Uninvited Guest

It was already early winter.

In the northern lands of Mangzhou Prefecture, it was now a world of ice and snow.

But the southern lands finally felt a hint of coolness in the night air.

Xia Daoming sat cross-legged in the backyard, holding a Three Yuan Blood Return Pill in his hand.

Yesterday, Ji Wenyue had quickly returned and brought him a package of pills.

Among them were ten Three Yuan Blood Return Pills, each priced at two hundred taels on the market.

Moreover, the ones Ji Wenyue gave him were top-grade Three Yuan Blood Return Pills, the kind consumed by Ji Family disciples. If he were to sell them, they might fetch three hundred taels each.

This alone was worth three thousand taels.

Besides the Three Yuan Blood Return Pills, there were also Spirit Cang Pills, Nine Bone Paste, Azure Lotus Vitality Pills, all with comparable medicinal effects, and many other pills with lesser effects.

Xia Daoming found it difficult to put a price on the combined value of these pills, but they would easily start at six thousand taels on the market.

And this was only the first batch.

"Eating soft rice is truly easier and more satisfying!"

Xia Daoming muttered to himself, then tossed the Three Yuan Blood Return Pills into his mouth as if they were beans.

Soon, a surge of potent medicinal energy spread through his meridians.

Xia Daoming only slowly opened his eyes after cultivating non-stop until the early hours of the morning.

A simple system interface appeared in his mind.

Xia Daoming—

Cultivation: Fifth-Rank Martial Master

Level One Meridian Strengthening Progress: Sixty percent.

And just the day before yesterday, the strengthening progress for Level One Meridian was still zero.

"Eating soft rice is truly easier and more satisfying!"

Xia Daoming couldn't help but sigh again.

"The efficacy of these Three Yuan Blood Return Pills has diminished significantly. The remaining two can be saved for Liu Qiaolian after she breaks through to become a Fourth-Rank Martial Master."

Xia Daoming took out the brocade box holding the two remaining Three Yuan Blood Return Pills, looked at them, and then put them away.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Xia Daoming found that he had underestimated the system's appetite for resources.

The ninth strengthening for the Fifth-Rank realm became more difficult with each level, requiring increasingly larger quantities of restorative pills and meat, and taking progressively longer.

He had completed the Level One Meridian strengthening in just four days.

However, strengthening Level Eight Meridian took him a full twenty days, consuming an astonishing amount of resources.

This was not only due to the increasing difficulty of meridian strengthening levels but also because the quality requirements for restorative pills became higher. Furthermore, as Xia Daoming consumed the same type of pill more frequently, its efficacy diminished.

After all, the pills produced by the Ji Family had limited quality, primarily targeting Sixth-Rank Great Martial Masters and below. Above that level, their effects became quite limited.

In fact, after Xia Daoming's meridian strengthening reached Level Four, it was already comparable to that of a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming's cultivation realm was still at Fifth-Rank Martial Master, allowing the Ji Family's pills to still exert a considerable effect.

But as the levels increased, the waste and inefficiency also grew.

As for Liu Qiaolian, thanks to Xia Daoming, she had enjoyed the treatment of a direct descendant of a major power for the past three months. Five days ago, she had actually broken through to become a Fourth-Rank Martial Master.

Now, in addition to continuing her supplementation and diligent cultivation, Liu Qiaolian had begun taking the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School's secret medicine for condensing Blood Essence and strength—Dragon Abyss Paste—in preparation for observing the Mysterious Divine Rhyme Diagram and cultivating Hidden Strength.

Aside from her cultivation breakthrough, during these three months, Liu Qiaolian had become increasingly adept at catering to Xia Daoming's desires during their card games, making him almost addicted to her, nearly leading him astray and neglecting his proper business.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming realized this in time, pulled back from the brink, and set limits on their activities for both himself and Liu Qiaolian, thus getting back on the right track.

One night, in the backyard of the Xia residence.

Xia Daoming slowly opened his eyes and "looked" at the interface in his mind, which showed that the Ninth Level Meridian strengthening progress was only at two percent. He couldn't help but frown slightly and fall into deep thought.

"This won't do! Such a vast amount of resources has been consumed in a short period. Even with Ji Wenyue's considerable influence in the family, she must be under considerable pressure.

Furthermore, for the Ninth Level Meridian strengthening, the medicinal energy conversion rate of the pills Ji Wenyue provided is even lower, leading to severe waste. Who knows how many pills will be needed to complete it all.

It seems that after a few days, once I've observed the Mysterious Divine Rhyme Diagram, I can consider going on a few escort missions with Senior Brother Zhuo. Senior Brother Zhuo frequently travels between several major cities in the southern lands. Perhaps I can find higher-grade pills there, which might alleviate some of Wen Yue's pressure.

This way, I can also broaden my horizons, gain experience, and earn some money along the way. Even a mosquito's leg is still meat; relying solely on eating soft rice isn't a long-term solution!"

Having made up his mind, Xia Daoming stopped taking pills and cultivating.

The eight thousand taels of silver he had on hand had hardly been spent over the past three months, aside from some daily expenses.

But if he were to use it to buy higher-grade pills, he probably wouldn't be able to buy much. Moreover, Xia Daoming still needed to prepare for the meridian strengthening at the Sixth-Rank realm.

Therefore, it would be more appropriate to save the accumulated pills on hand and sell them for money in the future.

Xia Daoming never considered how Ji Wenyue would feel if she knew he was selling the pills she gave him.

Wu Family Fortress.

The study in the Wu Family Patriarch's residence.

A gray-clothed elder stood slightly bent behind Wu Yueli, speaking in a low voice, "Master, the six families, including the Tian Family and Tiger Saber Gate, have been mostly cleared as suspects. It's unlikely they killed Young Master Wu.

Now, only the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School within the city remains. According to our spies, six months ago Liang Jingtang suddenly took in a disciple. The timing of this coincides with the murder of Young Master Wu Changlu."

"Pledge of Allegiance!" Wu Yueli's heart stirred, his eyes flashing with killing intent, but he quickly shook his head. "Unlikely. Changlu was quite cunning. He knew his special identity and usually acted like a dissolute noble, even concealing his cultivation as much as possible to avoid outside attention.

Therefore, most people outside believed he was merely a Third-Rank Martial Master, unaware that not only was he a Fourth-Rank Martial Master at such a young age, but he had also secretly cultivated a trace of Hidden Strength.

Liang Jingtang's new disciple could be, at most, at the Fourth-Rank Realm. How could they kill him without even giving him a chance to escape? Moreover, Changlu had two escorts with him."

"This old servant agrees. That's why I ruled out the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School long ago. But now that all other families with grudges against our Wu Family Fortress have been cleared, only the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School remains. If it's not them, then we'll have no leads," the gray-clothed elder replied.

Wu Yueli frowned upon hearing this. He stood up and paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, he stopped. "Since that's the case, regardless of whether it's that person or not, find an opportunity to capture him first, question him thoroughly, and then kill him."

"What if Liang Jingtang finds out..."

"Gu Ren was severely injured by a trap set by the Shi Family. Now Liang Jingtang has no successor, and he doesn't have many truly capable disciples. Even if he finds out his new disciple is killed by us, would he attack our Wu Family Fortress for him?

If Wu Changlu weren't my illegitimate son and had considerable martial talent, whom I secretly favored, I wouldn't still be dwelling on this for so long and refuse to let it go.

However, Liang Jingtang is quite formidable and values loyalty. It would be best if this matter remains confidential. Therefore, you should handle this personally," Wu Yueli said.

Seeing Wu Yueli mention his illegitimate son, a flicker of hatred flashed behind the gray-clothed elder's lowered eyelids, but he replied respectfully, "Master is right!"

"Master."

In the main hall of the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School's inner courtyard, Xia Daoming respectfully addressed Liang Jingtang, who was reclining in a chair.

"You're here. Go to the training chamber and wait for me," Liang Jingtang nodded at Xia Daoming, slowly stood up, and walked towards his bedroom.

In just three months, Liang Jingtang had become noticeably thinner and more aged.

His once tall and imposing physique now seemed hunched, and his gait was somewhat unsteady and frail.

Clearly, the incident with Gu Ren had taken a heavy toll on him.

Soon, Xia Daoming waited for Liang Jingtang in the training chamber.

Liang Jingtang handed the Mysterious Divine Rhyme Diagram to Xia Daoming and left without any instructions this time.

As soon as Xia Daoming unfurled the scroll, his spiritual sense immediately triggered the divine rhyme within the diagram.

The spectacular and mysterious scene he had witnessed six months ago reappeared before his eyes.

This time, he saw it more clearly and gained deeper insights.

His mind was so captivated by the scene that he almost activated his internal strength to break through the sixth meridian. Fortunately, Xia Daoming came to his senses in time.

Otherwise, his meridians, which were at the Fifth-Rank Realm and not yet fully strengthened to Level Nine, would have directly broken through, making him a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master.

An hour later.

Liang Jingtang re-entered the chamber.

This time, Xia Daoming's reaction was the complete opposite of the previous time.

Last time, his face was pale, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

But this time, his expression was calm, with almost no change throughout the entire hour.

Seeing this, Liang Jingtang became even more disappointed.

This could only mean that Xia Daoming saw nothing different the second time compared to the first, hence the lack of a strong reaction.

However, Liang Jingtang said nothing. He silently put away the Mysterious Divine Rhyme Diagram and left with a frail gait.

Xia Daoming remained seated in the training chamber for another hour, carefully pondering and engraving the seventh and eighth layers of the cultivation technique's circulation anomalies he had clearly seen into his mind before getting up to leave.

The night was deep.

Pear Blossom Alley was quiet and dark, with only a faint light emanating from within the Xia residence's walls.

Xia Daoming walked quickly to the gate of the Xia residence. Just as he was about to knock, he turned around and said to the empty alley, "Since you're here, friend, why hide? Why not come inside for a chat?"

"Creak!"

The door opened from the inside. Liu Qiaolian, holding a lantern, looked at Xia Daoming, who had his back to the gate, with a puzzled expression.

"Lian'er, you go inside first and tell Xia He and the others to stay indoors. I'm expecting an uninvited guest," Xia Daoming said.

"Yes, Master!" Liu Qiaolian's expression changed slightly. She retreated into the front courtyard, holding the lantern.

"Interesting!" From the darkness, a masked elder in black emerged, with faint fluctuations of Blood Essence and strength emanating from him.

Xia Daoming's pupils constricted slightly, but his heart relaxed considerably.

After observing the diagram twice, although Xia Daoming's realm had not yet reached the eighth level, his perception had far surpassed his current cultivation.

The Blood Essence and strength the masked elder inadvertently revealed allowed Xia Daoming to immediately determine his realm.

A Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master, and an elderly one at that. For his current self, he was truly a bit of a weakling.

"So you're an elder. Come inside if you have business, to avoid disturbing the neighbors," Xia Daoming said calmly.

"Very well," the masked elder replied faintly.

Xia Daoming entered the house first, standing in the middle of the front yard. The main gate was wide open, and the lights were bright.

The masked elder glanced around the front yard through the main gate before gracefully stepping inside. He also closed the main gate behind him.

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