Encountering Injustice on the Road

Yunjiang City.

Yan Kui walked along the wide bluestone-paved street, shops lining both sides in close succession as the clamor of vendors rose and fell. Its prosperity far surpassed Black Water City—martial artists were as common as clouds, and occasionally one could even spot a few Bone Refining Realm experts.

He didn't linger long in the city, instead heading straight for a mountain peak outside called "Sunset Mountain."

According to the news from the tea stall, the so-called "Senior Brother Liu of Qingyun Sect" had been active around Sunset Mountain, apparently having discovered a Centennial Spirit Ganoderma there.

"Centennial Spirit Ganoderma..."

Yan Kui rubbed his chin.

If it was real, that would be a major tonic—devouring it would yield at least a few points of Origin Power. And if he could also squeeze some common knowledge about the immortal cultivation world or a low-level Cultivation Technique out of that Senior Brother Liu, even better.

No sooner had he left the city gate than a clamor of fighting erupted from the path ahead.

"Hand it over! Or don't blame me for being rude!"

An arrogant voice rang out.

Yan Kui looked up and saw, by the woods not far ahead, seven or eight burly men wielding sharp blades surrounding a horse-drawn carriage.

Beside the carriage, only a few Guards were barely holding out, clearly on the verge of collapse.

"It's the bandits from Black Wind Stockade!"

"Run!"

Passersby scattered, desperate to avoid trouble.

Yan Kui originally didn't want to meddle. In this world, robbery was far too common. His current goal was to find that Senior Brother Liu, not waste time on these Small Fry.

But just as he was about to take a detour, a crisp, anxious female voice suddenly rang out from the besieged carriage:

"This is the 'deposit' we're offering to Immortal Master Liu! Do you dare steal from an Immortal Master?!"

"Immortal Master Liu?"

Yan Kui's steps halted.

Truly, you could search high and low with no result, yet find it without effort.

He turned and strode toward the scene.

"Hahaha! What bullshit Immortal Master Liu!"

The bandit leader, a scar-faced One-Eyed Dragon, brandished a Ghost Head Broadsword and laughed wildly, "I'm robbing an Immortal Master's stuff, that's what! If that old swindler dares show up, I'll rob him too!"

"Shhk!"

With one slash, he cut down a Guard, blood splattering the ground.

"Little lady, be a good girl and come up the mountain with me. Be my wife, and I'll make sure you eat well and drink well!"

One-Eyed Dragon reached out to yank open the carriage curtain.

Just then.

"Hey."

A deep, rumbling voice sounded behind him.

One-Eyed Dragon felt a chill at his back, an suffocating pressure instantly enveloping his whole body.

He spun around sharply.

There stood a giant over two meters tall, muscles bulging like Iron Block, looking down at him coldly.

Those eyes held no emotion, as if he were staring at a dead pig.

"You... who are you?!"

One-Eyed Dragon swallowed hard and instinctively stepped back.

He was at least a Body Refinement Realm martial artist, notorious in this area. But before this giant, he felt like a child who hadn't grown up.

"Robbery."

Yan Kui extended a large hand, palm open before One-Eyed Dragon.

"Hand over everything valuable you have."

Dead silence.

Everyone froze.

The bandits exchanged glances, wondering if they'd heard wrong.

Was this guy out of his mind?

One man, robbing a whole gang of bandits?

"Looking for death!"

One-Eyed Dragon flew into a rage, his Ghost Head Broadsword whistling through the air as it slashed viciously at Yan Kui's neck.

"Clang!"

A crisp ring.

No blood sprayed, no head hit the ground.

One-Eyed Dragon only felt a searing pain in his tiger's-mouth grip; his Ghost Head Broadsword had struck as if against raw iron, directly chipping out a huge gap.

And on the other's neck, not even a white mark remained.

"This... how is this possible?!"

One-Eyed Dragon's soul nearly fled in terror.

"Decent strength, pity you skipped breakfast."

Yan Kui shook his head.

The next second.

He moved.

No fancy moves, just a simple punch.

"Bam!"

That punch slammed straight into One-Eyed Dragon's chest.

One-Eyed Dragon didn't even have time to scream; his whole body flew backward as if struck by a battering ram, snapping two thick trees in half before collapsing like mud on the ground, his chest completely caved in, dead beyond dead.

[Killed bandit leader (Body Refinement Realm), plundered Life Essence.]

[Origin Power: +0.5]

"The boss is dead!"

The remaining bandits, their guts splitting with fear, turned and ran.

"Run?"

Yan Kui bent down and picked up a few pebbles.

"Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!"

Each pebble struck a bandit precisely in the back of the head.

Thud! Thud!

In a few breaths, the bandit gang that had been so arrogant moments ago was completely wiped out.

[Origin Power: +0.2]

[Origin Power: +0.2]

Yan Kui brushed the dust off his hands, as if he'd done something trivial.

He walked over to the carriage.

The few surviving guards were already kneeling on the ground, trembling in fear.

The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a pale but delicate little face. It was a young girl in a light green dress, her eyes full of terror and curiosity.

"Th-thank you, Warrior, for saving our lives..."

The girl said in a trembling voice.

"Don't get the wrong idea."

Yan Kui waved his hand. "I saved you because you mentioned Immortal Master Liu just now."

"Lead the way. I want to see him."

The girl was startled, then quickly nodded: "Yes! Yes! We'll take you there right away! Immortal Master Liu is at Sunset Temple, not far ahead!"

Yan Kui didn't stand on ceremony; he plopped himself down on the carriage shaft, making the whole thing creak under his weight.

"Let's go."

Halfway up Sunset Mountain.

A somewhat dilapidated temple stood there in solitude.

At the temple gate, a middle-aged man in a blue Daoist robe with a goatee sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation. Before him was an incense burner, thin smoke curling up, giving him a faintly immortal air.

This was the legendary "Immortal Master Liu," Half-Immortal Liu.

At that moment, he was secretly delighted.

"Heh heh, this time I tricked that Miss Wang from the Wang Family into sending five hundred taels of silver as a deposit, saying I'd sell her my lingzhi. Once the money's in hand, I'll bolt! Can't stay in this dump either—I hear things are getting rough over in Black Water City..."

Just as he thought this, the rumble of a carriage came from below.

"Here they come!"

Half-Immortal Liu immediately sat up straight, putting on a profound and unfathomable expression.

The carriage stopped.

The curtain lifted, and the girl in the green dress stepped down, bowing respectfully to Half-Immortal Liu: "Greetings, Immortal Master Liu!"

"Mm, no need for formality."

Half-Immortal Liu gave a slight nod, but his gaze kept drifting toward the carriage. "Miss Wang, the item I requested..."

"Over here."

A low voice cut him off.

Immediately after, a figure like a small mountain stepped out from behind the carriage.

Half-Immortal Liu's eyelids twitched violently.

Good heavens! What did this man eat to grow so big?

Yan Kui strode up to Half-Immortal Liu, looking down at him from above. His enormous shadow completely engulfed Liu.

"You're Immortal Master Liu?"

Yan Kui asked.

Half-Immortal Liu forced himself to stay calm, stroking his beard. "This poor priest is indeed he. May I ask this Warrior..."

"I heard you know magic?"

Yan Kui ignored his pleasantries and asked directly.

"Naturally!" Half-Immortal Liu said proudly. "This poor priest is an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect, well-versed in the Five Elements Dao Arts. Driving away ghosts and subduing demons is no trouble at all!"

"Oh? Perfect timing."

Yan Kui grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

"I want to see if your magic can break through my skin."

Before his words faded.

He suddenly reached out a massive hand, grabbing toward Half-Immortal Liu without warning.

"How dare you!"

Half-Immortal Liu was startled. He swung his horsetail whisk and shouted, "Body Binding Art!"

A cloud of white powder sprayed from the whisk, rushing toward Yan Kui's face.

This was his signature trick from years of wandering—Strong Soul Confusion Powder! Just a single whiff would knock even an ox out for half a day.

But.

Yan Kui simply held his breath. That massive hand didn't slow, piercing straight through the powder.

He grabbed Half-Immortal Liu by the collar.

"Slap!"

Before Half-Immortal Liu could react, Yan Kui lifted him like a chick, his feet dangling and kicking in the air.

"This is the Body Binding Art?"

Yan Kui sniffed the air, frowning slightly.

"Knockout drug?"

Disappointment and anger flickered in his eyes.

"Fake?"

"No... not fake..." Half-Immortal Liu's face went pale with fear. "Warrior, spare me! This is immortal... immortal knockout powder..."

"Still lying to me?"

Yan Kui tightened his grip slightly.

"Crack, crack..."

Half-Immortal Liu's collar tightened, choking him. His eyes bulged as if they might pop out.

"Tell the truth! Or I'll crush you!"

"I'll talk! I'll talk! I'm a fake! I'm a swindler!"

Half-Immortal Liu finally broke down, sobbing. "I'm not a Qingyun Sect disciple at all! I only learned a bit of the Qi Cultivation Art's surface! I don't know any real magic!"

"Tch."

Yan Kui tossed him to the ground.

"What a waste of emotion."

Though he'd expected it, confirming the man was a fraud still left him a bit annoyed.

Still, since this guy knew a little "surface-level Qi Cultivation Art," he should have some understanding of the cultivation world.

"Hand over everything you have."

Yan Kui kicked the collapsed Half-Immortal Liu. "And let me see that Qi Cultivation Art of yours."

Half-Immortal Liu didn't dare resist. He quickly pulled a worn little booklet from his chest and offered it with both hands.

Evergreen Technique.

Yan Kui flipped it open.

This time, the system reacted.

[Detected Cultivation Method Evergreen Technique (Mortal Grade). Record?]

"Record!"

Though this was only the most basic Qi Cultivation health-preserving technique, barely stronger than the Body Nourishing Technique, it was a true method of immortal cultivation!

[Notice: Host has No Spiritual Root, unable to cultivate this technique. However, Origin Power may be consumed to analyze the principles of Spiritual Qi circulation within, assisting in the refinement of martial techniques.]

"Can't cultivate it, but I can analyze it?"

Yan Kui's eyes lit up.

Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

Even if he couldn't directly cultivate immortality, as long as he understood how Spiritual Qi worked, he could find a way to steer his martial path in that direction—or at least develop targeted defenses against spells!

"This swindler isn't completely useless after all."

Yan Kui looked at Half-Immortal Liu, who was still trembling, and his mood improved slightly.

"Alright, stop shaking. I'll ask you—where around here can I get my hands on a real... external technique?"

He didn't ask about cultivation methods, because he knew he had no Spiritual Root and couldn't practice them.

"External technique?"

Half-Immortal Liu froze, then his eyes darted around as he cautiously said, "Warrior, if you're looking for an external technique, Tianwu City is a good place. There are martial arts schools everywhere, and there's an underground Black Market where all kinds of secret manuals circulate."

"But..."

He hesitated. "About a hundred li north of Sunset Mountain, at Black Wind Stockade, they're said to have a family heirloom called the Savage Boar Ramming Technique. Once mastered, it makes you thick-skinned and tough—even ordinary blades can't cut through..."

"Savage Boar Ramming Technique?"

Yan Kui's mouth twitched.

That name... was really rustic.

Still, if it could block blades, it was an external technique. As long as it was an external technique, he could fuse it!

"Black Wind Stockade..."

Yan Kui recalled the bandits from earlier.

"Perfect. I'll drop by on the way."

He picked up the Bone Shattering Hammer and turned to leave.

After a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Half-Immortal Liu.

"Don't let me catch you swindling anyone again. Otherwise, next time it won't just be your collar I grab."

With that, he strode out of the temple.

Half-Immortal Liu collapsed to the ground, staring at that terrifying back, a lingering dread in his heart.

"Where... where did that Sha star come from..."