The Extreme Yang Society? Exotic Beasts Were Just a Blanket Term; Better Make More Preparations

Late at night, the moon was veiled by dark clouds.

Dog barks echoed through the old alley, mingling with the night birds' cries and lending the scene a bleak air.

Outside that dilapidated, abandoned house.

The bloodstained man's eyes rested calmly on the newcomer. His tone was cold, and in the deathly silence, an invisible killing intent seeped out!

Zhang Sheng's forehead broke into a sweat. He asked in a low voice, "Dragon Head, what happened?"

"Explain this."

Shi Wen tossed over an iron token.

Zhang Sheng hurriedly reached out to catch it, but when he saw the image of a goat's head carved into the token,

he immediately flipped it facedown onto the ground. His face filled with shock and disbelief. "Damn it, how did we end up provoking this bunch of lunatics?"

"Who are they?"

Shi Wen rose to his feet and fixed his gaze on Zhang Sheng.

He was now several centimeters taller than Zhang Sheng. Standing over him, he radiated the oppressive force of a beast ready to pounce!

Zhang Sheng was drenched in sweat. He hurriedly explained, "Dragon Head, this organization is called the Extreme Yang Society. They're all a bunch of lunatics!"

"It's said that the organization has tens of millions of followers, scattered throughout the world. From top martial artists to street beggars, anyone could be a member of the Extreme Yang Society. They go around every country preaching freedom and staging all sorts of rebellions. They're a bunch of lunatics who want nothing more than to plunge the world into chaos!"

"Tsk, tsk... I never thought I'd run into a follower of the Extreme Yang Society."

"The Extreme Yang Society?"

Shi Wen's expression darkened. "Tong Roushan was a member of the Extreme Yang Society. One of their followers died at our hands. What do we do about this?"

"Dragon Head, you don't need to worry about that. So many accidents happen every day. Not every follower of the Extreme Yang Society is a martial expert. Isn't it normal for people to die?"

Zhang Sheng said with a chuckle, "The Extreme Yang Society has spies all over the world. Some of the weaker ones might be vegetable vendors or beggars by the roadside. If one of them happens to die or disappear, that's perfectly normal. How could the Extreme Yang Society keep track of them all?"

"Besides, the Extreme Yang Society likes to recruit informants and plant spies everywhere."

"And some of those spies might live their whole lives without ever being called into service. It's not as if danger is always lurking around every corner."

"Right now, Grandmasters of the Martial Dao are stationed all across Great Liang."

"There are plenty of experts who have mastered the power of force in Black Cloud County, too. Nothing's going to happen. Don't worry."

"When the sky falls, it'll crush the tallest people first!"

Unfortunately,

the only sound in the deep alley was Zhang Sheng's ingratiating chuckle. Shi Wen didn't laugh. His gaze turned icy. "Your martial arts realm isn't that high, is it? How do you know so much?"

"Dragon Head, I've spent years mingling in the streets and markets since I was a kid, and I've traveled to plenty of places. It's only natural I know a lot. Besides, who doesn't have a few secrets?"

Zhang Sheng tossed the token back and gave an ingratiating chuckle. "Besides, my life is in your hands right now."

"Not only can I not beat you, but we don't have any conflict of interest, either. Why would you be afraid of me? I'm an honest man. I say what I think, so don't worry!"

Shi Wen remained impassive.

His gaze settled on Zhang Sheng's grinning face.

He couldn't tell that Zhang Sheng was lying. He just felt that Zhang Sheng was far too mysterious.

He was only in the Blood-Tempering Realm, yet he knew so much?

What he knew had already gone beyond the scope of martial arts, hadn't it?

Maybe... this man belonged to some secretive organization, too. Perhaps some treasure was about to emerge in Black Cloud County, drawing these people here to lay plans and scheme...

Forget it.

Who didn't have a few secrets?

As long as they didn't disturb his peaceful life, that was all that mattered.

Shi Wen toyed with the token, pushing those thoughts aside. "When are you taking me to see the exotic beast meat's source you mentioned?"

"Dragon Head, how about we wait around five days? I'll break through to the Blood-Coagulation Realm, prepare a few things, and then we can go together." Zhang Sheng's expression turned grave. "That place is a little strange. Your qi and blood get drained too quickly, and you might not make it back out. We should go only after we've made every possible preparation."

Shi Wen was taken aback. "The place is strange? What do you mean?"

In his mind, exotic beasts were like wild animals in the mountains. After hunting them, people prepared them with secret methods and used them as nourishment for martial artists.

But from the way Zhang Sheng put it, it seemed there was more to it?

"Exotic beasts is just a blanket term. There are actually quite a few different kinds. Some are like the wild animals in the mountains, either fierce or docile. You can get them by hunting."

"Other exotic beasts grow like lingzhi mushrooms or ordinary mushrooms. You can cut them down, then wait a while and they'll grow back. Some of the major powers in the city made their fortunes on this kind of exotic beast meat, which they can harvest repeatedly. They used it to train martial artists and establish the unshakable position they hold today."

"Anyway, exotic beasts is just a catch-all term. There are all kinds. With a bit of luck, even a rock you kick away could turn out to be exotic beast meat."

After giving his examples, Zhang Sheng's expression grew serious. "But the place where I found those exotic beasts is strange. It only appears during a certain period at night. Once you go inside, your qi and blood are rapidly drained, and countless murmurs fill your ears!"

"So I want to wait until I reach the Blood-Coagulation Realm and have a better chance before trying it."

"Is it dangerous?" Shi Wen furrowed his brow slightly.

"It's just a little strange. Compared with those vicious, violent exotic beasts that you have to hunt down by force, this isn't dangerous at all." Zhang Sheng chuckled. "As long as we're careful, we'll be fine!"

"I was the first to discover the place. If we go in for the first time, we might gain some unexpected benefits."

"Mm."

Shi Wen listened to Zhang Sheng's explanation, deeply shaken.

To be honest, he'd only known that exotic beast meat sold for a fortune. Ordinary people couldn't afford even a pound on a month's wages. He'd never imagined there could be so many intricacies to its source!

But then again,

he was practicing martial arts himself and could shatter stone tablets with ease.

Perhaps it wasn't so strange for this world to have exotic beasts of mysterious origins.

Shi Wen considered how much exotic beast meat he had left and asked in a deep voice, "About how many days will it take?"

"Three to five days. My injuries have almost healed, and I managed to get a Blood-Coagulation Pill today. Breaking through to the Blood-Coagulation Realm won't be a problem."

Zhang Sheng grinned. "When we get something good, Dragon Head, remember to give me a share!"

"Mm." Shi Wen nodded, then watched Zhang Sheng toss over the bundle in his hand.

Shi Wen caught it and opened it. Inside were some banknotes and exotic beast meat. He asked, puzzled, "What's this for?"

"Dragon Head, this morning, before the news of Tong Roushan's death got out, I went to his place and searched it. This is the exotic beast meat and banknotes I found there. The extra banknotes are this month's profits from the Robbery Gang... I mean, the Harmony and Prosperity Union."

"I also got some by shaking down the merchant guilds under Tong Roushan's protection. Heh..."

Seeing Zhang Sheng's rather pleased expression,

Shi Wen took out three-tenths of the banknotes, rolled them into a bundle, and handed them over. "This is your reward."

"Thanks, Dragon Head."

Zhang Sheng didn't refuse. He accepted them with a smile.

The two chatted for a while longer before Zhang Sheng finally hurried off.

Watching Zhang Sheng's figure disappear,

Shi Wen fixed his gaze on the Extreme Seal and silently considered the matter.

Around five days should be just enough time to train his basic techniques to mastery.

By then, his qi and blood should be more refined, and he'd be better prepared to handle any sudden turn of events!

Whether Zhang Sheng had ulterior motives or was being honest with him,

Shi Wen decided to spend the next few days working hard to raise his proficiency in Baji Fist Foundation, Iron Whip Leg, Iron Claw Skill, and the rest of his martial arts to mastery.

Whoever came,

he'd beat them all to death with one punch!