Five Cauldrons V

Black Dragon City has a rather imposing name, but in the local dialect of Dan Province, "Black Dragon" actually refers to a type of black earthworm.

Earthworms are also known as ground dragons.

Black Dragon City, naturally, refers to a city that specializes in producing this type of earthworm.

"Is that Black Dragon City?" Zhang Rongfang stood on a hillside, looking down at the basin.

A town, like a black spot, is nestled quietly in a vast expanse of dark Sea of Trees in the basin.

Around the black spot, long, thin caravans moved in and out like gray lines.

"Yes." Mo Qingyu was already out of breath and her face was pale.

The other dozen or so female guards fared slightly better, but they were still drenched in sweat.

There's no way around it; anyone who runs fifty miles straight in one go will end up like them.

In addition, there were two women from Ran Xin Village, one named Xie Rou and the other named Hongdou, who were brought out by Zhang Rongfang to guide them.

These two women were both under thirty years old, but their martial arts skills were far superior. According to them, they had already broken through their limits five times, which meant they had reached the Fifth Grade rank.

Now it seems that his physical fitness is indeed much stronger.

"Let's go, take me to contact the Five Cauldrons Sect." Having learned from his previous experience, Zhang Rongfang decided to skip the fancy stuff and go straight for the heart of the matter.

After quickly resolving the issues with Ding Yu and the Main Herb for the Golden Toad Skill, he would still have time to visit his senior brother Zhang Qingzhi, who was living in seclusion here.

It would be best if we could learn about Master Yue's current situation from him.

"The last time we made contact, it just so happened that people from the Five Cauldrons Sect were passing by in Black Dragon City."

We can't guarantee they're there right now; we can only leave our contact information and wait patiently.

Because of what happened in the village before, Hongdou's eyes were still red, but she didn't dare not reply, so she answered in a low voice.

"I don't care what your reasons are, I just want the result." Zhang Rongfang didn't even look at her and walked straight towards Black Dragon City.

The style of the previous dynasty is still preserved here, and the entire city is surrounded by high city walls.

It should be noted that in Great Ling, due to the flourishing of martial virtue, the city walls of major cities had long been broken down and used as ordinary decorations.

But here, the city wall seems to also serve a defensive purpose.

Zhang Rongfang, standing at 2.5 meters tall, was quite conspicuous walking on the Official Road.

All around were people less than two meters tall.

Even people who are 1.9 meters tall are rare.

Most of the passersby were wearing blue or black headscarves, and the women were mostly dressed in skirts, adorned with all sorts of jewelry, with earrings, studs, and necklaces piled on as if they were free.

Some people were wearing bracelets and anklets, it's unclear whether they were for decoration or something else.

From the mountain, we entered the Official Road, and from the Official Road, we arrived at the gate of Black Dragon City.

Zhang Rongfang walked in front, and among the passersby they encountered, there was roughly one man for every ten women.

Compared to the women, the men were quite normal. Their clothing and appearance were largely no different from those of people from other provinces.

As they walked, many people would occasionally look up at Zhang Rongfang was the tallest.

Soon, Hongdou led everyone to an Inn called Emerald Fragrance Inn.

She and Xie Rou went up to the landlady and chatted with her in dialect, occasionally pointing and gesturing at Zhang Rongfang and the others.

The proprietress gave Zhang Rongfang a flirtatious wink from afar, then turned and swayed her hips as she left.

The Hongdou then return to their original state.

"Sir, we need to wait here for a few days. If the Five Cauldrons Sect members come out again, the landlady will keep an eye out for us and notify them."

"What is her identity?"

"She often helps the Five Cauldrons Sect acquire materials here, so she's very knowledgeable in this area," Hongdou replied.

"Can she speak Mandarin?" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"Probably, after all, it's Inn business here, so it's impossible not to speak Mandarin," Hongdou replied hesitantly.

Zhang Rongfang suddenly stood up from his seat in the Inn and walked directly towards the landlady.

Two strong women with red headscarves shouted coldly and stepped forward to stop them.

With a single sweep of his arm, Zhang Rongfang sent them flying, landing on the ground.

Call.

A gust of wind swept by before the others could react.

Zhang Rongfang had already stepped in front of the proprietress.

He is 2.5 meters tall, and the proprietress is 1.6 meters tall.

The two stood facing each other, like an adult looking at a child.

"I need to find someone from the Five Cauldrons Sect. How quickly can I do that?" Zhang Rongfang asked directly.

"Sir, this isn't the way you're asking for a favor. If you're trying to Ran Xin Village to pressure me, you'd better think about the consequences." The proprietress remained calm, leaning against the stone wall with a charming smile, the beauty mark at the corner of her mouth appearing bright red.

Bang!

Zhang Rongfang slowly pulled out one of his arms, which pierced through the stone wall behind her.

Stone dust fell onto the proprietress's shoulders and face.

"What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

The landlady's smile froze. Ten minutes later, in the best Coral Room in the Inn.

The proprietress stood dejectedly by the table, watching Zhang Rongfang sit down and drink tea.

"Please ask, sir. Whatever you know, I, Ding Xiaocui, will answer to the best of my ability."

"How do we contact the Five Cauldrons Sect?" Zhang Rongfang asked bluntly. Behind him stood Hongdou, Xie Rou, Mo Qingyu, and others.

He appeared to be the leader of this group.

But the proprietress observed carefully and found that most of the women's attention was focused on Zhang Rongfang.

As long as Zhang Rongfang's voice was even slightly louder, this group of people would involuntarily tremble.

This situation only occurs when someone has experienced a great shock and has an extreme fear of people.

"The Five Cauldrons Sect members live in seclusion in various underground Stone Chamber, which are impossible for ordinary people to find. They can only wait for them to come out on their own. My answer is still the same as before: there is no way."

Ding Xiaocui said helplessly.

"Since you know about the Five Cauldrons Sect, you should know their origins, right?" Zhang Rongfang asked in a deep voice.

"I know, the Five Regions Thirteen Sects, you know. I used to be from the Sensing Gate, but I left later. Of course I know." The proprietress Ding Xiaocui, rolled her eyes as she replied.

"Tell me, what experts does their faction have?"

"Experts? There are plenty of experts. The most powerful are naturally the Five Elders, also known as the Five Venoms."

Ding Xiaocui gave a brief introduction.

"The Five Venoms of the Five Cauldrons Sect are different from the Five Venoms that ordinary people talk about."

The Five Venoms commonly referred to in folk tradition are snakes, scorpions, centipedes, toads, and geckos.

"But in reality, in the eyes of true experts in poisons, geckos are not that poisonous. The claim that gecko urine can cause deafness if it gets into the ear or blindness if it gets into the eye is just a misconception."

The true Five Venoms, the gecko's place, should be the spider.

Therefore, the Five Elders of the Five Cauldrons Sect each correspond to one of five highly poisonous creatures: Serpent Elder, Scorpion Elder, Centipede Grandfather, Toad Matriarch, and Spider Elder.

Compared to Mo Qingyu and Hongdou, who knew nothing when asked, Ding Xiaocui clearly knew much more.

"Continue," Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice, tapping the table.

"Below the Five Elders are numerous disciples. Generally, disciples are ranked according to the color of their clothes, with red being the highest. Next are blue, green, and gray."

"Furthermore, within the Five Cauldrons Sect, strength is not measured by who has the strongest martial arts, but by their methods of using poison," Ding Xiaocui explained.

"Speaking of which, you haven't resorted to any underhanded tactics. Aren't the people here known for their love of poisoning?" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"Oh dear, since Hongdou and the others have all fallen into your hands, how dare I presume to act presumptuously in front of you with my meager poisoning skills?" Ding Xiaocui gradually loosened up as she spoke more.

Is there anything else?

"Furthermore, above the Five Elders, there is a rather mysterious Sect Leader is said to be in seclusion year-round cultivating some kind of poisonous art. At that level, I can't even have heard of it. As for the rest, no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to squeeze anything out of me."

Ding Xiaocui puffed out her chest, a rather suggestive gesture.

"Then what about the Heaven Lock Sect? Shouldn't Dan Province be the territory of the Heaven Lock Sect?" Zhang Rongfang suddenly remembered this.

"The Heaven Lock Sect. They do have the upper hand in other places, but in this area, the Five Cauldrons Sect still holds the advantage. Moreover, a major event happened a few days ago, about two months ago."

Ding Xiaocui suddenly lowered her voice mysteriously.

"What's the big deal?" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"The Envoy of the Heaven Lock Sect came to collect offerings, but three groups of them were intercepted and killed on the way!" Ding Xiaocui whispered.

"They didn't retaliate?" Zhang Rongfang in surprise.

"No time. The headquarters of the Heaven Lock Sect was stormed by the Great Dao Sect and the Snow Rainbow Pavilion. They say the dead are so numerous they could float the entire Purple Glory River." Ding Xiaocui sighed, "At a time like this, how could they possibly care about this?"

The Purple Glory River is the largest river that flows through Dan Province.

"One last question." Zhang Rongfang stood up.

"Please say it!!" Ding Xiaocui shrank back slightly in fright and quickly replied.

Who holds the most power in Black Dragon City?

"Treasure Harmony Building! It's the owner of Treasure Harmony Building, Building Master Chen! She has connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles here! Even the Prefect has to give her face!" Ding Xiaocui blurted out quickly.

Bang!

A loud explosion rang out in an instant.

Ding Xiaocui felt dizzy and her waist tightened. She was lifted into the air and leaped out of the broken window.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already on the street outside the Inn.

Before she could scream, a large hand grabbed her waist, and she leaped into the air again, landing on the roof of the tallest building nearby.

"Give me directions," Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice.

"Yes, this way!" Ding Xiaocui trembled all over and quickly pointed in one direction.

This was the first time she had ever witnessed such terrifying speed and agility! Even the Ninth Grade experts in the city had never been this terrifying! She vaguely felt as if she had encountered a powerful figure.

Whoosh! Her body tensed, her neck tilted back, and she was about to scream, but the wind blocked her voice, and she couldn't make a sound.

After a whirlwind of speed, I felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Amidst gasps of surprise from the crowds on the street.

Zhang Rongfang, like a giant Black Eagle, crashed into the third-floor window of Treasure Harmony Building, the tallest building in Black Dragon City.

With a crash, fragments flew everywhere.

He carried Ding Xiaocui, who was about to faint, and slowly got up from the ground, looking at the many customers and shop assistants who were dumbfounded.

"Where did this madman come from, daring to trespass?!"

In an instant, a white figure leaped up and pounced on Zhang Rongfang.

The curved blade in his hand reflected a bright silver light.

Whoosh!

The blade flashed like lightning, striking Zhang Rongfang squarely on the forehead.

Clang! The white-robed old man holding the knife opened his mouth wide, staring at the scene before him, his hands beginning to tremble.

His knife! His knife! It couldn't even cut through the other person's face!?

There wasn't even a scratch! "Are you tickling me?"

Zhang Rongfang grinned.

Lightning reached out, grabbed the old man by the neck, and lifted him into the air.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

The bullet struck Zhang Rongfang in a vital spot on his side, spinning and emitting white smoke before gradually losing momentum and falling to the ground.

On his waist, there was only a ring of grayish-white marks on his skin.

There was nothing else besides that.

This terrifying scene instantly stunned all the customers, staff, and guards around them.

This guy!!!

"Stop!!"

A woman in purple rushed down from the building in the crowd.

The woman's eyes were like those of an eagle, sharp and piercing. She held a black iron fan in her hand, and her long purple dress was slit up to her thigh, revealing her slender curves covered by black cotton stockings as she walked.

"My name is Chen Zhaorong. Your Excellency, name your terms. As long as you release Uncle Tan, everything is negotiable!"