Karma Extraction!

After leaving the clinic, Zhao An's head was wrapped in a thick layer of gauze and medicinal paste.

The scent of the medicine wasn't exactly pungent, but it wasn't pleasant either.

"They say the young lady at that clinic has a black heart, and they weren't wrong at all." Li Gou'er was still lamenting the cost of the medicine, his tongue clicking at the exorbitant consultation fee.

"Her heart might be black, but she sure is a beauty," Zhao Chunzi chuckled.

"What, you want to try your luck?" Li Gou'er shot a sidelong glance at Zhao Chunzi.

"I wouldn't dare. I don't want to get drugged and tossed out on the street," Zhao Chunzi said, shrinking his neck with a sheepish grin.

The lessons learned from many predecessors were still fresh in their minds; those two female physicians could bring the dead back to life, but they could also kill without leaving a trace.

Especially that skill with poison—it was impossible to guard against.

Some lecherous fools had even found themselves unable to perform after leaving the clinic, which was truly chilling.

It could only be said that anyone daring to open a clinic in the Outer City was no ordinary person, and the title of Poison Lady wasn't earned for nothing.

Fortunately, the female physician still possessed some medical ethics; even when offended, she had never actually poisoned anyone to death.

Otherwise, Zhao An would never have gone to that clinic to have his head treated today.

In the east of the Outer City, near the bustling market, stood a somewhat dilapidated small courtyard house—this was Zhao An's residence in Lianjiang City.

Of course, the rightful owner of the courtyard wasn't him, but a family that had gone missing.

His predecessor had seen the courtyard sitting empty and unattended, so he simply seized it and had been living there with a clear conscience ever since.

Due to his notorious reputation, none of the neighbors dared to say a word to him.

"Brother Zhao, get some good rest. Chunzi and I will keep watch at the door for you." Once they entered the courtyard, Li Gou'er said immediately.

"Mm." Zhao An gave a low grunt in his throat.

Today had been a whirlwind of coming back from the dead and transmigrating.

He had killed a man and treated his own wounds.

After all that, he was truly exhausted and eager to rest.

He didn't bother looking around the room once he entered; he just collapsed and fell asleep.

In the courtyard, Li Gou'er brought out some peanuts and dried fruit, sitting down across from Zhao Chunzi.

"Do you think Brother Zhao is a bit different today? I keep feeling like the way he looked at us after waking up was strange, and even a bit scary..." Li Gou'er asked quietly.

"Is that so?" Zhao Chunzi thought about it with a blank expression, then shook his head; he hadn't noticed anything unusual.

"Forget it, forget it. Why am I even talking to you about this? Maybe I'm just overthinking it." Li Gou'er shook his head helplessly; what was the point of arguing with a blockhead like Zhao Chunzi?

The next day, Zhao An didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

The wooden bed wasn't very comfortable, but he had still slept soundly through the night.

Waking up now, he felt his condition was much better than yesterday, and even the injury on his head didn't seem to hurt as much.

He had to admit, that female physician's medical skills were quite brilliant.

After checking his wound, Zhao An immediately focused his attention deep within his mind, toward the Soul Pool.

The evil soul of the mangy-headed Xu San had long since finished being refined, becoming his second soul slave.

[Soul Slave: Xu San]
[Enslavement Period: 5 years]
[Trait 1: Pure-blooded Human (Capable of cultivating human techniques!)]
[Trait 2: Substitute Death (Any soul slave can passively substitute death when the master suffers fatal damage!)]
[Trait 3: Martial Brute (Possesses basic martial arts foundations; gains a minor bonus when cultivating human martial arts!)]

Xu San's soul slave panel had gained an extra trait that provided a bonus when cultivating martial arts, making him a more valuable tool.

Additionally, Xu San's enslavement period lasted for five years.

He reckoned that this duration was likely determined by the amount of sin committed during the slave's lifetime.

Meanwhile, his other soul slave had also finished researching and honing his blade techniques.

[Soul Slave Jiang Erniu, enslavement period has ended. Extract Karma Fruit?]

"It's already over..." Zhao An remembered that this soul slave's period was supposed to be a full year, but only a day had passed since yesterday.

"So, one day in the outside world is a full year of martial arts practice for the soul slaves in the Soul Pool?" Zhao An pondered, reaching a conclusion.

One day outside, one year in the Soul Pool.

No wonder when he observed yesterday, the soul slave's progress in deducing martial arts seemed to be on fast-forward.

"Extract."

He muttered the command in his heart, and the next moment, the soul slave bearing the name Jiang Erniu instantly bloomed and transformed into specks of ghostly light.

The light swirled at high speed, quickly reconverging into a pale red fruit, very similar to the white fruit of virtue he had obtained previously, only different in color.

This time, there was no need for him to issue a command; once the fruit took shape, it was absorbed by him.

His mind felt as if it had been enlightened by a sudden infusion of wisdom, filled with countless scenes of honing the Black Tiger Blade Technique, overlapping repeatedly until they all transformed into the purest technical experience.

At the same time, the muscles throughout his entire body tensed up.

It was not just his mind accepting this training experience of the Black Tiger Blade Technique; his body was also simultaneously acquiring the gains from this blade practice!

The muscles all over his body began to grow increasingly solid, especially his arms used for wielding the blade, which were now visibly a size larger!

His wrists and the fingers used to grip the blade also became much more powerful.

"Hungry! So hungry!"

During the process of receiving the technique, Zhao An was interrupted by a sudden wave of hunger, so intense that cold sweat broke out all over his body.

It was not just hunger in his stomach, but a sensation transmitted from every part of his body.

He realized that the energy required for these physical changes did not come from thin air.

He caught sight of a large platter of beef and half a jar of liquor sitting on the table in the room.

That had been Zhao An's previous habit; he would start every morning by eating meat and drinking liquor.

Over time, without him even needing to say a word, Li Gou'er and Zhao Chunzi would prepare the meat and liquor for him every day.

Zhao An's eyes glowed with a green light as he lunged forward immediately. He didn't bother with chopsticks, instead grabbing the food with his hands and shoving it into his mouth, swallowing it whole along with the liquor.

Liquor is the essence of grain and contains quite a bit of energy, which perfectly suited his current needs.

In the blink of an eye, the beef and liquor were finished, yet he felt no sense of fullness in his body at all.

"Still not enough..."

Zhao An understood that the energy released by this meal was not enough to fill the void of his body's consumption.

"Ordinary food is hard to satisfy..." Zhao An's thoughts raced, and he suddenly pulled out the Earth Origin Pill he had wished for.

This thing was a potent martial medicine.

Zhao An didn't think twice and popped it into his mouth.

Once the medicine was swallowed, its power quickly spread throughout his body, bringing a distinct burning sensation, and the hunger was finally suppressed.

With the supply from this Earth Origin Pill, his physical transformation could continue.

Soon, he had gained two powerful arms, especially his right arm, which felt significantly stronger than before.

His blood and qi surged, and even the breath he exhaled became a few degrees hotter.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the physical changes came to a complete stop.

Zhao An then pulled a heavy, thick-backed ring-pommel saber from under the bed and deftly spun it in a flourish.

It felt smooth and natural to use, far superior to before.

Following that, Zhao An moved with the blade, executing those few moves of the Black Tiger Blade Technique.

Whoosh!

The iron rings on the back of the blade chimed softly, blending into the sharp sound of breaking wind, carrying infinite killing intent!

The blade techniques were wide and powerful, executed with such proficiency that if anyone else were to see him, they would surely consider Zhao An a master of the blade.

Suddenly, Zhao An shifted his blade stance, a silver flash descended, and a corner of the table was easily and cleanly sliced off, rolling onto the floor like a severed head!