Weird Clue

"Still quite a ways off..."

Chen Xia tried, only managing to channel his Qi energy to the hilt of the blade. He couldn't mobilize any more Primal Qi.

This kind of blade edge required a certain amount of Primal Qi within the body to manifest.

However, reaching the hilt meant that one day it would extend to the blade body and edge. When that happened, Chen Xia could use the long saber to slash wildly, and as long as it touched an enemy, the Seven Injuries Force would reach their insides, shredding their internal organs and drastically increasing his lethality.

Of course, even without this effect, Chen Xia's fist techniques were already quite terrifying.

His Primal Qi was sufficient to support the Seven Injuries Fist in unleashing its powerful might. Previously, when fighting Hu Biao, he had used two punches and felt a bit depleted internally, able to throw at most two more before running out.

Now, his Fist Force could be maintained for over eight punches.

But generally, Chen Xia wouldn't need it. With his strength of over 1600 kilograms, he could usually take down a Grade 1 Martial Warrior with a single punch, no need to use internal energy.

Chen Xia estimated that, combined with his Fist Force, he could contend with a Grade 2 Martial Warrior. If he fought well, once an opponent was hit by his Fist Force, they would surely die.

It wasn't that Chen Xia was bragging; the Seven Injuries Fist Force was truly formidable. Even if a Grade 2 Martial Warrior had their internal energy manifest externally, the effect wouldn't be as terrifying, unable to pulverize a person's internal organs. But the Seven Injuries Fist could.

"Speaking of externalized internal energy, the wounds on that dead Yu Banshou had corrosive marks."

"...Could it be that the person who killed Yu Banshou cultivated an Evil Technique that allowed them to channel internal energy into their blade? This is usually something only Grade 2 or above Martial Warriors can do..."

Chen Xia pondered.

It wasn't that being able to channel internal energy into a blade automatically meant someone was Grade 2 or very strong, it was just a relative indicator.

Primal Qi was only one aspect. If one's muscle strength, power, and speed weren't high, having only Primal Qi wouldn't make them very strong in combat. They might be cut down by a speed-type Martial Warrior before they could even touch their enemy.

But under equal conditions, having blade qi would naturally make a difference.

"It might be related to cultivating Evil Techniques, which is why many people from the Gathering of Righteousness can manifest external internal energy and crush the Blazing Fire Mercenary Group."

"If I obtained an Evil Technique, I could surely do the same. And Evil Techniques increase lethality while I wouldn't suffer the corresponding side effects. This would significantly boost my combat power!"

With that thought, Chen Xia had an idea. He could either go to the Federation's underground black market to buy an Evil Technique, or he could directly find people from the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group and seize an Evil Technique from them.

Black markets existed in many places within the Federation, usually in ruined cities from past wars or in chaotic border regions.

Although all the various countries had united to form a Federation government, ushering in a unified era, the term "country" was now just a title. In reality, the governments of each nation still existed.

However, compared to the past, explicit national borders were gone. As long as one had the money for a hovercar ticket, they could travel between the various countries. There was no need for passports or anything similar.

But black markets cost money, often hundreds of thousands or even millions. Chen Xia figured it would be better to directly target the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group, where he might get a bargain. Besides, Chen Xia was already planning to investigate the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group and their cult base.

Over the past ten-plus days, Chen Xia had inquired from various sources, such as people in the Patrol Inspection Office and through conversations between teams, but he hadn't uncovered any useful information.

Additionally, the Patrol Inspection Office had a department called the Criminal Investigation Unit. Compared to the regular patrol officers, they had very few members. Chen Xia had chatted with them occasionally, but before the cults started appearing in large numbers, the intelligence they possessed was limited, especially in the South City area.

"Jiang Xinglan asked me to investigate the cult's base. She probably knows some information, but not the details. Her objective is likely more about testing my abilities through this task, and secondarily, destroying the cult's base. Otherwise, Jiang Xinglan could have simply ordered the South City Branch Office to handle it directly."

Chen Xia thought to himself.

He had his own plans. Although the other party had indirectly helped him a lot, in the end, his own standing ultimately depended on his strength.

As long as he developed in secret and improved his fundamental strength, others wouldn't dare to underestimate him.

If he could directly advance to Grade 2, or even Grade 3 Martial Master, then whether he could find the cult's base wouldn't matter much.

The true trump card was always one's own martial prowess.

With this thought, Chen Xia felt no pressure.

Gulp!

At this moment, Chen Xia took a Qianyang Pill of Reversal from his pocket and swallowed it. After practicing for a while longer, he left the Martial Arts Hall.

He went to the Patrol Inspection Office, clocked in, ate breakfast, and returned to his office.

It was fine if he didn't report for duty, but basic rules still needed to be followed.

Today, Chen Xia wasn't out on patrol. Instead, he stayed in the office and used his computer to check recent case information.

After reviewing many recorded cases, he discovered at least a dozen missing person cases had accumulated recently. All of them shared a common characteristic.

All the disappearances occurred at night, the victims vanished innocently, there were no witnesses, and not a single clue.

As he continued reviewing, time unknowingly passed until noon. After lunch, he stayed in the training room and practiced for several hours. It wasn't until nearing the end of the workday that he picked up a bag, preparing to head to the shopping mall.

Riding his bicycle, his speed was not slow. Before long, he spotted the shopping mall ahead.

"Hey, Captain Chen..."

Just then, Chen Xia heard a familiar voice.

He saw a patrol car by the roadside, with Zhang Feng and others standing nearby, waving at him with smiles that crinkled their eyes. They were all from his former Eighth Team.

"It's Brother Zhang!" Chen Xia smiled.

"Eh, you're the captain now, don't call me 'brother.' I can't accept that," Zhang Feng said with a grin.

"What are you saying? We've known each other for years, and you're older than me. It's only right."

"Where are you off to?"

"I'm going to the mall to buy some things."

Yang Hua was also among the group. Since they ran into each other, they exchanged pleasantries. Yang Hua greeted him outwardly, but the Yang Hua who used to talk freely and confidently in front of Chen Xia was now much quieter and more reserved in his presence.

"Oh, right, Captain Chen." Zhang Feng called out as Chen Xia was about to leave.

"What is it?" Chen Xia turned back.

Zhang Feng seemed to recall something and said, "Have you heard? Several young girls have gone missing in Xingou Street recently. I don't know what's going on. People are talking about it on the forums too!"

"And, didn't you ask me a couple of days ago if I'd noticed anything unusual lately?... I think I saw something last night." Zhang Feng said.

"What did you see?"

Chen Xia's interest was immediately piqued. He had indeed asked Zhang Feng to keep an eye out a couple of days ago, and he hadn't expected anything to come of it.

Zhang Feng whispered, "Last night, when I was on duty, I passed by the old district of Xingou Street and thought I saw a red shadow flicker. Could it be related to the disappearances?"

A red shadow? Chen Xia asked, "What did it look like?"

"Uh... it looked like a person, transparent body, no feet. Yes, it had no feet, it felt like it was floating... I saw it very clearly at the time. The person seemed to notice me, then it flickered and disappeared." Zhang Feng still felt a bit shaken recalling it.

Chen Xia's mind conjured an image of a red, humanoid phantom... While such a phenomenon wasn't impossible in the High Martial era, he had never seen it before.

"Where exactly?"

Since this counted as a clue, Chen Xia inquired for details. Zhang Feng told him he saw it in an alley next to the Ke Lai Xiang Restaurant on Alley 12, Xingou Street.

"You need to be careful when you go out from now on. I feel like Yijiang City has been very dangerous lately..." Zhang Feng cautioned, his face looking a bit pale. The main reason was that he had passed by the entrance last night and was genuinely startled the moment he saw the thing.