Expert, Please Stay, Losses and Gains

The doors and windows of the attic were open, and the aroma of wine was slowly dissipating.

With Chu Ge on guard, the effects weren't too severe.

However, as the wine's fragrance faded and evaporated, it would also cause the large Flying Head Zombies on the ground, still in a drunken state, to awaken.

Chu Ge didn't dare to delay. He cautiously approached and, after confirming there was no danger, placed his hand on the ferocious-looking large Flying Head Zombie on the ground.

This large Flying Head Zombie had a green face and fangs, with trachea and intestines like dried beef jerky still attached to its neck, making it look disgusting and strange.

The moment his palm made contact, Chu Ge felt a cold, hard, and somewhat slippery sensation.

The Dragon Bell tattoo on his arm glowed slightly.

Sacrifice!

A faint resistance met him, and the large Flying Head Zombie's pitch-black eyelids twitched.

Chu Ge's eyes were sharp. His Crimson Scale Claws, covered in pale red scales, reached out, ready to strike first if anything went wrong.

But in the next moment, the large Flying Head Zombie suddenly vanished, successfully sacrificed into the Dragon Bell.

"Phew, that was close."

Chu Ge breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the Dragon Bell's function hadn't disappointed him.

Anything he could control was considered under his command and could be directly sacrificed into the Dragon Bell.

However, things that offered strong resistance couldn't be directly sacrificed into the Dragon Bell.

For example, a house couldn't be directly sacrificed just by him touching it with his palm.

Unless he could lift it with one hand and completely control it, it wouldn't be deemed an object under his command.

Currently, dozens of items lay within the Dragon Bell, over twenty of which were old artifacts Wang Xiuyun had given him for trade.

Information on the Corpse Driver and the two Flying Head Zombies was also displayed.

"Yu Xinghong: Introduction: (A Martial Cultivator in the Blood Change Realm, nicknamed Soul Chasing Old Man. Deacon of the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult stationed at Mingyun Mountain in Chi Prefecture, a defector from the Corpse Driving Sect, ranked seventy-third on the Blood Ranking, and a Class D fugitive of the Great Zhou. Proficient in sorcery, Blood Refining Zombie Head Art, perfected Corpse Driving Banner Staff, and the secret Exotic Power technique, Qi and Blood Frenzy)."

"Defective Flying Head Zombie: Introduction: (A defective Flying Head Zombie refined from the head of a Martial Cultivator in the Blood Change Realm using the Blood Refining Zombie Head Art. Requires refined Lesser Imps and Exotic Power crystals to control)."

"Flying Head Zombie: Introduction: (A true Flying Head Zombie refined from the head of a powerhouse in the Force Condensation Realm using sorcery. Requires Beguilers and Exotic Power crystals to control)."

"Corpse Driving Banner: Introduction: (A Corpse Driving Banner made by the Corpse Driving Sect using special spiritual materials and Corpse King blood. Can be used to drive corpses, and seems to store some Exotic Power crystals)."

"Ranked on the Blood Ranking, defector from the Corpse Driving Sect, regional deacon of the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult, a fugitive of the Great Zhou. Soul Chasing Old Man."

"The old man I killed has quite a few titles. He must have been a talented young man in his youth, but he just did all sorts of wicked things!"

Chu Ge inwardly grumbled, his interest piqued by the so-called Exotic Power crystals.

He hadn't examined them closely when collecting spoils earlier and didn't know what they were.

Now, it seemed the Soul Chasing Old Man and the two Flying Head Zombies, one large and one small, possessed many valuable items.

He wondered what the Dragon Bell would selectively extract in the end.

The Soul Chasing Old Man was dead, and the large Flying Head Zombie had been sacrificed.

Although there were smaller Flying Head Zombies outside that he had glimpsed earlier, they should no longer be a threat without the Soul Chasing Old Man controlling them.

As for the numerous bandits from the Heaven and Earth Incense Cult, they were just a few stragglers whom Tian Youji and Hu Xuezhi could handle.

Chu Ge decided not to linger any longer. Just as he was about to clean up and leave the attic, he suddenly heard the sound of clothes rustling from outside.

He glanced through the window and immediately recognized the two figures as Tian Youji and Hu Xuezhi, who must have been chasing the large Flying Head Zombie.

As he saw them, they also spotted him in the attic. Their gazes lingered on his dark, aged face and his arms covered in pale red scales. Both felt a tremor in their hearts, sensing a powerful and mysterious aura, like that of a demon god, washing over them.

Chu Ge didn't want to reveal his identity and quickly leaped out of another window, disappearing over the courtyard wall in a few agile movements.

"Esteemed expert, please wait!"

Hu Xuezhi's voice quickly followed.

"Don't pursue, and don't rashly enter the attic. The Corpse Driver and the Flying Head Zombie have both been vanquished!"

Chu Ge deliberately responded in a deep, hoarse voice from a distance, while his figure moved even faster through the alley, vanishing into the darkness.

Whoosh--

Tian Youji and Hu Xuezhi landed on the attic's roof ridge with a somersault, their expressions filled with shock and uncertainty. Their gazes fell upon the courtyard within the attic.

They clearly saw signs of a fierce battle on the ground, and several corpses came into view, causing their pupils to contract.

The two quickly flew down.

After a few dozen breaths, they stopped at the attic's staircase, both quickly covering their mouths and noses, sealing their pores, and retreating, their faces a mixture of surprise and doubt.

"What is that fragrance?"

"It smells like... wine? Such a strong, intoxicating wine aroma. Just a slight whiff made me dizzy."

"That person just now... seemed to be the same one who rescued Wang Xiuyun last time. I didn't expect him to still be in the city, and he even took action this time."

"Moreover, he's a Demon martial artist."

Tian Youji and Hu Xuezhi spoke, looking at each other. Then, seeing each other's miserable state – one with a severed hand, the other with broken ribs – they both couldn't help but offer wry smiles.

A Corpse Driver in front and a Demon martial artist behind; Linyuan City, this small corner, was getting livelier and livelier.

Fortunately, the opponent was a friend, not an enemy.

"He said earlier that the Soul Chasing Old Man and the Flying Head Zombie have both been eliminated. Is that true? If they were eliminated, why did the bodies disappear so quickly?"

"It's hard to say. But last time this person took down Ding Ying and others from the Snow Saber Martial Arts School, their bodies were also nowhere to be found. Perhaps this person has some special method to quickly destroy evidence."

"Let's put this aside for now. While our injuries haven't worsened, let's quickly assess the situation within the city, eliminate the other bandits, and then bring that young lady from the Wang Family here to take a look."

After a cup of tea.

Chu Ge had already zipped back to his own residence.

It was fortunate that his own house hadn't been ransacked by the bandits this time.

However, from other houses not far away, he could hear the sounds of fighting between bandits and the Guards hired by some wealthy gentry.

Chu Ge listened for a while.

Soon, he heard many footsteps rushing towards that direction, followed by cheers. He figured the city's yamen runners and guards had begun to fight back.

He immediately felt relieved, returned indoors, took off the Porter Mask, and deactivated the Crimson Claws talent state on his arms.

As the pale red scales gradually disappeared, a sharp pain shot through his arms, and his skin and muscles quickly bruised and swelled.

"Hiss."

Chu Ge frowned.

It seemed that although the Crimson Claws were powerful during the fight, multiple clashes with the Soul Chasing Old Man, whose Qi and Blood far surpassed his and who had also unleashed secret Exotic Power techniques, had still resulted in injuries.

Fortunately, due to the protection of the Crimson Claws talent and Exotic Power, the injuries were only superficial. Otherwise, his hand bones might have cracked and his meridians could have been damaged.

"The Soul Chasing Old Man is on the Blood Ranking, truly living up to his name. Extremely dangerous and powerful, he's one of the top-tier vicious criminals in the Blood Change Realm."

"Fortunately, I killed him in the end."

Chu Ge took off the Beast Power Paper Talisman on his back, which had dimmed considerably, and glanced at the Flying Pig Boots on his feet, which were now completely worn through. He couldn't help but feel depressed.

The losses this time were significant.

Almost all the preparations he had made were used up. The Beast Power Paper Talisman could probably only be used once more.

Especially the consumed Wine Exotic fine wine, that was irreplaceable.

He could only hope that the Soul Chasing Old Man and the two Flying Head Zombies, one large and one small, would contribute something good.

He took off the tattered boots and threw them into the brazier to burn.

Afterward, he found some medicinal ointment indoors and applied it to his arms to quickly reduce the swelling.

Then, he called out the servants who had been hiding and began to cultivate his Qi and Blood using his Exotic Power.

After this battle with a Blood Ranking expert like the Soul Chasing Old Man, he deeply understood that his own foundation was still too shallow.

After all, he had only recently broken through to the Blood Change Realm. His Qi and Blood weren't strong enough, and he had almost been severely injured by the opponent.

Although he had ultimately killed the opponent, if he hadn't possessed so many Left Path Skills, he might have been the one to die.

"This world is still too dangerous. The Blood Change Realm is not the end. After this, I should write a letter to my eldest sister and hurry to the Prefectural City to obtain more resources and break through to the Force Condensation Realm."

Chu Ge pondered, feeling the pure Exotic Power transforming into rolling Qi and Blood, steadily improving, and his heart began to calm.

He was still young, not some old geezer. His physique was strong, and his Hardened Training wasn't for nothing.

After a big fight, he didn't suffer any internal injuries. Overall, he felt pretty good.