Evil Technique

This pill is precious. Normally, I'd just swallow it to save trouble, but I have the Reversal Panel. I finally have this seed money, so I should maximize its profit. I'll sell it and get four pills of the same effect but with side effects. This way, I can multiply its value fourfold and improve myself further.

Before this, I also had forty thousand to help me break through.

With that thought, Chen Xia immediately closed the pill box and then observed his room.

He walked to the bedside and lifted the bed board, placing the box under the wooden board's interlayer before feeling at ease.

Normally, no one would move the bed board; it was absolutely safe.

After storing it, Chen Xia let out a long sigh and then picked up the Qianyang Pill in his hand.

With a thought, the light screen panel in front of him opened. The panel quickly detected the Qianyang Pill.

[Detected Qianyang Pill. Consuming it enhances the body's Yang energy potential, stimulates Primal Qi and Qi and Blood, and provides an Amplification effect. Side effect: consuming it once reduces lifespan by half a year. Long-term consumption leads to a short life.]

[Negative Reversal: Consuming it enhances the body's Yang energy potential, stimulates Primal Qi and Qi and Blood, and provides an Amplification effect. Consuming it once increases lifespan by half a year. Long-term consumption leads to Longevity.]

Seeing the Reversal effect, Chen Xia was very satisfied.

He looked at the pill in his hand. It was still the same as usual, but its effects were different.

He wondered if others could get results from this kind of pill.

Even if they could, Chen Xia wouldn't risk exposing his secret. He'd just use it himself.

Gulp!

Chen Xia held the pill, which was grayish-white, put it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

Not long after, Chen Xia's body felt hot. He began to practice the Seven Injuries Fist. His punches were swift and powerful, and his movements were orderly. The sound of whistling wind echoed in the room.

Each gust of wind was a manifestation of solid strength. After practicing for an hour, Chen Xia's complexion was flushed red. He felt a warmth rising between his Dantian and his Lungs and Viscera. His Qi and Blood surged within him, and his entire body was being strengthened.

Moreover, his Primal Qi was increasing, though not by much.

If he only had one such pill, and he practiced for another month, Chen Xia could almost break through to the Ninth Stage, which was Grade 1 Martial Warrior.

But Chen Xia had forty thousand on him, so he could continue to buy more. Thus, breaking through to Martial Warrior could be accomplished in a short time.

He practiced until past twelve o'clock. Chen Xia washed off the sweat from his body and then snuggled into bed for a good night's sleep.

The next day, as usual, he rode his bicycle to the Patrol Inspection Office.

After clocking in and greeting the colleagues he met, Chen Xia went to eat breakfast.

Today, his appetite was huge. He ate three bowls of noodles, six large steamed buns, and three deep-fried dough sticks.

Zhang Feng, who was walking in from outside, saw him and laughed, "Kid, did you just get released from prison? You can eat that much."

"Can't help it. My practice has been consuming a lot lately, so my appetite has increased," Chen Xia replied with a smile.

"That's a good thing. It proves your body is getting better from practicing martial arts. Having a good appetite is great," Zhang Feng said, taking a large bite of noodles as he spoke with a smile.

Not long after they finished eating, their phones suddenly received messages. Even the electronic watch on their wrists flashed yellow.

In the High Martial Era, there were mobile phones and high-tech electronic watches. The watches were issued by the Patrol Inspection Office for unified commands, emergency intelligence notifications, and contact purposes.

"The Captain is summoning us. Let's go!"

After receiving the message, the two quickly headed to their respective offices to gather.

"Xingou Street, Eight Lane. Someone reported a killing. Yang Hua, you take them to the scene to handle it."

Captain Jiang Bing gave the order.

"Yes!" Yang Hua nodded, then called out and led the Eighth Squad to the scene.

Everyone was used to this kind of thing and didn't think much of it, but Chen Xia's heart tightened. However, he remained outwardly calm and followed everyone into the patrol car.

The two cars drove directly to the place where Chen Xia and Yu Banshou had fought last night. He tried his best to remain calm.

Returning to the alley from last night, as Chen Xia and the others patrolled, they saw a corpse lying on the ground. It was Yu Banshou.

His body had lain there all night, unattended. Now, Chen Xia followed everyone to examine it.

To avoid suspicion, Chen Xia acted as usual. He even stood nearby and analyzed, "I think I've seen this person before. He's Yu Banshou from the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group."

Zhang Feng looked at the knife wounds on Yu Banshou's body and the collapsed area on his face. He bent down and felt around the body but found nothing.

"Clearly, we weren't the first ones here. The corpse was moved. And he went through a fierce battle before he died. His face looks like it was hit by a fist. The force was not small."

A team member covered his nose and said, "To think that a dignified squad leader would end up like this. He's quite unlucky."

"The people from Gathering of Righteousness are too powerful. Liehuo and the others couldn't defeat them. This is normal. In a few days, they'll probably disband, and this will be the territory of the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group."

Zhang Feng chimed in.

Yang Hua, standing nearby, retorted, "That's wrong. The biggest force locally is still our Patrol Inspection Office!"

"Captain Yang is right," Zhang Feng agreed.

Yang Hua nodded slightly, a hint of smugness on his face. He glanced at Yu Banshou's corpse and was about to order someone to carry it away when he suddenly frowned, "Huh... look at this wound."

"What is it?" Zhang Feng asked curiously.

At this moment, Yang Hua squatted down and pulled aside the torn clothing fragments around Yu Banshou's knife wound. Everyone then saw the knife wound on his chest, which was different from his other injuries.

The area around this wound showed signs of Rotting.

It was noticeably blackened, unlike the other wounds.

"This doesn't look like the work of a normal Knife Technique, more like a phenomenon from being injured by Evil Sha."

Yang Hua was a graduate of a Famous school, so he knew a lot of information.

Chen Xia hadn't noticed anything. This kind of wound was indeed rare. At this moment, Zhang Feng said, "Captain Yang, are you implying... that someone in the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group cultivates an Evil Technique?"

"This is just a guess of mine." Yang Hua's gaze flickered slightly. "This kind of wound is caused by channeling Primal Qi into the knife edge and then slashing into the body, where it spreads."

"It requires at least a Grade 1 Martial Warrior at Stage 4 or above to achieve this. However, a normal Martial Warrior wouldn't have this corrosive effect. It's clear the opponent cultivates an Evil Cultivation, making it more lethal."

"Heh, our Federation Country prohibits the cultivation of unorthodox paths, but there are still quite a few people practicing Evil Techniques nowadays. No wonder they could defeat the Liehuo group. Mastering an Evil Cultivation makes them much stronger than normal Martial Warriors."

"I heard that cultivating Evil Techniques has significant side effects. But in return, the strength increases?" Chen Xia suddenly interjected from the side.

Yang Hua glanced at Chen Xia and said:

"That's right. Evil Techniques don't follow the conventional path. They offer rapid improvement and a sudden surge in cultivation, allowing ordinary people to reach heights they could never achieve in a lifetime. But at the same time, there are corresponding side effects!"

"Some techniques have side effects like physical discomfort in old age, a shorter lifespan, some require lifelong medication, and others demand the sacrifice of one's future. You can only reach a certain Stage, your meridians become damaged, and your path forward is cut off."

"Chen Xia, do you want to cultivate this kind of Evil Technique?"

As he spoke, Yang Hua turned his head and looked at Chen Xia with a half-smile.

He knew Chen Xia had always wanted to become a Martial Warrior, but his body had reached its limit, making it difficult to improve. If he were to cultivate an Evil Technique, it was possible.

But he didn't think Chen Xia had the guts, as cultivating such techniques could lead to death.

Hearing this, Chen Xia's heart tightened, and he then smiled, "How could that be? I still want to live a few more years."

Seeing this, Yang Hua didn't ask further.

In fact, Yang Hua wasn't wrong. Chen Xia cared most about these kinds of things.

If he could also obtain an Evil Technique, his cultivation would definitely improve faster.

Moreover, looking at these wounds, the people from Gathering of Righteousness likely mastered a matching Evil Technique Martial Skill. Such things are generally not available on the market and are illegal.

Of course, if one truly wanted to cultivate them, as long as they didn't go around killing people indiscriminately, no one would interfere. But usually, normal people wouldn't practice them.

As for mercenary groups, in order to expand their territory, they are willing to take risks in battles to gain an advantage.

Gathering Justice Mercenary Group...

A faint light flashed in Chen Xia's pupils. He felt that if he had the chance in the future, he might go and find a similar Evil Technique to cultivate.

The more powerful the Evil Technique, the stronger Chen Xia would become.