Who Killed the Origin Blood Mid-stage Expert? Tan Mo Felt a Growing Unease

"Deserters from Tiannan Prefecture? I heard there's a rebellion going on in Tiannan, with those Reformist Party fanatics in their strange clothes and hair inciting the commoners to revolt. Isn't it a scene of 'warlords' running rampant everywhere? Are these people refugees from that mess?"

"The Black Crow Army? Hiss... you don't mean the Great Liang border troops who have guarded the high walls of Tiannan for generations, do you!? They've actually deserted?"

"If the Deputy Lieutenant recognizes them, it means the heads of these people are worth a fortune!"

"You've had too much to drink and haven't been reading the notices from Guan Province. When the bounty orders came down earlier, the Black Crow Army soldiers were 100 taels of silver per head, a Battalion Commander was 800 taels, a Deputy Military Commander was 3,000 taels, and a Military Commander was 6,000 taels..."

"These people don't have 'deserter' written on their faces. With so many people fleeing from Tiannan, who knows who is who? Sure, there are lists for the Military Commanders and Garrison Lords, but you have to be alive to collect the reward!"

"If Tiannan Prefecture has completely collapsed, who is guarding the high walls? What if the Gray Mist drifts over here?"

"Don't worry, it won't collapse. Even if it did, there are taller people to hold up the sky against the storm. If the sky falls, what does that have to do with us?"

"I wonder if we'll get a share of the spoils today..."

The flickering light of the torches ignited both suspicion and greed in the heart of the Capital Office Envoy.

There was such a pile of corpses on the ground.

Surely those heads were worth at least a few hundred taels?

"Deserters from Tiannan Prefecture?"

Zhou Hongzhi was somewhat shocked.

The Black Crow Army was one of the border forces of the Great Liang Dynasty.

They had spent years guarding the high walls of the frontier, fending off the Gray Mist and the monsters that drifted in, as well as invasions from the Python-men, Shark-men, Wood-Heart Tribe, and other alien races.

He had a relative serving as a Captain in Guan Province.

Whenever that relative returned to Black Cloud County for the New Year, he would hear bits and pieces about the military.

Though the Black Crow Army wasn't considered elite, they were ruthless and cruel, often killing innocent civilians to claim false merit or intercepting merchant caravans!

However, the Great Liang imperial court relied on the Black Crow Army to hold the frontier, and with various disasters erupting across the country, they hadn't dealt with them yet.

Who would have thought that deserters from the Black Crow Army would end up dead here!!

Who could be so ruthless as to dare kill these Black Crow Army soldiers?

"On guard!"

Yang Chengwu gave a low shout. He walked quickly to the pile of corpses, which the bailiffs had extinguished, and flipped them over to examine the wounds and cause of death.

Seeing the traces of these mangled bodies being blasted apart by sheer force, he couldn't help but gasp.

"Damn it, who kills with such savagery? This person is too ruthless! They basically used immense force to shatter the bodies. There are very few martial arts masters in Black Cloud County known for such raw power."

"Could it be the Black Whale Gang? Their core art, the Giant Whale Ten Thousand Waves Heaven-Surging Art, emphasizes explosive strikes with heavy momentum, always overcoming finesse with pure strength. But the Black Whale Gang isn't stupid; why would they clash with these deserters?"

"In Black Cloud County, those known for brute force and ferocity include Peng Qianyue with his Iron Bull Art, Fu Shan with his Tiger-Subduing Fist, Qiu Qiu with his Toad Thousand-Catty Art, and Li Heshan with his Baji Fist."

"Hmm... there are more traces of Baji Fist. The Baji Fist from Li's Fist Academy? Li Heshan is a master of internal energy, but that shouldn't be it. That guy was sent by the County Magistrate to hunt down a notorious bandit a few days ago; he's likely still deep in the mountains. Could it be his top disciple, Shang An?"

"Shang An is only thirty and has already cultivated two layers of Blood Membrane. Though he has kept a low profile over the years, it certainly wouldn't be difficult for him to kill these Black Crow Army deserters."

"Strange, the traces indicate more than one martial art. Who could fuse so many styles into one body?"

"This person must be quite old; there are no shortcuts in martial arts."

Yang Chengwu frowned as he sifted through the remains.

He felt a chill at the sight of some of the wounds.

When he saw the severed edge of Ning Da's corpse, which had been scorched into cooked meat by intense heat, his pupils constricted!

Skin like wood and stone, blood thick as lead and mercury—this man was an Origin Blood expert!

The victim's flesh was far tougher than his own, and the blood was scorching and viscous, remaining so even after death. Although he couldn't tell how many layers of Blood Membrane had been condensed, it was certainly higher than his own!!

At the very least, this was a martial arts master who had condensed over ten layers of Blood Membrane!

Even such an expert had died?

Yang Chengwu hurriedly moved Ning Da's body aside and stripped the clothing to inspect the injuries.

One look, and he was startled on the spot.

One strike!

Killed in a single blow!!!

This Origin Blood martial artist didn't have many other injuries.

Aside from a palm print on his chest.

There was only the mark on his neck where it had been snapped by a master using powerful, overwhelming force!

"Hiss... this person clearly had their neck melted and snapped in one strike, unable to offer even the slightest resistance. This is impossible for an Origin Blood stage expert; only a master of internal energy could achieve this!"

"A master of internal energy combines hardness and softness, condensing an energy that can melt gold and stone. Only then could such a wound be created."

"But as far as I know, there is no master of internal energy in Black Cloud County whose energy has such scorching properties."

"Could it be one of those martial artists who fled here?"

"Or perhaps it was a martial arts expert passing through Black Cloud County who saw these Black Crow Army deserters and wiped them out before leaving?"

Yang Chengwu's expression was grave.

He looked at the necks melted by high heat, his scalp tingling!

Having only condensed three layers of Blood Membrane, he naturally knew the formidable nature of Origin Blood martial artists.

As long as the Blood Membrane remains, the Origin Blood does not die.

Every time a layer of Blood Membrane is condensed, the body becomes heavier, the skin and flesh grow harder, and the Origin Blood within becomes more vigorous.

A mid-stage Origin Blood martial artist has condensed at least 10 layers of Blood Membrane; each layer adds about 500 catties of base strength, the skin and flesh are as hard as wood and stone, the Origin Blood is as viscous as lead and mercury, and the physique is incredibly powerful—he knew exactly how difficult they were to deal with!

After all, he was a three-blood martial artist himself, with a base strength of two thousand catties.

How could he not know how difficult it is to face an Origin Blood martial artist who has condensed even one more layer of Blood Membrane than oneself?

Let alone a mid-stage Origin Blood expert who had condensed ten layers?

Yet, he never imagined that such an existence could have their neck snapped in a single move?

"It really is the Black Crow Army."

Yang Chengwu saw a black crow tattoo on the inner side of the corpse's left upper arm, a look of greed flashing across his face. "The Battalion Commander's head is worth 800 taels, and with these other heads, it adds up to probably over a thousand taels!"

"What a massive score!!!"

Even as a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Office, Aside from the positions he held in various local factions and his salary from the County Office, He usually extorted wealth as well.

From various industries, gangs, the tributes from the Boat Gang, and the skimming of minor officials.

He could only rake in six or seven hundred taels a month, or perhaps a thousand in a good month.

After all, if he squeezed too hard, it would be difficult to clean up the mess.

Although the money looked like a lot, he had many subordinates to support, and he needed to buy exotic beast meat and potent medicines to nourish his body and maintain his martial progress.

And today, without doing anything, he could get over a thousand taels for free.

How could he not feel ecstatic?

Yang Chengwu hurriedly rummaged through the pile of corpses, a look of wild joy appearing on his face. "One for eight hundred taels, eleven for one hundred taels each—hahahahaha, heaven is looking out for me!"

"Cut off the heads, gather up those weapons, and then return to the County Office. Tonight, at Liu's Tavern, I'll treat you all to drinks, hahahahaha!"

Yang Chengwu's face was full of greed and wild joy.

Zhou Hongzhi and the other Capital Office Envoys cursed inwardly.

Liu's Tavern is just a fast-food joint next to the County Office; you, this scoundrel, just made nearly two thousand taels, and you're only treating us to street food?

"My Lord."

Zhou Hongzhi said with a hint of unease, "Whoever could kill so many Black Crow Army soldiers is certainly no nobody. Are you really going to claim the reward money under false pretenses?"

"This official has his own plans; there is no need for you to worry."

Yang Chengwu did not care in the slightest.

Someone who could kill a mid-stage Origin Blood martial artist in a single move likely wouldn't care for this small reward.

After all, they left immediately after killing, clearly not wanting to come forward.

They wouldn't want this money anyway.

As for the Black Crow Army...

What a joke, this is Black Cloud County, not Tiannan Prefecture!!

It is not the turn of these deserters to be arrogant here!

These people were likely just passing through; what are the odds that a Black Crow Army martial arts expert would run to Black Cloud County?

Even though Black Cloud County is a large county with a population of six or seven hundred thousand and many industries, It is still a small place in the end.

How could it compare to the wealthy regions?

Besides, if they are wanted, why would they stay in the county town instead of fleeing?

Soon, the group left with the corpses, while Zhou Hongzhi looked at the mangled bodies, the brutal scene from the street that afternoon flashing through his mind.

Although he didn't believe that young man could kill an Origin Blood martial artist.

He still felt there were some similarities.

And...

Since Deputy Lieutenant Yang is swallowing this reward money all by himself, that person will definitely not let it slide!