The Crimson Panel's notification echoed through Wang Xuan's mind. He froze for a moment before his face lit up with joy!
"Copper Skin Iron Bones?"
"I can actually awaken something like this!"
"Doubling my strength—doesn't that mean I can fight a martial artist at the Iron Skin level?"
Wang Xuan's eyes widened as he cried out in delight.
Copper Skin Iron Bones could double his strength, meaning that once activated, his strength could reach thirteen hundred kilograms!
That was already at the Iron Skin level!
"Let's test it out!"
Unable to contain his excitement, Wang Xuan immediately activated Copper Skin Iron Bones!
Buzz!
The muscles throughout his body tensed, while his blood and qi boiled within him, scouring through his flesh, muscles, and bones!
In an instant, his strength doubled!
Boom—
Wang Xuan clenched his five fingers into a fist and threw a punch at once!
A fierce gust from his fist howled forth, blasting the air apart!
A dull explosive boom rang out!
Wang Xuan had the illusion that if he encountered Hou Feng again, then even after Hou Feng transformed into a demon, this punch could still severely wound him!
"Good stuff!"
"This thing can save my life at a critical moment, though it's a pity it only lasts thirty seconds!"
Wang Xuan did not continue using Copper Skin Iron Bones and immediately dispersed it.
After using it for only a few seconds, he could already feel faint pain spreading through his flesh, muscles, and bones. It was not fatal, but if he used it for too long, he definitely would not be able to endure it.
After all, this was a method that overdrew his blood and qi. Prolonged use would place immense strain on his muscles, bones, and flesh.
"Still, it's a good thing overall!"
"If I had used Copper Skin Iron Bones together with the Mountain Severing Saber Art this morning, even if I couldn't kill that beast, I wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state!"
Wang Xuan muttered, letting out a breath of turbid air.
At that moment, the weakness in his body surged up again, making him stagger. He had no choice but to sit down at once and rest.
"After lunch, I'll keep training!"
Wang Xuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and began recovering his strength.
What had happened in the mountains today had filled him with a sense of urgency!
He had to become stronger—strong enough that no one could rival him—before he could survive in these chaotic times!
Meanwhile, in Whitestone Town.
Zhou Estate.
Zhou Bapi stood beside the ornamental pond, scattering feed for the goldfish eating within it.
"Eat, eat."
"Eat well and grow well!"
Zhou Bapi said with a smile as he scattered the feed.
"Master, Master!"
"Something terrible has happened!"
Just then.
A panicked voice suddenly rang out. The steward rushed in with terror written across his face, then dropped to his knees before Zhou Bapi!
"What happened? Why are you so flustered?"
Zhou Bapi frowned in displeasure.
The steward panted heavily, his face pale with alarm. "Master, something terrible has happened. Hou Feng... Hou Feng is dead!"
"That little brat from the Wang Family came back alive!"
The moment those words entered his ears, Zhou Bapi's expression changed drastically. "Y-you... what did you say?!"
The steward swallowed and said in a low voice, "That little brat from the Wang Family returned alive. Shi Yong's younger brother brought people back to the village just now and found that brat."
"When I returned, I saw people from the county's military camp in town. I heard they killed a demon from the Pity Life Sect on Blackwind Mountain!"
"They've already brought the corpse back!"
"And Hou Feng still hasn't returned. I'm afraid the person they killed was Hou Feng!"
Buzz—
Zhou Bapi's pupils suddenly contracted!
His head buzzed violently!
His body swayed, and all the fish feed in his hand spilled into the pond.
"Y-you're sure this information is true?"
Zhou Bapi grabbed the steward, his gaze turning vicious in an instant!
The steward replied, "It's absolutely true!"
"The moment the news came back, I immediately sent people to investigate. There's an eighty or ninety percent chance it was him!"
"I also sent people to look for Hou Feng, but not a single scrap of news has come back!"
"Master, Hou Feng most likely encountered people from the military camp in the mountains and was killed by them!"
Bang!
Before he could finish, Zhou Bapi flung the steward to the ground and roared in fury, "Useless trash! Useless trash!"
"You can't even handle such a small matter!"
"You only know how to ruin major plans!"
Zhou Bapi was so enraged that his lungs felt ready to explode!
In his eyes, sending Hou Feng to deal with Wang Xuan had been nothing more than a trivial matter!
But now!
Hou Feng had died on Blackwind Mountain!
And he had been killed by people from the military camp!
The county had already been investigating the Pity Life Sect lately. Now that Hou Feng was dead, the county's attention would inevitably be drawn here in full!
"Master, what should we do now?"
"With Hou Feng dead, I'm afraid the Holy Sect..."
Before the steward could finish, Zhou Bapi shouted furiously, "Shut up!"
He glanced around. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he continue in a low voice, "The Holy Sect must never be mentioned again!"
"Hou Feng never showed his face here. Apart from us, no one knew him. The military camp may not know that he was one of our people."
The steward nodded, then asked, "Then... what about the sacrifices?"
Zhou Bapi narrowed his eyes. "As for the ritual... have them gather everything as soon as possible. It would be best if we don't alert the military."
"As for that sacrifice from the Wang Family..."
"Although that little brat is still alive, they have no money to repay their debt. Send people over tomorrow and bring him back to me."
"Remember, don't make too much of a commotion!"
The steward nodded. "Yes, Master."
"I will definitely bring that sacrifice back tomorrow."
The next morning.
"Brother Shi, didn't you say you were going to the county today? It's getting late. Time to get up."
Wang Xuan was still asleep when he was suddenly awakened by his sister-in-law Lu Yao's voice.
Last night, Wang Xuan had gone into the mountains again. He had cultivated the Mountain Severing Saber Art to the minor achievement stage, raising his strength to seven hundred kilograms, and had also obtained ten Attribute Points.
Without hesitation, he added the Attribute Points directly to his strength. His physical strength had now reached nine hundred kilograms!
He was only one step away from the Iron Skin level!
But because of that, he had remained in the mountains until the latter half of the night before returning home.
"I know, Sister-in-law."
"I'll get up right away."
Wang Xuan replied lazily as he slowly sat up from the bed and began getting dressed.
He had made plans with Chen Feng to enter the county today, so he definitely could not be late.
"Sister-in-law, is there anything you want to buy?"
"When I get to the county later, I'll buy it for you."
After getting dressed and washing his face, Wang Xuan asked Lu Yao.
Lu Yao shook her head. "There's nothing I want to buy. If you want anything, just buy whatever you think you need."
Wang Xuan nodded at that and prepared to head out.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Open the door!"
"Open it now!"
Just then.
A burst of urgent knocking suddenly sounded from the courtyard.
Wang Xuan frowned.
"Who is it?"
"Tax collector!"
A cold reply came from outside the door.
The moment Lu Yao heard the words "tax collector," her expression changed at once!
"Why has the tax collector come? Aren't there still a few days left?"
Lu Yao's face turned slightly pale.
Ordinary people held an instinctive fear of tax collectors.
Wang Xuan frowned slightly. "I don't know. I'll take a look!"
"Sister-in-law, please bring out the silver I gave you before."
Lu Yao nodded and immediately turned to fetch the silver.
Wang Xuan walked into the courtyard and slowly opened the gate.
Creak.
Five men dressed in official uniforms stood outside the gate.
At their head was a thin man, his gaze fixed coldly upon Wang Xuan.
Before you continue