"It won't be long before I've saved up thirty Treasure Fish!"
Liu Chu was in a rather good mood.
In fact, if he hadn't consumed four or five Treasure Fish for cultivation, the number in the pond could have reached twenty-five or twenty-six by now.
Still, Liu Chu didn't mind.
The four or five Treasure Fish he'd used had greatly improved his strength. They were an expense he couldn't afford to cut.
"To reach the Great Accomplishment Realm in the Rolling Thunder Nourishing Practice, I'll need another five or six Treasure Fish. To cultivate it to perfection might take more than ten."
"I have less than six hundred taels of silver at my disposal right now, which is only enough to cultivate two Yanglian Techniques to perfection!"
"Blood Qi Limit Break really is worthy of its name. The resources it requires are enormous!"
Liu Chu suddenly fell into thought. After carefully tallying his expenses, he realized he was still short on money.
Although he'd unified the three gangs, he could earn nearly a hundred taels of silver each month.
That was passive income—money he could make just by sitting back—and it was quite substantial.
Unfortunately, he needed a huge amount of silver!
Cultivating just two Yanglian Techniques to perfection would cost four or five hundred taels.
And after he finished cultivating the two Yanglian Techniques, he planned to practice the Blood Qi Profound Sound Technique, a secret art that would temper his sinews, bones, and skin a second time.
That secret art would also require a fair amount of silver!
A single batch of its accompanying secret medicine cost thirty taels. The total expense would likely exceed the cost of cultivating both Yanglian Techniques!
By that reckoning, even his six hundred taels in savings wouldn't be enough!
"I'll cultivate first. I need to bring both Yanglian Techniques to perfection before I'm qualified to practice the secret art!"
Liu Chu's gaze flickered. "When the time comes, I'll consider whether to practice it based on the circumstances!"
He might not have enough money to cultivate the secret art now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't have enough later!
With greater strength came plenty of ways to make money!
At his current level, if he really focused on earning a thousand taels of silver, it might not be difficult!
After instructing the two hall masters to keep an eye on the Treasure Fish, Liu Chu returned to the hall to continue cultivating.
The Li Family estate.
The Li Family steward reported the outcome of his trip with a respectful expression.
"So you're saying he denied having a way to lure the Treasure Fish King, and even warned us not to be too curious?!"
As the Li Family Head listened, his narrow eyes narrowed further, glinting with cold light.
"Yes. He's arrogant by nature and unwilling to cooperate with us..." the Li Family steward replied.
The Li Family Head turned to the Great Elder. "What do you think, Great Elder?"
The Great Elder's hair was gray-white, and he looked to be in his sixties, well past his prime. He had once been the Li Family Head.
Now that he was older, he had yielded the position of family head and become the family's Great Elder. He usually stayed out of family affairs.
Only when major matters arose would he step forward.
Now that the Treasure Fish King was involved, the Great Elder had come to discuss the matter as well.
"When there are too many coincidences, they're no longer coincidences!"
A gleam flashed in the Great Elder's cloudy eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He appeared out of nowhere, mysterious and unfathomable. He took over as Green Tiger Gang's leader and united the territory of three gangs, including Heilu Bay. Then he quietly bought a large number of Treasure Fish."
"All of it points to the Treasure Fish King. This man very likely has a way to lure it!"
After a pause, he continued, "His so-called secret art sounds like an excuse he came up with on the spot. It isn't convincing."
"I agree," the Li Family Head said with a nod. Hearing the Great Elder's agreement bolstered his confidence.
He continued, "What do you think we should do, Great Elder?"
The Great Elder shook his head. "I'm only the Great Elder. You're the family head now, so all decisions about the family are yours to make. I'm old. As long as I approve of your decision, I'll do everything I can to support you."
"Good. That's all I need to hear from you!"
A sharp glint flashed in the Li Family Head's eyes. "Although this Black Dragon Gang Leader is powerful and can suppress martial artists at the same level, in the end, he's only a Tendon Refining Realm martial artist!"
"My Li Family has been around for over a century. We now have six Tendon Refining Realm martial artists alone, while the Great Elder and I are both Bone Refining Realm experts. How could a mere gang that was founded only a few months ago stand against my Li Family?"
"I offered to cooperate and gave him more than enough face. Since he refused, we'll simply take action!"
He looked at the Great Elder and bowed deeply. "Sorry to trouble you, Great Elder. Take two Tendon Refining Realm martial artists with you to the Black Dragon Gang at midnight tonight and seize him."
Then he added a warning. "Under no circumstances are you to kill him. I'll interrogate him myself and pry the secret of how he lures the Treasure Fish King from him!"
At the thought of the Treasure Fish King, the Li Family Head felt a surge of excitement!
The Treasure Fish King might help him advance his cultivation further!
If it helped him cultivate True Qi and enter the Middle Three Grades' Neizhuang Realm, the Li Family might become the fourth great family in the inner city!
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
The Great Elder nodded, then went to gather his men.
Clouds rolled and drifted. Before anyone knew it, night had fallen.
Inside the brightly lit main hall of the Black Dragon Gang, Liu Chu was practicing his saber techniques. The flashes of his blade roared like dragons and tigers, shrieked like thunder, then swept like golden waves pounding the shore.
He switched freely between the three saber techniques, his movements as smooth as flowing water and as natural as a perfect circle!
"Hm?"
Liu Chu's eyes flashed. He stopped his saber technique and looked toward the hall entrance, his voice cold. "So unwelcome guests have come calling. It seems you didn't take my warning to heart."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As soon as he spoke, three figures appeared inside the hall.
"Heh. You seem a little too confident in your own strength, young friend. You're not even the least bit flustered."
One of the three figures had gray-white hair. It was none other than the Li Family Great Elder, a Bone Refining Realm expert!
A faint smile played on his lips as he looked at Liu Chu, as if gazing at prey already in his grasp.
Beside him stood two Tendon Refining Realm experts. One of them was the Li Family steward!
"Sir, this is the Great Elder of the Li Family, a Bone Refining Realm expert. Don't struggle needlessly. Just surrender!"
Standing beside the Great Elder, the Li Family steward immediately regained his arrogance. He smiled broadly, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
During the day, he had come alone to invite Liu Chu, only to be cowed by Liu Chu's imposing aura and forced to put aside his haughtiness and bow his head.
Now, with the Li Family at his back, his backbone had stiffened in an instant. He could reclaim his dignity!
"One Bone Refining Realm expert, two Tendon Refining Realm experts... You certainly think highly of me, Gang Leader!"
Liu Chu looked over the three of them, gauging their approximate levels of cultivation. His eyes narrowed slightly.
An ordinary Tendon Refining Realm martial artist would have no choice but to surrender against such a lineup. They'd have no chance to fight back.
Yet Liu Chu remained calm. He looked at them, a chill glinting in his eyes. "Curiosity really does kill the cat!"
"Too much confidence is just arrogance."
The Li Family Great Elder shook his head. "Young man, you're far too arrogant. The other two are only here to intercept your men."
He declared proudly, "I alone am enough to deal with you!"
Before you continue