Healing, Commotion

In a secluded stone cave.

Lu Shaoyou sat cross-legged, five centers facing the heavens, and circulated his cultivation method to heal his injuries.

That strike from Li Batian was not only ferocious in force, but a peculiar inner force contained within his palm power actually seeped into Lu Shaoyou's meridians like clinging bone maggots, strand by strand, obstructing the circulation of his inner force and the recovery of his injuries.

The inner force of a half-step Innate, it really has some tricks to it, Lu Shaoyou snorted coldly in his heart, closed his eyes, and focused, attempting to circulate the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill to expel this foreign inner force.

System, check the attribute panel!

Name: Lu Shaoyou.

Cultivation: Super First-rate Martial Artist.

Technique: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill (Tenth Layer).

Secret Skills: Shaolin Cudgel Technique (Minor Accomplishment), Lingbo Weibu (Consummated), Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand (Initiated), Mountain Splitting Fist (Initiated).

Slaughter Value: 2980.

Inventory: Ten cubic meters.

Just as Lu Shaoyou was checking the panel, the system's prompt tone suddenly appeared.

Ding, please note, the host's current cultivation has reached the upper limit of mortal martial arts. The next stage is the Transcendent Tier, with an extremely massive span, and the required slaughter value will increase substantially.

Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, to advance to the next layer, requires 10000 slaughter value. Investment can be sustained; every 1000 slaughter value can increase the strength of one dragon and one elephant.

Please work hard, host!

10000 slaughter value, eh? It's really nothing much!

Just five Li Batians!

Lu Shaoyou did not take one ten-thousand slaughter value to heart.

On the contrary, every 1000 slaughter value increasing the strength of one dragon and one elephant—this actually made him somewhat astonished.

This was equivalent to a thousand catties of fist strength; he found it somewhat hard to imagine what kind of effect this punch would have if it landed on Li Mo's body.

Regarding this, Lu Shaoyou was filled with anticipation.

Detected that the host has one martial art awaiting comprehension. Will you comprehend it?

Dog Beating Staff Technique?

Comprehend!

System, consume 600 slaughter value to improve Lingbo Weibu!

Consume 2000 slaughter value to improve the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill.

Ding, congratulations to the host, Lingbo Weibu has attained the realm of transformation, and the progress of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill has increased to 20%.

In an instant, Lu Shaoyou felt earth-shaking changes take place within his body.

Formless inner force burst forth, and pale golden inner force actually gathered above his head into a dragon-elephant phantom, its might looking down upon the world with disdain.

While Lu Shaoyou was in the deep mountains concealing himself to heal his injuries, the ripples in the outside world originating from Lu Family Village were quietly spreading.

Commandery Governor's Manor, rear hall.

"What did you say? An entire village was wiped out?"

Zhang Chengye, the commandery governor of Yun Yuan County, was past fifty with a scholarly appearance, but at this moment he wore a furious expression. He slapped the teacup in his hand heavily onto the table, splashing tea everywhere.

The middle-aged man kneeling in the hall was covered in cold sweat and said tremblingly, "Reporting... reporting Your Honor, it is entirely true! Your subordinate has already sent men to make a preliminary inspection; Lu Family Village... not a single living soul remains, it is too horrific to behold!"

Zhang Chengye stood up abruptly, raging, "In broad daylight and under the bright sun, such vicious events actually occur within the borders of my Yun Yuan County! Whose deed is it? Has it been investigated clearly?"

"According... according to findings at the scene and the inscription on that stone tablet, this matter may be related to Black Wind Village. Furthermore, the person who erected the tablet is named Lu Shaoyou, who seems to be the sole survivor."

"Black Wind Village!" A cold flash crossed Zhang Chengye's eyes. "It's this group of lawless wretches again! This official has long wanted to wipe them out, but alas, the mountains are high and the roads treacherous, and the bandits are cunning!"

He waved his hand and shouted loudly toward the outside of the hall, "Men, pass down the order to the Iron Blood Camp! This official will personally lead a team to trample Black Wind Village flat!"

"Your Honor, calm your anger!"

A plump official hurried out from the side, none other than Commandery Vice-Governor Wang Gang.

A trace of sweat beaded on his forehead as he bowed and said, "Your Honor, Black Wind Village has entrenched itself for many years; the terrain is perilous, making it easy to defend and hard to attack, and the mounted bandits are extraordinarily fierce."

"If we rashly enter the mountains, I fear we will fall into an ambush."

"Moreover, for all these years, Black Wind Village has never committed such heinous deeds. It would be better to first send men to investigate thoroughly before making a decision. That alone is the safest strategy."

Hearing this, Zhang Chengye's anger subsided slightly. He pondered for a moment, "What Commandery Vice-Governor Wang says also makes sense. Then you shall take charge and promptly send men to investigate clearly!"

"This official wants to know whether this bloody case at Lu Family Village was truly done by Black Wind Village, and also where that Lu Shaoyou is right now!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Wang Gang bowed in acceptance, yet a trace of hard-to-detect panic flashed in his eyes.

He and Black Wind Village chieftain Li Batian had secret dealings all along, and the kickbacks he accepted were by no means small. If the commandery governor truly dispatched troops and dug something up, he himself would not be able to wash his hands of it.

After Wang Gang withdrew, he immediately summoned his trusted chief constable Zhao Close: "You immediately take a team under the guise of investigating the case, rush to Lu Family Village at once, and inspect carefully."

Having said that, he did not forget to add, "Remember, the focus is on finding clues related to Black Wind Village."

"Yes, Your Honor!"

Zhao Close received the order and, leading a team of constables, whipped their horses to gallop toward Lu Family Village.

Half a day later!

Lu Family Village!

"Tomb of the villagers who perished in Lu Family Village, erected by Lu Shaoyou." Zhao Close stood before the stone tablet, his face as gloomy as water, reading out loud word by word.

"Chief, take a look at this!"

A constable jogged over and handed over an object.

Zhao Close took it and looked, his expression shifting slightly. "This is... Black Wind Village's waist plaque!"

"Where was it found? Lead me there..."

The constable did not dare to be negligent, leading Zhao Close to a burned-down courtyard where there were still charred corpses of mounted bandits reduced to mere remnants on the ground.

After investigating once more, Zhao Close greeted his subordinates and whipped their horses to gallop back to the commandery city.

Vice-Governor's Manor.

Zhao Close handed over the waist plaque and bowed, saying, "Your Honor, this is the waist plaque this subordinate found. It is indeed from Black Wind Village!"

Wang Gang took the waist plaque, his face turning even redder from anger.

"Fool!"

He cursed angrily, speaking to Zhao Close, "You may withdraw first. I am already aware of this matter and will naturally report it to the commandery governor."

Once Zhao Close left, a figure walked into the hall.

Seeing the newcomer, Wang Gang's expression eased slightly, and he instructed, "Hurry to Black Wind Village with a fast horse and ask that old scoundrel Li Batian if he is trying to rebel or what."

The newcomer did not speak, simply nodding and departing in quick strides.

That night.

"What did you say? Black Wind Village was burned to a blank slate? Not a single shadow of a person left?" Upon hearing the report, the teacup in Wang Gang's hand dropped to the floor with a snap, shattering into smithereens.

His face turned ashen, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

After the shock passed, however, a massive boulder in Wang Gang's heart suddenly landed.

"Hahaha, they died wonderfully! This pack of thousand-cut beasts should have died long ago!"

Suddenly, Wang Gang let out a hearty laugh.

Li Batian was dead! Black Wind Village was gone! This meant there were no surviving witnesses!

He steadied his composure, quickly tidied his appearance, and rushed to the Commandery Governor's Manor through the night.

Within the stone cave, several days quietly passed.

Lu Shaoyou slowly opened his eyes, a brilliant light flashing through his pupils and vanishing. Glancing at his fully healed left shoulder, a trace of a smile inevitably appeared.

He stood up, stretched his muscles and bones, which emitted light cracking sounds. "It's time to go take a walk in Azure Province!"

Yet before this, he needed to go inquire about where Azure Province specifically was located and what kind of force the Blood Saber Sect was.

Two days later, at dusk, the silhouette of a majestic city appeared in Lu Shaoyou's field of vision.

Yun Yuan County City had arrived.