Black-Robed Figure's Identity

Could there be something wrong with the medicine?

Seeing Li Qingliang's reaction, Zhou Muyun made a guess.

"Master, peddlers are selling this medicine all over the city. Is there something wrong with it?"

Li Qingliang shook his head, several traces of gravity appearing on his face as he said in a low voice:

"There is no major problem with the medicine itself, but the key lies in its ingredients. It was refined using blood as a catalyst.

"If it is the blood of ferocious beasts, then there is no great concern. But what is frightening is if it was made using..."

Li Qingliang paused before continuing, "It would be best not to take this medicine. Do not covet a small bargain."

"This disciple understands. Thank you, Master, for clearing up my doubts. I shall take my leave, then."

"Go."

Zhou Muyun put away the Foundation-Stabilizing Pill and left the rear courtyard.

Li Qingliang looked at the Bloodforging Powder in his hand again, a chill rising in his heart.

If he had not understood a little about medicinal principles, he likely would never have noticed the strangeness of this medicine.

Then he recalled the news he had received in recent days.

The Blood Demon Sect, the World-Saving Sect, the destruction of the Outer City gangs, and the County Magistrate entering seclusion, along with this Bloodforging Powder.

Every incident carried an air of eerie strangeness.

"Yunlin County is about to see the sky change!"

Li Qingliang let out a long sigh and muttered.

After a long while, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes, and he walked out of the rear courtyard.

After Zhou Muyun returned home, he asked his mother and younger sister, as usual, whether anything unusual had happened.

The two told Zhou Muyun that more and more people believed in the World-Saving Sect.

The residents of the Outer City had been poor to begin with, and the World-Saving Sect was willing to give them money. Zhou Muyun felt that this was only natural.

Yet the more it was so, the stranger he found the sect.

In troubled times, were they playing the good Samaritan just for that little bit of faith?

Martial artists could not even absorb the power of incense and faith.

So, he reminded the two again to avoid contact with those people from the World-Saving Sect who spread their faith whenever possible.

As for those neighbors in the alley who believed in the World-Saving Sect, they should interact with them less as well.

The two repeatedly nodded, saying that they understood.

Only then did Zhou Muyun feel at ease enough to enter the courtyard. He planned to test the effects of the Body-Tempering Liquid immediately.

He took off his shirt, exposing his well-defined upper body and clearly outlined muscles in the courtyard.

Several months of grueling training, coupled with the enhancement of the Seven-Colored Glazed Body—

Zhou Muyun had grown to 1.87 meters tall, and his shoulders had broadened considerably as well.

He picked up the prepared bottle of Body-Tempering Liquid from the ground, pulled out the stopper, and evenly applied the liquid across his upper body.

"Just as Little Four said."

A scorching, stabbing pain swiftly struck him, as though countless blades were slicing across his body. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans instantly covered Zhou Muyun's forehead.

"The medicine was bought with money. I cannot waste even the slightest bit!"

He clenched his teeth without making a sound, swiftly sat cross-legged on the ground, and began circulating his body-tempering cultivation method.

Under the stimulation of the Medicinal Solution, the blood within Zhou Muyun's body surged like galloping steeds, and the circulation speed of his cultivation method greatly increased.

His flesh and blood, especially his skin, began to reveal faint hints of bronze luster. Though it was very pale, it still delighted Zhou Muyun.

"This money really was not wasted. Spending money to get stronger really does feel good."

The Medicinal Solution was gradually absorbed and consumed by him, while the proficiency of the Seven-Colored Glazed Body rose bit by bit.

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Copper Skin (52/600)]

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Copper Skin (54/600)]

...

Soon, half an hour had passed. Zhou Muyun opened his eyes and stopped circulating his cultivation method.

"The Medicinal Solution ran out so quickly. A body-tempering cultivation method truly is both difficult and expensive."

He could not help sighing inwardly, yet he still picked up another bottle of Body-Tempering Liquid and applied it to his body once more.

Money could be earned again if it was gone. Raising his strength was what mattered.

Afterward, Zhou Muyun shut his eyes again and plunged into arduous cultivation.

In Yunlin County's Outer City, the former headquarters of the Savage Ox Gang had now become the main base of the World-Saving Sect.

The original residence had been remodeled into something resembling a temple. In the central hall stood a huge statue of the World-Saving Venerable.

It had the appearance of a handsome man, bare-chested and clad in long trousers, with one foot upon a fierce tiger and a python clutched in its hand. Auspicious clouds floated behind it, while Buddha's light shone everywhere.

Its expression brimmed with compassion, as though tears might slide down its face. True to its name, it saved the world from disaster and delivered all living beings across suffering.

Many people dressed in white cloth garments were in the hall, devoutly kneeling on the ground and praying to the statue while murmuring words under their breaths.

"Saving the world from disaster, boundless merit..."

Whenever the disciples in white cloth garments finished praying, they would rise and walk over to the disciples in white robes, extending their hands.

The white-robed disciples would place several dozen copper coins and two red pills into their hands, saying warmly:

"These are Body-Strengthening Pills, bestowed by the World-Saving Venerable to improve your frail bodies.

"Take one each day, and you shall naturally be full of vigor like dragons and tigers, untouched by a hundred illnesses.

"Saving the world from disaster, boundless merit. Give thanks to the Venerable."

"Saving the world from disaster, boundless merit. Give thanks to the Venerable."

Every white-clothed disciple who received money and pills wore an expression of joy as they happily headed out the door.

Before leaving, they did not forget to turn back and kowtow once more, thanking the World-Saving Venerable.

The entire World-Saving Sect presented a scene of peace and tranquility, one that made people yearn for it.

Yet beneath this scene, beneath the central hall in a place no one knew about, an enormous underground space had been excavated.

It was dark and damp within. At its center lay a pool of water, dark red in color, with occasional white bones floating up and down.

A burly man sat beside the pool with his eyes shut. Strands of dark-red vapor continually drifted out from the water and entered his nostrils.

The burly man wore an expression of enjoyment, while the aura emanating from his body slowly grew stronger.

"Han Shan, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself. Your Blood Demon Sect cultivates through blood; you do have some tricks up your sleeve."

A somewhat hoarse, teasing voice rang out.

Han Shan opened his eyes and looked toward the black-robed figure who had appeared across the pool. He grinned and said:

"What? If you are interested, you can join us. I will make the call and teach you cultivation methods for the Blood Exchange Realm and below. How about it?"

"Hehe, that will not be necessary. I came to ask how far your operation has progressed."

The black-robed figure rejected Han Shan's invitation, leaped over the pool, and arrived at Han Shan's side.

"The medicine has already been distributed over the past few days, and the response has been excellent. In half a year at most, it will be time for harvest."

Han Shan stood up and stared at the black-robed figure as he spoke slowly.

The instant the word "harvest" left his mouth, the black-robed figure's breathing noticeably quickened.

But it was swiftly suppressed. The figure said indifferently, "Good. My painstaking efforts in helping you have not been in vain. Do not forget my twenty percent of the harvest!"

"Rest assured. My Blood Demon Sect keeps its word. Your share will naturally not be lacking."

Han Shan changed the subject, narrowing his eyes as he asked, "Has there been any unusual movement from the County Magistrate's Office lately? And what is its attitude toward the World-Saving Sect?"

Regarding the matter of the Savage Ox Gang's leader, his subsequent investigation had yielded nothing. Even though nothing happened afterward, the matter had always hung in his heart, never forgotten.

But he could not directly tell the black-robed figure that. Would that not make them seem utterly incompetent?

"Zhang Ming is in seclusion, and with no leader, the others are all guarding their own little patches of land. What unusual movement could there be?

"Besides, you give money to that pack of pigs and dogs every day. The Outer City can now pay its taxes, tax revenue has increased considerably, and the authorities are delighted!"

The black-robed figure sneered and explained unhurriedly.

"Perhaps Zhang Hu died before he could tell anyone."

Combining the black-robed figure's words with the County Magistrate's Office's lack of action in recent days, Han Shan reached a conclusion.

"Good. If there is any unusual movement, remember to notify me at once."

"Hmph. Since when was it your turn to order me around?"

The black-robed figure snorted coldly. A throwing dart shot out from beneath the robe, flying straight at Han Shan.

Han Shan was greatly startled, having never expected the other party to attack so suddenly. He hurriedly twisted aside to evade it.

Clang.

The sound of metal striking stone rang out. The throwing dart grazed Han Shan's right arm and embedded itself in the nearby stone wall, though it still left behind a streak of blood.

"What do you mean by this?" Anger surfaced on Han Shan's face, but he did not attack immediately.

The fleeting aura revealed when the black-robed figure attacked told him that the other party was at least in the late Blood Exchange Realm.

It was not that he lacked confidence in taking the figure down. But if something unexpected happened and ruined the sect's grand undertaking, that would be troublesome.

"We are merely partners. I am not your subordinate, so watch your tone.

"Also, you would not want this place surrounded by the constables from the County Magistrate's Office and the Great Xia Guard first thing tomorrow morning, would you?"

"Fine! I will be more careful next time."

Han Shan forcibly swallowed his anger, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

The black-robed figure nodded in satisfaction and left.

Watching the black-robed figure's departing back, Han Shan's gaze turned icy as he began guessing the figure's identity.

"Are you the Military Adviser Sima, the commander of the Great Xia Guard, or the market magistrate of one of the four districts?"

He had already made up his mind. Once the matter was done, he would immediately get rid of this person. Who told the figure to attack just now and offend him?

To cooperate with a demonic sect was to be prepared to be devoured.