Making a Move

Lu Li did not leave immediately.

He had gone to great lengths to reach the Black Market, and he hadn't finished exploring it yet, nor had he spent his money.

He hadn't bought any martial arts manuals, but there was always a chance he might stumble upon something useful.

As he wandered, a thick, medicinal fragrance drifted into Lu Li's nose.

Lu Li sniffed, and his lower abdomen felt incredibly hot, sparking an urge to strike a pose and begin practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist right then and there.

He followed the scent and fixed his gaze on the source.

He saw a stall ahead covered in pills that were entirely crimson.

It was these pills, emitting that potent medicinal aroma, that had stirred Lu Li.

Lu Li walked over and asked, "Stall owner, what kind of pill is this?"

"This is the Fire God Pill. It is extremely effective for martial artists breaking through from the Tendon-Refining Realm to the Organ-Refining Realm, and it offers great benefits," the stall owner introduced.

"One hundred and fifty taels per pill, no haggling!"

"You won't find another shop like this if you miss out."

"Pills of this grade are in short supply in Changfeng County."

"Don't let this opportunity slip by!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Li was indeed tempted.

He could clearly feel that while the medicinal herbs he had been using still held some potency, they were becoming increasingly weak as his cultivation realm improved.

He needed more powerful pills to significantly boost his proficiency.

Relying solely on those herbs was like trying to put out a burning cart of firewood with a single cup of water.

"Fine, I'll take it," Lu Li replied.

Just as he was about to pay, an untimely voice suddenly rang out: "This pill is one hundred and fifty taels of silver, right?"

"I offer two hundred taels!"

A cold glint flashed in Lu Li's eyes.

He turned his head to look, and sure enough, the person speaking was the Fifth Young Master.

He walked over with his hands behind his back, looking at the pill with the air of someone who already had victory in his grasp.

"Pills that aid Tendon-Refining Realm martial artists are in short supply in Changfeng County. Since one has appeared, how could I possibly miss it?"

Lu Li gave the Fifth Young Master a deep look and turned to leave.

There was no helping it; his wallet was too thin, and even if he scraped everything together, he could only muster one hundred and eighty taels.

The Fifth Young Master's opening bid of two hundred taels was truly extravagant.

Of course, the main thing was that he would definitely have to rob the Fifth Young Master later; let him buy it for now.

He would make him spit it all back out exactly as it was later!

Lu Li's murderous intent grew heavier.

The Fifth Young Master relied on his prominent background; not to mention making them all stop their training that morning to look for his pet dog, he had already clashed with Lu Li personally twice.

In Lu Li's mind, the Fifth Young Master had already made the list of those who must die.

Soon, after finishing his tour of the Black Market and finding nothing else worth buying, Lu Li turned his attention to the young master.

The Fifth Young Master wandered around, seemingly finding nothing that caught his eye, then led Wind-Chaser by the reins and turned toward the exit.

Lu Li followed closely behind him.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at a secluded spot.

The surrounding trees were dense, making the already bleak winter night seem even more eerie.

As the northern wind blew, the branches swayed and rustled.

It sounded like the whispering of ghosts, sending a chill down one's spine.

"Come out, I see you," the Fifth Young Master suddenly stopped and turned back to look.

He still wore that same arrogant, head-held-high expression.

Lu Li, crouching behind a bush, was startled by these words.

This young master may be a wastrel, but he has some skill, he thought.

He stood up directly and stood face-to-face with the Fifth Young Master.

The Fifth Young Master's lips curled into a sneer: "Hahaha, you really are just a youngster, unable to keep your composure."

Lu Li was confused, and the Fifth Young Master continued: "Looking at your face, I knew you were young, and I guessed you would definitely follow me."

"It was just a guess, but I didn't expect you to actually come out. You really are incredibly foolish."

The Fifth Young Master stood with his hands behind his back, his tone mocking.

He looked down on Lu Li even more than before.

This situation was proof enough that the opponent was young.

Youth meant a lack of strength.

And a lack of strength meant he could be easily manipulated!

Lu Li nodded in sudden realization. "So that's how it is."

He then scanned his surroundings; the area was open, with trees spaced far apart.

Mimicking the Fifth Young Master, he adopted an arrogant posture. "Then do you know why I appeared here?"

The Fifth Young Master curled his lip in disdain. "Naturally, because you're an idiot!"

Lu Li shook his head, looking at the Fifth Young Master as if he were a dead man. "Aside from being truly baited out by you..."

Lu Li's eyes suddenly turned icy, his killing intent surging so violently that the surrounding air seemed to freeze!

"This is also the burial ground I've chosen for you!"

With that, Lu Li planted his feet and charged toward the Fifth Young Master.

"You're courting death!"

Seeing Lu Li dare to strike first, the Fifth Young Master grew enraged, feeling personally provoked.

A mere calf, ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth!

He stirred his blood, his skin hardening as his muscles bulged.

His punch whistled through the air.

Though a spoiled brat, he hailed from a prominent family, granting him impressive martial arts skills at a young age.

He sneered, already envisioning the scene of Lu Li being sent flying by his fist.

He would teach this ignorant fool a profound lesson!

Yet, to his shock, he saw Lu Li's muscles rippling as well, revealing the robust physique of a Flesh-Refining Realm expert.

Moreover, his tendons were taut; as Lu Li bent his arm to strike, they emitted a sound like a bowstring being drawn.

In an instant, the Fifth Young Master was struck with terror, fear crawling all over his face!

Such signs—the opponent was a Tendon-Refining Realm martial artist! How could this be!

His pupils dilated in disbelief, and his entire mindset shifted instantly.

Lu Li swung his fist, his tendons vibrating, delivering a strike with nearly four thousand catties of force that triggered a series of sonic booms.

The fist wind howled, a fierce offensive rushing toward the Fifth Young Master.

It whipped his hair back, fully exposing his shocked expression.

Boom!

The Fifth Young Master's arm snapped with a sickening crack, and his entire body was sent flying, slamming heavily into a distant tree trunk.

The sheer force of the impact caused the tree to shake violently, nearly snapping in two.

The Fifth Young Master spat out a mouthful of blood, his vitality instantly wilting, his face turning deathly pale as he trembled all over.

Cold sweat rolled down his forehead, whether from the terror of Lu Li's strength or the agony of his shattered arm, he could not tell.

"Wind-Chaser, attack!" he screamed through the pain, clutching his arm as he scrambled to retreat.

Wind-Chaser let out a howl, its vicious eyes darting wildly as it bared its fangs and lunged at Lu Li.

But at that moment, a deafening tiger's roar shook the forest.

A massive White Tiger leaped from the darkness, jaws wide open.

The vicious hound Wind-Chaser's eyes instantly cleared; it tucked its tail between its legs, paralyzed by fear.

Hu Niu bit directly into its neck.

Wind-Chaser wailed, its limbs struggling desperately, but it could not break free.

A crisp snap echoed as Hu Niu bit through its neck in one go.

"To use his beloved hound as bait—this Fifth Young Master is truly vicious!" Lu Li glanced at Wind-Chaser's carcass and sneered inwardly.

"Chase!" Lu Li vaulted onto Hu Niu's back.

Hu Niu stretched her limbs, galloping like the wind as the surrounding scenery blurred into streaks of shadow.

Before long, they caught up to the Fifth Young Master, who was fleeing on foot.