Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Alchemy and Disappearance
The Seventh Grade is the realm where Martial Dao first manifests its extraordinary nature, with Blood Qi penetrating from the Blood Marrow to form a Blood Armor on the body surface, greatly enhancing oneself.
Xu Guang picked up the pebbles that General Wei brought back from the riverbank outside, stretched out his hand, and gently squeezed.
The Blood Armor swayed, and the pebble quickly turned into powder in his palm.
Truly... effortless.
He tapped his hand against the iron long knife beside him, his palm like gold and iron, making a hard, crisp sound on impact.
Seventh Grade, indeed extraordinary.
However, the Blood Armor is mighty but consumes a lot, and it’s still difficult to escape when surrounded by hundreds of fully armored troops.
After the internal Blood Qi is exhausted, there’s even the danger of being killed.
Wang Ran’s death naturally caused a great disturbance within the sect.
Liu Ning was furious and swore to find the murderer and avenge Wang Ran.
In the end, Tie Kuang said something to calm Liu Ning down.
The official statement released was that Wang Ran died from severe injuries, unable to bear supplements, ultimately dying suddenly.
Fortunately, Wang Ran died in the Red Workshop, which is the territory of the Iron Armor Sect, so the news can be temporarily concealed.
Xu Guang naturally knows that the sect has more important matters now, and although Wang Ran is important, compared to the sect’s schemes, one Wang Ran is nothing significant.
But it’s imaginable that Liu Ning won’t let it go, and once everything settles, he will surely mobilize all his connections to investigate the cause of Wang Ran’s death.
But that is a matter for the future.
Xu Guang is not too worried.
Now, with his Seventh Grade cultivation, he is already considered a top expert in the Iron Armor Sect, and with General Wei, leaving is a trivial matter.
However, if the Iron Armor Sect succeeds in occupying Qingshuo County, as a Dharma Protector, he should be allocated a decent territory, which will also better support his and General Wei’s growth and cultivation.
There’s no need to leave disgracefully.
He held the spoils he found on Wang Ran, as he was quite interested in the relics due to Wang Ran’s final display of power.
A lotus-patterned cloth bag, containing a distinct feminine fragrance.
He wasn’t surprised.
Xu Guang had followed Wang Ran for a while, and before Wang Ran was injured, he was not honest, never rejecting female company.
Didn’t expect that even before fully recovering, he was so impatient, truly an evil ghost of lust.
He poured out all the contents of the bag: a few silk handkerchiefs, a pouch of silver coins, a small porcelain bottle emitting a bloody smell, and an album filled with indecent erotic paintings.
That’s all?
Quite a pauper.
Xu Guang shook his head, picked up the small porcelain bottle, shook it by his ear, opened it and dipped his finger in, then tasted it.
A spicy and burning sensation spread from his mouth.
A slight poison, with ample Blood Qi, and some rampant factors, like some kind of Demon Beast blood.
Not a bad haul, Xu Guang thought to himself.
He reached for the erotic album, intending to delve deeper into Wang Ran’s preferences, feeling that something was off about him.
The moment he touched it, his expression became vivid.
Unexpectedly, it’s all heavy-tasting, even in this era, affairs between men and women are so open? Truly an eye-opener.
With a critical mind, Xu Guang searched for flaws left by Wang Ran.
Suddenly, his expression changed.
This book cover... something’s wrong!
It seems to have a hidden compartment.
Carefully opening the hidden compartment, inside was a blood-colored Beast Skin Scroll with the words - Hundred Beasts Secret Record!
...
The Hundred Beasts Secret Record is not a cultivation technique but a very special secret technique. By directly infusing Demon Beast Essence Blood into one’s Blood Marrow, it alters one’s physique, transforming cultivation aptitude. It can also unleash Demon Blood within at crucial moments, greatly increasing one’s combat power.
Thinking of this, Xu Guang recalled Wang Ran’s final outburst. It seemed that at that time, Wang Ran unleashed Demon Blood, but...
In the face of Overwhelming Talent, the possibility of challenging those beyond one’s level is infinitesimally small.
No wonder Wang Ran, with an ordinary background and no significant achievements in his family, could become the most talented disciple of the Iron Armor Sect.
It turns out he had such an opportunity.
Xu Guang also finally understood why Wang Ran initially harbored a murderous intent towards him.
Presumably, he had his eyes on General Wei. Without revealing this secret technique, even Liu Ning wouldn’t agree to him killing General Wei for his blood.
So he wanted to kill Xu Guang to provoke General Wei into madness.
Xu Guang sighed in his heart.
This secret technique is rather cruel, using extreme pain to forcibly make the body absorb the mystique of Alien Species Essence Blood. The more wondrous the Demon Beast Alien Species, the harder it is to completely refine.
This secret technique can accommodate up to five types of Alien Species Essence Blood, but there is a risk of backlash.
Xu Guang thought of Wang Ran’s final madness, gaining an understanding of the secret technique’s backlash effects.
Perhaps, Wang Ran’s obsession with women is also due to cultivating this secret technique?
Thinking of this, Xu Guang hesitated about whether to practice this secret technique.
...
In the days that followed, Xu Guang spent his time daily on alchemy, reading, and training the children.
After breaking through to the Seventh Grade, it would be a while before he could have another breakthrough, so he focused on being a Pharmacist, and last night, he advanced to Level 5 in Pharmacy.
He took out the Blood Coral he had previously obtained from Su Yan.
This medicinal material was very precious, and since he wasn’t confident before, he had never attempted to perform alchemy with it.
Now that his Pharmacist level had improved, his skills naturally enhanced as well, perhaps he could attempt refining it into a pill.
Xu Guang carefully recalled the medicinal properties of Blood Coral in his mind and combined it with the Level 5 "Medicine Matching" skill to make the most reasonable concoction.
Having simulated the process over ten times in his mind, he finally decided to proceed.
Du Shizhen was practicing punches in the courtyard when he heard Xu Guang’s call and quickly ran over.
"Dharma Protector!"
"Help me with the fire."
Du Shizhen nodded vigorously, his eyes bright as he looked at Xu Guang, "Dharma Protector, are you going to alchemize again?"
Xu Guang smiled and patted his head, nodding.
Though Du Shizhen was young, he had endured hardships since childhood, was meticulous in his work, and with his tenacious character, Xu Guang saw great potential in him.
When the opportunity arises, he wouldn’t mind nurturing him.
As the flames grew increasingly intense and the furnace was about to take shape, Xu Guang first added a few medicinal guides and Rootless Water. Once he was sure they had completely melted, his expression turned ever more grave and focused.
...
While Xu Guang was engaging in alchemy, the entire Qingshuo County was abuzz with only one matter.
The Sect Leader of the Iron Armor Sect personally announced that Tie Xiong, first among the Inner Sect, was set to challenge Zhou Kun, the eldest son of the Zhou Platform’s Four Directions Guard.
This first open confrontation between two powerful factions attracted countless eyes.
As the arena was completed, the reasons gradually became known to people.
"The Iron Armor Sect people are a bit domineering. Do they really think the Four Directions Guard is easy to bully?"
"I heard Zhou Kun is tall and strong, born with Copper Skin and Iron Bone, reputed to have the courage to face ten thousand opponents alone. I wonder what means Tie Xiong has?"
"Heh, Tie Xiong isn’t even the most talented in the Iron Armor Sect. The most formidable genius there is named Wang Ran, who, at just nineteen, has achieved Eighth Grade Great Cultivation, but unfortunately..."
"Unfortunately what?"
"I heard that Wang Ran was gravely injured and has already succumbed to his wounds."
"Really?"
...
The city was in an uproar, and the Black Market was naturally also unsettled.
Martial Artists who could make their living in the city all had sharp instincts. The conflict between the Iron Armor Sect and the Four Directions Guard set off a series of chain reactions.
In recent days, transactions in the Black Market significantly increased, with people anxious to liquidate assets and others seizing the opportunity to obtain urgently needed items.
Deep within the Black Market courtyard.
The Sheep and Deer Generals were in the courtyard eating meat and drinking wine.
In the Inner Hall, Su Yan listened to her subordinates’ reports, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
Apart from trading with major powers, the Black Market’s daily business relied on the share fees from these Martial Artists’ transactions; the more people came, the more shares they collected.
"Workshop Master, these are all items related to Turtle Shells that have recently circulated to the Black Market. See if any of these are what you need?"
Su Yan glanced over the messy Turtle Shells on the table and casually nodded.
This was something Xu Guang had asked her to find. Since she sincerely cooperated with Xu Guang, she wouldn’t dig into his secrets.
"Is there any news from Zhai Kong’s side?"
She had noticed Xu Guang long ago and had the intention of procuring another Great Beast. After more than a month, there should be some news.
The somewhat shrewd Deer General nodded, "Mr. Zhai replied saying that the Great Bandits have no intentions of going to Kunlun for the time being. However, Zouchuan Dao’s Jiang Family’s Third Master Jiang is currently in the Kunlun area seeking a breakthrough, and you should contact him yourself."
Su Yan fell silent for a moment, squinting her eyes. This obviously perfunctory reply did not satisfy her, but she couldn’t command the Thirty-Six Great Bandits, so she simply nodded and asked again.
"Has Xie Peak been found?"
Xie Peak, a Tributor in the Black Market with formidable strength and an Eighth Grade Great Cultivation, was one of Su Yan’s core personnel. He had been missing for over ten days, neither seen alive nor dead.
The maid froze momentarily before lowering her head. After a long while, she slowly said, "We only found out the last place Lord Xie went before he disappeared."
"Where did he go?"
With a chill in her expression, Su Yan, as the ruler of the Black Market, was never one for mercy. She had always believed Xie Peak took some treasure and fled. Now, having a clue about Xie Peak, she would not let it go easily.
Fairness in reward and punishment is the foundation of a power’s survival.
"According to the current investigation, he disappeared from the steward’s house in the Black Market. Lord Qian and Lord Li have investigated five times and ultimately confirmed this result."
Su Yan squinted her eyes. Disappearing inside the house itself?
That sounds somewhat bizarre.