Evil Ghost Mask Upgrade, Black-haired Zombie

The scene had become somewhat quiet. Yang Ye, Wang Changye, and others arrived at the scene one after another, gazing at the corpses on the ground, lost in shock.

"Hoo..."

Yang Ye took a deep breath and walked towards the corpse of the Corpse Ghoul. He then crouched down to examine the corpse's condition, his eyes filled with uncontrollable shock.

"This... this..."

Yang Ye opened his mouth, finding it difficult to accept for a moment. "Decapitated with one sword! This Corpse Ghoul had its head severed by a sword from a Sword Dao master."

"One sword!"

"It only took one sword!"

"What?!"

Wang Changye's eyes widened. Upon hearing Yang Ye's words, he was also somewhat shocked and quickly walked over, crouching down to examine the Corpse Ghoul's body.

"It really was decapitated with one sword."

Wang Changye also noticed, "In Qingbei Town's outer city, there are probably only a few experts who possess such swordsmanship and can sever a Corpse Ghoul's head with a single strike."

"Yes."

Yang Ye nodded. "The cut is so clean. With such swordsmanship, there are indeed very few people in Qingbei Town's outer city who could accomplish this."

"Xu Qing."

Yang Ye looked up at Xu Qing and asked, "You were the first to arrive at the scene. When you got here, did you see anyone else?"

"N-no."

Xu Qing shook his head, his gaze and expression blank. "I actually only arrived a little earlier than Captain Yang and the others. I had just arrived when you all showed up right after."

"Also."

"When I arrived here, I didn't see anyone else. I only saw this Corpse Ghoul's body on the ground. I don't know anything else."

"What a pity."

Yang Ye shook his head. "If only you had seen something, Xu Qing, then we could have figured out which senior expert took action and eliminated this Corpse Ghoul menace."

From beginning to end.

Everyone present.

Yang Ye and Wang Changye did not suspect Xu Qing at all. They naturally couldn't believe that Xu Qing was the 'swordsmanship expert'.

However.

Only the two members following behind Xu Qing harbored slight doubts. In their opinion, given Xu Qing's speed and footsteps, he should have arrived here even earlier than them.

Of course.

They didn't dwell on it further.

The next day.

Early morning.

Although there was a murder case on Hongye Street, with a family of three massacred by a Corpse Ghoul, the Corpse Ghoul had been eliminated. Therefore, Yang Ye and his team were still credited with merit.

As a result.

When Xu Qing left today, he received twelve taels of silver. In addition to his regular daily salary of two taels, he also received a bonus of ten taels.

"Not bad."

Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction.

Before returning.

Xu Qing went to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School and spent another thirty taels of silver to buy three catties of Tai Sui Spirit Meat before returning to his residence to begin his cultivation for the day.

Time passed quickly.

Today was the third day of patrol.

Evening.

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV5: 140/160 (...)]

"Still need twenty experience points."

Xu Qing mused, "Never mind, I won't go on patrol today. I'll continue practicing martial arts. It will only take another four hours for Eight Extremities Fist to level up again."

With that thought.

Xu Qing calmed his mind and began practicing Eight Extremities Fist. As gusts of fist wind swept out, Xu Qing was already immersed in the profound mysteries of Eight Extremities Fist.

[Experience +1]

[Experience +1]

Meanwhile.

The sky was already darkening.

"Where is he?"

Yang Ye's expression was grim. Today was only the third day of patrol, and besides not being late yesterday, Xu Qing hadn't even shown up today.

"Captain Yang."

Wang Changye sneered and said, "I guess Xu Qing was scared by the Corpse Ghoul incident yesterday, so he didn't dare to come today."

"What a loser."

Yang Ye took a deep breath and cursed, "If it weren't for Constable Zhao's sake, I would have made him pay on the first day when he dared to be late."

"And today he didn't even bother to show up."

"Alright, alright."

Yang Ye glanced at Wang Changye and said, "Wang Changye, from now on, you will take over Xu Qing's position as vice-captain. You will be the vice-captain."

"Thank you, Captain."

Wang Changye's face lit up with joy.

This way.

He would get twenty taels of silver tomorrow.

"Did Xu Qing really get scared?"

"Tsk tsk..."

"He got in through the back door, so he really has no skills and is a coward. He only encountered a Corpse Ghoul yesterday and doesn't dare to come today."

"Exactly..."

The other members also chattered, their tones mocking.

Time flew by.

Deep into the night.

"Hoo!"

Boom!

Xu Qing threw out a punch, and the sound of fist force exploded. He glanced out the window; the sky had completely darkened, and many households had already blown out their candles.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV5: 160/160 (Can be upgraded!)]

"Upgrade."

Xu Qing said softly.

Hum!

The Omni-Codex flashed with fluorescence. In Xu Qing's vision, it was as if countless figures appeared, these figures existing between illusion and reality, constantly practicing Eight Extremities Fist and pouring into Xu Qing's mind.

Boom!

Xu Qing's mind trembled, and his consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space. Within this mysterious space, Eight Extremities Fist was continuously being deduced, and the martial arts mysteries of Eight Extremities Fist were being practiced.

Gradually.

Eight Extremities Fist became more profound and mystical in Xu Qing's hands.

[Eight Extremities Fist LV6: 0/320 (This is a profound fist technique that combines combat style and body refinement method. Its movements are fierce and unadorned, its power delivery is swift, and its explosive force is extremely strong. It can condense the power of the entire body's flesh, blood, sinews, and bones, allowing force to penetrate the sinews and bones, naturally forming Dark Force.)]

Bang!

Xu Qing threw out a punch. A ripple-like vibration was faintly generated on his fist. The Dark Force within him became even stronger, and his physical fitness, toughness, and overall strength also improved.

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling the changes within himself, and nodded with satisfaction. "Eight Extremities Fist has been upgraded to level six, and the Dark Force within me is also stronger."

"It's getting late."

Xu Qing glanced at the sky again. "I deliberately found an excuse to ask Yang Ye last night. The Yamen will probably investigate me soon."

"Calculating the time."

"Tomorrow will be the eleventh day since I joined the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, not even half a month. I originally planned to reveal the Azure Hawk Force after half a month."

"Now it seems I can do it a few days earlier."

"As for the position in the night patrol team, it's just a stepping stone for me, and also to gather information and news from the Yamen."

Afterward.

Xu Qing planned to return to his bedroom to rest.

"Ah!!!"

Suddenly.

Xu Qing had been in bed for less than half an hour, only just resting, when he heard a piercing scream reach his ears.

"Huh?"

Xu Qing quickly opened his eyes, a look of alarm on his face. He got out of bed, his gaze flashing as he found the Iron Sword and an evil ghost mask from his bedside table.

The evil ghost mask was something Yu Chen had gotten for Xu Qing before.

"Record."

Xu Qing's gaze fell upon the evil ghost mask in his hand. He communicated with the Omni-Codex, and as the Omni-Codex's fluorescent light flashed, a white light, visible only to Xu Qing, also flickered on the evil ghost mask.

[Evil Ghost Mask LV1: 0/5 (This is a mask fired from clay by a skilled craftsman.)]

At the same time.

A piece of information appeared in Xu Qing's mind, and he immediately knew how the evil ghost mask should gain experience points.

"I gain it by wearing it,"

Xu Qing said.

So.

Xu Qing put the evil ghost mask on his face.

In a flash.

One minute later.

[Experience +1]

"I gain one experience point for wearing it on my face for one minute,"

Xu Qing thought to himself.

"Let's go."

Xu Qing changed into a gray cloak, the Iron Sword at his waist. He unleashed the Serpent Evasion Technique and rushed to the scene of the incident at his fastest speed.

"Arrived."

Four minutes later.

Xu Qing arrived at the scene of the incident.

At this moment.

[Evil Ghost Mask LV1: 5/5 (Can be upgraded!)]

"Upgrade."

Xu Qing said.

Buzz!

A white light flashed on the evil ghost mask.

The upgrade was complete.

Vaguely.

Xu Qing seemed to see the process of the evil ghost mask being reforged.

[Evil Ghost Mask LV2: 0/10 (This is a mask crafted with a lifetime of effort by a skilled craftsman. It has the effect of concealing one's face and masking one's aura, though it is relatively easy to see through.)]

"Oh,"

Xu Qing's eyes flashed, and a hint of joy appeared on his face. "I didn't expect this evil ghost mask to have such an effect after leveling up. Not bad, not bad."

"This is very suitable for me."

Roar! Roar! Roar!!!

It could be seen.

On the streets of Hongye Street, the surrounding houses were tightly shut. Only a few brave commoners dared to peek through the gaps in their doors.

Xu Qing saw a total of three Corpse Ghouls. These three Corpse Ghouls were the same as yesterday; they had eaten fresh blood and flesh, thus being strengthened Corpse Ghouls.

In addition to these.

Behind these three Corpse Ghouls stood a Corpse Monster covered in black hair.

It was the Black-haired Zombie.

Generally speaking.

When a corpse undergoes transformation, it initially becomes a Corpse Ghoul. After eating fresh blood and flesh, the Corpse Ghoul can be strengthened. If it eats enough fresh blood and flesh, and absorbs enough Yin and Corpse Qi, it can advance to become a 'Black-haired Zombie'.

A Black-haired Zombie is not something an ordinary Bright Force martial artist can deal with.

On the battlefield.

Yang Ye, Wang Changye, Qin Daniu, and ten members. Among them, three members had already tragically died on the spot, while the other seven members were injured to varying degrees.

Yang Ye, Wang Changye, and Qin Daniu also had pale faces.

"When will the reinforcements arrive?"

Wang Changye shouted and asked.

"Soon, they should be here any moment," Yang Ye replied.

"We probably can't hold out much longer," Qin Daniu said.

The Black-haired Zombie, plus three enhanced Corpse Ghouls, and on Yang Ye's side, there were only two Bright Force martial artists and about ten other people. They were no match at all.

The battle had raged on.

Everyone had suffered injuries to varying degrees, and three people had already died.

If this continued, Yang Ye and his group were likely to be wiped out.

"What exactly happened in the outer city?" Xu Qing frowned. "Three enhanced Corpse Ghouls appeared this time, along with a Black-haired Zombie. Can't the Yamen handle this?"