"Your subordinate is incompetent!"
Yang Zhaohui bent at the waist in apology. "The defenses around the Purple Flame Mine appear unchanged, but in reality, they're tight within and lax without. Our people can't get into the mine shaft, so we have no way of finding out what happened."
Jin Hefeng sighed and murmured, "A month ago, when that thunderous boom rang out, the Purple Flame Hall announced to the outside world that the mine shaft had collapsed. But who would believe that?"
He shook his head and continued asking, "What about those Purple Flame Hall disciples who hurried back from all over the place? Have you sent anyone to contact them?"
"We've contacted some of them. They all said there was an urgent matter within the sect, but none of them explained the details. They only said they had been summoned back as quickly as possible."
Jin Hefeng nodded. "Other than that, have you noticed anything else unusual?"
Yang Zhaohui hesitated before saying in a low voice, "The Purple Flame Hall has recently been recruiting some ordinary people with fairly strong bodies..."
"Ordinary people..."
Jin Hefeng pondered for a while without reaching any conclusion, then said solemnly, "Send three more Minor Banners to take turns observing the Purple Flame Hall's every move day and night. Report to me immediately if anything seems amiss."
"Yes!"
After answering, Yang Zhaohui turned and walked out.
Inside the Purple Flame Hall, Xiao Hong sat behind his desk, listening to Xiao Yunming's report.
"All the disciples at the Late Qi Refining stage and above have returned, and the corresponding arrangements have all been made. There's only one problem now: we don't know whether those people can be trusted."
Xiao Hong took a leisurely sip of tea. Looking at his son's tightly furrowed brows, he chuckled. "Man proposes, Heaven disposes. You're just too complicated in your thinking, always considering too many things."
"Father, this matter concerns not only you but also the life and death of our Purple Flame Hall. I have no choice but to treat it cautiously. By the way, I heard you brought another person back today?"
When Xiao Hong nodded, worry appeared on Xiao Yunming's face. "I still feel that the strength of mortals won't be of much use. How about we wait a little longer and invite a Golden Core True Person from somewhere else?"
Xiao Hong set down his teacup, his expression turning serious. "No. Even if we fail this time, don't think about seeking out some Golden Core True Person."
"Why?"
Confusion appeared on Xiao Yunming's face.
Seeing this, Xiao Hong sighed. "It's easy to invite a deity but hard to send one away. If a Golden Core True Person gives in to greed, it won't just be our Purple Flame Hall—perhaps the entire Purple Flame County will suffer an unprovoked calamity."
Though he understood the principle, Xiao Yunming still held onto a sliver of hope. "It shouldn't come to that, should it?"
"My son, a Golden Core True Person is still only a person with profound cultivation. Never test the greed in a person's heart."
Seeing that he could not sway his father's decision, Xiao Yunming shook his head and asked, "Then how about we try it first? None of the disciples are guarding our various properties, and I'm still a little uneasy."
This time, Xiao Hong pondered for a moment before gently nodding. "All right. Then tomorrow afternoon. Take those people to the location and wait for me. In the morning, I have to take someone to handle a matter."
"Good!"
Early the next morning, Kong Wu was eating when Xiao Hong came looking for him.
"Did you sleep well last night, young friend?"
He sat down in front of Kong Wu with a beaming smile. Seeing the ten bamboo steamers of buns placed before Kong Wu, he clicked his tongue in amazement.
As cultivators' cultivation advanced, their need for food gradually decreased. Merely absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth could supply their bodies with the energy needed for movement.
But martial artists who tempered their bodies were different. Unable to breathe in spiritual energy, they could obtain the energy their forged and trained bodies needed only through food.
Seeing how much Kong Wu could eat, Xiao Hong was even happier.
The more he ate, the more it showed how formidable his physical strength was.
Kong Wu casually grabbed a bun and swallowed it whole. "Want some?"
"No, no. This old man is advanced in years and can't eat much anymore."
Xiao Hong spoke while pounding his legs, looking for all the world like an aged and frail old man.
Kong Wu curled his lip and said no more.
If it weren't for the system showing that your Strength attribute is even higher than mine, I might have believed you.
The buns were as big as fists, and Kong Wu swallowed them one after another. Before long, the towering stack of bamboo steamers had sunk low.
After eating the last bun, Kong Wu lifted a basin of egg-drop soup and drained it in one gulp.
"Then, young friend, shall we set out? I'll take you to the Demon Suppression Prison."
Kong Wu gave the Xiao Hong who had risen to his feet a strange look, then turned sideways. "Bring ten more steamers of buns!"
Xiao Hong nearly toppled over headfirst.
He can still eat???
The question was answered swiftly. Once the buns were brought out, Kong Wu continued swallowing them one at a time, his eating speed unchanged in the slightest.
In no time, he had annihilated all ten steamers of buns.
After routinely drinking another basin of egg soup, Kong Wu turned toward the dumbfounded servant. "Bring ten more steamers!"
"This... the kitchen doesn't have any ingredients left. Just now, that was..."
The servant stammered, afraid of angering this man.
"All right, then."
Kong Wu licked his lips, still unsatisfied, and said casually, "Old man, you're no good. I agreed to work for you, yet I can't even eat my fill."
Xiao Hong's face was already covered in delight. Upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Go purchase ingredients at once. Buy plenty. You must make sure young friend gets his fill!"
Kong Wu shook his head and rose. "We can eat again after we get back. Let's handle the matter first. Eating until only half-full is better for the stomach."
"All right, all right, all right! We'll do as you say!"
At that moment, Xiao Hong practically wanted to put Kong Wu on an altar.
With that appetite, the five capable men he had found previously couldn't eat as much as Kong Wu combined.
This also proved from another angle just how powerful Kong Wu's physique was.
He should be able to do it!
Xiao Hong was suddenly filled with confidence about the afternoon's arrangements.
Before leading Kong Wu out, he specifically summoned the steward and said, "Go tell Yunming to make all the necessary preparations for this afternoon!"
As he walked along with Kong Wu, Xiao Hong kept turning his head to observe him. At last, he could not help confirming, "Young friend... are you certain you've never cultivated? There's no True Qi in your body?"
Kong Wu shook his head. "There's no need. Cultivating True Qi is merely a minor path. Seriously tempering the body and improving its purity is the great path."
Those words left Xiao Hong utterly speechless.
According to you, are the cultivators who cultivate immortality and seek the Dao inferior to those martial artists who huff and puff while tempering their bodies?
Kong Wu's physique truly had no problem dealing with Qi Refining stage cultivators.
But he had ultimately never witnessed the methods of high-level cultivators. The things he said were still far too arrogant.
After walking for roughly a quarter of an hour, the two arrived before a tall building that was pitch-black from top to bottom.
Two Demon Suppression Guards in purple-black brocade robes stood on either side of the imposing entrance.
"Wait here a moment, young friend. I'll go say hello first."
Xiao Hong called back over his shoulder before turning and walking over.
The two guards, who had been somewhat lax, immediately straightened up when someone approached.
One of them looked toward Xiao Hong. When he saw Kong Wu behind him, he immediately rubbed his eyes in confusion.
"Please notify Captain Jin and tell him it's the Purple Flame Hall..."
Before Xiao Hong could finish speaking, he saw a strange scene.
The guard retreated several steps in terror, then turned and sprinted inside.
As he ran, he shouted, "This is bad! The fellow who injured Minor Banner Zhang has come to attack us!!!"
Before you continue