The Five Viscera Internal Cultivation Art!

The group of fierce bandits and outlaws lurking outside Black Goose City had brought immense suffering to the surrounding populace.

Every year, the four towns and thirteen villages outside Black Goose City would economize and pay protection fees. Any who refused would face arson, murder, and plunder.

Even the constables from the yamen who went there could only return in failure, leaving the people of over ten regions in utter misery, forced to endure it in silence.

Now, the leader of these bandits claimed to be someone from Magistrate Gao of Black Goose City, Gao Wusheng!

A surge of fierce anger rose within Qin Zheng. He spoke again, asking, "Are you saying that this group of bandits are all Magistrate Gao's men?!"

Zhang Xiuwen quickly nodded, "That is exactly right. This attack on Black Goose City was also ordered by Magistrate Gao."

As he spoke, a hint of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes.

"He didn't tell me that an expert like you would appear this time. He only said a monk would make a move, and that I just needed to remember to feign a rout and escape."

"Gao Wusheng seems to want to use the young hero to eliminate me! Since he is unrighteous, he cannot blame me for being unprincipled!"

A monk?

Could it be the monk Wuchang from Rebirth Temple?

Did he also have secret dealings with Magistrate Gao?

For a moment, various thoughts churned in Qin Zheng's mind.

"Young hero, if you spare me this time, I'll tell you everything Gao Wusheng has done over the years!"

"I..."

He was speaking in a panic when he suddenly stopped.

Immediately after, the bandit leader's eyes rolled back, his body trembling as if his throat had been choked, making it impossible to breathe.

This abnormal situation instantly put Qin Zheng on high alert.

At the same time, Zhang Xiuwen extended his hands towards Qin Zheng, struggling to speak, "Save me..."

As he uttered these words, his body suddenly stopped trembling, and his breath rapidly declined, clearly indicating he was beyond saving.

Seeing this, Qin Zheng did not hesitate and took a sudden step forward, slashing with the ghost-head saber.

In an instant, blood spurted like a pillar, and a head rolled to the ground.

Merit obtained!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The archers who had fallen silent drew their bows and arrows again, firing at Qin Zheng.

Hmph!

A cold glint flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes. He stomped his foot, his body moving like a shadow as he darted into the nearby mountain forest.

With his current mental perception, he had already guessed the general direction from which these archers were firing so many arrows at him.

And after his figure entered the mountain forest, with the dense trees providing cover, the number of arrows shot at him immediately decreased significantly.

A moment later, accompanied by a few panicked screams, the arrows completely disappeared.

Several breaths later, Qin Zheng emerged from the forest, followed by a lean man, reappearing before the headless corpse of the bandit leader, Zhang Xiuwen.

He had heard that in the southern regions of this world, there was a Miao Territory tribe, extremely skilled in raising and refining Gu.

Zhang Xiuwen's condition just now was very much like being poisoned by Gu, the appearance of a Gu outbreak.

It should have been the method Gao Wusheng used to control him.

And when he had just harbored rebellious thoughts and exposed Gao Wusheng's affairs, he had triggered the Gu poison, leading to his death.

Thinking of this, Qin Zheng's expression became solemn.

It seemed the situation in Black Goose City was far more complicated than he had initially thought!

However, as long as he was strong enough, any conspiracy or scheme would be rendered useless in the face of absolute power!

Qin Zheng then used the ghost-head saber to poke at the corpse. After confirming there were no anomalies, he began to search it.

Some loose silver, a few silver notes, and a jade bottle filled with pills. Other than that, there was nothing else.

Qin Zheng frowned slightly.

It seemed the opponent had not carried the internal cultivation technique on him.

He stood up. Since it wasn't on him, it was very likely hidden in his lair!

This was the first time Qin Zheng had received information related to an internal cultivation technique.

Regardless of whether Zhang Xiuwen's words were true or false, he had to personally verify and search for it!

With this thought, he picked up Zhang Xiuwen's corpse and casually threw it into the mountain forest.

Attracted by the blood, it wouldn't take long for wild beasts to come and devour the body.

Then, Qin Zheng turned to the archer he had struck with the Black Fiend Palm and said, "Take me to your lair, and I'll spare your life."

The archer's face was filled with despair. Just a moment ago, he had only experienced a brief moment of the Black Fiend Palm's pain, and it was already unbearable.

Now, upon hearing Qin Zheng's words, light immediately appeared in his eyes.

"Is what the great hero says true?!"

Qin Zheng nodded slightly and said, "Lead the way!"

When he made his move, he had already anticipated that he wouldn't find any internal cultivation techniques on Zhang Xiuwen.

Therefore, when he attacked the archers, he deliberately spared one of them, using the Black Fiend Palm to corrupt his body, making him afraid to move rashly.

The sole purpose was to have him lead him to the bandits' lair.

The two of them crossed mountains and traversed ridges. Although the archer's martial arts were not impressive, he had reached the Skin-Refining Realm, and his progress through the wilderness was not slow.

In less than half an hour, the two arrived at a stronghold nestled deep within the mountains.

Since they were planning to attack Black Goose City today, almost all the bandits were absent from the stronghold, with only women and children remaining.

Upon seeing Qin Zheng's arrival, their faces showed vigilance.

"Take me to Zhang Xiuwen's residence."

Qin Zheng ignored them and spoke directly.

Since Zhang Xiuwen was one of Gao Wusheng's men, Gao Wusheng would surely send people to investigate the situation after his death.

He had to find the internal cultivation technique and leave this place as quickly as possible before Gao Wusheng's people arrived.

Led by the archer, Qin Zheng soon reached Zhang Xiuwen's dwelling.

"This is the residence of Chief Zhang. Normally, no one is allowed to approach here without his orders," the archer said, his face pale and trembling.

The palm force of the Black Fiend Palm was still corroding his body, causing unbearable pain.

Qin Zheng nodded. It was a loft located deep within the stronghold. As he walked inside, he saw that it was decorated with all sorts of animal furs.

He frowned slightly, then released his senses and began to search the room carefully.

The bed, the table, the floor...

Qin Zheng searched everywhere. Finally, after turning over the bed, he noticed that the floorboards were loose.

Lifting the floorboards, he immediately discovered a downward passage.

Qin Zheng's eyes lit up, and he bent down to enter the passage.

Beneath the passage was a small room filled with chests of gold and silver treasures, as well as various calligraphy and paintings.

Besides collecting protection fees from the four towns and thirteen villages, these bandits also robbed merchant caravans from time to time, making them incredibly wealthy.

Although this scene was breathtaking, Qin Zheng's mind was not on the gold and silver at the moment.

His gaze swept around, and on a shelf, he saw a jade box.

Qin Zheng quickly walked over, took down the jade box, and opened it.

Inside, a thin booklet was placed.

On it were written several large characters.

"Five Viscera Internal Cultivation Art"!