested, if this formidable foe remained unchecked, the dragon clan¡¯s dominance could persist for thousands of years. Perhaps, when this prodigy rises to power, the dragon clan will witness a resurrection, reclaiming their once lofty status and reigning supreme for countless millennia. The ancient kings exchanged glances, and without further ado, a group of them launched their assault on Qin Huai. The bones within them ¨C fingers, forearms, and ribs ¨C stood out prominently. Qin Huai regarded them with a composed gaze. There were seven in total, representing the dominant clans. Notably, the phoenix clan was represented by both a male and female. The rest of the clans, reminiscent of the prior four generations of fairies and the Qiong Clan¡¯s Third Young Master, stood with one representative each. Unified, the six royal clans began their intricate offensive. ¡°You¡¯ve witnessed the skills of the younger generation. How about we now showcase ours?¡± Wu Shan of the black tortoise clan declared, his massive frame moving with surprising agility. ¡°Mountain River Chariot!¡± another voice rang out. Suddenly, the earth beside Qin Huai heaved, forming a barrier resembling a heavy prison gate. The sheer force of the ancient kings made this defense considerably more potent than any shown by the future kings. Before the assault fully manifested, the ground below Qin Huai turned molten, reminiscent of a magma abyss. An enormous flame column erupted, called the Underworld Pillar. It consumed everything in its path, but from its heart, a brilliant light shot skywards. ¦Ñ¦Ánd¦Ásn¦Ïv¦Ål.c¦Ïm Above, the Qiong Qi ancient king sprouted wings, which hungrily devoured the flames, while his hands molded and condensed the fire¡¯s essence. Beside him, the ancient phoenix king seized the white tiger king, whose spear tip glowed a deep, blood-red hue. Boom! Suddenly, a massive fireball launched toward the white tiger ancient king. With a deft motion, he absorbed the fireball into his spear, intensifying its glow and casting distortions in the surrounding air. The ancient phoenix king, recognizing the increasing threat, released the white tiger king, who then descended rapidly, spear aimed menacingly at Qin Huai. ¡°When the slaughter spear of the white tiger race merges with the underworld pillar, its power escalates to unimaginable heights. This is a beast-slaying technique,¡± a voice echoed in remembrance. Historically, the eight royal clans, using their collective strength and the formidable Dragon Emperor, had vied for dominion over human territories. Their powerful combined attack technique was legendary and had killed countless foes. But as alliances formed and the world evolved, this legendary technique, once a symbol of unparalleled might, became a lost relic of history. Watching the unfolding battle, the two phoenix kings regarded the white tiger king with cold assurance, seemingly confident that victory was already in their grasp. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 595 - 595 Ancient Kings Cage! The Emperor! 595 Ancient Kings¡¯ Cage! The Emperor! The tension in the air was palpable. Only those eyes that refused to move away confirmed the uneasiness in his heart. Clang! As the spear tip penetrated the roaring flames, the once arm-thick white tiger spear expanded, its spearhead now spanning a colossal one hundred feet. The inferno reshaped it into a massive weapon. Surrounding it, the atmosphere crackled with energy, waves of flames dancing along the spear¡¯s length. The air twisted as the earth beneath fragmented further. The ground, scored deeply by the white tiger spear, fractured, becoming increasingly unstable. Yet, in the face of such an attack, Qin Huai stood unwavering, using just a single finger to parry the combined assault of the seven ancient kings. His unflappable demeanor, those deep black eyes, radiated an aura of menace that set the king¡¯s pulse racing. ¡°How¡­ How is this even possible?¡± The white tiger ancient king¡¯s voice trembled with disbelief. He felt a premonition ¡ª the shadow of impending doom. Boom! A force, unseen yet unstoppable, surged forth, impaling the white tiger ancient king. And before anyone could react, Qin Huai¡¯s fist struck, sealing the ancient king¡¯s fate. Another bone fragment appeared in his hand, which he casually pocketed. From a distance, the Nine Supremes king scoffed, ¡°He¡¯s practically begging for death.¡± With a dismissive gesture, she sat in meditation. But in the blink of an eye, Qin Huai had closed the distance between them. ¡°Stop him!¡± Cries rang out. ¡°How is he so fast?¡± ¡°Earth shield!¡± Wu Shan¡¯s voice bellowed as he planted himself between Qin Huai and his target, summoning an immense barrier. But to Qin Huai, it might as well have been paper. Without breaking stride, his fist connected. Bang! Wu Shan¡¯s formidable frame, along with the earth shield, was obliterated. At the same time, the sky ignited as two ancient kings of the phoenix clan descended, a wall of flames attempting to stop Qin Huai¡¯s advance. Yet, Qin Huai merely extended his hand skyward. Within moments, a spectral figure began to form in his grasp. The phoenix kings¡¯ expressions contorted with horror as they slowed their descent, sensing impending peril. Reflected in their eyes was the haunting vision of Qin Huai¡¯s hand, morphing into the silhouette of a white tiger bone king. ¡°How is this even possible?!¡± Gasps filled the air. But fate had already sealed its course. The phoenix kings, unable to halt their rapid descent, collided with the phantom white tiger, shattering it to oblivion. With a fluidity that defied belief, Qin Huai¡¯s body coiled, his right leg swinging out in a lethal arc reminiscent of a scorpion¡¯s tail lash. The force of the strike tore through the two phoenix wings, scattering feathers across the sky. Disoriented, the ancient phoenix kings plummeted earthwards. With another sweeping kick, Qin Huai sent forth torrents of blood that morphed into golden tigers and wolves, crashing into the fallen kings with explosive force. The sequence of attacks was executed with such precision and speed that in mere moments, four ancient kings lay defeated ¡ª with the white tiger ancient king meeting his end twice. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the white tiger be resurrected in your arms?¡± The ancient king of the Nine Supremes clan stared, his gaze a mix of bewilderment and suspicion. Knowing that their revival relied on the king¡¯s bone, logic dictated that the white tiger ancient king should have been reborn from Qin Huai¡¯s arms, and not his hand. It appeared as though Qin Huai had control over the revival process. ¡°How did you manage that?¡± the ancient king pressed. Without hesitation, Qin Huai¡¯s fist lunged forward, obliterating the ancient king. In the aftermath, fragments of a skull began to coalesce into a human form at a pace that eclipsed the white tiger¡¯s revival. But to Qin Huai, this unique ability was merely an inconvenience. A single, powerful punch ended the new form¡¯s resistance. With a certain nonchalance, Qin Huai commented, ¡°Your talent pales in comparison to that Fourth Generation Fairy. You can only revive three times.¡± During his time in the black dragon world, he had used the power of the black coffin to redirect the white tiger ancient king¡¯s resurrection energy into his own hand. The repercussions this held for the white tiger ancient king remained a mystery to Qin Huai, but it was of no concern to him. He had simply used the king as a shield. ¡°Ding! Current spirit bone fusion rate stands at 43%¡± The surrounding landscape was dominated by fallen ancient kings, killed by Qin Huai¡¯s might. Surveying his surroundings, his gaze landed on the six ancient kings positioned half a mile away. Encircling him were over a hundred ancient kings, their intense scrutiny betraying their concerns. ¡°What makes this young one so strong?¡± one mused. ¡°He¡¯s a marvel. Had he been of my era, I might never have aspired for the king realm,¡± another admitted. Yet, not one displayed fear. ¡°If we let this young man mature, our legacy might be jeopardized.¡± ¡°Why should we be afraid? We¡¯ve already met our ends. It¡¯s time to secure a future for our lineage,¡± another retorted. The kings¡¯ collective decision was evident. ¡°Together, we strike.¡± ¡°Keep your distance from him. His vitality is overwhelming, and he possesses an exceptional physique.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll overwhelm him!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll exhaust him to death here!¡± As the ancient kings conversed, they adeptly evaded Qin Huai¡¯s oncoming blows. The moment their voices died down, an explosive aura emanated from them, radiating from hundreds of the ancient kings. The immense power coalesced, casting colossal shadows of the six royal clans in the sky, making it appear as though six ancient kings loomed overhead, staring disdainfully at the diminutive figure of Qin Huai. The ground miles around them began to give way, with dust and debris rising tumultuously, and ancient trees uprooted. The surrounding vitality was abruptly severed, and a dread power cascaded from the heavens. Such was this force that the elders of the six royal clans, observing from a distance, found themselves immobilized. ¡°The might of our ancestors is truly unparalleled,¡± an elder whispered, aghast. ¡°Though the ancient kings have passed, their combat prowess remains undiminished,¡± another elder chimed in, feeling a shiver run down his spine. The royal elders knew they could invoke their own ancestral spirits, but in comparison to these ancient apparitions, theirs would merely be hollow imitations. At the center of this overwhelming display, Qin Huai could feel the weight pressing him down, as if he were ensnared in a bog. ¡°Facing the united strength of over a hundred of us ancient kings is indeed a rare honor,¡± one of the ancient kings taunted. ¡°Your demise at our hands will ensure your place in the annals of history.¡± ¡°Share your true name,¡± the Qilin clan¡¯s ancient king called out confidently, ¡°so that future generations may honor you with monuments and tomes.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not,¡± Qin Huai responded dryly. ¡°You might curse my name in the afterlife. Who can say what powers linger after the death of someone at the king realm?¡± An ancient king¡¯s laughter resonated. ¡°Curse you? In death, past enmities often dissolve, and former foes may become allies. Besides, there¡¯s no true vendetta between us.¡± Qin Huai, feeling trapped, contemplated revealing a power he had hoped to keep hidden: his emperor¡¯s force. Knowing its revelation would send tremors through the world, so he hesitated briefly before finally acquiescing. As he made his resolve, a staggering, oppressive force swiftly enveloped the gathering of kings. A hazy black screen gradually materialized above, casting its shadow over them. In moments, the overwhelming pressure forced one ancient king to his knees. The cage that had entrapped Qin Huai disintegrated, and the massive projections of the six beasts in the heavens began to bow down. Panic and disbelief surged among the kings. ¡°How can our cage be shattered? How can such power come from a single person?¡± ¡°Why would a king ever bow?¡± Disbelief was mirrored in every eye, even the ancient kings. All eyes locked onto Qin Huai, drawn inexorably to the depths of his obsidian gaze. Within those eyes, they found an answer that sent chills down their spines. Only one entity could ever command such deference from kings: an emperor. With hair rising as if charged with electricity and eyes blazing with black fire, Qin Huai spoke, his voice carrying an unfathomable depth of power. ¡°Black dragon world, black coffin! Everyone, let me borrow your royal bones.¡± If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 596 - 596 Soul Slaying Weapons 596 Soul Slaying Weapons The rebirth of an ancient king was not supported by flesh and blood. Instead, it was a manifestation of the lingering power within the king bone, echoing the timeless revival of the Qingzhou Emperor. The ability of a king¡¯s might to stave off the ravages of time spoke volumes about its sheer potency. In the face of any other adversary, the kings would have presented a formidable challenge. Yet, they stood against Qin Huai, whose power seemed to eclipse theirs effortlessly. ¡°Emperor¡­ Emperor,¡± murmured the ancient kings, hearts throbbing with a mix of reverence and dread. Their residual consciousnesses were drawn irresistibly to Qin Huai¡¯s dark, piercing gaze. ¡°This is undeniably the emperor¡¯s force. I¡¯ve witnessed it before,¡± an ancient king from ten thousand years ago said, his voice quivering with awe. Despite time eroding much of his strength, this king stood out among his peers, a testament to his unrivaled power during his lifetime. He had beheld the Dragon Emperor in his waning days and felt the lingering remnants of that emperor¡¯s might. ¡°When the emperor¡¯s force emerges, kings bow before it. I definitely can¡¯t be wrong with this.¡± His revelation cast a pall of sorrow among the assembled ancient kings. ¡°Is fate truly so cruel, denying our clans the throne, and granting the dragon clan dominion for tens of thousands of years?¡± they pondered aloud, sensing their strength waning. Yet, the ancient king from a time ten thousand years past wasn¡¯t so easily disheartened. His gaze, sharp as an eagle¡¯s, locked onto Qin Huai, seeking to unravel the enigma before him. Through his eyes, an ethereal image unfurled: a majestic Kun Peng uplifted Qin Huai while a true dragon circled protectively around the young man. At the heart of it all stood Qin Huai, his gaze domineering and aloof, seemingly viewing the assembled kings as mere ants. Behind him, a shadowy figure loomed. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ human!¡± the ancient king exclaimed. For dragons, their aura should embody their draconic essence. For demons and spirits, the aura they cultivated was their main body. However, humans were a divergence. They were often influenced by various beings ¡ª from flora and fauna to mythical creatures and fierce beasts ¡ª each serving as a lens through which they viewed and understood the Great Dao. This diversity allowed them to traverse myriad martial paths, each teeming with potential. The reason demons were suppressed millennia ago was their adherence to rigid structures and traditions. Humans, on the other hand, with their versatility, had managed to overshadow the demon races over numerous ages. Hence, many demons yearned for a human form, seeking the potential for evolution it offered. Yet, their foundational might still resonated with their original essence, much like Qin Huai, with the dragon and Kun Peng symbolizing the duality of his strength. ¡°We must get rid of him,¡± said the ancient king who transcended time, ¡°or our return from the abyss will be in vain!¡± Unfortunately, by that moment, he found himself utterly alone. The other ancient kings, once standing in solidarity beside him, had been reduced to mere dust under the weight of Qin Huai¡¯s imperial power. Streams of energy coalesced within Qin Huai¡¯s grasp. The sole remaining ancient king turned around, casting a desperate plea to the distant figures on the mountain. ¡°Kill him, no matter the cost!¡± Yet, even as the command took shape, it was choked off by the boundaries of the black dragon world, consumed by Qin Huai¡¯s overwhelming domain. Glancing at the impassive observers on the mountain, the ancient king¡¯s gaze brimmed with despair. ¡°The heavens have forsaken me,¡± he lamented, drawing his last breath. With a crashing sound, a cascade of jade-like king bones littered the landscape as over a hundred ancient kings met their end. From the remnants of their final consciousness, a gleaming black dragon pearl materialized in Qin Huai¡¯s palm. ¡°Ding! Collected vast spiritual energy, spirit bone fusion rate increased by +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Collected vast spiritual energy, spirit bone fusion rate increased by +1%!¡± ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate now stands at 99%!¡± ¡°The fusion¡¯s progression has surpassed even my expectations,¡± Qin Huai mused. Though brief, the battle had been awe-inspiring, rendering all spectators at the King Bone Holy Altar utterly dumbstruck. They gaped at the unfolding scene, silenced by the magnitude of what they had witnessed. Qin Huai¡¯s finger moved again, and an array of strange-looking soul tools rose from the ground. These were the soul slaying weapons of the six royal clans, formidable artifacts designed to inflict grave harm even upon martial artists of the king realm. A single careless encounter with it could devastate one¡¯s soul, splintering their very essence. And yet, these formidable tools, brought forth by the royal clans to kill Qin Huai, had been rendered useless before their bearers met their demise. Qin Huai found himself unexpectedly enriched by this turn of events, with dozens of these prized soul slayers now ensnared in his dragon aura. His gaze, icy and relentless, swept to the onlookers atop the mountain. ¡°Run!¡± Without a moment¡¯s pause, the elders of the six royal clans heeded their survival instincts. Recognizing the imminent threat in Qin Huai¡¯s stare, they scattered in all directions. If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 597 - 597 Forging the King Bones 597 Forging the King Bones As for the dignity of the six royal clans and the established order of the spirit world¡­ How could this be more important than one¡¯s own life? As the saying goes, as long as there¡¯s life, there¡¯s hope. Whoosh! A chilling gust trailed a soul slayer as it homed in on an elder, ruthlessly penetrating him. An immediate pallor claimed his countenance. The life that had once animated him seemed to evaporate in seconds, leaving him desiccated and withered. The next moment, a crash resounded as his form disintegrated to nothingness. At the same time, in the secret chamber of the Qiong Qi clan¡¯s Barren State, an elder seated in meditation slumped lifelessly, his vital essence extinguished. With a powerful flap of his Kun Peng wings, Qin Huai rapidly ascended to the mountaintop. Though the spirit bone level confined the true potential of his Kun Peng wings, his velocity dwarfed that of the six royal clans¡¯ elders. He lunged at them, his moves swift and decisive. Several esteemed people met their ends under Qin Huai¡¯s merciless attack as easily as if he were squashing insects. However, the spirit energy of those obliterated by the soul slayer was irretrievably lost. Unable to harness their energy, Qin Huai had no option but to deal swift, decisive blows, killing three more. ¡°Ding! Your spirit bone fusion rate is now 100%!¡± A series of sharp cracks echoed from within Qin Huai. It felt as if his very soul was cascading like a waterfall, enveloping and purifying his skeletal frame. The once-white bones shimmered, assuming a crystalline hue. Green bone patterns previously adorning his skull dissolved under this soulful cleanse, merging seamlessly with his being. Were the ancient kings still amongst the living, they¡¯d recognize the evolving aura around Qin Huai. As the true dragon and Kun Peng seemed to diminish, the shadows of the five poison technique¡¯s creatures and the divine power book of a thousand creations began to wane. In contrast, Qin Huai¡¯s silhouette intensified, asserting dominance. The dynamics shifted, with Qin Huai as the undeniable epicenter. Gathering his composure, Qin Huai prepared to renew the hunt. But momentarily, his focus wavered. Before him, not a single elder from the six clans remained. They had dispersed in all directions, desperate to flee the spirit world, lacking the courage to confront the transforming Qin Huai. Ironically, this transitional phase should have been Qin Huai¡¯s most vulnerable in the spirit world. Yet, they faltered. In their hesitation, they squandered their best chance to kill Qin Huai. Whirling around, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes settled on a group of martial artists who dared to venture into the King Bone Holy Altar. Their intentions were clear ¡ª they aimed to claim the scattered king bones of the six royal clans. These bones, each one a priceless relic, beckoned them. ¡°Hurry! Grab them!¡± The greed in their voices was palpable, a desperate bid to make the most of Qin Huai¡¯s momentary distraction. But alas, the formidable foundation of the six royal clans was no more. In the face of imminent danger, they fled, not daring to put up even a semblance of resistance. ¡°Everyone wants to die too?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s voice rang out, chilling and foreboding. Those audacious enough to have ventured into the altar froze, the blood draining from their faces. Half of them crumpled to the ground, their bravado shattered. Each one of these intruders was a renowned figure in the real world. Yet now, faced with Qin Huai¡¯s might, they were rendered helpless. ¡°We just want to serve as guardians of your treasures, my lord. Our intentions were pure!¡± The remaining few stammered, quickly retracing their steps, their escape almost frantic. In moments, the King Bone Holy Altar was restored to its original tranquility. The lingering surges of power from the formation and the awakening of the king bones seeped into the earth. Once more, the altar¡¯s protective barrier shimmered into existence. Returning to his initial position, Qin Huai gathered the scattered king bones before settling into a meditative posture. ¡°Time to go.¡± Moments later, his eyes snapped open. The chill of the wind swept into the secret chamber, brushing against Qin Huai¡¯s face. His gaze rested upon the gleaming king bones before him, accompanied by the soul weapons of the six royal clans. A quick tally revealed fifty-two in total. While most resembled needle bones, a few took the form of axes and swords. ¡°These soul weapons are different from the flowing rainbow dragon scales,¡± he said, tapping the luminous dragon scales adorning him. The dragon scales, much like any treasured artifact, were distinctive. In contrast, the six royal clans¡¯ soul weapons were pristine white, tinged with an ethereal green, their transparency striking. ¡°These are single-use items,¡± Qin Huai deduced. ¡°They pale in comparison to a majestic artifact like the flowing rainbow dragon scales, but they still possess formidable power.¡± His initial disappointment faded, replaced by a muted satisfaction. True, treasures like the flowing rainbow dragon scales were not commonplace, even within the distinguished six royal clans. But these one-time-use soul weapons, despite being inferior, were plentiful. Fifty-two such weapons would undoubtedly deal a significant blow to the six clans. As for the rest, Qin Huai had a special purpose in mind: he would use them against the elders of the six royal clans. Earlier in the spirit world, Qin Huai had wielded these soul weapons with deadly precision, bringing down eight clan elders. Each elder was at the pinnacle of the visceral prefecture realm, serving as the backbone of their respective clans. ¡°These are potent weapons meant for the white-robed king.¡± As he appraised the treasures before him, Qin Huai felt a surge of assurance. His attention then shifted to the scattered king bones. Anticipation coursing through him, he began meticulously gathering them, planning to reassemble them into a singular, majestic king bone. A bold idea, yet one he was convinced could be realized. His secret weapon? The divine power book of a thousand creations. This skill, a cherished secret passed down in the Tong family, was renowned for its artifact-forging prowess. King bones bore an uncanny resemblance to the power stones utilized in such crafts, albeit vastly more powerful. ¡°I haven¡¯t used this technique in ages.¡± Eager to test his skills, Qin Huai focused on piecing the bones together rather than reshaping them. His current status in the world notwithstanding, fashioning a brand-new king bone was a challenging prospect. Summoning the qi of thousand creations, he channeled it into the bones. All one hundred and fifty-three of them began to vibrate and resonate with a potent force. Buzz¡­ The bones, when in proximity, repelled each other with explosive bursts of energy, filling the room with a cacophony akin to a roaring tsunami. Yet, with Qin Huai¡¯s domineering presence, this ruckus was quickly subdued. His penetrating gaze was an abyss of intent. ¡°Without the emperor¡¯s force, even the finest blacksmiths, when bestowed with these treasures, would fail to forge king weapons.¡± Despite his considerable skill in forging, the task was far from easy, especially given the king bones¡¯ formidable nature. Qin Huai revealed a gratified expression. His technique was extremely rough. Although his forging skills were not weak, he was still far from creating an unrestrained creation, especially when this item was made from king bones as the raw material¡­ Fortunately, he was strong enough. As the saying goes, if you don¡¯t have enough skills, then you¡¯ll have to use brute force. He could always fight. In any case, Qin Huai did not have to worry about the hardness of the king bones breaking down. After an intense session spanning two days and nights, Qin Huai finally leaned back, satisfaction evident. Before him lay a pristine human skeleton, its transparency attesting to its purity. However, the assembly wasn¡¯t perfect. Due to not having enough king bones, some joints were incomplete. The king bone¡¯s arm, for instance, could rotate in a full circle, and its entire structure could curl into a compact sphere. A chuckle escaped him. ¡°Its flexibility knows no bounds.¡± Undeterred by the skeleton¡¯s imperfections, Qin Huai initiated the blood heart technique. Threads of blood seeped from his pores, entwining the king bone. With unwavering focus, he moved on to the next step of crafting an astonishing creation¡­ If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know via our discord so we can fix it as soon as possible. Chapter 598 - 598 King Realm Puppet 598 King Realm Puppet Within Qin Huai¡¯s arsenal of techniques, many were suited for manipulating objects, but these were mostly limited to the bone pattern level. Once he had fully integrated the spirit bone, its innate bone patterns were dissolved by the soul¡¯s might. This power then merged with Qin Huai¡¯s seven primary bone patterns, enhancing their strength. The cultivation techniques from the denizens of Qingzhou City, which he had absorbed from the blood sea, were converted into nourishment for these seven patterns. Though Qin Huai had hoped to retain the bone pattern level disguise technique, he found himself unable to stop its transformation. Regardless, such a technique wouldn¡¯t have been useful beyond the spirit bone level. At the very least, concealing his true self from those visceral prefecture realm experts would not work. Ultimately, these minor techniques held little value to him. Transforming them into nutrients seemed their best destiny. Qin Huai¡¯s blood slithered, like living tendrils, creeping along the king bones, nestling within their crevices. His heart racing, blood poured forth, causing the fingers of the corpse to quiver. He lifted it slightly. ¡°It works!¡± A surge of elation washed over Qin Huai. Applying more force, the fingers began to arc backward, moving with growing ease until they pressed flat against the back of its hand. As Qin Huai paused to appreciate his handiwork, the finger bone snapped back with unexpected vigor. To his astonishment, it detached entirely, shooting off like an arrow, piercing the secret chamber¡¯s wall. Reacting swiftly, Qin Huai released a stream of blood which latched onto the errant finger, reeling it back with the precision of a seasoned fisherman. The two king bones clashed with a sharp resonance. Studying the king corpse¡¯s undamaged hand, Qin Huai mused, ¡°Impressive flexibility.¡± This experiment underscored the king corpse¡¯s malleability, a product of his work with the divine power book of a thousand creations. While it might lack some structural integrity, its adaptability was undeniable. He continued channeling the blood heart technique, drenching the corpse in a deluge of fresh blood, binding its many parts. Hours slipped by until finally, Qin Huai, sweat streaking his face, gazed at his creation. The luminescent king¡¯s corpse, now shrouded in a sanguine layer, exuded an eerie beauty. Draped in a black hooded robe, its skeletal hands lent it a gaunt, pitiable appearance. At strategic points, such as the junctures of fingers, forearms, and shoulders, Qin Huai had strategically stored reservoirs of blood, ensuring a smooth, retractable movement. Qin Huai then channeled the blood heart technique once more, compelling the king¡¯s corpse to rise from the bed. Its movements mirrored his will. The corpse¡¯s initial steps were awkward and laborious. For the most part, it seemed as though Qin Huai was merely dragging an unwieldy puppet. The complexity of the human form became evident to him ¡ª many muscles, often overlooked, were crucial for coordinated movement. But being a seasoned martial artist, understanding the intricacies of the human body was second nature to Qin Huai. With a keen focus, he soon had the corpse walking with a semblance of normalcy. To the untrained eye, it might have appeared like a disabled individual taking measured steps. Whoosh! Emerging from the secret chamber, a brisk wind greeted them. Lingkou Pass was enveloped in snow all year round, its silent peaks reminiscent of sentinels watching over the land. Upon a silent command from Qin Huai, the corpse turned its gaze to meet his. A menacing glint flashed in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes. He positioned his right fist at his waist, and as he unleashed it, energy surged, accompanied by a dragon¡¯s roar. Such was the might of the punch that it momentarily drowned the fierce winds. The impact resonated on the corpse. Waves of power wrapped around the robe, preventing it from being shattered by the force. Beneath the robe, the blood quivered, once again veiling the white bones. When the dust settled, the king¡¯s corpse remained unscathed. ¡°This defense is exceptional. A punch imbued with the king¡¯s force barely made a ripple.¡± Qin Huai was really impressed. With over a hundred king bones incorporated, the corpse¡¯s resilience was unparalleled. He felt assured it could withstand even the fiercest blows. He directed the corpse toward a nearby mountain peak. Raising its fists, the corpse delivered a staggering blow. Boom! A thunderous noise erupted. Snow and age-old ice disintegrated, cascading down the mountain like a deluge. A section of the peak crumbled, releasing an avalanche of rock and snow. Qin Huai, standing at a distance, assessing the destruction and might of his creation. He was already at the peak of the visceral prefecture realm, but he had yet to reach the king realm. ¡°It¡¯s decent, but not perfect,¡± Qin Huai mused with a hint of disappointment. As for the avalanche, he didn¡¯t care. His secret chamber, nestled deep within the wilderness, was far away from Lingkou Pass. Chapter 599 - 599 The Dao Child Arrives 599 The Dao Child Arrives The barren landscape stretched endlessly, devoid of even the simplest vegetation. It was a place inhospitable to the average person. Without hesitation, Qin Huai commanded the king corpse to sprint into this wasteland. Bang! Bang! Bang! With every step the king corpse took, it created craters in the earth. However, its pace was lethargic. ¡°Lacking flesh and blood, only king bones¡­ The offense and defense are commendable, but the speed¡­¡± Qin Huai¡¯s brows furrowed in thought. But then an epiphany struck him. ¡°Why am I restricted by traditional thought? Why should we behave like typical creatures?¡± While he had mastered controlling the corpse to blend in unnoticed among masses, in battle, there was no need for such pretense. In a flash, the king corpse lifted from the ground. Propelled by the force of the blood, it soared. Swoosh! Qin Huai unabashedly channeled the blood heart technique. Now, unfettered by earthly constraints, the corpse exhibited aerial acrobatics, needing no wings to maintain its flight. Its strikes grew wilder. Boom! Boom! In a short while, Qin Huai adapted to this new puppet fighting style, unconstrained by concerns about vital organs, joints, or its human body structure. As long as Qin Huai thought of a move, the king corpse would immediately execute it. ¡°This is it,¡± he said with a gratified smile. ¡°The only problem now is that it doesn¡¯t have enough killing power.¡± Contemplating this, Qin Huai recalled a weapon he had previously set aside for the corpse. He navigated the corpse back to the secret chamber where an array of soul weapons awaited ¡ª his intended gift for the king¡¯s corpse. Blood tendrils from the robe swiftly enveloped the soul needles and armaments, stowing them either within the blood itself or the fabric of the robe. These tools, being compact, added bulk to the skeletal form of the corpse, rendering it more lifelike. From his loot, Qin Huai produced a skin he had seized from the Blood Poison Gang and fitted it onto the corpse¡¯s face. The result was a creation eerily reminiscent of a living being. ¡°He possesses a defense rivaling the king realm, a formidable offensive capability threatening even kings, and his speed is commendable,¡± Qin Huai mused, observing his creation. Soon, he directed the king corpse to race into the distance. One mile turned to two, then three. But by the fifth mile, the corpse¡¯s motions became increasingly rigid, and Qin Huai¡¯s manipulation of the fresh blood waned. ¡°Is this the range of my control?¡± Qin Huai felt a little disappointed. The blood heart technique had its limitations ¡ª control over the corpse weakened with distance. Beyond five miles, not only did the blood elude Qin Huai¡¯s grasp, but his vision was also blurred. He couldn¡¯t rely on the fresh blood¡¯s sensory connection alone for precision, so this posed a huge risk to his strategic advantage. ¡°If I confront the white-robed king from this distance, my cover might be blown,¡± Qin Huai murmured. However, a realization dawned upon him. His gaze shifted to the expansive blood sea enveloping Qingzhou City. ¡°It might only span five miles at Lingkou Pass, but within the blood sea¡­¡± His Kun Peng wings unfurled with a flourish. Boom! In moments, Qin Huai stood at Qingzhou City¡¯s border. He directed the king¡¯s corpse onward. Now within the influence of the blood sea, his connection to the corpse remained unaffected even beyond the usual five-mile limit. Through the sea¡¯s vast expanse, he could discern even the minutest details on the ground. ¡°Within the blood sea, I can wield the king corpse unrestrained,¡± Qin Huai whispered, pleased by this discovery. The guardian spirit item always held a wildcard advantage in these circumstances. His attention was drawn to the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, the culprit who made him unable to sleep and crazily pursued his strength. In an instant, the image of the pavilion solidified before him, showing the white-robed king, seated in meditation, a spirit stone in hand. ¡°There must be realms beyond the third level of the spirit world,¡± he thought, gauging the contented aura of the king. ¡°Possibly exclusive domains for kings¡­¡± His own capabilities, coupled with the king corpse, made them formidable against those in the visceral prefecture realm. Yet when it came to confronting someone of the king realm, he still harbored doubts. Despite possessing the king bones, the emperor¡¯s force, black dragon world, and the flame longevity technique, the difference in their realms was too vast. The enemy was, after all, standing at the peak of the martial path. Would waiting be the better strategy? The white-robed king seemed in no hurry to strike. In that case, he would just cultivate in peace. Anyway, time was on his side. With resolute determination, Qin Huai directed the king corpse toward Lingkou Pass. As he descended the mountain path, Gou Jie rushed to greet him. ¡°Alliance Master,¡± he hailed. ¡°Half a month has passed,¡± Qin Huai mused, having developed a habit of marking time post-seclusion. Gou Jie nodded, used to this ritual. As for the mysterious person behind Qin Huai, he didn¡¯t ask about it since the alliance master didn¡¯t mention it. The alliance master had his secrets after all. ¡°The sands of time slip quickly,¡± Qin Huai reflected, feeling the weight of every fleeting moment. ¡°Greetings, General Qin!¡± ¡°Alliance Master Qin!¡± As Qin Huai accompanied Gou Jie into the city gate tower, he was met with numerous salutations from guards stationed along the way. ¡°These recruits are not bad,¡± Qin Huai observed. Once, the Spirit Gate had lacked such protection. It had been the survivors from the five great sects who maintained a semblance of order. But now, uniformed in matching attire and exuding similar energy patterns, these guards clearly belonged to the same faction. Their strength was obvious, placing them at the bone pattern realm. Such prowess would make them minor officials within the great sects. However, Qin Huai noticed the variation in their addresses. ¡°Who are these men?¡± he asked, glancing at the lavish spread before him on the dining table. He began to eat with relish. Gou Jie answered, ¡°They are warriors from the ten counties of East Qingzhou, assigned from the city lord¡¯s mansion of Lingxia City, near Lingkou Pass.¡± Lingxia City rang a bell for Qin Huai, but not as a stronghold. The city had once been seized by reckless bandits fleeing retaliation in Qingzhou City. Yet, the current status suggested a significant change in leadership. Gou Jie, sensing Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts, added, ¡°Remember when I mentioned the ten counties being Qingzhou¡¯s treasure trove? It¡¯s a land of prosperity, fostering millions. Martial artists emerge and explode like an oil well.¡± Every mention of East Qingzhou brought a proud gleam to Gou Jie¡¯s eyes. ¡°And Fang Huo and his team?¡± Qin Huai probed further. Gou Jie¡¯s countenance shifted, becoming more somber. ¡°They couldn¡¯t return. The front lines have transformed dramatically. Four major sects have launched a synchronized assault on territories under the six clans. ¡°Fang Huo and his team got embroiled in the ensuing chaos.¡± He paused, collecting himself, ¡°Their last update mentioned heading to the central battlefield in Pingwang county, and after that, we lost contact with them.¡± Noticing Gou Jie¡¯s distress, Qin Huai assured, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it from here.¡± ¡°Brother Qin!¡± A new voice intruded upon their conversation. Gou Jie sprang up, his expression darkening, as if anticipating a lurking threat. Turning, they were met with an unremarkable man, with another mysterious figure from earlier aiming at the newcomer¡¯s neck. ¡°Ah, this brother is so scary,¡± the man, Zhang Youji, commented with a playful wave. Recognizing him, Qin Huai rose calmly and cupped his hands at the latter. ¡°So it¡¯s you, Zhang Daozi.¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s confidence shone through. ¡°As promised, I¡¯m here to help you with the white-robed king of the Sacred Heart Sect.¡± Chapter 600 - 600 King Domain! 600 King Domain! ¡°This is the expert from the Thousand Divination Tower, correct?¡± Zhang Youji cupped his fists at Gou Jie. ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales of a Thousand Divination Tower in Qingzhou. They use wooden fish as bells, and horsetail whisks to sweep the floor. Mysteries even the Daoists and Buddhas are unaware of. I¡¯ve longed to visit it.¡± ¡°Daozi, your words honor us.¡± Gou Jie replied, the earlier tension in his posture easing somewhat. Realizing that the newcomer was from the True Path Sect, Gou Jie found the man¡¯s silent approach more understandable. ¡°You mentioned helping the alliance master against the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s white-robed king. What might your strategy be?¡± Zhang Youji shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡± Surprised, Gou Jie pressed, ¡°But you¡¯ve reached the king realm, haven¡¯t you?¡± Again, Zhang Youji responded with a definitive, ¡°No.¡± Gou Jie¡¯s anxiety was evident. ¡°Then, how do you intend to help? The white-robed king is a looming threat not just to Qin Huai but for all of Qingzhou.¡± ¡°I¡¯m simply here to follow Brother Qin¡¯s lead,¡± Zhang Youji said, bowing slightly toward Qin Huai. ¡°My familiarity with Qingzhou and the white-robed king is minimal. Whatever Brother Qin requires, I¡¯m at his service.¡± Qin Huai, with a sly smile, suggested, ¡°Then, Daozi, perhaps you¡¯d care to join me at the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion?¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s robe fluttered as he responded enthusiastically, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± As he spoke, his form began to blur and fade. ¡°Wait, Daozi!¡± Qin Huai interrupted. Instantly, Zhang Youji¡¯s figure sharpened back into focus. Qin Huai squinted, trying to discern the magic at play. Had Zhang Youji performed the technique again, Qin Huai¡¯s trained eye would¡¯ve recognized it. Zhang Youji looked curious. ¡°What can I help you with, Brother Qin?¡± Qin Huai responded with a half-teasing tone, ¡°Before we proceed, perhaps you could enlighten us about the wonders of the king realm? Here in Qingzhou, such knowledge is a rarity.¡± ¡°Ah, the king realm¡­¡± Zhang Youji began contemplatively. ¡°To transition from the visceral prefecture realm to the spiritual altar realm, one must integrate their soul with blood, qi, bones, and organs until soul and body are one. It¡¯s not just about merging but purifying every aspect of oneself.¡± ¡°The pursuit of martial arts often involves adopting others¡¯ methods, essentially using one¡¯s training to harness external elements. Bone patterns draw from the imprints of nature, living beings, and the supernatural. Certain practitioners can even seize life forces and the energies of the universe,¡± Zhang Youji mused with a light chuckle. ¡°In some ways, martial artists and bandits have much in common.¡± He continued, ¡°Thus, there¡¯s a sect that avoids external elements altogether, relying purely on their own blood and bones. Of course, Brother Qin is already familiar with that sect.¡± ¡°The Sacred Heart Sect, right?¡± Qin Huai said. ¡°Yes, their disciples are reckless, consuming all they can to advance. It¡¯s the polar opposite approach.¡± Zhang Youji sighed. ¡°Because our earlier cultivation steps aren¡¯t solely rooted in our essence, when soul and body merge, the soul¡¯s power purifies the body. ¡°It expels foreign essence and turns it into your own. Achieving full synchronization heralds the entrance to the king realm. In the spiritual altar realm, my spirit reigns, using my flesh and blood as its foundation.¡± Zhang Youji took a moment to quench his thirst, downing a bowl of wine, then elaborated further. ¡°Upon reaching the king realm, one establishes their king domain. This is a divine power technique stemming from the spirit item you¡¯ve refined according to your earlier cultivation. Different paths lead to distinct king domains. The compatibility of cultivation techniques with the guardian spirit items determines the strength of the king domain.¡± As Zhang Daozi spoke, Qin Huai and Gou Jie absorbed every word. For Qin Huai, these insights were revelations. He¡¯d known of conflicts in cultivation methods causing stagnation, regression, or even death, but this comprehensive understanding was new. Now, it made sense why certain prodigies and even regular disciples, when trained optimally from youth, surpassed their peers in every realm. His past battles with conventional cultivators compared to those from the six royal clans felt markedly different. Gratitude evident, Qin Huai cupped his fists sincerely. ¡°Thank you for your explanation, Daozi!¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s words had indeed enlightened him. He just didn¡¯t know that his seven techniques were the same, but their compatibility was far apart¡­ What would the king domain look like in the end? Recalling his black dragon world, could that be a domain and a divine ability? Chapter 601 - 601 The Frightened White 601 The Frightened White-Robed King Pondering the intricacies of reaching the king realm, Qin Huai wondered if a second king domain awaited him. It wasn¡¯t the right time to probe Zhang Youji about it, given the implications of his unique cultivation of the emperor¡¯s force ¡ª a secret known only to the ancient kings, now his allies. Disclosing this could plunge the budding prosperity of East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties into chaos. Silencing his internal debate, Qin Huai listened as Zhang Youji said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go meet that white-robed king first.¡± The latter then vanished without warning. Gou Jie, taken aback by the abrupt exit, said, ¡°What a fast and powerful breath control technique.¡± His bemusement was evident. ¡°These techniques from the Dao Child seem almost¡­ underhanded. Quite the enigma.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Qin Huai drained his bowl and rose, gazing towards the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion. ¡°I¡¯ll return later. Save the meal for me.¡± ¡°Alliance Master, are you going to the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion?¡± Planning to follow Zhang Youji, Qin Huai addressed Gou Jie¡¯s concerns, ¡°Ah, we can¡¯t really let Daozi go alone, right?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Before Gou Jie could protest, Qin Huai said, ¡°No need for debate. We three will handle it.¡± Gou Jie followed Qin Huai¡¯s glance to the silent black-robed man. ¡°As always, be careful, Alliance Master,¡± Gou Jie cautioned. Suddenly, majestic Kun Peng wings unfurled from Qin Huai¡¯s back. With a single powerful beat, a gust of wind formed, elevating him into the air. As he soared, the king corpse followed suit, powered by a surge of blood essence. Both figures became increasingly distant, yet Qin Huai maintained control, ensuring both were aligned for mutual support if danger arose. Navigating Qingzhou City¡¯s sky, Qin Huai noticed the once overpowering scent of blood was now bearable, possibly due to his increased resilience from refining the blood sea. Below, the city bore scars of past events. Once-bustling streets lay in shambles with only a handful of newly constructed pavilions dotting the landscape. As Qin Huai soared through the wind, hints of alcohol and rouge tickled his senses. Such scents painted a vivid picture of what had become of Qingzhou City. Amidst the recent upheavals, a new order had emerged. Some sought solace in pavilions with alcohol, while others scavenged amongst heaps of discarded bones. Worse yet, some crawled, having lost their legs, propelled only by their arms. Though such sights could evoke pity in many, Qin Huai remained unmoved. He recognized that the remaining inhabitants of Qingzhou were mostly lunatics and fanatics who resorted to unthinkable acts for power. Approaching the ruins of the Thousand Divination Tower, Qin Huai descended gracefully. In contrast, the king corpse slammed into the ground, leaving a large crater. ¡°I need to practice more on controlling the king corpse,¡± he mused. Rather than ascending the mountain himself, he manipulated the king corpse to advance. Few members of the Sacred Heart Sect roamed the vicinity of the Thousand Divination Tower. Their auras suggested they served the white-robed king in mundane roles like cooking or conveying messages rather than as devout disciples. To Qin Huai¡¯s surprise, no guards stood sentinel at the tower. But he realized that the white-robed king, a king realm martial artist, had no need for such precautions. Reaching the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, a palpable aura emanated from its second floor, akin to a moon¡¯s brilliance piercing the night. The king corpse fixed its gaze on the white-robed king, who sat serenely with closed eyes. But within his sleeves, a soul needle charged with king¡¯s force readied itself. Suddenly, a powerful aura erupted. A wave of energy radiated outwards from the pavilion, alerting the white-robed king, who in a blink, lunged into the air, palm-first. The king corpse braced for impact. But the expected attack was eerily absent, as though the white-robed king was striking thin air. Qin Huai¡¯s attention shifted, realizing this was Zhang Daozi¡¯s handiwork. An assassination attempt? Reflecting on Zhang Youji¡¯s penchant for unpredictability, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t shake an unsettling feeling. ¡°This white-robed king is so cunning,¡± Qin Huai mused aloud. ¡°Using that spirit stone merely as a lure. He wishes me to bite, to become ensnared in his trap.¡± Although Qin Huai had access to the spirit world, traversing back to the mortal plane wasn¡¯t instantaneous. And given Zhang Daozi¡¯s brash actions, it stood to reason that he wouldn¡¯t have alerted the white-robed king beforehand. The near-empty Thousand Divination Tower wasn¡¯t solely a product of the white-robed king¡¯s arrogance but also his strategizing. Casually seated at the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, he toyed with a spirit stone, anticipating an ambush. The white-robed king¡¯s poise was commendable, but it seemed his plot had been unsuccessful. Surveying his surroundings, the white-robed king felt a shiver down his spine. As Qin Huai surmised, the white-robed king had indeed been fishing with those spirit stones, hoping to lure him or perhaps Kong Binghuang from Wuji Mountain. Yet the assailant¡¯s identity had clearly blindsided him. The white-robed king only detected the impending attack when it was nearly too late. ¡°What concealment technique is this?¡± he mused aloud, attempting to pierce the veil of invisibility. ¡°You¡¯re not from Qingzhou, right?¡± Time crawled by in tense silence. Minutes turned into an hour, with the white-robed king hovering above, waiting for a sign. But the skies above Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion remained undisturbed. Resigned, the white-robed king descended. ¡°You there,¡± he said to the king corpse. ¡°Fetch me a sight bead from the storeroom.¡± Whoosh! As the king corpse began its trek to the storeroom, a potent force, reminiscent of mountains collapsing, plummeted from the heavens. ¡°Did you believe I wouldn¡¯t detect the anomaly within you?¡± The white-robed king¡¯s voice echoed with icy detachment. With speed that defied logic, the king corpse wheeled around, unleashing a torrent of power. Boom! The two collided with a deafening sound, rupturing the very earth beneath them and sending debris skyward. For a brief moment, a clear sky emerged, framed by the debris, bathing the land in sunlight. ¡°King realm?¡± the white-robed king questioned, parrying the relentless barrage from the king corpse. ¡°Who are you?¡± Their battle was a sight to behold: fists met fists, strength against strength. Despite enduring multiple blows from the white-robed king, the king corpse remained unwavering, without a scratch. The white-robed king¡¯s bewilderment was palpable. Where did this monster come from? Chapter 602 - 602 Domain Fragments! 602 Domain Fragments! The white-robed king deftly deflected the attack of the king corpse, the resulting combat painting the ground crimson. As the two continued their intense battle, the white-robed king¡¯s mind raced. His eidetic memory, a hallmark of king realm experts, cataloged faces and events with photographic precision. Yet this person before him, this king corpse, remained an enigma, absent from the annals of his vast recollections. Despite the mysterious origins of the king corpse, the white-robed king noted a discrepancy: though his enemy¡¯s physical prowess was unmatched, his killing intent was strikingly weak. Whoosh! Suddenly, the gleam of a blade caught his attention. The swift and deadly arc nearly claimed him, but he pivoted just in time, a deep wound manifesting on his waist. Blood flowed freely. The nature of the injury stymied his healing capabilities, a clear sign that this was no ordinary weapon. ¡°Cursed weapons? You aim to take my life with such a thing? Just the two of you wish me dead? In your dreams!¡± The white-robed king¡¯s voice dripped with disdain. The king corpse, undeterred, launched another assault. The white-robed king responded by conjuring an ethereal, blood-red blade that severed an arm from the corpse¡¯s body. Stopping its onslaught momentarily, the king corpse attempted to retreat, but the white-robed king was not to be outmaneuvered. ¡°Why would I let you escape?¡± The white-robed king performed another blood technique, releasing a projectile that pierced the king corpse¡¯s heart. Blood darkened the corpse¡¯s robes as it began to fall. Observing from a distance, Qin Huai frowned. The white-robed king¡¯s technique bore a stark resemblance to his own blood rain technique, yet with an inexplicable twist: no external blood source was evident. It seemed as if the very essence of the white-robed king had morphed into this deadly skill. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze intently studied the blood mirror, on the lookout for any trap the white-robed king might have devised. Suddenly, a shimmering object manifested before him, catching his attention. Not just any experience orb, this one was in the shape of a crown. It should be called the experience crown. Drawn to its allure, the crown-shaped experience orb closed the gap between them in a matter of moments, merging seamlessly into Qin Huai. ¡°Ding! You have acquired the [Boundless Blood World] domain fragment. Progress on [Boundless Blood World] domain fragment is (1/100)!¡± Recognition dawned on Qin Huai. This was the revered king domain. The puzzle pieces clicked into place ¡ª the reason for his prior blindness became clear. But then, his surroundings grew murky. Before he could react, his world was consumed by darkness. As he emerged from the obsidian void, a gleaming light greeted him. Grasping a handrail, he found himself perched on a stark black chair, its simplicity contrasting with the subtle luminance it emitted. Gazing down, his form was a pearly, translucent white. Could this be the color of the soul? In this realm of shadows, he was the sole occupant. ¡°Where am I?¡± he mused, his heart filled with doubt. ¡°Did I fall into the white-robed king¡¯s trap?¡± He touched the chair beneath him, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. It was reminiscent of the black dragon world¡¯s power. His gaze shifted downward, spotting a beacon of blood-red light breaking through the all-consuming darkness. ¡°Boundless blood world?¡± Pondering on the light, the name sprung effortlessly to his mind. But as quickly as this vision began, it ended, returning Qin Huai to his previous reality. The blood mirror, still clutched in his hand, played the scene of the king corpse¡¯s fatal injury. The ethereal throne and luminescent starlight seemed but a fleeting dream. Elsewhere, the white-robed king stood atop the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, a frosty smirk tugging at his lips as he cast a disdainful glance at the paralyzed king corpse. ¡°Your physique might be exceptional, but you are far from a genuine King realm martial artist.¡± With a confident stride, the ground beneath him cracked. But his arrogance was short-lived. In a sudden twist, he veered to the side, barely avoiding another surprise attack. Whoosh! Launching a counter-offensive, he hurled a barrage of punches that kicked up the dust and debris, which rained down with a resonant clatter. Yet, his opponent evaded his every move. Growing increasingly frustrated, the white-robed king shot a scornful look at the tiny droplets of blood that had missed their mark. Whoever lurked in the shadows was proving to be a master of deception, eluding even his prodigious king realm¡¯s Wisdom Eye. Chapter 603 - 603 Boundless Blood World 603 Boundless Blood World Even in the king domain, he couldn¡¯t manage to kill his opponent? It was a baffling setback for the white-robed king. ¡°Without your ally, how long can you hold on?¡± he bellowed defiantly, his voice echoing through the vast expanse. As if to answer, from the periphery of his sight, the arm he had severed soared through the air, reattaching itself to the king corpse with a resounding snap. The king corpse flexed his newly rejoined limb, fixing the white-robed king with an unsettling stare. ¡°How?¡± the white-robed king stammered, his confidence waning. ¡°How can you survive even after your heart¡¯s been pierced?¡± Endless speculations swirled within his mind. ¡°Are you from the sect?¡± The Sacred Heart Sect was renowned for its arcane techniques that allowed its disciples to displace their organs and regenerate limbs. For them, reattaching a limb would be trivial. But a nagging doubt persisted. Being one of the leading figures of the Sacred Heart Sect, one of the vaunted Four Great Protectors, why would someone from his own sect attack him? And he wasn¡¯t acquainted with anyone from the sect with such formidable prowess. ¡°Who sent you?¡± The king¡¯s internal alliances and rivalries were intricate. But none had previously escalated to the precipice of mortal combat. Especially now, with their overarching objectives, infighting would be counterproductive. Still, the king corpse remained ominously silent, his inability to vocalize adding to this mystery. He slowly clenched his fist, triggering an alert stance from the previously complacent white-robed king. Suddenly, a plume of dust billowed toward the king. ¡°You¡¯re using kids¡¯ tricks?¡± he scoffed, his aura pulsating, effectively dispersing the airborne particles. Within moments, the king corpse had retreated hundreds of meters, leaving the white-robed king in contemplation. He ascended, hovering momentarily, scanning the horizon where the king corpse had vanished before gently touching down. To the west lay Pingwang county, currently embroiled in a fierce conflict between the three sects and six clans. Was the king corpse attempting to draw him into this tumultuous region? ¡°Have the three sects and six clans finally discerned the Supreme One¡¯s plans in Qingzhou?¡± the white-robed king pondered. As he thought about it, he realized something. The mysterious attacker wasn¡¯t from the Sacred Heart Sect despite the deceptive semblance of their techniques. All of it seemed like an elaborate ruse. Perhaps one or multiple factions among the three sects and six clans had gotten wind of the sect¡¯s nefarious plans in Qingzhou and dispatched scouts or assassins in response. The white-robed king calculated, fingers tapping methodically. ¡°The timing aligns perfectly with the Supreme One¡¯s predictions. The three sects and six clans discovered the Qingzhou incident precisely when anticipated.¡± The only deviation in the entire plan was his failure to cultivate the peak king realm puppet in the time decreed by the Supreme One. The unexpected emergence of a strong self-awareness, the meddling of Tang Pi, the striving for autonomy, and the greatest unpredictability within the blood sea plan. Gazing up at the tumultuous blood sea overhead, he summoned the scarlet blood bead to his hand. As it emitted a radiant crimson glow, the sky¡¯s blood sea responded tumultuously, its waves agitating fiercely. Below, countless Qingzhou citizens raised their eyes in awe and dread. ¡°We have no time to spare,¡± he concluded. Determinedly, he said, ¡°I must pour this energy directly into Wang Kun, forging him into a king realm puppet.¡± He knew that should the three sects and six clans uncover the truth, they would inevitably dispatch their elite to thwart their scheme. The glow of the scarlet blood bead intensified, its power causing the atmosphere to tremble. As the blood sea bellowed its rage and spectral laughter echoed eerily, the white-robed king settled into a meditative pose, focusing his intent on transferring the immense energy into Wang Kun. ¡­ Meanwhile, Qin Huai, having guided the king corpse on a detour around Qingzhou City¡¯s western perimeter, sensed the tumult of the blood sea. He sat, feeling its powerful undulations. ¡°What could the white-robed king be planning?¡± he mused, consulting his Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion. The image crystallized his suspicion: the white-robed king, the scarlet blood bead in hand, deep in meditation, and the resonating purpose in his countenance. Qin Huai¡¯s realization was immediate. ¡°Is he intending to upgrade Wang Kun? To create a puppet at the king realm?¡± And with a moment¡¯s introspection, he knew that he still had control over the blood sea, a power surpassing the influence of the scarlet blood bead. From the shadows, Zhang Youji silently materialized. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± ¡°Daozi!¡± Qin Huai greeted with cupped fists. The Heart¡¯s Heart Pavilion¡¯s attempts to get rid of Zhang Youji had also caused Qin Huai¡¯s status to rise. Zhang Youji¡¯s ability to navigate undetected, even among those of equal strength, was uncanny. If his mystical techniques were effective against enemies like the white-robed king, it would be a force to reckon with. Besides, Zhang Daozi¡¯s offensive strength was not to be underestimated. Otherwise, the white-robed king wouldn¡¯t be so afraid. ¡°Through this reconnaissance, I¡¯ve found out the nature of the king domain under the white-robed king, one of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s four major protectors,¡± Zhang Youji commented, surveying their surroundings. His gaze shifted toward where the king corpse had departed. Still ten miles out, Daozi¡¯s sensitivity to detect it at such a distance was astonishing. In that brief moment, Zhang Youji¡¯s standing in Qin Huai¡¯s eyes elevated further. The True Path Sect¡¯s Dao Child indeed lived up to his reputation. ¡°What¡¯s our next move, Brother Qin?¡± Zhang Youji asked, glancing skyward. ¡°Our little reconnaissance seems to have ruffled some feathers. Perhaps we should rattle them a bit more? Even minor disruptions might prove beneficial.¡± Qin Huai pondered, ¡°The white-robed king¡¯s top priority in Qingzhou is the blood sea plan and the cultivation of the king realm puppet. Our interference has likely pressured them to hasten the plan, fearing the intervention of the six clans and three sects. Let¡¯s just have to keep interfering with their progress.¡± An unspoken intent lingered in Qin Huai¡¯s thoughts: acquiring the fragments of the boundless blood world. The prospect of claiming such a valuable king domain was too tempting to ignore. Why decline such a prize? The more the merrier. ¡°It¡¯s best if we can drag it out until the people from the six clans and three sects arrive. Once we fully understand the opponent¡¯s domain tactics, we might find a strategy to neutralize it.¡± Qin Huai proposed, ¡°Let¡¯s leave a king realm expert here forever.¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s eyes gleamed with intrigue. ¡°Your insight mirrors my own thoughts, Brother Qin. Imagine the reaction if we, in the visceral prefecture realm, were to kill a king. Our names would echo throughout the lands,¡± he added jestingly toward the end. ¡°It would be the three of us,¡± Qin Huai corrected. At this moment, the king corpse gently landed on the ground. ¡°May I ask how I should address this brother?¡± Zhang Youji greeted, cupping his fists at the king corpse. The corpse met Zhang Youji¡¯s gaze, a cold and emotionless stare. An awkward silence ensued. ¡°He¡¯s mute and communicates solely through sign language,¡± Qin Huai quickly explained. The king corpse, after all, was a puppet, devoid of speech. To demonstrate, he manipulated the puppet to emulate sign language gestures inspired by some anime he¡¯d seen in his former life. His hand speed was so fast that Zhang Youji was dazzled. ¡°Is that sign language? It seems vaguely familiar,¡± Zhang Youji mused. Chuckling, Qin Huai explained, ¡°It¡¯s a unique sign language devised by Brother Wang. I can only rely on instincts to understand it.¡± Curious, Zhang Youji asked, ¡°What did Brother Wang say?¡± With feigned seriousness, Qin Huai ¡®translated¡¯, ¡°Brother Wang said there are matters he must attend to. We shall reconvene tomorrow.¡± Chapter 604 - 604 Like a Purgatory 604 Like a Purgatory Qin Huai and Zhang Daozi exchanged glances, their understanding of one another evident. Instead of heading directly to Lingkou Pass, which would consume unnecessary time, they decided to find a bustling restaurant in Qingzhou City. Once renowned for its inner-city prosperity, the landscape now lay in ruins, a stark contrast to its former grandeur. Wilted trees, faded blossoms, and blood-tainted canals painted a grim picture. Nature and architecture seemed in decay, with wild creatures roaming freely. As Qin Huai observed the malnourished cats and dogs darting in and out of shadows, he was taken aback. ¡°Even these cats and dogs have such powerful vitality fluctuations?¡± Considering the martial realm¡¯s standards, these animals exhibited an energy signature akin to the blood refinement realm. ¡°Most likely, they consumed remnants discarded by the Sacred Heart followers,¡± Zhang Daozi deduced, ¡°or they wouldn¡¯t have survived here.¡± Qingzhou City now seemed reminiscent of a morbid purgatory, devoid of life, its desolation stretching for miles. However, a distant commotion drew their attention. A seemingly abandoned town housed a single illuminated restaurant. Upon approach, it became evident that its warm glow masked an eerie reality: skeleton heads with internally lit candles adorned the corners. Stepping into the Red Treasure Meat restaurant, the trio found themselves under the intense scrutiny of its patrons. Eyes glowed with a strange luminescence, while salivating mouths betrayed their predatory intentions. The trio unflinchingly took their seats at the sole vacant central table. Everything about this place, from its name to the wobbly furniture, was unsettling. Feeling the need to break the tension, Zhang Daozi addressed a nearby waiter, ¡°Are you not going to welcome your guests?¡± Responding promptly, the waiter approached. ¡°You two are new here, aren¡¯t you? Are you aware of our establishment¡¯s rules?¡± He gave the pair a once-over, but it was Qin Huai that caught his prolonged attention. The man was undeniably attractive, and something about him stirred a sense of familiarity in the waiter, causing him to gulp involuntarily. ¡°I must admit my ignorance,¡± Zhang Daozi said, trying to maintain his composure. The waiter¡¯s grin widened, revealing a hint of mischief. ¡°We offer two kinds of meals and one type of wine here. We serve Five Elements canned food and the Nine Revolutions Large Intestine.¡± He looked quite pleased with himself, and the surrounding patrons snickered maliciously. ¡°May I ask the ingredients of these¡­ dishes?¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s curiosity got the better of him. Qin Huai stayed silent, merely observing. Before the waiter could reply, a boisterous patron interjected, ¡°The Five Elements canned meat is made of human body parts and the five core organs, seared atop clay tiles for that earthy aroma. Truly an authentic taste.¡± He chuckled. ¡°And the Nine Revolutions Large Intestine? It¡¯s made from the three-inch intestines of nine people. Each has its unique flavor, giving the dish its distinctive name.¡± The color drained from Zhang Youji¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re joking! How can you eat human flesh?¡± The surrounding laughter grew louder. ¡°Such innocence! Must be his first time here,¡± someone jeered. Another chimed in, ¡°His nose bridge is slightly higher, so I knew they¡¯re most likely from another province. These outsiders might have a unique taste to them.¡± ¡°I call dibs on the younger one!¡± another voice shouted unabashedly. Feeling trapped, Zhang Youji desperately tried to redirect the conversation. ¡°And the spirit flower wine? What¡¯s that made from?¡± ¡°As martial artists, what comes to mind when you hear the word ¡®spirit¡¯?¡± The waiter¡¯s voice dripped with malevolence. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡­ the soul?¡± Zhang Youji whispered, eyes wide in horror. The waiter leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper, ¡°How may I assist you with your order?¡± The mood turned palpably hostile as patrons rose from their seats, surrounding the trio. Anyone could see their intentions were far from honorable. ¡°Do you not serve anything¡­ conventional?¡± Qin Huai¡¯s calm voice cut through the rising tension. A burly man behind him scoffed. ¡°Are you saying that we¡¯re not normal people?¡± He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing ominously. The aura on his body fluctuated, and his might was faintly revealed. ¡°Here, you either become the meal, or¡­¡± His threat was interrupted by a new voice, diffusing the tense atmosphere momentarily. ¡°Might we offer a more palatable alternative for our guests?¡± Chapter 605 - 605 Going to the Hearts Eye Pavilion Again! 605 Going to the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion Again! The three men¡¯s attention was drawn to a plump figure in a richly embroidered robe adorned with three-clawed python designs. He hustled over, moving in a manner that was almost comical, resembling a rolling motion. ¡°I am the owner of this establishment,¡± the rotund man declared, bowing. ¡°My apologies for the earlier oversight in your reception. Our offerings vary based on our clientele. Here¡¯s a more traditional menu.¡± The owner offered a sheepskin scroll with trembling hands to Qin Huai. Perusing the menu, Qin Huai read aloud some familiar dishes. ¡°Chives and eggs, braised beef, rice wine¡­¡± He glanced up. ¡°We¡¯ll have one of each.¡± ¡°Very well! Your food will be prepared right away.¡± The owner signaled the waiter, and the two quickly retreated to the kitchen. The restaurant¡¯s mood shifted. The other patrons, who had previously been eyeing the trio hungrily, now cast uncertain and wary glances before resuming their seats. Back in the kitchen, the waiter¡¯s anxiety was palpable. ¡°Why spare them? Among us, we have bone pattern realm experts. You, a third level, and me, a fifth level, even trained under the Ghost Ox Sect¡­¡± ¡°Hush!¡± The owner interrupted, his complexion ghostly. ¡°Do you know who that pretty boy is?¡± ¡°Who?¡± the waiter asked, confusion evident. ¡°The Qingzhou Alliance¡¯s leader.¡± The waiter¡¯s face blanched, knees buckling. ¡°What have I done? You have to help me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic. I didn¡¯t sense any intent to harm from him. And don¡¯t even consider escaping. If he wishes us harm, there¡¯s nowhere we could hide.¡± The owner knew that there was no need to instruct him anymore. With renewed purpose, he started preparing the ordered dishes. ¡­ Back in the dining area, Qin Huai and Zhang Youji were sipping tea, seemingly at ease. Zhang Youji abruptly snapped his fingers. An invisible ripple emanated from them, seemingly creating a barrier around their table. ¡°It¡¯s a soundproof seal. Easier for a private chat,¡± Zhang Youji explained. ¡°It seems Qingzhou City has reached a new level of depravity. Tales of families turning against each other out of avarice and hunger are all too common now.¡± Qin Huai nodded gravely. ¡°The temptation of power, especially shortcuts like the blood heart technique, can make people lose their humanity. It¡¯s even more addictive.¡± Zhang Youji¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The Sacred Heart Sect is a grave menace. Its disciples are monsters in human guise.¡± Qin Huai raised his cup. ¡°Regardless, I am grateful for Daozi¡¯s support in these troubling times in Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Brother Qin, you give it too much weight,¡± Zhang Youji began, his tone light. ¡°To be honest, I came here to challenge myself¡­ To see if I could take down a king realm expert at my current level. But witnessing the chaos and madness in Qingzhou City¡­ It¡¯s been an enlightening journey. The depths of the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s depravity surprised even me.¡± As they talked, a delicious aroma wafted over, drawing their attention. Dishes were laid before them, and both men eagerly started their meal, intoxicated by the rich flavors. Seeing someone absent from their table, Zhang Youji inquired, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Brother Wang be joining us?¡± Qin Huai chuckled. ¡°Brother Wang has his quirks. It seems I¡¯m the only one who truly understands him.¡± Zhang Youji nodded. ¡°Experts often have their eccentricities.¡± Their meal concluded, and Qin Huai called out, ¡°Waiter! Our bill, please.¡± The waiter, drenched in sweat, rushed over. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s an honor to serve you!¡± His nervous gaze fixed on Qin Huai. Qin Huai, with a playful smirk, replied, ¡°Do I look like the sort who dines and dashes?¡± As he searched his robe for money, realization dawned. He really didn¡¯t have any money on him. Ever since the incident in Qingzhou, money was no longer of much use to Qin Huai. There was nowhere to spend money. In addition, his clothes had been torn to shreds after a few battles, so there was no money in the new robes. The waiter, sensing an opportunity to avoid conflict, interjected frantically, ¡°It¡¯s on the house! Truly!¡± He was afraid that Qin Huai would have their heads. The leader of the Qingzhou Alliance was a ruthless person who had forced all the geniuses of Qingzhou to submit to him. Even the important figures of the Sacred Heart Sect were helpless against him. The waiter¡¯s legs went limp, and he almost knelt in front of Qin Huai. Seeing this, Qin Huai knew that the people here had most likely recognized him. Qin Huai studied the man. There was no hint of the foul odor associated with those who practiced the blood heart technique. And, Qingzhou City still had regular food available. He reasoned, ¡°This waiter must have had compelling reasons to remain in such a twisted city.¡± Placing a reassuring hand on the waiter¡¯s shoulder, Qin Huai said, ¡°Act with humanity.¡± The waiter¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re listening,¡± Zhang Youji assured, ¡°Speak freely. No one around can hear us.¡± Gathering his courage, the waiter began, ¡°I was once a chef for the Ghost Ox Sect. I used that association, portraying myself as a mere disciple of the sect, to ensure my family¡¯s safety when we relocated to Qingzhou for a better life. ¡°But the city transformed overnight.¡± He paused, grief evident. ¡°I¡¯ve been masquerading as a Ghost Ox Sect disciple, scavenging from the estates of deceased influential figures to sustain myself. But my family¡­ they¡¯re gone. ¡°I¡¯ve remained here, hoping to witness the fall of that king.¡± His voice was heavy with emotion. ¡°I want Qingzhou City restored to its former self. Only then can I face my departed family with a clear conscience.¡± He looked up with pleading eyes. ¡°How long do you think I have to wait?¡± Qin Huai, sensing the desperation in the man¡¯s voice, replied reassuringly, ¡°Not long at all. Just watch.¡± The waiter nodded, wiping away his tears. As the three figures retreated into the shadows, a talisman materialized in the waiter¡¯s hand, given to him by Zhang Youji. It was said to clear debts and offer protection when needed. In the enveloping darkness, Zhang Youji let out a somber sigh. ¡°Sacred Heart Sect¡­¡± Understanding the weight of those words, Qin Huai stayed silent. ¡­ The first light of dawn was obscured by a gentle drizzle. Inside the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, the white-robed king concentrated on the scarlet blood bead, engrossed in his meditation. Whoosh! Suddenly, he sensed an intrusion. Without hesitation, he lashed out, only to be met with a sudden counterattack. Blood splattered onto his face, a small trail seeping from the corner of his mouth. ¡°You still dare to come?!¡± he roared, invoking his boundless blood world technique. Blood blades materialized from the ground, leaving no avenue of escape. Within moments, he found his target: the maimed body of a king. With a precise strike, he sent the corpse hurtling away. Almost immediately, blades infused with blood energy sought to finish off the enemy. Their dance in the air was deadly and swift, slashing the king¡¯s limbs from his body. Yet, to the white-robed king¡¯s astonishment, strands of blood from the amputated limbs refused to dissipate, instead radiating with a brilliant golden hue. The connection remained unbroken. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you recover this time!¡± The white-robed king laughed coldly. Blood blades rose up around him, wanting to sever the connection. Clang! When the blood collided with each other, the blood from the severed limb flashed with a golden light, but it did not move at all. Instead, the white-robed king¡¯s blood blade was split into two. Ding! You have acquired the [Boundless Blood World] domain fragment. Progress on [Boundless Blood World] domain fragment is (2/100)! ¡°What¡­¡± Stunned, the white-robed king watched as the limbless figure levitated, propelled by an unseen force. It vanished from his view with alarming speed. Chapter 606 - 606 The Excited White 606 The Excited White-Robed King ¡°How audacious,¡± muttered the white-robed king, eyes fixed on the receding form of the king corpse. Fury bubbled within him. He had intended to spare these two interlopers from the six clans and three sects. Yet, they doggedly pursued him. ¡°Do you really think that I, a king realm expert, am weak?¡± he shouted. His roar sent the surrounding wildlife fleeing in fear. As the echoes faded and tranquility returned, the fierce expression on the white-robed king¡¯s face vanished. Wiping away the blood at his mouth¡¯s corner, he pondered deeply. ¡°Are they just buying time?¡± His gaze fell upon the late Sacred Heart Sect disciples from the five major sects who approached him anxiously. ¡°King, are you alright?¡± they enquired, kneeling reverently. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he reassured them, dismissing them with a wave. As he had expected, their ambush had failed to be effective. The prowess of his adversaries was beyond their capabilities. But just as they were about to depart, a blood-colored falcon dove from the skies, crashing into the white-robed king and merging with him. After a brief moment of shock, he beckoned his disciples, ¡°Gather around. There¡¯s something I need to discuss.¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, Qin Huai and Zhang Youji continued their meal at the restaurant. As they savored the dishes, they reflected upon their recent confrontation with the white-robed king. ¡°Did you spot any flaws in him earlier?¡± Zhang Youji inquired, munching on a peanut. Qin Huai sighed. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find an opening. However, Brother Wang might have some insights.¡± He nodded towards the king corpse, which responded with a flurry of hand signs. Qin Huai translated, ¡°Brother Wang believes that the white-robed king¡¯s domain divine power is formidable, only counterable by those at the king realm. Furthermore, the blood-based attack he uses might not be derived solely from blood. It could come from the earth or even plants.¡± Zhang Youji pondered this. ¡°So, are you suggesting that neutralizing his domain divine power is possible if we engage him mid-air?¡± ¡°Possibly,¡± Qin Huai confirmed. ¡°The question is whether Daozi possesses the means to take to the skies.¡± ¡°Indeed, there are ways,¡± Zhang Youji began. ¡°Any martial artist in the visceral prefecture realm will always be on the lookout for a spirit item that grants the ability to fly. Such an item isn¡¯t just for transportation. It¡¯s a symbol of status and power.¡± Zhang Youji cast a fleeting glance at the king corpse, then turned to Qin Huai, suggesting, ¡°Shall we make our move tomorrow?¡± Both Qin Huai and the king corpse nodded in agreement. Qin Huai wasn¡¯t inclined to face the white-robed king without fully understanding the latter¡¯s capabilities. The stakes were high. Suddenly, Zhang Youji¡¯s eyes captured a glint of blue, spelling out the word ¡®sound¡¯. The momentary flash of surprise in his eyes gave way to a playful look as he gazed at Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re really impressive,¡± he said with a hint of admiration. Puzzled, Qin Huai asked, ¡°Why do you say so?¡± ¡°The Spirit Dragon Duo Demons,¡± Zhang Youji began, recounting their deeds, ¡°were responsible for obliterating six races in the spirit bone level. It caused a huge uproar. And the turn of events in the eastern battlefield? That was your doing, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Huai responded humbly, ¡°Fortune favored me. The six clans underestimated their opponent.¡± Zhang Youji chuckled, not quite buying Qin Huai¡¯s modesty. ¡°Regardless, the eastern battlefield of Pingwang county has shifted dramatically due to your intervention against the six clans. The three sects have pushed forward significantly, causing quite the damage to the opposing forces.¡± ¡°I was just lucky. The fellows from the six clans are too arrogant,¡± Qin Huai said humbly. Naturally, Zhang Youji did not believe him. He chuckled and said, ¡°No matter what, it¡¯s all thanks to Brother Qin this time. ¡°On the eastern front, in Pingwang county¡­ After Brother Qin¡¯s decimation of the six clans, the combined forces of the three sects progressed a hundred miles. ¡°Twelve visceral prefecture realm experts have been defeated, and three elders from the Qiong Qi clan of Barren State have met their end. This marks the most significant loss of the six races¡¯ top combatants since the onset of the war. ¡°Additionally, about three hundred remain in the bone pattern realm. As for those in the blood refinement realm, their numbers are uncertain.¡± Qin Huai, listening intently, couldn¡¯t hide his grin. The fallout from his skirmish at the King Bone Holy Altar seemed to have longer-lasting effects than he initially realized. However, something didn¡¯t add up. Qin Huai suddenly recalled that it had been nearly ten days since the battle at the King Bone Holy Altar. Zhang Youji¡¯s expression just now was clearly similar to Gou Jie¡¯s thousand mile sound transmission technique. This was probably first-hand news. ¡°Hasn¡¯t it been almost ten days since the clash at the altar? Weren¡¯t the three sects a bit too sluggish in their response?¡± Zhang Youji, realizing what Qin Huai was driving at, gave a sheepish smile. ¡°This news was already ten days ago. Just now, I wanted to see if anyone in the sect was looking for me, so I dispelled the technique. ¡°I¡¯ve always erred on the side of caution. My concealment techniques make it difficult even for our sect members to find me. And the news you heard is a bit outdated. I¡¯ve just now disabled my concealment to check for any messages.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Huai couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Zhang Youji¡¯s skills. ¡°Your talents are truly unparalleled, Daozi. Not only have you mastered the True Path Sect¡¯s Lightning Law Daoist Scripture, but your stealth abilities are nearly unrivaled, comparable to kings.¡± Chapter 607 - 607 The Secret Realm of Pingwang 607 The Secret Realm of Pingwang Zhang Youji blinked, processing Qin Huai¡¯s unexpected compliment. ¡°It¡¯s just my primary cultivation method,¡± he responded, a little taken aback. Qin Huai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and for a while, neither spoke. It was Zhang Youji who finally broke the silence, steering the conversation in a new direction. ¡°But at the King Bone Holy Altar, Brother Qin wasn¡¯t the name on everyone¡¯s lips.¡± Raising an eyebrow, Qin Huai inquired, ¡°Oh? Who drew more attention?¡± ¡°Prince Qing Cang of the imperial capital,¡± Zhang Youji revealed. ¡°Rumors are swirling that the once perceived laid-back prince is none other than the Great Spirit Dragon of the Spirit Dragon Duo Demons. The three sects and six clans are buzzing about this revelation. I¡¯ve even heard that numerous experts have now stationed themselves outside the imperial residence.¡± A sly smirk formed on Qin Huai¡¯s face as he connected the dots. The little emperor¡¯s keen interest in Prince Qing Cang made more sense now. Realizing that the prince was concealing a secret, the emperor might have had his own agenda. But now, the unassuming prince found himself at the center of a political storm. Shaking off his thoughts on royal intrigue, Qin Huai refocused on the conversation. Zhang Youji, sensing the shift, continued, ¡°I¡¯ve also come across a fascinating tidbit. A mystic realm has emerged in Pingwang, its dense spiritual energy transforming the very landscape.¡± Qin Huai listened intently, his curiosity piqued. ¡°I heard that the spirit stones in Qingzhou were exhausted by the Qingzhou Emperor,¡± he remarked thoughtfully. Zhang Youji nodded, elaborating on the significance of spirit stones. ¡°Apart from serving as a conduit to the spirit world, these stones play a vital role in cultivation. They¡¯re essentially condensed spiritual energy. Though potent, their scarcity makes them a luxury few can afford. Most use these stones either as gateways to the spirit world or, more aggressively, to eliminate others and harness their spiritual energy. Only a rare few get the privilege to directly cultivate with spirit stones. The number of people in the spirit treasure level is small, given the challenges they face in obtaining and using these stones.¡± Qin Huai added, ¡°Hence, the lack of king realm martial artists. Whenever there¡¯s a hint of a secret realm or mine with these spirit stones, top forces scramble to claim it.¡± Qin Huai took a moment to absorb Zhang Youji¡¯s words. The gravity of the situation was clear. The emergence of the secret realm in Pingwang county was pivotal, a game-changer. ¡°If the six clans and the three sects find out, none would step back easily,¡± Qin Huai surmised. ¡°It¡¯s like handing over one or multiple king realm martial artists on a silver platter.¡± The desperation of the Sacred Heart Sect gave a clear testament to this when they put the entirety of Qingzhou at stake for the creation of a king realm puppet. Zhang Youji nodded gravely. ¡°What¡¯s worse, Pingwang lies right in the epicenter of the battlefield.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s eyes widened with realization. ¡°That means, the war among the clans and sects will escalate to unforeseen heights. It¡¯s like lighting a fuse in a powder keg.¡± He gazed into the horizon, the weight of the situation evident on his features. ¡°We are indeed in tumultuous times. Daozi,¡± he turned to Zhang Youji, his voice earnest, ¡°if you wish to leave, please don¡¯t fret over Qingzhou. Its fate should be in its own hands. I can¡¯t thank you enough for coming to my aid, and once this matter settles, I¡¯ll come to offer my gratitude.¡± Zhang Youji chuckled. ¡°Brother Qin, you¡¯re overthinking. I¡¯m not leaving yet. Both the secret realm and the Sacred Heart Sect are pressing matters. As long as we¡¯re here, it¡¯s our responsibility to see them through.¡± Touched, Qin Huai simply cupped his fists in acknowledgment. ¡­ The subsequent three months were nothing short of a strategic chess game. The board was Qingzhou, and the pieces were Qin Huai, Zhang Youji, the king corpse, and the elusive white-robed king. Qin Huai proactively sought out the white-robed king, searching for weak points in the latter¡¯s king domain while gathering domain fragments from the boundless blood world. The white-robed king wasn¡¯t idle. Intent on outsmarting Qin Huai and consuming the king realm puppet, he constantly shifted his base. But in a city like Qingzhou, he couldn¡¯t escape Qin Huai¡¯s scrutiny. To maintain the facade, Qin Huai and Zhang Youji would often weave elaborate ruses, even taking long roundabout routes just to confront the white-robed king. It was a game of shadows and subterfuge that continued relentlessly for three whole months. Upon completing his daily tasks, Qin Huai sauntered into the Red Treasure Meat restaurant. The usually lively venue had an unusual hush. ¡°Mr. Qin, you honor us with your presence,¡± Wang Yougui, the shopkeeper, greeted warmly as he promptly served the day¡¯s dishes. Eyeing the scanty patrons, Qin Huai inquired, ¡°Shopkeeper Wang, why so quiet? Business hasn¡¯t been good?¡± Wang Yougui responded with a disheartened smile. ¡°It¡¯s baffling. The slump started just yesterday. We¡¯ve barely had any patrons since.¡± Zhang Youji, leaning against a pillar, laughed. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t think we¡¯re behind this? We¡¯ve got bigger fish to fry.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s gaze was distant, his palm raised and showing traces of fresh blood that sketched a miniature panorama of the world. The depiction on his palm shifted, mirroring the activities of Qingzhou City. Then, the scene stopped, showcasing a horde rushing through a forest towards Qingzhou¡¯s west. Observing this, Qin Huai murmured, ¡°Sacred Heart believers are on the move. Looks like the Sacred Heart Sect is desperate.¡± Wang Yougui¡¯s face lit up with hope. ¡°Has the white-robed king finally decided to leave? I¡¯ve noticed the crimson sky dimming recently.¡± Zhang Youji interjected somberly, ¡°I doubt the white-robed king would abandon his post.¡± Puzzled, Wang Yougui asked, ¡°But why?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been a constant thorn in the white-robed king¡¯s side. Do you think he would leave without settling scores?¡± Zhang Youji said, glancing at Qin Huai. ¡°While I can¡¯t claim complete confidence, it¡¯s high time we confronted him. If he completes the king realm puppet, we¡¯re done for.¡± Qin Huai, looking at the horizon that was drenched in a scarlet hue, replied, ¡°Daozi, don¡¯t worry. I have a plan.¡± ¡­ Inside an inconspicuous mountain range, in a cavern, sat the white-robed king. He was surrounded by darkness, with insects crawling around, making the modest space feel more like a pit than a chamber. His triumphant voice echoed, ¡°After three grueling months, the king realm puppet has finally manifested its true form!¡± He, a dignified king realm martial artist, had endured humiliation for three months. Now, the bitterness has finally come to an end. Clenching the scarlet blood bead, he could sense a mystical connection emanating from it. He roared, ¡°It¡¯s time to make those two brats pay the price.¡± Chapter 608 - 608 Treading in the Shadows 608 Treading in the Shadows Qing Cang Palace, Imperial Capital. The muscular youth, Long Ping¡¯an, knelt anxiously before Prince Qing Cang. ¡°Godfather, it¡¯s been several months. Instead of dwindling, the crowd outside has only swelled.¡± In stark contrast to Long Ping¡¯an¡¯s worried expression, Prince Qing Cang appeared unperturbed. Casually humming, he poured water on the flowers, his plump form exuding an air of nonchalance. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. The area around the imperial residence is mine. Have those restaurants, gambling dens, and brothels increase their rates. They¡¯ve become too greedy. Increase them fivefold.¡± ¡°Godfather, we¡¯re under scrutiny. Should the six clans settle their feud with the three sects, we¡¯ll be their next target. And that person in the palace¡­ time isn¡¯t on our side.¡± Prince Qing Cang chuckled, spraying the water on the petals. ¡°What would you have me do? The time isn¡¯t right for any action on my part. And Ping¡¯an, how are you so certain the person in the palace is running out of time?¡± Long Ping¡¯an hesitated, then responded, ¡°Rumors have been rampant for years. Otherwise, would the six royal clans dare to be this audacious?¡± Prince Qing Cang¡¯s tone turned grave. ¡°Tread carefully. Those who consistently operate in the shadows often become consumed by them. The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s fanaticism will be their undoing.¡± Prince Qing Cang¡¯s meaningful words caused Long Ping¡¯an¡¯s body to stiffen. ¡°I¡¯ll heed your advice, foster father.¡± He cupped his fists and left quickly. ¡°What a headache. I¡¯ve become a bird in a cage¡­¡±Prince Qing Cang looked in the palace¡¯s direction. ¡°I underestimated this young emperor.¡± ¡­ ¡°Achoo!¡± Within the confines of the imperial palace, the little emperor sneezed, his small frame wrapped in a blanket. Holding a pile of memorials, he mused aloud, ¡°Who¡¯s talking about me? Could it be my good imperial uncle¡­¡± A disembodied voice whispered, ¡°Qing Cang has lain low for many years, nursing old grudges. Having seen through a plan he¡¯s harbored for over three hundred years, how do you expect him to react?¡± The little emperor retained his poise. ¡°Ancestor, how should I proceed?¡± The voice sounded almost amused. ¡°You have an idea, don¡¯t you? Why seek my counsel?¡± Caught off guard, the little emperor stammered, ¡°If I had any inkling, I would¡¯ve acted¡­¡± Interrupting him, the ancestor pressed, ¡°Then why did you give him the flowing rainbow dragon scales?¡± The little emperor chuckled. ¡°You truly are astute, Ancestor.¡± He sighed wistfully, saying, ¡°The owner of those scales¡­ such a figure appears once in millennia.¡± ¡°Indeed, to singlehandedly take down six ancient kings is unheard of,¡± the ancestor¡¯s voice echoed with a mix of awe and caution. ¡°Can you confirm who that person is?¡± The little emperor hesitated for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. They bear the dragon energy, but locating the dragon clan is a feat in itself. The Kun Peng wings, however, are distinct to Qingzhou.¡± The ancestor prompted, ¡°But?¡± The little emperor replied, ¡°It¡¯s just too obvious, too straightforward. It feels like a misdirection. That person might be human, master of the art of camouflage and deceit. Befriending such a being requires true sincerity.¡± The ancestor¡¯s tone grew solemn, ¡°Then do as you wish. My only piece of advice is it¡¯s best not to make an enemy of such a figure.¡± His voice dissolved into the echoing silence of the royal study. ¡­ Meanwhile, atop the Hundred Spirit Mountain, the king corpse hovered, casting its gaze below. ¡°You dared to come¡­¡± The earth rumbled in response, causing a cacophony of bird calls and the distant sound of beasts. As dust clouds billowed, a force emanated from the heart of the mountain, revealing its source ¡ª the white-robed king. The king corpse watched with composed anticipation as the mountain¡¯s peak was torn asunder. Inside the now-exposed mountainside, the white-robed king¡¯s eyes flared with determination. ¡°Rise!¡± With a single command, the massive mountain was repelled, its aura reverberating like a relentless drumbeat through the range. He hadn¡¯t had time to summon his king realm puppet, yet his enemies were already upon him. They had tracked him with an alarming speed, perhaps due to some divine power technique. The king corpse, unfazed by the massive mountain hurtling towards him, simply extended his arm, releasing a devastating punch. Boom! The mountain shattered, raining down as meteor-like fragments, while the white-robed king¡¯s enraged countenance was visible amongst the falling debris. He had been merely days away from empowering his king realm puppet. Chapter 609 - 609 The Second Domain! 609 The Second Domain! The white-robed king felt like he was being hunted. He should¡¯ve only needed a week, but with these two on his tail, it took him over three months. Bang! With a punch, a force flew out from his hand. It was so strong that it seemed to cut the sky. Rocks everywhere broke, and nearby birds were hurt. A sad sound filled the air. His face cold, the white-robed king moved his fingers like sharp knives. ¡°Slash!¡± he ordered. Soon, the whole area was filled with dangerous blades. They were everywhere, not allowing the king corpse to move. They also protected the white-robed king. No one could get near him. The king corpse¡¯s clothes got torn up, showing his odd-looking body. His body was red, but his face looked normal. This would¡¯ve scared many, but not the white-robed king. He had seen weirder things before. ¡°Do you train in the blood heart technique?¡± the white-robed king asked, almost sure of the king corpse¡¯s identity. ¡°Who sent you? Which place are you from?¡± He tried to guess, but couldn¡¯t. He had defeated many enemies before, and many wanted revenge. But this one in front of him was different ¡ª he was much stronger. ¡°You should¡¯ve waited longer,¡± the white-robed king said. ¡°Then you might¡¯ve become even stronger. But to break big limits, you need energy and special stones.¡± He talked about his king realm puppet and how he used the energy from many fighters to power it. ¡°Slash!¡± the white-robed king shouted again. This time, the blades appeared out of nowhere and cut the king corpse into pieces. His arms and legs fell off, and even his head was cut off. But, when the blades tried to break the bones, they couldn¡¯t. ¡°Do you have the power to fix yourself?¡± the white-robed king asked coldly. He had watched the king corpse fight before and knew he could heal quickly. But could he fix this much damage? Every time the king corpse was cut, he healed more slowly than before. The white-robed king knew this from seeing others like him. It was like playing a game where you just had to keep hitting the same point until it broke. The white-robed king kept using his boundless blood world and kept attacking the king corpse over and over. One, two, three¡­ Each attack made the king corpse weaker. Soon, the king corpse couldn¡¯t move like before. His blood didn¡¯t have strength and he fell to the ground, not moving. ¡°This is the difference between a king and an ordinary person,¡± the white-robed king said, looking down. Then, sharp blades made of blood rained down from the sky. They hit the king corpse all over, even his eyes, nose, and mouth. The white-robed king took a long time to stop this attack. ¡°You¡¯re just weak. It was easy for me to beat you,¡± the white-robed king said, feeling confident. ¡°I thought I would need more power to defeat you. Thanks to my boundless blood world, it was easy. Anyone else would have had a hard time with you.¡± He looked around, challenging others, ¡°Anyone else wants to try? This might be your last shot. Not many can beat a king like me.¡± The white-robed king felt alert, ready for anything. Suddenly, he looked down in surprise. The king corpse had put itself back together, looking like a normal person again. ¡°How? I thought I destroyed you!¡± he exclaimed. But before he could think more, he felt a sudden coldness. A strong punch hit him from behind. It was so strong that it made a hole in him, turning his white robe red with blood. He roared in anger and used his blood blades again. They shot out everywhere, trying to block whatever had hit him. Bang! There was a loud noise and sparks flew. The white-robed king quickly moved away, grabbing Zhang Youji as he went. He stopped his own blood blade attack in the air. Meanwhile, several kilometers away, something merged with Qin Huai. An experience crown silently fused into his body. ¡°Ding! You have acquired the [Boundless Blood World] domain fragment. Progress on [Boundless Blood World] domain fragment is (100/100)!¡± ¡°Ding! [You have activated the domain: Boundless Blood World]!¡± Qin Huai felt a rush of memories and knowledge. His blood heart technique was circulating on its own, constantly emerging from his fingertips. It jumped around in his palm and automatically evolved into various strange forms. The bone patterns on Qin Huai¡¯s spine had also undergone some changes. A drop of blood appeared on the human-shaped bone tattoo. He looked at his hand, which was showing signs of the new power he had gained. ¡°Boundless blood world.¡± Around him, a mysterious energy appeared. He realized the true nature of this power. It wasn¡¯t just about controlling his own blood. It was about controlling the blood in everything, whether alive or not. It could be anything ¨C plants, mountains, even a tiny speck of dust, and most importantly, other people! Back in the sky, the white-robed king was feeling confident. ¡°I finally caught you!¡± he yelled. Suddenly, blood lines grew from Zhang Youji¡¯s clothes and body. A bloody spear appeared from Zhang Youji¡¯s hand, aiming for his throat. ¡°Stop!¡± yelled Zhang Youji, trying to use his own powers. But the spear didn¡¯t listen. He tried to call up a protective spell, but before it could work, it was ruined by blood. In desperation, Zhang Youji called forth dozens of magical talismans from his robe. But, like before, they were overwhelmed by the blood power. Just then, someone appeared, flying through the sky with a loud roar. ¡°Freeze!¡± they commanded. The white-robed king laughed at first. But then he looked shocked. The blood spear, which was so close to hitting Zhang Youji, had stopped. Was his powerful domain truly frozen? Chapter 610 - 610 Using the Boundless Blood World 610 Using the Boundless Blood World That was too close for comfort. Zhang Youji, having faced numerous life-threatening situations before, was still shaken by the recent encounter. He quickly moved away from the white-robed king¡¯s dangerous domain and appeared next to Qin Huai. ¡°I nearly died because of the white-robed king,¡± he admitted, still recovering from the shock. ¡°Thanks for being there, Daozi.¡± Qin Huai nodded, sweat visible on his forehead. They had spent days trying to figure out the reach of the white-robed king¡¯s blood world. It spanned a massive three miles. Their plan had been to use the resurrected king corpse as a distraction, giving Zhang Youji the chance to attack. The strategy had been Zhang Youji¡¯s idea, showing his courage and confidence. ¡°Brother Qin, can your technique really stop a king realm domain?¡± Zhang Youji asked, looking amazed at the sky filled with frozen blood. ¡°How did you do that?¡± the white-robed king asked, clearly shocked. He then stared intently at Qin Huai. Realization dawned on him. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Qin Huai? You¡¯re still alive?¡± His gaze shifted to Zhang Youji and the king corpse. Zhang Youji¡¯s aura was hidden by some powerful magic, and the king corpse¡¯s true appearance was obscured by blood. ¡°How did you manage to stop my domain?¡± the white-robed king asked, trying to control the blood domain. But an invisible force seemed to be fighting against him, making the blood move very slowly. He couldn¡¯t harm them, let alone stop them. Qin Huai noticed this and boldly stepped closer to the white-robed king. The distance between them was now very short. Suddenly, the sky filled with blood froze in place, becoming completely still. Qin Huai¡¯s robe began to soak with blood, but with a mere thought, he stopped it from spreading. The white-robed king¡¯s robe started bleeding while he was on the offensive. Threads, resembling snakes, targeted his vital points. This sudden move surprised the king. The threads nearly pierced his throat. There was a series of loud noises as the threads went through his wrists and ankles. ¡°Stop!¡± the white-robed King shouted. The blood in his body froze, and the liquid from his robe broke into pieces. He turned to Qin Huai, his eyes wide in shock. ¡°You can enter the boundless blood world?¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Are you joking? Are you following the same path as I am?¡± It wasn¡¯t strange for people to have the same powers, as there were many great families, including the eight royal clans. Throughout time, some rulers shared the same powers because their families knew which techniques to teach. This meant that they didn¡¯t need to risk exploring unknown powers. But the white-robed king didn¡¯t recognize Qin Huai as part of any known lineage. His power was unique, something the Supreme One had created. Suddenly, a memory flashed through the white-robed king¡¯s mind. Before the Thousand Divination Tower had fallen, the Supreme One had warned him about a talented young man, someone who had taken the Lord¡¯s totem but wasn¡¯t a believer. This person wasn¡¯t even a disciple of the Sacred Heart Sect. The white-robed king pieced it together. ¡°So, it¡¯s you! The Supreme Lord wanted me to find you.¡± Looking at Qin Huai, he was torn between shock and understanding. ¡°It makes sense now,¡± he thought. ¡°How could there be two prodigies in Qingzhou at once?¡± He made an offer, ¡°Join my Sacred Heart Sect. The Supreme One promised to make you the second Holy Son!¡± Reaching out a hand in friendship, the white-robed king tried to put his shock aside. His sudden change in demeanor caught Qin Huai off guard. Memories came flooding back to Qin Huai: the image of a mysterious man, powerful and enigmatic. He gazed at the white-robed king and smiled, having made up his mind. ¡°Why do you think I used the boundless blood world?¡± Qin Huai teased. Holding out his hand, blood oozed out, pulsing in his palm. The smile on the white-robed king¡¯s face froze. Chapter 611 - 611 Killing the White 611 Killing the White-robed King Qin Huai¡¯s words shocked the White-robed King deeply. He knew that the boundless blood world was a power unique to him, given by the Supreme One. But now Qin Huai had it. Was Qin Huai a part of the Sacred Heart Sect? Was he their second Holy Son? ¡°It can¡¯t be! I¡¯ve been loyal! Why would they send someone to kill me?¡± the white-robed King exclaimed, confused and angry. He always avoided causing trouble and even put aside his personal revenge for the good of the Sacred Heart Sect. The Supreme One wouldn¡¯t want him gone. Qin Huai, keeping his calm, said, ¡°The boundless blood world can be even stronger.¡± He bluffed, not sure if it was true, but he suspected the blood heart technique needed to consume others to grow. Did those in the king realm from the Sacred Heart Sect also gain power by consuming other king realm experts? He wasn¡¯t sure. But he sensed the white-robed king¡¯s puppet lurking nearby, ready to ambush. So, Qin Huai took a risk with his words. The white-robed king¡¯s plan froze, his puppet stopped, and doubt filled him. ¡°Can the boundless blood world really get stronger?¡± he whispered. He recalled the Supreme One¡¯s message about the young man from Qingzhou. Was the Supreme One¡¯s plan for him to find Qin Huai and then be eliminated? Looking at Qin Huai, the white-robed king remembered the Kun Peng clan. They must have been defeated, as he hadn¡¯t seen any of them for a long time. Maybe he should join forces with Qin Huai and the others against the enemy. Acknowledging the white-robed king¡¯s thoughts, Qin Huai simply nodded. ¡°Impressive,¡± the white-robed king admitted, even though they were enemies. ¡°The Supreme One will do anything to get what he wants.¡± Then, he looked at Qin Huai and added, ¡°If you want my life to become a top-tier king, maybe it¡¯s worth it. If it¡¯s you, then maybe I¡¯ll accept my fate.¡± He paused and looked defiantly at Qin Huai. ¡°Did you believe that? I won¡¯t give up that easily after all these years!¡± Suddenly, the king realm puppet, which was far away, came alive. It burst from the ground causing a massive shockwave, reminiscent of an earthquake. As dust clouded the air, the puppet used its rapid Blood Shadow Divine Movement to appear right behind Qin Huai in the blink of an eye. ¡°Brother Qin, watch out!¡± shouted Zhang Youji, quickly positioning himself between Qin Huai and the threat. He unleashed talismans, creating a protective shield. But the blood shadow struck the shield, transforming into liquid and maneuvering around Zhang Youji, targeting Qin Huai directly. Despite the myriad of bloody weapons unleashed upon it, nothing could stop its advance. Qin Huai found himself trapped, surrounded by a myriad of blood techniques. The white-robed king and Qin Huai seemed to freeze, immobilized within the blood world. The white-robed king coldly said, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t kill you here, you can¡¯t escape either.¡± He continued, explaining the power and origins of the blood sea puppet, and how it was crafted from countless souls to be the ultimate weapon, even capable of taking on multiple top-tier opponents at once. Qin Huai, struggling, snapped back, ¡°Do you really think this is how I¡¯ll meet my end?¡± The white-robed king observed Qin Huai, seeing his expression shift from determination to fear, which only made him smirk even more. ¡°Thanks to you, my boundless blood world can evolve,¡± the white-robed king declared, clutching the scarlet blood bead, which began to emanate a potent force. ¡°I¡¯ll use your strength to reach the peak of martial arts.¡± Qin Huai, filled with defiance, shouted, ¡°I won¡¯t accept this!¡± Blood techniques sprang to life behind him, slicing the advancing blood shadow into multiple fragments. But those severed parts, full of vitality, reshaped themselves into lethal weapons, which swiftly surrounded and pierced Qin Huai. ¡°Brother Qin!¡± Zhang Youji cried out, powerless to intervene. The white-robed king watched as Qin Huai¡¯s form was brutally torn apart, relief evident in his eyes. Suddenly, an intense killing aura streaked the sky. A massive spear, the Spear of Annihilation, launched at unimaginable speed, piercing not only the air but the white-robed king himself. The spear¡¯s golden glow enveloped the king, filling his senses with haunting Buddhist chants and the anguished cries of countless souls, tearing apart his spirit. His body quaked, and as he tried to flee this golden void, he was shackled by his own realm. Multiple blood techniques ruthlessly impaled him. The once-mighty white-robed king was reduced to a skeletal remnant, all flesh burned away, leaving only the still-glowing scarlet blood bead in his skeletal hand. Amidst the ash, a few talisman remnants floated ¨C Zhang Youji¡¯s power. Yet, eerily, the skeleton lived. It rasped, ¡°How is this possible? I have the scarlet blood bead. How did you control the king realm puppet?¡± A faint glimmer inside the skull betrayed a sliver of the king¡¯s soul. Qin Huai answered, ¡°Because my knowledge of the blood sea surpasses yours. There was once a fellow who was known as undying and indestructible, but he died in my hands.¡± Chapter 612 - 612 Great You is Your World! 612 Great You is Your World! Qin Huai took hold of the white-robed king¡¯s remains. As he did, several blood lines pierced the last glimmer of spiritual essence in the king¡¯s brow. Suddenly, a message appeared before him: ¡°Ding! You picked up a [Domain Sphere: Boundless Blood World]!¡± ¡°[Domain Sphere]: When used, it can release the maximum power of the domain and explode. If you have the same domain, it can also be used as an upgrade material (one-time consumable).¡± The words disappeared, and Qin Huai seemed pleased. He removed the scarlet blood bead from the deceased king and inspected the remains thoroughly. The resilience of the king bone was remarkable ¡ª even his mighty Spear of Annihilation had only left minor marks. It appeared the spear, made from countless vengeful souls and bearing immense power, wasn¡¯t enough to obliterate the king Bone. The white-robed king¡¯s demise wasn¡¯t just due to the spear. Zhang Youji¡¯s mysterious talismans had played their part, causing a momentary lapse in the king¡¯s focus, which proved fatal. While the king bone didn¡¯t have killing power, its durability was exceptional, a coveted prize for many. And Qin Huai¡¯s prize was nearly flawless, save for a missing piece of the spine, likely taken by the spirit world. Musing over the loss, Qin Huai soon divided the king bone in two. Drawing blood symbols in the air, he presented half to Zhang Youji. ¡°Daozi, you¡¯ve been invaluable in this fight. This half is yours,¡± Qin Huai said generously. While Zhang Youji¡¯s recent contributions seemed minimal, his previous efforts had been crucial. Moreover, traveling far to help with the battle deserved a reward. Zhang Youji¡¯s eyes gleamed with appreciation. ¡°Brother Qin, your generosity knows no bounds.¡± He reflected on past king realm battles, noting how rare it was to have such well-preserved remains, given the power and ferocity of king realm experts. The king Bone, once belonging to the white-robed king, lay before them, remarkably well-preserved. Even though damage was evident, with the right repairs, its true brilliance could shine once more. Naturally, the restoration would come at a considerable expense. Still, when weighed against the worth of these bones, such costs seemed trivial. ¡°In the vast expanse of Great You, even the reigning imperial lineage would pale in generosity compared to Brother Qin,¡± remarked Zhang Youji, staring at the king bones. As a Dao Child, Zhang had witnessed significant events, yet the magnificence of this gift left him nearly speechless. ¡°This makes me feel somewhat indebted,¡± he confessed. ¡°Should you ever feel guilty, Daozi,¡± Qin Huai teased, ¡°just come to my rescue during a dire situation.¡± Having successfully confronted the white-robed king, a weight seemed to lift off Qin Huai¡¯s shoulders, easing his tension. Chuckling heartily, Zhang Youji said, ¡°Certainly!¡± He gracefully swept the king bone into his sleeve, as if there was a world in his sleeve. ¡°So, Daozi, what¡¯s your plan after this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m bound for the True Path Sect,¡± Zhang Youji replied solemnly. ¡°The secret realm of Pingwang beckons me. Spirit stone mines are rare treasures, and their acquisition often pits multiple parties against each other. As the True Path Sect¡¯s representative, my presence there is crucial.¡± Pausing, he asked, ¡°And you, Brother Qin?¡± Qin Huai took a moment before answering, ¡°There are remnants of the Sacred Heart Sect in Qingzhou awaiting my attention. I need to make sure they have no lingering schemes here.¡± Understanding the urgency, Zhang Youji nodded. ¡°Pingwang county holds many secrets, rich in mystic realms and spirit stones. There¡¯s so much still undiscovered there.¡± ¡°After resolving matters here,¡± Qin Huai shared, ¡°I¡¯ll go to Pingwang.¡± From his seemingly endless sleeve, Zhang Youji produced a map, saying, ¡°This provides an overview of the entirety of Great You. It¡¯s not very detailed, but it should guide you effectively.¡± He then presented a wooden token etched with ¡®Dao¡¯. ¡°This is my sect¡¯s token. With this, you¡¯ll find help in any of the True Path Sect branches.¡± Receiving the token, Qin Huai cupped his fists. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Zhang Youji shook his head. ¡°After your generous gift of the king Bone, this is but a small gesture.¡± He looked intently at Qin Huai, adding, ¡°A person like you shouldn¡¯t be limited to remote places like Qingzhou. The vast Great You is your world.¡± Qin Huai chose not to respond, merely watching as Zhang Youji vanished from sight. Chapter 613 - 613 Emperor of East Qingzhou! The Returning Prodigies! 613 Emperor of East Qingzhou! The Returning Prodigies! Outside Pingwang county. The sprawling mountain ranges extended for miles, dotted with tents and bonfires, creating an ambiance of community and vibrancy. However, this was underscored by a lingering, potent scent of blood. Down in the valleys towards Pingwang county, a river, deep-red with blood, wound its way. Vultures and crows perched on treetops, eyeing the unsettling sight below. Inside the encampments, distinct groups formed. There were those in gray Daoist robes, bald figures exuding calm, and scholarly individuals radiating righteousness. While these three groups stood apart, various martial artists blended into the crowd. Their appearances and energies varied. Some hailed from lesser-known sects, while others were independent cultivators from renowned towns across Great You. Pingwang county was surrounded by seven camps in total. The six clans and three sects each claimed their territory. Amidst this bustling scene, a young man stood out. He emanated an air of righteousness, surrounded by older martial artists from the three sects, all wearing expressions of amicability. ¡°Elders, there are urgent matters that call me away. I must leave without delay,¡± the young man declared with conviction, his honesty shining through his gaze. One of the elderly men, clad in a Daoist robe, offered with an unusual smile, ¡°Would you like an escort from our sect?¡± Those familiar with the elder were taken aback, as he was known for his stern demeanor. ¡°No, thank you. Pingwang needs every available hand,¡± the young man responded firmly. ¡°I will settle some matters at home.¡± This was Xiang Mingfeng from Wuji Mountain, now the vice leader of the Qingzhou Alliance. After leaving Qingzhou, he ventured to Great You, passing through three prefectures. He had eventually joined the ongoing battle, carving a path through five states to this point. His experiences had evidently matured him. ¡°Well¡­ Alright then.¡± Understanding Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s resolute nature, the elders nodded, accepting his decision. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely try my best to come back.¡± With a respectful bow, Mingfeng quickly made his exit. He refrained from mentioning his origin, Qingzhou, to prevent drawing any potential threats to his homeland. He even adopted an alias, leading many to speculate about his true identity. Meanwhile, at three other locations, similarly significant young figures took their leave, disappearing from the periphery of Pingwang county. ¡­ Spirit Gate. Qin Huai sat atop the city gate tower, recounting to Gou Jie the demise of the white-robed king. ¡°Did you really kill him? A king?!¡± Gou Jie¡¯s astonishment was evident, and it took him a while to gather his thoughts. ¡°Alliance Master, to take down a king while only in the visceral prefecture realm¡­ This will be legendary. It¡¯s like the Emperor of Qingzhou¡¯s feats.¡± Gou Jie¡¯s excitement bubbled over, but Qin Huai steered the conversation back. ¡°First, we need to address the remnants of the Sacred Heart Sect in Qingzhou. How many can we gather?¡± Gou Jie reassured him, ¡°The empress began preparations years ago.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A quizzical look crossed Qin Huai¡¯s face. With a secretive grin, Gou Jie shared, ¡°The empress once said, ¡®How can a mere king realm expert resist my husband¡¯s might?¡¯¡± A smile played on Qin Huai¡¯s lips. ¡°That puts a lot of pressure on me.¡± Gou Jie chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t tell you back then¡± He had closely observed Qin Huai¡¯s resilience over the years. Despite depleting his Zen energy in his fight against the white-robed king, Qin Huai¡¯s resolve remained. He continued, ¡°The ten counties of East Qingzhou have assembled over a thousand bone pattern realm soldiers. They¡¯re stationed in the Lower Zero Spirit City, led by those of the visceral prefecture realm. Additionally, the master of Wuji Mountain, Kong Binghuang, is at the helm.¡± Gou Jie leaned in, lowering his voice, ¡°Furthermore, the deputy alliance leader and Hua Yanli are on their way to Qingzhou and should arrive soon.¡± Qin Huai let out a sigh of relief. ¡°So, I don¡¯t have to worry about Qingzhou for the time being?¡± After defeating the white-robed king, Qin Huai had scoured the camps of the four major sects, only to find them deserted. Through the blood mirror, he saw they were nearing Qingzhou¡¯s border, heading towards the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s domain. With formidable forces like Kong Binghuang, one of Qingzhou¡¯s finest, defending it, the city seemed well-guarded. Lost in thought, Qin Huai¡¯s exhaustion overtook him, and he collapsed. ¡°Alliance Master!¡± Gou Jie¡¯s panic was palpable as he immediately attended to Qin Huai. He checked for signs of life, relieved to find the alliance master merely asleep. ¡°The hope of hundreds of millions of people¡­ You have done it.¡± Looking into the horizon towards the Thousand Divination Tower, tears streamed down Gou Jie¡¯s face. The elders there, who didn¡¯t believe in fate, had even sacrificed their lives in the quest for solutions. Gou Jie whispered to himself, ¡°We did it. We really won.¡± ¡­ Ten days had passed. Qingzhou City, once eerily silent and drenched in blood, was now bustling with activity. Martial artists stained in blood fled frantically. Their bloated forms moving so quickly, it looked like the very air took on the appearance of haunting human faces. The pungent stench of decay permeated the environment. One such fleeing man kept glancing over his shoulder, seeing the unyielding pursuit of a group of armored soldiers. Cornered into an alley, the man pleaded, ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me! I really haven¡¯t eaten many people!¡± The lead soldier wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Really? Yet you¡¯ve managed to master the blood heart technique to the bone pattern realm? We¡¯ve heard these lies before.¡± He signaled, ¡°Attack!¡± Suddenly, the man¡¯s demeanor changed instantaneously, transforming from fearful to menacing. ¡°You want to hunt us¡­ Have you ever thought you¡¯re the prey?¡± From the alley¡¯s end, dozens emerged, their forms distorted from practicing the blood heart technique to extremes. The situation looked dire for the armored soldiers. The lead soldier decided, ¡°I¡¯ll stay behind to provide cover! The rest of you escape!¡± But as he moved to act, the once-panicking man lunged at him, a bloody radiance emanating from his hand. ¡°Too late!¡± Whoosh! Suddenly, a mesmerizing blue flame appeared, consuming the blood-red light. A voice rang out, ¡°It¡¯s not too late.¡± A young man in a red robe stood atop the city wall, surveying the scene below. With a snap of his fingers, blue flames engulfed the followers of the Sacred Heart Sect, reducing them to ashes in moments. The soldiers, relieved and grateful, looked up. ¡°Thank you for saving us. May we know your name? We¡¯ve much to report.¡± The young man, puzzled, asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re the Blood Slaying Guards, under the esteemed emperor of East Qingzhou.¡± The young man, clearly Hua Yanli, returned from Pingwang county, was stunned. ¡°Huh? Since when was there such a person in Qingzhou? Could it be Qin Huai?¡± A soldier warned, ¡°Sir, we mustn¡¯t say the emperor¡¯s name aloud!¡± Hua Yanli mused, ¡°Tsk tsk, emperor¡­This proves that the alliance master is not dead..¡± Before getting rid of the white-robed king, he would definitely have to fight Qin Huai. The notion of confronting Qin Huai energized him, not out of spite but as a test of skills. Otherwise, why did he cultivate day and night all these years? Chapter 614 - 614 Reunion 614 Reunion ¡°Are you one of the bigshots of the Qingzhou Alliance?¡± The soldier remembered Hua Yanli¡¯s earlier conversation and inquired. However, Hua Yanli was already distracted by a sudden bright light in the distance. When the soldier¡¯s gaze returned to where Hua Yanli stood, he was gone. On the ground lay a message: ¡®This place is too dangerous, you should retreat.¡¯ The soldiers, now puzzled, turned to their leader. ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡± ¡°We should withdraw. We¡¯ve been in Qingzhou City for five days already,¡± the leader replied. ¡°The person we just encountered must be one of the renowned nine prodigies from the Qingzhou Alliance. We can leave this to him and return later to finish the job.¡± Meanwhile, a similar scenario unfolded nearby. Xiang Mingfeng, glowing brilliantly, stood among a crowd, appearing divine. Corroded bodies of the Sacred Heart Sect dissolved into nothingness before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°It appears our vice leader has grown stronger these past years,¡± commented Hua Yanli, appearing beside Xiang Mingfeng. ¡°You¡¯ve done well yourself,¡± Xiang Mingfeng noted. ¡°The northern battlefield speaks highly of your ¡®heavenly flame¡¯.¡± ¡°But I still feel like I¡¯m no match for your skills,¡± Hua Yanli confessed, half-jokingly. Xiang Mingfeng replied modestly, ¡°A king realm cultivator once chased me for miles. I would have perished if not for assistance from the Buddhist Sect.¡± Their chat was cut short when the ground trembled. Approaching them was a towering figure, with an aura that felt like an unstoppable force. His body appeared to be encased in a strange armor that moved and squirmed. ¡°Fang Huo?¡± Hua Yanli recognized him. Xiang Mingfeng voiced his concern, ¡°You didn¡¯t succumb to the blood heart technique, did you?¡± Fang Huo¡¯s booming laugh filled the air. ¡°How could I practice such a vile technique?¡± His voice, although deep and resonating, was clearly jovial. Hua Yanli observed him closely, realizing that the moving armor seemed almost alive, showing hostility to anyone nearing Fang Huo. Fang Huo explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t barge onto the battlefield intentionally. I aimed for the ancestral lands of the eight royal clans. But by some twist of fate, I ended up in the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s lair.¡± He grinned, an expression both friendly and menacing, ¡°You could say it was quite the training experience.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that strange armor you have on?¡± Hua Yanli asked, curiosity evident in his eyes. Fang Huo grinned. ¡°Found it in the Hundred Weapon Mountain. It¡¯s a unique artifact, reminiscent of demons. But don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s under my control.¡± Hua Yanli and Xiang Mingfeng exchanged puzzled glances. Xiang Mingfeng redirected the conversation, ¡°We should head to Spirit Gate. I¡¯ve heard Gou Jie and the alliance master are there. Our main concern should be the white-robed king in the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion.¡± Agreeing, the trio quickly made their way towards Spirit Gate. The city pass they approached was strikingly renovated, standing taller with walls that seemed to shimmer with a paint likely infused with demon blood and herbs. New pavilions stood proudly atop, crafted from the costly fire-resistant rhinoceros wood. The guards lining the walls were formidable, all clearly well-trained elites. ¡°The Eastern Qingzhou Ten Commandery has flourished lately,¡± Hua Yanli remarked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. While chatting, their attention shifted to a horizon filled with familiar figures. Xu Tong, once the picture of youthful vitality, now appeared weary. The mysterious Little Cattle King Le Ji¡¯an from the Ghost Ox Sect, in his signature black robe, emitted a chilling aura. Walking beside a spectral ox, he felt like a walking disaster. Wang Gang and Xiong Yujie were as unassuming as ever. To an ordinary eye, they were regular individuals, but to those with heightened senses, a king-like aura subtly emanated from them. She Wanshan, the prospective Lotus Peak Master, was almost unrecognizable. Once the smallest of the nine prodigies, he now towered over most, with beauty rivaling Xu Tong¡¯s. Holding a lotus flower, he exuded a gentle feminine elegance. Finally, there was Yun Qi from the White Cloud Sect, astride a creature resembling the fabled Qilin. Adorned in a white robe and sporting a beard, he looked every bit the wise elder, though some might say he resembled a charlatan. Chapter 615 - 615 Qin Huai Is Brutal 615 Qin Huai Is Brutal ¡°Everyone¡¯s progress these past years is commendable,¡± Xiang Mingfeng said, sweeping his gaze across the group as if sizing them up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales about your adventures on the eastern front,¡± Xu Tong said with a chuckle. ¡°Likewise, stories of the banished immortals have reached my ears.¡± ¡°And Blackwater River Zun¡¯s legend seems to be everywhere. I heard he consumed a river, defeated a river demon, and rescued countless soldiers,¡± Hua Yanli teased, a knowing glint in his eyes. Yun Qi, trying to hide his embarrassment, added, ¡°As for dominating tales, the sect master of Skyglow Sect takes the prize. Traveling solo across numerous cities, gathering a formidable force of wanderers, and aspiring to overthrow the Sacred Heart Sect and rule as the supreme religion.¡± Hua Yanli continued, ¡°With the constant expectations from our peers, the looming shadow of the alliance master, and the white-robed king in the Heart¡¯s Eye Pavilion, how can any of us afford to relax?¡± His eyes sparkled with mischief as he gazed at the city gates, now wide open, revealing a familiar figure leading a group to greet them. ¡°Brother Gou!¡± Everyone greeted with cupped fists. Gou Jie, eyes surveying the changed faces before him, responded, ¡°It¡¯s been too long.¡± His voice held a note of nostalgia. ¡°In our time apart, you all seem a step away from reaching the king realm.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it all just fate¡¯s play?¡± Hua Yanli responded with his signature tease. Eagerly, he added, ¡°Where¡¯s the alliance master? I had hoped to spar with him upon my return.¡± Gou Jie hesitated before replying, ¡°The alliance master is currently unconscious.¡± Shock rippled through the group. ¡°Was it the white-robed king? We should¡¯ve returned sooner,¡± they murmured, guilt evident in their expressions. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t the white-robed king,¡± Gou Jie clarified. ¡°It was sheer exhaustion.¡± Relief replaced Hua Yanli¡¯s concern. ¡°The alliance master has indeed shouldered much,¡± he sighed. Considering their enhanced abilities, being rendered unconscious from exhaustion spoke volumes of the pressure faced by the alliance master. Xiang Mingfeng then produced a pill, offering, ¡°This is a recovery spirit pill from the True Path Sect in Pingwang county. It can rejuvenate and mend the spirit.¡± One by one, the rest followed suit, presenting their treasured remedies. ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Gou Jie quickly said. ¡°Alliance Master just needs rest. He¡¯s fine.¡± The group made their way to the pavilion atop the city gate. As they settled in, Xiang Mingfeng started, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the white-robed king first. We need a plan.¡± She Wanshan nodded in agreement. ¡°Qingzhou City seems oddly empty of the Sacred Heart Sect members. Have they all converged somewhere?¡± Gou Jie, seeing the anticipation on their faces, chuckled. ¡°No need to worry. The white-robed king is already dead.¡± At this moment, the door creaked open to reveal Qin Huai, clad in a black woolen coat. His pale face and slightly haggard appearance were evident. ¡°Alliance Master!¡± The group rose, saluting him with respect. As they observed him, a collective sense of unease spread among them. The alliance master seemed different, as unfathomable as a still lake. Hua Yanli couldn¡¯t contain his surprise. ¡°The white-robed king is dead?¡± Qin Huai replied, ¡°With the assistance of the Dao Child from the True Path Sect, we managed to defeat him here in Qingzhou.¡± Gasps and murmurs of astonishment echoed among the group. The idea of defeating a king was beyond their wildest imaginations. They had witnessed the devastating power of a king in battle, turning the tides single-handedly. But to hear that their own alliance master had bested one was hard to digest. Hua Yanli took a deep breath. ¡°Are you sure, Alliance Master?¡± Xiang Mingfeng reassured him, ¡°Brother Qin wouldn¡¯t lie about this.¡± Hua Yanli, overwhelmed, sunk to a squatting position. ¡°He¡¯s unbelievable.¡± Yun Qi nodded in agreement. Suddenly, both of them jumped up, almost simultaneously announcing, ¡°If Qingzhou is secure, we¡¯ll head back.¡± Their synchronized response, a testament to their bond from the bronze world years ago, drew smiles from the rest of the group. These prodigies had come back not only to address threats but also to challenge Qin Huai, in a bid to prove their prowess. Their pride, formed from years of martial achievements, was an inherent part of their nature, driving their intense dedication to their craft. Hua Yanli and Yun Qi didn¡¯t get far before they turned back. ¡°Alliance Master, let¡¯s have a match!¡± they exclaimed together. Their fervent desire to spar was evident. Before Qin Huai could respond, Fang Huo and several others were already in position, eager to test their skills against him. Gou Jie and Qin Huai exchanged a wry smile as they observed the enthusiastic group. They made their way to a secluded mountainside. All gathered, eyes on Qin Huai. Even Xiang Mingfeng, usually more reserved, began to warm up. It was clear the group needed this, a chance to measure their growth against their leader. ¡°One at a time,¡± Qin Huai directed as he slowly took off his black woolen coat. The mountains echoed with their combat for ten days. On the eleventh, part of the mountain range crumbled. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this place,¡± Hua Yanli declared, clearly winded. Xiang Mingfeng said to Qin Huai, ¡°We¡¯re short on hands in the Pingwang secret realm. With Qingzhou stable, perhaps it¡¯s time we return.¡± He then added, ¡°The conflict between humans and demons is at a tipping point. We have an abundance of spirit stones in the secret realm, which might aid in forging the spiritual altar.¡± Le Ji¡¯an chimed in, emphasizing the need to ascend in power. ¡°There¡¯s great strength in the upper echelons of the clans and sects.¡± Qin Huai agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll go, but after a couple of days of rest.¡± The group shared a happy moment, with She Wanshan mentioning the challenges posed by the clans¡¯ prodigies. ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­ Third Young Master Qiong and the Fourth Generation Fairy were very arrogant. When the alliance master comes, he will teach them a lesson just like how he taught us!¡± Yun Qi added eagerly, ¡°When our Alliance Master faces them, they¡¯ll learn respect.¡± When Qin Huai heard these familiar names, a strange expression appeared on his face. He had already taught these people a lesson, and it wasn¡¯t just once. However, he remained silent. Soon after, the group dispersed, each heading to their next destination. As Qin Huai put on his robe again, Gou Jie remarked, ¡°Seeing their enthusiasm, I think they¡¯ll push their training even harder now.¡± He then glanced at Qin Huai, the realization of the alliance master¡¯s true strength dawning on him ¡ª his strength was beyond human.¡± Qin Huai said thoughtfully, ¡°That drive is good for them.¡± He paused, gazing toward his distant homeland, which he had not stepped into for many years. ¡°It won¡¯t be too late for me to go to Pingwang¡¯s secret realm after I¡¯ve seen the golden age of East Qingzhou.¡± Chapter 616 - 616 The Perfect Weapon 616 The Perfect Weapon Instead of heading straight to East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties, Qin Huai had another task to prioritize: organizing the spoils of war from the white-robed king. He retreated into a secret chamber and summoned the white-robed king bone and king corpse from the bronze world. Examining the two, Qin Huai realized he couldn¡¯t create a new king corpse with just half of the bones he had. But it was sufficient to enhance the current king corpse¡¯s power. The bones he had given Zhang Youji were the ones he didn¡¯t value, making them essentially ¡®leftovers.¡¯ Qin Huai began his work, using the bones he had: two arms, two thighs, and a spine. Using the divine power book of a thousand creations, he disassembled the king corpse, replacing the old bones with the newer, stronger ones. Hours went by, and a renewed king corpse stood before him, its size notably larger. The corpse now boasted four arms, with two of them cleverly hidden. Next, Qin Huai procured the scarlet blood bead. Apart from its hard shell akin to a king realm physique, its primary function was to command the blood sea, condensing it. The Sacred Heart Sect Master likely crafted it for the blood sea, but with the blood sea gone, the bead¡¯s value diminished for most. However, Qin Huai had a different idea in mind. Activating the bead, a torrent of fresh blood poured out, revealing the blood sea that Qin Huai had previously condensed and stored in the bronze world. Using this powerful reservoir, he infused the king corpse with the blood, weaving it through the joints and animating the corpse. The blood, sourced from countless souls, now served as the very essence of this new king corpse. ¡°The king corpse can only be under my command within the blood sea¡¯s bounds. But if I infuse the blood sea into the corpse¡­¡± Thoughts raced through Qin Huai¡¯s mind. Days later, the once emaciated king¡¯s corpse had become robust. Its entire form glowed a deep red, indicating the immense power contained within. In essence, Qin Huai had infused the destructive power of a spear into the corpse, amplifying its inherent abilities. He made the corpse exit the secret chamber, and even though its speed hadn¡¯t changed, under Qin Huai¡¯s guidance, it became faster. Soon, it became a mere speck in the distance, moving beyond the blood sea¡¯s influence. This confirmed Qin Huai¡¯s hypothesis: wherever the corpse went, it would still be within the range of the blood sea, as long as the sea remained within it. The only drawback was that Qin Huai couldn¡¯t visually track the corpse. But with a deep concentration, his left eye took on a blood-red hue, and suddenly, he could see through the eyes of the corpse. This blood mirror technique gave Qin Huai an uninterrupted link to the king corpse, allowing him to witness everything it did. Furthermore, this corpse was virtually indestructible. Common vulnerabilities like vital organs were irrelevant to it. Its only weakness was its bones, which were immensely hard to destroy. This made the king corpse a perfect weapon. Qin Huai tested its abilities by making it execute various moves tens of kilometers away, realizing there was no delay in its response. ¡°The intricacies of martial arts truly surpass my previous life¡¯s understanding,¡± he mused. In essence, this king corpse was a puppet with real-time reactions. He sent the king corpse to explore the other regions of Qingzhou. He intended to gauge the status of these territories and test the distance limit of his control over the corpse. All the while, back in the chamber, Qin Huai meditated, focusing on another item he had acquired from the white-robed king, the [Domain Sphere: Boundless Blood World], an item capable of enhancing domains. Chapter 617 - 617 Enhanced Boundless Blood World 617 Enhanced Boundless Blood World Qin Huai had never encountered such an item, even in Zhang You¡¯s records. Though a king¡¯s combat strength would naturally enhance their domain, it wasn¡¯t enough. The domain sphere presented a unique opportunity to amplify the domain¡¯s strength from an external source. He carefully inspected the domain sphere in his hand. After considering it for a moment, he swallowed it. ¡°Ding! Your domain [Boundless Blood World] has been upgraded.¡± ¡°Current domain: [Boundless Blood World]¡± [Boundless Blood World]: This domain allows one to launch a blood world attack without a medium, effective anywhere in sight. Nothing can stop it. Qin Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed. Testing his newfound ability, he focused on a large tree outside his window. A bloody blade, several inches wide, seamlessly emanated from the tree, as if it was an extension of the tree itself. ¡°It works!¡± Qin Huai exclaimed. With a light tap on the ground, the earth crumbled beneath. A gray rat, fear evident in its eyes, was launched airborne. With a mere look, a bloody blade materialized, splitting the rat in two. This newfound capability was a game-changer. Without needing any medium, as long as an opponent was within his domain, he could instantly unleash the blood world attack. The reaction time for any enemy would be nearly non-existent, relying solely on their intuition and agility to evade. However, this attack had its limitations. Its scope was restricted, with its power and reach equivalent to a rapier¡¯s blade. Still, its potential was undeniable. Qin Huai took a deep breath, realizing the immense power that could be harnessed from a king realm expert. If he were to engage with more kings, would he be able to endlessly amplify his domains? He envisioned the vast expanse within the dark throne in his mind, capable of holding countless domains. Lost in thought, he was interrupted by the realization that his king corpse had covered thousands of miles. The bond between them was as strong and clear as ever. ¡°The design of my system seems flawless, but multitasking is taxing,¡± he pondered, massaging his temple. In a battle with an opponent of equal caliber, Qin Huai would need to exert himself significantly more. But he wasn¡¯t concerned since the king corpse had impressive resilience. Qin Huai then decided, ¡°I¡¯ll send the king corpse to investigate the secret realm of Pingwang first¡­¡± Qin Huai paused momentarily, then directed the king corpse westward, traveling through mountains and cities, following Zhang Youji¡¯s map. Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s words echoed in his mind: to truly stand firm in the Great You and safeguard Qingzhou, one must reach the king realm. And Qin Huai, with his emperor-like prowess, had already caused ripples in the spirit world. The world was shifting quickly, and Qin Huai knew his influence was a significant catalyst. Although his emperor-like strength remained hidden, some, like Zhang Youji, were already aware. It was only a matter of time before others connected the dots. ¡°Time is of the essence,¡± he mused. With challenges continuously arising and power hierarchies like the six royal clans and the Sacred Heart Sect to consider, Qin Huai felt the pressure. He knew these ancient powerhouses wouldn¡¯t ignore his true potential, especially given his rising assets. As Qin Huai trekked through the mountains, his mind raced, plotting his strategy. One thing was clear: he had to secure the spirit stones in Pingwang county¡¯s mystic realm. Eventually, he reached the bronze world ruins, the last place he had seen his mentor, the Emperor of Qingzhou. Though they never formally acknowledged their master-disciple relationship, their bond was evident. Remembering the emperor¡¯s multiple efforts to safeguard humanity, Qin Huai felt a deep respect. Laying fresh flowers amidst the bronze relics, he whispered, ¡°Master, I¡¯ve been remiss in not visiting sooner. In the years since we last met, I¡¯ve fought the Sacred Heart followers and the Kun Peng clan to protect our people.¡± He recounted his recent adventures in detail. After a reflective moment, Qin Huai set off towards the ten counties of East Qingzhou, where a grand dragon nestled by Lingjiang, its magnificence increasing with each passing day. ¡­ Upon nearing Guiyang City, a dusty windstorm greeted him. Walking alongside Gou Jie, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Guiyang City weather this bad.¡± Gou Jie replied, ¡°This area is desolate, with minimal water and barren land. But its strategic location connecting the north, south, east, and west makes it essential. Despite the harsh conditions, its population is vast, second only to the ten county cities.¡± Suddenly, the rhythmic beat of hooves echoed as a group of fierce cavalry emerged through the dust storm. Even amidst the swirling sand, Qin Huai and Gou Jie could clearly hear the crack of whips and the shouts of the riders. Looking northward, they spotted several carriages, one of which was particularly ornate, indicating wealth or nobility. Soon enough, the group approached Qin Huai and Gou Jie. The leader, a tall figure radiating strength and charisma, asked, ¡°Where did you two come from?¡± ¡°From Spirit Gate,¡± replied Qin Huai. ¡°Spirit Gate? Judging by your clothes, you must carry at least a hundred nine-dragon coins,¡± the leader remarked. Qin Huai paused, recalling that nine-dragon coins were the currency introduced by Empress Li Shao. Each coin was valued at one tael of silver in Great You. ¡°Are you crossing the city on foot?¡± the leader asked. ¡°It¡¯s a form of training, and we also wanted to explore,¡± Qin Huai responded, noting the hint of surprise on the leader¡¯s face. Impressed, the leader commented, ¡°You¡¯re quite determined.¡± A melodious voice from the ornate carriage added, ¡°Big Brother Mo, invite these two gentlemen into our carriage. The path ahead is treacherous, full of dust and bandits. It¡¯s not safe on foot.¡± As the curtain lifted, a beautiful face emerged, her smile as serene as a calm day amidst a storm. Qin Huai was skeptical. ¡°Given that the ten counties of East Qingzhou are prospering and the cities are fortified, isn¡¯t it strange to have bandits, especially in a central area like Guiyang City?¡± The woman hesitated, and even the confident Mo seemed evasive. ¡°Is there a powerful force behind these bandits? Is the situation so dire that we shouldn¡¯t even speak of it?¡± Qin Huai probed with a hint of jest. Instead of answering directly, Mo urged, ¡°Just heed the lady¡¯s advice and join us in the carriage. It¡¯s for your safety. These bandits aren¡¯t ordinary. They¡¯re backed by a formidable power.¡± Acknowledging the unspoken message, Qin Huai and Gou Jie exchanged a glance, sensing deeper complexities behind the bandit issue. They decided to join the group, curious about the power play at hand. Chapter 618 - 618 Fighting Bandits 618 Fighting Bandits Amidst the gusting sandstorm, the horse carriage labored forward for thirty miles. Inside, Qin Huai and Gou Jie struck up a conversation with a kind-hearted, wealthy woman. She introduced herself as Zhou Yunli, a native of Zhoushan county in Dongqing. The county was renowned for its affluent mines, and her family, the Zhou family, owned the second-largest mine there. The Zhou family held significant influence in Zhoushan, with ancestral connections to the famous Zhou Layi of Zhou Mountain. Gou Jie, clearly impressed, remarked, ¡°Miss Zhou, your reputation precedes you. From a young age, you¡¯ve been a force to be reckoned with in business. And now, you surprise us with your beauty.¡± Zhou Yunli responded with a modest smile, ¡°Sir, you flatter me. My accomplishments are largely due to my father¡¯s support.¡± Suddenly, the calm within the carriage was shattered by the sound of commotion outside. The leader of their convoy, known as Mo, approached with urgency. Peeking out, Qin Huai witnessed Mo holding a blood-soaked sack, moving towards the rear of their caravan. The unsettling scent of blood wafted into the carriage. Zhou Yunli frowned, explaining, ¡°Sometimes, people within our trade hide personal items amidst the goods. Occasionally, they smuggle rare treasures, and even exotic animals.¡± Qin Huai nodded in understanding. A practitioner of the blood heart technique, he was acutely aware that the scent of blood he sensed was human. Whoosh! But before Qin Huai could share his thoughts, Mo burst into the carriage, checking on the passengers with a smile, ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t disturb you both.¡± Zhou Yunli sternly ordered, ¡°Brother Mo, see to this matter immediately!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss!¡± With cupped fists, Brother Mo acknowledged and stepped out, his aura revealing his powerful cultivation level. The journey resumed, but was abruptly halted again. Mo reappeared, suggesting, ¡°Miss Zhou, we might need a detour. There are suspicious footprints ahead, it might be those people¡­¡± Zhou Yunli, concerned about the potential delay, pressed, ¡°How much of a detour? We cannot afford delays.¡± ¡°It might take half a day,¡± Mo Wu shared hesitantly. Zhou Yunli pondered briefly. ¡°Half a day is acceptable. Our safety is more important.¡± Qin Huai and Gou Jie listened without interrupting, and soon the convoy altered its course, moving faster than before. The two took the opportunity to close their eyes and rest. Their enhanced hearing, far superior to the vision of bone pattern realm warriors, kept them alert. However, six hours later, they were jolted awake by a sudden danger. An arrow burst through the carriage, embedding itself in the floor, swiftly followed by several more. ¡°Miss, get out!¡± Mo Wu yelled from outside. Reacting quickly, Qin Huai, Gou Jie, and Zhou Yunli leaped from the carriage just as it was inundated with arrows, looking like a porcupine with quills. The archers responsible were evidently highly skilled, likely experts in the blood refinement realm. Turning northward, they spotted seven masked men positioned on a nearby slope, exuding strength and power. Another group of the same size had already engaged the Zhou family guards, who responded with impressive coordination. They quickly encircled Zhou Yunli, their weapons pointed out defensively, reminiscent of a hedgehog¡¯s spines. But with all the chaos, Qin Huai and Gou Jie found themselves isolated and quickly became the new target for the fourteen adversaries. Gou Jie grinned, stepping forward. ¡°Let¡¯s split them, seven each. It might be a challenge.¡± Qin Huai nodded in agreement, and they collided with their foes. Both men were careful to restrain their strength, preventing instant defeat of any of the attackers. The battle was intense, and they began to tire, but victory still seemed within reach. Watching from a short distance, Mo Wu muttered, ¡°Where did those two come from?¡± The Zhou family entourage, now safely distanced from the conflict, did not rush to assist but instead observed. Zhou Yunli¡¯s demeanor had changed, her eyes now held a calculating coldness. ¡°If they¡¯re unfamiliar, they might be outsiders. These fighters are seasoned veterans. Their skill level is around the eighth or ninth refinement.¡± A malicious smile spread across Mo Wu¡¯s face. ¡°They¡¯d fetch a handsome price.¡± Zhou Yunli¡¯s response was direct. ¡°Then what are you waiting for?¡± Chapter 619 - 619 A Big Shot! Arriving at Lingjiang City Again! 619 A Big Shot! Arriving at Lingjiang City Again! ¡°Don¡¯t let the city matters be delayed,¡± Zhou Yunli whispered. ¡°Understood,¡± Mo Wu replied, signaling to his followers. Over twenty of his men surged forward, encircling Qin Huai and Gou Jie, leaving them trapped. Gou Jie stared at Zhou Yunli in astonishment. ¡°Miss Zhou, what¡¯s going on?¡± She answered coolly, ¡°Did I not mention earlier? Bandits run rampant around Guiyang City.¡± ¡°You are the bandits!¡± Gou Jie exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face. ¡°We might dabble in banditry. It¡¯s our side job.¡± Mo Wu smirked, drawing his blade and giving it a languid lick. Suddenly, his face contorted in pain. His weapon clattered to the ground, and his followers behind him began collapsing, many coughing up purple blood. ¡°Poison¡­¡± gasped Mo Wu as his head grotesquely swelled. Oddly, only Zhou Yunli seemed unaffected. As Qin Huai approached her, she spoke in a pleading voice, her robe falling away slightly to reveal a bare shoulder, ¡°If you spare me, I am yours to command.¡± A hint of a blush colored her cheeks as she continued, ¡°With your strength, marrying into the Zhou family isn¡¯t impossible.¡± But in a shocking twist, blood sprayed from her, causing her to cry out in horror, ¡°What have you done?!¡± ¡°You said I had free rein,¡± Qin Huai retorted coldly. ¡°I have¡­unique tastes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the Zhou family heiress! Killing me means making an enemy of them!¡± Zhou Yunli¡¯s voice shook with rage and fear. Qin Huai remained unfazed. ¡°The Zhou family rules a mere county. We can always run away. Do you think they can catch us? East Qingzhou is vast,¡± he taunted, watching her intently. With a defiant sneer, Zhou Yunli said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say the Guiyang City bandits had powerful backers?¡± Qin Huai feigned surprise. ¡°Someone more powerful than the Zhou family?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate the person backing me,¡± Zhou Yunli stated with confidence. ¡°You can¡¯t even imagine their power.¡± Qin Huai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°And who might that be?¡± She took a moment before saying, ¡°Li.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s face fell, revealing his concern. Zhou Yunli smirked, recognizing his fear. She had used this name to instill fear in others many times before. ¡°If you¡¯re wise,¡± she continued, ¡°you¡¯ll release me. Otherwise, leaving East Qingzhou will be impossible for you.¡± Gou Jie, previously behind Zhou Yunli, revealed a group of bound individuals in the carriage ¡ª young women and children, some as young as five. ¡°Human trafficking?¡± Qin Huai murmured. ¡°It¡¯s profitable,¡± Zhou Yunli said nonchalantly. ¡°The young boy there? He¡¯d fetch one thousand nine-dragon coins in Lingjiang. Girls even more. Martial artists? Their price is astronomical. And with the population boom in the ten counties, business is thriving.¡± She looked pointedly at Qin Huai, sizing him up. His strength, especially his poison technique, made him valuable. Losing Mo Wu had been a blow to the Zhou family, and she considered roping Qin Huai in as a replacement. ¡°It costs very little to snatch them,¡± she continued. ¡°Some bribes, shipping costs¡­ but with our backer¡¯s assurance, we more than make up the cost.¡± ¡°Sounds like many are involved in this,¡± Qin Huai observed. ¡°A lot,¡± she boasted, hoping to sway him further. ¡°And this ¡®Li¡¯? His full name?¡± Zhou Yunli hesitated, ¡°I don¡¯t know. While the Zhou family is influential, even we don¡¯t know everything. But Li¡¯s power? It¡¯s immeasurable.¡± ¡°Thank you for the information,¡± Qin Huai responded, smiling. Zhou Yunli relaxed, thinking she¡¯d secured an ally. ¡°Then come with me¡­¡± But her relief was short-lived. With a swift motion, Qin Huai separated her head from her body. Her life ended in shock, never expecting such a move after revealing her powerful ally. Soon after, the rescued victims knelt in gratitude before Qin Huai and Gou Jie, tears of relief in their eyes. ¡°You¡¯re free now,¡± Qin Huai declared, promising, ¡°This won¡¯t happen again.¡± The freed captives stood still, seemingly unsure of what to do next. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Qin Huai inquired. One of the seasoned warriors stepped forward, a melancholic smile on his face. ¡°We can¡¯t simply walk away. Those people have our names, faces, and hometowns. If they find out we¡¯ve escaped, they¡¯ll send assassins. Two managed to escape once, but were killed within weeks. Everywhere in East Qingzhou is under their control.¡± Qin Huai sighed. ¡°So thorough¡­ Do you know who represents them in Guiyang City?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Gao Jie, the deputy city lord!¡± the warrior exclaimed. ¡°He¡¯s behind the hunts. Last time, he personally delivered the heads of the escapees.¡± Nodding, Qin Huai offered a solution, ¡°Stay hidden in the nearby woods for now. You¡¯ll hear when it¡¯s safe to return to the city.¡± The man nodded in gratitude. They had no choice but to trust Qin Huai. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Lingjiang City¡¯s Seven Heroes Restaurant, there wasn¡¯t a single empty seat. Customers filled even the makeshift tables outside, with a line waiting for a spot. Sitting in a discreet corner, Qin Huai and Gou Jie enjoyed their meals. ¡°This place is bustling,¡± Qin Huai commented, taking a sip of wine. Gou Jie nodded. ¡°The food and drink here are unlike anything in Qingzhou.¡± Qin Huai recalled his time with the Blood Poison Gang, ¡°I¡¯ve tasted delicacies across Qingzhou, but never like this.¡± Gou Jie simply replied, ¡°That¡¯s the uniqueness of Lingjiang,¡± but his gaze grew distant, hinting at deeper thoughts. Suddenly, a burly man slammed into a seat beside them and said, ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind sharing.¡± With a nod, Qin Huai invited him to sit. The man, both lively and chatty, dove straight into the latest gossip. ¡°Have you heard? Guiyang City¡¯s deputy lord, Gao Jie, was murdered! The entire East Qingzhou is talking about it.¡± Chapter 620 - 620 The Mysterious Lord Li 620 The Mysterious Lord Li ¡°Who hasn¡¯t heard?¡± Gou Jie remarked, ¡°The story¡¯s all over East Qingzhou¡¯s ten counties. I heard it was some vendetta.¡± The robust man, introducing himself as Hu Hualiang, chuckled. ¡°We hail from Sun Returning City. That¡¯s how we know.¡± Gou Jie feigned superiority, his nose in the air. Beside him, Qin Huai was more observant, scrutinizing Hu Hualiang. He noticed the muscled man¡¯s robust physique and the sachets on his waist, likely to mask a lingering scent of blood. The aroma seemed deeply entrenched, making Qin Huai suspect Hu Hualiang¡¯s past deeds weren¡¯t too noble. Additionally, Hu Hualiang¡¯s strength was apparent ¡ª he stood out, even in this bustling place. Leaning in, Hu Hualiang whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve got some inside information.¡± Gou Jie leaned forward, clearly intrigued. ¡°The recently deceased vice city lord had a powerful supporter. Those two who took out Gao Jie¡¯s men? They¡¯re in hot water now.¡± Gou Jie, still feigning ignorance, asked, ¡°Who¡¯s powerful enough to challenge those two? Rumor says they¡¯re top of the bone pattern realm.¡± Hu Hualiang laughed heartily. ¡°Even a visceral prefecture realm expert would fall if they crossed this mysterious lord.¡± Realizing the gravity of their situation, Qin Huai calmly said, ¡°Seems we¡¯ve been spotted.¡± Hu Hualiang smirked. ¡°From the moment you left Guiyang City, we¡¯ve been watching. And you two, with your obvious confidence, made no attempt to disguise yourselves.¡± He continued, ¡°The truth is, this lord is impressed by your audacity and strength. Join him, and the past can be forgotten.¡± Gou Jie raised an eyebrow, ¡°But we killed a vice city lord. Can that be overlooked?¡± ¡°Peace is profitable, isn¡¯t it?¡± Hu Hualiang laughed, implying that the past with the deceased deputy was not an issue anymore. ¡°Besides, he wasn¡¯t the deputy for long, right?¡± Qin Huai questioned, ¡°And if we decline your offer?¡± Suddenly, many in the restaurant glared sharply at him. Hu Hualiang confidently replied, ¡°Our net has been cast, and we can claim your lives whenever we want.¡± Qin Huai, trying another angle, asked, ¡°If the emperor is stirring things up, won¡¯t the empress intervene?¡± Hu Hualiang smiled contemptuously. ¡°The empress went into seclusion half a year ago. It¡¯s a well-kept secret, known to only a select few in Lingjiang.¡± Qin Huai exchanged a glance with Gou Jie, who gave a shrug, clueless about this piece of information. It was evident that the empress¡¯s retreat was well-hidden, but some leaks had occurred. Growing curious, Qin Huai pressed on, ¡°So, who¡¯s the real power behind you? If we¡¯re to align, shouldn¡¯t we at least know who¡¯s in charge?¡± Hu Hualiang declined to answer, saying, ¡°All you need to understand is, if you join us, you¡¯ll have wealth and power. Refuse, and East Qingzhou will be your grave. Even your abilities won¡¯t save you. Our patience, and our lord¡¯s goodwill, has its limits.¡± Tension built in the restaurant as cold glares came from all sides. Noticing the changing atmosphere, the patrons began shifting uncomfortably, although none of them left. Most present were either influential in Lingjiang or possessed commendable strength. They believed that no real chaos would break out in such an elite setting. But Qin Huai had a different plan. ¡°I¡¯m really eager to meet this mysterious lord of yours,¡± he stated, his voice icy. Suddenly, as Hu Hualiang was about to make a move, excited voices from the entrance interrupted the tension, ¡°Lord Li! Welcome, Lord Li!¡± ¡°Lord Li, long time no see. You still look as elegant as ever.¡± The surrounding compliments rose and fell. Both Qin Huai and Gou Jie turned their attention to the entrance of the Seven Heroes Restaurant. Chapter 621 - 621 Qin Huai Doesnt Have a Backer 621 Qin Huai Doesn¡¯t Have a Backer The entrance of the restaurant was filled with bowed heads and respectful greetings as a man entered. Dressed simply, his tall, slender form moved with unassuming grace. Though his demeanor was humble, the attention he received from all corners of the room indicated his prestige. His steady steps and full aura hinted at his visceral prefecture realm status. Walking directly to Qin Huai, he spoke with courtesy, ¡°I am Li Zexiang, the great transport envoy of East Qingzhou.¡± Qin Huai¡¯s brows furrowed in thought. Gou Jie quickly supplied the information, ¡°Li Zexiang is from a branch of the Li family and was stationed at the border for years. He was brought back to Lingjiang three years ago because of his water control skills. With the favor of Li Zeshi from the fourth branch, he quickly rose to the position of great transport envoy of East Qingzhou. His skills progressed rapidly, especially after gaining access to the ¡®recuperation of spiritual energy¡¯.¡± Li Zexiang¡¯s smile widened, seemingly amused at their straightforwardness. He gestured to the seats, and Hu Hualiang made way for him. ¡°Given your audacity in coming straight to Lingjiang,¡± Li Zexiang commented, ¡°I¡¯d assume you have some powerful backer. But who could it be? The Twin Extreme Sect¡¯s old master or someone from the second branch of the Li family?¡± Qin Huai replied calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no one behind us.¡± Li Zexiang, using his years of experience in reading people, believed Qin Huai wasn¡¯t lying. Pondering their audacious nature, he wondered if they were just two young men with dreams of being heroes. He couldn¡¯t recall encountering anyone with such a character, especially at their advanced level of cultivation, and certainly not from East Qingzhou. Li Zexiang proposed, ¡°If you tell me who supports you, I could reward you handsomely.¡± His smile grew more pronounced. ¡°But if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make sure you find your resting place in the river.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Gou Jie had just begun to speak when a cold female voice interrupted from the entrance. ¡°Then am I qualified enough?¡± Li Zexiang¡¯s face shifted rapidly from calm to a display of mixed emotions at the sound of the voice. The atmosphere in the Seven Heroes Restaurant shifted dramatically as everyone, from the patrons inside to those on the street outside, knelt, showing utmost respect to the newcomer ¨C the empress of East Qingzhou, Li Shaoxiang. Accompanying the empress were key figures: the old sect master of the Twin Extreme Sect, and from the Li family¡¯s second and fourth branches, Li Zewu, Li Zeshi, and Li Buhu. Li Zexiang, regaining his composure, greeted her warmly, ¡°Congratulations, my lady, on your successful exit from seclusion. It¡¯s truly admirable that you¡¯d come to the city right after to inspect and appreciate it.¡± But Li Shaoxiang¡¯s voice was icy as she questioned his presence, ¡°What are you doing here, bringing so many with you?¡± Defensively, Li Zexiang answered, ¡°I¡¯m here to arrest these culprits. They recently murdered the vice city lord of Guiyang City in broad daylight. Hearing they¡¯re in Lingjiang, I had to act quickly to prevent any more chaos.¡± Suddenly, as if on cue, dozens of Li Zexiang¡¯s men surged forward to apprehend Qin Huai and Gou Jie. But just as they lunged, a swift force countered their move, and the men were down, leaving the restaurant awash in red. Mysterious figures in black swiftly took positions throughout the venue. Staring in disbelief at Li Shaoxiang, Li Zexiang stammered, ¡°My lady, what is the meaning of this?¡± Li Zewu¡¯s voice, icy and accusatory, broke the tense silence, ¡°Li Zexiang, you¡¯ve abused your position, causing havoc, selling people, and dealing weapons¡­ How do you answer for these crimes?¡± Li Zexiang¡¯s panic grew, and he turned to Li Zeshi for support, but even the latter seemed taken aback by the day¡¯s events. ¡°My lady, please don¡¯t be misled by these rumors!¡± Li Zexiang pleaded with desperation evident in his voice. ¡°I swear I¡¯ve always acted with integrity. I urge you to investigate the truth! I¡¯ve served loyally for years. Please don¡¯t let false accusations taint my reputation.¡± His emotional plea made some bystanders wonder if a grave misunderstanding was unfolding. Li Shaoxiang slowly approached Qin Huai, saying, ¡°If he¡¯s guilty, then so am I.¡± She gracefully moved to Qin Huai¡¯s side and gently wrapped her arm around his shoulder. The crowd was too stunned to speak. Li Zexiang, along with everyone present, stared in disbelief. Even key figures like Li Zewu and Li Zeshi were taken aback. The onlookers were left with a burning question: Who was this man? Li Zewu and a few others seemed to have connected the dots but chose to remain silent. Li Zeshi, who appeared to want to intervene, paused upon seeing the unfolding dynamics. ¡°Brother Zeshi, help me!¡± In his desperation, Li Zexiang crawled towards Li Zeshi. But in a turn of events, Li Zeshi knelt before Qin Huai, further deepening Li Zexiang¡¯s horror. The realization then dawned on Li Zexiang. Trembling, he uttered, ¡°You¡¯re¡­ You¡¯re the emperor of East Qingzhou!¡± He had longed to meet this legendary figure, but never imagined their encounter would be under such circumstances. As the weight of the situation pressed on him, Li Zexiang stammered, ¡°All the money I¡¯ve collected is in the secret room of my home. I never spent it. I¡¯m just afraid of poverty. I felt secure having that wealth.¡± Tears streamed down his face as he added, ¡°Please, my lord, give me a chance.¡± However, Qin Huai countered, ¡°What about those you wronged? Did they get a chance?¡± ¡°Husband, how should we deal with these people?¡± Qin Huai expressed his vision, ¡°I dream of a land where everyone is content and safe, where no one fears harm or being sold. A warm hometown, a harmonious haven for all.¡± Chapter 622 - 622 The Emperor of East Qingzhou 622 The Emperor of East Qingzhou Li Zexiang¡¯s complexion paled, listening to Qin Huai¡¯s idealistic dreams. There was a time when Li Zexiang held the same hopes for Lingjiang, wanting it to be a land of prosperity and peace. But his dreams were soon tainted by power and greed. The memory of receiving money from the Zhang family¡¯s official for the first time, the weight of the coins in his hands, was a pivotal moment that changed everything. ¡°It¡¯s all that Zhang guy¡¯s fault, or else I wouldn¡¯t have come to this point!¡± he cried out. But before he could fully explain his past, Li Zexiang was enveloped in a blinding radiance and was reduced to dust by an overwhelming force. The remnants transformed into a small, dark sphere in Qin Huai¡¯s hand. The crowd watched in shock and disbelief. A mighty figure in the visceral prefecture realm had been obliterated in an instant. Soon after, a voice broke the silence, ¡°Greetings, Emperor!¡± and it triggered a chain reaction. Reverent bows and salutations resonated like waves, starting from the Seven Heroes Restaurant and echoing far beyond. That day, Lingjiang City echoed with the praises of East Qingzhou¡¯s emperor. ¡­ At the Nine Dragons Sect, Qin Huai relaxed on a plush purple recliner. The empress, with gentle precision, peeled oranges for him, discussing the growth and plans of the ten counties of East Qingzhou. Li Zexiang¡¯s faction faced swift consequences. Within days, under the empress¡¯s direct orders and Qin Huai¡¯s mandate, they were eradicated. Investigations revealed that while Li Zeshi and the others weren¡¯t fully aware of Li Zexiang¡¯s dealings, they still accepted responsibility, renouncing their posts and opting for a quieter life. The empress elaborated on the state of the ten counties. ¡°We¡¯ve made remarkable progress,¡± she said. ¡°Relay stations are in development, waterways are expanding, roads are under construction, and security has strengthened. Business is flourishing, and our nine-dragon coins have gained prominence, even surpassing the Great You coins.¡± She demonstrated foresight and meticulous planning, thinking ahead for the prosperity of their realm. Qin Huai admired her vision and dedication. The knowledge and experience Qin Huai carried were borrowed from the wisdom of his predecessors, and he was aware that it might not always fit the current times. While he provided a general developmental direction, he left the detailed execution to the experts, abiding by the principle that experts should handle their specialties. He knew better than to micromanage. His primary aim wasn¡¯t to transform the ten counties of East Qingzhou overnight, but to ensure steady growth. More importantly, Qin Huai recognized the need to safeguard these counties from external threats, given the unstable political landscape. Despite past scandals like that of Li Zexiang, the counties were generally thriving, their flaws not diminishing their overall brilliance. The prosperity he observed was a stark contrast to the Lingjiang of his past memories. ¡°Husband, how long can you stay this time?¡± Li Shaoxiang whispered, nestling close to Qin Huai. His response was laden with concern about the political upheavals outside Qingzhou. ¡°It won¡¯t be long. The entire Great You is a battleground now. And there¡¯s a new secret realm in Pingwang¡­¡± His words trailed off as Li Shaoxiang¡¯s actions made him lose his train of thought. Seven days later, as Qin Huai stepped out, he looked tenderly at a flushed Li Shaoxiang lying on the bed. ¡°This is the life I desire,¡± he mused, gazing toward the direction of Pingwang county¡¯s secret realm. To ensure such moments in the future, he knew he needed to venture there. Deciding to revisit old memories, he toured the Nine Dragons Sect, assessing the proficiency of its disciples. The achievements were evident: inner disciples had reached the great blood refinement realm, core disciples touched the bone pattern realm, and the elite even surpassed that. Their attire also caught his attention, especially the protective designs that seemed capable of shielding them in dangerous situations. Such luxuries were perhaps exclusive to the affluent Nine Dragons Sect. As he strolled, Old Master Tong approached hurriedly, accompanied by his grandson bearing armor. ¡°Emperor¡­¡± Qin Huai interrupted, ¡°Elder Tong, ¡®Emperor¡¯ is too grand. Call me ¡®sect master¡¯ if you prefer. Your efforts over the years have been invaluable.¡± Flustered, Old Master Tong responded, ¡°Your kindness extended my life and raised my status. I¡¯m forever grateful.¡± Curious, Qin Huai gestured to the item in Old Master Tong¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s that you have there, Elder Tong?¡± Chapter 623 - 623 Immortal Guard! The Amazing Masters! 623 Immortal Guard! The Amazing Masters! ¡°This,¡± Old Master Tong began, holding out the armor, ¡°is an artifact I crafted, inspired by the immortal armor from Hundred Weapons Mountain.¡± Although the armor looked plain and ancient, Qin Huai instantly recognized its significance upon hearing the name of the Hundred Weapons Mountain. In his past encounters, the support of Hundred Weapons Mountain had been invaluable. The immortal armor, which Old Master Tong mentioned, had enabled him to face formidable foes like the county governor of Lingjiang. ¡°This isn¡¯t just any armor,¡± Elder Tong continued, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. ¡°It evolves alongside its wearer, almost like an extension of their body. It¡¯s imbued with force and bone patterns. ¡°For someone without any innate martial arts talent, this armor is a blessing. They wouldn¡¯t need to study intricate cultivation methods. Just by fusing with this armor, they can reach the bone pattern realm. For those with talent, this armor boosts their strength without conflicting with their unique cultivation methods.¡± Understanding the armor¡¯s capabilities, Qin Huai recalled, ¡°I remember the Hundred Weapons Mountain¡¯s immortal armor was crafted in a rather aggressive manner. There were risks of users going berserk.¡± Old Master Tong nodded. ¡°True, our armor progresses slower in comparison, but it¡¯s stable with no side effects. Moreover, it¡¯s as durable as a treasured weapon. With this armor, you essentially have a powerful bone pattern realm martial artist by your side.¡± Curious, Qin Huai asked, ¡°How many of these immortal armors have you made?¡± ¡°Three thousand,¡± came a reply from behind. It was Li Shaoxiang. ¡°I¡¯ve formed an Immortal Guard with them. They were the ones responsible for Li Zexiang¡¯s death.¡± Qin Huai nodded. ¡°Three thousand should be enough to oversee the ten counties of East Qingzhou.¡± Old Master Tong added with pride, ¡°I¡¯ve even used the divine power book of a thousand creations to forge a visceral prefecture realm immortal armor. Now, even those from the Hundred Weapons Mountain call me ¡®mister¡¯.¡± To this, even Li Shaoxiang looked surprised. She hadn¡¯t been aware of this development, realizing that Elder Tong had kept this as a special surprise for Qin Huai. Qin Huai was indeed surprised. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that Old Master Tong would craft a visceral prefecture realm immortal armor. Martial artists of this realm were highly revered ¡ª they could establish sects and even enter the spirit world. In the vast Great You, they held esteemed positions. And now, someone has the capability to craft them! But soon, Qin Huai¡¯s astonishment settled. The divine power book of a thousand creations was a legendary technique, and he had personally used it to refine a guardian spirit item. The fact that Old Master Tong had managed to unearth and utilize this technique wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected. ¡°How many have you made?¡± Qin Huai inquired. ¡°I¡¯ve made three and stored them securely, even away from my son¡¯s knowledge,¡± Elder Tong replied, clearly understanding the power they held. ¡°With this armor, the sect master could conquer the world! I¡¯ve streamlined its production so that my aide, Tong Erlang, can master it within a year. In two years, no matter where you point, there will be countless visceral prefecture realm experts!.¡± Old Master Tong¡¯s passion and ambition were evident. Seeing the potential implications, Li Shaoxiang chimed in, ¡°We¡¯ll focus on producing more immortal armors. The resources and manpower of the ten counties, which now surpass even Qingzhou¡¯s, will support us.¡± Turning to Old Master Tong, Qin Huai said, ¡°We must ensure the loyalty of those wearing the immortal armor.¡± The elder nodded, ¡°We can integrate Dao lines into the armor to ensure they can¡¯t be misused. This method, although common among master blacksmiths, will increase costs by ten percent.¡± Li Shaoxiang dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand. ¡°The added cost is a small price for safety and loyalty.¡± Overwhelmed, Qin Huai expressed, ¡°You¡¯ve given me an unexpected gift today.¡± He had returned to rekindle old memories, but instead found himself on the cusp of a new era of power. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of emotions when he thought about how he would be surrounded by thousands of powerful troops with a wave of his hand in the future. Recalling a detail, he asked, ¡°You mentioned the first immortal armor came from Hundred Weapons Mountain. Who sent it?¡± After a moment of contemplation, Elder Tong replied, ¡°His surname is Hu¡­¡± ¡°Hu Jinghai?¡± Qin Huai suggested. ¡°That¡¯s it! Hu Jinghai,¡± the elder confirmed. ¡°Where is he now?¡± Qin Huai, filled with nostalgia, wondered how his former disciple had fared over the years. Old Master Tong seemed thoughtful for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he finally admitted. ¡°He mentioned he was curious about the imperial city of Great You and wanted to meet its renowned experts.¡± Qin Huai pondered this. ¡°It sounds like he¡¯s had some good luck. He wouldn¡¯t talk so confidently otherwise. I just hope he¡¯s safe and well.¡± After the discussion, Old Master Tong returned to his small land, his spirits uplifted. Qin Huai, offering support to Li Shaoxiang, whose legs weren¡¯t in the best condition, strolled around the Nine Dragons Sect. He took the opportunity to ask about his two masters. He learned that Sun Yuanshan was still exploring the world. Occasionally, he¡¯d write to his disciple¡¯s wife, sharing his experiences and observations, particularly about the challenges faced by everyday people. Intriguingly, Sun Yuanshan had found love with someone who also practiced the same techniques. They were close in age and now journeyed together throughout Qingzhou, enjoying what could be seen as a prolonged honeymoon. Elder Erlong, on the other hand, had become reclusive, engrossed in studying forbidden martial arts. Over the years, he had developed the sword rain technique, where he could transform a single hair into a powerful sword feather. He had also mastered the heavenly bone curse, a technique where he¡¯d implant a fragment of his bone into an enemy, causing internal damage. Its potency was comparable to the flame longevity technique. After spending a few more days absorbing the knowledge and atmosphere of the place, Qin Huai decided it was time to head to the secret realm in Pingwang county. Chapter 624 - 624 Equal Domain 624 Equal Domain Pingwang county. The mountains stretched out endlessly, their green peaks reminiscent of vast seas. Nestled within their depths was an ancient city. Its walls, weathered by time, stood impressively tall, even dwarfing the city tower of Qingzhou City. Gazing upwards, they seemed as intimidating as a sheer mountain cliff. Crowds of people streamed toward this city, a testament to its significance. Just outside its gates, Xiang Mingfeng, once known as a banished immortal, stood contemplatively. The marks of time and travel were evident on his face, and yet, a youthful vigor remained. He seemed different now ¡ª any trace of arrogance that once clung to him had vanished. Beside him, an elderly man from the True Path Sect observed curiously and remarked, ¡°You seem different. Did something happen during your travels?¡± Xiang Mingfeng replied, shaking his head, ¡°I once thought I was drawing closer to an old friend, only to realize that our paths are growing apart.¡± The elder¡¯s surprise was evident. Xiang Mingfeng was already recognized by major sects and royal families as a formidable force against the demon clan. The elder mused that if anyone else had said such a thing, it might be taken as modesty. But Xiang Mingfeng was known for his unwavering honesty. Intrigued, the elder questioned, ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± Xiang Mingfeng simply shook his head, choosing to keep his secrets. The elder felt a burning curiosity but recognized from Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s expression that pressing him would yield no answers. Additionally, Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s origins remained a mystery. He had always been careful to hide his exact lineage, and the ongoing upheaval made it challenging for the True Path Sect to keep track of all its sub-sects. Besides, any attempts by the sect to divine Xiang Mingfeng¡¯s background were thwarted by a powerful aura, suggesting he was under the protection of an even more formidable entity. The old man from the True Path Sect scratched his ears and cheeks, a sense of unease apparent in his actions. He sighed and said, ¡°Troubled times indeed give rise to evil spirits, just as the ancients warned. In a few decades, perhaps we elders will find no place in this world.¡± He paused, gathering his thoughts. ¡°Before you step into Pingwang, you should know a few things.¡± His tone became grave. ¡°To truly understand it, we must look back to a time before the Great You reshaped our world. The governor of Pingwang back then was a scholar turned Buddhist, a believer in equality for all. He developed martial arts techniques and was quite a hero of his era. But that person is also a madman.¡± He explained, ¡°To achieve the king realm, he sacrificed himself, merging his soul, flesh, and blood with Pingwang county. While he died in the process, his spirit lingers, covering Pingwang county with his king domain for ten thousand years.¡± ¡°In this domain,¡± he continued, ¡°everyone possesses the same level of cultivation, a true realm of equality. It¡¯s why we¡¯ve dubbed it the ¡®equal domain¡¯.¡± Xiang Mingfeng interjected, ¡°Is it like the spirit world?¡± ¡°In essence, yes,¡± the old man nodded. ¡°Pingwang county¡¯s secret realm is often called the ¡®little spirit world¡¯. But unlike the spirit world, which suppresses martial artists to specific realms, Pingwang county levels everyone and shifts the realm constantly.¡± He added, ¡°You might enter and find yourself in the blood refinement realm, the bone pattern realm, or the visceral prefecture realm, with no predictability.¡± Xiang Mingfeng absorbed this, recognizing the inherent danger of such a volatile realm. In battle, warriors could suddenly drop from one realm to another, making combat unpredictable. Such fluctuations could be perilous, especially if one didn¡¯t adjust quickly. Some martial artists excel in particular realms due to their innate strengths or the compatibility of their techniques. Such uncertainties made battles in Pingwang county incredibly complex. He then asked, ¡°Can martial artists suddenly rise to higher realms like the visceral prefecture realm? And how do they manage the guardian spirit items tied to these realms? Could it be that you can create things out of thin air?¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°Indeed, they can. The equal domain will manifest a guardian spirit item based on one¡¯s cultivation technique. However, these manifested items are just imitations, albeit powerful ones.¡± Xiang Mingfeng shook his head in disbelief. ¡°Such power is beyond comprehension. I never thought that a king-tier could do something like this.¡± Chapter 625 - 625 Theyre All Old Friends! 625 They¡¯re All Old Friends! Even myths and legends, with their tales of immortals and gods, might not speak of such powers, Xiang Mingfeng thought. The old man chuckled. ¡°When I first learned of this, my reaction was much like yours. The potential of a king domain, or perhaps the potential of a martial artist, is boundless. This is why those talented martial artists with vast resources and backgrounds tread cautiously when selecting their cultivation techniques. Every step, every choice, shapes their future and the realm¡¯s evolution.¡± The old man shifted his focus. ¡°For upcoming martial artists who haven¡¯t reached the visceral prefecture realm, Pingwang county¡¯s secret realm offers a rare opportunity. It provides a glimpse of the higher martial arts realms, aiding in both realm breakthroughs and plotting the future martial path.¡± He elaborated, ¡°Because of Pingwang¡¯s unique properties, martial artists from the blood refinement realm, bone pattern realm, and visceral prefecture realm all gather there. Few king-level martial artists dare enter due to the high risks. They could easily perish.¡± Xiang Mingfeng nodded in understanding. ¡°We, at the visceral prefecture realm, are the leaders. Our goal is to lead the three sects¡¯ martial artists against the six clans in Pingwang, ensuring they don¡¯t control too many spirit stone mines.¡± The old man highlighted the significance of the spirit stone deposits in Pingwang. Previously, the secret realm was of moderate importance. But now, with its abundant spirit stone deposits, it has become crucial, especially during these times. The old man hesitated before adding, ¡°The journey into Pingwang¡¯s secret realm is full of danger. You won¡¯t only be contending against top-tier talents but anyone else who could pose a threat. Whether you choose to embark on this journey or not, the True Path Sect will always welcome you.¡± Before he could finish, Xiang Mingfeng interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯m going. Otherwise, I¡¯ll never catch up to him, forever stuck on the sidelines.¡± He remembered the battle at Spirit Gate, where Qin Huai single-handedly took on nine elite opponents, easily defeating them. The mere memory sent shivers down his spine. ¡°Additionally, keep an eye out for certain opponents,¡± the old man cautioned. ¡°Apart from the six royal clans, there are prodigies within the three sects. Especially watch out for our True Path Sect¡¯s Zhang Youji.¡± After mentioning that name, the old man¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That boy Zhang Youji didn¡¯t study our sect¡¯s revered five lightning technique or its secret methods. Instead, he mastered techniques related to stealth and assassination,¡± the old man remarked, his voice tense. ¡°In Pingwang¡¯s secret realm, he¡¯ll thrive, moving through it like it¡¯s his playground. While I doubt he¡¯d try to kill you, he might attempt to deceive you.¡± As the old man¡¯s voice grew more strained, Xiang Mingfeng could almost hear teeth grinding. It was clear that there was a deep history between this old man and Zhang Youji. The elder continued, his tone grave, ¡°There are others you should be wary of in the secret realm: Daoist Master Flame, who controls four types of otherworldly flames; Black Water Jiang Zun, who consumed an entire river; the leader of the Skyglow Sect, known for his vast following and unpredictable actions; the Lotus Lord; and a mysterious man in black robes, whose brutal attacks are heralded by a bull¡¯s roar. Lastly, there¡¯s a sect from Hundred Weapons Mountain. They use armor in their martial techniques, so be careful.¡± Xiang Mingfeng chuckled, recognizing many of the names as allies. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± the old man asked. ¡°It¡¯s just that many of Great You¡¯s prodigies are gathering here. Pingwang county¡¯s secret realm will certainly be lively.¡± The old man sighed. ¡°I just hope we don¡¯t lose too many promising talents. We may have more geniuses than ever, but so do the six royal clans.¡± He paused before adding, ¡°And there¡¯s talk of someone from the royal family who¡¯s destroyed the King Bone Holy Altar. Many believe it¡¯s Prince Qing Cang. If you cross paths with him, avoid confrontation and just run away.¡± As they spoke, the ancient city before them buzzed. Another shift occurred in the secret realm, altering everyone¡¯s realm within. ¡°It¡¯s been just six hours since the last change,¡± the elder noted. ¡­ High above, the king corpse floated amidst the clouds, allowing Qin Huai a bird¡¯s-eye view of the secret realm¡¯s changes. He¡¯d been monitoring it for a week. People continued to flood in, yet the realm¡¯s patterns remained elusive. The timing was inconsistent, and Qin Huai struggled to find any logic in its sequence. However, Qin Huai, using the insights gained from the temporary camps near the mystic realm, was familiar with its nuances, including the knowledge imparted by the old man from the True Path Sect. The secret realm had been around longer than even the Great You, and it posed significant dangers. Shaking his head, Qin Huai said, ¡°This realm is treacherous indeed.¡± He decided, ¡°I¡¯ll send the king corpse ahead to scout.¡± Having already showcased his prowess in the spirit world, Qin Huai felt confident, especially in the blood refinement and bone pattern realms. Still, he believed in caution. After all, he mainly used the king corpse as a shield ¡ª its offensive capabilities were secondary. Observing below, he noticed the powerful visceral prefecture realm experts from the three sects entering the secret realm. Without hesitation, Qin Huai descended rapidly, aiming for the secret realm. He mused about the possibility of utilizing the blood sea from the king corpse to envelop all of Pingwang county. Would the act of a visceral prefecture realm martial artist refining spirit stones bring him unforeseen benefits? Suddenly, Qin Huai sensed an odd resistance. It felt as if he had broken through an invisible barrier, causing the air to shift. Before he could identify the change, he felt ensnared by unseen chains. He swiftly maneuvered in the air, trying to evade them, but to no avail. The chains tightened around him, seemingly pulling him in, only to vanish as quickly as they appeared. Reflecting on the event, Qin Huai surmised, ¡°That might have been the domain power of Pingwang¡¯s governor.¡± The power was distinct, bearing no resemblance to what he had felt from the white-robed king. It felt like they belonged to entirely different realms or martial arts systems. He murmured in appreciation, ¡°This king domain¡­ It truly is remarkable.¡± Chapter 626 - 626 The Equal Domain 626 The Equal Domain Inside the secret realm of Pingwang county, the landscape was diverse, with surprises at every turn. Qin Huai¡¯s gaze settled on a massive tree that pierced the skies, contrasted by another that stood at a mere half a meter. Towering hills reached the clouds, dwarfing the small mounds beside them. Gigantic creatures rested in the forests, their snores echoing like thunder, while minuscule tigers and leopards roamed, looking no bigger than house cats. An immense wave swept across the Pingwang, taking everyone by surprise. Hovering above in the sky, Qin Huai caught glimpses of an ancient city dating back ten millennia. Vines had taken over the streets, erasing any trace of human habitation. Yet, in the ruins¡¯ proximity, clearings bore remnants of tents ¡ª evidence of martial artists who¡¯d ventured into this realm before him. Intriguingly, he identified miniature city structures, akin to the fabled kingdoms from fairy tales of his past life. These cities could fit within a space smaller than the length of his own body. Sadly, the race responsible for these wonders seemed to have vanished. It appeared that the county governor¡¯s dream of an egalitarian world had collapsed. The king domain, as he understood it, had drastically shifted, leading to an unpredictable environment. Instead of landing immediately to search for the spirit stone mine, Qin Huai flew along the realm¡¯s perimeter, studying the ground and testing the king corpse¡¯s reactions within this space. For the moment, he noted, ¡°My blood manipulation technique remains stable, and the blood sea¡¯s power is consistent.¡± His main concern was the potential loss of connection to the king corpse if his power level suddenly dropped within the secret realm. Attempting to invoke the blood sea¡¯s power, Qin Huai discovered he couldn¡¯t. He whispered, ¡°Has the guardian spirit item failed? Am I now at the bone pattern realm?¡± Examining his hands, he noticed his flesh appearing to dissolve. Instead of falling to the ground, it floated skywards. Left unchecked, this phenomenon could transform the blood sea into an overhead blood sea array, just like in Qingzhou City. While this mirrored Qin Huai¡¯s original plan, he realized it wasn¡¯t the moment to reveal himself. ¡°Retract!¡± Qin Huai commanded. The scarlet blood bead swiftly absorbed the sea of blood from his body, pulling it into the bead. With this action, the king corpse also shriveled up. Without the sustenance from the blood sea, the king corpse couldn¡¯t wield the Spear of Annihilation, diminishing its offensive might. However, its defenses remained relatively unaffected. From his vantage point above, Qin Huai observed martial artists pouring into the secret realm. Elevated in the skies, he appeared distant and detached. Few, if any, at the bone pattern realm level could achieve such aerial prowess, except maybe the phoenix cla. Many martial artists below were behaving recklessly. Their actions and intentions seemed transparent. Following their trajectory, Qin Huai¡¯s eyes settled on a distance where the flora glistened like crystals. ¡°Spirit stone mine,¡± he whispered. ¡°The presence of so many spirit stones affects even the vegetation.¡± Such an abundance could potentially cultivate countless king realm experts. From the information he gleaned, the majority had cultivated nearly to their peak but awaited the accumulation of these spirit stones for the final leap. As he mused, the king corpse quivered. A faint kingly aura emanated from it but was snuffed out almost immediately. ¡°So, even the king¡¯s force can be suppressed here,¡± Qin Huai noted. This equal domain surpassed even the restraints of the spirit world. The absence of realm restrictions here explained the influx of so many martial artists. King tiers hesitated to enter, fearing the likely ambush from those eager to claim the treasures a king realm expert would carry. Hours sped by, and suddenly, the king corpse felt a jolt. It began to wobble in mid-air. ¡°My blood manipulation technique is becoming rusty,¡± Qin Huai realized as the king corpse started plummeting. The cold wind whipped past, but he remained composed. Even a fall from such heights wouldn¡¯t damage his king bones. Though he strained to maintain the connection between his blood manipulation technique and the king corpse, it felt increasingly distant. Yet, there was a glimmer of hope: despite this growing unfamiliarity, he retained control over the corpse. Its agility was diminished, and flight seemed currently out of the question. Observing the rapidly approaching ground, Qin Huai braced the king corpse for impact. Chapter 627 - 627 Blood Beast, Sacred Heart Sects Secret Weapon? 627 Blood Beast, Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s Secret Weapon? At a spirit stone mine, thousands of warriors gathered. The sight of these martial artists was overwhelming, with various factions and allegiances creating a dense, charged atmosphere. The mountain felt like a powder keg, ready to ignite. From amidst this tension, an elderly warrior with a goatee stepped forward. Despite his simple gray attire, he seemed different from the sect-affiliated martial artists. ¡°Why not cultivate and mine together?¡± he suggested. ¡°Spirit stones benefit everyone, whether in the visceral prefecture, blood refinement, or bone pattern realms. With so many spirit stones here, there¡¯s more than enough for everyone. Wouldn¡¯t it be wise to cultivate now and then move on to the next mine?¡± His words resonated with many. ¡°He¡¯s right!¡± someone shouted. ¡°We should cultivate together. If someone breaks the trust, we all act.¡± There was a chorus of agreement, and as one, the martial artists began to meditate and cultivate. However, the peace was short-lived. One of them suddenly turned pale, shouting, ¡°I¡¯ve been poisoned!¡± In response, many tried to activate their cultivation techniques to fend off the poison, causing the temperature around the mountain to soar. Some, foreseeing potential threats, had taken antidotes beforehand. But just as they thought the danger had passed, over a hundred of them spat out blood. ¡°Don¡¯t activate your blood essence!¡± someone warned too late. It dawned on them that the poison targeted their blood essence, activated upon stimulation. Panic ensued, and accusations were thrown, ¡°It was a trap! He tricked us!¡± The scene became chaotic, with martial artists collapsing or battling each other. The mountain was soon drenched in blood, with a crimson mist enveloping it. As clashes broke out, the number of casualties skyrocketed. Watching the chaos from a nearby tree, the goateed elder who had proposed the idea sneered. ¡°Fools.¡± ¡°The Supreme One wants the blood guillotine refined. These warriors¡¯ vitality should condense into a perfect drop, right?¡± Beside the goateed elder, a young man stood with an air of arrogance. The elder nodded. ¡°Many here are from the three sects and six clans. Their vitality will suffice.¡± The young man responded confidently, ¡°We¡¯ll raise ten thousand blood beasts in this secret realm. It¡¯ll be enough against the Qiongqi clan.¡± The Sacred Heart Sect was trapped between two foes in Barren State¡¯s north, struggling to progress. Despite the strength of their cult members, the situation was far from ideal. However, the opening of Pingwang county¡¯s secret realm, drawing martial artists from all over, provided them a golden opportunity. ¡°We can¡¯t let the white-robed king of Qingzhou outdo us. If we fail, our lord won¡¯t be pleased,¡± the elder said, rising. ¡°Come, it¡¯s time.¡± Landing from their perch, they saw fewer than a thousand warriors remaining on the mountain¡¯s peak. The battle¡¯s ferocity was evident in the fallen. The young man, revealing his crimson robe, declared, ¡°Thank you all for your sacrifices!¡± The surviving warriors connected the dots. ¡°Sacred Heart Sect!¡± An elder holding prayer beads challenged, ¡°You¡¯re bold to show yourselves. Do you seek death?¡± But he didn¡¯t make a move. ¡°You¡¯ll soon know what we¡¯re capable of,¡± the goateed man replied with a sinister grin. Boom! Suddenly, the ground shook, and dust and debris filled the air. As the dust settled, all eyes focused on an unfamiliar object next to the goateed elder. The prayer-bead-clutching elder gasped. ¡°Is it the Four Great Guardians of the Sacred Heart Sect? Have they dared to breach this realm? Aren¡¯t they afraid we¡¯ll surround and kill them?¡± Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many considered retreating, fearing the legend of the ¡®kings¡¯. Those who had witnessed their power firsthand were even more apprehensive. However, the goateed elder and the young man appeared just as stunned, exchanging a glance of confusion. ¡°Did reinforcements come from above?¡± ¡°Why wasn¡¯t there any warning?¡± ¡°But the precision¡­ It must be,¡± the two reasoned, cautiously approaching the pit. Suddenly, an arm shot out, grabbing the goateed man. The scarlet-robed youth swiftly aimed a slash, but missed and stumbled back, his eyes wide in surprise. Before he could fully react, blood sprayed, revealing the goateed elder, his arms skewered through to his chest. The power of Pingwang¡¯s secret realm was clear: every player was on a level field, with no advantages. No wonder even the mightiest feared to enter. Whoosh! The scarlet-robed youth, puzzled, evaded a swift attack, narrowly missing a gash to his face. As the dust settled, a figure in a black robe with blood-red skin emerged from the pit. ¡°I misjudged. I expected a full body, not just an arm,¡± Qin Huai reflected. Surveying the scene, the robed figure advanced, legs unbending. Despite the scarlet-robed youth¡¯s recognition, ¡°We¡¯re on the same side!¡± he defended desperately, but showed no hesitation, his blade creating a blur of motion. However, his strikes were futile on Qin Huai, who seemed unaffected by any blows. In moments, a finger, still connected to a blood vein, pierced the scarlet-robed youth¡¯s throat. The surrounding martial artists stared, speechless. Was this the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s secret weapon? Ruthlessly taking out one of their own first was very characteristic of the Sacred Heart Sect. Chapter 628 - 628 A Qilin? 628 A Qilin? Bang! The king corpse stood eerily still, while the severed head on the ground glanced at the onlookers, emanating a chilling aura that paralyzed everyone in fear. Despite the grim appearance, with both hands and head severed, leaving only the legs standing in a pool of blood, the sight sparked greed in many eyes. Key members of the Sacred Heart Sect had fallen, leaving behind their riches for the taking. Eyes darting amongst themselves, some began to approach the king corpse cautiously. Yet suddenly, severed limbs began to twitch and crawl toward the main body. ¡°Stop the Sacred Heart demon from regenerating!¡± someone cried. Many responded, their energies pounding the ground, forming craters with every impact. From every direction, they charged, with majestic power now palpable. Illusions appeared behind them: fierce tigers, graceful leopards, towering trees, shimmering golden spears¡­ revealing their origins. Three martial artists, representing the three sects and six royal clans, approached cautiously. But as their powers were exposed, some turned on each other, splintering the united force. Still, the king corpse was the focal point. As the attackers converged on it, the dismembered bones miraculously rejoined. Its body emanated an overwhelming force, reminiscent of a flower blooming or a torrential wave crashing. Unlike the illusions behind others, the shadow behind the king corpse merely rippled with chaotic energy. Bang! With a resonating crash, many attackers were repelled, coughing up blood. The king corpse, still intact, lightly tapped the ground, vanishing instantly. In the next breath, he reappeared beside a Qiongqi demon, readying a strike. The man¡¯s eyes widened in fear, swallowing what seemed like essence. His abdomen puffed up, and sharp, tiny spikes covered his skin. But none of that mattered. The fist of the king corpse was just too formidable, punching right through him. The Qiongqi Clan demon withered, devoid of life, without even a drop of blood spilled. In Pingwang¡¯s secret realm, the conditions were vastly different from the spirit world. There was no eternal life here. Death was final. The king corpse, like a shadow, swiftly moved amidst the crowd, causing panic and horror. His strength, even without the king¡¯s force, was enough to decimate all. Be it blood refinement realm, bone pattern realm, or visceral prefecture realm, to the king corpse, they were all the same. Soon, the king¡¯s corpse was the only figure left in the spirit stone mine. Most had either fallen or fled to save their lives. As things quieted down, the king corpse began his search, sifting through the remains of the goateed old man and the blood-soaked youth. He discovered more than ten jade bottles and some medicinal packets. Qin Huai, familiar with poisons, recognized the contents by smell. Opening one of the bottles, a liquid drop zoomed out. The king corpse dodged it effortlessly. Suspended in the air, the droplet emitted a faint blood hue. Soon, the surrounding dead bodies started seeping out blood, which got attracted to this drop. The king corpse infused a drop of his blood, feeling an immediate connection. He observed the droplet grow, and within moments, it transformed into a heart, blood vessels forming around it. Soon, it was encapsulated by a blood-red barrier. ¡°It¡¯s the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s strange methods again,¡± Qin Huai thought, watching the growing blood egg. After a short while, the blood egg reached a height of three meters. Sounds of cracking filled the air, and a clawed entity emerged. A creature with a mix of a dragon¡¯s head, a deer-like body, and a tail reminiscent of an ox stepped out. Its entire being was covered in blood-colored fur. ¡°A Qilin?¡± Qin Huai pondered. The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s abilities amazed him. If they could craft a top-tier king realm puppet, couldn¡¯t the eight royal clans do the same? Chapter 629 - 629 Almighty People Work for Qin Huai! 629 Almighty People Work for Qin Huai! Qin Huai commanded, and the Qilin obeyed, just like the king¡¯s corpse which acted as an extension of his will. He then turned his attention to the bottles he held, swiftly opening them all. Before him, thirteen mystical creatures aligned, including the Qilin, Qiongqi, Jiuying, and Phoenix. Remarkably, creatures representing all eight royal clans were now at Qin Huai¡¯s command. ¡°Considering their disciples and these creatures, the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s true power is impressive.¡± Given that the cult had been established in the western part of Great You for many years, its accumulated power was staggering. He contemplated, ¡°Hundreds of thousands of warriors enter Pingwang¡¯s secret realm. If the Sacred Heart Sect harnesses them all, the outcome could be catastrophic.¡± With the emerging forces, the army of creatures left the secret realm, setting their sights on the three sects. While it would be beneficial if they moved towards the six clans, Qin Huai knew the unpredictable nature of the Sacred Heart Sect and wouldn¡¯t gamble on it. ¡°What a troublesome enemy,¡± he mused. Understanding that these creatures thrived on fresh blood, Qin Huai realized that stopping their creation could be simple: just get to the blood before they could. Looking skyward, he declared, ¡°Let¡¯s just treat it as an early start.¡± As the king corpse responded, blood rushed, peeling away, and streaming skyward. The formation of a blood pillar, shifting from a narrow stream to a massive tower, captured everyone¡¯s attention in the realm. Above, a blood lake formed, with the blood mirror in front of the king corpse rippling as it took in all the scenes in the mystic realm. ¡­ Meanwhile, on a distant mountain, warriors dressed in three-colored robes stood. They were representatives of the Qilin clan, surrounded by walls made of corpses. Newcomers glimpsing the gruesome scene quickly retreated. At the heart of this gathering, an elder Qilin glanced skyward. ¡°The Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s technique again!¡± Beside him, a middle-aged man observed, ¡°That blood lake holds immense power.¡± Pondering the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s intentions, the elder mused, ¡°They¡¯re using their most potent spell techniques. They transform the dead into puppets, craft blood zombies, and mold souls into creatures. The more casualties, the stronger the Sacred Heart Sect becomes.¡± The middle-aged man stood determinedly. ¡°I¡¯ll lead a group to eliminate this threat.¡± The old man gave a nod of approval. Following the middle-aged man, Young Master Qi rose to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll go with Father.¡± ¡­ At the spirit stone mine, towering figures wandered about, their imposing statures reminiscent of small structures. Their distinct and somewhat grotesque features easily identified them as the Qiongqi people. Looking at the sky, they regarded the blood sea with obvious disdain. Suddenly, half of the Qiongqi people stood in defiance. Third Young Master Qiong shouted, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of these intruders!¡± The Qiongqi clan had faced several setbacks, from being repeatedly targeted by Prince Qing Cang to confronting the deceptive tactics of the Sacred Heart Sect. The former was powerful, but the latter was more infuriating. The Sacred Heart Sect used bizarre techniques to raise seemingly countless forces. To the Qiongqi¡¯s dismay, many of their kin had been victimized by the cult¡¯s followers. Around the same time, the six clans and three sects, having taken over numerous spirit stone mines, became aware of the ominous blood sea. They deployed forces to counteract the Sacred Heart Sect¡¯s machinations. As the war unfolded, the world¡¯s perspective on the Sacred Heart Sect became clearer: it was a threat that must be neutralized. Outside Pingwang¡¯s secret realm, in a desolate landscape, a colossal man, matching the stature of the Qiongqi clan elder, stared at the blood sea overhead. ¡°Blood sea array? Is the white-robed king involved? Why is the blood sea¡¯s puppet being used again?¡± Surrounded by diverse ancient martial artists, he mused aloud. One remarked, ¡°Your Majesty, Beast King, our next move?¡± Another added, ¡°The blood demons thrive on fresh blood, as does the blood sea array. Aren¡¯t they taking our resources?¡± The Beast King replied, ¡°Given the uproar, the six clans and three sects won¡¯t ignore this. Scout and gather intel. If you spot the Holy Son, capture him.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the secret realm, warriors started moving toward the source of the blood pillar. The king corpse, however, vanished, relocating to a modest spirit stone mine. Overlooked by major sects and clans, this humble land was now home to a group of independent cultivators, coexisting in harmony. Qin Huai observed the people before him. They seemed average in their abilities and foundation, seemingly trusting each other and maintaining calm. The king corpse sat down and, using both hands, dug a sizable hole in the ground. In a short depth, he uncovered clear spirit stones. But the spirit stones seemed cloudy, hinting at their mediocre quality. Taking one, Qin Huai began activating his cultivation technique. Though he could garner experience using the king corpse, he couldn¡¯t cultivate from a distance. To refine the spirit stones, he depended on fresh blood to nourish the king bones, remedying the damage from the earlier battle with the white-robed king. As for Qin Huai¡¯s main body, he was still on his way. Suddenly, Qin Huai looked at the secret realm in the blood mirror. Experience orbs began descending from the mountains. Glancing over, the orbs swiftly vanished, integrating into Qin Huai¡¯s being. They contained various cultivation methods and experiences, but they weren¡¯t beneficial to him currently. Transformed cultivation techniques, blood, and qi from these experiences were stored, awaiting usage once he surpassed the king realm¡¯s barriers. Yet soon, among the numerous experience orbs, something caught Qin Huai¡¯s attention. Messages appeared in his mind: ¡°Ding! You have collected some [Spiritual Palace Fragments]. Your spiritual palace fusion rate has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected some [Spiritual Palace Fragments]. Your spiritual palace fusion rate has improved!¡± ¡°Ding! You have collected¡­¡± The notifications persisted, revealing the surprise: those visceral prefecture realm cultivators utilizing spirit stones for cultivation in the secret realm had become his worker ants. Their diligent cultivation would bring Qin Huai a lot of benefits. Relying solely on spirit stones for advancement could have taken him years, decades, or even longer. But the current situation was different. The visceral prefecture realm¡¯s prominent figures had unwittingly become his benefactors. Their rigorous cultivation meant vast gains for him. ¡°Ding! [Current spiritual palace fusion rate: 1%]¡± Days and nights passed, and after five days, Qin Huai¡¯s fusion rate finally reached 1%. ¡°At this rate, in a year, I¡¯ll achieve the final step¡­¡± A smile crept onto his face. In this world, there had never been a thirty-year-old king tier. With such a cultivation speed, even if Qin Huai told others about it personally, no one would dare to believe it. Chapter 630 - 630 Secret Realms Limited Time 630 Secret Realm¡¯s Limited Time Blood-red clouds darkened the secret realm. While some were filled with anxiety, others eagerly awaited the unfolding events. On a spiritually-rich mountain peak sat disciples of the True Path Sect, adorned in grayish-blue Daoist robes. A flag, showcasing the word ¡®Dao¡¯, fluttered above, radiating a mysterious power and a gentle scent of chrysanthemums, marking the territory as their domain. The True Path Sect¡¯s leaders occupied the center while core and inner disciples surrounded them. Even the newest outer sect disciples eagerly ventured into the secret realm, lured by the versatility of spirit stones. At the mountain¡¯s fringe, seemingly distanced from the rest, Zhang Youji perched on a hundred-meter-tall tree. Gazing at the blood-red cloud canopy, he mused, ¡°Looks like Brother Qin has arrived. Is he recreating the legendary one-man battle at the King Bone Holy Altar?¡± Although he had missed the grand spirit world battle, he was determined to witness the unfolding drama this time. Despite having fought alongside Qin Huai, Zhang Youji felt that the man concealed much. To him, Qin Huai was like a mysterious abyss, hiding untold power. Suddenly, the tree branch trembled as a portly, bearded middle-aged man, Uncle Master Fei, landed next to him. ¡°Uncle Master, maybe consider shedding some weight?¡± quipped Zhang Youji. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to learn lightning techniques. I haven¡¯t seen you use it in so many years,¡± Uncle-Master Fei retorted, unwilling to be outdone. ¡°My lightning technique is very good.¡± Zhang Youji smirked and extended his hand, and a lightning arc flashed across his palm. Uncle Fei, unperturbed, passed on a message from Zhang Youji¡¯s master. They would guard and lead for the first half of the year while Elder Sun and others cultivated. The roles would reverse for the second half. Curious, Zhang Youji inquired, ¡°Isn¡¯t the secret realm open for two years?¡± ¡°The secret realm opens once every three hundred years, and every time it opens, it¡¯s always one year shorter than the previous one.¡± Uncle Master Fei revealed the secret, ¡°This time, it will be a year, or even shorter.¡± Intrigued, Zhang Youji probed further. Uncle Fei explained that to sustain his world of equality eternally, the governor of Pingwang had chosen the Great You¡¯s spirit vein, which held nearly eighty percent of the spirit stone reserves. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you harvest them all at once?¡± Zhang Youji, due to his age and the realm¡¯s lengthy opening intervals, was unfamiliar with many details about the secret realm of Pingwang county. His curiosity was ever-growing. ¡°There was once another sect that tried, but in the end, the secret realm suddenly closed early, causing all the martial artists who were originally inside to be trapped and killed,¡± Uncle Master Fei said. He continued, ¡°Through such tragedies, the various powerful sects established limits on the number of spirit stones to mine. This precaution eventually evolved into a universally accepted rule. Each faction had a predetermined quota of spirit stones to extract.¡± ¡°Although I¡¯m not fond of you,¡± Uncle Master Fei said earnestly, ¡°remember you represent the True Path Sect. We can¡¯t afford to lose face.¡± Zhang Youji replied with feigned innocence, ¡°I always follow the rules.¡± Uncle Master Fei further warned, ¡°The blood clouds above might be the handiwork of the Sacred Heart Sect. Investigate them when you can.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Zhang Youji acknowledged. He chose not to disclose all he knew. It was wiser to conceal information about Qingzhou. Additionally, he was eager to gauge Qin Huai¡¯s capabilities firsthand. Given how Qin Huai had orchestrated the blood sea array, he believed its presence could be concealed for some time. ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Okay, be careful,¡± Uncle Master Fei cautioned, patting where he believed Zhang Youji stood. To his surprise, his hand passed through only an illusion. Stabilizing himself on the tree, he muttered, ¡°This brat¡¯s unorthodox ways are becoming more and more evil¡­¡± A short distance away, the real Zhang Youji played with a handful of talismans. As he chanted, the talismans formed a protective barrier around him. In no time, a mist rose, enveloping him. With a pointed gesture, he dissipated the mist, directing it towards the blood-red canopy above. Though his mist seemed insignificant against the vastness of the blood sea, it dispersed upon reaching the sky. ¡°This should buy Brother Qin some time,¡± Zhang Youji thought. Chapter 631 - 631 Framing Someone? Kill Them Again! 631 framing someone? kill them again! zhang youji surveyed the scene with approval. while he was unclear about qin huai¡¯s intentions with the blood sea, he was well aware of its capabilities. leveraging the blood sea¡¯s power to turn the tables on the three sects and six clans would undoubtedly help qin huai. ¡°this is my way of thanking him for the gift of the king bone,¡± zhang youji mused before vanishing into the forest, leaving behind the ash remnants of his talisman. ¡­ twenty days flew by. at the boundary of pingwang¡¯s secret realm, the beast king and his companions observed a scene of devastation from a mountain peak. the atmosphere thickened with blood, and evidence of violence lay scattered. but instead of satisfaction, they felt frustration. ¡°all this carnage, and yet we only managed to raise a hundred blood beasts in two months,¡± the beast king lamented. ¡°haven¡¯t they all been helping that white-robed bastard? i¡¯ve not tasted blood in these two months!¡± his temper flared, a result of failing to trace the white-robed king using the sacred heart sect¡¯s secret techniques. reluctant to risk venturing deeper into the secret realm and jeopardizing their king realm strength, the beast king¡¯s predicament grew. his followers fretted about their inability to fulfill their mission from the supreme one. their prestige hinged on increasing their count of blood beasts. the beast king snapped, ¡°what¡¯s the word from the holy son?¡± a subordinate reported, ¡°i¡¯ve done as instructed, seeking the supreme one¡¯s guidance about the white-robed king. but even the supreme one hasn¡¯t been able to contact him.¡± this revelation shocked the beast king. the thought that no one, not even the four guardians, could reach the white-robed king was unsettling. after the downfall of the emperor of qingzhou, no king realm expert had ventured out of qingzhou. thus, the idea of the white-robed king perishing in a mere village seemed implausible. a military advisor, shorter than most and with sharp, discerning eyes, ventured, ¡°could it be possible the supreme one is intentionally overlooking¡­¡± ¡°why do you think that?¡± the beast king asked. ¡°consider this, the vast secret realm is enough for everyone to have a share, no matter who takes the larger piece,¡± advisor jun began. ¡°no shortfall would affect the supreme one¡¯s plan.¡± he hesitated before continuing, ¡°perhaps the supreme one wants to assess who is more valuable between you and the white-robed king.¡± the beast king¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°that¡¯s a brilliant deduction!¡± smiling with pride, advisor jun replied, ¡°the solution is clear. the blood sea can only consume so much so quickly. we should swiftly gather the blood food and grow our blood beasts, even causing a major uproar if necessary. with the blood sea so visible in the sky, anyone who sees the devastation will first suspect the white-robed king, leaving you blameless. we¡¯ll grow our blood beasts while the white-robed king takes the fall. it¡¯s a win-win!¡± the beast king looked thoughtful. ¡°if only we knew where the white-robed king is, we could expose him. the six clans and three sects are crafty, after all.¡± advisor jun confidently replied, ¡°i¡¯m close to seeing through their deception.¡± upon hearing this, the beast king gave the order, and countless eager sacred heart sect disciples surged into the secret realm. ¡­ meanwhile, in the spirit stone mine, the king corpse awakened from his cultivation. alerts about the collection of spiritual palace fragments and an improvement in spirit palace fusion rate echoed in his mind. viewing the realm through the blood mirror, he noted the sacred heart sect¡¯s movements. ¡°seems they¡¯ve made their move,¡± he mused, shifting his attention to the six clans and three sects¡¯ warriors who were fervently searching for him. yet, in the span of twenty days, the mighty figures of great you remained in the dark. ¡°interesting,¡± qin huai murmured, suspecting that someone might be assisting him discreetly. could it be zhang youji? the sacred heart sect? or both? ten days ago, he had geared up to confront the six clans, but that showdown never happened. nonetheless, these past twenty days have been favorable for him. he¡¯d made significant progress in his king realm, achieving in weeks what might take others decades. ¡°looks like this smooth run is ending,¡± he noted, observing the six clans advancing toward his location. recognizing the blood beasts, the clans bristled with fury. this act of the sacred heart sect using stolen blood was a direct affront to the six royal clans. qin huai sensed the covert assistance he had been receiving was waning. meanwhile, his main body was nearing the secret realm, quickly advancing toward the king corpse. the king corpse, feeling the realm¡¯s pressure, clenched his fists, confident in his superior bone pattern level. down below, representatives from the six clans converged. the leader was a familiar figure. surveying the blood-soaked mountain, the qiongqi clan elder remarked skeptically, ¡°no one¡¯s here?¡± another elder from the nine supremes clan insisted they were in the right spot. suddenly, the earth quaked as numerous elite experts attacked all at once. their fierce strikes caused the mountain rock to rise, revealing a blood-red figure. despite warnings from the seven prodigies, the figure swiftly eliminated ten nearby demons. soon, a horde of demons attacked from all directions, their roaring echoing throughout. the king corpse defended himself ferociously, unleashing the full potential of his limbs, the deadliest weapons. in a brief confrontation, numerous demons were slaughtered, their remnants ascending towards the hovering sea of blood. hovering, the king corpse surveyed the surrounding royal clan experts, recognizing many faces, including the fourth generation fairy, young master qi, and others. his gaze was icy, and his thoughts clear: he would kill them again. Chapter 632 - 632 Cowards? 632 cowards? three miles from the mountain, the forces of the three sects approached. they halted together, forming a barrier around the mountain while observing from a distance. the tall scholar, dian qingchun, head of jianchun academy of the confucian sect, held a feather fan, his hair dancing with the wind. behind him, several middle-aged men voiced their concerns. ¡°headmaster, should we trust zhang youji from the true path sect? if we ignore this blood sea, who can predict the sacred heart sect¡¯s actions?¡± they were wary of the blood beasts, which mirrored the eight royal clans in both appearance and aura, making them formidable on the battlefield. an elder, who commanded respect from the group, suggested, ¡°we should join forces to fight our shared enemy, the sacred heart sect.¡± but dian qingchun was unwavering. ¡°the three sects have deliberated this. the dao child¡¯s words are trustworthy. let¡¯s be patient. our sects stand firm on the outside. we can hold our ground regardless of the victor.¡± his conviction silenced the others. it was known that the dao child, renowned in the true path sect for his concealment techniques, had hidden the blood sea¡¯s orchestrator¡¯s aura. a hidden force had also been aiding him, likely a prominent figure from the sect. still, dian qingchun was sure the true path sect¡¯s actions stemmed from evidence and confidence, though it wasn¡¯t something to be openly discussed. it wasn¡¯t hard to deduce the six royal clans¡¯ intentions. they had been chasing ancient powers for two millennia. the blood beasts embodied this ancient power, and possessing it would enhance the royal clans¡¯ might significantly. however, they seemed to prioritize this power over other concerns. ¡­ meanwhile, at the true path sect, zhang youji appeared drained, moving unsteadily to his stout martial uncle¡¯s side. the uncle scolded, ¡°next time, inform the sect of issues. don¡¯t risk yourself unnecessarily. this realm is dangerous.¡± uncle master fei voiced his concern, ¡°if the six royal clans learn the secret of returning to their ancestors through these blood beasts, it won¡¯t matter if we defeat the demons on the mountain. their strength will be unmatched.¡± he paused, ¡°this will shift the balance in great you, to our detriment.¡± ¡°how sure are you about our chances?¡± uncle master fei asked. zhang youji replied with unwavering confidence, ¡°a hundred percent.¡± uncle master fei sighed. ¡°perhaps we should take a risk.¡± he recognized that intervening directly at this point might provoke the six royal clans to attack either the sacred heart sect or the three sects. historically, in terms of top combatants, the three sects had been at a disadvantage. a direct confrontation now could destabilize the entire great you. despite his pessimistic view, uncle master fei resolved that the six royal clans must not possess the secret of the blood beasts. he¡¯d risk everything to prevent it. as uncle master fei settled on the ground, preparing to break a seal, zhang youji tried to reassure him. ¡°take your time, uncle master.¡± he looked to the mountain peak, filled with numerous figures, and felt a pang of anxiety. ¡°junior brother li,¡± he called out, ¡°use your eight trigrams pupil technique. let¡¯s see the situation on the mountain.¡± a young man with youthful features approached. his eyes, normally black, transformed to resemble yin-yang fishes, emitting beams of white light. this illuminated the mountain¡¯s events. in the midst of the demons stood a blood-red corpse, the king corpse. tall and eerily colored, it faced its adversaries with robotic indifference. the demons encircled it, but it wasn¡¯t flustered. with powerful fists and kicks, powered by its king bones, it felled them with ease. watching this unfold from a safe distance were the seven clan elites and elders. they sought any vulnerability in the king corpse and hints about the blood beasts. third young master qiong observed, ¡°its strength is purely physical. its energy is like chaos, intangible.¡± young master qi of the qilin clan added, ¡°there¡¯s a high chance he¡¯s mastered the sacred heart sect¡¯s blood essence technique. that¡¯s why he¡¯s so fearless. these blood refinement realm cannon fodder probably won¡¯t stop him.¡± the group nodded in agreement, yet none stepped forward. Chapter 633 - 633 A Spear from the Sky! 633 a spear from the sky! the onlookers were curious about the king corpse¡¯s capabilities in the bone pattern realm. they hoped to gauge if it was as dominant in the other realms. they were keen to witness the king corpse¡¯s ace up its sleeve, given that the spirit world, with its possibility of resurrection, was not their current setting. the three wars in the spirit world had taught them their lesson. but while they were content to wait, qin huai wasn¡¯t. when the king corpse made a sudden move, launching at third young master qiong¡¯s group after a brief pause, third young master qiong shouted, ¡°stop him!¡± demons from every direction converged upon qin huai, their sharp claws forming a dark, overwhelming wave. these blood refinement realm demons, bound by their loyalty and lineage, saw sacrificing themselves as a noble act. as they attacked, the force felt like a massive weight crashing onto the king corpse, driving his legs deep into the ground. the onslaught was so fierce that it left no part of qin huai untouched. to any observer, this would seem like an insurmountable assault, one that would defeat even the strongest of warriors. however, qin huai, drawing upon the strength of his king bones, crushed the approaching demons. in moments, all that surrounded him were remains. using the blood manipulation technique, he mended the bones in his body and rejuvenated the king corpse. like a determined creature in quicksand, he persevered, pushing through the mire toward the light, ignoring the dying cries of the demons. as his power flowed smoothly, and the strength of the king bones intensified, chaos reigned. the surrounding area turned into a whirlwind of flesh, with demon bodies launched skywards. the king corpse had achieved the prowess of the visceral prefecture realm. emerging, covered in blood, the king corpse stood atop the remnants. then, a dramatic change occurred. flames blazed from the sky, and a phoenix¡¯s cry echoed, leaving fiery trails that lingered. ¡°phoenix strike!¡± a massive fiery pit appeared overhead, crashing down on the king¡¯s corpse. boom! immediately, the king corpse was engulfed in a blazing inferno. intense heat began to distort his surroundings, evaporating his body¡¯s fluids and threatening to dismantle the blood release technique. fiery phoenixes danced amidst the flames, making the heat almost unbearable. most would have succumbed to the intense heat and illusions by now, but the king corpse was no ordinary entity. his blood transformed, turning to gold and coursing through his body like a regal robe. feng tianyang and huang shaocong, watching from a distance, exchanged worried glances. ¡°he¡¯s resisting our power for this long?¡± they were reminded of an old adversary, a shadow from their past. laughing, third young master qiong approached the king corpse, mouth agape, and took a large bite, swallowing even the limbs of both wang shi and huang shaocong. as he gloated, the king corpse retaliated, launching a golden thread into third young master qiong¡¯s belly, connecting back to his wounded arm. third young master qiong¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°invincible vajra blood! it¡¯s him!¡± the mention of ¡°invincible vajra blood¡± alarmed everyone present. this was the mark of a formidable opponent. ¡°don¡¯t let him mess up your mind! it shouldn¡¯t be prince qing cang!¡± young master qi belatedly shouted. trying to ease tensions, he reminded them that this rare blood type was not limited to their feared nemesis. it could also belong to the diamond king of the sacred heart sect. the mention of the alternative possibility brought a wave of relief to the group. as long as it wasn¡¯t their most dreaded foe, they felt they could manage. stepping forward, bai shiquan called upon his power, invoking the phantom of a white tiger. ¡°the origin of slaughter, the end of blood, my palm, the command!¡± he declared, causing the king corpse¡¯s blood control technique to momentarily falter. the creature stiffened. observing that the king¡¯s corpse could still move, bai shiquan summoned another white tiger phantom, ready for another attack. boom! the king corpse¡¯s blood manipulation technique grew more sluggish. meanwhile, descending from above was a youth from the black tortoise clan, dressed in blue-green robes. he raised an enormous stone, fortified by a magical spell, evident from its unusual glow. a cloud of mist materialized beneath the king corpse, dampening the transformation of his golden blood. suddenly, the massive stone came crashing down on the king corpse, burying him beneath. bang! the fourth generation fairy gracefully motioned her fingers, conjuring a vast purple net that landed on the stone. in mere moments, the stone shattered like fragile tofu, and the king corpse was sliced in half, his bones scattering everywhere. the area was now a vivid spectacle of fresh blood and broken bones. the seven elite geniuses from the six royal clans had successfully brought down the king bone puppet. exchanging satisfied glances, they reveled in their collective triumph. ¡°we¡¯ve done it!¡± exclaimed fourth generation fairy joyfully. ¡°as long as he¡¯s not in the picture, combined, we are unmatched,¡± boasted third young master qiong. young master qi added a note of caution, ¡°our techniques might reign supreme in the bone pattern realm, but they shine even brighter in the visceral prefecture realm.¡± nods of agreement followed. their ancestral bloodlines grew more potent with each rising realm, pushing their abilities to unparalleled heights. for them, perfection wasn¡¯t about continuous cultivation ¡ª it was about returning to the peak of their innate potential. yet, humanity had altered their path and, in some ways, overshadowed them. the elders, witnessing the prowess of the seven, couldn¡¯t help but smile. this fight was not just a display of their strength but also a testament to the resilience of their royal lineages. however, huang shaocong and feng tianyang appeared drained. they remarked on the excessive energy the phoenix flames consumed and expressed their awe at the king corpse¡¯s resilience, saying, ¡°that person¡¯s flesh and blood are not inferior to the king realm¡­ his bones were still intact. he¡¯s really a monster.¡± as they looked skyward, they observed the once vast sea of blood now reduced to a mere droplet, rapidly descending. ¡°that must be the blood beasts¡¯ secret,¡± they murmured. but their expressions shifted abruptly as they noticed the ¡°secret¡± took on the form of a spear. Chapter 634 - 634 Dividing the King Bones 634 dividing the king bones a massive blood-red spear, standing a hundred meters tall, plummeted from the heavens. even before its landing, an eerie wail resonated, engulfing the skies and drowning the landscape in a torrent of blood. the land shook, and stones danced in the air, causing distress among the warriors of the six royal clans. the mere presence of a spear powerful enough to vanquish a king alarmed the six royal clans¡¯ experts. without waiting for commands, every warrior on the mountain, irrespective of their rank, scrambled for safety. however, the spear¡¯s descent was rapid, catching many off guard. the seven paragons were submerged in a tidal wave of vengeful spirits. as for the six royal clans¡¯ warriors, their numbers dwindled rapidly. the intense heat of the blood sea seemed to melt those who resisted its advance. the phoenix clan¡¯s demon leaped skyward, guiding nearby martial artists away from the spear¡¯s wrath. yet, not all were fortunate. despite the black tortoise clan¡¯s renowned endurance, the impact cracked the ground beneath them, and they smoldered. other races suffered even greater losses, with countless being consumed by the spear¡¯s energy, which spread several miles around. the aftermath was evident in the air as those saved by the phoenix clan descended. relief was palpable among the survivors amidst the blood-red aftermath. wu cheng, albeit mostly unscathed, had his armor ruined. bai shiquan and third young master qiong had taken refuge under his protection. the fourth generation fairy, however, was in a dire state. once vibrant and full of life, her essence now waned, evident in her withering hair. she had narrowly escaped death, with only three of her four lives remaining. beyond the seven main figures, others from the six royal clans faced similar fates. many warriors were decimated by the spear¡¯s impact, while the clan elders emerged battered and dust-covered. ¡°this should be the end,¡± declared young master qi, stepping forward confidently. his eyes landed on the king bones, still present amidst the bloody aftermath, and he couldn¡¯t hide his satisfaction. ¡°the qilin clan¡¯s bloodline secret techniques might unveil the bone owner¡¯s past. we might finally uncover the blood beasts¡¯ mysteries.¡± despite the losses, there was hope. the elders gathered around the king bones, sensing their latent power. the bones seemed both familiar and exceptional. despite the tremendous force, they remained unscathed. the idea of it made the clan elders¡¯ hearts race. could these truly be king bones? if so, there might be dozens, even hundreds, reminiscent of the ancient king bones from the king bone holy altar. the thought made the elders sigh in dismay. the fact that such a potent tool from the spirit world could be taken so easily by prince qing cang was a bitter pill to swallow. ¡°each of you will receive one,¡± announced young master qi. the group exchanged glances, silently consenting to this arrangement. but first, they awaited young master qi¡¯s secret technique. as young master qi reached to collect a king bone, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the horizon. the sight wasn¡¯t just captivating for the six clans, but the experts of the three outer sects as well. boom! boom! boom! a pulsating beat, like thunder, echoed ¡ª a sound only made when the essence of a supreme expert reaches its peak, resonating across half the state. its might was akin to nature¡¯s wrath. a lone figure dashed across the sky, a posture so audacious that it dominated the mystic realm¡¯s panorama. then, the king bones near young master qi vibrated intensely, joining together. at the same time, the surrounding sea of blood retreated, and the lamentations of countless souls turned the vicinity into a nightmarish scene. a potent aura of malevolence blanketed the atmosphere, and thick fog concealed the mountain¡¯s summit. whoosh! suddenly, the airborne figure hurtled toward the six royal clans. elders bellowed in defiance, launching various spells ¨C a soaring earth dragon, fire-spreading wings, and a spear infused with the might of a fierce tiger. yet, all efforts were in vain. within moments, the figure landed, stirring up a cloud of dust. there, amidst the six great royal clans, stood a tall man in a black robe. it was qin huai, who had journeyed tirelessly to this spot. ¡°all seems in order,¡± qin huai murmured. his gleaming white eyes and wind-swept white hair gave him an ethereal appearance. grasped in his hand was an elder from the qiongqi clan. the latter¡¯s gaping mouth struggled for air, and its complexion alternated between shades of green and purple. a gaping wound was evident on its abdomen. after a brief struggle, qin huai ended the elder¡¯s life, saying, ¡°even experts aren¡¯t immune to time¡¯s toll. old age weakens even the mightiest.¡± he casually discarded the elder¡¯s body and clenched his fist. the blood sea began to churn again, and a spear materialized in qin huai¡¯s grasp. Chapter 635 - 635 The God of War Appears! Qilin Corpse Rain! 635 the god of war appears! qilin corpse rain! the fallen king corps was swiftly reconstructed by numerous droplets of blood and rose once again. qin huai thrust his spear into the revived king¡¯s soul, reinforcing the frail body, making it robust. a hush enveloped the area, with everyone¡¯s gaze fixed on the uninvited visitor. his effortless killing of a clan elder at the pinnacle of visceral prefecture realm was astounding. the six royal clans¡¯ experts exchanged uncertain looks, trying to guess the identity of this influential figure from the sacred heart sect. what stunned them further was the realization that the mastermind behind the blood beasts, which they had sacrificed so much to defeat, was merely a pawn to this new adversary. this revelation shook their very foundation, considering they were no mere sects but rulers of the great you dynasty. ¡°vajra king?¡± ventured young master qi, attempting to discern the newcomer¡¯s identity. however, his audacity was swiftly met with a looming sense of doom. his complexion drained of color as scales and hair enveloped him. he summoned clouds that morphed into tentacles to bind the advancing threat. boom! still, the looming arm shattered its binds and lunged at young master qi¡¯s face, obliterating it with a powerful punch. just like that, the celebrated young master qi, known as one of the seven prodigies among the six royal clans, met his end at qin huai¡¯s hands. a chilling silence descended, and many retreated, creating a clear ten-meter radius around qin huai. ¡°impossible! not even a king-tier being could defeat young master qi with a single blow,¡± an elder exclaimed. ¡°this is the secret realm of pingwang. a king-tier would at least struggle before prevailing.¡± the phoenix twins echoed in unison, ¡°unless¡­ our equal domain techniques have no effect on him?¡± no sooner had they spoken than the previously resurrected king corpse approached them. ¡°phoenix fire!¡± they cried in tandem, sending a fiery blaze toward the king corpse. the fire, resembling a horde of phoenixes, enveloped him. yet, the golden-hued blood sea of vengeful souls surrounding the king corpse rendered him immune to the fire. he then launched his blood manipulation technique and engaged in combat with the phoenix clan experts. down below, qin huai set his sights on third young master qiong. but the royal clans were on their guard, not allowing qin huai an easy victory. wu cheng¡¯s body grew taller, clad in heavy armor constructed of earth and stone, adorned with glowing spirit stones. as bai shiquan moved to act, the clan elder stopped him. ¡°that man is strange. don¡¯t act rashly,¡± the elder of the white tiger clan warned, referencing how qin huai defeated young master qi with a mere blow. they needed to understand qin huai¡¯s capabilities ¡ª the loss of their leader here could be devastating. yet, unlike the cautious white tiger clan, the qilin clan lost all restraint. their clan elders, leading their kin, approached qin huai. the combined might of hundreds created a surreal environment, attempting to trap qin huai in an illusion. but qin huai only smirked. ¡°an illusion¡­¡± with a mental command, the scene shifted, revealing a vast mountainous forest. the disoriented qilin disciples whispered among themselves, realizing their technique had failed. ¡°it¡¯s a guardian spirit item!¡± an experienced qilin elder recognized the challenge they faced. without hesitation, he invoked their clan¡¯s ancient power, summoning qilin beasts. but the numbers of qin huai kept growing, shifting the battle¡¯s tide. the desperate qilin elder, wielding another scale, chanted, ¡°all barriers, fade away! break!¡± a radiant burst emanated from the scale, only to be overshadowed by a dark force protecting the bronze world. the qilin elder¡¯s disbelief was evident. ¡°how is that possible?!¡± qin huai¡¯s gentle voice responded, ¡°nothing is impossible.¡± appearing like a phantom, his hand pierced the elder¡¯s heart. sensing a disturbance in the bronze world, qin huai surmised that external forces aimed to breach it. as the blood mirror shimmered, the king corpse plummeted to the ground, clutching the bronze plate, steadying the trembling bronze world. this strategy was qin huai¡¯s solution to the bronze world¡¯s singular weakness. given the king corpse¡¯s resilience, he should withstand long enough for qin huai to defeat all foes within. qin huai faced the last two elders of the qilin clan. in mere moments, the bronze world was strewn with bodies. all the qilin warriors had met their end at qin huai¡¯s hands. he reappeared atop the mountain, accompanied by a grisly rain of qilin remains descending from the bronze world. the sight was haunting, reminiscent of spring snowflakes withered before their time. witnessing this, the other five royal clans were filled with dread. their morale plummeted like a downpour. they had yet to decipher qin huai¡¯s ability to bypass the equal domain¡¯s power. with the qilin clan decimated, bai shiquan gratefully acknowledged the elder beside him. he voiced the collective sentiment: could they endure long enough to find qin huai¡¯s weakness? ¡­ beyond the mountain, zhang youji stared at the sky, awestruck. ¡°it¡¯s unfathomable that someone like this exists.¡± his junior inquired if zhang recognized him. he merely shook his head. nearby, shan yanzi, a prominent disciple from the confucian sect, was equally stunned. ¡°a singular hero, truly a god of war.¡± dian qingchun, a respected academy head, could only stare, speechless. at the buddhist sect, a monk with a dazzling appearance and skin fairer than a woman touched his bald head. looking at the scene that was revealed under the golden light, his face was the complete opposite of the kind faces of the people around him. his eyes were filled with excitement. he was chi nian, known as the flower demon monk. admiring the unfolding chaos, he pondered qin huai¡¯s ability to override the equal domain. ¡°does this mean he transcends equality?¡± another monk nearby, tears of blood streaming down, whispered, ¡°this person is so scary.¡± Chapter 636 - 636 The Phoenix Clans Despair 636 the phoenix clan¡¯s despair boom! everyone watched in awe, gripped by the sheer power qin huai displayed. suddenly, the sky blazed red, and an intense heatwave, powerful enough to warp the very air, crashed down. all eyes turned upwards to witness a phoenix descending, its flames engulfing the sky like an unstoppable force of nature. ¡°phoenix clan secret technique, world burning ancestral flame!¡± yelled the phoenix twins in harmony. their battle cry was a challenge aimed directly at qin huai. ¡°run!¡± shouted the experts from the white tiger clan and the black tortoise clan. their instincts screamed of the imminent danger. if the phoenix¡¯s fiery attack hit the mountain, everything, including the spirit stone mine, would be obliterated. the searing heat had already scorched the nearby vegetation, turning the ground to dust and cracking it like dark, sprawling snakes. observers from the three sects hastily retreated. ¡°this bloodline secret technique can kill a king realm expert in one blow. despite the suppressed powers in the secret realm, it¡¯s lethal to any martial artist,¡± warned the fairy gravely. as some experts failed to escape in time, they were either consumed by the flames or instantly desiccated by its overwhelming heat. yet, the phoenix clan¡¯s elite warriors weren¡¯t content. they poured more power into their attack, making the sky-bound phoenix expand even further. but qin huai, standing at the mountain¡¯s peak, remained unfazed. the phoenix clan¡¯s secret technique had him rooted to the spot. pillars of fire erupted around him, creating a mile-wide circle of hellish torment. this fiery cage aimed to sap his strength, and even his formidable invincible vajra blood struggled against the assault. indeed, the phoenix clan¡¯s technique could slay a king realm expert. but was qin huai just another expert? as if in response, qin huai¡¯s white hair darkened to its original black hue. the blazing pillar encasing him strangely began to waver. tiny flames converged into his hand, forming a radiant fireball. holding this miniature sun, qin huai absorbed its fierce heat and then, with unmatched control, crushed it. a dark, unseen force emanated from qin huai, enveloping and quelling the phoenix clan¡¯s techniques under the black dragon world. within the world of equality established by the county governor using countless spirit stones, even the might of kings found itself subdued. yet, emperors stood beyond this realm of suppression, transcending its laws. therefore, while the phoenix clan¡¯s signature move was lethal even to kings, it couldn¡¯t touch the black dragon world or qin huai. the black dragon pearl immediately consumed the fierce power the phoenix clan had unleashed. with each passing second, qin huai harnessed more of this energy. soon, what were once chaotic flames formed discernible streams of energy in the sky. despair crept into the phoenix clan experts¡¯ eyes. in the midst of the raging inferno, the lead phoenix pair exchanged panicked glances. a harrowing realization dawned upon them: they had felt this sense of hopelessness before, not with qin huai but with prince qing cang. could the world truly hold so many formidable beings? amidst their racing thoughts, a revelation emerged. despite his altered face, qin huai¡¯s unique physique, striking white hair, and radiant eyes were unmistakable. ¡°it¡¯s him!¡± huang shaocong and feng yang exclaimed simultaneously. ¡°prince qing cang is not the person from the king bone holy altar, this person is! he¡¯s the culprit!¡± the twins concluded, ¡°he may not be the vajra king of the sacred heart sect. perhaps, he¡¯s someone we¡¯ve yet to identify.¡± others began connecting the dots, observing telltale signs that linked qin huai to legends of old. his sudden shift to white hair and radiant eyes, for instance, wasn¡¯t common. though there might be others with such features, none boasted his unparalleled might. while they pieced together these insights, the all-consuming phoenix flames drew nearer to qin huai. but the closer they got, the weaker and more diminished they became. the phoenix demons¡¯ bodies couldn¡¯t shield this decline. the few hundred meters separating them from qin huai now felt insurmountable, as mounting dread took hold. facing this onslaught, their survival hung in the balance. Chapter 637 - 637 Scattered Royal Clans 637 scattered royal clans before they could decide their next move, qin huai acted. holding the black dragon pearl, now the size of a boulder, he hurled it upwards. soundlessly, darkness shot into the sky, positioning itself before the phoenix demons. a dark wave unfurled, and from the pearl emerged the still scythe of hell. this energy halo whizzed through the air, dotted with black flames, a stark contrast to the red phoenix fire. in moments, numerous phoenix clan members fell, their cries echoing as lifeless bodies rained from the sky. witnessing this, the other five royal clans were taken aback. those who once held power in great you exchanged anxious glances, hesitating to confront him. ¡°even ancient kings couldn¡¯t match him. can we?¡± someone whispered. however, no one was in the mood to see who had said such disgraceful words. they recalled a similar occurrence at the king bone holy altar and now here, in pingwang¡¯s secret realm. ¡°it¡¯s unwise to fight someone of his caliber,¡± third young master qiong remarked, gritting his teeth. wu cheng of the black tortoise race nodded. ¡°his power is strange. we must research its origins.¡± ¡°understanding him is our best strategy,¡± bai shiquan added. ¡°his secret isn¡¯t what we¡¯re after. this is a trap. they lured us here to¡­¡± he trailed off, the realization sinking in. they had become the hunted, a position they¡¯d never imagined for themselves. the elders intervened, ¡°this isn¡¯t a wise fight. here, in pingwang county, we stand no chance.¡± the group¡¯s focus shifted back to qin huai. they studied his every move, hoping to understand him better. ¡°we should leave,¡± another elder suggested. ¡°the three sects still wage their war outside. the phoenix clan¡¯s setback is our chance.¡± united in thought, the other clans chose to abandon the phoenix clan. a popular saying came to mind: ¡°a friend in death is not a friend to me.¡± the phoenix clan had fallen, and the rest had escaped. it was a silver lining. the phoenix twins cursed the retreating clans. ¡°those bastards! if they want to escape, it won¡¯t be that easy.¡± ¡°we must leave too,¡± huang shaocong and feng tianyang agreed, noting their diminished secret technique and the loss of many kin. without a second thought, they soared upwards. the two phoenixes weren¡¯t about to sacrifice themselves just to buy the five royal clans time to escape. having the advantage of flight, they believed they could make their getaway easily. but qin huai had other plans. as they made their escape, a corpse rose behind them. its body, a deep, alluring shade of blood, seemed to host vengeful souls that screamed silently. the haunting image of that spear attack lingered in their memories. ¡°go ahead, we¡¯ll hold back this puppet,¡± said the three elders, stepping in to buy the successors of the phoenix clan some time. they couldn¡¯t afford to let these leaders fall, risking the phoenix clan¡¯s dominance over other clans for centuries. ¡°thank you, everyone!¡± grateful, huang shaocong and his companion wasted no time in fleeing. but their escape was not easy. a shadowy figure, swift as a ghost, pursued them. with kun peng wings spread wide, it emanated a powerful aura. in a heartbeat, the figure surpassed the elders, aiming directly at the fleeing duo. an overwhelming sense of dread gripped them. ¡°it¡¯s the legendary emperor!¡± they both exclaimed. however, within the black dragon world, their voices were muted, swallowed by the dark expanse around them. this otherworldly place seemed cut off, its boundaries unknown to all except those trapped within it. ¡°it¡¯s useless,¡± qin huai whispered. with a rapid motion, he was right in front of them. boom! launching two mighty punches, a dragon¡¯s roar echoed. the sight of the black dragon seemed to slow the duo¡¯s movements, and in the crucial split second, it struck them both. their cries filled the air, and a gust of wind carried the remains of their shattered bodies. as red feathers descended, marking the demise of the prodigies, blood pooled into qin huai¡¯s palm, forming another black dragon pearl. ¡°young master!¡± two figures, in anguish, charged into the domain. fire erupted from them, engulfing the black dragon world, converting it into an unyielding realm of flames. ¡°your end is near!¡± the two elders, arriving from either side, charged at qin huai. qin huai remained expressionless. with a slight clench of his fist, the sky full of flames formed a river, converging towards his palm. this fiery river served as a barrier, blocking the path of the advancing phoenix clan elders. with a powerful force, the two elders burst through the flame barrier, their bodies radiating intense heat that enhanced their speed and power. however, qin huai remained confident. pushing the black dragon pearl aside, he readied himself and thrust out his fists. boom! the sharp claws of the elders crumbled under qin huai¡¯s immense power. even with their formidable demon forms, they seemed frail against him. as the elders cried out in despair, their hopes waned. qin huai¡¯s punches not only shattered their defenses but also their spirits. their essence began to be siphoned into the black dragon pearl. all qin huai had to do was watch the pearl drain the life out of them. meanwhile, he directed the king corpse to eliminate the remaining phoenix clan members in the vicinity. on the ground, a massive conflict unfolded. the three sects and the five royal clans clashed, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. the mountain soon resembled a bloodbath. witnessing the terrifying prowess of qin huai, the martial artists of the three sects withdrew. they saw no point in negotiating with such a force. if he had been a prodigious talent like the renowned xiang mingfeng, they might have tried to entice him to join their ranks. however, qin huai¡¯s power and skill were far superior. why would they hope to bring such a person into their fold? they could hardly offer him a position worthy of his capabilities. leaving behind a mere visiting card, the sects vanished from the scene. what was once a gathering of thousands became a desolate battleground with only qin huai standing. beside him, the king corpse stood still, resembling a lifeless statue. ¡°looks like i won¡¯t face any trouble for a while,¡± mused qin huai. stretching, he then settled down cross-legged amidst the blood-soaked ground, continuing his quest to absorb experience orbs from scattered spirit stone mines to reach the last stage of the king realm. Chapter 638 - 638 Becoming an Emperor Requires Luck 638 becoming an emperor requires luck qing cang palace. a powerful howl resonated through the imperial city. ¡°i¡¯ve said it time and again, it wasn¡¯t me! now, my name has been cleared.¡± tears welled up in prince qing cang¡¯s eyes as he watched the secret sentries from the six royal clans retreat, much like a receding tide. under their constant scrutiny, prince qing cang had felt stifled, unable to make any move or execute his plans. but now, with the spies gone, he could set his plans into motion once again. ignoring the curious onlookers, prince qing cang stepped back into the imperial residence. as he did, his expression shifted to one of serenity. a young girl, delicate in appearance, rushed to his side, ¡°father, are we considered good now?¡± her essence glowed with a unique power. prince qing cang gently patted her head, smiling, ¡°yes. now, i can get more guardian spirit items for you. soon, the top prodigy of great you will emerge.¡± he glanced towards the secret realm of pingwang county, muttering, ¡°if it¡¯s not the young emperor, nor someone from the sacred heart sect, three sects, or the six clans¡­ then who could it be?¡± prince qing cang sighed. he had hoped to use his daughter as a beacon, rallying support when the palace¡¯s ruler fell. using the title ¡®the world¡¯s top prodigy¡¯, he wanted to win over the elders of the imperial family. his daughter, only fifteen and already at the peak of visceral prefecture realm, was an unparalleled prodigy in great you¡¯s history. with the powers she had amassed over time, she could command great influence. but if someone else claimed that title, his plans would be jeopardized. ¡°ping¡¯an,¡± prince qing cang called softly. long ping¡¯an promptly appeared. ¡°what do you need, father?¡± with a calm demeanor, he awaited instructions. prince qing cang spoke, ¡°with the spies gone from our residence, we can finally act freely. i¡¯ve heard of a rising talent in the secret realm of pingwang county. assemble a team and investigate. and while you¡¯re there, bring back some spirit stones.¡± long ping¡¯an felt a surge of anxiety. ¡°godfather, if i leave now, the six royal clans might use the opportunity to strike. aren¡¯t you worried?¡± however, prince qing cang replied confidently, ¡°i¡¯ve reached the king realm, so few can pose a threat to me. unless the person in the imperial palace meets their end, i doubt anyone would dare to harm me.¡± ¡°but¡­¡± ¡°have you grown so bold that you question your godfather now?¡± prince qing cang¡¯s voice deepened, layered with implication. long ping¡¯an hurriedly answered, ¡°i understand your orders!¡± without wasting any more time, he took the tiger tally and headed for the prince¡¯s residence. watching him leave, prince qing cang¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°two birds, one stone.¡± ¡­ inside the imperial palace, in the royal study, the little emperor contemplated a report from the secret realm of pingwang county. ¡°qin huai remains formidable. even the secret realm can¡¯t overshadow him.¡± an elderly voice agreed, ¡°it proves that his power surpasses that of the realm. despite the combined efforts of the six royal clans, they were defeated by him. this isn¡¯t something ordinary. he might hold a power unique to emperors.¡± the little emperor¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°could he be this era¡¯s emperor?¡± ¡°it¡¯s a possibility,¡± the old voice mused. ¡°his origin, qingzhou, might hold a clue. perhaps he possesses a treasure left behind for qingzhou¡¯s descendants. achieving the emperor realm is a challenge, even for the gifted.¡± there was a note of melancholy. ¡°who would be stronger between the emperor of qingzhou and you?¡± ¡°i draw my strength from the imperial city while he draws his from qingzhou,¡± the ancestor replied, leaving the true meaning hanging in the air. curiosity sparked in the little emperor. ¡°why is it so hard to become an emperor? what does it entail?¡± the old ancestor said cryptically, ¡°to become emperor¡­ it requires luck.¡± he then shifted the topic, ¡°what are your thoughts on qin huai?¡± the young emperor considered, ¡°he¡¯s not power-hungry but remains cautious. despite his abilities, he chose to stay in qingzhou, risking all to change its fate. he went so far as to defy the six royal clans and expose his talents, knowing it would draw attention and make him their target.¡± Chapter 639 - 639 The Beast King is Here! 639 the beast king is here! despite their motives being power-driven, the little emperor pondered the potential alliance. ¡°do you believe that if the dragon clan helps him, he¡¯d stand a chance in the future?¡± after a thoughtful pause, he admitted, ¡°i¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°and your imperial uncle?¡± ¡°he relies heavily on schemes but lacks divine strength. he¡¯s pinned all his hopes on my exceptionally gifted royal sister. it¡¯s quite cunning.¡± ¡°alas¡­¡± the elderly voice sighed deeply, then lapsed into silence. ¡­ near the periphery of pingwang county¡¯s secret realm, the beast king listened intently to the update from his subordinate. ¡°one person managed to push back six clans, and there¡¯s an invincible puppet¡­ given the glowing blood sea as evidence, the identity of the one challenging the beast king¡¯s power becomes clear.¡± ¡°it must be the white-robed king,¡± he concluded. ¡°could he be considering a rebellion?¡± deep wrinkles formed on the beast king¡¯s brow as he pondered this development. ¡°your majesty,¡± the dog-headed advisor began, ¡°i¡¯ve mentioned before that this is the white-robed king flexing his strength. he¡¯s using his achievements in battle to earn the lord¡¯s respect.¡± the beast king exhaled heavily. ¡°that could be the only reason behind the white-robed king¡¯s actions.¡± ¡°if he dares to set foot in the secret realm, then i have every reason to confront him,¡± declared the beast king, his voice echoing with determination. ¡°let¡¯s proceed! we¡¯re entering the secret realm!¡± with a commanding wave, the ground trembled with the combined roars of the beasts behind him. he felt compelled to lead. if he didn¡¯t and dispersed his best warriors instead, the valuable resources required to cultivate the blood beasts would be claimed by the white-robed king. once the secret realm¡¯s gates shut, a renewed war would erupt in the great you, stalling his progression. comparatively, this would likely displease the supreme one, jeopardizing his faction¡¯s position. the mere thought of facing that man sent chills down even the powerful beast king¡¯s spine. without hesitation, the beast king and his mighty forces stormed into the already tumultuous secret realm battlefield. ¡­ time flew, and in what felt like a moment, half a year had gone by. qin huai¡¯s secluded training on the mountaintop was mostly undisturbed. shortly after the defeat of the six royal clans, a now-forgotten sect tried to assassinate qin huai. they believed him to be gravely injured from his previous battle and thought they could catch him off guard. but their assumptions were misplaced. qin huai single-handedly wiped out the entire sect. despite this, other powerful fighters periodically tried their luck against him, attacking him at various power levels. each met the same fate ¨C defeated by qin huai. as time passed, such confrontations became rare. some misguided thieves ventured to the mountain for loot, but they were swiftly dispatched by the formidable king corpse beside qin huai. gradually, the mountaintop took on an eerie aura, turning into a forbidden zone, where piles of white bones formed walls around a gruesome moat of blood and ground flesh. inside this grisly fortress, qin huai made impressive progress. he was undisturbed and focused. he continuously gathered the spiritual palace fragments from the visceral prefecture realm experts of the three sects, six clans, and other minor factions. ¡°ding! you have collected some [spiritual palace fragments]. your spiritual palace fusion rate has improved!¡± ¡°ding! [current spiritual palace fusion rate: 40%]¡± days turned into months, and soon it was the eighth month of qin huai¡¯s time in the secret realm. as he reflected on his journey, he noted a discrepancy in his cultivation rate. he had expected his spiritual place fusion rate to be at 48%, but it was currently 8% short. gazing into the distance, qin huai took in the vast landscape of pingwang county¡¯s secret realm. the three leading factions were holding their ground. however, the number of martial artists on the mountaintop had significantly dwindled. most had turned to mining and set up safe channels to transport spirit stones. but these channels were paved with bloodshed, littered with corpses. the aftermath of battle was evident. turning his attention to the smaller factions, the sight was even bleaker. half of what was once a bustling area was now desolate, with bones carpeting the ground like a layer of snow. in the middle of this devastation, blood beasts thrived. these fierce creatures resembled the original eight royal clans, consuming the warriors to enhance themselves. enormous blood eggs were nestled within the rivers of gore, guarded by warriors drawing blood from the blood sea. sacred heart sect¡­ ¡°they disrupted the blood sea¡¯s equilibrium, stealing resources meant for it,¡± qin huai observed to himself. across the realm, small sect warriors were relentlessly pursued by the sacred heart sect, treated merely as sustenance. even the three sects and six clans weren¡¯t spared. their martial artists, rich in blood and qi, were prime targets for the sacred heart sect. as qin huai surveyed the scene, his eyes settled on a group of particularly strong martial artists reminiscent of the qiongqi clan. atop the mountain, they stood dominant, with fresh conquests at their feet. qin huai¡¯s gaze settled on the towering figure leading them. ¡°this person stands out,¡± he mused quietly. suddenly, the leader¡¯s head snapped up, meeting qin huai¡¯s eyes. a smile tugged at the leader¡¯s lips as he mouthed words that qin huai couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°could he be one of the last three protectors of the sacred heart sect?¡± qin huai wondered. after all, not even the famed white-robed king had detected qin huai¡¯s silent observation so quickly. scanning the blood sea¡¯s secret realm, qin huai noted, ¡°over two thousand blood beasts¡­¡± in just six months, the sacred heart sect had expanded immensely, even with the restraining presence of the blood sea. without this restraint, the entire realm would¡¯ve been overrun by these fiends. the sacred heart sect was proving a formidable adversary, reproducing quickly and taking over whenever given a chance. qin huai could already predict the challenges other factions would face against them. a formidable xuanwu blood beast emerged, towering at ten meters tall. its prowess matched peak bone pattern realm experts. most importantly, it did not feel any pain. it could even harness the blood heart technique for self-repair. these beasts were undoubtedly potent weapons. could qin huai harness their power for himself? his thoughts were interrupted by the realization that these creatures were creations of the sacred heart sect, tied intricately to the blood heart technique. observing them further, qin huai delved deep into the mysteries of the blood heart technique. ¡°the blood beasts owe their existence to the blood guillotine, and are nurtured by blood food. the core of this guillotine is the enhanced blood of a martial artist familiar with the blood heart technique¡­¡± he murmured, ¡°¡­perhaps, it¡¯s a trace of wang kun¡¯s essence.¡± days passed. qin huai¡¯s frustration grew. he knew there was a link between the blood heart technique and these beasts, but the solution eluded him. his attention shifted to the beast king and his formidable followers in the blood mirror. they stood apart from the usual disciples of the sacred heart sect. an idea struck him, ¡°why don¡¯t i just take a look at their cultivation techniques?¡± sinking into a meditative trance, qin huai explored the beast king¡¯s group¡¯s essence and the knowledge they possessed. moments later, clarity dawned on him. opening his eyes, he murmured with a triumphant smile, ¡°so that¡¯s the case. i¡¯ve finally understood¡­¡± Chapter 640 - 640 Blood Spirit Manipulation Technique 640 blood spirit manipulation technique qin huai had guessed correctly. the secret behind the cultivation of the blood beasts lay in the foundation of the blood heart technique. after absorbing much knowledge from the beast king lineage, he understood how to use the blood heart technique to control these creatures. raising a finger, he squeezed a drop of blood from it. the blood danced and then took the form of the eight royal symbols: the black tortoise, qilin, white tiger, and white dragon, among others. this was the blood spirit manipulation technique. blood beasts were created in the image of these eight royal clans. ¡°with the blood heart technique, one can control the blood beasts,¡± qin huai realized. when mastered, every one of his followers could command a blood beast, creating a formidable beast cavalry. in his mind, he pictured this cavalry, unmatched in combat, sweeping through cities with ease. others could control these blood beasts too. if their mastery of the blood heart technique was superior, or if the blood they used held special properties, they could override any previous control. blood beasts had varying degrees of loyalty based on the controller¡¯s skill. so, if the original controller died, another could easily take command, preventing these powerful beasts from becoming aimless and wasted. for qin huai, with his unique vitality and possession of the invincible vajra blood, this control seemed tailor-made for him. though understanding the technique wasn¡¯t hard, the flood of experience he gained was overwhelming, giving him a relentless headache. whoosh! suddenly, he vanished, only to reappear beside a group of blood beasts. drops of golden blood flew from his fingers, quickly entering the beasts. before they could react, they were immobilized, collapsing in heaps. as dust settled, the once-empty eyes of the beasts now looked at qin huai with clear fear. ¡°controlling them wasn¡¯t that hard,¡± he mused, surveying the creatures he had so easily subdued. having learned how to control the blood beasts, qin huai felt more at ease about the threat posed by the sacred heart sect. he realized that, in a way, they were doing the hard work for him. if he faced them head-on, he felt confident he¡¯d be a match for one of their top leaders. as for the unfortunate martial artists consumed by the sacred heart sect for their blood beasts, it was their destiny. upon entering the secret realm, everyone knew the risks. even qin huai himself wasn¡¯t exempt from danger. yet, he faced a dilemma. if he acted against the sacred heart sect now, he could disrupt their plans, potentially extending his cultivation time from one to three years. if he waited, he¡¯d lose the opportunity to harness the potential of the blood beast cavalry. moreover, he wondered if he should try to permanently trap the king realm protector of the sacred heart sect. but acting hastily could alert the enemy, whose reactions were unpredictable. deciding it was best to play it safe, qin huai chose to focus on his cultivation. what seemed like an extended year or two was a mere moment when compared to the lifespan of experts who could live for half a millennium. he returned to his mountain base, settling down to meditate and work on his progress to the next level. the blood beasts he¡¯d captured were kept underground, only drawing a small amount of energy from him, making them nearly perfect weapons. ¡­ blood beast mountain stood as a symbol of the sacred heart sect¡¯s power. it was here that their martial artists congregated and the blood beasts thrived. the beast king was there, idly entertaining himself with two beautiful female warriors while receiving updates from his subordinates. ¡°in half a day, the blood beasts continued to hatch without major issues. a few times, due to over-hatching, they crossed paths with the spirit stone road made by the six clans and three sects. this led to some losses among the blood beasts, but overall, the situation remained under control.¡± ¡°pingwang county¡¯s secret realm is getting more popular thanks to the promotion by the sacred cult. fighters from the sixteen states keep coming in large numbers.¡± ¡°while there might not be a lot of high-quality food for them at the visceral prefecture realm, there should be enough for the less advanced martial artists to support the hatching process of the blood beasts.¡± Chapter 641 - 641 Qin Huai the Thief 641 qin huai the thief the dog-headed advisor, holding his feather fan, confidently said, ¡°i estimate that by the end of the year in the secret realm, we will have gathered six thousand blood beasts!¡± to them, the secret realm was the ideal place to breed blood beasts. the power of the six clans and three sects couldn¡¯t match theirs, so they could only watch helplessly as the blood beasts grew in strength. their only option was to mine spirit stones faster to end the secret realm¡¯s influence. the beast king, however, wasn¡¯t completely at ease. ¡°things are going too smoothly,¡± he commented. ¡°ever since i joined our group, i¡¯ve never seen things go this well.¡± ¡°your time has come,¡± the dog-headed advisor reassured him. when asked about the activities of the mysterious white-robed king, the advisor reported that there hadn¡¯t been any movement detected. the beast king, however, was suspicious. ¡°his inactivity doesn¡¯t sit right with me,¡± he said, ¡°the clans and sects won¡¯t just accept what¡¯s happening. and that white-robed king is surely planning something.¡± the advisor added, ¡°do you think he might cooperate with the clans and sects?¡± the beast king thought for a moment. ¡°not necessarily an alliance, but if he reveals our secrets, like those of the blood beasts, then we might be in trouble.¡± the advisor, sensing the beast king¡¯s thoughts, asked, ¡°so, should we make the first move?¡± the beast king nodded. ¡°but we must be careful not to leave evidence. we wouldn¡¯t want to upset the supreme one.¡± commenting on their ongoing tussle with the six royal clans, the beast king noted their increased caution, especially after their interactions with the white-robed king. the clans were more secretive now, trying to research the blood beasts on their own. yet, they hadn¡¯t found anything. the beast king concluded, ¡°with our secret card, the power of atavism, we have the advantage. once we reveal it, the royal clans will act aggressively, like wolves sensing blood.¡± the dog-headed advisor paused. ¡°is it feasible to first drive them out and then target the white-robed king?¡± ¡°why not ally with them instead and target the three sects?¡± the beast king looked at his advisor questioningly, puzzled by his occasional lack of insight. ¡°the two families already have differences, and since they have a significant presence in the royal clans, allying with us against the three sects is logical. this alliance will ensure that the clans and the white-robed king won¡¯t team up against us. besides, this chaos will accelerate the hatching of the blood beasts.¡± impressed, the advisor praised, ¡°you¡¯re brilliant, king!¡± the beast king¡¯s grin widened. he had no intention of sharing the secret of the blood beasts with the royal clans. they would clash eventually, but the secret realm of pingwang county had brought a brief respite to the tensions. the beast king, feeling confident, gazed at his massive army of blood beasts. ¡°white-robed king, you stand no chance against me.¡± ¡­ time turned. another three months passed. seasons in the secret realm barely changed, making the passage of time almost imperceptible. as a cool breeze ruffled qin huai¡¯s hair, he opened his eyes to a notification. ¡°ding! [current spiritual palace fusion rate: 50%]¡± the rate of his progress had diminished significantly. peering through the sea of blood, qin huai observed the secret realm¡¯s current state. the three sects and six clans, once dominant, were now reduced. they controlled only about 30% of the realm. smaller clans, meanwhile, stealthily harvested spirit stones to enhance their cultivation. surprisingly, the main factions, the three sects and six clans, were embroiled in battles throughout the realm. despite the absence of the phoenix clan, they retained a numeric advantage over the three sects. this realm, where everyone had an equal chance at life, only exaggerated this advantage. the sacred heart sect had also shifted allegiances, collaborating with the royal clans to suppress the three sects. the sects, in their defiance, battled fiercely and mined spirit stones on the go. observing the drastic transformation, qin huai realized he couldn¡¯t remain passive. if he allowed the royal clans and sacred heart sect to persist, his final breakthrough could be delayed by decades. having relished the fruits of tranquility, he wouldn¡¯t let the sacred heart sect and the royal clans trample over him now. qin huai scanned the entire secret realm, his focus settling on blood beast mountain. this mountain, teeming with numerous blood beasts, was deemed a forbidden zone in the realm. the sheer number of blood beasts, which could overwhelm any intruder, made the mountain a formidable place. however, for someone like qin huai, this mountain held a different allure. thinking to himself, ¡°if the defenses are down, why should i wait?¡± he felt the extent of his current strength, the blood refinement realm. effortlessly, he used the blood vanishing technique and soared over the realm, his dominance in the skies unchallenged after defeating many phoenixes. soon, he hovered above blood beast mountain. from this vantage point, the mass of blood beasts below resembled a writhing, blood-red landscape, their collective noise echoing like a mighty storm. he patiently waited in the sky, letting time pass while also releasing a potent qi and blood orb from his palm. after four hours, the realm¡¯s ambiance shifted, signaling a change in qin huai¡¯s power. now in the visceral prefecture realm, a satisfied smile touched his lips. he tossed the blood orb into the air. as if infused by a drop of golden essence, the orb quickly turned a brilliant gold. with a mere flick of his finger, he summoned vajra rain, spirit spring. golden rain poured from the skies, saturating blood beast mountain. this golden deluge merged with both the blood beasts and the sacred heart sect warriors guarding the mountain. elated, many of the warriors exclaimed. ¡°what a surging life force!¡± ¡°top-grade blood food!¡± ¡°is this a blessing from the heavens?!¡± however, they remained oblivious to the subtle transformation taking place in the blood beasts around them. Chapter 642 - 642 Divine Tiger Spear 642 divine tiger spear the ¡®divine gift¡¯ of golden rain from qin huai seemed to be a blessing to the sacred heart sect warriors on blood beast mountain. this extraordinary rain was brimming with life energy, comparable to the rejuvenating effects of a vitality pill for a novice martial artist. without any suspicion, the sect warriors eagerly welcomed the thirty-five-minute-long downpour. lost in the benefits of the golden rain, they began to sit and meditate, absorbing its energy. but qin huai had other plans. his army of blood beasts circled the unsuspecting sacred heart sect warriors, their overwhelming presence casting a foreboding shadow. the next moment, the mountain echoed with brief screams before an eerie silence took over. qin huai swiftly added 3,072 blood beasts to his ranks. within moments, the once heavily guarded blood beast mountain was under qin huai¡¯s control. these blood beasts, bearing the formidable instincts of the six royal clans, proved to be more manageable for qin huai compared to the king corpse. their inherent combat abilities made them efficient tools of war, eliminating the need for intricate individual control. qin huai¡¯s perception expanded to cover the entire secret realm. battles raged across the land, primarily centered around the ruins of a massive city. ¡­ in front of this dilapidated city wall, the six royal clans¡¯ experts coldly eyed the three sects¡¯ warriors trapped in an open wasteland. the exposed area offered no cover, making it a prime hunting ground for the royal clans. third young master qiong remarked to his companions, ¡°the secret realm truly is advantageous. here, disparities between martial artists narrow rapidly, preventing unfair advantages.¡± ding chuan, the head disciple from the four great academies, stood in contrast. dressed in a blood-soaked blue robe with an injured arm, he responded, ¡°had you not breached the rules and ambushed the mountain, the outcome might have been different.¡± bai shiquan¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°still hung up on rules, are we? if rules mattered during combat, who would ever be defeated?¡± the buddhist flower demon monk, wearing a golden kasaya and looking enchantingly unique, replied calmly, ¡°perhaps you should worry about defeating us first.¡± suddenly, the flower demon monk¡¯s demeanor changed. his seductive face turned fierce, making him seem like a dragon awakened from its slumber. without warning, he charged into the crowd. an elder from one of the clans tried to block him, but to no avail. with a swift motion, the flower demon monk¡¯s sharp hand blade sliced through the elder, causing blood to splatter dramatically. bang! those who tried to help the elder were no match for the flower demon monk, regardless of whether they used mortal strength or divine weapons. observers from the six royal clans were astonished. ¡°how can someone in the blood refinement realm harness divine powers?¡± an elder from the black tortoise clan explained, ¡°don¡¯t panic. that monk possesses the legendary dragon-subduing arhat body of the buddhist sect. essentially, he¡¯s the reincarnation of a dragon-slaying figure. this grants him the ability to slice through anything, including our prized weapons.¡± hearing this, the crowd gasped in astonishment, especially the black tortoise elder, whose armor had been previously shattered by the monk. boom! suddenly, a tiger¡¯s roar rang out, sending chills down the spines of the warriors. the sky seemed to darken as a massive blood-red claw descended upon the flower demon monk. yet, with impressive strength, he tore the blood illusion apart, causing the sounds of roaring tigers and dragons to echo throughout the realm. bai shiquan, not to be outdone, sneered, ¡°let¡¯s see how strong this representative of the buddhist sect truly is.¡± as he spoke, a blood-red spear materialized before him, reminiscent of a spear previously wielded by qin huai. this spear, named the divine tiger spear, was imbued with the vengeance of countless souls, filling the air with a palpable sense of murderous intent. those within its vicinity felt their eyes turn red, their breaths grow heavy, and their minds cloud with rage. this new technique was a result of bai shiquan¡¯s many interactions with qin huai. Chapter 643 - 643 How Can There Be a Dao Child Who Doesnt Know Lightning Techniques? 643 how can there be a dao child who doesn¡¯t know lightning techniques? ¡°a true king of slaughter does not depend on external forces, fears no enemy, and never leaves a path of retreat for himself,¡± bai shiquan¡¯s voice rang out, echoing the core principles of the white tiger clan. each word intensified his aura, magnifying his power and refining his murderous intent. the two top-notch geniuses, masters of their respective killing techniques, clashed fiercely. their duels were intense, making it dangerous for any nearby martial artists. their skills far exceeded those of standard fighters from the visceral prefecture realm. meanwhile, wu cheng from the black tortoise clan was locked in combat with ding chuan, the principal disciple of the four academies. ¡°overturn,¡± wu cheng muttered in a muffled voice, and then he slapped his hands on the ground. boom! the earth rose like a great mountain, aiming to crush ding chuan. but with a single word, ¡°shock,¡± ding chuan stopped the mountainous attack, causing it to shatter and send boulders flying toward wu cheng. yet wu wasn¡¯t defeated. earth currents merged, summoning a colossal beast from the soil, which loomed over the battlefield. unfazed, ding chuan merely whispered, ¡°wind,¡± lifting himself into the sky. elsewhere, leaders xiang mingfeng and she wanshan were engaged in battle against third young master qiong and the fourth generation fairy. while the fairy was a formidable opponent, she was better matched when paired with a prominent monk from the buddhist sect. both were in high demand, courted by the three sects. they had entered the secret realm of pingwang county, seeking spirit stones to enhance their powers. hua yanli, xu tong, and others were on guard duty, ensuring the safe transport of the spirit stones and defending against potential ambushes from the six royal clans and the sacred heart sect. the secret realm¡¯s opening had pulled in many from the major factions, and while the intensity of battles outside pingwang county waned, they didn¡¯t cease. the need for top-tier warriors to anchor their forces was evident. uncle master fei from the true path sect looked on, frustration evident on his face. ¡°where has that rascal zhang youji run off to now?¡± the fierce contest among the top prodigies was neck-and-neck. however, the sacred heart sect¡¯s sly tactics, combined with the sheer number of their fighters, meant the three sects¡¯ martial artists found themselves at a growing disadvantage as the tide of battle shifted. ¡°give up and meet your end. you¡¯re just delaying the inevitable,¡± the black tortoise clan elder taunted, every move he made following the ¡®drag¡¯ strategy. there wasn¡¯t a hint of overreach in his technique. uncle master fei felt a surge of anxiety as he watched the elder¡¯s calculated moves. suddenly, the elder¡¯s demeanor shifted dramatically. his once-powerful aura diminished, and he grew pale. seizing the moment, uncle master fei unleashed a punch that struck the elder¡¯s chest, causing blood to flow and ending the elder¡¯s life. as the elder¡¯s body crumpled, uncle master fei recognized the familiar face he had often cursed. ¡°it¡¯s you!¡± grinning, zhang youji asked, ¡°fatty uncle, were you cursing me internally?¡± uncle master fei replied quickly, ¡°of course not!¡± but before they could continue, uncle master fei shouted, ¡°be careful!¡± bang! zhang youji¡¯s back was slashed. in the air. however, there was no trace of blood. only a white paper talisman was cut into pieces. in a swift retaliation, zhang youji took down the attacker. however, his energy began to wane, his form becoming faint. on the battlefield, a new force emerged, reminiscent of a phantom assassin. while uncle master fei felt a pang of nostalgia for zhang youji¡¯s past behavior, he acknowledged that his approach was efficient and helped to relieve their forces. meanwhile, the battle grew more intense, and soon, the royal clans noticed the presence of assassins among them. many eyes shifted focus, seeking out the hidden threat. the white tiger clan¡¯s grand elder surveyed the battlefield from his position as the military governor. one of the strongest fighters among the six royal clans, he was renowned as a nearly-ascended king, an expert who had lived for thousands of years. whoosh! suddenly, a flash of red crossed his eyes, making the hairs on his body stand on end. he immediately armored himself with his killing intent. bang! as it shattered, he spun around, delivering a fierce punch that sent a shockwave across the battlefield, flinging more than a dozen soldiers away. ¡°i¡¯ve got you now!¡± the grand elder of the white tiger race focused intently on the youthful face before him. suddenly, five figures materialized around zhang youji. these were the elite warriors dispatched by the six royal clans specifically to handle zhang youji, even postponing their frontal assault to do so. ¡°i was prepared, but i never imagined someone would be audacious enough to venture deep into the hinterland of our six royal clans to target me,¡± the white tiger elder mused with a hint of a smile, recognizing zhang youji. ¡°you¡¯re the dao child of the true path sect, aren¡¯t you? quite the reputation you¡¯ve built.¡± zhang youji was renowned throughout great you, even overshadowing notable names like the flower demon monk and ding chuan, the chief of the four courtyards. interestingly, despite his status, he had never publicly used a lightning technique, opting for surprise attacks that earned him the peculiar nickname ¨C daoist ye. such tactics were usually associated with lesser warriors or those unaffiliated with any major sect. in this era, most of the respected fighters showcased their prowess through martial arts, seeking to validate their dao and ascend as kings. spotting the ambush, zhang youji said with a serious tone, ¡°seems we¡¯ve walked into a trap.¡± the white tiger elder bellowed, ¡°no escape!¡± another shadowy figure of zhang youji was unveiled from the shadows. the elder confidently declared, ¡°once my white tiger clan¡¯s killing intent is locked onto you, no stealth technique can save you. surrender now!¡± as he issued the command, the five surrounding elders lunged at zhang youji. but zhang youji, unperturbed, said, ¡°these white tiger techniques have so many twists. truly, today isn¡¯t my day.¡± still, the tranquility on zhang youji¡¯s face puzzled the white tiger elder. what else did he have up his sleeve? suddenly, the bright glow of electric arcs danced in their eyes. azure bolts, radiating immense power, briefly illuminated zhang youji¡¯s face. for a split second, he seemed to vanish, only to reappear as an elder next to him stood motionless, lifeless, a gaping hole in his chest. the sudden twist left the white tiger elder astounded. ¡°how did you master lightning techniques?!¡± ¡°i¡¯m the dao child. why wouldn¡¯t i know them?¡± zhang youji answered, his voice dripping with casualness. ¡°i just didn¡¯t need them until now.¡± Chapter 644 - 644 The Dao Child Moves 644 the dao child moves zhang youji¡¯s sudden display of a potent lightning technique left the surrounding experts from the six royal clans awestruck. a single burst of electricity had taken down an elder with ease. such devastating power was on par with the flower demon monk, who boasted the formidable dragon-subduing arhat body. coupled with its stealthy nature, the technique was a force to be reckoned with. this dao child of the true path sect, previously dismissed by many as an eccentric, had now risen to become the most formidable foe of the six royal clans. ¡°stay alert!¡± cautioned the grand elder of the white tiger clan. suddenly, a group of demons, with sharp fangs and shimmering armor formed from their scales, approached the elders. as they transformed, their auras grew even more menacing. ¡°is this a gift from the sacred heart sect?¡± mused zhang youji. ¡°i always suspected the six royal clans wouldn¡¯t be mere puppets of the sacred heart sect based on a mere verbal agreement.¡± the white tiger elder, undeterred by zhang¡¯s words, replied with a smirk, ¡°we¡¯re just using each other. and if the sacred heart sect indeed holds the key to atavism, serving them might not be so bad.¡± ¡°ah, the wisdom of an elder who¡¯s lived for a millennium,¡± remarked zhang youji, his voice dripping with sarcasm. before he could continue, the transformed demons lunged at him. ¡°eight directional lightning pillar!¡± zhang youji called out. the ground around him erupted, with bolts of electricity branching out in all directions. any demon touching these bolts met an instantaneous end, reduced to nothing but ashes. the immediate area was cleared, with remnants of the defeated floating in the air, sending chills down the spines of the observing elders. this remarkable display drew the attention of the three sects¡¯ martial artists and other witnessing prodigies. ¡°is that zhang youji¡¯s lightning technique?¡± warriors from the three sects gasped, their eyes wide with disbelief. the true path sect martial artists were especially astounded. despite having trained for over thirty years, zhang youji had never publicly shown this power. even his peers and mentors hadn¡¯t seen it. but when he finally decided to unveil it, he chose the formidable eight directional lightning pillar from the true path sect¡¯s repertoire. ¡°why on earth did he try to take on the grand elder of the white tiger clan all by himself?¡± uncle master fei exclaimed, worry evident in his voice. without hesitation, he attempted to push through the dense crowd, aiming for the heart of the six royal clans¡¯ domain. ¡°hold it right there,¡± a clan elder challenged, blocking uncle master fei¡¯s path and attempting to trap him. flower demon monk observed with intrigue, ¡°he¡¯s not just anyone. with his lightning and stealth skills, he¡¯s likely a top assassin from his time.¡± ding chuan nodded in agreement. simultaneously, the leading disciples from the four courtyards and the arhat began to focus their efforts towards the center of the six royal clans, causing a stir on the battlefield. ¡°looks like i¡¯ve really landed myself in a mess,¡± zhang youji muttered, rubbing his temples. but even in the face of danger, he seemed relaxed. ¡°show me what the famed dao child is capable of,¡± the grand elder of the white tiger clan said, standing firm and unmoved. as he spoke, waves of demons approached. with a hint of mockery, he added, ¡°how many times can you use your eight directional lightning pillar?¡± his intent was clear: to wear zhang youji down using sheer numbers. to them, if a mere dao child could be defeated by countless ordinary demons, it would be a huge win. for a heaven¡¯s favorite, if kept alive, would eventually rise to prominent positions. a grand elder, if not a king. their power could stabilize realms for centuries. so, the opportunity to take zhang youji down was one they wouldn¡¯t miss. ¡°eight directional lightning pillar!¡± zhang youji summoned the force once more, wiping out his enemies. but the energy drain was evident ¡ª his complexion turned ghostly pale, and his breath wavered. the relentless six royal clans sent another wave of demons, giving him no respite. this ongoing battle mirrored the broader conflict between the great you human race and the royal clans. in terms of governance, the six royal clans had an edge. their sheer dominance and the innate fear the lower-level demons felt toward the purer-blooded ones made it difficult for resistance to emerge. whenever the royal clans advanced, they did so with overwhelming force. their increasing human-like transformations over the years had put the three sects at a disadvantage. the final showdown, which the sects had been hesitant about, seemed to be getting postponed indefinitely. as time dragged on, humanity might just miss its last opportunity in this prolonged standoff. Chapter 645 - 645 The Nightmare of the Six Royal Clans 645 the nightmare of the six royal clans by a stroke of luck, the three sects found a reason to rally together. after years of standoff, both sides were balanced in pingwang. the emergence of the wicked sacred heart sect gave the humans an edge. however, for the human race to truly triumph remained a daunting task. ¡°without effort, failure is certain,¡± zhang youji mused, gazing at the sky, deep in thought. he seemed oblivious to the approaching demons. the electric arcs that usually surrounded him vanished, and the menacing aura he emitted dissipated. for a moment, he looked like an ordinary man, lost in fatigue. boom! boom! suddenly, the demons surged, drowning zhang youji in their essence. from a distance, uncle master fei and the true path sect martial artists roared in anguish. they may not have fully aligned with zhang youji¡¯s methods, but he was their dao child, the embodiment of their hope, especially since he had risked so much today. the grand elder of the white tiger clan, having faced the destructive might of the true path sect¡¯s eight-directional lightning pillar multiple times, couldn¡¯t help but smirk. he knew that using such a powerful skill drained the user immensely, often requiring other true path sect members to shield the user and usher them to safety. the fact that the elder had chosen not to act after zhang youji¡¯s second attack was out of respect. but then, something unexpected occurred. the elder¡¯s triumphant expression faded as a spark of electricity caught his eye. before he could react, zhang youji materialized right before him. electricity crackled from zhang youji¡¯s eyes, illuminating the surroundings with streaks of lightning. as the elder instinctively moved back, zhang youji, with intense resolve, struck. boom! a deafening clash echoed. both were hurled away from the impact ¡ª zhang youji with blood trickling down his face, and the elder clutching a bleeding wound on his chest, realizing how close he¡¯d come to a fatal blow. a voice broke the tension. ¡°thank you for saving me, brother huang.¡± hovering above the injured elder, a stern old man cloaked in flames spoke. it was the grand elder of the phoenix clan. ¡°it¡¯s no trouble,¡± he replied tersely. his agenda was clear. after his clan members had been severely injured in the secret realm, he sought vengeance against the responsible parties: qin huai, the sacred heart sect, and the entire human race. the white tiger grand elder stared at zhang youji. ¡°you¡¯re quite a force among your generation.¡± zhang youji, struggling to rise, retorted with blood dripping from his mouth, ¡°two grand elders together? you¡¯ve both lived for almost two thousand years, and you¡¯re teaming up against someone in his thirties?¡± challenging them, he said, ¡°what about a one-on-one fight? after all, tales of two grand elders ambushing a wounded youth wouldn¡¯t do wonders for your reputation.¡± the elder coolly replied, ¡°you¡¯ve earned our combined efforts. it¡¯s possible you¡¯re the greatest prodigy alive.¡± the phoenix clan elder added, ¡°having both of us to escort you to the afterlife should be an honor.¡± zhang youji replied with a smirk, ¡°i see no shame in it.¡± the two elders exchanged glances, unable to fathom zhang youji¡¯s next move. zhang youji grinned, looking skyward. ¡°now, it¡¯s your time to shine.¡± boom! as he spoke, the sky cracked open, talismans burned to ash, and daylight bathed the land. but the six royal families recoiled in horror. above them hovered the spear of annihilation. just like his duel with the white-robed king, zhang youji had cleverly distracted his enemies to prepare for qin huai¡¯s lethal strike. the earth shuddered under the spear¡¯s might. mountains crumbled, demons were obliterated, and tormented spirits tore them from within. onlookers fled, fearing qin huai¡¯s wrath. zhang youji mused from above, observing the chaos below. rumors about qin huai painted him as some ancient beast. discovering he wielded such power would surely unhinge the royal clans. the white tiger elder, gravely wounded, roared, ¡°beast king! your turn!¡± his body was a mangled mess, his heart exposed, and he seemed moments away from death. the aftermath of the spear¡¯s assault had left hundreds of demons dead. clan experts watched in distress. this was the second instance of such loss, surpassing the casualties from their conflict in the secret realm. as the voice of the white tiger grand elder dimmed, a massive figure appeared overhead: the beast king. he looked sternly at the transformed ¡®white-robed king¡¯. ¡°your actions defy the rules,¡± he warned. qin huai returned the cold stare. suddenly, he vanished, only to reappear with white eyes and snow-white hair. his power erupted, echoing with the force of ten dragons. the beast king retaliated, and a fierce mid-air duel ensued. the intensity of their brawl stripped layers of their flesh, revealing stark white bones. the beast king was astounded by qin huai¡¯s might. ¡°this isn¡¯t the power of the white-robed king,¡± he realized. around the perimeter of the city, blood beasts arose, cornering both the three sects and six clans. ¡°a clever strategy,¡± mused the beast king, feeling momentarily secure. ¡°i¡¯ll manage the rest,¡± he announced to his army, while never shifting his gaze from qin huai. the tension in the air was palpable. however, the serenity was short-lived. outraged accusations from the white tiger grand elder erupted from below. ¡°beast king, you traitor! you¡¯ve betrayed our six royal clans!¡± the beast king was taken aback as he noticed the blood beasts, not attacking the warriors of the three sects but preying on the demons of the six royal clans. he scanned the area and realized none of his allies were in control. facing the enigmatic qin huai, he stammered, ¡°who are you?¡± Chapter 646 - 646 Fighting the Beast King 646 fighting the beast king qin huai chose not to reveal his identity to the beast king. with a simple gesture, the three thousand blood beasts on the ground surged forward, targeting the six royal clans. as their clansmen screamed in pain, the powerful bloodlines of the six royal clans seemed feeble against the onslaught. throughout this, qin huai remained engrossed in an intense aerial duel with the beast king. the sheer power of their battles produced astonishing shockwaves, sweeping away even the formidable demon of the phoenix clan. while they could perhaps rival elders from the secret realm, against forces like qin huai and the beast king, they stood no chance. as the two combatants moved further into the sky, the king corpse was left behind. qin huai continued to monitor the battlefield and kept tabs on the two grand elders. eventually, in a distant, serene part of the sky, the two warriors paused to face each other. ¡°you¡¯re not in the king realm,¡± the beast king stated, having deduced qin huai¡¯s capabilities. ¡°but you still followed me here. do you think your talents can best a true king? the secret realm may limit us kings, but it¡¯s not a playground for the likes of you.¡± the beast king then went on to recite qin huai¡¯s achievements with admiration. ¡°your feats are legendary. even our sect¡¯s holy son pales in comparison. but remember,¡± the beast king¡¯s tone shifted, ¡°you now face a living king.¡± suddenly, mythical creatures materialized behind the beast king. the cries of a phoenix echoed, and the immense mouth of the qiongqi behemoth seemed ready to consume the world. the black tortoise¡¯s steadfast presence caused the ground to ripple. high above, within the ominous blood cloud walk, the white tiger glared at qin huai. it was evident that four of the six royal clans had been transformed guardian spirit items. qin huai faced the immense creature with a steady gaze. the four guardians surrounding him, most likely from the sacred heart sect, had apparently slain significant figures from the six royal clans, suggesting they were of clan elder status. the audacity of the sacred heart sect to use these royal clans as sustenance and spiritual treasures was clear. immense pressure bore down on qin huai, a force even a seasoned visceral prefecture realm expert might struggle against. ¡°kill them!¡± without further words, the beast king growled. the white tiger, in response, let out a roar, plummeting from the skies, transforming into a white spear. its speed was shocking. boom! suddenly, flames erupted. alongside the descending spear, the beast king appeared before qin huai, towering at ten meters, clad in a dark green armor that seemed to expand, emanating intense malice. reacting quickly, qin huai¡¯s eyes glowed with white light. dragon bones emerged from within him, transforming him into the dragon emperor. intricate patterns illuminated these bones as a distant blood curtain spanning miles surged toward them. bang! with a deafening explosion, a powerful burst of energy sent shockwaves through the landscape. flames danced everywhere, painting the barren mountain with their radiance. ¡°quite powerful indeed,¡± the beast king remarked, appreciating the strength of his foe. ¡°it¡¯s been ages since i faced an opponent this exhilarating.¡± unlike other kings who typically used various tactics to limit him, this was a straightforward brawl. however, the tides soon shifted. the very realm they stood in seemed to change. invisible halos descended from above, binding the beast king layer by layer, suppressing his immense power. the beast king, feeling this restraint, exclaimed, ¡°this isn¡¯t fair!¡± his fiery rage was quickly quenched, as if doused with cold water. as the world¡¯s colors shifted, signifying a changed battle environment, the beast king coldly remarked, ¡°it¡¯ll take about five hundred punches to finish you.¡± despite the sea of blood armor that qin huai wore, which the beast king shattered repeatedly, qin huai¡¯s incredible regenerative abilities continuously repelled the beast king¡¯s relentless attacks. Chapter 647 - 647 Five Ferocious Battlefield Domain 647 five ferocious battlefield domain simultaneously, qin huai¡¯s formidable dragon emperor fist couldn¡¯t break the beast king¡¯s resilient xuanwu green armor. ¡°it looks like you can¡¯t use the king domain in this secret realm,¡± qin huai noted. ¡°so what?¡± the beast king retorted with a smirk, then laughed coldly. his power, teetering on the brink of the king realm, was beyond the comprehension of anyone in the visceral prefecture realm. underneath, the phoenix fire bolstered his layers of strength. as moments passed, sparks radiating from him grew increasingly intense in color. he was tactically distracting qin huai, setting up for a devastating strike. boom! suddenly, an invisible force coursed through the beast king. his vision blackened, and he felt overwhelming pressure from every direction. it had been eons since he last unleashed his full might, and he silently reasoned that perhaps he was just out of practice. but soon, he realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°it¡¯s a domain? from a visceral prefecture realm expert?¡± the beast king mused, not questioning why qin huai possessed a power typically reserved for kings. after all, prodigies, especially like qin huai, defied logic. the ensuing battle only fueled the beast king¡¯s excitement, but he quickly realized that his energy was being siphoned off. his internal bone patterns flared brightly, signaling the urgency to act before qin huai gained the upper hand. his power surged exponentially, accompanied by the unmistakable cry of a phoenix that echoed throughout the realm. then, in the blink of an eye, the beast king vanished, rivaling the speed of qin huai¡¯s kun peng wings. bang! an explosive burst of flame enveloped qin huai, but instead of triumph, the beast king¡¯s face showed dismay. the amassed energy didn¡¯t detonate as expected but was gradually drained away. he was baffled. ¡°how could my king¡¯s spiritual eye be deceived by such simple illusions?¡± the realization that his strength had diminished to a mere seventy percent of its former potency hit him hard. his once brilliant king bone now appeared as dim as the confines of pingwang¡¯s secret realm. ¡°what is this domain?¡± he pondered, genuinely perplexed. the beast king grappled with a baffling realization. while he could reason that the domain made qin huai unpredictable in the secret realm, it was hard to fathom that his own king body was suppressed. king tiers were legendary, capable of overpowering thousands and defeating any creature. only another king tier could challenge them. moreover, kings had the spiritual eyesight to discern deception and subterfuge. that¡¯s why many looked down on zhang youji¡¯s concealment techniques. upon reaching king status, such techniques would be useless. yet, as the beast king attacked, slashing through qin huai¡¯s green illusions, a memory stirred. he recalled a mention of a promising young man in qingzhou, someone with the potential to rise as the next holy son. there were whispers of a prodigy¡¯s demise, one who not only rivaled the holy son but bore an emperor¡¯s aura. the white-robed king¡¯s absence clicked into place. ¡°you killed the white-robed king,¡± the beast king concluded. the techniques the beast king saw reminded him of the emperor of qingzhou¡¯s ancient scripture. ¡°it¡¯s you, qin huai!¡± he exclaimed, eyes sharpening. then, the realization dawned that the domain¡¯s power may emanate from an emperor¡¯s might. his anger dissolved into resignation. ¡°facing you here, i¡¯m bound to lose. will you not reveal your secrets now?¡± seemingly accepting his fate, the beast king mused, ¡°witnessing a future emperor in my time, and meeting my end by your hand¡­ it¡¯s an honor.¡± but just as the end seemed near, a cacophony of roars and cries echoed. shadows filled the sky, converging into an energy ball that hurtled toward qin huai. in response, qin huai launched the black dragon pearl upwards, which seemed to consume the approaching shadows. moments later, the pearl exploded, vanishing from the black dragon world. as the dust settled, qin huai was already confronting the beast king. the black dragon emperor unleashed a barrage of blows, and under such relentless assault, the beast king couldn¡¯t surpass his king-tier strength. after battling for what felt like ages, qin huai killed the beast king using his king domain. the beast king, in a desperate move, had even conjured a nine supremes phantom, faking his death to escape. but the difference in their strengths was evident. with considerable effort, qin huai finally overcame him. he then collected the experience orbs left by the defeated beast king. the notifications flowed: ¡°ding! you¡¯ve collected numerous [blood heart technique] fragments¡­¡± ¡°ding! you¡¯ve obtained a [five ferocious battlefield] fragment. current fragment count is (33/100).¡± ¡°ding! you¡¯ve obtained a [territory sphere: five malevolent war domain]. [domain sphere]: when used, it can release the maximum power of the domain and explode. if you have the same domain, it can also be used as an upgrade material (one-time consumable).¡± absorbing the experience orbs, qin huai couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of regret at having only thirty-three domain fragments. he playfully thought about the possibility of parading the beast king around to collect more. such thoughts, however, were mere whims. he couldn¡¯t let anyone else learn about his emperor domain. that was why he had pursued the beast king to this desolate area. pondering his next moves, qin huai muttered, ¡°perhaps i need a strategy to complete the five ferocious battlefield.¡± he realized that with the beast king gone, none would dare challenge him in pingwang county. the blood beasts attacked the six royal clans and badly hurt them. in the secret realm, he was unbeatable. with the beast king gone, no other king would want to come here. ¡°i just wonder when the secret realm will close¡­¡± ¡­ some time later, qin huai returned to his white bone island. he even met zhang youji, requesting him to inform all that as long as they practiced their crafts in peace within the secret realm, he wouldn¡¯t harm them. his words held weight, especially after his victory over the six royal clans. no one dared cross him. surprisingly, pingwang county¡¯s secret realm turned into a haven amidst the war-torn great you. while there, qin huai continued his training. he also discovered a method to enhance the five ferocious battlefield domain using spirit stones, though it wasn¡¯t very efficient. but for someone as wealthy as qin huai, the cost was negligible. he began his cultivation in the five ferocious battlefield without any second thoughts. Chapter 648 - 648 Great You Prodigy Roll 648 great you prodigy roll time flew by, and it was may once more. lonely ghost island, qin huai¡¯s sanctuary, transformed, showcasing lush greenery and life. a steady flow of spirit stones powered qin huai¡¯s growth. in this tranquil environment, the compatibility rate of his spiritual palace leaped from forty to eighty-three percent, a progress faster than he anticipated. concurrently, he also saw progress in his cultivation of the five ferocious battlefield, with its progress rising from thirty-three to seventy-five percent. ¡°at this pace,¡± qin huai mused, ¡°i¡¯ll complete the five ferocious battlefield domain and the visceral prefecture realm in just a couple of months.¡± while he continued his deep cultivation, the guardian of pingwang county¡¯s secret realm, the king corpse, floated above, ensuring peace throughout the territory. as the corpse descended, it brought qin huai two news updates. firstly, old master tong was making significant strides in crafting the visceral prefecture realm immortal armor. with the ample resources at hand, old master tong and his family had created 176 such armors. however, the dilemma was finding suitable wearers. despite strict checks, they still hadn¡¯t found the right candidates for all armors. the shortage was apparent in the ten counties of east qingzhou. yet, gou jie¡¯s letter conveyed hope, stating with adequate funds and his skills, this issue would be addressed soon. the second piece of news was intriguing. the great you prodigy roll had been released and was the talk of the entire great you. eagerly, qin huai went through the list that the king corpse had secured. the presentation was impressive: a book adorned with gold and fine jade, accompanied by a talisman ensuring its preservation. on opening it, the title, great you¡¯s prodigies, loomed impressively, exerting a tangible pressure. an ordinary bone pattern realm expert could have been harmed by this hidden energy, but for qin huai, the pressure faded. he continued reading. the list began with the 100th position: ¡°cloud mountain sect, liao lun. boasting five full patterns, his martial prowess is unmatched, demonstrating extraordinary strength.¡± accompanying this description was a portrait of liao lun. at the 99th spot was bai shixian from the bai clan, part of the eight royal clans. his unique skills: three full patterns that affect internal organs and a deadly gaze that has taken many lives. at 98th was qiong buhui of the qiong clan. with three full patterns affecting his organs, he boasts unmatched strength within his realm. he also has a technique to control blood and qi powers. by the 70th rank was huang shaojie from the huang clan. he has four patterns that influence the fu organs. most of the rankings from the 99th onward were dominated by members of the eight royal clans, with a few from the three sects. qin huai recognized a name when he reached the 50th rank. ranked 50th was she wanshan from the qingzhou alliance. with five patterns that enter the internal organs, he is a future king. known as the ¡°true lotus rebirth¡±, he¡¯s a master of the lotus technique. his familiar face was depicted in the book. all over great you, those in positions of power and influence began examining the great you prodigy roll. ¡­ in the qing cang palace, prince qing cang commented, ¡°great you prodigy roll? quite an arrogant title.¡± yet, he studied the rankings carefully. recognizing names from the six royal clans, he remarked, ¡°their influence remains unchanged.¡± however, when he reached the 50th rank, he frowned, recognizing she wanshan. the latter was known to be associated with the banished immortal, xiang mingfeng. but he was from the true path sect. how did he end up in the qingzhou alliance? prince qing cang was unfamiliar with this faction. he ordered a figure emerging from the shadows, ¡°research the qingzhou alliance. see if they can be of use to us.¡± the figure disappeared. in a concealed area, prince qing cang¡¯s strategists quickly sifted through heaps of information. yet, they found nothing on she wanshan and the qingzhou alliance. shortly after, the figure returned, reporting, ¡°there¡¯s no information on the qingzhou alliance, but the name suggests ties to qingzhou.¡± since qingzhou was a remote location and historically insignificant, neither the qing cang palace nor the eight royal clans had many informants there. but he suggested, ¡°given the current unrest in great you, many have taken refuge in qingzhou. maybe we should send someone to investigate.¡± Chapter 649 - 649 The World 649 the world-renowned qingzhou alliance ¡°wait,¡± prince qing cang interrupted the shadowy figure¡¯s suggestion. right now, he needed to focus his resources wisely. why dispatch elites based on one name? to him, a future king title might just be chance. he returned his attention to the great you prodigy roll. at 49th was wang gang of the qingzhou alliance. recognized as a future king with five patterns affecting his internal organs, he wielded an ancient golden bell spirit item. this bell not only protected him but its chimes could ward off evil and domain powers. remarkably, he evaded death even when chased by a king. again, the qingzhou alliance? prince qing cang was intrigued. he flipped to 48th. it was xiong yujie, also from the qingzhou alliance. another future king¡­ ¡­ elsewhere, in the northern barren state, qiongqi clan¡¯s castle, the appearance of a third name from the qingzhou alliance caused an uproar. the elders exclaimed in surprise and annoyance. one proposed, ¡°could the qingzhou alliance have fabricated the prodigy roll to gain prominence?¡± voices of doubt about the list¡¯s authenticity rose, but the underlying sentiment was clear: the six royal clans were unbeatable. they¡¯d held sway for millennia. the qiongqi clan leader, with a gesture, quieted everyone. ¡°we must investigate. such a covert and promising group might spell trouble for us if left unchecked.¡± as he perused further, the listings returned to the familiar names from the six royal clans, which brought some relief. ¡­ meanwhile, at the true path sect¡¯s camp, elders discussed the rankings. ¡°this list, whether true or fabricated, shows the six royal clans¡¯ exploitation to maintain dominance,¡± an old sage stated. ¡°out of the vast great you, excluding the enigmatic qingzhou alliance, only nine humans made the list.¡± a collective sigh filled the air. they recognized their own complacency, having retreated and endured the royal clans¡¯ provocations for far too long. in the face of their current situation, the elders of the true path sect realized they had waited too long. over the silent years, their power, alongside the strength of the human race, had dwindled almost to the point of no return. ¡°we were mistaken,¡± they confessed, their voices heavy with regret. the elders knew that without a certain individual¡¯s intervention, they might have eventually succumbed to the dominance of the six royal clans. they could¡¯ve become mere pawns, or worse, livestock. ¡°now, it¡¯s the time for the younger generation. we should step back,¡± they decided unanimously. when they thought of zhang youji, the young dao child previously deemed worthless, laughter erupted among them. ¡°his combination of concealment and superior lightning technique is unparalleled,¡± one remarked. another added, ¡°his skill rivals even our sect master¡¯s.¡± the sage-like leader, standing aside, smiled in agreement. but as he continued reading the list, his expression shifted. ¡°yun qi from the qingzhou alliance, 42nd,¡± he read aloud. another future king, with over 100,000 followers, his commands were as powerful as a ruler¡¯s decree. another one? the group was flabbergasted. ¡°how big is this qingzhou alliance?¡± the sect master spoke urgently, ¡°send a message to she wanshan or better yet, xiang mingfeng. they¡¯re from the same sect. i suspect xiang mingfeng is with the qingzhou alliance.¡± the elders were in awe. while only nine from their sect made the list, the mysterious qingzhou alliance had already claimed four or possibly five spots. they speculated that xiang mingfeng, a target of both the three sects and the six clans, might be among the top 20. ¡°forget it. there¡¯s no need to investigate,¡± the sect master finally declared. ¡°once this list circulates, the qingzhou alliance¡¯s truths will emerge.¡± everyone, their eyes glued to the great you prodigy roll, was keen to see how many more from the qingzhou alliance would be named. and it wasn¡¯t just the true path sect. the two other sects, the six revered royal clans, every force in the great you territory, and every warrior familiar with the prodigy roll eagerly awaited the rankings. ¡­ in the imperial palace, the young emperor browsed through the prodigy roll handed to him. at 37th, another member of the qingzhou alliance was named: ¡°xu tong, a future king known as black water river warrior¡­¡± ¡­ 30th from the qingzhou alliance: hua yanli. future king and known as the venerable heavenly flame, he wields a unique four-colored flame that can consume anything. once, he even burned a king, emerging unharmed. throughout the great you, many were particularly intrigued by mentions of the qingzhou alliance in the great you prodigy roll. ¡°from the 30th rank, these prodigies can even challenge king-tier powers!¡± they remarked in awe, glossing over mentions of the six royal clans. ¡­ 21st from the qingzhou alliance: le ji¡¯an. he¡¯s believed to have absorbed an ancient beast, the ox ghost, as a guardian spirit item. in a past encounter, he battled a phoenix clan king and extinguished the latter¡¯s phoenix fire. ¡­ 20th another from the qingzhou alliance. a future king with one of the finest physiques below king-level. the eight royal clans couldn¡¯t rival him in terms of vitality and stature. it was unique for one person to exhibit such dual prowess. the murmurs grew louder. ¡°there are as many from the qingzhou alliance as from the combined three sects!¡± as the names continued, xiang mingfeng¡¯s was revealed in 11th place, also from the qingzhou alliance. yet, even with the praises surrounding them, xiang mingfeng and his companions remained humble. they recognized they had further heights to achieve. ¡­ in the spirit world¡¯s third level, specters of the patriarchs from the six royal clans slowly appeared. despite their fleeting appearances, their powerful presence was palpable. ¡°could xiang mingfeng be the qingzhou alliance¡¯s leader?¡± asked the phoenix clan¡¯s patriarch. the white tiger clan leader pondered, ¡°given the three sects are fighting for him, it seems plausible.¡± regardless of their suspicions, they agreed on one thing: the qingzhou alliance now posed a significant threat, potentially surpassing even the three sects. however, the nine supremes clan¡¯s patriarch steered their attention to the 10th rank. ¡­ 10th representing the qingzhou alliance: qin huai. the alliance¡¯s leader, dubbed the east qingzhou king and heir to the qingzhou emperor. he might have connections to the sacred heart sect. ¡­ in a secluded realm, qin huai saw his description and chuckled. ¡°such a crude attempt.¡± his gaze turned westward, towards the sacred heart sect¡¯s center. of all the powers, only they seemed to know so much about qingzhou. Chapter 650 - 650 The Number One in the World 650 the number one in the world the tactic was crude but undeniably effective. suddenly, qin huai and the qingzhou alliance found themselves center stage, with the world¡¯s attention riveted on them. the quiet and underestimated qingzhou was now set to become a known power. ¡°what a dilemma.¡± qin huai sighed, aware that the sacred heart sect likely confirmed the news of the white-robed king¡¯s demise at his hands. having slain one of their king realm experts, hostilities between them were inevitable. the veiled hint in the rankings about joining the sacred heart sect as a holy son didn¡¯t escape him. however, there was no question of aligning with such a fanatical group. his priority now was strategizing against the sacred heart sect. reflecting, he surmised, ¡°there¡¯s only one reason for all of this: king cheng.¡± he studied the great you prodigy roll further. ¡°all within the top fifty have the makings of future kings. despite the royal clans having significant numbers, the qingzhou alliance stands out with the most prodigies.¡± pondering the list, he thought, ¡°of the fifty potential future kings in the entire great you, qingzhou boasts ten. perhaps it¡¯s thanks to the senior emperor of qingzhou¡¯s legacies: ¡®spreading branches and leaves¡¯ and ¡®whale falling and everything grows.¡¯ it also helps that qingzhou hasn¡¯t been heavily oppressed by the six royal clans. compared to them, the kun peng clan is far more lenient.¡± he continued reviewing the rankings. ninth was the ying clan¡¯s fourth generation fairy. eighth was the northern qiong clan¡¯s third young master. followed by ding chuan, wu cheng, chi nian, and qin huai¡¯s known associate, zhang youji. the third spot went to bai shiquan. most in the top ten had some connection to qin huai. in his estimation, the list represented the powerful experts of great you¡¯s human and demon races. but who occupied the top two spots? curiously, he turned to the second to the last page. it revealed the sacred heart sect¡¯s holy son, yao yongfei. the page had minimal information, just enough to invoke a sense of mystique. yao¡¯s depicted face seemed almost lifelike, his eerie eyes poised to strike. about this holy son, yao yongfei, qin huai had only heard rumors. the jade book depicted his face as unremarkable ¡ª easily lost in a crowd. but the authenticity of this image as representing the sacred heart sect¡¯s holy son remained questionable. flipping to the final page, qin huai laughed at seeing the world¡¯s top-ranked individual: nameless, the king of pingwang county¡¯s secret realm. most rankings aligned with qin huai¡¯s expectations, save for his own positions and the twelfth. that spot was taken by a famed yet nameless individual: long pingjing from qing cang palace, the young fifteen-year-old daughter of prince qing cang. her potential, given her age and rank, seemed limitless. setting the list aside, qin huai meditated, focusing on ascending to the king realm. he believed that, once there, with the support of his three great domains, even top-tier kings wouldn¡¯t challenge him lightly. ¡­ however, the broader world wasn¡¯t as composed. many began investigating the qingzhou alliance. in pingwang county¡¯s secret realm, many sought clues about xiang mingfeng and his allies. a significant number of budding prodigies even wanted to join the qingzhou alliance. given that one family produced a tenth of the current geniuses, the qingzhou alliance was considered the most promising group in great you. ¡­ inside the imperial palace, the young emperor mused over the list. ¡°qin huai¡¯s influence is much greater than we imagined.¡± an elderly voice asked, ¡°so what do you plan to do?¡± ¡°ancestor, this might be our dragon clan¡¯s best chance.¡± the young emperor sounded very determined. ¡°his growth is beyond imagination. in the secret realm, the beast king from the sacred heart sect is gone.¡± the ancestor was silent for a moment before continuing, ¡°he took down two kings¡­ i understand¡­¡± with that, the ancestor¡¯s voice faded away. no one knew what kind of shocking plan this peerless expert, who could be called the emperor of ju, was planning. everything was quiet, but there was a surging undercurrent. in the blink of an eye, two months passed. Chapter 651 - 651 The Will of the Eight Vicious Seals! 651 the will of the eight vicious seals! that day, the secret realm shook. the intense vibrations interrupted qin huai¡¯s deep meditation. the bright sky darkened, and the vibrant spiritual energy began to fade. even the glow from the spirit stone mine under him dwindled. ¡°the mystic realm is closing,¡± qin huai realized. he felt the realm¡¯s oppressive power ebbing away. if he didn¡¯t leave before it shut completely, he risked being trapped for centuries. not wasting time, he commanded the king corpse to fly out immediately. he had already methodically sent the three thousand blood beasts out, utilizing the blood sea¡¯s surveillance to remain undetected. however, mid-flight, qin huai stopped. the horizon turned a stark red, and a fire mountain descended from the skies. ¡°die for my clansmen!¡± shouted the grand elder, his voice echoing. this was his chance for revenge. as the secret realm¡¯s restrictions weakened, the time was ripe for confrontation. before qin huai could react, invisible chains appeared, binding him. surrounding him were elders from different clans, including the qilin and white tiger clans. in total, six top visceral prefecture realm experts stood there, along with the phoenix clan¡¯s great elder, a near-king realm expert. qin huai hadn¡¯t anticipated this coalition. ¡°you think you can defeat me with this group?¡± his energy surged, activating the heaven¡¯s wrath blood pillar. boom! boom! boom! yet, the clan elders didn¡¯t engage him directly. instead, they encircled him, limiting his mobility. ¡°planning to trap me here?¡± qin huai questioned. the black tortoise clan¡¯s elder gave a cold snort in silent affirmation. this tactic was below their dignity, given their lofty reputations. but they knew the dangers of letting qin huai escape. although they were at the peak of the visceral prefecture realm, these elders doubted if they could defeat qin huai, even with their combined strength. their primary aim wasn¡¯t to win but to trap him in the secret realm. qin huai brushed off the flames on him. instead of scorching his skin, these flames sapped his energy. the black tortoise and qilin clans primarily focused on binding him. meanwhile, the king corpse was left battling an elder dressed in a white tiger skin coat, looking powerful. even though the elder would likely lose, his role was to buy time. ¡°you want to throw away your thousand years of cultivation just like this?¡± qin huai asked. ¡°if it ensures the continuation of our race, death is trivial,¡± an elder from the white tiger clan shouted back. respecting their dedication, qin huai murmured, ¡°how noble.¡± suddenly, a powerful gust mixed with the roars of numerous beasts blew. the restraints on qin huai started breaking and shadows began to envelop the elders. ¡°ding! your domain [five ferocious war domain] has completed its advancement.¡± ¡°now it¡¯s the [eight vicious war domain]!¡± an internal notification informed him that his domain power had advanced. his mind was flooded with the description of the eight vicious war domain, emphasizing the strength of eight mythical beasts: azure dragon, white tiger, phoenix, black tortoise, nine supremes, qiongqi, kun peng, and qilin. harnessing this newfound power, qin huai effortlessly broke free, standing atop the images of the eight creatures, looking dominantly at the trembling elders. ¡°why is my blood shaking!¡± an elder exclaimed. ¡°it¡¯s the ancestral blood! the power we¡¯ve always sought!¡± another elder recognized. yet, the revelation was too late. the white tiger elder tried escaping. qin huai merely raised his hand, unleashing the white tiger seal. the fierce attack instantly overtook and struck down the fleeing elder. ¡°is that a domain?¡± the phoenix clan¡¯s grand elder exclaimed in shock. ¡°have you become a king?¡± ¡°no, he hasn¡¯t reached the king realm!¡± another voiced. qin huai didn¡¯t reply. he aimed another attack at the phoenix clan¡¯s grand elder with the phoenix seal. as the emblem took effect, the elder¡¯s energy waned rapidly, reminding one of a younger person cowering before an elder. the surprise from the attack made him spit blood, his energy fading rapidly. the other elders fared no better. defenseless against qin huai¡¯s palm strikes, he dominated all seven of them single-handedly. the tables turned instantly. ¡°we risked everything,¡± the phoenix elder shouted. ¡°you can¡¯t escape before the mystic realm shuts!¡± dark flames engulfed him, warping the space around and making him appear younger. the other elders seemed defeated, their only hope being to distract qin huai. ¡°true elders,¡± qin huai acknowledged, but he was not done. ¡°enough of this test.¡± he soared away, dismissing the seven elders. but as they lunged at him, blood-red slashes emerged from their bodies, catching the injured ones off-guard. their vital spots were struck. ¡°never underestimate the phoenix clan!¡± the phoenix elder screeched, spreading his massive flaming wings in pursuit. but a mere glance from qin huai released dozens of blood-red slashes that sliced him to pieces. with his two domain powers, qin huai effortlessly overpowered the era¡¯s top experts. the experience orbs on the ground merged into his internal world, forming a reservoir of energy. leaving behind pingwang¡¯s secret realm, he watched as it faded from view, replaced by an ordinary forested mountain. ¡°eight vicious war domain¡­ crafted by the sacred heart sect master for the eight royal clans,¡± qin huai pondered aloud. he speculated the beast king¡¯s strength, suggesting it might even challenge multiple royal clansmen at once. ¡°his aim was probably the entire great you.¡± after some time, he mused, ¡°my spiritual palace fusion has already reached 100%, but i still haven¡¯t taken the final step into the king realm. what am i missing?¡± still, his next step was clear. he¡¯d claim the last batch of spirit stones mined by the royal clans to enhance qingzhou¡¯s combat strength. determinedly, qin huai charged forth. Chapter 652 - 652 Qingzhou Alliance Plans 652 qingzhou alliance plans at small wolf mountain, where the white tiger and black tortoise clans were transporting spirit stones, qin huai and his companion, the king corpse, smelled blood long before they arrived. ¡°did someone get here first?¡± qin huai wondered who might dare rob the royal clans. the three sects or sacred heart sect? he quickened his pace, leaving a trail in the sky. upon arrival, a grim scene met him: countless dead bodies and rivers of blood. the attack was one-sided. but qin huai laughed when he recognized the victors. ¡°it¡¯s you guys!¡± he landed, meeting the members of the renowned qingzhou alliance: fang huo, le ji¡¯an, wang gang, xu tong, and xiong yujie. xu tong grinned. ¡°we had the same idea, it seems.¡± ¡°any tails following you?¡± asked qin huai. xu tong replied teasingly, ¡°xiang mingfeng and she wanshan drew most of the attention, so we lost most pursuers.¡± fang huo added, ¡°but our sect master, yun qi, is the real magnet. everyone sees him as a target.¡± the group continued discussing the implications of their actions and the decisions they made. qin huai then handed a bottle containing beast trailing pearls to wang gang and xiong yujie. ¡°there are ten special pearls inside. they can control the blood beasts¡­ you two will take three thousand blood fiends to qingzhou. give them to old master tong, and he will have his people make three thousand more.¡± qin huai had made a toy-like thing based on the scarlet blood bead, so making it wasn¡¯t hard. but making three thousand would take time, so qin huai just made one bottle and gave it to them. wang gang and xiong yujie were from a small force, and the latter was a wild cultivator and had traveled a lot. he was careful and knew many things and had seen many places, so this made him good for taking care of the blood beasts. ¡°understood!¡± the two nodded in agreement. ¡°can we fight with this?¡± xiong yujie, a former scholar turned wild cultivator, asked, referring to the beast trailing pearls. ¡°i can only barely use it to manage them. with these few pearls, six hundred is the maximum one can handle in battle,¡± qin huai replied. wang gang wondered, ¡°what if we run into spies from the three sects?¡± ¡°try for peace first,¡± qin huai said. ¡°if that doesn¡¯t work, eliminate the threat. trust your judgment.¡± the two nodded, showing understanding. fang huo, concerned, said, ¡°with experts leaving the main battlefield, they might target us. should we retreat to qingzhou?¡± le ji¡¯an responded sharply, ¡°that would only reveal qingzhou as our base.¡± qin huai asked, ¡°is qingzhou at risk?¡± xu tong spoke up, ¡°our military advisor gou has created a blood shadow maze array in qingzhou, masking our presence. thanks to him, our moves remain hidden.¡± the group expressed respect for gou jie, once a promising young expert who sacrificed personal advancement to oversee their defenses. his skill in array formations had become legendary. ¡°most who fled qingzhou were sacred heart sect followers or refugees headed to east qingzhou. the three sects and six clans will likely arrive soon,¡± xu tong continued. qin huai firmly said, ¡°we won¡¯t ally with the sacred heart sect. we have better options in the three sects.¡± he was only a step away from the king realm, so he naturally spoke confidently. also, they had better groups like the three sects to join. they didn¡¯t want to consider the ruthless sacred heart sect. Chapter 653 - 653 Sneaky Dao Child 653 sneaky dao child ¡°should we approach the three sects beforehand?¡± le ji¡¯an asked. qin huai was firm in his response. ¡°no, not yet. people can be unpredictable. unless it¡¯s our last option, we shouldn¡¯t approach them. if we can keep them in the dark for a bit longer, our negotiating position will be stronger.¡± le ji¡¯an agreed. from their past experiences, they knew how alliances could shift when interests were at stake. being cautious was just wise. they quickly sorted out the pressing issues. their primary focus was on bolstering their power to protect qingzhou effectively. qin huai added, ¡°also, keep an eye on the sacred heart sect.¡± le ji¡¯an responded, ¡°definitely.¡± xu tong chimed in, ¡°remember how prince qing cang once took the blame for the alliance master? why not align ourselves with the imperial city?¡± both fang huo and le ji¡¯an seemed to like the idea. ¡°that¡¯s a thought.¡± fang huo, in a playful tone, said, ¡°the black water river warrior is unpredictable!¡± xu tong, slightly embarrassed, added, ¡°we don¡¯t need more unpredictable players. besides, prince qing cang¡¯s sneaky moves are not to be ignored.¡± qin huai interjected, ¡°speaking of the imperial capital, that young emperor poses potential problems.¡± the group listened intently as qin huai detailed the events in the spirit world. fang huo was skeptical. ¡°could the emperor know about the alliance master¡¯s background? even the six royal clans missed it.¡± le ji¡¯an thought otherwise. ¡°it¡¯s possible. the dragon clan, while weakened, still has a knowledgeable ancestor alive. he might know more than we assume.¡± they all agreed that while the ancestor was alive, the imperial family was untouchable. they concluded it was best to focus on their preparations and accept whatever fate brought them. after finalizing the battle details, each returned to their individual tasks. wang gang and xiong yujie took the beast trailing pearls and the blood beasts towards qingzhou. as they left, qin huai waited momentarily before saying, ¡°come out.¡± all was silent for a moment. then, from the east, a familiar figure emerged from behind a tree. ¡°how did you sense me, brother qin? even the seasoned ones couldn¡¯t have detected me from this distance,¡± the man revealed himself as zhang youji, now known by another title, hidden thunder heavenly master. this new alias came after the battle in pingwang county¡¯s secret realm. his capability to critically wound a grand elder of the eight royal families showed that his strength was formidable. ¡°you could defeat anyone below the king realm,¡± he remarked. zhang youji continued, observing his friend, ¡°it seems you¡¯re on the brink of reaching the king realm.¡± qin huai sidestepped the remark, ¡°why are you here?¡± zhang youji sighed. ¡°your concerns earlier were valid. there¡¯s unrest among the three sects.¡± qin huai¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°tell me more.¡± zhang youji hesitated slightly but then said, ¡°the sects are still accommodating towards xiang mingfeng and his group, but this might be temporary.¡± he added, ¡°there¡¯s a perception, given the qingzhou alliance¡¯s dominance, that there might be a power behind you, possibly even stronger than the sacred heart sect.¡± qin huai cut to the chase, ¡°and their intentions?¡± ¡°one group thinks we should first tackle the six royal clans and the sacred heart sect. another believes we should first secure internal stability, either by allying with or eliminating potential threats.¡± qin huai¡¯s demeanor didn¡¯t waver. ¡°your stance, dao child?¡± zhang youji smiled ruefully. ¡°had i malicious intentions, i wouldn¡¯t be here discussing this with you. we¡¯re comrades, having faced dangers and defeated kings side by side. i¡¯ve kept our bond a secret, and even got support from the true path sect¡¯s master during my qingzhou visit.¡± qin huai nodded. ¡°your trust means everything. if others challenge us, they can¡¯t fault me for defending our cause.¡± zhang youji laughed, realizing he might¡¯ve been overly cautious. ¡°your resolve is commendable, brother qin. i¡¯ll say no more.¡± at that moment, a crane gracefully descended from the sky, settling next to zhang youji. on its back was a book. ¡°this crane is from my true path sect, known for delivering messages. it¡¯s extremely fast and almost human in its understanding,¡± zhang youji explained. Chapter 654 - 654 Qingzhou Exposed! 654 qingzhou exposed! zhang youji took the letter and carefully unfolded it, absorbing each word as if it held a potent secret. at that moment, qin huai¡¯s blood music note responded. he removed it and they both exchanged puzzled glances as the contents of zhang youji¡¯s letter mirrored that of the blood note. it read: ¡°attack the qingzhou alliance at qingzhou.¡± ¡°this isn¡¯t good,¡± zhang youji¡¯s expression tightened. before they could discuss further, the air around them thickened with several powerful auras. approaching were distinct auras, which revealed themselves as fang huo and the others. seeing zhang youji, they formed a protective circle around him. qin huai reassured them, ¡°he¡¯s one of us.¡± a collective sigh of relief was heard, but the atmosphere remained charged. they were on borrowed time. ¡°what¡¯s our next step, alliance master?¡± they asked. qin huai, ever the decisive leader, responded without hesitation, ¡°back to qingzhou.¡± he recognized the risk of both the sacred heart sect and the six royal clans attacking qingzhou and discover its secrets. understanding the gravity of the situation, zhang youji chimed in, ¡°i¡¯ll go and negotiate with the leaders of the three sects.¡± as the strategy was laid out, the assembly dispersed swiftly, each with their tasks clear. ¡­ at the tianshan ying clan, a daunting three-headed man rejoiced. ¡°at last, we have them cornered!¡± his booming voice echoed as he commanded, ¡°king sanjian will lead. from each clan, a peak visceral prefecture realm expert will command three throusand soldiers to march on qingzhou!¡± ¡°understood,¡± the assembly of powerful beings acknowledged. meanwhile, at the white tiger clan, news came of stolen spirit stones. a debate ensued. ¡°if not the three sects or the sacred heart sect, then who?¡± after a pause, realization struck. ¡°it must be the qingzhou alliance.¡± the clan leader made the decision, ¡°send a king to qingzhou.¡± he then added, ¡°contact the other five clans. all our kings will march together!¡± almost simultaneously, the leaders of the six royal clans gave the identical order. this ancient power, which had been a dominant force for millennia, was now mobilizing with impressive speed. comprising three kings, scores of elite warriors, and a massive army, they moved towards qingzhou with an overwhelming presence. their advance was like a fierce blade slicing the horizon, evoking both dread and awe among all who witnessed it. ¡­ at that moment, startling news swept across great you, overshadowing even the quick mobilization of the six royal clans. an elderly man, bearing a striking resemblance to a past emperor, carried the weight of the entire capital on his journey towards qingzhou. Chapter 655 - 655 Carrying the Entire City on His Back! 655 carrying the entire city on his back! the three kings looked up in astonishment at the old man effortlessly holding up the imperial city. they were visibly shaken. ¡°ancestor, have you lost your mind?¡± one cried out, disbelief evident in his voice. ¡°by killing us, you¡¯re declaring war on the six royal clans!¡± king sanjian¡¯s voice was filled with raw emotion, ¡°if you can promise me another hundred years of life, then i¡¯m prepared to meet my end. i have accepted my fate.¡± he continued, ¡°however, your current actions are plunging the dragon clan into danger. once you¡¯re gone, our clan¡¯s extinction will be imminent!¡± tiger slayer king took a moment to collect himself, then said, ¡°ancestor, we can overlook this if you stop now. while we can¡¯t promise that the dragon clan will have equal standing to the six royal clans, we can ensure its dominance over all other clans.¡± despite their earnest appeals, it was clear to them that the balance of power had shifted. no matter their status or strength, in front of this elderly figure who was once deemed the world¡¯s most formidable, they were merely helpless children. the old man replied calmly, ¡°each of you kings is astute, and i am no different. your words won¡¯t deceive me.¡± their faces turned deathly pale. laughing with an edge of desperation, tiger slayer king said, ¡°even if you kill us now, i believe this is the limit of your strength. without your guardianship, the dragon clan will be doomed. the qingzhou alliance you¡¯ve put your faith in will face the same fate!¡± the old man, floating above, didn¡¯t reply. he instead let out a resonating dragon roar. it seemed as though a true dragon soared above, diving menacingly toward the three kings below. they unleashed their own powers in defense, a surge of energy erupting from them. yet, before their power could fully manifest, it was obliterated by the overwhelming force of the dragon. in moments, the once formidable army of the six royal clans was decimated by the old man¡¯s prowess. a sheer display of unmatched strength. observers from various factions, who had been watching from a distance, were left in shock. the scene was forever etched in their memories. qin huai and his comrades were equally taken aback. they had mentally prepared to face this world-renowned figure and the elite army of the royal clans, even accepting the possibility of their end. yet, they hadn¡¯t anticipated this outcome: the old man defending the imperial city and single-handedly defeating the alliance of the six royal clans. the group turned to qin huai, seeking guidance. eyes fixed on the unfolding scene, qin huai murmured, ¡°it seems the old man has decided to place his bets on us.¡± memories flooded back, particularly of a young companion he once knew in the spirit world. he speculated, ¡°that youngster must be the current emperor of great you.¡± it had never occurred to qin huai that a casual meeting from the past could lead to such profound consequences in the present. ¡°life truly is full of surprises,¡± he remarked, reflecting on the unpredictability of fate. from his reaction, fang huo and the others deduced that qin huai and the dragon clan had shared some prior communication. they marveled, ¡°the alliance master¡¯s history is like something out of a dream. that even this venerable old man was influenced by him.¡± their voices were filled with wonder, and they longed to hear the full story. yet, the pressing situation meant it wasn¡¯t the time for tales. the sight of the old man, once again directing the imperial capital their way, was imposing. despite the growing certainty that he was an ally, his immense aura and dramatic gestures were daunting. even the most gifted individuals of their generation couldn¡¯t help but wear apprehensive looks on their faces. the sprawling shadow of the imperial city loomed overhead. undeterred, qin huai unfurled his wings, gradually ascending to meet the old man. as he did, turbulent winds and waves of energy threatened to overpower him. yet, qin huai moved forward unshaken, a faint black glow emanating from his eyes and an unseen force emanating from within him. it was reminiscent of a small boat weathering a mighty storm ¨C vulnerable, yet resolute. when qin huai finally stood before the old man, he was greeted with a comment: ¡°as expected, the might of an emperor.¡± the old man¡¯s eyes bore into him, reflecting a myriad of emotions. qin huai responded candidly, ¡°in east qingzhou, the dragon clan neither holds privilege nor faces discrimination.¡± the old man laughed heartily, conceding to qin huai¡¯s terms without hesitation. ¡°very well, ensure a future for my dragon descendants.¡± their exchange was brief, yet meaningful. both being perceptive, they understood each other¡¯s motives without needing many words. casting his gaze towards the nine dragons sect, the old man commented, ¡°such potent true dragon qi.¡± qin huai, taken aback by this observation, followed the old man¡¯s line of sight to behold the majestic true dragon of fate that rose high into the heavens. ¡°i shall lend my assistance once more,¡± the old man announced as he moved past qin huai and the others. he made his way to the edge of east qingzhou, where he gently placed the entire imperial city. boom! the ground trembled, and a cloud of dust billowed, signaling the city¡¯s final relocation. almost immediately, the walls of the newly situated imperial city bore mysterious runes, indicative of a transformed protective formation. this city was now a formidable fortress, poised to repel any adversaries that might threaten east qingzhou. Chapter 656 - 656 Entering the King Realm 656 entering the king realm the old man hovered above the imperial city. below, foreign inhabitants had already vacated, leaving only the dragon clan members. he declared, ¡°descendants of the dragon clan, from now on, east qingzhou is your homeland. pledge allegiance to it. once i pass on, you won¡¯t be of the dragon clan, but people of qingzhou. should anyone betray qingzhou, our clan leader can execute them as per our ancestral code. conduct yourselves with honor and humility. we started as common beings and to that state, we return.¡± his message, though plain, held profound weight. on the ground, the dragon clan members mourned deeply, their cries echoing throughout the city. their anguish was palpable ¡ª they foresaw the inevitable. suddenly, a desperate shout pierced the air, ¡°the patriarch is fading!¡± all eyes turned upwards, watching as the old man¡¯s figure became more translucent with each passing moment. to qin huai, the old man seemed to dissolve into tiny particles, spreading across east qingzhou. qin huai pondered, thinking of qingzhou¡¯s legacy and its bright future. with the convergence of two eminent forces upon qingzhou, it was poised for a renaissance. le ji¡¯an remarked, ¡°qingzhou is set to prosper.¡± ¡°yes, qingzhou will be incomparably resplendent!¡± fang huo¡¯s face was flushed with excitement as he exclaimed. as those around him shared in the sentiment, xiang mingfeng offered a reality check, ¡°provided we withstand the impending attacks.¡± despite their recent victory against the alliance of the six royal clans, and with the dragon emperor now gone, significant threats remained. the lingering power of the royal clans and the ominous sacred heart sect were shadows on their horizon. ¡°we must expedite our plans,¡± qin huai said, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the old man¡¯s silhouette vanished. ¡°farewell, patriarch!¡± the collective voices of the dragon clan rang out, paying homage to their departing leader. ¡­ inside the imperial city, qin huai walked the streets. grief was evident on the faces of those he passed ¡ª many knelt in mourning, too consumed by their sorrow to rise. undeterred, qin huai pressed on, until a rotund man, adorned in a python robe, staggered toward him. ¡°long cang greets alliance master!¡± the middle-aged man greeted qin huai, giving him a respectful bow. qin huai responded in kind, ¡°greetings, senior prince qing cang.¡± ¡°please, drop the formalities,¡± prince qing cang said with a light chuckle. ¡°didn¡¯t the ancestor just declare that we are now simple citizens of east qingzhou?¡± it was clear that prince qing cang relished this newfound status. to many, royal lineage was enviable, but for him, it had always been a heavy mantle. but with this new identity came certain costs. ¡°now, being the only prince here, i offer my aid. should you face the six clans, three sects, or the sacred heart sect, call on me. they have a score to settle with my clan,¡± he declared. the dragon clan had always hoped for a unified world, an egalitarian society. but external influences and the might of the entrenched six royal clans disrupted that vision. prince qing cang added, ¡°i have a request.¡± qin huai nodded for him to continue, suspecting he knew what was coming. ¡°my daughter,¡± prince qing cang began, ¡°i wish for her to join the qingzhou alliance. she possesses skills but lacks real-world experience. her innocence worries me. in hindsight, i¡¯ve been too protective.¡± ¡°so, you¡¯d like her to gain experience outside your watchful eye?¡± qin huai questioned. ¡°couldn¡¯t you, with your prowess, covertly keep her safe?¡± prince qing cang¡¯s eyes reflected a father¡¯s pain. ¡°i just¡­ can¡¯t bear to see her face danger.¡± understanding the depth of a parent¡¯s love, qin huai nodded. ¡°she may not join the qingzhou alliance immediately, but she can follow them. however, i can¡¯t promise her complete safety.¡± ¡°that¡¯s understandable,¡± prince qing cang conceded, trying to mask his anxiety. ¡°in life, some things are simply out of our control.¡± as their conversation wound down, a statuesque young woman in a shimmering, scale-patterned dress approached them. ¡°father, thank you,¡± she said before turning to qin huai. ¡°i am long pingjing, and i greet you, alliance master qin.¡± her gaze fixed intently on qin huai, the renowned prodigy of their age. ¡°do your best,¡± qin huai advised, knowing the treacherous path she was keen to tread upon. with a bow, long pingjing responded, ¡°thank you, alliance master.¡± but when she looked up, qin huai had already disappeared from sight. ¡­ inside the imperial palace, within the confines of the royal study, qin huai made his entrance, and not a soul attempted to halt his progress. ¡°we meet again,¡± he declared, setting eyes on the young emperor before him. ¡°long kang greets alliance master qin!¡± long kang replied, showing respect, a departure from the demeanor one might expect from an emperor. but then, long before he assumed the throne, the rulers of great you were mere figureheads, confined to their palace, looked down upon by the masses. qin huai bowed in kind, ¡°qin huai greets your majesty.¡± long kang was then handed a distinctive piece of armor, the multicolored dragon-scale armor from the bronze world. taking it, he said with nostalgia, ¡°a few years feels like a lifetime. who would¡¯ve thought our fates would intertwine so beneficially.¡± gazing intently at qin huai, long kang made a commitment, ¡°dragon city shall stand as the guardian of qingzhou¡¯s gates!¡± a pledge, signaling the dragon clan¡¯s intent to unify with qingzhou. he went on to share the current strength of the dragon clan. apart from prince qing cang, the lone prince, only a few others remained, including his daughter, long pingjing, prince bai liu, two eunuchs from the palace, and a secret guards¡¯ general. the dragon clan, once so majestic, was reduced to these few, a situation more pitiable than the once-decimated kun peng clan. the reason for the dragon clan¡¯s decline was attributed to a combination of the past emperors¡¯ greed, powerful local forces, and perhaps, the theory that the emperor¡¯s fortune was consuming the clan¡¯s vitality. ¡­ qin huai and long kang delved deep into ancient tomes for three days and nights. the old records opened qin huai¡¯s eyes to the hidden truths of their world. emerging from the study, qin huai found solace atop the palace roof, assuming a meditative posture amidst the chilling winds. an overwhelming power emanated from him, surrounding the air in palpable tension. he recalled and invoked various powerful cultivation techniques, pushing each to its limit, causing his body to illuminate from within, its energy coursing fervently. inside him, treasures of great power stirred and resonated, channeling a vast reservoir of energy through him. as this energy surged, myriad patterns and pathways illuminated the darkness, weaving themselves into a magnificent net. and with that, a spiritual altar awakened ¨C the rise of a new king. Chapter 657 - 657 Domain: Dynasty! 657 domain: dynasty! the old man¡¯s assault had been the final catalyst, breaking the last barrier hindering qin huai¡¯s ascent to the king realm. an overwhelming force erupted from his core. inside qin huai¡¯s consciousness, the inky black throne elevated, its foundation radiating a mesmerizing celestial glow. as qin huai perceived his surroundings, every detail was heightened. observing a simple tree felt like understanding its very core. he felt an attuned connection to the world around him, as if he could perceive all with his eyes sealed. this was the awakening of a king¡¯s profound senses. at the same time, a purification process began within his bones, expelling impurities and rendering them as transparent as crystal. a wave of indescribable emotion welled up in him. suddenly, before qin huai, a mountain seemingly sprouted from the earth. a tranquil stream flowed at its base. compelled, he reached out, feeling the genuine essence of the world, far more tangible than the bronze world had ever been. but soon, his thoughts swirled again, conjuring an immense earth dragon tearing through the land, its mighty roar echoing dominance. boom! from the disrupted waters, a gargantuan figure emerged, possessing power comparable to an elite visceral prefecture realm warrior. as qin huai¡¯s thoughts continued to meander, the landscape morphed around him. he realized that these transformations bore the marks of his practiced techniques. within this realm, he wielded unparalleled control. he had the power to sculpt the land, to call forth formidable entities. while the black dragon world epitomized decay, qin huai¡¯s newly forged king domain symbolized creation and vitality. in this space, life and demise were interchangeable, all dictated by his will. ¡°dynasty,¡± qin huai whispered, christening his newfound domain. his path towards imperial ascendancy became clear. the duality of existence, life and death, now seamlessly blended in his grasp. pondering his newfound power, he questioned, ¡°can i now create a king?¡± as qin huai thought about it, his stamina began to decrease rapidly. blood qi swirled before him, with countless vibrant strands of life energy illuminating the surroundings. the entire area quaked under the weight of a powerful king¡¯s aura. out of this energy, a humanoid beast materialized and knelt before qin huai. a formidable presence emanated from this silent colossus. observing the beast, qin huai sensed an abundance of power within him. ¡°i can make another one.¡± from the ground arose a second king, this time a majestic dragon. its body formed from mountains and rivers, while its eyes shone with a bloody gleam. the ancient dragon hovered in mid-air. awe filled qin huai. he had just entered the king realm, and he already possessed the ability to forge kings. future battles appeared promising. with three kings by his side, his enemies would struggle against him. and with his impressive combat prowess amplified by these three domains, matching him in battle would be a tall order for anyone. ¡°i have a king corpse too,¡± qin huai mused. bringing forth the king corpse, he observed his trio of kings. the two newly created beings exhibited their own battle awareness, wielding divine abilities without his intervention. ¡°very good,¡± qin huai expressed, contentedly. from this point, he was both a sect and a formidable power. suddenly, a surge of power and knowledge flowed within him. this was the residual energy from his past battles in the secret realm of pingwang county. now, with his advancement into the king realm, this energy was unleashed. he sat down, focusing on assimilating it. ¡­ news of qin huai¡¯s victory against the allied army of the six royal clans, as well as the fact that the imperial capital was guarding the borders of qingzhou quickly spread. this devastating loss enraged the families. they lost three kings, multiple elders, and thousands of their elite. the depth of this loss was immeasurable. even these influential families felt its sting. gathered urgently, representatives of the six royal clans deliberated their next move. the mood was tense. ¡°originally, our plan was to overthrow the qingzhou alliance and then target the three sects,¡± one elder commented bitterly. ¡°since things have come to this, we should be thinking about what to do next. we must take revenge for this humiliation!¡± the man who spoke made the hall fall into a short silence. he was the brother of the fallen king sanjian, known as king eight supremes. his status was notable, second only to the leader of the nine supremes clan. his family¡¯s influence had grown so much that they overshadowed the main lineage. their rise would have shaken the foundation of their clan, if not for a powerful ally they had. surprised murmurs echoed as many voiced their shock over the recent betrayal by one of their own. ¡°who would have thought that that old fellow would do such a crazy thing!¡± ¡°that¡¯s right. killing a fellow clansman to protect an outsider is simply deceiving his ancestors!¡± ¡°we must also deal with that dragon clan,¡± another elder added. ¡°that¡¯s why we¡¯re gathered here,¡± the central figure, the leader of the black tortoise clan, said. Chapter 658 - 658 The Sacred Heart Sects Army 658 the sacred heart sect¡¯s army he was the most respected person in the room. even within the six royal clans, the black tortoise clan held immense influence, surpassed only by the white tiger clan. everyone regarded him as their leader. the black tortoise clan¡¯s leader spoke up, ¡°enough of these trivial complaints.¡± a silence enveloped the meeting hall. the grand elder of the white tiger clan then proposed, ¡°i suggest we form an alliance with the three sects, as well as the sacred heart sect.¡± all eyes turned to him. ¡°why would the three sects ally with us? the sacred heart sect aside, haven¡¯t we seen enough of the humans¡¯ frailties over the years?¡± the elder from the white tiger clan retorted with a cold smirk, ¡°didn¡¯t we exploit the divisions amongst the three sects when the eight royal clans ventured into great you? if not, power would have been split evenly.¡± whispers filled the room before a consensus was reached. ¡°the current qingzhou alliance has that elder¡¯s blessings and the qingzhou emperor¡¯s protection. they could well dominate great you in the future. none of us, including the three sects and the sacred heart sect, would want that.¡± the elder¡¯s words resonated with everyone. the black tortoise clan¡¯s leader then stated, ¡°we should consider this alliance. if i¡¯m right, qin huai of the qingzhou alliance is the one who thwarted our plans in the spirit world and killed our kin in pingwang¡¯s secret realm.¡± heads nodded in agreement. their suspicions about qin huai had now turned into convictions. the dragon clan joining forces with the qingzhou alliance signaled something significant. and they believed only someone who had consistently been a thorn in the side of the six royal clans, like qin huai, would have such influence. ¡°that qin huai has the makings of an emperor,¡± remarked the black tortoise clan leader, his eyes flashing with determination. ¡­ west cauldron state, at the sacred heart sect¡¯s main base. a dark ancient cauldron sat atop a furnace, its bubbling contents resembling blood, casting unsettling, crimson waves. from above, it was evident that countless such cauldrons dotted the entire wasteland. a young man in white stood atop a mountain peak. he mused, ¡°i had considered the qingzhou alliance¡¯s elites harnessing their full potential against the six royal clans. i imagined they¡¯d evacuate their main members from qingzhou. i even pictured someone breaking into the king realm, continuing the qingzhou emperor¡¯s legacy. what i hadn¡¯t foreseen was that elder using his final moments to resolve the crisis in qingzhou.¡± behind him, a group of people in blood-red robes stood solemnly, absorbing his words. the intimidating aura emanating from him caused the very atmosphere to feel icy. birds, sensing this overpowering presence, would alter their paths to avoid flying within several miles of him. this man in white was not only renowned but also an enigma. he was the master of the sacred heart sect. a man in a blood-red robe knelt behind him, announcing, ¡°master, the six royal clans are here.¡± ¡°they wish to ally with us against the qingzhou alliance?¡± questioned the sect master. ¡°precisely, master. it aligns with your foresight,¡± replied the man. ¡°qin huai has taken the lives of both the beast king and the white-robed king. we must seek vengeance!¡± the group behind him echoed in agreement, ¡°indeed, master!¡± the sacred heart sect¡¯s master cast a pointed look at the speaker. the man blushed, rendered mute. he was acutely aware of his inferiority to qin huai, who had already eliminated two key guardians of their sect. the sacred heart sect¡¯s legacy spanned years, always being the dominant force that others feared. they never imagined being bested by someone so young, let alone losing two of their strongest members to him. facing the might of qin huai and the qingzhou alliance¡¯s prodigies, the group hesitated, struggling to voice their thoughts. then, from the horizon, a powerful energy resonated throughout the wasteland. it rivaled the strength of the white tiger clan¡¯s innate abilities. the man, with his wild hair and blood-red eyes, emanated a formidable aura that made even those behind the sect master shield their eyes. he was the blood sea king, also known as the guardian within the sacred heart sect. his reputation was that of a one-man army, leaving no survivors in his wake, even sparing none amongst allies. due to his ruthless nature, few knew of his existence, and even the sacred heart sect members preferred to keep their distance. the sect master gestured to him, ¡°go. when you reach qingzhou, there¡¯s no need for a direct confrontation with the qingzhou alliance. simply exterminate them. cripple qingzhou¡¯s fortune and scatter its spiritual energy.¡± ¡°understood!¡± the blood sea king acknowledged with cupped fists. ¡­ at east qingzhou, members of the qingzhou alliance stood atop the city gate tower. alongside them was a familiar figure in daoist robes, displaying a wry smile: zhang youji. ¡°the six royal clans have dispatched three royal kings, each leading an army of ten thousand, towards the cyan plains,¡± he reported. ¡°meanwhile, the three sects aim to strike as well. they might be trying to relieve pressure on the qingzhou alliance by doing so, avoiding a direct attack and distracting us.¡± zhang youji relayed this information confidently, sounding almost as if he was reciting a rehearsed script. zhang youji paused briefly before proceeding, ¡°truth be told, the other two sects might just stand by, waiting to see the outcome between the two conflicting sides. such thoughts have been voiced even within our true path sect.¡± he remarked, ¡°their strategy of attacking the enemy¡¯s unguarded vital spots first sounds better than it is in practice.¡± ¡°the real reason for my visit is to help you¡­¡± zhang youji candidly disclosed the strategies of the three sects. such tactics certainly weren¡¯t to his liking. though couched in noble terms, the actions of the three sects seemed rather small-minded this time. regardless of their reasons, it was the qingzhou alliance and qin huai who had disrupted their plans for great you. their deeds were vital for the resurgence of the three sects and the whole human race. such methods felt profoundly wrong. ¡°we appreciate your honesty, zhang daozi,¡± xiang mingfeng acknowledged with a bow, followed by the others. they valued zhang youji¡¯s intentions. right now, qingzhou desperately needed all the strength it could muster. ¡°is brother qin still in seclusion?¡± zhang youji inquired. gou jie answered cautiously, ¡°alliance master¡¯s current seclusion is critical. we wouldn¡¯t dare to disturb him.¡± however, everyone understood that qin huai was on the brink of ascending to the king realm. recently, an unusual phenomenon had indicated as much. it was an aura bursting with life, drawing numerous creatures towards it. ¡°we¡¯ll have to hold the fort,¡± they declared with serious expressions. . the previous intervention by the dragon clan¡¯s ancestor had turned the tide, vanquishing the three kings. this time, the responsibility lay squarely on their shoulders. the relentless pressure from the six royal clans weighed on them. ¡°it¡¯s always the final battle,¡± fang huo mused. ¡°once i ascend to kinghood, i¡¯ll have them right at my doorstep and teach them a lesson!¡± boom! suddenly, a surge of red filled the horizon from the west of qingzhou, casting an ominous hue. the pressure from this phenomenon was palpable, even from miles away. a black eagle darted through the sky, landing in gou jie¡¯s grasp. ¡°it¡¯s the sacred heart sect! they¡¯re slaughtering the city!¡± the revelation sent shockwaves among them. almost immediately, zhang youji activated a talisman. gou jie¡¯s fingers bled as the yin-yang diagram and a blood mirror manifested. the two energies merged, revealing an image. ¡°it¡¯s a prominent figure from the sacred heart sect!¡± ¡°and he¡¯s alone!¡± they concluded in disbelief. the situation grew direr. the forthcoming confrontation would likely require immense resources, especially with the army of the three kings approaching. before the battle even began, they could sense the encroaching desperation. they felt stretched too thin, even for beings of their stature. ¡°we¡¯ll handle the sacred heart sect¡¯s king,¡± someone proposed. just then, a familiar voice chimed in, ¡°leave this to me.¡± emerging from the shadows, dressed in black, was qin huai. without a word, he advanced toward the sacred heart sect¡¯s army, ready to face them head-on. Chapter 659 - 659 The Ferocious Spirit World 659 the ferocious spirit world zhang youji¡¯s eyes widened as he watched qin huai boldly advance toward the vast army of the three kings. ¡°brother qin¡­¡± ¡°the alliance master has achieved the king realm,¡± le ji¡¯an said, his tone even. ¡°we are lagging behind,¡± another added. ¡°would he be the leader if we weren¡¯t?¡± fang huo remarked with a hearty laugh, though his gaze betrayed mixed emotions. ¡°seems we need to push ourselves more.¡± saying this, he dashed toward where the king realm expert from the sacred heart sect was. le ji¡¯an and the rest promptly followed. ¡°are you all just rushing off without a plan?¡± long pingjing asked, watching the group¡¯s unwavering determination and then glancing at the formidable three-kings alliance army. ¡°they represent the might of the six grand royal clans, not just any militia¡­¡± but her cautionary words faded as even zhang youji, wearing a smile, joined the departing group. the warnings of prudence went unheeded. ¡°madmen, all of them!¡± long pingjing exclaimed, displaying a fiery spirit unlike her usual serene demeanor. eventually, she lifted herself off the ground to join the rest. alone, she¡¯d only hinder qin huai. and as for qin huai¡¯s ability to tackle such a formidable force, she declared with mixed feelings, ¡°alliance master qin is truly blessed in martial arts!¡± her voice echoed with a mix of hope and trepidation. the last thing she wanted was for qingzhou to face the fate of the imperial city. qingzhou¡¯s prospects were clear-cut. with these prodigious talents, the city would either ascend magnificently, reigning supreme or fall disastrously, devoured by the six royal clans and the ferocious sacred heart sect. from a distance, qin huai momentarily paused, reflecting, ¡°this daughter of prince qing cang is indeed a little unexpected.¡± initially, he¡¯d mistaken long pingjing for just another docile heiress. but her transformation after breaking free from prince qing cang¡¯s clutches was enlightening. a thunderous voice interrupted his musings. ¡°qin huai, instead of worrying about others, perhaps you should consider your own predicament.¡± qin huai found himself ensnared, surrounded by a multitude emanating powerful auras, their eyes sparking with electricity. the collective might of these warriors felt oppressive, like a suffocating cage. the ambiance was so dense that the very air seemed on the brink of rupturing. above, the three kings exuded a formidable presence. an array of arrows filled the sky, each targeting qin huai, causing the earth to shatter and churn beneath him. but amid the chaos and onslaught, qin huai stood unwavering, the picture of serenity. ¡°such arrogance, fitting for the top prodigy of great you,¡± the blood sea king remarked. from his mouth, a vast tide of gray, wailing souls emerged, rushing at qin huai like a cascading river. the sheer volume of spirits rapidly consumed the space around qin huai. standing his ground, a brilliant golden radiance emanated from qin huai, so luminous it resembled the sun. as the vengeful spirits collided with him, they met an unyielding force, shattering on impact. but despite this display of power, qin huai¡¯s brow creased. a mark marred the golden shield surrounding him, disintegrating over time. ¡°this is my domain: the ferocious spirit world,¡± the blood sea king boasted, a sly smirk playing on his lips. ¡°physical defenses are secondary here. my spirits can directly harm the soul!¡± ¡°your vaunted invincible vajra blood can¡¯t block my attack,¡± he taunted. they had meticulously studied qin huai¡¯s abilities before coming. those selected to confront him were specifically chosen to counter his powers. their mission, although extreme, was simple: eliminate qin huai. every other consideration, including qingzhou and the dragon clan¡¯s imperial capital, was secondary to this goal. with a gesture, qin huai summoned the king corpse. muscles bulging and blood coursing, it stood as a barrier against the relentless spirits. devoid of a soul itself, the corpse was an ideal counter against the blood sea king¡¯s domain. yet, its reign was short-lived. another figure, cloaked in flaming robes, intervened. purple flames swiftly enveloped the corpse, immobilizing its blood sea technique. amidst the purple blaze, the corpse, now awash in golden blood, was further entrapped by a collective cry. ¡°phoenix cry, requiem!¡± a horde of demons chorused. their voices weaved a spell, paralyzing the corpse mid-air. it seemed as if its very bones were resonating, about to fracture. free from hindrance, the vengeful spirits once again veered toward qin huai. the orchestrated sequence of attacks revealed the opponents¡¯ thorough preparation. ¡°display your true power, qin huai,¡± one of them taunted. ¡°challenging our mighty army solo, you¡¯ve surely attained the king realm by now. show us the kind of domain the number one prodigy has.¡± Chapter 660 - Chapter 660: Surrounded! chapter 660: surrounded! translator: endlessfantasy translation| editor: endlessfantasy translation a man with a strikingly ugly face spoke up. it was clear that he was the leader of the qiongqi clan. rather than becoming more refined upon entering the king realm, his features grew even more unusual. his muscles seemed disconnected, giving the appearance of gaping mouths that flexed and writhed. their confidence was apparent, and rightly so. with three king realm experts and thousands of elite warriors who had researched qin huai¡¯s abilities thoroughly, they were a force to be reckoned with. such meticulous preparation was reminiscent of the approach taken centuries ago against a king from the buddhist sect, one who sought to establish the imperial road. ¡°sure, i¡¯ll show you,¡± qin huai said. with those words, an intangible gust swept across the land. the blood sea king, purple flame king, and the qiongqi clan¡¯s leader stared in disbelief as three blood-red blades erupted around them. the atmosphere grew thick with the scent of impending doom. screams echoed as the blades tore through the surroundings. while the three kings managed to evade the attacks, many from the six royal clans were not so fortunate. they were killed instantly. ¡°is his domain similar to that of the white-robed king, one of the sacred heart sect¡¯s four guardians?¡± pondered the blood sea king. ¡°it¡¯s quicker, more lethal,¡± the qiongqi clan leader agreed, noting that qin huai¡¯s strikes seemed to originate from within them, almost undetectably. the gathered elders were visibly anxious. unlike the kings, they lacked the keen perception to anticipate and evade qin huai¡¯s domain, making them vulnerable targets. ¡°the sacred heart sect¡¯s blood heart technique¡­ that¡¯s what you¡¯re using,¡± the blood sea king observed, his voice laced with concern. he wondered if qin huai was a covert agent of the sacred heart sect and if this entire scenario was a well-orchestrated trap. qin huai¡¯s audacity in facing such a massive army alone, coupled with his decision to send away his trusted allies, seemed almost too brazen to be genuine. the three kings exchanged uneasy glances. the sacred heart sect was notorious for its cunning schemes and willingness to go to extreme lengths to achieve its aims. ¡°let¡¯s take it one step at a time!¡± the clan leader exclaimed, emphasizing the importance of hierarchy and territories. ¡°seal!¡± he commanded, and the strange, mouth-like flesh on his body animated, becoming a broad open doorway. qin huai felt his boundless blood world starting to fade. it wasn¡¯t just disappearing, it was being restrained. he turned his attention to the clan leader and noticed faint blood lines being consumed by the seal. an ability to seal away someone¡¯s domain? qin huai instantly realized the clan leader¡¯s technique. a domain that could neutralize an opponent¡¯s domain? it was a strong move, granting a significant advantage to those proficient in the visceral prefecture realm. especially when teaming up with allies, its impact could be immense against mighty kings. no wonder the three kings were so sure of their victory. the clan leader smirked. ¡°now, all you have left is your skeletal king form.¡± the numerous grotesque mouths on his body shut, restoring his usual appearance. ¡°rumors say your physical prowess is unparalleled in your realm. let¡¯s see if you can breach this huge attack using just that.¡± the blood sea king maintained a steady pace, every development unfolding as they¡¯d anticipated. they believed they had anticipated qin huai¡¯s every action and strategy. or perhaps, qin huai had grown overly confident, feeling invincible due to his acclaim. ¡°no person, no matter how strong, is truly unbeatable,¡± he mused. ¡°remember the once invincible dragon clan emperor? even he met his end here. and the emperor of qingzhou from ages past? he remained confined to qingzhou, never daring to venture beyond.¡± as the blood sea king approached qin huai, an overpowering intent to kill radiated from him. with each step, the wails of countless spirits, akin to war drums, amplified his presence. suddenly¡­ ¡°evil ghost hell!¡± the ground beneath qin huai splintered. a vast, bloody maw emerged from the depths, threatening to consume him. however, the roar of a white tiger echoed, its power momentarily halting the spirits. a phantom of the white tiger burst from qin huai, devouring the malicious spirits. both tigers clashed, energy radiating from their confrontation and scorching miles of the land. forced to fall back repeatedly, the six royal clans¡¯ elites expanded their circle, trying to maintain their formation. they were left with no choice but to defend. the intense gusts sliced some demons in half, their blood spewing forth and enhancing the power of the tiger. meanwhile, the purple flame king, closing in on qin huai, stopped. his searing purple flames were kept at bay by the phoenix fire and the black tortoise, pinning him momentarily. many demons, recovering from the forceful winds, stared in awe at the figures surrounding qin huai: azure dragon, black tortoise, phoenix, white tiger, and nine neonate. these were the shadows of the eight royal clans, emitting an undeniable, fearsome aura. even the clan leader¡¯s seal seemed to waver in their presence. the ¡°eight vicious war domain¡± was recognized by the clan leader. ¡°it¡¯s the sacred heart sect¡¯s beast king¡¯s domain!¡± he exclaimed. being familiar with the sacred heart sect, he knew the might of their four great guardians. the realization that this was a second domain, and also from the sacred heart sect, deeply puzzled him. ¡°who are you, really?¡± the three kings began suspecting that qin huai was an agent of the sacred heart sect. overwhelmed by this theory, they overlooked the extraordinary feat of a warrior possessing two distinct king domains. yet, given qin huai¡¯s reputation as a prodigious talent, this ¡°rule-breaking¡± felt plausible. ¡°you might even surpass the sacred heart sect¡¯s holy son,¡± the blood sea king remarked begrudgingly. ¡°perhaps the holy son was just a placeholder for qin huai,¡± theorized the purple flame king. ¡°whoever he is, he cannot be allowed to survive!¡± the clan leader roared. ¡°let¡¯s stop speculating and finish this!¡± as he spoke, the grotesque mouths on his body reopened, drawing upon an immense suction power, aiming to consume qin huai¡¯s eight vicious war domain. the eight beastly figures began distorting as they were gradually consumed by the clan leader. however, this exertion was clearly taxing. blood seeped from him, bleeding profusely. ¡°i can¡¯t maintain this for long!¡± he shouted in distress. the purple flame king was enveloped in his signature flames, while the blood sea king summoned an army of spirits as if from the very depths of hell. ¡°everyone, join forces!¡± commanded the blood sea king, raising his arm. ¡°we¡¯ll leverage our numbers to overpower him.¡± qin huai, surveying his enemies, retorted, ¡°numbers? you think you have the upper hand in numbers? perhaps not in the king realm¡­¡± Chapter 661 - Chapter 661: Surrounded by a Single Person chapter 661: surrounded by a single person translator: endlessfantasy translation | editor: endlessfantasy translation the three kings eyed qin huai¡¯s composed demeanor, suppressing chuckles. logic suggested that qin huai might have lost his mind. the notion that qingzhou, viewed as barren lands, could produce numerous geniuses over centuries was laughable. historically, they hadn¡¯t given much importance to qingzhou. it was only when they searched for the qingzhou alliance that they were caught off guard, realizing they had underestimated the place. yet, the serene expression on qin huai¡¯s face made them question, ¡°could he possibly possess a third domain?¡± as blood seeped from the clan leader, he pondered the significance of a king domain. domains were near-magical powers that defied the comprehension of regular warriors. they were the epitome of the extraordinary, with abilities that appeared godlike to mortals. the three kings probed their surroundings, only to find a vast expanse of desolation. within miles, only qin huai stood. ¡°it¡¯s a ruse! kill him quickly!¡± one of them shouted. yet the following instant, the world transformed. barren lands gave way to rising mountains, rivers flowed, and birds sang. ¡°is this an illusion?¡± they speculated. yet soon, they were overcome by dread. the clan leader, fueled by fury and alarm, threw a desperate punch, only to be overwhelmed by an enormous shadow. bang! as dust settled, the clan leader was left gasping in a pool of his own blood, gazing in disbelief at a towering giant that eclipsed the sky. this colossal being, teeming with flora and fauna, seemed the very essence of the earth¡¯s spirit, radiating an ancient, potent aura. ¡°what the hell is that?¡± the clan leader whispered. the purple flame king and blood sea king were equally besieged. a blood-formed humanoid beast locked in combat with the blood sea king, every strike packing a force surpassing that of regular king realm entities. this entity, pure combat instinct incarnate, notably diminished his spirit power. as for the purple flame king, even before he could act, a serpent shadow coiled around him. intense dragon breath scorched him, igniting his purple flames into an even fiercer blaze, as if confronting a formidable foe. ¡°another king¡­ where is he getting such reinforcements?¡± the three kings voiced their shock. elders from the six royal clans looked on, flabbergasted. they backed away repeatedly, their once imposing formation seeming fragile. approaching the center meant certain death. the situation had shifted dramatically. what started as a siege now resembled a clash of titans. the elders felt sidelined, their participation now mostly symbolic. and the elites who had followed these elders? their sole concern became survival. previously, thousands had surrounded a single man, qin huai. now, the tables had turned, with three kings pitted against four king realm experts. the dominant position the six royal clans once boasted vanished instantly. furthermore, an already strained clan leader, having sealed two domains consecutively, faced mounting pressure. even as the two kings battled monstrous foes, the clan leader felt the weight of his position. all he could do was witness the previously ¡®sealed¡¯ king corpse rejuvenate, its once-dimmed vitality roaring back. the surrounding blood sea re-emerged, with the king bone shining brightly once again. to his dismay, qin huai now stood unchallenged. this lone man seemed to have the upper hand against the combined forces of three kings. if word of this got out, it would sound absurd. yet, this unbelievable scenario unfolded right before their eyes, a constant threat to their existence. suddenly, the clan leader felt a gusting wind. a fist, powered by a surging energy, headed straight for him. instinctively, he raised his hand to deflect the blow. bang! the impact was immediate: blood sprayed as chunks of his flesh tore away. the king corpse, bizarrely, now had four arms. it wielded them frenetically, its movements betraying a frantic desperation. ¡°quite impressive. among the six royal clans, i¡¯ve never seen a physique like yours,¡± qin huai remarked coldly. though the clan leader¡¯s domain power enhanced his physical body, making it abnormally resilient and making the seal more formidable, he felt no pride. in front of qin huai, he realized that his physical prowess provided no edge. empowered by the dragon bones, qin huai¡¯s strikes matched the might of ancient beasts. Chapter 662 - Chapter 662: Killing Three Kings Alone! chapter 662: killing three kings alone! translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation this was the true form of the eight royal clans. with qin huai¡¯s four-armed puppet that has the power of a king realm expert by his side, it seemed inevitable that a king would soon fall. ¡°help me!¡± the clan leader, spewing blood, called out. he couldn¡¯t fend off qin huai¡¯s relentless pursuit any longer. if he didn¡¯t cry for help now, it¡¯d be too late. however, the situation wasn¡¯t much better for the other two kings. both the blood sea king and the purple flame king struggled mightily against their opponents. the mountain giant and the true dragon, relying on their raw power and combat instincts, were masterfully splitting and pinning them down. ¡°this is too much!¡± the blood sea king yelled, ripping his left arm off. remarkably, as the arm floated in the air, it transformed into a formidable king bone spear. wrapped in a ferocious spirit, the blood sea king¡¯s combative prowess surged. suddenly, the tides of his duel with the mountain giant seemed to turn. although qin huai¡¯s domain showed immense power, it was still a notch below the full might of a king¡¯s domain. such kings had faced countless challenges and harbored many unique abilities. similarly, the purple flame king¡¯s defensive aura began to darken, its power intensifying, leaving the true dragon¡¯s onslaughts disoriented. however, all three kings sensed a problem. they felt as if an unseen force was sapping their strength. but there was no time to think about it. they had to break free to rescue their fellow king. as the battle raged on, qin huai¡¯s strikes grew sharper, his power appearing to overflow, targeting the enemies incessantly. blood-colored energy emanated from him as the collision of various domains caused turmoil in the surroundings. suddenly, he received multiple notifications: ¡°ding! fragment of [ferocious spirit world] collected. current count: (1/100)!¡± ¡°ding! fragment of [sealed territory] collected. current count: (1/100)!¡± ¡°ding! fragment of [purple flame realm] collected. current count: (1/100)!¡± this influx of information gave qin huai a basic grasp of the three kings¡¯ domains. beneath a shadowy throne, three more dim lights illuminated. bang! then, abruptly, qin huai stopped his attacks. the clan leader, taken aback, continued to launch his punches. the sudden gap left him bewildered, with no chance to evade the impending doom. without warning, qin huai threw a powerful punch! no wind, just a sudden appearance of a black sphere in front of him. it immediately consumed and obliterated everything in its proximity. silent yet immensely potent. the clan leader couldn¡¯t even let out a scream before half of his body was consumed by its energy. within that destructive force, he recognized the black flames, the ghosts he had once heard of, and the familiar sealing power. yet, the pure chaos contained within this force was like none he had ever experienced. blood gushed from the clan leader¡¯s mouth, not in torrents but steadily, from a ghastly wound on his body. along with it, two types of sealed domain powers leaked. ¡°it¡¯s over¡­¡± the emperor lamented, casting a sorrowful gaze towards the youthful face floating in the air: qin huai. behind qin huai, the eight vicious beasts loomed large, with what seemed like a million vengeful spirits, ready to strike. these spirits, under his control, were a formidable army. ¡°a once-in-ten-thousand-years monster,¡± the king whispered, looking at qin huai¡¯s fluid movements. without notice, blades formed of blood materialized, slicing through him. the relentless force pushed him down, sapping what was left of his strength. suddenly, notifications rang out: ¡°ding! you¡¯ve acquired a [territory sphere: seal domain]!¡± ¡°[domain sphere]: unleashes the domain¡¯s maximum power upon activation and explodes. if possessing a similar domain, it can be used as an upgrade material (single-use).¡± ¡°ding! your vitality has significantly increased!¡± ¡°ding! you¡¯ve acquired [qiongqi ferocious beast origin] xl.¡± as notifications continued, it was evident that the fall of a king, particularly from the eight royal clans, brought a wealth of rewards. with the clan leader¡¯s demise, the force suppressing qin huai shattered. energy coursed through him, empowering the eight ferocious beasts, which charged, decimating the elite of the six royal clans with ease. this tactic, originally developed to counter the eight royal clans, had become an asset for qin huai. against the might of the eight beasts, the six royal clans were defenseless. the one who stood before them was akin to their ancestor. it was a one-sided massacre, making the blood sea king and the purple flame king lose hope. they were helpless witnesses to the downfall of the kings. their bleak fate seemed all but certain. the battle had shifted. qin huai and the king corpse held dominant positions, leaving the two remaining kings with no hope for a comeback. the haunting cries of the eight beasts echoed like a mournful dirge for a fallen king. the purple flame king, silent till now, gazed intently at the formidable figure before him, flanked by vengeful spirits and monstrous beasts. it seemed to him as if he was witnessing a powerful emperor leading a vast army. ¡°could this be the rebirth of a true emperor after ten thousand years?¡± he whispered. countless memories and thoughts flashed before him in a mere second. ¡°i surrender!¡± he declared, suddenly releasing a radiant purple beam. qin huai, with a hint of surprise, caught the purple light, which contained a spark of white. its potent life force resonated with something familiar. ¡°the domain¡¯s essence?¡± he wondered. he had seen something similar in the domain spheres he had obtained. but the thought that a king could produce such a thing was unexpected. ¡°you¡¯ve lost your mind!¡± the blood sea king exclaimed, anger evident in his eyes. ¡°how can you, a leader, bow down? how will you face our ancestors?¡± the purple flame king, unperturbed, responded, ¡°the tides of history are changing. we cannot resist the inevitable. the dawn of a new emperor is upon us. resisting it is futile. why not embrace the future and ensure the survival of our bloodlines? coexistence is the key. endless wars help no one.¡± all this while, qin huai observed their exchange impassively, holding the glowing purple flame delicately. the moment he grasped it, the purple flame king¡¯s vitality seemed to wane, his once blazing aura now diminished. crushing it would shatter the king¡¯s domain, reducing his powers dramatically. qin huai pondered briefly. to him, a demoted king-tier was as good as a fallen one. ¡°what about you, blood sea king? will you yield?¡± he inquired. laughing bitterly, the blood sea king replied, ¡°never! no matter your strength, you¡¯re no match for all six royal clans combined!¡± without a change in expression, qin huai simply said, ¡°such a shame.¡± taking a step, he beckoned the eight beasts, and together with the two king-tier entities and the fallen king¡¯s remains, they all descended upon the defiant blood sea king. qin huai, standing tall, silently watched the once mighty king crumble under their combined might. the alliance of three kings¡­ just a few months back, the world¡¯s top expert had defeated them. now, qin huai had achieved the same feat, all on his own.. Chapter 663 - Chapter 663: Qin Huai’s Plan chapter 663: qin huai¡¯s plan translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°ding! you have obtained [white tiger ferocious beast essence] xl.¡± ¡°ding! you picked up a [domain sphere: evil spirit nether world]!¡± ¡°[domain sphere]: when activated, it can unleash the domain¡¯s peak power and explode. if you possess the same domain, it can also serve as an upgrade component (single-use).¡± with the fall of the two kings and the sacrifice of the purple flame king, the remaining warriors from the six royal clans dispersed. yet, many more met their end at the hands of the eight vicious war domain than those who managed to flee. the king corpse might have struggled against the three kings, but he excelled at decimating these elite soldiers. everywhere he went, none could stand against him. in the mortal realm, speed was a chain the demons couldn¡¯t break, even if they gambled their lives. ¡°ding! your vitality has increased!¡± ¡°ding! your vitality has increased!¡± ¡°ding! your vitality.. as qin huai gathered the scattered experience orbs, it felt as if powerful drums were pounding within him. the pulsating rhythm of his life force was unmistakably heard by the nearby purple flame king. his eyes, filled with astonishment, locked onto the man continuously evolving amid the battle. each moment, qin huai managed to surprise him anew. from his vantage point as a king, understanding this man seemed impossible. the once formidable alliance of three kings now lay in ruins. merely a few hundred survivors remained, all elite members of the purple flame king¡¯s lineage, which represented the entirety of his clan¡¯s combat force. ¡°these are your kin?¡± qin huai turned to the purple flame king, whose eyes carried a weight of resignation. ¡°yes, alliance master,¡± the purple flame king replied earnestly. ¡°all here are direct descendants of the purple flame division.¡± scanning the assembled group, qin huai saw a mix of men, women, the young, and the old. every member of this group was prepared for battle, boasting remarkable skills. ¡°the lineage of my purple flame clan is rare, even among the eight beasts,¡± he chimed in, impressing qin huai with the clan¡¯s unique traits. ¡°however, despite our unique human form, continuing our bloodline is challenging. our numbers lag far behind other branches, and the disparity grows.¡± with a tinge of sorrow, the purple flame king added, ¡°i had hoped this battle would carve a brighter path for our future, advancing our clan¡¯s status. my aim was to consolidate power and seek a brighter destiny.¡± he paused, a bitter smile on his face, letting the unsaid words hang in the air. but qin huai grasped his meaning: the purple flame king had isolated their lineage from the phoenix clan. ¡°now that you¡¯ve pledged allegiance to qingzhou, you¡¯ll reside in the imperial city,¡± qin huai declared, determining the purple flame king¡¯s future. ¡°with both you and prince king qing cang guarding it, i trust that even if the combined forces of the six royal clans strike again, my intervention won¡¯t be necessary, right?¡± the purple flame king¡¯s mouth twitched upon hearing qin huai¡¯s words. it was evident that the leader of the qingzhou alliance intended to keep them under his thumb. not only had he risen to the king realm and controlled the power of three domains simultaneously, but he had also effortlessly held back the combined might of the three kings¡¯ army. yet, despite such an exertion, qin huai appeared to be far from his limit. biting back his retort, the purple flame king nodded in acquiescence. ¡°yes!¡± he said with a grave tone, understanding that qin huai still harbored suspicions about their loyalties. tasking them with the protection of the imperial city was, in part, a test of their allegiance using prince qing cang. but the purple flame king saw an opportunity ¡ª he wished to use the same scenario to ascertain if the qingzhou alliance¡¯s leader would realize the vision of a harmonious coexistence amongst all races, a dream the emperors of great you had once cherished. with a wistful air, the purple flame king mused that they might be witnessing a historic turning point. ¡°alliance master, you¡¯ve ascended to the mid-stage of the spiritual altar realm, haven¡¯t you?¡± qin huai replied with a quizzical tilt of his head. ¡°why do you ask?¡± ¡°domains of kings hinge on their mental energies,¡± began the purple flame king, offering an insight into the intricate workings of the king realm. ¡°regardless of one¡¯s physical prowess, there are limits to the strength and duration of the domain they can manifest. some, even after entering the spiritual altar realm, only awaken a fragmentary domain, which demands further cultivation for refinement.¡¯ the purple flame king cast a sidelong glance at qin huai, his voice tinged with reverence. ¡°given your impressive stamina in battle shortly after your ascension and your possession of three domains, you undoubtedly have profound knowledge of this realm.¡± he wanted to delve deeper into the anomaly of qin huai¡¯s three domains, but was aware of the sensitivity of such a topic. although qin huai could sense his curiosity, he remained tight-lipped. the purple flame king, however, was not done. ¡°in the spiritual altar realm, the king¡¯s domain essentially transforms one¡¯s life essence to give tangible form to their soul¡¯s power. hence, despite sharing lineage and blood, two domains might vary significantly in power.¡± qin huai absorbed the information, nodding in agreement. shifting the topic, the purple flame king posed another question, ¡°alliance master, given the recent defeat of the three kings¡¯ allied army, how should we proceed? the six royal clans might use the threat of qingzhou to rally the three sects and the sacred heart sect against us..¡± Chapter 664 - Chapter 664: Ancestral Source Blood chapter 664: ancestral source blood translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation the revelation about the true strength of the six royal clans sent waves of realization through qin huai¡¯s mind. it wasn¡¯t just the might of a three-king alliance. the real powerhouses, the genuine kings, were now in the game. ¡°how many kings are in these six royal clans?¡± qin huai questioned, echoing his concern about the strength of these families that seemed inexhaustible. the purple flame king began explaining, ¡°fiendish demons have lifespans much longer than humans. the visceral prefecture realm experts of these families live for a thousand years, while kings survive for one and a half. and after forsaking our true forms, our longevity diminished. once, we could have lived for two to three thousand years.¡± he continued, ¡°with such vast lifespans, the number of kings among us has naturally multiplied. but many chose to hide when they realized attaining true emperor was hopeless, hoping to delay their death. the purple flame king paused for a moment, his eyes drifting slightly. ¡°each clan boasts about four to five kings, except for the stronger ones like the white tiger and black tortoise clans, which have five each.¡± this meant, qin huai mused, that there were about thirty kings in total ¡ª a daunting number. yet, the top tier of this hierarchy were the leaders of various sects, cultivating their domains to the pinnacle of the spiritual altar realm. qin huai then turned his attention to the three sects, which, as the purple flame king admitted, posed a significant challenge. ¡°despite the multiple onslaughts over ten thousand years, the royal clans have never triumphed over these sects, thanks to their unique territorial advantages and spell formations. moreover, internal conflicts and shifting allegiances within the six royal clans had led them to adopt a more passive strategy against the sects: a waiting game. qin huai said, ¡°endure the sects to death.¡± yet, despite such vast periods, it was the sacred heart sect that emerged as the top force in great you, all within mere decades. the balance had shifted slightly with qin huai¡¯s defeat of the white-robed king and the beast king, but the cult¡¯s potential remained menacing. pondering over these revelations, purple flame king inquired, ¡°alliance master, what¡¯s our next move?¡± ¡°wait,¡± responded qin huai with unwavering certainty. the purple flame king blinked in surprise. he had expected an aggressive strategy. with the combined strength of him, prince qing cang, the formidable alliance master, and the elite of the qingzhou alliance, seizing the moment seemed the logical step. however, qin huai¡¯s decision emphasized his vision of not just immediate power but a more calculated approach for a sustainable future. at this pivotal moment, qin huai recognized that all he needed to do was make a proclamation. he could rally the world¡¯s heroes. once initiated, their momentum would rush across the entirety of great you with unprecedented speed. ¡°stockpile resources and slowly rise to power,¡± he mused. ¡°time is on our side. patience is key.¡± he had a blueprint etched in his mind. launching a hasty offensive would only thrust them into the spotlight of critique. the three sects had refrained from assisting him in the past and would certainly not extend their aid if he acted arrogantly. moreover, with the looming threat of the sacred heart sect, the fledgling celestial guardians and the qingzhou alliance needed ample time to mature. if he could secure a few more years, qingzhou would be an unassailable fortress. ¡°but¡­¡± the purple flame king began to object, but qin huai interjected, emphasizing the prolonged turmoil the great you had witnessed. ¡°great you needs healing. the people yearn for a peaceful existence. it¡¯s not always about having a dominant ruler. sometimes, what¡¯s needed is fairness and stability.¡± qin huai reflected on his personal experiences. despite being relentlessly pursued by troubles, he craved nothing more than tranquility. yet, he found himself in constant peril, embodying the struggles of the common people. to him, the descendants of the influential kings seemed consumed by their insatiable thirst for power, often neglecting the welfare of the ordinary citizens. ¡°i want to announce to the world through the imperial city that qingzhou harbors no grudges, disdains conflict, and seeks harmony,¡± qin huai firmly stated. the purple flame king was taken aback. the brightest mind he had ever encountered, a once-in-a-millennium genius, didn¡¯t aspire to conquer the world. focusing on the task at hand, qin huai addressed gou jie, who had discreetly joined them. ¡°brother gou, make preparations as discussed.¡± ¡°understood!¡± gou jie bowed slightly before disappearing. gou jie, though initially startled by qin huai¡¯s non-aggressive stance, soon realized the profound implications. by prioritizing peace over power, qin huai aimed straight for the hearts of the people. once this sentiment spread, it would undoubtedly draw those who valued peace and stability. while exceptional talent and combat prowess would remain as assets, they¡¯d take a backseat to the primary mission: winning the trust and support of the masses. in this subtle shift in priorities, lay a world of difference. ¡°true contenders are those who remain above the fray. that¡¯s why they are unmatched,¡± gou jie mused, his steps growing lighter. the purple flame king sighed. ¡°i just don¡¯t understand the depth of alliance master¡¯s intentions.¡± to the six royal clans, power was everything. their life¡¯s ambition revolved around attaining unparalleled strength and ensuring their lineage¡¯s survival. the purple flame king couldn¡¯t fathom qin huai¡¯s wish for stability. ¡°understanding isn¡¯t always necessary,¡± qin huai remarked, presenting his origin energy. ¡°what do you think of this item?¡± the purple flame king¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the blood-red orb in qin huai¡¯s hand. ¡°this aura¡­ it¡¯s the ancestral source blood!¡± qin huai was pleased with the purple flame king¡¯s reaction. when he first acquired the two orbs, he felt their exceptional nature, akin to the legendary kun peng clan¡¯s use of the blood sea to transform. ¡°how did you come across such a treasure?¡± the purple flame king exclaimed. ¡°this is the primordial essence of the eight beasts. for the royal clans, consuming this could awaken ancestral memories buried deep within.¡± the purple flame king was enthralled by the relic, despite realizing it didn¡¯t belong to his phoenix clan but rather to the white tiger clan. a glimmer of hope arose, pondering if qin huai could procure other such potent items. ¡°can i use this?¡± qin huai asked. ¡°you mean¡­ use this as a bargaining chip to get the six royal clans to join qingzhou?¡± the purple flame king questioned, a hint of skepticism lacing his voice. qin huai nodded. ¡°it might not sway them completely, but there¡¯s a chance for them to stand by and watch or go easy on us.¡± revealing the ancestral source blood¡¯s existence would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the six royal clans, possibly even prompting their kings to personally intervene. however, current dynamics in qingzhou didn¡¯t render them particularly vulnerable to such upheavals. still, using the ancestral source blood might shift the scales, potentially swaying allegiances. ¡°let me handle this, ¡± the purple flame king offered, feeling a personal stake. if he could rally others to defect from the six royal clans and side with qingzhou, history might view his actions in a kinder light. motivated by this prospect, his mind raced, formulating potential strategies¡­. Chapter 665 - Chapter 665: Eager and Driven chapter 665: eager and driven translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation on the opposite side, xiang mingfeng, zhang youji, fang huo, and their cohort of prodigies stood amidst the remnants of a blood-soaked battlefield. in their midst, the once fearsome blood sea king, now stripped of his former glory, glared defiantly at them, a twisted smile playing on his lips. though renowned, not many king realm experts could withstand the onslaught of the world¡¯s top ten prodigies. the blood sea king proved to be no different. ¡°you likely never expected us to forsake the three kings¡¯ alliance army to surround and defeat you,¡± he sneered. ¡°unless, of course, he still lives. otherwise, the ten regions of east qingzhou would have already drowned in blood.¡± he scanned their faces, searching for a reaction but found only steady, unflinching gazes in return. ¡°you eliminate kings merely to validate your paths,¡± the blood sea king mocked. ¡°how does that make you any different from our sacred heart sect? perhaps you should be our most devoted followers.¡± xiang mingfeng broke the silence. ¡°you¡¯ve made a fundamental error from the start.¡± confusion clouded the blood sea king¡¯s eyes. ¡°and what would that be?¡± ¡°our alliance master cannot be defeated.¡¯ the group resonated with xiang mingfeng¡¯s declaration. all, except for zhang youji, unaware of the reality, and xiang mingfeng, who exuded calm assurance. the latter then addressed the blood sea king, ¡°the three kings¡¯ alliance army has already fallen to our alliance master. it¡¯s time for you to meet your fate.¡± ¡°how is this possible?!¡± disbelief filled the blood sea king¡¯s eyes, but before he could process the revelation, the ten prodigies launched into a fierce assault, their power amplified compared to before. the ensuing battle reshaped landscapes ¨C mountains crumbled, rivers evaporated, and cities lay in ruins. it raged on for days. finally, when the dust settled, the prodigies gathered on a mountaintop, collecting the prized king bones from their defeated enemy. such valuable resources would significantly bolster their combat strength. ¡°the gap between the visceral prefecture realm and the king realm is vast,¡¯ fang huo remarked. ¡°without our numbers, we would have been at a serious disadvantage.¡± xiang mingfeng chimed in, ¡°three or five against one king would be flirting with disaster.¡± ¡°at least this ordeal is behind us. we¡¯ve successfully fended off the sacred heart sect and the attacks from the six royal clans.¡± a collective sense of relief was evident among them. surprisingly, the battle had not drained them but invigorated their spirits. ¡°fighting kings refines the soul, ¡± le ji¡¯an noted. ¡°i feel closer to mastering the spiritual altar.¡± ¡°you¡¯re all exceptional,¡± xiong yujie remarked, somewhat bemused. ¡°i barely gleaned a thing.¡± zhang youji laughed heartily. ¡°if it were any ordinary warrior, countless battles with kings wouldn¡¯t even give them a glimpse of domain power. only prodigies like us can achieve such insights.¡± hua yanli added, ¡°you¡¯re no average martial artists. if anyone can measure up, it¡¯s the alliance master. when he and zhang daozi took down the white-robed king, did he share how much he learned?¡± curiosity lit up the group¡¯s faces, all keen to gauge their talents against qin huai¡¯s. zhang youji pondered deeply. ¡°the alliance master is indeed generous. nobody else would even dream of offering half a king bone.¡± there was not a single person in the six royal clans who could offer half a king bone to him. no doubt it was a coveted asset, capable of causing strife even among established sects. such was the bone¡¯s allure that the daoist school was particularly inclined to support qin huai. xiang mingfeng reflected, ¡°it seems the alliance master has always had a clear vision about the king realm¡¯s intricacies. his journey has been seamless.¡± le ji¡¯an agreed, ¡°indeed. he wouldn¡¯t be progressing this effortlessly otherwise.¡± silence settled over the group as they contemplated qin huai¡¯s achievements. the realization that they had quite the journey ahead to match his prowess subdued their earlier elation. zhang youji, observing the newfound determination in their eyes, mused, ¡°now it¡¯s clear why qingzhou has given rise to so many prodigies in our time.¡± xu tong added with a smile, ¡°being under the protection of the qingzhou emperor and the minimal interference from the six royal clans has been beneficial.¡¯ zhang youji responded, ¡°that¡¯s only part of the equation.¡± xiang mingfeng looked at him, eager for clarity. ¡°do tell.¡± zhang youji grinned. ¡°you all are just too eager and driven..¡± Chapter 666 - Chapter 666: Qingzhou Must Fall! chapter 666: qingzhou must fall! translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation if any top fighters in the world could harness the skills of the qingzhou alliance, they¡¯d see a boost in their strength by about ten to twenty percent. much of this was attributed to the relentless dedication of qin huai, who seemed tireless in his pursuit of martial arts. ¡°has he even turned thirty?¡± zhang youji was awestruck by the realization. historically speaking, no one matched qin huai in his achievements at such an age. glancing around, he noted the nonchalance of the others ¡ª they were all familiar with this fact. among them, zhang youji was the oldest at sixty years old. the majority were around forty. while he knew his abilities didn¡¯t compare to qin huai¡¯s, he felt confident he could match up against the others. this realization gave him a pang of regret. had he, a distinguished dao child, squandered the prime years of his life? if he hadn¡¯t achieved the king realm by now, did that make his efforts negligible? ¡°oh no, oh no¡­l¡¯m already starting to get anxious.¡± zhang youji shook his head. elsewhere, in a corner of the world, the heads of the six royal clans convened. the room was thick with tension and remained silent for a lengthy span. ¡°we lost again,¡± the white tiger clan leader finally declared, dispelling the silence. ¡°we¡¯ve had our setbacks in the past, but this loss is undeniable.¡± ¡°the sacred heart sect¡¯s king has been defeated by the qingzhou alliance¡¯s best,¡± remarked another clan leader. ¡°but how did two, qin huai and prince qing cang, fend off our combined might?¡± interrupting him, the black tortoise clan¡¯s leader added, ¡°we shouldn¡¯t underestimate qin huai. we need to view him as a young true emperor.¡± whispers of astonishment filled the chamber. all present were kings, influential figures with the power to shift the balance on the battlefield. the title of ¡®true emperor¡¯ was one held in reverence and hadn¡¯t been spoken in ages. while qin huai had been rumored to be worthy of the title, especially following a previous great figure¡¯s demise, no one from the six royal clans had openly acknowledged it until now. but with this public recognition, the dynamics were shifting. however, the nine supremes clan¡¯s leader had a contrasting view. ¡°the emperor of qingzhou of old and today¡¯s qin huai,¡± he began. curious gazes turned his way, eager to hear more. the nine supremes clan¡¯s leader commented with a slight smirk, ¡°qin huai¡¯s might is undeniably on par with the legendary emperor of qingzhou. haven¡¯t rumors been swirling throughout qingzhou lately?¡± ¡°what about the talk of ¡®no rivalry, no conflict¡¯? i think qingzhou¡¯s supposed desire to be a haven is merely a ruse and a diversion. given enough time, the qingzhou alliance will effortlessly dominate great you. can¡¯t the venerable nine supremes see through such a simple ploy?¡± an uneasy silence blanketed the chamber. turning his gaze to the phoenix clan¡¯s sect master, the qiongqi¡¯s leader taunted, ¡°brother, why the silence? don¡¯t tell me you have the same thoughts as that traitor purple flame king?¡± the phoenix clan¡¯s leader retorted, ¡°my clan holds a deep grudge against qin huai. the phoenix clan will never forget or forgive. as for purple flame, he¡¯s no longer one of us. if our paths cross on the battlefield, i¡¯ll be the one to end him.¡± changing the direction of the conversation, he added, ¡°speaking of which, isn¡¯t it rumored that the qingzhou alliance¡¯s qin huai possesses the ancient blood of the qiongqi? are you trying to divert attention from this fact?¡± ¡°nonsense!¡± bellowed the qiongqi clan leader. ¡°we lost two kings in qingzhou, which is just as significant as your phoenix clan¡¯s losses!¡± the conversation had shifted to a delicate topic, and the mood grew tenser. the six royal clans had always been on the hunt for atavism, primarily to enhance their fighting prowess by reclaiming their ancient power and lineage. another theory speculated that their inability to achieve the true emperor realm over millennia was due to their transformation into human forms, severing their link to their true potential. for ages, they had sought ways to reconnect with their ancient origins, and now, whispers of qin huai possessing this coveted ancestral blood were rampant, ignited by the purple flame king¡¯s defection. why would a king of his stature switch loyalties to qin huai? raw power couldn¡¯t be the only reason. however, if qin huai truly had this ancient blood, the king¡¯s allegiance made sense. the quandary for the six royal clans was their dwindling faith in overcoming qin huai after consecutive defeats. deploying their entire clan¡¯s might was an option, but external forces like the three sects and the sacred heart sect would not remain passive. they¡¯d seize an opportunity to inflict damage. moreover, if one could procure this ancestral blood from qin huai by merely trading secrets, many might betray the alliance¡¯s strategies, especially if the core troops weren¡¯t from their own lineage. this predicament left the six sect leaders deeply troubled. the white tiger clan leader, who had remained quiet for some time, finally broke his silence, ¡°we¡¯re at a pivotal point for our six royal clans. if we persist in our indecision and internal strife, our fate might be grimmer than what befell the humans ten thousand years ago!¡± as his voice rose in intensity, he declared, ¡°qingzhou must fall! qin huai must be stopped!¡± ¡°i agree!¡± exclaimed the qiongqi clan leader, being the first to voice his support. seeing this, the others gradually rose and voiced their agreement. ¡°how many top-tier warriors can each clan spare without compromising our positions in the battlefields?¡± inquired the black tortoise clan¡¯s leader. responses came in quick succession. ¡°two from my clan.¡± ¡°one.¡± ¡°one.¡± ¡°two.¡± ¡°two from the qilin clan.¡± ¡°one from the white tiger clan.¡± ¡°that¡¯s nine people,¡± reflected the white tiger clan leader, ¡°this is thrice the alliance¡¯s strength. we needn¡¯t involve our seasoned warriors and elders. the nine kings will embark on this mission.¡± ¡°agreed!¡± was the unanimous response. the white tiger clan leader further emphasized, ¡°regarding the potential betrayal over the ancestral blood, it must be thoroughly investigated. eliminate any who come upon this secret!¡± and with that, they all vanished from the chamber. in the desolate north barren state, qiong mou, the head of the qiongqi clan, was startled awake. he hastily exited his chambers. as he did so, the door was thrust open, revealing a burly figure striding in. ¡°big brother, it¡¯s as we thought!¡± exclaimed the burly man. though his physique wasn¡¯t as imposing as qiong mou¡¯s, his presence was more formidable. this aura, rooted in ancient times, made qiong mou uneasy. ¡°the ancestral blood¡­it truly exists,¡± he murmured, a hint of ambition flashing in his eyes. the burly man, apprehensive, added, ¡°the six royal clans have made their decision. nine of their kings are marching on qingzhou. we can¡¯t let this powerful element fall into the clutches of the other five, especially not the white tiger clan.¡± qiong mou reassured him, ¡°i¡¯m well aware.¡± pausing briefly, he asked, ¡°are you still in touch with them?¡± ¡°communication remains open.¡± ¡°excellent. let¡¯s proceed with our plan. as for their survival, it¡¯ll be down to their own abilities.¡¯ a malevolent grin spread across qiong mou¡¯s face. regarding the two qiongqi kings defeated by qin huai, he held no grief. the strong would always dominate the weak. if they were defeated, it was due to their own inadequacies. this was the underlying rule governing the world of the six royal clans.. Chapter 667 - Chapter 667: The Nine Kings’ Routes chapter 667: the nine kings¡¯ routes translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation qin huai observed the multitude of people pouring in from the surrounding landscapes. ¡°our plan seems to be working.¡± gou jie approached qin huai, observing the same sight. families, filled with hope, gazed upon the lingkou pass, seeking peace and refuge. ¡°in the upcoming two months, the population of the ten counties of east qingzhou is projected to grow by ten million. that would mean the total population of east qingzhou surpasses that of the entire qingzhou,¡± gou jie informed. population symbolized hope. qin huai also recognized that with an increasing population came an increase in the providence, or luck. over time, he witnessed the rapid expansion of the providence dragon above the lingjiang. with the establishment of the imperial city, the dragon sparkled with gold. if the golden dragon was completed, his journey to becoming the true emperor would be half done. and he already possessed the other half: the might and qualification of an emperor. upon first seeing the providence dragon through the rebirth mirror, qin huai had grasped a hazy understanding. but the humanoid figure he once saw remained elusive. he began to question if he had imagined it. but now wasn¡¯t the time for doubts. ¡°any updates from the six royal clans?¡± he inquired. gou jie nodded. ¡°the qiongqi clan has shared a list naming the nine kings along with descriptions of their king domains. each of the qiongqi, white tiger, and phoenix clans will send one representative, while the other three clans will send two kings each. interestingly, both the younger brother of the qiongqi clan¡¯s leader and the mountain milk king from the same clan have sent identical lists.¡± qin huai, pondering this, said, ¡°it appears the qiongqi clan isn¡¯t as harmonious as they project.¡± gou jie smirked. ¡°the most intriguing part is still to come. the white tiger clan¡¯s leader has ordered an in-depth probe into tong qing¡¯s affairs. so far, we¡¯ve eliminated seventy-five individuals, including an elder from the qilin clan. ¡± gou jie then presented another list to qin huai, who scanned it briefly. it detailed the ninth prince¡¯s trip to qingzhou and matched the qiongqi clan¡¯s report. ¡°it seems i may have underestimated the attraction of the ancestral blood,¡± qin huai mused. gou jie delved deeper into the mysteries surrounding the six royal clans. ¡°rumors within these clans suggest that if they succeed in atavism, they might reemerge on the path to becoming emperors. this is the catalyst for their intense desperation.¡± qin huai connected the dots. ¡°i see. there¡¯s a balance to everything.¡± in earlier days, the eight royal clans had morphed into human forms. their objectives were clear: boost their numbers, simplify their governance, and trim down their cultivation periods. this move introduced alternatives to their bloodline martial arts. presently, to chase even mightier power, they were considering a return to their origins. ¡°have the other four royal clans remained silent?¡± questioned qin huai. ¡°indeed. they play their cards close to their chest. they won¡¯t act unless they¡¯re sure of their prey,¡± gou jie answered. qin huai nodded in agreement. if it hadn¡¯t been for the ancestral source blood he had acquired from the kings, he doubted he would¡¯ve received any intel from the white tiger and qiongqi clans. he¡¯d cleverly split the ancestral source blood into thirty portions, setting prices based on quantity, aiming for maximum profit. gou jie presented a map, detailing the journeys of the various kings from their respective territories to qingzhou. the map, however, lacked any definitive paths. ¡°is this their way of setting a price?¡± qin huai mused with a smirk. gou jie explained further, ¡°the white tiger clan leads this initiative, designing all the routes for the nine kings¡¯ arrival in qingzhou. they¡¯ve ensured that these routes are unique, even for kings of the same race, to keep the operation secret, especially from the prying eyes of the three sects and the sacred heart sect.¡± understanding qin huai¡¯s concerns, gou jie reassured him of the authenticity of this intel. decisively, qin huai said, ¡°we¡¯ll buy three at once.¡± having acquired the ancestral blood without any investment, he felt no pinch in spending it. and, a fraction of the ancestral source blood might not even let these royals glimpse the emperor¡¯s path, let alone qin huai¡¯s minuscule share. gou jie nodded, saying ¡°understood!¡± then procured the jade bottles qin huai had crafted. switching topics, he reported, ¡°during our clash with the three kings, the three sects made some advances, capturing cities and advancing their front lines, albeit minimally. their accomplishments were not significant, as they¡¯re likely observing our situation in qingzhou.¡± he continued, ¡°the sacred heart sect¡¯s vitality seemed to wane after the demise of their enigmatic king. no tales of blood altars or atrocities have been reported.. ¡° Chapter 668 - Chapter 668: Ancestor Qin Huai! chapter 668: ancestor qin huai! translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°only a handful of disciples attempted to enter qingzhou to spread their teachings, but the border guards took them down,¡± gou jie reported. qin huai massaged his temples. ¡°they¡¯re most likely brewing a larger scheme. we can¡¯t underestimate the sacred heart sect.¡± after discussing more intricacies, gou jie left to buy information on the routes of the nine kings. surveying the world around him, qin huai mused, ¡°what a strange turn of events,¡± finding it amusing that the white tiger clan leader was trading information of such importance. he then departed, soaring through the skies, covering vast distances of terrain until he reached the outskirts of qingzhou city ¨C the ruins of the bronze world. ¡°brother qin!¡± there, zhang youji awaited him, accompanied by over ten people in daoist robes. the round, rotund man leading the group was a familiar face to qin huai from the secret realm of pingwang. qin huai greeted jovially, ¡°greetings, fat daoist priest!¡± uncle master fei¡¯s face twitched in annoyance, shooting a glare at zhang youji. unperturbed, zhang youji introduced, ¡°senior uncle fei is a renowned expert in array formations from the true path sect. he and his disciples maintain the sect¡¯s protective array throughout the year.¡± understanding the dire situation, qin huai hoped to restore the bronze world array to fortify defenses against the six royal clans. aware of the limited strength in qingzhou and his own uncertainties facing formidable king tiers, he had communicated this concern. eager to assist, zhang youji stepped in. ¡°we¡¯ve spent days surveying qingzhou, referencing ancient texts and examining remnants of the aged, yet surprisingly well-preserved bronze formations, ¡± zhang youji explained. ¡°the primary challenge now is restoring the main array, mainly due to a shortage of spirit stones.¡± after processing all this, qin huai pinpointed the crux of the issue: funds. but having pillaged the six royal clans, qingzhou now had an ample supply of spirit stones. despite the considerable stash, the demands were numerous. the qingzhou alliance¡¯s nine elites needed them for breakthroughs, the bronze array¡¯s restoration consumed them, and qin huai himself needed them to cultivate his recently acquired domains. yet, prioritizing qingzhou¡¯s defense, qin huai decided to momentarily delay his personal cultivation. ¡°the surplus king bones in qingzhou can be traded with the true path sect,¡± he suggested. ¡°gou jie must¡¯ve already discussed this with fatty martial uncle. if that¡¯s insufficient, i¡¯ll find ways to procure more.¡± uncle fei tried to maintain a neutral face when he heard qin huai¡¯s words. but the latter part left him baffled. how could qin huai casually mention getting another batch of king bones? did he assume they were as common as vegetables? or had he found an uncharted king¡¯s tomb or an ancient battlefield? uncle fei was burning with curiosity, but he restrained himself from asking about it. ¡°we¡¯ll wait for your good news, alliance master qin,¡± uncle fei replied, ¡°we still need to repair sixty percent of the bronze array gap, which would require, in king bones, the equivalent of two entire king corpses. but i trust you. take the forty percent we have as advance payment and the rest can be repaid slowly!¡± the agreement was reached quickly. the true path sect was indeed wealthy, having been restocked by the secret realm of pingwang county. converting spirit stones into tangible assets took time, but king bones were immediately valuable and lethal ¡ª a premium asset for sure. after qin huai¡¯s departure, uncle fei pulled zhang youji aside. ¡°youji, has alliance master qin revealed any plans to you?¡± zhang youji looked perplexed. ¡°what plans?¡± uncle fei frowned. ¡°i mean, plans to defeat a king? how else would he claim to get two more king bones?¡± understanding dawned on zhang youji. ¡°considering the heavy losses the six royal clans and the sacred heart sect faced here, they won¡¯t just let it slide. they¡¯ll retaliate, won¡¯t they? and when they do, won¡¯t we get the king bones from them?¡± but uncle fei smirked at that idea. ¡°if the royal clans just handed us their assets, we wouldn¡¯t have been stuck in these provinces for so long. they¡¯ll strike, but it¡¯ll be a powerful, swift move. inform martial uncle. if there¡¯s significant intel, perhaps our true path sect can lend a hand.¡± zhang youji responded with sarcasm, recounting the last time the three kings¡¯ army made grand claims but only took minor actions. he doubted the sects¡¯ promises. fatty martial uncle, feeling embarrassed, tried to defend their hesitance, attributing it to past betrayals and caution, but ultimately chose to end the topic there. their past timid decisions, although logical, often caused divisions within the sects. meanwhile, on the hualong river, a man in a pristine white bamboo hat steered his boat with a stern face. the river flowed towards qingzhou and was bustling with vessels heading that way. the traffic was dense, and among the throng, his boat barely caught attention. a woman, dressed in light, enticing attire, nestled in his arms, adding to the boat¡¯s inconspicuousness amid the busy river traffic. ¡°my lord, i have this constant uneasy feeling, as if something is about to happen, ¡± the woman said in a gentle voice, filled with apprehension. he comforted her, ¡°don¡¯t worry. this mission is critical. the white tiger clan¡¯s leader is personally overseeing it. with the strategies laid out by the masters of the six great royal clans and the qilin clan¡¯s cloud pavilion covering our plans, even the powerful qingzhou can¡¯t predict our movements¡­ ¡°that qin huai might pose a threat, but he can¡¯t harm us until we reach qingzhou,¡± the man confidently stated. he was a king of the qilin clan, involved in the nine kings¡¯ strategy to assassinate qin huai. her worried expression eased. ¡°given the combined strength of the six royal clans, they should at least get to qin huai, right? but, there¡¯s this rumor about the abundant ancestral blood in our clan¡­¡± the man dismissed her concerns with a wave. ¡°it¡¯s all speculation. unless someone sees the real ancestral blood, they wouldn¡¯t dare make any moves. and as for qin huai, if he does have it¡­¡± he paused and smirked. ¡°the six royal clans might elevate him to an ancestral rank!¡± the notion of a human uncovering the ancestral path, which the royal clans sought for ages, seemed preposterous. the man, pondering this, decided to rest and said, ¡°i need a nap.¡± boom! suddenly, a gust of wind rocked the ship. after a momentary turmoil, calm returned, with passengers mumbling their frustrations. inside the cabin, an enigmatic bronze slate lay on the floor. the man and woman, now awake, gazed in astonishment at the scene before them. he glanced skyward, shock evident in his eyes. ¡°how did you find me?¡± hovering above, a dashing man in a black robe gazed down, a playful smile on his lips. ¡°how can an ancestor not know the intentions of his descendants?¡± qin huai teased. on the ground, the combined forces of the true dragon, the mountain giant, the king corpse, and qin huai unleashed a formidable king¡¯s force, like a massive tidal wave.. Chapter 669 - Chapter 669: Gathering the Nine Kings chapter 669: gathering the nine kings translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°a traitor within the six royal clans!¡± the qilin clan king exclaimed, trying to comprehend the sudden appearance of qin huai. ¡°no¡­ it¡¯s the ancestral blood! you really possess it.¡± his realization was a mix of shock and awe. he was certain that the other kings wouldn¡¯t risk everything based on mere rumors. they were calculating and only moved with certainty. as he assessed qin huai¡¯s overwhelming aura and the formidable beasts accompanying him, the qilin king¡¯s mind raced with suspicions. ¡°it must be the white tiger clan¡¯s leader who betrayed me,¡± he concluded darkly. considering that his journey had been mapped out by the very same leader, qin huai¡¯s presence here was an unmistakable sign of treachery. ¡°and to think he played the righteous role, leading the charge against you and even ousting traitors within the clans! but he seems the most deceitful of all.¡± realizing his precarious situation, the qilin king decided quickly. ¡°i surrender! like the purple flame king did, i too will ally with you.¡± in a surprising move, the noble king knelt before qin huai. the intimidating presence of qin huai and his beasts left no doubt in the qilin king¡¯s mind about the outcome if they clashed. before qin huai could respond, the king added a gesture to his surrender. ¡°take my life as proof.¡± cold determination reflected in his eyes as he drove his hand into his abdomen, producing a blood-soaked white pearl. ¡°this is my qilin clan¡¯s bead of life. it holds the power over my life and death.¡± he offered the pearl to qin huai, who, sensing its vitality, recognized its authenticity. ¡°your name?¡± qin huai finally spoke. ¡°qi shan,¡± the king replied. indicating the woman beside him, he continued, ¡°and this is my wife, qi ya.¡± the elegant woman, qi ya, bowed, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and respect. she hadn¡¯t anticipated encountering such a powerful figure in her lifetime, and even with her husband¡¯s protection, qin huai¡¯s aura left her shaken. ¡°we will proceed as per the original plan laid out by the six royal clans,¡± qin huai directed succinctly. qi shan, momentarily taken aback, quickly understood the implications. ¡°understood!¡± boom! the world seemed to shift and blur, the rushing sound of a river filling the silence. the distinct, overpowering scent of fish filled the air. qi shan and qi ya exchanged relieved glances, grateful to have evaded danger once again. ¡°he¡¯s gone,¡± qi shan reassured qi ya, drawing her close. huddled in qi shan¡¯s arms, qi ya whispered, ¡°his aura¡­ it was more overwhelming than even the clan leader¡¯s.¡± qi shan nodded gravely. ¡®¡±i¡¯m afraid the ancestor didn¡¯t misjudge you.¡± reflecting on the situation, qi shan pondered, ¡°qin huai might be the prodigious emperor that hasn¡¯t emerged for ten thousand years. aligning with someone of his potential could ensure our future is secure. plus, with the coveted ancestral blood he possesses, a rarity that the six great royal clans have sought for ages, we may benefit even further.¡± he continued, ¡°with him, we might no longer have to tread cautiously around the intrigues of the royal clans.¡± the bitterness he had felt earlier seemed to lessen with this newfound perspective. at a cherry blossom field, a sea of pink petals painted an almost ethereal scene. a stocky man made his way through, pausing suddenly as a younger figure approached him. ¡°are you alliance master qin?¡± the man asked, adopting a formal stance. bang! without a word, qin huai unfolded his wings, quickly closing the distance between them. just as abruptly as they had met, they vanished. in the bronze world, much like qi shan¡¯s experience earlier, the muscular man ¡ª a king of the black tortoise clan ¨C assessed the imposing figures before him, his face etched with worry. ¡°live or die?¡± qin huai cut to the chase. seeking clarity, the black tortoise king said, ¡°who betrayed our secrets?¡± ¡°the white tiger clan¡¯s sect leader,¡± came the crisp reply. the black tortoise king frowned. ¡°that¡¯s absurd. why would he sabotage himself? if the truth is revealed, he¡¯d be left isolated. also, you even betrayed the paths of the other kings. isn¡¯t this like telling the white tiger clan that you want to act against the nine kings? it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± facing the undeniable reality of qin huai¡¯s presence, the king grappled with confusion. qin huai replied with unwavering certainty, ¡°i don¡¯t care about that. i only know that this information is true.¡± he stared down the black tortoise king, ready to attack at any moment. as for the black tortoise king¡¯s concerns, they confirmed what qin huai and gou jie had already suspected ¨C underlying schemes were at play.. Chapter 670 - Chapter 670: Kill the Traitor! chapter 670: kill the traitor! translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation upon verifying the information¡¯s accuracy, qin huai and gou jie deduced that the allure of the ancestral source blood might have overwhelmed the white tiger clan¡¯s leader. nevertheless, qin huai wasn¡¯t deeply concerned about the motives. his primary objective was locating the ninth king. he wouldn¡¯t waste time speculating on the intricate web of events leading to his current situation. however, the king of the black tortoise clan¡¯s words did raise qin huai¡¯s suspicions. perhaps the initial kings were merely pawns, set up by the white tiger clan¡¯s leader to lure qin huai into a trap. this black tortoise king, wu weifeng, had an armor piece similar to the dragon¡¯s revered scale. if broken, it could mean the end for the wearer. its potent life essence was even more concentrated than the purple flames and the qi mountain¡¯s life-suppressing item. after conveying his directives, qin huai vanished once more. while he was ever-watchful of his followers, they too faced constant threats. thanks to his kun peng wings, qin huai traversed the vast landscapes of great you swiftly. the nine kings had orchestrated a series of diversions to throw off their pursuers, but qin huai had intercepted their elaborate plans, rendering their efforts futile. several kings, upon witnessing qin huai¡¯s power, cursed the white tiger clan and opted to join his side. still, a defiant black tortoise king chose to fight qin huai, only to face an expected defeat. after his demise in the bronze world, his remains were sent to the true path sect as compensation for mending the bronze array. in a remote landscape, gou jie, having traveled a significant distance, joined qin huai. he relayed that out of the nine kings, six had allied with qin huai, one was defeated, and the remaining two were wu wang of the nine supremes clan and fierce tiger king of the white tiger clan. however, a dilemma arose: the white tiger clan refused to share information about the last two kings. ¡°what is the meaning of this? it doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡± qin huai, puzzled, wondered about their reasons. after all, if the white tiger clan wanted the nine kings to succeed, why leak any information at all? equally perplexed, gou jie shook his head. ¡°i also can¡¯t guess what the leader of the white tiger clan is thinking. in any case, no matter how much we offer, the other party won¡¯t budge.¡± after a brief contemplation, qin huai decided to refocus. ¡°forget it then. for now, our efforts against the seven kings will suffice. as for the final two, we¡¯ll address the matter once we reach mount erniu at qingzhou¡¯s border.¡± erniu mountain was the designated rendezvous for the nine kings. in an ironic twist, the white tiger clan had been surprisingly forthcoming. they provided qin huai with everything from the names and paths of the nine kings to their final meeting spot. as long as the price was right, the information flowed freely. and now, with six kings under his control, qin huai was amused to realize that the grand covert operation of the six royal clans was over before it truly began. ¡°to think that the nine supremes, considered by many to be an invincible force when combined, would fall apart so easily,¡± qin huai mused, then chuckled. ¡°i owe a debt of gratitude to the white tiger clan¡¯s leader.¡± gou jie, too, was in high spirits. ¡°in their quest to connect with their ancestors, they¡¯ve paid a hefty price.¡± having also successfully averted the impending threat to qingzhou, he couldn¡¯t help but rejoice. at mount erniu, the scenery was breathtaking, with rolling hills and gentle breezes. along its trails, villagers, excited and curious, trekked toward the qingzhou border, pulling carts filled with their belongings. among them, a robust man wearing a bamboo hat stood out. his long green robe fluttered, drawing admiring glances from many young women. however, he soon parted ways with the throng and ascended the mountain alone. with every step, he seemed to exude a divine presence, commanding respect and admiration from all. ¡°wu wang, your charismatic presence is hard to miss,¡± a voice echoed down the mountainside. the speaker was none other than the fierce tiger king. with a humble chuckle, wu wang replied, ¡°you give me too much credit,¡± and in moments. using what seemed like an advanced technique. he closed the distance between them. upon the peak, eight of the kings had already assembled, their expressions neutral, revealing nothing of their inner thoughts. the fierce tiger king cast a glance over them and inquired if their journeys had been uneventful. the kings, including qi shan, simply shook their heads, signaling no issues. however, wu wang, with a cheeky grin, confessed, ¡°i must admit my charisma caused a bit of a stir among the city¡¯s women.¡± he then elaborated about his few days of indulgence, much to the fierce tiger king¡¯s chagrin. out of everyone, the fierce tiger king found wu wang the most unpredictable, especially given his penchant for charming women. he silently questioned the decision to include such an individual in their ranks. ¡°has everything been settled?¡± asked the fierce tiger king, his tone betraying his irritation. wu wang, not pleased by fierce tiger king¡¯s condescending tone, retorted, ¡°why not just destroy that minor city on our way? it¡¯s no big deal. we can have our officials clean up later, blaming a natural disaster.¡± the fierce tiger king seemed somewhat pacified by this. he glanced at the seven other kings, who remained silent, earning a nod of satisfaction from him. their loyalty and steadfastness comforted him. ¡°dark king,¡± he addressed one among them, ¡°the clan leader mentioned the assassination plan for qin huai lies with you. is it ready?¡± the dark king looked confused. ¡°what?¡± seeing the dark king¡¯s surprised expression, the fierce tiger king hesitated, then laughed it off. ¡°my mistake.¡± but then, his demeanor changed abruptly. ¡°he¡¯s an imposter!¡± he exclaimed, pointing at the dark king. without hesitation, a powerful, dark aura enveloped the fierce tiger king. all at once, the surroundings of mount erniu were dominated by the overwhelming power of eight distinct domains. with lethal intent, the fierce tiger king lunged at qin huai. but to his horror, he felt a rush of cold air. bang! before he could fully process what was happening, the seven other kings turned on him. in a synchronized move, their hands pierced through his body. blood poured out, cascading down the mountain in a grim waterfall. ¡°why?!¡± gasped the fierce tiger king, disbelief evident in his eyes. ¡°he¡¯s the imposter.¡± qi shan, coldly responded, ¡°i knew, that¡¯s why i attacked.¡± the other kings remained nonchalant, offering no further explanations. ¡°you¡­ you guys¡­¡± bang! as fierce tiger king reeled from the betrayal, wu wang landed a final blow, sealing the tiger king¡¯s fate. ¡°we¡¯re from the qingzhou alliance,¡± declared wu wang with conviction. the dark king, or rather qin huai, watched, momentarily taken aback. however, he quickly composed himself, taking in the surprising turn of events with a hint of satisfaction.. Chapter 671 - Chapter 671: A Counterattack? chapter 671: a counterattack? translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation the fierce tiger king took in the stoic faces of the other kings around him, anguish welling up inside him. a sorrowful smile crossed his features. ¡°so, i was the only one left out of the loop.¡± he laughed bitterly, struggling to accept the treachery unfolding before him. ¡°you all chose to turn your backs on us? is it all because of the ancestral blood?¡± as life ebbed away from him, defiance flared. he refused to succumb without getting the truth from qin huai. qi shan, wearing a disdainful look, scoffed, ¡°we might not be saints, but we aren¡¯t as despicable as you think. if your white tiger clan hadn¡¯t leaked our plan, we wouldn¡¯t be in this mess. you struck first, why can¡¯t we retaliate?¡± the other kings remained silent, their silence serving as agreement. the fierce tiger king¡¯s face reflected his shock and denial. ¡°impossible. the clan leader had big plans, so he wouldn¡¯t give up the qingzhou alliance, a powerful enemy that could threaten or even overthrow the six royal clans, just for some perks. even if he wanted the ancestral blood, he would have only disclosed some names, not orchestrate this downfall. what benefit could this possibly bring him?¡± he paused, the desperation in his voice heightening, ¡°even with the ancestral blood, reaching the true emperor realm quickly isn¡¯t guaranteed.¡± the kings remained silent, pondering the situation themselves. the fact remained, though ¡ª they were too deep into their betrayal to turn back, especially when their lives were in qin huai¡¯s grasp. the fierce tiger king, met with silence, could only watch as the sands of his life drained away. soon, qin huai confirmed the fierce tiger king¡¯s demise. his gaze shifted to wu wang, who immediately kneeled, proclaiming, ¡°at your service, alliance master!¡± the title of ¡®king¡¯ seemed insignificant when life itself hung in the balance. ¡°rise,¡± commanded qin huai, extending a hand towards wu wang. but in a shocking turn, wu wang burst into action, lunging at qin huai with astonishing speed, his hands revealing a feminine grace, belied by their deadly intent. caught off guard, qin huai missed his attempt to restrain him. he was agile, avoiding capture with the fluidity of a fish. qin huai¡¯s demeanor changed rapidly, his eyes taking on a profound depth. golden blood seemed to cloak him, his black hair lengthening as he unleashed four domains simultaneously. this surge of power encased wu wang, preparing to subdue the sudden revolt. an oppressive force began to envelop wu wang, causing his skin to quiver noticeably. he stared in abject terror at the figure before him, reminded of his younger self who couldn¡¯t breathe in the presence of such powerful beings. boom! suddenly, a mountainous giant emerged from the ground, lifting qin huai to safety and defusing the immediate threat to his life. the other seven kings hastened their pace, rallying to qin huai¡¯s aid now that the danger seemed to have lessened. despite wu wang¡¯s pleas for mercy, his fate was sealed as the kings united to end his life, showing no mercy to the member of the nine supremes clan. ¡°thank you all,¡± qin huai expressed, offering them a respectful gesture with his fists. he bore no ill will towards the kings for their initial reluctance to aid him. their submission was, after all, coerced by his overpowering strength. he also harbored no illusion of their genuine loyalty ¡ª much like the six royal families, they were bound by mutual benefits, not genuine allegiance. a series of notifications chimed in, indicating a surge in qin huai¡¯s vitality and an impressive haul of loot, including several coveted items and numerous domain fragments. ¡°ding! fragment of [surly imperial domain] collected. current count: (33/100)!¡± ¡°ding! fragment of [spring heavenly domain] collected. current count: (33/100)!¡± while he currently lacked the means to utilize them fully, qin huai was certain of their potential value in the coming times. especially the domain spheres, which promised to be potent weapons in his arsenal, akin to missiles from his past life. with the immediate threat neutralized, qi shan turned to qin huai and asked, ¡°alliance master, what should we do next?¡± their group had suddenly bolstered its strength with the addition of seven king realm experts, emerging as the dominant force on the continent. now, their power surpassed that of the six royal clans and the three sects, making the qingzhou alliance an entity to be reckoned with. moreover, the youthful alliance master, qin huai, had already demonstrated a combat prowess that belied his age, earning the respect and caution of the seasoned kings. his abilities were not to be underestimated ¡ª he stood on par with the most elite kings, if not the sect masters themselves. ¡°should we attack the six royal clans now?¡± the mountain milk king from the qiongqi clan said impatiently. although the others didn¡¯t share his enthusiasm, they seemed unopposed to the idea. in this world, power dynamics were dictated by the sheer might and lineage of the royal clans, a game of supremacy that was bound to have a victor¡­ Chapter 672 - Chapter 672: The Truth of Greed, Qin Huai Is Dead! chapter 672: the truth of greed, qin huai is dead! translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°once your reign ends, i¡¯ll take the lead,¡± a phrase that now seemed to embody the hopeful ambitions of the kings who were aligning with qin huai. this appeared to be a golden opportunity to reclaim their prestige, to become revered founders in the annals of history. it held a certain allure. sky night king from the phoenix clan chimed in, ¡°the troops stationed in the imperial city, together with the qingzhou alliance elites and prince qing cang, are already in an invincible position.¡± he then proposed a pause, allowing time for the forces of the qingzhou alliance to reinforce them, thus creating an imposing force capable of rivaling three significant sects. as they envisioned a prosperous future, buoyed by the combined prowess of nine young prodigies from the qingzhou alliance, the royal emissaries began to integrate with the inhabitants of qingzhou, formulating potential paths of progress. they seemed to have no other option ¡ª the wealth and potential of qingzhou were undeniable, and its prospects seemed boundless. qin huai smiled and shook his head. ¡°what counterattack? i fought with my life and replaced wu wang and the other two kings. you should have returned with a great victory.¡± the seven kings paused for a moment, then revealed a look of realization. acknowledging qin huai¡¯s words, the sky night king vowed, ¡°i understand. we will make qingzhou our territory. after that, we will lie low and wait for the right opportunity.¡± qi shan echoed this sentiment, ¡°as long as the prodigies of the qingzhou alliance successfully break through, the eighteen kings will be the safest choice.¡± even the eager mountain milk king conceded that patience would be the best course of action. qin huai added another dimension to their strategy, urging the kings to relocate their clans during this period. this suggestion struck a chord, evoking a sense of gratitude and newfound respect for qin huai. it seemed he was a leader who remembered the subtleties, differentiating him from the heads of the six royal clans and even the qiongqi clan. ¡°understood!¡± as they acquiesced to this plan, a renewed sense of camaraderie and trust flourished among them. leading the contingent, qin huai ushered them into qingzhou and said, ¡°let¡¯s go and take a look at your territory.¡± the place buzzed with vibrant energy and throngs of people, a testament to its burgeoning potential. qi shan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the sight, foreseeing a promising future. the gathering kings shared this sentiment, reflecting on the long-standing conflicts that had plagued their lands, leaving many weary and yearning for peace. it seemed that under qin huai¡¯s guidance, a new era of prosperity and tranquility was on the horizon. the newly unfurled banner of qingzhou had garnered a reaction that surpassed even the seven kings¡¯ expectations. they found themselves at the spirit gate again, struck with awe as they gazed towards lingjiang¡¯s direction, absorbing the overwhelming surge of spiritual energy converging at that point. ¡°i feel like i¡¯m seeing a heaven-defying destiny!¡± ¡°the place where spiritual energy converges¡­¡± their wisdom eyes, a testament to their profound insights, perceived an unusual scene in qingzhou that left them lost in thought for a moment. the vitality and essence of this land were palpable, hinting at the rich spirit stone mines it harbored, ready to nurture upcoming prodigies in martial arts. as they were absorbed in these revelations, the seven kings realized that this barren land held a future that promised to foster astounding talents. in qingzhou and with qin huai¡¯s capable leadership and revered lineage, they see a future with peaceful coexistence among all races, facilitated by the abundance of resources, which included the ancestral blood that they had always dreamed of. it felt as though they were on the cusp of something great, something that eliminated the need for conflicts and battles. meanwhile, within the castle of the white tiger clan, unease and apprehension marred the atmosphere. bai mu, the younger brother of their leader, bai wuya, paced anxiously in his room. he was operating secretly as a spy for the six royal clans and had been coordinating covertly with gou jie, following directives from the white tiger clan leader. ¡°second master, why didn¡¯t you sell the information about the last two kings?¡± his confidant, a slightly stooped man named bai si, appeared visibly regretful as they discussed the missed opportunity bai si had been a trusted companion to bai mu since their younger years, a bond that even surpassed the one bai mu shared with his older brother. as bai mu expressed his fears over potential repercussions from the qingzhou alliance, bai si tried to assure him, ¡°even the three strongest sects of the human race don¡¯t dare to venture too deep into the territory of the six great royal clans. so what if he has the potential of a true emperor? as soon as he steps into our territory, he will never return to qingzhou!¡± bai si¡¯s confidence slightly alleviated bai mu¡¯s worries. despite this, bai mu couldn¡¯t shake off his apprehension completely. the leader of the white tiger clan, qiong mou, had entrusted him with the vital task of selling the information pertaining to the nine kings judiciously. the guidelines were clear: he could reveal some personal habits of the kings but must refrain from disclosing any details about their domains and routes. however, bai si¡¯s influence had caused bai mu to waver from this path. driven by the desire to prove himself to his elder brother and to ascend to the leadership position within the six royal clans, he succumbed to temptation. risking widespread disapproval, he ended up selling detailed information and routes concerning the nine kings, disseminating as many as seven copies of this sensitive data. the looming consequences of this reckless act hung heavily in the air, an undercurrent of uncertainty threading through their conversation. the precious ancestral blood had been distributed into three portions. the larger parts went to his older brother qiong mou and his brilliant strategist, bai si. the remaining portion was for him. this distribution filled qiong mou with exhilaration, prompting him to commend bai mu for the first time in centuries. the recognition temporarily inflated bai mu¡¯s pride, allowing him to momentarily forget his concerns. but reality struck back harshly. the fear of potential ramifications of his actions began to claw at him, igniting a swirl of anxiety over the gains and losses he might encounter. ¡°however, if the ninth king is defeated and big brother starts to investigate¡­ i¡¯m afraid i won¡¯t be able to keep my head.¡± the fear intensified as he considered the possibility of facing his brother¡¯s wrath. the realization dawned that his brother¡¯s affection for him wouldn¡¯t shield him from the brutal consequences of his actions if the secret leaked. at this point, bai si intervened emphatically, ¡°all the more reason for us to sell it! when you succeed in your atavism, you will become the first white tiger demon god in ten thousand years. ¡°so what if the matter is exposed? even the other leaders of the royal clans will come and acknowledge you. even if that qin huai is a true emperor, he will still be suppressed by you.¡± bai mu, however, remained hesitant, grappling with the understanding of his potential. ¡°but i¡­ i¡¯m just average¡­¡± bai si, frustrated by this hesitation, warned him, ¡°your indecisiveness will ruin everything!¡± boom! suddenly, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a massive surge of energy, eliciting exclamations of fear and awe from the members of the white tiger clan. curious and anxious, bai mu and his companions rushed outside, witnessing a distant light column gradually fading amid the dispersed clouds. the atmosphere turned frenetic soon, as waves of joyful cheers reverberated throughout the vicinity. news was coming, carried by a beaming demon who was also a trusted aide to bai mu. impatient and frazzled, the latter demanded the news straightaway. the aide quickly relayed the awaited message, ¡°there¡¯s news from the border of qingzhou. the leader of the qingzhou alliance, qin huai, fought against the nine kings. in the end, he was outnumbered and detonated the remnant array left behind by the ancient qingzhou emperor¡­¡± ¡°get to the point!¡± bai mu¡¯s face had already started to turn red. ¡°the nine kings won! the traitor, qin huai, is now dead!¡± Chapter 673 - Chapter 673: The Alliance Has Crumbled chapter 673: the alliance has crumbled translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°dead?¡± bai mu echoed, his face lighting up with joy, resembling a vibrant display of fireworks. ¡°second master, didn¡¯t i tell you?¡± bai si said with a confident grin. ¡°selling them all wasn¡¯t an issue at all. the nine kings are powerful, making the small region of qingzhou insignificant. even if the three major sects were to split up, they would be easy to overcome.¡± he couldn¡¯t help but boast about their cunning plan, although a hint of regret also lingered. ¡°what a shame,¡± bai si lamented. ¡°the ancestral blood will likely be distributed among the nine kings now. you missed an opportunity to reach a higher level with the ancestral blood.¡± he shook their head, looking genuinely sorrowful. regret gnawed at bai mu as he absorbed bai si¡¯s words. he wished he could have been braver and more decisive in his actions. having more ancestral blood could have improved his talents. the ancestral bloodline played a crucial role in enhancing their abilities, a fact that was more pronounced in their transformed human forms. determined not to repeat his mistake, bai mu said with a serious face, ¡°advisor, i promise to heed your advice from now on. i trust you to guide me.¡± bai si adopted a solemn expression as well, reassuring bai mu, ¡°what are you talking about, second master? i am here to help you.¡± despite the grave facade, bai si couldn¡¯t suppress a triumphant smile inwardly. it seemed they had successfully manipulated the second master, making the path to power clearer. so, when bai mu inquired about the next steps in their plan, bai si was ready with an answer. ¡°we wait. with the ninth prince taking possession of the ancestral blood and eliminating qin huai, he will undoubtedly gain favor with the six royal families. many will be eager to align with him.¡± bai si explained further, foreseeing a power struggle amidst the seemingly united front of the nine kings and the six royal clans. this was an opportunity for them to shift from being a minor branch to becoming a powerful voice in their clan. bai mu, catching onto the idea, wondered aloud, ¡°then our role is to¡­¡± ¡°form a secret alliance with the nine kings,¡± bai si quickly filled in. ¡°qingzhou is currently a hotbed of talent and resources, an asset the nine kings will be reluctant to abandon. if we forge a connection with them, we could have a steady inflow of resources from qingzhou. this will certainly earn you praise from the clan leader. bai mu agreed enthusiastically, his face lighting up as he repeated, ¡°yes, that makes perfect sense!¡± meanwhile, in a concealed chamber, the leaders of the six royal clans convened once again. this time, the atmosphere was noticeably more upbeat compared to their previous meeting. the leader of the qiongqi clan commented coldly, acknowledging the success of the nine kings¡¯ recent maneuver, ¡°on the whole, the operation to eliminate qin huia went quite smoothly.¡± the leader of the phoenix clan said, ¡°indeed, the outcome was better than anticipated. only wu wang and two others fell before we managed to kill qin huai. the nine kings worked together seamlessly.¡± qiong mou, not to be left out, chuckled before adding, ¡°but we must acknowledge that qin huai was a strong enemy, truly deserving of his emperor title. even facing our combined forces, he managed to take three of our men with him.¡± the leader of the nine supremes clan couldn¡¯t help but grin as he spoke, ¡°well, he merely harnessed the ancient power at his disposal. it wasn¡¯t surprising that he met his end. however, the lingering potency of the array created by the qingzhou emperor ten thousand years ago did give me a bit of a scare.¡± bai wuya interjected with a thoughtful remark, ¡°history has repeatedly demonstrated that prodigies who don¡¯t get the chance to fully develop are like young trees at the roadside, effortlessly crushed underfoot.¡± taking a more somber tone, the leader of the black tortoise clan mentioned a brewing issue, ¡°now we face a new challenge. the remaining six kings seem reluctant to relinquish control over the fertile grounds of qingzhou¡­¡± with a dismissive snort, qiong mou responded, ¡°it¡¯s to be expected. i wouldn¡¯t easily give up such a prosperous land and the ancestral blood either. let them hold onto it for now. once we subdue the three sects and the sacred heart sect, we will turn our attention to settling the affairs in qingzhou.¡± after this exchange, the leaders of the six royal clans vanished once more. in dongqing county, situated in jiang county, a scene unfolded at the back of the nine dragons mountain, within the confines of the nine dragons sect. qin huai was seated in a meditative position on the peak, flanked by gou jie, xiang mingfeng, le ji¡¯an, and other members of the qingzhou alliance, forming a triangle behind him. above them, birds continuously descended from the sky. one of them carried a grim headline, ¡°le ji¡¯an has fled to the previous stronghold of the ghost ox sect in qingzhou city, only to be slain by three kings. his death was accompanied by eerie wails and cries echoing for miles.¡± hua yanli relayed the message with a twisted smile, while yun qi brought in another update, his voice tinged with sorrow, ¡°today, i found that the skyglow sect disciples were summoning their leader, yunqi, in tomb city. however, the heavenly night king discovered this gathering and unleashed heavenly fire upon them, scorching the land.¡± his face turned somber as he finished, ¡°today, it seems i am the one who died.¡± a third report came from xu tong, detailing more bad news, ¡°the divine weapons of the six kings have descended from the heavens, announcing their presence in qingzhou. despite the upheavals, the nine dragons sect maintains control over the territory, vowing to eliminate evil forces¡­ there have been uprisings in ten districts of qingzhou, but they were swiftly quelled by the nine dragon guards.¡± a series of unfortunate events engulfed the world as the news spread. the formidable qingzhou alliance seemed to have crumbled in the wake of qin huai¡¯s death, with many fleeing to avoid the chaos. dark clouds seemed to loom over qingzhou once again. yet, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope remained. the nine dragons empress persisted in her rule, providing some solace to the distressed populace of qingzhou. gou jie approached qin huai, offering a fragment of encouraging news amidst the gloom, ¡°our reports indicate that, despite the qingzhou alliance¡¯s downfall causing a dip in arrivals at various checkpoints, the overall traffic is showing a rapid growth..¡± Chapter 674 - Chapter 674: The Golden Statue and the Sacred Heart Sect Master’s Purpose chapter 674: the golden statue and the sacred heart sect master¡¯s purpose translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation qin huai opened his eyes and confidently stated, ¡°the spiritual energy in qingzhou will undoubtedly grow richer over time. everything is going according to plan. but what¡¯s the latest on the three sects and the sacred heart sect?¡± gou jie gave a grim smile before replying, ¡°the three sects are feeling the pressure and have started to actively engage on the battlefield, possibly fearing a joint assault from the nine kings and the six royal clans. it seems they have mustered the courage to fight to the bitter end, a vigor that was notably absent when they were ¡®alive¡¯.¡± they then shifted the discussion to another pressing matter, ¡°zhang youji, the dao child, appears to have parted ways with the true path sect and is operating solo now. the true path sect is already grooming a second dao child, likely as his replacement.¡± qin huai gestured dismissively, indicating that the matter required cautious handling, ¡°we cannot afford any blunders here. if brother youji is willing to take this step for us, we will find a way to make amends later.¡± gou jie nodded in agreement. suddenly, a burst of purple flame descended from the sky, heralding the arrival of the purple flame king who greeted, ¡°alliance master.¡± this king, now second in the rank of the eight supremes of heaven, had been entrusted by qin huai to safeguard the nine dragons sect against unforeseen calamities. alongside him were others like qi shan of the qilin clan and the once-defeated prince qing cang, meticulously implementing qin huai¡¯s strategies. the king continued, ¡°the great royal clans have accepted our proposition. we plan to trade ancestral blood for spirit stones at a steep price. a batch of ancestral blood could fetch ten thousand spirit stones.¡± hua yanli couldn¡¯t contain his shock and exclaimed, ¡°that¡¯s an enormous profit! despite our fierce battles in the secret realm of pingwang, we only managed to secure three hundred thousand spirit stones.¡± his cry of ¡°it¡¯s not fair!¡± belied the irrepressible smile on his face, clearly reveling in the staggering potential gains. with qin huai¡¯s tactic of dividing the ancestral blood into smaller parts, they stood to rake in millions in spirit stones, effectively raiding the coffers of the royal clans. even for these affluent families, the cost was painfully high, a meticulously calculated move by the astute seven supremes who knew exactly where to set the bargaining line to secure the deal. the thought of amassing one million spirit stones fueled a fiery confidence in them, with yun qi boldly declaring, ¡°this will help with our advancement to the king realm in just five years, especially with the aid of a resource-rich region like qingzhou.¡± his statement echoed with unshaken certainty, heralding promising prospects for their group. the purple flame king continued, ¡°throughout qingzhou, memorial services for you and the qingzhou alliance are taking place. we neither prevented them nor encouraged them.¡± ¡°just let them carry on,¡± qin huai affirmed with a nod. there was no necessity to interfere, as doing so might expose a weakness or mistake in their strategy. ¡°now, let¡¯s all begin,¡± he urged, waving his hand, aware that the clock was ticking. qin huai had always operated on a different plane compared to the six royal clans, especially concerning the silent sacred heart sect and its elusive master who seemed unfazed by the unfolding changes and the decline of qingzhou. only the heavens could fathom his true intentions. suddenly, qin huai felt a unique sensation and glanced skyward once again. the never-before-seen golden figure manifested once again. utilizing his full might, qin huai vanished from his position, ascending swiftly through the clouds, beyond the majestic frame of the golden figure. an intense clarity engulfed him, enhancing his vision remarkably. he could perceive the distant citizens conducting his funeral hundreds of miles away and hear their mournful cries echoing for miles. ¡°incredible¡­ how is this even possible?¡± he wondered, climbing higher, a vision becoming increasingly sharper. reaching the pinnacle of his ascent, qin huai gently floated out of the golden figure, turning around to glimpse its real form. as he moved away, the figure¡¯s true nature gradually revealed itself ¡ª a faceless golden statue, the guardian entity of qingzhou, reflecting the faces of all living beings. qin huai murmured thoughtfully, ¡°this golden figure could embody the spirit of any leader, the emperor of qingzhou, the dragon slayer patriarch, or even myself¡­¡± it seemed the golden figure and the providence true dragon shared a common purpose ¡ª symbolizing the destiny of the land and its people, embodying their hopes and aspirations. realization dawned upon him. as he reentered the golden figure, a burst of energy resonated, granting him a comprehensive view of the entire qingzhou region. moments later, he noticed experience orbs descending gradually, which he began to gather. the next moment, experience flooded towards him from every corner of qingzhou. meanwhile, in the west cauldron state, an area filled with thousands of active furnaces, the sky was engulfed with the rising vapor of potent energy. atop a mountain, yao yongfei observed a figure seated amidst the crimson sea of clouds, maintaining a tranquil demeanor. after a stretch of undefined time, the figure immersed in the cloud sea rose slowly to his feet, moving forward to stand beside yao yongfei. ¡°when?¡± the man asked, his demeanor graceful and relaxed, a stark contrast to the turbulent energies surrounding him. the sky was infused with a blood-red aura which manifested as a ferocious demonic face in the air, seemingly engulfing the fate of an entire state with a voracious appetite. ¡°master, qin huai is dead, and the qingzhou alliance was massacred by the nine kings, ¡± yao yongfei reported. the sacred heart sect master, displaying no emotion, asked, ¡°is this information confirmed?¡± ¡°absolutely, master. the qingzhou alliance¡¯s elites are being pursued relentlessly. witnesses reported le ji¡¯an¡¯s downfall and demise at the old grounds, at the hands of the sky night king,¡± yao yongfei confirmed. ¡°what a pity¡­¡± the master mused, his tone tinged with irony. ¡°the six royal clans are firmly entrenched in great you, making the power gap insurmountable. qin huai had the right ideas and ample skills, yet the royal clans stifled any potential growth. additionally, the three sects are spineless, their will crushed, unable to seize this golden opportunity.¡± although the sacred heart sect¡¯s master¡¯s tone was calm, the sarcasm in his words was clear. ¡°on the other hand, that dao child zhang youji is quite courageous. however, none of this is important.¡± at this, yao yongfei perked up, eager to understand his master¡¯s intentions. ¡°master, this means¡­ are you going to succeed?¡± acknowledging his disciple¡¯s curiosity, the master confessed, ¡°the previous encounter with the dragon clan¡¯s former emperor in the green plains has shown me that we can alter our circumstances, albeit at a cost.¡± concerned, yao asked, ¡°what is the price, master?¡± ¡°i won¡¯t be able to truly step into the true emperor realm in this lifetime,¡± the sacred heart sect¡¯s master divulged, his countenance serene yet resolute. shocked, yao suggested, ¡°can¡¯t we wait? we still have time, master.¡± but the master dismissed the notion, explaining the unpredictable nature of the ancestral blood¡¯s appearance and the pressing urgency of their cause. he detailed his foresight of humanity¡¯s last stand, which drove him to alter the sacred heart technique, empowering him and humanity to face the impending challenges. he rationalized the impending loss of lives as a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of humanity¡¯s resurgence. ¡°at that time, i will bear all the charges. after i destroy the other races, there will be a young man named yao yongfei who will kill the demons and lead the human race to a bright future¡­¡± yao yongfei remained silent, his fists clenched, tears welling but not falling, as he absorbed the weight of his master¡¯s words and the pivotal role he was foreseen to play in the rebirth of the human race. ¡°now, go and cultivate. don¡¯t be negligent, or else if you can¡¯t suppress the heroes below, i¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll start another chaotic era. the sacred heart sect¡¯s master then turned away, ascending towards the sky once more.. he murmured softly, ¡°what a pity for qin huai and those brats¡­¡± Chapter 675 - Chapter 675: Seven Supremes chapter 675: seven supremes translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation the majestic golden figure held its ground between the heavens and the earth, a beacon of powerful energy. seated amidst the clouds, qin huai became a vessel for the vibrant life forces flowing from qingzhou, his vision filled with the bustling life below. streams of multi-colored luminescent experience orbs coalesced into a radiant river that flowed incessantly into him, fueling a transformation of monumental proportions. he embraced this surge of power wholeheartedly, channeling the vitality and essence of qingzhou, honing it into a force that was uniquely his. in this transcendent state, he resembled a divine forge, with the golden figure fueling a fiery transformation that left no rough edges. above qingzhou, the sky echoed this sublime phenomenon, glowing with a golden hue that hinted at the presence of a deity. meanwhile, on solid ground, the inhabitants of the land engaged in ceaseless worship, offering their reverence day and night. the nine dragon mountain had established itself as a sacred, untouchable realm, where even celestial beings hesitated to tread. within this hallowed mountain, a group of prodigies found refuge, their eyes fixed on the celestial bodies visible through a skylight. their foundation, a bed of spirit stones acquired from the king bones, seemed to pulsate with the rhythms of the universe. xiang mingfeng, amidst contemplative thoughts, mused as he stared at the sky, ¡°to enter the true emperor realm, one must not only have the bearing of an emperor, but also have a huge amount of luck. it¡¯s rare to see an emperor in ten thousand years.¡± le ji¡¯an chimed in, ¡°senior emperor of qingzhou had it. i¡¯m afraid the ancestor who guarded the imperial capital and extended the dragon clan¡¯s life by a hundred years also had it. but they lack the latter.¡± fang huo scratched his ears and wondered aloud if the current energy accumulating in qingzhou would suffice to nurture an emperor. ¡°how much luck would that require? is qingzhou enough now?¡± ¡°it should be enough. the phenomenon in the sky might be proof.¡± agreeing with fang huo, le ji¡¯an cited ancient dragon clan records that hinted at the signs and cosmic alignments that heralded the rise of a true emperor, a testament to the intricate connection between destiny and the celestial phenomena they were witnessing. in deep thought, xiang mingfeng said, ¡°qingzhou isn¡¯t the only place where people gather. there are countless people coming from the north and south of the great river and the entire great you. ¡°in addition, the alliance master¡¯s wife is spreading the news of him saving the state everywhere, so his reputation is increasing as time goes by. the alliance master¡¯s statues in various places are almost on par with those in the mountain god and river earl temple.¡± ¡°this power of faith is probably part of the true emperor¡¯s destiny. if there are enough prodigies and martial arts experts, there should be so-called luck feedback.¡¯ ¡°back then, when senior emperor of qingzhou was around, there was a small golden age in qingzhou.¡± the trio contemplated the intertwining elements of destiny, faith, and martial prowess, forming a conjecture that a harmonious blend of these elements might trigger a cycle of favorable luck, reminiscent of the golden era witnessed during the reign of a past emperor of qingzhou. however, their knowledge was patchy, the history of qingzhou having been eradicated by the kun peng clan in an attempt to suppress and control the narrative. despite their concerted efforts to uncover the secrets to ascending to the emperor realm, the stringent conditions left them at a loss, only able to express their frustration and awe at the harsh journey that lay ahead. setting aside the grand aspirations of becoming an emperor, the group recognized the monumental challenge of gaining the reverence and worship of people from several states. after a long discussion, they resumed their meditative cultivation, breaking only occasionally to monitor events beyond the confines of nine dragon mountain. assuming the roles of celestial guardians, they stood ready to quell any chaos on qingzhou¡¯s borders, although their interventions were rarely needed. the seven supremes of the heavens, with their formidable might, managed to keep most disturbances at bay, particularly those instigated by the six royal clans who seemed to harbor a grudging respect for the ruling seven supremes in qingzhou. time seemed to warp within the mountain¡¯s embrace, as two years swiftly passed. the tranquility was shattered when news arrived, drifting in like snowflakes, bearing tidings that sent shivers down gou jie¡¯s spine. the seven supremes convened, their faces reflecting horror and disbelief at the brutalities perpetrated by the sacred heart sect. ¡°the sacred heart sect is crazy! they slaughtered hundreds of cities in a few months. the civilians were all killed and turned into blood food.. this malevolent group¡¯s cruelty surpassed even that of the six royal clans, leaving vast areas eerily devoid of life. ¡°the entire west cauldron state has almost been wiped out by them.¡± this unsettling news stirred waves of fear and uncertainty among the seven kings, who found themselves unable to discern the underlying motives of the sacred heart sect. to them, wielding supreme power implied a duty of governance, a necessity for subjects to rule over. the relentless slaughter initiated by the cult seemed self-defeating, potentially severing the essential connection between a ruler and his people, thus undermining the cult¡¯s own fortune and prospects of achieving unprecedented power levels. as they grappled with these grim revelations, gou jie absorbed more updates, his concern escalating with each report. the qingzhou alliance may have crumbled, but the reign of the seven supremes had cast a shadow of fear across neighboring states. yet, amidst the darkness, a beacon of hope persisted in qingzhou, symbolized by the revered figure of the nine dragons empress. this beacon attracted scores of ordinary people, transforming qingzhou into a sanctuary, a holy ground where hope flickered resiliently in the hearts of the masses. every day, a steady stream of people gathered and disseminated information throughout great you, forming a network centered around lingjiang, fostering unity and perseverance in these trying times.. Chapter 676 - Chapter 676: Final Battle chapter 676: final battle translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation in the bustling hub of lingjiang, over a hundred civilian intelligence units worked tirelessly, comparing and cross-referencing data to ensure the utmost accuracy in the information they churned out. gou jie was immersed in the latest reports, his face stoic as he read about the six royal clans, a development he seemed to anticipate. ¡°the six royal clans have already recovered all the land they lost in the past few years and once again blocked the three sects in their headquarters.¡± but as his eyes moved to the next piece of information, his composed facade crumbled, giving way to visible shock. ¡°this¡­ how is this possible?¡± he quickly shared the distressing news with the others. the information detailed a recent confrontation at the cliff of the hundred villages where the sect masters from the three sects faced a surprising defeat at the hands of the white tiger clan¡¯s leader. ¡°the masters of the three sects are all top-notch kings¡­ they weren¡¯t inferior in any way to the leaders of the six royal clans. but now, how could they be defeated by the white tiger clan¡¯s leader alone?¡± xiang mingfeng said. xiang mingfeng, radiating an intense heat that seemed to bother others around him, expressed his disbelief at the turn of events. the intensity of his power had clearly magnified during his two years of seclusion, but this news rattled him deeply. the gathering quickly turned into a whirlpool of speculations and apprehensions, with everyone attempting to piece together the puzzle presented before them. ¡°could it be that there¡¯s a problem with the ancestral blood we sold to them?¡± fang huo said. gou jie dismissed the likelihood, citing their successful infiltration into the ranks of the six royal clans over the past two years. this had granted them access to numerous secrets and revelations. the conversation veered toward an intricate web of alliances and betrayals involving the white tiger clan¡¯s leader and his affiliates. the purple flame king explained, ¡°back then, the white tiger clan¡¯s leader was using the younger brother, bai mu, and his strategist, bai si, to exchange information with us. we accidentally got information from bai si that a portion of the ancestral blood might have been taken away by bai mu. we even guessed that this military advisor also received a portion.¡± as the discussion escalated, skepticism marred the atmosphere, with le ji¡¯an and qi shan exchanging cold remarks. ¡°do you believe that? that¡¯s the ancestral blood. even if they¡¯re blood-related, he wouldn¡¯t share it with bai mu.¡± qi shan sneered. ¡°then what if one of them hid it? after all, based on our understanding of bai wuya, he would definitely sell information to buy the ancestral blood, but he definitely wouldn¡¯t reveal everything. unless bai mu and bai si are too greedy.¡± tensions escalated, marked by sardonic laughter from hua yanli who rejected the concocted theories outright, branding them as fictional creations. the meeting seemed to fray at the edges, the skepticism turning into mistrust, with several members shooting unfriendly and accusatory glances toward the seven supremes in the sky. it was evident that the bonds uniting them were fragile, marred by past battles and bloodshed. the uneasy alliance, which had seen them sit across each other and converse, seemed to hang by a thread. but underneath the surface, lingering suspicions persisted, fueling doubts that qi shan and his group might be harboring secret alliances with the six great royal clans, perhaps plotting a devastating betrayal. qi shan discerned the mounting distrust among the group. with a disdainful snort, he said, ¡°i¡¯ve already said it. it¡¯s up to you whether you believe me or not. if it doesn¡¯t work, you can go to the six royal clans to gather information.¡± ¡°back in ye city, didn¡¯t i steal the supply route map right under your nose? have you forgotten so quickly?¡± hua yanli chuckled. ¡°what did you just say?¡± ¡°enough.¡¯ just as the situation seemed to escalate further, a voice echoed from the heavens, instantly commanding the attention of everyone present. a figure of unparalleled authority appeared amidst them, a figure they recognized and respected ¨C qin huai, the alliance master. ¡°alliance master!¡± the very essence of his being seemed to emanate a power so vast that it involuntarily dispersed into ripples around him. this prompted everyone to reflexively elevate their defenses, raising their king¡¯s force to withstand the formidable presence. ¡°the final battle is coming,¡± qin huai spoke, his words carrying a gravity that seemed to freeze time itself. the kings did not dare to look him in the eye. he depicted a horrifying vision he had witnessed ¡ª an unseen force engulfing the providence of the west cauldron state and the state city where the six great royal clans were located, altering the very fabric of the sky above the three sects. it was a revelation that took everyone by surprise, as it was information not accounted for in their intelligence reports. qin huai turned his piercing gaze towards qi shan. ¡°is what you said just now true?¡± ¡°absolutely.¡± qi shan responded fervently, reaffirming the veracity of his earlier claims, detailing the intricate deception they had played on the dog-headed military advisor, bai si, and his ally, bai mu. his admission, coming at this juncture, elicited a frustrated response from hua yanli. ¡°why didn¡¯t you mention this earlier?¡± qi shan¡¯s retort was sharp and filled with disdain for the distrust exhibited by his counterparts, emphasizing the historic tendency of humans to betray one another. ¡°humph!¡± hua yanli snorted coldly and did not say anything else. in the midst of this heated exchange, qin huai called for unity and vigilance, ¡°everyone, please put in a lot of effort during this period of time. don¡¯t let go of any signs of trouble.¡± but before any further conversation could unfold, a startling realization occurred ¡ª qin huai¡¯s figure started to disintegrate, revealing itself to be nothing more than an illusion. ¡°he¡­ it¡¯s just an illusion?¡± as qin huai¡¯s figure dissipated, xiang mingfeng and others couldn¡¯t hold back their amazement. this revelation left the assembly in a state of bewilderment, exchanging uneasy glances as they processed the cryptic message and the disappearing figure of their revered leader. ¡°speaking of which, that bai mu is really ridiculous. it¡¯s fine if he sold the route of the nine kings, but he even wants to cheat his own brother.¡± ¡°if that white tiger clan¡¯s bai wuya really obtained the ancestral blood, he would probably have already reached the level of the dragon clan¡¯s ancestor by now, right?¡± everyone sighed. but while lamenting at bai si and bai mu¡¯s absurdity, they also rejoiced. it was all thanks to the two of them that they managed to buy them precious time. qi shan continued, ¡°but bai si hasn¡¯t sent a message to me for more than a month. i don¡¯t know what happened¡­ this left them all in a pondering silence. meanwhile, bai wuya of the white tiger clan sternly marched into the desolate ancient grand hall, an imposing space where numerous individuals knelt in deference. his steps echoed ominously as he approached a secret room that hid a horrifying scene: a pool filled with boiling blood, bubbles thick with the essence of life rising to the surface. amidst this gruesome sight floated the skeletal remains of bai mu and bai si, a testimony to a horrifying act. overwhelmed with grief and guilt, bai wuya held the skeletal remains of the two people in his hands, lamenting the tragic path they had chosen, guided by treachery and greed. ¡°my little brother¡­ why did you do such a stupid thing¡­ it¡¯s my fault. it¡¯s all my fault! i failed to look after you and let such a treacherous person lead you astray.¡± with tears streaming down his face, he unleashed a fury of despair and anger, annihilating the remains in a ghastly feast of sorrow and self-blame. then, he bit down on the bone in his right hand. the white bones shattered into pieces as bai wuya¡¯s sharp teeth devoured them. bai wuya continued to chew on his younger brother¡¯s corpse. the pool, once brimming with blood, soon found its contents diminished, absorbed wholly by bai wuya in an act of frantic desperation, a chorus of his cries echoing in the grim chamber. behind the door, qiong mou, the leader of the qiongqi clan, appeared quietly, witnessing the ghastly scene unfolding before him. ¡°how is it? how is the stripping technique i created for you?¡± bai wuya slowly stood up, the tears on his face still flowing uncontrollably. but his voice had already calmed down. ¡°it¡¯s good. the power of the entire ancestral blood has already entered my body. that person from the sacred heart sect wants to use this method to break through the final stage?¡± ¡°indeed.¡± qiong mou spoke with an air of superiority and cunning, revealing his own manipulative and opportunistic nature. ¡°to be honest, he is more like a qiongqi than my own clansmen¡­ he was really smart to think of such a method.¡± he added, ¡°however, he isn¡¯t a true qiongqi. he still has to rely on me to use this divine ability.¡± the sacred heart sect had stolen the bloodline abilities of the six royal clans. qiong mou had also secretly learned the cultivation method of the sacred heart sect¡¯s master. he felt that he had just returned what he had borrowed. suddenly, bai wuya belched loudly, a testament to the grotesque act he had just committed. the sheer force of it caused the entire room to shudder, the foundations threatening to give way under the immense power now housed within him.. Chapter 677 - Chapter 677: Dwarf King and Endless King chapter 677: dwarf king and endless king translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation west cauldron state. a sea of blood soared into the sky, forming an immense illusion visible to everyone. in the sky, a massive, unfamiliar face spanned dozens of miles, gaping open to seemingly survey the individuals in the human world. ¡°master is mighty!¡± shouted many sacred heart sect disciples on the ground as they knelt, their eyes filled with an intense fanaticism. a lot of them held grim and bloody offerings, eagerly presenting them to their master. ¡°master is about to become a true emperor realm expert!¡± one disciple proclaimed. another declared, ¡°from now on, the world will belong to our sacred heart sect.¡± the inner circle of the sect seemed already engrossed in visions of ruling the human world, their minds brimming with grand ambitions. two figures, the dwarf king and the endless king, were particularly ecstatic. ¡°after today, you and i will be below one person and above ten thousand people,¡± one of them chuckled, the two clearly sharing the same line of thought. ¡°at that time, the world will be our food,¡± the endless king mentioned, but then shook his head, adding, ¡°however, i¡¯m afraid master won¡¯t be able to reach the true emperor level this time. he¡¯ll probably only be able to reach the level of the dragon clan¡¯s previous emperor.¡± the dwarf king responded without much concern, ¡°that¡¯s enough. after all, the path is right. the only thing lacking is blood.¡± ¡°when master passes down this technique, our path to becoming emperors will be smooth,¡± they continued, their laughter growing increasingly boisterous. ¡°no, no, no. there¡¯s still the holy son,¡± one of them corrected. ¡°yes, just below two people,¡± the other agreed, their understanding of each other evident in their conversation. they both harbored their own sinister plans, fully aware of the sect master¡¯s vulnerability at the moment, and were prepared to exploit it to their advantage. their conversation then shifted to the mysterious whereabouts of the holy son, a figure who seemed to have vanished without any trace. the endless king voiced his surprise, ¡°speaking of which, where did that lord holy son go?¡± his query was met with a sneer from the dwarf king. ¡°who knows? perhaps our holy son has plans of his own?¡± the endless king found this hard to believe, given the holy son¡¯s known gentle and humble disposition. they recalled the holy son¡¯s distinct lack of participation in the gruesome rites of the sect, a stark contrast to the overt barbarity of the other members. in a grim reminder, the dwarf king warned, ¡°in our sacred heart sect, the gentler you are, the crazier you are,¡± bringing up a chilling anecdote of a revered sage who had joined their ranks in the past. despite maintaining a saintly facade, this individual indulged in secret, cannibalistic practices that would send shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. ¡°absolutely,¡± the endless king nodded, his face brightening with a sudden realization before his voice trailed off ominously. ¡°in the future, this world¡­¡± his words abruptly cut off, replaced by a sense of impending doom as the figure in the sky turned its focus onto him. swoosh! the sense of dread intensified, causing the endless king¡¯s hair to stand on end. ¡°master is mighty!¡± he yelled in a futile effort to demonstrate his loyalty. almost immediately, his body was lifted uncontrollably into the air. panic took over as he desperately cried out, ¡°master! it¡¯s me! i am your guardian!¡± but his pleas fell on deaf ears, his body beginning to disintegrate, his flesh tearing away bit by bit, his bones making a futile attempt to fight back, emanating a futile king¡¯s might. as he was drawn closer to the open, bloody mouth in the sky, his desperate cries continued, ¡°master, why are you doing this?¡± a chilling voice echoed from above, devoid of any empathy or warmth. ¡°why would i need a reason to kill you? didn¡¯t i give you everything you have?¡± this cold retort left the endless king momentarily stunned before a bitter laugh escaped him. ¡°so that¡¯s how it is, so that¡¯s how it is. so we¡¯ve been your food from the very beginning. hahaha¡­ to think that i was still fantasizing about replacing you in the future.¡± meanwhile, the dwarf king tried to flee but soon realized the futile nature of his attempt. his body was not under his control, demonstrating the absolute power the sect master held over them. they were no more than mere playthings in his hands. the dwarf king couldn¡¯t comprehend their lack of resistance, uttering in disbelief, ¡°why is it that a king is unable to resist at all¡­¡± the answer soon dawned on the endless king beside him. ¡°there¡¯s something wrong with the cultivation technique he gave me. something¡¯s wrong¡­ it¡¯s a totem. there¡¯s a huge problem with the bone patterns we¡¯ve engraved on the king bone!¡± an approving response came from the sky, ¡°smart.¡± the sect master¡¯s bloody mouth continued to consume their powers relentlessly, biting away at their essence bit by bit. flooded with a mix of regret and realization, the endless king pondered on qin huai¡¯s capabilities. ¡°qin huai of the qingzhou alliance is truly a prodigy. he cultivated the blood heart technique, but he was able to shatter your totem and bone patterns¡­¡± he continued, piecing together the sect master¡¯s schemes, ¡°that¡¯s why you¡¯re so shocked. you rarely make a move, hoping that we¡¯ll pay attention to qingzhou, right? you even want to give him the position of the second holy son. are you trying to suck him into the sect and then kill him to remove future threats?¡± the endless king¡¯s face contorted with regret as he lamented their missed opportunity.. ¡°what a pity, what a pity! if only he knew my intentions, he would have killed you himself, saving us from this gruesome fate!¡± Chapter 678 - Chapter 678: The Three Kings chapter 678: the three kings translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation he couldn¡¯t contain his anger, but it didn¡¯t make any difference. despite the fleeting wave of sadness that came over the sacred heart sect¡¯s master at the mention of qin huai¡¯s name, he was committed to his path. the blood sea king¡¯s domain, reminiscent of the potent capabilities of the qilin clan, consumed the living and their destinies alike. he had tried to play both sides, banking on qin huai¡¯s survival to add a blaze to the already flickering ember of qingzhou¡¯s fate. in the best scenario, aiding qin huai to ascend to the true emperor realm would be the ultimate win. should qin huai perish, the blood sea king whale was prepared to absorb the vast amount of luck in qingzhou, taking it to the west cauldron state so that he could truly become qualified to break through to the true emperor realm. unfortunately, both pillars of his plan had fallen, leaving him to face the repercussions of his gambles. despite his knack for risky ventures, promising massive rewards, the sacred heart sect master faced the grim outcome of his strategies failing in the most disastrous way possible. as their emotional outburst echoed, declaring their unwillingness to accept the fate bestowed upon them, the two kings struggled to grasp the deeper layers of his schemes, a truth they were never destined to uncover. in their final moments, they spat out curses, envisioning the inevitable downfall of the sect master even if he managed to conquer the world. but, unbeknownst to them, their deaths were just another cog in the grand scheme of the sacred heart sect¡¯s master. meanwhile, at the fringes of the three sects, lay the desolate mount wusi, a place echoing the whispers of a once vibrant ancient city. the top of the mountain hosted a grand altar, home to a statue possessing a mysterious allure, yet devoid of any worship or attention. overgrown weeds and wild creatures took residence, indicating the long absence of human presence. emerging from this desolation were three men, their faces devoid of color, looking as if they bore the weight of the world on their shoulders. each step seemed a herculean task, their energy sapped and bodies bearing the marks of time and hardship. two of them had white hair, while the other¡¯s head was bare, his scalp narrating tales of the many years he had seen. these figures would have brought both shock and relief to the high ranks of the three sects, for these were the sect masters, recently defeated by bai wuya. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect that bai wuya would be a step ahead of us and break through that hazy barrier.¡± the middle-aged man in a confucian robe had a weary voice, and his originally elegant beard had been cut into pieces. ¡°this old daoist has said that the little brats of the qingzhou alliance must never give up. even if it¡¯s a trap set by the six royal clans, we still have to try.¡± ¡°that kid is very likely the only possibility for us to become emperors.¡± anger surged within the sect master, his fury palpable despite his weakened state. blood trickled from his nose, a testament to his internal turmoil, yet he seemed blissfully unaware of its presence, too consumed by the gravity of their task and the roads that lay ahead. the frail monk spoke in a gentle yet serious tone, ¡°amitabha. as soon as we exit the boundaries of the three provinces, we¡¯ll be without protection. when the six royal clans muster their forces and encircle us beyond the provinces, we¡¯ll be defenseless. ¡°the three sects will face annihilation. the human race will be relegated to mere sustenance for the six royal clans, with no room for survival. the sacred heart sect¡¯s fate in the west cauldron state serves as a grim example.¡± a heavy silence descended upon them. eventually, it was the aged daoist who disrupted the quiet. ¡°possessing the luck of the three states could grant one the power of an emperor. but sadly, we lack the aptitude to ascend to that realm, confined to a state of near-progress, a state that i fear cannot be sustained.¡¯ the trio was well-acquainted with the hardships, but the stringent prerequisites left them feeling helpless. ¡°this altar is the ultimate method bestowed upon us by our forebears,¡± the old daoist remarked with a self-mocking smile as he gazed at the structure before them. despite nearly ten thousand years of steadfast efforts, the three sects seemed to have attained nothing. ¡°what went wrong?¡± with a reverent utterance of ¡°amitabha¡±, the elderly scholar weighed in with a sigh, ¡°maybe our downfall was our excessive caution, losing out on numerous golden opportunities. yet, bearing the weight of countless lives, a single misstep could spell the end.¡± the three of them sighed. despite their sorrow, they recognized the magnitude of their duty. ¡°i pray our belated bravery brings some peace to our ancestors watching over us,¡± murmured the old daoist. the scholar continued, his face carved with lines of seriousness, ¡°we must be cautious, for our frail bodies may not bear the forthcoming force. we must time our strikes wisely. furthermore, once the providence of the three states is depleted, humanity might need another ten thousand years to rise again.¡± ¡°don¡¯t worry.¡± suddenly, the trio exuded a spirited energy that belied their years. twilight¡¯s white strands had darkened, and their once wavering spirits now held a firm resolve. their newfound vigor surged like a dragon erupting from the depths, reaching toward the heavens. ¡°who should i kill first?¡± the scholarly old man transformed, his eyes now radiated a fierce determination, abandoning any traces of his previously gentle demeanor. ¡°our enemies, different from our kind, are bound to be our downfall. how can we let go of a grudge that spans ten thousand years?¡± the old daoist proclaimed, his disdain evident as he obliterated the surrounding foliage with a snort. ¡°yes!¡± agreed the scholar. as his agreement echoed, a wind surged from the altar, lifting him skywards. illumination emerged from the altar, cocooning him in a beam of light that pierced the heavens. almost at the same time, a distant horizon bore witness to an imposing presence, one that surged toward the trio with a force that seemed heavenly. the whole vicinity resonated with the roar of a tiger, a sound that reverberated across three states. from the heavens descended bai wuya, a figure resembling a celestial lord, at the border where the three sects met. many lifted their heads, staring at the undeniable presence in the sky, their faces losing color at the magnificent yet terrifying sight.. Chapter 679 - Chapter 679: Who Will Die First? chapter 679: who will die first? translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°it¡¯s over¡­ we¡¯re done for.¡± despair settled among the people, many of whom sank to the ground, gripped by an engulfing fear. the border guards from the three sects were engulfed in the same hopelessness, murmuring, ¡°the masters of the three sects must be dead by now¡­¡± ¡°with the masters gone, we will die too¡­¡± a pervasive sense of dread hung heavy in every heart, a collective resignation to the fate they saw materializing before them in the form of the imposing figure in the sky. suddenly, a stern voice cut through the doom, ¡°what are you panicking for?!¡± an elderly figure appeared amidst them, stepping on a massive symbol that read ¡®yu¡¯. ¡°we aren¡¯t defeated until the moment we die,¡± the voice rang out firmly, only to soften towards the end, ¡°¡­at least this buys time for the civilians to evacuate.¡± a figure adorned in a purple and gold daoist robe moved against the tide of fleeing people, advancing toward the border. ¡°disciples of the true path sect, lead the civilians to qingzhou. survival is still possible there¡­ others, if you wish to flee, i won¡¯t hold you back.¡± confidence radiated from the old man. ¡°heavenly master!¡± many in the crowd, particularly the true path sect disciples, bowed in reverence. even amidst the chaos, the disciples at the forefront remained rooted, their resolve unshaken. witnessing this, some from other sects who had intended to flee felt a surge of embarrassment. a handful continued to flee, heads bowed, while others, galvanized by the display of courage, halted firmly in their tracks. ¡°we¡¯ve been trained in the true path sect¡¯s formation techniques over the years, heavenly master,¡± a few of the sect leaders chimed in, with a hint of humor amidst the grim situation. with a gracious nod and a gesture of thanks, the daoist master replied, ¡°thank you.¡± at the border, three figures communicated in hushed tones before commanding in unison, ¡°activate the formation!¡± boom! the sky above erupted with the sound of tens of thousands of thunderclaps resonating in harmony. thunder reverberated in the heavens as a spectacular display of seven hues cascaded downwards. from the earth surged a spiritual light, pooling together in the sky, morphing into an image of a golden buddha, a white lotus, and a gentle breeze that altered the very essence of the surroundings. at the helm were the true path sect¡¯s master, bodhi from the buddhist sect, and the principals of the confucian sect¡¯s four courtyards. these notable figures, second in command in their respective sects, took up the mantle of leadership, ready to fight tooth and nail to secure a sliver of hope for the common people. boom! without warning, the sky bore witness to a horrifying sight: a gigantic blood-red tiger descending fiercely upon them. its monstrous form, akin to a mountain, spanned dozens of miles, blanketing the area in an ominous shadow that seemed to consume the sun itself. it felt as if the world was on the brink of a cataclysmic end. the golden buddha swung his arm upward, orchestrating a dramatic shift in the surroundings. with the assistance of the gentle breeze, the buddhist seal transformed, altering its hue and spreading out like a blossoming lotus, dispersing into thousands of fragments in the air. yet, this transformation seemed meager, almost insignificant compared to the overpowering force of the blood tiger. the earth trembled, giving the impression of an enormous dragon stirring beneath its surface. blood began to billow out, forming a sinister red mist that enveloped the onlookers. a horrific transformation took place, as their eyes turned a blood-red hue and madness took over. chaos ensued, with some people spontaneously bursting into gruesome pieces, while others, having lost all sanity, turned violently against those nearby. the scene on the ground mirrored an apocalyptic event, the catastrophic aftermath of a singular, yet devastating attack. hundreds among the sect disciples holding the array perished instantly. despite the losses, fresh recruits promptly took the places of the fallen, steadfastly maintaining the defense line, allowing no breach. bai wuya observed the scene, his face betraying no emotion but cold indifference. ¡°impressive. if this step wasn¡¯t taken, the three regions could indeed pose a threat to our six royal clans. but times have changed.¡± despite being only halfway to his intended position, he could perceive vistas he had never encountered before. he recognized that the fortune of the three states was interconnected, propelled by an unseen force that showered blessings upon the warriors of the three sects like snowflakes. he contemplated, ¡°this explains the many defeats we faced while attempting to invade the three realms. however, today marks the end of it all.¡± but in a fleeting moment, his demeanor changed dramatically. raising his head, he noticed a sudden shift in the fortune emanating from the three regions. a turbulent wind emerged from the center, charging fiercely towards him. defiant and determined, the old confucian scholar emerged, propelled by the furious wind, dispersing the oppressive blood mist surrounding him. the violent frenzy that had gripped the populace abated, returning a semblance of normality to the scene. before the imminent confrontation could escalate, the scholar cast his gaze towards the west cauldron state, now engulfed in a blood-red sea. bizarre occurrences were unfolding there, signaling the approach of a formidable force moving at an alarming pace. facing the impending peril, the old scholar braced himself, declaring, ¡°looks like i have to risk my life.¡± the situation grew increasingly tense, with the three kings gearing up for a fierce confrontation, leaving everyone in suspense about the allegiance of the sacred heart sect master. the pressing question remained: who would die first in this high-stakes battle? Chapter 680 - Chapter 680: The End (1) chapter 680: the end (1) translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°is this the backup plan of the three sects?¡± bai wuya scrutinized the confucian sect¡¯s master, a frown creasing his forehead. ¡°why wasn¡¯t this strategy used sooner?¡± he cast his gaze towards a distant altar. there lay a phenomenon, perceptible only to individuals of their stature, a spectacle even more majestic than the display put forth by the sect master of the confucian sect. within moments, bai wuya deduced the entire scenario. ¡°rootless endeavors are destined to crumble,¡± he said with a cold chuckle. in his eyes, his possession of ancestral blood set him apart from the confucian sect¡¯s master, who had escalated his cultivation levels forcibly. ¡°time is on my side.¡± the old scholar retorted with equal frostiness, ¡°as long as we¡¯re all dead, there will be no longer any time on whose side.¡± bai wuya¡¯s laughter escalated, a mockery tinged with sadistic pleasure. ¡°is that so? how tragic that you didn¡¯t play this ace earlier, potentially steering the tide in your favor, even possibly dominating the great you. now, your chances are gone. despite everything, it seems you fear death too much to let go of your power and status.¡± the old scholar remained silent, his face momentarily marred by a fleeting expression of sadness. without further hesitation, he launched a fearless assault, forsaking the awaited arrival of the sacred heart sect¡¯s master from the west cauldron state. a decisive clash with bai wuya became inevitable since the latter had discerned the altar¡¯s true nature. the battle needed a swift conclusion. a symphony of fluttering pages echoed across the heavens and the earth, accompanied by a pervasive bloody scent that blanketed the sky. the conflicting energies birthed a phenomenal occurrence that rippled across hundreds of miles, altering the world¡¯s hue. the terrain bore witness to a cleansing ordeal, with mountains leveled and debris reduced to dust. a furious whirlwind dominated the space between the heavens and the earth, catching many people in its wrath, either sweeping them off the ground or claiming their lives through its residual impacts. the combatants, although having advanced only half a step, demonstrated prowess that exceeded the realm of top-tier kings, with a mere gesture capable of inducing shocking upheavals affecting countless lives. meanwhile, the kings of the six royal clans mobilized, advancing menacingly toward the three states. a horde of elite warriors initiated brutal combats, their numbers resembling a swarm of locusts invading borders, engaging in relentless bloodshed. amongst them were sect leaders, yet no one could halt their savage onslaught. anxiety engulfed the old scholar, leaving him in a state of desperate helplessness. finally, the tardy sacred heart sect¡¯s master made his entrance. both bai wuya and the old scholar paused, taking a moment to truly behold the sect master for the first time. dressed in simple white attire, his appearance was unremarkable, yet he emanated a sense that was beyond words. his mastery of the ¡®void¡¯ realm seemed not much different from the old scholar¡¯s. bai wuya scrutinized him, realizing with a quick assessment that compared to the qiongqi¡¯s potent divinity devouring and refining capabilities, the sacred heart sect¡¯s master still had room for growth. nonetheless, at this current level, even a minor gap was a chasm that was difficult to cross. in other words, bai wuya felt a distinct upper hand against the old scholar and the sacred heart sect¡¯s master. their progression seemed fake, even at this halfway mark towards attaining the status of a true emperor. ¡°destroy that altar, and we¡¯ll divide the world equally among us,¡± bai wuya proposed, offering a tempting proposition. the sacred heart sect¡¯s master agreed with a nod, causing the old confucian scholar¡¯s face to darken with dismay. the scholar knew too well that this sinister figure, who had feasted on the lives of entire states, surpassing even the six great royal clans in brutality, would not waver for the sake of the human race. ¡°it¡¯s still too late.¡± with a heavy heart burdened by hopelessness, the old scholar accepted that the tides had likely turned irreparably against them. boom! suddenly, the body of the sacred heart sect¡¯s master burst forth, radiating a monstrous and sinister aura, his murderous vibe eclipsing even bai wuya¡¯s. an army of vicious spirits surged forth, engulfing the celestial phenomenon overhead. bai wuya¡¯s eyes narrowed. he found himself taken aback by the sheer volume of lives the sacred heart sect¡¯s master must have claimed to amass such power. at this moment, a birds-eye view of the west cauldron state would reveal an eerie void, a land devoid of life, resonating with the unfolding chaos. bang! caught off guard, bai wuya struggled to stabilize his fluctuating energy. he released a counterattack, as fierce tiger roars echoed, confronting the oppressive force of the amassed spirits, resulting in a celestial clash that reverberated across the heavens. stunned and momentarily weakened, bai wuya found himself at a disadvantage, a fact not missed by the old scholar who seized this golden opportunity to join the attack against him. despite being unsure of the sacred heart sect¡¯s master¡¯s sudden allegiance, the scholar recognized this moment as possibly the last chance to save their sects and humanity. facing a two-front battle, bai wuya transformed into a formidable entity, resembling a warrior deity descending onto the world, wielding his power with reckless abandon. his aura, fierce and unyielding, shattered the heavenly energies surrounding them, showcasing the sheer might of his savage beastly form. having attained the atavism realm, bai wuya exhibited the strength synonymous with eight legendary beasts. yet, despite his superior stance, fending off a united assault proved difficult. injuries began to manifest, with blood oozing from his wounds, which magnified mid-air into a bloody rain that nourished the barren ground, triggering the regeneration of the devastated vegetation. this regeneration, however, came at the cost of bai wuya¡¯s vitality, as he continued to hemorrhage profusely. although the royal clans¡¯ six kings were eager to intervene, the overpowering energies emanating from the trio rendered them helpless, unable to approach within a ten-mile radius. even their top warriors couldn¡¯t breach this invisible barrier. meanwhile, leaders from the remaining royal clans and sects watched with escalating dread, realizing that despite their ground forces¡¯ superiority, a loss in the celestial battle would spell doom for them all. the sight of bai wuya¡¯s defeated expression fueled their mounting apprehension, aware that their fate hung precariously in the balance of this battle in the sky.. Chapter 681 - Chapter 681: The End (2) chapter 681: the end (2) translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation a grim outcome seemed inevitable. they seemed unable to avoid a disastrous fate. among the leaders of the clans, only qiong mou from the qiongqi clan maintained a composed face. he roamed the battlefield, seemingly lost in thought as days morphed into nights in a never-ending cycle. for five grueling days and nights, the trio engaged in relentless battle. puff! another spurt of blood erupted from bai wuya, staining the sky. the echoing sounds of books, previously resounding with fierce power, had now quieted. ¡°the tide seems to be turning,¡± the sacred heart sect¡¯s master finally broke his silence since the beginning of the battle. a fierce glint of defiance and resentment filled bai wuya¡¯s eyes as he looked at the two before him. desperation clung to his words as he tried to sway the sacred heart sect master, ¡°your sacred heart sect no longer has anyone left. now that you¡¯ve joined forces with the three sects¡­ the only outcome was being swallowed by the three sects and being destroyed in the river of time. join me instead. together we can restore the sacred heart sect to its former glory, ruling over three prefectures.¡± but the sacred heart sect¡¯s master remained unmoved, intensifying his attacks instead. bai wuya found himself with no option but to grimly hold on. buzz¡­ in an unexpected turn, the old scholar halted, his crystalline body starting to fragment. as he began to dissolve, his blood manifested as an echoing sound of books spreading across the lands. bai wuya seized this opportunity, attacking the old scholar fervently, as if clutching at a lifeline. panicked and blinded by blood, the old scholar struggled to gather his energy, unable to focus his waning power. his only hope was to stall for time, urging the sacred heart sect¡¯s master to endure for just a few moments longer. determined to reach the altar, he recklessly pushed forward, ignoring his own safety. ¡°stop him!¡± bai wuya screamed furiously. a king of the white tiger clan attempted to rise to the heavens to halt him but found himself swatted away by the determined scholar, his ascent brutally interrupted. a hushed stillness blanketed the land, the remaining kings rendered incapable of pursuing the relentless scholar. above them, bai wuya launched into a furious assault on the sacred heart sect¡¯s master, channeling every ounce of his power into a relentless onslaught aiming to eliminate him within a fleeting timeframe. despite the significant loss of blood, bai wuya held an advantage in one-on-one combat, thanks to his powerful ancestral blood. the sacred heart sect master¡¯s forceful rise in power was beginning to show signs of decline. he found himself retreating, his newly attained power diminishing rapidly under bai wuya¡¯s fierce attacks. in moments of sheer perseverance, the sect master managed to recover, only to be met with further devastating blows that left horrendous scars on his constantly regenerating form. third breath ¡ª an arm was brutally severed. sixth breath ¡ª his vital organs were mercilessly ripped out. however, time and again, the sacred heart sect¡¯s master demonstrated an uncanny ability to recover, yet each revival brought with it gruesome and horrific scars, a testament to the brutal battle that continued to unfold in the heavens. in bai wuya¡¯s king domain, an atmosphere of dread and brutality pervaded, the merciless energy of the conflict unavoidable and unending. by the tenth breath, the sacred heart sect¡¯s master was decimated, leaving nothing but fragmented remains and shattered bones. ¡°it¡¯s finally finished¡­¡± a flicker of triumph sparkled in bai wuya¡¯s eyes. however, in the next moment¡­ in a surprising turn of events, a speck of blood miles away began to regenerate. rising from the sanguine bud, the sacred heart sect¡¯s master emerged once more, albeit significantly weakened, now embodying the power of only a high -ranking king. ¡°you¡¯ve mastered the art of the nine supremes clan¡¯s death substitution technique?¡± bai wuya exclaimed, a newfound respect for his opponent bubbling within him. despite this, the sect master¡¯s diminished state meant he was no longer a significant threat in bai wuya¡¯s eyes. frustration mounting, bai wuya thundered defiantly, ¡°let¡¯s see how many times you can resurrect!¡± bang! a massive talisman materialized before him, its suppression creating ripples that sliced through clouds in the sky. the battle was now joined by an old daoist priest, a formidable force akin to the earlier scholar. ¡°is that all?¡± the weakened sacred heart sect master remarked, his expression marred with disappointment. the daoist priest met his gaze, a note of sadness coloring his eyes, as they both harbored a mutual realization that perhaps he wasn¡¯t meant to stand with the human race in this life. this somber understanding hung heavily between them, before the priest¡¯s complexion turned a vivid red. the next moment, a distressing transformation began as the priest¡¯s robe disintegrated into dust, soon followed by the gradual decay of his limbs. witnessing this, bai wuya felt a chill racing down his spine, propelling him to escape the unfolding catastrophe. yet his attempt was thwarted as he encountered an impenetrable barrier marked with a gargantuan talisman. panic set in as he found the surrounding world blanketed in similar talismans, each bearing a single, ominous command: ¡°explode!¡± with a resonating command, the characters permeated bai wuya¡¯s sight, initiating a cataclysmic eruption that enveloped him in a fiery storm. the sect master¡¯s lethal prowess was underestimated by all, a deadly miscalculation as he willingly embraced this suicidal strategy. the heavens transformed into an inferno, mountains crumbled under the immense power, and the ground caught alight, morphing into a flowing river of flames that consumed all in its path. a barren wasteland remained, all life eradicated within the extensive blast radius that even engulfed the sacred heart sect¡¯s master himself. perhaps, this had been the plan devised by the master of the true path sect all along. a fiery maelstrom swirled in the sky. the ground observers, either survivors or those fortunate to be at a distance, held their breaths, necks craning upward in anxious anticipation. time seemed to stretch infinitely, the prolonged suspense straining every onlooker. finally, the fiery tempest started to dissipate, revealing the sky once obscured by the blaze. two figures swayed weakly in the air, blood no longer spilling from their forms.. Chapter 682 - Chapter 682: The End (3) chapter 682: the end (3) translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation the fresh blood that once flowed freely had now transformed into dry scabs, clinging stubbornly to their flesh. both bai wuya and the sacred heart sect master stood defiantly, neither succumbing to death. only the leader of the true path sect, who had relied on a drastic combat technique, had met his end in the sky. bai wuya felt confusion clouding his mind, chaos reflecting in his eyes. his body was a mere step away from giving up, internal organs in shambles. however, luck seemed to be on his side as the sacred heart sect master appeared to be in an even more pitiful state. his power seemed to waver and decline continuously, indicative of the recent use of a powerful secret technique, reminiscent of the nine supremes clan¡¯s death substitution technique. now, he was just a mere king, albeit one with a fully realized spiritual altar. with a mocking chuckle, bai wuya taunted, ¡°if we were in the same realm, i might not be your match.¡± the implications of his statement were clear. the sect master responded only with a silent, icy stare, devoid of any emotion. ¡°your spiritual sense has already failed, and you¡¯re just an arrow at the end of its flight,¡± he retorted calmly, a declaration that left bai wuya somewhat puzzled. yet before bai wuya could initiate his next move, the sect master began crafting a series of hand seals. ¡°don¡¯t even think about it!¡± outraged, bai wuya lunged forward, launching a ferocious strike towards the sacred heart sect master. his assault spanned several miles in the blink of an eye. but before a triumphant grin could even grace his lips, the sect master¡¯s figure fragmented into shards under the force of bai wuya¡¯s tiger claw ¨C nothing more than an illusion. realization dawned upon bai wuya, his eyes narrowing as he finally grasped the depth of the sect master¡¯s strategy. he spun around, his gaze locking onto the sinister blood-red tendrils looming ominously in the sky. ¡°sacred heart myriad transformations, eight vicious skills, blood seal!¡± resembling vengeful pythons, they lunged towards him with unrestrained ferocity, a symphony of the sect master¡¯s destructive techniques aimed at sealing his fate. up in the sky, the sacred heart sect master reappeared, having completed the final stage of his complex hand seal. as his palms met, it seemed as though the world itself had succumbed to a restrictive force. but bai wuya wasn¡¯t about to be caged so easily. with a furious roar, he defied, ¡°you think these petty tricks can hold me down?¡± despite being on the brink of collapse, his king bones emanated a godly strength, proving that his power had yet to be fully depleted. a gruesome dance ensued as bai wuya fought vehemently, his powerful form tearing through the tendrils with desperate resolve. but the tendrils regenerated at an alarming rate, a pace too swift for him to maintain his defense. puff! a wet, slithering noise echoed as the first of the tendrils wrapped itself around bai wuya¡¯s heart, followed swiftly by another encircling his limbs, arms, and even encompassing his head. they worked frantically, intending to devour him entirely, soon forming a colossal orb of blood that spanned hundreds of meters. others tried to intervene, attempting to stop the grotesque transformation unfolding before them. but it was too late. the sacred heart sect master had vanished, leaving behind only the pulsating mass. or rather, that was the sacred heart sect master¡¯s true form, a final desperate bid to end the battle once and for all. the strong tentacles pulsed and squirmed, progressively shrinking the blood orb with every contraction. all attempts by the kings to halt this process seemed only to inflict more pain on bai wuya, rendering cries of anguish that echoed across the battlefield. it was as if every strike on the orb reverberated directly onto him. ¡°stop!¡± a somber voice cut through the chaotic scene, demanding a halt to their efforts. ¡°this mass of flesh and blood is now intrinsically linked to bai wuya. if we destroy it, bai wuya won¡¯t be able to survive.¡± the speaker¡¯s gaze drifted skyward, his expression stoic as he said, ¡°for the future of our six royal clans, clan leader bai has sacrificed his life. this is something we will never be able to forget even after ten thousand years!¡± his eyes were calm as he watched the ball of blood shrink to the size of a few people. ¡°inherit clan leader bail s will!¡± with fervent cries. the demons rallied, unified in their determination to udhold bai wuya¡¯s legacy. in the wake of the sacred heart sect¡¯s implosion and the obliteration of other formidable forces in the fiery onslaught, they now stood unmatched in great you, echoing the dominance of the six royal clans from times long past. ¡°we must carry on his will and lead the six royal clans to greater glory.¡± qiong mou¡¯s voice resonated through the sky, a proclamation that left the hearts of the human generals crumbling in despair. however, hearing qiong mou¡¯s words, the royal clans¡¯ leaders suddenly realized that something was wrong. their suspicions were confirmed when qiong mou abruptly swallowed the diminishing blood orb, an act that triggered a torrent of burgeoning power within him. boom! a triumphant smile spread across qiong mou¡¯s face as he declared, ¡°my time has come.¡± his aura rose rapidly, a true ancestor in the art of devouring. he had facilitated bai wuya¡¯s rise to power, and even the sacred heart sect had borrowed from his clan¡¯s wisdom in their endeavors. the unfolding circumstances presented qiong mou with a golden opportunity to seize control, an opportunity birthed from the chaotic clash that saw the fall of many formidable leaders. ¡°when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits.¡± embracing the surging energy within him, which seemed to elevate him to unprecedented heights, qiong mou addressed the crowd below with a condescending gaze, likening them to a mere swarm of ants. ¡°did the seven supremes of qingzhou come?¡± ¡°no,¡± the nine supremes clan¡¯s leader answered, affirming the rebellion of the absent seven kings of qingzhou. ¡°they didn¡¯t come when summoned. they have already turned against us.¡± ¡°let¡¯s give up the three sects for now and move to qingzhou!¡± with a decisive wave of his hand, qiong mou redirected their focus towards qingzhou, discarding any concern for the remnants of the three decimated sects. the three sects¡¯ once-powerful defensive forces had been eradicated, leaving them as helpless as lambs awaiting the slaughter. the trump cards left behind by the three sects that could contend against the six royal clans and defend the city had already been turned into ashes by the true path sect¡¯s master¡¯s explosion. qingzhou remained the sole bastion capable of mounting a resistance, harboring a massive populace and the protection of the seven kings. if given time, their heaven-defying luck might create another qin huai. but qiong mou had no intention of allowing potential threats to arise, no willingness to divide the reins of power. as the new, uncontested leader, his sights were firmly set on conquering qingzhou, fully intent on monopolizing the world that lay spread before him.. Chapter 683 - Chapter 683: The End (4) chapter 683: the end (4) translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation ¡°understood!¡± the chorus of agreement rang out from the leaders of the remaining royal clans. at this point, they recognized the sway qiong mou held, his might undeniably surpassing theirs. not one of them harbored illusions of outmatching him in a confrontation. as his order hung in the air, qiong mou¡¯s figure vanished into the sky, setting course for qingzhou. meanwhile, the formidable forces comprising the royal clans and the amassed demon horde retreated, leaving behind a desolate and broken group from the three sects. the group of dejected disciples stood forlorn on the devastated lands, echoing a shared sentiment. ¡°it¡¯s over¡­ the human race is completely finished.¡± qiong mou traversed the sky with a commanding presence, each step seemingly asserting his dominance over the world below. his aura amplified with every moment, a frightening crescendo of power as he approached qingzhou. however, halfway through his journey, an unexpected change occurred. he stopped, sensing not only his escalating power but a formidable surge of energy emanating from qingzhou. astonishing beams of golden light pierced the heavens, rivaling the luminance of galaxies. moreover, it wasn¡¯t a singular occurrence. alongside the most powerful golden aura, nine others soared, evoking a sense of awe and fear in qiong mou. ¡°could it be? nine people are going to be kings at the same time?¡± the thought sent shivers down qiong mou¡¯s spine as he struggled to grasp the magnitude of the force housed in qingzhou. his mind raced, contemplating the possibility of the qingzhou alliance¡¯s survival and the existence of the once-presumed dead qin huai. shaking off these thoughts, qiong mou reasoned that if the qingzhou alliance was still a force to reckon with, the seven supremes of qingzhou would have been their first adversaries, given their stronghold in the region. after all, years prior, the majority of the qingzhou alliance had been witnessed and tracked by the royal clans, leaving only qin huai unaccounted for. ¡°if the seven supremes are counted in with prince qing cang, the number of people should be about the same. we can¡¯t let them live!¡± calculations ran through qiong mou¡¯s mind, the numbers seeming to align with the current events. his determination solidified ¡ª those thriving in qingzhou could not be left to grow their power. the aura emanating from there sparked a fierce flame of murderous intent within him, urging caution and strategy in his advance. the proximity to the coveted throne of the great you emperor demanded meticulous steps, especially in the face of unexpected developments in qingzhou. he acknowledged the formidable backing he had: a league of twenty kings, including four of the highest caliber, a council of experienced elders, and an army of skilled elites. yet, a nagging doubt resurfaced. ¡°that¡¯s not right. who is hiding the secrets of heaven for them?¡± his mind raced, realizing that these signs of ascension should have been evident during his previous breakthroughs on the battlefield. the fact that neither he nor bai wuya perceived these events hinted at a secretive force working in qingzhou¡¯s favor, protecting and nurturing a power that now seemed ready to challenge the dominance qiong mou envisioned. but the huge cloud of doubt did not make qiong mou panic. instead, it made him smile. it appeared to him that the futile efforts to conceal information indicated that the enemy was still far from reaching their objective, possibly lacking the strength to win against him. qiong mou surmised that qingzhou might be their final stronghold. regardless of whether they were the seven supremes or remnants of the human race, it mattered little to him. ¡°leader? did something happen?¡± a king on the ground asked as he approached qiong mou, unable to sense any unusual happenings in the qingzhou direction. ¡°it¡¯s fine. advance at full speed!¡± qiong mou responded, his eyes sparkling with unyielding spirit and his energy soaring to its pinnacle. descending to the earth, he effortlessly uprooted a mountain, taking steps forward with a might reminiscent of the legendary ancestor of the dragon clan, heading towards the green plains. days later, the army reached qingzhou¡¯s borders, led by a resolute qiong mou. the towering golden pillar that graced the sky seemed even more magnificent upon closer inspection. as they neared, qiong mou realized it wasn¡¯t a pillar but a golden statue seated in a meditative position on the ground. a flicker of relief crossed his eyes. ¡°fortunately, i made it in time.¡± without further ado, he commanded, ¡°massacre the city!¡± a simple gesture unleashed his forces into action. however, before they could surge forward, eight formidable figures emerged, displaying a significant advancement in their auras compared to a few years prior: the six kings of qi mountain, purple flame king, and prince qing cang. ¡°is that all? can you really stop us?¡± qiong mou gazed at them disdainfully, his snide remark echoed by the stern faces of the other clan leaders beside him. the appearance of the eight kings, although noteworthy, couldn¡¯t overshadow the massive force behind qiong mou, including more than ten kings ready for battle. ¡°not just them.¡± the scene escalated as ten more figures darted forward ¡ª xiang mingfeng, le ji¡¯an, fang huo, hua yanli, xu tong, yun qi, she wanshan, xiong yujie, wang gang, and prince qing cang¡¯s daughter, long pingjing, a young prodigy noted in great you¡¯s records. witnessing uns group, q_uong mows previously cusrmsslve expression cnangeu. he had anticipated encountering remnants of the qingzhou alliance, but the sight of these powerful figures, known as heaven¡¯s favorites, stirred an unsettling fear within him. their presence begged the question: who was responsible for activating the golden statue? his initial suspect was xiang mingfeng, but seeing him among the group, doubts crept in. the mysterious force behind the golden statue phenomenon left him anxious, causing his usually steady heart to race. determined to sever whatever lifeline qingzhou clung to, qiong mou rallied his troops, issuing a decisive command, ¡°kill them! cut off qingzhou¡¯s fate!¡± in response, an impressive army, tens of thousands strong, began their march on qingzhou, ready to enact qiong mou¡¯s ruthless order.. Chapter 684 - Chapter 684_End : The End (5) chapter 684_end : the end (5) translator: endlessfantasy translation editor: endlessfantasy translation at this critical moment, the gates swung open and a formidable battalion of armored men marched out. their gaze was fierce, and their aura unyielding, almost aloof. despite their slightly bulky armor, it seemed to amplify their lethal intentions rather than hinder them. their power was palpable ¡ª they were warriors of the visceral prefecture realm. and there were two thousand of them, an immense force that sent shivers through the ranks of the royal clans¡¯ combined forces, leaving them feeling somewhat unnerved. meanwhile, the mountains around them erupted in clouds of dust and smoke as hordes of blood beasts charged forth. these creatures bore a monstrous and beastly might, effectively sealing any escape routes for the allied armies of the royal clans. qiong mou immediately opened his monstrous mouth wide. boom! like a voracious black hole, it began to suck everything within its vicinity with a thunderous roar. a great force seemed to have engulfed thousands of miles, lifting warriors and even vegetation off the ground as they were drawn toward him. however, this formidable power had barely manifested when suddenly, from the distant sky, a new force emerged. this power disrupted the connection between qiong mou and its surroundings, causing a momentous disturbance in the skies. boom! a turbulent sea of clouds surged, revealing the head of a malevolent dragon spanning several miles. at the same time, the sky was set ablaze with flaming hues as nine menacing beasts emerged, holding the gaze of the clan leaders who appeared to regard these creatures with a reverence, akin to venerating their ancestors. this scene ignited a tremor deep within their bloodlines, an overpowering pressure that seemed to resonate with their very souls. in this chaotic scene, the atmosphere thrummed with the approach of a monstrous energy from the eight vicious war domain. this force, packed with shocking momentum, managed to unsettle even the usually unflappable qiong mou. dong! dong! dong! in the midst of this dramatic unfolding, there was a sound echoing as if someone was making strides amidst the clouds, descending from an otherworldly throne. the eight beasts bowed down, creating a pathway for the emerging figure. a man adorned in a black robe, his waist-length hair fluttering in the turbulent winds, gradually became visible to everyone present. facing this newcomer, he displayed a complex expression, as a whirlpool of thoughts swirled within his mind. an air of familiarity surrounded the black-robed figure, his presence seemingly an expected turn in the unfolding events. ¡°it¡¯s you.. as he tried to unravel the intricacies of the moment, a multitude of thoughts raced through his mind. finally, directing his gaze at the young man in the black robe, he spoke, filled with both curiosity and accusation, ¡°is this all within your calculations?¡± he found it unnerving that, despite his apparent youth, he couldn¡¯t sense any aura from him, making him an enigma in a scene filled with powerful and intimidating forces. however, amidst this escalating tension, the eight beasts surrounding the black-robed man, qin huai, were hard to ignore. as qin huai moved slowly yet determinedly towards qiong mou, he remained silent, his presence speaking volumes. ¡°how about we split the world? if we fight, both sides will suffer. it¡¯ll just delay you and kill everyone in qingzhou¡­¡± qiong mou, perhaps sensing the weight of the moment, spoke up. but his words faltered, his bravado diminishing as he assessed the formidable forces gathered before him. the small force from qingzhou, it appeared, had a might capable of challenging the combined power of the royal clans. in this assembly of forces, ten were the highly regarded heaven¡¯s favorites, bolstered by the might of two housand immortal guards and the fierce blood beasts. this formidable army threatened to overrun great you, and at its helm was the mysterious figure, qin huai. what disconcerted qiong mou was his inability to gauge the true extent of qin huai¡¯s power, despite being in close proximity to him. ¡°it¡¯s over.¡± finally breaking his silence, qin huai uttered two words that seemed to herald an end. his voice was cold, his gaze judgmental as it fixed on qiong mou. a convergence of profound energies ¨C the imperial power and samsara of life and death ¨C coalesced, signifying the merging of the black dragon world and the dynasty of the king domain. this fusion embodied qin huai¡¯s true emperor authority. without any warning or visible phenomenon, qiong mou began to experience an accelerated aging process. his once invincible strength was ebbing away rapidly, leaving him unable to resist or reverse the effect. desperation and disbelief marred his features as he screamed his unwillingness to accept this fate. ¡°true emperor! i refuse to accept this! this should be my world!¡± cold and unfazed, qin huai retorted, ¡°no. this is the world of peace.¡± under the formidable authority of a true emperor, all falsehoods and pretensions were exposed and obliterated. in mere moments, qiong mou¡¯s grandeur crumbled, his power severed ruthlessly by qin huai. then, in a coordinated surge, the united forces ¨C comprising the ten kings of the qingzhou alliance, the celestial beings known as the seven supremes in the sky, the two thousand celestial guards, and the relentless blood beasts ¨C swarmed towards their last enemy. qiong mou¡¯s instant death shattered the morale of the remaining members of the royal clans, leaving them devoid of the will to fight back. those who remained, including the remaining clan leaders who foresaw their imminent demise, attempted to escape the battlefield using their unique escape techniques. but even this proved futile as qin huai effortlessly thwarted their exit, trapping them in the human world. his power seemed unrivaled, a testament to the true might of an emperor, making it evident that no one could stand against the invincible qin huai. ¡°we won¡¯t kill those who surrender.¡± qin huai¡¯s words resonated like a mighty wave, reaching every corner of the battlefield and resonating within the hearts of the warriors present. in the wake of the royal clans¡¯ leaders¡¯ demise, the remaining forces realized that they had lost any possibility of a comeback. one elder lifted his hands in a signal of surrender, triggering a wave of acquiescence and defeat that rippled across the land. as qin huai surveyed the scene, a brilliant white light emanated from his eyes, absorbing the essence of the world around him. in a secluded part of qingzhou, gou jie and zhang youji were amongst seven others struggling to hold back their flowing tears. simultaneously, three seasoned sect masters, including yao yongfei, were investing all their efforts in protecting a heavenly secret and buying some precious time for qingzhou. qin huai quietly reflected on the path that had brought him here, a journey that began ten years ago with his arrival in this world. from the frantic escape during the beast tide at pingnan city, through the strategic retaliation at lingjiang which was orchestrated with the assistance of the sacred heart sect and the prefectural governor¡¯s office, to the nefarious plots woven by the kun peng clan and the sacred heart sect in qingzhou, and culminating in the brutal ambition of the six royal clans aiming to conquer humanity ¡ª his path had been relentless and exhausting. tired of the incessant conflicts and fleeing, qin huai had finally reached a point where he could bring a conclusive end to this chaos. he sought to return to a place of peace, true to his core nature. with a voice that gathered in strength, becoming a thunderous wave of resolve, qin huai declared his vision for a peaceful world. ¡°the world is now at peace. there is no more violence. violators will be beheaded!¡± his words echoed from qingzhou to every corner of the great you, promising a time where the clashing of weapons would be a thing of the past and any breach of this peace would be met with stern retribution. at the border of qingzhou, the assembled experts from various corners of the world listened, their fists clenched in a gesture of allegiance to the sweeping decree pronounced by qin huai. all over the world, individuals from diverse backgrounds found themselves overcome with complex emotions, their hearts swelling with an unexpected joy at qin huai¡¯s proclamation. unified, their voices rose in a harmonious chorus, responding to the newfound hope and the promise of a peaceful future¡­ ¡°we will obey!¡±