Li Family Lineup, Bullying Others on the Strength of Their Masters!

"It won't be long before I've gathered thirty Treasure Fish!"

Liu Chu felt quite pleased.

In reality, had he not consumed four or five Treasure Fish for his cultivation, the number of fish in the pond would have already reached twenty-five or twenty-six.

However, Liu Chu did not mind this at all.

The four or five Treasure Fish he had used provided immense benefits to his strength, making them an unavoidable expense.

"To bring the Rolling Thunder Nourishing Practice to Great Success still requires five or six Treasure Fish, and reaching perfection might even take over a dozen."

"I currently have less than six hundred taels of silver at my disposal, which is only enough to bring two nourishing practices to perfection!"

"As expected of a blood qi limit-breaker, the resources required are truly immense!"

Liu Chu suddenly fell into deep thought. After carefully crunching the numbers, he realized he was still short on money.

Although he had unified the three major gangs, he could collect nearly a hundred taels of silver every month.

This was passive income—money earned while lying down—which was quite substantial.

Yet, the amount he required was equally massive!

Just to bring two nourishing practices to perfection would cost four to five hundred taels of silver.

And once he finished those two, he intended to cultivate the secret technique known as the Blood Qi Profound Sound Technique to refine his tendons, bones, and skin a second time.

Cultivating this secret technique would also require a significant amount of silver!

A single set of the necessary medicinal supplements alone cost thirty taels, and the total expenses would likely exceed those of cultivating two nourishing practices!

By this calculation, his savings of six hundred taels were truly insufficient!

"I'll cultivate first and worry later. Only by bringing two nourishing practices to perfection will I have the prerequisites to cultivate the secret technique!"

Liu Chu's eyes flickered: "When the time comes, I'll decide whether or not to cultivate that secret technique based on the circumstances!"

Even if he didn't have enough money to cultivate it now, that didn't mean he wouldn't in the future!

With increased strength, there were plenty of ways to make money!

Given his current strength, it wouldn't necessarily be difficult for him to focus on earning a thousand taels of silver if he really wanted to!

After instructing the two hall masters to keep a close watch on the Treasure Fish, Liu Chu returned to the main hall to continue his cultivation.

Li Family estate.

A Li Family steward was reporting the results of his trip with a respectful expression.

"You mean to say he denied having a method to lure the Treasure Fish King, and even warned us not to be too curious?!"

The Li Family head narrowed his long, thin eyes as he listened to the steward, a cold glint flashing within them.

"Yes, this person is arrogant by nature and unwilling to cooperate with us..."

The Li Family steward said.

The Li Family head turned his gaze toward the Great Elder: "What is the Great Elder's opinion?"

The Great Elder had graying hair and appeared to be in his sixties. Having passed his prime, he was the previous head of the Li Family.

Now that he was older, he had ceded the position of family head to serve as the Great Elder, usually refraining from handling family affairs.

Only when faced with major issues would he step forward.

Now, with the matter involving the Treasure Fish King, this Great Elder had also come out to deliberate.

"When there are too many coincidences, they become facts!"

The Great Elder's cloudy eyes flashed with sharp insight as he analyzed: "He appeared abruptly, is mysterious and unpredictable, replaced the Green Tiger Gang leader, unified the territories of three gangs—including Heilu Bay—and then quietly purchased a large number of Treasure Fish."

"All of these things point toward the Treasure Fish King. It is highly probable that this person possesses a means to lure the Treasure Fish King!"

He paused, then continued: "His so-called cultivation of a secret technique sounds like nothing more than a hastily fabricated excuse; it lacks any persuasiveness."

"I share the same opinion."

The Li Family head nodded. Receiving validation from the Great Elder gave him more confidence.

He then asked: "I wonder what the Great Elder thinks we should do?"

The Great Elder shook his head: "I am merely the Great Elder. You are the family head now; all decisions for the family are yours to make. I am old, and as long as I agree with the decisions you make, I will support you with all my strength."

"Good, the Great Elder's word is enough!"

A fierce look flashed across the Li Family head's eyes: "Although this Black Dragon Gang leader is powerful and can suppress martial artists of the same rank, he is, at the end of the day, only a martial artist in the Tendon Refining Realm!"

"My Li Family has a heritage spanning over a hundred years. We currently have six martial artists in the Tendon Refining Realm alone, and both the Great Elder and I are experts in the Bone Refining Realm. How could a mere gang that hasn't even been established for a few months stand against my Li Family?"

"I offered cooperation, which was already giving him immense face. Since he doesn't want this face, we shall take direct action!"

He looked at the Great Elder and bowed deeply: "I must trouble the Great Elder to take two Tendon Refining martial artists to the Black Dragon Gang at the hour of the Rat tonight and capture him directly."

After speaking, he added a reminder: "You must not take his life. I want to interrogate him personally and pry out his secret for luring the Treasure Fish King!"

Thinking of the Treasure Fish King, the head of the Li Family felt a surge of heat in his heart!

The Treasure Fish King might just help him advance his cultivation another step!

If it could help him cultivate true energy and step into the Neizhuang Realm of the middle three tiers, his Li Family might just become the fourth great family of the inner city!

"Rest assured, I know what I am doing."

The Great Elder nodded, then went off to assemble the men.

Clouds rolled and unfurled, and before one knew it, night had fallen.

Inside the brightly lit main hall of the Black Dragon Gang, Liu Chu was practicing his blade techniques. The blade light roared like dragons and tigers at times, shrieked like thunder at others, and occasionally transformed into golden waves crashing against the shore.

Three different blade techniques switched at will in his hands, flowing like clouds and water, perfectly natural and seamless!

"Hm?"

Liu Chu's eyes suddenly flashed. He stopped his blade, looked toward the outside of the hall, and spoke in a cold voice: "To think unwelcome guests have arrived; it seems you did not take my warning to heart."

Swish, swish, swish!

As his voice fell, three figures appeared within the main hall.

"Heh, young friend, you seem a bit too confident in your own strength; you aren't even the slightest bit flustered."

Among the three figures, one with graying hair was none other than the Great Elder of the Li Family, a Bone Refining Realm expert!

He wore a faint smile on his lips as he looked at Liu Chu, as if he were looking at prey already within his grasp.

Beside him were two other Bone Refining Realm experts, one of whom was the Li Family steward!

"Sir, this is the Great Elder of our Li Family, a Bone Refining Realm expert. It would be best not to struggle in vain; just surrender!"

The Li Family steward stood beside the Great Elder, his arrogance instantly restored. He spoke with a beaming smile, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery.

During the day, he had come alone to invite Liu Chu, only to be intimidated by the aura Liu Chu exuded, forcing him to drop his haughty demeanor and lower his head.

Now, with the Li Family backing him, his spine had instantly stiffened, and he could reclaim his dignity!

"One Bone Refining expert, two Tendon Refining experts... you truly think highly of this gang leader!"

Liu Chu swept his gaze over the three, discerning their approximate cultivation levels, and could not help but narrow his eyes.

With such a lineup, an ordinary Tendon Refining martial artist would indeed have to surrender, with no room to resist.

Yet his expression remained calm as he looked at the three, his eyes flickering with cold intent: "Curiosity really does kill the cat!"

"Excessive confidence is nothing but arrogance."

The Great Elder of the Li Family could not help but shake his head: "Young man, you are too arrogant. Those two are merely here to intercept your subordinates."

He said proudly: "To deal with you, I alone am enough!"