A Minor Accomplishment

After they had agreed on the terms, Zhang Yunhao gave Nangong Ru the antidote. Before long, she had recovered her strength. After thanking him, she immediately searched Poisonous Snake Young Master's corpse, but didn't find what she was looking for.

Nangong Ru frowned and turned to Zhang Yunhao. "Did you take that jade pendant?"

Zhang Yunhao looked baffled. "What jade pendant?"

Nangong Ru said seriously, "Poisonous Snake Young Master sneaked into Qianshan City and stole a jade pendant from the Li Family. There's definitely more to it than meets the eye. Now that he's dead, the pendant is our only lead. If you took it, please hand it over."

Zhang Yunhao protested innocently, "Even if you say that, I still don't have it. I only took some banknotes and the poison!"

Nangong Ru walked over. "I need to search you. It's not that I don't trust you, but the jade pendant is extremely important and can't be lost. Besides, the Demon Extermination Alliance can protect it, but you can't. You won't be able to stand against either the Li Family or the Demon Sect. Keeping it on you would only bring trouble!"

"Search me?"

Zhang Yunhao glared at her, furious. "Is this how you repay the person who saved your life? Fine, search me if you want. But after you're done, I'll search you too."

"Fine!"

Nangong Ru agreed without hesitation and immediately started searching him. Zhang Yunhao froze for a moment, not knowing what expression to make. Cursing under his breath, he raised both hands.

As a constable for the Demon Extermination Alliance, Nangong Ru was quite professional. She searched him from head to toe, but found no jade pendant!

Nangong Ru was fair-minded. Once she realized she had wrongly accused him, she immediately apologized. "I was wrong to suspect you. It seems Poisonous Snake Young Master had an accomplice who secretly moved the pendant after obtaining it. Or perhaps it's still somewhere on this mountain. If you want to search me, go ahead."

As she spoke, Nangong Ru raised her hands just as Zhang Yunhao had. Zhang Yunhao rolled his eyes and said helplessly, "Forget it. Just find me a few more villains."

"Okay."

Nangong Ru glanced at Zhang Yunhao, her opinion of him improving somewhat. After they discussed a few loose ends, she left with Poisonous Snake Young Master's corpse and the bodies of the two constables from earlier.

After Nangong Ru left, Zhang Yunhao let out a breath and sat down to rest, using the Blood Origin Pearl's power to heal his wounds.

With the Blood Origin Pearl, Zhang Yunhao recovered quickly. Once he was mostly healed, he got up and started digging a pit to bury Iron Eagle and Black Eagle.

He couldn't let Zhang Yuntang find out that Iron Eagle and Black Eagle had been dealt with yet. Otherwise, Zhang Yuntang would surely send even more powerful experts after him. He had to keep it secret and save a huge surprise for the day of the contest!

Before burying them, Zhang Yunhao didn't forget to loot the spoils. He found some banknotes, along with the manuals for Eagle Claw Skill and Iron Cloth Shirt.

At the same time, Zhang Yunhao secretly retrieved the jade pendant from inside Black Eagle's clothes. He had guessed that Nangong Ru would search him, so he'd secretly slipped the pendant into Black Eagle's clothes with his foot. He'd pulled the wool over her eyes without a hitch.

"What falls into my hands, stays in my hands!"

Zhang Yunhao chuckled to himself, but showed no sign of it. Nangong Ru might be watching him from outside, after all. This woman was not to be underestimated.

Besides earning Zhang Yunhao a Pure Heart Jade Pendant, this incident had also increased his Evil True Qi. Hoarding a treasure like that was undoubtedly evil!

Three days later, Nangong Ru arrived at the cave as promised, bringing six prisoners whose eyes were covered.

"These are all death-row prisoners," Nangong Ru said. "Not one of them is any good. Each has at least ten lives on his hands. You were in a hurry, so I could only bring you these for now. One of them once massacred a whole village, killing hundreds. He should satisfy you."

"Of course I'm satisfied!"

Zhang Yunhao was pleasantly surprised. During the past three days, he had been meditating in the cave, getting his suddenly increased True Qi under control and successfully completing the Lesser Celestial Circuit.

The Lesser Celestial Circuit was also called Hundred Days Foundation Building. Once completed, True Qi formed a small cycle and laid a foundation, bringing one's recovery and cultivation to a new level. It counted as a minor accomplishment. If word of Zhang Yunhao's speed got out, people would be dumbfounded—it had taken him less than five days!

Now that his True Qi had reached a minor accomplishment, Zhang Yunhao was confident he could defeat Zhang Yuntang. And with these few death-row prisoners who had committed countless evil deeds, his power would more than double. Victory was all but certain!

After delivering the prisoners, Nangong Ru didn't hurry to leave. Instead, she asked, "Do you want to join the Heavenly Fist Sect?"

Zhang Yunhao narrowed his eyes. "Have you been investigating me?"

Nangong Ru answered matter-of-factly, "You saved my life, so I want to repay you. And I'm curious about your background. It's only natural that I'd investigate you."

Zhang Yunhao scoffed inwardly, then said, "Of course I want to join the Heavenly Fist Sect. And I can get in."

"Perhaps."

This time, Nangong Ru didn't commit either way. Instead, she asked a completely unrelated question. "How much do you know about the Demon Extermination Alliance?"

"Why are you asking?"

Zhang Yunhao was puzzled, but still answered, "The Demon Extermination Alliance is an organization dedicated to fighting the Demon Sect. It has headquarters in every province. Though it was established under the Imperial Court's leadership, it operates independently and has great authority. It can even mobilize local constables and garrisons."

"There aren't many members of the Demon Extermination Alliance. Only true elites can join. No one from the Zhang Clan has managed to get in yet."

Zhang Yunhao added, "Also, the Demon Extermination Alliance receives abundant resources from the Imperial Court and the major sects, and its benefits are excellent. Lots of people dream of joining, though it's dangerous too."

Nangong Ru asked again, "If you had the chance, would you be willing to join the Demon Extermination Alliance?"

Zhang Yunhao smiled. "The Demon Extermination Alliance is a fine place, and killing those fiends is righteous. If I had the chance, of course I'd join. But I probably won't qualify until I've made a name for myself in the Heavenly Fist Sect. Even among the Heavenly Fist Sect, not many can join the Demon Extermination Alliance."

"Good. I think I'll be able to repay you for saving my life soon."

Nangong Ru nodded in satisfaction, then tossed Zhang Yunhao a long-bladed, black-iron-colored badge and told him to keep it safe.

Zhang Yunhao caught the Black Iron Badge and examined it, then asked in confusion, "What is this? Why are you giving it to me?"

"You'll find out when the time comes. Just keep it safe. I said I'd repay you, and I will."

Nangong Ru didn't elaborate. She turned and left. Zhang Yunhao was baffled, but didn't think much of it. He put the badge away and gazed excitedly at the death-row prisoners. These were all power-packed gifts!

He, Zhang Yunhao, was sure to win the upcoming contest!