Attack!

Zhao Wanqing's expression changed sharply.

The name Central Province carried tremendous weight in southern Dan Prefecture.

Or rather, there were only two places in this world: Central Province and everywhere outside it.

The fundamental reason was that the world's spiritual veins originated in Central Province before branching out into the other continents.

Thus, Central Province had the highest concentration of spiritual energy in this world. Spiritual energy was the very foundation of cultivation; only with more of it could more high-value spirit plants and items arise.

Even the spiritual roots of people born in Central Province were naturally stronger than those of cultivators from other continents.

Central Province crushed the other continents with irresistible strength.

Its sects could not even be bothered to expand into the other continents. Without exception, they disdained those places for being so poor that there was no fat to skim!

Very few Central Province cultivators traveled to other continents, either. Those who did had either failed to make a living in Central Province or given up entirely.

But once someone stepped onto the path of cultivation, who would not want to glimpse the Great Dao and splendor that the highest cultivators could see?

That was why evil cultivators from Central Province were such an intimidating threat.

Still, as long as evil cultivators from Central Province were reported to its Immortal Alliance, Central Province cultivators would naturally come to deal with them.

But all that required the very thing Zhao Wanqing lacked most: time.

Chu Xingchen continued questioning him. "What else?"

That single statement was not enough to fool Chu Xingchen. Before his rebirth, had Li Xingtian not also made his way to Central Province?

He had even heard that Li Xingtian had flourished there.

"At this point, I'll tell you what I really think." Guan Quan's face darkened at once, and his tone grew serious. "They definitely haven't been buying things only from us."

"When rumors of evil cultivators performing blood sacrifices started spreading recently, I grew suspicious. I originally thought they would flee somewhere far away once their deeds came to light."

"But they didn't. They've even increased the amount they buy."

"My guess is that their blood sacrifices of mortals are just a smokescreen. How could sacrificing only mortals satisfy the appetites of that bunch from Central Province?"

"Their real targets should be the nearby sects! Only blood sacrifices of cultivators could satisfy them!"

If he had a choice, Guan Quan would not have wanted any part in these matters. He would have been content selling goods and earning a few spirit stones, but circumstances always pushed people along.

There were always risks in this line of work.

If the Demon-Suppression Bureau had not come, he probably would have kept his mouth shut forever.

The blood sacrifice of a sect had nothing to do with him. Besides, he could make quite a bit of money from it.

But the handsome man before him was not someone he could easily fool.

Guan Quan had no doubt whatsoever that the sword against his neck could come down.

With things having reached this point, rather than go back and figure out how to placate those evil cultivators, he might as well sell them out completely!

Kill every last one of those damned evil cultivators, until none of them ever dared come back!

That would rid him of future worries, too!

Guan Quan's expression turned vicious. "If you really intend to get involved, investigate those sects. You might find something unexpected!"

Chu Xingchen slowly withdrew his spirit sword and looked at Zhao Wanqing, who had listened to the entire exchange beside him.

Zhao Wanqing's brows were tightly furrowed, her hand already gripping her short saber. Only after a long while did she speak:

"You can leave now."

Relief spread across Guan Quan's face. Then he immediately drew a short saber from his waist and, under Zhao Wanqing's astonished gaze, viciously slashed himself several times across his body.

Then he turned and sprinted toward the docks.

Zhao Wanqing watched his retreating figure, her tone puzzled. "A self-injury ploy? Isn't that a little too obvious?"

Chu Xingchen chuckled and explained, "There are plenty of things words alone can't explain. Whatever he says, anyone inclined to suspect him will still suspect him. What matters to him now is showing where he stands."

Zhao Wanqing glanced sideways at Chu Xingchen and asked:

"Then do you think he was telling the truth?"

"What do you think?"

Zhao Wanqing lowered her head, her expression heavy. After a long while, she said:

"He probably was."

"Then do you still intend to keep investigating?" Chu Xingchen's tone was calm.

Zhao Wanqing cupped her hands.

"I won't trouble you with what comes next, Senior. Thank you for your help."

After all, Central Province was involved. The strongest of those evil cultivators would have at least Golden Core cultivation, compounded by that terrifying blood energy.

Expecting a Golden Core True Person to take such a risk for four hundred spirit stones was sheer nonsense.

Chu Xingchen asked, "It's no trouble. But do you still intend to investigate on your own?"

Zhao Wanqing answered firmly, "Yes!"

Chu Xingchen teased her. "You're too dim to get anywhere on your own."

"Even if I get nowhere, I still have to investigate."

"Honestly, you're so dim. You don't even understand what I'm saying."

Zhao Wanqing asked in confusion, "Then what do you mean, Senior?"

"Pay more!"

Covered in blood, Guan Quan ran back to his docks and shoved aside the underlings who approached to check on him.

He headed straight for a small room and violently pushed the door open.

Inside, a man in black robes sat quietly in a chair. His voice was hoarse:

"You're back?"

Those words made Guan Quan freeze for an instant, but he still reacted quickly, his tone urgent:

"The Demon-Suppression Bureau has found out! I'm going to hide in Liangyang City for a while! You should run too!"

"What are you panicking for?" The black-robed man chuckled. "So what if it's the Demon-Suppression Bureau?"

The black-robed man's leisurely manner was completely beyond Guan Quan's expectations.

At that moment, it was as though he were the one from the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

Guan Quan could not understand why this evil cultivator was so arrogant.

"They know you're here! They'll probably send people to arrest you any moment! Even if you aren't afraid, shouldn't you withdraw first?!"

The black-robed man tapped the table lightly. "Don't rush. Wait a little longer."

Guan Quan asked in astonishment, "Wait longer?! For what?"

"For those people from the Demon-Suppression Bureau to arrive, of course."

Guan Quan sensed that something was wrong. The evil cultivator before him was like a damned madman. He hurriedly said:

"What the hell are you thinking? I'm not joining you in this madness. I'm leaving! Receive the goods here yourself!"

With that, he turned to leave.

But the black-robed man reached out and seized Guan Quan's shoulder.

"Wait here with me a little longer."

Guan Quan glared so fiercely that his eyes nearly split. "What the hell are you waiting for?"

"For... someone to arrive, of course." The instant the black-robed man finished speaking, a surge of dark red blood energy erupted from his right hand and lunged straight at Guan Quan's head.

Guan Quan had already been on guard. The moment he saw the black-robed man attack, he darted away.

"What the fuck do you gain by attacking me?!"

The black-robed man gave no answer. Dark red spiritual energy suddenly burst from his body, carrying an overwhelmingly thick stench of blood.

He abruptly caught up and hurled a vicious punch at Guan Quan's head!

Guan Quan snapped his arms up to block!

Bam!

Guan Quan felt an immense weight behind that fist. The blood energy also suddenly burrowed into his meridians, wildly churning his spiritual energy!

Guan Quan's aptitude was poor. Even his foundation establishment had been forcibly piled up with pills, leaving him with a cracked-grade foundation.

The black-robed man, meanwhile, not only had blood energy bolstering him, but was also at foundation establishment peak!

Moreover, Guan Quan had viciously wounded himself on his way here. He was even less of a match in this clash!

The black-robed man glanced to the side and saw that Zhao Wanqing had already arrived a short distance away.

Immediately, the blood energy within him surged even more fiercely, as though he feared Zhao Wanqing would not see it.

Then, right before Zhao Wanqing's eyes,

he smashed his fist into Guan Quan's head, blow after blow after blow.

He smashed his head to pieces.