Nanyang County

A white streak of sword-light flashed, and Bai Ze's longsword was already sheathed once more.

A deep, bloody hole had been left in the mounted man's neck before him.

The man's eyes flew wide. Clutching the wound that sprayed blood without stop, he fell straight to the ground. He had never imagined that Bai Ze would actually strike, much less that he would be so fast.

Even Li Qiuyu on his back was startled when she saw that Sword Drawing Technique, brought to the Profound Realm.

Yet she said nothing. If not for her grievous injuries leaving her unable to move, she likely would have acted herself.

Bai Ze swung himself onto the horse, gathered Li Qiuyu into his arms, and sped toward Nanyang County.

After all, during his years in the Black Tiger Gang, he had felt no psychological burden whatsoever about killing people and plundering goods.

He had originally intended to buy the other man's horse, but since the man had sought his own death, he had no one to blame but himself.

Night quietly descended.

Amid the darkness, Bai Ze and Li Qiuyu entered Nanyang County.

It was already midnight. Every household had its doors tightly shut, and only a sparse few lights remained lit.

This was Nanyang County. Had it been Pingfeng City, the city gates likely could not have been opened at this hour.

Li Qiuyu glanced around, then pointed ahead and said, "Go this way. The Li Family's business is over there."

"Alright."

As he spoke, Bai Ze did not pause. He rode swiftly forward.

Before long, the two arrived before a shop with the words "Li Family's Business" written above its entrance.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

As Bai Ze continued knocking, the shop assistant inside heard the sound and lit a lamp.

At the same time, an extremely impatient voice came from within.

"Who is it? Whatever it is, come back tomorrow. What business do you have in the middle of the night?"

"Get lost already! If you keep knocking, don't blame me for getting rough!"

Bai Ze did not speak upon hearing that. Instead, he looked at Li Qiuyu beside him.

Her expression was somewhat unpleasant as well, but she forcibly suppressed her anger and said, "Open the door at once. Have Li Dong come out immediately. Tell him someone from the Li Family of Pingfeng City has arrived."

Bang!

Clearly, after hearing those words, hurried footsteps sounded from inside.

They might not have known who was outside, but they certainly knew what the Li Family of Pingfeng City was, and who Li Dong, the person in charge here, was.

The man hurriedly opened the shop door before he had even finished putting on his clothes.

Upon seeing Bai Ze and Li Qiuyu, he did not dare ask too many questions. He hastily ushered them in and respectfully asked, "Are you two from the Li Family?"

"That's right. Where is Li Dong?"

"Shopkeeper Li will be here shortly. Please wait a moment."

The people below did not recognize Li Qiuyu, but Li Dong, who had rushed over after receiving the news, certainly did.

He hurried over and said with utmost respect, "Eldest Young Lady, you..."

"Quickly! Bring all the physicians here, now!"

"Yes, yes."

How could the shop assistant at the side dare delay after hearing this? He hurried off to summon people.

Li Qiuyu had once again assumed the bearing of the Eldest Young Lady. She said in a deep voice, "Prepare some food immediately and arrange two rooms."

"This is my best friend. If he has any needs, do everything in your power to satisfy them."

"Yes, yes."

Li Dong hurriedly nodded upon hearing this, indicating that there would be no problem.

Bai Ze did not say anything upon seeing this.

After the summoned physicians examined his wounds, reapplied medicine, and rebandaged them, he ate something before returning to the room that had long been prepared for him.

Li Dong seemed to want to ask something, but in the end, he did not speak.

A short while later,

Li Qiuyu personally wrote a letter and handed it to him, instructing him to send it back to the Li Family in the shortest possible time, no matter what.

At the same time, he was to keep an eye on Blood Wolf's movements and make sure they were not discovered.

Li Dong understood the urgency of the matter. Without the slightest hesitation, he personally set off to deliver the letter.

Meanwhile, after Bai Ze returned to his room, he did not immediately rest.

After examining his wounds once more, he muttered, "I never expected to encounter an Innate Realm martial artist just after leaving Changqing County."

"It seems I need to hurry and increase my Blood Changing Degree, then break through into the Inner Qi Realm."

"However, the current speed of my blood changing is ultimately too slow. Tomorrow, I should ask Li Siyu whether she has any other methods."

Although Bai Ze wanted to break through the Innate Realm as quickly as possible, he did not want to do so carelessly.

Only by reaching the limit of the Blood Changing Realm as much as possible before choosing to break through could his strength become even greater.

The next day,

After resting for the night, Bai Ze had only just come downstairs when Li Qiuyu also came down from above.

Though her injuries had been severe, after treatment, ordinary walking was no longer a problem so long as she did not fight anyone.

She sat beside him. After looking deeply at Bai Ze, she finally said, "I've already sent someone to notify the Lineage. I believe they'll send people over before long."

"Since your first destination was Pingfeng City anyway, come back with me when the time comes."

"And since you saved my life this time, you may ask for anything you need."

"Alright."

Bai Ze did not refuse. This had been his plan from the start.

After Li Qiuyu finished speaking, the room fell silent once more.

Li Qiuyu's feelings were still somewhat complicated. It was true that he had saved her, but he had also seen her completely naked.

Just as she was about to say something else, Bai Ze directly voiced what he had in mind.

Li Qiuyu glanced at him and asked seriously, "You want to speed up your blood changing?"

"That's right. Is there a way?"

"There is."

Without much thought, Li Qiuyu said, "Under normal circumstances, Blood Changing Pills are used for cultivation. Of course, there are also cultivation methods specifically for blood changing, which can speed up the process."

"However, whether Blood Changing Pills or specialized cultivation methods, the help they provide is limited."

"For example, once blood changing reaches a certain degree, Blood Changing Pills will no longer have much effect."

"Although Blood Changing Cultivation Methods are not quite like that, their effects will gradually weaken as well."

Bai Ze nodded upon hearing this, understanding the situation in his heart.

If it were truly that simple, so many martial artists would not have broken through into the Inner Qi Realm early.

Basically, once they reached the limit of their own blood changing and further progress became so slight as to be negligible, continuing to delay would be futile. Thus, they chose to break through.

Bai Ze then asked the question that had been on his mind. "Has any martial artist ever completely transformed all the blood in their body while in the Blood Changing Realm?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know either?"

"Mm."