Breakthrough, Green Snake Arrives

Returning to the cave with Hu Niu, Lu Li selected a few medicinal herbs.

Only then did he swallow a Dragon Essence Pill and begin his cultivation.

"The old man said this Dragon Essence Pill is only a hair's breadth away from the Purple Sun Pill; I shall put it to the test."

This is worth a try, Lu Li thought, immediately beginning to practice the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist.

Not long after consuming the Dragon Essence Pill, the medicinal power within his body began to stir restlessly.

Lu Li felt that the medicinal energy was both immense and ferocious.

It was indeed only a hair's breadth away from the Purple Sun Pill, well worth the price of eight hundred taels.

Two hours passed.

Lu Li had completely digested the medicinal power.

He glanced at the sky; it was around six in the evening, and the light was already growing dim.

As Lu Li's realm continued to rise and his physical constitution grew stronger, his ability to digest medicinal power had become increasingly rapid.

In the past, he would have had to wait until it was completely dark to finish absorbing it.

But now, despite performing the same number of repetitions with the same amount of medicine, the time required had been greatly reduced.

Perhaps, once he broke through to the Organ-Refining Realm and his physical fitness improved further, he would be able to cultivate more times per day.

Could he reach a point where he could take two pills a day without harming his body?

Lu Li was already beginning to look forward to it.

He stood with his legs shoulder-width apart, pressed his hands together and lowered them, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air.

He snapped his eyes open, his gaze incredibly bright, shimmering like stars in the night sky.

He turned his attention to the panel.

Martial Arts: Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist: (Organ-Refining Realm 50/1800) One practice per day, mastery in a hundred years...

He had finally broken through to the Organ-Refining Realm!

Lu Li's mind remained calm, without much turbulence.

His goal was not merely the Organ-Refining Realm.

It was the legendary realm of immortals and gods.

A realm that would force even an emperor to kneel!

Moreover, given the potent efficacy of the Dragon Essence Pill, this breakthrough was well within his expectations.

"250 points of medicinal power—truly impressive."

Lu Li calculated in his mind, "With two pills remaining, taking them will bring me up to 550 points."

"I must complete more tasks."

"I need to take advantage of the conflict between Wang and Huang to gather the pills required for the Blood-Exchange Realm."

Afterward, Lu Li checked his body.

As he moved, under his deliberate guidance, his internal organs writhed and compressed violently, emitting a sound like rolling thunder.

The power of his punches was also far more immense.

The strength of the Organ-Refining Realm was four thousand catties.

However, since he practiced the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist, renowned for its great power, his base strength was already six thousand catties.

Not to mention that with the explosive boost of his peak-level light-body technique, he far exceeded that number.

Lu Li felt that he could now go toe-to-toe with an expert of the Blood-Exchange Realm!

He just didn't know if he could kill one.

Lu Li had not yet encountered anyone in the Blood-Exchange Realm.

The young mistress had formed a beacon of blood energy, but it was very thin; she could only be considered a half-step into the Blood-Exchange Realm.

His body was indeed becoming increasingly tough and robust, filled with inexhaustible strength.

Even after his cultivation session, Lu Li remained full of energy, his mind clear, without a hint of fatigue.

A thought stirred in Lu Li's heart: did this not mean he could now indeed take two pills a day?

However, as the sky grew darker and he needed to return, he did not attempt it.

Taking the medicinal herbs and bidding farewell to Hu Niu, Lu Li headed straight down the mountain.

Returning to the apothecary, he locked himself in his room.

Lu Li took out the herbs he had brought back, ground them carefully, and prepared them according to the formula.

Black Hawk had said that Green Snake was also skilled in the use of poison, possessed strength at the half-step Blood-Exchange Realm, and had a pet beast. He would likely make a move against him, so he naturally had to be fully prepared.

The Wang Family was currently draped in white mourning cloth, the sound of funeral music echoing, and the wails of mourners blending into a chorus that carried far.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was heavy, the air seemingly frozen.

A coffin was placed in the center, surrounded by a group of Wang Family elders.

Wang Buju, weighing three hundred jin, sat in the main seat, weeping inconsolably. The chair creaked under the strain as his body convulsed with grief.

As the current head of the Wang Family, the person in the coffin was naturally his son, Wang Yu.

"Yu'er, you died so tragically!"

"An old man sending off a young one, heaven is unfair!" Wang Buju cried until he was breathless.

Aside from Wang Ju, the Wang Family was already in decline, with no successors. Although Wang Yu was dull-witted when it came to family management and unsuitable to be the family head, he at least possessed the strength to deter lesser foes.

Now, he had been directly killed by the Blood Ghost.

Their Wang Family was completely crippled!

After a long while, he threw aside his damp handkerchief, forcibly rallied his spirits, and stopped crying. His voice, however, still held an undeniable sorrow: "Yu'er, Father must attend to urgent matters first. I will accompany you later."

His eyes red, he faced the Wang Family elders and said in a deep voice, "We had a significant advantage, yet we ended up in this state. The county magistrate is very displeased."

Upon hearing the county magistrate's name, the Wang Family members felt a chill run down their spines and began to make excuses.

"Family Head, this is not our fault. We did our best, and even lost our eldest young master because of it..."

"Yes, if it weren't for the Blood Ghost, we would have thoroughly defeated the Huang Family last night!"

"The Blood Ghost is too strong. No one expected the Blood Ghost to attack our Wang Family. We didn't provoke him."

"That's right. I've investigated everyone who has had a feud with the Wang Family, and none of them have any connection to the Blood Ghost. We definitely didn't offend him!"

Wang Buju pondered, "Tell me about everyone you investigated."

"The first is Li Yu, a mere scholar. The Third Young Master took a fancy to his beautiful wife and took her away. He's been dispirited and like a walking corpse ever since. We beat him up and accidentally killed him. He definitely had no martial arts skills."

"The second is Zhao Xuan, just a farmer, still toiling in the fields, no martial arts skills."

"..."

"The last is Lu Li. He's now a guard for the Huang Family. According to reliable sources, he's only just entered the martial arts realm and is incapable of killing the eldest young master."

Wang Buju listened, and flew into a rage. His breathing grew rapid, his stout body trembled violently, and veins bulged on his fleshy forehead: "So, the Blood Ghost is clearly targeting me?"

"Hmph, go to the Wind and Rain Pavilion and put a bounty on the Blood Ghost. Even if it empties our coffers, I want the Blood Ghost dead!" he roared through gritted teeth.

After speaking, he sat back down, his mind racing.

"I became the family head entirely by currying favor with the county magistrate, doing his bidding like a dog."

"If I fail to cripple the Huang Family, and the county magistrate is displeased, he can replace me at any time. All variables must be eliminated!"

He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

He did not want to lose this position of family head so easily.

At Chou hour, deep in the night.

Snow swirled, and the cold was biting.

On the walls of Chengfeng County, the guards, wrapped in furry blankets, huddled around a bonfire.

Suddenly, they all began to doze off, one by one collapsing on the city wall, falling into a deep sleep.

Soon, snores filled the air.

A colossal green python, as thick as a water vat, with a triangular head and terrifyingly dark eyes, flicked its forked tongue and slowly slithered onto the city wall. It soon entered the city and melted into the night.

Immediately after, a person in black robes stepped onto the city wall.

He wore a green mask, with a green snake carved onto the bridge of his nose.

Only his eyes were visible, filled with a bloodthirsty ferocity, like a lurking beast ready to strike a fatal blow.

"Blood Ghost, daring to snatch my spoils, you're tired of living."