With the cultivation technique in hand, unable to cultivate?

Half a month after the Red Fish Gang's annihilation, Nujiang County's sky completely changed.

The era of two powers vying for dominance ended, and the Black Water Gang's flag was planted at every dock along the Nu River.

Whether it was fishing boats, cargo ships, or passing merchant travelers, anyone wanting to make a living on the Nu River now had to curry favor with the Black Water Gang.

The main hall's entrance was bustling with activity every day, with merchants lining up to pay their respects and offer gifts.

Gang Leader Chen Wanli was in high spirits. After swallowing the Red Fish Gang's territory and assets, he smoothly integrated the entire county's underground forces, becoming the de facto "Emperor" of Nujiang County.

As the chief contributor to this victory, Lu Chen's name also echoed throughout Nujiang County.

Deputy Hall Master of the War Hall.

An appointment personally made by Chen Wanli.

Within the Black Water Gang, this was a high position second only to the Gang Leader and a few Hall Masters, placing him below only one person and above ten thousand.

His original small courtyard was no longer befitting his status, so the gang specifically allocated a large mansion with three courtyards in the core area of the main hall, complete with over a dozen maids and servants.

However, what surprised everyone was that this newly promoted Deputy Hall Master did not become arrogant as others expected, nor did he indulge in wine and women.

On the contrary, he was terrifyingly low-key.

Apart from necessary hall meetings, he almost never showed his face.

Wealthy merchants who wanted to invite him to banquets, or local gentry who wanted to offer their daughters as concubines, were all turned away.

Even the minor leaders within the gang who wanted to pledge allegiance to him were met with closed doors.

Deep within Lu Chen's grand mansion, in a secret room converted into a training room.

The smell of medicine was pungent.

Lu Chen, shirtless, sat cross-legged in a massive wooden tub.

The dark medicinal liquid within the tub was bubbling and steaming.

This was an enhanced version medicinal bath he had painstakingly prepared at great expense from "Hui Chun Tang," the largest pharmacy in the county.

A single tub of this medicinal liquid cost fifty taels of silver.

In the past, this amount of money would have been enough to feed his entire family for ten years.

Now, it was merely a consumable for his daily cultivation.

"Hoo..."

Lu Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air, his breath like an arrow, lingering in the air for a long time.

He opened his eyes and looked into the void.

[Name: Lu Chen]
[Realm: Body Tempering Realm (Flesh Refining Stage Peak)]
[Martial Arts: Stone Crushing Palm (3rd Stage Mastery 45%), Mountain Splitting Saber Technique (2nd Stage Proficient 80%), Iron Cloth Shirt (2nd Stage Proficient 90%)]
[Traits: Copper Skin (Intermediate), Iron Hand (Intermediate), Vibrating Force (Intermediate), Thick Skin (Advanced)]

Over the past half month, he had almost tirelessly grinded proficiency.

Relying on the plundered silver and the rewards from the gang, his resources were pushed to the extreme.

Iron Cloth Shirt had advanced by leaps and bounds, and he was only a single step away from the third stage, "Mastery."

But he was not satisfied.

Lu Chen stood up from the medicinal tub, grabbed a cloth to dry himself, and put on a loose training robe.

He walked to the desk and took out the black beast hide he had taken from Li Qingyi.

A fragment of Profound Nether Hand.

This was what concerned him the most now.

A Spirit Tier technique was the key to reaching higher realms and the foundation for survival in chaotic times.

But no matter how he pondered it over the past half month, he couldn't get started with this technique.

The Panel's prompt was clear: [Missing key catalyst "Netherworld Stone" for assistance, unable to sense Profound Nether Cold Qi.]

"Netherworld Stone..."

Lu Chen frowned, tapping his fingers on the tabletop.

He had never heard of such a thing.

He had privately asked Wang Xiaoliu to inquire at various pharmacies and antique shops, and had even put out a bounty in the black market.

But he found nothing.

The old shopkeepers looked bewildered when they heard the name.

"Do I really have to starve while sitting on a mountain of gold?"

Lu Chen was unwilling.

Having a peerless technique in hand but being unable to practice it due to a lack of materials was more unbearable than killing him.

"If it's not on the market, then I'll find it at the source."

Lu Chen stared at the cryptic map on the beast hide.

It was a bathymetric chart of the Nu River.

Since the cultivation technique was related to the Nu River, perhaps clues about the "Netherworld Stone" could also be found in documents about the Nu River.

With this thought, Lu Chen made up his mind.

He put away the beast hide and pushed open the door.

"Someone."

Wang Xiaoliu, who was guarding the door, immediately scurried over, his face plastered with flattery. "Hall Master, what are your orders?"

Wang Xiaoliu had truly risen in status.

As Lu Chen's confidant, his position in the gang had soared, and people outside would call him "Brother Six" with respect.

"Prepare the carriage. We're going to the County Yamen," Lu Chen said calmly.

"The County Yamen?" Wang Xiaoliu was taken aback. "Hall Master, what are we going to the County Yamen for? Are those constables causing trouble again? Should I bring some brothers..."

"No need."

Lu Chen waved his hand. "Go to the archives at the County Yamen. I need to look up some information."

The archives were where the County Yamen stored historical county records and files.

Ordinary citizens couldn't get in.

But now, Lu Chen was the Deputy Hall Master of the Black Water Gang and a figure of real power in Nujiang County.

Even the County Magistrate would show him some respect.

Half an hour later.

The County Yamen's backyard, the archives.

The person guarding the storeroom was an old clerk in his sixties named Sun.

Seeing Lu Chen arrive in person, Old Man Sun was so startled that he almost dropped his teapot. He bowed and scraped, ushering Lu Chen inside.

"Hall Master Lu, your presence graces this humble place. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner!"

"What information are you looking for, Hall Master Lu? The scrolls in this archive are as numerous as the stars. I'm familiar with this place and can help you find it."

Lu Chen cut to the chase and tossed a silver ingot over.

"I want to find all records pertaining to the Nu River."

"Whether it's official history, unofficial history, folk legends, county gazettes, or miscellaneous notes, find everything related to the Nu River."

Old Man Sun caught the silver ingot, his eyes widening.

This single ingot was worth at least ten taels, which was more than his annual salary.

"Right away! Hall Master Lu, please have a seat. I'll go fetch them for you!"

Money makes the world go 'round.

Before long, the desk in front of Lu Chen was piled high with yellowed thread-bound books and bamboo slips.

Nujiang County Gazetteer, Canglan Prefecture Water Conservancy Examination, Strange Tales of the Nu River, Records of Southern Border Customs...

Lu Chen dismissed Old Man Sun and sat alone at the desk, poring over the documents.

He read at an astonishing speed.

With the aid of his Panel, his memory and reading speed far surpassed ordinary people.

Book after book was flipped through and then discarded.

Most of them contained dry data on water conservancy, shipping, and fishery yields.

Or they were poems written by literati lamenting their unrequited love while gazing at the river.

It wasn't until the sun began to set, and the light dimmed, that Lu Chen rubbed his aching brow and picked up the last, tattered booklet.

This booklet had no cover, its paper was so brittle it crumbled at the slightest touch, and it was covered in dust and mildew.

Judging by its content, it seemed to be the notes left behind by a wandering Taoist priest from hundreds of years ago.

Lu Chen patiently flipped through a few pages.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto something.

In the latter half of the notes, there was a description of mineral deposits at the bottom of the Nu River:

"...The waters of the Nu River are extremely yin and frigid, originating from the depths of a great marsh. In the heart of the river, there are often hidden currents and whirlpools, which living beings must not approach. I once used this water to refine elixirs and discovered that the water contained a trace of extremely faint Yin Fiend Qi..."

"...According to local fishermen, there are strange stones deep at the riverbed, black as jade, ice-cold to the touch, emitting a faint glow in the dark. They are called 'Netherworld Stones'. These stones are born in extremely yin places and are often guarded by water ghosts and strange creatures..."

Netherworld Stone!

Lu Chen's eyelids twitched violently.

Found it!

This Netherworld Stone was actually a specialty from the bottom of the Nu River!

And it was found in extremely yin locations, guarded by Water Ghosts.

No wonder it couldn't be bought on the market.

Who would go digging for stones at the bottom of a river full of Water Ghosts?

Even skilled experts might not care for this kind of material.

Only a force like the Red Fish Gang, which made a living underwater, would likely have access to it.

"It seems Li Qingyi's beast skin map marked not only the cultivation technique inheritance but also the origin of the Netherworld Stone."

Lu Chen closed the notebook, feeling more confident.

Now that he knew the source, things would be easier.

However, retrieving the stone from the water wouldn't be easy.

The Nu River was deep with swift currents, hidden undertows, and ferocious Water Ghosts.

He could walk sideways on land, but his skills would be halved in the water.

"I must prepare thoroughly."

Lu Chen stood up and tucked the notebook into his chest.

By the time he walked out of the storage room, it was completely dark.

Wang Xiaoliu was waiting by the carriage, stamping his feet from the cold.

Seeing Lu Chen emerge, he quickly hurried over.

"Hall Master, did you find out?"

Lu Chen nodded and climbed onto the carriage.

"Let's head back to the gang."

"Also, tomorrow morning, go find me some old fishermen."

"The kind who have lived their whole lives on the Nu River and are most familiar with the underwater conditions."

"No matter the cost, hire them for me."

Wang Xiaoliu didn't know what Lu Chen intended to do, but he immediately replied, "Yes! Hall Master, don't worry, I'll handle it!"

The carriage rumbled into the night.

Lu Chen sat inside the carriage, his fingers stroking the notebook in his embrace.

What lay hidden beneath the Nu River?