Your parents have some skill with names!

The next day, at the Cao Gang's Xingshang Hall.

"Congratulations, Steward Li. You've only just joined the Cao Gang and you've already earned merit."

The speaker was Duan Sanping, a steward in the Merit Hall under Xingshang Hall.

Li Xian had killed a Demonic Evil the previous night, helping the Cao Gang resolve a major problem and avenging several brothers. Naturally, this drew the attention of the gang members.

So, early in the morning, Huang Jinglong, as the Hall Master, after understanding the whole story, brought Li Xian here to claim his merit.

Li Xian humbly said, "That Fish Demon's strength was lacking, and it acted carelessly. It just happened to run into me."

Duan Sanping smiled and said, "That Fish Demon had absorbed the Essence Blood of no less than ten men, and the fight was underwater. Its strength was comparable to a Mid-sixth Grade Martialist, yet you killed it. Steward Li's strength is truly formidable."

Huang Jinglong, standing beside them, laughed heartily, "Of course! How could someone I've taken a liking to be ordinary?"

Li Xian earning merit also brought him face, so he was naturally pleased.

Duan Sanping didn't dwell on the topic further. Instead, he counted out five tokens and handed them to Li Xian.

"You eliminated a Fish Demon and avenged brothers of the gang. Your total merit is five hundred. Please accept it, Steward Li."

"Thank you," Li Xian said, reaching out to take them.

Huang Jinglong smiled and said, "How about it, Brother Li? Now that you have merit, you can make any request you have."

Li Xian weighed the merit tokens in his hand and smiled, "Naturally, I wish to visit the Scripture Repository."

The Cao Gang's Scripture Repository wasn't a building, but a ship.

Li Xian looked at the pavilion, which had been converted from a large Dragon Ship, and couldn't help but marvel at how unique the Cao Gang was.

Even their Scripture Repository was so distinctive.

"Who goes there!"

As soon as he reached the entrance, Li Xian was stopped.

"Li Xian of the Cao Gang."

"Do you have credentials?"

"Yes."

Li Xian handed over his identity token and merit tokens.

The gatekeeper was an old man with white hair and beard, full of vigor. He took Li Xian's items, glanced at them, and then tossed them back.

"Go ahead, you can only look at the techniques on the first three floors of the Scripture Repository."

"Okay, I know."

Li Xian nodded and walked into the Scripture Repository.

As expected of the Cao Gang, the foremost gang in Yangzhou City, the martial arts techniques, secret manuals, and moves on just the first three floors were as vast as the sea, dazzling Li Xian.

However, these were all superficial techniques with too low a ceiling, making them of little significance to cultivate.

Moreover, Li Xian had a goal in mind for this visit.

That was the internal cultivation technique left by the previous gang leader—Crimson Sun Nine Songs.

To be precise, it was the first three layers of Crimson Sun Nine Songs. The remaining six layers were stored higher up in the Scripture Repository, which Li Xian couldn't access yet due to insufficient contributions.

Crimson Sun Nine Songs, as a high-grade technique, was both an exclusive product of the Cao Gang and a rare secret manual with complete cultivation methods.

As long as Li Xian's subsequent contributions were sufficient, with the help of Proficiency Points, he should be able to cultivate Crimson Sun Nine Songs to completion very quickly.

The next day, at noon.

Li Xian stood shirtless on the deck, exhaling a breath of turbid air towards the scorching sun.

Under the sunlight, Li Xian's body emitted a dazzling crimson glow, making him look like a red-hot iron rod.

Brother Xin, holding Li Xian's clothes not far away, couldn't help but be secretly astonished when he saw this scene.

"Isn't this the 'burning body' realm of Crimson Sun Nine Songs? When did Steward Li learn this technique? Didn't he just get it from the Scripture Repository yesterday? How could he be so fast? It's terrifying!"

Brother Xin had already begun to imagine if Li Xian was a reincarnation of a Demonic Evil.

How could anyone in this world cultivate so swiftly?

Unless they weren't human!

Li Xian was, of course, human. The reason for his swift cultivation was twofold:

First, he had extraordinary talent; second, he had a tiny bit of help from Proficiency Points.

Therefore, after obtaining the first three layers of Crimson Sun Nine Songs yesterday, Li Xian had completed its cultivation with the help of Proficiency Points.

Li Xian opened his eyes and looked at his reddened palms, sighing with emotion.

Fortunately, he had practiced Body Tempering Skills before. Otherwise, even just the first three layers of Crimson Sun Nine Songs would have burned him to charcoal.

He felt the scorching heat in his palm, wanting to test its power.

So, he casually picked up a piece of wood that had fallen on the deck.

In just two breaths, the wood began to emit fiery red flames.

If this palm strike landed on a person...

Li Xian was secretly astonished and very satisfied with the result.

"Customer, your food and drinks are all here. Please enjoy."

"Good, you may go."

Li Xian waved his hand.

The waiter respectfully retreated.

Having nothing to do today and no missions, Li Xian decided to steal half a day of leisure and came to a nearby tavern to sit.

Sitting here, blowing the river breeze, and drinking a little wine was quite pleasant.

"Steward Li, come, come, let's drink..."

"That's right, if you come out for a drink, you have to drink heartily."

Sitting opposite him were Brother Xin and another fellow named Wan Cai.

Wan Cai, his parents certainly had something in mind when they named him.

Li Xian had never liked drinking much, only taking a few sips at most, so he didn't join the drinking contest between the two opposite him.

Brother Xin and the other man drank more and more, gradually becoming more unrestrained, their voices growing louder, attracting the attention of others.

"What a bunch of uncivilized fellows."

"Looking at their clothes and appearance, you can tell they're common folk, uneducated. It's inevitable that their speech is crude and vulgar."

"What bad luck. I finally get out to relax, only to encounter such a group of people. It's really disappointing."

At the neighboring table sat several young masters and ladies dressed quite luxuriously.

As soon as the three young ladies sitting there complained, a young master couldn't sit still.

"Waiter!"

"Coming! Customer, what are your orders?"

"Has Fengyang Tower's standards dropped so low now? You let just anyone in?"

The waiter's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

"Please, sirs, those are people from the Cao Gang. You aren't afraid, but we are."

Brother Xin and his group often came to Fengyang Tower to drink and eat, so the waiters here recognized them.

"Why aren't you talking? Are you mute?" the man pressed on.

The waiter forced a smile. "Guest, how about I find you another table?"

"What?!"

The man's temper flared upon hearing this, his voice rising several octaves.

"Those people are so crude and noisy, and you don't kick them out, but you want to kick us out instead?"

The waiter hastily replied, "I'm not kicking you out, not kicking you out, I'm just offering you gentlemen another table."

"No, they have to get out today, or else this Fengyang Tower won't be able to stay open," the young master said, his face flushed red, refusing to back down.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.