Blood Letter, a Ghost! Sword Forging Manor

"Hm? They can actually be fused!"

Zhang Chu was inwardly shocked. No wonder he had always felt something strange before—it was resonance between techniques!

He had never imagined that True Martial Palm and Bitter Gourd Palm, two entirely unrelated palm techniques, could actually be fused.

"Confirm fusion!" With such a wonderful outcome before him, Zhang Chu naturally did not hesitate in the slightest.

True Martial Palm and Bitter Gourd Palm were already powerful enough on their own. If they were fused together, just how formidable would they become?

[Fusing True Martial Palm and Bitter Gourd Palm requires 30,000 Merit Points. Insufficient Merit Points. Unable to fuse!]

Another prompt rang out. Zhang Chu stood there with a frown. So the system had just been toying with him?

If he lacked Merit Points, why prompt him at all? Now the fusion was stuck halfway, leaving Zhang Chu extremely uncomfortable.

"I still have roughly ten thousand Merit Points. Calculating it carefully, I'm actually not that far off. As long as another pair like the Water and Land Elders comes along, it should be enough!"

Zhang Chu quickly searched his memories, trying to recall whether there were any other human-faced beasts lurking within Linjiang County.

Just then.

Senior Brother suddenly hurried over from the Daoist temple.

"Junior Brother, an expert suddenly arrived at the temple. He says he has urgent business with you, and I didn't dare turn him away directly."

"Do you know who he is, Senior Brother?" Zhang Chu asked.

"I don't recognize him, but he carries a Sky Patrol Guard badge. He should be some important figure from the Imperial Court. He specifically asked to see you, Junior Brother, but I couldn't pry out even a scrap of information."

"Sky Patrol Guard? Then I ought to go take a look."

Zhang Chu immediately perked up.

Logically speaking, Jin Mu had only just escorted the Refining Corpse Sect Expert back to headquarters. There was no way news about the Refining Corpse Sect could have come so quickly. Could it be that the Demonic Cult was causing trouble in Linjiang again?

After all, he was desperately short on Merit Points right now!

The moment Zhang Chu returned to the Daoist temple, he caught sight of an elderly man standing in the courtyard. The man's aura was deep and steady as iron.

He was clearly at the peak of the Dark Strength Realm.

Only a hair's breadth away from breaking through the wall!

Upon seeing Zhang Chu, the old man clasped his hands first. "Truly, heroes emerge in their youth! Before I even came to your door, I heard that Young Daoist Zhang had defeated two Dark Strength experts in succession. With such strength, I fear you surpass even your master, Huang Xugu, by several degrees!"

"This old man is Li Gang, Inspector Envoy of the Sky Patrol Guard. I have come at another's request to pay you a visit. I hope I have not disturbed you."

Li Gang's gaze swept over Zhang Chu, and his heart secretly jolted.

He could not see through the depth of this youth at all!

But on second thought, that made sense. Daoist Sect techniques were broad and profound. If one truly wished to conceal one's aura, it was nothing strange.

"Not at all. You flatter me, sir."

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Chu asked, "May I ask at whose request you came, and for what matter?"

It was not the Demonic Cult causing trouble, but someone had sent him?

Zhang Chu truly could not remember having any friends. It could not possibly be his master, who had been dead for years, could it?

Li Gang's expression darkened, his tone growing grave. "To be frank, this old man came at Jin Mu's request. Before he died, he asked me to deliver something to you, Daoist Priest."

As he spoke, he drew a letter from his robes.

"Jin Mu is dead?" Zhang Chu's gaze sharpened.

Jin Mu's group traveled swiftly, and the Sky Patrol Guard's movements were especially secretive. Who could have carried out such a precise interception and assassination?

"Yes. He was ambushed while escorting the Refining Corpse Sect back. By the time this old man went to support him, he had already been poisoned by gu, his limbs rotting away. Unable to speak, he only left behind this letter and the words 'deliver to Zhang Chu' written on the ground."

Zhang Chu accepted the letter and opened it.

Scattered drops of scarlet blood stained the paper.

Only two words were written on the yellowed sheet.

"A ghost!"

Zhang Chu instinctively frowned.

Then he looked at Li Gang. "Lord Li, may I ask who has read this letter? And why did Sky Patrol Guard Jin insist on delivering it to me before his death?"

Li Gang answered frankly, "Before this, only this old man and another Sky Patrol Guard had read it. He has already returned to report to headquarters. As for Jin Mu's intentions, this old man guesses that he meant to say that only you could understand this letter!"

Zhang Chu did not reply.

The letter had indeed made him think of a certain possibility.

"Forgive Zhang for being unable to explain what I know. This matter involves the Sky Patrol Guard and the Demonic Cult. Without sufficient evidence, Zhang can only investigate first before reaching a conclusion."

Yet Li Gang smiled upon hearing that.

He had clearly expected it.

"Daoist Priest Zhang need not be so tense. Since Jin Mu wished to hand the letter to you at the first opportunity rather than report it to headquarters, he must have already weighed the matter carefully."

"However, as Daoist Priest Zhang said yourself, since this matter involves the Sky Patrol Guard, ordinary people certainly cannot meddle in it. Would Daoist Priest Zhang be interested in joining the Sky Patrol Guard?"

Only then did Zhang Chu understand. The old man's real interest lay elsewhere.

The greatest purpose of this trip...

Was likely to invite him into the Sky Patrol Guard!

"Zhang is still young, my martial arts are mediocre, and my experience in the Jianghu is shallow. I fear I am unfit for such a heavy responsibility."

Li Gang bared his teeth after hearing that.

You call this mediocre martial arts?

The Water and Land Elders had run rampant through Linjiang for years. Even if he personally took action, he would not be able to subdue them in a short time.

He had inquired carefully. Those two had both been killed with a single palm strike, and their deaths had been exceedingly gruesome.

If that counted as mediocre martial arts, then the warriors of the Jianghu might as well all go smash their heads against rocks.

"Daoist Priest Zhang is too modest. This old man has no intention of forcing you. I merely hope that you will consider it. After all, in the Jianghu, the only place capable of providing both precious medicine and countless martial arts techniques is likely the Sky Patrol Guard."

The Sky Patrol Guard belonged to the Imperial Court.

Ever since the Imperial Advisor Illusionary Pupil had wiped out the Demonic Cult, no one knew how many martial arts manuals plundered by the Demonic Cult had fallen into their hands.

Most of those manuals were unique copies.

They could not be found anywhere else in the Jianghu.

But Zhang Chu clearly did not care about such things. Especially after learning that martial arts could be fused, what he lacked now was not manuals, but heaps and heaps of Merit Points!

"If I join the Sky Patrol Guard, can I obtain information about the Demonic Cult?" Zhang Chu suddenly asked a question Li Gang had not expected.

That was what concerned him most.

The Demonic Cult was nothing but vast heaps of Merit Points!

As for martial arts manuals, they could wait.

"Th-that... of course!"

"After all, the Sky Patrol Guard was established to purge the remnants of the Demonic Cult hidden throughout the Jianghu."

"Fine. Then I'll join." Zhang Chu suddenly nodded.

The blood letter and Jin Mu's death had made him think of a certain possibility.

But to verify it, he would need the Sky Patrol Guard's Secret Agent network.

Moreover, his master had been dead for years, yet his body had never been found. He could also use the Sky Patrol Guard's channels to investigate.

Most importantly, the Sky Patrol Guard could find the Demonic Cult!

But Zhang Chu's sudden agreement left Li Gang standing there in a daze, even struggling to keep up with the turn of thought.

Originally, he had not held out much hope that Zhang Chu would join. The Sky Patrol Guard spent all year walking the edge between life and death, while constantly guarding against the Demonic Cult's retaliation.

Besides, this Daoist Priest Zhang possessed extraordinary strength.

He was likely already at the consummate peak of the Dark Strength Realm.

There were not many such experts even in the entire Sky Patrol Guard, which was why Li Gang had offered precious medicine and secret manuals.

Who would have thought that this young Dark Strength peak expert did not care for precious medicine or divine martial arts manuals.

He only cared about news of the Demonic Cult!

At that moment, Li Gang seemed to understand why Jin Mu had handed the blood letter to this man before dying.

This was a blood-deep feud with the Demonic Cult!

"Hahaha! Good! With Daoist Priest Zhang joining us, the Sky Patrol Guard will surely gain wings like a tiger in all our future endeavors!"

Li Gang laughed delightedly, sweeping away his previous solemnity.

"Since Daoist Priest Zhang has agreed to join, we shall first follow the Sky Patrol Guard's rules and go through the process."

"The process? Please explain, Lord Li," Zhang Chu said.

"Daoist Priest need not worry. The Sky Patrol Guard is unlike the Imperial Court's government offices. We do not have so many tedious rules."

"The process is very simple. You need only complete one mission, and you will automatically join the Sky Patrol Guard."

Hearing Li Gang's words, Zhang Chu suddenly understood.

So joining the Sky Patrol Guard depended on missions. No wonder Jin Mu and the others spent all year rushing about outside.

"May I ask what Zhang's mission is? And how will it be considered complete?" Zhang Chu asked.

Li Gang's expression turned serious as he spoke frankly. "To be honest, this old man came here for two reasons. The first was at Jin Mu's request, while the second was this mission!"

"Has Daoist Priest Zhang ever heard of the Sword Appraisal Convention held once every five years at Sword Forging Manor in Lingnan?"

Li Gang did not conceal the purpose of his trip.

"Sword Forging Manor, the Sword Appraisal Convention?"

He had heard of the Sword Appraisal Convention. When the old man was still alive, he had attended it once. It was said to be exceptionally lively, attracting countless heroes of the Jianghu every time.

"Zhang has indeed heard of it. They say this convention is the dream of countless swordsmen. Everyone hopes to obtain a Precious Sword to their liking through the convention."

Zhang Chu recalled the scenes his master had described.

"Indeed. This convention is no trifling matter. Sword Forging Manor's craftsmanship is unmatched under heaven. Not only swordsmen, but masters of every weapon will go there to join the crowd."

As he spoke, Li Gang took another tightly sealed Secret Letter from his robes.

"A month ago, this old man received secret intelligence. This year's Sword Appraisal Convention at Sword Forging Manor will differ from previous years. A Divine Sword will be born at Sword Forging Manor!"

"This sword was personally forged by Ou Lian, a master of Sword Forging Manor. Its materials are all rare treasures of heaven and earth, and the master poured a full three years of painstaking effort into it!"

"On the day the sword is completed, divine light will burst forth, and winds and clouds will churn. It will be a peerless treasure rarely seen in this age!"

"The Demonic Cult naturally will not let such a divine object slip by. I have received accurate information that they have been plotting for this Sword Appraisal Convention for a long time, determined to seize the Divine Sword!"

"And the Sky Patrol Guard's mission is to assist Sword Forging Manor and protect this Divine Sword before it is born!"

After Li Gang finished speaking, he handed over the Secret Letter.

It clearly listed the Demonic Cult members who might appear, as well as plans that ordinary people could never have guessed.

Zhang Chu could not help sighing. The Sky Patrol Guard truly had roots and branches intertwined everywhere; they even had contacts within Sword Forging Manor in Lingnan.

"Fine. I will arrive at Sword Forging Manor on time according to the date agreed upon in the Secret Letter and assist in guarding the Divine Sword."

After speaking, Zhang Chu flicked his finger. Gang Qi burst forth, instantly shattering the Secret Letter in his hand beyond the possibility of reassembling it.

"With those words from Daoist Priest, this old man can rest easy."

"Since that is so, this old man will take his leave first. There are still matters to discuss with Sword Forging Manor. Before the fifteenth of July, we shall meet at Sword Forging Manor in Lingnan!"

Li Gang's temperament was somewhat similar to Jin Mu's.

Both were decisive and swift in action.

He did not conceal his face, either.

Clearly, he was also an unaffiliated wanderer who had later joined the Sky Patrol Guard, unafraid of threats from the Demonic Cult.

After seeing Li Gang off,

Zhang Chu took out the blood letter once more.

The man had been right about one thing.

In this world, perhaps only Zhang Chu could understand the meaning of those two words on the blood letter!

"A ghost?"

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Chu's eyes as he said in an icy voice, "Then let me see whether you are truly a man or a ghost!"

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