Gold Master

Outside the cave.

A timely rain washed away the stench of blood. The dark red blood was rinsed clean, leaving behind only a dozen or so mangled corpses.

"This rain came at just the right time! Otherwise, the smell of blood would surely have attracted plenty of savage beasts. I just finished a big fight—if more fierce beasts showed up, that would be troublesome."

"Big Brother! What do we do now? We offended Gold Master and his people. Gold Master has tremendous influence in Golden Spring Town, and he himself is a Peak Third-Rate Expert. Where are we supposed to go?"

"Sigh! I found over a thousand taels on that spoiled brat and his minions. Here are two hundred taels. One hundred for each of you. Run while no one has discovered us yet. Go to the neighboring Chen Family Town and hide for a while. I still need to return to Shaolin, so I can't help you any further."

Tie Niu and the others exchanged looks, then gritted their teeth. "Alright! Big Brother, take care of yourself too. Be careful of Gold Master and his people. He's not someone to be trifled with!"

"What am I afraid of? At worst, I'll hide in Shaolin and cultivate for a while. Until I become a third-rate expert, I won't leave Shaolin. Let's see if he dares enter Shaolin to kill me!"

"Since you already have a plan, Big Brother, we'll come find you again when we get the chance. Time is of the essence, so we'll leave first. Take care, Big Brother! We'll be going now."

"Go on, go on! I've been out for too long myself. It's time to return to Shaolin."

After returning to Golden Spring Town, Li Changfeng immediately finished buying the vegetarian ingredients and hurried toward Shaolin. There was no time to lose! It would be troublesome if they discovered him!

Whew... Finally back at Shaolin. Li Changfeng let out a breath of relief. On the way back, he had felt nervous and guilty, like a thief with a guilty conscience. The moment he returned to Shaolin, he relaxed completely. He had to admit, Shaolin Temple really gave him an overwhelming sense of security!

"Jue Kong! Why did you take so long to return?"

"There was a heavy rain! It took a little longer."

"I see. Nothing happened while you were out buying supplies, right?" the Kitchen Monk suddenly asked sternly.

"N-No! I just bought some vegetables. What could possibly happen?"

"That's good. Put down the vegetarian ingredients and go back."

"Yes, Kitchen Monk!"

Li Changfeng hurried back to Arhat Hall. Staying here for even another moment made him feel as if he were being seen through. Better leave quickly! This old monk had some skill!

"Nothing happened? Then why is he filled with such a vicious aura? So be it. Where there is cause, there must be effect. Karma never lies, and retribution never fails. What is meant to come will eventually come."

It was nearing dusk, and nightfall descended.

Outside the cave, corpses lay everywhere as a pack of Hungry Wolves frantically tore into the remains.

At that moment, a powerfully built man standing seven feet tall appeared. He wore golden brocade robes, and waves of violent true energy radiated from his body. His entire person overflowed with killing intent.

"Bastard!"

The figure in golden brocade roared. His violent true energy sent the Hungry Wolves flying, then he drew his blade. Several flashes of silver blade light appeared, and the wolves were instantly sliced in two midair. Severed limbs and blood rained down, covering the ground with broken bodies and the stench of blood. It was utterly savage.

"Investigate! Investigate for me! Whoever killed my son, I'll have him torn into ten thousand pieces!"

At that moment, a minor leader ran over and said in panic, "Reporting to Gold Master! Earlier, a Shaolin disciple came looking for Tie Niu and the others. This subordinate... this subordinate told him that the Young Master had chased them into the deep northern mountains. I thought that Shaolin disciple had some grudge against Tie Niu's group, so I told him the truth. Could the Young Master's murder have something to do with that Shaolin disciple?"

"Hm? So you're saying my son's death has something to do with you?"

"N-No! I was merely reporting truthfully to you, Gold Master!"

"Though I appreciate your honesty, you still have to pay for my son's death!"

With that, Gold Master struck. His blade rose and fell, and the minor leader suddenly felt the world spin. His head slowly fell to the ground, and he died.

"You! Tell me what that Shaolin disciple looked like! If you can't, you die!"

The Little Minion hurriedly said, "H-He was... golden all over!"

Whoosh!

A flash of silver blade light streaked past, and the Little Minion's head instantly flew into the air. He died on the spot!

"That was as good as saying nothing. You were asking for death!"

Gold Master casually pointed at another Little Minion. "You're next. Speak. Think carefully before you answer, or you'll end up like them!"

"Reporting to Gold Master! I know who that Shaolin disciple is. He should be Li Dazhuang, the biological older brother who stayed with the Young Master when he lived in Li Family Village. His father was probably abandoned by the Young Master and starved to death. Li Dazhuang came for revenge!"

"Li Dazhuang! I'll remember you! You think hiding in Shaolin means I can do nothing to you? Just wait!"

"My son! My son! Husband, you must avenge Jin Cai! Kill that bastard boy! No, you must slice him into a thousand pieces to vent the hatred in my heart!" the second wife screamed madly as she clutched Gold Master's arm.

"Too noisy!"

Gold Master drew his blade in a flash. The second wife's head was severed in one stroke, and blood sprayed up like a fountain before she slowly collapsed, dead.

"You couldn't even keep watch over one son. Go down and keep him company, so he won't be so lonely," Gold Master said coldly.

Like father, like son. Gold Master was even more cold-blooded and vicious than his son. Everything revolved around himself, and anything useless to him could be discarded at any time. He was like a Viper—ruthless and heartless!

Inside the large dormitory, Li Changfeng lay on his bed after dinner and slowly opened the system panel.

A light screen instantly appeared before him.

Host: Li Changfeng (Li Dazhuang).

Identity: Shaolin Temple Disciple

Inner Force: 0

Strength: 200 jin

Experience Points: 90

Cultivation Art: Shaolin Bronze Body Skill, Basic (30/80); Luohan Fist, Basic (50/80).

Title: Jianghu Scrub.

Fame: Unknown (0/80) (For every 10 Fame points, 1 Cultivation Point can be obtained.)

Cultivation Points: 0 (For every 20 Cultivation Points, one Lucky Pack can be opened, or one can enter System Training Time at a 1:3 conversion rate. Each session allows one month of cultivation.)

Current Lucky Packs: 0.

Current Mission: Within three months at Shaolin, cultivate the Shaolin Bronze Body to Great Mastery.

"Today, I sent that group of people on their way, and sure enough, the Experience Points and strength arrived. Hahaha, not bad!"

"Let's raise the Shaolin Bronze Body Skill until it advances first!"

Without another word, Li Changfeng added his Experience Points to the Shaolin Bronze Body Skill and raised it to the entry level.

The Shaolin Bronze Body Skill went from Basic (30/80) to Basic (80/80), then directly became Entry Level (0/160).

There were forty Experience Points left, so he added them directly to the Luohan Fist.

The Luohan Fist instantly went from Basic (50/80) to Basic (80/80), then directly became Entry Level (0/160).

Suddenly, Li Changfeng felt a vast, fierce power erupt from within his body. His strength surged significantly, probably by around fifty jin. The skin all over his body had become much tougher, his resistance to blows had increased greatly, and even his height had grown by a few centimeters.

Both the Shaolin Bronze Body Skill and Luohan Fist had reached the entry level, greatly increasing his strength.

Still, he was a little short of becoming a third-rate expert. He probably possessed the strength of a peak unranked fighter.

Li Changfeng touched the bulging muscles on his body. Damn it, my muscles got a lot bigger. My whole body is golden, my muscle lines are defined, and I'm packed with explosive power. If I entered a bodybuilding competition with this body, I'd crush them in minutes.

At that moment, Eldest Brother's eyes flashed as he said in surprise, "Sixth Brother! Your Shaolin Bronze Body Skill has reached the entry level?"

"Yeah, Eldest Brother. I finally reached the entry level. I'm much stronger now, hehe!"

"Good boy! What incredible talent! The fastest person among us took half a year to reach the entry level, but you cut the time by more than half. You reached it in a month. You really are suited for external cultivation!"

Li Changfeng chuckled and rubbed his gleaming bald head. The firelight reflected off it, throwing out a dazzling glow.

"Damn! S-S-Sixth Brother, stop rubbing that bald head of yours! You're blinding my eyes!"

"Alright, alright! I won't rub it anymore," Li Changfeng said with a bitter smile.

Early the next morning.

A sudden urge to urinate woke Li Changfeng. Squinting, he slowly headed toward the latrine. Once there, he happily released a long little stream.

"Morning, Sixth Brother!"

"Morning, Eldest Brother!"

Eldest Brother grinned and swung the long blade in his hand down. A streak of silver blade light slashed straight toward Li Changfeng's old stick!

Li Changfeng was instantly drenched in cold sweat and screamed, "Fuck your mother! No!"

Clang!

There was only the sound of metal striking metal. A circular dent three or four centimeters wide appeared on the blade.

Li Changfeng howled miserably, "It's gone! It's gone! My lifeline is gone! I've become a eunuch! Damn it, Eldest Brother, what are you doing?! Of all places, why did you have to chop there? Why didn't you chop your own instead of mine?!"

"Quit yelling! The blade got bent by your little dick, and you're completely fine. What are you panicking for? I was just testing whether your Shaolin Bronze Body Skill had truly reached the entry level. Why make such a fuss?"

Hearing that, Li Changfeng hurriedly checked himself. He let out a breath of relief and laughed. "You're still as strong as ever! Truly worthy of being my old stick!"

"Eldest Brother, you can't play like that! Couldn't you have chopped somewhere else? Why did it have to be there? That's my lifeline! You scared the hell out of me!"

"Hehe! With the Eighteen Bronze Men Art, which part is relatively weaker? Naturally, you test that part! What are you afraid of? Didn't you reach the entry level? Then it definitely wouldn't break. No need to worry!"

"Fuck your grandmother's bear, Eldest Brother!"

Li Changfeng suddenly seemed to realize something and cried out. Fuck! Doesn't that mean it's impervious to blades and spears now?! What am I supposed to do in the future? I... I probably... won't be able to do that for the rest of my life?