ã€ŠI Have A Martial Dao Worldã€‹


 Chapter 1: 1. Starting at hell difficulty, luckily there are double pass-through doors.

    <h4>Chapter 1: 1. Starting at hell difficulty, luckily there are double pass-through doors.</h4>

    ```

    For patients with terminal illness, hospitals often have a special ward called the "Terminal Care Ward."

    The name sounds warm-hearted, yet in in terms, it''s nothing but a neglected ce for awaiting death.

    At this moment, Lu Yaoy on the bed in the Terminal Care Ward, staring nkly at the cup of water on the bedside table, wanting to take a sip.

    But he had exhausted all his strength and still couldn''t make his body leave the bed. Severe pain and weakness had turned this once simple task into an unattainable luxury.

    Lu Yao was in the advanced stages of cancer, surviving on willpower alone until now, but it only meant enduring a few more days of suffering.

    Then, a voice tinged with schadenfreude rang out, "Cousin, you really are in a sorry state. You can''t even drink water without depending on someone else''s charity."

    A handsome young man sat leisurely in front of the bed, legs crossed, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

    "Beg me and I''ll give you a drink, how about that?"

    Lu Yao was expressionless, silent. Since losing the ability to take care of himself, he had seen plenty of his rtives'' true faces, one more didn''t make a difference.

    The man stood up, took the cup in his hand and offered it, "Don''t be angry, cousin, I was just joking. You''ve been so good to me, feeding you water is the least I can do."

    After speaking, he slowly poured the water from the cup onto Lu Yao''s pale and gaunt face.

    Choking, Lu Yao coughed weakly a few times, grateful that the small amount of water that passed his throat gave him the strength to speak:

    "Zhang Xin, why? I''ve never wronged you. When you went to study abroad in the Star Alliance Country, I was the one who funded you!"

    Zhang Xin set down the cup, speaking slowly and calmly, "It''s because you''re so old-fashioned. It was just some cold medicine, not illegal, and yet you had to block it at every turn."

    A sh ofprehension crossed Lu Yao''s face. "Zhang Xin, you trash, you can''t change your ways. Exporting cold medicine to foreign countries to extract drugs...cough, cough..."

    Zhang Xin adjusted his tie, smiling, "Don''t nder me. I am an internationally renowned businessman. This time when I came back to the country, the ''Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau'' even called to wee me~"

    Lu Yao let out a sigh, knowing he could do nothing now, so he simply closed his eyes and stopped talking, quietly waiting for death toe.

    But Zhang Xin didn''t intend to make it easy for his cousin on the brink of death, tortured by illness. He leaned in close and whispered:

    "Cousin, the truth is, I came back to the country mainly to see you onest time, to tell you¡ªyour cancer, I caused it~"

    Lu Yao''s eyes snapped open. "What did you say!"

    With a smile, Zhang Xin took out a lead box and opened it, revealing a bizarre triangr ornament, palm-sized, with a pattern resembling an eye in the center, that looked extremely antique.

    "Look familiar? I personally gave this to you, a genuine antique. I mixed in some radioactive material, prolonged exposure would turn you into the ghost you are now."

    Lu Yao immediately recognized it as the antique he loved so much, always ced on his desk, yed with now and then, never imagining it was a deadly object!

    He reached out with an arm as if it were a withered twig, clutching the arm of the person before him fiercely! "You..."

    "Don''t get worked up~ cousin, my suit is very expensive." Zhang Xin easily removed Lu Yao''s hand, carefully pinched the lead box, and stuffed the radioactive ornament into his bosom.

    "I have a flight to catch, so I have to leave now. Keep this as a memento, and if I get the chance, I''ll dance on your grave~"

    After finishing speaking, Zhang Xinposedly got up and left. Before going out, he even turned back and yfully winked. Originally feminine in looks, his gestures at that moment were somewhat coquettish.

    The bodyguard was very observant, quickly opening the door to the ward. At the same time, he contacted his colleagues through a wireless earpiece to start the car in advance.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao could only lie powerlessly on the bed, his entire body racked with bone-boring, heart-piercing pain, interspersed with boundless regret and frustration.

    But soon, the severe pain gradually faded, leaving only numbness. Lu Yao faintly heard his deceased parents calling for him.

    Just as his body felt lighter and he was about to lose consciousness, a sudden warmth burst from his chest, shocking him awake.

    He took the triangr ornament out of his bosom and found it to be unbearably hot, even giving off a faint glow!

    The next second, the ornament dissolved into firefly-like green spots of light, which entered his head through his facial orifices!

    ```

    A voice echoed in Lu Yao''s mind: "Star Key chargingplete, Dimensional Door opening."

    "What is this?"

    He thought it might be an auditory hallucination, but immediately after, a green light door appeared beneath him! The light door resembled a vortex and was slowly rotating.

    With a shocked expression, Lu Yao fell through the light door and disappeared.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on an unfamiliar street, surrounded by green-brick and tile-roof houses, radiating an ancient charm.

    The familiar prompt sounded once more: "Commandpleted, Star Key standing by."

    Lu Yao closed his eyes and could clearly sense¡ªthere was something named "Star Key" in his mind now.

    All he needed to do was to issue a mentalmand, and the "Dimensional Door" would open!

    After repeatedly confirming, he was immensely astonished, "The ornament named ''Star Key'' that Zhang Xin gave me, it turns out to be a tool for traveling between worlds!"

    At that moment, a rickshaw passed by, with the muscled coolie wearing a sweat towel around his neck, and the female passenger d in a sexy and colorful cheongsam.

    "Is this... the Republic of China!? No, that can''t be right, why are there two suns in the sky!"

    Although the rickshaw and cheongsam were very characteristic, the presence of two suns was dazzling beyondpare, leading Lu Yao to suspect¡ªhe was no longer on Blue Star.

    Just then, the sharp pain of bone erosion attacked once again, and Lu Yao clenched his teeth, forcing himself not to lose consciousness.

    Having the transportational gate to travel between worlds should have been an opportunity to disy his prowess, but standing was a luxury he couldn''t afford; he was powerless despite having a treasure trove at his disposal.

    At that moment, the sound of firecrackers crackling came through!

    Not far away, a festively decorated mansion was celebrating its grand opening, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.

    Several young men dresssed in ck practice clothes were stuffing flyers everywhere. A few swept up to his feet by the wind, bearing barely legible block characters.

    Lu Yao nced at them¡ªtraditional Chinese characters¡ªLiao''s Martial Arts School grand opening sale, 20% off martial arts lessons!

    "Martial arts school?"

    Lu Yao looked up and saw a woman in ck martial attire with a proud posture, greeting people around her with a cupped-fist salute.

    The onlookers marvelled, "A new martial arts school? Wow, the master is a woman!"

    "It''s quite unusual, let''s see how she performs the ''Standing Stake''."

    Among the expectant gazes of the people, several young men carried a wooden stake two meters long and as thick as a thigh, erecting and steadying it.

    The female martial master took a deep breath, leapt up to the height of a three-story building, and descended from the sky, striking the wooden stake with a fierce punch!

    With a resounding "bang," the stake hammered into the ground a meter deep like a nail!

    Witnessing such a splendid scene, the crowd cheered loudly:

    "The Standing Stake at three feet and two inches, what impressive Kung Fu!"

    "Her punch is so powerful; the use of energy is exquisite to the peak, truly worthy of being a martial master!"

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao''s mouth hung open in astonishment! He even momentarily forgot the intense pain coursing through his body!

    Leaping 10 meters high and pushing a thick, long wooden stake into the ground as if it were grass, that was definitely supernatural strength!

    "The passersby just now said this is ''Standing Stake''? It''s a custom when opening a martial arts school, a disy of power."

    "Heaven doesn''t seal off all exits! In a world filled with supernatural strength, could there be a cure for my cancer!!!"

 Chapter 2: Liaoâ€™s Boxing Gym

    <h4>Chapter 2: Liao''s Boxing Gym</h4>

    The opening of the martial arts school went smoothly, and the "Standing Stake" female master bowed and saluted in all directions, shouting,

    "I am the owner of the Liao Family Fist School¡ªLiao Ya! The Liao Family Fist has a long heritage, and we have our unique expertise in medicine. You are all wee to patronize!"

    Upon hearing this, the crowd reacted as if it were to be expected. Since ancient times, medicine and martial arts have been inseparable; martial artists train in the ways of the body and master the nourishment of medicinal herbs.

    Lu Yao also heard these words and desperately tried to approach the school, seizing a glimmer of hope. But the excruciating pain that gnawed at his bones made his body unresponsive.

    "You can do it! Hold on! Keep going!" He was drenched in cold sweat, his clothes soaked through, as he used his will to crawl forward bit by bit.

    But willpower has its limits, and his battered body simply couldn''t move.

    Just when all seemed hopeless, a pair of embroidered boots appeared before his face. Looking up, he saw a pretty young girl dressed in an onion-green jacket and skirt.

    The girl was delicate and beautiful, with creamy skin and jet-ck braids shining brightly. Her almond eyes curiously surveyed Lu Yao, who was only in his pyjamas.

    She squatted down with a smile and asked in a sweet voice, "Young master, are you here to seek medical treatment?"

    Lu Yao nodded hurriedly. Before he could react, the girl scooped him up and ran towards the martial arts school like the wind!

    Arriving quickly at the back hall, the girl shouted, "Sister, sister,e quick, there''s a big business opportunity!"

    "Liao Qe! Settle down! Don''t be so hasty!" The woman who came to meet her was none other than the "Standing Stake" master from earlier; it turned out the two were sisters.

    Although not old, the female master had a mature face with a hint of youthfulness. But her figure was enchantingly attractive, her clothes taut across her chest.

    The young girl named Liao Qe gently ced Lu Yao on a chair and whispered to her sister,

    "Soft and delicate skin, without a trace ofbor marks, strangely dressed but the material of his clothes is of high quality¡ªone look and you know he''s a young master from a wealthy family! The key point is¡ªhe''s critically ill! This is definitely a huge business opportunity¡ªwe just happen to need money..."

    In any world, medical care is highly profitable, especially for the wealthy who do not want to die.

    The female master first red at her sister, then bowed to Lu Yao and said, "I am Liao Ya from the Liao Family Fist; I will take your pulse first, young master."

    Her voice was very gentle, nothing like the fierce woman who had just demonstrated the Standing Stake.

    As her fair and slender fingers touched his wrist, Lu Yao felt a warm current flow through his body from the wrist.

    After a while, Liao Ya withdrew her fingers apologetically, "Young master, it is said that ''a doctor cannot heal those who are already dying'', you must understand your condition, I am powerless to help!"

    As soon as she said this, her sister Liao Qe became anxious, "Sister, what are you saying! How do you know you''re powerless if you don''t try!"

    This is a wealthy client, after all. Start by prescribing him a course of expensive herbs!

    Lu Yao''s mood fluctuated wildly, and even more intense pain struck, leaving him unable to speak.

    Seeing this, Liao Ya quickly took out a set of needles and, in the blink of an eye, inserted them at several key aperture points, stimting the body''s vitality.

    Lu Yao visibly rxed and took a deep breath, "Thank you, Master Liao! I haven''t felt thisfortable in a long time."

    Lu Yao''s current state was like having a severe cold with a 39-degree fever, not particrlyfortable.

    But to him, it was an unprecedented level of relief, enough to move about on his own!

    He couldn''t help but look at the several ordinary-looking thin needles and marveled, "Just a few simple needles can have such an instantly noticeable effect, truly masterful! Please continue the treatment."

    More and more certain¡ª in a world where extraordinary powers exist, his illness could surely be cured!

    Liao Ya put away the needles and shook her head gently, "Young master, this is only a temporary relief. I have merely suppressed the intense pain in your body."

    Her medical skills were not bad, especially the family''s unique golden needle technique was quite special. But forte-stage cancer, she was truly helpless.

    But her sister Liao Qe jumped in and boldly assured, "Young master, rest assured, my sister has both integrity and skill, she won''t let you down! You can stay at the martial arts school, which will make it easier for ongoing treatment."

    The little money-lover, while talking, kept making eyes at her sister, signaling not to let the cash cow escape.

    Lu Yao was more than willing, and bowed, "Then I''m in your debt!"

    "No problem at all! But, Young Master Lu, my sister''s consultation fee... won''t be cheap!" Liao Qe''s eyes glittered as she fixed her gaze on Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao waved his hand grandly, "I have plenty of money, the medical fee will not be shorted!"

    The impressive and robust aura of someone with deep pockets made Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, smile crookedly in delight.

    In reality, he didn''t have a penny to his name...

    Liao Ya didn''t say much more, thinking it would be nice for the young master to leave a bit morefortably.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The time that followed was precious.

    While the pain was kept at bay by acupuncture, and he was able to move on his own, Lu Yao gathered all items with writing on them from the martial arts school, especially¡ªthe newspapers, and read them carefully to understand the world he was in.

    This ce was "Yunzhou," under the rule of the "Shun" Dynasty, very much like the Qing Dynasty on Blue Star.

    The history of the two worlds was almost identical, but here the timeline had diverged¡ªthe Manchu Qing didn''t win at the end of Ming Dynasty, but rather it was Li Zicheng, the King of Chuang, and the Shun Dynasty ensued.

    At this time, the Great Shun Dynasty had just suffered a defeat, signed a treaty that cedednd and paid reparations, but the Empress Dowager still wanted to renovate her gardens, so taxes were increased.

    The all-too-familiar backdrop of schemes and troubles led to uprisings all over the ce. With frequent wars and a weakened Imperial Court, it was a scene of utter chaos.

    Thus, the people of Great Shun started to internalize the struggle, enrolling to learn various lethal skills to boost theirpetitiveness. Martial arts schools sprang up everywhere like mushrooms after rain.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "I''m in luck, for now, I have a ce to stay. Because I appeared affluent, the little money-grubber even prepared a private room for me, offering generous treatment. However..."

    Lu Yao put down a newspaper with a puzzled look:

    "Everything else is fine, but the silver in this world isn''t right! The Shun Empire''s reparation payments... only ten thousand taels of silver!? Such a small sum has brought the people to the brink of survival and caused widespread conflict."

    He distinctly remembered from history ss that thest feudal dynasty on his side had reparations amounting to tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of taels of silver.

    After perusing a few more newspapers, not even skipping the ads, especially paying close attention to anything with a price, he finally confirmed¡ªthe price of silver here was outrageously high!

    "The currency of the Shun Dynasty is called copper yuan, and the annual tuition fee for a martial arts school is only 100 copper yuan. Yet 1 tael of silver can actually be exchanged for 10,000 copper yuan;"

    "On Blue Star, 1 tael of silver... is only 250 yuan! All I need to do is bring a bit of silver over, and I could go from a faux-rich to genuinely wealthy!"

    "This way, there''s no need to worry about medical expenses."

    As Lu Yao continued to calcte, suddenly, waves of intense pain surged through him.

    "As expected, it''s just a temporary solution, not a cure, the pain has started again!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    He got up and went to the back hall of the boxing school, where the two sisters were.

    The two girls looked very simr, even their hairstyles were the same double braids, their fair skin underneath glowed with a healthy flush, their eyes brimming with youthful beauty.

    Liao Ya skillfully administered the acupuncture, and as Lu Yao gazed at the girl''s graceful and lovely face, along with the effects of the acupuncture, his body began to rx.

    Seeing the treatment was over, Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, ran up excitedly and said sweetly, "Young Master Lu, that... your treatment took a lot of effort... perhaps you could pay a deposit?"

    Lu Yao was penniless, not even wearing underwear, but his demeanor was still imperious as he dered, "I have no money!"

    The little money-grubber''s expression changed, but Lu Yao quickly added, "I''m a wealthy overseas tycoon, what I certainly don''tck is money. Just tell me, how much is the total medical fee in silver?"

    The little money-grubber finally settled down, coyly took a moment, and then tentatively said:

    "Young master, these are troubled times, and the price of grain is rising threefold each day, so how about we charge you 5,000 copper yuan?"

    The annual tuition fee for a disciple at the boxing school was only 100 copper yuan, so this amount was equivalent to fifty years of tuition¡ªa huge sum!

    But to Lu Yao, after doing the math, it was just half a tael of silver, equivalent to 125 yuan on Blue Star. Such a modest amount wouldn''t even cover a few meals of takeout. It was incredibly cheap!

    So he quickly agreed, "No problem, I''ll go back and get the money right away."

    "Young Master Lu is so generous!" the little money-grubber eximed in delight. She had asked for an exorbitant amount without expectation, and he had agreed immediately¡ªhe truly must be from a wealthy family!

 Chapter 3: 3. Silver moves peopleâ€™s hearts

    <h4>Chapter 3: 3. Silver moves people''s hearts</h4>

    Lu Yao returned to his own room, ready to activate the Dimensional Door.

    His room was quite secluded, far from the main house, reflecting the propriety of gender separation. But it allowed him to avoid prying eyes.

    Lu Yao closed the doors and windows and called out in his mind, "Star Key, open the Dimensional Door!"

    [Command confirmed, Dimensional Door opening]

    A vortex-like "light door" around ten square meters in size appeared. Lu Yao felt that it more closely resembled a "transportation array".

    Stepping through the light door, after a very brief sensation of weightlessness, he was already back in the Blue Star hospital room.

    "Back at the hospital... it seems that the door opens back to the same ce it was opened from."

    He donned his long-missed clothes, turned on his smartphone which hadn''t been used in who knows how long, and the experiences before felt like a dream, yet there was a glimmer of hope!

    Lu Yao clenched his teeth and said, "Zhang Xin, you just wait! And thanks for the Star Key you sent me!"

    He ran a small logisticspany inherited from his parents when Zhang Xin came to him to talk business.

    Finding the transport of several hundred tons of cold medicine too suspicious, he firmly refused. But he didn''t expect the man to be so venomous!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Taking advantage of thesting effects of the acupuncture, Lu Yao hurriedly took action.

    Silver on Blue Star was not only much cheaper than in the Otherworld, but one could buy it without even leaving the house.

    Online shopping was very convenient in modern society, and in a rush, one could search for local businesses and have the owners deliver directly to the door.

    Lu Yao used a shopping app to find a local silver shop in the city. He spent 5,000 yuan to buy 1 kilogram of pure silver, which was about 20 taels.

    He asked the shop to cut it into various sizes and left a message saying, "Boss, I urgently need the silver, can you deliver it today?"

    The other party immediately replied, "I''ve seen your order. We''re not far from each other, I''ll deliver it right away."

    "Thanks a lot!"

    "Don''t mention it, just leave a good review with a photo~"

    "No problem!"

    The entire shopping process took less than 10 minutes, and now all he had to do was wait for the delivery.

    To avoid drawing attention, Lu Yao quietly left the hospital and took a taxi back home, leaving his home address as the delivery address as well.

    No sooner had he arrived home than his phone rang. As it happened, he and the deliveryman arrived at the same time.

    The 20 taels of silver were only as big as a fist, cut into exquisitely shaped silver ingots, glistening in the sunlight.

    After checking the goods, Lu Yao brought them back home. By then, he was drenched in cold sweat, his backpletely soaked.

    Sitting on the couch and catching his breath for a while brought some relief.

    "My body now is worse than that of a three-year-old child."

    He only realized the value of something once he had lost it, and Lu Yao missed his once healthy body immensely.

    "At least heaven didn''t seal all exits, leaving me a slim chance of survival!"

    "But... I''m out of money..."

    Lu Yao frowned tightly¡ªthere were only 6,000 yuan left in his bank ount!

    He was not born into wealth, and to raise money for treatment, he had sold thepany to rtives long ago. But cancer was a bottomless pit, beyond what ordinary people can handle, and there was no money left at home.

    "Let''s focus on staying alive first; this money shouldst me a while."

    Putting aside his concerns for the moment, Lu Yao activated the Dimensional Door and returned to the Otherworld with the silver.

    ~~~~~~~~

    As the transportation ended, the Dimensional Door immediately disappeared.

    Lu Yao pushed open the door and faintly heard the shouts of martial arts training.

    "Hey!"

    "Ha!"

    "Put some strength in, hold the stance!"

    In the Liao Family Boxing Gym, the daily morning training had already begun.

    Today Master Liao was dressed in a dark, form-fitting martial outfit, revealing the figure of a person well-practiced in martial arts: slender waist, long legs, round buttocks, and with a full chest, truly disying an admirable physique.

    Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, was also in the boxing squad, but she was frequently distracted and daydreaming, earning her severalshes on her ample bottom from her sister''s rattan cane.

    "That damned brat, said he was going home to get money... Didn''t run away, did he!? Could it be that I really misjudged him! Damn it! My money!!!"

    Last night, Lu Yao hadn''t returned home, which had left her terrified that she might have been swindled out of her services.

    The male disciples couldn''t stop sneaking nces at her, harboring thoughts about this beautiful "little martial sister."

    In reality, they would have preferred to ogle their master, but they didn''t dare. The master was an Organ Refining Warrior and could sense their gazes.

    Just at that moment, a thin young man approached; it was Lu Yao.

    Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, widened her almond eyes and approached with murderous intent, baring her teeth, "You dare deny the consultation fee..."

    As this little tiger was about to pounce and rip him apart, Lu Yao timely threw something shiny her way.

    Liao Qe caught it instinctively, freezing on the spot.

    "What is this beautiful and shiny thing? Let me have a taste~"

    The little money-grubber took the metal strip the size of her little finger and bit into it, the intoxicating texture told her¡ªit was silver of extremely high purity!

    The strong bodily control of a martial artist instantly judged its weight¡ª1 tael!!!

    That was 10,000 copper yuan! At the moment, Liao Qe was rolling on the ground and dancing in her inner world:

    "A year''s tuition at the martial arts school is 100 copper, this silver is like 100 years of tuition fees! Young Master Lu is really rich! I did not misjudge him after all! Ahahaha!"

    Seeing the girl standing there dumbfounded, Lu Yao waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Hey, hey, what''s wrong with you? Do you think this is enough for the consultation fee?"

    Liao Qe regained her senses and casually flicked her hair.

    She had been all wide-eyed and furious, but in the brief moment of covering her face while flicking her hair, she instantly turned into a sprightly fairy.

    In a coquettish voice, she said, "Young Master Lu, you didn''t return all night, I was so worried~"

    "I''m sorry for making you worry, it was my fault, here''s another one for you," said Lu Yao, tossing another ingot of silver her way.

    This one was much bigger than thest, its silvery brilliance dazzling Liao Qe''s eyes.

    With a thud, she was hit squarely on the forehead, then she clutched it tightly in her hand to confirm¡ª10 taels of silver!!!

    The silver ingot bore the auspicious bas-relief of a carp, lifelike in detail. Liao Qe couldn''t believe it and felt as if she was in a dream:

    "This 10 taels of silver... Is it really... for me? It''s like a thousand years of tuition for a disciple... He just gave it to me?"

    Having spent half of the 20 taels of silver he brought in one go, Lu Yao remained unflustered and nodded with a smile, "Yes, it''s for you, it''s yours now."

    He was genuinely grateful for this charming girl''s lifesaving grace.

    The little money-grubber stared nkly with a silly smile, a clear trail of drool visible at the corner of her mouth.

    Just then, Liao Ya came over, giving her sister a thump on the head, "Snap out of it! Don''t embarrass yourself!"

    Then she said to Lu Yao, "Young Master Lu, it was just a few acupuncture sessions, it didn''t need so much..."

    While she spoke, she tried to take the silver from her sister''s hand. The dignity of a strong person, good upbringing, and kind nature made her reluctant to ept such a "huge" amount of silver.

    But Liao Qe, the little money-grubber, immediately clutched it tightly, letting out a piercing scream, "No, this is mine!!!"

    Liao Ya''s pretty face turned frosty as she sternly said, "Liao Qe! Have you forgotten father''s teachings? A martial artist must never covet! We must not take money that isn''t ours!"

    Lu Yao hadn''t expected this to be a girl with principles and persistence, so he quickly said, "Master Liao, this is my sincere gratitude."

    Liao Qe also whispered, "Sister, you need a lot of money to advance to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm..."

    At these words, Liao Ya''s body stiffened, and her movements slowed down.

    Seizing the moment, Lu Yao sped his hands together earnestly, "I''m the kind of person who hates owing others favors. I''m more anxious to repay a debt than take revenge. Please take it, don''t refuse."

    His words were sincere, and since Liao Ya hadn''t managed to take the silver away after trying for so long, it was no longer polite to refuse. She allowed her sister to keep it, saying somewhat bashfully, "You''ve gone to great expense, Young Master Lu."

    "Not at all, I''ll still need to trouble you to care for my illness," he replied.

    Blushing, the sister exchanged pleasantries with Lu Yao, still feeling like she had taken advantage of him and somewhat embarrassed. She then said to her sister, "Quickly go get a portion of the tonic from the school for the young master."

    Liao Qe nodded, "It''s being prepared, it''ll be ready to eat in a bit."

    "A tonic?" Lu Yao''s eyes lit up.

 Chapter 4: Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup

    <h4>Chapter 4: Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup</h4>

    The three arrived at Liao Ya''s exclusive Cultivation Quiet Room. In addition to the girl''s fragrance, the room was filled with a faint scent of herbs.

    A sand pot was bubbling away, and Liao Qe took out three bowls, pouring the medicinal juice into them.

    Liao Ya''s portion was the most, a full bowl; Liao Qe''s own was the next; Lu Yao''s was the least, merely a mouthful.

    She exined, "Young Master Lu, it''s not that I''m being stingy. Your body is too frail to handle nourishment. The Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, I only dare to give you this much."

    Lu Yao curiously sniffed it, the strong scent of medicine was infused with a unique aroma.

    After suffering from organ failure and having no appetite for a long time, he actually began to salivate subconsciously, his body instinctively craving the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup!

    He hurriedly drank it down, only to feel a warmth flow from his esophagus into his stomach, then spreading throughout his body, providing an extremelyfortable warmth.

    His body, previously barely mobile after acupuncture, now already had some strength!

    It was like having a fever of 39 degrees that dropped to 38, the relief was substantial.

    Lu Yao moved his limbs, unable to help eximing, "Such an immediate effect, it''s magical!"

    Liao Qe said proudly, "This is a secret prescription handed down by my Liao Family, brewed from 10 expensive and rare medicinal ingredients! It nourishes vital energy, greatly benefiting martial artists in their practice. The prescriptiones from ''Mister Bin Hu'' himself."

    Mister Bin Hu was Li Shizhen, they say there''s no cure for stupidity, that guy.

    Lu Yao responded with utmost respect, "I''ve heard so much about it, its effectiveness is truly astonishing!"

    He then inquired of Liao Ya, "Master Liao, this medicine is miraculous. After having a small sip, I feel much better. Ifbined with your acupuncture, can it cure my illness?"

    Liao Ya, who had drunk her own medicine and was regting her breathing, opened her eyes and said,

    "Tonic medicine can only provide a temporary spark of life. Your body is like a leaky sieve, it will eventually run out of oil."

    The girl spoke bluntly without sugarcoating, and Lu Yao felt somewhat crestfallen upon hearing this, but he persisted doggedly, "Is there really no hope whatsoever?"

    Liao Ya thought for a moment and said honestly, "Advancing in martial practice to the ''Blood-Exchange Realm'', any illness can be cured without medication. But your body... simply cannot practice martial arts."

    There are nine realms in the martial path, the first five are respectively ¨C Sinew-Strengthening, Bone-Tempering, Organ Refining, Marrow-Cleansing, Blood-Exchange.

    Liao Ya, with her diligent practice from a young age, had only reached Organ Refining.

    For Lu Yao, a terminal cancer patient, to think of reaching the Blood-Exchange Realm was as delusional as a dream! It would be as difficult as a 3-year-old child taking the college entrance exam and getting into a top university.

    There was a long silence.

    Suddenly, Lu Yao looked up, his gaunt and sallow face filled with determination, "If... if I drank Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup every day, to my fill! Could I then practice martial arts?"

    "Drink it every day... to your fill!?" Liao Ya, upon hearing this, was visibly startled.

    Liao Qe''s eyes widened as she eximed, "Impossible, you''re dreaming! Even my sister can only have it once a week."

    "Why is that? Is the medicine very expensive? I have money!"

    Liao Qe exined, "It''s not just about money! The main ingredients for the tonic soup are rare and precious, extremely hard to gather; and the brewing process is quite troublesome. The order of adding ingredients differs, and one must constantly tend to the fire, adjusting it as needed. One small mistake and the whole batch of medicine could be ruined."

    A glint shed in Lu Yao''s eyes! Having taken plenty of traditional Chinese medicine for his cancer, he was somewhat familiar with this field. The issues ofcking ingredients and difficulty in preparation were solvable for him!

    He then asked, "Could you tell me which ingredients are missing and the method of preparation? If possible, I''d like to buy the prescription."

    "Uh..." Liao Qe looked at her sister, hesitant to make a decision on her own.

    Liao Ya nodded and said, "The more than ten silver pieces Young Master Lu gave earlier are more than enough to buy a prescription. But, I can''t guarantee anything."

    Lu Yao clenched his fists tightly, proiming loudly, "I''m fighting for my life from the brink of death; I have to at least try to be content!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    After obtaining theplete prescription, Lu Yao eagerly dragged Liao Qe to the pharmacy to gather herbs. At that moment, his emotions were high!

    It had only been a few days, yet he, who could barely crawl before and was on the brink of death, could now walk briskly!

    No matter what, he had to make the "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup" as soon as possible!

    Soon, the two arrived at the nearby Jinshou Hall, a pharmacy next to the martial arts school.

    The pharmacy had been open for countless years, its old bricks mottled with patches, and thin weeds snuck through the crevices. Stepping inside, one would find rows of Chinese medicine cabs filled with characters, and the room was thick with the scent of herbs.

    The shopkeeper was a spry old man who, upon seeing Liao Qe, sped his hands and said, "Second Miss of the Liao family, didn''t you juste in yesterday?"

    Liao Qe replied, "Shopkeeper He,tely your shop always seems to be low on this and out of that, so I''m buying extra to have on hand."

    Shopkeeper He, feeling helpless, said, "There''s nothing I can do. Times are chaotic, and many herbs are out of stock."

    As they spoke, he stood up and skillfully pulled out herbs from various small drawers.

    Lu Yao took this opportunity to examine closely, distinguishing carefully and chatting with the shopkeeper a few sentences, confirming that the herbs in the two worlds were exactly the same!

    At this moment, Shopkeeper He said apologetically, "I''m sorry, we''re out of Dijin Grass, so you''ll have to make another trip for it."

    Lu Yao didn''t mind, for he had already obtained the information he wanted on this visit. The missing herbs could be bought back on Blue Star.

    Liao Qe grumbled, "Out again... You''re a leading figure of Yunzhou Pharmacy but the stock is neverplete."

    Shopkeeper He sighed deeply, "It''s tough! Wars are daily, and not only are the goods gone, but the price of grain has tripled in one day, sigh."

    Another customer joined the conversation, "You should be content. Our Yunzhou is next to the foreigners'' concession, so at least it''s peaceful. Just look at those other ces gued by military unrest; they''re in a sorry state."

    "Whether it''s the Rebel Armies or the Government Forces, neither dares to offend the foreigners. Now all the rich and powerful are fleeing into the concessions."

    The crowd took the chance toin about the state of the times, bemoaning the difficulty of making a living.

    Yunzhou, known as the "Crossroads of Five Provinces," boasts a critical junction of water andnd transportation with docks and ports in abundance. It''s a precious piece of the Shun Dynasty, but s, it''s dotted with foreign concessions.

    Lu Yao also remembered this humiliating period of history he had learned in his history sses and sighed.

    With their own survival at stake, there was no energy left to worry about others. After paying and collecting the herbs, he left the pharmacy with Liao Qe.

    ~~~~~~~~

    On the way back, Lu Yao struck up a casual conversation:

    "Does martial arts training cost a lot of money? I remember you once said that Master Liao wants to advance to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, but he doesn''t have enough money?"

    Liao Qe nodded vigorously, looking as if it was painful to even say, "There''s a saying, ''the literati are poor, the warriors are rich.'' Martial arts training really is like throwing money into a bottomless pit! You saw just now when we were buying herbs, 4,000 coppers gone just like that, and that''s even without being able to purchase the Dijin Grass."

    Lu Yao, with high emotional intelligence, chimed in repeatedly, "Yeah, it''s exorbitantly expensive~"

    In fact, he didn''t think it costly at all. He had bought arge batch of herbs, including luxury items like Ginseng and Lingzhi, and it had only cost him 100 dors! How was that expensive?

    Liao Qe continued, "Martial arts is such an expensive endeavor, that''s why I''m working myself to the bone to earn money. And then, that fool of an elder sister keeps hitting me, it''s so frustrating."

    "You really are the pir of the family! Master Liao will be grateful to you sooner orter."

    "Ha, of course! With my sister being such an idiot, she''d get sold and still help count the money."

    Lu Yao''s ttery made the young girl beam with delight.

    After enjoying the foolish merriment, Liao Qe''s face grew serious, and she whispered, "If you trained in martial arts, you would likely train to death."

    Lu Yaoughed, "I know. But... there''s some hope if I train; without training, I''m definitely dead. I can''t ept that, I want to give it a shot."

    Liao Qe, looking down, said softly, "Who wants to die... After we get home, I''ll ask my sister to see if she can help you. You''re quite an interesting person, I don''t want you to die either."

    "Right, without me, you''d have no money to make, you little money-grubber."

    "That''s not it, I genuinely don''t want you to die young, Young Master Lu~"

    The two joked around for a while, lightening the somber mood, when they passed a stall selling ornaments.

    Liao Qe, being at the age where she loved to dress up, immediately ran over and tried on a full head of them, her smile radiant.

    Lu Yao was about to pay for them, but the young girl stopped him, "No, casually epting things from men, especially jewelry, my sister would kill me."

    Having said that, she quickly put down the trinkets and hurried Lu Yao away.

    ncing at the roughly-made baubles, Lu Yao didn''t insist and simply said:

    "Liao Qe, I''m heading home. I might not be back tonight, so don''t worry. I''ll bring you a big surprise when I return!"

 Chapter 5: 5. Generation gap

    <h4>Chapter 5: 5. Generation gap</h4>

    Upon opening the door back to Blue Star, Lu Yao didn''t waste any time at all and immediately began searching for the main medicinal herb needed for the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup¡ªDijin Grass.

    Dijin Grass is cooling, detoxifying, and beneficial for qi and blood; it is almost essential for all tonic medicines.

    In the Otherworld, it was already expensive and scarce, and the war had made itpletely unavable.

    But in Xia Country on Blue Star, the price of this stuff was¡ª12.8 per pound... and buying 10 pounds would get you an extra 2 pounds for free.

    "The disparity of the times! All the medicinal herbs here are cultivated on arge scale, so the prices are very cheap."

    With that sentiment, Lu Yao immediately ced an order for 10 pounds and asked the store owner if it could be delivered today.

    After receiving a positive response, he continued searching in the shopping app¡ªfor an automatic decoction machine!

    These days, boiling medicine in a sand pot had long gone out of fashion; modern technological products were used instead to rece the cumbersome work.

    Having suffered from cancer and drank plenty of traditional Chinese medicine, Lu Yao was quite familiar with these machines and quickly chose one to order. It again was from a local store, and he asked the owner to deliver it the same day.

    Curiously, the owner of this medical equipment store was the same person who had sold the herbs earlier.

    The seller sent a message, "Mr. Lu, we''re only three streets away from each other, what a coincidence! I''ll bring it to you right now."

    ~~~~~~~~~~

    Half an hourter, the phone''s ringtone sounded.

    Upon answering the phone, a pleasant female voice came through, "Mr. Lu, the decoction machine has arrived. You''re not thinking of letting a weak woman carry it up to the 5th floor, are you?"

    Lu Yao calmly responded, "I''lle down to find you," and then went downstairs.

    Just as he reached the entrance of the residentialmunity, he saw a white X6 with its hatch open, and the decoction machine was inside it.

    The seller turned out to be a young and beautiful woman with short hair and fashionable attire.

    When this woman saw the skeletal and pallid Lu Yao, her face briefly registered shock and embarrassment.

    As someone in the pharmaceutical industry, she could tell at a nce that her customer''s condition clearly indicated a terminal illness, and she quickly offered, "This... let me help you carry it upstairs."

    Lu Yao shook his head, "No need, there''s an elevator. Thank you for bringing it to the door!"

    After saying that, he pushed the decoction machine, which was about the size of a water dispenser, struggling toward the elevator.

    The woman hurriedly stepped forward to assist, and together they brought the decoction machine into the home.

    After busily assembling the machine, the woman handed over her business card with both hands:

    "My name is Li Lei, this is my card. If there''s any problem, contact me anytime, you can add the WeChat on it too."

    Lu Yao took it and nodded, "Alright. There shouldn''t be any problems, I''ve operated this machine many times."

    "Then, I''ll be going now, goodbye." They shook hands and the transaction wasplete.

    Before leaving, Li Lei nced one more time at the emaciated customer, feeling a pang of regret in her heart, "So young, what a pity..."

    ~~~~~~~~~~~

    At this moment, Lu Yao''s feelings wereplex. In the eyes of that beautiful girl, he saw¡ªpity.

    For someone with a strong sense of pride, the pity of others could actually cause more damage than if they had taken pleasure in his misfortune.

    Taking a deep breath to dispel the distracting thoughts, Lu Yao focused entirely on trying to brew the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup using the decoction machine.

    He ced the medicinal herbs into the machine''s storagepartment, set the correct temperature, order of adding the ingredients, and the mild and strong boiling times, and then all that was left was to wait.

    In the closed environment, the herbs were decocted not only with significantly reduced time, but the machine also repeatedlypressed the residue to extract the most effective medicinal liquid.

    This was the most popr method at the moment¡ªnumerically controlled automatic decoction.

    Lu Yao slept for a while and was awakened by the "beep beep beep" alert sound from the machine; the medicine was ready!

    He took a cup, pressed the switch, and the medicinal liquid flowed out. After downing it in one go, Lu Yao frowned, "The effect is far less than when I was in the Otherworld! What''s going on?"

    He had only taken a small sip at Liao Ya''s to experience a strong inner warmth, but on Blue Star, he had to drink a full cup just to feel a slight effect.

    Lu Yao racked his brain but couldn''t figure it out. Only the Dijin Grass wasn''t authentic, everything else was copied exactly, and even if there were small differences, they should not ount for a world of difference.

    "The problem doesn''t seem to be with me... I might as well take this machine to the Otherworld and give it a try!"

    After getting cancer, he had used the medicinal preparation machine to brew medicine over a thousand times; there was no way he could have made a mistake in the operation, so he could only look to the environment for answers.

    So, he took out his phone again and searched for¡ªhome diesel generators.

    He quickly picked out one and ced an order, but a problem followed¡ªhe was out of money!

    The medicinal preparation machine cost 1000 yuan, and the generator was a whopping 5000... He only had 300 yuan left in his hands.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Clutching hisst 300 yuan, Lu Yao went to the famous little essory store on the street and picked out some delicate hair clips, bracelets, and more.

    No sooner had he bought the essories than the generator arrived.

    Even though he was weak as a kitten, Lu Yao insisted on helping the delivery driver carry the heavy generator into his house.

    He broke out in a cold sweat, but now everything was ready. Lu Yao activated the Dimensional Door, covered the equipment and medicinal herbs, and transported them to the Otherworld.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    It was well into the day here, Liao Ya nowhere to be seen, probably cultivating in the quiet room.

    The martial arts hall wasrge, and Lu Yao searched for a while before finding Liao Qe, who was cooking.

    The girl in an apron had a certain charm to her, and she hurriedly ran over when she saw him:

    "Aiya, when did you get back~ You shouldn''t be running around when you''re sick, I was really worried~"

    "What, afraid I won''t pay the consultation fee?"

    Liao Qe red at him and grumbled, "Ahh~ Darn it, I really was worried about you this time!"

    Lu Yao chuckled and said, "Alright, enough of that,e over and give me a hand."

    The two went inside, and when Liao Qe saw the medicinal preparation machine and generator, she couldn''t help but exim, "Are these foreign gadgets? What are they for?"

    "A medicinal preparation machine. You help me move it, and I''ll show you how it works."

    Liao Qe was a Bone-Tempering Realm Martial Artist and was very strong; she could lift the generator, which weighed around a hundred jin, with one hand.

    Lu Yao directed her to set up the machine properly, then took out the medicinal herbs.

    When Liao Qe saw them, she was stunned, "So much Dijin Grass!!! Where did ite from?"

    "Don''t make such a fuss, I brought it from home." Lu Yao didn''t look up from his work, "Help me check if the order I put the herbs in is correct."

    Liao Qe was dumbfounded. Dijin Grass was expensive and rare, usually sold by the "root."

    But Lu Yao had brought two huge bundles as thick as telephone poles, which could be mistaken for firewood by those who didn''t know.

    Her earlier cry of surprise even drew her sister Liao Ya, and the sisters watched with wide-eyed curiosity.

    After busying himself for a while, Lu Yao stood up and said, "All done. Now we just have to wait to get the medicinal soup."

    "Is this reliable?"

    "Can medicine really be made like this?"

    The two women were still somewhat skeptical. Usually, brewing tonic required carefully tending the stove and a lot of effort; they found it hard to believe that pushing a few buttons could yield the same result.

    Lu Yao said, "Wait and see. By the way, I brought some special local products too."

    "Foreign specialities?" Liao Qe excitedly leaned in, only to see countless beautiful little essories!

    Products of modern craftsmanship, they were far prettier than the rustic and crudely made artifacts of the Otherworld. The girl was at the age where she loved to adorn herself, and she took a great liking to these things.

    "Wow, this hair clip is so pretty!" Liao Qe instantly picked out the most expensive hair clip studded with tiny diamonds and instinctively clutched it tightly in her hand.

 Chapter 6: 6. Fully automatic herbal decoction machine

    <h4>Chapter 6: 6. Fully automatic herbal decoction machine</h4>

    Liao Qe was dazzled by the countless pieces of jewelry; Liao Ya was simrly astonished at the sight of these exquisite and gorgeous items.

    Feeling embarrassed, she began to refuse again, "No, this is too valuable!"

    In Blue Star, these hairpins and bracelets were justmon essories, selling for a few dozen yuan each, very popr among young girls.

    However, in the Otherworld, they were expensive jewelry! Casually epting them didn''t seem appropriate.

    Lu Yao said, "They''re not worth much money, and since they''re already bought, you should just take them."

    The two sisters took Lu Yao''s modesty for real, believing these expensive-looking essories certainly weren''t cheap.

    Liao Ya firmly refused again, "We''ve already epted your silver, how could we be so greedy!"

    Liao Qe obediently put down the hairpin, her face showing reluctance but without hesitation.

    Lu Yao solemnly gave a fist-and-palm salute, saying, "The silver was for the consultation fee, and these are specifically to thank Miss Liao Qe! Miss Liao Qe, I will remember your life-saving grace for the rest of my life!"

    At the time, they were less than 20 meters away from the boxing gym, yet it seemed insurmountable as a moat, and he had been very lucky that the young girl carried him over.

    Hearing him say this, Liao Qe became embarrassed and shyly yed with the hem of her top, looking down and said bashfully, "I didn''t really do much~"

    Seeing Lu Yao''s sincere gratitude, with his words and expression so earnest, Liao Ya found herself torn. She, too, was not much older and likewise fond of these finely crafted trinkets.

    Lu Yao stuffed the jewelry into the hands of the two women directly, "You''re both martial artists, why are you dithering about, not straightforward at all."

    The sisters exchanged nces, and Liao Ya gave a slight nod; Liao Qe cheered, grabbing the hairpin and ying with it affectionately.

    "That''s more like it~" Lu Yao was also very pleased. He hated being in someone''s debt, always more anxious to repay a kindness than to avenge a wrong.

    "You''ve spent money on us again..." Liao Ya''s cheeks turned red, making her already fair and tender skin seem all the more delicate and endearing.

    Even though Lu Yao no longer had worldly desires, the sight still brightened his eyes, an innate yearning for beautiful things.

    At this moment, the medicine-cooking machine made a slight noise.

    Lu Yao exined, "The machine is grinding the medicine dregs to extract the medicinal strength. That''s why, using this gadget to cook medicine, you won''t need to stew it for too long, just a few hours will do."

    ying with the exquisite jewelry in their hands, the sisters became somewhat convinced of the machine''s magic and started to look forward to it.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Amid eager and anxious waiting, time flew by, and the medicine-cooking machine emitted a "beep beep beep" sound, signaling the medicine was ready.

    The sisters curiously stared at the machine while Lu Yao found a bowl and demonstrated, "Just press this button, and the medicine will flow out."

    The medicine-cooking machine looked almost the same as a water dispenser and operated nearly in the same way.

    Lu Yao poured a bowl and handed it to Liao Ya, indicating she should check it.

    Liao Ya knew it was fine from the smell and immediately downed it. After closing her eyes and feeling for a while, she opened them again to reveal a face full of shock!

    "It really works! This machine... can make medicine on its own without supervision! And it manages the fire with such precision!"

    Liao Qe eagerly drank a small bowl to try, and after feeling the medicine''s effect, was amazed, "It''s miraculous! All you have to do is put the ingredients in and press a few buttons!?"

    Lu Yao also had a small sip; a rush of warmth immediately spread throughout his limbs and body, the effects powerful!

    He couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief: it indeed was the environment on Blue Star that hadn''t been conducive to sess.

    Raising his bowl, he dered, "From now on, we don''t have to drink Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup once a week, but everyday! Let''s rece wine with medicine and toast to our health!"

    The sisters were also extremely excited, they raised their bowls, clinked them together mightily, and downed the content!

    Next, the three of them transformed into ruthless medicine-drinking machines, gulping down everyst drop of the remaining medicinal juice.

    Lu Yao could only consume less than half a bowl before he could drink no more. Waves of warmth spread from his stomach to his limbs and throughout his whole body, making him feelfortably warm.

    Lifting his hands, he saw that his originally sallow limbs had actually gained some color!

    Hurriedly, he stood up to look in the mirror. Although hisplexion was still very pallid, he no longer looked like he was at death''s door.

    "Amazing! The effects of the tonic are truly powerful! Then practicing martial arts must be even more effective!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Liao Qe, at the Bone Tempering Realm, drank three bowls.

    The little girl was so dizzy from the potency of the medicine that she swayed as if drunk, slurring her words:

    "You''re really amazing! Hahaha, I won''t have to watch over the stove and brew medicine anymore!"

    This troublesome task had always been hers, and her lively and yful nature couldn''t stand it. She had been enduring it bitterly, and now she had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

    Afterward, the girl, still groggy, sped the hairpin hidden in her bosom and, patting Lu Yao on the shoulder, mumbled unclearly, "Hehehe, you''re such a good person~ From now on, I''ve got your back~"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya, at the Organ Refining Realm, downed eightrge bowls.

    She opened her mouth to speak but let out a satisfied burp instead, her face instantly flushing red, whether from the effects of the medicine or embarrassment.

    After rposing herself, she remarked with emotion, "Who knew that tonic could actually fill you up..."

    For her, this was an unprecedentedly shocking experience. In the past, she could only consume medicinal tonics once a week, and it was only ever one bowl, certainly not enough.

    But now she could eat until full every day! This was simply unimaginable! Even the true disciples of the royal family and major sects might not receive such treatment!

    Unable to help herself, Liao Ya looked towards Lu Yao, amazed at his miraculous methods!

    Beside her, the drunken Liao Qe, in a stroke of intuition, suddenly said:

    "Sister, with this miraculous machine, you''ll surely break through to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm before you''re twenty!"

    Liao Ya also realized this, her shock turning to excitement as she looked eagerly at Lu Yao and asked, "Young Master Lu, about this machine..."

    "Don''t worry, since I''ve brought it out, it''s meant to be shared with you, and I will teach you the detailed methods of using it. But well, it''s not for free~"

    Lu Yao sped his fists and said, "Although I suffer from a terminal illness, I still wish to try and save myself. Master Liao, please teach me martial arts!"

    Liao Ya was immediately conflicted. She actually had a good impression of Lu Yao. He was clear-headed and upright, certainly no viin; afflicted with a terminal illness yet not resentful or ming of heaven or others, but instead unwavering in his search for a glimmer of hope, embodying the tenacious and resilient spirit of a martial artist!

    But with Lu Yao''s frail condition, wouldn''t practicing martial arts be tantamount to seeking death?

    Liao Qe looked on at her sister with expectant eyes, almost wishing she could agree on her behalf, and couldn''t help but interject:

    "Young Master Lu is wealthy and young, with an excellent character, a perfect fit for joining our Liao Family Fist. Sister, why hesitate?"

    Upon reflection, Liao Ya thought¡ªthed came from a rich family, with no shortage of silver or medicinal ingredients, and could drink tonics every day. Even if he couldn''t practice martial arts, he could certainly try the "nourishing methods."

    Thus she spoke, "I can teach you, although I cannot guarantee you will reach the Blood-Exchange Mirror and bepletely cured, it might prolong your life. Cultivation involves the core secrets of a sect, so you would need to join my sect as my disciple. Would you be willing?"

    Lu Yao smiled and inquired, "Does that mean I should take you as my master?"

    Liao Ya answered, "I can take you as a disciple on behalf of my father, making you my junior brother."

    "I couldn''t ask for more!" Lu Yao immediately agreed.

 Chapter 7: 7. Beautiful lady master

    <h4>Chapter 7: 7. Beautifuldy master</h4>

    Lu Yao''s apprenticeship was not like those disciples of the martial arts school who paid 100 copper coins in annual fees.

    It was a true initiation into the "Liao Family Fist" sect, bing an inner-chamber disciple, closely tied to the sect.

    This was no small matter! Hence, even though the Liao Family Fist''s numbers had dwindled to just the two sisters, they still arranged a brief yet formal ceremony.

    In the Cultivation Quiet Room of the boxing gym, the three of them stood with solemn respect.

    Liao Ya bowed three times before a tablet, lit a stick of incense:

    "Father, today Liao Ya acts in your stead to take on a disciple! To ensure our sect''s legacy continues and our heritage remains orderly, I pray for your blessing from the spirit in the heavens."

    On the tablet was written, "Spirit tablet of thete great Liao Qigong."

    Lu Yao thought to himself, "This Liao Qigong must be the father of the two sisters; I wonder why he passed away in his prime."

    He also performed three deep bows before the tablet and said out loud, "Disciple Lu Yao, willing to join Liao Family Fist! I will dedicate myself to cultivation and heed your teachings!"

    Following that, Liao Ya stood tall, her chest out, and loudly dered, "From today on, you are a disciple of Liao Family Fist! Our door does not bind with strict rules; only one ancient rule:

    Do not be overbearing, to perceive the world in all its forms; do not be greedy, to discern right from wrong, ck from white; do not reveal talents, fearless of nder and praise; do not crave satisfaction, not bound by mour and sensual pleasures.

    This is our ''Four Nos,'' bear it well in mind."

    Lu Yao bowed respectfully and solemnly said, "Disciple shall take heed!"

    Thus, the ceremony concluded, and Lu Yao formally became the younger martial brother of the two sisters. A newfound affection was evident in their gaze toward him.

    Liao Qe excitedly took hold of Lu Yao''s arm, saying, "Ha, I have a martial younger brother now! Quick, call me martial sister, let me hear it~"

    Lu Yao smiled, performed a fist salute, and greeted her, "Martial sister~"

    Liao Qe was overjoyed.

    "Well well!" Liao Ya cleared her throat, and said sternly, "Junior brother, since you have joined, there are things I must make clear to you ahead of time!"

    Lu Yao sat upright, listening attentively to the teachings of the Sect Leader and eldest martial sister.

    Liao Ya said, "Liao Family Fist has a long heritage, with techniques directly linked to the Innate realm. Our father was a Great Martial Master within the Blood-Exchange Realm, only a step away from bing an ''Innate Grandmaster.''"

    Lu Yao nodded, about to inquire about the early demise of this impressive figure when Liao Ya continued:

    "Our father... followed Lin''s lead in the destruction of opium at Humen, dying beneath the foreigners'' guns. So here''s the unpleasant truth I need to make clear¡ªif one gets involved with opium within the sect, I will cleanse our ranks without hesitation. Are you aware of this!"

    Learning he was the descendant of a fallen hero, Lu Yao felt a deep reverence and nodded fiercely, "I understand! I loathe such filth as well!"

    Liao Ya''s expression softened, her satisfaction with this junior brother apparent.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    With Lu Yao''s formal entry, it was time for the transmission of martial skills.

    Liao Ya said seriously, "I will demonstrate a set of Liao Family Fist, and you shall observe."

    With that, she took her position in the center of the space, assuming a stance like a pine, with her fists at her waist, her spirit resembling a green pine growing on a cliff face.

    The next second, she moved like thunder, executing a style of boxing that integrated softness and hardness!

    With the rise of a gentle breeze, the intent followed; her movements seemed light and casual, slow and steady, but in truth, they were powerful and heavy.

    Even without exerting full strength, the force of her punches easily shattered the air, producing bursts of explosions and gusts akin to fierce winds, making it difficult to keep one''s eyes open.

    Moreover, the girl''s footwork was incredibly fast, almost like teleportation, dazzling Lu Yao, stirring his spirit, invoking his envy.

    After a few moments, the entire setpleted, Liao Ya gathered her breath at the lower abdomen, adjusting her Inner Breath, and said:

    "In a cultivation method, the core is not the lethal techniques, but the ''Cultivation Method'' that tempers the body and the ''Nurturing Method'' that nourishes the spirit.

    What I just demonstrated was the Cultivation Method of Liao Family Fist; what I will teach you next is the ''Nurturing Method''!

    This is the heart of the practice; without it, one cannot heal the hidden injuries caused by training andbat."

    Then, thinking of something, she said to her sister, "You go practice your boxing."

    Liao Qe gave a "tsk," and reluctantly left.

    Lu Yao was somewhat perplexed, but he soon understood.

    With a flushed face, Liao Ya said seriously, "I''ll teach you ''Sleep Cultivation'' first. Watch my movements carefully."

    To his surprise, she actually lied down on her side! Propping herself up with her right hand, the base of her palm rested under her earlobe; her other hand formed the Child gesture, which was ced at her pelvis, and at the same time, her legs were stretched out straight.

    Lying on her side like this, the pull of gravity against her clothes delineated the exquisite and enchanting curves of her body.

    Lu Yao noticed that Liao Ya''s hips were wider than her shoulders ¡ª a true rarity! It was a pity that he did not have any worldly desires at that moment; it was all lost on him.

    In a tender voice, the young girl instructed, "This is Sleep Cultivation. Next, I''ll teach you ''Spirit Refinement''. The twobined are theplete nurturing technique. Come, lie down beside me and assume the same position."

    Lu Yao immediatelyy down behind the girl.

    Liao Ya chided, "Why are you lying behind me? Come to the front!"

    Lu Yao hastily relocated andid face to face with the girl, even able to sense her sweet fragrance.

    Liao Ya''s cheeks reddened further, "Don''t lie too close, keep some distance!"

    "..." Lu Yao shifted awkwardly back.

    It was then that Liao Ya said:

    "Spirit Refinement is a cultivation method specifically for refining the mind and spirit, with incredible miraculous effects. The first three realms are ¡ª Focused Spirit, Entering Tranquility, and Forgetful Sitting. First is the ''Focused Spirit'' realm, which is about calming the mind and spirit, preventing any stray thoughts!"

    Lu Yao nodded again and again, finding it quite magical andfortable to be lying there chatting with the girl.

    Liao Ya was not as distracted, she continued instructing, "When you activate Sleep Cultivation, if you can focus your spirit at the same time, then you can consider it an entry into the nurturing technique."

    After that, it took the two of them quite a while to finally finish teaching the entry level of nurturing technique.

    Lying face to face was somewhat awkward, so after leaving behind the words "Figure it out on your own," Liao Ya ran off blushing, without a trace to be seen.

    ~~~~~~~

    Sleep Cultivation was not difficult, as the movements were simple, and Lu Yao learned them effortlessly. The challenge was "Focusing Spirit"! Even at the initial stage, it required the cultivator topletely rx the mind and spirit ¡ª to Focus and then Fall Asleep.

    But with a mind full of worries and a life-and-death crisis looming, how could Lu Yao possibly rx his mindpletely?

    He was very worried. Martial arts were his only hope. If he failed, he would not live long, and the more he thought this way, the harder it became to focus his spirit.

    While maintaining the side-lying posture, Lu Yao tried for a long time without sess. Unconsciously, the night deepened.

    His thoughts were in disarray, and Lu Yao couldn''t help but take a deep breath, his nose suddenly suffused with a young girl''s fresh fragrance.

    The quiet room had always been used by Liao Ya, filled with her scent.

    The girl had a particrly pleasant natural fragrance that was refreshing and momentarily relieved him of his troubles.

    Lu Yao sat staring nkly, realizing it was the first time in his life he hadin with such a beautiful girl... The entrancing silhouette seemed still to be before him.

    "Being alive... is really wonderful." At that moment, he experienced an unprecedented desire to live.

    "I don''t want to die, not just for revenge or because I can''t bear it, but because... being alive is just too wonderful."

    "There is too much beauty in life waiting for me to experience. How could I just die like this!"

    "I mustpletely cure the cancer, and then marry my senior sister! Marrying such a wonderful wife in body and mind would make my life worthwhile!"

    Suddenly, Lu Yao had an epiphany and made a "great vow." It felt as though a stone had been lifted from his heart, and his restless spirit began to calm.

    His mind became still, the surface of his heart''ske unruffled, and with his spirit thoroughly settled, he achieved "Focused Spirit."

    He maintained the side-lying posture of Sleep Cultivation and slowly fell asleep. With no stray thoughts arising, he entered "deep sleep."

    Deep sleep is known as golden sleep and is iparable for the benefits it brings to the brain.

    At the same time, "Sleep Cultivation" allowed Lu Yao''s blood and qi to flow extremely smoothly,plementing the effects of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, providing excellent nourishment to his body and inner organs.

    This night was the most peaceful sleep Lu Yao had since falling ill, his entire body receiving the best possible recuperation.

    Previously, at most, he could only sleep for two or three hours before being awakened by pain. Even if he took a significant amount of painkillers or was injected with morphine, it was nowhere as effective as thebination of Sleep Cultivation and Focused Spirit technique!

    And this was only the beginning of the nurturing technique!

 Chapter 8: 8. Spirit Refining Genius

    <h4>Chapter 8: 8. Spirit Refining Genius</h4>

    ```

    After waking up, the sun was already three poles high. Listening to the birds fluttering outside the window and breathing in the fresh air, Lu Yao felt alive for the first time in a long while.

    Moreover... whether it was an illusion or not, his vision seemed much clearer, seeing things particrly sharply.

    Having set up the medicine decoction machine, he stepped out into the courtyard, just as the two sisters were walking toward him.

    Liao Qe wore a beautiful diamond hair clip on her head and seemed in good spirits. "Lazybones, you sure can sleep~ It''s already noon. Wow~ Yourplexion looks great, you finally look human!"

    Lu Yao gave her a nce and said, "I''ll take that as apliment."

    Having slept soundly through the night, he looked a lot more refreshed and pleasing to the eye.

    Liao Ya, d in her ever-unchanging ck outfit, radiated a charming luster from her beautiful and quiet face and her pure, lush neck under the sunlight.

    She very much had the air of a Sect Leader''s elder sister. Upon seeing Lu Yao, she asked without dy, "Junior Brother, how is your cultivation going? Any doubts with Focused Spirit? Don''t be shy, speak up if you have any."

    Liao Qe joked with augh, "Is Focused Spirit that difficult~ Don''t worry, it''s supposed to be like that."

    Lu Yao scratched his head, "Well... I think I''ve already made a breakthrough."

    "!?" Liao Qe didn''t believe it, "Are you sure you aren''t mistaken? Focused Spirit isn''t about sleeping like a dead pig all night!"

    Lu Yao said, "Then I''ll do it once for you to see, so you won''t worry that I''ve learned it wrong."

    With that, hey on his side on the ground, clearing his mind of distractions and emptying his spirit in one breath.

    His breathing became extraordinarily slow and extremely steady, and he looked incredibly¡ªcalm, like a sleeping baby.

    Liao Ya observed her junior brother back and forth, and after confirming repeatedly, she said in amazement, "His spirit guards the heart calmly, embracing the origin... Has he actually entered a meditative state!?"

    Liao Qe rubbed her eyes forcefully, in disbelief, "Sister, didn''t you just teach him Focused Spirit yesterday...!"

    Focused Spirit was by no means simple. Especially for adults with cluttered thoughts, there were many who hadn''t seeded in years.

    Yet this young master before them had managed it in just one night, even without a teacher, grasping the next step of Focused Spirit¡ªentering meditation!

    Liao Qe quickly went up to Lu Yao, "Junior Brother, how did you do it? Teach me~"

    She was barely managing Focused Spirit, let alone being far from entering meditation, but now she humbled herself to ask.

    Lu Yao shook his head nkly, "I don''t know either, just close your eyes, and don''t think about anything."

    Liao Qe: "..."

    The young girl was persistent, pulling on Lu Yao''s arm and shaking it non-stop, "There must be some knack to it, teach me~"

    Lu Yao''s face was full of helplessness, "Honestly, there isn''t. If there was, wouldn''t I tell you?"

    At the right moment, Liao Ya intervened, "Liao Qe, it''s useless, I know the reason, and this method won''t work for you."

    Both turned to her, waiting for her to solve the riddle.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Dad always says¡ªgreat terror lies between life and death. After experiencing life and death, a martial artist''s skills will greatly advance."

    Liao Ya''s crisp and gentle voice slowly rose:

    "Junior brother fought against terminal illness, contending with pain day and night, which honed his spirit to be incredibly strong, enabling his Spirit Refining Cultivation to break through two realms."

    Lu Yao nodded again and again upon hearing this; it seemed like the most scientific exnation.

    He had battled cancer for many years, and at the worst of times, had even considered ending his life, but he had gritted his teeth and survived, his will tempered to be exceptionally tenacious.

    Last night, inspired by the scent of a beautiful woman while focusing spirit, he had truly let go; he wasn''t only unafraid of death anymore, but his fighting spirit to strive had also ignited!!

    ```

    All the hardships pale inparison to death, fear not life or death, and attain transcendence!

    Liao Qe grumbled. She had thought there would be some trick, only to find out that one still needs to diligently practice cultivation.

    Liao Ya was unaware that she had been on someone''s mind. Her beautiful eyes fixated on Lu Yao, filled with admiration and amazement.

    She also felt a deep regret: If it were not for the terminal illness, her junior brother would certainly make great achievements!

    Yet, a new idea emerged: I taught my junior brother the nourishing method, merely hoping to prolong his life. But given his extraordinary talent, he might just reverse the situation and bring himself back from the brink!

    At that moment, the medicine boiling machine beeped, indicating the medicine was ready.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Without a word, the three of them gobbled down the tonic until they were full.

    Liao Qey sprawled across the bed in a rxed pose, dering with satisfaction, "Ah, refreshing! If I had eaten like this before, I might have reached Organ Refining by now~ Junior brother, having you here is just wonderful!"

    After meditating for a while with her eyes closed, Liao Ya opened her eyes and said, "Having taken so many tonics, you need to practice even harder. Stop lying around, and go practice your boxing!"

    "But I''ve already practiced this morning~" Liao Qe whined and stayed put, refusing to get up.

    Liao Ya went over and smacked her younger sister''s buttocks several times, "You ate in the morning, and now you''re eating at noon as well!"

    Seeing the supple tremors ripple, Lu Yao nodded inwardly to himself, "The sisterly duo''s waist and hip curve are indeed perfect!"

    The nourishing method and the tonic, in just one night, awoke worldly desires he hadn''t felt before.

    Feeling the dry heat of the medicine''s power within him, Lu Yao asked, "Senior sister, I feel surprisingly good right now. If I take tonics daily and add in the nourishing method and your acupuncture, could it cure my illness?"

    Liao Ya''s heart sank, but she didn''t rush to answer. Instead, she ced her hand on his chest, letting a warm flow spread through his limbs and bones.

    Lu Yao knew this was the Inner Breath of an Organ Refining Warrior, capable of aiding in diagnostics, so he waited patiently.

    Soon, Liao Ya opened her eyes with disappointment, "It still won''t cure the root issue, your life force is still rapidly depleting. It seems your illness can only be cured by reaching the Blood-Exchange Realm on the Martial Path."

    Lu Yao couldn''t help but feel disheartened. The practice of martial arts could be summarized in three words¡ªsuffering, exhaustion, pain.

    So weak and frail, he couldn''t even entertain the hope of beginning Sinew-Strengthening, let alone reaching the Blood-Exchange Realm.

    But having been tempered by hardship, he rallied in the next second, "No matter, I''m trying to snatch life from the jaws of death; I won''t give up so easily!"

    "Well said!" apuded Liao Ya, "That''s exactly how a martial artist should be! Undaunted by difficulties, steadfast and resilient, only thus can one climb to the pinnacle of the Martial Path!

    Junior brother, you have a knack for Spirit Refinement, which greatly aids in the advancement of martial arts. With it, you might just step into the Blood-Exchange Realm. Never lose your fighting spirit!"

    Lu Yao nodded emphatically.

    In the next second, Liao Ya resumed spanking hernguishing younger sister, urging her, "Why are you still lying down? Get up and practice your boxing!"

    "Sofortable, I don''t want to move," Liao Qe remained prone, the warm power of the medicine giving her a drunken and afloat feeling, almost ethereal.

    Liao Ya was torn betweenughter and frustration. Her younger sister was incredibly bright and talented, justzy and averse to pain, always needing constant nudging.

    That''s when Lu Yao suddenly said, "I think I''ll go out for a bit. How about Liao Qe apanies me?"

    "Yep, yep, I''ll go with you~" Instantly energized by the prospect of going out, especially shopping, Liao Qe jumped up vigorously.

    The elder Grandmaster Sister Liao Ya gave her sister a stern look, then entrusted Lu Yao:

    "Junior brother~ After ''entering tranquility'' on the path of Spirit Refinement, the most significant change is the concentration of spirit and amplified senses. Adapt to and stabilize it for a couple of days, then I''ll teach you the next step."

    "I see, no wonder the world seems much clearer now."

    Lu Yao had just finished replying when the eager Liao Qe pulled him into a quick dash outside.

 Chapter 9: 9. Cordyceps

    <h4>Chapter 9: 9. Cordyceps</h4>

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe walked together on the cobblestone road, surrounded by ancient-looking buildings.

    White smoke curled up from the coal stoves, cloth banners fluttered in the wind, with the cries of the vendors ebbing and flowing.

    The little girl was so happy just to be out that she skipped along, her two braided pigtails dancing joyously.

    This time, Lu Yao''s secondary objective for going out was shopping; his primary goal was to earn money.

    Now, just the cost of medicinal supplements was consuming 5000 copper coins a day, which is half a tael of silver, and the silver he brought would be spent within half a month;

    As for Blue Star, she didn''t even have enough money for a takeout meal!

    So, once her condition had stabilized somewhat, earning money became an urgent matter. Thankfully, she already had a n!

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao was increasingly certain that his vision had improved, able to see the characters on a distant signboard clearly, with a vision of at least 5.5!

    Moreover, as long as he concentrated his mind, he could see even more clearly, as if using a telescope.

    He couldn''t help expressing his surprise, "Spirit Refinement actually has such benefits?"

    Liao Qe pouted, "Humph, don''t be smug. The stages following ''meditative immersion'' are even harder! I''ll catch up with you sooner orter!"

    "The stage after meditative immersion is ''entering oblivion'', right?"

    "Yes, sister is also striving for that realm. Who knows how many experts have been stuck there, unable to advance an inch for the rest of their lives."

    As Lu Yao chatted, he looked around curiously, but it wasn''t long before he felt a wave of dizziness and blurred vision.

    Liao Qe teased him, saying, "Haha, you''ve overused your brain. Enhancing the five senses consumes a lot of mental energy~"

    "Damn it~ Why didn''t you tell me earlier~"

    Lu Yao rubbed his head, but fortunately, he was fine after just a short rest.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The two of themughing and joking, they arrived at the pharmacy named Jinshou Hall without realizing it.

    Upon seeing them, Shopkeeper He''s wrinkled face lit up with a smile, and he came out from behind the counter, "Young Master Lu, Sister Liao, you''re here, pleasee in!"

    Liao Qe said, "Shopkeeper, he''s my junior brother now~"

    Shopkeeper He dropped his insincere smile and looked Lu Yao over carefully, then bowed with cupped fists and said solemnly, "Congrattions, the Liao Family Fist has gained a distinguished disciple!"

    The other customers and clerks nearby, upon hearing this, looked at Lu Yao with faces full of surprise and envy. Some of them were even eager to find out more about his background.

    Liao Qe stood tall and proud, obviously very pleased with herself.

    Feeling the numerous amazed and envious gazes, Lu Yao thought to himself: The newspaper said that martial artists who enter the Organ Refining Realm and register with the authorities can obtain the title of martial master and enjoy the treatment of a Schr. It seems that their social status is higher than I had imagined.

    At the same time, he was startled to discover that he could even hear quiet whispers:

    [This person''splexion is pale, and he looks weak and ill; how did he manage to be epted into the Liao Family Fist? This is an Organ Refining Martial Artist''s school!]

    [Not just that, did you not hear Sister Liao call him junior brother? Master Liao taking a disciple on behalf of his father¡ªequals in status!]

    [This person must have something extraordinary about him; otherwise, with Master Liao''s disposition, he would never have done this!]

    [Could it be that he''s a prospective son-inw? Master Liao would surely not let the Liao Family die out. But this person isn''t physically fit, can he even serve a martial practitioner?]

    He could hear whispered conversations from 20 meters away clearly, which would have been utterly impossible before.

    And just like his enhanced vision, by focusing his energy, he could hear even more distinctly.

    Indeed, as Liao Ya said¡ªthe senses are greatly enhanced after entering the meditative state.

    Lu Yao couldn''t help but marvel at the wonder of the Spirit Refining Method and was immensely curious about what theter stages would bring.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Next, under Shopkeeper He''s personal service, Lu Yao purchased many medicinal herbs needed for the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup;

    He also spent a tael of silver to buy a catty of "Cordyceps," a valuable tonic herb reputed to be restorative and strength-enhancing.

    Lu Yao decided to resell Cordyceps back on Blue Star. Easy to carry due to its small size and not a low price either, high-quality ones could sell for 100,000 per half kilogram.

    When it was time to pay, the shopkeeper He looked forward to it with anticipation, and upon seeing Lu Yao still using silver for the payment, his smile grew even wider, and he hurriedly received the silver with both hands.

    As Lu Yao left, shopkeeper He personally saw him out of the store, only returning after the two had walked a good distance away.

    "We''re just ordinary customers, why does this man lower his posture so much?"

    Lu Yao was somewhat puzzled, "This heartfelt joy can''t be faked, and I didn''t buy that much either... With such a big medicine hall, could it be?"

    Upon seeing him at a loss, Liao Qe exined with a smile:

    "These days, it''s rare to see someone pay with silver like you do. ''In prosperous times, antiques are valued, in chaos, silver is king.'' Silver is hard currency, everyone likes it."

    "No wonder," Lu Yao chuckled, "I was too hastyst time and didn''t notice that."

    For him, silver wasn''t expensive and was easy to carry, so he spent it without a second thought, but merchants loved this kind of generous customer.

    Lu Yao thought to himself, "The details reveal much, the people''s pursuit of silver seems to signify ack of confidence in the Imperial Court."

    ~~~~~~~~

    After buying the medicine, the two didn''t go home but continued strolling.

    Lu Yao wanted to subscribe to the newspaper at the news agency to get more information, which was no bad thing.

    Liao Qe, with her big eyes glowing, expressed her envy, "Junior Brother trulyes from a wealthy family, you can even read."

    Seeing her look of yearning, Lu Yao asked, "What''s so difficult about that, do you want to learn? I''ll teach you~"

    "Really? I don''t know anything at all, you''ll have to teach me from the beginning~"

    "It''s a small matter, I''ll start teaching you when we get back~"

    Lu Yao readily agreed, and Liao Qe became even happier, leading the way with excitement.

    Today, the young girl was wearing a dark, fitted martial outfit. Her hips swayed unconsciously as she walked, with her waist slender as a willow and her behind as luscious as a peach.

    Lu Yao followed behind, making the most of the view, even using visual enhancement to not miss any delightful curves.

    At the same time, he tried to concentrate his mind on his nose and sure enough, he caught the sweet fragrance of the girl.

    "Ha, this is fun!"

    Lu Yao was enjoying himself when Liao Qe suddenly got into a defensive stance to protect him, her face full of vignce.

    Looking around, they had arrived at the "poor district."

    Here the streets were in disrepair, houses were mostly makeshift shanties, the people skinny as sticks, wearing tattered clothing, their eyes numb yet with a hint of cruelty.

    The ground was filled with filth, emitting a foul odor.

    asionally, a rickshaw would pass by, immediately surrounded by numerous beggars. The rickshaw puller would take out a wooden stick and swing it around to make way, barely managing to escape.

    Hungry eyes looking over, tempted by the prospect.

    But upon seeing Liao Qe''s martial outfit, they became timid and seemingly afraid of martial artists.

    Liao Qe snorted coldly, "Good they recognize what''s good for them!"

    In this ce, one couldn''t afford to show weakness, if someone had dared to approach her, she would have dealt a heavy hand, crippling them.

    Lu Yao sighed, "This must be what the real world looks like, I''m just lucky to have picked a not so difficult beginning."

    Liao Qe seemed already ustomed to it, and spoke nonchntly:

    "Is this the first time Young Master Lu has witnessed the hardships of themon folk? This is still considered good; you haven''t seen the refugee areas outside the city, that''s... tsk tsk."

    Lu Yao said, "Indeed, it''s my first time seeing this. But I''m not much better than them, not knowing how much longer I''ll live."

    Liao Qe took his arm andforted him, "Junior Brother, you''re a good person, and I''m sure good luck will favor the benevolent and you''ll turn danger into safety!"

    Feeling the soft and delicate touch of the girl''s hand, Lu Yao smiled and said, "I''ll take your auspicious words~"

 Chapter 10: 10. Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau

    <h4>Chapter 10: 10. Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau</h4>

    Both of them arrived at Wangping Street, known as "Newspaper Street".

    The ce was bustling with activity, each side of the road lined with newspaper offices, and the cries of newspaper vendors rising and falling in session.

    There were also trams, slow enough that people could jump on at any time. The trams used bells instead of horns, ding ding ding, the sound echoing into the distance.

    The crowd was dressed in fashion, mostly in Western-style clothes and dresses, including the cheongsam with high slits.

    This style of dress originated from Manchuria in the north and was known for its sensuality and elegance, enjoying great poprity.

    In this world, women''s clothing had two extremes; either extremely retro and conservative, not revealing a single inch of skin, or extraordinarily liberal, with exposed thighs and cleavage barely given a second thought.

    Liao Qe admired the resplendent and beautiful clothes as she walked along the street. Although her spirited outfit entuated her figure, it seemed somewhat rusticpared to what surrounded her.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After criticizing the moral decline of the times, Lu Yao went to the newspaper offices and subscribed to four newspapers in one go: Divine Land Daily, Current Affairs Newspaper, Overseas Daily, and Business Newspaper.

    From current affairs to entertainment gossip, and even business information, everything was avable. The newspapers would be delivered to his door daily.

    Seeing that it was gettingte, they were about to head back when Lu Yao suddenly noticed many people gathered around a notice board, pointing and discussing animatedly.

    The government would set up notice boards in crowded ces to post announcements, and it seemed that some major news had just broken.

    As they approached, they heard bursts of curses:

    "They''ve raised taxes again! The Imperial Court is trying to drive us to our graves!"

    "I heard it''s because The Empress Dowager wants to celebrate her birthday, so they''re raising taxes."

    "Ridiculous! To make peace and pay indemnities, the court has already paid the foreigners hundreds of thousands of taels of silver! And this witch still has the face to celebrate her birthday!"

    Both of them saw the tax increase notice that was being cursed by the people, and Liao Qe frowned and said, "I don''t know what the Imperial Court is thinking. The world is bing more and more chaotic."

    Lu Yao said softly, "A harbinger of a country''s downfall is the prevalence of absurdity."

    He was quite familiar with this period of history. It was apulsory part of the modern history section of the college entrance examination.

    But the more he knew, the colder his heart became, for he was living in the midst of these turbulent times.

    He couldn''t help but wonder how different the script of a world with extraordinary powers would be.

    ~~~~~

    At that moment, the crowd around the notice board was loud with indignant curses.

    A middle-aged man showed aplex expression, filled with shame, self-reproach, and annoyance, and he sighed deeply.

    The man was dressed in a brocade gown and looked every bit the wealthy official. His presence was fierce and authoritative, and it was clear he had been in a high position for a long time; several bodyguards were by his side for protection.

    When Liao Qe noticed him, she eximed excitedly, "Director-General Du!"

    The middle-aged man looked over, barely managing a smile before nodding in acknowledgment.

    Liao Qe gave a fist-salute from where she stood, not approaching any closer.

    This exchange drew the attention of those nearby. Some people who had been cursing enthusiastically changed their expressions instantly upon seeing Director-General Du, scrambling to disappear into the crowd.

    Director-General Du didn''t bother with them and walked up to the board to post a brand new announcement himself.

    It read ¡ª In order to enrich the country and strengthen the military, by learning from the barbarians'' own tactics. The Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau is hereby established... Now recruiting thoughtful schrs and ingenious craftsmen to learn from the advanced technology of the West, to try building steamships and cannons...

    The crowd looked on curiously while Lu Yao recognized the familiar "Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau" and instantly realized this was the famous ¡ª Self-Strengthening Movement!

    The Great Shun Dynasty of this time was very simr to thest imperial dynasty of Blue Star. Consecutive humiliating defeats in foreign wars, multiple cessions of territory and indemnity payments; a portion of the rulers acknowledged the power of the Westerners'' mighty ships and powerful cannons, starting to learn advanced technology!

    After posting the announcement, Director-General Du spoke out loud:

    "I am Du Wen, currently the Director-General of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau. As the notice states, we urgently need skilled craftsmen and knowledgeable individuals who are well-versed in foreign technologies! Those willing to contribute to the country shall be handsomely rewarded by the Imperial Court!"

    Having said that, he gave a bow to the crowd and then hurried off with his entourage to the next location.

    Whether it was just for show or a genuine search for talent, the intention had been made clear, sparking a burst of discussion among the people:

    "I heard that several high officials in the court want to ''learn from the barbarians to control them.'' I didn''t expect the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau to be set up so quickly."

    "There is also a shipbuilding bureau established in Fuzhou; they''re probably going to build a naval fleet."

    "Whatever the case, as long as they drive all the foreigners away, that''s fine!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe didn''t continue to watch the spectacle and instead hurried home. It was now dusk, with night fast approaching, and the city''s safety was not to be relied upon.

    On the way, Lu Yao asked curiously, "By the way, do you know that Mr. Du?"

    Liao Qe was about to answer when a gentle voice sounded: "Let me tell you instead."

    No sooner had the voice faded than a graceful figure descended from above; it was Liao Ya.

    "You two were out for so long, I was worried and came to look for you. You met Mr. Du?"

    Liao Qe obediently replied, "Yes, he is now the Director-General of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau."

    Liao Ya nodded and said to Lu Yao, "Mr. Du once worked under Director Lin along with my father, and they were involved in the ''opium destruction'' event, so there is some camaraderie."

    "I see," Lu Yao finally understood.

    But Liao Ya immediately added, "Speaking of which, there is something you must know¡ªnever go near the docks, we have enemies!"

    "Ah? What kind of enemies?"

    Liao Ya''s eyes widened, and she spoke seriously, "During the opium destruction with Director Lin, my father offended numerous gangs involved in opium smuggling, including the Hailong Gang! The Hailong Gang harmed countless people with opium and even colluded with foreigners from the Opiumpany to set an ambush and kill my father!"

    At this point, the youngdy took a few deep breaths, struggling topose herself.

    "Our feud is irreconcble! The Hailong Gang has been wanting to cause trouble for my sister and me due to their heavy losses. However, they don''t dare to enter the area governed by the prefecture government, so as long as you stay away from the docks, it will be fine."

    Lu Yao said, "I understand, Senior Sister. Your enemy is my enemy; just let me know if there is anything I can help with!"

    The severity on Liao Ya''s face faded, and she spoke softly, "The best help you could provide is to make sure I have enough medicine to eat my fill every day. Only with martial arts mastery can we take our revenge."

    Liao Qe chimed in, "Sister, you are only 18. With Lu Yao''s help, you will definitely be able to undergo marrow cleansing, even a Blood-Exchange, before you turn 20!"

    "Don''t just count on me, you can''t ck off either! Starting tomorrow, we''re doubling our practice time for fist training!"

    Liao Ya set the target, and Liao Qe wore a sour face regretting why she had to run her mouth.

    ~~~~~~~

    After returning to the martial arts school, Lu Yao curiously asked Liao Qe, "Your sister is just 18, how old are you?"

    The girl answered, "Me? I''m 16, why?"

    Lu Yao was inwardly shocked, "No, nothing, just asking..."

    She''s only 16 and already looks like this! The sisters, both tall and eye-level with him, had well-developed figures, curvy in all the right ces, which could stir worldly desires even in someone frail.

    Lu Yao couldn''t help but remark to himself: People who practice martial arts really develop well!

    Then, ncing at the Cordyceps he had bought, he decided to quickly settle the matter of the money.

    Therefore, he said to Liao Qe, "I''m going to go back and get some things; I won''t be sleeping here tonight. By the way~ what shoe size do you both wear? And let me know your measurements too."

 Chapter 11: 11,200 times the profit

    <h4>Chapter 11: 11,200 times the profit</h4>

    At Blue Star''s home.

    "Damn it, that girl, it hurt like hell!"

    Lu Yao rubbed the inner side of his thigh where Liao Qe had pinched him hard.

    "I was asking for your sizes to buy clothes for you two. At worst, all I could do was think about it; I couldn''t do anything more, even if it was rude, there was no need to go this far!"

    Lu Yao ced the Cordyceps he brought back on the table, intending to contact the herbal medicine merchants he knew to sell them off.

    "1 jin should be enough to resolve the urgent crisis."

    He opened WeChat and searched through his contacts, the first one he found was the owner of Jintong Pharmacy¡ªBoss Li. They had often gone to him for medicine and were familiar with each other.

    Lu Yao sent several high-definition pictures of the Cordyceps and asked directly:

    [Bro Li, I''ve got some Cordyceps here, they are in decent condition. Are you interested in buying them?]

    The response came instantly: [Little Lu, why don''t you keep them for your own use? Your illness makes these perfect for you.]

    Lu Yao replied: [I''m tight on cash recently, looking to sell cheap to someone I know]

    He didn''t have the time to dabble inmerce in Blue Star, so he wanted to sell them off quickly, even if that meant a lower price. After all, the cost was only a tael or two of silver, merely 250 yuan.

    But to his surprise, Boss Li replied: [The quality is average, I''ll offer you 10,000 yuan for it.]

    Lu Yao''s face fell. His Cordyceps weren''t top-notch, but they were still worth 70,000 to 80,000 yuan.

    To sell them quickly, he didn''t mind if the price was 20-30 percent cheaper, or even half-priced, but to only offer 10,000 yuan was too much! It was clear that the man was taking advantage of his urgency for money to pay for his treatment!

    And it didn''t stop there. Seeing Lu Yao didn''t reply for a long time, Boss Li had the audacity to send an even more outrageous message:

    [Brother, I''m tight on cash tootely, how about you consign them with me? Once they''re sold, I''ll transfer the money to you immediately.]

    Lu Yao, utterly furious,ughed in irony: Does this guy think I''m not long for this world, wanting to mooch off me?

    First get the goods, then just wait for Lu Yao to die, and naturally, there would be no need to pay up.

    Once a person is downtrodden, countless mean-spirited people will use all sorts of hical methods to kick you.

    Lu Yao immediately cklisted this person.

    ~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, Boss Li, still watching his phone, fantasized about swindling a freebie.

    After a long wait without a reply, he sent a message: [Brother, what do you think?]

    WeChat popped up a notification¡ªThe user has enabled friend verification, and you are not his friend yet. Please send a friend request first, and after your request is verified, you can chat with the user.

    "Fuck! This dying bastard has deleted me!"

    Boss Li was enraged, mming his hand on the table! The few strands of hair remaining on his head, shocked by the action, fell and covered his eyes.

    He couldn''t afford to be angry, and he hurriedly straightened his hair, carefully covering the scalp, making sure not to leave a gap.

    "That dying bastard''s goods are worth at least 80,000. I could turn it around for 200,000. If I had known, I would have offered more money... Damn it!"

    Having been in the business for 30 years, Boss Li believed he would never misjudge, and at this moment, he deeply regretted it.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao started to consider other options.

    Just then, he noticed a business card on the coffee table. Li Lei¡ªWanfu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, General Manager.

    "This is the girl who sells the herbal decoction machines, she''s quite alright. She''ll probably take the Cordyceps too, let''s ask her."

    Lu Yao first added her as a friend using her mobile number, and then resent the same message he had sent earlier.

    A few minutester, Li Lei called him directly: "Lu Yao? You want to sell Cordyceps? I have limited experience, I need to see them in person before I can give you a quote."

    "I''m at home, the same ce you visitedst time."

    "Okay, I''lle right now."

    It wasn''t long before that white X6 parked downstairs.

    "Bang!" The sound of the car door closing had just ended when immediately there followed the sound of footsteps thumping up the stairs, the girl not taking the elevator, rushing up to the 5th floor in one breath.

    After entering the room, her face wasn''t red, and she wasn''t gasping for breath, her body extremely fit.

    "Where are the cordyceps? Let me have a look."

    Li Lei wore jeans, which made her legs look long.

    She had wanted to get straight to the point, but after seeing Lu Yao, her face showed a look of shock! Her phoenix eyes widened into perfect circles: "You..."

    They had just met the day before yesterday, and she was certain this young man was terminally ill and didn''t have long to live.

    Working in the pharmaceutical industry anding from a family with a rich medical background, she couldn''t have possibly misdiagnosed.

    Furthermore, Lu Yao''s withered and skinny body, and the faintly greenish color on his face, made it hard for anyone to make a wrong judgment.

    But today, she saw that he was only pale, far from being on hisst breath.

    Only two days had passed, and he had improved so much! Had he eaten thousand-year ginseng or what?

    Seeing her frozen in ce, Lu Yao reminded her, "The cordyceps are here, take a look."

    "Ah~ Oh, I''ll take a look." Li Lei then remembered why she hade and quickly took out a magnifying ss to scrutinize the otherworldly cordyceps.

    She could tell upon touching them that Lu Yao''s goods were of good quality, with a purchase price above 80,000.

    After some deliberation, she cleared her throat and spoke, "Not bad, my offer is 50,000. Don''t think it''s too little, it''s hard to sell at a good price without my channels..."

    "Okay, pay up."

    Li Lei was in the midst of speaking non-stop when she suddenly heard Lu Yao agree, and she paused in surprise, "Huh!?"

    She had thought there would be some bargaining, a verbal sparring, but the other party had agreed straight away, which made her feel like she had punched cotton, leaving her disoriented and her waist aching.

    Lu Yao pushed the cordyceps towards her and said indifferently, "Transfer the money."

    Li Lei held the cordyceps somewhat dumbfounded. The entire transaction process took less than three minutes,pletely different from the "intense business battle" she had imagined.

    Lu Yao was very satisfied, after all, the cost was only 250 yuan, and selling them for 50,000, a profit of 200 times, was enough. Don''t be too demanding, or life bes too exhausting.

    ~~~~~~~~

    With money and goods exchanged, there was again a bnce in the ount.

    Lu Yao was in a good mood and said to Li Lei, "I''ll have another batch of medicinal herbs to sell in a few days, I''ll contact you then."

    "More!?" Li Lei''s eyes lit up, hurriedly agreeing, "No problem, just call me directly, I''ll be there whenever you need!"

    Li Lei was extremely excited in her heart. She had started her own online store butcked supplies and could only purchase from others, cutting into her profits.

    Having a fixed supplier would be very beneficial to her business.

    Lu Yao said, "I''m not demanding too much for the price, as long as it''s reasonable. What I care about is efficiency, I hope you''ll remember that."

    "Rx, I''m the most efficient person there is!" Li Leiughed heartily, assuring him with confidence.

    Noticing that Lu Yao clearly had other things to attend to, the girl cleverly said her goodbyes and left.

    Slipping into her car, she excitedly punched the air, shouting out, "Yes!!! I''m not just a freeloader! I can do it!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Next, Lu Yao went on a buying spree.

    2 kg of silver (40 taels) cost him 10,000 yuan; diesel for a generator, thirty liters;

    He bought four pairs of shoes and outfits for each of his sisters; he also downloaded an old-fashioned traditional Chinese version of "Steel Refining Process and Procedure" from the inte. This information was outdated on Blue Star many years ago.

    Lu Yao only needed the content in the middle, so he trimmed the unnecessary parts and printed it out. Since he had encountered the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, it was best to be prepared for any eventuality.

    He spent half of the money he earned from selling the cordyceps right away, but Lu Yao didn''t feel hurt at all.

    With the ability to travel between doors, there were many ways to make money. For example, he could bring back "Natural Bezoar" from the Otherworld.

    But the price of this stuff was even higher than gold! The profit was too high; now was not the right time.

 Chapter 12: 12. While still alive, one fixates on their house.

    <h4>Chapter 12: 12. While still alive, one fixates on their house.</h4>

    His current body was still very weak; busying about had left him somewhat exhausted.

    While waiting for the delivery, Lu Yaoy on his side on the bed and practiced the nourishing technique.

    His spirit was calm, no stray thoughts arose, and the fatigue of his mind was immediately relieved. Soon after, his body rxed significantly.

    "This sleeping position might be odd, but it allows one to breathe exceptionally smoothly, with blood and qi flowing throughout the body¡ªit''s definitely a great method for extending one''s lifespan."

    "And the most miraculous thing is Spirit Refinement! The rapid deep sleep after Focused Spirit and the serene guarding of the mind in meditation can give the brain ample rest and nourishment, not to mention the added benefit of enhancing the five senses! I wonder what wonders the higher realms hold."

    Just when he was musing, his phone suddenly rang.

    Lu Yao was rather surprised; in this day and age, no one contacted a dying man like him.

    He picked it up and saw it was his third uncle calling, so he answered immediately to see what he wanted.

    [Lu Yao, why aren''t you in the hospital?]

    "Third uncle, just say what you want to say."

    The caller cleared his throat and said, [Well... you know your third uncle always cares the most for you, uh... could you transfer the house to me in advance? It''d save a lot of troubleter on.]

    Lu Yao first felt deste, then found it ridiculous. I''m not dead yet, and he''s already eyeing my house.

    These people had neglected him, left him to die in the hospital. They were nowhere to be seen when really needed, but showed up immediately when there was something to gain.

    Lu Yao said, "Third uncle, I''m quite upset about my departure; don''t you think it''s unlucky?"

    [Ah! Kid, why talk like that? We''re all family; what''s this about luck...]

    Lu Yao chuckled and said, "Forget about the house, I suddenly feel full of energy, maybe I should get married and live for a few more decades!"

    [But, you''re already in thete stages of cancer...]

    Lu Yao hung up and blocked the number.

    Before long, his third aunt, cousins, and other rtives called to harass him, saying they wanted toe and take care of him.

    Too bad their words came a bit toote; Lu Yao didn''t need them anymore and continued to block them.

    After that, other rtives, as if they had received some signal, started calling one after another, offering to attend to Lu Yao in his final days. Even those who he hadn''t been in touch with for many years were eager to join in.

    Lu Yao simply turned off his phone. "These people, acting as if they''ve predicted my death exactly; they''re truly beasts."

    In order to be treated, Lu Yao had sold all he could sell, but he had never considered selling the house even when he was at his most desperate.

    Because all the memories left of his parents were there!

    "I must cure this illness and get my life back on track! Then I''ll be the one dancing on your graves!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Suddenly, Lu Yao missed his two beautiful and kind senior martial sisters; as soon as he got the delivery, he made his way back to the Otherworld immediately.

    It was noon here, the quietest moment in the boxing gym.

    Most of the disciples learning boxing didn''t have the conditions to practice full-time; they had to work for a living during the day and had already gone to their jobs.

    The two sisters, one was cultivating in the quiet room, the other spread out the ount books to do the ounts.

    Liao Qe clicked the abacus with a pop pop, her face full of delight. With Lu Yao present, they had invisibly saved a great deal of expenses. The boxing gym finally had a surplus.

    She was so engrossed in ounting that she didn''t notice Lu Yao standing at the door knocking until he did. "Oh, you''re back~ Howe it took you so long this time?"

    Lu Yao looked at the fair and delicate girl, felt much better, and smiled, "Because I was buying nice things for you."

    Liao Qe''s cheeks blushed slightly, she nced curiously at the many big bags in Lu Yao''s hands, and said, expectant but shyly, "What are they? I can''t just take your things..."

    "It''s nothing much, just some clothes and shoes. They''re all here~"

    Lu Yao had long noticed that the sisters had only a few clothes which were not only old-fashioned but also worn, as if they had been worn for many years.

    This time, I brought some items from Blue Star with good quality and styles.

    Liao Qe opened the bag and eximed with surprise, "Oh my! So many beautiful clothes! And shoes too!"

    Girls love dressing up, but for martial arts training, she had skimped on buying clothes, so now she was absolutely thrilled.

    Liao Qe lovingly caressed the top-notch fabric and exquisite workmanship, unable to put them down, and asionally held up a piece to measure against herself.

    With a smile revealing a row of white teeth, she said, "Lu Yao, thank you~"

    Lu Yao waved his hand, "As your junior, it''s only right for me to honor my senior sister."

    Liao Qe picked up a pair of cool running shoes and pinched the tongue, seeming to see them for the first time, somewhat puzzled.

    Lu Yao exined, "You have to tie theces." Saying this, he threaded theces of the running shoes, "They''re veryfortable to wear, you should give them a try."

    Liao Qe nodded, turned her back, and swiftly pulled off her cloth shoes, slipping into the running shoes in the blink of an eye.

    Lu Yao caught a fleeting glimpse of her pale, smooth ankle.

    The girl, wearing running shoes for the first time, clumsily tied theces, and he quickly stepped forward, crouching down to help.

    Looking at the young man bent over in front of her, Liao Qe''s cheeks flushed, and she said softly, "Lu Yao, thank you."

    "Why thank me again? No need for such courtesy. Don''t forget that you saved my life."

    After tying theces, Lu Yao stood up and teased her, "I''m someone who rushes to repay a kindness even more than to avenge a wrong. If it weren''t for my incurable disease, I''d have already pledged myself to you."

    With a glint in her almond-shaped eyes, Liao Qe pinched her fist and gently thumped him as if giving a massage, pouting, "You... A dog''s mouth doesn''t spit out ivory~"

    Afterward, she hopped around the room and cheerfully said, "It really is quitefy!"

    "I wouldn''t lie to you. Try on the clothes too, I''m quite curious¡ªwhat you would look like in them."

    Lu Yao was eager to see what the Otherworld girl would look like in Blue Star attire.

    "Alright, I''ll try them on, but you need to step outside~"

    ~~~~~~~~

    After a while, the stunning girl appeared in the courtyard, dressed in a white JK dress.

    Her lithe and taut figure was fully disyed, her long legs especially enticing.

    Liao Qe looked somewhat self-conscious and asked softly, "Does it look good? I''ve seen these kinds of clothes in the concession... but it''s my first time wearing them."

    "Very good!" Lu Yao gave a heartfelt affirmative answer, "My taste isn''t bad, I picked the right size for you!"

    Pleased with thepliment, Liao Qe twirled around happily, her movements graceful and fluid, showing off her porcin-smooth skin.

    "Hmm!" came the sound of someone clearing their throat. It was Liao Ya. "What are you two doing?"

    Liao Qe flung herself into her sister''s arms and said joyfully, "Lu Yao brought us new clothes, they''re so pretty!"

    "You''ve made our junior brother spend money again."

    "Just a few clothes, it''s nothing really."

    Now that Lu Yao had formally be their disciple, and he had given gifts more frequently, Liao Ya had grown ustomed to it, not as formal as she had been at first.

    She smiled serenely and said softly, "By the way, junior brother, from now on, let''s take the tonics in the evening. We use a lot of it, and we need to couple it with the right methods to perfectly absorb its potency. Drinking it during the day is wasteful."

    Lu Yao nodded in agreement, "That sounds good to me."

    Liao Ya looked into his eyes carefully for a moment, focusing on them, and then said with satisfaction,

    "The inner light is retracted, and the spirit is ample; your Spirit Refinement Realm is very stable. Tonight, I''ll transmit the following Scriptures to you."

    "I get it, I get it, big sister,e with me to try on clothes," said Liao Qe, growing impatient, and tugged her sister back to the room.

    Liao Ya nodded at Lu Yao and helplessly followed her sister.

 Chapter 13: 13. Photo-osmotic effect

    <h4>Chapter 13: 13. Photo-osmotic effect</h4>

    The sisters returned to their room, and after carefully examining the clothes and shoes that Lu Yao had brought back, Liao Ya eximed in surprise:

    "They must be very expensive! The material and craftsmanship are all top-notch; I''ve never seen shoes like these before!"

    Liao Qe was trying on a pair of low-heeled leather shoes, without lifting her head, said, "That''s why I hurriedly asked you to look. These are gifts from Lu Yao for both of us, we should split them evenly~"

    Liao Ya said, annoyed, "Look how anxious you are, as if I would steal yours!"

    She seemed to flip through the items casually, when suddenly her eyes lit up, picking out a white sports sweatshirt.

    Without detailed sizes from Lu Yao, most of the clothes he brought were sportswear based on height, which didn''t matter if they were a size bigger or smaller.

    Liao Ya''s eyes shimmered, seemingly very fond of the piece.

    Liao Qe, beautifying her own share, nced at her sister''s choice without much concern, "You really should have some light-colored clothes; I''ve forgotten how many years it''s been since Ist saw you wear them."

    The sisters joyfully divided the gifts, and Liao Ya looked exceptionally happy.

    Both being young girls, the sister liked whatever the younger one liked. But as the elder sister, she had to be moreposed and seldom showed it.

    Liao Qe also put on a sports sweatshirt, saying, "This sweatshirt is both pretty andfortable. Why don''t you try yours on, sister?"

    Liao Ya nced at the sky and shook her head, "Not now, the evening ss students will be here soon, no point in getting all dusty."

    ~~~~~~~~

    By the time the evening ss was over, it waste at night, and the time to close the gym hade.

    "Thank you for the instruction, Master, your disciple takes leave!"

    A group of disciples bowed respectfully to Master Liao before dispersing.

    Liao Ya locked the front door, stretchedzily, took off her dusty practice clothes, and happily changed into her bright new clothes.

    She went to the Cultivation Quiet Room, where the decoction machine was beeping; the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup was ready.

    Lu Yao, who was in the process of pouring the soup into a bowl, nodded in greeting as he saw Liao Ya arrive, and then almost dropped the bowl of medicine to the ground!

    His eyes nearly bulged out because Liao Ya was wearing a sports sweatshirt from Blue Star.

    The sweatshirt was definitely good-looking; with the two sisters'' looks, even a bup sack would be fashionable on them.

    But the key issue was¡ªthat the sweatshirt was white! And white clothing has one characteristic¡ªit makes you look bigger!

    Liao Ya appeared exceptionally majestic and resolute, to the point of making breathing seem difficult just by looking at her.

    The same object, in white, looksrger than in ck, a physical phenomenon known as "light permeating effect."

    Lu Yao secretly marveled, "I never paid much attention when Liao Ya always wore ck clothes, but this white makes her look so exaggerated... She should be called Master ''Big'' Liao!"

    Liao Qe had just learned to write her own name from Lu Yao and was buried in practicing her characters, so she hadn''t noticed her sister''s attire.

    She took the bowl of medicine that Lu Yao passed to her, took a sip, and then saw her sister''s surging figure.

    "Ah pfft ah... cough cough..." Liao Qe choked on the spot, coughing non-stop, "You... who let you wear that!"

    Liao Ya looked down and asked in confusion, "What''s wrong? It''s my favorite color."

    She didn''t see an issue from her own perspective, but it was different for an onlooker.

    Liao Qe covered her face and cried out, "Quick, go change!"

    Liao Ya raised her eyebrows, her face set in displeasure, "What''s wrong with it, aren''t you wearing the same sweatshirt?"

    Both sisters were wearing white sports sweatshirts, but Liao Qe looked slim and lively, while Master Liao came across a bit "racy."

    Liao Qe couldn''t help but lean close to her sister''s ear and mutter something, her voice as faint as a mosquito''s buzz.

    Flushed, Liao Ya suddenly lowered her head and ran off, her speed was so fast that she left only a blur on the retina.

    She came back after a while, now wearing a loose-fitting tracksuit, which was less exaggerated.

    ~~~~~~~~

    At this moment, the room was silent, and the air seemed to solidify.

    Seeing the atmosphere be more and more awkward and stiff, Lu Yao quickly distributed the medicine to them and said, "Senior sister, teach me the following techniques."

    Master Liao''s face glimmered faintly, she sipped the drink slowly and said:

    "The first three stages of Spirit Refinement¡ªFocused Spirit, Entering Meditation, and Forgetfulness in Sit. Although you have entered meditation, you still need some preparation time to enter the state, which is not enough. You must achieve ''constant meditation,'' to be in a state of meditation at all times before you can move on to the next step.

    I am also striving for this realm and cannot and dare not give you too much guidance. There''s only one line from the Liao Family''s Secret Chant I hope you remember¡ª''Be not chaotic in heart, nor entangled in emotions; fear not the future, nor dwell on the past!''

    Lu Yao murmured to himself, repeating thest phrase several times, closing his eyes in thought.

    Liao Ya looked at him expectantly, hoping that this naturally gifted practitioner in the way of Spirit Refinement would make remarkable achievements.

    Spirit Refining should avoid excessive talk, and she dared not disturb him further. The world isplex, and everyone''s understanding is different. Too much exnation can lead to ''barriers of knowledge and perception.''

    At this point, Liao Ya suddenly noticed her younger sister sitting nkly with her uprehending eyes, probably lost in thought again.

    Annoyed, shended a knock on her sister''s head on the spot: "What are you thinking about! Have you not been listening to me? Lu Yao startedter than you but has already entered meditation, while you struggle even with Focused Spirit. Aren''t you ashamed!"

    "Ouch!" Liao Qe cried out in pain, holding her head anding back to her senses, "Why hit me! Spirit Refinement is so difficult and not even that useful, I should just focus on improving my Martial Dao Realm!"

    Liao Ya pinched her sister''s cheek, pulling her oval face into a pancake shape:

    "Spirit Refinement is not useful!? When inbat, if your opponent enters meditation and their senses are greatly heightened, every move you make is under their control. How will you win!?"

    Liao Qe felt the pain deeply and quickly grabbed her sister''s arm, struggling fiercely.

    Amidst the sisters'' warm interaction, Lu Yao opened his eyes and said:

    "The key to constant meditation lies in the word ''stillness.'' The heart must be like still water, undisturbed by ripples, regardless of the situation so that the spirit cannot be perturbed. In the end, it''s about having a strong inner self!"

    Liao Ya said with relief, "It''s good that you''ve gained insight! Do not rush Spirit Refinement; take it one step at a time. Stay in the Cultivation Quiet Room these days, the environment here will aid in your cultivation."

    The environment was not that important, Lu Yao actually liked the youthful fragrance of this ce and was very willing to stay. "Thank you, senior sister~"

    ~~~~~~~

    In the sisters'' room.

    Liao Ya was washing her feet with a basin of water, while Liao Qe mischievously stared at a particr spot on her sister.

    Liao Ya couldn''t hide her embarrassment and said with annoyance, "What are you looking at?"

    Liao Qe chuckled mischievously, "Looking at Master ''Big'' Liao~"

    "Nonsense, look at your own!" Liao Ya finished drying her clean, white-jade-like feet with a towel and was about to undress for bed when she suddenly realized her sister was still watching her.

    She covered her chest and scolded, "Enough already, go to sleep!"

    Liao Qe spoke with a teasing tone, "Sister, give me that indecent piece of clothing~ you can''t wear it anyway~"

    "Hmph, I can wear it when I practice on my own!"

    Liao Ya didn''t bother to undress any longer, huffilyying down on her side in bed, entering Focused Spirit to fall asleep, leaving only an attractive silhouette for her sister.

    Liao Qe was greatly amused and felt a good deal of the frustration from the earlier smack had dissipated. Shey down in bed in the same position and quickly fell asleep.

 Chapter 14: 14. Regular Cultivation

    <h4>Chapter 14: 14. Regr Cultivation</h4>

    "Heh!"

    "Ha!"

    Early in the morning, the disciples, as usual, practiced their boxing in the courtyard.

    Liao Ya, holding a vine stick, patrolled back and forth, correcting any movements that were not up to standard on the spot.

    Liao Qe concentrated her efforts, seriously perfecting every move, daring not to ck off in the slightest.

    She was well aware that she had offended her sister yesterday; if she dared to slip up, she would be punished both personally and publicly with a vine stick to her buttocks, causing both embarrassment and heart-wrenching pain.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao stood in the corner of the courtyard, performing the most fundamental Martial Path entry training¡ªstanding stake.

    His legs were apart, buttocks tucked, body slightly rising and falling, as if the light breeze were creating ripples on the water.

    At the same time, Lu Yao''s eyes emitted a faint divine light, as he tried to enter a meditative state while standing stake.

    But standing stake isn''t just about standing idly; it inherently is aplex cultivation that engages the whole body.

    Maintaining a meditative state at this time was extremely challenging, and Lu Yao broke out in a cold sweat after just a few minutes, his face growing even paler, and he began to sway.

    The sisters hurried over to help him, rubbing his chest and smoothing his back, showering him with care and concern.

    This scene, witnessed by other disciples in the boxing gym, sparked widespread envy.

    Especially a young man d in brocade, whose handsome face bore a clear look of dissatisfaction.

    By his side, another disciple spoke up to tter him:

    "Master Han, this Lu Yao, I don''t know what background he has to have infiltrated our ranks, and even be a junior to Master Liao."

    "Indeed, look at him gasping for breath like this, he can''t even stand stake properly."

    The Han surnamed man snorted coldly without a word, a haughty air about him.

    At this moment, the disciples practicing boxing split into two groups.

    One group included Master Han and others, who were better dressed and looked healthier;

    the other group, wearing old clothes patched all over, weathered faces, clearly bottom-tierborers, whispered among themselves:

    "Han Fang has had his eye on the Liao Family for more than a day or two, and he can''t even hold a mirror up to himself."

    "The Liao Family''s reputation is well known; Master Liao would never fancy Han Fang! He might have a chance if he agrees to change his surname and marry into the family."

    The volume of the conversation wasn''t low, drifting on the wind to Han Fang''s ears.

    He cast a cold nce at the other side, "Hmph¡ªpush!" and, with contempt, spat a thick phlegm, cursing under his breath, "A bunch of mud-legged chickens, can''t even eat their fill and still training in martial arts!"

    The Han family had opened a Western-style textile factory and was considered well-off, although stillmoners.

    His father, having designs, saw that the Liao Familycked male heirs, so he sent the handsome Han Fang to learn martial arts, hoping he would marry into the Liao Family.

    By doing so, he could be kin with Liao Ya and thus elevate their social status.

    A martial artist stepping into the Organ Refining Realm is no longer mon," registered with the government, he could enjoy the treatment of a Schr. If willing to serve as an official, the starting position is that of an 8th-rank martial appointment, a very high social status.

    At the same time, he could ride on the Liao Family''s prestige. Liao Qigong had died inbat reducing opium, which earned him high respect.

    And most crucially¡ªacquiring the Liao Family''s Martial Path heritage! This was even more valuable than his family''s factory and could enable the Han Family to truly leap across social sses!

    What he had to do was simply to deceive a young girl into his hands. From a merchant''s perspective, this deal seemed to promise huge profits for a small investment!

    But at the moment, Han Fang could only watch Lu Yao with impotent fury! Taking in disciples on behalf of his father and being admitted to the inner circle were privileges that should have been his; how did such good fortune fall on Lu Yao?

    As a merchant''s son, Han Fang had a sharp eye for observation, easily seeing that the two women''s care for Lu Yao was heartfelt and not perfunctory.

    "This man is clearly a sickly ghost, how does hepare to myself! Why does he have the favor of two women simultaneously!?"

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao, reassured by the two flower-like young girls, quickly regained hisposure.

    "I''m fine. It''s a bit difficult to enter ''meditation'' while standing in the posture, it seems I''ll have to practice more."

    Lu Yao had been practicing "constant meditation," and had suddenly been struck by the idea to try and maintain the meditative state while in the standing posture.

    Liao Ya admonished, "Spirit Refinement should not be rushed, it''s all about ''letting things take their natural course.'' Although you have talent, you shouldn''t force it."

    "I''ll take care, Senior Sister."

    Lu Yao had grown ustomed to the asional guidance from Liao Ya, which was the very treasure Han Fang sought but could not obtain.

    Seeing that he was alright, Liao Ya continued to go back and supervise the disciples'' punching practice.

    Liao Qe wiped the sweat off Lu Yao with a handkerchief, then returned to the punching practice group.

    Filled with the fragrance of a young girl, which was extremely invigorating, Lu Yao continued his own cultivation.

    With a calm spirit and a heart free of distractions, Lu Yao entered the "meditative" state within a few breaths.

    This state was quite marvelous, giving the feeling that one''s heart hadpletely "stilled."

    And this "stillness" wasn''t an absence of thoughts. On the contrary, the mind in a meditative state, without distractions, was even more suited to focus deeply on one''s thoughts.

    At this moment, Lu Yao was cultivating while contemting.

    "It''s wishful thinking to practice martial arts with my body; even the basic stance is strenuous, let alone others. Spirit Refinement must take precedence, a ''circuitous rescue'' approach."

    "Practice makes perfect, nothing is impossible with persistence in meditation training. ''Constant meditation'' is just a matter of time, and then I can proceed to the next step¡ª''sitting in oblivion.''

    Just then, Lu Yao suddenly felt that Liao Qe smiled at him. His head wasn''t turned towards Liao Qe''s direction, but somehow he just knew¡ªthe girl had smiled at him.

    Turning his head to look, Liao Qe was indeed smiling sweetly at him, even sticking out her tongue to make a face while her sister was far away, like a ssmate sneaking a joke during lessons.

    "Eye contact resonance, is this also an effect of Spirit Refinement?"

    Lu Yao understood in his heart, while not forgetting to respond with a face back to Liao Qe.

    This scene, witnessed by the other disciples, somehow made them feel sour as they looked at themselves practicing punches under the hard sun and then at the others flirting. Suddenly, they found themselves unable to continue practicing.

    Han Fang clenched his fists even tighter, his anger intensifying!

    The innocent and vivacious Liao Qe was his top target! That little beast! How could he, how dare hepete with me!!

    Out of anger and with sloppy movements, Han Fang was hit a few times with a vine by Liao Ya, eliciting a chorus of snickers.

    Han Fang felt his pocket and made up his mind, "To gain something, one must give something up, it''s time to invest!"

    ~~~~~~~

    The rest time soon arrived.

    Liao Qe, like a swallow, fluttered towards Lu Yao, chatting andughing merrily.

    The girl didn''t know why, but she just liked being with her Junior Brother, feeling unusually at ease and happy in hispany.

    This was because Lu Yao could always make Liao Qeugh heartily with his high emotional intelligence.

    While she was happily chatting, Han Gongzi came over. Dressed in newly tailored brocade clothes, and with a handsome face, he could certainly be considered a man of distinguished appearance.

    He approached with restraint and said, "Miss Liao, our factory has produced new fabric, and I''ve brought some for you to make a new dress."

    Liao Qe frowned slightly, somewhat repelled by his affected demeanor, as if he was afraid that others wouldn''t know his family owned a factory.

    She declined distantly yet politely: "No need, I''m not short of clothes."

    Han Gongzi quickly added, "But this is a fabric even Westerners like, why wouldn''t you want it?"

    Liao Qe found him even more annoying, far less fun than her own Junior Brother, and waved her hand, "I don''t want your things, you should go back to practicing your punches!"

    Han Gongzi''s expression hardened, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out something and handing it over: "Miss Liao is prettier than flowers, just perfect for this hairpin!"

 Chapter 15: 15. To toy with in the palm of oneâ€™s hand

    <h4>Chapter 15: 15. To toy with in the palm of one''s hand</h4>

    The hairpin had a brass base with a small nugget of silver, the size of a fingernail, embedded at the top. It was probably worth about 1,000 copper coins, which is one-tenth of a tael of silver.

    As soon as the item appeared, it elicited a wave of gasps. Even those disciples who disliked Han Fang could not help but admire his generous gesture.

    Such a hairpin could be presented as a betrothal gift and still save face, let alone be given away casually as a present.

    Han Fang stood tall and proud, his face glowing with pleasure. His father often taught him¡ªthat to gain, one must be willing to give, and he wholeheartedly agreed with this principle.

    In business, one must be willing to invest upfront. Once you trick someone into your grasp, it''s easy to earn it all back and then some!

    ~~~~~~~~

    But... everything pales inparison.

    Compared to the gift Lu Yao had given, this shabby hairpin wasn''t even worth mentioning.

    If it had been the original Liao Qe, perhaps she would have hesitated for a few seconds.

    Now, she didn''t even nce at it, instead taking arge step back and firmly declining with cold disapproval, "Han Fang, keep your distance as appropriate between men and women. I don''t want your stuff!"

    After she spoke, she anxiously looked at Lu Yao, fearing he might think less of her.

    Han Fang never expected to be so bluntly rejected by the girl, standing there awkwardly with the hairpin in hand.

    This young girl was clearly greedy for money; why would she reject silver when it''s offered to her on a silver tter!

    One must endure minor grievances to secure a major strategy. Han Fang was about to retreat and reconsider his long-term n, but then he suddenly noticed Lu Yao looking at the hairpin with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

    It was not ridicule or sarcasm, just pure amusement, as if an adult was watching a child pick up stones, as though the hairpin was some kind of joke, not worthy of being taken seriously.

    The injury wasn''t deep, but the insult was profound.

    That look thoroughly infuriated the self-important Han Fang. He could no longer suppress his foul mood and impulsively stepped forward to challenge,

    "Young Master Lu, since you have been epted into the Liao Family Fist, you must have exceptional skill. I request your guidance!"

    As these words were uttered, a murmur arose.

    Han Fang, who paid a yearly tuition of 100 copper coins, was challenging Lu Yao, the indoor disciple, clearly intending to humiliate him.

    If epted, Lu Yao, with his frail appearance, would certainly not win the fight; if refused, an indoor disciple being intimidated by an ordinary student would be a joke.

    Whether Lu Yao epted or not, Han Fang had already won.

    He thought he had crafted the perfect n¡ªthis would surely show the Liao sisters Lu Yao''s ipetence.

    But the next second, Liao Qe jumped out furiously, pointing at Han Fang''s nose and scolding, "Shut up! What do you think you are? How dare you challenge my junior brother!"

    Han Fang, with his low emotional intelligence, actually started to argue with Liao Qe, "Miss Liao, we all practice martial arts in the same gym. What''s wrong with me issuing a challenge?"

    "Oh, you want to challenge, do you? I''ll fight you!" Liao Qe rolled up her sleeves, revealing two arms as smooth as white lotus roots, ready to start the fight on the spot.

    Han Fang was startled and took two steps back, "I''m only at the Sinew-Strengthening stage, not a match for someone in the Bone Tempering Realm..."

    The Bone Tempering Realm made one''s bones incredibly tough, capable of explosive strength that can shatter rocks.

    Don''t be fooled by Liao Qe''s delicate-looking fists¡ªthey were as lethal as meteor hammers, easily capable of leaving Han Fang with broken bones and torn sinews.

    Han Fang was well aware of this and certainly did not dare show off.

    Liao Qe scoffed disdainfully, "Still at Sinew-Strengthening? You''re toozy to even start training properly..."

    At that moment, the sound of a whip cracking through the air drew everyone''s attention. It was Liao Ya making her appearance.

    She said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "No need for this. Since you wish to spar, then let us have a match."

    Upon hearing this, Liao Qe became anxious, "Sister, our junior brother''s health..."

    Liao Ya raised her hand to silence her sister and looked towards Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao smiled and stood up with crisp efficiency, heading to the center of the area to address Han Fang with a formal fist salute, "Please enlighten me."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The onlookers were befuddled. This indoor disciple had a paleplexion, looking as if he had yet to recover from a serious illness, his weakness so evident that he seemed unable to even assume a basic stance. How could he possiblypete with the young and robust Han Fang?

    Han Fang also had an inkling that something wasn''t quite right, but with the situation at hand, he had no choice but to proceed.

    So he stepped into the ring, dispensed with any formalities, and threw a direct punch at Lu Yao.

    Liao Qe watched nervously, ready to intervene and rescue at any moment; yet Liao Ya waspletelyposed, her certainty unwavering.

    Lu Yao had already entered a state of focus, his senses firmly locking onto his opponent, and he effortlessly dodged the punch.

    His footwork was perfect, just enough to let the fist graze past his chest.

    At that moment, Lu Yao felt an extraordinary sensation. After entering the state of focus, his senses were greatly heightened, making his opponent''s movements crystal clear, as if he had them at his fingertips.

    Especially for novices like Han Fang, whose attacks were always preceded by strong tells¡ªlike a sinking shoulder or bending joint¡ªmaking them incredibly easy to anticipate.

    The moment Han Fang moved, Lu Yao knew what he intended to do, had sidestepped the iing punch which took forever to reach him, even finding the time toment his opponent''s sluggish pace.

    Han Fang''s sessive punches, which were all easily avoided, only made him more flustered as he even resorted to using Tortoise Fist, but he couldn''t so much as touch the hem of Lu Yao''s garment.

    With growing familiarity, Lu Yao felt his opponent was simply too naive, and he felt like he was toying with a child, having him at his mercy.

    When the second round of Tortoise Fist came, Lu Yao slightly shifted his body, letting the fist pass by mere inches from his nose, and then tripped Han Fang with a quick move of his foot.

    Han Fang immediately lost his bnce and fell face-first into the dirt. Luckily, he braced himself with his limbs, so the fall wasn''t too bad. He quickly got up and, incredulous, continued his assault.

    "This sickly man is weak, frail all over. Just one hit and I''ll make sure he doesn''t get back up!"

    Regrettably, the next second, Lu Yao coolly slipped to his backside, using the force of Han Fang''s punch to give him a push.

    With a thud, Han Fang sprawled on the ground, his chest mming hard against the soil.

    This fall was harsh, and the pain left him gasping for breath, unable to rise for a long time.

    The disciples watching the fight burst into apuse, cheering. In their eyes, Lu Yao clearly outssed his opponent; this was mere sport.

    Liao Ya turned to her sister and said, "What do you think now? Still think cultivating Spirit Refinement is useless?"

    Liao Qe lowered her eyes meekly, "I was wrong, I''ll definitely devote myself to cultivation from now on."

    A student worth teaching, Liao Ya nodded in satisfaction. She had foreseen the oue and used this as a lesson for her sister.

    ~~~~~~~~

    At this moment, Han Fang had a swollen chin and a bloody mouth, his body covered in dust, an image of utter disarray.

    He was quite arrogant on normal days, earning the unanimous disdain of everyone around him, and now they were in good spirits, openly mocking him with loud voices.

    "Anyone epted as a disciple clearly has some skills, and yet Mr. Han still dared to bring trouble upon himself."

    "Liao''s second sister haspletely scorned him. Now, Han Fang has no chance of marrying into their family~"

    "As if a toad could eat swan meat¡ªa hopeless wish. Master Liao is well aware~"

    Hearing these taunting words, Han Fang''s fingers dug fiercely into the ground as he forced himself up with all his might.

    Lu Yao asked nonchntly, "Are we still fighting?"

    Han Fang remained silent, casting a nce at the Liao sisters, their expressions ranging from cold to scornful. He realized he no longer had any hope of being taken in by their family, and that staying on would be pointless.

    Amidst a cacophony of jeeringughter, he limped away without saying goodbye,pletelycking grace.

    Though his head was bowed, the hatred in his eyes almost seemed to spill out.

 Chapter 16: 16. Rice is more expensive than crabs.

    <h4>Chapter 16: 16. Rice is more expensive than crabs.</h4>

    In the boxing gym, cheers and jeers merged into a cacophony, drawing frequent nces from passersby.

    Facing the crowd''s acim, Lu Yao merely nodded in acknowledgment.

    The entire fight had been ridiculously easy, like a king toying with a bronze yer, so he wasn''t too excited. He just marveled for a moment at the wonders of Spirit Refinement¡ª

    It allowed his frail body to toy with a grown man in his palm.

    With an undistracted mind, Lu Yao continued to attempt standing stake practice while entering a meditative state.

    Seeing this calm andposed demeanor, the other apprentices became increasingly uncertain about Lu Yao''s background, and the Liao Family Sisters didn''t seem inclined to share more with the crowd.

    Frankly, these were all outsiders who spent money to learn some self-defense skills amidst the chaos of war.

    Only the particrly outstanding, with innate talent and character, would be noticed by a master and taken as an apprentice, achieving a ss leap.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After morning practice, the apprentices all went to their jobs.

    The trio sat down at therge square table in the back hall for a meal.

    The sisters had changed into beautiful andfortable Blue Star clothes and started¡ªpeeling crabs!

    At that moment, each of them had only a small bowl of thin porridge with visible rice grains, but the main dish consisted of 30rge crabs, which covered the entire table.

    Liao Ya picked up a crab as big as her face with a troubled look, "Why are we eating this again..."

    Head chef Liao Qe replied helplessly, "Rice prices are too high, and meat and vegetables have risen even more. We can barely afford them. Anyway, breakfast isn''t important, so let''s make do."

    Yunzhou was near the sea and connected tokes, so crabs were actually worthless there.

    The sisters weren''t keen on these creatures and ate slowly with a frown. Liao Ya muttered, "I want to eat meat~"

    In contrast to them, Lu Yao''s appetite surged at the sight of such avish breakfast. A crab of that size would cost at least two or three hundred in Blue Star, and they were hard toe by.

    Seeing him eat with such gusto, Liao Qe moved over to help.

    Her slender fingers like tender scallions transformed into a pair of pliers, cracking the tough crab w to extract the tender meat and teasingly fed it to Lu Yao.

    This made it hard for Lu Yao to determine which was sweeter, the fair fingers or the crab meat.

    Watching the two get a bit too close, Liao Ya frowned slightly. She wondered if she should remind her sister to maintain propriety, even between senior and junior disciples; a girl should be more reserved.

    Because the girl fed him too much, Lu Yao felt unusually full. Looking at the nearly empty rice soup in his bowl, he asked, "Did you say prices have gone up a lot? Should we stock up more?"

    Liao Qe shook her head, "The rice shops have already limited purchases. It''s not possible to buy more; they say there''s a shortage." She also seemed confused, "Strange, how can Yunzhou be short of grain?"

    With its convenient water andnd transport, and frequent trade, Yunzhou itself was a grain trade center. Such a situation was indeed puzzling.

    Liao Ya muttered her answer, "They''re all growing opium in the fields now, where would the graine from! The Imperial Court lost the war and signed a treaty. Now opium isn''t banned anymore, and it''s more profitable than growing grains."

    After speaking, she chewed and swallowed a whole crab resentfully, "A sick country, harming the people. All of Master Lin''s efforts in opium destruction went in vain."

    The Opium Wars, ah... Lu Yao sighed, and seeing Liao Qe''s mood turning down, he changed the subject:

    "Don''t worry about the price hikes; we''ll never be short of food. When I go home again, I''ll bring some good stuff for you."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Master Liao, with his strong teeth, ate even the shells, and the table full of crabs disappeared swiftly.

    As Lu Yao was helping Liao Qe clean up the table, a sullen Liao Ya suddenly stood up, staring in shock at her own body.

    She drew imaginary circles with her hands over her abdomen, and a rumbling thunderous sound came from within, followed by a loud "hmmph" from her nose!

    Lu Yao, who was in a meditative state, suddenly felt chills running down his spine, the hairs on his body standing on end¡ªa natural reverence for powerful life.

    Liao Qe was the first to react, her surprise mingled with joy, "Sister, you''ve made a breakthrough?"

    Liao Ya nodded, her expression inscrutable, "In my moment of indignation, I suddenly entered the ''Five Organs Resonance'' phase..."

    "Five Organs Resonance" is the first stage of the Organ Refining Realm, with the next being "Six Entrails Harmonization".

    Liao Ya turned to Lu Yao, bowing, "I haven''t been in the Organ Refining Realm for even a year; thanks to the medicinal supplements you provided, I was able to break through so quickly."

    Lu Yao hastily waved his hands, "Not at all, Sister. You immerse yourself in the quiet room and practice tirelessly every day¡ªthat determination is the key. I only offered some insignificant aid."

    Liao Ya insisted, "No, how can martial training seed without resources? The medicines you provided definitely yed a major role!"

    The two exchanged pleasantries but no matter what, a breakthrough was cause for celebration.

    Everyone was beaming with joy, as the original atmosphere of sadness and anger hadpletely disappeared. Here, martial strength was the fundamental guarantee for everything.

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya retreated into the quiet room to stabilize her realm, while Lu Yao practiced "Changding" on one side and helped Liao Qe with managing the boxing gym on the other, which was essentially doing housework.

    The boxing gym wasn''t argepound, but it still covered an area of more than 500 square meters, making daily cleaning a daunting task.

    At the moment, Lu Yao was meticulously wiping a seven-foot "Great Lance." Thence was dark in color, adorned with a red tassel on the spearhead.

    Thence''s shaft was as thick as a duck egg, and the heavy material that seemed like wood but was like iron made it extremely heavy. Paired with a 30-centimeter long triangr spearhead, the sensation of coldness and deathliness was overwhelming.

    Liao Qe exined, "This is Dad''s weapon¡ªthe Overlord Lance, now passed on to my sister. Our Liao Family''s Great Lance is also quite famous~"

    Lu Yao clicked his tongue in amazement, "Clearly not something an ordinary person can wield."

    "Hmm~ forged from iron-imbued wood, it weighs 120 jin. An ordinary person couldn''t even swing it."

    "It could literally smash someone to death..."

    ...

    Watching Lu Yao work and practice Changding at the same time, Liao Qe spoke softly, "You''re a rich young master, yet you still know how to do chores..."

    Lu Yaoughed, "I''m not a patch on you, doing so much work every day and having to practice martial arts too. It''s really not easy."

    The young girl not only had to do housework but also had to look after the business of the boxing gym and practice boxing; she was indeed very busy.

    Liao Qe, pleased with thepliment, said, "Sister needs to focus on practicing martial arts~"

    The girl wrung out the towel and knelt down to wipe the floor.

    Below her slender waist was a full and rounded shape that undted with the movement of wiping the floor, which was quite enticing.

    Lu Yao, who was somewhat weak, suddenly found himself full of vigor and continued to join in thebor.

    Then he realized¡ªin his excitement, he had inadvertently slipped out of the "Entering into Stillness" state, and his cultivation of Changding had failed again.

    He couldn''t help feeling annoyed at himself, "Entering into Stillness is easy; I can do it in the blink of an eye. But maintaining Changding is really too difficult... I unconsciously rx."

    "cking off is the body''s instinct. No wonder even Liao Ya hasn''t been able to break through this stage for many years."

    ~~~~~~~

    A man and a woman working together, makes the job less tiring.

    Chatting andughing, they finished the tedious cleaning work without even realizing it.

    They finished much faster than usual, giving Liao Qe a lot more free time.

    The girl excitedly took Lu Yao to see her treasures¡ªa big box of picture books, essentiallyic books.

    Lu Yao also curiously flipped through them and saw that although the printing quality of these picture books was average, the artwork was exceptionally exquisite. The characters within were not only lifelike but also vividly portrayed.

    "These are my two favorites. I''ll lend them to you, but don''t damage them," Liao Qe said, her face showing her reluctance.

    If Lu Yao wasn''t so important in her heart, she would definitely not have been willing to part with them.

    Lu Yao took them and saw that one was "Journey to the West," the story was pretty much the same.

    The other one was more interesting; it was called "Seven Heroes'' Demon ying Chronicle"

    It told of thest years of the previous dynasty, when the Jin Army invaded, burning, killing, and looting along the way, causing untold suffering. There were seven heroes who couldn''t stand by and watch, they assassinated the Great Khan of the Jin Empire, Nurhaci, changing the course of history.

    Lu Yao read with great interest; he could not only enjoy the story but also learn a lot about the customs and geography of the Otherworld.

    Liao Qe, seeing that Lu Yao also liked the picture books, was delighted to regard him as a kindred spirit, eagerly leaning in to help exin the stories.

    They read for a good while, only stopping when the sun was about to set.

    ~~~~~~~

    At the same time, Han Fang, who had been humiliated, knelt in front of a dignified middle-aged man in another martial arts gym¡ª

    "Please, Master Zhu, help me take revenge!"

    The middle-aged man smiled faintly, "Alright then."

    Han Fang looked up in surprise, not expecting the other party to agree so readily!

 Chapter 17: 17. Kicking the Gym for No Reason

    <h4>Chapter 17: 17. Kicking the Gym for No Reason</h4>

    Lu Yao had long since put people like Han Fang out of his mind; he had been painstakingly training these past few days, striving to enter a constant meditative state soon.

    Early this morning, just as he entered the beginning of meditation, his ears twitched a few times quickly, hearing the approaching footsteps of a dozen or so people!

    ~~~~~~~

    A group of more than ten people, all wearing uniform dark short tunics, advanced at a steady pace.

    The leader was a short and stocky middle-aged man, nearly twice as burly as the average person, with an extremely sharp aura.

    But what was most eye-catching was his skin--it reflected a cold light in the sun, like a polished metallic surface. This man must have practiced some kind of powerful protective external Kung Fu!

    Han Fang was among them, ring hatefully at the three people, including Lu Yao, who were already waiting there.

    He had suffered a humiliating insult, but fortunately, heaven was on his side, and he easily found an opportunity for revenge.

    The man by his side, Master Zhu, had been famous for many years. His Golden Tiger Forging Body Technique was imprable to des and spears, and he was unmatched in ferocity! He was far more formidable than Liao Ya, who had just begun her Organ Refining¡ªsuch a lowlife!

    Today was the day he would publicly defeat her in martialbat, fiercely undermining the reputation of the Liao Family Fist!

    Martial arts schoolpetitions were asmon as eating or drinking, with doors wide open for onlookers. Those who lost not only suffered embarrassment but also affected their business!

    Those learning martial arts or seeking protective affiliations naturally gravitated toward the stronger establishment.

    ~~~~~~~~

    With an expressionless face, Liao Ya stood at the entrance and asked coldly, "What brings the people from the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School here?"

    The imposing short and stocky middle-aged man stepped forward and bellowed, "I am Zhu Jiaxiu from the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School! My disciple Han Fang was once humiliated by your lot, and today wee to challenge your school in return!"

    His loud shout was heard all along the street, and it even caused Han Fang''s head to buzz nearby.

    He stood there shocked, like a petrified tree, "Wasn''t it supposed to be a friendly match? How did it turn into a school challenge!?"

    The intensity of a friendly match was not high; thebatants would not intentionally seek to take each other''s lives, stopping as soon as a winner was determined.

    But a school challenge was different! A defeated martial arts school would have its signboard smashed to pieces, its reputation ruined, an oue only second to annihtion. It was a fight to the death or survival!

    The Liao Family''s boxing school and the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School were very close, ovepping in customer base. Althoughpetitors were natural enemies, things had not escted to a life-or-death struggle, making this situation highly suspicious.

    Han Fang suddenly had a bad premonition.

    ~~~~~~~

    At this moment, numerous curious onlookers gathered around, attracting friends toe and watch the excitement.

    Seeing the crowd packed threeyers deep, the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School''s proprietor¡ªZhu Jiaxiu¡ªcasually removed his brocaded robe, while his attending disciples hurried to catch it.

    ncing at the Standing Stake at the door of the boxing school, this was his greatest confidence in challenging the ce: "It''s merely three feet and two inches, but I can drive a stake five feet with a single punch!"

    Zhu Jiaxiu''s bones cracked loudly as his Five Organs resonated~he snorted through his nostrils and, ncing at Liao Ya''s tender fist, he disdainfully said,

    "That hand of yours feels too soft even for massaging, I advise you to concede early, to avoid losing your life."

    Liao Ya''s demeanor remained calm as she assumed the stance of Liao Family Fist¡ªshoulders sunk, elbows dropped, one palm and one fist sealing off the direct front; chest concaved, back arched, knees slightly bent as if squatting. Her entire body was like a drawn bow.

    Lifting her hand in an inviting gesture, she said, "Master Zhu, please!"

    Zhu Jiaxiu, seeing that verbal provocation was useless, immediatelymanded, "Disciples, heed my order! Once I im victory, smash the Liao Family Fist''s signboard!"

    "Yes!!!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    What followed was an unceremonious sh as both individuals burst from the ground and collided fiercely!

    Amidst loud bangs and explosive sounds, cannonball-like fists exchanged blows with no fancy tricks, opting for a head-on bombardment.

    The force of their blows kicked up dust and stirred up a windstorm. The crowd hastily covered their faces and stepped back, yet their enthusiasm was undiminished, craning their necks like ducks to watch.

    Thebatants'' arms were moving so fast they disappeared from the retinas of the onlookers, leaving only a sky full of fist shadows apanied by bursts of explosive sound in fiercebat!

    With energy sts stirring up dust and rock, the average person could no longer see clearly.

    In his state of deep meditation, Lu Yao saw everything crystal clear¡ªLiao Ya''s attacks were getting faster, while Zhu Jiaxiu''s movements were bing slower, revealing a growing sense of defeat.

    The next second, the girl''s fist struck her opponent''s face, ringing out with the sound of metal shing!

    Her opponent''s external cultivation wasn''t severely damaged, but his guard was broken, revealing a huge opening.

    Liao Ya certainly wouldn''t miss the opportunity!

    She took a deep breath, pulled her fist back to her chest to gather strength, and then, with a fierce cry, she unleashed it!

    In the midst of the whip-like crackling of air, a white wave of qi exploded. Her dainty fist broke through her opponent''s guard, hitting him squarely in the chest!

    At the same time, Lu Yao smiled at the tense-faced Liao Qe and said, "Your sister has won."

    "What?" Liao Qe was about to ask for details when she immediately heard a loud boom, as if a big firecracker had exploded. That was followed by the grating sound of bones breaking.

    After the dust settled, Liao Ya stood tall and elegant, exuding the demeanor of a grandmaster.

    Her opponent, on the other hand,y on the ground, with a clear depression in his chest, coughing up blood continuously.

    The battle, whichsted only 10 seconds, had already determined life and death!

    Zhu Jiaxiu struggled to raise his hand, pointing at Liao Ya, seemingly wanting to say something, but he just choked on blood, unable to utter a word.

    He hadn''t expected¡ªLiao Ya had also entered the realm of Five Organs Resonance!

    That was one thing, but he could chalk it up to bad luck, having encountered her breakthrough.

    But why was Liao Ya''s qi and blood so strong!? It was 30% stronger than his own, almost catching up to a Great Martial Master in the "Marrow Cleansing" stage¡ªthis was the deadly factor!

    If their realms were the same, and the opponent''s physical strength and recovery speed were 30% better, and he foolishly shed head-on, there''s no way he could avoid defeat!

    Zhu Jiaxiu couldn''t have imagined¡ªthat Liao Ya was someone who took so many supplements on a daily basis that she burped them up.

    ~~~~~~~

    Cheers rose from all around.

    The people from Golden Tiger Martial Arts School were terrified, their faces ashen. Because following the rules, Liao Ya could finish off her opponent¡ªit was a life-or-death challenge, after all.

    But she wasn''t a brutal person. She simply waved at the frightened crowd and said indifferently, "Take him away."

    Zhu Jiaxiu''s shattered ribcage had splintered into his lungs; even if he survived, he was as good as crippled. If he hadn''t practiced external techniques to protect his body, that punch would have killed him by now.

    The disciples hurried to carry their master away, and at the same time, they paid their respects to Liao Ya to thank her for sparing his life.

    At this, Han Fang also wanted to slip away quietly, but Liao Ya caught him with a sh, and said coldly:

    "You deliberately provoked a fight to the death between the two martial arts schools, and logically, we can''t just let it go like this. I''ll just take back the kung fu I taught you."

    After speaking, she exerted force on her hand, crushing the begging Han Fang''s shoulder. He immediately fell to the ground, wailing in pain.

    The disciples of Golden Tiger Martial Arts School looked at each other, and then, begrudgingly, two of them also carried Han Fang away.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Having witnessed an incredible fight, the onlookers were content with the spectacle.

    This was a life-or-death battle between Organ Refining Martial Artists. Though they couldn''t see every detail, it was enough to boast about for a long time.

    It was an excellent opportunity to gain renown, so Liao Ya posed at the entrance for a while, waiting for the crowd to disperse before heading back inside.

    Liao Qe excitedly circled around her sister, "You defeated Golden Tiger Martial Arts School in public, our Liao Family Fist''s fame has soared! In the Martial Faction''s ranking, we can also move up now!"

    Liao Ya rubbed her sister''s head, her face beaming with a smile, "The opponent didn''t expect my qi and blood to be so vigorous, I caught him by surprise! Thanks to the supplements our junior brother provided."

    Lu Yao''s face was devoid of joy as he spoke, "Does Han Fang really have such ability? To be able to employ a martial master for a fight to the death."

    Given his demonstrated intelligence, it seemed impossible.

    Liao Ya frowned delicately, "Indeed, there''s a problem! Zhu Jiaxiu has been famous for many years, and we have no deep hatred between us that would warrant a fight to the death."

    Having seen the darker side of human nature, Lu Yao was naturally more cautious:

    "Senior sister, we might have been manipted..."

    Just as the words left his mouth, waves of noise approached from afar, and then someone shouted over the wall, "Patrol Bureau''s Wang Dezhi is here, is Master Liao present?"

 Chapter 18: 18. Investigate and handle according to regulations

    <h4>Chapter 18: 18. Investigate and handle ording to regtions</h4>

    The three exchanged nces and quickly went outside, only to find that the people who hade were a squad of patrol officers! This is thew enforcement agency of the Otherworld, whose primary responsibility is to chase after criminals and catch thieves.

    These patrol officers were strong and sturdy, each carrying an old-fashioned bolt-action rifle resembling the 98K,plete with bays attached.

    As soon as they arrived, the crowd watching themotion scattered, and those who remained looked fearful.

    The man at the forefront, dressed in a green official robe, stepped forward and said solemnly:

    "Master Liao, you have openly vited the Great Shun Warrior Code. Today, I am here to seal off the Liao Family Fist school. I am merely carrying out my duties, and I hope you will not make this difficult."

    Liao Ya sped his fists in response, "Inspector Wang, it was the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School that challenged us first, my response was reasonable and within the rules, I did not break anyws!"

    Inspector Wang cleared his throat, "Martial artists must sign a life-and-death contract before dueling, otherwise killing is strictly forbidden. Your duel was private, and Zhu Jiaxiu of the Golden Tiger School is dead."

    Liao Ya frowned, "Dead... so quickly..."

    "Indeed, he passed away on the way. And... a young man named Han Fang from a respectable family has also died. His family is now at the Patrol Bureau, crying and using you of beingwless and killing in the streets."

    Liao Ya said in surprise, "Impossible! I merely crushed his shoulder as a punishment, it wasn''t fatal!"

    Inspector Wang bowed slightly and said, "The situation is what it is, further discussion is pointless. Master Liao, you are a martial master registered with the Imperial Court, I do not have the authority to deal with you. However, we need to investigate the martial arts school ording to the regtions."

    ~~~~~~~~

    While the two were negotiating, Liao Qe leaned over to whisper in Lu Yao''s ear:

    "This man is Inspector Wang Dezhi from the Patrol Bureau, a minor officer of Ninth Grade. The government usually doesn''t like to meddle in martial circles, and as my sister is a registered martial master of the Imperial Court enjoying certain privileges, the Patrol Bureau is even less willing to cause trouble. For them to show up so quickly, there must be something wrong!"

    Lu Yao remained calm, his hand quietly clutching a piece of silver.

    At this moment, Wang Dezhi waved his hand andmanded, "Come, seal it!"

    Two patrol officers, holding white seals, stepped forward and were about to affix them to the main entrance.

    "Hold on!" Lu Yao stepped forward, holding the dazzling silver and making a handshake gesture, "I am Lu Yao, returned from overseas, now a formal disciple of the Liao Family Fist. I wish you well, sir!"

    Ever since foreign gunboats forced open the nation''s doors, the Western handshake had bemonce, especially in Yunzhou with its many foreign concessions.

    Inspector Wang''s eyes twinkled, and he grandly shook hands with Lu Yao. As he felt the hard object in his hand, his expression softened significantly.

    With his years of experience as an official, he could tell from a slight weigh that it was half a taels of silver - equivalent to half a year''s sry for him!

    He thought to himself in surprise: This young man is generous!

    Concealing the silver in a blink, he asked with a smile, "Young Master Lu is certainly a fine figure, no wonder you''ve studied abroad. May I know what you have to teach us?"

    Seeing that the man had epted the silver, Lu Yao rxed somewhat and spoke aloud:

    "Inspector Wang, the Liao Family is also blessed with ancestral grace, perhaps your team could take a break? There will be an exnation before sunset."

    Inspector Wang quickly pondered. The head of the previous generation of the Liao Family, Liao Qigong, had once followed Governor-general Lin in the opium suppression efforts, so knowing a few connections in the official circles was only normal, and indeed he should afford them some courtesy.

    Therefore, he chuckled and nodded, "Then let''s wait until sunset. I hope Young Master Lu will not make our job difficult."

    ~~~~~~~

    The three quickly returned inside the martial arts school to discuss their strategy.

    Lu Yao opened the discussion, "This man is merely performing his official duties without causing deliberate difficulty."

    Liao Ya''s delicate brows were furrowed, her pretty face frosty, "Despicable! To frame and entrap, using the government to cause trouble! The martial arts school is the Liao Family''s face; it cannot be sealed off!"

    Liao Qe said anxiously, "Sister, we must go see Mr. Du immediately for his help."

    Liao Ya hesitated, "Mr. Du is busy with matters of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and might not be willing to get involved in local affairs; for us to approach him rashly... might be inappropriate."

    Gripping her sister''s hand and with tears welling up in her eyes, Liao Qe said, "Then what do we do..."

    Lu Yao called out, "Don''t rush, you two wait a moment~"

    He had met this Du Wen once before and had prepared something just in case, never expecting it woulde in handy so soon.

    Lu Yao quickly ran back to his room, grabbed a book, and showed it to the two sisters, "Just go! With this, there won''t be a problem!"

    It was the "Steel Refining Process and Procedure" he had brought from Blue Star.

    Lu Yao had been keeping it, and had even meticulously bound it on the side to resemble a book for easier reading.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Qingyun Street, Du Residence.

    In the side hall, the porter brought in some tea and then left, his attitude indifferent.

    Lu Yao sat thereposedly, looking at the two nervous youngdies, "Why are you two so tense?"

    Liao Qe gave him a re and whispered, "This isn''t like Inspector Wang, that Ninth Grade minor official! Du Wen is a fourth-grade high-ranking official of the Imperial Court, in charge of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, on par with the Prefectural Governor. Do you understand?"

    Liao Ya was anxious, "The Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau appears to be a government office studying Western techniques, but in reality, it''s a military factory established by the Imperial Court. Du Wen is in charge of this ce, holding significant power. Our families share some old ties... but he may not give us the time of day..."

    After all, they were just teenage girls who could get restless over such matters, to which Lu Yao chuckled, "Rx, if Du Wen can be the Director-General of the Manufacturing Bureau, he must be a core member of the Western Affairs Faction. After seeing my book, he will definitely meet us. And even if he doesn''t help, so what if the martial arts school closes? I''ll support you two¡ªI''ll make sure you''re well-fed and healthy."

    Liao Qe''s face flushed red, she clenched her fists and hit him as if massaging, "Who needs your support? We still have to carry on and honor the Liao Family Fist~"

    Liao Ya let out a sigh of relief, her face slightly rxing. Her brother''s diversion had considerably lightened her mood.

    ~~~~~~~~

    At the highest point of the Du Residence courtyard, Du Wen and his aides were sitting in a pavilion. Not only could they enjoy the view and rx their minds here, but they could also clearly see iing guests.

    He knew why the Liao sisters were here, but he did not want to see them.

    As a fourth-grade official of the Imperial Court, he already had enough serious matters on his hands, not wishing to get entangled in local affairs and attract censure.

    His aide, Mr. Gan, observed his master''s expression and immediately had an idea, saying,

    "Our dynasty treats martial artists well, expecting them to kill enemies and serve the country. Unfortunately, once on the battlefield, their skills are reduced to fleeing for their lives, of little use in critical moments."

    Drinking a sip of tea, Du Wen spoke indifferently, "For all time, death is the ultimate trial. After decades of arduous cultivation, who would willingly let their life be taken by a bullet? However, there are still loyal and devoted warriors."

    He thought of the figure who, armed only with a spear, charged alone into the enemy''s camp. "The Liao Family..."

    At that moment, an attendant came holding a snow-white "book" and respectfully reported, "Sir, this book is extraordinary, please have a look at it!"

    All his confidants knew that their master yearned for Western technology, even going so far as to post a notice himself to show his eagerness. Thus, seeing the exceptionally fine Blue Star paper, they immediately presented it to him.

    Du Wen picked it up and instantly his expression grew solemn. He felt the snowy white and smooth paper between his fingers, surpassing any ordinary material!

    He hastily flipped through a few pages, and his expression drastically changed! With a tter, he identally knocked his teacup to the ground, shattering it.

    Mr. Gan noticed this and asked, "Sir, what''s the matter?"

    Flushed with excitement, Du Wen''s hands trembled slightly, "What one has sought for so long has been found effortlessly!"

    Fortunate that his experience as an official had taught him selfposure, he quickly regained his calm and asked, "This Young Master Lu who presented the book, is said to be from overseas?"

    Mr. Gan pondered for a moment and confirmed, "Indeed, he does not seem like someone from our dynasty."

    Du Wen took a deep breath and ordered, "Invite them to the main hall, I will meet them in person."

    Mr. Gan nced at the book held tightly in his hand and realized, "The master must have gained something valuable."

 Chapter 19: 19. Meet with Du Wenlan

    <h4>Chapter 19: 19. Meet with Du Wen</h4>

    Moving from the side hall to the bright main hall, Lu Yao knew that the matter was essentially settled.

    This was the ce to receive esteemed guests, and the fact that the three juniors were allowed here spoke volumes about the attitude.

    Soon, Du Wen arrived with Mr. Gan, followed by a servant who kept his head down.

    Lu Yao and the others quickly stood up to pay their respects.

    ~~~~~~~

    After taking their seats, Du Wen scrutinized Lu Yao, thinking to himself, "Why does this boy look so ill..."

    Without changing his expression, he began, "So this is Young Master Lu. I have received the book, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

    Lu Yao spoke up clearly, "It''s just a modest gift, not worthy of thanks."

    Stroking his beard, Du Wen inquired, "Young Master Lu is quite knowledgeable about Western learning?"

    Although he seemed casual, his many years in a position of authority gave him an intimidating presence, putting great pressure on those seated beside him. The Liao Family Sisters instinctively sat up straight, with Liao Qe ufortably shifting a few times.

    Lu Yao replied with neither humility nor arrogance, "I dare not im to be. I merely know a bit. Born overseas, I heard that the gentleman is eager for advanced techniques and specially sought them out to alleviate your worries."

    Running his hands over the arms of the Taishi Chair, Du Wen was quite satisfied with Lu Yao. Well-mannered and articte, and capable of procuring advanced techniques, he was exactly the talent needed.

    He wasted no time in trying to recruit him, "Some officials have proposed the idea of ''learning from the barbarians to defeat them,'' and we are in dire need of capable people at the moment. Why not serve the country and seek a future for yourself?"

    Lu Yao,cking both the energy and the desire to delve into this situation, replied tactfully, "Thank you for your high regard, sir, but I am gravely ill and my life will not be long. I truly am powerless to help."

    There was a flicker in Du Wen''s eyes, "My attendant here is well-versed in medicine and should be able to take your pulse."

    The attentive servant immediately stepped forward. At first nce, he seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, there was a hint of menace in his presence.

    Lu Yao extended his hand for the man to grasp, feeling a familiar warmth spread to his limbs.

    The unassuming servant by Du Wen''s side was, astonishingly, an Organ Refining Expert!

    The check-up was quick, and afterward, the attendant bowed and reported, "Reporting to the gentleman. Young Master Lu suffers from a terminal illness; the disease has reached a critical stage."

    ~~~~~~~

    Upon hearing this, Du Wen''s expression stiffened.

    He had hoped to recruit Lu Yao to his side, but in such a situation, there was no angle to work with all attempts at persuasion or temptation of rank and wealth had to be swallowed back.

    He suddenly felt that what was truly difficult to deal with wasn''t the overly cunning or those with strong convictions but someone who genuinely did not fear death and had no apprehensions.

    After a long silence, he could only say, "Ah, it is indeed a jealousy of the heavens for talent. Rest and recuperate with peace of mind, and I shall surely find a skilled doctor to assist you."

    Lu Yao smiled freely, "Thank you for your care, sir. Life is unpredictable; if the King of Hell insists on taking me, then there''s nothing to be done about it."

    Abandoning the thought of recruitment, Du Wen nced at the Liao Family Sisters and said, "I''ve heard that you''ve encountered some trouble. He Kui, take my card and pay a visit to Commander Li of the Patrol Bureau, settle this matter as soon as possible."

    He Kui, the attendant who had just examined Lu Yao, bowed and disappeared in the blink of an eye with swift movements.

    "The Patrol Bureau shall offer me some respect, you needn''t worry about this matter any longer," said Du Wen.

    Liao Ya revealed a grateful expression and hastily joined her sister in performing a respectful salute to express their thanks, "Many thanks, Governor Du!"

    As Du Wen gestured with his hand for the two women to rise, he then turned to Lu Yao, speaking earnestly,

    "The Imperial Court is in dire straits, and in line with the ns to strengthen the nation''s wealth and military, I hope Young Master Lu can find more advanced techniques. In time, whether it be the Imperial Court or my office, neither will fail to reward you."

    With both hands sped together, Lu Yao responded, "Governor Du can rest assured, my senior sister has instructed me repeatedly¡ªyou are an important family friend and elder to the Liao family, and I will definitely assist in the matter of advanced techniques."

    Looking towards the Liao Family Sisters, Du Wen said warmly, "Liao Qigong was a brave and loyal man, and I deeply regret his death. As his descendants, should you need any assistance in the future, do not hesitate to seek me out."

    Liao Ya bowed respectfully, "I''m grateful for your deep affection, sir; I understand."

    Although the two families had some connections, their interactions were not close. Liao Ya, sharp as frost, knew exactly why Du Wen said those words.

    She couldn''t help but nce at Lu Yao and thought to herself: Junior brother really has divine skills, to be so highly esteemed by Mr. Du.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Seeing their purpose achieved, Lu Yao and the two women were still concerned about the boxing gym and after exchanging pleasantries, they stood up to take their leave.

    Du Wen personally escorted them to the gate, and before parting, he said, "Young Master Lu, you may seek an audience with me at any time, without the need for reporting or turning away."

    Lu Yao bowed deeply and solemnly epted, then left with the two women.

    Watching them walk away, Mr. Gan couldn''t help but ask in confusion, "Mr. Dong, why do you value Lu Yao so highly? You even gave him permission to see you at any time."

    Being granted an audience at any time with an official who heldplete authority as a fourth-ranked official was no easy matter.

    Du Wen sighed, took out the book "Steel Refining," and said, "I''ve been running around for three years, groveling before the foreigners, hitting walls everywhere, and the hard-earned results don''t match a single page of this book!"

    Mr. Gan was astonished, "How could this be possible? Just a book..."

    "Exactly," Du Wen said, standing with his hands behind him, "The Imperial Court established the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and Western techniques are secondary. What''s truly important is¡ªstrong ships and powerful cannons!

    Steel is the foundation of everything. With this book, I can build a cannon foundry, set up an artillery school, and cast sharp weapons for the Imperial Court!"

    Du Wen, gazing towards the sea, was filled with surging emotions! With cannons, and then finding a way to build irond ships, the internally and externally troubled Great Shun Dynasty would surely be able to weather this unprecedented crisis!

    Mr. Gan, with aplex expression, bowed deeply, "Mr. Dong, you bear the world in your heart and work for the nation and the people; I admire you!"

    Although it sounded nice, he truly was not optimistic.

    The leaders of the Western Affairs Faction in the capital, because of The Empress Dowager''s reasons, didn''t dare to be overt in their actions and could only promote their cause through the powerful local officials, which was quite restrained.

    The Western Affairs Faction was fractured within: the central faction and the local faction; the self-strengthening faction and the wealth-seeking faction; the stubborn faction and the reformist faction... The infighting was endless.

    No matter how you looked at it, it didn''t seem like they could aplish anything...

    "I must appropriately assist Mr. Dong, and must not end up like Mr. Lin, ''mired in state affairs,'' growing old from the Governor-General of Liangjiang to being exiled to the remote frontiers."

    ~~~~~~~

    On the way back, the Liao Family Sisters kept staring at Lu Yao.

    "Why are you looking at me?"

    Liao Qe grabbed Lu Yao''s arm,ughing, "You''re amazing! Talking so confidently with a fourth-ranked official and even getting him to send us out personally. You should have seen the gatekeeper; his eyes nearly popped out¡ªhaha!"

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "I''ve just experienced a lot, that''s all."

    Liao Ya, her clear and bright eyes intently fixed on him, asked, "Junior brother, it seems you don''t have much faith in the Imperial Court''s strategy of ''learning from the barbarians to control the barbarians,'' do you?"

    "Hehe~ Senior sister''s Spirit Refining Method is getting more and more exquisite, you''ve seen right through me," Lu Yao''s smile faded. "Minor, insignificant changes are useless. The Shun Dynasty isn''tcking advanced techniques or strong ships and powerful cannons."

    "Well said!" Liao Ya strongly agreed with this, nodding repeatedly, "If you ask me, we need to strengthen ourselves! Promote the Martial Path, let everyone practice martial arts, assemble a team of Great Grandmasters in the Indestructible Golden Body Realm, able to withstand cannonballs with their bodies, and there would be nothing to fear from foreign invaders!"

    "..."

    Lu Yao was suddenly at a loss for words: Master Liao, that''s not quite what I meant...

 Chapter 20: 20. The Hidden Power Crushes the Heart

    <h4>Chapter 20: 20. The Hidden Power Crushes the Heart</h4>

    Meanwhile, at the Patrol Bureau, Wang Dezhi was enjoying his leisure time at a teahouse, surrounded by several of his useful subordinates. They all spected about what kind of connections the Liao Family could muster to clear their path.

    "After Mr. Liao died in battle, the Liao family''s previous contacts have all been severed. I doubt they could find any strong backing."

    "Not necessarily, after all, they were connected to the Governor-general of Liangjiang. They should still have their pride even in death."

    "The Governor-general of Liangjiang? Mr. Lin himself met the grim fate of being exiled to a remote frontier. Who would owe him any favors now? At best, they could probably appeal to the authority of the city governor."

    "That might at most grant them a few days of clemency, which isn''t of much use."

    As they were chatting, suddenly a ckcquered carriage arrived. In those days, having a carriage meant one was nomon folk, and pedestrians quickly scattered in all directions, causing quite amotion.

    This was the Patrol Bureau''s official carriage, and Wang Dezhi hurriedly went to greet it, opening the carriage door with the utmost respect.

    A figure dressed in brocade stepped down, a defiant expression on their face, bringing orders from above¡ªthe closure of the Liao Family''s martial arts school was to be overturned!

    Wang Dezhi nodded and bowed, epting the order without daring to raise the slightest question. This person was a close follower of the "Commander," which meant the person was his superior''s superior!

    Everybody watched, and took a sharp breath of relief, d that they had held back earlier and hadn''t burned all bridges.

    After returning to the group, Wang Dezhi said with a lingering sense of trepidation,

    "Although those who were involved in the opium suppression met a miserable end, there''s nock of support for them, both overtly and covertly. There could be some high-ranking official backing them; we must never offend such people in the future!"

    The crowd unanimously agreed.

    ~~~~~~~~

    When Lu Yao and hispanions returned to the martial arts school, it was still light out.

    Wang Dezhi had been waiting for a long time, and he approached them respectfully, saying, "My lord, I have received orders from the Commander that the sealing of the martial arts school was a misunderstanding, and I hope you won''t take offense."

    Lu Yao acted as if he couldn''t care less, "Inspector Wang is merely fulfilling his duties; how could we me you?"

    Wang Dezhi smiled and said, "If that''s the case, then all is well. I shall take my leave since the matter has been settled."

    Lu Yao hurriedly spoke up, "Wait a moment! I have a few questions."

    "This..." Wang Dezhi was about to reserve his thoughts, but then he noticed a faint silver glint in Lu Yao''s hand.

    They shook hands again, friendlier than before, and another half tael of silver exchanged hands!

    Wang Dezhi didn''t hurry off any longer. After pondering for a moment, he spoke up,

    "Young Master Lu, I know what you want to ask, but I''m afraid I hardly understand it myself, as I received the orders only recently. However... the death of that young man named Han Fang was very mysterious. The coroner, after examination, imed the cause of death to be¡ªbone-shattering intense pain leading to a heart ailment, but I think it''s more like ''Inner Breath Heart Crush''."

    Inner Breath Heart Crush is a technique used by Organ Refining martial artists and above, manipting their Inner Breath in various tricks, but it''s not something just anyone can achieve.

    With this information, one could almost pinpoint the culprit behind the scenes!

    "Thank you very much!" Lu Yao bowed, then once again took out another half tael of silver, "For your hard work, please treat everyone to tea."

    Wang Dezhi epted the silver, noting his subordinates clearly pleased. He couldn''t help admiring Lu Yao''s thoroughness, making sure he took care of even the ordinary Patrol officers.

    He then bowed deeply, "Thank you for your understanding, Young Master!"

    Lu Yao returned the bow and took his leave.

    Wang Dezhi gazed at the signboard of the Liao Family''s martial arts school and mused, "With money and influence, plus the power of an 18-year-old Organ Refining martial artist to cement their position, the Liao Family seems set to soar to great heights!"

    A few close subordinates echoed, "It''s not a bad thing for someone like Master Liao to rise."

    "With Master Liao on this street, it''s the most peaceful area around."

    "Indeed, much better than those martial artists who collude with gangs and open opium dens."

    ~~~~~~~

    Back at the martial arts gym, the sisters were already waiting. Under the gaze of their beautiful eyes, Lu Yao ryed the information he had gathered.

    "This is the situation. Someone plotted against us, intending to challenge the gym directly, but didn''t expect to be defeated by Liao Ya. In a panic, they resorted to murder and framing. The opponent doesn''t have strong connections in official circles, they just took advantage of the situation."

    After listening to Lu Yao''s analysis, Liao Ya nodded thoughtfully.

    The sight of the young girl tilting her head in contemtion was endearingly cute, and after a moment''s thought, she said, "There are three martial arts schools in Yunzhou capable of the internal force heart-crushing move. I think I know who it is."

    Liao Ya tossed her braid behind her and said, "Junior Brother, apany me to the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School tomorrow. The disciples involved in the challenge might know something."

    Lu Yao nodded, "No problem."

    Liao Ya looked at his paleplexion and spoke softly, "Junior Brother, you must be exhausted. Having you here today... allowed us to resolve everything so smoothly, I''m really grateful to you."

    "Family doesn''t speak of two households, no need for courtesy. Right, we need to get the medicine ready quickly, don''t dy the cultivation."

    Having said that, Lu Yao turned to start operating the medicine boiling machine.

    Liao Ya smiled with increasing satisfaction at her junior brother, thinking to herself that taking him in was an incredibly wise decision!

    Liao Qe watched Lu Yao busy himself, her face filled with admiration, feeling that the junior brother was the most capable man she had ever seen in her life.

    Rich and young, witty and humorous, he could handle any situation withposure; there was no better person than him!

    The girl suddenly thought¡ªwithin a sect, it wasmon for senior and junior brothers and sisters to marry, a tradition known as "union within the sect".

    At that thought, Liao Qe''s cheeks flushed red, and her long, straight legs were tightly mped together.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The following morning, after a good night''s sleep, Lu Yao woke up feeling invigorated and radiant, as if reborn.

    With his increased mastery of the Spirit Refining Method, the effects of his nourishment regimen became more prominent. Had his body not still been weak, Lu Yao would have even believed his illness was healed.

    Outside the house, Liao Ya, dressed in a martial outfit, was waiting for him.

    Leaving Liao Qe to watch the house, the two headed to the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School together.

    The two gyms were very close, and it took less than 15 minutes to arrive.

    At that time, the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School was extremely noisy, filled with various sounds of arguing and squabbling.

    There were ordinary students demanding tuition refunds, senior students wishing to leave and pursue their own futures, and even butchers and pharmacistsing to collect debts. The chaos was indicative of the "scattered monkeys at the fall of a tree."

    So much so that when the pair entered the main hall, nobody came to greet them.

    Lu Yao exchanged a nce with his senior sister, and as if by telepathy, Liao Ya instantly understood his intentions.

    The girl abruptly threw a punch, causing a loud boom and a shower of dust to fall from the ceiling, instantly quieting the room.

    Lu Yao stepped forward and said withposure, "Good morning everyone, you''re quite busy early in the day."

    The disciples of the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School looked very troubled; they all recognized Liao Ya. They had just challenged her gym, and she must havee for retaliation!

    After exchanging nces, the eldest brother, Qi Lang, had no choice but to stand forth although reluctant.

    Qi Lang, around 30 years old, had served beside his master during the challenge.

    Just one dayter, from an energetic young man, he had turned into a disheveled and pale shadow of his former self, middle-aged and unwell. He managed to say with forced calm, "Master Liao, you''ve already killed my master, what more do you want? The Great Shun Dynasty hasws! Aren''t you afraid of being sent to the frontlines?"

    Liao Ya stood tall and silent, letting Lu Yao speak for her:

    "That''s too harsh. The Imperial Court treats martial artists with consideration. To send an Organ Refining Martial Artist to the frontlines would require a crime as serious as annihtion of an entire household. My senior sister is not a cruel person, she wouldn''t do such a thing."

    The crowd had just heaved a sigh of relief when they heard Lu Yao continue, "So today we are just here to issue a challenge, and incidentally break each of your legs. Don''t worry, your lives are not in danger."

 Chapter 21: 21. Haoran Martial Arts Hall

    <h4>Chapter 21: 21. Haoran Martial Arts Hall</h4>

    As these words were spoken, the faces of those from the Golden Tiger Hall filled with terror, turned deathly pale, and regarded Lu Yao as if he were some sort of monster.

    In the Otherworld where medical technology was not advanced, a broken leg could easily lead to a lifetime disability! There was no need to further articte the dire straits a cripple could be in during troubled times.

    The unrted bystanders hurriedly left the scene, not even daring to stick around for the excitement, fearing they might be coteral damage, leaving only the disciples of the martial arts school in their uniform short outfits.

    The eldest disciple, Qi Lang, was sweating profusely and speaking with some difficulty, "Don''t mess around... What exactly do you want?"

    Seeing that he had stirred the atmosphere, Lu Yao began to wrap things up, "I want to know who your master has met recently, especially before and after the challenge to the school."

    Qi Lang''splexion changed, and he quickly asked, "If I tell you, will you let us go?"

    Lu Yao replied withposed conviction, "Once I know what I need to know, my elder martial sister and I will leave immediately."

    Qi Lang wanted to say more, but the disciples below could not hold back anymore, shouting one after another:

    "I know, I know, I''m willing to tell!"

    "Master only met with someone from the Haoran Martial Arts Hall!"

    Lu Yao raised his hand to quell the noise, "Go inside, one by one. If anyone wants to spout nonsense, you can prepare your crutches in advance."

    The crowd hurriedly expressed theirpliance.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao and Liao Ya took turns calling the willing disciples of the martial arts school into the inner room.

    Their method of lie detection was simple¡ªafter meditating, they would use their five senses to closely monitor these individuals, observing their facial expressions, breathing, heartbeat, and so forth.

    When lying, a person subconsciously disys numerous micro-expressions and bodynguage, none of which could escape the detection of the two human "lie detectors."

    This was a Spirit Refining Technique secretly passed down by the Liao Family, which Liao Ya had taught to Lu Yao on their way here.

    Thest person to enter was the eldest disciple, Qi Lang. With his life hanging by a thread, he wore a look of unease and confessed the truth:

    "Master Liao, my master recently only met with Sun Haoran from the Haoran Martial Arts Hall! The night beforest, the two stayed in a room discussing matters for a long time, and afterward, my master made the decision to issue the challenge."

    Lu Yao and Liao Ya exchanged nces, confirming that what he said was the truth.

    The disciples'' ounts were consistent, none lying¡ªthey all stated that Zhu Jiaxiu had only met with Sun Haoran from the "Haoran Martial Arts Hall."

    Having obtained the information they were after, the two had no interest in staying any longer and were about to leave.

    When Qi Lang saw that Liao Ya truly let him go without any intent to harm him, he was overjoyed!

    Martial masters enjoyed certain privileges, and even if they truly crippled someone, at most they would face a trivial fine. Especially since he had been involved in issuing the challenge, it wasmon ce that they could have easily crushed him to death.

    A martial artist endowed with broad-mindedness andpassion can easily earn respect and admiration. Qi Lang''s expression hardened, and he made a resolute decision, kneeling on the ground and shouting loudly:

    "I know my master''s death was very suspicious. His injury wasn''t fatal, but partway through, something blurred my vision... By the time I realized it, my master and that Han Fang had both breathed theirst. Ick the ability and the guts for revenge, so I can only rely on Master Liao now!"

    Having said his piece, he took out a golden paper from his bosom, "This is a closely-guarded secret of our school¡ªthe recipe for the Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste. I offer it to Master Liao to express my gratitude for your mercy not once but twice, and also to plead with you to seek justice for my master!"

    The secret recipe is the core, the crux of a sect''s kung fu, the product of countless generations'' explorations for the optimal methods to nourish and strengthen the body, not to be lightly shared with others.

    After offering the recipe, Qi Lang appeared much more relieved, mocking himself, "I don''t have the power to protect it anyway... Golden Tiger Martial Arts School no longer exists as of now."

    Lu Yao stepped forward to take the recipe, bowed his thanks, and then left with his elder martial sister.

    As soon as they left, arge crowd continued the previous tugging and arguing, each coveting arger share of the spoils.

    ~~~~~

    On the main street, Liao Ya clenched her fists so tightly they creaked, and said in a muffled voice, "It''s just as I suspected! Haoran Martial Arts Hall is one of the top three martial halls in Yunzhou, with three Organ Refining Martial Artists in residence; the hall master, Sun Haoran, is even a master in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm.

    "Haoran Martial Arts Hall is massive, its business dealings epassing both the legal and the underworld, and it maintains close connections with the Hailong Gang, which controls the docks, hence targeting the Liao Family is hardly surprising."

    Lu Yao followed Liao Ya, and although he couldn''t see her expression, he could tell by her heaving shoulders that she was definitely very angry.

    Liao Ya was angry at herself, hating her weakness, realizing even after discovering the identity of their adversary, she was powerless to act.

    Haoran Martial Arts Hall and Hailong Gang were both formidable forces; she simply couldn''t avenge her sect or her father!

    Lu Yao quickened his pace to walk shoulder to shoulder with her, and said slowly,

    "Senior sister, you''re already getting stronger quickly. Zhu Jiaxiu, who came to challenge us, could never ept that you defeated him. Stay steadfast in your cultivation, and the day for revenge wille sooner orter."

    Liao Ya bit her lip with her pearly white teeth; after a while, her tense face finally rxed. "Junior brother is right; my anger and haste got the better of me."

    ~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, at Haoran Martial Arts Hall, which Liao Ya mentioned, nearly a hundred disciples were practicing their punches with loud calls.

    These individuals were fit and strong, their punches and kicks resonating with force, and surprisingly, each one of them was a Martial Artist in the Bone Tempering Realm.

    In a tastefully arranged quiet room, Sun Haoran, wearing a white robe, held a cup of tea, quietly watching these disciples.

    His age was difficult to pin down; his attire and demeanor suggested a fifty-year-old, but his eyes were bright and his skin was smooth, making him look closer to thirty.

    At that moment, a questioning voice echoed,

    "Master Sun, ''that matter'' is as good as settled and will be acted on before long. If you don''t take care of the Liao Family soon, we''ll all end up in trouble!"

    The speaker had narrow, triangr eyes and a menacing face, dressed in a ck mandarin jacket.

    Sun Haoran savored a sip of tea, replying unhurriedly,

    "At this critical time, I would rather not give others something to exploit. And the Liao Family is far from abandoned. Just yesterday they visited the Du Residence, and Du Wen personally saw them off. Few in Yunzhou could expect such treatment!"

    Snake Master pped the armrest leaving a handprint, "Then what do we do? Do we just watch idly? It won''t be long before everyone knows!"

    Sun Haoran set down his tea cup and said lightly, "What to do? We follow the rules, of course, and eliminate the Liao''s Martial Arts School with open and upright means."

    Snake Master sneered, "With Liao Ya defeating Zhu Jiaxiu of Golden Tiger Hall within ten breaths, who would listen to your talk and go courting death?!"

    "Fame and fortune sway hearts. As long as the temptation is great enough, there''s no shortage of takers. Just you watch," Sun Haoran said.

    As Sun Haoran held the teapot with his hand, the already cooled tea astonishingly began to boil and bubble up.

    ~~~~~~~

    By the time Lu Yao and Liao Ya returned to the martial arts school, Liao Qe was leading the disciples in their practice.

    More and more people wereing to learn boxing, drawn by the school''s recent challenge event; the strong were always celebrated.

    Watching these young people practicing their shouts and punches, Lu Yao suddenly felt the martial arts school resembled the "interest sses" in Xia Country¡ª

    Anyone who paid coulde to learn, practicing for an hour in the morning and evening every day; what one learned depended entirely on oneself.

 Chapter 22: 22. Crazy Spending

    <h4>Chapter 22: 22. Crazy Spending</h4>

    ```

    The three of them came to a quiet room to discuss matters.

    Lu Yao cleared his throat and took the lead, "The ones targeting us are the Hailong Gang and the Haoran Martial Arts Hall that colludes with them. These people definitely won''t give up easily."

    Liao Ya clenched the pitch-ck Great Lance by her side, her silvery teeth tightly biting, "Let theme! Having replenished my strength these past days, now even with a weapon I''m not afraid of martial masters from the Marrow-Cleansing Realm!"

    "Looking at the challenge they issued, they will likely resort to underhanded tactics," Lu Yao said, stroking his chin.

    "Whether I need to treat my illness, or we want to protect ourselves, we must improve our strength as quickly as possible. Elder sister, do you have any miraculous medicines or rare treasures we could use? No matter how much silver it costs, I can afford it¡ªI have plenty of money."

    Lu Yao made it clear he was not short of money and wanted to pay to win.

    But he had overlooked one thing¡ªthe sisters were not the sort of women to be excessively greedy.

    The two women believed that taking advantage of the medicinal tonics was already a great boon and did not wish to splurge further.

    The sisters exchanged a nce, and Liao Ya softly said,

    "Younger brother, I appreciate your kind intentions. You have already helped so much; I can''t let you spend any more. And don''t forget, you yourself still need to cultivate to the Blood-Exchange Realm to treat your illness¡ªthere are plenty of expenses ahead."

    Liao Qe also cleared her throat and added, "My sister is right. Your body is weak, and you need to spend more money on martial arts training."

    Realizing that the two women wanted to save him money, Lu Yaoughed and said,

    "I''m not your average rich guy, don''t worry about the cost of silver, just list whatever methods might be helpful! Come on, elder sister, suggest something."

    Lu Yao urged her repeatedly, and after hesitating for a long time, Liao Ya could only suggest, "Then let''s use the ointment secret form we acquired from the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School."

    "Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste?" Lu Yao remembered; that was contributed by the eldest disciple of the Golden Tiger Martial Arts School.

    He had seen the recipe too. It was simr to Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, both considered medicinal tonics, only one was for external application and the other for internal use.

    Liao Ya nodded, "This recipe is good, it strengthens muscles and bones and nurtures the foundation. We can all use it."

    The young woman reluctantly added just one more medicinal tonic to their regimen, taking into ount that everyone could use it¡ªclearly not wanting to waste Lu Yao''s money.

    "You''re still being too polite; I''ve already said you don''t need to save money for me."

    Lu Yao really wanted to shout¡ª I''m seriously wealthy, I really want to pay to win, can''t you be a bit more generous!

    But he didn''t shout it out because he understood the sisters'' character very well¡ªthey were good girls with lines they wouldn''t cross and values they would stand by.

    "Seems like I''m being looked down upon... Looks like I need to bring out some real skills to make the sisters see the situation clearly," Lu Yao thought as he took out the prescription, deep in thought.

    At this moment, Liao Qe nced at the sky and said in a delicate voice, "This recipe is good, everyone can use it, let''s settle on this for now. I need to go cook~"

    Lu Yao smiled and said nothing more, getting up to help.

    ~~~~~~

    Upon entering the courtyard, he saw arge basket of vigorously struggling crabs by the well.

    Liao Ya also saw this scene and immediately frowned, "Why is it... again? Changing it up asionally would be nice, when can we finally have some meat? If we can''t afford meat, fish is fine too."

    Tying on an apron, Liao Qeughed, "Lu Yao likes to eat crabs, so I bought them. You swallow everything whole anyway, so it''s all the same to you."

    Keeping her hands busy, she cleaned therge crabs, put them in a pot to steam, and worked the bellows to stoke the fire. Within minutes, they were done.

    Liao Ya frowned, picked up three crabs, then closed her eyes and ate them with crunching sounds as if they were medicine, before heading out to train.

    Now only the two of them remained in the house. Lu Yao suggested, "Let''s go for a walk after dinner."

    ```

    "Sure, sure~" Liao Qe hurriedly agreed, as she loved going out the most.

    Then, the girl cheerfully fed Lu Yao crab. She was able to gently squeeze open the tough pincers and extract the most sulent tender meat.

    Lu Yao licked the delicate fingers that were brought to his lips, and Liao Qe blushed but didn''t seem to mind.

    Seeing this, he gently sucked on them once more and immediately felt a lingering taste on his lips and teeth.

    Liao Qe''s cheeks turned an even brighter shade of red, and her eyes darted away, unable to meet his gaze; her coy and bashful demeanor was exceedingly charming.

    Lu Yao quickly entered a focused state, fully appreciating the sight of the beauty''s blushing cheeks, while contemting how to take things a step further.

    As he was pondering whether to hold her hand or wrap his arm around her waist, he suddenly noticed that there were traces of blood seeping out from beneath Liao Qe...

    He was stunned for a moment before he realized what it was and gently reminded her, "It seems you''ve started your period."

    Liao Qe quickly looked down, then her face turned red up to her neck, down her spine, and all the way to her heels.

    Immediately after, she bolted away as if shot from a cannon, while the stool spun several times in ce.

    ~~~~~~~

    Quite some time had passed, and Liao Qe still hadn''t appeared.

    Lu Yao went to her room and knocked on the door, saying, "Can you still go shopping... or is it just me going alone?"

    The door opened to reveal Liao Qe in a change of clothes. The young girl, slightly shy, turned her face away and said softly, "I can still go."

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "That''s good, it would really bother me if you didn''t go. Oh, and hold onto the silver for me."

    As he spoke, he handed over a backpack containing 40 taels of silver he had brought from Blue Star.

    Liao Qe hugged the silver, stunned in ce, "Am I to hold onto all of it? You''re just giving it to me?" It was the first time she had seen so much money, and to be trusted with it like this.

    "Just hold onto it for now; we''ll spend it allter~ Let''s go~" Lu Yao said without a second nce, walking away.

    "Wait, spend it all!!! What are you going to buy!?"

    "You''ll see soon enough."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The town had been short on grain for a while, and rice shops were limiting purchases, but Lu Yao went straight to the meat shop on the same street.

    There were no restrictions on buying meat since not many could afford it. There wasn''trge-scale farming in the old society, so the price of meat always remained high. Most people only got to eat meat during festivals and holidays.

    Moreover, the recent surge in grain prices had caused meat prices to double, quashing the ordinary family''s desire for meat.

    Seeing the two of them from afar, the meat shop owner Zhu hurriedly came out to greet them, saying obsequiously, "Miss Liao Ya, Young Master Lu, are the two of you here to buy meat?"

    Liao Ya had risen to local fame after a street fight, not just showcasing her strength, but reminding many that she was a martial master who could kill in the street with impunity.

    Lu Yao nced at the meat, which looked fairly fresh, and promptly said, "Master Zhu, I''d like to order meat from your shop. Please deliver ten pounds of meat and ten pounds of bones to the martial arts school every day. How much will that cost?"

    Ecstatic about the big sale, Master Zhu was overjoyed, "I, Zhu, have weed guests for over twenty years with honesty and integrity. For you, I will charge ¡ª 1,000 copper, an absolute fair price!"

    Liao Qe quietly tugged at Lu Yao and whispered, "That''s too expensive, the prices have skyrocketed recently, maybe we shouldn''t buy it."

    But Lu Yao, after doing the math, found the meat much cheaper than on Blue Star and readily threw over three silver ingots, saying, "Let''s start with a month''s supply from today then."

    Master Zhu caught the silver ingots, bit into one, and his face bloomed with a smile, "Young Master Lu is as generous as the rumors say! Rest assured, I guarantee the best selection delivered to your residence every day!"

 Chapter 23: 23. Likes to eat meat

    <h4>Chapter 23: 23. Likes to eat meat</h4>

    Although Liao Qe was surprised by Lu Yao''s generous purchase of meat, she didn''t show any odd expressions in front of others. It wasn''t until they were far away that she said:

    "Ten pounds of meat, ten pounds of bone, and to have them every day, it''s too extravagant!"

    Lu Yao put an arm around his sister''s shoulders, "Practicing martial arts requires ensuring sufficient nutrition, I want to make you plump and fair."

    Being on the street, Liao Qe quickly squirmed away, feeling somewhat embarrassed, "I don''t want to be plump and fair. But sister will definitely be over the moon, she loves meat."

    The thought of the aroma of meat made Liao Qe involuntarily salivate, in fact, she also loved eating meat.

    Next, the two prepared to head to the herbal medicine shop. Seeing his sister walking awkwardly, Lu Yao asked with concern, "Can your body handle it? If you''re feeling ufortable, we can go back."

    Every girl hopes to be cared for, and Liao Qe smiled brightly, "Don''t treat me as an ordinary woman, I''m in the Bone Tempering Realm, not so delicate. Moving my qi and blood a bit, the Tiankui canst for a maximum of two days at most."

    "That''s good."

    ~~~~~~~

    By the time they arrived at the herbal shop, Shopkeeper He had already been waiting at the door respectfully, with a touch of caution.

    Lu Yao wasted no time, first buying 10 pounds of cordyceps, then moving on to other herbs.

    The current two prescriptions¡ªTen-Ingredient Tonic Soup and Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste¡ªrequired nearly 20 types of herbs.

    Lu Yao was quite cunning, purchasing based on the prices at both ces, buying wherever it was cheaper.

    Those purchased in the Otherworld included ginseng, lingzhi, and the main ingredient needed for the Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste¡ªmusk and deer antler.

    He bought such arge amount that Shopkeeper He''s excited face turned red and white in turns. This man had spent nearly 40 taels of silver in one go! That''s equivalent to the annual transaction volume!

    "Young Master Lu, I''ll arrange several capable clerks to deliver the goods to your residence! From today onwards, you are a VIP at Jinshou Hall. If you have any requests, just send someone to instruct us. I would go through fire and water without any hesitation!"

    Lu Yao said indifferently, "You''re too kind, there will be plenty of opportunities for cooperation in the future."

    ~~~~~~

    Leaving the herbal shop with a dazed Liao Qe, the girl couldn''t fathom what it meant to spend 40 taels of silver in one breath.

    She was still fondling the pouch that used to contain silver, unable to ept it was now empty.

    "I..." she wanted to say something but didn''t know where to start.

    Lu Yao patted her exceptionally soft head, smiling, "Rx, this is just the beginning. Wait until I make a trip back home, I''ll have even more explosive news."

    At that moment, a few merchants caught up to them, seeking to pay their respects. They had witnessed Lu Yao''s disy of wealth and wanted to make an impression, hoping for future coboration opportunities.

    One of them was broad and portly, with a square face andrge ears, and his clothes embroidered with gold thread, leaving a deep impression on Lu Yao.

    "I''m Jin Wang, the owner of Four Seas Tower. Our restaurant was established in the previous dynasty, not only famous for its exquisite food and drink but also for its medicinal meals specially prepared for martial artists. We wee you toe and try!"

    Lu Yao maintained a polite smile, dealing with each of them in turn.

    Once they had left, Liao Qe hurriedly said, "Four Seas Tower is the biggest rip-off ever, a simple meal there can cost more than a thousand copper coins! Their medicinal meals are like highway robbery, daring to charge one tael of silver for a single dish and they only ept silver, not copper coins!"

    Lu Yao, hearing this, actually became interested, smacking his lips, "Sounds pretty good, I''ll take you there to eat in a couple of days~"

    Liao Qe''s eyes widened, "Hey~ were you even listening to me? That ce is a total rip-off! Also~ you spent so much money today, it''s such a waste. It would be better to buy the herbs as we need them. Why did you buy so much all at once?"

    Lu Yao took her soft little hand, "Whether it''s my illness or dealing with enemies, we need to quickly improve our strength, now is not the time to feel sorry about spending money. And besides, I''m happy to spend money on you~"

    Liao Qe blushed, hung her head low, and sneaked a nce at Lu Yao. Although she was a bit nervous, she didn''t pull her hand away, and they walked back to the training hall hand in hand.

    ~~~~~~~

    In the boxing gym, Liao Ya was puzzled where the two had run off to and searched everywhere. She just happened to see them return home, holding hands, which immediately made her pupils shrink.

    "You little brat, throwing yourself at him at such a young age! I''ll spank you until your butt blooms!"

    "Wait a minute... she''s not that young anymore. At the nominal age of 16, ordinary families would have already married off their daughters and had children. I''ve dedicated myself to the martial path, unable to attend to such matters. The Liao Family cannot be without descendants..."

    "Junior Martial Brother Lu is definitely a good match, but with his health... can he carry on the family line?"

    In the brief span of a moment, countless thoughts whirled through Master Liao''s mind, evening up with names for the children that her sister and junior martial brother might have after getting married.

    Liao Qe saw her sister and quickly let go of Lu Yao''s hand, guiltily running over to act cute and coquettish.

    Liao Ya''s pretty face turned icy, her whole body emanating a murderous aura. She was about to scold her sister on the spot, giving her a stern reminder not to lose her virtue.

    However, looking at Liao Qe''s youthful and slim body, she couldn''t help but feel a pang: My little sister... has indeed grown up, and it''s hard to keep a burgeoning girl at home. It''s true... after meeting Lu Yao, she''s had a fewfortable days.

    After their father''s death, the two sisters relied on each other, facing numerous hardships. Although her sister was young, she was very sensible and took on all sorts of chores, allowing herself to concentrate on martial arts. That''s how she was able to enter the Organ Refining Realm, bing the Master Liao of today.

    The harsh words she had intended to say couldn''t leave her mouth, turning into a long sigh as she only patted her sister on the head.

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya then turned to look at Lu Yao, about to say something, when the butcher Zhu, the owner of the meat shop, arrived with his assistants.

    "Young Master Lu, I''ve delivered the meat. Take a look, it''s the freshest meat ughtered today. Oh, Master Liao is here too, my respects to you."

    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhu seemed eager to leave, sensing something fierce about Master Liao today. Before leaving, he shouted, "From now on, I''ll deliver it to you on time every morning!"

    Upon hearing this, Liao Ya realized that Lu Yao hadn''t just bought these things and couldn''t help but stare at him.

    Lu Yao shrugged, "Senior sister, it''s normal for those who practice martial arts to eat more meat, isn''t it?"

    "But..."

    As Liao Ya hesitated, the manager of the pharmacy, He, arrived with his assistant. The assistant was pushing a wheelbarrow, carrying four sacks.

    Manager He bowed repeatedly, exchanged some pleasantries and then took his leave.

    Liao Ya asked in confusion, "Why did you buy so much medicine?"

    As she spoke, she opened one of the sacks and took a nce inside. She was shocked by what she saw and couldn''t help but take a step back.

    She had thought the sacks would contain ordinary medicinal herbs, but they were full of valuable ingredients like musk and ginseng!

    These rare medicinal ingredients were normally measured in "taels" or "grams", and usual purchases were just small amounts at a time.

    Yet the extravagant Lu Yao simply used sacks to carry them and must have spent dozens of silver bars!

    Seeing her sister''s shocked face staring at him, Lu Yao shrugged again, "Senior sister, it''s normal for martial artists to consume more tonic medicine, isn''t it?"

    Liao Ya: "..."

    "Junior brother, you don''t need so many ingredients for the Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste; don''t be so wastefully extravagant!"

    While scolding, Liao Ya moved these precious medicinal ingredients into the quiet room to properly store them.

    Lu Yao smiled without a word, thinking to himself: I don''t intend to be an ointment. Senior sister, just hold on. This is only the beginning.

 Chapter 24: 24. Prepare

    <h4>Chapter 24: 24. Prepare</h4>

    The rich aroma of meat filled the air, dinner was almost ready.

    This time, it wasn''t about eating crabs.

    Liao Ya sat at the table early, waiting. Although she still appeared calm and graceful, the expression on her face was clearly joyful, with a hint of anticipation.

    Before long, Liao Qe came over with a huge y pot, filled with meat and bones, stewing with Chinese yam.

    Liao Ya immediately reached out to take some, only to be stopped by her sister, "What''s the rush, Sister? There''s still one more step."

    Having said that, she went to the yard, picked some coriander and green onion, and finely chopped them over the stew in the y pot.

    A few flecks of green instantly enhanced the dish, elevating its presentation by a notch!

    Liao Qe nodded in satisfaction, "All right, let''s eat!"

    Liao Ya''s hand moved like lightning, picking up a leg boneden with meat and biting into it.

    Lu Yao, in a state of deep meditation, clearly saw¡ªthat the moment the young girl''s cherry lips opened, sparkling saliva flowed out like a stream. When she bit into a mouthful of meat, she involuntarily closed her eyes and chewed with a face full of bliss.

    Lu Yao chuckled to himself, "So she likes eating meat this much."

    In the blink of an eye, Liao Ya cleaned a bone, even crunching and swallowing the bone itself.

    Then a muffled rumble followed, as her stomach turned into a furnace, absorbing the nutrients.

    Lu Yao''s eyes widened in shock, "Holy shit, that''s like a wood chipper!"

    At this moment, Liao Ya was also in deep meditation, her senses fully open to savor the deliciousness of the meat, and she clearly felt Lu Yao''s astonished gaze, instantly bing bashful, a blush spreading from her cheeks to her slender, creamy neck.

    Feeling self-conscious under such scrutiny, Liao Ya intended to maintain some dignity and eat less. But she suddenly thought¡ªshe was about to pawn her sister off on him, so what was wrong with eating some meat!!!

    Turning her indignation into appetite, she picked up another bone and started gnawing on it again, giving Lu Yao a re to stop staring at her while she ate.

    Lu Yao sheepishly shifted his gaze to the charming Liao Qe.

    She was no slouch either, gobbling up arge chunk of meat rapidly like a squirrel devouring a nut.

    When she ate, her eyes zed over, evidently concentrating all her attention on the food, temporarily shutting down non-essential bodily functions...

    "Well, they really are sisters; looks like the meat was a good buy."

    Lu Yao daintily nibbled at a small piece of meat, his appetite not strong, and he couldn''t eat much anyway.

    He looked at the two beautiful, lively young girls devouringrge chunks of meat with envy.

    "When will I be able to cure my illness and be as fierce as Liao Ya... no, I''d be satisfied being like Liao Qe, lifting things weighing over a hundred pounds with one hand, and ttening that bastard Zhang Xin with a single punch is nothing difficult."

    "Sigh, why bother thinking so much, just focus on staying alive..."

    As Lu Yao became more adept at the Spirit Refining Method, he could faintly sense that his remaining lifespan wasn''t much, maybe a year and a half at most. It was an indescribable feeling, somehow just knowing it.

    While feeling a bit down, his arm was taken by a small fair hand¡ªit was Liao Qe, who hade over at some point, her mouth shiny with grease, contentedly saying:

    "The meat from livestock is really the best, chicken, duck, crab, none of thempare~"

    Lu Yao yed with the girl''s delicate hand and joked, "As long as you like it, eat more, you can''t practice martial arts without sufficient nutrition."

    "I''m full already~"

    Liao Qe had eaten about three pounds of meat, indeed a lot.

    At that moment, Liao Ya coughed and gave her sister a stern look. Liao Qe stuck out her tongue and quickly withdrew her hand from Lu Yao.

    Liao Ya bowed her head and continued her battle, finishing off the remaining meat and not leaving a single drop of soup, bringing the meal to a perfect end.

    She herself had eaten seven pounds of meat, and when she stood up, her stomach bulged as if she were four months pregnant, quite noticeable.

    The girl felt somewhat embarrassed, and immediately focused on operating her stomach at full capacity, making a muffled sound as her belly visibly shrank down to normal size after a short while.

    ~~~~~~~

    After the meal, as usual, it was time to drink the medicinal tonic.

    Lu Yao set up the medicine decoction machine and took the opportunity to ask a few questions about problems encountered during his Spirit Refining Cultivation.

    Liao Ya waspletely unreserved, imparting the wisdom umted by generations of the Liao Family.

    At first, Lu Yao hadn''t understood, but now he even appreciated the preciousness of martial arts knowledge¡ªit was the foundation for families and sects to establish themselves!

    Even to a direct disciple, a master would hold back some secrets and would not share everything. Liao Ya''splete openness was a true sign of trust and gratitude towards him.

    Seeing that matters in the Otherworld were wrapping up, Lu Yao returned to his own room, activated the "Dimensional Door" to envelop himself, and returned to Blue Star.

    ~~~~~~~

    After casually cing the Cordyceps he brought back into a cupboard, Lu Yao took out his phone and called "Medicine Peddler" Li Lei.

    The girl''s voice came through the phone, feigning calmness, "Hello, hello, hello~ Lu Yao! Do you have new stock!? "

    She had been meaning to contact Lu Yao. Thest batch of Cordyceps had sold out, and customers had remarked on their good effects, eager to buy more.

    Lu Yao replied, "Yes, I have arge quantity. Get your money ready. Oh, and by the way~ when youe, bring me 100 jin each of Dijin Grass, donkey-hide gtin, and bee pupae."

    These were all herbs easily essible on Blue Star, yet Li Lei couldn''t help but exim in surprise, "100 jin each? That''s a lot! Are you nning to open a pharmacy or what?"

    The herbs are typically sold dry by the "jin". 100 jin is indeed a lot, and ordinary pharmacies wouldn''t keep so much stock on hand.

    "I need them. Juste over quick, and let''s get this done fast."

    "Alright, alright, I''m on my way."

    After hanging up, while waiting for Li Lei, Lu Yao opened the localrge shopping center''s online store¡ªZhongguang Mansion.

    The store boasted "One-Hour Delivery", promising that goods would be delivered to your door within an hour of cing an order.

    Lu Yao purchased an extravagant, oversized "bathtub" as well as a bunch of misceneous items, including sanitary napkins.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Li Lei''s greatest advantage was her efficiency, especially when it came to making money; she was swift in her actions. In less than an hour, she arrived downstairs in her car.

    She called to ask, "Lu Yao, I''ve brought the medicinal herbs. Do you need me to bring them upstairs?"

    Lu Yao replied, "No need, I''ll open the garage door. Just put them in the garage."

    His house was in an old neighborhood with private garages, which were now quite rare, as people usually had to buy parking spaces.

    He found the remote control for the garage door and took the Cordyceps down with him.

    As instructed, Li Lei brought a total of 300 jin of medicinal materials¡ªthat was not a small amount.

    She hopped out of the car, spat into her palm, and was ready to hoist the heavy bags over her shoulders.

    Seeing the girl''s slender arms and legs, Lu Yao was very uneasy. "Forget it... Don''t hurt your back, alright..."

    Li Lei acted unconcerned, "No worries, I may look thin, but I''m strong!"

    At that moment, the deliverymen from the shopping center arrived, two sturdy young men.

    The tomboy Li Lei switched gears in a blink, turning demure as she ran over and sweet-talked the two men into voluntarily helping unload the goods.

    Lu Yao: "..."

 Chapter 25: 25. Medicinal bath

    <h4>Chapter 25: 25. Medicinal bath</h4>

    The group moved the herbal medicine and bath barrel into the garage.

    Lu Yao''s garage was over 20 square meters in size, which was fairly spacious.

    After checking everything, Lu Yao confirmed there were no mistakes, signed the delivery slip, and sent the two delivery persons away first.

    ~~~~~~~

    When Li Lei saw the conspicuous bath barrel, she immediately imagined what Lu Yao wanted to do: "No wonder you bought so many herbs¡ªyou''re nning to take a medicinal bath, aren''t you!"

    Lu Yao nced at her with slight surprise, not expecting this woman to figure out his intention.

    From the beginning, Lu Yao hadn''t considered making an ointment, but had a more extravagant idea¡ªmedicinal bathing!

    A medicinal bath was the most potent method. Brewing a whole big barrel to soak in was more effective than the stingy ointments, with quicker and better absorption!

    The only downside was: it was too wasteful because the external application''s potency couldn''t be fully absorbed.

    But money was no object for Lu Yao¡ªhe wanted efficiency!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao pointed to the oil paper package next to him containing the Cordyceps, "You should check the goods first."

    Li Lei looked doubtfully at the unremarkable, earthy package, thinking to herself: No way...

    With trembling hands, she opened it to find arge bunch of Cordyceps!

    They were of the same quality as thest batch, and she weighed them with the electronic scale she carried¡ªit was exactly ten catties.

    Li Lei couldn''t help but look at Lu Yao: "Such a precious herb, and you just throw it around here!? It''s worth 500,000 yuan."

    Lu Yao shrugged, "What else should I do? Keep it in a safe and meet you with a secret code? Be more generous, it''s just some herbs."

    Looking at how indifferent Lu Yao was, Li Lei became even more puzzled about him.

    She suddenly realized¡ªthat person who was terminally ill looked much healthier than two days ago, and his eyes were especially bright! It wasn''t obvious outside, but in the dim garage, it was particrly noticeable.

    Li Lei internally eximed: This man might be ordinary-looking, but his eyes were truly beautiful! Clear and pure, shining like the stars! So charming, no¡ªshe couldn''t hold back anymore!

    This was an outward manifestation of growing proficiency in Spirit Refinement.

    Lu Yao was in a hurry. Seeing the woman staring nkly at him, he couldn''t help but remind her, "If everything looks good, go ahead and make the transfer. You can deduct the cost of the herbs you brought."

    "Oh, right." Li Lei finally came to her senses, opened the calctor on her phone, and started tapping away: "Dijin Grass for 1,000, donkey-hide gtin for 10,000, the beehive is a bit more expensive¡ª30,000, the total is... "

    As she was calcting, Li Lei suddenly remembered¡ªLu Yao''s Cordyceps could be sold for triple the price in a flip, and she should really woo this "supplier" instead of squabbling over minor profits!

    So she pped her chest generously: "Consider the herbs a gift from me. I wish you a speedy recovery!"

    "I''ll take your kind words." Lu Yao nced at her and inwardly sighed that this young woman already had her own airstrip, then said, "I''ll have more goodsing in a couple of days."

    "No problem¡ªGeneral Manager Lu, I''m on call any time!" Li Lei beamed with joy, her cherry lips stretching ear to ear.

    Internally, she was jubnt¡ªdoing business wasn''t hard at all.

    Then, Li Lei took out a professional storage box and patiently ced each Cordyceps inside.

    Lu Yao didn''t rush her and stepped outside the garage for some air. But then, he saw someone unexpected¡ªhis crowd of rtives had actuallye!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Leading them were his uncle and aunt, their faces tinged with joy and a hint of mutual wariness, as they were speaking about something.

    Lu Yao, in a state of deep meditation, easily heard them from dozens of meters away¡ª

    His uncle, Lu Zhenghong, said confidently, "He hasn''t answered his phone for days, he''s probably dead by now. That he''s only just now gasping for air shows he sure hung on."

    His aunt anxiously asked, "If someone died at the house, does that mean it''s worthless?"

    The cousin scoffed, "What era is this? He merely died of illness, it''s no big deal."

    The group of people were talking as they arrived at the garage door, and their expressions instantly stiffened when they saw Lu Yao standing at the entrance.

    Lu Yao smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I''m not dead yet."

    Uncle Lu Zhenghong cleared his throat. "Lu Yao, you weren''t answering your phone, so we got worried and came to check on you."

    Lu Yao said with a sneer, "I''m fine. In fact, I''m in great health and n to live a long life and get married. Maybe even have two wives~"

    As he spoke, he even jumped a few times on the spot.

    The faces of the group darkened, and his cousin said with a mixture of shock and suspicion, "Weren''t they saying he was about to die of illness? He looks fine to me. What the hell is going on!"

    But no one else could figure it out either and were unable to answer.

    Lu Zhenghong said sternly, "Enough of this. Now that everyone''s here, let''s discuss Lu Yao''s arrangements for after his passing."

    But just as he finished speaking, Lu Yao''s phone chimed: Alipay receipt¡ª500,000 yuan.

    Li Lei walked out from the garage and said nonchntly, "I''ve transferred the money to you. Pleasure doing business! Eh... you have guests?"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Several rtives stood frozen on the spot¡ª

    "Half a million? Didn''t he sell that worthlesspany? Where''s the moneying from!"

    "Turns out he had other ways to make a fortune! Can''t he leave it to us?"

    Lu Zhenghong and his wife exchanged nces, but their faces actually lit up with joy¡ªthe more money their nephew had, the greater the benefits for them upon his death.

    Watching this disy of human nature, Lu Yao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Let''s make things clear. I''ve made a will and had it notarized¡ªif I die, my house will be donated. You can stop wishing for it."

    "What! Are you insane! We''re family, we''re blood rtives!"

    These words immediately caused an uproar, and even the normallyposed Uncle''s family turned pale as crap.

    They had been relying on their close blood rtion and had never worried, but they hadn''t expected Lu Yao to be so ruthless!

    His aunt threatened on the spot, "Look here, Lu Yao, you better be careful. If you die, you might not even have anyone to attend your funeral!"

    The other rtives crowded around, advising him, "Lu Yao, you''re in thete stages of cancer. Have some consideration for us!"

    Lu Yao didn''t bother to argue with them anymore and turned to leave.

    But the rtives were not willing to give up; they swarmed him, some berating, some begged earnestly, and others tried to pull at him, urging him to change his mind.

    Lu Yao was in a state of Spirit Refinement; the chaotic crowd couldn''t get close to him, and they almost fell to the ground themselves.

    In the midst of the chaos, Li Lei shouted, "What are you doing! Lu Yao is still recuperating. You all can''t wait for him to die¡ªare you all beasts!!! Get lost~ Or I''ll call the police!"

    As she spoke, she took out her phone and started to dial.

    Seeing that the young woman was serious about calling the police, the group, worried about making the social news, reluctantly left.

    As they walked away, they med each other, filled with annoyance.

    And they deeply regretted¡ªnot having put on an act when Lu Yao was gravely ill.

    ~~~~~~~

    After the crowd dispersed, Lu Yao gave a self-deprecating smile. "Sorry you had to see that."

    Li Lei had aplex expression, hesitating to speak.

    Lu Yao waved. "Go ahead, and be careful with such valuable stuff."

    "No worries, this is the city center, and right next to it is the municipal government familypound." Li Lei breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I''m off. Call me if you need anything."

    "Bye~"

    The girl strode to her car and smiled bitterly. "Ha, every family has its own troubles to read from the ''Scripture''."

 Chapter 26: 26. Sharing bathwater

    <h4>Chapter 26: 26. Sharing bathwater</h4>

    After falling ill, Lu Yao had experienced all sorts of rotten luck, but today''s troubles were merely a drizzle inparison, and his heart was utterly undisturbed.

    Having sent Li Lei away, he opened the shopping app and found the store he had bought silver fromst time¡ª"Lu Family Gold and Silver Factory."

    He spent 250,000 yuan to order 50 kilograms of silver, totaling 1,000 taels!

    He had already cooperated with this store multiple times; they were well-acquainted, and the owner, after cutting the silver, delivered it at the earliest opportunity.

    Although the price of silver online was slightly expensive, Lu Yao did not mind spending a bit more for the sake of safety.

    Once ready, he called upon the Star Key to activate the "Dimensional Door," and the familiar spiral green doorway appeared.

    ~~~~~~~~

    It was midday in the Otherworld, the sun shining brightly above.

    In the martial arts gym, he searched for a while until he found Liao Qe, who was cleaning.

    "Come help me carry some things~"

    "What have you brought this time?"

    The young girl happily entered Lu Yao''s room only to find a giant bath tub...and several hundred pounds of herbs! Could it be that he was nning to¡ª

    "The ointment is too slow; I''m going to take a herbal bath!" Lu Yao simply told Liao Qe his ns.

    The girl covered her mouth and gasped softly, "No wonder you bought so many herbs!"

    Then, Lu Yao pulled out several strange bags and handed them to her, "These are exotic goods from overseas, you''re smart enough to figure out how to use them."

    Liao Qe opened the bag to find several very small pieces of clothing and strange paper tissues.

    "Are these clothes Western underwear? And these strange paper tissues..."

    Seeing she was confused, Lu Yao took one tissue and found a pair of trousers to demonstrate, "Just like this, get it~"

    Liao Qe''s face turned red with embarrassment, "How can there be such strange things..."

    "Anyway, they''re very useful, so keep them. Come on~ let''s carry this tub to the Cultivation Quiet Room. We''ll start the herbal bath!"

    Liao Qe nodded, rolled up her sleeves to reveal arms as white as lotus roots, her slender and taut body brimming with endless strength, easily lifting the heavy bathtub.

    They filled it with water, and the tub''s built-in heating function took care of warming it quickly, so it wouldn''t take long to boil the water.

    Themotion they were causing grew, and Liao Ya also came over, immediately understanding Lu Yao''s idea upon seeing the scene.

    "A herbal bath? Junior brother, you are too extravagant...Though this method is effective, it wastes a lot of herbs."

    "I want efficiency; a little bit of money is nothing," Lu Yaoughed, "Sister, you came just in time, help me keep an eye on the amount of herbs and the temperature."

    Looking at the several hundred pounds of herbs in the room, and then at the luxurious bath tub, Liao Ya sighed deeply and resigned herself to his whim.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The three of them got to work, and quickly arranged the herbal bath using the ingredients for "Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste" multiplied by twenty.

    After simmering the herbal concoction for an hour, it turned amber color and filled the room with its fragrance.

    Setting the tub to maintain warmth, Lu Yao made a weing gesture.

    Liao Ya dipped her hand in to feel it and said with aplex expression, "The qi and blood stimtion reaches the organs, the medicinal effect is strong."

    The girl was quite conflicted. In the past, she could only drink a bowl once a week; suddenly having enough to indulge in daily and now even enough for a bath, she hadn''t yet adjusted her mindset.

    Lu Yao urged, "Let''s start then."

    "This bathtub of herbal bath must have cost at least 5 taels of silver, it''s too luxurious," Liao Ya said somewhat embarrassedly, "You should have bathed first, but your body can''t withstand such strong medicinal properties, so I''ll help myself without ceremony..."

    "What''s there to be polite about, get in quickly."

    "..."

    "Why aren''t you bathing yet?"

    "Junior brother, you leave first."

    "Oh, sorry."

    Only then did Lu Yao realize that taking this bath required undressing, so he quickly left.

    ~~~~~~~

    After he left, Liao Ya''sposed pretty face showed a look of excitement and curiosity, and she said to her sister:

    "This huge tub is enough for both of us to share;e join me, don''t waste the junior brother''s kindness."

    Liao Qe was also eager to try what it felt like to take a bath, so the two sisters stripped off their clothes and entered the tub hand in hand.

    The luxurious tub wasrge enough to amodate two more girls.

    Once the sisters were inside, they let out afortable sigh.

    Liao Qe, like azy cat, contentedly closed her eyes. "Mmm~ sofortable~ nice and warm~"

    Liao Ya shuddered in surprise, "The medicinal strength is so intense, it''s prating right into the body; the medicinal bath is at least five times more effective than the ointment. Who would have thought that an originally ordinary recipe could have such miraculous effects without considering the cost!"

    After expressing her amazement, she looked all around curiously, studying the tub: "And this tub can even keep the heat, the water temperature stays the same~"

    Master Liao made quite a ssh with every movement, causing waves to ripple through the water.

    Liao Qe stared at her sister''s amazing figure, wide-eyed and eximed, "That''s terrifying... Do you be like this after Organ Refining?"

    Liao Ya instinctively covered herself, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I don''t know what happened; it just turned out this way."

    Liao Qe moved closer, extending her hands as if trying to cop a feel, but her sister pped them away.

    "You little brat, what are you trying to do?"

    "Don''t be so stingy, let me have a look~"

    "Back off, don''t get so close!"

    "Haha~ so bouncy~"

    "Just absorb the medicinal strength! This is something Lu Yao spent a lot of money on, don''t waste it!"

    The sisters initially bathed quietly, but soon they started sshing and ying around. Lu Yao, meditating in the yard and overhearing them, felt itchingly curious, imagining countless enticing scenes.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The twodies didn''t finish ying until an hourter, their skin became even more fair and tender, like lotuses emerging from water.

    Liao Ya, drying her slim body with no extra fat with a towel, suddenly noticed her sister wearing a strange piece of clothing.

    "What is that?"

    "Hehe, it''s a gift from Lu Yao~ looks good, right? It feels really great to wear~"

    Liao Qe had changed into a sports bra from Blue Star, which was shapely, sweat-absorbing, breathable, casual yet sexy, just right for martial arts practicing women.

    Liao Ya immediately felt her belly band was less appealing and questioned, "Isn''t there one for me? Lu Yao always brings two of everything."

    Liao Qe pulled a funny face, "How can one casually give out such private things? It''s inappropriate for men and women to exchange these things. You better not ask for it."

    "Damn it, you hid it on purpose!" Liao Ya pounced, her movements quick as she reached out and grabbed her sister''s face. "There should be no such hesitations between fellow disciples, hand it over~"

    Seeing her embezzlement fail and knowing she was no match for her sister, Liao Qe reluctantly handed over the hidden clothes.

    The clever Liao Ya quickly figured out how to wear it and adjusted the buckles to theirrgest setting before slipping it on, nodding in satisfaction, "Indeed it''sfortable. Junior brother always brings good things."

    Having said that, she even jumped a few times, her body once rebellious, now firmly subdued to Master Liao''s increasing satisfaction.

    Liao Qe, seeing her sister''s yful and lively manner at this moment, felt quite unustomed to it.

    After their father left and the responsibility of the household fell on her older sister''s shoulders, the pressure had turned her serious and stern, always wearing a stern expression.

    But ever since Lu Yao appeared, her sister became much more cheerful and charming. In fact, this was her true nature!

    Liao Qe sighed inwardly, "This is my sister''s true self,pletely rxed."

    ~~~~~~~

    As Lu Yao was in meditation, two beautiful young girls emerged.

    With their hair half dry and their alluring eyes ncing about, their skin was tender beyondpare, radiating youthful vitality. They were a sight for sore eyes, evoking that line of poetry¡ª''The spring water slide to wash a creamy skin.''

    Liao Ya coughed to interrupt Lu Yao''s appreciation.

    She furrowed her brow and looked conflicted in herrge eyes, but still she spoke softly, "Junior brother, the effects of the medicinal bath are just right for you now; go ahead and use it."

    Lu Yao was shocked¡ªwas this the same medicinal bath the two of you have used, and you''re just offering it to me directly!? Shared bathwater!? That''s not right... that''s too weird!

 Chapter 27: 27. No problem with drinking.

    Lu Yao scratched his head, hesitated, and said, "Elder Sister, let me boil another bucket."

    Liao Ya pitied the medicinal herbs and couldn''t even care about shyness, "There is still a lot of medicinal strength left, don''t waste it! Martial arts practice is quite expensive, even if you have money, you need to save some."

    Liao Qe also grabbed his arm and persuaded, "You''ve spent so much money back and forth, you need to stretch it out longer. Or... do you disdain us sisters?"

    "No, no, how could I possibly disdain! I''ll go soak right now."

    Lu Yao wouldn''t disdain the sisters'' used water; even drinking it would be no problem for him.

    Before leaving, Lu Yao dragged over a suitcase with abination lock and handed it to the two women, inside was the silver he brought with him.

    "I mentioned before that I need to spend money to improve my strength recently, so I brought some silver over. The code is 12345, you guys open it and take a look, so you know what''s there."

    The two women were stunned, and were about to ask in detail when Lu Yao had already entered the room to undress and take a bath.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Soaking in the medicinal bath, Lu Yao moanedfortably.

    "Hoo~ Amazing~ I can feel warm air drilling into my body through the pores~"

    The medicinal effects prated from the surface to the inside, quickly seeping into his skin and slowly reaching his internal organs. Then it used the energy to push the blood, and the blood to carry the energy, elerating the cirction of qi and blood throughout the body.

    Lu Yao felt a hot stream scald his entire body, finally converging in his bones. "The medicine reaches through the whole body, indeed, medicine baths are needed."

    And thinking that this water was left over from the sisters, there was a different feeling.

    Closing his eyes, it was as if two fair bodies were apanying him, making the soak especiallyfortable.

    "Does this count as an indirect shared bath... Why do I suddenly want to take a sip?"

    Just as Lu Yao was doubting his own nature, the door was suddenly kicked open, and the two sisters rushed in, carrying the suitcase.

    The box was open, with silver light flickering and catching the eye.

    The two girls were breathing rapidly, staring wide-eyed.

    Liao Ya spoke first, "This is a thousand taels! You''re bringing so much money!?"

    The annual profit of the martial arts hall was only three to four taels of silver, so this huge amount of money was truly astonishing.

    And the junior brother had so directly given it to them! He seemed so unconcerned! The sisters'' emotions were both excited and touched at that moment.

    At this moment, Lu Yao was soaking naked in the bath, boasting,

    "Mmh, yes, it is a thousand taels. I always said we needed to spend money to increase our strength to face the crisis. Seeing that you always think about saving, I might as well bring more to spend."

    "This is too much... Eating supplements and meat every day, and the medicinal baths are already luxurious," Liao Ya said with mixed feelings.

    Initially, she thought having a little sister along to enjoy some benefits wasn''t a big deal. But a thousand taels of silver... herzy and bratty sister didn''t seem to be worth that much...

    Lu Yao continued, "Elder Sister, our enemies are no simple matter; who knows what dangers await us. Only if we are strong ourselves can we be sure to bepletely safe!"

    Upon hearing this, Liao Ya remembered the blood feud she carried, with Haoran Martial Arts Hall and Hailong Gang being two huge entities. Without her junior brother''s help, she might have no hope of revenge in this lifetime...

    She finally let go of her hesitations and even forgot there was a naked man bathing before her as she began to n around the bathtub,

    "Junior Brother, after the Golden Tiger Bone-Strengthening Paste is turned into a medicinal bath, its effects are strong, not only strengthening sinews and bones but also erging the internal organs; plus, with us taking Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup internally, the supplement aspect is already at its peak..."

    Liao Ya flipped her half-wet hair, "We can''t rush, we should first adapt to the strength of the two supplements before discussing further, let me n carefully..."

    Lu Yao kept nodding, "No rush, Elder Sister, take your time to think. Oh~ and about the silver, you''ll manage it. You have to take good care of it."

    Upon hearing this, Liao Ya almost toppled into the bathtub, "I''m in charge of it?"

    "Of course, it''s not safe with me. I''ve been spending so fiercelytely, everyone knows I''m a fat sheep," Lu Yao said as a matter of course.

    At this moment, the medicinal effects of the bath were being continually absorbed, and the color of the medicinal water gradually became clear.

    Liao Qe curiously peered inside, while Lu Yao modestly covered his essentials.

    Liao Ya, upon seeing the naked man in the tub, realized that she and her sister had rushed in hastily and that it was quite impolite and indecent.

    She hurriedly pulled the still-curious Liao Qe away.

    ~~~~~~~

    The next morning, Lu Yao exhaled a breath of turbid air and woke up from his meditative state.

    Just as he was about to get out of bed, he felt something was amiss. This feeling, both familiar and strange... Lu Yao leapt up from the bed, both shocked and delighted, touching and pulling at himself, and couldn''t help but shed tears.

    "The effect of the medicinal bath is beyond imagination!"

    After meditating, he assumed the stance for standing post, easily shaking his entire body into motion, instantly entering the state without sweating profusely like before.

    "Indeed, my physical strength has improved so much!"

    Feeling his much stronger body, Lu Yao suddenly thought: I should be able to begin Sinew-Strengthening cultivation!

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the midst of excitement, a "bang bang bang" at the door sound came, and Liao Qe shouted through the door, "Junior brother, wake up~"

    "Coming~" Lu Yao pushed open the door to see a slender and graceful figure standing there, with almond eyes smiling over at him.

    Liao Qe looked radiant, her skin so tender it seemed water could be pinched out of it, fair with a rosy glow, full of vitality.

    "Lu Yao, the medicinal bath''s effect is really great. My punches and kicks can now make a sound, and after a few more soaks I''ll be able to reach the Organ Refining Realm~ How do you feel?"

    "Couldn''t be better!" Lu Yao looked at the charming girl before him and felt an extra surge of worldly impulse.

    The two held hands and sat side by side in the courtyard. The fresh air was filled with songbirds and dancing swallows; the moment was exceptionally beautiful.

    Liao Qe was in a very good mood, speaking rapidly: "Last night sister hid the silver under the bed and got up to check it several times in the middle of the night, it was so funny."

    Lu Yao yed with the girl''s small hand, asionally echoing a word or two.

    Gradually, his hand became restless, seeking to explore new worlds.

    Liao Qe, shy and timid, blocked him: "No, no~"

    Lu Yao, after quite some effort, at most could only wrap his arm around the girl''s slender waist. Everywhere else was off-limits.

    But feeling the beautiful curves and sticity was satisfying enough. He knew he had to eat his meals one bite at a time and not rush.

    "Cough, cough!"

    Before they could have enough fun, big sister Liao Ya, like a ring lightbulb, came over.

    The two quickly separated, pretending to be innocent.

    Liao Ya nced at her bashful sister: "So idle, not practicing your punches!"

    Then she stared at Lu Yao for a while, as if realizing something. Immediately, she ced her hand on his chest and "examined" him with her Inner Breath.

    It wasn''t long before she spoke with joy: "Junior brother~ your body''s vitality is dissipating much slower! Although notpletely cured, it is already much better than before! You have nothing to worry about for three years!"

    Lu Yao nodded, "I feel it. Senior sister~ Can I start Sinew-Strengthening cultivation?"

    "Of course, you can!" Liao Ya nodded affirmatively, "The medicinal bath effect is extraordinary. I thought it would take three times to achieve this effect, but it happened after just one. However..."

    Liao Ya''s expression became serious: "Money and material possessions are abundant, but you must work harder in your cultivation. You must know that only by reaching the Blood-Exchange Realm, can you bepletely healed; otherwise, you could still die young!"

    Lu Yao nodded gravely: "I understand, I will not ck off!"

    Liao Ya: "Get ready, the real martial arts training is not going to be as easy as thesest few days; expect pain, fatigue, and such trifles!"

    Lu Yao''s spirit was ignited: "Senior sister, please train me hard!"

 Chapter 28: 28.Hard practice

    "Ah yi ya yo wei wei~~~"

    "Yi yi yi you you you~~~"

    Lu Yao''s wails and howls pierced the heavens as the sisters were helping him "stretch."

    "Junior brother, keep it down, will you..." Liao Ya said helplessly, face full of resignation. It was just stretching; why did it sound like a pig being ughtered?

    "I can''t help it..." Lu Yao sat against the wall with his legs wide apart, as the sisters pressed their feet against his knees, forcibly pulling him into a split.

    Just looking at the movement was painful, and Lu Yao was even worse off¡ªhis tears and snot were mixing, a pitiful sight.

    "Lu Yao, just hang in there~ it''ll be over soon... Pffft hahaha, I can''t hold it in anymore... this is too funny hahaha."

    Liao Qe began with a gentle voice tofort him, but halfway through, when she saw his embarrassing state, she burst into uncontrobleughter.

    "You heartless thing, you''re actuallyughing at me!" Even though Lu Yao had mentally prepared himself, he never expected the beginning to be so explosive.

    After enduring a quarter of an hour, the stretching finally ended, and he copsed on the ground.

    Liao Qe wanted to help, but Lu Yao couldn''t get up and insisted on lying down for a while. The girl had no choice but to let him rest his head on her legs.

    The straight and taut beautiful legs were nice to look at and smelled good, which slightly alleviated some of his pain.

    A few minutester, Liao Ya approached softly and said, "Junior brother~ everything is difficult at the start, you must build a solid foundation. Bear with it a little. Let''s continue."

    "Again!?"

    "The effects of the medicinal bath are still in your body, we can''t waste it."

    ~~~~~~~~

    After the workout, Lu Yao felt like a mollusk, unable to walk in a straight line; even eating was done with Liao Qe feeding him.

    But Liao Ya had no intention of letting him off. After a brief rest post-meal, they continued!

    While Lu Yao endured his suffering, Liao Qe was sent off to practice her punching on the side, disying a powerful disy.

    As Liao Ya stepped on Lu Yao to stretch him, she shouted, "Weck nothing in terms of external resources, so we mustn''t ck! Train hard! Fully absorb the medicine''s effects!"

    And like that, they did nothing else all day.

    Lu Yao had hoped to find a chance to get cozy with Liao Qe, to steal a few touches of her slender waist, but now he had neither the energy nor the strength.

    Thankfully, he bit down and persisted through the entire process, without losing face.

    ~~~~~~~

    At night, with his body aching all over, Lu Yao climbed into the bath and moanedfortably.

    The medicine turned into a warm flow, entering his body through the pores, repairing damage and strengthening bones and muscles.

    "Ts ts... sharing the bathwater again."

    The sisters had already finished soaking, and Lu Yao was thest. Seized by a yearning, he thought, "When can I really share a bath...? Actually, just thinking about it makes the pain go away~"

    When the medicinal liquid turned clear, its potency was fully absorbed. Unbeknownst to him, Lu Yao had fallen asleep in the tub.

    Liao Qe crept in quietly, poked him to find he couldn''t be awakened, so she helped to dry his body and gently carried him to bed and tucked him in.

    The girl stared at Lu Yao for a while, blushed, stole a kiss, and then turned away.

    ~~~~~~~

    The next day, Lu Yao slept in until the proper time to wake up.

    He got up, enduring the prickling pain. The sisters had been training for who knows how long, covered in sweat.

    They had gained a lot of benefits from the medicinal bath, their skin noticeably more radiant.

    Seeing that Lu Yao was awake, Liao Qe quickly rushed over. "You''re awake, does it still hurt?"

    Even drenched in sweat, the girl didn''t smell bad, instead giving off an especially enticing scent. This was the natural allure emitted by the healthy body of the opposite sex, originating from gic instincts.

    "It''s alright, let''s continue training!" Lu Yao moved around a bit to ready himself, showing no intention of cking off.

    Liao Ya was very pleased with her junior brother''s fighting spirit, but she didn''t start "stretching" him.

    "We''ll stretch once your tendons have recovered. Today, I''ll teach you the Liao Family''s secret ''Carp Stance''! Liao Qe~ show him how it''s done."

    Liao Qe responded loudly and boldly stripped off her tracksuit sweatshirt, leaving on only a Blue Star t-shirt, revealing her slender figure.

    Then, the girl squatted slightly, swaying from hips to shoulders, much like a nimble fish swimming.

    Lu Yao immediately quieted his mind and observed her movements closely. He saw the girl with graceful curves, continuously moving her willowy waist and peach-like hips in a very seductive manner.

    "That looks quite like a move from pole dancing..." Lu Yao feasted his eyes and, while in a deeply focused state, he could see Liao Qe''s movements clearly.

    Afterward, he tried it himself, looking like a fish being forcibly yanked out of the water, yet he managed a 90%pletion rate.

    Liao Ya praised, "Not bad at all~ That''s exactly how to use the Spirit Refinement! An ordinary person would take a long time to learn such a technique, but when focused, one only needs to watch it twice to understand. It took Liao Qe a whole month studying a living fish to learn the Carp Stance."

    Liao Qe, standing behind her sister, stuck out her tongue and made a face.

    Next, Master Liao stroked Lu Yao''s spine and said, "The power of the human bodyes from this ''great dragon''. The ''Carp Stance'' is specifically for mastering the great dragon. If you want to practice martial arts, you must first ingrain it into your bones!"

    Lu Yao acknowledged and started practicing.

    Liao Ya was also not idle, her body constantly thundering, with "huffs" and "puffs" asionallying from her nostrils.

    ~~~~~~~~

    All three were so engrossed in cultivation that even Liao Qe, who usually liked to bezy, was influenced by the environment and persisted with gritted teeth.

    At that moment, Lu Yao looked up towards the gate, as if he sensed something.

    Then, a shout came over, "Master Liao, Wang Yuan from the Armed Forces Authority requests an audience!"

    "The Armed Forces Authority?"

    Liao Qe exined, "The ''Armed Forces Authority'' is an institution under the Yunzhou Prefectural Yamen, dedicated to managing martial artists. It also has the function of supervising the local military forces."

    Liao Ya opened the door to see a man dressed in a green robe, with a low-ranking official''s hat, and slender eyes betraying a cunning mind.

    The visitor bowed, took out a booklet, and proimed,

    "The Prefecture has summoned martial masters to clear out the rabble. Master Liao, merely showing up will earn you 3000 copper coins! A rare and easy job, I thought of you first."

    "The rabble outside the city? Those are the refugees fleeing disaster..." Liao Ya''s willow brows furrowed.

    Wang Yuan said with a smile, "There are more and more of them gathering, and the officials are worried about trouble, hence we need to clean up. You''ll only need to watch the state soldiers do the work. It''s like picking up money for nothing, and you''ll be credited for a merit, how worthwhile."

    When Lu Yao heard the phrase "outside the city," he felt it was inappropriate. Pies don''t just fall from the sky, and suddenly a good opportunity to leave the city could be a conspiracy.

    He urgently whispered to Liao Ya, "There must be something fishy about this guy so keen to offer a favor. Better safe than sorry, we don''t need to walk into a trap."

    Liao Ya blinked herrge eyes and nodded vigorously,pletely agreeing.

    ~~~~~~~

    Wang Yuan waited calmly, seemingly confident that the offer would not be declined. Such high-quality tasks were rare and could only be snagged by those with solid connections.

    "Thank you for the kind thought, Wang Yuan, but I''m at a critical moment in my cultivation and cannot participate."

    "What?" Wang Yuan''s expression changed, surprised by Liao Ya''s response, he quickly said,

    "Master Liao, you still owe three military services, and if you don''t participate this time, it may affect your end-of-year assessment."

    The Great Shun Warrior Code stipted that martial masters registered in the records enjoyed imperial privileges and ordingly had to serve, contributing to the imperial court four times a year.

    If one failed to meet the standards, their martial master qualification would be revoked, and they would no longer be able to run a martial arts school.

    Unperturbed, Liao Ya said, "No matter, I can offset this year''s military service with silver."

    Wang Yuan eximed in surprise, "One military service costs one tael of silver to offset, which is quite uneconomical. And you said... for this entire year?!"

    With a nce at Lu Yao, Liao Ya nodded, "Yes, I n to undergo rigorous cultivation this year and don''t intend to step outside."

    Wang Yuan waspletely baffled, having never seen anyone use silver to offset a task. Normally, martial artists couldn''t wait to take on more tasks to establish a good rtionship with the Armed Forces Authority.

    Just as he was about to persuade further, Lu Yao came over with three taels of silver.

    With things having reached this point, Wang Yuan could no longer say anything without appearing too obvious, so he reluctantly epted the silver and left with discontent.

    Once on the street, he discreetly turned into a secluded alley and said to a man in yellow, "The Liao family refused."

 Chapter 29: Invite to a Challenge at Their Doorstep

    After refusing the task to clear out the troublesome folk outside the city, two more shops came to the door seeking the protection of the martial arts hall.

    They would pay the protective fee on time, only asking for Liao Ya''s aid at critical moments.

    This was just a standard affiliation, essentially like picking up money for nothing. Yet, Lu Yao still refused them all.

    "We have enough resources. We will slowly cultivate and improve our strengths. By remaining unchanging, we can handle any changes thate our way, and there is no need to trouble ourselves for a tiny bit of insignificant gain."

    He wanted to keep a low profile and level up, and thene out of seclusion to crush any opposition. The idea was good, but sadly his adversaries wouldn''t indulge him.

    Early the next day, a group of people made a beeline for the martial arts hall.

    The man at the front, wearing yellow clothes and walking on tiptoes, had a frivolous expression: "If the Liao Family''s cheap wretches don''t know their ce, then let''s have them die miserably in front of a crowd!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, Lu Yao and the three others were practicing as usual in the courtyard.

    It was the third day of their medicinal bath, and after soaking three times, Lu Yao and the Liao Family Sisters had reaped huge benefits.

    Lu Yao''s Carp Stance was bing increasingly skilled, and he could now practice it in a meditative state. His spine energized his entire body, making him more agile. His ability to dodge and weave in close quarters had be incredibly deft.

    When Liao Ya was refining her organs, it was as if thunder rolled inside her, and her asional "huffs and puffs" started carrying the momentum of thunder.

    Liao Qe could create an explosive sound with her punches and kicks without needing to build up force. As the saying goes, a resonant strike is priceless; the girl''s kung fu had prated deep into her bones, and the powering straight from her bones could tear through the air to create that sound.

    This was a sign of mastery in the Bone Tempering Realm! After stabilizing her progress, she could consider making a breakthrough in Organ Refining.

    All three were quite satisfied with their progress.

    Liao Qe''s excited face gleamed, and her braids bounced energetically.

    Out of every 20 martial practitioners, only one could seed in Organ Refining. Martial masters held a prestigious status, enjoying special privileges. With two martial masters, the Liao Family Fist would have truly secured its foundation.

    But just then, a familiar voice rang out: "Master Liao, Ninth Grade Official Wang Yuan of the Armed Forces Authority requests an audience!"

    The visitor was the very Ninth Grade Official of the Armed Forces Authority whom they had just met the day before.

    ~~~~~~~

    "Master Liao, we meet again."

    "Official Wang, what brings you here?"

    Wang Yuan''s eyes shifted as he feignedposure, "The Armed Forces Authority received an official challenge. Someone wants topete with you in a duel."

    Having said this, he stepped aside swiftly to reveal the man in yellow behind him.

    This man had a bizarrely shaped waist like that of a male dog, and his extremely long legs meant he only used the front part of his foot to tread, indicating he practiced formidable footwork.

    Liao Ya recognized him and her expression turned icy instantly: "Gu Li from the Haoran Martial Arts Hall!"

    Gu Li nodded: "Yes, it''s me. Let''s make it quick and sign the life-and-death agreement! Or just get out of Yunzhou to save me the trouble."

    Wang Yuan unfolded a piece of official paper, a formal life-and-death agreement, penned in regr script with the names of the duelists, reasons for the duel, methods, timing, venue, and most importantly¡ªno liability for death!

    Liao Ya sneered. She had been steadily strengthening herselftely, making great strides in her power. This guy was just asking for death!

    She was about to ept the challenge, but subconsciously nced back at Lu Yao, wanting to hear what her junior brother had to say.

    Lu Yao had swiftly read the life-and-death agreement and said earnestly,

    "There''s a problem with this thing. It says here that if we lose, we have to hand over the martial arts hall to this guy. But he''s not representing the Haoran Martial Arts Hall; he''s challenging us in a personal capacity. If he loses, there''s no loss to him at all."

    Gu Li, with a frivolous demeanor,ughed nonchntly, "The literate ones are here indeed. Zhu Jiaxiu and I are sworn brothers. Seeking revenge for him in my personal capacity makes perfect sense."

    Liao Ya scorned, "Stop pretending. Who doesn''t know that your Haoran Martial Arts Hall is in cahoots with Hailong Gang, opening opium dens and harming people! My Liao Family certainly wouldn''t be scared of you shameless scoundrels!"

    Gu Li couldn''t deny it and merely pressed, "Enough with the talk, are you taking on this duel or not!"

    "Sister, there''s also this part..." Lu Yao pointed at the life-and-death agreement and continued, "The duel will have each side send out three people of the same realm, best of three rounds, fight to the death, no surrender."

    Liao Ya was taken aback, "Three people each!?" She instantly understood¡ªby pulling in the rtively weaker Lu Yao and Liao Qe, the "best of three rounds" method was meant to increase their chances of winning.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Coming to our door with this kind of trash, they''re clearly not serious. Lu Yao would never agree, saying outright, ''We will not ept such an unfair challenge. You can leave now.''"

    Seeing that things were about to fall through, Gu Li remained unfazed, his sinister smile undiminished, "I think it would be wise for you to ept."

    Lu Yao''s eyebrows rose quizzically, "Why should we?"

    Gu Li, interested, slowly turned to Liao Ya, "Master Liao, your father''s remains are in my possession~"

    "What did you say!!!" The Liao Family Sisters, upon hearing this, showed shock and stared him down fiercely!

    Gu Li continued with a cheer, "During the Opium Wars, Liao Qigong was very brave, he charged into the foreigner''s cannon formation alone and with his Great Lance.

    Despite being bombed, he achieved Blood-Exchange Mastery and wasn''t blown to bits; instead, his remains were left intact.

    And in the state of Blood-Exchange, even in death, the body won''t decay for ten years, preserving enough tost until today."

    Upon hearing these words, the sisters'' eyes became bloodshot, their fists clenched tightly, and their bones creaked from sheer rage to the extreme.

    "The beasts of the Hailong Gang! Conspiring with foreigners to harm our father and now you dare to defile his body!"

    "No wonder we used every method and couldn''t retrieve it, it was hidden by you!"

    Gu Li, hand on his waist, taunted, "The remains of the Blood-Exchange Realm are valuable. Even the foreigners offered a high price. If you don''t want them, I''ll sell them to the foreigners to dissect for fun."

    Lu Yao realized he had vastly underestimated these scoundrels'' depravity. The sisters,ing from a culture that greatly respects ancestors, would never abandon their father''s remains.

    Liao Ya signed her life away on a dueling contract, epting the challenge.

    Seeing his goal achieved, Gu Li''s mouth twisted into a smile and he eximed gleefully, "Noon sharp, I''ll be waiting for the grand arrival of the Liao Family Fist at the Four Seas Tower!"

    Having said that, he turned and left, unaware of the cold smile on Liao Ya''s face.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The time was already 11 a.m. sharp, with only one hour left before the duel, the preparation seemed rushed.

    The sisters donned theirbat gear, with Liao Ya even taking her Great Lance. The youngdy showed no signs of distress; she was confident and dered,

    "Haoran Martial Arts Hall has miscalcted this time! Our strength has surged incredibly. They are courting death!"

    Liao Qe also overflowed with confidence, "Eating tonics and soaking in medicinal baths every day, I''ve been itching to find an opponent to test my skills! This couldn''te at a better time!"

    The sisters focused on their breathing and put themselves into the best state of mind.

    With nothing particr to do, Lu Yao thought about it and went to the kitchen to slip a kitchen knife into his clothing. His own attack power was too low; he needed to carry a handy tool just in case.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The news of the duel spread through the city like wildfire.

    However, manymoners were unable to enjoy the spectacle this time, as the duel''s location was set in one of Yunzhou''s most luxurious restaurants¡ªthe Four Seas Tower.

    Lu Yao and the others hurried over, surveying the opulent restaurant.

    The Four Seas Tower boasted three floors, featuring an ancient charm. The entrance was decked with colorful wooden arches and painted in vermilion and emerald.

    But the most unique aspect was the central courtyard of the restaurant.

    This courtyard was about the size of two basketball courts, covered in green bricks, and served perfectly as an arena. The light and angles were perfect for the guests to enjoy the fight.

    At the moment, there was an eight immortals table in the middle of the arena with a man in white writing vigorously¡ª

    [Today''spetitors shall pull no punches and fight with all their might, with no disputes over life and death after the match. We shall bear witness!]

    The writer was none other than the master of Haoran Martial Arts Hall¡ªSun Haoran.

    After finishing, he signed his own name on this "testimony document" and pressed his handprint.

    Following this, two other dignified individuals of Yunzhou''s Martial Faction also signed, bing witnesses to the duel.

    This was an important procedure for an official duel¡ªthe witnesses would also act as judges and were often respected members of the local Martial Faction.

 Chapter 30: 30. Battle to the Death 1

    Many people hade to watch the martial arts contest, filling all three floors of the Four Seas Tower.

    These spectators were not ordinary folk, everyone here had a title to their name in Yunzhou, as well as their descendants and young rtives.

    The wait staff of the restaurant bustled among the crowd, epting bets from the onlookers and selling expensive teas and liquors, creating a lively scene.

    Sun Haoran and the other two witnesses of the contest were seated in ces of highest honor on the east side of the restaurant.

    At that moment, a middle-aged man sitting with one leg crossed over the other struck up a conversation, "Master Sun, why go to such great lengths to wipe out the Liao Family?"

    This man was Duan Pei from the Thunderp Martial Arts Hall, deliberately bringing up the matter to attract a flood of gazes.

    As the saying goes, those in the same trade are often enemies. The two martial arts halls ovepped in business, so naturally, their rtionship wasn''t very good.

    Sun Haoran didn''t take the bait, "It''s just a grudge between the younger generation; it has nothing to do with my Haoran Pavilion."

    "Heh," Duan Pei gave a smile that was not quite a smile, "Of course, it has nothing to do with you. You are a revered elder of the martial faction, indeed not the type to do such things. Let''s have tea~"

    Having said that, he lifted his teacup and took a sip.

    Sun Haoran also used the act of bowing his head to drink tea to hide the chill in his eyes.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Before the fight began, both parties handed over their stakes to the witnesses.

    On Lu Yao''s side was the deed to the boxing gym and the license to operate; whereas Gu Li took out a sandalwood box with the pungent odor of preservative spices, what was inside was self-evident.

    Upon seeing this box, the two sisters became agitated once again.

    Lu Yao quickly advised, "Don''t get angry, you must keep a calm mind~ don''t let it cloud your judgment."

    Liao Ya closed her eyes and focused her spirit, regainingposure after a moment. When she opened her eyes, they were still, though somewhat fierce.

    Lu Yao looked at Liao Qe, the girl had been sulking with heavy breathing and red eyes.

    "I was little when father passed away, and these past years I''ve only asionally seen him in dreams, almost forgetting his face, just remembering his hands wererge and warm... I hate it so much! How could they do this!"

    Liao Ya stroked her sister''s back, saying, "Liao Qe, I know you''re hurting, but the more you feel this way, the more you need to contain your anger! Losing control of your emotions will surely affect our strength. We must win the next battle cleanly and beautifully, father is watching us!"

    Liao Qe wiped away her tears and nodded firmly, "I understand, sister."

    ~~~~~~~

    On Gu Li''s side, he was instructing two lower-realm martial artists,

    "This is a job personally set up by Pavilion Master Sun, so no need for unnecessary talk. Anyone who doesn''t do well can prepare to dig in the foreigners'' mines for life."

    A burly man with arge bellyughed and pped his stomach, "Don''t worry Gu Ye, dealing with an invalid who hasn''t practiced martial arts is definitely no problem for old Shen."

    Gu Li nodded, "Judging from the way Lu Yao walks, it''s clear he hasn''t practiced martial arts; you certainly won''t have any problems on your end."

    "As for you..." Gu Li turned to the remaining man.

    This man had a yellowishplexion as if recovering from a severe illness, looking even more like ate-stage cancer patient than Lu Yao. He said with a trembling voice, "I shall not fail the trust ced in me. Could I... could I have a shot first...?"

    While speaking, his whole body suddenly began to shiver.

    Gu Li showed a look of disgust, "Is this opium addict going to be reliable? It would be a disaster if he got a craving during the fight."

    He himself owned several opium houses and knew all too well the nature of these addicts; they were useless, good-for-nothing wretches.

    At that moment, a voice with a strange ent spoke, "Mr. Gu, please be assured, he will be fine."

    The one who spoke was actually a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigner!

    He wore a tailcoat with a ck tie and had an elegant,posed smile on his face. "I have brought a special medicine to ensure the sess of your mission."

    This person leisurely took out a box and opened it, revealing syringes, needles, and several vials of injectable drugs!

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao entered a meditative state, looking towards his opponent to scout the enemy, but he noticed a strange scene.

    He saw a blue-eyed blond foreigner giving injections to the opponent!?

    It was his first time seeing a "foreigner" from the Otherworld, and out of curiosity, he took a few more nces.

    The blond hair and blue eyes were no different from those of Blue Star, but the ears were somewhat pointed, and the skin was very pale.

    Lu Yao had no time to ponder the oddity and quickly instructed his sisters, "The other side must have injected something like a stimnt. Be careful!"

    The two women nodded, indicating they understood.

    Liao Ya said in a low voice, "It''s not strange for the Hailong Gang to conspire with the Haoran Martial Arts Hall and the Opium Company, bringing in foreigners to help."

    After saying so, she gave a resentful re across the room.

    The needle-using foreigner was keenly aware and felt the girl''s murderous gaze, turning his head to look back.

    When the blue-eyed blond foreigner saw the sisters, he radiated intense malice, as if a gourmet had seen a delicious meal! His pupils turned blood-red in an instant, and two fangs grew out!

    Lu Yao eximed in surprise, "WTF!? A vampire!?"

    "In Western Countries, Demonic Humans coexist, and that''s how it is. You should have seen plenty overseas, shouldn''t you?"

    As Liao Ya spoke, she cast an odd nce at Lu Yao, then held back further words. In truth, having spent time together, the sisters had already noticed some strange aspects about their junior brother.

    Lu Yao stiffened momentarily. He did not want to deceive the two women, but exining his origins wasplicated. Fortunately, at this moment, the restaurant''s clock struck twelve, signaling the time had arrived!

    ording to the hierarchy,petitors would take the stage from high to low realms, so Liao Ya picked up the Great Lance and stepped onto the tform!

    ~~~~~~~

    It was not often that martial masters engaged in life-and-death duels, so the watching crowd couldn''t help but cheer and shout.

    The girl stood tall and graceful, holding thence in one hand, diagonally pointed towards the ground.

    Her opponent, wielding the Butterfly Twin des, was Gu Li. Seeing his opponent''s Great Lance, he felt confident: Sure enough, this woman''s kung fu is meant for battlefield killing, and I can counter it!

    The injected drug had already taken effect, and Gu Li felt he had inexhaustible energy! Heunched the first attack, moving around Liao Ya in a leisurely yet rapid manner, as if he were wearing roller shoes.

    Liao Ya remained still as a bronze bell, indifferent to her opponent''s circling.

    By now, the arena was filled with the dizzying figures of Gu Li, too fast for ordinary people to track his movements.

    With the Butterfly Twin des hidden behind him, Gu Li provocatively said, "Master Liao, this time I''ve prepared a generous gift for the Liao Family Fist. The martial artist your sister is about to fight has failed at Organ Refining, but they can still exert the strength of the Organ Refining Realm for a few breaths. It will be no problem to kill that delicate little girl~"

    Liao Ya''s bright almond-shaped eyes were as calm as ancient wells, her fairplexion showing no sign of change.

    Gu Li continued to circle, looking for openings, as he added, "As for your junior brother, I''ve arranged for a fighter from the opium den. Although he''s of a lower realm, he''s taken plenty of lives and will surely take good care of him~"

    Upon hearing these words, Liao Ya''s eyebrows, slender as willow leaves, twitched imperceptibly.

    A gleam shed in Gu Li''s eyes as he instantly grasped his opponent''s weakness. His speed increased exponentially, vanishing from the retinas of ordinary spectacles, leaving most spectators aimlessly searching.

    A voice murmured, "Such fast movements! The Liao Family girl is in danger!"

    Gu Li turned into a shadow, swooping behind Liao Ya, his face showing pleasure, for with her long weapon advantage lost at close range, she was already halfway to defeat.

 Chapter 31: Deathmatch 2

    Seeing that he had entered his optimal fighting range, Gu Li no longer hesitated and went all out in an instant!

    Visible bulging veins popped out on his neck and face, while his body looked as if small snakes were crawling over it, which was quite eerie.

    The drug greatly enhanced Gu Li''s explosive power. His legs suddenly thickened substantially, cracking the green bricks beneath his feet as if he were a cannonball hurtling towards his opponent.

    Amidst the shrill howling, the Butterfly Twin des stabbed straight towards the delicate and lustrous neck of the young girl!

    And just at that moment, the Great Lance in Liao Ya''s hands suddenly quivered!

    The body of thence vibrated violently, with the tip thirsting for blood, turning the entire Great Lance into a ck Dragon unwilling to be tamed!

    The next second, a pair of fair and delicate hands tightly gripped and subdued it!

    Liao Ya mobilized her internal organs, exhaling loudly as a thunderous rumble came from her mouth and nose, thrusting her spear straight forward!

    The force was so powerful that it shattered the green bricks, with a speed so swift that even Lu Yao, in his meditative state, could only barely catch a glimpse of a red tassel¡ªthis was from the rotating head of the spear!

    A glint of cold light arrived first¡ªthen the spear lunged forward like a dragon! The two figures crossed paths, the visible aura scattering and shattering into a strong wind that blew towards the spectators, who hastily covered their hats with their hands.

    As the dust settled, everyone saw¡ª

    Liao Ya''s shoulder was torn open, with only a small hole in her clothes but no damage to the flesh; there were also a few strands of hair sheared off by the de, fluttering in the wind.

    But Gu Li... everything above his jaw had vanished!

    His body, propelled by momentum, took three steps forward, then dropped to the ground like a piece of wood.

    Half a head tumbled countless times in the air beforending on the tform, then bounced a few times and rolled to the feet of the guests, eliciting bursts of gasps. The open eyes of Gu Li¡ªwho died with resentment¡ªwere faintly visible.

    "Good!!"

    "Bravo!!"

    Thunderous apuse and shouts of praise erupted, as the audience finally realized the oue had been decided, eximing:

    "One spear thrust sheared off half a head, so fast! So ruthless!"

    "Is this Organ Refining? It almost looks like marrow cleaning! How could Yunzhou have such a person!?"

    "Mr. Liao''s daughter, a true heir to the family legacy!"

    Over by the main seat on the east side of the Four Seas Tower.

    Sun Haoran''s expression was indifferent as he tightly grasped the arms of his Taishi Chair, watching as the tavern staff carried away Gu Li''s body.

    Beside him, Duan Pei clicked his tongue in wonder, "The spear thrust struck afterunching but before lightning, truly spectacr! Sun Haoran~, to have a martial master die in such a public ce, it''s quite embarrassing for your martial hall, isn''t it?"

    Sun Haoran nced coldly at the man and said, "Duan Pei, I hear your son has returned from studying in the Imperial City, and I am quite curious to meet such a talent."

    The tant threat involving family members immediately darkened Duan Pei''s face, and the atmosphere between the two was not good.

    "Enough already. We''re both too old for this; don''t make othersugh at our expense."

    These words came from the third witness, who had been silent until now¡ªMaster Pang.

    He was an elder in his sixties, with long white whiskers, wearing a silk jacket, emanating a peaceful demeanor, more like a wealthy gentleman than a master.

    Master Pang slowly said, "This move is called ''Sombre Dragon sping Grief,'' the Liao Family must have some connection with the Xiao Family from the capital."

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya returned, and Lu Yao gave her a thumbs-up in continued admiration, "Sister~, you were amazing!"

    The beautiful girl''s one-strike kill was a delightful sight~

    Liao Ya smiled gracefully, then raised her hands to touch her sister''s soft and tender face, "Give it your best, be careful!"

    "I know, don''t worry, sister," Liao Qe rubbed her sister''s hand, advancing towards the tform.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Both contestants ascended the tform at the same time.

    Liao Qi assumed a stance, squatting slightly, her entire figure like a taut, drawn bow.

    Her opponent''s sallow face had an abnormal flush, and his lifeless eyes bulged with excitement, as if he were in some kind of exhrated state.

    He also bellowed with a lolling tongue, "You daughter of a bitch from the Liao Family! Your father destroyed a hundred thousand catties of opium back in the day, a hundred thousand catties! He caused all the opium dens across the country to close for three days, what a bloody beast! Beast!"

    As soon as his words ended, his chest puffed up, a muffled sound came from his mouth and nose, and he transformed into an out-of-control car charging at Liao Qi!

    An observer eximed in surprise, "This is a martial master who has failed Organ Refining! He can temporarily burst forth with the power of the Organ Refining Realm!"

    The opponent suddenly erupted, but Liao Qi showed no fear, raising her long, toned leg and delivering an upward whip kick on the spot!

    With a "bang," her kick, full of bone-prating strength, was much more formidable than the sallow-faced man''s, who certainly didn''t want his head kicked to pieces, hurriedly raised his hand to block.

    But with a "crack," the grating sound of his arm snapping off was heard¡ªit had been directly kicked to pieces!

    Having disabled one hand of her enemy, Liao Qi showed no mercy as she followed up with a fiercebination of punches to his chest, sending him flying sideways.

    Although the man was at the "half-step Organ Refining" level, Liao Qi, with the opulent methods provided by Lu Yao,pletely overpowered him in physical fitness!

    Her fluid movements earned rounds of apuse:

    "Excellent kung fu! This girl has a solid foundation; it''s obvious she has been training hard since a young age!"

    "Her punches and kicks are forceful and heavy, her bones as hard as iron. She easily broke her opponent''s bones. This youngdy must have eaten a lot of good stuff."

    After theirmentary, everyone thought the match had ended. Liao Qi also turned her head to look at her sister, celebrating the victory.

    Just then, the sallow-faced man who had fallen rose to his feet, ignoring the severe pain of his broken arm, and charged madly at the girl who had turned her back to him!

    Liao Qi was somewhat surprised; she hadn''t expected this man to still be able to move after such serious injuries.

    None of the onlookers were ordinary people, and those with broad knowledge immediately exined to those around them, "This man has numbed his body with drugs; he no longer feels anything."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The sallow-faced man looked at Liao Qi with eyes full of resentment.

    Depressed by his failure in Organ Refining, he tried Worry-Free Smoke on a friend''s strong rmendation but never expected to be hopelessly addicted and plummet into a downward spiral.

    Ever since, he harbored a particr hatred for these talented young individuals.

    His chest swelled up again as he forcibly stimted his Organ Refining energy, blood seeping from his mouth and nose. Leveraging the burst of power, he lunged forward, attacking Liao Qi like a mad dog with hands and teeth, all while screaming, "The heavens are unjust! They made me this monstrous mess! I loathe it!"

    Without the sensation of pain and recklessly fearless, he indeed was troublesome to deal with, but, unfortunately, the difference in strength was too great.

    Liao Qi remainedpletely unflustered, her arms drawing circles outward to block all his attacks while using her elbows to strike back¡ª

    Her elbow struck his chest, and with a fluid motion, she brought her palms together like a de to smash his throat, the movement bearing a resemnce to Wing Chun.

    Having suffered a fatal blow, the sallow-faced man let out a choking sound. But regardless of himself, he still attempted to attack Liao Qi.

    Liao Qi leapt up fiercely, her knees like tworge iron hammers, ruthlessly pounding the man''s chest!

    Amid the ear-piercing sound of breaking bones, the sallow-faced man''s chest cavity shattered as he was sent flying backward, his eyes quickly dimming, falling like a lump of flesh outside the ring.

    In hisst moments, the resentment in his eyes seemed almost tangible. He violently opened his mouth and sprayed a stream of filthy blood towards Liao Qi, fanning out toward her.

    This vile bloody mist reeked, disgusting and repulsive, the result of years of opium umting in his lungs. Contact with it would mean a dual assault of chemical and psychological impact.

    The girl, who prized cleanliness, dared not let a single drop touch her and dodged far away with a graceful Carp Stance.

    The sallow-faced man died on the spot with an expression of madness and resentment, unable to ept his fate.

 Chapter 32: Battle of Life and Death 3

    Another crisp and decisive victory, the audience apuded fervently, cheering enthusiastically.

    However, for Sun Haoran, these cheers sounded harsh to his ears, and he became enraged, suddenly standing up:

    "A bunch of trash!!! How could you not even defeat a little girl!"

    Losing the first round didn''t matter; there were still two more to go. As long as they got their hands on the Liao Family Fist, losing a martial master was a small price to pay.

    But losing two rounds in a row meant certain defeat, a crushing one at that!

    Looking at the ted trio from Liao Family Fist, his face momentarily turned an angry shade of blue¡ªfrustration and unwillingness etched into his features¡ª

    [Absolutely cannot let it end like this, I must have them bleed!]

    [Moreover, the corpses of Blood-Exchange Realm powerhouses have various incredible uses; I cannot let them have it too easily!]

    ~~~~~~~~

    Down below, Liao Qe had already returned, and Lu Yao approached her with praise: "Heroine, what excellent skills! That scoundrel had no chance to fight back; in the end, he couldn''t even spit on you~"

    The girl giggled joyfully, her body trembling like a flower in the breeze.

    Lu Yao looked around: "Two out of three rounds are won, can we collect our prize now?"

    Normally there would be no need to continue fighting, but there were exceptions. Some martial arts halls, after losing two rounds straight, would still fight the third for the sake of their reputation, desperate to kill an opponent, if only to save face.

    The audience looked towards the main seat in the east, where Sun Haoran spoke up: "As written in the life-and-death agreement, prepare for the third match."

    The voice wasn''t loud, but everyone in the tavern heard it clearly.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Upon hearing Sun Haoran say "prepare for the third match," the Liao Family Sisters grew furious.

    The other party was dead set on killing someone!

    Liao Qe was worriedly frantic: "Sister, what do we do? Lu Yao has just started his Muscle Training..."

    Liao Ya remainedposed: "If it''s written on the life-and-death agreement, we must fight. If we don''t, they will have an excuse to deny the oue. Don''t panic, I have faith in our junior brother!"

    Lu Yao stretched his limbs, saying calmly: "I too am very confident. Sun Haoran insists on fighting, right? Watch me win this duel, three to zero. I''ll shave his head clean, and let this bastardly grandson understand the meaning of reaping what you sow!"

    In the martial artsmunity, being shaved bald, especially in front of a crowd, meant a devastating blow to one''s dignity, subjecting one to ridicule.

    The Haoran Martial Arts Hall dared to bully the sisters, and Lu Yao had been holding back his anger, determined to make the other side lose facepletely.

    Liao Ya ced her hands on her junior brother''s shoulders, instructing: "Do not underestimate him, be extra careful!"

    The girl was slender and delicate. As they looked each other in the eye, Lu Yao saw his reflection in herrge eyes and nodded earnestly.

    At that moment, a waiter from the tavern came over to remind them: "The time is almost upon us. Please, Young Master Lu, ascend the stage."

    Lu Yao looked back with a smile: "I know, thank you."

    The young waiter seemed to be treated with politeness for the first time and was momentarily stunned, then said: "The other side has chosen a weapon, it would be best if you selected one as well."

    "Good thing I came prepared~" Lu Yao cheerfully produced a kitchen knife from his bosom.

    Because it was used daily, the kitchen knife was exceptionally sharp, though its appearance was... decidedly unimpressive.

    The sisters eximed, pointing at the kitchen knife: "When did you bring that thing!"

    Lu Yao brandished the kitchen knife, creating a formidable breeze. "Don''t worry~ This thing is extremely useful!"

    After speaking, amid the conflicted gazes of the two women, Lu Yao confidently walked onto the stage with the kitchen knife.

    ~~~~~~~

    For thest low-realm martial artspetition, the spectators showed little interest. The moment Lu Yao entered the arena, a wave ofughter broke out¡ª

    "A kitchen knife? What is this sickly kid trying to do?"

    "This guy''s breathing and posture clearly show he has never practiced martial arts. Is he looking for death?"

    "Interesting, let''s just watch and see."

    The opponent was already on stage, waiting. He was a burly giant, 1.9 meters tall and weighing over 200 jin (100kg). His bald head was marked with several scars, tattoos peeked out from his neck, and his cruel eyes held a hint of rascality. He was clearly an old hoodlum.

    He specialized in debt collection in opium dens and was best at pushing people to ruin. Though only in the Muscle Training Realm, he had a record of killing martial artists in the Bone Tempering Realm in brawls!

    He held a traditional Chinese ear spoon-shaped knife,ughing heartily, "You brought a kitchen knife to offer me a massage?"

    Lu Yao instantly entered a state of psychic focus, gesturing with the kitchen knife, "Come at me."

    Lao Shen approached with the knife at ease, and despite his appearance, he was quite cautious due to his rich fighting experience.

    His eyes targeted Lu Yao''s ribs and kidneys, ready to strike with his knife¡ªhis most familiar attack method.

    Seeing that Lu Yao remained still, Lao Shen didn''t hesitate to lunge with his knife aimed straight for the heart.

    Lu Yao suddenly stepped to the side, letting his opponent''s attack barely miss him as it grazed his clothes. At the same time, he shed with his kitchen knife, cutting a gash into Lao Shen''s wrist, and blood gushed out.

    Lao Shen roared, the injury igniting his ferocity, and he lunged again, stabbing down with his knife!

    Lu Yao''s five senses, firmly locked on his opponent, captured his every move. Again, he narrowly dodged the attack and counter-sliced with his kitchen knife, disfiguring Lao Shen''s face with a three-inch-long cut.

    If he hadn''t dodged quickly, he would have lost an eye, not just scarred a face.

    Lu Yao flipped the kitchen knife in his hand, finding it even more handy and suited to his fighting style than he had anticipated. He didn''t need much force, just needed to use the opponent''s momentum.

    By now, many had started to realize what was happening¡ª

    "This sickly kid has entered a spirit-refining focus. It''s just like ying with monkeys."

    "After focusing, the sharpness of his senses is beyondparison. He can easily grasp the opponent''s movements, indeed like toying with a monkey."

    The Liao Family Sisters, who had been holding hands in tension, now wore broad smiles as they saw Lu Yao gaining the upper hand.

    Liao Ya couldn''t help but remark, "Our junior brother has surpassed me in Spirit Refinement. His state of focus is deeper than mine."

    Liao Qe''s big eyes never left Lu Yao, filled with admiration.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lao Shen was covered in his own blood. It was clear that the sickly kid had no experience inbat, just hacking and shing wildly, but he couldn''t overpower him, and a few more strikes would guarantee his doom!

    "Damn it! I''m going to kill you, you sick freak!"

    Lao Shen immediately resorted to his special skill¡ªhe charged forward and made a stabbing attempt! As Lu Yao dodged, Lao Shen raised his arm towards him.

    A three-inch-long arrow shot out from his wrist with a "swoosh." The man actually had a sleeve arrow bound to his arm!

    Lu Yao, in a focused state, clearly saw his opponent''s moves and even the heavy metal arrow being shot. He immediately dodged to the side, avoiding the arrow.

    But unexpectedly, Lao Shen raised his arm again, firing a second arrow while sneering, "Surprised, aren''t you? I''ve got two!"

    Lu Yao''s posture was old-fashioned, and he couldn''t dodge it in time. Fortunately, his state of focus greatly assisted in battle.

    Holding the kitchen knife sideways in front of him, there was a loud "ng" as the arrow ricocheted off the de!

    Lao Shen was astonished at the sight¡ªhe couldn''t believe the sickly kid dodged two sleeve arrows within ten steps! These weapons wereparable to a crossbow, and Lu Yao wasn''t even in the Muscle Training Realm. How did he do it!?

    "That''s it? Why didn''t you bring more?" Lu Yao examined his opponent with the kitchen knife, looking for where to strike next.

 Chapter 33: 33. Fight to the Death (Complete)

    Lu Yao slowly approached his seemingly exhausted opponent, ready to deliver a finishing blow and secure a perfect three-to-zero victory.

    But Lao Shen refused to yield without a fight. His face hardened as he pulled out an old-fashioned ss syringe from his bosom, filled with a green liquid.

    This thing was meant for Organ Refining Martial Artists, and it would have severe side effects if he used it, but he was past caring at this point!

    He fiercely jabbed it into his chest and pressed down. His veins bulged all over his body as if tiny snakes were crawling underneath his skin, a sight quite chilling to behold.

    After throwing the ss syringe to the ground where it shattered into pieces, Lao Shen bellowed in a hoarse voice, "You little bastard! You''re dead meat now!"

    His already broad physique bulged out further, bing even more imposing. His eyes bloodshot, he surged forward with a speed more than double what it had been and stabbed with his knife.

    Lu Yao narrowly dodged the attack, cursing inwardly: The effect of this stimnt is too damn strong.

    Lao Shen, seizing the momentum, roared and spun the ox horn knife like an electric fan, while Lu Yao hopped desperately to avoid the shes.

    The shorings of his physical condition wereid bare, and after a series of intense moves, he was out of stamina and got shed across the shoulder, blood gushing forth.

    ~~~~~~~

    Finally feeling his opponent''s flesh under his de, Lao Shen got excited, howling with even more frenzy as he attacked, drooling from the mouth.

    Lu Yao exerted his mind to stabilize his spirit and dismiss any distractions, trying not to let the intense pain in his shoulder disrupt his state of focus.

    [I have to try to adapt to my opponent''s increased speed, and then counterattack!]

    He was utterly unconcerned with his own life or death. He didn''t fear dying, since his body, ravaged by terminal cancer, was undergoing horrific changes, virtually indistinguishable from a corpse. Facing his own body every day had led him eventually to see through the nature of life and death.

    With a heart undisturbed by life or death, Lu Yao was solely focused on winning now! His life had been pretty unlucky, but the best thing that had happened to him was meeting these two sisters¡ªgentle, kind, lovely, and adorable.

    If Haoran Martial Arts Hall dared to bully them, he would definitely win the duel, a three-to-zero victory, and shave Sun Haoran''s head clean as retribution for his own actions, depriving him of all his dignity!

    After avoiding another round of attacks, Lu Yao had gradually adjusted to his opponent''s speed. Seizing the chance, he rolled on the ground to dodge an assault while simultaneously delivering a ruthless chop to his opponent''s foot.

    Lao Shen, devoid of any sense of pain, only cursed furiously: "You little fucker, I''ll tear you to shreds!" As his words trailed off, he lunged again!

    Lu Yao easily sidestepped and was back to the previous routine¡ª

    The two seemed to have an unspoken agreement, one attacking and the other dodging. In no time, Lao Shen was covered with cuts and could do nothing but scream in agony and curse.

    At that moment, the sisters'' delicate voices called out simultaneously: "Lu Yao/Junior Brother~e on~"

    Lu Yao''s spirit soared, filled with a fierce desire to win. Fully entering his focused state, he charged at his opponent, aiming to finish him off with one strike!

    By this time, Lao Shen was panting heavily, covered in blood, with his eyes rolling back and emitting bestial howls as he charged forward. But it was as if he were moving in slow motion, which was quite eerie.

    Lu Yao was suddenly startled¡ªwhy had his opponent suddenly slowed down? No, is it that I''m in a deeper state of focus?! That shouldn''t be possible, my condition isn''t good, and I''m injured...

    Even the spectators around him were in slow motion, their whispering and tea sipping all slowed down... Lu Yao''s mind was in disarray.

    Suddenly, a secret to maintainingposure taught by Liao Ya shed through his mind¡ªUnperturbed at heart, unencumbered by emotions; fearing neither the future nor dwelling on the past.

    Lu Yao had an epiphany, a fortunate insight: I understand now! The original me was merely unafraid of life and death, with a mind free of distractions, which allowed only the most superficial level of focus;

    But being focused is not just about having no distractions¡ªit''s more about having unwavering belief, obtaining an indomitable spirit! At this moment, my conviction is¡ªvictory!

    Invisibly, it was as though something had shattered. Lu Yao felt his body instantly bing dozens of pounds lighter.

    By this time, Lao Shen had already charged over, the ox horn knife slowly stabbing towards the chest. But it moved so slowly, like a falling dry leaf, seemingly afraid that Lu Yao wouldn''t be able to dodge it.

    Lu Yao activated the recently learned Carp Stance, allowing the ox horn knife to brush past the tip of his nose.

    The dodge was incredibly easy, and he could clearly observe the knife piercing a droplet of sweat as if captured by a high-speed camera.

    Then, Lu Yao, holding a kitchen knife, sliced from Lao Shen''s elbow to his shoulder, gouging out a deep, bone-deep gash!

    He hadn''t exerted much strength; it was entirely using the opponent''s own momentum.

    Blood surged out in great amounts, instantly staining Lao Shen''s entire arm red, dribbling down his clothes ceaselessly and forming a small stream on the ground.

    Such an amount of blood loss wouldn''t necessarily be salvageable even in an ICU. Lao Shen screamed loudly and actually turned to flee.

    Lu Yao used the Carp Stance again, his spine powered his entire body forward in a lunge, the kitchen knife sweeping across his opponent''s throat!

    Blood gushed forth, and Lao Shen could only desperately cover the wound with his hand, staggering out a few steps before copsing to the ground, motionless.

    An enemy that should have taken a slow and grueling effort to kill was now ughtered as easily as a chicken. Lu Yao finally entered the "Calm Steadiness" realm!

    ~~~~~~~~

    The Carp Stance had only been recently learned; to use it in actualbat usually required years of hard practice, but now Lu Yao picked it up without any difort, which was precisely the effect of "Calm Steadiness" or "Complete Entry into Steadiness."

    At times, the human body does not obey its owner, such as twitching one eyebrow or moving the ears - some people are born able to do it, others are forever incapable.

    After achieving "Calm Steadiness," Lu Yao could control all parts of his body at will, doing anything he wanted! It''s said¡ª "The body moves as one desires," and this was truly the case!

    He didn''t need to practice to be able to eat with chopsticks using his feet, or to use his feet to wipe himself with paper after using the toilet!

    ~~~~~~~

    The onlookers eximed continuously:

    "What''s going on with this sickly boy? How did he suddenly gain the skills of decades overnight?"

    "What was Sun Haoran thinking, insisting on this final match? It''s simply humiliating."

    Liao Qe jumped up happily; while Liao Ya was shocked¡ªher junior brother had achieved "Calm Steadiness" before her! He had only been practicing Spirit Refinement for how many days!

    In the main seat to the east of the restaurant, Sun Haoran suddenly stood up, hisposure gone, his facepletely darkened with anger and disbelief in in his eyes.

    Not having defeated the Liao sisters was one thing - they came from a reputable family and were closely rted to a Blood-Exchange Realm Martial Artist - but¡­ why couldn''t he even defeat a sickly boy!? Losing all three rounds!!! He had made a fool of himself for nothing,pletely losing all his prestige!!!

    At this moment, the looks directed at Sun Haoran had changed. The Haoran Martial Arts Hall had suffered a great embarrassment.

    The disparity between the two martial arts schools was stark¡ªthe Liao Family Fist had a total of only 3 people, while Haoran Martial Arts Hall had 3 martial masters just sitting in residence; having their heads shaved bare was truly an inexcusable defeat.

    Next to him, Duan Pei was grinning from ear to ear, visibly ted.

    And the elderly Master Pang spoke in a hoarse, indistinct voice, "Master Sun, be patient and calm, haste makes waste. Don''t disgrace the face of the Yunzhou Martial Faction."

    Sun Haoran sat back down, his face paler than the corpse of Lao Shen.

 Chapter 34: 34. Challenge

    Lu Yao returned to his seat, and a soft, warm fragrance filled his arms.

    "You are so amazing! Have you stabilized it yet?"

    Liao Qe''s pretty face was flushed with excitement, and she hugged him tightly, refusing to let go. Reliable at a crucial moment, the girl had fallen deeply in love with Lu Yao.

    "Mm-hmm, I was lucky to have a breakthrough."

    Lu Yao caressed the body in his arms, which waspact and well-proportioned; a wave of joy filled his heart.

    He hadn''t been useless; instead, he yed a key role. He helped the sisters win back their father''s remains, and he had also managed to breakthrough in his Spirit Refinement that had been at a standstill for so long. It was a double celebration¡ªthe ordeal was worth it~

    Liao Ya looked at him with eyes full of admiration and took out some golden sore medicine to remind him, "Lu Yao is hurt; you should tend to your wounds first."

    Only then did Liao Qe remember that her beloved had been injured; she hurriedly bandaged him up.

    Lu Yao''s wounds were not too severe and were quickly taken care of. He waved his cleaver with vigor and said, "Let''s go, im the Master''s remains!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    At the main seats to the east of Four Seas Tower.

    Duan Pei personally handed over the deed to the Liao Family''s martial arts school, the school opening permit, and most importantly the sandalwood box to Liao Ya, saying warmly, "Master Liao was young and talented; indeed, a fortune for our Yunzhou Martial Faction."

    Lu Yao noticed that the age of high-level martial artists was rather hard to determine. This man was of average height with a rectangr face; at first nce, he looked to be in his forties, but his vibrant vigor and good maintenance made him appear like a man in his twenties.

    Duan Pei put on an appearance of caring for talent, "You all are outstanding individuals; you are wee toe and exchange knowledge at our Thunderp Martial Arts Hall."

    Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was an attempt to win them over.

    "You tter me," said Liao Ya, whose demeanor was perfect for such grand asions. With her elegance andposed manner, she easily attracted the attention of the entire room.

    At that moment, Master Pang, who had been inconspicuous until now, tapped his cane and said,

    "Liao Family''s eldest daughter, I may be a few years older, having already taught three Organ Refining and two Marrow-Cleansing disciples. You are young with exceptional talent, but without proper guidance, I fear you won''t go far. If you are interested, you maye to Pang''s Martial Arts School for a chat."

    He was clearly hinting at taking her as a disciple, and Liao Ya responded with a fist salute, "I am honored by Master Pang''s high regard."

    Duan Pei felt ufortable inside. He was doing well with his recruitment, and then this old man suddenly came out of nowhere to steal the spotlight! He hadn''t seen him offer any protection when Sun Haoran was ying tricks earlier, and now he shows up!

    ~~~~~~~

    By this time, Lu Yao and Liao Qe had already opened the box and checked its contents; inside was only an arm¡ªnothing else remained!?

    Liao Ya shouted angrily, "Sun Haoran, where are my father''s other remains!"

    Faced with the usation, the elegant gentleman who looked like a teacher curled his lips upwards, held his teacup leisurely, and replied,

    "Let Master Liao know that the body of a martial artist who has reached Blood-Exchange Mastery is quite precious, often handling it can aid in breaking through barriers. But there''s no need to keep the entire body; just cutting off a part will do. As for the other parts... they must have been well hidden by someone. Of course, it''s also possible that they were sold to the English for dissection."

    The clean cut on the arm in the box was an obvious sign it had been severed. Looking at Sun Haoran''s expression and tone, the whereabouts of the father''s other remains had to be rted to him!

    The sisters, flushed with indignation, were furious. Liao Ya, in her extreme anger, took a deep breath¡ªso long that it took nearly a minute to inhale and exhalepletely.

    A sound like distant thunder arose from within her. Then, her chest suddenly quivered, causing the air around her to ripple as if agitated by water.

    Lu Yao remembered that in "Animal World," crocodiles used a simr method to vibrate the water to show off their strength and court mates. But that was nothingpared to the shock of Liao Ya at that moment; the air around her seemed to boil!

    Liao Ya''s eyes grew brighter, and the next second, she suddenly exhaled a breath that stayed together like an arrow!

    Seeing this, someone in disbelief said, "Master Liao... is breaking through!?"

    Duan Pei''s face was full of surprise as he muttered, "Breath as sharp as an arrow... resonance of the six organs!"

    Master Pang, who had been calm throughout, stood up leaning on his cane, his face showing shock, "This girl... has she been refining organs for even a year!? Consecutive breakthroughs!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    After breaking through, Liao Ya''s momentum surged even more, like a sharp de splitting the sky, as if she wanted to cleave the entire Four Seas Tower in two!

    Looking at Sun Haoran again, she could only think of him as a cowardly scoundrel, despicable and shameless, only capable of using dirty tricks!

    She was already talented herself, and with her junior brother''s strong support, even hiding a thousand taels of silver under the bed, there was no need to feel afraid!

    Liao Ya raised her hand, pointing at Sun Haoran, and shouted loudly as her words hit the ground, "Sun Haoran, you''ve been coveting our Liao Family''s boxing school, so I''ll give you one more chance¡ªin one month, you and I will have another martial artspetition here. Do you dare ept?"

    Do you dare ept

    Dare ept

    ept

    ept

    ...

    Thest few words seemed to explode out of thin air, a thunderp shaking everyone to the core, with dust falling from the beams of the wine house.

    Liao Ya achieved a breakthrough in public, then with the immense momentum of her breakthrough, she issued a challenge!

    No sooner had she spoken than a wave of astonishment swept through the crowd, "This woman wants to challenge from Organ Refining to Marrow-Cleaning!?"

    "Challenging across a major realm, does she no longer want to live?"

    With such a vast gap between their realms, like a cat and a mouse, it was utterly impossible for her to win.

    Lu Yao also found it strange, his senior sister wasn''t a reckless person. He would have to ask her about it after a while.

    Everyone''s gaze returned to Sun Haoran to see how he would respond.

    Sun Haoran set down his teacup calmly, his eyebrows rising, his previously gentle demeanor turning fierce; he looked just like a wanted criminal in a poster.

    "Little girl, you actually dare use me as a whetstone!? You want to force yourself, to put pressure on yourself to achieve Marrow-Cleaning within a month!"

    Liao Ya remained coldly silent, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt.

    "Ha...hahaha" Sun Haoran began tough as if he had heard some joke, hisughter echoing within the Four Seas Tower, causing many teacups to tremble.

    "The idea is not bad, but sadly, it''s courting death. I ept the challenge. I''ll see you in one month."

    Having said this, he left with his hands behind his back.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Seeing this, Duan Pei chimed in to curry favor,

    "Master Liao, you''re being rash. This man was looking for an opportunity to deal with you again, and yet you directly challenge him. Aren''t you giving him a perfect opportunity? The document for life and death hasn''t even been signed; do you want me to decline it for you?"

    Liao Ya bowed with her hands sped and said, "The enmity of my father''s murder cannot share the sky, not to mention this man holds myte father''s body. I must fight him!"

    "Ah, you this..." Duan Pei shook his head, deeply feeling regret and iprehension.

    "We need to recover after a great battle; I shall take my leave." Not wanting to waste more time with pleasantries, Liao Ya bowed to the crowd and left with Lu Yao and Liao Qe.

    Along the way, many people approached them to strike up a conversation or to ingratiate themselves.

    Others watched with cold eyes, among them were Sun Haoran''s supporters and even more who did not hold Liao Ya in high regard.

    "The Liao Family girl is too arrogant, does she really think that Sun Haoran rose from being a son of a courtesan to his current status solely by his own vast natural aura?"

    "Half of the opium dens in Yunzhou are under Sun Haoran''s protection; this man''s reach is heavenly, not something the small Liao Family can contend with."

    "I reckon that the Liao Family won''tst till the day of the fight."

 Chapter 35: Touch your belly a few times.

    Back to the martial arts school, they enshrined the severed arm in the main hall and performed a grand ritual to pay homage.

    Liao Ya wore a sorrowful expression, herrge eyes misty, "Dad knew he might not return when he left that year, but he still went..."

    Liao Qe interlocked her fingers with her father''s, fully recalling the sound and smile of her dear rtive, especially the warmth of hisrge hand, which immediately brought tears to her eyes like pearls slipping from a broken string.

    Lu Yao sighed. Without offering constion, he too had known the pain of losing a loved one and understood that expressing these emotions was better than bottling them up inside.

    ~~~~~~~

    After a while, the two girls recovered and wiped away their tears.

    The three of them gathered in the courtyard to discuss their ns.

    Liao Ya, with her gentle voice, softly said, "Junior Brother, I know you must think I''m acting rashly by challenging Sun Haoran directly."

    Lu Yao shook his head, "Not at all, Senior Sister, you are both beautiful and intelligent, not someone who acts recklessly. There must be a reason."

    Hearing him say this, Liao Ya felt both shy andforted.

    "Sun Haoran will certainly not ept defeat, and who knows what despicable schemes he still has up his sleeve; moreover, he has many followers and is even colluding with the Hailong Gang. We are weak and few byparison. It''s better to go straight to the arena and kill him, once and for all!"

    Lu Yao stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before agreeing, "Indeed. A direct execution is the best solution, not giving the enemy the chance to act. But are you confident you can win?"

    "My original approach was simply to snatch a life out of death, the chances of victory were not high. But with your help, Junior Brother, I am confident that I can kill this foe in a month!"

    Liao Ya looked towards where the silver was hidden, full of confidence:

    "I''ve already figured out a way to rapidly enhance my strength with the silver¡ªa way to use ambergris! It can improve blood cirction and boost vital energy; it also calms the mind, allowing one to enter a ''forgetful'' state in a short period. We can all use it!"

    It seemed the sisters had a special fondness for resources that "everyone can use," always choosing such things.

    Lu Yao had no objections, "Whatever you decide, Senior Sister, is fine. Don''t worry about the silver; I have plenty."

    Liao Ya chuckled, "There''s no need; a thousand taels of silver are enough. Normally, ambergris is incredibly expensive, rumored to cost three maces of fragrance per tael of silver. I wouldn''t have dared to consider it..."

    Liao Ya paused suddenly, then with both hands sped in a fist, she bowed deeply to Lu Yao, her pretty face full of sincerity:

    "Junior Brother, I really can''t thank you enough! Not just for the silver, but if you hadn''t risked your life in the arena, we would have lost the martial arts school and Dad''s remains. Thank you!"

    Lu Yao promptly helped her up, shaking his head, "Why are you giving thanks again? We are fellow disciples, a family. It''s only right we help each other~"

    But he couldn''t raise Liao Ya to her feet; the girl insisted onpleting her bow.

    "Junior Brother, you had already cleared the so-called debt of saving your life. Now it is us sisters who owe you a great deal. I really don''t know how to repay you. I have only one sister who is quite presentable and has a good character..."

    Before she could finish, Liao Qe began to blush, "Sister, what are you saying~" as she grasped her sister''s hand, her big eyes stealing nces at Lu Yao.

    Liao Ya smiled, "What, you don''t want to?"

    "I do, I do want to!" Liao Qe promptly dered, fearing her sister might retract the offer. Having gone through so much together, she hadpletely set her heart on Lu Yao, determined to marry no other.

    Liao Ya then said to Lu Yao, "Junior Brother, if I fall in battle a month from now, you two should leave Yunzhou and flee far away... take good care of her, will you?"

    [It was indeed an intention to entrust her care. After all, it''s a battle against a veteran of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, and none could guarantee a 100% chance of victory.]

    Lu Yao understood her intentions and promised earnestly, "I''ll treat her as even more important than myself."

    At that, Liao Ya immediately rxed, visibly more at ease.

    Liao Qe threw herself into her sister''s arms, muffling her voice, "Sister, I want to stay with you forever, and not go anywhere!"

    "Are you silly? I, who have dedicated myself to the Martial Path, am destined to a solitary life, while you are meant to marry and carry on the family line."

    "No, I just want to be with you~"

    Liao Ya wrapped her sister in her arms. They clung to each other tightly, their sisterly affection deep and the moment warm.

    But it wasn''t long before Liao Qe couldn''t stand it, suffocated by the overly ample bosom, she promptly wriggled free to gasp for air.

    Lu Yao nearlyughed aloud, maintaining a serious face, he said, "Don''t worry about the sparring, once I''m healed, I''ll return home for a few things, and I will make sure to kill that son of a bitch Sun Haoran."

    ~~~~~~~

    With an injury on his shoulder, Liao Qe became his personal caregiver.

    These days, Lu Yao turned into the true "Young Master Lu," with food brought to his mouth and clothes handed to him, and every day there was a charming girl by his side, life couldn''t be any better!

    At the moment, the two of them sat side by side in the courtyard, with Liao Qe helping him clip his nails.

    Lu Yao fiddled with the girl''s smooth and lovely braids, inquiring, "You''re with me all day, don''t you practice martial arts anymore? Actually, my injury is healed, you shouldn''t dy your cultivation."

    As he finished speaking, he moved his shoulder to indicate he was fine. The wound medicines from Otherworld weren''t exactly scientific either¡ªthe scabs formed on the third day.

    "Sister told me to stabilize my realm for two days before preparing for Organ Refining. Starting tomorrow, I won''t be able to stay with you, so I want to spend more time with you now."

    The girl said, squatting down to also trim his toenails.

    The more Lu Yao looked at Liao Qe, the more he liked her, and he couldn''t resist wrapping his arm around her waist to have her sit next to him, "You know~ your sister has offered you to me~"

    "As if~ Keep dreaming~" Liao Qe teased, coquettishly using her braid as a weapon, tickling Lu Yao''s neck.

    Fully appreciating the beauty of the girl''s waist, Lu Yao couldn''t help but exim in admiration, "You''re so smooth."

    His hand could easily cover the girl''s small waist; it was white and supple with an excellent touch, and she even had defined abs.

    Her hands kept working, but Liao Qe''s body first stiffened, then softened, until shepletely copsed onto him.

    "A few touches on the belly shouldn''t affect you this much, should they?" Lu Yao looked down to see her cheeks were flushed, her eyes misty.

    Turns out, martial artists have robust bodies and abundant vitality, with desires far stronger than the average person. A maiden in the bloom of youth could hardly bear a lover''s caress, and now she was thoroughly confused and smitten.

    Just as Lu Yao''s hand began to move up, Liao Qe grabbed it.

    Her gaze bing clear again, she chided with faux anger, "I can be with you, but you must show respect, and not dishonor me~"

    Feigning frustration, Lu Yao said, "It''s really hard for me to hold back."

    Liao Qe shyly brought her head closer, whispering, "Don''t rush, my body will be yours sooner orter. But sister said¡ª''Marrow-Cleansing'' must be achieved before consummation, otherwise one''s mind gets filled with distractions, adding many difficulties."

    Lu Yao teased her, "Then don''t waste time, go on with your cultivation~ Try to reach the ''Marrow-Cleansing Realm'' today~"

    Liao Qe giggled and yfully pounded him with her small fists.

    At that moment, Liao Ya, who had been in the quiet room stabilizing her realm, came out.

    She exhaled a breath arrow, which flew nearly 10 meters before disappearing, satisfied, she nodded her head and then dered, "Enough rest, let''s continue training!"

 Chapter 36: 36. Purchase Ambergris

    In the early stages of Sinew-Strengthening, stretching muscles was asmon as having a meal every day.

    Once again Lu Yao was held down and contorted into strange shapes, but this time it didn''t hurt.

    Not only had he adapted, but the increased body control after entering meditation also yed a role.

    Liao Ya nodded with satisfaction and then said, "Being able to stretch like this is barely passable, you can now begin to practice the ''Cultivation Method.'' Liao Qe, demonstrate a set of Liao Family Fist for Lu Yao to see."

    Liao Qe took off her jacket, leaving only her close-fitting clothes, and instructed Lu Yao, "Besides the punches and kicks, you should also pay attention to the movements of my spine."

    As soon as she finished speaking, she started performing the fist form.

    Lu Yao had watched Master Liao perform this set during his apprenticeship, but he was only a spectator at the time. Now in a state of constant calm, he could see the intricacies involved.

    The movements of the fist form wereplex, and even with Liao Qe''s expertise, it took almost 20 minutes toplete the entire set. Moreover, the exercise was quite draining, and despite her excellent physical condition, she was drenched in sweat by the end.

    This was the "Cultivation Method" of Liao Family Fist, the core of their style. It wasn''t intended forbat but mainly for conditioning the body. This single fist form could train all the bones and muscles in the body.

    An ordinary person would need three to five years just to get the hang of it, and Liao Qe had been practicing since she was six.

    Lu Yao just watched her go through it once, then he took his turn. His first attempt was 90% urate, and by the second time, he looked like someone who had been practicing for two to three years.

    Liao Qe was a bit displeased, "How can this be! Why are you learning it so fast!"

    Liao Ya was quite envious,

    "This is the benefit of fully entering meditation. The powers of observation and body control are incredibly strong, which makes learning Kung Fu very fast. Many people think Spirit Refinement isborious and not very useful, but in reality, it greatly aids the Martial Path. The ancients always said¡ª''Sharpening the axe will not dy the work of cutting firewood,'' and that''s exactly the case."

    After pondering for a while, the girl turned to her sister and said,

    "Liao Qe, I suddenly think you should postpone Organ Refining and focus on entering meditation first! Having consumed so many tonics, it''s inevitable that your foundation isn''t stable, but with the enhanced senses thate with meditation, precise and detailed, you can avoid this issue."

    "Right! Meditation first!" Lu Yaopletely agreed with this view, winking and making faces at Liao Qe. Once she entered meditation, she could do the things she loved.

    Liao Qe''s face turned red, but she didn''t bother with him.

    Looking at the sky, Liao Ya said, "You stay and cultivate in the quiet room. I''m going to buy some ambergris. With its help, you will surely seed in entering meditation."

    Liao Qe''s pretty face soured; cultivating Spirit Refinement was the most boring part. But she was a sensible girl, knowing that some things have to be done, she obediently went inside to cultivate.

    Liao Ya said to Lu Yao, "Let''s go to the Prefectural Yamen. We''ll buy the ambergris from the government."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Taking the silver with them as they left the house, Liao Ya wasn''t one for small talk, and they walked without speaking.

    The idea of using ambergris was Liao Ya''s own, but it seemed from her demeanor that even with this substance, victory was not guaranteed.

    Lu Yao began to ponder¡ªwhat other tricks could he bring from Blue Star that would give him an edge? Lost in thought, he unintentionally fell half a step behind.

    Suddenly startled, he thought, "Sister''s figure is just too extravagant! Below a waist as slender as A4 paper, there suddenly emerges such a substantial backside, yet without appearing the slightest bit bloated."

    Immediately, he fully activated his state of constant calm, slowing down his surroundings to better appreciate the view.

    He also had to avoid Liao Ya''s perceptive gaze, so as not to intrude indecorously.

    Lu Yao inwardly sighed, "Such a fine waist and long legs, perfect proportions! And she sways unconsciously when walking, making for a visually gratifying effect!"

    "This swaying seems to be a bodily habit formed from practicing Carp Stance, Liao Qe does the same when she walks. What a fine Kung Fu technique indeed."

    At the same time, Lu Yao realized¡ªhe could use this method to train the Spirit Refining Technique.

    While activating the Spirit Refinement Technique to observe his opponent without alerting them, this was the epitome of pressure training!

    ~~~~~~~

    Pressure training was highly energy-consuming, and just as Lu Yao felt dizzy, he arrived at an estate protected by two gigantic stone lions, with four gilded characters on the que over the gate¡ªYunzhou Prefectural Yamen.

    While the exterior was quaint and ssical with double eaves and a hip-and-gable roof, the interior was modernized. It featured electric lights and telegraphs, and Lu Yao even spotted a hand-cranked telephone.

    "The technological level of the Otherworld isn''t as low as I imagined..."

    Liao Ya ced the Great Lance in the weapon rack at the entrance, passed through several security checks, and led Lu Yao to a department called "Armed Forces Authority."

    Lu Yao remembered that this was the institution for the Imperial Court to manage local martial artists.

    The staff were quite bureaucratic, and the two stood at the entrance for quite a while before a ninth-grade official dressed in a green government robe came to greet them.

    His expression was nearly cold, with a touch of haughtiness, "So it''s Master Liao, may I know the purpose of your visit?"

    "Official Dong, I''m here to exchange for some ambergris," said Liao Ya.

    "Ambergris!?" Official Dong pulled out a thick book to check, furrowing his brow and said, "Master Liao, you haven''t established any notable achievements and can only exchange with silver, and the price is not low. The least for one stick of incense is ten taels of silver."

    He was well aware of the factions in Yunzhou. The Liao Family Fist had opened their school no more than a year ago, and with only three people, they didn''t seem like a grand sect that could afford ten taels of silver.

    Liao Ya stood tall with her chest out, proudly saying, "I want to exchange for ten sticks." As she spoke, she took out a cloth bag filled with silver, shaking it to produce a crisp, pleasant jingle.

    "Ten sticks!?" Official Dong''s face changed! Such an expensive item¡ªnormal people usually only buy one stick for critical moments to breakthrough. This was the first time someone wanted ten.

    Official Dong gave Liao Ya a deep look, quickly changing his demeanor to one of respect and said, "Please wait a moment, I will return shortly. Someone, bring tea, bring the good tea!"

    Immediately, servants led the two to the reception room, serving up tea and pastries with sincere deference.

    Compared to the martial artists who exchanged merits for resources, the staff at the government office preferred someone like Liao Ya who paid with solid silver.

    ~~~~~~~

    "Ambergris can induce a state of ''forgetfulness'' in a short time, an incredibly mystical state. Currently, very few powers can produce it, and though it''s expensive at the government office, it''s reliable," exined Liao Ya to Lu Yao as they waited.

    They hadn''t chatted much before Official Dong came hurrying back with a small chest.

    Upon opening the chest, there was a bnce scale and an exquisitely crafted jade box.

    "Master Liao, please~"

    Official Dong handed the jade box with both hands, allowing Liao Ya to examine it.

    Inside the box were ten rosewood tubes, containing the sought-after ambergris. The scent made one feel lightheaded and almost otherworldly just by smelling it.

    Liao Ya handed over one hundred taels of silver, which Official Dong pinched off a piece of directly, showing that he was a cultivator himself.

    He then carefully weighed the silver to ensure uracy. After confirming everything, he locked the silver in the chest with a satisfied smile on his face.

    The servants were also visibly happy, as solid silver made it convenient for their superiors to engage in under-the-table dealings, and by running errands they could get a share.

    Curious, Lu Yao asked one of them, "Young brother, can one purchase ambergris with copper coins?"

    The young servant looked at him oddly, as a matter of course replying, "Of course not, we only ept solid silver. It''s the same for other items; copper coins are not epted at all."

    Lu Yao was momentarily speechless. Weren''t copper coins the official currency?

 Chapter 37: 37. Rush to go into seclusion

    ```

    The transactionplete, the Prefect personally saw Liao Ya and herpanion out of the Government Office, "Master Liao, there''s no need for courtesy in the future. Just ask for whatever you need."

    This man was arrogant before and respectful after. For some reason, Liao Ya suddenly felt that spending moneyvishly was quite exhrating.

    After leaving, Lu Yao curiously picked up the piece of ambergris to examine it. This was considered one of the top cultivation resources in the Otherworld.

    Yet his powerful bodily control allowed him to instantly realize something was wrong with the weight. Puzzled, he said, "Sister, each of these fragrances should weigh one ''liang'', so why do I only feel 9 ''qian''? A tenth is missing."

    Liao Ya was not at all surprised, "That''s just how the Imperial Court''s stuff is, the missing tenth has simply floated away."

    "Ah~?"

    "Younger brother, you''ll get used to dealing with the Imperial Court after a while. They have always been like this. At least it''s safer than buying from the market."

    "Well, that''s alright, since we''re not short on silver anyway."

    Such observations couldn''t help but make Lu Yao feel a sense of contempt towards the Imperial Court.

    Just then, while he was in the Focused Spirit state, he sensed a dangerous gaze upon him.

    Turning his head, he saw a military soldier in a tight uniform scanning the area from a high point on a building rooftop.

    The soldier was carrying an old-fashioned sniper rifle, with arge and strange-looking scope attached; beside him was a heavy machine gun with its stand, the exposed cartridges glistening coldly, very much like a "Maxim".

    Lu Yao''s expression became stern¡ªthere were heavy machine guns!

    Liao Ya also saw and remarked nonchntly, "Those are the Prefectural Governor''s elite troops."

    Lu Yao asked, "Sister, if it were you, could you block firearms like these?"

    Liao Ya thought for a moment, "Within 10 steps I''m not afraid, the gunman wouldn''t have the chance to shoot; beyond that, I would survive three shots."

    Lu Yao nodded. The Otherworld was not a ce of peace, so he nned to buy a gun for self-defense, using Liao Ya as a reference.

    Liao Ya nced at him and said indifferently, "Younger brother, military weaponry is strictly regted, and it''s all imported. At best, you could only buy a handgun. Its power is very limited, and certain martial artists with formidable external skills can even ignore them."

    "Ha, sister, you saw right through me, I did indeed want to get a gun for self-defense."

    "You have exceptional talent, just don''t be too reliant on external tools, it might affect your future,"

    "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Returning to the martial arts school, they released Liao Qe who had been cooped up for the better part of the day, and the three prepared to "incense themselves."

    Liao Qe was restless, her twin braids particrly disheveled¡ªit was obvious she had been fiddling with her hair out of boredom, finding the Spirit Refinement lonely and unengaging.

    Liao Ya pinched her younger sister''s cheek in mild reproach, "You, you just can''t sit still and train, can you?"

    "I just can''t stay put..." Liao Qe said pitifully. She was naturally lively and restless, and practicing Focused Spirit was as unbearable to her as if she were being killed.

    "Forget it, you''re in luck this time. We have ambergris, which is a divine item for breaking through stages in cultivation. If not for Lu Yao, using it now would indeed be a waste."

    Liao Ya shut the doors and windows of the quiet room tightly and ced a stick of incense in the burner.

    "Ambergris can temporarily put people into a ''sit-and-forget'' state; I will exin this step of cultivation to you. It will be just the right time to experience it when the incense takes effect."

    Liao Ya cleared her throat and began to exin in detail¡ª

    "Younger brother, even though you have an exceptional talent and have quickly passed the first two stages of Spirit Refining¡ªFocused Spirit and Entry Into Trance¡ªbeware of pride andcency! Be aware that these two stages are not such a big deal. Even ordinary people can achieve them if they work hard enough and spend a lot of time, but inevitably they can manage it."

    ```

    But the step of ''Sitting and Forgetting'' that followed was different! This step requires extremely high talent andprehension. The vast majority of people can never reach the realm of ''Sitting and Forgetting'' throughout their lives, including many Great Martial Masters who have undergone Blood-Exchange."

    Upon hearing this, Lu Yao immediately tensed up.

    Liao Ya knocked on her junior brother for a bit, then continued to say, "Forgetting the physical form, abandoning sight and sound, freeing oneself from the shackles of body and mind, and merging with the heaven and earth as one, that is called Sitting and Forgetting.

    Once you reach this step, no one can teach you anything anymore, it''s all up to your ownprehension. Next, I am going to light the ambergris. Immediately enter your best Spirit Refining State, try your hardest to absorb the fragrance, and thoroughly experience it!"

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe quickly straightened their robes and sat upright, while Liao Ya lit the incense and also got into position, preparing to face the onught of the fragrance.

    ~~~~~~~

    The faint blue smoke filled the room, the fragrance pervasive.

    The aroma was spiritual, sweet, and refreshing, with hints of flora and a subtle sweetness hidden within.

    Gradually, the smoke condensed without dispersing, transforming into long dragons that coiled around the people.

    Lu Yao felt a sense of fullness in his lower abdomen and then streams of warmth circting around his body, instantly making his mouth dry and his tongue thirsty. This was the effect of the ambergris in promoting qi and blood cirction.

    At the same time, the subtle, soft fragrance became more soothing andfortable, bringing with it the refined scent of sandalwood.

    Lu Yao entered a wondrous state, as if he was in a vivid dream after falling into deep sleep.

    He was clearly unconscious, yet his perception of everything around him was incredibly detailed, to the point where he could even see the faint fuzz on the back of Liao Qe''s neck.

    This feeling was like switching from first-person to third-person perspective, where one could freely zoom in and out of the scene.

    Unfortunately, this fantastic statested for less than a minute before it ended.

    When Lu Yao opened his eyes, he found the incense had burned out, and unexpectedly, half an hour had passed! He had thought it was only a matter of seconds!

    "This incense is powerful! With a few more times, sooner orter, I''ll be able to chase this feeling and enter the realm of Sitting and Forgetting!"

    "To leave behind form and knowledge, indeed it is wondrous!" Liao Ya also opened her eyes in admiration, "These twenty pieces of silver were well spent! It''s a pity we can''t use it too often, as ambergris has a strong addictive quality. We can only use it once a week."

    On hearing this, Liao Qe was shocked, "What! Ten pieces? This stick of incense is so expensive! Ten pieces of silver just burned away in half an hour!?"

    Her focus was on the silver, she had never imagined that one stick would cost ten pieces of silver! That''s the equivalent of two to three years of pure profit for their family''s martial arts gym!

    Liao Ya looked at her, "It''s definitely worth it. Both your junior brother and I have gained a lot. How about you? Are you confident in entering meditation now?"

    Liao Qe''s pretty face soured as she hesitated to say, "No... I just feel... like I had a nap..."

    Upon hearing this, Liao Ya nearly fainted with irritation, suppressing the urge to smack her sister, her eyes quickly calcting as she came up with a motivational tactic:

    "If you can''t reach a state of meditation, don''t even think about seeing Lu Yao again. I am going to lock you in the room for the next few days, in total istion!"

    "No, please~~" Liao Qe wailed. Being confined was like being imprisoned, and it would mean not seeing Lu Yao for several days.

    The young girl now rushed to Lu Yao''s room every morning, wishing they could stick together every day.

    Sometimes a nce, a smile, was enough to make her happy for a long time.

    Liao Qe did not want to go days without seeing her beloved. Yet when she looked up and saw her sister''s stern gaze, she resigned herself to obediently following instructions.

    Lu Yao also took her hand and quietly said, "I hope even more than Sister that you quickly reach a state of meditation. You''ve got to work hard~ Don''t make me wait anxiously~"

    Liao Qe, of course, knew what Lu Yao was anxious for and blushed as she nodded.

 Chapter 38: 38. Portable Color Ultrasound Device

    In the courtyard of the martial arts school,

    Lu Yao was practicing boxing under Liao Ya''s supervision. Agile as a vigorous macaque, he leapt here and there, throwing punches and kicks, and before long, he hadpleted a set.

    His progress was extremely noticeable; yesterday, when he finished, he was so exhausted that he could barely stand, but today, he was just a bit out of breath.

    While practicing boxing, Lu Yao also did not forget to train under "pressure," asionally stealing nces at his senior sister''s majestic high-rise buildings.

    Liao Ya seemed oblivious, admiringlymenting from the side,

    "Not bad, with the blessing of Spirit Refinement, you''ve indeed made rapid progress. You have achieved a small sess in Sinew-Strengthening. I understand now why all the masters like disciples with talent; teaching them is truly worry-free!"

    She was very satisfied with her junior brother''s cultivation progress. She only needed to give him a few casual pointers, and he would quicklyprehend and improve. Teaching such a disciple gave her a great sense of achievement.

    The physical fitness of someone in the Muscle Training Realm isparable to that of a professional gymnast. With the characteristic "move at will" of Muscle Training Realm, Lu Yao achieved sess without much effort.

    Of course, the instruction from this young girl before him also yed a significant role.

    Lu Yao asked with concern, "Senior sister, you''ve been focusing solely on the two of ustely, what about your own cultivation?"

    Liao Yaughed, "I''m already cultivating, in fact, all the time. The Marrow-Cleansing Realm doesn''t require seclusion; for this realm, as long as one has sufficient resources, strong internal energy and blood, and the internal energy can carry the blood to cleanse and refine the marrow, that''s enough."

    Lu Yao replied, "I see, but will you have enough time? The martial artspetition is in less than a month."

    Liao Ya said, "I''m confident. The only difficulty lies in the precise mastery of ''cleansing and refining the marrow''. This step requires a strong control over the blood and Inner Breath, and that''s the focus of my recent training."

    An idea struck Lu Yao, and he quickly asked, "Senior sister, what exactly do you mean by blood and Inner Breath?"

    That''s the benefit of having a teacher; you can ask whenever you don''t understand something.

    Liao Ya exined, "Blood is the essence of the human body, derived from the nutrients we take from food and tonics; Inner Breath is the purification of blood and is dependent on it, only avable to those in the Organ Refining Realm."

    Lu Yao hurriedly said, "If... I brought a machine that allowed you to see the internal organs working, would that help your training?"

    "Seeing the internal organs in operation!? That''s a wondrous ability unique to the Spirit Embryo Breathing Realm; of course, it would be extremely useful!"

    Liao Ya became excited, "Junior brother, is what you just said true? Is there really such a machine?"

    Lu Yao nodded vigorously, "Yes, I can bring it back if I make a trip home!"

    "Then go quickly!" Liao Ya urged, breathing hastily, her wless nostrils ring, and she subconsciously grabbed Lu Yao''s arm, almost ready to throw him over the wall.

    "Senior sister~ I''m off. Wait for the good news."

    With that, Lu Yao hurried off.

    Liao Ya let out a long breath. She wanted to probe into where exactly her junior brother''s so-called home was... but after thinking of the uing martial artspetition, she decided not to ask.

    Her junior brother was undeniably sincere towards both her and her sister, without a trace of ill intent. Everyone has secrets; why should she try to y the viin unnecessarily?

    Moreover, they would soon be a real family. Barring any idents, Lu Yao was about to be the "brother-inw" of the Liao Family, upon whom the family''s legacy would rely.

    Unfortunately, Liao Ya did not know that her junior brother was not only thinking about her every day but had also made a grand vow to take her as his wife through a proper and public marriage~

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao left the martial arts school and arrived at the medicinal herb shop.

    He had nearly bought out the shop''s stock of Cordyceps, so this time he purchased a piece of "Natural Bezoar."

    In Blue Star, this stuff was as valuable as gold. Just imagine, something the size of a chicken egg could sell for hundreds of thousands; how tempting that must be~

    The old Lu Yao was very fragile, not daring to carry such conspicuous items home. But now, things were different.

    With the strength of Sinew-Strengthening along with the major aplishment of entering a state of calm, he could deal with five armed thugs without a problem, plus the good public order in Xia Country, so he could sell the item outright and without fear.

    ~~~~~~~

    After returning to Blue Star, Lu Yao contacted his exclusive "herb supplier" Li Lei for the first time.

    [I got a piece of natural bezoar, you interested?]

    [Natural bezoar? Ah, yes, yes, yes!!! Are you at home? I''lle over right now]

    [Come on. Bring a "portable color ultrasound device" when youe over]

    [Alright, I''ll be there in ten minutes!]

    Lu Yao hung up the phone, very satisfied with the other party''s efficiency.

    At the 9-minute mark, Li Lei ran up the stairs, panting. "Huff... Huff... Where is it? Let me see!"

    Lu Yao casually threw over something the size of an egg, which Li Lei caught with rm, not even caring to curse, and quickly took out a "handheld microscope" to carefully examine it.

    This palm-sized microscope could magnify objects 300 times and was specially used to identify antiques, medicinal materials, and the like.

    Li Lei examined it for a long time, then sniffed and licked it. The unique fragrance of the bezoar filled her mouth and nose; finally, she scraped her fingernail across the bezoar, instantly staining her nail yellow, and it wouldn''te clean no matter how much she rubbed.

    By now, the overly cautious President Li was one hundred percent sure the bezoar in front of her was the real deal, as well as its quality - [Top grade, market price above 500,000!]

    Li Lei cleared her throat, reining in her excitement, ready to start a tough business negotiation.

    But seeing Lu Yao''s calm expression, and remembering his words¡ª he only cared about efficiency!

    Li Lei put aside her thoughts and directly made an offer: "I''ll give you 300,000."

    Lu Yao nodded in agreement: "Transfer the money."

    Buying bezoar in the Otherworld had only cost him 500, and a profit of 600 times was enough; there was no need to be too greedy.

    Soon, Lu Yao received a notification of [300,000 yuan credited to your ount].

    Li Lei had already be quite ustomed to this business model, transferring the money without changing her expression, then she packed up the bezoar.

    "Oh yeah, the thing you wanted."

    She handed over a box, inside of which was the "portable color ultrasound device", its appearance being that of a tabletputer with an added "probe".

    Its function was very simple, generally purchased by small hospitals or pet clinics to use, even many livestock breeders were using it to give physical check-ups to their own animals.

    Therefore, the advantages of a "portable color ultrasound device" were quite obvious - it was very easy to operate, and no specialized training was necessary.

    Li Lei said generously: "It can run for 10 hours on a full charge, consider it a gift from me~"

    Lu Yao didn''t stand on ceremony, this girl had made quite a bit of money from him after all.

    He then pointed at her "handheld microscope" and said: "Give me this too, looks like fun."

    Li Lei handed it over too: "No problem, Mr. Lu, feel free to ask for anything!"

    At this moment, as her excitement over receiving the rare natural bezoar had somewhat subsided, Li Lei noticed Lu Yao''splexion, and the microscope in her hand almost fell to the ground.

    [What''s going on! Rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed, robust physique... he looks even better than when I saw himst time! It''s like he even practiced martial arts!!!??? How is this possible! He''s supposed to be in the advanced stages of cancer!]

    Li Lei came from a family famous for traditional Chinese medicine. Knowledge passed down through generations, "inspection, listening and smelling, inquiring, and palpating" were skills she had been practicing since she was young, and she was confident she would not misjudge, especially after having watched someone for such a long time and confirming repeatedly.

    Lu Yao reminded her: "Well, that concludes our transaction for this time."

    "Ah... you go ahead with your things, I''m leaving." Li Lei came back to her senses, reluctantly stood up, and left.

    She actually wanted to talk more, to get to know this bright-eyed, charismatic handsome man better.

    But Lu Yao always maintained an air of cold detachment, keeping others at arm''s length.

 Chapter 39: 39. Help you check your body

    Liao Ya paced back and forth in the boxing gym, eagerly anticipating the miraculous things her junior brother had mentioned.

    Lu Yao, carrying things, returned to the gym and showed a sincere smile when he saw his senior sister.

    "I''m back, let''s see if this thing is useful!"

    Liao Ya was full of anticipation and quickly followed him inside. "What should we do?"

    Lu Yao took out the "Portable Ultrasound Scanner": "This device can see inside the human body, let me demonstrate."

    When Lu Yao was sick, he had undergone many ultrasound scans and, over time, he had learned how to read them.

    But from "long illness bes a good doctor" to being an actual doctor was a stretch; he was an amateur and wouldn''t know how to use professional equipment, so this "simplified version" was just right.

    He applied "Coupling Agent" to his stomach, then ced the probe on it, and images immediately appeared on the tablet.

    He then exined: "That''s how it works. This machine can detect the insides of a person, roughly checking the flow of blood and changes in tissues and organs."

    The clever Liao Ya quickly grasped how to use it, excitedly reached out with both hands to grasp Lu Yao''s shoulders, and shouted:

    "Junior brother~ this is ''Inner Vision''! Only the greats capable of ''Spirit Refinement'' ''Fetal Breath'' can achieve this! With it, cultivation will be more than twice as effective! There will be no more bottlenecks or challenges in martial arts, this is truly a divine object!"

    The girl held the probe gingerly, trembling all over. "Junior brother, quickly scan me! I want to know if I''m practicing correctly right now!"

    "No problem, but you''ll have to take off your clothes. Or do you want to do it yourself?" Lu Yao pretended to be embarrassed, but in fact, he was full of anticipation.

    Liao Ya''s face flushed, but it was brief; she then lifted her chin, puffed out her chest, and said firmly:

    "I''m not familiar with this device. We are fellow disciples and soon to be inws. Little hindrances shouldn''t be a concern, let''s go!"

    That said, she stood up and boldly began to remove her top.

    Lu Yao looked at the curves about to burst forth and his expression froze, his mouth agape with thirst.

    Just by looking, he could sense their proud stance and amazing sticity!

    Liao Ya pretended nothing was amiss, but her face, red to the base of her neck, betrayed her.

    "Then... I''ll begin."

    "Yes, start with my viscera!"

    He applied the "Coupling Agent" to the girl''s body. Her skin was like porcin, soft, smooth, and wless.

    With each stroke of his fingers, a shy blush quickly spread. When he smeared it over her slender waist, Liao Ya trembled violently, and when he reached the side of her ribs, she jerked suddenly, lifting her arm as if to hit someone, but quickly realized and forcibly stopped herself.

    Good times are always fleeting, and even with Lu Yao fully concentrated, there inevitably came a time when the smearing was over. He could only wistfully savor the delightful touch lingering on his fingertips.

    In truth, he was already being quite gentlemanly; otherwise, he could have taken advantage of Liao Ya''s ignorance and had her strippletely for a full-body application.

    At that moment, the girl, enduring her shyness and blushing from head to toe, looked incredibly cute. "Junior brother, please check for me quickly."

    Lu Yao hurriedly ced the probe on Liao Ya''s fair and taut body, and images promptly appeared on the tablet.

    Finally, he shared his knowledge without holding back. Each time Liao Ya pulsed her viscera, switched inner breath levels, and circted her qi and blood, the instrument clearly disyed it all, leaving no part of her body''s changes hidden.

    Setting aside her shyness, Liao Ya learned quickly. The two of them studied the body together with the help of the tablet, inside and out.

    Initially, she clutched at her chest tightly, but as she became absorbed in the ocean of knowledge, she forgot to cover up, affording Lu Yao a feast for his eyes.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Before they knew it, the body examination wasplete, and Liao Yapsed into deep thought.

    This miraculous item from Blue Star, which could gather information on blood movement, tissue movement, and imaging of the human organs, had shocked and inspired her greatly!

    It made him look at his cultivation from an entirely new perspective.

    It took Liao Ya a while to snap back to reality. She mmed the table and eximed, "So that''s it! The secrets of marrow cleansing hold no surprises for me now!"

    A massive wave of blinding whiteness surged towards him, startling Lu Yao into holding his breath and, in the process, forgetting to shield his vision and awareness.

    Liao Ya instantly realized where her junior brother''s gaze was and that she had forgotten to clothe herself!

    She bounced up three feet high and darted three meters away, slipping into her coat in the blink of an eye.

    Her face flushed to the base of her neck, she tried to appearposed and said, "Thank you for helping me with the body check, I''ve gained a lot. I am going into closed-door cultivation now."

    "Don''t mention it~ That''s what I should do. You go ahead with your cultivation, sister. I''ll be leaving now. I''ll leave this here so you can check it whenever."

    Lu Yao bowed and hurriedly left.

    Once he was gone, Liao Ya''s embarrassment overwhelmed her, and sheforted herself, "We''re all family, fellow disciples, it''s no big deal."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao deeply understood why it wasmon for fellow disciples to be couples; martial training often involves physical contact, and with time, sparks could easily fly.

    With the two beautiful girls in closed-door cultivation, he was left to stretch his muscles alone and throw a lonesome punch.

    Practicing solo was rather dull, but the clear progress was uplifting. The Liao Family Fist became smoother, his strength increased, and soon he was able to go through the motions twice in session.

    Moreover, his movements and stances grew more aesthetically pleasing with a hint of sharpness. This was a sign that his Kung Fu was truly reaching deep within, manifesting an aura that radiated from inside out.

    "With the aid of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup and the Spirit Refining Method, I''m improving rapidly, bing stronger every day."

    Lu Yao reveled in the feeling of his long-missed robust body, overjoyed.

    For years he had been frail, unable to take a few decent steps, let alone throw punches like he could now!

    The physical exertion from practicing the Liao Family Fist was like simultaneously boxing and ballet dancing, which even healthy individuals might not manage toplete.

    Lu Yao was exhrated, "Martial Path, it indeed hasn''t let me down! Maintaining this pace, reaching the Blood-Exchange Realm shouldn''t be hard!"

    He wiped off the sweat and started preparing the tonic. He had be so adept with the decoction machine that he could operate it with his eyes closed, and soon the tonic was ready.

    Initially, Lu Yao could only manage a small sip of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, but now he could drink a whole bowl.

    After finishing the tonic, he spaced out for a while.

    "Both sisters are in closed-door cultivation, I wonder how long they''ll be. I might as well go home and take care of some ''personal business''!"

    No sooner said than done, Lu Yao filled a thermal cup with the tonic to the brim, then opened the Dimensional Door and returned to Blue Star.

    ~~~~~~~~

    There were two things he needed to do on Blue Star this time¡ª

    One was to obtain firearms for self-defense. The Otherworld was too dangerous, with even vampires lurking around; who knew what else might appear, hence the need for a reliable way to protect oneself;

    Two was to start nning ahead for dealing with Zhang Xin! This bastard had poisoned him, leading to cancer, and he could not let that slide!

    But Zhang Xin was not easy to handle. After all¡ªhow many people could study abroad and end up as drug lords?

    Reality was indeed so fantastical.

    Zhang Xin was clever, ruthless, and had his own secret skill¡ªturning cold medicine worth just a few bucks into high-grade opium.

    He had built an extensive empire abroad, transforming from an ordinary student into a dominating figure, just like the male protagonist of a novel.

 Chapter 40: 40. Arrival

    He turned on the long-unusedputer, wiping away the thick dust umted on the keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

    Lu Yao looked at the familiar boot screen and reflected, "Has it been a year since Ist turned it on? Back then, I spent 8000 on a 3080, and many people called me foolish. The past is unbearable to look back on."

    He opened a browser and searched for "Zhang Xin." The man was anything but low profile; there was a plethora of rted news¡ª

    "Young Xia Country tycoon, phnthropist... Founder of the Xinwang Pharmaceutical Group."

    "Assets scattered all over the world, with hundreds of over-a-hundred-million-priced mansions, wineries, and inds alone."

    "Likes to visit Gambling City, splurging half a billion every trip. The various circles of Gambling City jointly gifted him a Rolls Royce..."

    "Guest of honor of politicians from multiple countries, has acquired citizenship in ''Inca'' Country. It seems this is Zhang Xin''s main base."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao was somewhat surprised to read these news articles; Zhang Xin had achieved such big things during the years he was ill! To think that he was originally just a rather clever young student.

    "I''m not strong enough now, it''s not yet time to confront him directly, but I can ''clip his wings''¡ªthis scoundrel has DP processing factories all over the world!"

    "When Zhang Xin came to me, he was trying to transport a huge amount of cold medicine to the southern border. He dares not open factories in Xia Country, so it''s very likely they are in those small countries to the south! I can start by checking out the nearest factory for information."

    Filtering through the news, he quickly found his target. "Got it¡ªA Chinese tycoon has invested 1.4 billion in starting a pharmaceuticalpany!"

    That news came from Annan Countryst year, and the main character was none other than the human-looking Zhang Xin.

    "Right, his processing factory must avoid the limelight, and he would definitely pick a country that is rtively chaotic but with convenient transportation. Annan Country fits the bill perfectly."

    Lu Yao immediately booked a ticket to Annan Country. Annan Country, often stricken by war, made it easy to acquire firearms; this trip was killing two birds with one stone.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Airport.

    Lu Yao unscrewed the thermos, took a sip of the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup inside... and felt nothing!

    He drank two more sips before feeling a warm current inside his body.

    "The medicinal effect is at most only a quarter! It seems the two worlds are only superficially simr, with huge differences invisibly. It makes sense, in the Otherworld there are those who reach the Indestructible Golden Body Realm, capable of physically withstanding cannonballs, while Blue Star is the Demon Extinguishing World."

    He sealed the bottle tightly, as he would stay on Blue Star for the next couple of days and needed to drink it daily.

    Lu Yao scrolled through information about "Xinwang Pharmaceutical" in Annan Country on his phone when suddenly an idea struck him:

    What if I set up my own pharmaceuticalpany, could I try to decrypt the secret of Otherworld''s supplements? Once I develop an extraction fluid, a single drop could rece eighteen bowls...

    [Dear passengers, please note that your flight CZ3069 is now boarding.]

    At that moment, the boarding announcement interrupted Lu Yao''s daydreams.

    He shook his head, ready to embark on his journey.

    "It''s not the time yet, I don''t have the power to keep the benefits safe... Better deal with the present matters first."

    ~~~~~~~

    The airne smoothly ascended into the sky, and it was now time to unbuckle the seatbelt.

    Lu Yao was lost in thought and did not unbuckle his.

    At this moment, he was trying the "sitting and forgetting" practice, but unfortunately, he was without a clue.

    "It''s not working. This ''forgetting the form and discarding the senses''... I just can''t grasp the concept; it''s too difficult."

    While Lu Yao was struggling, several women on the ne were surreptitiously sizing him up.

    A few young flight attendants whispered quietly:

    "Did you see? The one by the window. He looks so-so, but his presence is truly unique. That''s the kind of guy you marry~"

    "His eyes are so bright!"

    "The attractiveness of this man lies in his eyes, clear and spirited."

    With the refinement of the Spirit Refining Method, Lu Yao had a firm grasp on his demeanor, enchanting the girls on the ne so much they couldn''t resist. Many high-end females are afraid of this kind of invisible invasion.

    Soon, a flight attendant came over with an excuse and bent over to whisper, "Sir, you may unbuckle your seatbelt now."

    Lu Yao smiled warmly, "Okay, thank you."

    The flight attendant was almost floored by that smile, and several otherdies who had been sneaking nces were thoroughly bewitched, unable to tell north from south.

    At that moment, a crisp child''s voice said, "Big brother, here, have this~"

    A six or seven-year-old girl, white and cute, was offering arge apple. Children''s hearts are pure, and they naturally formed a good impression of Spirit Refining Experts like Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao spoke softly, "You eat it, I''m not hungry."

    The girl''s parents were also nearby, smiling kindly at Lu Yao.

    ~~~~~~~

    As technology advanced, travel became simpler, taking less than three hours to reach Annan.

    Lu Yao''s luggage was just a thermos, which was refreshingpared to therge and small bags of the crowd around him.

    The travel was spontaneous; he hadn''t prepared anything. But since his card was loaded, he could afford to be capricious~

    He declined contact information from a bunch of women of various ages who approached him, not just because their looks and figures were overshadowed by a pair of sisters.

    After settling down, his senses continued to strengthen, and Lu Yao always felt that these women had an unpleasant scent about them.

    On the contrary, the sisters had a particrlyfortable and pleasant scent, or rather, a body fragrance.

    This was the external manifestation of a person''s essence, energy, and spirit, which someone like Lu Yao, a Spirit Refiner, was especially sensitive to and could clearly perceive.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "It''s so hot. It must be at least 35 degrees here."

    Lu Yao, sportingrge sunsses, was indistinguishable from the tourists beside him.

    Right now, he was going through airport customs, and just outside was Xian City, a famous coastal city in Annan Country.

    The line was moving extremely slowly, and there was the sound of arguing up ahead.

    Several Annanese customs officers were shouting in Xianguage with a strange ent, "Red packets, red packets."

    Most passengers on this ne were from Xia Country, and soon some understood what the customs officers meant, pulling out money and handing it over.

    The customs officers took the money and immediately let them through.

    Lu Yao frowned, could this be such tant bribery?

    "Young man, being abroad is different from being at home. It''s faster if you slip some money in your passport," said the middle-aged man speaking, who was the father of the cute little girl on the ne. He wore a baseball cap and thick sses that were obviously very high in prescription.

    "If you don''t give money, they''ll keep you dyed and make you thest one through. It''s not much anyway, just put in twenty bucks."

    The man slipped a 20 yuan note into his passport, then took out another 20 yuan note and handed it to Lu Yao, "You look like you''ve traveled light, probably didn''t bring any cash, right? It''smon in the country, but mobile payments haven''t caught on here."

    "I came out in such a rush. How about I transfer it to you on my phone?" Lu Yao really didn''t have any change; he only had hundred-yuan bills, which would be a waste to use here.

    "We''re all from Xia Country, no need to be polite. It''s only right to help each other when we''re out and about, just use mine."

    Seeing that the man truly refused to take it, Lu Yao didn''t insist too much.

    The group chatted briefly and exchanged names.

    The man''s name was Li Jin, awork engineer for a Xia-fundedpany, his wife was Zhao Ya, and his daughter¡ªLi Yino.

 Chapter 41: 41. Underestimated oneself

    With the "red envelope," the speed of security checks greatly elerated.

    The sweltering weather made people irritable. The security officer tossed the passport over with a disgruntled air, muttering something in Annanese that was probably nothing pleasant.

    Li Jin picked up his passport, continuing to nag non-stop:

    "Some Annanese are unfriendly toward Xia Country people. You must be careful when you''re traveling, Lu Yao. Don''t get into conflicts with the locals, calling the police won''t help if anything happens; the police are even more corrupt. The good thing is Xia yuan is widely epted here, so you don''t need to exchange currency."

    In the course of their small talk, it became known that this person had been working in Annan Country for 2 years and was very familiar with the ce.

    Lu Yao responded from time to time, when suddenly, his brow furrowed. In a focused state, he sensed a gaze full of malice and greed!

    With all senses searching, he realized that the gaze came from a dark-skinned security officer¡ªwho wasn''t looking at Lu Yao, but¡ªat the little girl Li Yino!?

    ~~~~~~~

    After staying in Xia Country for a while, one could get the false impression that the world is full of peace.

    Lu Yao left the airport with the family without showing any reaction.

    Meeting a fellow countryman in a foreignnd, Li Jin was very enthusiastic: "Lu Yao, my car is in the airport''s parking lot, let me take you to the downtown area. It''ll save you from having to call a cab."

    "That would be great, thank you for your trouble."

    "It''s no problem; I''m heading that way anyway."

    Impressed by the distinguished air of Lu Yao, Li Jin''s family all got into the car and drove toward Xian City''s downtown area.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The street scenes in Annan Country resembled those in Xia Country from the nies, with recent years seeing imitation of neighboring countries'' openness, attracting many overseas investors.

    As the city grew closer, Lu Yao rxed. Although gang culture and chaotic public security were rampant in Annan Country, with extortion, shootings, and murders urring frequently, he thought such actions unlikely under the broad daylight.

    But the ways of the world are indeed unpredictable. When they reached a deserted street, a decrepit, unlicensed van forced Li Jin''s car to stop, and four short, thin but fierce-looking men jumped out.

    All armed with foot-long daggers, they wrenched open the car door, brandished their des at Lu Yao and the others, signaling them to get out.

    Thinking it was a robbery, Li Jin spoke in Star Alliance Language and his half-baked Annanese, indicating he would give them money and not to hurt anyone.

    But these men were not there to rob. One of them, with a ''kill matt'' hairstyle, snatched up the only 6-year-old Li Yino.

    Holding the little girl, his face filled with lechery, he took a few intoxicated sniffs and started walking toward the van.

    The little girl immediately burst into tears, and Li Jin and his wife''s faces changed color. Ignoring the sharp knives, they furiously rushed over, trying to rescue their daughter from the pervert''s clutches.

    The thugs snarled a few sentences in Annanese, with a fierce look shing across their faces, they didn''t hesitate to stab with their knives.

    At the critical moment, Lu Yao, who was well-prepared, stepped forward!

    In his focused state, the attacking action of the three thugs with knives seemed as slow as a video at 0.5x speed.

    Lu Yao deftly lifted their arms.

    The trio''s daggers instantly changed targets, stabbing each other as if they were involved in an internal fight.

    They struck with deadly force, and with a "thud," the des sank deep.

    The three thugs screamed out loud, spraying each other with blood, convulsing as they fell to the ground.

    ~~~~~~~

    All this happened too quickly. The Kill Matt who had been excitedly holding the little girl was caught off guard when he saw the dramatic turn of events with hispanions. His face turned ashen with fear.

    Instantly using the little girl as a shield, he yelled out in panic, "Don''te any closer, or I''ll..."

    Before he could finish, his vision blurred, and his windpipe was crushed by a palm strike, as he fell to the ground clutching his neck emitting a "hehe" noise.

    ```

    The whole process took less than 10 seconds, and Lu Yao had already brought the little girl back to her parents, who were standing there dumbfounded.

    The mother and daughter hugged each other and wept profusely, while Li Jin looked at Lu Yao in shock, "Brother, are... are you a special forces soldier?"

    "No, just some family martial arts skills."

    At this moment, his wife Zhao Ya ran over and berated Li Jin, "You bastard, going on about how great this ce is and tricking us mother and daughter intoing here, we almost lost our daughter!"

    Li Jin allowed his wife to hit and scold him, filled with fear, "Ah, I thought it wouldn''t be so bad in the city area; I truly didn''t expect..."

    Lu Yao reminded them, "You should leave quickly. These people have been targeting the little girl since the airport."

    Li Jin nodded, "Damn it, they are clearly here for people! I don''t want the job anymore, let''s go back to the airport now and catch the earliest flight home! Hurry up, let''s get in the car!"

    Li Jin had his wife and child get in the car, deciding to return to his country immediately.

    Zhao Ya, holding her daughter in the car, expressed her concern, "Should we call the police?"

    "Absolutely not!" Li Jin quickly stopped her, "These people dare to act like this in broad daylight; they must have backing, and it could even be collusion between the police and criminals. We won''t concern ourselves with anything, just go straight home!"

    He didn''t dare to take risks with his family''s lives and immediately made the safest decision. Then, he said to Lu Yao, "Brother, why don''t youe with us?"

    Lu Yaoughed, "I just got here and haven''t had any fun yet, don''t worry about me, you guys go ahead."

    "Alright, brother, you are capable; you definitely won''t be afraid. Then we''re leaving now!"

    Before leaving, Li Jin said earnestly, "I owe you big time for today. I cannot thank you enough; my cell phone number is also my WeChat. If you need anything, just say the word! I do know a bit about cybersecurity."

    ~~~~~~~

    After the family left, Lu Yao strolled leisurely, looking at his own hands in amazement.

    He had just knocked down four people in an instant, the whole process as rxed and effortless as swatting four mosquitoes.

    "I''m really strong. Ordinary people seem asughable as 3-year-old children in my eyes."

    Lu Yao''s mindset began to change. He originally nned just to cause some trouble for "Xin Wang Pharmaceuticals", gather information and evidence, and report them to the authorities.

    But the Annan government was so corrupt, Zhang Xin dared to operate here surely because he had greased palms at every level.

    Since his own strength far exceeded his expectations, it seemed unnecessary to be overly cautious.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, elsewhere...

    The four kidnappers yed by Lu Yaoy in the ICU.

    Three of the knife-wounded had their internal organs pierced, and after a token attempt at resuscitation, they were abandoned. Only the one with the shattered throat, the "Kill Matt", was left.

    A short, thin man with long hair, dressed in ck, was looking at the "Kill Matt" on the hospital bed, full of tubes, tears streaming down his face.

    "Who did this! Why would someone want to hurt my brother! My brother is such a good person, how could anyone bear toy hands on him!"

    A female voice interrupted his weeping, "Ruan Qiang, your brother suffered brain damage due to asphyxiation; he''s be vegetative with no hope of waking. s, if he liked little girls, he could have simply paid for it. Why did he have to seek thrills and kidnap someone from Xia Country?"

    The speaker was a woman in a dress suit, looking through a medical report.

    Ruan Qiang cried even harder, "It''s all my fault, my brother knew I liked goods from Xia Country, so he specially prepared this. Why is this kid so foolish, I just wanted you to stay alive!"

    The woman was somewhat speechless, seeing the deep affection between the deranged brothers. She paused before speaking,

    "The one who did this is a master; the four of them had no chance to resist, and there are no signs of a struggle at the scene."

    Ruan Qiang wiped his tears aggressively, "Manager Huang, can you find the one who did this! You definitely can, right! Please help me!"

    Manager Huang flicked her hair, "Although they chose a ce with no people and no surveince to attack, so there are no leads, I found the person who gave your brother the information. He bribed a security checker at the airport to provide information, specifically targeting little girls from Xia Country."

    ```

 Chapter 42: 42. Speed up progress

    Lu Yao walked around and discovered¡ªfirearms were not easy toe by.

    Although An''nan had long been afflicted by war and firearms were prevalent among civilians, there was no extent to which they were being sold brazenly by street vendors; as a foreigner, it was quite difficult for him to procure them.

    Fortunately, "Xinwang Pharmaceuticals" was easy to find, with the factory located close to Xian City Port.

    Lu Yao stood a hundred meters away, using a state of meditation that gave him a vision akin to that of a telescope to carefully observe the surroundings.

    The factory''s security was tight, surrounded by high walls and electrified fences, with only the main entrance avable for entry and exit.

    There were two rows of security guards at the gate, dressed in uniform gray short-sleeved shirts with "XW" printed on them, presumably representing "Xinwang Pharmaceuticals".

    And most crucially¡ªthey were armed! Gun holsters hung from their waists.

    Closer observation revealed that these individuals were nonchnt, their faces bearing an aura of malevolence, and tattoos peeking out from their cors and cuffs¡ªit was clear they were not thewful kind.

    Moreover, several heavy trucks entered the factory area, seemingly to transportrge quantities of goods.

    This was Zhang Xin''s factory; it was self-evident what they were moving.

    As much as Lu Yao wanted to do something, he wasn''t reckless enough to attack firearms with his bare hands, so he could only leave for the time being.

    ~~~~~~~~

    On the other hand, Ruan Qiang was stabbing an airport security official¡ªextorting bribes¡ªwith a dagger, again and again.

    "Blind bitch! It was your fucking leak that killed my brother! Bitch! Bitch!"

    The security official, not knowing how many stabs he had taken, had already been reduced to a pile of mush. But Ruan Qiang did not stop, sttering himself with blood as he continued to stab repeatedly.

    Standing to one side, Manager Huang watched the scene unfold without much concern. She knew that Ruan Qiang, more than 20 years senior to his brother, was like a father to him; they shared interests and their bond was exceptionally strong.

    Although the man was a psychopath, he was battle-hardened, having joined the battlefield at 14. Moreover, he had no interest in adult women, sparing her a great deal of sexual harassment.

    Manager Huang sent a few text messages on her phone and then said,

    "That family of three has already taken a flight back to Xia Country, but the young man who was with them has not left yet. I''ve instructed our guys to look for him. If he shows up on the street, he will definitely be spotted."

    Ruan Qiang wiped the blood off his face. "Was it this son of a bitch who killed my brother? It doesn''t matter if it wasn''t, all dogs from Xia should die!"

    He nced at the several heavy trucks parked in the factory area and said bitterly, "If not for the big deal at hand, I''d definitely go catch the bastard myself! I want him brought to me intact, so I can make him regret he was ever born!"

    Ruan Qiang was, astonishingly, in the very ce Lu Yao had been keeping a watchful eye on¡ª"Xinwang Pharmaceuticals"!

    Manager Huang nodded, "Just focus on getting the shipment out, and don''t screw up. I''ll take care of capturing the guy. I''ve chosen some armed men for the job."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao hailed a trishaw and leisurely made his way to the city center.

    He was thinking about finding a hotel when he suddenly noticed something odd about the trishaw driver, who kept sneaking nces at him,paring him to a picture on his phone with malicious intent.

    Despite having agreed to go to the city center, the driver was taking him towards a secluded area instead.

    Lu Yao immediately had an idea of what was happening, although he had not expected the trishaw drivers to be their informants.

    The trishaw stopped in a slum. The streets were filthy, with rundown, chaotic, and low houses. A tangle of electrical wires crisscrossed above, a perfect setting for illicit activities.

    Soon, Lu Yao felt several malign gazes directed at him.

    Six vicious-looking An''nan men quietly surrounded him, unmistakably holding handguns!

    Lu Yao immediately jumped off the trishaw, flipped them the bird, and darted into a ramshackle wooden hut by the roadside.

    The thugs, not pausing to wonder how their target had detected them, quickly surrounded the building to prevent Lu Yao from escaping.

    The young trishaw driver, smiling obsequiously, nodded and bowed to the thugs, and then pulled a machete from under his seat, joining in the encirclement.

    He was just a peripheral gang member, and this was the perfect moment to prove himself. Holding the machete, he was the first to rush in!

    Then, the next second, his knife-wielding hand was twisted and pinned to the door with a "snap," exposing the broken bone; his throat was also shattered by a palm strike.

    In his painful death throes, he vaguely saw that excellently poised young man from Xia Country catching his falling machete.

    The tricycle driver thought of his elderly grandfather at home and suddenly regretted deeply. His grandfather had always reminded him to stay away from gangs¡­

    ~~~~~~~~

    Even if the enemy had guns, Lu Yao with his machete was still overpowering. It was a very unfair fight.

    With his state of Spirit Refinement fully activated, he hadplete control over every action of the few thugs.

    To Lu Yao, their movements seemed as sluggish as those of 2-year-old children, embarrassingly slow.

    As he approached one of them with his machete, the man didn''t even have time to react before a sh severed his gun-holding hand, and the second stroke pierced his heart. Like a punctured hot water bottle, the man copsed on the spot, motionless.

    Not a single drop of blood had sttered on Lu Yao, who quickly picked up the fallen firearm, curiously fiddling with it¡ªno boy dislikes guns.

    Just then, two thugs heard themotion and rushed over. Lu Yao pulled the trigger aimed at the first one.

    Since it was his first time firing, he aimed at the abdomen, but due to not getting a grip on the recoil, he hit the upper chest.

    The second man raised his gun to counterattack. But before he could lift it, Lu Yao had already pulled the trigger again.

    "Body following intent," derived from the advanced state of Spirit Refinement, allowed Lu Yao to perfectly control his body. Based on where the first bullet hit, he precisely controlled his muscles to adjust the muzzle.

    The bullet whistled out of the barrel, drilled through the opponent''s forehead, burst out of the back of his head bringing with it an abundance of fluids, and the man fell to the ground, dead instantly.

    The next second, Lu Yao fired another shot, executing the thug who wasn''t quite dead yet with a burst to the head.

    "The gunfire is louder than I imagined, but the recoil is not hard to manage," hemented on the firearm in hand.

    What ordinary people would need tens of thousands of bullets to master, Lu Yao achieved with just two shots!

    ~~~~~~~

    As sessive gunshots rang out, the remaining three thugs realized something was amiss and cautiously approached, guns drawn.

    Their movements were crystal clear in Lu Yao''s heightened senses.

    Waiting with a raised gun around the corner, Lu Yao pulled the trigger just as a thug appeared, wlessly catching the bullet and meeting his end with a headshot.

    Thest two screamed in shock and quickly hid around the corner.

    However, the rundown wood-panelled house they were in was no protection; Lu Yao''s ears twitched, and he already knew their position, firing two shots through the flimsy wall!

    Amid agonized screams, the two thugs were struck and fell into pools of blood.

    The bullets, after prating the wall and deforming, tumbled twice in their bodies, causing severe internal bleeding.

    By the time Lu Yao approached them, they were thoroughly dead.

    With that, all the thugs were wiped out.

    Lu Yao shrugged his shoulders; from start to finish, he had been as nonchnt as one taking a leisurely stroll, not breaking a sweat.

    "These guys are so weak, but they''ve generously brought me guns and bullets, saving me the trouble of buying them."

    He merrily looted the spoils, uncovering six handguns and six full spare magazines along with some loose bullets.

    And while looting, he discovered¡ªthat beneath the thugs'' overcoats they were wearing gray shirts with the initials "XW," identical to those of "Xin Wang Pharmaceuticals" security.

    "What a coincidence, it turns out we were mortal enemies all along," remarked Lu Yao while flipping the gun in his hand, "This thing, paired with Spirit Refinement, is a perfect match. I don''t need to be overly cautious after all; might as well elerate my pace."

    A fierce beast needs to kill to establish its position in the food chain.

 Chapter 43: 43.Break Through

    Xinwang Pharmaceuticals

    "Ruan Qiang, all the men I sent out are dead¡­" Manager Huang received a call, her pretty face turned frosty with the embarrassing news, "Six good men, all ex-military, armed with guns, all dead!"

    Ruan Qiang spat out some phlegm and said coldly, "They really are tough nuts to crack. Good, I''ll personally take care of him."

    "That guy from Xia Country is quite unusual, might have a military background. Today is delivery day, we have to be careful¡­"

    Manager Huang''s words were cut short by the sound of gunshots and shouting outside, followed by the screams thate just before death.

    "They''re attacking us directly!?"

    Ruan Qiang calmly opened a drawer, attached a few grenades to his waist, then picked up an AK: "Don''t panic. I''ve seen all sorts of ruthless characters when fighting against Xia Country; I''m going to take my oldrades and kill him!"

    Having said this, he looked towards the four figures standing beside him. They were middle-aged men, their eyes devoid of any emotion, their bodies exuding an undeniable aura of fierceness.

    Ruan Qiang knew deep down that his own footing in this world was rooted in these four brothers-in-arms who had survived the hail of bullets together!

    It was because of them that he could be the Security Chief of Xinwang Pharmaceuticals. With such a background, he enjoyed a life of luxury and pleasure, ying with young girls as he pleased.

    Listening to the intensemotion outside, Manager Huang was still not reassured. She grabbed Ruan Qiang tightly, staring at him intently:

    "This factory is my life! There must be no mistakes! I''ll give you 15 minutes; if you can''t solve it in 15 minutes, I''m calling for the SWAT team!"

    "Enough, I can solve the problem in ten minutes."

    Ruan Qiang brushed off Manager Huang''s hand, his expression somewhat disgusted; he disliked "older" women above the age of twelve.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao arrived at "Xinwang Pharmaceuticals" on a tricycle by himself.

    On the way, he Googled the name of the firearm he was carrying and found out it was the famous M1911.

    With a superrge caliber of 11.43 mm, it possessed iparable killing power, as well as many other advantages such as reliability and easy maintenance.

    It had been the standard equipment of the Star Alliance Country. Since Annan Country and the Star Alliance had been at war, the 1911 was quite popr around here.

    When Lu Yao''s tricycle was still a long way from the main gate of Xinwang Pharmaceuticals, the security guards had already pulled out their guns and were shouting something in thenguage of Annan Country.

    Lu Yao didn''t even stop his vehicle when suddenly a gun appeared in his hand; the next second, "pop pop pop pop" four shots rang out, leaving behind four bodies with bullets through their brows.

    The whole process took no more than the blink of an eye, and the group never had a chance to realize what was happening before they died.

    ~~~~~~~~

    It was now the middle of the night, and though the factory was fully lit and bright, there were still shadows lurking in the corners.

    Lu Yao headed straight for the heavy trucks in the shadows and heard raucousughter and a woman''s pained sobs before he even got close.

    He saw five trucks parked inside a massive warehouse, guarded by twenty of Xinwang Pharmaceuticals'' security personnel.

    Perhaps due to the long night, the guards had caught a young woman, tied her up, and were amusing themselves with her.

    The poor woman''s mouth was wrapped with tape, and she had a blindfold over her eyes. The ground was littered with cigarette butts, syringes, contraceptives, and other debris, giving off a disgusting smell in the air.

    Lu Yao didn''t bother being polite with these scumbags.

    Entering a state of concentration, his enemies seemed to move at half speed. He pulled out another 1911 and wielded both guns, firing instantly.

    All his muscles worked together in precise and powerful coordination, controlling both guns as 14 bullets poured out and hit their targets.

    The powerful 11.43mm pistol rounds left gaping holes in the enemies'' heads and chests, killing more than half of them instantly.

    The remaining men were terrified, not even seeing where Lu Yao was; some covered their heads and crouched on the ground, others screamed and ran, while some fired wildly into the sky, all inplete disarray.

    They wouldn''t have been so weak if it hadn''t been for the fact that Lu Yao had already taken out the better fighters who had military experience beforehand; the rest were just gang thugs.

    After Lu Yao fired all his bullets, he calmly performed an "Airborne Mag Change"¡ªhe tossed the empty magazines by flicking his hands; then threw both guns up, quickly retrieved new magazines and inserted them, all in less than a second!

    The ability to move as one''s body wishes, an impressive level of physical control, allowed Lu Yao to master this stylish reloading technique with no formal instruction.

    He opened fire with both guns again, finishing off the remaining enemies, wiping out this group of guards in a total of 20 seconds.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "With a gun, ordinary people are powerless against me. Firearmspensate for myck of attack power and perfectly magnify the effects of Spirit Refinement."

    As Lu Yao sighed, he fired and broke the handcuffs binding the woman.

    The pitiable woman tore off the blindfold and the tape from her mouth. Even though she didn''t see Lu Yao, she still shouted something that sounded like "thank you" in Annannguage toward his general direction and then ran away.

    Afterward, Lu Yao opened the container on the heavy truck. Inside were barrels of stic filled with a viscous, unknown liquid, not the DP he had imagined.

    Just then, Ruan Qiang finally arrived with his elite squad. His arrival was timely, and puzzled why his men were silent, he then saw the mess¡ªhis men were all dead!

    Seeing that the enemy was inside the factory also made him desperate. The contents of the truck were the factory''s most important output, not tolerating any mistakes!

    Ruan Qiang made a gesture, and the four elites immediately dispersed, while he himself found a solid cover and started yelling at Lu Yao:

    "Xia Country person, you killed my brother! I''m going to torture you slowly, then fill you with cement and stand you at the factory entrance!"

    He spoke in Xianguage with a strange ent, intending to distract his opponent and create opportunities for his teammates.

    Unfortunately, his Xianguage skills, learned years ago for interrogating prisoners of war, had grown rusty through disuse, and Lu Yao hardly understood a word he shouted.

    Before long, seeing his team had already taken advantageous shooting positions, Ruan Qiang''s heart surged¡ªhe was sure to win!

    ~~~~~~~

    The normal script would be¡ª5 elite troops wielding AKs,pletely suppressing Lu Yao with their firepower, forcing him to hide behind cover without daring to show his head, and eventually being surrounded and riddled with bullets.

    That''s what Ruan Qiang thought, but reality pped him hard in the face.

    They held AKs and took cover, barely sticking out their bodies without even pulling the trigger when Lu Yao opened fire first!

    In a state of focused calm, every move these men made was under control, everything seemed to move at 0.5x speed, and sticking out to shoot was simply seeking death.

    He raised his hand and a single shot blew the head off the first man who peeked to shoot, sttering blood and brain matter everywhere.

    The second shot took down a rugged middle-aged man who had climbed up to the second story of the factory to gain the high ground. The man was hit in the neck and blood spurted out, ensuring he wouldn''t live.

    ~~~~~~~

    Ruan Qiang and the remaining two hurriedly took cover, their faces filled with shock!

    "From over 60 meters... A fatal shot with a handgun!"

    "What kind of monster is this!!"

    The precision and range of a handgun are very low, with an effectivebat distance of only ten to twenty meters! Hitting a target at 30 meters is considered sharpshooter level!

    At a distance like this, aiming for the head or legs wouldn''t be unusual, but the opponent was just that urate!

    ~~~~~~~~

    A middle-aged Annan man with a handlebar mustache took off his shirt and, prodding it with a gun, stuck it out of cover, hoping to trick Lu Yao into shooting. Nothing happened.

    Then, he continued to prod his shirt, meanwhile cautiously peeking out half his head.

    With a "bang," a bullet hole appeared in the man''s forehead, and he dropped dead on the spot.

    "Dammit! This Xia dog seems to know exactly where we''ll peek from, he''s got a bullet waiting the moment a head shows!"

    Ruan Qiang''s eyes were almost bursting with fury! In just a few minutes, only one of his brothers-in-arms was left!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Ruan Qiang''sst teammate, covered in terrifying scars from burns, a memento of war, roared, "toon leader! He''s not human! I''ll cover you, get out of here!" He then stuck his gun out of cover and fired blindly in Lu Yao''s general direction. He only extended his gun-toting hand, the rest of his body still hidden behind the cover.

    Just as Ruan Qiang was about to move, a gunshot rang out, and his teammate''s hand sticking out from cover was shot through, creating a bloody hole!!

    Both men exchanged a terrified nce, shocked to their core! Hitting a hand with a handgun from sixty meters away in an instant, what kind of incredible marksmanship was that!

    Both were immediately disheartened and dared not peek out from cover again.

    Suddenly, Ruan Qiang felt steeped in an overwhelming sense of unreality. On one side, arge force with AKs providing suppressive fire, yet reduced to cowering behind cover not daring to move by one man with a handgun¡­

    ~~~~~~~

    While they kept still, Lu Yao took the opportunity to move to the bodies nearby and picked up an AK.

 Chapter 44: 44.AK

    The AK rifle, to this day, is the most produced and most influential rifle, as well as the deadliest weapon in history, often featured in movies and video games.

    Even without searching on Baidu, Lu Yao recognized it at a nce.

    The firearm in hand was well-maintained, and after firing off a couple of random shots, he memorized its feel.

    "This rifle is so much better than a pistol! It''s easier to control the recoil with both hands, and the trajectory is much more stable," he said.

    Lu Yao immediately fell in love with this ssic rifle.

    Ruan Qiang listened to the movements of his opponents with confusion, but realizing they now had more powerful rifles, he became even more reluctant to show himself.

    He wiped the sweat from his face and head, inwardly screaming, "When are the SWAT teams Manager Huang called for going to arrive!"

    ~~~~~~~

    At that moment, the gun in Lu Yao''s hands was set to single-shot mode. He flicked the selector switch to full-auto and aimed at the fuel tank of a distant truck.

    The truck immediately burst into mes, bing a huge bonfire, with smoke rising high into the sky.

    An elite soldier, covered in scarred burn wounds, was hiding nearby. Pushed by the heat wave, he rolled out of cover, trying to dodge into a new hiding ce, but Lu Yao had already fired.

    Apanied by the distinctive sound of the AK firing full-auto, 4 bullets of 7.62mm grouped within the size of a coin prated the man''s body, leaving a hole as big as a bowl. Blood gushed out, and he struggled halfway before copsing in a pool of blood without moving again.

    "With ''Shadowless Motion'' enhancing him, Lu Yao''s marksmanship was like that of a sharpshooter who had fired hundreds of thousands of bullets¡ªfaster and steadier!"

    Ruan Qiang''s eyes narrowed, growing increasingly hesitant topete in marksmanship with Lu Yao, as he touched the grenade at his waist with a fierce look on his face!

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Seeing a truck and its cargo destroyed, Manager Huang hiding in the distance had veins bulging out of her temples in fury!

    Originally just a call girl, who knew when she might be yed to death, or contract some strange illness and die miserably.

    Now, her status and identity as "Manager Huang" depended entirely on this factory. If they failed to deliver on time, Zhang Xin was no phnthropist; he would discard her at a moment''s notice for other partners.

    Additionally, many officials were enjoying the benefits of "Xinwang Pharmaceuticals," and if she messed things up, the consequences would be dreadful.

    ~~~~~~~~

    At this point, Lu Yao was attempting to capture Ruan Qiang alive. The man had been using hand signals to direct his subordinates since earlier, clearly the leader, surely knowing more information.

    Holding the AK, he kept firing at the trucks'' fuel tanks, igniting them to force Ruan Qiang out of hiding.

    Unintentionally, his actions directly hit the Achilles'' heel of the two responsible figures of Xinwang Pharmaceuticals.

    The factory, or rather the "goods" it produced, was the foundation of their "beautiful life," and nothing could be allowed to go wrong!

    "Stop shooting!" Manager Huang walked forward with her hands raised high. Her form-fitting dress revealed most of her creamy body, indicating she had no weapons, while shouting in thenguage of the He Kingdom, "Sir, let''s talk... "

    The SWAT team was about to arrive, and she just wanted to buy time.

    Lu Yao looked at the woman for a moment andughed, "So there are people who understand thenguage of the He Kingdom here. You seem to care a lot about these trucks."

    Manager Huang''s face remained unchanged as she replied, "I am Huang Ru, the manager of Xinwang Pharmaceuticals. There has been aplete misunderstanding between us. The people who kidnapped that young girl are all dead, and I have no intention of being your enemy... "

    But herplexion was bing worse.

    Because Lu Yao''s gaze was once again fixed on those heavy trucks, he asked, "What I''m more interested in is¡ªwhere are your products being delivered?"

    Huang Ru forced augh, "You may have received the wrong intel. We don''t produce any finished goods here, only provide raw materials to the ces above. Any pharmaceutical factory can easily refine these raw materials, so you won''t gain anything from us. Of course, we are willing to pay a price... "

    "I''m asking you, where are they being delivered?" Lu Yao aimed the rifle at Huang Ru.

    With a sharpshooter pointing a gun at her, Huang Ru''s face stiffened, still not directly answering the question, "I have one million in cash here... "

    The next second, apanied by the sound of gunfire, the woman lost an ear.

    Lu Yao said coldly, "I hate you opium dealers the most. Last time I ask¡ªwhere will the stuff be delivered?"

    Clutching her relentlessly bleeding ear, Huang Ru carefully concealed the hatred in her eyes, took a deep breath through the severe pain, and said:

    "It will be loaded onto a ship at the port, then delivered to ''Hebin Port of He Kingdom.'' We are just doing preliminary processing here; someone else will take over for further refinement."

    Lu Yao said indifferently, "Looks like Zhang Xin doesn''t really trust you, eh? He just sees this as a basic raw material supply spot."

    It was rare for the woman tomunicate, and he was about to ask a few more questions, to gather more information about Zhang Xin.

    But Ruan Qiang''s face turned vicious as he took two grenades off his waist!

    Through their conversation, Ruan Qiang had figured out Lu Yao''s exact location.

    Pulling the pins, he tossed both fragmentation grenades with a flick of his wrists.

    In his days on the battlefield, Ruan Qiang survived precisely because of his precision grenade-throwing skills.

    Normally, these two grenades wouldnd near Lu Yao, then blow him to bits.

    Unfortunately for them, Lu Yao was in a state of trance, and he noticed the grenades the moment they were thrown. He could clearly see them tumbling through the air.

    With a raise of his hand, two shots rang out, and two bullets hit the exposed grenades, detonating them in mid-air.

    Two loud sts went off, sending countless shrapnel flying. Lu Yao, from a distance, was unscathed, and Ruan Qiang, behind cover, was also safe. Huang Ru, however, was terribly unlucky to receive the full brunt of the explosions, her body pierced all over by shrapnel, and one of her eyes blinded.

    Struggling on the ground, unwilling to surrender to fate, she soon died on the spot.

    Lu Yao shrugged his shoulders; he had wanted to ask a few more questions, but this woman was killed by her ipetent teammate.

    It took a good while for Ruan Qiang to realize what had happened, and his mentalitypletely copsed¡ªshooting grenades out of the air!!?? Is this guy even human!?

    He shouted, "You''re really going to die sei!"

    Lu Yao approached the man''s cover, unhurried.

    Hearing the footsteps drawing closer, Ruan Qiang pulled the pins on hisst two grenades, intending to make them his "glory bombs." If the other party dared toe close, it would be mutual destruction!

    As the footsteps drew nearer, Ruan Qiang finally saw the enemy''s appearance. Ordinary looking, bright eyes, excellent demeanor, but not looking at all like an elite!?

    With the glory bombs ready, Ruan Qiang awaited his advance eagerly.

    But Lu Yao kept retreating, saying, "I always feel something bad will happen if I get too close to you..."

    Watching the other man moving away, Ruan Qiang realized his n for mutual destruction was foiled.

    He quickly released the safety clips on the grenades and threw them towards Lu Yao while drawing his pistol from his chest.

    In his trance state, Lu Yao, with an AK in hand, precisely shot "bang, bang" twice, once again detonating the grenades in mid-air.

    Ruan Qiang finally saw with his own eyes this incredible marksmanship and was soon reduced to a mess of flesh by the shrapnel.

    ~~~~~~~

    With all enemies eliminated, Lu Yao cleaned up the battlefield and gathered arge bag of guns and bullets.

    Suddenly, he heard heavy vehicles and arge group of people approaching. Far away in the sky, helicopters were in flight, their 12.7MM caliber heavy machine guns exerting a severe sense of oppression.

    Realizing that state forces had arrived, Lu Yao didn''t linger any longer. He shot a few rounds to blow up the remaining two trucks, then took the collected firearms and returned to Otherworld.

    By the time the special police arrived, they only saw the industrial site engulfed in raging mes, with billowing smoke visible from miles away.

 Chapter 45: 45. Two Women Leaving the Pass

    On the Otherworld side, it was early morning, and there was still a hint of chill in the air during this transition from spring to summer.

    Lu Yao had just ced away a big package of firearms and walked out of the door with satisfaction. Men all like such toys.

    He had thought that the two girls wouldn''t have finished their secluded cultivation yet, but hearing some noise in the kitchen, he went over to see that Liao Qe was actually stewing meat.

    The girl was dressed in a white tracksuit, bending over to break a piece of yam intorge chunks and throwing them into the pot.

    Lu Yao said with a surprised happiness, "You''re finished with your seclusion? Have you entered meditation?"

    Liao Qe turned around, her pretty face looking at him. Her almond-shaped eyes suddenly lit up, and her beautiful face gained a few more touches ofposure.

    Her breathing became unusually slow and extraordinarily even, making her seem very¡ªcalm, like a sleeping baby.

    Lu Yao gave a thumbs up, "Impressive! You''ve achieved it in less than three days!"

    As soon as the words left his mouth, Liao Qe had already thrown herself into his arms for a tight embrace.

    The girl rested her head on Lu Yao''s shoulder and said softly, "I missed you so much. Thinking about you, I went into meditation before I knew it."

    "You just have trouble calming your mind because you''re young, but once you get over this hurdle, naturally it''s all good."

    Lu Yao was very happy about her progress, so happy, in fact, that his hand unwittingly slid downward. "Didn''t you say once you finish meditation you could do something or other?"

    "I just finished my seclusion, what''s the rush..." Liao Qe said, her cheeks blushing as she grabbed her beloved''s hand and moved it up to rest on her slender waist that was barely a handful.

    "Hmm~" Just then, a deliberately cleared throat could be heard.

    Looking back, it turned out Liao Ya had also finished her seclusion. She was simrly dressed infortable Blue Star clothing, but even the loosest one couldn''t hide her exaggerated figure.

    The two, who were hugging and getting handsy, quickly separated. Liao Qe blushed a bit, while Lu Yao shamelessly greeted her, "Senior Sister, you''ve also finished seclusion, did you break through?"

    Liao Ya shook her head, "Your device made me realize I still have many rough edges to smooth out, so I want to seriously refine them. I''m not in a hurry to advance."

    Lu Yao was startled, "Ah? But the martial artspetition ising up, will there be enough time?"

    Liao Ya smiled brilliantly, like a myriad of flowers in full bloom, "If I said I originally had a 60 percent chance of winning, now it is¡ª120 percent!"

    Her mood appeared to be excellent, with her eyes also smiling, revealing a row of white, orderly teeth that glistened like porcin.

    "Little brother, your device is a marvel! It allows a martial artist to control the conditioning of their blood and Inner Breath with precision as if a Fetal Breath Realm master were giving personal guidance. I estimate the time for advancing realms before the Blood-Exchange Realm could be shortened by at least 70 percent!"

    Only then did Lu Yao rx, "That''s good to hear."

    "Oh, by the way, the instrument blinked a few times and then went ck. It had also popped up some warnings before, but I didn''t understand what they meant."

    "It probably ran out of battery. I''ll charge it now; it''s a small issue."

    At that moment, Liao Qe called out, "The food''s ready, let''s eat. I''m starving."

    The rich aroma of the meat wafted through the air, and Liao Ya had a bead of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth. She quickly sucked it back with the speed of lightning, then said demurely and gently, "Let''s eat first, then."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Next, Lu Yao had the privilege of watching two human shredding machines at work.

    The two women grabbed hold of the meat bones and gnawed on them with "crack-crunch" sounds. Despite eating rapidly, their manners were surprisingly elegant, leaving no room for criticism.

    After stewing 20 jin of meat and bones, not a single bone was left over after dinner, nor a drop of soup. The sisters wore expressions of contentment and ease on their faces, looking just like two adorable kittens.

    After dinner, Liao Ya had Lu Yao demonstrate stretching exercises.

    Without a word, Lu Yao performed a wide split, touching his toes with both hands. He could now stretch on his own, having practiced daily without fail.

    Liao Ya nodded in approval and said, "Your progress is evident, but your body is still too ''stiff.'' Liao Qe, show him how it''s done."

    The moment Liao Qe stepped forward, she performed ten cartwheels with the grace of a gymnast.

    Bending forward at the waist, her fair, delicate hands supported her on the ground as her beautiful legs swung and circled back in a repeating motion.

    Her cartwheels were performed slowly, without using the momentum of her body. Not only did she disy her elegant posture, but she also showed incredible flexibility, her movements both graceful and sensual.

    Liao Ya said, "When you can perform such moves, you will have seeded in Sinew-Strengthening. Then you can move on to Bone-Tempering."

    Lu Yao understood, his next goal was clear¡ªto transform from a rough man into a flexible gymnast.

    ~~~~~~~

    After instructing Lu Yao, Liao Ya started to exin the key points of Organ Refining to her sister.

    "After you''ve mastered Bone-Tempering, you can feel the ''Inner Breath.'' Organ Refining is about using this Inner Breath to forge and strengthen your internal organs. Once you seed in Organ Refining, your organs will have their own spirits! After Organ Refining, your strength can increase tenfold, bringing about a transformative improvement in yourbat abilities. That''s why the Imperial Court ces such importance on Organ Refining Martial Artists."

    After exining, Liao Ya asked Lu Yao, "Junior brother, is the device ready to use?"

    "Almost there, I''ll check it out." Lu Yao got up and fetched the "Portable Color Ultrasound Device," which was already fully charged.

    "With this, Liao Qe''s Organ Refining will be a piece of cake." Liao Ya patted her sister''s head, "You''re lucky. The old way of Organ Refining used to be quite torturous."

    Soon, Lu Yao returned with the ultrasound device.

    "Next, we will use this device to assist in the breakthrough. Liao Qe, take off your top. Lu Yao, follow the steps I tell you to check the organs."

    Both individuals before him were very close to him, and although Liao Qe felt slightly shy, she did not hesitate to reveal her fair skin.

    Lu Yao applied the Coupling Agent on the youngdy, lingering a little longer on a certain spot, which earned him a stern look from both women. He didn''t dare to misbehave again and diligently carried out his work.

    Following Liao Ya''s instructions, he used the probe to check the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys one by one.

    Liao Ya transmitted her Inner Breath to assist Liao Qe in controlling her Inner Breath, starting her first Organ Refining session.

    "Martial Artists cannot see inside their bodies, and normally Organ Refining is a slow and strenuous process of trial and error that can easily cause internal injury. It''s both mentally and physically taxing, not to mention extremely painful. With this divine instrument, one can break through in just two days. Lu Yao, watch carefully, you will have to do this someday as well."

    "Okay, senior sister," Lu Yao replied.

    The conditions inside Liao Qe''s body were clearly disyed by the "Portable Color Ultrasound Device," with every slight blood flow and organ change detectable.

    The target was clear and efficiency greatly improved, eliminating the guesswork typically involved in breakthroughs.

    ~~~~~~~

    After much work, Liao Qe''s cultivation was on the right track and she had a clear understanding of how to refine her organs.

    Under normal circumstances, this step would have taken at least a week, but now half a day was more than enough.

    The sisters marveled at the "Portable Color Ultrasound Device." Liao Qe''s big eyes asionally nced at Lu Yao, her heartwarmer always brought surprises that made life increasingly better.

 Chapter 46: 46. Give the girl a self-defense weapon

    ```

    Haoran Martial Arts Hall

    Since losing a martial master, and having beenpletely humiliated by a minor boxing gym in apetition, the number of disciples practicing boxing in therge courtyard had notably dwindled.

    Sun Haoran wasn''t too concerned. People naturally gravitate towards the sessful and shy away from the defeated, as long as the lost face was regained, that was all that mattered.

    As the day of thepetition approached, a person like him would certainly not fight fair and square.

    At the moment, Sun Haoran was discussing ns with a man.

    "Yan Gui, I''d like you to take action and capture the Liao family''s youngdy to force Liao Ya into conceding defeat," he said.

    The man named Yan Gui spoke with righteous indignation, "Master Sun, that seems inappropriate. I, Yan Gui, am honest and upright; how could I engage in such a sordid deed as kidnapping women and children?"

    The man was less than 1.5 meters tall, thin and small; if not for his wrinkled, rough face, he''d have looked like a child.

    Sun Haoran responded calmly, "Help me win thepetition, and I''ll give you the deed to arge opium den."

    Upon hearing about the opium den, Yan Gui''s persona changed abruptly, immediately taking on a mercenary air, "One is too few, give me three, Master Sun. You own twenty of them after all. I''ve just arrived in Yunzhou and am in need of establishing a base."

    "Agreed," Sun Haoran epted directly. "Go at once."

    Yan Gui scratched his head andughed sheepishly, "Can I have the deeds beforehand to boost my morale? Don''t worry, if I ran away or failed the mission, you''d have plenty of ways to deal with me."

    Sun Haoran took out threerge-sealed heavy papers and gave them to the man; they were indeed the deeds to the opium dens.

    Those opium dens were like hens thaty golden eggs; Yan Gui''s eyes instantly zed with fervor as he hastily epted them.

    "Ah, Master Sun, you do speak decisively and act quickly. Although my asking price was a bit steep, you won''t be at a loss. I''ve heard about that matter, tsk tsk, Jinwu National Martial Arts Association, once you have the Liao Family on your side, you''ll have an additional seat, and it won''t take long to earn back the profits for three opium dens," he said.

    Sun Haoran''s eyes turned cold, "You are quite well-informed."

    "Of course, I thrive on this line of work," Yan Gui carefully ced the deeds in his chest pocket, stood up, and saluted with a fist before leaving, "You wait for my good news."

    After saying this, his entire being transformed into a shadow the size of a basketball, sticking close to the ground and then disappearing.

    After he left, Sun Haoran spoke to an empty space in the room, "Mr. Luo Su, next, you just need to follow this man and await your opportunity."

    The air rippled, revealing numerous waves, and a Westerner in a tailcoat appeared; it was none other than the one who had administered injections during thepetition.

    "Sun, you are indeed a cautious man, but that''s exactly what I like about you," he said.

    Sun Haoran said dismissively, "You tter me. Such greedy people aremonce."

    Luo Su straightened his tie and responded with polished courtesy, "My dear friend, not only do you assist me with human experimentation, but you also go out of your way to indulge my little hobbies. I''m very grateful."

    Sun Haoran chuckled, "There''s no need for such formalities between friends. Just keep Liao Ya alive; I still have to defeat her fair and square."

    "Agreed, I wouldn''t devour a treasured food all at once," replied Luo Su.

    At the thought of the sisters with their rare, pure souls, Luo Su''s fangs involuntarily protruded.

    "Ah, the blood of pure virgins is sweeter than the finest wine; such temptation is truly irresistible!" he eximed.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The next day, after using the Color Ultrasound Instrument again, Liao Qe was just a step away from entering the Organ Refining Realm.

    Liao Ya, however, advised her not to rush to break through to the next realm. Instead, she said, "There''s no need to hurry. Take your time and naturally enter the Organ Refining Realm. That''s how you reap the greatest benefits."

    Lu Yao watched the entire process of breaking through to the next realm, gaining a great deal of insight, which would be of immense benefit to him when it was his turn to refine his organs.

    Since Liao Qe needed rest to recuperate and there was nothing else to do, she spent her time practicing martial arts with Lu Yao.

    ```

    The young girl rested her cheek on her hand, smiling fondly as she watched her sweetheart stretch and practice his punches.

    Feeling energized under the gaze of those beautiful eyes, Lu Yao thought he was performing exceptionally well today. After a while, an idea struck him¡ªhe had brought back so many firearms, maybe he should give one to his sister for self-defense.

    "Liao Qe, look at this~" He pulled out an M1911 and deftly spun it around in his hand several times.

    The gun''s surface had been blued, and the wooden grip panels were intricately checkered, making it quite exquisite.

    Once the girl saw it, her excitement soared: "Wow, a foreign gun~"

    "Do you want it? It''s pretty powerful~" Lu Yao handed it to her, "This is the safety, don''t point the muzzle at anyone you don''t intend to shoot. This is how you change the magazine¡­"

    He taught her hands-on how to use it, then stood behind her, guiding her hands to aim at an old tree in the distance and fire a shot, snapping off a branch.

    Liao Qe excitedly toyed with the finely-crafted pistol, her joy boundless, "I''ve always wanted one since I was little, but Dad and sister never allowed it."

    "You keep it for self-defense. I''ll give you some more magazines and bullets in a bit."

    The girl nted a big, affectionate kiss on Lu Yao, "Thank you, I really like it."

    "Mmhmm~" Master Liao had already noticed the activity here and saw Lu Yao giving out another gift. He quickly made his way over without drawing attention.

    Lu Yao said with a smile, "Elder sister, would you like one too?"

    Liao Ya demurely replied, "It''s quite interesting, different from the foreign guns I''ve seen before."

    As a fellow martial artist, she was also intrigued.

    Lu Yao went back to his room and brought out another firearm and lots of bullets. He set up a wooden stump as a target and let the sisters practice shooting in the spacious courtyard.

    The two stunning girls had a st firing the guns, and not just randomly¡ªthey mastered the technique quickly, using their superior physical strength to counteract the recoil of the pistols, their marksmanship nearing that of professionals.

    After ying around for a while, Liao Ya''s cheeks were flushed with enjoyment, her eyes shining. Then, suddenly remembering something, she swiftly shed her jovial expression, speaking seriously, "As martial artists, we should rely on our own strength and avoid bing infatuated with external things!"

    Liao Qe responded without looking back, "I know, I know."

    "You know nothing!" Liao Ya smacked her sister''s behind hard, creating a crisp "smack" sound.

    Struck by an Organ Refining Warrior, Liao Qe felt a piercing pain, rubbing her butt for quite a while.

    Liao Ya took out her own spear and said to Lu Yao, "Junior brother, shoot me with that foreign gun."

    "Ah? Isn''t that too dangerous?"

    "It''s fine, just shoot."

    Seeing the girl''s confident demeanor, Lu Yao took aim, "Elder sister, be careful."

    After the warning, he fired a shot next to Liao Ya, intending for the bullet to whiz past her thigh.

    But the spear, transforming into a ck Dragon, leaped suddenly and deflected the bullet! "Junior brother, don''t hesitate, small firearms can''t hurt me."

    "Okay then, I''ll continue." Seeing his elder sister was unafraid, Lu Yao decided to fire all six rounds.

    Liao Ya manipted the ck Dragon in her hand, conjuring several blurry shadows to intercept all the bullets, sending sparks flying.

    "See that? Firearms are just a supplement; true strength lies within oneself!" she said, while secretly easing the numbness in her hands.

    Watching Master Liao stand confidently with the pistol, Lu Yao and Liao Qe nodded in agreement and pped enthusiastically in praise.

    As everyone was enjoying themselves, Lu Yao was about to mention that he had even more powerful toys.

    But at that moment, he suddenly noticed a strange person crawling through a drainage ditch, a ce not even a dog could enter, and stealthily moving through the vegetable garden!?

 Chapter 47: 47. Good day, ladies

    Yan Gui was born into the Thief Sect. His sect had ancestral techniques that utilized special hand movements to use light to conceal one''s form.

    Combined with his outstanding agility and breath-concealing technique, he was virtually undetectable by god or spirit, capable of stealing both wealth and lives!

    At this moment, he had wormed his way into the courtyard through the wall''s drainage pipe, silently crawling in the vegetable garden, his small stature of only 1.5 meters hunched into the size of a basketball, waiting for the right moment.

    [I don''t need to face off against Liao Ya, I just need to take advantage of the moment and kidnap Liao Qe.]

    He was indulging in his perfect n when he suddenly realized that the weakest of the three, the sickly one, was staring right at him?

    [Impossible! How could a mere Sinew-Strengthening practitioner detect me!?]

    The next second, he saw this person swiftly draw a handgun and open fire on him!

    ~~~~~~~

    "Hey, hey, hey~look, there''s someone here!" Lu Yao, having achieved a great level of inner focus, easily spotted the "stealthy thief".

    Yan Gui silently cursed: [How was I discovered as soon as I arrived!]

    But he wasn''t the least bit panicked. His agility was his greatest confidence. Crawling on the ground like a snake, he moved like a centipede skimming the surface, very fast and extremely low to the ground. If a normal person tried to hit him, they would surely find it head-splittingly frustrating!

    Sadly, none of the three were average people.

    Liao Ya let out a thunderous shout, and his spear transformed into a ck Dragon devouring men; Liao Qe fired her gun in rapid session, her face flushed with excitement; Lu Yao simply lifted his hand, and the bulletspletely blocked the thief''s escape routes, forcing him to reposition!

    Yan Gui narrowly dodged the engulfing ck Dragon, his face stung by the cutting force; he swung his Crescent de deflecting countless iing bullets, his palms numbed by the impact.

    The situation was perilous; a slight mistake would mean his demise right there and then, immediately causing him to despair:

    [Damn that Sun Haoran! Talking about how it''s just a small gym with three people, but it turns out there''s a martial master close to marrow-cleansing, plus two sharpshooters with inner focus helping out. Damn it all!]

    As an assassin, he had no wish to get entangled in a fight and was set to flee, but Luo Su, who was following him, didn''t want to return empty-handed.

    The craving for virgin blood burned inside him like a fierce me, terribly tormenting.

    Luo Su stood atop a distant rooftop, watching Yan Gui hop and leap about, a mocking smile on his face.

    After observing for a while and getting a sense of each person''s strength in the scene, his entire being merged into the air and disappeared from sight.

    This wasplete invisibility, not the mere visual deception of Yan Gui''s.

    ~~~~~~

    While Yan Gui was focused on dodging the attacks from Liao Ya and Lu Yao, the air in front of him suddenly thickened, sticky like glue, ensnaring him; then, a syringe appeared, and its contents were instantly injected into him!

    Luo Su, dressed like a gentleman, materialized out of nowhere, his eyes now a bloody red!

    "Good day,dies~"

    With an elegant smile, Luo Su held a spike-like rapier, his fangs glistening coldly, emitting an endless malice. It was the natural predatory desire of a snake for a mouse, a wolf for a sheep!

    Faced with an expert, Liao Ya didn''t hesitate to thrust his spear straight into the fray! Luo Su parried with his rapier, calm and unhurried, as the two shed.

    Meanwhile, Yan Gui, left stunned for a second, inted like a balloon, his body covered in bulging veins, quickly transforming into two meters tall.

    ws grew out of his hands and spikes from his spine. With a howl, drooling, he charged at Liao Qe like a truck.

    Liao Ya wanted to turn back and rescue her, but nearly got pierced by the lightning-fast rapier instead.

    "Your loved ones will be tortured before your eyes, and the endless suffering will make your blood an exquisite delicacy!"

    Luo Su''s eyes became even redder.

    The situation was clear: He was entangling Liao Ya, but it was only a matter of time before Liao Qe would copse. And then Liao Ya would be in trouble, caught between two monsters.

    This was the strategy that Luo Su had improvised on the spot.

    ~~~~~~~

    As soon as Lu Yao saw the monster charging at Liao Qe, he immediately opened fire to rescue her! Emptied a magazine of his handgun, 7 bullets all hit the same eye, blinding it on the spot!

    The monster let out a painful howl but was not severely wounded, it might have been strong but lost its intelligence, and immediately abandoned Liao Qe to charge at Lu Yao instead.

    Lu Yao ran straight away, back to his own room. Handguns were somewhat useful but too slow!

    By the time the monster caught up, Lu Yao was just making an entrance with an AK in hand!

    At that moment, they were less than 10 meters apart, even the white of the monster''s flipped eye could be seen clearly.

    Lu Yao took a deep breath, and the monster slowed down to half speed. With calmposure, he turned off the safety and pulled the trigger, as bullets whistled out eagerly.

    The high-powered ammunition concentrated in an area the size of a coin, all hitting Yan Gui''s forehead, "pfft" went the sound as the top half of his skull was blown off! An oddly colored bean curd substance sttered everywhere.

    ~~~~~~~

    The muzzle kic energy of an M1911 is 477 joules, while that of an AK is ¡ª 2010 joules!

    The difference is a full fourfold! The power is iparable!

    With Lu Yao''s magically precise marksmanship, it took only 10 bullets to blow off Yan Gui''s skull.

    The monster Yan Gui had be fell to the ground, its body bubbling and dissolving into a pool of liquid that disappeared.

    Afterwards, Lu Yao turned the gun towards Luo Su. With full focus mode on, he pulled the trigger!

    The initial velocity of the AK''s bullets is 715 meters per second, twice the speed of sound. Luo Su surprisingly retreated sharply, dodging several shots.

    But Lu Yao''s focus was not for nothing, he rapidly followed up with gunfire!

    Luo Su indeed had skills, waving his rapier like lightning, striking sparks as he actually parried several bullets!

    Lu Yao kept his finger on the trigger without letting go, subsequent bullets followed up and Luo Su couldn''t block them, "pop pop pop" he was shot with several ck holes.

    Amid his painful screams, a smoke-like substance oozed out of the holes.

    Right then, Liao Ya followed up with "Blue Dragon Bearing Sorrow," her spear transforming into a dragon''s head with a roar, taking a bite off Luo Su''s sword-holding arm.

    The tide turned too quickly, the vampire who had been elegant andposed just now was on the verge of death.

    Luo Su''s mood at that moment was like he had been screwed over by fate. The human male''s weapon was formidable, packing huge power with automatic firing capability, and it was much more portable than a machine gun, far surpassing bolt-action rifles equipped by military forces of all countries!

    What country had developed this new type of weapon!? It couldn''t possibly be the backward Shun Dynasty!

    With no time to think, Luo Su let his severed arm morph into smoke as thick as India ink, filling the room and obscuring vision, as he once again vanished into the air.

    Liao Ya''s spear struck out in all directions, but sadly to no avail, her enemy had disappeared without a trace.

    With full focus mode on, Lu Yao faintly detected an abnormal fluctuation in the air in the distance, and immediately swung the gun around to fire.

    The whistling bullets hit something, and after a wave of ripples, Luo Su, looking like a sieve, appeared, furiously staring down Lu Yao!

    He had made it to the wall and one more step would have allowed him to scale it and escape with his life. But that one step was farther than heaven itself!

    Liao Ya exerted force on her legs,unching forward with two deep footprints, and a thrust to the chest impaled the enemy, nailing him to the wall!

    With a teammate holding the front, Lu Yao calmly reloaded, pulled out a new magazine to rece the old one, and at the same time cocked the gun, all within 0.3 seconds.

    Luo Su began to roar, "You can''t kill me! I am..."

    He couldn''t finish his sentence as ten 7.62MM bullets obliterated his head.

    Luo Su turned into a handful of ck ash, scattering into the wind and vanishing.

    Although they had managed to kill the monster quite easily, Lu Yao still had a high regard for its strength.

    It had formidable vitality, enduring so much beating only to be killed by a headshot; it could turn invisible and possessed many bizarre tricks, able to engage in closebat with Liao Ya and give as good as it got.

    Luckily, teamwork made the task lighter; with Master Liao leading the front, all Lu Yao had to do was focus on shooting, drastically reducing the difficulty.

 Chapter 48: Waiting

    "This foreign devil is with Sun Haoran, that son of a turtle is indeed resorting to sneaky moves."

    Lu Yao suggested, "Senior sister, as you''ve seen, my firearms are quite powerful. Let''s take them down and wipe out that scoundrel! You just need to hold him off, and leave the rest to me."

    "I still have use for Sun Haoran, can''t kill him yet," Liao Ya said with a light chuckle as she put the long spear back on the weapon rack.

    "I used the Color Ultrasound Instrument tob through my cultivation from beginning to end, making my foundations even more solid. Forget Blood-Exchange, ''Innate Realm'' is no longer just a wishful thought! Therefore, every step from now must ''heart and body'' perfectly shatter the mirror, and killing Sun Haoran in a fair duel is just the beginning."

    Lu Yao nodded. When it came to the path of martial arts, he would let her arrange it as she saw fit.

    After experiencing numerous battles, Lu Yao found firearms to be quite fun, and a great stress-reliever. A boy''s happiness is just that simple!

    By that time, Liao Qe had already searched the two enemies. "The bodies are gone, which saves us some trouble. Brought back these things."

    Upon closer look, aside from the silver and weapons, there was a book and a strange gem.

    The book belonged to Yan Gui, titled "Enigmatic Butterfly." Lu Yao nced through it; it described the advanced techniques of using Inner Breath.

    Spreading the Inner Breath across the surface of the body to refract light, achieving an optical camouge effect. Mastered to perfection, one could bepletely invisible. Yan Gui was still worlds away from that step.

    This was a fine item, and Lu Yao was very interested. He set it aside to study furtherter.

    The gem left behind by the Vampire Luo Su was too eye-catching. It was a ruby, radiant in color, wless and clear, and shone brilliantly like a quail egg.

    If brought to Blue Star, it would have to be auctioned at an international auction house, starting at eight figures.

    "What''s this thing?" Liao Qe asked out of curiosity.

    Liao Ya blinked her big eyes and stared at it for a while, then said:

    "Such things drop out of Western demon beasts when they die; it''s said to be the crystallization of their life force. Many forces offer a high price for them, even the consecrated Daoists are very eager, but they keep its specific uses a closely guarded secret."

    "Consecrated Daoists?"

    "Those who practice Dao Arts, all Spirit Refining Experts. Ambergris is made by them. Daoists are very rare; in the entire Yunzhou, there''s only one, employed by the Prefectural Governor as a consecrated expert." Experience the narrative at m_vl_em_p_yr

    He learned a new term. Then, pointing to the gem, Lu Yao said, "Do you have any use for this thing? If not, shall I take it?"

    The sisters had no objections.

    "Take it then, but be careful not to let others see it. After all, killing a foreigner, even if he is a monster from the Opiumpany, is not something you can openly discuss."

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao packed away the spoils of war and noticed Liao Qe''s eyes shining at the sight of the AK.

    He quickly passed it to her, "I was just about to let you y with it, but we were interrupted by those bastards. You''ve seen the power of this thing. Let me teach you how to use it."

    The girl learned quickly; by the second magazine, she could already manage full-auto fire control.

    Liao Ya also fired a few shots, her dignified and delicate demeanor giving way to a girl''s yful innocence, gleefully having fun as the courtyard crackled like the sound of firecrackers.

    After a while, Liao Ya had her fill of fun. She looked up at the sky and said, "Prepare the medicinal bath, increase the dosage by thirty percent."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The two young men and women worked together to prepare the medicinal bath.

    As Lu Yao sorted the various herbs, he also made small talk, "There''s a realm in martial arts that''s not afraid of bullets, right?"

    Liao Qe fetched water for the bath barrel and replied in a soft voice, "It''s called ''Indestructible Golden Body Realm,'' not even cannons can kill you. It''s precisely because the Imperial Court has four Great Grandmasters of this realm that the foreigners don''t dare to overstep."

    "You sister mentioned spreading martial arts, wanting to gather a whole team."

    "She loves to dream big. ''Indestructible Golden Body Realm'' Great Grandmasters aren''t so easy toe by," Liao Qe said as she carried water back and forth until the barrel was full, the effort causing her to break into a slight sweat, her fair skin flushed with a pink hue.

    After they finished their busyness, the two sat together, the younger sister nestled in the embrace of her beloved, and said,

    "Lu Yao, can you bring more clothes? The kind that are worn close to the skin. It''s getting hotter, and I have to change every day. Two sets aren''t enough."

    Lu Yao, hugging her with a mischievous smile, said, "No problem. But¡­ I need to know your size to buy the right ones, right~~"

    As he spoke, he was about to conduct a geological survey.

    After a precise measurement, he obtained the urate data. But since he was already there, he took the opportunity to also explore further south to ascertain the vegetation coverage.

    The two were affectionate for a while until they were startled awake by the sound of water boiling in the bath tub.

    Liao Qe hurriedly struggled free, blushing, "I am yours sooner orter... Just wait for it, it''s all good."

    After speaking, she ran off like a frightened little deer.

    ~~~~~~~

    The medicinal bath was soon ready. Inside the spacious luxurious bath tub, the verdant medicinal liquid bubbled continuously.

    Liao Ya stripped off her clothes, tested the water with her lotus-like arms, and then slowly soaked in, humming contentedly, "Ah~ this is nice~"

    Liao Qe followed suit, leaning on the tub wall like azy little kitten, "How''s that, lucky I brought back Lu Yao, right? Otherwise, we couldn''t enjoy this~"

    Liao Ya nced at her sister teasingly, "You also picked up a husband for yourself, hugging and embracing in broad daylight without any shame."

    Her sister''s cheeks reddened, "You saw that?~"

    "I''ve seen it several times! You really should look at yourself in the mirror, tsk tsk, about to melt into his arms..."

    After some yful banter, the two women settled down. Liao Qe rested her chin on her sister''s shoulder and inquired, "Remember you once said, the belly button is rted to little babies?"

    Liao Ya''s face stiffened slightly, she wasn''t very clear on the matter herself, and after pondering for a while, she replied, "It must be! After Organ Refining, the Inner Breath travels all over the body, I feel this ce connects the inside with the outside, it must have something to do with little babies."

    "Oh, I see." Liao Qe nodded, deep in thought.

    "You''re asking this, you want to give yourself to him?"

    "Yes, I love him so much, I want to have his babies."

    Hearing her sister''s decisive answer, Liao Ya wasn''t surprised at all; anyone could see what was in her heart.

    "I''ve dedicated myself to the Martial Path; it''s a good thing you found someone worthy to continue the Liao Family''s lineage. It''s just happening a bit fast, it''s only been a month, and the little cabbage I painstakingly raised is about to be taken~"

    "This month has been the happiest of my life." Liao Qe touched her belly button, a shy but happy smile on her face, "Sister, I want to join Lu Yao in ''union of sect mates''¡­ I won''t being back to my room tonight~"

    A Martial Artist''s love and marriage are different from ordinary people.

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe were senior and junior disciples; their union as "sect mates" was equivalent to being "husband and wife," epted and blessed by all.

    Liao Ya cautioned, "Your physique is much stronger than normal people, be careful not to hurt Lu Yao."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll be gentle."

    ~~~~~~~

    The sisters came out of the bath all wet, and Lu Yao felt their gazes on him were a bit off, but he didn''t think much of it and went inside to take a bath.

    "Ah, refreshing! Not only pleasurable but also assists in cultivation, spending money really is the real deal. How else can one get stronger without spending on it~"

    Lu Yao had a pleasant soak, humming a tune as he went back to his room to sleep.

    Before sleep, he unfailingly attempted the practice of the "Forgetfulness in Meditation" of Spirit Refinement, still without a clue.

    Then, suddenly, a knocking at the door. When he opened it, to his surprise, it was Liao Qe!

 Chapter 49: Sister is a big liar.

    The younger sister''s face was flushed with red, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone. "I promised you¡­" she murmured.

    Lu Yao was overjoyed, "The heroine is indeed trustworthy, her promise worth a thousand in gold. I like that!"

    The younger sister yfully punched him, then took out a piece of white silk, spread it out, andy down on it with her eyes closed.

    There were too many wonderful things about Liao Qe, but what attracted Lu Yao the most was her fair, creamy skin.

    Natural beauty without ornament, a lotus born from clear water, filled with the boundless charm and vitality of youth, akin to "The Peach Blossom Spring"¡ªlush grass so green, fallen petals in profusion. Narrow at first to an outsider, but after passing through it dozens of times, the path suddenly opens up to a bright clearing.

    Liao Qe was blushing all over, her pretty face showing surprise, "Sister, you big liar!!! It''s nothing like what you said!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya, who was preparing to go to bed inside the house, suddenly felt like sneezing, a bit confused. She was practicing Organ Refining, so how could she catch a cold?

    Then, she heard a strange sound, like the mewling of a kitten.

    Liao Ya immediately realized what it was and spat disgustedly.

    Lying in the Sleep Cultivation posture on the bed, she just couldn''t settle down to sleep, the strange noise persistently drilling into her ears.

    With no choice left, she pulled the nket over her head.

    Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, it started again after just a few minutes! "That damn girl!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Early the next morning, Master Liao, who hadn''t slept well, got up and started practicing her punches.

    It was just getting light when she went outside and found her sister sneakily doing something by the well.

    On closer inspection, she discovered she was washing a bedsheet.

    Liao Ya said disdainfully, "How old are you to still wet the bed, aren''t you ashamed?"

    Liao Qe, who was secretly scrubbing arge stain with a washing board, jumped in fright when her sister startled her, her cheeks turning bright red, "I didn''t! ¡­"

    Hastily, she stuffed the bedsheet into the tub, trying to hide it from view.

    "If not you, then was it Lu Yao?"

    "It wasn''t him either¡­ Ah, I can''t exin it to you." Liao Qe looked at her sister with a strange, full-bodied gaze. "You''ve deceived me bitterly¡­"

    Liao Ya rarely showed a touch of embarrassment, but it vanished in a sh as she argued, "You also kept me up all night!"

    Liao Qe stuck out her tongue, "Hmph~ I''m not talking to you anymore. I need to tend to Lu Yao''s morning routine~"

    ~~~~~~~

    Worn out by thete night, Lu Yao slept soundly until he was awakened by the tickling of a girl''s braid.

    He pulled her into his embrace, greedily inhaling her sweet fragrance. "You''ve been busy since early this morning?"

    Liao Qe shook her head, "Just a little odd, not much of a feeling. Oh, I have this for you to see~"

    The girl brought over that white roll, scattered with speckled plum blossoms.

    Lu Yao of course knew what it was, not at all surprised, and found himself increasingly fond of the girl before him.

    After that, Liao Qe carefully ced the white silk into a wooden box. "Husband, let me help you get up. It''s time for the meal~"

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya sat at the table, happily gnawing on a piece of meaty bone. She was about to greet Lu Yao when she suddenly stopped short.

    The spirited young fellow from yesterday had now be a shadow of his former self, looking haggard and supporting himself weakly on Liao Qe''s arm as he walked over¡ªonly a wheelchair and a nket were missing.

    On the other hand, his sister''s skin was even more delicate and her beauty more striking, with an added touch of charm in her expression.

    The couple sat closely together, with Liao Qe cheerfully feeding Lu Yao, suddenly she looked up and said, "By the way, sister, I''ve made a breakthrough in Organ Refining."

    After speaking, she stimted her organs to produce a dull rumble, as if an engine had surged to life within her body.

    Liao Ya was somewhat speechless: "You''ve been busy all night, and you still managed to break through¡­"

    Liao Qe smiled sheepishly and said, "The excitement just naturally led to the breakthrough."

    "No wonder Lu Yao has ended up looking like this¡­" Liao Ya suddenly realized¡ªthe gap of two major realms was just too much for him.

    Then she instructed, "Next, you need to use your Inner Breath to temper your organs. With the Color Ultrasound Instrument, this step won''t be difficult."

    "Uh-huh, I''ve already sensed the Inner Breath," Liao Qe responded while feeding Lu Yao a sip of soup.

    Lu Yao was in pain yet overjoyed, feeling almost as if he was about to float away. He firmed up his determination to seriously practice martial arts; otherwise, the disparity in constitution was too great.

    "¡­"

    "¡­"

    Liao Ya, uncharacteristically eating slowly, appeared on the verge of speaking several times but ended up simply stating, "With a long journey ahead, one must prioritize their health¡­"

    ~~~~~~~

    The Military Preparations Dao Office.

    The clerks passing by wore solemn expressions, and the servants without any status dared not even breathe too loudly, creating a stark contrast to the typically rxed atmosphere, as if some major event was about to unfold.

    Soon, an old, ck luxury car drove in. Aftering to a halt, the driver got out and respectfully opened the door.

    A gender-neutral beauty stepped out of the car. Dressed in a gray women''s suit and sporting an ear-length bob, her phoenix eyes nted upwards, giving her an intimidating look, while her expression exuded confidence, as if she had everything under control. Experience the best from m|v|l|e|mp|y|r

    The woman, nked by subordinates, went straight to meet the Military Affairs Commissioner, with no one daring to intercept her.

    The Military Affairs Commissioner¡ªLu Shijie, almost 60, was the highest-ranking official in the Military Preparations Dao Office.

    He seemed to be expecting the woman''s arrival, sitting casually behind arge mahogany desk, and greeted her coolly, "Princess Yongping, I presume."

    Not only was his attitude impolite, but there was also no stool or tea offered.

    An attendant immediately prostrated on the ground with hands supporting her, and Princess Yongping, using a person as her stool, sat down with poise andposure, holding an envelope in her hand.

    "This is a decree from the Prime Minister''s Office¡ªthe ''Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association'' is officially established. From today on, Yunzhou martial artists will be under my administration," she stated.

    With that, she carelessly tossed the envelope. It flew like a de, piercing into the mahogany desk in front of Lu Shijie with a ''thud'', embedding itself three inches deep.

    Lu Shijie''s eyebrows twitched: "I''ve been aware for quite some time, please, make yourselffortable."

    He pulled the envelope out of the desk, patted it lightly, and set it aside.

    However, inwardly, he was shocked: Such skill was characteristic of someone in the Blood-Exchange Realm! This woman being only about 20 years old, her talent would be considered astonishing even among royal kin!

    Princess Yongping''s lips curled in disdain as she said,

    "In these challenging times for our nation, not only have martial artists failed to aid the state, but many have caused trouble, even conspiring to create chaos. The Imperial Court will not sit idly by. I trust that you will make the right choices, Master Lu."

    Without looking back, she left.

    Lu Shijie''s face was obscured by shadow, masking his expression.

    Martial artists had always been under the Armed Forces Authority''s management, but now there was a sudden shift in oversight. The transfer of power between departments in a feudal dynasty was bound to be filthy with intrigue.

 Chapter 50: Li Pei

    ```

    After the meal, Liao Qe dragged Lu Yao off to the room with a smile.

    Martial artists had strong bodies and robust vitality, and their desires were much stronger than ordinary people''s; the girl, having tasted the marrow, had developed a keen taste and immediately wanted to engage in cultivation with him.

    "Getting up early in the morning might not be too good... Ah, forget it,e on."

    Though somewhat tired, Lu Yao also found pleasure in it.

    Afterward, Liao Qe calmed down, and the blush on her face faded. "Today, we''re going to the Armed Forces Authority to register my martial master qualification. With both of us as martial masters, the Liao Family Fist won''t be a minor school anymore."

    A martial school or sect with only one martial master could easily fall apart if the leader encountered mishaps.

    Lu Yao yed with the softness in his hand and said, "Then I also need to work harder and strive to make it three~"

    With medicinal supplements, a personal teacher, and all these advantages, he was confident he could quickly step into the Organ Refining Realm.

    After getting dressed and helping her tidy her disheveled hair, the two stepped into the courtyard.

    Liao Ya was practicing with her long spear, her face flushed, and whether it was from the exercise or not, she gave an annoyed nce at the pair who had indulged in an extra "meal."

    She was about to call them to leave for the Armed Forces Authority when someone arrived with a message.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Master Liao, I am Zhang Jin, a servant attending to Princess Yongping."

    The visitor had a clean-shaved, white face and a voice with a slightly sharp edge, likely an eunuch; yet he was dressed in a Western suit.

    "I''vee specifically to inform you¡ªthe Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association has been established. From today onwards, all martial artists will be managed by the Association, not by the Armed Forces Authority. This is a decree from the Prime Minister''s Office, and you may verify it at any Government Office."

    Liao Ya took the decree and handed it to Lu Yao, somewhat surprised: "Why all of a sudden¡­"

    Zhang Jin smiled and said, "This is the will of the Imperial Court. Every state and prefecture will do the same, and Yunzhou is not even the fastest. Princess Yongping will host a banquet tonight at Four Seas Tower to wee all of you. Make sure not to miss the time."

    Lu Yao, having read the decree, knew such a thing couldn''t be fake, and one could easily verify it by asking at any Government Office.

    Handing a taels of silver to the strangely dressed eunuch, he shook hands with him: "Eunuch Zhang, thank you for the trouble. May I ask if you have any advice?"

    Zhang Jin''s hand did not shake as he epted the silver, and his smile became a few degrees more genuine.

    "Our house has long heard that the Liao Family is a lineage of loyalty and bravery. Truly, the reputation is well deserved. Well then... I will overstep my bounds and say¡ª

    While our court favors martial artists, some do not repay the nation''s kindness and even repeatedlymit crimes. Therefore, the National Martial Arts Association was created to rectify this.

    The Association follows a Western model; in addition to the chairman, there is also the position of ''council member.''

    This position does not depend on connections or Kung Fu, but on the two words ''loyalty and bravery''!

    The Liao Family has a Blood-Exchange expert who sacrificed his life for the country. Indeed, a model example! There''s great hope for bing a ''council member''!"

    After finishing his words, Zhang Jin bowed with his hands sped: "I have several more visits to make, so I will take my leave now."

    After the visitor had gone, Lu Yao said, "No wonder that bastard Sun Haoran has been using every means to target us; his sights must be set here. He definitely doesn''t want to see you be a council member."

    Liao Ya, confident and filled with a fighting spirit, said, "Such a lowlife as Sun Haoran isn''t worth mentioning. We''ll go to Four Seas Tower and see; if that lout is there, it will be the perfect time to settle this."

    ~~~~~~~

    In the evening, the three of them arrived at Four Seas Tower, which had been reserved by Princess Yongping.

    At the entrance stood two rows of 20 burly men in Western suits, radiating sharpness, with the bearing and stride of military men.

    Liao Ya looked forward with anticipation: "I have heard that Princess Yongping is an exceptional talent. At just 20, she has already entered the Blood-Exchange Realm, so I wonder what she is like!"

    Liao Qe nced at the doormen with a curl of her lip: "Quite the grand setup."

    Then, a voice came from behind: "She is Prince Yi''s daughter. This grandeur is actually quite modest for her."

    Turning around, they saw that it was Duan Pei, who had acted as a witness in the past and had just arrived.

    With his age and experience, he exined a few things to the group:

    ```

    "Not only is the Commandery Princess''s father a Prince, but also the Minister of Military Affairs and a core member of the Western Affairs Faction. Unexpectedly, it was she who came to rectify Yunzhou''s Martial Faction."

    Several people exchanged greetings and entered the Four Seas Tower together, taking their seats in a designated area.

    They saw that all the martial artists of Yunzhou listed in the register and above the Organ Refining Realm hade, about a hundred or so. Those who had witnessed thestpetition were all present, including Sun Haoran and Master Pang.

    The expressions on everyone''s faces were varied, mostly showing a hint of astonishment, as the establishment of the "Elite National Martial Arts Association" was quite unexpected.

    Only a few people, like Sun Haoran, seemed to have known in advance and sat thereposedly. Among them was the elderly Master Pang, whose asionally opening and closing elderly eyes sparkled with a sharp light.

    The crowd didn''t have to wait long before an announcement rang out, "Her Highness, the Commandery Princess, has arrived~," and a short-haired beauty made her entrance.

    With elegance, she sped her fists in a salute, her voice crisp and pleasant as a singing oriole, clearly heard by everyone:

    "I am Li Pei. As a fellow practitioner of martial arts, there is no need to regard the so-called title of Commandery Princess."

    "In order to poprize the Martial Path and promote the spirit of martial excellence, the Imperial Court has established the Elite National Martial Arts Association, entrusted with the heavy responsibility of strengthening the nation and the people, and rebuilding the Divine Land. I have the honor of bing the president of the Yunzhou branch, overseeing the affairs of martial artists."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The short-haired beauty spoke confidently.

    Read first on m|v|l|e|mpyr

    Lu Yao nced at her, then at Liao Ya, his expression strange. This was the first time he had seen someone who couldpete with Master Liao in terms of chest size!

    Li Pei was dressed in a fitted suit, resembling a female university student about to go for an interview.

    She also had a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. ording to physiognomy, those born with such a mole are destined to struggle with love and be trapped by emotions in this life, and they are prone to tears.

    Yet, this woman had a pair of very appealing phoenix eyes, slender with a slight upward tilt at the corners, conveying disdain and arrogance. It was clear she was someone "not to be trifled with," carrying the air of an overbearing female CEO and not appearing to be someone prone to crying.

    As he was observing her, he was taken aback when Li Pei suddenly turned her head, her gaze particrly bright as it directed straight at Lu Yao.

    "He/she is also at the Constant Stability Realm!"

    Their eyes met, and they both had the same thought.

    Lu Yao subtly nodded his head, discreetly moving his gaze away.

    Li Pei, however, showed a hint of interest: she hadn''t expected to find someone in Yunzhou proficient in Spirit Refinement.

    ~~~~~~

    The room fell silent, as everyone digested the news of the establishment of the Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association, weighing the pros and cons.

    Surveying the surroundings, Li Pei, expressionless, dropped a bombshell:

    "Beforeing here, I did my homework and have a deep understanding of Yunzhou''s Martial Faction. The actions of certain individuals are truly disappointing. Selling opium, trafficking people, forcing the virtuous into prostitution... Forgive my bluntness, but you are a bunch of trash.

    The primary task of the Martial Arts Association is to decisively weed out those harmful to the group. From today onwards, the qualifications for martial artists and the opening of martial arts schools will undergo stricter auditing, and those whomit crimes will be severely punished!"

    These words sent a stir through the audience.

    What Li Pei spoke of were the most lucrative industries, there were many involved in these acts; it was like taking away people''s livelihoods, equivalent to killing their parents!

    The crowd was full of rebellious martial artists, with countless eyes fixed on Li Pei with malice, especially those who ran brothels and opium dens, wishing they could devour her alive.

    As she watched a group of people boiling with rage, Li Pei sat down leisurely, her mouth curling up into a contemptuous smile.

    "This is my first time in Yunzhou, and I was just thinking it would be nice to see the local talents. Would anyone like to ''ask for tips''?"

    "Asking for tips" meant that Li Pei would stand still, allowing the challenger to make the first move, while she countered and neutralized the attack.

    By doing this, she was positioning herself as a senior and a superior, clearly showing disdain. But it was also the fastest way to dominate the local martial artists.

    The crowd became restless.

    The martial artist who ran a brothel particrly looked down on women and was the first to lose his patience; a burly man stood up and bellowed:

    "The Imperial Court is foolish andwless, letting foreigners take over our greatnds, and I have been indignant for a long time. Today, I will meet you in challenge!"

    The shout reverberated throughout the hall, vibrating like a buzzing sound,ing from an Organ Refining Warrior.

 Chapter 51: 51. Roulette

    As someone stood up, the crowd below erupted into cheers.

    The burly man''s fighting spirit soared as there were many destitute people who had resorted to selling their childrentely, boosting the business of his brothel. How could he allow this lowlife to mess things up?

    Li Pei remained seated, her jade hand gracefully gesturing an invitation.

    The burly man slowly approached, and when he was 10 meters away, he suddenly pulled out two revolvers from behind his back!

    He knew he was no match, so he did not aim to kill the enemy. He just wanted to sweep away Li Pei''s prestige and make her lose face¡ªthat would be enough! Hitting her with just one bullet would do!

    Lu Yao was greatly curious. Even martial artists weren''t that rigid, and some used guns. It was a good opportunity to broaden his knowledge.

    The armed burly man didn''t hesitate to pull the trigger and both guns fired, the bullets reaching their target in an instant, with several shots intentionally aimed at Li Pei''s magnificent chest.

    She remained seated without moving, but her body seemed to disappear into thin air. Wherever the bullets were directed, that part of her body would vanish, leaving the bullets shooting through ineffectually.

    This was not an afterimage created by excessive speed, but rather Li Pei''s speed did not surpass that of the bullets. She relied on the Spirit Refinement Realm to lock onto the direction of the gun barrels.

    Lu Yao was greatly enlightened and praised inwardly,

    Beautiful! By locking onto the direction of the gun barrels in a calm state, predicting the trajectory of the bullets, one could control their body to dodge in advance! I could do this too, what a learning experience!

    ~~~~~~~

    The burly man emptied his bullets, yet not a single shot hit his target at point-nk range.

    And the next second, his vision blurred, and before he knew it, Li Pei had already appeared beside him.

    Without sound, without shadow. No one in the entire audience could see Li Pei''s moves clearly!

    This scene caused another stir. If you can''t see it, it means she could take your life at any moment!

    Fortunately, Lu Yao saw everything clearly. Not only was this woman fast, she also carried a strange whirl of air with her, which nullified all airflow and sound, no wonder she was undetectable!

    This use of Inner Breath was very simr to that described in a Secret Manual named "Enigmatic Butterfly".

    The burly man broke into a few beads of cold sweat but did not panic. Instead, he decisively threw away his guns and knelt on the ground: "Madam Chairman, your skills are indeed divine. I am utterly convinced and willing to serve you in any capacity from this day forward!"

    In the face of such a decisive surrender, Li Pei, with a smile, picked up a revolver that had emptied its bullets, reached into the burly man''s gun belt with her jade hand, and took out a .45 bullet.

    "You fired so many shots at me, we can''t just let it go at that. Let''s y a game of ''Russian roulette'', shall we?"

    Li Pei opened the cylinder of the revolver, dumped out the spent casings, and then ced a bullet into one chamber, spinning the cylinder for a few seconds before snapping it shut.

    This was none other than the infamous "Russian Roulette" game, well-known even on Blue Star!

    The burly man knew of this cruel game and pleaded frantically, "Commandery Princess, Madam Chairman, I''ve conceded, you are magnanimous, please don''t stoop to my level..."

    Li Pei aimed the gun at her own head: "One shot each, I''ll go first." After saying that, she pulled the trigger.

    In the expectant gazes of countless people, there was a "click," the hammer fell on an empty chamber, and nothing happened.

    Then, Li Pei pointed the gun at the burly man''s forehead and said with a light chuckle, "If you die, it means Heaven has called for you~"

    With that, she pulled the trigger. The cylinder spun, the hammer fell, and a loud "bang" sounded!

    A bloody hole appeared in the burly man''s head, and a mass of brain matter sprayed out from the back as he copsed to the ground.

    "Tsk tsk, I can''t be med for this. It seems like your brothel has collected many resentful spirits, and retribution hase," Li Pei said.

    Carelessly discarding the gun, she moved lightly back to her seat with poised elegance.

    She even nced at Lu Yao, ced a finger on her lips, and quietly made a "shh" gesture.

    Lu Yao knew what she meant, she had cheated! With her sustained calm state and the physical qualities of a Blood-Exchange Warrior, she could clearly see the spinning of the cylinder and control the "Russian Roulette," ensuring the burly man''s inevitable death.

    As a practitioner of sustained calm himself, Lu Yao understood all too well.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Li Pei looked over the arena, adjusted her tie, and her icy voice carried throughout the venue:

    "Our dynasty favors martial artists, not asking you to join the battlefield and serve the country, but neither can you collude with outsiders to bring disaster upon the region!"

    Having said that, she picked up a stack of papers from the table and flung them into the crowd, scattering like snowkes all over the ce.

    Those who caught them saw the words "Life-and-Death Agreement" written boldly on top, with Li Pei''s signature and seal below, and arge nk space in the middle for anyone to fill in!

    "This is a nk life-and-death agreement, I''ve already signed my name. Those who disagree can challenge me to a duel to the death."

    Everyone was inwardly amazed by the woman''s assertiveness. The nk space meant "no matter how youe at me, I will take it on."

    Seeing a powerful Government Office now overseeing them, everyone felt somewhat displeased, but they were overwhelmed by authority and strength, so they could only tolerate it.

    Yet those with astute minds were already considering throwing their lot in with this decisive Commandery Princess.

    Stay updated with m-vl-em,py-r

    Sun Haoran slowly stood up, sped his hands in front of him, and said, "I am willing to follow Chairman Li''s lead without question." Surprisingly, he was the first to submit.

    Ignoring the various looks from the crowd, he stood there, unperturbed.

    [No matter what, secure a position on the board first. Being the first to submit, I''m paying handsomely for a horse''s loyalty. She will surely favor me.]

    Soon, other shrewd individuals caught on to this, one after another expressing their willingness to "follow Chairman Li''s instructions," and the situation suddenly became much livelier.

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the midst of this bustling scene, Li Pei observed the Marrow-Cleansing Realm martial master who had the appearance of a schoolteacher, with a look of amusement.

    Liao Ya couldn''t stand to see her opponent gaining the upper hand, and suddenly stood up, eximing, "Sun Haoran, let''s settle our business."

    The crowd looked towards the two, recalling there was still this unresolved issue.

    Li Pei also wore an interested expression, as the eunuch Zhang Jin quietly exined the details of the situation to her.

    Sun Haoran indifferently said, "In the presence of Chairman Li, I won''t stoop to your level. Let''s call it quits."

    Liao Qe scornfully said, "You have the gall to back out of an agreement you made in public? Are you, a Marrow-Cleansing warrior, afraid of me, an Organ Refining warrior!"

    Her provocation was quite naive, and she seemed too eager, making it obvious to anyone.

    The young girl had reviewed her entire cultivation process with the help of Lu Yao''s Color Ultrasound Instrument and was eager to challenge her foe.

    The old hand, Sun Haoran, frowned. This girl looked too excited and expectant, something was off, and with Luo Su and the others gone without return, there was definitely something fishy going on!

    So he called out to Li Pei:

    "Chairman Li, the National Martial Arts Association is newly founded. Although I am of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, it is not suitable to engage in strife with my peers. Please make a decision!"

    He thought it was a perfect opportunity to woo him, a Marrow-Cleansing expert, and that Li Pei would surely support him.

    But to his surprise, her phoenix eyes arched, and she instead said, "Since it was agreed upon publicly, a martial artist should keep their word as steadfast as a mountain. Why not settle it today instead of picking another date? I will be the witness, let''s resolve your grudge today!"

    Many martial artists who loved to watch the excitement immediately started cheering and making a racket.

    Li Pei returned to the Eight Immortals table, had the eunuch prepare ink and paper, and wrote out a life-and-death agreement with beautiful, small script on the spot,

    with the same terms as the previous duel, simply changing the names.

    Under these circumstances, the battle today became unavoidable, and Sun Haoran took a deep breath to quickly adjust his state.

    His face still showed indifference to fame and fortune, yet his entire demeanor had shifted to that of a fugitive as seen in wanted posters, staring intently at Liao Ya.

    ~~~~~~~

    The crowd put aside their ponderings, ready to watch this unique fight.

    Normally speaking, an Organ Refining Warrior could hardly defeat a Marrow-Cleansing Warrior.

    Organ Refining Warriors have the strength of a crouching tiger, with punches and kicks exerting a force of 3,000 jin.

    Marrow-Cleansing Warriors possess the strength of an elephant, with no less than 6,000 jin to their name.

    There was once a tug of war where 20 strong men were pitted against a single Marrow-Cleansing Warrior and suffered a miserable defeat, all of them pulled to the ground.

    However, Master Liao had previously demonstrated peak Organ Refining strength in her bouts, making it hard to predict the winner.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 52: 52. National Martial Arts Association Director

    The martial arts duelists entered the distinctive courtyard of Four Seas Tower, and the spectators, having taken their seats, widened their eyes in focused attention. A life-and-death fight between high-ranking fighters was a rare sight, an invaluable opportunity for observation.

    To everyone''s surprise, both duelists wielded long spears, though Sun Haoran''s was silver, while Liao Ya''s was ck.

    "Liao Family girl, back then your father sank a cargo ship, 100,000 catties of opium fed to the fish, causing countless people to lose their fortunes.

    I was just a petty smuggler of opium, luckily I found one of your father''s arms and that helped me advance rapidly, leading to today!

    You dying by my hand can also be credited to your father!"

    After finishing with his biting words, Sun Haoran didn''t say more and took the initiative to attack. The silver spear shimmered into countless cold shes, apanied by a whistling sound as it struck the air, raining down on Liao Ya like a meteor shower.

    Some in the crowd recognized it¡ªthat was the famous ''Soaring Dragon Skyward Style'' of Haoran Martial Arts Hall. To be hit by even a single strike would mean more than a chilling touch; it could tear one apart with its massive force.

    Liao Ya fought fiercely, with a piercing battle cry she thrust her spear directly. The ngor of metal on metal rang out as sparks flew from the head-on sh of the two spears!

    The girl actually chose not to dodge or evade, engaging in a head-on confrontation with an opponent a whole cultivation level higher!

    Sun Haoran was certainly not afraid, instead he was overjoyed in his heart! You, in the Organ Refining Realm, trying topete in strength with me in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm!

    Their battle sped up, the spears whipped through the air so fast only two dark shadows could barely be seen, and the force of the blows whipped up strong winds painful to the face.

    Liao Ya didn''t show even a hint of fatigue, her performance at a lower cultivation level was remarkable during the fight.

    But Duan Pei shook his head and said, "Sun Haoran may be morally corrupt, but his skills are real. Master Liao has be somewhat impatient. An initial burst of energy is followed by quick depletion, with such fierce attacks, she likely won''tst long."

    At the next table, Master Pang also said, "The energy of someone in the Organ Refining Realm is inherently weaker; it would be wiser to use hit-and-run tactics to look for a lethal opportunity than to confront head-on which is foolish."

    Just when things looked grim for her, a thunderous ''humph'' and ''ha'' erupted from Liao Ya''s mouth and nose, and the power and speed of her ck Dragon spear surged, starting to overpower her opponent.

    Sun Haoran gritted his teeth, his face flushed red. His own spear felt as if it were striking a mountain, and each collision sent a numbing shock through both of his arms!

    "Her strength is not less than mine!"

    Even with all his strength, he couldn''t reverse the tide and was instead forced to retreat.

    He couldn''t believe it, he was in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm! How could he be at a disadvantage in this battle of strength!? But the reality before his eyes was indisputable!

    Even those in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm are not perpetual motion machines, gradually Sun Haoran''s strength began to decline, it was no longer just a retreat, he couldn''t even block her spear anymore. His face and throat were sliced open one after another, and if he hadn''t dodged quickly, the duel could have ended already.

    The spectators also sensed his decline, and Duan Pei eximed in surprise, "Organ Refining suppressing Marrow-Cleansing!?"

    Continue the saga on m-v-l-e-mpyr

    The crowd thought they were seeing things wrong or that Sun Haoran had some tactic in y, but as the fight dragged on and his situation worsened, it was clear he was no match in a head-on sh.

    But it wasn''t over yet! Liao Ya took a deep breath, her already proud chest swelling further. Her spear shook and became a soaring ck Dragon, rapidly cast shadows enveloping her opponent from all directions.

    Down in the stands, Li Pei, resting his chin in his hand, watched with glee and suddenly recognized the move, saying in astonishment, "This is... ''Blood Battle in All Directions,'' the Xiao family''s spear technique?"

    Sun Haoran roared in anger, "You still have strength in reserve!?"

    By now, his arms were trembling, and the flush of exertion on his face was being reced by a pallor; he was running out of strength!

    Sun Haoran let out a heart-wrenching roar of rage, drawing on all his potential, but if you can''t win, you simply can''t win, no matter how loud you scream.

    Suddenly, Liao Ya''s ck Dragonpletely engulfed him!

    The crowd only saw Sun Haoran being shredded into bits by the high-speed spinning spear, spraying the ground in a fan shape.

    A few drops of blood trickled down the tip of the spear. Liao Ya stood tall with her spear, the sweat from her vigorous exertion steaming into fog.

    For a moment, everyone was in disbelief. Oveing a higher cultivation realm was the stuff of legends, something never seen in reality, especially in such a dominating fashion!

    It took several seconds, but Li Pei was the first to start pping, followed by a gradual chorus of cheers and apuse.

    Duan Pei, having watched his long-time rival die like this, murmured to himself, "Organ Refining defeating Marrow-Cleansing, we in Yunzhou have actually witnessed a peerless genius!"

    Liao Ya became the focus of the entire venue, and onlookers marveled at her talent.

    "Crossing borders to break the enemy, a heaven-sent prodigy indeed!"

    "Truly a talent extraordinary! This physique is nearly perfected to the utmost!"

    ~~~~~~

    Liao Ya didn''t shown much excitement, as her aspirations were no longer ced on the likes of Sun Haoran. She was contemting stepping into the Marrow-Cleansing Realm¡ª

    [With this¡­ I could also reach the legendary state where everything falls into ce seamlessly, like an overflowing cup of water¡­]

    At that moment, as waves of praise flooded in, Liao Ya nced at Lu Yao awkwardly.

    She knew her own affairs best; although she had some talent, it was far from what they imed, and she owed much to her junior brother''s help.

    She held her spear and cupped her fists in salute, bowing to all sides, and was about to leave the stage when Li Pei approached her with a smile, "Master Liao, please wait a moment."

    Both women were exceptionally beautiful, and as they stood tall and graceful together, they especially caught the eye.

    Li Pei announced loudly, "ording to the Imperial Court''s requirements, the National Martial Arts Association will establish three director positions, with the rank of Seventh Grade, to be held by local martial artists, who will share all rted affairs."

    Upon hearing this, there was a stir among the audience. Everyone realized the importance of these positions and started whispering amongst themselves.

    Managing all the martial artists in Yunzhou, the three directors would undoubtedly hold high authority, not to mention the rank of a Seventh Grade official.

    At this point, Duan Pei and Master Pang looked serious yet hopeful. As owners of some of the biggest martial arts halls present, they naturally expected some honor for themselves.

    Li Pei paused for a moment, then continued, "The position of director will not be based on one''s power or level of kung fu. Since everyone is here today, I will set a standard¡ª"

    Her expression became serious, and she spoke solemnly:

    "Thete Liao Qigong was unmatched in loyalty and bravery, sacrificing his life for the nation. His descendant, Liao Ya, with a heart of kindness and a spirit of courage and wisdom, can certainly be a role model for all martial artists!

    Master Liao, would you be willing to take on the role of a director for the Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association?"

    Liao Ya cupped her fists in salute and said, "I am honored by the chairman''s affection, and I am willing!"

    Li Pei''s face broke into a smile, "Very well, the first director of the Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association is born."

    After her speech, she began to p, initiating scattered apuse.

    Those martial artists who had just praised Liao Ya''s talent were now somewhat displeased, and the elderly Master Pang had an especially sour expression on his face.

    By rights, as the most respected among them, the first director''s position should have gone to him. Yet, it was given to an obscure young girl.

    Master Pang made a covert signal, and immediately, someone in the crowd started to heckle, "There are two more director positions, who might they be?"

    "Yeah, let''s choose them quickly~"

    Li Pei maintained aposed smile, "As someone new here, of course, I must pick the best of the best, the most suitable candidates. Everyone, please be patient."

    This was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey. Many people saw through it but couldn''t do much about it.

    Li Pei slowly cupped her fists in salute to those all around and said:

    "Ladies and gentlemen, on my first day of practicing fists, my master taught me this salute, and there is one thing I remember very clearly¡ªleft palm with four fingers together, symbolizing unity and striving forward for all in ourmunity.

    In today''s world, we martial artists must relentlessly strengthen ourselves, to serve our nation above and bring peace to the people below, daring to lead the world!"

    ...

    As Li Pei called out this rousing slogan, the young martial artists below energetically cheered her on.

    The current Shun Dynasty was not only righteous but also carried the mandate of expelling the Tartars, which was more appealing to the people than the fallen feudal dynasty of Blue Star.

    Yet, there were many who wereckluster, disdainful, or even openly scoffing.

 Chapter 53: 53. Forcibly Crossing Inner Breath

    The banquet concluded, and the attendees departed, each lost in their own thoughts.

    Zhang Jin approached and said, "Master Liao, pleasee with me."

    Having killed Sun Haoran after signing a life-and-death deration, Liao Ya naturally expected to collect her "prize."

    The trio arrived at Li Pei''s ce, where the short-haired beauty greeted them warmly, taking Master Liao''s hand:

    "I never expected Yunzhou to harbor such a genius as your younger sister. This trip has truly been worthwhile."

    Liao Ya modestly demurred, "I dare notpare. You have already reached the Blood-Exchange Realm."

    The two women exchanged courtesies, their ample bosoms heaving in a subtle contest.

    Lu Yao covertly assessed which was more magnificent, but even in a calm state, he couldn''t reach a verdict, mainly because they wore too many clothes.

    "Here are the deeds for the Haoran Martial Arts Hall, a total of 24. Besides the main residence, the rest are opium dens."

    Li Pei looked at Liao Ya with a smile, her tone even, "Most of Yunzhou''s opium dens are right here, and so is the connection to the Hailong Gang built up by Sun Haoran. Master Liao, you''ve be rich overnight~"

    But Liao Ya''s face showed disgust, "Opium has brought great harm to people, and my enmity with the Hailong Gang is as deep as the ocean! Chairman, all I want is to retrieve my father''s body; as for the rest, it''s fine if I don''t take them."

    "That won''t do. ording to the rules, these assets are now yours."

    Upon hearing Liao Ya say this, Li Pei''s expression rxed quite a bit:

    "Sun Haoran''s properties involve shares of many people; not just anyone can take them on. But don''t worry, I will lend a hand. Master Liao, shall we go meet these opium den owners tomorrow?"

    Liao Ya had no objections, "That would be very good!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    After bidding farewell, the trio of Liao Ya were personally seen out by Li Pei.

    Once they were gone, Zhang Jin handed over all of their information, "Congrattions to the Commandery Princess on acquiring a great general! A joyous beginning is sure to lead to smooth sailing and swift sess in Yunzhou!"

    Li Pei, flipping through the documents, said with a smile, "The ''great general'' is not just one individual."

    Zhang Jin thought her master meant Liao Qe, "Are you speaking of the Liao Family''s second daughter? To have reached the Organ Refining stage at such a young age, she truly is rare talent."

    However, Li Pei''s gaze lingered on Lu Yao''s file, her lips curling with interest, "Such sparse information on this man. Hees from overseas?"

    "It''s said that he has a gift for Spirit Refinement andes from a wealthy family, notcking in funds."

    "Keep an eye on him."

    Although Zhang Jin was puzzled, she did not inquire further and quickly bowed in acknowledgment.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Upon returning home, the three were very pleased. Lu Yao joked, "We scored a great victory and even secured an official position. Tonight is truly a case of both fame and fortune, Master Liao~ congrattions~"

    Liao Ya smiled, "Truthfully, I''m not interested in power, but with this position, I can act against the Hailong Gang, and I''m willing to give it a try!"

    She looked at the words "Liao Family Boxing Gym" hanging in the main hall and suddenly felt that revenge was no longer an extravagant hope.

    And all this was thanks to her amazing junior brother, making her feel the deal for this ''sister'' was extremely worthwhile.

    Liao Ya put away her long spear and said, "Prepare the medicinal bath, increase the dosage by fifty percent, I''m advancing to the Jin Realm through marrow cleansing!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Before leaving the house, Lu Yao had already prepared the medicinal herbs, so the preparation of the medicinal bath was very quick, and soon the two fair-skinned young women were soaking in it.

    Amidst the steamy mist of the bath, Liao Qe chattered, "The Commandery Princess is really easy to get along with~ she''s even going to help us tomorrow~"

    Liao Ya rubbed her sister''s head, "Silly girl, that''s because our goals align."

    She had already perceived the intentions of the noblewoman to curry favor; both parties were still in the stage of cautious probing.

    Liao Qe held up the medicinal liquid, pouring it over her fair body, letting it cascade down her delicate corbone.

    Watching her increasingly enchanting and amorous younger sister, Liao Ya pretended to be displeased and said,

    "After we take over the Haoran Martial Arts Hall tomorrow, it will be perfect to serve as your family business. Why don''t you and Lu Yao move there and live on your own? It will give me some peace and a good night''s sleep."

    "No, I don''t want to leave you~" Liao Qe objected, clinging to her sister like glue, not letting go: "I want to be with you for a lifetime~"

    "Let''s not, you''re too noisy~"

    "I''ll cover my mouth in the future¡­"

    Liao Qe rubbed against her sister''s chest, coquettishly acting spoiled for a long time, and with much persuasion, she finally convinced her to abandon the idea.

    In truth, Liao Ya was only saying that to scare and vent a little. The sisters had been inseparable since childhood and shared a deep bond; she couldn''t bear to part with her sister.

    But she still cautioned, "It''s fine to enjoy romance, but don''t neglect your cultivation! Remember¡ªLu Yao is still unwell!"

    Liao Qe nodded in agreement over and over, and simultaneously blinked her big eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

    ~~~~~~~

    After her bath, Liao Qe, with her hair still wet, hurriedly went to Lu Yao''s room.

    Lu Yao took out a "Portable Color Ultrasound Device" to assist her in stabilizing her Organ Refining.

    Today, with only the two of them, the intimacy made things less awkward than before, and she simply chose not to wear any clothes for easy monitoring.

    Holding the probe, Lu Yao teased as he scanned her wless, baster back, "What a pity not to put a cupping jar on this."

    The state of her blood and organs was clear at a nce, allowing Liao Qe to easily know her progress and what she needed to do.

    "With this device, it''s so simple. It won''t be long before I achieve Five Organs Resonance."

    Wiping the coupling agent from her body, Liao Qe was extremely satisfied with her cultivation progress: "When sister was refining her organs, it took her months of hardship, but I only need two or three days."

    Lu Yao also made significant progress. Having seen it so often now, he had a clear understanding of the Organ Refining Realm, which would make his own breakthrough much simpler in the future.

    ~~~~~~~

    After wrapping up the serious business, it was only natural for the two of them to spar a bit.

    Lu Yao thought it would be just another unremarkable fight, where he was bound to be the losing party.

    But at thest moment, Liao Qe ced her hand on his back, transferring to him arge amount of Inner Breath!

    "This is the precious Inner Breath transformed from the essence of the Five Organs! You need to keep it for your cultivation, why give it to me!?"

    Lu Yao immediately wanted to get up, but his sister held him down firmly, "Don''t move; you need to reach the Blood-Exchange Realm quickly and get well."

    "Stop, stop, stop, a martial artist''s progress reliespletely on Inner Breath, you¡­"

    Liao Qe turned a deaf ear and transferred it all at once.

    With an abundance of tonics and medicinal baths, her Inner Breath was extraordinarily powerful. Lu Yao felt his blood turn hot as if it were water, and his entire body inside and out underwent a sauna, extremely soothing. Every cell cheered and yearned for this essence of life.

    Having received immense benefits, Lu Yao looked at Liao Qe with aplex expression, wanting to scold her but he couldn''t, instead, he just held her close.

    Inner Breath is the most important thing for a martial artist; taking tonics and having medicinal baths, everything is to strengthen it!

    It is the very foundation of a martial artist''s existence, yet Liao Qe transferred it without hesitation!

    With her slender index finger drawing circles on his chest, her gentle voiceforted him: "Don''t worry, with your device, I don''t need so much Inner Breath for cultivation. I will give it to you every day¡­"

    Looking at her beautiful face, feeling the soft body in his arms, Lu Yao found himself filled with endless energy.

    Liao Qe quickly bit into her pillow.

 Chapter 54: 54. Disaster at the Opium Den

    The next morning, Li Pei drove over to pick up the guests.

    Lu Yao looked curiously at the ck vintage car, noting that it had aplete set of steering wheel and gear positions, much like the antique cars in Blue Star.

    Liao Ya spoke courteously, "It is an honor that the Commandery Princess has taken the trouble toe herself; I am ttered beyond measure."

    Li Pei was dressed in Western attire as usual, though today she wore a vest.

    "There''s no need for formality, Master Liao. I am taking this opportunity to experience the local customs and human interest, hehe~ I''m really looking forward to seeing most of Yunzhou''s opium dens."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The eunuch Zhang Jin was driving the car, with Lu Yao in the passenger seat. Three slender girls satfortably in the back without any crowding.

    On the road, Li Pei, noticing the silky sheen on Liao Ya''s skin, started a conversation, "Little sister, are you in the process of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm?"

    "Your perception is as sharp as ever, Commandery Princess. I had the good fortune to make a breakthrough afterst night''s battle."

    Li Pei showed no surprise; anyone present yesterday could see that Liao Ya had reached the limit of Organ Refining.

    "Congrattions, I wish for you to cleanse the mortal marrow soon and exchange it for immortal bones."

    "I thank you for your auspicious words."

    Advancing in the Martial Path isn''t about ruing enough experience points to ''ding'' level up; it''s a slow process of bodily transformation.

    The car drove by, spurring the listless and emaciated passersby to scatter and avoid it.

    Li Pei gazed out the car window, caressing her smooth chin: Keep the excitement alive on m-vl-em,pyr

    "The Imperial Court has established the National Martial Arts Association with the intention of poprizing the Martial Path and strengthening our nation and people. If every citizen practices martial arts, enhances their physical strength and mental fortitude, shedding the air of defeatism, we will certainly be able to erase our previous humiliation and rebuild the Divine Land!"

    Liao Ya immediately felt that she had found a kindred spirit, "Exactly, if everyone practices martial arts, with arge enough base, we could eventually form a squad of ''Indestructible Golden Body Realm'' masters! No matter the strength of the enemy''s iron ships or powerful cannons, I would face them head-on!"

    Li Pei: "..."

    "Cough... Senior sister..." Lu Yao suddenly interjected, "Why are you always so obsessed with this?" He had heard the girl mention this once before.

    "Because I have witnessed the power of a ''Indestructible Golden Body Realm'' Great Grandmaster with my own eyes!" Liao Ya''s pretty face flushed red:

    "I was young at the time, but I still remember Lord Guan''s heroic defense of Tiger Gate Fortress! Single-handedly facing tens of thousands, how magnificent he was! Tearing Western demon beasts apart as if they were mere paper..."

    The girl went on endlessly about what she had seen and heard in her youth, but Li Pei''s face was etched with deep embarrassment, and the eunuch Zhang Jin driving the car also had a strange expression.

    Both knew that back then, in the wake of Lin Gong''s actions to destroy the opium, the foreign powers had used this as an excuse to brazenly invade, with tens of thousands of "Einheit" troops besieging Tiger Gate Fortress.

    During the crisis, the Imperial Court, divided between the factions for and against war, was disgracefully indecisive, especially since the former Emperor was reluctant to engage in battle.

    Lord Guan pleaded for reinforcements multiple times, but in the end, he only received 200 troops...

    Surrounded by enemy forces, Lord Guan fought valiantly until his Golden Body shattered, witnessed by numerous people along the coast.

    A loyal and patriotic Great Grandmaster was thus tragically betrayed and left to die, a disgraceful chapter for the Imperial Court, and the atmosphere sunk into awkwardness.

    Fortunately, they reached their destination at that moment.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Fushou Road, Fushou House.

    The name sounded pleasant, but in reality, it was arge opium den, and it had "diversified development," with a brothel and a gambling house right next door.

    Countless people, despondent in spirit, exposed their worst in there; many addicted to opium with no money could only sit idly around the opium den, like lifeless zombies.

    Li Pei spoke indifferently, "Each and every one of these opium dens and gambling dens has an Organ Refining Martial Artist in charge. They exploit their fellow countrymen''s flesh and blood without the slightest qualm, indulging themselves and advancing their cultivation. Now, they belong to you, Master Liao."

    They got out of the car and walked into Fushou House. The manager waited anxiously and, upon seeing the visitors, tried topose himself:

    "Master Liao, our Fushou House makes a clear profit of three pieces of silver daily, a remarkably lucrative deal. With you at the helm, it can only flourish even more..."

    Liao Ya couldn''t care less about these things and got straight to the point, "This is the property deed; from now on, this ce is mine. Close it immediately! Everyone, get out!"

    Of course, the manager was reluctant, arguing, "Our establishment has shares from several officials of the Prefecture government; by doing this, you..."

    Li Peiughed and said, "Hmm? I wonder which officials those might be~"

    The shopkeeper''s face turned ashen, and he dared not speak further. The shares of the opium dens owned by court officials were definitely not something that could be openly discussed.

    The bouncers in the opium den cowered to one side; they were not fools either and did not dare to trouble these individuals.

    Afterward, the eunuch Zhang Jin waved his hand, and innumerable stout men in ck appeared, dealing with the misceneous affairs¡ª

    The sign of the opium den was taken down and smashed; addicts who refused to leave were unceremoniously thrown out the door;rge opium pills were doused with lime and thrown into the stinking ditch, and finally, countless opium pipes were burned in the street.

    Thick smoke rose, and thus Yunzhou''srgest opium den was no more.

    Following that, the group hurriedly moved on to the next establishment. The deed was shown, and on the spot, the ce was closed down for good, and the opium pipes were burnt!

    The few who dared to resist in a fit of emotion were also harshly dealt with by Zhang Jin. It turned out that this eunuch was an expert at the Marrow-Cleansing Realm.

    With such efficiency, they had managed to bring down over twenty opium dens in just half a day, causing quite a stir throughout the city.

    Many were astounded: opium dens were businesses with deep connections, involving countless high officials and martial experts. Someone actually dared to mess with them!?

    The National Martial Arts Association and the Liao Family Fist gained fame from the battle.

    ~~~~~~~

    After dealing with the opium dens, the group arrived at therge estate of the Haoran Martial Arts Hall. Countless men in ck raided Sun Haoran''s home, while the others simply waited.

    Li Pei was very happy,ughing, "How exhrating! Today, I was able to vent thanks to your influence. Otherwise, given my special status, I wouldn''t dare to be so ostentatious."

    Liao Ya was also filled with satisfaction, "This is exactly what I''ve been wanting to do, only Hailong Gang remains to be taken down!"

    The two women exchanged looks, feeling an instant connection as kindred spirits.

    Li Pei said earnestly, "Director Liao, although we''ve vented our anger today, it has also caused you significant losses. Besides, many are watching these shops, afraid that they might be turned back into opium dens. How about this¡ªI''ll buy them at the original price, and I absolutely won''t let you suffer a loss."

    Liao Ya nced at Lu Yao subconsciously. After all, there were still a thousand taels of silver hidden under the bed, and she didn''t care about such a trivial profit, boldly saying:

    "There''s no need. I didn''t want to get involved with these shops anyway, and without the Commandery Princess''s help, I wouldn''t have been able to acquire them. You should handle them as you see fit."

    Li Pei was surprised by Liao Ya''s financialrgesse. It should stand to reason that the Liao Family Fist, being a small sect, would care greatly about money. But upon focusing and observing carefully, she confirmed that this woman genuinely did not care about these "prosperous shops."

    Li Pei thought for a moment, then said, "Then let''s do this¡ªthe shops will be considered assets operated by the National Martial Arts Association; here I have some medicinal forms and secret manuals for you to keep aspensation."

    Nonchntly, she handed over a few books, with titles such as the medicinal liquor secret form ''Golden Elixir Brew,'' the massage secret art ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art,'' and an unremarkable ''Xiao Family Spear Technique.''

    Liao Ya''sposed face showed a trace of shock, "Commandery Princess, this is too valuable! These are top-secret teachings from within the pce!"

    ''Golden Elixir Brew'' and ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art'' were the top-tier "nourishing and training methods," which every martial artist coveted.

    Moreover, the Commandery Princess had simply handed over these forms all at once... They could be the core legacy and greatly treasured secret of a sect, whose value simply cannot be measured in money.

    Li Pei generously said, "No need to be polite; this is just a small token of my regard. We are counting on you to be skilled in cultivation as soon as possible for the National Martial Arts Association."

    Liao Ya was deeply touched, "Thank you, Commandery Princess!"

    ~~~~~~~

    After receiving the secret manuals, Liao Ya held the unremarkable ''Xiao Family Spear Technique'' with aplex expression.

    Li Pei spoke softly, "This is for you. You may practice it freely; no one would dare say anything about it."

    Liao Ya started to speak but then stopped, and finally just bowed her fist in thanks without saying a word.

    Lu Yao, who had been quietly watching, quietly asked Liao Qe, "What''s the deal with ''Xiao Family Spear Technique''? I noticed something unusual about Sister."

    Liao Qe spoke in a low, muffled voice, "My sister and I have a mother. After our father died, she didn''t want us anymore and returned to her maiden home. ''Xiao Family Spear Technique'' is the martial art of our mother''s family."

    "What???!!!"

    There were surely a myriad of messes behind this, and Lu Yao didn''t rush to ask further.

    Liao Qe continued, "Actually, I have long forgotten what she looked like..."

 Chapter 55: 55.

    Before long, the entourage of confiscators had finished their business.

    The eunuch Zhang Jin, apanied by two attendants carrying chests of money, came over and reported,

    "Combining the opium den with this mansion, we''ve confiscated a total of about 100 taels of medicinal materials, antiques, weapons, and silver coins, but... we did not find the remains of thete Elder Liao."

    Liao Ya''s expression turned cold as he said, "I myself will retrieve myte father''s remains from the Hailong Gang!"

    Then he said to Zhang Jin with a smile, "Eunuch Zhang, thank you for your trouble this time. Consider these belongings a token of my gratitude; it''s not in vain that everyone''s been bustling about."

    Hearing Liao Ya say this, Zhang Jin hurriedly demurred, "This won''t do, this won''t do!"

    The two attendants carrying the chests also suddenly changed color. A hundred taels was no small sum, and to think it would just be given away like that!?

    If it were the former Liao Ya, he might have been tempted, but ever since he had seen a suitcase full of a thousand taels of silver, he had developed a strong resistance to money. What was this little amount inparison!

    After much insistence and a meaningful nce from Li Pei, Zhang Jin finally epted the hard-to-dispose-of weapons and antiques, which constituted a considerable gain, much to everyone''s delight.

    Through close observation and meditation, Li Pei confirmed that Liao Ya truly remained unmoved by wealth and goods, inwardly praising his steadfast mind and valuing him even more.

    One must know that martial cultivation is apetition for resources. Without money, progress is difficult, and martial artists have an extreme fondness for wealth.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao picked up a copper coin and talked with Liao Qe with augh, "Is this a copper coin? It''s my first time seeing one."

    Liao Qe nodded, "Yes, it is."

    One could see on the round copper coin that the obverse bore the engraving "Jiande Treasure," and the reverse "Great Shun Minting Bureau." "Jiande" was the reign title of the current Emperor of Great Shun.

    Li Pei and Zhang Jin found the conversation between the two slightly amusing. How could someone have never seen a copper coin before?

    Afterward, Lu Yao picked up a few smaller copper coins and asked, "What are these?"

    Liao Qe answered, "These are called small change, even less than copper coins. You''ve likely never seen them before."

    Lu Yao understood: if copper coins were like hundred-dor bills, then small change was like pocket change.

    Liao Qe sighed with a wry smile, "It suddenly urred to me that you''ve always paid with silver when shopping, never using copper coins. That''s why the shopkeepers on the street like you so much."

    "Haha, silver is easy to carry; copper coins are too cumbersome."

    Lu Yao tossed the small change back, not paying much attention to all the silver coins scattered on the ground.

    Without showing any emotion, Li Pei interjected, "I''ve heard that Young Master Lues from overseas?"

    "Yes. Though I am a wanderer from abroad, I am also a disciple of the Liao Family Fist. I have seen the Commandery Princess!" Lu Yao said, neither servile nor overbearing, as he gave his respects.

    Li Peiughed, "Director Du has been constantly concerned about you. He even mentioned you when we met yesterday."

    "Foreign techniques are difficult to find. I have been searching earnestly, but fortunately, I already have some leads." Lu Yao had already purchased what he needed but such matters cannot appear too easy, or one would be harassed endlessly.

    Li Pei folded her arms across her chest, appearing all the more magnificent, "Does Young Master Lu also regrly practice Spirit Refinement?"

    Liao Qe spoke proudly, "Lu Yao achieved Focused Spirit after just one month~"

    Li Pei unfolded her arms, her face showing surprise, "One month!? Truly a prodigious talent!"

    For most people, just managing to meditate is the pinnacle ¡ª 99% of them would never reach the state of Focused Spirit in their lifetime.

    Yet this person had attained it in just a month! Li Pei took Lu Yao even more seriously in her heart, resolutely deciding to recruit him for her own use.

    A Focused Spirit expert is a rare find, the ideal choice for operating firearms. And firearms pertain not only to muskets but also to urately firing cannons!

    Her expression softened, and she spoke in a gentle voice, "In today''s world, the way of Spirit Refinement has declined, but we could certainly exchange more on the subject."

    Lu Yao replied with augh, "I have learned a lot from the Commandery Princess already. The ingenious way to dodge bullets and the ''roulette'' strategy are both quite enlightening."

    These words were heartfelt, and hearing them, Li Pei covered her mouth with a lightugh, "The path of Spirit Refinement is vast and profound, with boundless applications. What I have shown is but a minor skill."

    Her smile was now more sincere, her eyes curved, and the teardrop mole by her eye corner lent a unique charm.

    Subsequently, the two shared their insights on Spirit Refinement.

    Li Pei, having no one of the same path to talk to, was very lonely and thus quite happy at this moment.

    Liao Qe, seeing her man easily gain the favor of a Commandery Princess, felt even more honored.

    ~~~~~~

    Sun Haoran waspletely wiped out and became a thing of the past, and Li Pei sent the three back to the boxing gym.

    The day could be considered enjoyable for both the host and the guests. Li Pei valued the three greatly¡ªthey were just, extraordinarily talented, truly rare talents.

    And the greatest gain for Lu Yao and the others was the "Secret Manual" given by the Princess.

    "''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' is a unique massage technique passed down within the imperial inner circles, specifically designed for the ''Great Dragon,'' which is the spine.

    You should know... even old masseurs with decades of experience wouldn''t dare to easily work on someone''s spine, because one careless move could paralyze the person from the neck down.

    Therefore, the "nurturing and practicing methods" targeting the Great Dragon are extremely precious. The Commandery Princess is really generous... even giving this away. Find adventures at m v lem|p-yr

    With it, through massage, one can stimte the ''Great Dragon'' to clear the meridians and bnce yin and yang, which is hugely beneficial for the realms of Organ Refining, Marrow-Cleansing, and Blood-Exchange."

    After introducing the book''s impressive features, Liao Ya said to Lu Yao, "Junior brother, take off your outer clothes and lie down, and I will demonstrate."

    Lu Yao obediently stripped down to his shorts andy on the bed.

    Intimate contact was inevitable between master and disciple, and they had long since be ustomed to it. Liao Ya''s jade hands began the massage, kneading, rubbing, pinching, squeezing, with a subtle strength.

    This enticing scene should have beenfortable and pleasant, but Lu Yao suddenly tensed his body, enduring the urge to cry out in pain, for it was really too painful, apanied by bouts of soreness and numbness.

    Liao Ya kept her hands moving, "Pain on the first time is normal. Afterward, it will be veryfortable, even enjoyable."

    Liao Qe, listening to her sister''s words, felt something was off...

    Liao Ya reminded her, "Liao Qe, watch closely and learn; in the future, you''ll have to massage both me and Lu Yao."

    The younger sister immediately focused intently, carefully memorizing everything.

    ~~~~~~~

    As Liao Ya''s hands moved back and forth on the spine, Lu Yao''s body uncontrobly twitched.

    Especially at the reflex areas corresponding to the organs, a slight stimtion could affect ndr secretions, unexpectedly enjoying some of the effects of Organ Refining while in the midst of Sinew-Strengthening, greatly enhancing his physique!

    After the massage was over, Lu Yao felt incredibly refreshed, not a single spot felt ufortable, every part of him felt splendid, and he couldn''t help but say:

    "Indeed, it is miraculously effective, truly a secret passed down within the imperial family! But it demands a lot from the practitioner, the strength must be precisely controlled. I am usually calm; I should be able to..."

    Liao Ya shook her head, "Your strength control is sufficient, but youck Inner Breath. ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' must be apanied by Inner Breath."

    Lu Yao was quite disappointed, as he was quite keen on "massaging" the girls. No matter, as soon as he reaches the Jin Realm and refines his organs to gain Inner Breath, it would be possible.

    ~~~~~~

    Afterward, everyone turned their attention to another secret form¡ªthe ''Golden Elixir Brew.''

    Liao Ya said, "This is a supplement for the Marrow-Cleansing Realm. Legend has it that it is the dew from the ''Dew Collecting Disc'' built by Emperor Wu of Han, which can help Inner Breath prate into the bone marrow, reaching a state where the marrow is trained like frost. We''re not short on silver, so when this brew is ready, you all can drink it."

    At this point, Liao Qe, batting her innocent wide eyes, asked Lu Yao, "You said you have Golden Elixir Brew and want me to drink it? Where is it?"

    The Golden Elixir Brew is a sacred supplement for the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, rarely seen outside, and hearing her sister say this, Liao Ya also looked over, puzzled.

    Lu Yao immediately felt cornered, gave a dry cough, and said, "That... no rush, there''ll be a time for you two to drink it."

    Although the two women found him somewhat baffling, they didn''t think much of it.

 Chapter 56: Evacuate disaster victims

    In the evening, Liao Qe continued to channel a great amount of Inner Breath.

    Lu Yao was full of energy and got up early the next morning to practice boxing.

    This practice session was crucial¡ªhe found himself brimming with strength, his physical power greatly increased, and he even managed to go through the Liao Family Fist routine twice!

    Liao Qe''s mind was always on her beloved, and she immediately noticed this, smiling with her eyes squinted with happiness, saying,

    "Lu Yao, you''re improving so fast! After going through the Liao Family Fist twice, you''re already ready to attempt Bone-Tempering!"

    "With the supplements, medicinal baths, and your Inner Breath, ah, I haven''t really put much effort into cultivation."

    Lu Yao felt somewhat embarrassed, as he had only focused on Spirit Refinement, and his martial arts progress was all due to "cheating."

    Liao Qe appeared even more delighted than Lu Yao, her pretty face flushed with excitement as she said, "Once my ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' is mastered, I''ll give you a massage every day. In no time, you''ll go through the Blood-Exchange!"

    Seeing the girl more proactive than himself, Lu Yao was deeply moved.

    At that moment, Liao Ya joined them. She was dressed in a simr outfit to Li Pei¡ªa tailored ck women''s suit!

    Her slender waist, curvaceous hips, and long legs were both beautiful and sexy. The shirt was nearly bursting at the seams, but luckily arge bow tie concealed it, making it less conspicuous.

    Realizing her sister and junior brother were staring at her, she exined, "I''m going to the National Martial Arts Association to report for duty, so I have to wear the uniform."

    Lu Yao suddenly felt that busty girls are really pitiful; no matter what they wear, it looks provocative.

    Liao Ya waspletely oblivious and started nning her day, "I also need to buy some white liquor to make the Golden Elixir Brew. I''ve long heard great things about this secret recipe given by the Commandery Princess, and I can''t wait to try it."

    At these words, Liao Qe''s face blushed, and she red fiercely at Lu Yao. This rascal had made it impossible for her to look at those words without getting embarrassed.

    ~~~~~~~

    Although yellow wine wasmonly consumed in the Shun Dynasty, there was still a market for white liquor, and it should not have been hard to find.

    But the three of them scoured the entire street without sess.

    The wine shopkeeper said with a worried frown, "Master Liao, there''s a grain shortage now, and the use of grain for brewing has been banned. There''s only fruit wine."

    Liao Ya frowned and said, "They''ve even banned brewing..."

    Lu Yao said, "No problem, I''ll bring some high-proof liquor when I go back home soon."

    The higher the alcohol content for steeping medicinal wine, the better. Hearing Lu Yao say this, Liao Ya readily agreed, "All right. Let''s go to the National Martial Arts Association first."

    ~~~~~~~

    The Jingwu National Martial Arts Association had its offices within the Yunzhou Prefectural Yamen.

    Along the way, they saw many rice shops with long queues, countless numb, gaunt-faced poor people waiting indifferently with their rice bags, nked by rice shop workers holding sticks with vignt expressions on their faces.

    The sisters'' expressions were a mix of mncholy and relief. The skyrocketing rice prices had persisted for a long while, and they would have been affected too, but with Lu Yao around, they had long forgotten what money was for, no matter how much prices rose, there was always enough meat on their table every day.

    Liao Qe suggested, "The more they limit purchases, the more panic there is, and the more people hoard grain. This is not good. Should we also buy some rice to store? Even if Lu Yao has a lot of money, we should still save some."

    Liao Ya was somewhat tempted, but before she could speak, Lu Yao rejected the idea, "No need. Whatever we stockpile, it should not be food¡ªwe''ll neverck that."

    ~~~~~~~

    The three of them were quick on their feet and soon arrived at the martial arts hall.

    The ck-d attendants were already busy going in and out, and they nodded respectfully to the trio upon seeing them.

    There were also some familiar martial artists, some filling out forms, others exchanging resources, all in an orderly manner.

    Lu Yao silently praised the Commandery Princess''s methods. In less than two days, the National Martial Arts Association was already up and running, taking over the responsibilities originally held by the Armed Forces Authority.

    Li Pei''s office was on the third floor, featuring a minimalist Western style.

    At the moment, she was casually reading at her desk.

    The way this woman read was quite peculiar¡ªusing her bosom as a ''paperweight'' to firmly hold down the pages of the book.

    In doing so, not only were her hands freed up for other tasks, but the weight on them was also greatly reduced.

    Seeing the visitors arrive, Li Pei didn''t go overboard with the pleasantries, instead, she simply gestured to the seats with a wave of her hand, indicating for them to take a seat.

    Lu Yao''s mischievous eyes were fixed on her impressive bosom, an entirely subconscious movement, male instinct.

    Only then did Li Pei realize that her posture was too casual.

    She quickly straightened her clothes and sat up properly, giving Lu Yao a sharp look that silently cursed him as a "little pervert".

    The book, no longer pressed down, closed on its own, and Lu Yao caught a glimpse¡ªit was actually a foreign work.

    ~~~~~~~

    Li Pei passed over a copper badge. Liao Ya took it and saw that it read "Director of Yunzhou National Martial Arts Association Liao".

    "Director Liao, this is your waist badge. The identification document still needs the Prefectural Governor''s seal; it should be ready in a couple of days.

    Your office is next to mine. Oh, and I have registered Young Master Lu and your sister as your secretaries, with the rank of 9th grade. This gives them an identity, allowing them toe and go from the government office at will."

    Li Pei spoke lightly, but official status was something many longed for, not only elevating one''s social position but also minimizing many inconveniences when travelling outside.

    To win over the three, the Commandery Princess obviously put in great effort.

    Liao Ya hastened to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Commandery Princess."

    "It''s a small effort, no need for thanks. Later, let Zhang Jin show you around, and ask him for anything you''re missing."

    Just as she was speaking about him, Zhang Jin suddenly knocked and entered. Hisplexion wasn''t too good, and he handed a decree to his superior.

    At a nce, Li Pei''s expression stiffened, and her previously pleasant demeanor was reced with rage.

    "The Prefectural Yamen has ordered that the National Martial Arts Association immediately go to clear out the troublemakers outside the city..."

    Lu Yao and the others exchanged nces; this issue seemed all too familiar, rumored to be an enviable "easy job." They hadn''t expected it toe full circle.

    Li Pei scoffed, "This is retaliation against us for destroying the opium dens. Having the newly established National Martial Arts Association confront unarmed disaster victims will surely lead to conflict and casualties. Then simply have several newspapers publish the story, and there will be a pretext for impeachment. The same old tricks!"

    Zhang Jin asked, "What should we do, Commandery Princess?"

    Li Pei mmed her fist on the table, "I''m going to seek an audience with the Prefectural Governor to exin the pros and cons. Blind use of force to disperse them is not the solution. If a major disturbance breaks out outside the city, he won''t be able to shirk responsibility either!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, several sneaky figures dressed in official uniforms were gathered together, conspiring against Li Pei, seething with hatred.

    "The moment this woman arrived, she''s been destroying our wealth. Let''s collectively file aint against her!"

    "But we have no legitimate reason. The Liao Family won the martial artspetition, and the property is rightfully theirs; it''s a private matter."

    "What a waste Sun Haoran is! To think we took such pains to cultivate him, only for him to be killed in another jurisdiction!"

    "This woman shows no sign of letting things go; we need to n ahead!"

    As the group was filled with impotent rage, the Military Affairs Commissioner, Lu Shijie, sipped his tea and said with unconcernedposure:

    "I have already devised a n for this matter. You all just need to wait for the report to be presented."

 Chapter 57: 57. Relief Aid

    Li Pei returned after only a few minutes, her face ashen.

    "The Prefectural Governor has declined to meet with me, citing pressing official duties! Has he also colluded with that group?"

    After pondering for a moment, she said, "Unless absolutely necessary, I do not wish to use force against the famine victims. Let''s go outside the city first to assess the situation!"

    ~~~~~~~

    As before, several people took a car driven by Zhang Jin to inspect conditions outside the city.

    However, upon reaching the city gates, they found them tightly shut, unable to leave.

    Li Pei suddenly had an ominous premonition and quickly climbed up to the city wall.

    Seeing the situation outside, even the alwaysposed Li Pei couldn''t help but exim in shock, "How could there be so many!!!"

    Stretching as far as the eye could see were emaciated, barely alive famine victims, cramming the space outside the city to the brim.

    She remembered there being only around ten thousand people just two days ago, but now there seemed to be a sea of people stretching uninterrupted, at least 100,000!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Below the city, a malnourished child weakly begged towards the top of the city wall.

    His limbs were like sticks, his ribs clearly visible, making his belly protrude even more.

    He begged ceaselessly, meanwhile saying, "Daddy, some noble hase to the top of the city wall! I see State Soldiers'' officers apanying her. Maybe if I bow more, I might receive a reward."

    A gaunt middle-aged man, with cheekbones protruding and speaking weakly to his own son, groaned, "Zhu Zi, stop moving, save your strength¡­"

    Zhu Zi bowed several more times before slowly making his way to a woman lying on the ground, "Mom, I''ve got a reward from a noble to buy you something to eat¡­"

    The woman''s lips were cracked, her face yellow and pale, and a few flies were flying in and out of her nostrils.

    Zhu Zi tentatively checked for breathing but withdrew his hand as if shocked by electricity, quickly crawling to his father''s side and crying, "Mom is dead¡­"

    The middle-aged man opened his lifeless eyes, nced in the direction of his wife, and said with a sense of relief, "It''s good she''s dead, it''s good. If she''s dead, she won''t have to suffer anymore¡­"

    A few people with greedy looks in their eyes also noticed the body, licking their lips and gathering around.

    ~~~~~~~

    "Amidst a great drought, people resort to cannibalism..."

    The mere six words in the history books resembled the hellish scene unfolding before them.

    Lu Yao furrowed his brows, never having expected such a situation outside the city.

    Having been born in the peaceful country of Blue Star, he waspletely ignorant about famines; the concern for people in his homnd was the health issues brought on by obesity.

    Everyone has a sense ofpassion, and he found it hard to look at such a miserable situation.

    Li Pei''s face was iron blue. She turned and asked the State Soldiers'' officer, who stood by with his hands tied, "Commander Xu, does the Prefectural Governor know about this situation? Why has relief not yet been dispatched?"

    Commander Xu quickly bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the Commandery Princess, it wasn''t like this at first, just these past few days they suddenly converged here. I''ve urgently reported it upwards. But there''s been no response yet."

    The man was big and burly, somewhat simple-looking, yet he was a master of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm. However, both in terms of strength and status, he was far inferior to Li Pei, and he didn''t dare to be rash at this moment.

    ~~~~~~~

    Li Pei took a deep breath and decisively said, "This situation is like oil on fire, a single spark could cause great disaster. Zhang Jin, bring out the Princess''s ceremonial guard and request the Prefectural Governor toe to the city wall."

    Zhang Jin was startled, instinctively trying to advise, "Your Highness, such an action will certainly bring censure..."

    But he quickly shut his mouth, knowing too well what sort of person his master was. Despite being a woman, her passion for benefiting the country and serving the people was no less than any man''s.

    Zhang Jin left with aplex expression on his face.

    Li Pei then turned to Lu Yao and the others, saying, "Martial arts are not omnipotent, you should head back first."

    Lu Yao stepped forward and said, "My family has some ''surplus grain'', and I am willing to help with the disaster relief..."

    "Young Master Lu has a kind and generous heart, and I appreciate your intentions," Li Pei said with a bitter smile in her heart, knowing that individual wealth was but a drop in the bucket in such a situation.

    Liao Ya also said, "My junior brother has some skills, perhaps he could truly offer some help, Commandery Princess you..."

    At this moment, a uniform marching sound interrupted their brief conversation, as countless military soldiers escorted a man dressed in arge red official robe.

    The military soldiers exuded an aura of agility, fully equipped in Western attire, with high morale, they were the Prefectural Governor''s standard-bearers.

    The man was none other than the Prefectural Governor of Yunzhou¡ªWen Renliang.

    One would think his swift arrival was good news, but Li Pei''s face soured, and she couldn''t help but curse, "That old bastard!"

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao quietly exined to the sisters:

    "His quick arrival indicates he was well prepared, clearly expecting the Commandery Princess wouldn''t ignore the situation. This way, not only can he leverage the situation, but it also means there''s one more person to take the me should anything go wrong. Quite the schemer~"

    No sooner had he finished speaking than Governor Wen Renliang ascended the city walls.

    Following him was Lu Shijie, Assistant Commissioner of Preparedness, with a look of resigned desperation.

    He had been dragged here by the Prefectural Governor. With the Preparedness authority having jurisdiction over local military forces, his position as Assistant Commissioner made him an excellent scapegoat.

    Lu Shijie never expected the riotous popce to reach the scale of 100,000; at this moment, he felt like he was screwed¡ªwhat was originally a trap for Li Pei had now ensnared him as well!

    ~~~~~~~

    Li Pei''s expression was cool as she said, "Governor Wen, you have seen the tragic situation outside the city, please provide immediate relief to the afflicted."

    Wen Renliang had big ears and a very fairplexion. "Commandery Princess, without rice, how can there be a meal? How can there be surplus grain to relieve the famine when I still need to maintain the concessions and supply the army?"

    "Purchase it from the grain merchants, or conscript it! Today, we must organize manpower to ''distribute porridge''!"

    Wen Renliang''s expression remained calm: "To let the Commandery Princess know, most of the grain in Yunzhou City is in the hands of your future inws, hoarding it to sell at high prices."

    "!!" Li Pei''s expression changed, and she was speechless for a long time.

    Wen Renliang continued unhurriedly:

    "The importance of Yunzhou needs no embellishment¡ªit must not fall to ruin. I have just received intelligence¡ªthe crowd outside has been beguiled by ''Mahayana Sect'' sorcerers nning to assault the Prefecture government.

    That cannot be referred to as ''disaster victims'' but should be urately called rioters. I will immediately order the state soldiers to annihte them, but after the fact, I will need you all to jointly submit a memorial to the emperor."

    Lu Shijie, who had kept silent until then, was the first to respond: "The Prefectural Governor speaks sense, and I will sign the memorandum!"

    He was determined to keep his official position and had no intention of letting the disaster victims storm Yunzhou City.

    The Liao Family Sisters were losing theirposure! It was clear that he intended tobel the disaster victims as rioters and violently eradicate them!

    Just as they were about to speak out impetuously, Lu Yao held them back and nced over at Li Pei''s side.

    The short-haired Commandery Princess, who seemed so inconsistent with the feudal dynasty, gazed at a small beseeching figure in the hellish scene outside the city and said softly:

    "We have guns and cannons, and we have formidable martial artists, crushing these ants would be effortless..."

    Lu Shijie eagerly said, "Exactly, that''s the most effortless method. Left outside, they will also starve to death; it''s better to give them a swift end."

    Li Pei''s lips curled into a smirk, reverting to that conceited and scornful young woman, and she smiled, saying:

    "Governor Wen, I believe you do not wish to carry the reputation of a mass murderer. Let us distribute porridge to provide relief. I will go to this so-called ''future inws'' of mine to requisition grain."

    Wen Renliang looked deeply at Li Pei and bowed: "Then I must trouble you, Commandery Princess, to make the trip, and I will certainly cooperate fully with your efforts to distribute porridge."

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 58: 58. Return

    Seeing the hot potato thrown out, Wen Renliang bowed and quickly left with his attendants.

    To him, it didn''t really matter whether it was about killing or relief.

    As long as he had the support of this Commandery Princess, he could easily extricate himself from any future troubles.

    After walking some distance, he caught a glimpse of the short-haired woman still standing on top of the city wall. In a voice only he could hear, Wen Renliang murmured, "Compassion does not rule an army."

    ~~~~~~

    Li Pei joked in self-deprecation, "s, I am indeed not cut out for handling military and national affairs. I was taken advantage of in just a few words, and now I''ve inherited such a mess."

    Liao Ya stepped forward to hold her hand and sincerely said, "Commandery Princess, yourpassion for the people and saving the lives of over a hundred thousand people outside the city is truly admirable!"

    Liao Qe looked on with a face full of respect.

    If before the two women simply had a good impression of the Commandery Princess, now they had a heartfelt recognition, since their views on important matters aligned.

    Li Peiughed, "Stop calling me Commandery Princess. Let''s just call each other sisters from now on."

    The two sisters sweetly called out "Sister," and after Li Pei responded with "Little Sister," the rtionship between the women grew much closer.

    "We need to start gathering grain for distribution. It just so happens that I''m also dissatisfied with this marriage... You all should go back now."

    "Mmm, we wish you all the best, Sister."

    "Once I get through the current crisis, I will find you so we can deal with those malicious gangs together."

    The girls said their goodbyes, and just before they left, Lu Yao called out, "Commandery Princess, I will also contribute what little I can."

    "Thank you very much, Young Master Lu."

    Although it was but a drop in the bucket, given that he had offered several times, it would be rude to refuse his kind intentions, so Li Pei agreed to ept his help.

    ~~~~~~~

    After the Liao Family Fist trio left, Zhang Jin, who had been silent the whole time, drooped his face and said:

    "Commandery Princess, what are we to do? The price of grain has skyrocketed¡ªit''s extremely difficult to purchase even with money. How can we distribute food? Moreover, your husband''s family..."

    Li Pei''s easygoing expression vanished, but as she looked down at that tiny pleading figure below the city, she showed no sign of backing down.

    "We''ll use my personal funds to buy as much grain as possible. I''ll also plead with my father for help; he just happens to be in Jinling right now."

    ~~~~~~~

    Back in the boxing gym, it was rare for the two sisters to gather around Lu Yao with faces full of anticipation.

    Liao Qe clung to his arm and coquettishly said, "With your abilities, you must be able to help, right~"

    "I''ll do my best," Lu Yao nodded. "I need to make a trip home; it''ll probably take two or three days before I can return."

    Although he didn''t want to y the savior or the hero, having seen the plight of these people from the same Shun Dynasty, Lu Yao didn''t mind lending a hand.

    He didn''t aspire to save all beings, but he sought to be without remorse.

    "Lu Yao, you''re the best~" Liao Qe hugged him tightly and took a deep breath of his scent, then dragged him into the house, "Come, I''ll transfer my Inner Breath to you~"

    The two entered the room, and of course, it wasn''t just a simple transfer of Inner Breath.

    Immersed in the fragrant sweetness of the girl, she still transferred a vast amount of Inner Breath at the climax.

    Lu Yao hastily grabbed Liao Qe''s wrist to prevent her from transferring too much. "That''s enough, don''t give it all to me! You need to keep some for your own cultivation!"

    But the girl cheerfully said, "Just give~"

    Then she transferred Inner Breath from another connection. "Inner Breath can be transferred from more than just the Shangyang acupoint~"

    Lu Yao groaned lowly, his body shivering from the endless onught of searing Inner Breath, nearly fainting on the spot. Soon, his entire body felt as if it were soaking in a hot spring,fortably warm.

    The girl had transferred all her Inner Breath to him! This precious essence of life, transformed by internal organs, was something not even blood rtives would be so generous with!

    After a long time, Liao Qi gently stroked the back of her beloved whoy on her, softly saying, "When you return, I''ll teach you to advance to the Bone Tempering Realm myself, as your master~"

    ~~~~~~~~

    With Inner Breath nourishing him, Lu Yao felt exceptionally spirited.

    This time, returning to Blue Star to buy arge quantity of food, the mere seven hundred thousand in his bank card might not be enough; he needed to mobilize more funds.

    First, he secured the ruby dropped by the vampire Luo Su; if he really needed money, he would sell it.

    Then he picked out a pair of jadeite bracelets, a spoils of war obtained from rummaging through Sun Haoran''s house.

    Jadeite and simr gems were generally unpopr with martial artists because they were too brittle and could easily shatter during a fight.

    The jadeite bracelets were spared because of their fine quality.

    Neither sister cared for such trinkets, and leaving them idle would be a waste; so, Lu Yao nned to take them back and convert them into money.

    After the looting, he also brought back arge collection of antiques and calligraphy, all inscribed by famous personalities from the Tang and Song dynasties.

    But he had no energy to mess with these. Lu Yao''s goal wasn''t to be a "merchant of two worlds"; he had no desire to waste too much time on this.

    ~~~~~~~

    Following tradition, he went to the pharmacy to purchase expensive medicinal materials: calculus bovis, cordyceps, and musk, clearing out the pharmacy''s inventory.

    "This should definitely be enough money now! I remember the cheaper rice is only about 4000 a ton."

    After ensuring his financial security was absolutely assured, Lu Yao took a tram to Yunzhou''s "Port District," nning to rent a warehouse.

    Different from the deste scene inside the city, it was bustling here with sturdy workers waiting to be hired, employees from the chambers ofmerce in suits, and even pimps from brothels handing out pamphlets soliciting customers.

    In the distance, a giant cruise ship spouted thick smoke, seagulls cried as they swept across the sky, and the sound of ship horns carried from afar.

    Lu Yao arrived at the "Ship Chartering Office," a government-supervised and merchant-operated enterprise, one of whose services included warehouse rental management.

    After stating his purpose, a skinny manager in a long robe quickly led him to a warehouse.

    Manager Zhang, after touring the premises with Young Master Lu, introduced him, "Young Master Lu, this warehouse is close to both the port and Yunzhou City, very suitable indeed. How long do you n to rent it for?"

    The location of this warehouse was quite average; having to take detours to either the port or the State City was inconvenient and unappealing from both ends.

    However, Lu Yao felt it was pretty good because it was sufficiently remote.

    "Let''s start with a year''s rental for now. I am handling affairs for Princess Yongping, and she wille in person in a few days to inspect. Manager Zhang, please pay extra attention and avoid any unpleasant incidents."

    Upon hearing this, Manager Zhang''s professional smile vanished instantly, his expression turning into one of rm as he hastily bowed:

    "So Master Lu is serving a noble; my apologies for the oversight. I will definitely devote my full attention to this!"

    Since Li Pei dealt with more than twenty major opium dens in one visit, dominating an industry that catered to both legal and illegal sides, having shut down most of them, her reputation was unmatched for a time!

    Naturally, Manager Zhang did not dare to offend her and took extra care to attend to Lu Yao with the utmost caution.

    After leveraging his intimidating connections, Lu Yao then amiably said, "That settles it, I''ll rent the warehouse."

    "All right, here is the key, Master Lu, please take care of it." Manager Zhang handed over the key, exchanged a few cautious words, and promptly left.

    ~~~~~~~

    Securing his belongings and fully entering into a meditative state, Lu Yao summoned the Star Key to open the "Dimensional Door."

    A vortex-like portal immediately appeared, and after a familiar sensation of weightlessness, he was back in Annan Country, Blue Star.

    The site of the previous uproar, "Xinwang Pharmaceuticals," had been reduced to ruins and sealed off by the police. With the rain that had followed, the ce became even more deste.

    Lu Yao took out his phone to search the inte, and came upon thetest news report:

    [On the morning of April 16th, a fire broke out in the production workshop of "Xinwang Pharmaceuticals," fortunately without any casualties. The police stated they will investigate the cause of the fire and handle it ording to thew.]

    The official deration characterized the incident as an idental safety ident.

 Chapter 59: 59. Sell jade

    "This drug manufacturing nt definitely wouldn''t withstand a thorough investigation; who knows how many people would be involved."

    Lu Yao showed no surprise as he took a taxi to the airport, while contemting:

    "This is just a primary processing nt. The raw materials are sent to ''Hebin Port in He Kingdom'' for refinement. It''s just the time for me to head there once I advance to the Bone-Tempering Realm."

    He took a flight back to his country. Before boarding the ne, he called Li Lei toe pick him up at the airport, putting this freebor to use.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Three hourster, the nended smoothly.

    "Lu Yao, over here, over here~"

    The diligent Comrade Li Lei had been waiting for a while, showing no impatience and even eagerly helping with the luggage.

    Detecting the strong scent of medicinal materials in the suitcase, Li Lei immediately assumed: he must have been sourcing from abroad.

    Lu Yao had brought precious medicinal materials bought from Otherworld, causing the girl to misunderstand.

    After getting in the car, Lu Yao asked casually, "Li Lei, I''m looking to sell some gems and jadeite. Do you have any connections?"

    "Ah? Are you developing a new product?"

    Several small countries in the south were abundant in jade, so she thought Lu Yao had found a new source. She nodded and said:

    "I do know a few people at the International Jewelry Trading Center."

    "Then let''s quickly finish here, and you can take me there."

    Li Lei nodded in agreement and then took out a "handheld microscope" to verify the goods.

    But as soon as she opened the suitcase, she was stunned: "Why is there so much!"

    Lu Yao had never bought foodstuffs in suchrge quantities before. Fearing that he wouldn''t have enough money, he had bought out all the high-end medicinal materials from the pharmacy, more than he had ever brought back before.

    Li Lei, somewhat awkwardly finished verifying the goods, yed with the calctor for a long time, repeatedly checked her bnce, and finally said with a flushed face:

    "The total is 1.3 million... but... um... um..."

    With a red face, the girl clenched her teeth and eximed, "I don''t have enough money, I only have 930,000. Can I owe you the rest!"

    Lu Yao looked at her with a strange expression, as if to say, "You''re actually short of money?"

    Li Lei looked like a typical wealthy second generation, and it didn''t make sense that she would becking funds.

    Entering a heightened state of awareness, he sensed she was both bashful and anxious, her expression filled with exhaustion. It seemed she indeed had run into some trouble.

    Lu Yao inquired, "If you don''t mind, tell me what happened."

    Li Lei lowered her head and after a while, she reluctantly said:

    "It''s quite embarrassing... My old man brought home a vixen, not only did she swindle all his money, but she also involved him in illegal fundraising. He''s now trying to plug the financial holes everywhere to get a suspended sentence."

    After saying this, the girl kept her head down in silence. She felt very unsteady, afraid of losing this most important supplier.

    She was also extremely embarrassed, feeling... as if she had been looked down upon.

    [She had even hoped for something to happen with this rare handsome man with a good temperament...]

    In her agonizing thoughts, she heard Lu Yao say, "If you''re short of money, just give me 500,000, that''ll be fine."

    "What?" Li Lei''s eyes widened as if they might burst, incredulous: "You..."

    Lu Yao nodded: "That''s what I mean. Make it quick."

    She was a straightforward and generous woman, and quite a pleasant person. Their long-term cooperation had been very enjoyable.

    The cost of his medicinal materials was only a few hundred yuan; Lu Yao didn''t mind lending a helping hand for such a small favor.

    Li Lei, with her head lowered, packed up the medicinal materials while casually wiping away the tears from her eyes and said calmly, "Consider the money as a debt to you; I will definitely pay it back as soon as possible."

    Lu Yao, with the jadeite bracelet in his pocket, was secretly relieved: thankfully, he had prepared extra.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The Qingcheng International Jewelry Trading Center is the most influential andrgest jewelry trading market in Xia Country, gathering jewelry brands from around the world.

    Recently, it was also hosting the "International Fashion Cultural Industry Expo," and when the two arrived, it was already a sight teeming with people.

    Li Lei led Lu Yao to a quaint shop on the top floor.

    A refined man in a Zhongshan suit greeted them and handed over his business card.

    Lu Yao nced it, which read: General Manager of Ning Cui Pavillion¡ªQi Jun

    The man, sporting gold-rimmed sses with a somewhat haughty tone, said, "Li Lei, long time no see. How''s your uncle doing?"

    Li Lei was somewhat embarrassed, not wanting to discuss this topic, and quickly introduced, "This is my friend, Lu Yao. He''s the one selling jadeite. Could you take a look for us?"

    Qi Jun sized him up and frowned upon seeing Lu Yao dressed in cheap attire. The jadeite brought in by customers like this was hardly ever real, and if it wasn''t for a familiar face bringing them, they wouldn''t even get to see him.

    With a condescending air, Qi Jun said, "Mr. Lu. Let''s see what you have."

    Lu Yao had a poor first impression of this man. But since he was there already, he still took out the beautiful pair of jadeite bracelets.

    As soon as Qi Jun saw them, his heartbeat quickened and his pupils shrank instantly, but he perfectly disguised his reaction under the guise of putting on gloves.

    He took the bracelets, pretending to casually examine them, and then looked at them with a "handheld microscope," silently eximing:

    The texture is smooth and delicate, the color is uniform and pure, the shape is plump and round, and there''s even a pair! The cream of the crop! They could easily sell for 2 million!

    Qi Jun struggled to contain his excitement! A few years ago, he had bought a jadeite pendant worth a hundred thousand for a mere 5,000, and basked in glory within his family. He hadn''t expected another windfall to drop into hisp!

    These two seemed like novices in conversation, so taking advantage of familiarity should make them easy to sway.

    Qi Junposed himself and calmly said, "In the jadeite business, second-hand goods don''t fetch much. Your bracelets are alright. I can offer 20,000. If that seems fair, leave them."

    Lu Yao took back the bracelets and said bluntly, "I don''t think that''s appropriate. Goodbye."

    After speaking, he pulled Li Lei away.

    The moment he produced the bracelets, he sensed noticeable greed and malice from Qi Jun.

    Qi Jun had not expected the other party to walk away without any negotiation and quickly chased after them trying to save face with a smile, "Mr. Lu, Li Lei and I have been friends since childhood, I can offer you more."

    Lu Yao ignored himpletely and had already left the shop.

    Qi Jun''s face lost its casual expression, and although he tried to stop Lu Yao several times, he couldn''t make contact and could only follow behind, shouting:

    "You can name your price, doing business means we should settle on the cash, don''t rush off."

    "No need, farewell."

    Qi Jun''s expression could only be described as twisted, truly experiencing the feeling of a "cooked duck flying away."

    ~~~~~~~

    Once they were far away, Li Lei rejected several calls from Qi Jun and finally cklisted him outright.

    "I''m sorry, my rtionship with him is just average; I didn''t expect him to be that kind of person."

    The young woman said apologetically, feeling as if she had lost all face for the day.

    Lu Yao didn''t mind at all, "No worries. There''s no trade without guile; that''s just how business is."

    While they were chatting, Li Lei received another call, and this time she answered. A loud female voice came through:

    ["Girl~ what did you do to Qi Jun? He''s been searching everywhere for you, almost to the point of going to your father''s detention center."]

    "Don''t even mention it. I took a friend to sell some jadeite at his ce, and he tried to scalp us."

    ["Jadeite? Come to me, let me take a look."]

    Li Lei hesitated, "Are you sure?"

    ["Pshaw, don''t look down on people! Hurry over!"]

    After hanging up the phone, Li Lei said sheepishly, "I have another friend who wants to see it."

 Chapter 60 : 60. Get Rich

    Li Lei brought Lu Yao to an antique shop¡ªCuiya Pavilion.

    The shop owner was a woman in her thirties, dressed in a trench coat with an elegant demeanor. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lu Yao:

    "I''m Qi Cuiya, pleased to meet you~"

    They shook hands, and the woman scratched gently in the palm of Lu Yao''s hand.

    Lu Yao''s heart remained undisturbed, spoiled by the Liao Family Sisters, he was no longer interested in ordinary goods and presented the bracelet forthrightly.

    Qi Cuiya put aside her frivolous expression, hurriedly put on professional gloves, and took out a "handheld microscope."

    After carefully examining for a while, she looked up and said, "Top-quality ss type, with a clear and moist texture, full of nobility, and it''s a pair too! It can easily sell for two million."

    Li Lei, standing by, expressed her surprise, "It''s that valuable? Are you sure you''re not mistaken?"

    Qi Cuiya red at her friend and snapped, "Antiques is the one trade where eye for detail matters most, how could I possibly get it wrong!"

    Not just Li Lei, but even Lu Yao hadn''t expected this price.

    Countries in the Xia Country cultural sphere all highly prized jadeite, causing its price to soar year after year.

    Qi Cuiya continued:

    "To have top-notch quality and to be in pairs is extremely rare. If you want to maximize profits, you should find buyers slowly or take them to auction. But if you''re in urgent need of money, I can only offer two million. Mr. Lu, please consider it."

    Lu Yao liked this straightforward method and quickly made a decision, "Alright, two million it is."

    "Deal! Just give me a few minutes," Qi Cuiya said as she took out her phone and started operating. She didn''t have enough money, but after cobbling together funds from here and there, she managed to gather the amount.

    Soon after, a notification of a two-million-yuan transfer popped up on Lu Yao''s phone.

    Qi Cuiya carefully put the bracelets away, thenughed heartily, "That dumbass Qi Jun¡ªmissed out on a good thing and let me, of all people, get lucky!"

    Li Lei exined to Lu Yao, "This crazy woman and the Qi Jun we met earlier are cousins, and they don''t get along."

    After finishing herughter, Qi Cuiya''s demeanor became graceful again, and she proposed, "Since it went so smoothly, how about I treat you to dinner tonight?"

    As she spoke, she kept her gaze locked on Lu Yao''s eyes. The more she looked at this man, the more she liked him, as if he were fine jade.

    Unfortunately, Lu Yao was oblivious to the suggestion, "I have other matters to attend to. Let''s find another opportunity."

    After saying so, he nodded at Li Lei and, disregarding any attempt to keep him, left on his own.

    With the man gone, Qi Cuiya still stared at the doorway, her face showing heavy disappointment, "He''s pretty aloof..."

    Li Lei nodded, "He''s always like that, stop getting your hopes up."

    Qi Cuiya shrugged, "It''s a pity,"

    She took out her phone, snapped several photos of the bracelets, and sent them to her family group chat before locking them in a safe.

    It didn''t take long for the group chat to erupt.

    ~~~~~~

    "I didn''t expect the jade bracelet to be so valuable, it seems there''s no need to sell the ruby," Lu Yao thought to himself.

    With the previous ie from medicinal herbs, there were now three million yuan in Lu Yao''s bank ount.

    He took a taxi to the "573" warehouse located in the northern suburbs, a state-owned storage enterprise.

    He rented a nearly one-thousand-square-meter warehouse, with a yearly rent of 240,000 yuan. It was somewhat expensive, but a state-owned enterprise was safe and reliable, which could save a lot of trouble.

    All that was left was to buy some rice, create a portal between the world''s warehouses, and then he could transportrge quantities of goods between the two worlds!

    Lu Yao logged onto the "Bulk Purchase Network," searched for rice, picked the cheap option at 2,000 yuan per ton, and bought 500 tons.

    It seemed like a lot, but in the grain trade, it barely made a ssh, merely equivalent to the purchasing power of a town''s rice noodle factory.

    "Even though I chose a seller from the same province, it will take two days to deliver... Li Pei should be able to hold on, she is a Commandery Princess, after all," Lu Yao mused.

    ~~~~~~~

    In the Shun Dynasty, Jinling. Li Pei drove to see her father.

    In Yunzhou, it was truly impossible to buy rice, not even with money. Now, not only were unscrupulous merchants hoarding grain out of greed, but many forces were also stockpiling food.

    In chaotic times, food was always the most important hard currency.

    Passing through a beautifully scenicke and countless pavilions and towers, with the clear water and stones, and the beautiful bamboo and trees around, Li Pei arrived at Mingyi Hall, her father''s estate in Jinling.

    The servants at the door recognized her and respectfully saluted.

    Eunuch Wang, the leader of the inner servants, holding a snow-white whisk, said serenely, "Commandery Princess has returned, just in time to persuade Prince, who has been so busy he hasn''t even had time to eat."

    Li Pei nodded slightly and entered the house.

    A tall and thin middle-aged man had just hung up the phone. Seeing the young girl enter, he looked surprised and pleased, "Peipei, what brings you here?"

    He was Prince Yi of the Great Shun Dynasty, Li Gong, who stood up to embrace his daughter''s shoulders,ughing, "How have you been in Yunzhou? Is there something wrong?"

    "Nothing urgent, I just came to see father. It''s alreadyte, have you not had dinner?"

    "I was so busy I forgot about it, let''s eat together then. Today, we have the Seven-Colored Dragon Sparrow Eggs offered by the Southern Bordends."

    Following Li Gong''s words, numerous servants filed in, setting four dishes and one soup on the table.

    The dishes seemed to glow, each aspect of color, aroma, vor, and presentation was perfect.

    Li Gong picked up an ordinary-looking egg and cracked it open. Instantly, a rich fragrance filled the room, invigorating the spirit.

    Li Pei took the Seven-Colored Dragon Sparrow Egg her father handed her, and was about to speak when Eunuch Wang suddenly came in, holding several pieces of intelligence in his hand.

    Li Gong waved casually, "Go ahead."

    Eunuch Wang then began to read:

    "[Zhongzhou and Huai State both im to be severely afflicted and request the Imperial Court to reduce taxes and provide relief funds and grain.]"

    "[The new army and the navy are simultaneously telegraphing for food and pay.]"

    Li Gong said impassively, "Not a penny less in taxes; prioritize grain supply for the navy."

    Eunuch Wang acknowledged the instruction and continued reading:

    "[From the Menes Federation side, the ''Legendary Vampire Hunter'' Lincoln with the national treasure ''Cherry Blossom Divine Axe'' has in the Vampire Prince, ending the civil war in the north and south.]"

    "[''Izumo Country'' has attacked ''Rakshasa Country''s fleet, and the two nations have started a war on our nation''s soil...]"

    At this point, Li Gong put down his chopsticks, "Prepare the carriage, we must return to the capital overnight."

    Li Pei, who had been listening, felt that each issue pertained to the life and death of millions, each matter more significant than her own trivial matter of famine.

    As Eunuch Wang flipped through the intelligence, there was also, "Lord Asben, a Queen''s Envoy from Queen Einheit, requests an audience. He has already arrived at the estate."

    Li Gong massaged his temples and said in a heavy tone, "Ask him to wait a moment; I shall meet him shortly."

    Eunuch Wang bowed and left.

    Li Gong spoke gently to his daughter, "You''ve rushed here from Yunzhou suddenly, is there anything wrong?"

    Li Pei shook her head, "No¡­ nothing¡­ I can handle it myself."

    "Yunzhou''s situation isplicated, you must be careful and prudent, and not misuse your royal status to act willfully. I still have some matters to attend to¡­"

    "I understand, father. Take care of yourself."

    Not until her father had left did Li Pei bring up the issue of the grain. She didn''t want to trouble her father further and decided to find a way to secure the grain on her own.

    ~~~~~~~

    As she pondered her avable resources and prepared to leave, Li Pei happened to meet the foreign visitor at the estate''s entrance.

    The foreigner, with his smooth white hair tied back, gave a graceful bow with his hand on his chest upon seeing Li Pei. However, as he looked up, his eyes turned blood-red, fangs protruded, and the air around him grew thick and blood-tinged.

    Realizing his condition, he quickly covered his mouth, bowing gracefully, "My apologies. Your Highness, your blood is an unbearable extreme temptation for me."

    Li Pei suppressed her disgust, offered a perfunctory curtsy, and drove back to Yunzhou.

 Chapter 61 : 61. No more grain levies needed.

    The rice I bought won''t arrive for two days. Out of boredom, Lu Yao went to a gym to test his current fitness level.

    He had never been to such a ce before, so he randomly picked a bench to sit on and started by casually lifting a 50 kg dumbbell with one hand;

    Next, he tried bench pressing, finding 100 kg to be somewhat light. Lu Yao kept adding weight, pushing up to 300 kg for over a dozen repetitions before he ran out of strength;

    Finally, he did deadlifts with an improper form, also at 300 kg.

    After finishing, he dusted off his hands, to find a group of astonished and speechless muscr hulks behind him!

    The strong men had taken notice when Lu Yao kept increasing the weight. Initially, they intended to gently remind him to be careful, to prevent the young man from injuring himself.

    But the more they watched, the more unbelievable it became!

    Their builds were two to three times wider than Lu Yao''s, yet their numbers were only half or even one-third of his!

    At this moment, they really wanted to know¡ªhow did Lu Yao, with his utterly unremarkable physique, manage to do it!?

    And his form and movements had the look of aplete novice, relying purely on brute strength!!??

    Realizing he was being watched, Lu Yao quickly left the gym, trying to keep a low profile.

    ~~~~~~~~

    There was a television hung on the wall at the gym''s reception, and just as Lu Yao was leaving, he happened to see the news being broadcast:

    [Our country''s new range of weapons makes a stunning appearance at the international defense exhibition, astonishing the world]

    The news showcased military drones capable of firing missiles.

    But Lu Yao''s gaze was caught by a "six-barreled Gatling gun" that happened toe into view. It was the famous Fire God Cannon, with bullets asrge as soda bottles ¨C a sight that sent chills down the spine.

    This fearsome weapon was not designed for human targets; its purpose was to demolish enemy vehicles, turning armored cars into piles of rubble.

    Lu Yao''s blood surged with excitement, "This is what real men should use! Only wimps use Gatlings!"

    Join us at m-v le mpy_r

    In an instant, he felt his own AK was less appealing. He even pondered¡ªif one at the Marrow-Cleansing Realm has the strength of a mighty elephant, could they possibly lift the Fire God Cannon?

    ~~~~~~~~

    With boundless anticipation for the future, Lu Yao ran to the supermarket and bought ten cases of 80-proof strong spirits to make the genuine "Golden Elixir Brew."

    He also purchased some clothes and snacks, and took the supermarket''s delivery van back to the warehouse.

    Late at night, the purchased rice finally arrived!

    The trucks with a capacity of 30 tons were loaded with over 100 tons each... it took only four trucks to transport 500 tons of rice.

    The loading workers started unloading immediately.

    The entire process went smoothly and effortlessly. Lu Yao just needed to stand by and watch; before long, 500 tons of rice were in his possession.

    What is a precious strategic material in the Otherworld can be easily purchased without leaving home on Blue Star; such is the difference between eras.

    Once everyone had left, Lu Yao entered a meditative state to ensure everything was secure and began the first massive material transport!

    In his mind, he issued amand, and a green, vortex-like portal appeared on the ground.

    The portal expanded to itsrgest size, about 5 meters in diameter, engulfing the contents of the warehouse like quicksand.

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the Otherworld warehouse, Lu Yao was the first to step out of the portal, followed by countless bags of rice materializing out of thin air.

    The 500 tons were transported in less than a minute.

    Lu Yao visited the office of the Ship Chartering Office, found Manager Zhang, and asked to borrow the telephone.

    Manager Zhang agreed promptly, "No problem. Master Lu, whom do you wish to call?"

    "Call the Commandery Princess."

    Upon hearing this, Manager Zhang became even more respectful, "Please, this way. The telephone connected to the magistrate''s office is here."

    Arriving in the telephone room, he wiped the desk and chair with his sleeve and even enthusiastically cranked the generator. The antique phone required cranking to operate.

    Soon the operator''s voice came through, and Lu Yao said, "Connect me to the National Martial Arts Association."

    Shortly after, he was in contact with Zhang Jin.

    "Eunuch Zhang, this is Lu Yao. I''d previously promised to help with disaster relief. I''m prepared to donate some rice; it''s in this warehouse at the Ship Chartering Office."

    Zhang Jin''s hoarse and weary voice came through, "Young Master Lu, your nobility is exemry. Our house, on behalf of the Commandery Princess, thanks you. We will send someone over to take over immediately."

    Although he spoke courteously, he did not take it to heart.

    The shortfall in grain was enormous, a personal donation was but a drop in the bucket.

    ~~~~~~~

    At that moment, Zhang Jin, with a pale face, knelt to the ground and cried out:

    "Commandery Princess, your own collection only yielded less than five thousand kilograms of rice... Grain has be a strategic material, countless powers are hoarding, and it is very hard to buy even with money, we truly have no other options..."

    Li Pei was also aware of the importance of grain in times of turmoil; at present, rice was not just representative of wealth.

    "Continue collecting with my dowry; I will go to the Xiang Family to requisition grain."

    "Your dowry!? When did you move your dowry? That must not be! Commandery Princess... Commandery Princess!"

    Having said her piece, Li Pei left, leaving behind a frightened and powerless Zhang Jin, who did not know what to do.

    ~~~~~~~

    The Einheit Concession, The Xiang Family Mansion.

    This mansion was nothing short of a luxurious pce, equipped with arge garden and even boasting a statue of an angelic fountain.

    The ability to own such a mansion in the foreign concession spoke volumes of the Xiang Family''s connections and power.

    The Xiang Family, generation after generation of wealthy merchants, had now even furthered their status by riding the coattails of foreigners. The head of the family was not only knighted as a Sir of Einheit but had also donated arge sum to the Imperial Court to receive a third-rank official title, making him a figure the world watched.

    When Li Pei arrived, a young man dressed in a white suit was already waiting.

    "Commandery Princess, I just received an urgent telegram; you''re moving the shares from the weaving venture? But that was supposed to be part of your dowry..."

    Li Pei''s expression turned cold, and she interrupted, "Xiang Cheng, your Xiang Family has hoarded seventy million kilograms of grain, I need to requisition a portion of it to provide relief to the people outside the city affected by the disaster."

    Upon hearing this, Xiang Cheng''s face changed, and he leaned in a bit and whispered:

    "Don''t rush. The price of grain hasn''t peaked yet. Wait a few more months, after the snow falls is the time to act! When it''s cold and there''s no grain, people will certainly die, and the price of grain can double again."

    Li Pei was momentarily stunned before realizing what he was implying, seeing that the two of them were onpletely different wavelengths.

    She emphasized again, "Effective immediately, I am initiating a forced requisition of the Xiang Family''s grain for relief porridge to aid disaster victims."

    Xiang Cheng looked at her in amazement, "Are you targeting the Xiang Family? Are you acting on the Prince''s orders? Commandery Princess, it''s negotiable what we pay in tribute each year, and this marriage can be annulled any time. We can sit down and talk about any issues, there is really no need for this."

    Xiang Cheng could notprehend Li Pei''s actions, convinced that she must have a deeper motive behind them.

    Li Pei took out a grain requisition order stamped with the official seal and threw it at Xiang Cheng, saying coldly:

    "Under thews of Great Shun, I am now enforcing a requisition of the Xiang Family''s grain. I''m giving prior notice out of consideration for our families'' old ties, I hope you will not obstruct."

    Xiang Cheng looked at her with aplicated expression for a long time before realizing that she was serious.

    Suddenly he roared, "Have you gone mad? Are you actually going to give the grain to the starving people!?"

    His roar was so forceful that it caused the ceiling to shed dust, and his expression was filled with disbelief. They were nobility, and powerful martial artists at that¡ªhow could they possibly take risks for the lowly masses and trouble themselves.

    Li Pei was speechless; was he just now getting it...?

    "The people are suffering from disaster; as a Commandery Princess, of course I must provide relief to the victims and render aid on behalf of the Imperial Court."

    Xiang Cheng scoffed, crumpled the order into a ball, and threw it at Li Pei''s chest, "Those stocks of grain include the Empress Dowager''s and your father''s shares, go ahead and requisition them."

    Li Pei''s expression stiffened; these were the two individuals she least dared and least wanted to offend.

    Looking at her contemptuously, Xiang Cheng sneered: "I thought I was being targeted by someone, but after all this, it''s just you acting crazy and making me anxious for nothing. What, are you staring at me like that because you want to hit me?"

    Pointing to his own cheek, Xiang Cheng said, "Come on, hit me hard, I too have undergone a Blood-Exchange..."

    Before he could finish, he saw a shadowy fisting toward him, which Xiang Cheng easily blocked, ready to mock, but then he realized that the shadow was a mere afterimage.

    In the next instant, Xiang Cheng''s groin was suddenly struck hard, apanied by a painful sound of chaos, he let out a horrific scream as he was sent flying, crashing through the luxury mansion and making a big hole before tumbling inside.

    The entire street heard themotion, and Li Pei''s attendants and the Xiang Family''s servants all rushed forward to confront each other.

    In the distance, the guards of the concession were alsoing, blowing their whistles.

    Just then, the disheveled eunuch Zhang Jin rushed over, his body steaming with sweat from vigorous running, emitting a bluish vapor.

    "Commandery Princess, Commandery Princess! There''s no need to requisition grain anymore, no need!"

 Chapter 62: 62 million kilograms of rice

    Just when Li Pei had thoroughly defeated the Xiang Family, in less than half an hour, Governor Wen Renliang received the news.

    He immediately summoned two subordinates who were deeply involved with the matter to meet in his study.

    "Although Princess Yongping is well-intentioned, it looks like she will not be able to raise the necessary grain," said Wen Renliang as he twirled a well-worn sandalwood Buddha bead in his hand, calmly stating:

    "Yunzhou is dotted with concession territories and is frequented by politicians and dignitaries from various countries. It serves as an important trading port and the face of our dynasty, and we cannot afford any mishaps."

    Lu Shijie and Xu were inwardly focused and silently listened to the Prefectural Governor without uttering a word.

    Wen Renliang stopped twirling the Buddha bead, took a deep breath, and said, "General Xu, eradicate the disorderly people outside the city immediately, don''t wait for them to storm State City; Lu Qianshi, you will oversee the military operation. Act decisively, and I will stand with the Commandery Princess to take responsibility for everything."

    "By yourmand, Governor!"

    The two men exchanged a nce, both breathing a sigh of relief, and internally praised the Prefectural Governor for dragging the Commandery Princess into the situation, ensuring a foolproof n.

    Wen Renliang reminded them, "Make sure to disperse the reporters in advance, it won''t look good for anyone in the reports."

    "This subordinate understands."

    After bowing respectfully, the two left the room.

    With his subordinates gone, Wen Renliang, holding the Buddha beads and expressionless, entered the inner chamber of the study, which surprisingly housed a small Buddhist shrine.

    He sat down cross-legged and silently chanted the scriptures, whether to absolve the countless souls soon to be wronged or to find peace of mind for himself.

    Facing the kind and benevolent Buddha statue, Wen Renliang suddenly realized he was visiting here more and more frequently.

    As an official in the Great Shun Dynasty, you can hardly sleep without praying to gods or paying respects to Buddha.

    Before he had even finished half of the scripture, a trusted standard-bearer centurion suddenly called out from outside, "My lord, the Commandery Princess has raised a million catties of grain and is organizing people to distribute porridge!"

    Wen Renliang burst out of the shrine, rapidly twirling the Buddha beads, and calmly ordered, "Go quickly and recall Lu Qianshi and General Xu. Have them assist the Commandery Princess with the distribution."

    "Understood!"

    "Also, where did the Commandery Princess get the grain from?"

    "A wealthy oversea donor with the surname Lu donated a million catties of rice."

    Wen Renliang, who had an excellent memory, immediately recalled the young man he had once seen on the city walls.

    "I thought he was just an insignificant figure, but it seems I misjudged him."

    "With the Liao Family now performing Blood-Exchange and Organ Refining, and the support of a wealthy patron, the Hailong Gang is going to have a hard time."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Outside, chaos reigned, yet the boxing gym remained a tranquil haven.

    At that moment, Liao Ya was training her sister Liao Qe, their strikes causing a loud "bang" as bursts of white energy exploded from time to time.

    Bathed in sunlight, the sisters'' skin looked ever so fair, like creamy jade.

    Suddenly, the sound of a car approaching broke the peace, followed by the urgent honking of a horn.

    The sisters went out to look and were surprised to see Lu Yao driving up in a ck vintage car.

    "Eh, isn''t that the Commandery Princess''s car? Howe you''re driving it?"

    "I donated grain, and Zhang Jin came over to see. But it seemed like he ran into some urgent matter, he didn''t even drive the car and just took off across rooftops using his light-body technique. I had some use for it, so I borrowed it. Open the gate for me so I can drive in," Lu Yao replied.

    The Liao Family Sisters opened the gate wide, removed the doorstep, and Lu Yao drove the car into the yard, where he parked it.

    Curious, Liao Ya asked, "How much grain did you donate?"

    Lu Yao scratched his head: "500 tons... how many catties is that again... Anyway, it''s not much, I just bought some casually. Forget that for now..."

    After opening all four car doors and the trunk, they saw it was filled with stuff. "Come on, I brought you some gifts~"

    Liao Qe cheered and rushed over first to check out the items, picking up a sports bra with delight, "Yes, this is what I wanted¡ªafy sweat-wicking bra, saving me from being drenched after each boxing practice."

    Lu Yao fondled her sister''s peachy bottom, saying indulgently, "I brought plenty, take your time choosing."

    Liao Ya leaned over nonchntly, with the air of a demure and dignifieddy, but her hands moved swiftly, quickly gathering a bunch of items she wanted around herself, especially severalrge bras, her cheeks flushing red.

    Lu Yao chuckled inwardly; after all, she was still a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, no matter how mature she pretended to be, her innocence was still evident.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Sister, I''ve also brought a lot of high-proof spirits¡ªyou can start preparing the Golden Elixir Brew."

    The three of them carried the items back into the house, talking andughing happily.

    Suddenly, the sounds of rapid air-splitting approached, signaling that an expert was hastening on their way, utilizing their movement technique at full force.

    As they stepped outside, they saw the Commandery Princess descending from the sky.

    Li Pei must have traveled for quite some time as she appeared somewhat disheveled. Her clothes were untidy, she was drenched in sweat, and her short hair clung to her forehead.

    But she disregarded all that, cupping her hands before her chest and bowing deeply to Lu Yao, "Young Master Lu, your noble donation of a million kilos of polished rice has saved the people from disaster. Li Pei is endlessly grateful!"

    500 tons... that was indeed one million kilos... Lu Yao replied modestly, "It''s nothing but a trivial effort."

    Discover new content at m vl-em,py-r

    Upon hearing Li Pei''s words, the Liao Family Sisters eximed in shock, "A million kilos! Polished rice!? Lu Yao, you donated so much!!"

    At that moment, all three women were equally astonished; they had thought at most a few tens of thousands of kilos would be donated, but a million kilos was beyond their imagination.

    Lu Yao shrugged, "A million kilos of rice isn''t really much in the food trade."

    "But you mustn''t say that!" Li Pei responded, somewhat ashamed, "With the current situation... even if you have money, you can''t buy rice anymore."

    She then added with earnest, "I''ll report this to the Imperial Court and help you get the rank of a 7th-grade Daoist official. It will make your travels much easier."

    "Thank you, Commandery Princess. Actually, I haven''t been much help; it''s mainly you who has been running around taking care of things."

    Li Pei chuckled, "Young Master Lu is being too modest." She took out a brocade box from her bosom and handed it over, "Here are some Dragon Sparrow Eggs for you to enjoy."

    Upon opening the box, therey three "chicken eggs".

    A unique fragrance wafted through the air, invigorating the spirit and suddenly quickening the flow of qi and blood.

    Liao Ya gasped in surprise, "Demon Beast Eggs?" As a Blood-Exchange martial artist, her hands were actually trembling¡ªsuch an item was incredibly precious.

    "I got these from my father. Go ahead and eat them; think of it as a token of my appreciation."

    Li Pei adjusted her clothes and was about to leave, "I still have to attend to the porridge distribution; I must go now."

    Lu Yao quickly said, "Wait, your carriage!"

    Li Pei was already walking away, her voice trailing back, "I gave it to you~"

    ~~~~~~~

    "The Commandery Princess is actually quite proud..." Liao Ya, holding the box of Demon Beast Eggs, reflected:

    "She doesn''t like to owe others, and she always gives us very precious things. Last time it was the secret scripture from the inner pce, this time it''s Demon Beast Eggs, sigh."

    Liao Qe sniffed with her cute nose, taking in the rxing scent, and asked curiously, "Are these very expensive?"

    "Expensive? You can''t even buy such top-tier nourishment with money; only the most elite nobility can enjoy it."

    Liao Ya exined:

    "Monster Beasts are nearly extinct, very rare. These are for Blood-Exchange and even Innate Experts; it''s a bit wasteful for us to eat them as we can''t absorb all their vitality and spirit."

    Remembering the high-proof spirits that Lu Yao had brought back, she had a sudden inspiration: "We might as well infuse them into medicinal alcohol to enhance their effects!"

 Chapter 63: 63. Small Goals of the Fire God Cannon

    ```

    Liao Ya began to concoct the legitimate "Golden Elixir Brew."

    She found a huge medicinal liquor jar, poured in twenty kilograms of white liquor, and then submerged the required medicinal ingredients in the high-proof alcohol, finally dipping both hands in to channel an immense amount of Inner Breath.

    The medicinal ingredients in the liquor seemed to be somewhat crystalline, and the Dragon Sparrow Eggs added to it shone like luminous pearls,

    Liao Ya nodded with satisfaction and said, "With this weather, it''ll be ready to drink in 7 days~ And this time, thanks to my junior brother''s luck in getting a Demon Beast Egg. The legendary Golden Elixir Brew with the addition of a Demon Beast Egg, who knows what kind of divine product it will brew!"

    The girl carefully sealed the medicinal liquor jar, filled with anticipation.

    ~~~~~~~

    Seeing this side wrapped up, Liao Qe pulled Lu Yao inside and said, "Elbow, follow me into the room~"

    Not seeing each other for three days, she missed him deeply. As martial artists possess strong vitality and desires, what they wanted to do was self-exnatory.

    Lu Yaoughed and said, "Master, you promised to teach me how to advance to the Bone Tempering Realm."

    Liao Qe nced at him and said, "Come, let me show you the prowess of my ''Carp Stance'' today."

    Lu Yao was somewhat puzzled. He had seen the girl''s "Carp Stance" several times, and it was indeed a delight to the eyes, but where was the power in it?

    He soon found out.

    Liao Qe took the initiative to be the attacker, demonstrating the use of the "Carp Stance," swaying her waist flexibly to move forward, backward, left, and right using the strength of her spine, swift and silky.

    Lu Yao gained a profound understanding of the stance.

    "You mean to use the ''Carp Stance'' to temper the spine."

    "Mhm mhm... Other bones are easy to handle, but the Carp Stance requires diligent practice."

    "Thank you for the guidance, Master~"

    Liao Qe coquettishly ''activated'' the full effect of the ''Carp Stance,'' resembling a nimble brocade carp.

    "Lu Yao, this is really too much fun. Hurry up and advance to the Jin Realm."

    "I''ll do it soon! I''m definitely going to show you how formidable I am!"

    Lu Yao was brimming with confidence, able to easily handle any physical training.

    ~~~~~~~

    Early the next day, the two got up and Liao Qe began to guide Lu Yao in advancing to the next realm.

    "In the Bone Tempering Realm, every move must be performed with enough energy to prate the bones, achieving the effect of tempering the entire skeleton."

    Lu Yao followed the girl''s instructions and swung his fists vigorously, his arms and shoulders creaking, the soreness, swelling, and stinging paining wave after wave, terribly ufortable.

    This is the necessary "bitter tiredness and pain" that anyone practicing martial arts must undergo.

    But Lu Yao enjoyed it, practicing with a proper stance.

    Now, apart from his ultimate goal of curing disease, he had another minor goal¡ªto withstand the Fire God Cannon just for the thrill.

    Ever since he randomly saw it on the news, Lu Yao made this peculiar ambition. The joy of a boy is just that simple.

    ~~~~~~~

    "Start with both arms, and end with the Great Dragon, remember, you''re using energy to temper!"

    Liao Qe asionally corrected Lu Yao''s moves, her pretty face serious, exuding the dignity of a teacher. Unfortunately, that was interrupted the next second as she stuffed her mouth with a handful of chips and chewed noisily, disrupting the solemnity.

    She was quite fond of the snacks Lu Yao brought back, having devoured nearly half of them in less than a day.

    And with such a beautiful woman as a master, pleasing to the eyes and to the hands, amidst her giggling, Lu Yao''s "bitter tiredness and pain" was significantly alleviated.

    After practicing for a while, Liao Ya came over. She checked Lu Yao''s cultivation progress and said with satisfaction:

    "Not bad, I heard a ''ng'' from inside the house every once in a while. That''s quite rare, indicating that you are consciously projecting energy through your bones. You''re not far from sess if you can do this."

    Liao Qe was smug: "Who do you think is teaching him~"

    Liao Ya patted her sister''s head and said with a smile, "You''re both impressive."

    ```

    ~~~~~~

    The cultivation during the day advanced rapidly, but when it came to Spirit Refinement at night, he hit a snag.

    The three of them gathered around a stick of ambergris, the unique fragrance of which briefly transported them into a state of oblivion.

    Although they had lost consciousness, their awareness of their surroundings was remarkably acute, as if in a lucid dream.

    Secondster, the state faded, and the three of them stared at each other with wide eyes, equally bereft of any breakthroughs.

    Liao Ya stood up first tofort them, "Spirit Refinement is extremely difficult, don''t be disheartened. I''ll use the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' to massage you two. Junior brother, you go first."

    "Thank you, senior sister~"

    Lu Yao took off his shirt to reveal his back, and a pair of fair hands kneaded him inside and out. Truly, he felt thoroughly rxed and extremelyfortable.

    This set of massage techniques was most beneficial to Lu Yao, stimting the reflex areas of various organs, giving him a taste of Organ Refining''s wonders beforehand and greatly enhancing his physique.

    Watching her junior brother in such bliss that his soul seemed to soar, Liao Ya said enviously, "The ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' has infinite uses, I really want to try it too."

    The biggest drawback of this nurturing technique was the dependence on someone else, and for now, only Liao Ya knew it, while Liao Qe was still learning.

    Lu Yao flexed his muscles, feeling a surge of boundless energy as if he could fight two more rounds of boxing.

    "Don''t worry, senior sister, once I have Inner Breath I''ll massage you."

    Liao Yaughed, "You won''t have Inner Breath until you''re in the Organ Refining Realm. You need to hurry up."

    She didn''t take Lu Yao''s words to heart as she expected her sister would have learned it by then, so there wouldn''t be a need for her junior brother to do so.

    ~~~~~~~

    With so many advantages, Lu Yao finally made a breakthrough to the Bone-Tempering Realm on the third day.

    At that moment, he stood near a wooden post, slowly gathering his strength before suddenly shouting and throwing a punch, which was apanied by a "crack" as the post, as thick as the mouth of a bowl, was punched through.

    Only when the force extended through the bones to emerge could one tear through the air to create a sound, and moreover, the destructive power was greatly increased, allowing one to break a wooden post with a punch.

    Liao Qe rushed over to hug Lu Yao, jumping and bouncing in celebration of his advancement to the new realm.

    Lu Yao was quite excited. In Blue Star''s Xia Country, breaking a wooden post as thick as the mouth of a bowl with one punch would surely make one a great master.

    Liao Ya assumed her mature and serious demeanor, reminding him, "Well done, junior brother, but you must not becent, and don''t forget your goal is Blood-Exchange."

    "Don''t worry, senior sister, I always keep it in mind," Lu Yao didn''t find his senior sister''s lectures tedious, because he knew she had his best interests at heart.

    However, seeing such a delicate girl putting on a front of being steady and mature was quite endearing.

    Liao Ya continued, "You have just entered the initial stage of Bone Tempering and need to keep hitting your bones to make them as hard as iron. Today you have just broken through, it''s better to rest and stabilize your condition. The Commandery Princess happens to be distributing porridge outside the city, let''s go have a look."

    This Commandery Princess was quite magnanimous and generous, and Lu Yao certainly had no objections.

    Moreover, having been cooped up at home for several days, it would be good to go out for a breath of fresh air.

    Lu Yao looked towards the old car parked in the yard and gestured for the two sisters to get on.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Outside the city, the boy clung tightly to his father''s side, lining up to receive today''s rice porridge.

    The queue was orderly; the disorderly folk had already been dealt with by the State Soldiers.

    Soon, it was the father and son''s turn.

    The person serving the porridge was also a disaster victim, scooping out adle of rice porridge mixed with bran, wild vegetables, and grass roots from the big iron pot.

    Mixed in such a way, the million kilograms of rice donated by Lu Yao couldst for 2 months.

    Although such food would not necessarily be fit for pigs in Blue Star''s Xia Country, the disaster victims were already content.

    Both father and son had no bowls, so they used their hands to eat, licking each finger clean.

    Li Pei, watching from a distance, also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling satisfied that the situation was stable.

    But in a small grove, some seemingly emaciated but actually quite fierce "disaster victims" dumped their rice porridge and looked towards Yunzhou City with fierce expressions.

 Chapter 64: 64. People faster than bullets?

    These special disaster victims deliberately smeared their faces with ck ash to disguise expressions that were too ferocious; they moved swiftly and forcefully, not at all like people who had been starving for a long time.

    The leader had a gun scar at the corner of his mouth, fondling the revolver at his waist, and whispered in a low voice,

    "I was hoping to stir the hungry poption to assault the State City, but I didn''t expect the Imperial Court to actually distribute porridge... Damn it, we came all the way from Zhongzhou, why is it only here that they distribute porridge!"

    A subordinate asked, "Corps Commander, what do we do now? We can''t start trouble with State Soldiers around."

    The Corps Commander did not speak for a long time; he was in a dilemma. As the saying goes, since we''vee all this way, it would be too disappointing to just go back.

    Just then, amotion came from afar, as many journalists were taking photos.

    Seeing this, the Corps Commander was delighted:

    "There''s our chance! Just creating a disturbance is enough, if stirring the hungry poption to rush the city won''t work, then publicly assassinate an official of the Imperial Court! Attract the attention of the whole world, making it convenient for the Heavenly King to make his move!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao drove his car carrying the slightly excited Liao Family Sisters to the outskirts of the city.

    With this thing, it truly was smooth sailing; neither the patrolling officers in the city nor the State Soldiers guarding the city dared to stop them.

    When the three arrived, they happened to see Li Pei and Governor Wen taking photos together.

    The two stood under the porridge shed with formic fake smiles; beside them were women and children brought in to cooperate.

    With the sh of the magnesium lights, the old-fashioned camera finished taking the photo. This was an event organized by Governor Wen, allowing journalists to take photos for publicity.

    When Li Pei saw Lu Yao and the others, she moved over with an elegant stride, her face showing a genuine smile as she greeted,

    "You''re here. Thanks to Young Master Lu''s rice, the porridge distribution went very smoothly. Once we get through this period, we can arrange for the disaster victims to return home."

    "That''s good; now I can rest easy," Lu Yao quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He was neither a hero nor a savior, but he sought a clear conscience.

    At this moment, Governor Wen''s ceremonial guard arrived. "Is this Young Master Lu who donated a million catties of rice? I am Wen Renliang, the officer, thankful for your noble deed in saving the people from dire straits."

    This high-ranking fourth-grade official was very amiable, making a very good impression on everyone.

    But Lu Yao had seen his tactics and responded cautiously, "You tter me, Governor Wen. I only provided some rice; it is your and the Commandery Princess''s strategic nning that truly deserves credit."

    "Young Master Lu is too modest. By the way, the journalists are here; let them interview and take photos of you. How could the report be without the main benefactor?"

    Wen Renliang immediately wanted to arrange for an interview, but Lu Yao continuously refused, "The credit belongs to officials at all levels of the Government Office; I''d rather not. I seek only peace of mind."

    Upon hearing the words "peace of mind," Wen Renliang''s face stiffened a bit, and his hand subconsciously reached to twirl his prayer beads.

    Soon, other officials came over to socialize, ttering Lu Yao, the "overseas tycoon."

    Many old residents of Yunzhou were deeply moved, never expecting that the Liao Family could rise again after Liao Qigong''s death. With one spirit refinement and one round of Organ Refining, and the support of the tycoon''s wealth, the future was indeed limitless.

    Meanwhile, those fierce "disaster victims" quietly drew out their revolvers!

    ~~~~~~~

    Assistant Commissioner of Preparedness Lu Shijie was also at the scene. He had already taken several photos, but was lingering, hoping to upy more space in the newspaper.

    This rare celebratory event was real merit, and naturally, Lu, who was ambitious in his official career, wanted to seize the opportunity to hog the limelight and im the credit.

    He was stalling too much, which irritated Xu, the waiting Major General, who couldn''t help but let out a cold snort.

    Lu Shijie, feigning deafness, took a few more steps to find a scrawny little disaster victim child, suppressing his disgust as he touched the dirty head, gesturing to the journalists to hurry and take the shot.

    In his heart, he was also pondering how to drive away that Commandery Princess who cut off people''s wealth.

    [This detestable woman, out of the blue, halved the opium trade in the whole of Yunzhou, and what''s worse, she''s not given up and will surely continue to cause troubleter.]

    [She injured Young Master Xiang; should I make an issue out of this?]

    [Also, the Liao Family must be dealt with! The sisters are extraordinarily talented, and now they have a wealthy disciple; they will surely be a major threat in the future. Perhaps I could have Hailong Gang send people into the city...]

    As Lu Shijie was lost in thought, he didn''t notice when several fierce-looking male disaster victims appeared by his side!?

    The disaster victims arranged to pose for the photo had been selected in advance, mostly women and children, elderly and frail; where did this groupe from!?

    He immediately realized something was wrong and was about to call for help, but the criminals had already drawn out their revolvers: "This guy''s been in the picture for so long; he must be a high official!"

    "I''m only a 6th-rank official..."

    "Bang, bang, bang," the Assistant Commissioner of Preparedness, known for his great ambition, was hit by six, seven bullets, with two or three bloody holes in his face and head, his death a terrifying sight.

    Ironically, the shbulb went off at just the right moment, capturing the scene.

    The reporter, scrambling and stumbling with their camera, fled for their life, one could foresee that this official, Mr. Lu, would definitely upy a very, veryrge space in the newspapers.

    ~~~~~~

    The violent sound of gunshots caused amotion, with the faces of the disaster victims and women and children apanying the photographers filled with panic, not knowing what had happened.

    Soon enough, numerous vicious gunmen came over and, without a word, fired into the crowd, killing several people and herding the refugees towards Li Pei''s direction.

    Screams surged through the crowd as the thugs took the opportunity to blend in, creating a chaotic and noisy tide.

    A very clich¨¦ tactic of using the refugees as a shield, it must be said the tactic was sound, but unfortunately, they chose the wrong people to mess with.

    The gang hadn''t even gotten close when they were almost simultaneously spotted by Lu Yao and Li Pei.

    "Assassins!"

    Li Pei shouted, and suddenly, in her hands, there was a shotgun! Also in a state of Spirit Refinement Firmness, her shotgun went "pop, pop, pop," blowing the heads off three assants hidden in the crowd on the spot.

    The thugs didn''t rashly open fire but instead simultaneously drew their guns and shot at Governor Wen, who was an obvious high-ranking official.

    The champion of the standard-bearing team, who was proficient in Kung Fu for toughness, immediately stepped forward. His body swelled, one hand guarding his eyes, the other protecting his crotch, acting as a human shield.

    The countless .45 caliber bullets that hit made a "thud" sound, as if hitting rotten leather. However, these handgun bullets didn''t prate deeply, causing only minor injuries that made him bleed.

    At the same time, Lu Yao also made his move. With precise shooting from his M1911, thugs hiding behind the women and children of the disaster victims fell, spouting blood.

    A few breathster, the gunfire from the assants dwindled to a near stop. No one else needed to act; the counterattack from just Lu Yao and Li Pei was about to finish them off.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao''s magazine emptied, and feeling that the bullets on him were not abundant and should be conserved, he picked up a revolver from the ground.

    And just at that moment, the leading Corps Commander, full of hate, burst forth and shot at this murderer who had killed so many of his men!

    "Go to hell, damn dog!"

    Lu Yao remained utterly unflustered, entered a state ofplete focus, and firmly locked onto the enemy in front of him.

    Predicting the firing position from where the gun''s barrel pointed, he moved aside preemptively the moment the man''s index finger twitched.

    With a loud bang, a bullet whistled past where his chest had been a moment earlier, hitting nothing!

    The Corps Commander was utterly astonished, but his hands did not cease firing continuously.

    Lu Yao, controlling his powerful Bone Tempering Realm body, became "Neo," dodging left and right, evading the remaining five bullets!

    The Corps Commander, in disbelief, eximed, "Impossible! How can a human be faster than a bullet?"

    "I don''t need to be faster than the bullet, just faster than you," replied Lu Yao.

    Handgun bullets near the speed of sound were indeed too fast for an ordinary person. But the shooter was very easy to read!

    At the moment of the Corps Commander''s utmost shock, Liao Qe rushed forward and floored him with a punch, only spared by Li Pei''s shout of "leave him alive!"

    Li Pei looked at Lu Yao with aplex expression, mixed with a trace of admiration: "You... learn quickly."

    Dodging bullets like a Spirit Refining Expert might seem easy but required steadfast determination, especially in the heat of the moment; one cannot panic. A moment of panic, a mistake in judgment, and your life would be over.

    Having dodged bullets on his own strength, Lu Yao was quite excited at that moment and offered Li Pei a fist and palm salute in thanks: "I owe it to the Commandery Princess for my instruction; I''m grateful you bear me no grudge~"

    Li Pei covered her mouth andughed lightly, her appreciation for Lu Yao growing. Being so close to a gun and still able to calmly judge, his willpower was indeed rare.

    The Liao Family Sisters also came over, their eyes shone brightly: "Junior brother / Lu Yao, you''re so impressive!"

    The spectacle of him dodging six shots within ten paces was awe-inspiring; even Liao Ya, as a martial artist of Organ Refining, couldn''t guarantee she could aplish that.

    "Hahaha, I also have you two to thank for helping me advance to the Bone Tempering Realm, otherwise my brain could react but my body wouldn''t keep up."

    Lu Yao was not just being polite; he found that in addition to enhanced physical fitness, the greatest benefit of the Bone Tempering Realm was the tremendous improvement in explosive power!

    The countless times of tempering his bones had turned his body into a giant spring, not only strong but also rigid and resilient, bursting with ferocious power!

    Agile like a big tiger! Only with this, aided by Spirit Refinement, could he dodge bullets at close range.

 Chapter 65: 65. Apply knowledge to real-world practice.

    Lu Yao''s side was in high spirits, but Governor Wen could not find joy in himself.

    He stared at the riddled corpse of Lu Qianshi, his face as calm as an ancient well, but internally he cursed furiously, "Damnit! Everyone else survived, but this fucking bastard had to die! Fuck your ancestors!"

    The murder of a sixth-rank official by rioters meant that he, the "photo organizer," was undeniably responsible and was sure to be rebuked.

    The enormous task of appeasing 100,000 disaster survivors had been settled, yet, unexpectedly, it was ruined by a fool. Governor Wen''s eyes shed cold with fury.

    Colonel Xu kept talking nonstop at his side, "Lord Lu loved taking pictures too much; it would have been better if he let me do it sooner. I wouldn''t mind taking a few bullets. s, it seems the heavens wanted him."

    Governor Wen looked up coldly and said, "Why did the state soldiers allow the rebels to blend in with the disaster victims? Why did they allow them to calmly set up an attack on an imperial official? And why didn''t they prevent it from happening right after the incident?"

    A series of usations fell on Colonel Xu, who stood there with his mouth agape, at a loss for words.

    Fortunately, at that moment, a standard-bearer came to report, "Sir, the interrogation isplete. The trouble was caused by followers of the Great Vehicle Sect. They seized the opportunity to stir trouble in the prefecture government, aiming to distract the Imperial Court and provide convenience for their leader."

    No one present seemed surprised; nowadays, such deeds were only expected from the "Great Vehicle Sect."

    ~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, Li Pei elsewhere was rying the same news:

    "The Great Vehicle Sect is an evil creed founded by altering the teachings of the Western Religion, which the Imperial Court has been unable to effectively ban, despite repeated attempts. They formerly sowed chaos in the south, and now they''ve actuallye to Yunzhou... This will certainly lead to great disaster if it continues!"

    Lu Yao didn''t find this surprising, as the copsing feudal dynasty was clearly a ma for rebel leaders.

    Li Pei waved to someone in the distance; Zhang Jin jogged over, carrying an entire set of official credentials and robes.

    "Young Master Lu, these are the rewards from the Imperial Court, the position of a seventh-rank Dao Tai Official."

    Lu Yao took them indifferently and politely said, "Thank you, Commandery Princess."

    Li Pei, in a full Spirit Refining State, failed to detect the slightest excitement in Lu Yao.

    She encouraged him, "The Imperial Court is indeed in need of capable people. For someone as skilled as Young Master Lu, attaining a marquisate isn''t difficult."

    Lu Yao gave a perfunctory smile and replied, "Commandery Princess overestimates me; I haven''t even cured my illness yet. Let''s focus on saving my life first."

    Looking up at the sky, he added, "It''s gettingte, and you''re busy with many affairs, Commandery Princess. We''ll take our leave now."

    After saying this, he quickly left with the two sisters.

    Watching the three leave, Li Pei grew solemn and furrowed her brows, "This man... shows no intention of exerting himself for the Imperial Court."

    Zhang Jin spoke up, "Commandery Princess, perhaps it''s because he''s from overseas. But it''s not a problem. The three Liao Family Fist practitioners are all kind-hearted, and you get along well with them; just take your time."

    Li Pei did not respond but heaved a long sigh.

    ~~~~~~~

    Back home, Lu Yao tossed the credentials aside and began to practice his boxing.

    Having just entered the Bone Tempering Realm, he had much training to do. Moreover, learning how to dodge bullets had significantly increased his interest in martial arts.

    He finished a couple sets of Liao Family Fist and soon felt a stinging pain and numbness in his limbs.

    Seeing the credentials carelessly ced to one side, Liao Qe couldn''t help but ask her heartthrob, "Lu Yao, it seems... you look down on the Imperial Court? It always feels like you don''t take it seriously."

    Lu Yao wrapped his arms around his little girlfriend''s two-foot-wide waist and sat down, slowly saying:

    "Rather than attaining lordships or bing prime ministers, I prefer to train in martial arts and improve our strength together, to soon be Supermen resistant to cannonballs. That''s what I find most interesting."

    Liao Qe moved to sit on hisp, took out a handkerchief, and wiped his sweat, "What, you want to reach the Indestructible Golden Body Realm?"

    "I don''t think it''s difficult. All three of us are advancing quickly." Lu Yao said, his head a bit in the clouds from the benefits of using various power-boosting techniques.

    "Younger fraternal disciple, you''re mistaken there," Liao Ya walked out of the house, holding a Color Ultrasound Instrument.

    Seeing her sister, Liao Qe quickly got off Lu Yao.

    Liao Ya went on:

    "With your help, it''s certain we made rapid progress until the Organ Refining Realm, but my marrow cleansing has slowed down tremendously. It''s good that we have this instrument; otherwise, we''d be clueless on how to proceed."

    She handed the Color Ultrasound Instrument to her sister and sat down, continuing, "After cleansing the marrow, there''s Blood-Exchange, Innate, Leakproof, and only then does one reach the Indestructible Golden Body. It gets harder the further you go. Not only do you need a colossal amount of resources, taking life-threatening risks, and diligent cultivation, but you also need a master''s guidance. Without any support, it''s very difficult for us.

    Younger fraternal disciple, don''t take things too lightly; be prepared for hardships."

    The serious look on the young girl''s pretty face made her seem pretentiously mature. Her braids had grown a bit longer, resting on her prominently full chest.

    Sitting so close, the unique fragrance filled Lu Yao''s nose, and he sniffed lightly, nodding, "Don''t worry, senior sister, there will always be ways."

    ~~~~~~

    For the next two days, Lu Yao cultivated day and night with great enthusiasm, the "bang-smack" sounds in the courtyard bing more frequent.

    Liao Qe always stayed by her sweetheart, diligently teaching and correcting without tiring.

    At the moment, the young girl was holding a stack of invitations, asking, "Lu Yao, are we declining all of these as well?"

    "Decline them all, use the excuse of a terminal illness. I don''t have time for any banquets."

    Lately, there had been a steady stream of invitations asking Lu Yao to various gatherings.

    Lu Yao felt that "suffering from a terminal illness" was an unbeatable excuse; there wasn''t a more sufficient reason. If anyone doubted, they could ask Du Wen from the manufacturing bureau for confirmation~

    Having finished speaking, he performed the Carp Stance, his spine powering his body to move horizontally three meters without moving his limbs, looking nothing like someone suffering from a terminal illness.

    Liao Qe pped her hands in admiration, "You''re getting good at the Carp Stance."

    Lu Yao felt quite satisfied with himself, "You once said I wasn''t strong enough, and that hurt me. I''ve been holding a grudge and waiting to get even."

    "Ah, you took that to heart~ But back then, we were two full realms apart, and it indeed wasn''t smooth~" The young girl''s eyes and smile were alluring in every move she made.

    Lu Yao couldn''t stand her cocky demeanor, so he pulled her to him, "Come, let''s go inside. I want my revenge!"

    ~~~~~~

 Chapter 66 : 66. Six Life Silver Tower

    Afterward, Lu Yao was very satisfied, not only had he gotten his revenge, but he had also gained a deeper understanding of the Bone Tempering Realm, which was truly celebratory.

    Liao Qe was still carrying a hint of blush, busy wiping up therge stain on the ground.

    Lu Yao steadied her slippery shoulder and whispered, "I need to go home to take care of some things."

    Liao Qe sped the hand of her beloved, as if she knew he was going to do something violent, softly saying, "Be careful."

    Lu Yao nodded, instructing, "You know where I keep my firearms, if anything happens, just use them. Is there anything you want?"

    Liao Qe cocked her head and thought for a moment, then asked sweetly, "I want some snacks, the sweet ones."

    "You have a sweet tooth, huh? No problem~" Lu Yao promised readily.

    Then, the girl brought a basin of warm water, attended to his cleaning, and helped him dress, just like a virtuous and beautiful wife.

    Lu Yao looked at her peaceful expression, itching for a round two, immediately hugging the girl''s slippery, fragrant shoulders.

    Liao Qe giggled, pushing him away: "No, no, sister said you can''t indulge too much~"

    "Ah? You have the nerve to say that when you''ve been squeezing me dry every day!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao drove straight to the drug store.

    Along the way, passersby made way for him, either looking at the boss''s car with awe or envy. Lu Yao, however, found the thing quite unpleasant to drive, slow in speed; its only benefit was it could carry a lot.

    There were also those who looked eager and aggressive, as though they wanted to rob him.

    They were much more robust than average people, their demeanors fierce, clearly martial artists.

    Lu Yao touched the AK by his side, not giving them a second thought.

    As soon as he reached the entrance of the drug store and heard the movement, Keeper He and his two assistants were already waiting in attendance. Upon seeing Lu Yao, they quickly bent down to greet him: "Master Lu, my respects."

    Keeper He''s deference grew by the day; this old patron of his wasn''t just wealthy and influential but also had a senior sister skilled in Organ Refining watching over him, and had entered Cloud City''s "Hero Register." He dared not offend him.

    Lu Yao, a man who valued old rtionships, quickly helped the old man up. "Enough of that, we''re old acquaintances, don''t go through all that. Just hurry up and prepare the medicinal materials."

    A genuine smile appeared on Keeper He''s face: "We''ve prepared the items you usually buy."

    Lu Yao nodded in satisfaction; he liked efficiency.

    At this moment, Keeper He''s humble demeanor caught the attention of the other customers in the shop.

    Lu Yao sensed a few gazes on him and nced around, spotting three raggedly dressed, travel-worn martial artists, exuding an unpleasant odor of sweat.

    Curious, he struck up a casual conversation: "Keeper He, there seem to be many martial artists in the citytely."

    "With the recent disasters, there are droughts in Zhongzhou and Huai State, with no harvest; coupled with locust gues in several other states, many martial artists havee to Yunzhou to make a living. Master Lu, you''d best keep your distance from them; they''re not on the straight and narrow."

    Then, several assistants carried over bundles of medicinal materials, weighing tens of pounds. Keeper He personally inspected them to make sure there were no issues before respectfully inviting Lu Yao to examine them.

    The three martial artists witnessed Lu Yao''s extravagant spending, exchanged surprised looks, and their expressions immediately turned ferocious!

    ~~~~~~~

    Next, Lu Yao drove to the jewel store.

    Following the experience of selling jade, he had decided to try out a new venture to earn more money and prepare for some ns, such as "extracting health supplements."

    The health supplements from the Otherworld were already incredibly effective; if they could be extracted using Blue Star technology, what amazing results would be achieved!

    The name of the jewel store was "Ji Xiang Silver Building." The two-storied building wasvishly decorated with carved beams and painted rafters. Arge stone tortoise by the entrance, symbolizing good fortune and stability, brought a promising touch.

    As soon as Lu Yao parked his car, a female manager was waiting for him.

    This woman was about 40, dressed in a gracefully fitting light green cheongsam, exuding charm.

    The cultural exchange and fusion among various races of the Otherworld brought forth a dazzling clothing culture, with the sensuous cheongsam being one of them.

    Lu Yao took a longer look and decided to buy one for his sisters too.

    The shopkeeper quickly assessed Lu Yao''s age and appearance before deducing his status, performing a full kowtow and saying, "Master Lu graces us with his presence, truly a light in the darkness. My name is Wang Ru, the shopkeeper of Liusheng House."

    "Shopkeeper Wang, I''d like to buy some jewelry, just looking around first."

    Entering the silver shop, they saw that the first floor sold low-end jewelry from the Otherworld such as jadeite and other gemstones, while the second floor carried the most valuable precious metals, including the popr "tinum" from Blue Star.

    Noticing that Lu Yao''s gaze lingered a little longer, the ever-attentive Wang Ru immediately whispered, "Liusheng House''s tinum is guaranteed to be genuine and pure, and the craftsmanship is extraordinary."

    Lu Yao said nothing, his mind filled with surprise¡ªwhy hadn''t he seen any gold?

    Liusheng House had a sizable scale, offering aplete range of jewelry, even including coral products, but there was a conspicuous absence of gold, which was particrly odd.

    But Lu Yao did not voice his question, thinking he might ask the sisters about it when he had the chance.

    He casually selected a few of the most expensive items of their kind¡ªa tinum bracelet, a jadeite bracelet, a white jade snuff bottle.

    He paid the money swiftly, without haggling at all. In total, he spent 3 taels of silver, equivalent to 750 yuan¡ªfakes on Blue Star would cost even more.

    Seeing his extravagant manner of payment, Wang Ru''s eyes lit up as she inwardly sighed, acknowledging that his reputation was well deserved¡ªhe truly was wealthy!

    Meanwhile, the three martial artists who had been closely tracking him were growing even happier as their ''fat sheep'' seemed to be getting fatter.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao drove towards the warehouse at the port, stopped in a deserted area, got out of the car, and shouted behind him, "Come out." But nobody responded.

    The three martial artists, filled with uncertainty, exchanged nces, about to use hand signals to discuss their next move when Lu Yao grew impatient.

    "I''m in a hurry, and you''re really annoying. Such small courage for bandits~"

    Lu Yao could clearly sense the greed and malice in his enemies'' eyes, and with his telescope-like vision, he could easily spot them.

    He pulled out an AK with the stock removed from the passenger seat!

    His strength greatly increased after Bone Tempering, so even without the stock, he could handle the recoil. This way, the rifle was much shorter, making it agile and easy to carry.

    Lu Yao fired the gun in the terrified expressions of the three men, releasing 7.62MM bullets at a rate of 10 rounds/sec, instantaneously turning the three martial artists hiding in the dark 50 meters away into porous carcasses¡ªit was those same three men from the medicine shop encounter!

    Lu Yao swept his gun from left to right in just 2 seconds, with only the third man realizing what was happening, but he could only desperately clutch the bleeding wound, soon breathless.

    Lu Yao disengaged the rifle''s safety at a leisurely pace, continued driving, toozy to even nce at the three would-be robbers.

    Now that he had the power to protect his wealth, he didn''t need to be as cautious and wary as before.

    After parking the car in the warehouse, Lu Yao took a pile of things and returned to Blue Star.

    ~~~~~~~~

    It was 8 a.m. on Blue Star.

    In the warehouse in the northern suburbs, Lu Yao pulled out his phone and called Li Lei toe pick him up in the car and also take the opportunity to sell some medicine.

    The girl arrived before long, looking a bit tired but still spirited.

    Lu Yao asked, "Everything okay at home?"

    "Almost... My old man should be able to get a suspended sentence."

    Li Lei appeared much more rxed, casually inspected the medicinal materials, and transferred 2 million. "The medicine is 1.15 million, plus the 800,000 I owed youst time, the rest is interest."

    Exclusive content from m,v lem|p,yr

    "Interest... You''re not short on money?"

    Li Leiughed, "Last time it was just a cash crunch. Thanks to you, I''m now a leading figure in the medicinal trade in our city."

    "Then congrattions are in order. Take me to the jewelry trading center, please."

    Both in good spirits, they joked and chatted as they got into the car.

 Chapter 67 : 67. Never meddle in others business.

    Lu Yao sat in the back seat, the beautiful driver steered the car steadily, and before he realized it, he had arrived at the jewelry trade center.

    Qi Cuiya astonishingly came out to the parking lot to wee him, even personally opening the car door and shielding him with her arm, all with the posture of greeting a leader. "Master Lu, you''ve arrived~"

    Lu Yao said with a smile, "Being so courteous, huh."

    "It''s only right," she replied.

    Li Lei exined, "Since she got that bracelet from youst time, it really made her stand out. Your bracelet turned out to be even more valuable than expected."

    Lu Yao shrugged his shoulders, "That''s their affair now, it has nothing to do with me. This time, I have two items for Miss Qi to take a look at."

    Qi Cuiya''s eyes lit up, "Rest assured, leave it to me!"

    Once inside the store, Qi Cuiya directly closed the main door and stopped receiving customers.

    Lu Yao first took out a jadeite bracelet. This bracelet was somewhat different, with its clear and bright color resembling water, giving off an icy and immacte feeling, pleasing to the eye at first nce.

    But Qi Cuiya''s face showed a look of disappointment. After examining it, she said, "Icy jadeite, substantial fluidity, very good luster, the price is around 50,000."

    "Ah? That low?" Lu Yao, in his focused state, did not detect any malice or lies.

    This bracelet was the most expensive among its kind in Otherworld, but it was not valued highly in Blue Star; it could only be ascribed to cultural differences.

    Lastly, he took out ard white jade snuff bottle. This object was also peerless in terms of price among its kind in Otherworld, but the valuation in Blue Star was unclear.

    However, Qi Cuiya frowned, the jade material seemed too new to appear genuine.

    But once it was in her hands, her expression suddenly became serious. She looked through a microscope for a long time, pondering before saying somewhat awkwardly,

    "Could you wait a moment? I will call my second grandfather over to have a look... He happens to be at the antique exhibition..."

    Li Lei seized the moment to tease her, "I thought you said your vision in the antique industry was unmatched~"

    Lu Yao said, "Please hurry, I''m in a rush."

    Qi Cuiya nodded and quickly made a phone call.

    Li Lei exined to Lu Yao, "Her family''s elder is an expert in the antique world, serving as a judge at the exhibition."

    At this moment, in the jewelry trade center where they were, an "International Fashion Culture Industry Exhibition" was being held, and the "second grandfather" Qi Cuiya had called arrived in just a few minutes.

    The man was seen with gray hair but a youthful face, full of vigor, making it quite difficult to estimate his age, which could be anything from seventy to ny years old.

    Two young men followed behind him, one of whom was Qi Jun, whom they had met before.

    Qi Jun had nearly brushed past that two-million jadeite bracelet before. Upon arrival, he red fiercely at the group, ready to pounce if murder were not punishable byw.

    The other man had a buzz cut, looking quite alert, and stayed close to the elder the entire time.

    This man''s expression changed upon seeing Lu Yao, his body tensed slightly, his hands half raised as if he was a feline creature encountering its natural enemy.

    After a considerable time, seeing that Lu Yao remained seated and still, he gradually rxed.

    ~~~~~~

    The elder called out with a strong voice, "Girl, they''re making selections outside, I can''t be away for too long. Bring over the snuff bottle so I can have a look."

    Qi Cuiya quickly handed over the snuff bottle with both hands.

    The elder didn''t even need a microscope. After cing his hand on it, he directly said, "Turn off the main lights, please."

    Qi Cuiya turned off the main lights in the shop, leaving only a few small ones on. In the dim light, the snuff bottle emitted a soft and slightly yellow halo, resembling coagted fat.

    Elder Master Qi said, "Genuinerd white jade, its appearance modest and unassuming, with its structure delicate and wless. Truly as smooth as jade, it holds tremendous value for collectors. As for the price... it usually goes to auction, withrge fluctuations. The starting bid is 5 million, but there are instances where it has gone up to 10 million."

    Upon hearing what the elder said, everyone present drew in a breath of cold air. The snuff bottle, no bigger than the palm of a hand, was worth so much.

    Elder Master Qi, unable to part with it, fiddled with the object lovingly and said, "This item can be taken out to participate in the exhibition."

    He then turned to Lu Yao, "Young man, are you going to make a move? I can buy it from you, but I can only offer six million," he said.

    Qi Cuiya''s face panicked, she never expected the artifact to catch the Elder Master''s eye, "Hey, hey, second grandpa, how can you snatch your granddaughter''s thing!"

    Lu Yao didn''t respond to the old man, but directly asked Qi Cuiya, "You have the right of first refusal," he said.

    Qi Cuiya was first delighted, but then her face soured, "I don''t have enough money... Let me figure it out," she said.

    Qi Jun sneered, but said nothing. Elder Master Qi''s expression remained unchanged.

    After a while, Qi Cuiya said, "I''ve only managed to gather five million, could I possibly owe the rest..."

    Before anyone else could react, Lu Yao had already nodded in agreement, "I have no objections, let''s settle it at that," he said. Then, turning to Elder Master Qi, he added, "Sorry, but there has to be some order to these things."

    The price being almost the same, Lu Yao naturally preferred to take care of someone he knew. The cost of the snuff bottle was only a hundred yuan, and a profit fifty thousand times that was more than enough; one shouldn''t be too greedy.

    Elder Master Qi took a serious look at Lu Yao, his face showing no sign of displeasure, and he nodded, "No harm done, young man. If you have any good items in the future,e to me directly," he said.

    The young man with the crew cut reached over in a somewhat awkward manner and handed over a business card.

    It read¡ªMember of the National Cultural Heritage Appraisal Committee, Consultant of the National History Museum, Qi Baozhai.

    Lu Yao casually pocketed it, while Li Lei secretly sweated bullets.

    It wasn''t easy to get the old man''s business card; he was someone on the national payroll, an esteemed figure everybody in the circle wanted to curry favor with. There were those willing to pay a million just for a way to contact him, as numerous as carps crossing the river.

    ~~~~~~~

    "Master Lu, Master Lu, thank you so much!" Qi Cuiya said excitedly as she transferred the money, then carefully locked the snuff bottle away in the safe.

    After receiving the money, Lu Yao casually spoke, "We''re square on the deal, I''ve got to get going now," and left on his own, his aloofness intact. Li Lei quickly followed, "Let me walk you out~"

    Qi Cuiya stood there, dumbfounded, with all the ttering words she had prepared left unspoken...

    Qi Jun, having witnessed this, felt his worldview being shaken to the core.

    His original philosophy in life was to consider the behavior of people like Lu Yao foolish, but he couldn''t help but ask himself: If there had been no deception and malice from the start, would it have been him acquiring the snuff bottle!?

    The answer was inevitably yes.

    Elder Master Qi spoke softly to his grandson, "You must have learned something from this. You''re young, and it''s never toote for anything. Think it over," he said.

    Qi Jun silently nodded.

    Then, Elder Master Qi turned to the crew-cut young man and asked, "Xiao Liu, you''ve been preupied; what''s on your mind?"

    Xiao Liu spoke gravely, "This man has killed before, and not just one person!"

    "!!!"

    Upon hearing this, everyone was struck dumb. They all knew that Xiao Liu came from a Special Police Force background and had participated in several special operations. He might be wrong about other things, but his judgment on this was absolutely urate.

    After a long silence, Elder Master Qi slowly began, "I am ny-five this year. Do you all know why I have lived so long?"

    Everyone shook their heads, somewhat confused and wondering why the Elder Master chose this moment to share his secrets to a long life?

    Elder Master Qi spoke in a low voice, "Because I never meddle in other people''s business."

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao was quite content looking at the 9.98 million bnce in his ount; this was the rhythm that someone trading between worlds should have.

    But this money was far from enough for the future establishment of aboratory to research Otherworld pharmaceutical extractions.

    Additionally, he needed to figure out how to purchase heavy weapons like the Fire God Cannon for a kick; only with it could he sleep soundly. But such items are under strict control, where could he possibly buy one...

    There''s also that bastard Zhang Xin; he needed to make a trip to He Kingdom to gather more information. At least to find out where his stronghold is, making it easier for him to take it out.

 Chapter 68: 68. Easier than imagined

    After returning home, Lu Yao went to his parents'' room, found his mother''s jewelry box, and took out a small Golden Piglet Pendant.

    It was a birthday present he bought for his mom with his first year''s sry. She never wore it, saying she wanted to save it for her future daughter-inw.

    "By rights, it should go to Liao Qe, but my senior sister should also get a share. It''s a tough call¡­"

    Despite Liao Ya often acting like a strict old-timer when lecturing others, she was fundamentally just a girl of seventeen or eighteen. If you had something that she didn''t get a share of, you could be sure she''d be unhappy.

    To avoid seeming unfair rather than simply too generous, Lu Yao decided to hang the pendant around his own neck for the time being and see what to do about itter.

    Moreover, during his wanderings in the jewelry stores of the Otherworld, he noticed there was no gold, so he thought it perfect to ask the two sisters about it.

    ~~~~~~

    Next, Lu Yao processed his visa to He Kingdom. With nearly an eight-figure worth on disy, the procedures werepleted almost instantly.

    He then booked a flight to his destination¡ªHebin Port in He Kingdom.

    With several hours left before the ne''s departure, Lu Yao went to a luxury hotel near the airport, where there was a gym¡ªit was the perfect opportunity to test just how much his physical strength had improved after Bone-Tempering.

    As if it was nothing, he lifted an 80kg barbell with one hand; then he aggressively added weights for bench presses, pushing 500 kg ten times; and finally, he deadlifted 550 kg.

    "If I use my full strength, it would be a bit higher than the world record," he thought.

    Lu Yao gained a profound understanding of his physical capabilities and knew that if he had gone through Organ Refining, these figures would have to be tripled at the very least.

    By then, other fitness enthusiasts were already rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

    Lu Yao was about to leave, but then he spotted a punching power tester on the wall, shaped like an electronic scale. All it took was a punch to test one''s power.

    Driven by curiosity, he stood in front of it, took a deep breath, activated Carp Stance to channel the strength of his entire body through his spine, and punched the machine with a "bang"!

    The whole wall seemed to shudder for a moment, and the machine disyed the figure 800KG.

    Gasps of amazement filled the air, considering an average person''s punching force was only around 100KG!

    In the end, a crack appeared in the machine, and with a tter, it fell to the ground. Lu Yao quickly made his escape, casually leaving a bewildered receptionist a handful of money.

    ~~~~~~

    Xia Country was separated from He Kingdom by the sea, not too far off. All things considered, the trip took just three hours.

    The main goal of this journey was not just to destroy Zhang Xin''s outpost, but to gather intelligence.

    He knew virtually nothing about Zhang Xin, like carrying around a pig''s head without finding the temple gate.

    As long as he could figure out where this "turtle grandson''s"ir was, the rest would be easy.

    He hailed a cab and began to admire the unique streetscapes of He Kingdom through the car window.

    Neon signs in all shapes and colors were everywheree evening, it became a dazzling disy that was hard to take in all at once.

    Once past the bustling city center, the streets became narrower and hillier, with electrical wires crisscrossing everywhere.

    "It wouldn''t be bad to travel around some time in the future," he mused.

    The charm of a foreignnd struck him, and suddenly, Lu Yao felt¡ªhe needed to adjust his attitude.

    "I''m someone with double-entry capability and superhuman strength. I can totally treat dealing with Zhang Xin as both a journey and a game. It''s just¡ªfun."

    ~~~~~~~

    [In November 2018, Takeda Biological Corporation announced the establishment of a joint venture with Xin Wang Pharmaceutical, with Takeda holding a 49% share.]

    "Takeda & Xin Wang Biological Corporation¡­"

    Gazing at the clean and spacious factoryplex in front of him, with uniform white buildings and offices, Lu Yaopared them to the news he had found on his phone and confirmed this was the target of his mission.

    This ce was iparable to the factory in Nan An¡ªit was not only muchrger, but itsyout was also more meticulous and well-organized. Discover worlds on m-v le-mpyr

    Lu Yao put on an "Ultraman" mask he bought by the roadside, and when he reached the three-meter-high perimeter wall, he concentrated all his strength into the sole of his right foot. Touching the wall, he pushed off fiercely and, using the power in both his lower and upper legs, he vaulted over it in one swift motion.

    "Strength has skyrocketed, but the body still weighs a hundred and something pounds, making the whole person much more agile."

    While marveling, Lu Yao moved deeper into the factory area, using the cover of night and shadows.

    The vast factory area was eerily quiet, deserted at midnight. On the surface, it truly seemed like a factory after work hours.

    But Lu Yao knew it wasn''t that simple. He closed his mouth and nostrils, held his breath, and focused all his attention on his ears.

    Sure enough, he caught light noisesing from underground.

    Lu Yaoy on the ground, following the sound until he found a secluded warehouse.

    The warehouse looked inconspicuouspared to the other surrounding buildings and was slightly run-down, but it was actually locked up tight, with no chance for forced entry.

    Lu Yao continued with his usual method--pushing with feet, climbing with hands, leveraging his strong physique and explosive power to scale the 10-meter-high warehouse roof via windows and cracks in the wall, much like a giant gecko clinging to the surface.

    The roof had an air vent, seemingly unguarded since it was unlikely for anyone to climb up there under normal circumstances.

    With nimble hands and feet, Lu Yao climbed through the top and into the warehouse, immediately confirming he was in the right ce. He saw barrels like the ones he had seen in the Nan An factory, filled with the familiar viscous liquid.

    Lu Yao continued to lie on the ground, capturing sounds while tapping to ascertain directions, and quickly located a spot on the floor in a corner of the warehouse.

    The sound from below was hollow; there was definitely an underground room, and this was its entrance.

    Just as he was looking for a suitable tool to forcefully break in, the entrance opened on its own--it was an electric door.

    Lu Yao quickly hid in the shadows, and four people wearing yellow "Biohazard Protective Suits" emerged, preparing to move the warehouse''s barrels underground using a hydraulic dolly.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Thanks for opening the door for me."

    Emerging from the shadows, Lu Yao''s legs powered him forward in an instant, and with one punch and one kick, he hit two of the enemies simultaneously.

    The person he kicked flew sideways, crashing into a shelf and then rebounding to the floor, silent and immobile; the one who took the punch had his protective mask deformed, spattered with blood on the inside.

    The remaining two, seeing an "Ultraman" suddenlymitting assault, shouted, "Shit!!" and drew their guns to shoot!

    Lu Yao moved like a dancer in a mechanic routine, his body making a suddenteral shift to dodge the bullets. Before they could fire a second shot, he drew close, and with resonating impacts, he punched each in the face.

    Although he hadn''t charged his punches, their force already approached 500 kilograms--twice that of a heavyweight professional boxer!

    The man holding the gun flew backward, nose and mouth bleeding profusely, lifeless on impact.

    Lu Yao dusted off his hands and picked up two guns, both famous "Glocks"--the most widely used pistol in the world.

    "Not bad, even got a weapon."

    ~~~~~~

    He sauntered into the underground area, which was about 2000 square metersrge or the size of four basketball courts.

    Around twenty people in yellow protective suits were operatingplex chemical equipment, extracting something from those thick liquids.

    The moment Lu Yao boldly entered through the main entrance, they spotted him. The group was momentarily stunned, then burst intomotion, drawing their guns to shoot!

    Lu Yao entered a heightened state of focus, and the people turned into 0.5x speed. The two "Glocks" in his hands fired at once.

    Amid the thunderous noise, a total of 34 bullets were rapidly discharged from the two guns. The noisy drug makers were either screaming or howling in pain, with one or two new holes in vital areas of their bodies, from which blood and brain matter gushed out.

    "Truly relieving~"

    Lu Yao stylishly performed an "Airborne Mag Change," reloading both guns in one second.

    "This ''Glock,'' despite its smaller caliber, has bullet speeds much faster than the M1911, increasing both range and uracy."

 Chapter 69: 69. The Good Play Begins

    After examining the new weapon in his hands, Lu Yao first picked up a few spare magazines and then checked out what these people were actually refining.

    "As expected, it''s pseudoephedrine, the stuff for refining crystal opium..."

    Lu Yao quickly did some mental calctions:

    "Cold medicine is priced at 300 a kilogram, and after processing, it sells for at least 300,000 per kilogram... Even after ounting for losses, the profits are staggering, almost catching up to my double pration door. No wonder Zhang Xin has grown so rapidly."

    "Also, this stuff is not like growing opium, which is illegal. You just need to purchase cold medicine, which significantly reduces the risk."

    As Lu Yao was reflecting, his ears suddenly twitched, picking up the sound of hurried footsteps fading quickly.

    Many of the chemical materials were mmable. He casually fired two shots to create sparks that ignited them and then pursued the fleeing figures.

    ~~~~~~

    A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed sses, slightly overweight, was clutching a briefcase tightly, being escorted by four well-dressed armed men wielding handguns as they made their escape.

    "Who exactly is that person! Did you see how he shoots!"

    With cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, the middle-aged man tried to alleviate his fear with words, having witnessed a ughter on the monitors that seemed almost too ludicrous to believe.

    Over twenty people were killed instantaneously like extras in a video game, too fake to be real.

    "Hey, Jin Muku, are we shooting ''The Matrix'' here?"

    "Shut up!" one of the suited bodyguards interrupted irritably, yanking off his tie and tossing it away.

    He, too, was shaken. In this line of work, it wasn''t rare to have blood on your hands, but such a sharpshooting ability was a first for him.

    Everyone at the scene seemed to be under the illusion that they were in an action movie.

    "We had an agreement that my personal safety would be guaranteed. I am a doctor from Kyoto University..."

    "You shut up! We need to get out of here first. I''ve already called for backup, and a field team wille to rescue us soon!"

    ~~~~~~

    The group showed no intention of turning back to fight Lu Yao, hurriedly moving towards a door that resembled the vault of a bank.

    The lead bodyguard stepped forward to input the password, while the other three aimed their guns at the corner, standing guard.

    When the door opened, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was an emergency exit leading outside, to be used for evacuation in case of an ident at the drug factory.

    But just then, footsteps came from around the corner!

    The four men had just lifted their guns to aim when a figure wearing an Ultraman mask kicked off the wall and flew through the air towards them.

    Their brains had just issued themand to raise their arms and aim their guns when the assant''s dual pistols already fired. "Bang, bang, bang, bang," four shots rang out, and all met with headshots.

    The overweight middle-aged man''s face was sttered with spotty blood droplets, screaming as he copsed to the ground,

    Lu Yao, holding onto him, passed through the electronic door onto the ground level, with spreading smoke and mes behind them.

    ~~~~~~~

    The passage led to the factory''s office building.

    It seemed the entire underground of the factory had been hollowed out to create a massive drug production facility.

    The man was still shouting something, but unfortunately, Lu Yao could only understand phrases like "Yamadi," remaining indifferent to his cries.

    Taking out his phone, he searched for a photo of Zhang Xin, handed it to the man, and asked in the limited Star Alliance Language he remembered, "Where, is, he?"

    The He Kingdom was a semi-colony of the Star Alliance Country, where people mostly understood the Star Alliance Language.

    However, upon seeing the photo, the man was first startled, then his face showed a look of sudden realization.

    "Are you here because of Zhang Xin ¡­ Ah no ¡­ Zhang Xin? My dealings with him were merely a simple partnership, not very extensive¡­"

    Lu Yao raised an eyebrow and said, "You speak Xia?"

    "Yes, I saw that the news was in Xia, so I''mmunicating with you in Xianguage."

    The man before him spoke fluently and respectfully in Xianguage. Since ancient times, Xia Country had exerted a significant influence on its neighboring countries, so there were many who could speak Xia.

    The man appeared meek and deferential, but inside he was incredibly anxious, cursing to himself about why his backup hadn''t arrived yet. They had guaranteed his safety from the beginning, yet all turned out to be useless!

    At the same time, stalling for time, he said, "I am a Doctor of Sciences from Kyoto University, a technical advisor for the factory! I can work for you, generating a continuous stream of huge profits¡­"

    Lu Yao, growing impatient, cut in, "You just need to tell me where Zhang Xin is."

    The man swallowed hard and quickly said, "I''m not sure where Zhang Xin is at the moment, but his headquarters are in Guad City, Inca Nation. He has his private guard and also gets protection from the Inca military¡­"

    The technical advisor seemed to know a lot. Just as Lu Yao was about to engage in a lengthy discussion with him, he abruptly felt a numbness on his back and his hairs stood on end!

    Without hesitation, he immediately employed "Carp Stance," using his spine to power his entire body to moveterally 1 meter while keeping his hands and feet still.

    Something appeared to be hurtling through the air at high speed!

    After Lu Yao dodged, the "technical advisor" behind him erupted in a puff of blood, the bewildered expression on his face split in two with a "slit," leaving a mosaic of mess on the ground.

    Only then did the muffled sound of a gunshot reach him from afar, sounding like a fist thumping aforter¡­ It was a high-caliber sniper rifle with a silencer!

    ~~~~~~~

    By the sound of the gunshot and the direction of the bullet, Lu Yao instantly pinpointed the position of the sniper¡ªon a rooftop 200 meters away!

    It was a woman dressed in a JK uniform, making eye contact with Lu Yao through a 12x scope.

    The woman aimed her crosshairs at Lu Yao''s "Ultraman Mask," blew him a kiss, and then pulled the trigger again!

    But what happened next was unbelievable to the woman! The target in her scope moved 1 meter to the side at the exact moment she pulled the trigger, dodging the bullet!

    "How is that possible!"

    Struggling with shock, the woman urgently contacted her teammates through her headset: [Be careful, the target is a master!]

    [Received, we have enteredbat range]

    The office building''s main entrance where Lu Yao was located was already staffed by a team armed with AR-15s, in full-body bulletproof vests, at the ready.

    The muscr leader, with a full-face cover making it impossible to see his features, issued an order in Star Alliance Language: [Let''s start.]

    A man holding a tablet pressed a few buttons and then hit the enter key, plunging the entire factory area into darkness as the power shut off, and all the lighting failed.

    The squad had night vision devices ready; meanwhile, the JK woman on the distant rooftop switched on the infrared mode of her sniper scope, turning the world into an array of odd colors, leaving nowhere for the enemy to hide!

    Anything with a temperature would show up in her scope, and she quickly targeted Lu Yao, who was hiding behind a wall!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Having realized the presence of these armed forces in the factory through his meditative state, Lu Yao understood that they were much more important and more troublesome than he had imagined!

    Just then, that familiar sensation of his hair standing on end surged once more, and he violently propelled himself to safety!

    Where he had been hiding, the wall exploded into a hole the size of a bowl, and countless fragments of stone shot out like shotgun pellets.

    "Damn it! This woman''s rifle can prate walls!"

    "But I want it!"

    Lu Yao dove deeper into the office building. He wasn''t the least bit afraid; his mind was set on wiping out this group and acquiring a new toy.

 Chapter 70: 70. Whose Special Agent

    At this moment, one couldn''t even see their own hand before their face in the entire factory area.

    But the well-prepared field team was unaffected, methodically surrounding Lu Yao with their night vision devices.

    [Rose, report his position.]

    [Second floor, at three o''clock, pistol! There are too many obstacles; I can''t fire.]

    [Received, don''t let him escape.]

    The JK girl named "Rose" ryed Lu Yao''s movements to her teammates through the infrared sniper scope while waiting for a chance to fire.

    The fully-armed field team covered each other, approaching the stairwell at the corner of the second floor.

    Suddenly, the team member who had previously hacked into the power grid brought out a remote-control car equipped with a camera and sent it dashing towards Lu Yao''s rough location.

    The remote-control car had night vision capabilities, and the clear image appeared on aptop. Though the target sted it with a single shot, they had confirmed his position¡ªless than 40 meters away!

    Themander signaled with a wave of his hand, and the team formed a tactical squad formation, ready to strike.

    But as soon as the point man revealed himself around the corner, two shots hit his forehead and chest, punching two holes into his gear.

    "Fuck!!"

    The bullets were stopped by the advanced bullet-resistant equipment; the man cursed in pain but was otherwise unharmed.

    Themander was puzzled¡ªhad the opposition also brought night vision gear? Otherwise, how could they shoot so urately in the pitch-ck environment?

    Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e-NovelFire

    He gestured twice, and immediately a team member leaned out for suppressive fire; two others took the opportunity to rush out to upy advantageous shooting positions, reducing Lu Yao''s space to move.

    But as soon as these people revealed themselves, Lu Yao''s bullets urately struck their throats and eyes!

    One person clutched his throat and died making a "hehe" sound; two others had blood holes in their eyes and fell without a sound.

    "!!!"

    This level of marksmanship was definitely beyond what a human should possess, and the team was shocked.

    At that moment, Rose suddenly shouted on the channel: [Be careful, he''s charging at you!]

    ~~~~~~~

    This was the battleground specifically chosen by Lu Yao. With two walls separating him from the female sniper, he didn''t worry about her attack and went all out against the enemies before him.

    Lu Yao''s legs pushed off the ground, propelling his whole body to run along the wall.

    The field team watched in disbelief as the target ran across the wall. They had just raised their weapons when Lu Yao already opened fire, spewing 34 bullets in an instant!

    Those parts of the enemy not covered by bulletproof vests were prated by bullets, and blood sttered on the spot. Several bodies fell backward, their firearms firing weakly, bullets scattering aimlessly.

    With his charge''s kic energy exhausted, Lu Yao ended his "wall run" andnded, performing a slick "Airborne Mag Change." His dual pistols continued to fire!

    Three team members aimed their guns, but as their brains ordered their fingers to pull the triggers, Lu Yao''s bullets had already pierced their eye sockets, exiting the backs of their heads with a burst of brain matter.

    By this time, less than five seconds had passed since Lu Yao appeared, and the entire elite field team had already crumbled.

    The few survivors left could only hide helplessly behind cover, firing their guns blindly in retaliation.

    For a moment, fragments of A4 paper, staplers, and file folders flew through the air.

    Their guns were equipped with silencers, making the sounds bizarre, yet the firepower was anything but weak, punching countless holes in the solid walls, but that was all.

    Lu Yao stepped over the spent cartridges on the ground, approaching at an unhurried pace.

    The team leader took a bullet in the knee, quickly injecting himself with a shot of adrenaline before pulling out two Shock Grenades and flicking them out from behind cover.

    What followedpletely shattered themander''s confidence¡ªthe two Shock Grenades were blown up mid-air, and it was his own men who were hit!

    All was white before his eyes, a ringing filled his head, the semicircr canals damaged, he couldn''t keep bnce and fell to the ground...

    ~~~~~~~

    As his teammates fell one after another, blood and brain matter, still warm, spattered conspicuously in "Rose''s" infrared scope.

    But all she could do was listen to the frantic, chaotic soundsing over the team channel, panicking!

    "I''ve been hit! Damn it, where is he!"

    "Oh God! He''s too fast!"

    "Tiger and Dolphin are down!"

    Last came the captain''s shout, "Retreat, retreat fast!"

    This burly and robust teammander could no longer hide the shock in his voice.

    The opponent had been alone from the beginning, armed with a pistol, and had crushed his entire squad in under two minutes.

    This action movie-like scenario...suddenly reminded him of the "super soldier" programs that top nations had secretly been developing since World War II.

    Once the effects of the shock grenade subsided, the captain realized the enemy was already close at hand, and he was the only member of his squad still alive.

    He coughed up blood twice and pulled out an identification book from his chest, shouting in Star Alliance Language, "Stop! We''re special agents of the Foreign Affairs Bureau!"

    Lu Yao nced at the bald eagle symbol on the credentials and sneered, "Agents who traffic drugs, or drug traffickers acting as agents?"

    The captain suddenly drew his handgun from his waist and fired rapidly; Lu Yao firmly locked onto the position of the gun muzzle. As the captain was about to pull the trigger, Lu Yao moved sideways in advance, evading the bullet, which whistled past fruitlessly.

    Witnessing this inconceivable scene, the captain showed an unbelieving expression, "who.are.you!!!!"

    Wearing the Ultraman mask, Lu Yao replied in a muffled voice, "I''m.batman~"

    After speaking, he raised his hand and fired a shot; the bullet went through the man''s credentials and into his neck.

    ~~~~~~~

    Rose watched as her entire squad was wiped out in under two minutes and knew they were in big trouble.

    They were the He Kingdom-based special agents of the Foreign Affairs Bureau, and dying here while protecting a drug production facility would be a huge scandal!

    But the factory was too important! It supplied the global opium market, and with daily profits reaching 14 million Star Alliance Currency, it could easily be among the global top 500. How could they not protect it well!

    This operation couldn''t stand scrutiny, and she immediately contacted her superiors for damage control. But then she suddenly saw¡ªLu Yao picking up a teammate''s weapon and confidently stepping out of cover!

    "You''re seeking death!"

    A mere 200 meters away, daring to provoke a sniper!

    Rose was certain; her teammate''s rifle was only equipped with a holographic sight, and at such a distance, she had the absolute advantage!

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao picked up an AR15 caliber 5.56MM, switched it to single-shot mode, and prepared for a mid-range sniper sh.

    Both were confident, aiming at each other at the first opportunity.

    The one to fire first was naturally Lu Yao, who, in a state of zen-like focus, initiated the Carp Stance and moved sideways instantly, firing two shots while moving at high speed!

    Rose was shaken by the maneuver and couldn''t even pull the trigger before a bullet traveling more than twice the speed of sound struck her!

    It felt as though she had been smacked by a giant hammer. A strange burning sensation came from the wound, and her sexy JK skirt was instantly soaked with blood.

    Her vision blurred more and more, and she desperately reached for the adrenaline tied to her thigh...

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao saw thest enemy burst into two clouds of blood mist and fall, then he began to clear the battlefield.

    After searching the bodies, these armed individuals were half Caucasian and half Asian, each with credentials that besides the conspicuous bald eagle symbol, were also marked, in Star Alliance Language, with¡ªStar Alliance Country''s Foreign Affairs Bureau, stationed at He Kingdom special agent office.

    "Foreign Affairs Bureau agents? They sent in the military directly in Annan Country too... it seems these factories are earning even more than I initially thought."

    Lu Yao reflected for a moment but didn''t find anything strange.

    Previously, Star Alliance Country''s old rival¡ªIron Alliance, had released a report using Star Alliance Country''s intelligence agencies of being involved in drug trafficking.

    Although Star Alliance Country categorically denied it, Lu Yao felt that this¡ªwas probably not a baseless usation.

 Chapter 71: 71. Happy to get the big sniper rifle

    Lu Yao''s haul this time was quite substantial¡ªfive intact bulletproof vests, several rifles and bullets, 20 shock grenades and hand grenades, as well as special equipment like wireless earpieces and remote-control cars.

    And on a distant rooftop, there was a "big sniper" rifle waiting to be picked up~

    When Lu Yao arrived, he only saw arge pool of blood, but the female sniper''s body was nowhere to be seen.

    "She didn''t die? This woman is lucky."

    Not paying much attention to it, Lu Yao''s gaze was wholly captivated by the "weapon" in front of him.

    The gun was about 1.5 meters long, with cold, hard lines that exuded a mechanical precision, truly a boy''s favorite toy.

    "It''s actually the famous Barrett!"

    Lu Yao recognized it at a nce. This was a globally renowned anti-material sniper rifle that used .50 caliber ammunition andbined long range, high precision, and powerful impact into one.

    Next to it was a box for the gun, which also contained many bullets and maintenance tools, truly considerate, delivering right to your doorstep.

    First, Lu Yao packed up the firearms he wanted and then went to the ce of the "technical advisor" who had died horribly.

    This person had been turned into several pieces by one shot from the Barrett. Lu Yao was not there to mourn but to look for the briefcase the man had been carrying.

    He found it amongst a heap of mosaic and opened it to find only aptop.

    The system waspletely different from the standard Windows, and it required a password to enter¡ªa sure sign that it contained big secrets.

    But this was not a safe ce, and he could no longer stay.

    Lu Yao forcibly pried off theptop''s back cover and removed its hard disk.

    Then, carrying all his materials, he ran to the woods far from the factory and activated the Dimensional Door to return to the Otherworld.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    In the Otherworld warehouse, Lu Yao put the items into the old car and drove it to refuel.

    There was a filling station at the port with the characteristics of this era¡ªthe Oil Company, whose main business was "heavy oil" for ships, but they also sold diesel.

    After filling up, Lu Yao bought two extra barrels for the generator at home.

    Driving the old car leisurely home, he passed people who greeted him deferentially, and Lu Yao casually nodded in response to those he recognized.

    The people discussed his deeds in earnest:

    "This Master Lu is impossibly rich; he donated a million catties of rice without batting an eye! That car was a gift from the Commandery Princess Yongping."

    "He''s also an inner disciple of the Liao Family Fist. Both his senior sisters have done Organ Refining, and they''re not even 18!"

    "No wonder he''s so prestigious."

    Listening to these conversations, Lu Yao couldn''t help feeling emotional: I''ve be quite the figurehead myself.

    And the car Li Pei gave me is quite practical, not only for carrying things but also for showing off.

    Right! The Secret Manual she gave me is pretty awesome too, having my senior sister massage me... andter I can massage her too...

    ~~~~~~~

    However, Li Pei, whom Lu Yao was just praising, didn''t have it so good.

    Experience tales with m v|l -NovelFire

    A few days ago, she caused a "chicken-and-egg" situation for Xiang Cheng, and it had led to trouble.

    At this moment, Li Pei let the phone on the table ring incessantly but didn''t pick up.

    Zhang Jin, who was with her, looked worried: "Sir Xiang personally phoned the Prince and raged furiously, with very harsh words. You''re definitely in for a punishment this time."

    Li Pei propped her chin with her hands and fretted, "I''ll put it off for one more day if I can, wait for father to cool down. I''m extremely dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement; that Xiang Cheng is a scoundrel..."

    Just then, a familiar voice rang out: "Commandery Princess, you have to answer the phone sooner orter."

    Li Pei looked up to see that it was none other than the head of her father''s attendants¡ªEunuch Wang.

    Zhang Jin quickly stepped forward to support his arm: "Godfather, why have youe!"

    Eunuch Wang shook off his godson''s hand, first performed a deep bow to Li Pei, and then, pointing to the incessantly ringing phone, said, "Commandery Princess, please answer it. The Prince has something to tell you."

    Li Pei sighed, picked up the receiver reluctantly, said "Hello", and then swiftly pulled it away.

    ```

    Only after a long period of growls and roars subsiding did tranquility return inside.

    Li Pei waited until the noise diminished before she put the receiver to her ear, repeatedly murmuring "yes," "mm-hmm," "I understand," and other phrases to show she was listening.

    After hanging up, her expression turned sour, for the King had ordered her to "return to the capital for reflection."

    "I won''t go back. I still have unfinished business in Yunzhou!"

    Eunuch Wang bowed and said, "Commandery Princess, consider it a break to spend more time with the Prince. You can return after his anger subsides in a few days."

    Only then did Li Pei reluctantly nod her head.

    Eunuch Wang added, "Young Master Xiang grew up in Einheit; the more you interact with him, the better it will be."

    Li Pei''s face was full of disdain and revulsion. Remembering something, she instructed Zhang Jin, "Go remind the Liao Family that I will be away for a few days, and to stay alert."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Liao Family Fist''s gymnasium.

    Liao Qe was airing out big bags of expensive herbs.

    All these were bought by Lu Yao, which would take quite a while to use up.

    Liao Ya also stood in the courtyard, and the sisters exchanged nces, filled with emotion as they looked at the pile of herbs.

    Expensive medicinal ingredients that were once hard toe by now filled the courtyard to the brim.

    "It''s the seventh day today; the medicinal wine is ready, but let''s wait for Lu Yao toe back and we can drink it together."

    "Mm. Sister, look what I found."

    Liao Qe held up an old cloth doll. The doll wore a red bellyband, and its facial features were drawn on with a pen, looking adorably simple.

    Liao Ya eximed with surprise, "Where did you find it? We used to y house with it all the time."

    "I found it identally while sorting the herbs." Liao Qe handed the doll to her sister. "When we were little, you always liked to y the mother, insisting that I be the baby."

    Liao Ya held the doll in silence for a long time.

    With a touch of sadness, Liao Qe said, "Ever since our parents passed away, we never yed again. You became so strict all of a sudden; I didn''t even dare to speak loudly to you."

    Gently stroking her sister''s head, Liao Ya said softly, "There were too many wolves staring at us back then; I had to shoulder the Liao Family. Fortunately... it''s all fine now. Now, having undergone Organ Refining and cleansing our marrows, we haven''t let our father''s name down!"

    Just then, the sound of a car approaching disturbed the tranquility of the courtyard.

    ~~~~~~~~

    When Lu Yao drove up to the gymnasium, the sisters had already opened the gates in anticipation.

    After parking, the two women rushed over to open the car door, only to find no gifts as they had expected.

    Lu Yao opened the trunk, chuckling, "This time I''ve brought something different..."

    "Why are there so many firearms?"

    The sisters inspected the AR15 and Glock they were holding.

    Lu Yao took out a case for arge sniper rifle, boasting, "That''s nothing; this is the real deal! From now on, if anyone dares to bully us, I''ll obliterate them~"

    The two women crowded around with curiosity.

    The case was rather long and upon opening, it revealed threeyers filled with parts of a Barrett. He had downloaded aplete set of assembly videos from the inte before arriving and had practiced assembling it.

    As Lu Yao fitted the pieces together and attached the thick, foot-long silencer, the "Barrett M82A1 anti-material sniper rifle" made its first appearance in the Otherworld.

    Lu Yao proudly taught the women how to use it, and they enthusiastically toyed with it for a while, then aimed at the sky and fired several yful shots.

    "Wow, that''s some power!"

    "Yeah, the force is almost like a cannon, right?"

    The women handled the heavy sniper like a bamboo stick, not needing to brace it against their shoulders, countering the massive recoil with just the strength of their hands.

    Lu Yao couldn''t help but feel envious, eagerly longing to advance realms and achieve the goal of wielding a Fire God Cannon himself.

    ```

 Chapter 72: Playing House

    Lu Yao carefully dismantled the barrel of Barrett''s gun and maintained it meticulously, while Liao Qe studied with keen interest by his side.

    At that moment, the eunuch Zhang Jin arrived to convey a message from Li Pei about her imminent return to the Imperial City:

    "The Commandery Princess will be staying in the Imperial City for a few days and made a special point of having me toe and inform you. The National Martial Arts Association hopes you will take extra care."

    Liao Ya solemnly bowed with fists sped and responded, "We will do our utmost." Then he asked, "Your Highness¡­ she won''t be in trouble, will she?"

    In broad daylight and in front of everyone, Li Pei had delivered a fatal blow to her betrothed¡ªthe Young Master Xiang. The news had already spread far and wide.

    Zhang Jin forced a smile and said, "Master Liao need not worry; the Commandery Princess will return soon. I should not tarry; please excuse me."

    After delivering the message, the Western-dressed eunuch sped his fists in farewell and, before leaving, turned back to caution, "The Hailong Gang has been quite active recently, seeking a new opium merchant. You should be vignt."

    ~~~~~~~

    After he left, Liao Ya, with a grim expression, said, "With Sun Haoran dead, the Hailong Gang will definitely be looking for a new opium merchant. It''s sickening to think how many scum are racing to take on such an inhumane business!"

    Lu Yao inquired, "What''s the story with the Hailong Gang? Doesn''t the Imperial Court do anything?"

    Liao Ya answered, "The Hailong Gang is wanted by the Imperial Court, but they have taken refuge with the foreigners'' Opium Company and are under the protection of the ''United Kingdom'', while they also bribe high officials with a lot of money. Nobody dares to act against theirwlessness."

    Liao Qe, flipping her braids, shouted, "A bunch of beasts. Once I have mastered my martial skills, I''ll wipe them out!"

    Liao Ya took a deep breath and said, "I have been training tirelessly waiting for that day. By the way, our Golden Elixir Brew is ready to drink!"

    ~~~~~~

    They moved the wine jar, and as soon as the lid was opened, the room filled with the fragrance of wine! Just from the smell alone, there was a sense of floating towards a celestial paradise.

    Liao Yaxing''s excited face turned rosy with anticipation:

    "The Golden Elixir Brew was the favorite wine of the Han Dynasty''s great writer Sima Xiangru. There is a poem that says, ''Amongst the servants, none thirst like Xiangru; if only to be granted a cup of Golden Elixir.'' Today, we shall drink a cup!"

    She immediately moved the wine jar and poured arge bowl for each person.

    The liquor was the color of amber, its rich fragrance overpowering.

    Liao Qe sniffed curiously and said, "I''ve never had wine before."

    "Neither have I, let''s try it."

    The two girls eagerly downed their bowls, after which Liao Ya closed her eyes and took a long sigh of relief, her cheeks visibly turning red as she praised, "The taste is superb! The medicinal effect is also excellent: it opens the meridians and greatly benefits the cirction and the blood. It''s of great help to those in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm! Another bowl."

    Liao Qe''s cheeks were rosy, and she smacked her lips, "Indeed, it''s quite tasty. I''ll have another bowl~"

    Experience new stories on m v|l e-NovelFire

    The sisters each poured another bowl and again "gulp gulp gulp" drank it down.

    Afterward, both girls had cherry-red cheeks and their eyes rippled with waves, looking adorably tempting.

    The big sea bowls used for drinking could hold almost a jin!

    Lu Yao watched in astonishment as the two of them downed two jin, over eighty degrees of alcohol! He stepped forward quickly to check on them, "Are you two alright?"

    "We''re fine, it''s quite tasty."

    "I want some more~"

    "Then have another!"

    They filled their bowls again, clinked them together, and heartily drank it all in one go, then looked at each other giggling foolishly.

    Lu Yao watched their tipsy state and gently reminded, "That''s¡­ three jin now¡­ over eighty degrees. Perhaps you shouldn''t drink any more¡­"

    Liao Ya turned to re at him, mming the table dissatisfied, "Don''t be so stingy~"

    At this moment, her usually gentle eyes were drooping at the corners, looking like a bewitching temptress, filled with wickedness.

    Lu Yao mentally cursed at the turn of events, realizing that the person before him seemedpletely transformed and was evidently drunk. He hurriedly pinched Liao Qe''s thigh under the table and shot her a look.

    But she had also downed three kilograms of liquor and was equally intoxicated. Not only did she fail to grasp her beloved''s intention, but with a rosy flush on her cheeks, she grabbed his arm, eager to head inside for a "rest".

    Liao Ya burped loudly and suddenly pinched her sister''s chin, caressing it while clucking her tongue:

    "The little cabbage I''ve raised with such care~ I haven''t even had a taste of it myself!"

    Liao Qe, with a slurred tongue, retorted stubbornly, "You crafty thing, what delicious treats have you sneaked to grow so big? Spill the beans!"

    Lu Yao almost burst outughing. This was a priceless piece of embarrassing history. He quickly took out his phone to record a clip before yelling, "Hold on, I''m going to find the ambergris!"

    Ambergris could induce a state of ''Zuowang'' for a short period, perfect to handle the wild antics of the drunken sisters.

    Lu Yao rushed to Liao Ya''s room to look for the hidden ambergris, quickly found it, lit it with a lighter, and hurried back to the others.

    At that moment, Liao Qe was eating merrily, while Liao Ya giggled sweetly.

    Lu Yao stealthily approached with the incense, waving his hand to help the fragrance spread quickly.

    Unexpectedly, Liao Ya suddenly let go of her sister and grabbed him, eximing, "Let''s y house~ I''ll be the mom~"

    Lu Yao, who was only at the Bone-Tempering level, couldn''t resist a Marrow-Cleansing Realm martial artist and had to unwillingly indulge in the experience.

    Before long, the effect of the ambergris kicked in, and all three of them entered the state of Zuowang.

    Although they had lost consciousness, their awareness of the surroundings was incredibly detailed, as if they were in a lucid dream.

    Secondster, when the effect wore off, Liao Ya was fast asleep on top of Lu Yao, even snoring lightly.

    Lu Yao wasn''t the type to take advantage at such a time, and he also feared being beaten to death by the two women once they woke up. Fighting off temptation, he carefully moved both sisters to the bed to settle them down.

    Only then did Lu Yao breathe a sigh of relief, finally having the opportunity to drink his share of the Golden Elixir Brew.

    He took only a small sip, which felt like swallowing a ball of me that flowed from his mouth to his stomach, followed by a sensation of his entire body swelling up.

    "That''s an amazing effect¡­ The potency is about four or five times that of normal restoratives!"

    By then, Lu Yao felt even his fingers and tongue bloating from the powerful drug effects. He rushed to the yard to practice his punches, spending half an hour dissipating the surplus potency.

    Sweaty through his clothes and the bloating gone, he felt as if all the pores of his body had opened, akin to having had a sauna followed by a full-body massage; he felt exceedingly refreshed.

    He swung his fist mightily, and it produced a loud "bang", as if he had set off a firecracker.

    Normally, it would take at least two or three seconds of gathering strength to make such a sound, but now just one second was sufficient!

    When he could make a ''bang'' without gathering strength, just casually, that''s when he would be ready to challenge the Organ Refining level.

    ~~~~~~~

    The two women slept for half a day before emerging from the room, rubbing their heads.

    "What happened¡­"

    "Did we get drunk?"

    Liao Ya''s face was a mix of confusion and embarassment as she clutched her left chest and furrowed her brows, feeling something odd there;

    Whereas Liao Qe took a deep breath, her breathing growing fiercer, and then with both hands at her abdomen, she drew in a deep breath, and her body echoed with rolling thunderous sounds, letting out forceful "huffs" and "hahs".

    "Haha~ My Five Organs Resonance! No wonder, the Golden Elixir Brew is really amazing!"

    Delighted, the younger sister gathered her strength, then threw a punch with a "boom", actually causing an explosion in the air!

    Liao Ya couldn''t worry about the abnormal feeling in her chest anymore and circted her inner breath through her body for a self-check. After a while, her eyes popped open in surprise:

    "My progress has also jumped by arge margin! It couldn''t be just the Golden Elixir Brew doing this, it must be the effect of those three demon beast eggs."

    The two young women carefully hid the wine jar, realizing that this drink, which not only tasted great but could also enhance their cultivation, was truly invaluable.

 Chapter 73: 73. The most direct way of handling

    ```

    Just as Lu Yao and his twopanions were jubntly celebrating their significant progress in martial arts, at an estate by the inner harbor dock of Yunzhou, the aged Master Pang was waiting for an audience.

    This estate covered more than 10,000 square meters, a thirdrger than a ser field. With flying eaves and walking beasts on the ridges, and copper bells hanging under the eaves, it could be considered a pce.

    Every 10 steps, there stood a tall and burly gang member dressed in ck, who remained motionless for long periods, exuding an air of fierce discipline.

    Master Pang stroked the dragon head on his cane, thinking to himself, "By using the inner harbor dock to sell opium across the country, Hailong Gang has trulye into its own!"

    Before long, "Snake Master," with his narrow eyes and a face full of malice, arrived.

    As ordinary martial artists would greet each other, the two exchanged a hand salute and took their seats. Then Snake Master said,

    "Master Pang, sorry to keep you waiting. I won''t waste your time. The gang can offer you the price for Sun Haoran, but can you hold on? That Commandery Princess is bound to return."

    Master Pang was the picture of confidence, assuredly replying, "Let the Snake Master be informed, my eldest disciple has been promoted to head of the new army. After his rise to power, he still remembers his master and will naturally take care of me."

    Snake Master nodded, his face easing up considerably, "So that''s the reason Master Pang is considering taking over the business."

    Master Pang gently stroked his beard, "I am quite confident, or else I wouldn''t havee here."

    But Snake Master changed the subject, saying, "We can hand over the business to you... But as per the rules, you need to present a token of submission. What if you deal with the three Liao Family Fist, how about that?"

    Master Pang''s hand paused on his beard, rapidly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

    Snake Master unhurriedly upped the ante, "Baron William needs the blood of a virgin warrior. Liao Family''s eldest daughter is still a virgin; if you capture her alive, you will certainly please him, and then it won''t just be the opium business anymore."

    Master Pang''s face showed a look of astonishment as he stood up abruptly, "Baron William! Are these words true?"

    "Everybody in the gang knows about this; go ahead and ask around. If it weren''t for the warrant out on my back making it difficult to enter the city, I''d have already taken the matter into my own hands."

    A thick greed appeared on Master Pang''s aged face. In his agitated state, the sound of thunder rumbled inside him.

    Gradually, his white hair turned ck, and he transformed from an old man into a middle-aged man!

    Snake Master''s narrow eyes widened with surprise, eximing, "Hey, the legendary Tortoise Crane Essence Locking Skill! Master Pang, you''ve been holding back a trick!"

    He pped his thigh, dering, "How about I get in on this deal? Let''s n together and try to capture the Liao Family''s eldest daughter alive!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the courtyard of the martial arts hall, Liao Qe was feeding moves to Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao pressed the attack, his punches and kicks well-coordinated and substantial, putting on an impressive disy.

    Liao Qe eximed in surprise, "You''ve trained well!"

    Lu Yao chuckled without a word; realbat was the best teacher. After a killing spree on Blue Star, he had gained more experience than from repetitive practice alone.

    Suddenly, the sound of instruments and noisy fanfare approached. Upon opening the door, they saw a festive procession promoting a street advertisement.

    They held up billboards, shouting promotional slogans, advertising for businesses.

    But the content of their shouts was indeed questionable, "''Shunfa Tobo Shop'' grand opening in three days! All tobo products at a 10% discount!"

    "Tobo Shop" is a business specifically dealing in wholesale opium, indicating a n forrge-scale sales.

    Even more outrageous was what followed; the group turned around and began shouting in front of the martial arts hall, directly across the street.

    The residence opposite the martial arts hall, previously a private home, had unknowingly been bought and was currently having the signboard of "Shunfa Tobo Shop" hung up.

    The onlookers along the road whispered among themselves:

    "Who''s so bold to open a tobo shop right across from the Liao Family Fist? Do they have a death wish?"

    "Keep it down, we should stay out of the martial artists'' business!"

    The enmity between the Liao Family and opium was no secret to the people of Yunzhou, and to open a tobo shop right in front of the martial arts hall was a tant challenge.

    ```

    The sisters were so angry they were seeing red!

    And it wasn''t over yet. Wang Yuan, the Military Preparedness Administrative Commissioner who had previously tried to trick Liao Ya into leaving the city, unexpectedly appeared at this moment, apanied by a team from the Patrol Bureau. He unabashedly eximed:

    "Director Liao, I am here on behalf of the Patrol Bureau to remind you¡ª''Shunfa Tobo Shop'' is a legitimate business that has paid its taxes. Don''t make things difficult for them; besides, the smell from storing tobo is not pleasant, so try not to mind it."

    Liao Ya indifferently asked, "Who owns it?"

    Wang Yuan hid behind the patrolling officers beside him and yelled, "It''s owned by Master Pang! If you''re not convinced, here''s a life-and-death challenge!"

    After saying that, he had someone pass her a life-and-death contract.

    The terms on it were strange¡ªLiao Ya, if she lost, would have to be a ve for twenty years! Naturally, if Master Pang lost, he would have to give up his estate for nothing.

    Wang Yuan didn''t wait for Liao Ya to reply and hurriedly ran away.

    ~~~~~~~

    Clutching the life-and-death contract, Liao Ya said furiously, "Does this Pang character have a death wish? Although that old man is also at the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, he''s so frail, how can hepete against me!"

    Lu Yao said, "I''ve heard he has trained five powerful disciples. Could it be that one of them will fight on his behalf?"

    Today was quite bustling. As they were specting, Duan Pei from Thunderp Martial Arts Hall arrived.

    They had met him a few times before and their rtionship was fairly good.

    He came in a hurry and, seeing the life-and-death contract in Liao Ya''s hands, he said hastily:

    "Master Liao, you must not ept this challenge. Outsiders are fooled by old Pang''s facade, but I know his foundation¡ªhe has cultivated a unique essence-locking technique. He conceals his vitality normally, but can explode with power equivalent to the Blood-Exchange Realm''s initial stage during critical moments!"

    The sisters'' father was at the Blood-Exchange Realm, so they naturally knew just how big the gap between Blood-Exchange and Marrow-Cleansing was¡ªit was like an 18-year-old robust young man beating up an 8-year-old child.

    Liao Ya sped her fist and replied, "Thank you, Hall Master Duan, for your information... But I must stand up for this."

    "You can''t fall for this short-term loss, Master Liao! If it reallyes down to it, just moving is an option," Duan Pei advised repeatedly:

    "Old Pang started off running a brothel; his cunningness surpasses even Sun Haoran. There''s no telling how many tricks he has up his sleeve. You might as well step back for now and seek revenge when your cultivation has improved." Enjoy more content from m-v l''-NovelFire

    At that moment, Lu Yao suddenly chimed in, "Right, Sister, what Hall Master Duan said makes sense. You''re still young, there''s no need to rush."

    After he spoke, he winked subtly.

    With her head bowed, Liao Ya said in a low, muffled voice, "Fine then. I''ll endure it."

    Duan Pei replied with relief, "That''s very wise. If you need a ce to go, you''re wee to stay at Thunderp Martial Arts Hall temporarily. I take my leave!"

    ~~~~~~~

    After seeing off the well-meaning hall master, Liao Ya asked in confusion, "Junior brother, what''s your n?"

    Lu Yao, excitedly taking out the Barrett, said, "That old sly turtle dares to y dirty. Sister, you just watch this time! Let me blow him away!"

    Liao Ya had never seen the power of the Barrett, and she frowned slightly, "Marrow-Cleansing Realm martial artists are agile and robust, they can withstand bullets without needing to cultivate hard techniques. Are you sure you can do it?"

    "Absolutely no problem! Plus, if I do it, we can turn this into an unsolved case, and no one will be able to trace it back to us."

    Confident, Lu Yao escorted the sisters in an old-fashioned carriage, ostentatiously heading in the opposite direction of Pang''s Martial Arts School, deliberately letting many people see them along the way.

    The three arrived at a small hill, assembled the Barrett, and through a 12x sniper scope targeted Pang''s Martial Arts School, 2 kilometers away.

    With a clear, high vantage point, the two women, using military binocrs confiscated from a field team, also watched Pang''s Martial Arts School, curious about how Lu Yao would handle things.

    Lu Yao''s approach was simple¡ªcing Master Pang in the crosshairs, he pulled the trigger.

    With a muffled bang, the silenced barrel released a powerful jet of high-pressure gas, and a .50 caliber bullet shot forth.

    Master Pang in the scope, instantaneously lost an arm!

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 74: 74. Assassination

    In Pang''s Martial Arts School, a banquet was being held.

    Snake Master raised his cup in tribute, "Master Pang has his hand over most of the brothels in Yunzhou, and with opium, that really is like adding wings to a tiger! Congrattions to you in advance."

    Master Pang drained his cup and showed it was empty, saying, "Mutual benefit, let our two families prosper together."

    Then, he turned to his three sons and spoke, "You lot haven''te to offer a toast yet! This is the Hailong Gang''s external affairs hall master! A true hero!"

    The three of them hurriedly offered toasts. They were also very happy, as the opium business was incredibly lucrative, pairing very well with their own brothels!

    They could also use opium to subdue those ''untamed horses'' who were disobedient, truly a business with nothing but profit!

    Snake Master clinked sses with each of them, praising, "Master Pang''s skill in teaching disciples is really something! Each one of your sons has reached the Organ Refining stage, admirable indeed!"

    "Still, they can''tpare to the Hailong Gang''s four dragons, eh? Is leader Wu in seclusion again?"

    "The leader''s power will surely increase significantly with hard training in seclusion."

    After exchanging a few customary pleasantries, Master Pang brought up the topic he was most interested in, "Snake Master, if this matter seeds, I''d also ask you to put in some good words for me with Baron William."

    "Naturally, an untouched maiden skilled in martial arts is highly sought after these days, especially one from the Liao Family at the Marrow-Cleansing Realm. Baron William might even bestow you the initial privilege if he''s pleased enough."

    Master Pang was thrilled, "That would be great! I ask for nothing else, just the simplest transformation to live a few more years!"

    Snake Master listened to the old man''s endless talk, sneering inside. Even I can''t possibly receive such favors, and here you are daydreaming. These martial artists with their life''s span nearing an end always love to reach for the impossible.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After a few cups of liquor, the atmosphere became even more spirited.

    Master Pang, in high spirits, inquired, "I''ve heard that bing a vampire... ah, spit, bing one of the blood n can let you live for 800 years..."

    But before he could finish, his shoulder suddenly burst open, "pfft," and his entire arm vanished up to the shoulder!

    Everyone''s color changed drastically; they quickly stood up, but before they could react, another bullet came flying.

    The awful kic energy of 18,000 joules caused Master Pang''s eldest son to ''snap'' into pieces, covering everyone with a mix of warm, sticky and soft fluids.

    Master Pang clutched his severed arm and rotated the muscle to stop the bleeding, shouting at the same time, "What the hell is that! What in the world is going on?"

    No one could answer that question, as Lu Yao was 2 kilometers away, equipped with a suppressor, killing without a sound.

    The next second, the sound of breaking air attacked again!

    But even though Master Pang sensed it beforehand, he could only manage to swerve his body slightly as one of his legs was already blown into a bloody mist!

    The initial velocity of a Barrett bullet is 1 kilometer per second; to dodge it, a martial artist would need a neural reaction speed of 3 milliseconds, ten times faster than a cat!

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao watched everything clearly through the high-powered scope and couldn''t help but feel relieved, "Truly relieving!"

    The sisters had equally clear views through their military binocrs. As they saw Master Pang missing an arm and a leg, crawling around in a mess, the two girls eximed again and again:

    "So powerful! One shot can tear a person apart!"

    "And to be so urate from such a distance!"

    Liao Qe''s eyes gleamed as she shook Lu Yao''s arm, "Let me try! I''ve long found those bastards who force good people into prostitution repulsive!"

    Lu Yao stepped aside with a smile.

    Liao Qey on the ground and took aim through the sniper scope professionally, while Lu Yao advised from the side:

    "Bullets are affected by the wind. Pay attention to the gs in front of the nearby shops to gauge the wind direction and adjust your shooting angle ordingly." Find exclusive stories on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    Holding her breath, Liao Qe pulled the trigger, and with a muffled sound, a bullet casing the size of an index finger ejected from the side of the gun.

    The Barrett is semi-automatic, no need to operate the bolt.

    The bullet urately blew off the head of Master Pang''s third son, 2 kilometers away. The man''s head literally disappeared!

    Lu Yao expressed his surprise, "So urate! Beginners'' luck is always the best."

    "Nonsense, I took that shot seriously! That wasn''t hard at all!"

    While arguing, Liao Qe took aim and fired another shot.

    ~~~~~~~

    At this moment, all the survivors were petrified, all taking cover behind the walls.

    Just as Master Pang''s youngest son, who had been hiding, caught his breath, the wall he was sheltering behind suddenly burst open with a huge hole!

    Numerous fragments flew out like shotgun pellets, riddling him with holes. His blood gushed out, pooling into a smallke as his head lolled, lifeless.

    Lu Yao now believed that Liao Qe truly had a gift and raised his thumb in praise, "Impressive!"

    Liao Qe was beaming with pride, her eyes curving into smiles.

    Liao Ya looked on with interest for a long while and, patting her sister''s round bottom, said, "You''ve had your fun for long enough, it''s my turn now~"

    Liao Qe reluctantly made way for her.

    ~~~~~~~

    After Liao Ya took over, the enemies were all well-hidden.

    At this time, Wang Yuan, the Military Preparedness Administrative Commissioner, disheveled, walked out from a guest room upon hearing themotion outside, wanting to figure out what was happening, while a whimpering youngdy was faintly visible on the bed inside the room.

    This man had repeatedly caused trouble, and Liao Ya immediately took aim at him.

    Lu Yao cautioned, "The target is moving forward, you need to calcte the lead based on his speed."

    "I know! The bullet will take approximately two breaths to travel there..."

    Without further ado, Liao Ya''s spring onion-like fair fingers squeezed the trigger, absorbing all the recoil, her fragrant shoulders and shapely hips motionless.

    The young Military Preparedness Administrative Commissioner was struck in the neck, and with a puff of blood mist, his puzzled face spun in the air several times beforending on the ground.

    Liao Ya looked at Lu Yao with pride, seemingly waiting for praise.

    "Beautiful!" Lu Yao didn''t hold back on thepliments, secretly admiring that martial artist women were indeed different from ordinary people.

    They not only enjoyed firearms, but their extraordinary physical attributes naturally endowed them with high marksmanship skills.

    ~~~~~~~

    Snake Master, having worked for the foreigners, had seen many Western things; judging by the whistling of bullets, he deduced the attackers were using an unknown firearm.

    He immediately hit the deck, making sure his entire body was hidden behind the wall.

    At that point, Master Pang, missing an arm and a leg, valiantly dragged himself forward a few inches with a single arm, but his blood loss was too great, reaching its limit. He pleaded to Snake Master, "Save me!!!!!"

    His expression and voice were filled with a fervent desire to live, but it was all in vain.

    Snake Master turned a blind eye, deaf ear, his mind racing¡ª "I can''t keep hiding! The attacker''s firearm has immense power; I must find a way to save myself!"

    He took a deep breath, his arms suddenly bulking up significantly, and mmed them down on the ground!

    With a loud bang, floor tiles, debris, pieces of tables, and chairs were sent flying into the air.

    Snake Master seized the opportunity to dash out! He moved erratically as he attempted to flee.

    The most ruthless part was that halfway through his escape, he casually flicked his foot, sending the half-dead Master Pang flying into the open to "cushion" his escape!

    In Master Pang''s desperate cries, a .50 caliber bullet punched a 30-centimeter-wide hole in his chest!

    ~~~~~~~~

    A segment of spine drenched in blood flew past "Snake Master," but he was too preupied to care, zigzagging and running for his life in every possible direction.

    Liao Ya fired twice in quick session, but even after emptying the magazine, she failed to hit the target. After all, as a novice too far away, she couldn''t hit an irregrly moving target, and she said anxiously:

    "This man is the Head of the Hailong Gang''s External Affairs Hall; we can''t let him escape!"

    Lu Yao said with a smile, "Let me do it."

    He calmly reloaded the Barrett with a new magazine, fully focusing as he took aim at Snake Master, who was maneuvering like a snake.

    Everything in his view slowed down to half speed. His senses processed the external information rapidly, judging wind direction, distance, bullet velocity, and the target''s trajectory.

    Lu Yao aimed at the empty space ahead of Snake Master and pulled the trigger; a muffled sound followed as the huge casing was ejected.

    2 kilometers away, Snake Master''s head precisely caught a .50 caliber bullet, his neck and everything above turning into a cloud of crimson mist.

    "Junior Brother is remarkable!"

    "Lu Yao is awesome!"

 Chapter 75: 75. Without any evidence

    Lu Yao collected his sniper rifle without haste and took the two women for a joyride.

    He drove towards the edge of the city, rolling down all the car windows. He ced his hand on Liao Qe''s beautiful leg at the passenger seat, stroking it while admiring the street view, and stopped by any shop that caught his interest.

    The two sisters were also very happy, their smooth and delicate faces full of smiles.

    ~~~~~~~

    While they were having fun,rge groups of Patrol Bureau officers with serious faces kept rushing to Pang''s Martial Arts School, and not long after, state soldiers also arrived.

    Seeing such a bigmotion, there were many discussions among the crowds, and soon some curious onlookers went to check, bringing back earth-shattering news¡ªPang''s Martial Arts School had been massacred!

    In no time, the entire Yunzhou was in uproar.

    "Massacred!? Really? Are you sure you didn''t see it wrong?"

    "Right, with Master Pang being an Organ Refiner and his three sons too, who could have wiped them out?"

    "It''s true, the Patrol Bureau''s started the postmortem examination!"

    Master Pang had been operating in Yunzhou for decades, with countless old acquaintances and a vast influence. His family''s sudden demise quickly became the hottest topic of the moment.

    ~~~~~~

    At this time, Lu Yao arrived at the eagerly anticipated "Four Seas Tower" with the two beauties.

    He had long wanted to try the herbal cuisine here, and now atst, he had the opportunity.

    The manager of the restaurant hurried out to greet them, cupping his hands and bowing repeatedly: "The distinguished guests from Liao Family Fist honor us with their presence at Four Seas Tower. I am Jin Wang, pleasee inside!"

    Lu Yao said directly, "I''ve heard much about the great reputation of Four Seas Tower''s herbal cuisine, and havee specially to try it. Serve us the best you''ve got~"

    The manager''s smile grew even wider: "We happen to have White Phoenix Stew and Tiger Elbow, which are perfect for the twody masters. The dishes will be served immediately!"

    The manager escorted them to a private room at the very top of the restaurant, then excitedly went downstairs to make the arrangements.

    Before long, a waiter brought up the dishes, announcing them in a song-like manner: "Here they are~~ White Phoenix Stew and Tiger Elbow, simmered on a gentle fire for seven days. Enjoy your meal~"

    The White Phoenix referred to a ck-boned chicken, and Tiger Elbow was self-exnatory. Both dishes had a fresh taste, the meat perfectly blending with the fragrance of the herbs, tasting neither fishy nor bitter.

    The sisters elegantly finished their meal, even grinding the bones to swallow. Their bodies, including the corners of their mouths, remained spotlessly clean, not stained by a single drop of soup, scoring full marks in dining etiquette.

    Liao Ya praised, "It lives up to its reputation, the medicinal potency is twice that of ordinary supplements. But the price is really too expensive, one tael of silver for a single dish!"

    Liao Qe added, "It is indeed a bit pricey, and the cost-performance ratio is very low. But it tastes very good."

    Lu Yao didn''t mind at all, for the most abundant thing since having double through-doors was money. Seeing the sisters looking like they still wanted more, he called out to the waiter: "Bring two more servings."

    The waiter was stunned: "Two... two more servings? Young Master, these ingredients are all rare delicacies from the deep forests, we''ve run out..."

    Lu Yao showed dissatisfaction: "Running a restaurant and you can''t even let your customers eat their fill?"

    Manager Jin hurried over with a quick trot: "We''ve run out of those two dishes, but we have other choices, the effects are not much different."

    Seeing that Lu Yao nodded in agreement, he sighed in relief, encountering for the first time in his decades of service, a situation where herbal dishes were sold out.

    This stuff was too expensive. On a normal day, they wouldn''t sell many servings, slow-cooking them for seven days before they were sold...

    Moreover, only martial artists could eat it. For martial artists, it was a major supplement, but for ordinary people, it was deadly poison.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Soon after, a series of herbal dishes were served, very eye-catching, and the customers all gave them an appreciative gaze.

    Just then, a squad of Patrol Bureau officers arrived at Four Seas Tower, with two inspectors heading straight for the private room.

    The two inspectors came in after knocking, one with a young, square face and bushy brows, and the other was none other than an old acquaintance¡ªWang Dezhi.

    Since this man had previously provided important information on "Dark Energy Heartbreak," Lu Yao didn''t mind giving him some face, and greeted with a fist salute, "Inspector Wang, what brings you here?"

    Wang Dezhi smiled apologetically, "Young Master Lu~ I''m sorry to disturb you, there''s been a major incident in the city, and I need a moment of your time."

    His demeanor was very humble, not at all like a Patrol Bureau officer on duty, as he carefully said, "The Pang Family has been attacked, and I wanted to ask..."

    Lu Yao casually answered, "This matter, well, I''ve been out shopping with the two senior sisters the whole time,pletely unaware of it."

    At that moment, the other young square-faced inspector stepped forward as if he wanted to ask something more pressing: "You recently had a quarrel with the Pang Family..."

    Lu Yao interrupted, annoyed: "We have not been anywhere near the Pang Family within four li today, you can surely inquire about it in the nearby shops."

    His expression stiffened, and his demeanor turned rather unsightly.

    Wang Dezhi hurriedly pulled him aside and shot him a meaningful look¡ªthis was not some ordinary person they could easily manipte, but a martial faction with wealth, influence, and martial power; they had to tread carefully.

    The square-faced inspector lowered his head and said no more.

    At that moment, the medicinal meal on the table was giving off a rich, tantalizing aroma, stirring a hunger that came from deep within the heart.

    Only then did the two inspectors notice that all the dishes the three members of the Liao Family were eating were medicinal meals!

    This table was worth at least ten taels of silver, more than the total annual sry and perks of the two menbined! The ways of the world were truly unfair!

    Lu Yao lifted the teacup in front of him and said, "The Pang Family is even selling opium now, so it''s not surprising that they would offend someone."

    The meaning of "raising the cup to see off the guests" was very clear; Wang Dezhi quickly bowed and said, "Forgive the intrusion, we will take our leave."

    ~~~~~~~~

    After leaving the Four Seas Tower and conducting an investigation, the square-faced inspector hesitated, "They really spent the day enjoying themselves and never came close to the Pang Family''s residence..."

    Wang Dezhi sighed, "Let it be, even if we had evidence, we couldn''t do anything to the Liao Family, not to mention there are so many witnesses. Just report it, and let those above handle it."

    ~~~~~~~

    Half a dayter, the situation hadpletely fermented.

    Everyone in Yunzhou, from high-ranking officials and rich merchants to peddlers and porters, was eagerly discussing the affair.

    Everyone immediately thought of the conflict between Master Pang and the Liao Family, but the Liao Family shouldn''t have the capacity to do such a thing.

    Moreover, countless witnesses saw the three Liao family members spending the entire day having fun, never once approaching the vicinity of the Pang Family.

    Opinions were varied, and even Governor Wen Renliang was alerted.

    The Assistant Prefectural Judge¡ªFang Xun, personally reported the incident to his superior.

    "The Pang Family was massacred!?"

    "Yes, Master Pang and his three sons were all killed, along with a Military Preparedness Administrative Commissioner and¡­ a suspected high-ranking member of the Hailong Gang."

    Governor Wen spoke in a mild tone, "Any dubious aspects?"

    Fang Xun answered, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Master Pang had just antagonized the Liao Family and was then wiped out right after. However, at the time of the crime, the Liao Family was enjoying themselves far away and did not approach. This case has be a mystery."

    Governor Wen yed with his Buddhist prayer beads, speaking indifferently, "I am informed of this matter; Assistant Prefectural Judge Fang, just handle it impartially as you see fit."

    Fang Xun bowed deeply, "Your humble official takes his leave."

    The meaning of "handle it impartially" was easy to understand¡ªlet it go if there is no proof.

    Moreover, the Pang Family''s assets were quite substantial, a juicy piece of meat indeed!

    ~~~~~~~

    While chaos reigned outside, Lu Yao and hispany had eaten their fill and were headed home round-bellied.

    Throughout the journey, Liao Qe kept gazing at him contentedly, a look that carried on even into the evening''s rest.

    A mix of joy, tenderness, and deep affection was woven together, brimming with love.

    Lu Yao asked, "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

    "It''s nothing, I just feel so good to have you~"

    Liao Qe wrapped her fair, beautiful legs around Lu Yao''s waist, transferring her Inner Breath from the usual spot.

    Having transferred Inner Breath many times, she had gained experience.

    Instead of flooding in all at once, she did it bit by bit, allowing Lu Yao to absorb it more fully.

    Afortable and exhrating warmth flowed from the abdomen to the rest of the body, turning the blood hot like water, thoroughly steaming his insides and outs in a sauna-like bliss.

    In that instant, Lu Yao entered a mystical state! His body and mind rxed, free of desire and craving, his thoughts reaching a selfless realm akin to that of sages and saints.

    Even though itsted only a few seconds, he was aware¡ªhe had, for the first time without the aid of ambergris, entered the state of ''Sitting in Oblivion'' on his own.

    Liao Qe was gently massaging her beloved''s back and neck to help him settle, but she felt there was something unusual about his state and asked with concern, "What''s wrong?"

 Chapter 76: 76. The Mahayana teachings surround Jinling.

    "I was entranced by you into a strange state of meditation..."

    Lu Yao whispered his recent sensation into Liao Qe''s ear, and the girl giggled, yfully tapping him a few times.

    After a bit of frolic, Liao Qe''s attire consisted of only pink and white, truly a sight of "plum blossoms in spring adorned with snow, with skin soft as jade and gentle as clouds, thoroughly ''moistened''."

    Upon seeing this beautiful scene, Lu Yao took out a small golden pig brought from Blue Star and said, "I''ve got a nice thing for you~"

    Liao Qe took it with curiosity, "This is a little piggy~ Haha, I happen to be born in the year of the pig. What metal is this made of? It''s quite shiny and pretty."

    "Gold! Haven''t you seen it before?"

    The girl thought for a moment, then confirmed, "I haven''t seen it."

    "No worries, just keep it. Treat it as an ordinary piece of jewelry."

    "Okay~"

    Falling asleep to the sweet scent of Liao Qe, Lu Yao didn''t mind. The two worlds were like twin stars, simr yet with their differences after all.

    "I''ll ask senior sister when there''s a chance... to see if she knows anything."

    ~~~~~~~

    As a longstanding household of Yunzhou, Pang''s Martial Arts School, with its father and son having undergone Marrow Cleansing and thricepleted Organ Refining, was deeply rooted, so their annihtion caused a massive stir.

    Regarding the cause of death of the Pang Family, there were those who said they were shot to death and others who said they were bombed, but no consensus was reached.

    Through this battle, Liao Family Fist thoroughly established its prestige, and no one dared to stir up trouble again.

    As a result, Lu Yao enjoyed a peaceful half month.

    At this moment, he was slowly executing Liao Family Fist, ensuring each movement was performed with strength that "prated the bones," internally tempering his skeleton from the outside in.

    The Bone-Tempering Realm, inly speaking, involves endurance of strikes and weight-bearing exercises to toughen the bones and strengthen the body.

    With ample resources, his progress was already fast, and with his "Beautiful Master" constantly giving pointers, Lu Yao''s cultivation soared by leaps and bounds.

    "Release your strength more, don''t fear getting hurt. Minor injuries and pains can actually elerate progress."

    Liao Qe attentively watched from the side, correcting Lu Yao''s movements and power exertion at the first opportunity.

    Although she never said it out loud, the girl was always concerned about her beloved''s illness in her heart.

    Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-NovelBin

    So she transformed into Lu Yao''s "personal female coach," offering full services and devoting all her energy to the one she held dear.

    With this selfless help, Lu Yao''s improvement was rapid. After half a month of arduous training, he could now generate a "bang" in the blink of an eye.

    ~~~~~~~

    The "bang, crack" sounds were incessant in the courtyard, and Liao Qe was quite satisfied, "Not bad, you''re progressing swiftly! ''Strengthen tendons, toughen bones, refine organs,'' you''ll be able to start Organ Refining soon."

    Seeing himself progress day by day, Lu Yao was very pleased and hugged Liao Qe, saying, "Thanks a lot, my little Beautiful Master~"

    The girl used her fragrant handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Lu Yao''s brow, her eyes full of longing, "Once you reach the Blood-Exchange phase, your illness will be cured. I''ll bear you several little babies, and we''ll live every day in happiness."

    "Yeah, definitely~"

    In fact, the girl''s simple and honest wish was not easy to fulfill in the Otherworld, where the unscrupulous and heartless reigned supreme.

    But Lu Yao firmly believed¡ªhe would make her wishe true!

    ~~~~~~~

    Next, he needed to allow his bones some time to rest and grow.

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe switched roles, with him teaching her how to read.

    The method was simple¡ªhave Liao Qe read the newspaper. Newspapers, eager for sales, were written in vernacr, perfect for learning characters.

    He had umted many unread newspapers during the days immersed in martial training.

    The girl sat on Lu Yao''sp, picked up the earliest edition of the newspaper, and began to read:

    [Izumo Country... invading Goryeo... their rapacious ambitions are ringly obvious...]

    The girl stammered through this sentence without making any mistakes.

    Lu Yao, smiling encouragingly, said, "You''re very smart and you learn very quickly. Keep going~"

    Liao Qe beamed with joy, "Just by reading the newspaper, I can know what''s happening in the world without leaving the house! Being literate is really wonderful~"

    With her confidence bolstered by the praise from her beloved, she cleared her throat and read on more fluently:

    [The Great Vehicle Sect insurgents... have overrun Jingzhou City; the Prefectural Governor''s familymitted suicide...]

    "No wonder the price of grain has never stabilized; the Imperial Court has lost a key stronghold."

    "The Great Vehicle Sect... those are the gun-wielding bandits we encountered outside the city during the porridge distribution! Organized and not at all likemon rabble."

    Those people, by holding refugees hostage, caused chaos and shot the Armed Forces Authority''s Lu Qianshi dead, making the headlines for several days.

    "The funeral for the officer is today; did Sister go to offer her condolences?"

    "She should be back soon. We''re not close~ just a courtesy visit."

    After chatting for a bit, Liao Qe picked up another newspaper and continued to read,[The Great Vehicle Sect insurgents... besieging Jinling]

    Both exchanged a look of shock. Jinling, once the capital of six dynasties, was wealthy and bustling, iparable to ordinary cities.

    "Seems like the bigger the news, the shorter the report, when did this happen?"

    Looking at the newspaper, they saw:

    [The insurgents, with forces of 500,000 and over ten thousand boats, advanced bynd and water, sailing down the Yangtze River, looting and killing along the way; they arrived at Jinling on the 9th]

    "Today is the 10th; this happened yesterday. To think so much has happened while I haven''t left the house for half a month."

    Lu Yao frowned and said, "Jinling is less than 300 kilometers away from Yunzhou, and it''s connected by the Yangtze River. It''s reachable overnight, which poses a danger."

    Liao Qe, unconvinced, said, "They wouldn''t dare to attack Yunzhou, would they? We have the foreign concessions here."

    Lu Yao shook his head, pointing to another article on the newspaper:

    "This article says¡ªbefore, the Great Vehicle Sect was just your average bandits that the Imperial Court could handle. But suddenly, they acquired foreign rifles and cannons, greatly increasing theirbat effectiveness.

    The author of this article, Lan Siyuan, explicitly used ''Einheit'' of covertly supporting the Great Vehicle Sect in stirring up trouble, aiming for ulterior motives."

    Liao Qe immediately understood and angrily eximed, "These damn Western demons!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Just as the girl finished speaking, a morous beauty appeared at the door; it was Liao Ya returning home.

    Hearing her sister''s remark, she interjected:

    "Western demons? All Westerners are the same. Menes and Frandi are ruled by humans too, yet they oppress our court time and again,mitting no less evil than Einheit."

    "You''re back," said Liao Qe, running over to her sister, sharing the news she had read in the newspaper, boasting that she could now read.

    Liao Ya took off her zer and removed her bow tie, revealing a stunning figure; yet, there was a look of concern on her face:

    "I just came back from the Prefectural Yamen; I''ve already got the news. It''s clear the Great Vehicle Sect has the support of Westerners since they used cannons to take Jingzhou. Yunzhou is too close, and the Prefectural Governor has already issued an order, requiring all registered martial masters to be on standby for defense."

    Upon hearing this, Liao Qe covered her mouth and gasped, "Are we going to war?"

    Liao Ya spoke with worry, "I hope not, Yunzhou hasn''t seen war for many years. The battlefield is extremely dangerous, and Organ Refining, Blood-Exchange¡ªall can''t withstand a Western rifle, let alone cannons."

    Lu Yao thought for a moment, went to the storeroom, and took out two bulletproof vests, saying, "Try on these armors I brought backst time."

    ~~~~~~~

    The bulletproof vests, seized from the Foreign Affairs Bureau''s agents, were made of Ker material with inserted bulletproof steel tes¡ª "Level 4 armor," with extremely high defensive capabilities, able to block rifle fire at close range.

    Interestingly, while these items are hard toe by in the legally armed Star Alliance Country, one can easily order them online in Xia Country¡­

 Chapter 77: 77. "Sigh of the Worlds Inaction Scroll

    ```

    Putting on the equipment wasn''t difficult at all; the two sisters got the hang of it in just a few minutes.

    If the bulletproof steel tes were inserted both at the front and back, the whole set weighed a hefty 30 kilograms.

    But the two young girls were full of vigor, each capable of leaping 10 meters high with ease; such weight waspletely negligible to them and didn''t affect their singing, dancing, or rapping in the slightest.

    After moving around in the yard a bit, Liao Ya even let her sister punch her to test the armor''s defensive capabilities.

    With a "thud," her sister''s full-force punch was barely felt by herself.

    Liao Ya couldn''t help but exim in amazement, "This thing is so hard... its defensive power is even higher than a full suit of iron armor!" Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelBin

    "Of course, it can stop rifle bullets," Lu Yao breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the equipment was effective. "This way, as long as we''re not hit by cannonballs, our lives should be safe."

    Having reassured themselves, Liao Ya sighed, "The world is getting more and more chaotic, even Yunzhou could be threatened by war... We need to intensify our cultivation and increase our strength; personal power is the fundamental solution."

    ~~~~~~

    Although martial training was exhausting and painful, Lu Yao was still enthusiastic about it.

    The feeling of growing stronger each day was intoxicating, no wonder fitness can be addictive; martial training is somewhat simr to fitness, both being a pursuit of the human body''s limits, stemming from a primal desire for evolution deep within our genes!

    Through continuous practice day after day, the dy in Lu Yao''s punches and kicks shrunk even further, leaving only an imperceptible brief pause.

    When she reached the point where she could effortlessly deliver a strike with the force that could "prate bone," the time woulde for "strengthening muscles, bones, and internal organs."

    The path of martial arts was smooth sailing, but the situation outside was getting worse.

    Bad news kepting in the newspapers every day:

    [The Great Vehicle Sect controls the Yangtze River''s waterways, dominating the entire river; Jinling has be an isted city]

    [The Great Vehicle Sect''s firearms are razor-sharp, equipped with the most advanced Einheit "18-pound field guns"; the Imperial Court suffered heavy casualties]

    Influenced by this news, the price of grain doubled yet again.

    This led many citizens who could still survive before to be unable to afford food, eventually leading to arge-scale grain looting incident.

    The mob broke down the doors of the grain stores and swarmed in, taking everything they could grab.

    The patrolling officers arrived and opened fire without a second word, killing more than 10 people on the spot, which then led to a massive stampede that left hundreds dead, including the patrol team itself.

    Then meat supply was cut off! The meat shop owner personally came to apologize, kneeling down and saying:

    "Master Lu, I can only return your money. Even with money, I can''t obtain pigs anymore. I''ve heard that the Great Vehicle Sect ising, and all the households within a hundred li of Yunzhou have fled..."

    The scouts of the "Protection Army" of the Great Vehicle Sect had already appeared around Gusu, "acquiring" grain and looting the citizens, causing many to flee from the threat of war.

    Lu Yao didn''t make it difficult for the man and epted the silver before sending him away.

    Three days passed, and then a piece of bombshell news exploded across the city¡ª[On the 19th, Jinling fell]

    ~~~~~~~

    Jinling, the magnificent ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, was now enveloped in blue smoke, with several gaps in its wallsrge enough for coaches to pass through, and countless captives wailed as they were executed.

    In the distance, a multitude of followers escorted several men as they approached.

    One of them, with a long sword on his back and a headscarf on which tworge characters were embroidered¡ªHeavenly King.

    ```

    At first nce, it looked like the "king" character mark on a tiger, as if he was afraid that others wouldn''t know he was the "Heavenly King," somewhatical to behold.

    Yet, he was none other than Hong Renkun, the leader of the Mahayana Sect who had captured Jinling, achieving world-renowned sess in his rebellion.

    At that moment, the executioner, holding a bolt-action rifle simr to the 98K, stood atop the dug pit and fired, executing the prisoners of war in rounds, among whom were many elderly, infirm, and women and children.

    Seeing this cruel scene, Heavenly King Hong Renkun frowned and said, "Use spears, or just bury them alive instead. We need to save our firearms forter; we still have to contend with the Imperial Court''s ''Indestructible Golden Body Realm'' warriors. That''s going to be a tough fight."

    A few attendants took their leave to carry out the orders.

    Heavenly King Hong continued, "No sooner had we taken Jinling than the Westerners said they wanted to send emissaries to kowtow. Truly a bunch of fair-weather snobs."

    A person beside him, with a gentle and unrestrained smile, ttered, "Heavenly King, your divine might is unparalleled. Having taken Jinling, you''ve established an emperor''s foundation. These Western demon beasts are naturally bowing their heads in submission."

    "Yang Qing, these Westerners just want to see us and the Imperial Court fight, reaping the benefits from our struggle."

    Heavenly King Hong scoffed, "Dream on. Next, I will take Yunzhou; once we get the tariffs, weapons, and steamships from there, we''ll talk!"

    Yang Qing quickly bowed and advised, "Heavenly King, it''s not the right time to act rashly."

    Then he gestured to the side, and several Sect Army soldiers brought forward a man dressed in a crimson official''s robe.

    The man was agitated, his eyes appeared bulging as if they might pop out, and he cursed loudly, "You demon followers of the Mahayana Sect! You are utterly heartless. You will certainly be smitten by heaven''s wrath, struck by thunder, and left without a trace of bones...heh...heh..."

    "Master Lu is truly a schr; such an impressive vocabry."

    Heavenly King Hong remained unmoved, still smiling, but the man before him suddenly seemed as if he was being choked, unable to speak a word.

    Everyone around, including Yang Qing, instinctively took a few steps back. They were long-time followers and knew well that the man''s words had touched upon one of Heavenly King''s great taboos.

    The next second, Heavenly King Hong''s eyes seemed to turn into two whirlpools, and Master Lu suddenly rolled his eyes back, showing the whites, and abruptly clutched his own throat, choking himself with force!

    Even though his tongue protruded out far, he didn''t let go, until there was a snap sound, and he had twisted his own neck, falling to the ground dead.

    Heavenly King Hong''s eyes returned to normal, and he smiled at the surrounding crowd:

    "The position of the Governor-general of Liangjiang really is unlucky. The one before was banished to the Western Frontier for opposing the opium trade, and this one died in office. Seems like the Shun Dynasty''s days are numbered."

    The crowd was slow to react before they started offering ttery.

    While Yang Qing was making hispliments, a chill went through his heart. What had seemed a rather ordinary Spirit Refinement, once mastered to a high level, proved to have endless wonders.

    It could manipte another''s body from a distance! Or even¡ªobjects!

    Yang Qing nced subconsciously at the longsword carried on Heavenly King Hong''s back. It was this very object that had flown out of nowhere, silently killing the city''s defendingmanders, allowing them to easily take Jinling.

    Just then, Heavenly King Hong spoke and interrupted his thoughts, "The Shun Dynasty still holds the moral high ground of ''expelling the Tartars'' for the time being, so we can''t rush things. Yang Qing, you shall represent me and properly receive the ''Einheit'' emissaries, to see what they have to say."

    "Your subordinate obeys!"

    Afterwards, Heavenly King Hong gazed at the grand Jinling City, pulled out a book from his bosom and said, "Today is a day of great joy. I hereby pass on the ''Tome of Worldly Resignation'' to you all. May you all diligently cultivate and ascend to the Divine Nation at the earliest."

    This was a mystical Spirit Refinement method exclusive to the Mahayana Sect, and mastering it could make one just like Heavenly King Hong!

    Including Yang Qing, everyone kneeled down, shouting joyfully:

    "Thank you, Heavenly King! Thank you, Heavenly King!! Long live the Heavenly King, long live, long live!!"

 Chapter 78: Wolong and Fengchu

    The world was in chaos, but Lu Yao paid no attention to the matters outside.

    At this moment, hey in bed feeling incredibly ufortable. Numb, itchy, sore, stinging¡ªforget sleeping, he couldn''t even lie still.

    This was the bone regeneration and growth process that one had to undergo in the Bone Tempering Realm, a truly "torture right down to the bones."

    Liao Qe tenderly stroked her beloved''s chest, her warm and delicate hands slightly alleviating Lu Yao''s pain.

    "Shall I pass you some more Inner Breath?"

    "No, you''ve given me enough already. Speaking of which, how did you endure this torment?"

    Lu Yao stopped the girl from transferring her precious Inner Breath and voiced his doubt.

    With a somewhat embarrassed reply, Liao Qe said, "I''m a really heavy sleeper. Once I''m out, I don''t know anything¡­"

    "..."

    "I can''t learn that trick..."

    Lu Yao felt quite regretful; this was a special skill unique to the girl.

    "Hang in there. Once you get through this, you can start the Organ Refining. I''ll keep youpany and we can chat~"

    "Sure." Lu Yao hugged Liao Qe, using her sweet scent, plus conversation, to distract himself:

    "I''m getting a little impatient! The first two realms of the Martial Path¡ªSinew-Strengthening and Bone-Tempering¡ªare just human levels, strong but not extraordinary.

    But ''Organ Refining'' is genuinely supernatural! The ability to jump 10 meters high, possessing a strength of 3000 Jin (1.5 tons)!

    Even the speed of the fists could burst the air! This is the first significant transformation on the Martial Path. With such power..."

    Just as Lu Yao was getting excited, he heard even and soft snoring sounds. Looking down, he saw the girl had fallen asleep.

    He continued softly, "With such power... I can consider setting up aboratory, extracting supplements from the Otherworld! I could even venture into the international ck market for arms and buy some ''big toys.''"

    ~~~~~~~~

    At dawn, having barely slept a wink, Lu Yao got out of bed and felt somewhat better moving around.

    After busying himself outside for a while and practicing his Liao Family Fist, sweating profusely, he fetched a bucket of water from the well and poured it over himself from head to toe.

    He said with self-mockery, "My situation is a bit peculiar. Others worry about how to train their organs, while I''m waiting for my bones to grow..."

    Lu Yao had "examined" the two girls several times and had personally witnessed Liao Qe''s Organ Refining process, gaining a wealth of experience.

    With the aid of a Color Ultrasound Instrument, the step that was hardest for others was the simplest for him.

    Only after a long while did Liao Qe get out of bed, rubbing her eyes as she asked, "Where did Sister go?"

    Lu Yao answered, "There was a martial artist who broke in for a burryst night, your sister went to handle it and didn''te back."

    "Is everything okay?"

    "It''s fine, she was wearing full gear. Unless the burr brought a cannon with him."

    In recent days, Liao Ya had been busy ''as a Director of the National Martial Arts Association,'' not only punishing criminals but also mediating conflicts between martial artists, trying to prevent life-and-death fights as much as possible.

    These were the appropriate actions for a martial management department. Liao Ya received unanimous praise from the Yunzhou Martial Faction¡ªat least superficially.

    Only when the sky was fully bright did an exhausted Liao Ya, and... with bullet marks, return!?

    Two clear bullet holes were visible on the practice clothes she wore on the outside.

    Liao Qe hurried to check them, and after taking off the outer garment, revealed the bulletproof vest underneath, embedded with two .45 caliber bullets at the chest.

    "I''m fine. Lu Yao''s armor is extremely sturdy. I didn''t dodge on purpose to prevent the thief from escaping." Read new chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelBin

    Liao Ya sounded nonchnt, praising the Level 4 armor, and then patted her belly, "Is the food ready? I''m very hungry~"

    Liao Qe said, "I''ll cook now. We have to eat crab again, but luckily, Lu Yao likes it~"

    Upon hearing they were having crab again, Liao Ya''s pretty face immediately fell.

    At that moment, someone knocked on the big gate and called out, "Young Master Lu, it''s Old Jin from Four Seas Tower."

    "Ah, the food I ordered has arrived~ from now on, we don''t have to cook ourselves."

    Lu Yao got up to open the door, and there stood Manager Jin from the Four Seas Tower.

    He came with several trusted waitstaff, all of whom had bulging waists, obviously carrying weapons.

    Manager Jin personally handed over arge food container, saying, "Young Master Lu, your meal."

    "Thank you, it must have been hard work."

    "Not at all, not at all, it was expected of me!"

    Manager Jin was overly polite, nodding and bowing as he stepped back three steps. He didn''t leave until Lu Yao turned around and walked away.

    He took a deep look at the signboard of the Liao Family Fist, gaining a deeper understanding of Young Master Lu''s financial power.

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Qe stared with eyes wide open and asked, "You ordered food from Four Seas Tower?"

    "Yeah, no need to cook ourselves today."

    Lu Yao opened the food box, took out the dishes, and ced them on the stone table in the yard.

    The dishes seemed to glow as the fragrance filled the courtyard instantly.

    "All medicinal cuisine!? That''s too extravagant! Even Four Seas Tower just uses medicinal cuisine as a gimmick, not expecting many people to buy it..."

    Liao Qe had long positioned herself as Lu Yao''s wife. ustomed to poverty from childhood, she believed in the saying ''little drops make a mighty ocean'' and felt a pinch in her heart at that moment.

    Liao Ya swallowed her saliva and insincerely agreed, "Junior Brother, we''re fine with just taking supplements, eating this kind of medicinal cuisine isn''t cost-effective..."

    Lu Yao handed the sisters bowls and chopsticks, casually saying, "Just a trivial amount of money, not worth mentioning. I was even thinking of bringing ten thousand taels of silver to spend."

    "Ten thousand taels!"

    "Isn''t the thousand taels you brought all there is?"

    Ten thousand taels of silver was an astronomical figure beyond the imagination of ordinary people, worth 2.5 million yuan on Blue Star, not a small number.

    But Lu Yao was a person who could travel between worlds, and now he could earn millions with just a casual round trip. That was without wanting to waste time or trying hard. If he put in more effort, tens of millions would be effortless.

    "I''m not bragging, but even the Imperial Court''s ten thousand taels in war reparations, I wouldn''t care about it. Come on, let''s eat~"

    The sisters realized they had underestimated their Junior Brother''s level ofvishness once again and were stunned on the spot, sitting down properly to eat.

    After sitting down, Liao Ya''s eyes lit up, "How can we enjoy such delicacies without liquor? Let''s have it with medicinal wine!"

    Liao Qe, who also loved her drink, immediately concurred, "Indeed, indeed~"

    The sisters got right to it, hauling out a jug of wine and getting started.

    Lu Yao reminded them, "Drink less, both of you, don''t get drunk again..."

    Although he cautioned them verbally, he was somewhat looking forward to it¡ª

    Unfortunately, it was the sisters'' second time drinking, and they had arger tolerance. Their cheeks were flushed red, and their eyes rippled, but they did not embarrass themselves; they just looked a bit tipsy.

    Lu Yao, full of regret, turned to read the newspaper.

    But just as he turned around, the previously foggy-eyed Master Liao''s eyes suddenly regained a hint of rity, looking at her Junior Brother''s back with aplicated expression and a touch of shyness.

    Typically, she sneaked peeks, carefully avoiding Liao Ya''s perceptive gaze to prevent being rude.

    This time, thinking Liao Ya was drunk, Lu Yao became careless...

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yaozily flipped through the newspaper. The Otherworld''s newspapers had their fingers in every pie, with news both timely and urate.

    After the fall of Jinling, the Imperial Court reacted swiftly, constructing a solid defense line in the south called "Jiangnan Camp."

    The following month, they set up "Northern Camp" behind it, boxing in the Great Vehicle Teaching north and south.

    The two sides were at a standoff, but the Imperial Court''s side kept making the news.

    "Northern Camp," situated upstream, had the Imperial Envoy Shang Heting struck by a brainwave. He purchased ten thousand catties of Gelsemium and Arsenic Trioxide, dumping them into the river, hoping to poison the followers of the Great Vehicle Teaching downstream.

    Lu Yao couldn''t help butment, "The idea is good, but this is the Yangtze River with the world''s leading water capacity! Even if you threw a million catties into it, it wouldn''t make a ssh!"

    ~~~~~~~

    "Jiangnan Camp" was not to be outdone. The Imperial Envoy Lan Yuanfang, who was proficient in firearms, made a shoebox-sized cartridge with explosives and nails inside that would detonate upon opening.

    It came with a note attached¡ª''For the personal attention of Hong and Li''¡ªhoping to kill Hong Tianwang and Yang Qing of the Great Vehicle Teaching at the same time.

    This was the modern historical predecessor of the "mail bomb," but unfortunately... the people of the Great Vehicle Teaching weren''t fools, and this intelligence-insulting n not only failed, but it also made the newspapers.

    For a time, these two were dubbed "Wolong and Fengchu." Seeing this, Lu Yao burst outughing.

    With such ''Immortals'' present in the army, one can imagine thebat effectiveness.

    If this was just a joke, what followed in the news left no room forughter¡ªbattleships "Rattlesnake" and "Styx" from the nation of Einheit arrived in Jinling, officially visiting the Great Vehicle Teaching!

 Chapter 79: 79. Have the junior apprentice brother kill it.

    ```

    The Yangtze River''s misty waves ripple, resembling a colossal dragon lying on its back. The vast mountains, ovepping peaks upon peaks, reflect a vibrant green vitality in the river.

    "God is truly generous to this ignorant nation," he said.

    The speaker was Lord Asben, the Queen''s Envoy who, upon witnessing the magnificent beauty of the Yangtze River, couldn''t help but express his admiration.

    At this moment, the battleship, havingpleted its visiting mission, was preparing to leave the ancient city.

    Along the coast were fully alert Sect Army members of the Great Vehicle Sect, vigntly monitoring the fleet.

    Neither side trusted the other: the talks had been fruitless, at most a mundane military trade, with only a slight additional condition attached.

    Standing beside his lordship was a ck-robed priest, ring with dissatisfaction:

    "How dare they spheme the teachings of the ''One True God.'' It is sacrilege!"

    The motto of the Great Vehicle Sect led the priest to misunderstand, thinking this was a Divine Nation on Earth, thus he actively participated in the visit.

    But once here, he realized it was not as he thought, and was quite displeased.

    Lord Asben shrugged his shoulders, saying, "Priest Miller, this Heavenly King is merely using our teachings for his own small purposes. No matter, selling arms to both sides in a conflict is most profitable."

    Priest Miller extended a finger, drawing a triangr symbol before his chest. As the light flickered, an eye seemed to appear momentarily.

    "God will devour these sinners! This rebellion will significantly weaken the Shun Dynasty, enablingplete conquest of the nation!"

    "Precisely," said Lord Asben, "that''s why we need to tip the scales even more, to intensify the struggle."

    Lord Asben bared his sharp fangs, eximing excitedly, "Ah~ I can hardly wait to indulge in the sweet blood of a virgin martial artist!"

    At that moment, what came to the lord''s mind was the figure of Li Pei.

    Since theirst encounter at the Wang Mansion, he had been constantly yearning for this beautiful, elegant, mature, and alluring woman¡­ and her fresh blood!

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Inside the Boxing Gym

    After finishing the medicinal wine yesterday, Liao Ya helped perform the ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art'' massage. As a result, Lu Yao''s bones began to feel numb, itchy, sour, and stabbing even during the day.

    "You''ve eaten too many good things; the medicinal power is prompting drastic changes to your bones."

    Liao Ya inserted a strand of her Inner Breath to check the situation and said softly, "Junior brother, taking shortcuts alwayses at a price. Hang in there. In a few days, once your bones have properly grown, you''ll be fine."

    "This is nothing," Lu Yao, who had experienced the pain of cancer, would not take such a matter to heart. "Once I''ve practiced Organ Refining and acquired Inner Breath, I''ll be able to massage you."

    Liao Ya smiled, reassured, "To be honest, I originally thought Liao Qe would be the first to master the ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art.'' I didn''t expect you to progress so quickly."

    Pouting, Liao Qeined at the side, "I want to give massages to both of you, but you dare not let me~"

    "No, you should practice more."

    Using Inner Breath for a spinal massage is quite dangerous; the slightest carelessness can lead to paralysis, so one mustn''t try it rashly.

    Only Lu Yao''s ability to control his body with the "mind moves with the will" state when he''s perfectly calm is truly reassuring.

    While the three were chatting, running footsteps approached the door, and someone shouted, "Director Liao, the Prefectural Governor requests your presence!"

    He was the Prefectural Governor''s standard-bearer, who after saluting the military, reported, "The Jiangnan Camp has fallen apart, the thieves are heading straight for Yunzhou. Governor Wen would like you to discuss the matter at the city wall immediately!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Under the operation of "Wolong and Fengchu," the Government Forces had indeed copsed.

    ```

    ```

    It might be the "mail package bombs" made by the "Fengchu" of Jiangnan Camp were too insulting to one''s intelligence, causing the Sect Army, equipped with full Einheit gear, to be the first to break through here.

    However, perplexingly, the Sect directly and rapidly dispatched a nking force straight towards Yunzhou.

    At this moment, countless old-fashioned sail warships were navigating the broad expanse of the Yangtze River.

    A man wearing a red turban shouted to his subordinates:

    "The Foreigners want us to attack Yunzhou, saying they will give us a batch of Firearms for free if we kill 5000 of the Imperial Court''s troops. There must be an ulterior motive!"

    This man was themander of this army¡ªLi Shoucheng.

    "I''ll just take the opportunity to capture Yunzhou and offer this piece of fat meat to the Heavenly King!"

    "Long live the Heavenly King! Long live! Long, long live!"

    His followers, quite fanatic, formed a "triangle" gesture with the thumbs and index fingers on their chests.

    And on their warships, they transported many Einheit equipments¡ª18-pounder field guns, along with the cold gleam of "Lewis Guns".

    ~~~~~~~~

    Governor Wen Renliang called for a gathering of Yunzhou''s military and political officials atop the city walls, but only half showed up.

    The other half sent their resignations. Of course, there were also those who left without saying goodbye.

    Without changing his expression, Governor Wen straightforwardly said, "The demon warriors of the Sect are advancing by bothnd and water, and will arrive at the city by tomorrow at the earliest. Judging by their past actions, they will surely plunder once the city falls. Whether for your personal safety or your future, I hope we can unite and defend the State City."

    The faces of those who came to the meeting were ugly. Although the Prefectural Governor spoke well, everyone knew that the city''s defense forces were insufficient, with only 3000 State Soldiers and 500 standard soldiers.

    The Sect had nearly ten thousand men!

    But though their expressions were grim, they still held onto some hope.

    At this moment, everyone looked towards the only non-official present¡ªa foreigner!

    He was dressed in a ck tailcoat and, after tipping his hat to those around him, he spoke in fluent Xianguage:

    "I am William, the head of the Opiumpany. Governor Wen, although I am a merchant, I am also a refined nobleman. The private armed force on my merchant ships is willing to contribute to the defense. But..."

    All that came before "but" was nonsense, and Governor Wen took the lead: "I can provide 1000 taels of silver. I can also call on the city''s rich merchants to donate."

    This was no small sum, but William elegantly shook his head and smiled: "No, no, no, Governor Wen, I don''t need money. The Opiumpany''s annual earnings are sufficient. What I need are some... privileges."

    William paused, then continued, "I want you to waive mypany''s taxes; lift the warrants on mypany''s employees; andstly... I want her!"

    As he finished speaking, he actually pointed at Liao Ya! At the same time, he covered his mouth with his hand, blocking the fangs that reflexively protruded. But those crimson eyes could not be hidden.

    Liao Ya''s hair stood on end, but she unflinchingly met the gaze of the vampire, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

    The others looked away, some of the less astute showing a tempted expression.

    But Governor Wen decisively said, "This is an internal conflict of our dynasty, and we should resolve it ourselves. Mr. William, I wee your help. But if you don''t wish to, that is also fine. We are about to discuss military affairs, so please leave."

    "Then, I take my leave~"

    William nodded and left at an unhurried pace, smiling at Liao Ya before he went.

    Liao Ya no longer looked at him, her mind suddenly filled with a bold idea: Have the junior brother kill it!

    Even though her junior brother''s realm was low, whenever she faced a problem now, he was the first person she thought of for help.

    ```

 Chapter 80: 80. Offense and Defense

    At this moment, Yunzhou City had be a defensive stronghold.

    Civil conscripts had already dug numerous war trenches around the city, and the state soldiers were guarding inside with ackluster fighting spirit. However, none of them had deserted, as their families were all behind them.

    Artillery was ced atop the city walls to increase their range. Commander Xu Can, donning thick steel armor, patrolled the walls, raising his voice from time to time to boost morale.

    The patrol officers were on patrol in the streets. Guns were loaded, and anyone daring to take advantage of the chaos to loot would be shown no mercy and killed without pardon.

    ~~~~~~~

    The two sisters were both conscripted for the city defense, and Lu Yao followed them as well.

    After many days, the three once again found themselves on the walls of Yunzhou City.

    This location was far behind the battlefield, high up with a view that stretched far. Governor Wen Renliang was also stationed here, directlymanding operations. When he saw Lu Yao, he even gave a friendly smile.

    Lu Yao kept his distance and saluted with a cupped-fist from afar, not approaching to disturb him.

    The sisters'' task was to protect the city wall artillery from destruction by enemy martial artists.

    Martial artists could not withstand the bullets and cannonballs flying across the battlefield, so they were used for "special operations" such as raids, beheadings, and protecting important facilities on their side.

    The city walls were tightly secured at the rear; it was impossible for the enemy martial artists to traverse the entire battlefield and sneak over. Clearly, this was an easy task, which showed that the Prefectural Governor took good care of them.

    At the moment, the three gathered together for a chat:

    "The Einheit Sect is adept at Spirit Refinement. Their ''Heavenly King'' is said to be the rare ''Astral Projection Realm''. The Divine Soul can leave the body and attach to objects... even on other people, which is very mysterious."

    Liao Ya spoke of the news she had just heard while Lu Yao halfheartedly echoed along.

    Apart from worrying about his sisters, he mainly wanted to see what an Otherworld war was like. He wondered what kind of sparks would fly when firearms met supernatural powers.

    But what he first witnessed was the cruelty of war.

    ~~~~~~~

    On the horizon, countless civilians of various attire surged forward.

    They were ordinary people from surrounding counties, some in ragged clothes and others in fine silk; the only thing they had inmon was their desperate crying as they were closely followed by the Sect Army of the Einheit Sect.

    Although the "civilian attack" tactic is cruel, it''s effective at demoralizing the defenders, depleting resources, and has long been amonly used strategy.

    The state soldiers were locals, and many of the civilians driven by the Einheit Sect to their death were their rtives and friends, which immediately caused panic.

    However, Governor Wen on the city wall was as stable as Mount Tai, giving orders without even blinking an eye: "Open fire!"

    In the war trenches and defensive constructions, elite marksmen supervised the battle, decisively carrying out Governor Wen''s orders.

    The next second, the 98K rifles fired. Countless civilians running halfway were pierced by bullets, blood spraying as they fell to the ground.

    They tried to run back, but the Sect Army also opened fire, and again numerous people were shot down.

    The cries echoed to the heavens as the civilians were pushed by the Sect Army toward the trenches.

    Governor Wen made a gesture as if twisting prayer beads and ordered with his eyes closed, "Fire at full strength."

    Then, the "Maxim" machine guns within the defensive constructions started spouting mes, and the crowd fell as if mowed down.

    ~~~~~~~

    This was only the beginning, as both sides'' artillery began to fire, and the situation became even more tragic.

    The shockwaves tore living people apart, and amidst the explosions, limbs and body parts flew into the air.

    Witnessing this scene akin to an earthly Inferno, Lu Yao couldn''t help butment:

    "Without the shelter of a strong nation, the dust of the times truly can be mountains... crushing people dead!"

    Although the sight was not pleasing, overall, their side held the advantage¡ª

    The civilians driven by the enemy were either dead or fleeing, the state soldiers had trenches for cover, and the enemy artillery wasrgely ineffective.

    Lu Yao concluded in his heart, "Primitive machine guns; the artillery range and uracy are also average;bined with the warships seen at the port... they just barely meet the standard for a fight."

    The current situation was quite tense. Although the Einheit Sect had numbers on their side, they couldn''t take advantage of Yunzhou''s prearranged defenses.

    Especially since Yunzhou''s artillery ced on the city walls had the high ground and held a tactical advantage, causing severe casualties to the enemy while also destroying several of their artillery positions.

    Going on like this, they could win lying down.

    But Commander Li Shoucheng of the Great Vehicle Sect was no slouch either.

    At that moment, he instructed his deputy, "I''m going to destroy the Shun dogs'' cannons. You take the brothers and capture Yunzhou! I''ll let you enjoy yourselves in the city for three days!"

    The deputy ttered him, "Yunzhou is a piece of fat meat! Commander, you could also marry 88 fairies as your wives, just like the Heavenly King~"

    Li Shouchengughed heartily a few times and left with a few trusted aides.

    ~~~~~~~

    The two sides exchanged fire, and the battlefield was filled with pungent ck and grey gun smoke.

    Lu Yao and two others were stationed on the leisurely north city wall. While scratching the bricks to alleviate the itch in his bones, Lu Yao watched with great interest as the Otherworld cannons were being loaded.

    He saw a person insert a cannonball the size of a calf into the muzzle, another person used a rod to ram it down, and finally, a tug on a rope and the cannon fired.

    Suddenly, gunshots came from behind. Turning his head to look, it was the south city wall where Governor Wen was ¨C a battle had erupted!?

    ~~~~~~

    A team of State Soldiers, carrying a strangerge box, approached from behind Yunzhou City.

    They kept their heads down, avoiding their faces being seen, preferring to take a detour rather than passing through crowded areas, heading straight for the city wall.

    They soon encountered the sentries, who also found this team of men to be abnormal, and immediately raised their guns to interrogate them!

    The next second, the ughter began.

    A burly man carrying therge box suddenly drew two revolvers and fired simultaneously!

    The bullets swept out, hitting the surrounding sentries with precision, instantly killing more than a dozen! Enjoy more content from m-v l''e|-NovelBin

    The burly man roared, "I am Li Shoucheng of the Great Vehicle Sect! Die, Shun dogs!"

    While shouting, he led his men towards the cannons with an obvious goal in mind.

    Governor Wen urgently yelled, "Stop them! They''re here to destroy the cannons, we can''t let them seed!"

    His words were correct, but the martial artists on the city wall dared not move, at most firing a couple of shots as a gesture.

    Even General Xu could only bellow, "Kill the enemy! Kill them!" so loudly it shook the heavens, but he did not budge an inch himself.

    Because Li Shoucheng of the Great Vehicle Sect was famously at the Blood-Exchange Mastery level! The few people around him exuded vigorous vitality and acted with lightning speed, all of them having undergone Organ Refining and Marrow Cleansing!

    For his own people, approaching would mean certain death. Besides, if they really couldn''t escape, wouldn''t it be better to flee to the concession for safety than to throw their lives away?

    What happened next made everyone even more hesitant to confront them.

    ~~~~~~~

    Two sentries turned the muzzle of the Maxim gun and began to spray bullets towards Li Shoucheng and his group.

    However, when they took bullets to the chest, sparks flew, revealing the broken outer clothing and the dark steel armor underneath that was a full 2 centimeters thick!

    Li Shoucheng raised his hand and shot the sentries operating the machine gun dead, then kicked open therge box he had brought, which was full of the shimmering cold light of "Lewis Guns."

    This standard weapon of the Einheit, weighing over 30 pounds, was dismissed by Li Shoucheng''s men as if light as a feather. Each man took one and began to sweep their surroundings with fire. In an instant, men and horses went down, the 98Ks werepletely suppressed, and blood and dead bodies littered the ground.

    This elite squad impervious to knives and guns, with fearsome firepower, cut through resistance as if entering an uninhabited territory, arriving at the foot of the city wall.

    Li Shoucheng targeted Governor Wen''s position and sprayed a round of bullets. The muscr team captain of the sentries immediately shielded the front, absorbing four 7.7 mm caliber bullets, and fell with several bloody holes in his body.

    Li Shouchengughed loudly, "Holy Warriors, heed mymand¡ªdestroy the Shun dogs'' cannons!"

    Several of his men roared, "By Commander''s order!"

    With that, they sprayed bullets at the cannon positions, killing and injuring countless gunners.

    Just as Governor Wen despaired and the surrounding martial artists and officials prepared to flee to the concession to save their lives, a strange gunfire sound came, and one of Li Shoucheng''s men''s head exploded into eight pieces!

    Lu Yao had arrived!

    Seeing an enemy sweeping his gun at his own artillerymen, he immediately killed him with his AK.

    As he was about to turn his gun to find the next target, he suddenly locked eyes with a stern gaze¡ªit was Li Shoucheng!

    Although nearly a hundred meters apart, the two seemed to be facing each other at close range, and instantly knew, "The other is also firmly in the Spirit Refinement stage!"

 Chapter 81: Ive learned something new again.

    Lu Yao immediately pulled the trigger and sprayed bullets, aiming to eliminate this troublesome enemy.

    Li Shoucheng refused to show weakness. While firing his gun, he raised his arm, using the 1CM thick steel bracer on his wrist to block Lu Yao''s AK bullets.

    The two men¡ªone nimbly dodging, the other standing firm and outputting fire¡ªengaged in an intense shootout across the distance.

    Li Shoucheng was showered in sparks but remained unharmed.

    The bullets he fired were also dodged in advance by Lu Yao, with neither able to gain the upper hand over the other.

    Eventually, it was Li Shoucheng who ran out of bullets first. He immediately threw away his machine gun and charged forward!

    He stomped on the ground to propel himself, moving so fast that he even created afterimages, and against Lu Yao''s fire, he desperately leaped more than 10 meters high onto the city wall!

    By that time, the areas not covered by steel armor on his body had taken 4 or 5 bullets, and there was even a bloody hole on his forehead!

    But the powerful 7.62 bullets were surprisingly caught by Li Shoucheng''s sturdy bones.

    Amidst a "crunch" sound, he reached out and plucked the deformed bullet stuck in his skull, sneering, "Shun dogs, you shoot quite urately! Now it''s my turn!"

    Before his words had finished, he turned into a blur, shielding his head with his hands as he charged forward like an out-of-control truck!

    Li Shoucheng''s n was beautiful¡ªto kill the Bone Tempering Realm martial artist before him with a single p, and then proceed topletely destroy the cannons on the city wall, securing his victory!

    Lu Yao revealed a warm smile, discarded the AK in his hands, and drew the Barrett from behind.

    The enemy wasposed, and with an exceptionally strong physique, a single shot from the Barrett could likely be dodged in advance.

    But at this distance, even if the brain could react, the body couldn''t keep up!

    When Li Shoucheng saw the long, thick, ck weapon in Lu Yao''s hands, he instantly felt his hair stand on end, with a strong sense of crisis engulfing him.

    And to make matters worse, Liao Ya and Liao Qe suddenly poked their heads out, holding AKs and firing at him to disrupt his movements!

    In the next second, a .50 caliber bullet was fired! Li Shoucheng entered aposed state and used his steel bracer to block it!

    The bullet, carrying 18,000 joules of kic energy, easily prated the steel bracer, pushing Li Shoucheng''s arm back against his chest and blowing him off the city wall!

    With a "thud," Li Shoucheng created a huge crater in the solid ground and then shook his head as he got up.

    ncing at his now-useless arm, twisted and deformed with an additional bloody hole, he cursed, "Damn it! Yunzhou has the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, could this be the Shun dogs'' new weapon!?"

    His arm was mangled and perforated but not torn off, thanks to the Blood-Exchange Warrior''s exceedingly resilient body.

    ~~~~~~~

    At this time, arge number of reserve troops had surrounded the area. Signal soldiers also took the opportunity to set up two machine guns and opened fire.

    Realizing he had to flee or be trapped here, Li Shoucheng shouted, "Retreat!" and was the first to dash back the way he came, running swiftly.

    Lu Yao had no intention of letting him get away. He had a particr distaste for the "drive civilians to attack the city" tactic, and would naturally want to eliminate such a foe given the chance.

    Positioning the Barrett on the city wall, Lu Yao took a deep breath, and everything before his eyes slowed to half speed.

    His senses processed external information rapidly, calcting wind direction, distance, bullet trajectory and speed, and the target''s moving path. He aimed at a nk spot in front of Li Shoucheng and pulled the trigger.

    A muffled sound echoed, and the bullet burst forth, hitting the target''s back, tearing through the steel armor, then bursting open a bowl-sized hole filled with unusually thick, oozing blood.

    The blood of a Blood-Exchange Realm martial artist was like mercury, glistening with a beautiful luster.

    For normal people, this would have been a fatal wound, but Li Shoucheng only let out a scream of agony. He rolled on the ground, then got up and continued to move erratically.

    His speed was close to 80 kilometers per hour, like a small truck, using cover for erratic movements, clearly a veteran of many battles, and in the blink of an eye disappeared into the city''s buildings.

    Lu Yao, seeing that the Barrett didn''t kill the enemy instantly, was amazed, "Is this the Blood-Exchange Realm? Physical resilience beyond imagination... Truly a realm capable of curing cancer!"

    Without time for further thought, Lu Yao quickly called his two sisters to move away, as the Sect Army''s artillery had begun to cover the city wall.

    ~~~~~~~

    At this time, the tide of the battlefield had already turned!

    Although Li Shoucheng and his men were being beaten badly, they sessfully distracted the Yunzhou artillery, allowing the cannons of the Sect Army to unleash their fury.

    Continually, cannonballs fell upon the city walls, chaotic rocks flew around, and numerous gunners were sent flying by the shockwaves.

    Without the support of artillery, the state soldiers, being fewer in number and far less formidable inbat than the Sect Army, who fought year-round, had actually lost two trenches to the enemy!

    If not for the presence of the standard-bearers supervising the battle, the Sect Army could have spent the night within the city walls.

    Yet, in such circumstances, Governor Wen''s face was only pale, giving the appearance that he still had a move up his sleeve.

    He spoke slowly, "There is no need to worry, I have already called for reinforcements."

    After half a day of fighting, Xu Canjiang, still in shiny steel armor, asked in confusion, "Reinforcements? There cannot be any reinforcements nearby... Ah! My lord, do you mean..."

    Although Governor Wen did not feel much like entertaining this man, he still needed him, so he reluctantly nodded his head.

    Before long, the sound of orderly, uniform footsteps could be heard from afar.

    What came into view was a mass of young people, all dressed in uniform dark gray uniforms, marching in neat columns.

    Leading them was none other than the Director-General of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau¡ªDu Wen.

    "I, the official, have brought 3,000 artillery school students to assist in defending the city!" he announced.

    Du Wen was equivalent to a central enterprise leader stationed locally, ranking on par with Governor Wen.

    The two did not report to each other and only maintained superficial interactions on normal days. But with Yunzhou at stake, both knew they would suffer if it was lost, so helping out was unquestionable at this moment.

    Without any regard for pleasantries, Governor Wen urged, "Director Du, please support us quickly! The bandits are about to break in!"

    Du Wen waved his hand, and officers among the students tookmand of the battle.

    These artillery students were all part of the Imperial Court''s new army, chosen from good families and far more useful than the state soldiers after undergoing extended training.

    Furthermore, not only did the Shun Dynasty possess moral high ground in this world, but also it had the mandate to drive out the Tartars, gaining the hearts of the people far more than the degenerate feudal dynasty of Blue Star.

    The loyalty andbat prowess of the artillery students were thus guaranteed.

    Under enemy fire, they rushed to the top of the city walls and quickly set up the cannons to return fire; others aided the trenches outside the city, steadying the situation once again.

    Experience new tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin

    ~~~~~~~

    After observing thebat style of the Sect Army martial artists, Lu Yao was deeply inspired:

    "I''ve learned! Martial artists can fully utilize their superhuman physiques to wear heavy armor! When I return to Blue Star, I''ll also find a factory to make a custom order."

    Having personally witnessed the power of the Blood-Exchange Realm, he further contemted, "I need to get something with greater force for self-defense..."

    While he was pondering, Governor Wen approached. Despite being a superior, he took the initiative to sp his fists in salute:

    "On behalf of the people of Yunzhou City, high and low, I thank the Liao Family Fist! If you hadn''t appeared in time, those bandits would have seeded!"

    Lu Yao modestly replied, "You are too kind, Governor. It is our duty to do so."

    Governor Wen warmly said, "In the face of danger, true loyalty shines! I have taken note of this kindness, and there will surely be rpense in the future."

    Afterwards, he spoke bitterly, "The Sect Army must have been tipped off by foreigners to get this far! It must be because I did not agree to their demands!"

    Several days ago, Governor Wen had already arranged the city''s defenses; it was impossible for the thieves to infiltrate. With the future and families of everyone present tied to this city, they wouldn''t act as inside agents.

    Only the foreigners had the motive, and one didn''t even need to think to know¡ªundoubtedly, it was the vile work of the vampire from the Opiumpany.

 Chapter 82: 82. Subtle Sense of the Heart

    After half a day of fierce fighting, both sides ceased fire simultaneously, as they were running low on ammunition.

    Thebatants shared the same roots, yet the weapons of ughter were imported from abroad, particrly short on cannonballs.

    Li Shoucheng returned to the military camp in disgrace, only to find that he was the sole survivor; his entire army had perished, which infuriated him to the point that he cursed loudly, "Damned loyalists! I swear I''ll skin you alive!"

    Removing his steel armor, he discovered a hole the size of a bowl on his back, about 10 centimeters in diameter, with bone faintly visible!

    He was terrified, "Thank God the steel armor absorbed some of the impact, or I would have been a goner!"

    He called over an attendant to treat the wound, and then, by flexing his tendons and twisting, he managed to close the wound to a small seam.

    In the Blood-Exchange Realm, one has abundant vital energy, and a robust physique. A wound that wouldnd an ordinary person in the ICU was only considered moderate on Li Shoucheng.

    By evening, amidst the lingering sunlight, countless members of the Sect Army were sitting cross-legged on the ground, holding their hands in a triangr symbol over their chests, silently praying for their deceased brothers.

    Some, missing arms or legs and wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, also joined in the silent recitation.

    In times of turmoil, the army is the greatest capital. Li Shoucheng was considering the idea of withdrawal in his mind. Although Yunzhou was affluent, it might not be worth the prolonged struggle.

    Just then, a guard informed him, "Commander, a foreigner requests an audience with you."

    "Let him in," said Li Shoucheng, as he put the steel armor back on and ordered his personal guards to load their firearms, taking no chances.

    Before long, Baron William from the Opium Company arrived. He sniffed the air a few times, detecting the blood of the Blood-Exchange Realm experts, and his expression became intoxicated, "What a rich aroma..."

    "What brings you here, Mr. William!"

    Unaffected by Li Shoucheng''s disgust, Baron William smiled and said, "Oh, nothing much. Just here to bring a gift."

    With a wave of his hand, he summoned a group of about ten people who, alongside a pair of mules, shouted cadences as they pushed along a massive cannon.

    "This is the ''6-inch siege howitzer.'' My dearmander, I believe you will achieve a splendid victory."

    Recalling the wealth within Yunzhou City and that detestable youth from yesterday, Li Shoucheng ordered his subordinates, "Bring out the thickest armor!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The next morning, the Sect Army''s new cannons demonstrated their might.

    The siege howitzers, using 60-kilogram shells, were tremendously powerful, capable of creating craters one meter deep and five meters in diameter.

    The st radius was 20 meters; anyone within it would be pulverized by the shockwave, dying a gruesome death.

    Even if one were hiding in trenches, they wouldn''t escape internal injuries from the impact.

    The morale of the Yunzhou defending forces plummeted. Coupled with the previous day''s casualties, they had nearly halved in number. If it wasn''t for their families behind them and the timely support from the artillery trainees, they would have already disbanded;

    the standard-bearers weren''t faring any better, having also suffered many casualties.

    Governor Wen urgently convened a military council to boost morale.

    At the council, hevished praise on Lu Yao and the other two in front of everyone, with endlessmendations such as "peerlessly loyal and brave, pirs of the nation, great heroes of chivalry" and emphasized¡ªLi Shoucheng was wounded!

    Then, Governor Wen announced another piece of good news: "I just spoke with the Commandery Princess over the phone; she''ll be here soon to support us! With her presence, Li Shoucheng is nothing to fear!"

    However, his actions did little to stabilize the situation.

    Those present were all seasoned officials not easily swayed by a few words of encouragement; they were discussing whether to retreat to the foreign concession for safety.

    And General Xu went so far as to openly suggest, "Sir, we might as well agree to William''s demands and let the foreigners help defend the city. Mr. William''s armed merchant ships still have cannons¡­"

    The group echoed in agreement, finding the n sensible.

    Governor Wen''s face darkened as he said, "Gentlemen, the Taiping Rebellion is a civil conflict that must be resolved on our own! If we allow foreigners to help defend the city, who would Yunzhou truly belong to afterward!?"

    But those who would normally be submissive were now all advising him, "Sir Wen, desperate times call for desperate measures!"

    "It''s better than losing Yunzhou."

    When faced with their positions and family wealth, everyone knew what the right choice was.

    General Xu even pointed out, "Mr. William fancies female martial artists? Along with the Liao Family Sisters, perhaps we could select a few more to offer in exchange."

    This remark was too shameless, and for a moment, everyone dared not pick up on it, resulting in a somewhat chilly atmosphere.

    Governor Wen''s face was frosty; he had realized that the people before him were eying his situation¡ªseeing his standard-bearers'' heavy losses and the standard-bearer captain seriously injured, they began to have designs!

    At that moment, a sudden announcement came from a standard-bearer: "Princess Yongping has arrived at the camp gate!"

    Governor Wen quickly stood up and eximed loudly, "Quick, invite her in!"

    The crowd below exchanged nces for a few seconds, then General Xu took the lead, stepped forward with a fist salute, and said, "With the Commandery Princess here, those few bandits are not worth mentioning. This general will surely bring Li Shoucheng''s head to present to her!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao did not attend the discussion at all; at this moment, he was studying the steel armor of Li Shoucheng and others.

    The armor was 2 centimeters thick and weighed approximately 170 kilograms, crafted frommon-grade carbon steel.

    Although it was easily prated by the Barrett, that was simply because of the inferior quality of the steel material.

    After all, his Barrett had only used standard ammunition, which at most could prate 11 millimeters if up against high-strength alloy steel like Blue Star''s tungsten steel.

    If he were to use Blue Star''s metals to make armor...

    "Senior Sister, you two try and see if you can handle this weight."

    Lu Yao called the sisters over for a test. Liao Ya looked at the bullet-riddled, blood-stained armor with some distaste, and easily picked it up with one hand, saying,

    "I now have a strength of 4,000 jin, so this thing is as light as a feather to me."

    Liao Qe also gave it a try and said with a delicate voice, "I have a strength of 3,000 jin; it has some impact on my agility."

    Lu Yao had a good sense of the weight andughed, "I will get you both a set of armor, which will be much better than this."

    The sisters had long guessed as much and nodded their heads, looking forward to it eagerly.

    At this time, General Xu suddenly popped up, running onto the city wall and incessantly scolding the state soldiers to do this and that, hustling and bustling as if deeply concerned about the battle situation.

    Seeing this scene, Liao Ya said with cold disdain, "This man is as timid as a mouse; his steel armor is still shiny and new after a day''s battle."

    Liao Qe nodded in agreement, "When Li Shouchengunched his surprise attack, he didn''t dare to step forward at all,pletely wasting such fine armor."

    "That''s why I say equipment is inert; it''s key to see who is using it."

    The three of them scoffed for a while, then suddenly heard the sound of a car approaching.

    The car braked and stopped quickly upon seeing them, and a short-haired beauty dressed in a female suit alighted from the vehicle¡ªit was Li Pei.

    "So you''re here; I''ve had quite the search for you."

    "The Commandery Princess is back~"

    They came forward and greeted her, and Li Pei remarked in admiration, "You have not been seen for many days, but have made quite a name for yourselves. Governor Wen has almost sung you to the heavens. Did you defeat Li Shoucheng?"

    Lu Yao shook his head, "We only wounded him, and he got away."

    Li Peiughed, "Li Shoucheng has reached Blood-Exchange Mastery, just one step away from advancing to the Innate Realm and bing a Grandmaster. You are many levels below him; it''s incredible that you even managed to wound him."

    At that moment, Liao Ya asked, "Commandery Princess, have you brought reinforcements with you?"

    Li Pei first shook her head, "I came alone by car; the Imperial Court can no longer dispatch a single soldier. Einheit and Frandi have perfidious intentions while our nation is mired in internal strife; we need to guard against them first."

    "..."

    Then, Li Pei looked towards Lu Yao, her lips parting lightly, "Although I have not brought an army, I already have a n and need your assistance. In gratitude, I am willing to offer the Mystical Refinement Method!"

    Lu Yao''s eyes lit up! The Mystical Refinement Method, besides being profoundly mysterious, had already been discovered to greatly enhance firearms.

    For a long time, the knowledge of Spirit Refinement has been subject to abined blockade by the Imperial Court, major sects, and families, difficult to buy even with money; its value hardly needed any further mention.

    He quickly responded, "Please speak, Commandery Princess!"

    Li Pei took out a piece of paper inscribed with "Subtle Sense of the Heart," and said,

    "Young Master Lu, please join me in operating the cannon, to shoot Li Shoucheng dead!"

 Chapter 83: Solicit

    Lu Yao was precisely in need of the Mystical Refinement Method and, of course, wouldn''t refuse, decisively agreeing to it.

    Li Pei was very generous and directly handed over "Subtle Sense of the Heart," "Young Master Lu, you take a look first, we will need it for operating the cannonter."

    Lu Yao quickly flipped through it, only to see that it contained merely a few thousand words in a beautiful, small script that was clearly freshly copied by Li Pei.

    It described how to integrate the greatly enhanced five senses after Spirit Refinement and convert them into "Heart Awareness."

    Li Pei exined, "We who have undergone Spirit Refinement have ''urate vision and stable control,'' making our use of firearms exceptionally precise. When you aim at a spot before firing, you can''t quite exin why, but you just know it will hit the target. This is ''Heart Awareness''!"

    Lu Yao nodded his head. It was very clearly written on the paper¡ªWith "Heart Awareness," one could perceive even the most minute changes after locking onto them with the mind and spirit.

    However, the article ended with a mention that "Heart Awareness" could evolve into an even more mystical "Spirit Awareness"¡­ but at the most crucial part, the text suddenly stopped.

    It was clear there was more to this secret manual, and Lu Yao couldn''t help but give Li Pei a deep look.

    Li Pei smiled back with squinting eyes. His main purpose ining back was to recruit Lu Yao, a man with money and skills, into his fold.

    This Mystical Refinement Method was just one of the baits.

    ~~~~~~~

    The group arrived at the city walls, with distant shouts and booms of cannons echoing over. The entire battlefield stretched for tens of miles, shrouded in ck and gray gun smoke, making the whole tableau look dirty and grimy.

    It was somewhat dangerous atop the city wall at this time, because the new cannons from the Great Vehicle Teachings had a long range, and asionally cannonballs woulde flying over. Li Pei''s Mystical Refinement Method was not easily obtained.

    They came to arge cannon, where a cannoneer officer exined how to operate it before stepping aside, very curious about what these nobles wanted to do.

    "This is a 90mm cannon purchased from the Kingdom of Jiade, theoretically able to hit targets up to 6000 meters away. With the two of us operating, this cannon can achieve precise sniping¡ªsomething Li Shoucheng would never expect," said Li Pei as he introduced the cannon before adding, "Young Master Lu, you try firing it first."

    Lu Yao nodded and immediately stepped forward to ce his hand on the cannon, staring intently at the muzzle for a while before looking at the target spot for a long time.

    Countless pieces of information gathered in his mind through his senses, adjusting the scale, turning the wheels¡ªhe was like a high-precision electronic scale, where any change in what his hands touched could not escape detection.

    After the adjustments, Lu Yao couldn''t exin the reasoning, but he just knew where the cannonball wouldnd.

    Pulling hard on the rope connected to the cannon, a thunderous boom sounded as a cannonball left the barrel, overturning several enemy soldiers 2000 meters away.

    The cannoneers watching beside were dumbfounded! The binocrs in the officer''s hands nearly dropped to the ground.

    They had trained for a year in the cannon school and still hadn''t shot with such uracy! This person was obviously firing a cannon for the first time yet could bepared to an elite cannoneer!

    Lu Yao was quite pleased, finding the Mystical Refinement Method to be quite useful. Judging by this, his marksmanship would also be even more precise.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Upon witnessing this scene, Li Pei was very pleased and became even more determined to recruit Lu Yao.

    "Next, we''ll cooperate! One person will operate one cannon, and we''ll open fire together to snipe this brute!"

    Next, Li Pei and Lu Yao adjusted the firing angles of two cannons together.

    The two had a disagreement¡ªLu Yao thought the scale should be adjusted by another degree, but Li Pei felt it was just right. So, they took the middle value, moving it just half a notch.

    Everything being ready, the two approached their respective cannons, aiming at the unsuspecting Li Shoucheng.

    5 kilometers away was where the new cannons of the Great Vehicle Teachings were positioned, and not far away was Li Shoucheng''smanding g, with him loudly shouting to boost his soldiers'' spirits, dressed in an even thicker suit of steel armor.

    Apart from the thick bandages wrapped around his hand, one could not tell he was injured.

    Due to the long distance between them, maintaining the Spirit Refining State was very exhausting, so Lu Yao and Li Pei fired at once.

    With a tremendous boom, a violent tremor beneath their feet startled them as the backdraft from firing the cannon kicked up clouds of dust.

    Two cannonballs shot forth, and Li Shoucheng suddenly felt a chill as his hair stood on end, diving to the side without a word!

    But he didn''tpletely escape the st radius of the explosion and was flung outward by the shock wave! His brain and internal organs suffered severe shocks, and shrapnel and stones riddled his entire body!

    A normal person would have been dead long ago, but Li Shoucheng only felt a ringing in his head and some minor external injuries. He scrambled to run away, ignoring everything else, just as the second round of bombardment arrived!

    Right after Lu Yao and the others fired, Liao Ya and Liao Qe rushed up and reloaded within two seconds.

    The two sisters, with their incredible strength, handled the cannonballs with one hand, their efficiency surpassing an entire artillery squad.

    In this round of attack, Li Pei fired first, her cannonball injuring Li Shoucheng from the explosion, but the resulting st wave caused him to lose bnce and fly sideways.

    However, Lu Yao was slightly slower.

    The artillery in his hand seemed to extend his limbs; in a state of deep concentration, he firmly locked onto his target. The world slowed to half-speed. Information like wind speed, the velocity of the cannonballs, and the target''s moving trajectory all converged in his mind.

    He made a slight adjustment to the elevation of the gun before firing. The cannonball whistled out, hitting Li Shoucheng squarely in the chest!

    The kic energy of a Barrett .50 caliber bullet was 18,000 joules, but that of a cannonball started at a million!

    Li Shoucheng let out a half-cry of surprise. In his look of horror and desperation, the three-centimeter-thick steel armor shattered like paper, followed by his own body.

    He burst apart like a walnut struck by a hammer, apanied by an explosion and smoke.

    Lu Yao exchanged a joyful look with Li Peixin, then hurriedly shouted to the people around him, "The bandit leader is dead, quickly report to the Prefectural Governor!"

    The crowd was slow to react, somewhat incredulous.

    An artillery officer peered through his telescope for a good while before his expression erupted in joy, and he hurried to ry the news.

    Lu Yao now felt a bit dizzy; Liao Qe quickly supported him.

    Initiating Spirit Refining State for targeting and calcting, the greater the distance, the more it drained his mental and spiritual energy. They were 5 kilometers apart, and he''dsted less than half a minute.

    Li Pei seemed to fare much better, her face just pale. She exined with a smile, "I''m at the Blood-Exchange Realm. I can use my primordial energy to nourish my divine soul."

    "Blood-Exchange Realm... It''s really amazing," Lu Yao aspired even more for the higher realm.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Governor Wen Renliang was secretly meeting with the vampire William.

    William sat leisurely, pulling out an exquisite brass pocket watch to check the time before saying,

    "Governor Wen, please make your decision quickly. To be honest, I''m not particrly insistent on tax exemption. It''s the virgin martial artists that I truly cannot do without." Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin

    Wen Renliang sat firmly in the seat of honor, his face expressionless. The Commandery Princess had actuallye alone without a single soldier! Ammunition was about to run out, he could only...

    At this moment, a messenger with a joyful expression barged in, about to whisper the report.

    Wen Renliang''s expression changed slightly, "Is there a change in the battle situation? Speak inly."

    "Reporting to the Governor, the Commandery Princess operated the artillery and killed the bandit chief Li Shoucheng, the enemy forces scattered."

    Wen Renliang''s expression rxed, looking at William: "It seems we won''t be needing your armed merchant ships."

    William let out a gentle smile, picked up his gentleman''s cane and stood up. "That''s a bit regrettable, but no matter. Respected Governor, I shall take my leave."

    ~~~~~~

    A group of soldiers half escorted, half forced William out, just as they ran into Li Pei and Lu Yao, who were on their way to meet with the Prefectural Governor.

    "Good day, beautiful Commandery Princess," William said, tipping his hat, a gesture of respect. Surprisingly, when he rose, no fangs shed in the presence of thedies.

    Li Pei nodded absently, not uttering a word.

    William left with a smile.

    Lu Yao frowned and said, "This creature reeks of fresh blood, he has just fed. And he harbors strong malice towards the Commandery Princess and my senior sister."

    Li Pei nced at Liao Qe discreetly. Western demons were only interested in virgin martial artists; it appeared the girl was already imed by Lu Yao.

    Putting away her curiosity, she started talking business: "Li Shoucheng was a rising star of the Da Cheng Sect, held in high regard. Your feat in killing him today is mighty. I will certainly report to the Imperial Court for a reward."

    "That''s too kind, Commandery Princess. But you''ve already given me a reward," Lu Yao patted the "Subtle Sense of the Heart" tucked in his pocket.

    Li Pei spoke slowly, "Young Master Lu, I''ve only given you part of the Spirit Refining Method. After all, it is a treasure of the Royal Family. I hope you understand."

    Lu Yao shook his head to show it didn''t bother him.

    Li Pei continued, "Young master is brave and wise, possessing extraordinary skills. I happen to need a Captain of the Guard. If you''d condescend to upy the position, I cannot guarantee much, but methods of Mystical Refinement, Cultivation Techniques, and supplements will certainly not becking."

    Lu Yao didn''t reply hastily, instead, he asked, "Commandery Princess, that vampire harbors sinister intentions towards my senior sister. Can you help me kill him?"

    Li Pei was taken aback and spoke softly, "That man is a noble from Einheit. Rashly killing him would provoke a dispute between our nations. He harbors sinister intentions? I can lodge aint on your behalf with the Einheit ambassador..."

    "No need, Commandery Princess," Lu Yao said with a smile. "I don''t have many years left to live, and I intend to devote all my energy to martial arts, hoping to reach the Blood-Exchange Realm soon to save my life. Please forgive me."

 Chapter 84: 84. Finally Organ Refining

    The Great Sect fled in a rout, and Yunzhou symbolically gave chase before withdrawing.

    After that, everyone gathered at the Prefectural Yamen with high spirits to discuss affairs.

    Governor Wen, a deeply scheming official of the Imperial Court, now wore a rare full-faced smile.

    "Young Master Lu, you are wee toe to me for anything at any time, without the need for priormunication."

    "Thank you for your favor, my lord."

    In ancient times, high officials were not easily essible and had to be contacted through various channels. Being given such treatment by the official meant he was held in high esteem.

    The other officials and martial artists present also were in high spirits.

    Defeating bandits was their duty, but killing Li Shoucheng, the rising star of the Great Sect... That was a great achievement indeed.

    Although it was the Commandery Princess and Young Master Lu who directed the cannons, ording to the rules, everyone would be able to share in the rewards.

    Immediately, everyone began to tter the two of them.

    Lu Yao found them all rather tedious. When it was time to fight, they were as timid as mice, but when pursuing the remaining foes, they were as fierce as tigers.

    He really didn''t want to attend, but Governor Wen had insisted, unable to refuse the man who had rendered great service, so he reluctantly came just to oblige.

    Li Pei had a cold expression and said very little. Her generous offer had been cruelly rejected, leaving the proud Commandery Princess feeling quite displeased.

    After the discussion ended, everyone left one after another. Lu Yao couldn''t wait to get home, but Li Pei suddenly stopped him.

    The Commandery Princess stood with her arms crossed, ring fiercely with her phoenix eyes and haughtily tilted chin as she said:

    "I know Young Master Lu is wealthy, but there are some things money can''t buy.

    A word of advice from an expert can save decades of hard work; rare medicinal materials can only be collected with the strength of an entire nation!

    Young Master, you should think it over carefully when you''re back home. If you encounter any difficulties, you are always wee to change your mind."

    Lu Yao, an easygoing person, couldn''t stand such arrogant demeanor and replied with a touch of irony,

    "Thank you for your kind thoughts, Commandery Princess! If you ''again'' encounter any difficulties in the future, you can alsoe to me."

    Having said that, he gave her a couple of intense looks.

    Li Pei hated being stared at there the most and instantly became angry with shame.

    But Lu Yao was right; every time it was she who sought his help, and he always helped with ir... At this moment, she couldn''t bring herself tosh out.

    Li Pei had no choice but to cover her chest with an icy face, swallowing her anger and watching Lu Yao walk away.

    ~~~~~~~

    Back at the boxing gym, Lu Yao could finally focus exclusively on Organ Refining.

    For the past few days, his entire body ached unbearably, and the pain had now started to intensify. It felt as though his whole body had a toothache¡ªan excruciating one at that.

    There was no helping it; martial arts training was inherently tough and painful, which is why out of a hundred martial artists, perhaps only one could achieve Organ Refining.

    However, the pain was also a good sign, indicating he was entering the final stage!

    Lu Yao doubled down on restorative medicine, stimting and nourishing his body, and didn''t care even if the pain grew worse.

    After enduring the suffering for three more days, he finally felt some relief. In the morning, he woke up naturally instead of being jolted awake by the pain.

    He opened his eyes in bed for a while before realizing what happened, and then quickly went out to the yard to practice Liao Family Fist!

    Without even needing to gather strength, his moves now produced explosive sounds, as if there were firecrackers going off in the yard!

    The sisters hurried over when they heard the noise, and eximed with joy, "Lu Yao, you''ve achieved great sess in Bone-Tempering and can now begin Organ Refining!!"

    "Yes, I can hardly wait!"

    Lu Yao let out a long sigh. The hardest step was behind him; what remained was actually quite simple.

    He took out the color ultrasound instrument, ready to advance to the Organ Refining Realm!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao had originally thought it would be quite simple, but the result... turned out to be even simpler than he had imagined!

    Normally, when someone takes this step, they must first sense the Inner Breath in their blood and qi, and then carefully control the Inner Breath to cautiously stimte the five organs bit by bit. Under normal circumstances, this would take about a year.

    Some unlucky individuals might even damage their organs due to poor control of their Inner Breath, leading to failure in ascending to the realm.

    But all Lu Yao needed to do was strip down and lie down!

    Two young girls used the color ultrasound instrument to give him a medical examination, and then stimted his five organs together with their Inner Breath.

    They divided their tasks clearly. Liao Ya said, "Little sister, you take care of the lungs, and leave the rest to me."

    "Okay, big sister." Liao Qe immediately ced her hands on Lu Yao''s chest and directed Inner Breath into his lungs.

    Liao Ya''s Inner Breath was more vigorous, responsible for stimting the other four organs: the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys.

    The two soft hands touching his body made Lu Yao feel as if he was soaking in a hot spring, incredibly warm and exceptionallyfortable.

    With such an imperial treatment, he refined his organs in just one day¡ªa fact that could scare people to death if they heard about it!

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao ate nourishing medicines every day and had abundant blood and qi. The surging organs then refined even more Inner Breath from this vast supply. There was so much that Lu Yao didn''t need to pay close attention¡ªhe could naturally sense it.

    At that moment, he curiously manipted these mouse-like things, letting them roam around inside his body.

    Liao Ya wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a relieved smile, "Stop ying, you need to save your Inner Breath for Organ Refining."

    Liao Ya took a deep breath and smiled happily, looking even more delighted than if she had refined her organs herself.

    The two sisters had been busy for a day and a night without rest, and now they finally witnessed Lu Yao''s sessful Organ Refining, filled with indescribable joy.

    ~~~~~~~

    "This stage of Organ Refining strengthens the organs, nurtures Inner Breath, and increases one''s strength tenfold¡ªfar surpassing that of ordinary people! It represents the first qualitative change on the Martial Path."

    The next day, Liao Ya began to instruct Lu Yao on matters rted to Organ Refining.

    Lu Yao felt full of energy and couldn''t help but jump¡ª

    With the power of his legs, two shallow footprints appeared on the ground, and he leapt 5 meters high on the spot!

    But this was nowhere close to Liao Ya''s 10 meters. She exined, "You have just refined your organs; your physique will gradually grow stronger."

    Then she cautioned, "You have to be careful when using Inner Breath to exercise your organs to avoid injury. But with the color ultrasound instrument, this step has be much simpler..."

    She suddenly realized she didn''t have much to teach him. As Lu Yao had previously operated the color ultrasound instrument to help the two sisters cultivate, he had umted sufficient experience and already had a clear understanding of how to cultivate.

    In the end, Liao Ya said, "With Inner Breath in the Organ Refining Realm, the Liao Family Fist has a special ''cultivation method.'' Let Liao Qe teach you."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Liao Qe was beaming, utterly ted that her beloved had ascended to the realm, and her face was always adorned with a smile.

    She pulled Lu Yao into the room and said in a sweet voice, "The Liao Family Fist at the Organ Refining Realm takes too long to learn with the usual method. Better for you to ce your hands on me to personally experience the way to exert force and how Inner Breath circtes. That way, you''ll learn quickly."

    Because of their close rtionship, she wasn''t embarrassed at all. She boldly took off her clothes and indicated that Lu Yao should ce his hands on her to feel.

    This was truly learning through enjoyment. Lu Yao ced his hands on the delicate and smooth skin of Liao Qe''s back and waist, paying close attention, learning quickly the operation of Inner Breath and force. He immediately memorized it.

    Sometimes he ced his hands incorrectly, provoking the girl''s screams and yful indignation, leaving her fair skin blushing red.

    Although the process was sensuous, this knowledge was extremely precious! When practicing punches, you use the force to drive blood and qi and Inner Breath to refine organs. This method, umted by the Liao Family over numerous generations, was the fastest and safest way to train the five organs and was the core secret of their sect.

    After the instruction, Liao Qe''s almond eyes became misty, her expression and demeanor exuding a silent yet intense invitation.

    Lu Yao just happened to want to test how much stronger his physique had be after Organ Refining.

 Chapter 85: 85. Return

    Liao Qe''s unprecedentedly high-pitched scream indicated that the effects were not bad; in her urgency, she even tore the quilt in two.

    Lu Yao recalled how the youngdy often channeled Inner Breath to him and wanted to repay the favor.

    Liao Qe felt the warm current enter her body and immediately realized what her beloved wanted to do, hurriedly saying, "You can''t deplete your Inner Breath!"

    With that, she pushed back with her stronger Inner Breath.

    As two streams of Inner Breath surged into his body, Lu Yao was thrown into a state of oblivion, scrambling tomit this sensation to memory.

    It took him a while to recover and he said, "I''ve alreadypleted Organ Refining, why are you still giving me Inner Breath? You still need to cultivate."

    Liao Qe caressed his back and neck, whispering softly,

    "Having done Organ Refining makes me content. Now, my greatest wish is for you to recover from your illness... and for our little baby~"

    "In these times, one cannot do without strength. I will arrange for someone to make an ''Immortal Pill'' when I return home; just one and you''ll ascend to the Jin Realm~"

    The youngdy looked at him with innocent and simple apricot eyes, full of disbelief, saying, "You''re just trying to cheer me up~ There''s no such thing as an Immortal Pill."

    "Just wait and see~" After Organ Refining, Lu Yao felt his bodily functions had made a great leap and he felt ready again, wishing for a second round.

    Liao Qe pushed him away with augh, saying, "No, no, you need to exercise restraint."

    The youngdy got up to tidy up, her fair and vibrant body radiating with youthful beauty.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao spent his time practicing fist forms, taking tonics, and enjoying the newspapers with the youngdy, happily consolidating his realm for three days.

    During this period, a representative from the Prefectural Yamen came to bestow a reward.

    Governor Wen had high emotional intelligence. Instead of granting favors to Lu Yao and Liao Ya, he secured a seventh-grade official title for Liao Qe! The position of Commander.

    This was like giving a gift that delighted someone''s wife and children, often yielding even better results.

    The sisters were overjoyed,ughing and disying their small white teeth. Official titles were not only full of privileges but were also symbols of honor, status, and a testament to family pride.

    Liao Ya, holding her sister''s hand, said happily, "All three of us have official titles; the Liao Family is now a bona fide family of officials~"

    Liao Qe also cheerfully said, "Ha~ from now on, I''ll be ''Commander Liao''~"

    Seeing the two bright and joyful girls, Lu Yao was also in high spirits, silently praising Governor Wen for his people skills.

    ~~~~~~~

    One early morning, Lu Yao practiced the Liao Family Fist suited for those in the Organ Refining Realm and suddenly leaped 7 meters into the air!

    Then he moved to the side of the old carriage and lifted it with ease using both hands.

    "I almost have the strength of 1 ton! It''s no wonder the human physique can be so formidable... and no wonder Organ Refining Warriors are treated preferentially and enjoy privileges."

    Lu Yao put the carriage down, quite satisfied with the drastic increase in his physical fitness. And this wasn''t even his limit ¨C as his realm continued to deepen, his physical qualities would improve even further.

    ording to the Scriptures, the limit of someone in the Organ Refining Realm is 3000 jin of strength, that is, 1.5 tons.

    "With such strength, I can start doing things on Blue Star that I wouldn''t have dared to before!"

    After witnessing a lot during a previous city defense battle, Lu Yao had a more detailed n for the future.

    At this moment, Liao Ya wasn''t at home. He instructed Liao Qe, "I''m going home for a bit; it will probably take about 5 days."

    Upon hearing this, Liao Qe quickly ran inside and took out the remaining medicinal wine, saying, "Have some before you go; if you don''t, my sister will finish it all."

    Lu Yaoughed and took a big swig. The youngdy wasn''t a light drinker either, and both sisters loved to drink. But with this sip, missing a few days of tonics wouldn''t be a big problem.

    Liao Qe embraced her beloved, whispering softly, "Be careful ande back early."

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao confidently made his way to the apothecary, only to find it unusually quiet.

    Shopkeeper He had a gloomy face as he said, "Master Lu, the fighting outside has gotten so intense that we''vepletely run out of stock. There''s only about 20 to 30 percent of the medicinal materials left; you take a look and see if there''s anything you can use."

    Lu Yao made a round and indeed found the variety to be scarce, with only cow bezoars being somewhat eptable. Other items, even if taken back, would only earn about 100,000 or 80,000, which wasn''t very interesting.

    He bought two pieces of cow bezoar and left, heading for the silver store.

    Along the way, the clothes of the pedestrians were obviously much tattered, their expressions were more despondent, and those with pallidplexions were everywhere.

    Pawnshops had be the most booming business, and the human market wasn''t far behind. People of various ages sat squatting by the walls with a straw inserted in their hair, waiting for others to pick them out.

    One attack by the Dacheng religion had added insult to injury for themon people who were already suffering. And this was only a low-intensity, minor battle at that, whichsted less than three days, yet it had already wreaked such havoc on civilian life.

    On the road, those who recognized Lu Yao hurriedly greeted him with a bow, their gestures and expressions sincere.

    They were grateful to him for killing the bandit leader and resolving the crisis in Yunzhou.

    The fate of cities breached by "rebel armies" throughout history had never been good, with looting, killing, and piging asmon urrences.

    ~~~~~~

    Arriving at "Liusheng Silver Store," thedy manager dressed in a cheongsam, Wang Ru, was already waiting there.

    She was about to lead Lu Yao to the VIP area on the second floor, but he went straight to the first floor to look at the "ordinary goods."

    The once densely packed shelves now looked sparse, with a total of maybe ten items.

    Lu Yao looked around and asked, "Manager Wang, is that snuff bottle fromst time gone?"

    Wang Ru performed a curtsy and said softly,

    "Master Lu, those items are only made when the craftsmen are inspired, there was just that one. And¡­ there''s been a war recently, many master craftsmen have fled to the Imperial City."

    For a moment, Lu Yao didn''t know which item to buy to resell on Blue Star. He couldn''t distinguish the types of jade, a trade that would take years to learn.

    But there was a way¡ªLu Yao waved his hand grandly, "Then I''ll take all of these."

    Wang Ru''s face lit up with joy and she immediately said, "Please wait a moment, I''ll have the staff wrap them up."

    In these chaotic times, these jade and precious stones were the least valuable of goods, and it was rare to have avish customer.

    ~~~~~~

    Blue Star, He Kingdom.

    Lu Yao appeared silently in a deste forest.

    Finding arge tree nearly 20 meters tall, he powered his legs and casually climbed a few times with his hands to stand atop the tree.

    With a weight of less than 100 kilograms, but a force of one ton, Lu Yao felt as if the gravity of the entire had decreased.

    Standing at the top of the tree, he looked out at the distant "Wu Tian & Xin Wang Biotech Corporation."

    After setting a fire back then, most of the factory area was burned down. Now, ity deserted, with no one around.

    He took out his phone to see what the news said, but¡­ nothing was found!

    The incident in Annan was at least mentioned in the news once. But there was not a single mention of "Wu Tian & Xin Wang Biotech Corporation" online.

    You should know that there had been an intense firefight here, with Barrett rifles used, and dozens killed.

    Yet, the inte was portraying an image of peaceful times, without a trace to be found.

    Lu Yao understood in his heart, "It seems that the Foreign Affairs Bureau has sealed off the news."

    Jumping down from the tree top 20 meters high, he made a ''thud'' as his feet sank into the ground.

    Dusting off his unscathed body, he mused, "Organ Refining Realm¡­ I''m hardly human anymore."

    Although the Bone-Tempering Realm was formidable, one could at least maintain a human semnce. But the Organ Refining Realm¡­ it was beyond theprehension of Blue Star inhabitants!

    As Lu Yao booked his flight ticket, he pondered,

    "There are many important things I need to do this time¡ªinvest in ab for research on medicinal extraction; find someone to design Battle Armor; acquire more powerful weapons! And then there is¡­"

    He pulled out the hard drive left behind by the tragically deceased He Kingdom scientist, "Let''s see if I can crack it! It must contain many secrets, maybe it could even lead to a major news story!"

 Chapter 86: 86. Candidate Selection

    Blue Star, Xia Country

    After spending two months in Otherworld, Lu Yao couldn''t help but take several deep breaths of his hometown air when he stepped out of the airport.

    It was still Li Lei who came to pick him up. Today, the girl was dressed in nude stockings and a professional suit, exuding an efficient vibe with a touch of sexiness.

    Lu Yao took the initiative to greet her, "Long time no see, you look well. Are the family issues resolved?"

    Li Lei flipped her hair with a smile, "Thanks to you, the old man was sentenced to probation, no need to actually serve time in prison."

    Lu Yao nodded, "That''s good."

    Li Lei sized him up and eximed in surprise, "Have you been working out? You look much more muscr, even stretching out your clothes."

    "Ah, just trained a bit," Lu Yao changed the subject, "There''s not much for drug materials this time, just two pieces of Natural Bezoar."

    He handed over two packets of drug materials.

    Li Lei took them and opened them to take a look, thenughed, "Perfect~ just what we needed. Recently, all the major pharmaceutical groups are short of high-quality Natural Bezoar for experiments."

    After finishing the conversation, she transferred 1 million and then asked, "Where to next, the jewelry trading center?"

    Lu Yao, "Yes."

    The girl fastened her seat belt and started the car, and after driving for a while, suddenly said, "I''m free today, so I''ll be your driver."

    Lu Yao found it perfectly eptable, "Of course, that would be great, thanks."

    Li Lei showed a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, took a couple of nces at Lu Yao from the rearview mirror, and drove the car to the entrance of a clothing store.

    "You really can''t keep wearing these clothes; they might burst at any moment. I''ll help you pick out a few suitable pieces."

    Lu Yao looked down and saw that this was indeed the case. The clothes he was wearing had been worn ragged from practicing boxing and battling.

    So the two entered the clothing store. Knowing that Lu Yao didn''t like to dawdle, Li Pei decisively chose a couple of outfits for him to try on.

    In the changing room, Lu Yao looked at his increasingly robust and sleek muscle lines and unwittingly realized that he had transformed from a skinny guy into a stylish man.

    When he came out in the new clothes, the entire clothing store seemed to light up. Not only was Li Lei watching, but the sales associates and other customers shopping for clothes as well, their eyes filled with admiration.

    Lu Yao stood tall with bright eyes, especially his starry eyes,bined with a confident andmanding presence; he had an unmistakable maism.

    The few women nearby unconsciously blushed and their hearts raced.

    This was the body''s innate desire to preserve excellent genes, triggering the brain with the secretion of hormones.

    The ancient instinct yearned deeply for the gifts of an extraordinary physique.

    At that moment, Lu Yaoplimented, "It fits very well, your taste is good."

    He paid directly amidst many hesitant expressions and left with Li Lei.

    ~~~~~~~

    After getting in the car, Li Lei drank half a bottle of water before she regained herposure, and chatted while driving,

    "Are you going to sell the jade to Qi Cuiya again this time? Actually, you could interact more with Elder Master Qi, he receives a national subsidy."

    Lu Yao said casually, "Forget it, I find it troublesome, efficiency is most important."

    Li Lei gave a wry smile. This guy didn''t seem like he was in business at all; he didn''t care about money, only valuing efficiency.

    They quickly arrived at the jewelry trading center.

    Qi Cuiya, who had received a call in advance, was still there to greet them at the entrance.

    "Mr. Lu, you''ve arrived."

    The woman had lost that hint of worldly charm and had be cautious and tiptoeing, as if she was very frightened of Lu Yao. At her side followed her grandfather''s bodyguard¡ªXiao Liu.

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    Having experienced thest incident, and hearing that Lu Yao had killed more than one person, she was terrified. Consequently, she forcefully dragged along this retired "expert" from the armed police special forces to embolden herself.

    Xiao Liu tensed up, his expression stiff, as he managed to conjure a slight smile while nodding in greeting.

    Lu Yao handed over arge pouch of brocade boxes, saying, "Everything''s here, Boss Qi, take a look. Make it quick, I''m in a hurry."

    Qi Cuiya was momentarily stunned. Although she grew up immersed in the family trade, this was the first time she had seen someone sell so much at once.

    But she firmly remembered her great-uncle''s secret to longevity and didn''t ask any extra questions.

    She arranged the brocade boxes in a row on the table and took out her equipment to start inspecting them. There were twelve in total, and it took nearly an hour to check them all.

    Qi Cuiyapiled the quality and prices of these jades into a message and sent it to Lu Yao.

    The prices varied widely, with the cheapest being worth just 3,000 yuan, and the most expensive¡ª3.5 million!

    This was a Guanyin pendant dripping with rich green, which Qi Cuiya handled with utmost care, saying,

    "This is top-grade ''Ice Jade.'' Not only is the material superb, but more importantly, it has a spiritual charm. Looking at it clears the mind and calms the spirit; it is definitely the work of a master. The others are quite ordinary, with a total valuation of 5.5 million."

    In this appraisal, Qi Cuiya adhered strictly to the rules, neither profiting extra nor losing money, with a clear conscience.

    Lu Yao liked this straightforwardness and immediately agreed, "Fine, make the transfer."

    The two settled the deal cleanly, and once Lu Yao received the payment notification, he nodded to Qi Cuiya and left straight away.

    After he was gone, Qi Cuiya patted her chest and exhaled a sigh of relief, "Whew, I was hardly able to breathe, the pressure was tremendous. I''m d I dragged you here."

    Turning her head, she saw Xiao Liu''s shirt on the back drenched in sweat!

    ~~~~~~~

    Sitting in the car, staring at the bnce of over 16 million on his phone, Lu Yao fell into deep thought.

    "Where should I look for someone to study the extraction of medicine..."

    This was no simple feat. The chemicalposition of herbs is veryplex, containing various effective ingredients, as well as ineffective and toxic ones. Only by extracting the activeponents and further purifying them could he create the "Immortal Pill" he had promised Liao Qe.

    In Xia Country, there was a renowned traditional form¡ªthe Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill. After concentrated extraction, the original sea-bowl''s worth of herbal juice is reduced to a 1-gram pill.

    What Lu Yao sought was an even more extreme effect! Therefore, he had to find a master in the professional field.

    But he couldn''t find one himself...

    At that moment, he suddenly felt Li Lei sneaking nces at him.

    Lu Yao abruptly remembered: wasn''t her family in the pharmaceutical industry? He quickly inquired,

    "I have a really effective ancient form here; I want to find a professional to study its extraction. Can you help me find someone?"

    "Ah... that...," Li Lei bit her lower lip, pondering for a while before responding in a muffled voice, "I do have a candidate... a professor at National Medical University, a Ph.D. in Chinese medicine. But..."

    "Why are you beating around the bush, just say it directly."

    Li Lei took a deep breath and simply stated,

    "It''s my old man. At his age, he got involved in a romance and even conducted illegal fundraising, only to have a vixen run off with the money. Losing his honor sote in life, he''s too ashamed to face others and hides at home all day. I''m afraid he''ll sumb to illness from all the pent-up frustration, so I wanted him to work for you."

    Lu Yao was at a loss for words, finding the coincidence quite extraordinary.

    However... a professor from National Medical University was definitely a top figure in this field, and under normal circumstances, he wouldn''t have the chance to meet such an expert.

    He was somewhat intrigued, "Let''s meet and talk about it."

    Li Lei quickly said, "He may be foolish but not bad, and he does have skills. He can definitely handle your job."

 Chapter 87: 87. Job done

    Lu Yao and Li Lei arrived at herpany. Li Lei had already called her father and arranged to meet there.

    Li Lei''spany was located in an office building in the city center, named "Wanfu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."

    A few employees greeted them and then curiously looked at Lu Yao, some gossiping in hushed tones¡ªThe boss has got herself a boyfriend with quite the presence~

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the General Manager''s office, Lu Yao took out the pre-prepared herbs and used Li Lei''s medicine cooker to start making the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup in advance.

    Li Lei helped on the side, saying,

    "Actually, many people have been asking my old man toe out of retirement, but feeling ashamed, he''s been hiding at home all this time. He probably thinks that since you''re unconnected to his old circle, there''s no risk of running into acquaintances."

    "Sometimes people just can''t get past their own barriers."

    As they chatted idly, the herbs were nearly ready when Li Lei''s father¡ªLi Zhihang¡ªhurried in.

    This was a handsome older man, nearly 60 with sses, bearing a strong resemnce to his daughter. He had a sorrowful expression and seemed a bit awkward.

    A suspended sentence still leaves a criminal record. Falling from a university professor to a "criminal" had not only be aughingstock but had also dealt him a heavy blow.

    Li Lei quickly introduced, "This is my friend, Lu Yao."

    Lu Yao immediately greeted, "Professor Li, how do you do, pleased to meet you!"

    A hint of embarrassment appeared on Li Zhihang''s face. After the sentencing, his title of professor and all rted academic honors had been revoked...

    He forced a smile and said, "Hello, Lei Lei talks about you often," all the while sizing up Lu Yao.

    In traditional Chinese medicine, diagnosis begins with observation, and after scrutinizing, Li Zhihang''s first impression of the bright-eyed and strong-bodied young man was good.

    Lu Yao handed over the prescription he had copied, saying, "This is the medicine I want to extract."

    Li Zhihang''s demeanor suddenly became professional and serious. He took the prescription, examined it for a long time, then took a cup from the medicine cooker, tasted it, and without further ado, finished it in one gulp.

    After pondering for a while, he said,

    "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, bnced and nourishing, a fine ancient form. But this kind of bnced medicine is hard to break into the market. What''s popr now are medicines for ''strengthening kidneys'' and ''boosting virility.'' So..."

    Li Zhihang adjusted his sses and solemnly said, "Before investing, I suggest you think it over carefully."

    Upon hearing this, Lu Yaoughed. He wasn''t in it for the money at all; losing the development funds wasn''t a concern.

    "Thank you for the advice, but I still want to invest in the research. May I ask if you coulde out of retirement?"

    Li Zhihang, seeing his daughter''s earnest gaze and not wanting his nearest and dearest to worry further, decisively nodded,

    "I will contact the staff andb. The preliminary research costs will be 5 million... but I prefer not to handle the finances directly. Let''s go through my daughter for that."

    Li Lei, overjoyed by her father''s agreement to get involved, quickly said, "We can sign the official contract through mypany. I can take care of the misceneous tasks."

    Lu Yao, in a state ofplete focus, keenly sensed the emotions of the father and daughter, finding them quite interesting and feeling a bit envious at the same time.

    Family means they will reach out to pull you up no matter how dirty the mire you''ve fallen into is.

    Lu Yao extended his hand to the father and daughter, smiling, "Then, I hope our cooperation will be pleasant."

    "Pleasant cooperation," Li Zhihang reached out to shake hands.

    The contract was readily avable in Li Lei''spany. Lu Yao nced over it and signed his name straightforwardly, his casual and confident demeanor furthering Li Zhihang''s admiration.

    As they were leaving, Li Zhihang said to his daughter, "Lei Lei, don''t worry, I won''t let you down."

    Li Lei replied, full of relief, "Dad, I''m just d you''re stepping out."

    ~~~~~~~

    After descending the stairs, Li Lei visibly rxed quite a bit, a hint of a smile ying at the corners of her mouth.

    Driving Lu Yao to the base of his apartment building, the girl unbuckled her seatbelt and casually flipped her hair, seemingly wanting to go up for a visit.

    Li Lei was dressed in a professional suit dress today, her figure not half-bad, the silk stockings making her legs look beautiful.

    But Lu Yaopletely ignored it, hopped out of the car, waved at the girl, shouted, "Bye-bye," and headed straight up the stairs.

    Li Lei stared at his retreating figure for a long time before she bit her lip in vexation and drove away.

    Deep down, Lu Yao faintly felt that it had been a long time since this girl had shown her spirited side,tely always disying the demeanor of a demure woman.

    Unfortunately, he was too busy... He had to prepare for cracking the hard drive next.

    Lu Yao dug out the number of Li Jin, whom he''d met on his trip to Annan Country. Having saved Li Jin''s daughter, the man had mentioned he knew aboutputers.

    After two rings, the call was answered, and an excited voice came through, "Brother Lu, long time no see!"

    "Long time no see. Are you in the country? I need your help with something."

    "Sure, go ahead. Since I got back, I''ve been resting at home, plenty of spare time."

    "I have an encrypted hard drive, the interface is full of strange coding; can you crack it?"

    "I''ll need to take a look. I''m in Ning City, why don''t youe over? We can meet in person."

    "Okay, it''s just a 3-hour ride on the high-speed rail, I''ll be right there."

    ~~~~~~

    Lu Yao stepped out of the high-speed rail station, and Li Jin was already waiting for him.

    "Lu Yao, over here~"

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    Driving a white Regal, Li Jin didn''t seem at all estranged after a few months, andughed, "I''m living off my wife at home now. Thinking back, it''s kind of scary, home is so much better."

    Lu Yao agreed on this point, "Indeed, it''s chaotic out there."

    They chatted idly as they arrived at Li Jin''s home, a modest high-rise of over 120 square meters.

    "My sister-inw is really busy these days, it''s just me at home, so make yourselffortable, please don''t be polite, ha."

    Li Jin''s family status seemed decent, as he even had his own private study. Inside, there were 4puters, all working furiously as mining machines.

    Taking the hard drive from Lu Yao, he connected it to a physically disconnectedputer and began to examine it.

    Lu Yao waited patiently, looking at the photographs hanging on the wall.

    Most were happy moments of their family of three, with a few of important personal milestones. Among them was a photo of Li Jin''s wife, Zhao Ya, smiling at the entrance of her workce.

    She looked much younger in the photo, as though she''d just started her job. And the name of the workce was¡ªthe Provincial Mechanical Design Institute.

    A thought struck Lu Yao, and he thought of his "Battle Armor" project.

    What he wanted was not an ordinary ancient armor, but a humanoid tank designed by professionals!

    Just then, Li Jin suddenly eximed, "There''s progress! Brother Lu, the encryption on this hard drive isn''t hard to crack. But it will take a significant amount of time to calcte, can''t be done in a moment."

    Pointing to the photo, Lu Yao asked, "Is your sister-inw working at the Mechanical Design Institute?"

    "Yes, our country recently is assisting the ''coal-to-oil'' project in Yukren, her institute has received several big orders, she''s been incredibly busy."

    Li Jin picked up the phone, "I''ll call her toe back, let''s have dinner together."

    After he said this, he dialed his wife''s number: "Zhao Ya~e back soon, Lu Yao''s here!"

 Chapter 88: 88. Humanoid Tank

    Zhao Ya, upon hearing Lu Yao had arrived, took leave from work and went home, even buying a lot of groceries to make a full table of food and opened several bottles of fine wine, not finding it a hassle at all.

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    Overwhelmed by her hospitality, Lu Yao took his seat and said with a smile, "I''m sorry for the trouble I''ve caused you."

    "Don''t you ever mention that," Zhao Ya robustly filled a full cup of white wine, "I was scared to death back then and didn''t properly thank you, which I really should have. Here''s to you¡ªI''ll drink first in gratitude!"

    With that, she drank heartily.

    "Yi Nuo is my life, without you, it would have been all over for me, I''m going to drink another one to you!"

    Zhao Ya was truly grateful and poured herself another cup to drink.

    The couple, being genuine in nature, were extremely grateful for Lu Yao''s rescue of their daughter and kept urging him to eat more and offering toasts.

    After a warm dinner, Lu Yao brought up his question to Zhao Ya:

    "Zhao Jie, do you work at the Mechanical Design Institute? I have something I''d like to design."

    Lu Yao took out his phone and showed her many pictures from games, specifically the "Power Armor" from the Fallout and Warhammer series.

    Zhao Ya seemed puzzled, "Isn''t this from a game? What are you..."

    Lu Yao exined, "I have a friend who is a COS enthusiast and needs a very realistic prop forpeting and filming web dramas. So, I''d like to design a metal battle armor thatpletely covers the user."

    After skimming through the game images again, Zhao Ya said:

    "It''s simr to individual exoskeletons. Our country''s exoskeletons are already capable of helping female soldiers lift 150-kilogram cannonballs. But powering them has always been a big issue¡ªwhat kind of power system do you n to use?"

    Lu Yao waved his hand grandly, "I don''t need a power system, there''s a special ''traction tool''."

    The one thing martial artists neverck is strength; they are the best power source!

    "No power system?" Zhao Ya thought for a moment and remarked, "In that case, it should be easy to make."

    Lu Yao nodded, "That''s great, then I''ll entrust your institute with the design."

    Zhao Ya sincerely suggested when she heard his request, "Our institute charges a lot, at least 300,000. You can find a designpany outside, a few tens of thousands will be more than enough."

    She wanted to save Lu Yao some money. The "Mechanical Design Institute" provided the most professional technical services to all sectors of society, and their fees were quite steep.

    But thest thing Lu Yaocked was money; he only cared about efficiency and quality. "Thanks for the kind gesture, Zhao Jie, but I trust therger institutions capable of handling international orders more,"

    What he wanted wasn''t just some cosy toy. From materials science to joint design, from biomechanical transmission tofort level, everything needed to be professionally designed and produced.

    Seeing that Lu Yao wasn''t concerned about cost, Zhao Ya stopped urging and said seriously, "Alright, I won''t let you down. Tell me your requirements."

    Lu Yao smiled, "Please take care of this for me, Zhao Jie. My requirements are quite simple¡ªjust four words¡ªhuman-shaped tank!

    I don''t care about the weight, durability takes priority; it needs to be wearable by the user themselves, because they''ll need to wear it for a long time for photography and disy, so it should be asfortable as possible;

    And the most important point: the battle armor will be scrutinized by many ''foreigners''; it must showcase the prowess of Xia Country''s mechanical industry¡ªthere can be no faults found by experts in the design. It has to be realistic and it must be able to block high-powered firearms and explosions!"

    Zhao Ya listened to his detailed specifications as if it were truly going to be used inbat.

    She hadn''t considered this because, ording to the requirements, the armor would definitely weigh no less than 200 kilograms; any regr person wearing it would be like putting themselves in a metal cage.

    Zhao Ya couldn''t possibly imagine that Lu Yao was really nning on wearing it in battle!

    Blue Star''s Northeast tigers weigh 500 kilograms and can leap 6 meters from the ground, their front paws capable of breaking tempered ss; elephants weigh 8 tons and have the mighty strength to pull down weeping willows!

    But not even these powerful creatures can withstand firearms!

    The Martial Artists of the Otherworld face the same dilemma¡ªstrong bodies but low defenses!

    That''s why Li Shoucheng of the Da Sheng Faith wore Steel Armor in battle, and it was remarkably effective.

    Lu Yao wanted to arm himself with Blue Star alloy steel that was generations ahead!

    ~~~~~~~

    Aftermunicating for a bit, Zhao Ya took note of all Lu Yao''s demands and instructed, "You''re the boss now, feel free to make any requests anytime you want."

    Lu Yao nodded with a smile in agreement.

    Just then, Li Jin suddenly burst out of the study and eximed, "Your hard drive has been decrypted."

    This hard drive was left behind by a deceased Doctor of Science from Kyoto University who had mentioned, "Zhang Xin''s headquarters are in Guad City of the Inca Nation. They have private security and even military protection from the Inca Nation."

    Furthermore, with the involvement of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Star Alliance Country, Lu Yao realized that Zhang Xin was far moreplicated and difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

    Therefore, he did have some expectations for the contents of the hard drive. Perhaps, like in the movies, he might uncover some earth-shattering criminal evidence, release a significant news story, and get all those opium-trafficking bastards killed.

    However, after seeing the contents of the hard drive, Lu Yao was utterly baffled¡ªit was all iprehensible equations and symbols, not a single character he recognized.

    Li Jin was equally perplexed, only Zhao Ya said uncertainly, "This looks like chemical equations¡­"

    Lu Yao shrugged and muttered to himself, "This might be some sort of sinister contraption for making opium."

    So, he said, "No worries, as long as it''s decrypted, that''s good enough. Thanks a lot, Brother Li."

    After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Lu Yao excused himself to leave. Li Jin and his wife wanted to keep him for a couple more days, but he really had pressing matters to attend to.

    He still needed to acquire even more powerful weapons!

    ~~~~~~~~

    While Lu Yao was fussing with this hard drive, far away in Guad City of the Inca Nation, in a ssically styled luxury vi, the long-absent Zhang Xin was basking in the sunlight by a spacious swimming pool.

    All around the vi, countless security personnel wearing bulletproof vests and carrying automatic rifles patrolled vigntly;

    In the pool, several bikini-d beauties frolicked;

    At Zhang Xin''s feety a massive white tiger. Lazing about, every so often, it would open its mouth wide in a yawn, showcasing fearsome fangs like daggers.

    Momentster, a ck Hawk helicopter approached from the distance andnded on the vi''s helipad.

    A white man with a briefcase jumped out. He wore sunsses that obscured his eyes, but through the opening of his ck suit cor, a bulletproof vest was visible.

    Zhang Xin stood up and greeted with a smile, "Hello, Andre."

    The white man named Andre responded coldly, "Regarding the destruction of the He Kingdom factory, it has been confirmed that the attacker came for you. Take a look at this footage. Do you have anything to say?"

    Upon finishing his words, Andre took out a tablet and hit y. On the screen appeared an action movie scene¡ªLu Yao wearing an Ultraman mask and gunning down a drug manufacturing facility with dual firearms.

    "This is a segment of surveince footage, Mr. Zhang Xin, you need to think carefully¡ªhave you offended any ''professionals''?"

    Zhang Xin shrugged and said, "The number of people I''ve offended is simply too many; any one of them might send such professionals. Has the equation not been found yet?"

    Andre removed his sunsses, revealing an eye that had been blinded. "Not a single trace. If we don''t find it soon, we''re going to miss out on a great revolution."

    Zhang Xin''s delicate face grew dark with clouds. The lost equation was an inadvertent research result obtained from the He Kingdom factory¡ªit was the process of refining Crystal Opium without cathinone!

    This technological breakthrough was revolutionary, equivalent to turning water into oil! It would surely cause a storm in the entire Blue Star opium world, no less significant than the second industrial revolution!

    But now¡­ the equation had suddenly gone missing! And it was thoroughly lost! To maintain secrecy, it was stored without inte ess.

    Zhang Xin picked up the tablet, staring at the image of "Ultraman," feeling oddly familiar with the figure.

    The very man Zhang Xin found familiar, Lu Yao, was currently worrying over acquiring high-powered weapons.

 Chapter 89: 89. Its not very peaceful outside

    Since he had seen a Blood-Exchange Realm Martial Artist, Lu Yao had lost interest in small-caliber weapons.

    Being in the Blood-Exchange Realm was like being a human-shaped dinosaur; even .50 caliber weapons couldn''t kill them in one shot.

    But powerful weapons were regted, and ordinary people simply had no way to obtain them.

    "Hongsha Country" was in constant chaos, and... it wasn''t far from where he was in Ning City. He could get there within three hours if he left now.

    Lu Yao decided, "Since it''s so close, I might as well take a look and see if there''s a chance to get something."

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao promptly made his way to Ruihe City.

    This was thergest ind port in the southwest of Xia Country, bordering Hongsha Country.

    The street''s greenery was quite distinctive, all being broad-leaved tropical nts.

    Lu Yao withdrew 200,000 from the bank, nning to use this money to bribe military officers in the conflict zone.

    The average annual ie in Hongsha Country was about 5,000, so 200,000 for a machine gun wasn''t too much, right? In the past, he had obtained weapons through robbery, but this time he wanted to try being a good person.

    He took a taxi to the border checkpoint at a leisurely pace, but at the base of the wall, he saw many people squatting, and armed police had drawn a cordon and were keeping watch.

    Lu Yao was curious, and the taxi driver exined, "These are refugees who smuggled themselves over from Hongsha Country. They''re afraid to go back because of the war, and it''s not right to ignore them, so we can only temporarily take care of them."

    Lu Yao understood.

    The driver sighed and added, "For them, foreignnd has be the safest refuge. It''s really pitiful."

    "It''s not very peaceful out there, huh."

    The two of them chatted idly until they arrived at the checkpoint, only to find that it had been cut off by the border army.

    The driver said helplessly, "It was open yesterday. It seems the fighting over there has gotten fiercer. It''s definitely dangerous. I advise you not to go."

    Lu Yao smiled, didn''t say anything, paid the fare, and got out. With his current physique, he could easily make his way through the jungle and enter on his own.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao went to the supermarket and bought arge backpack full of snacks, all prepared for Liao Qe, and all sweet.

    The conflict in Hongsha Country had red up again, and it looked like heavy weapons were being used. The light from modern weaponry was especially noticeable in the dim light.

    Lu Yao watched with curiosity, while others around him were unphased. Many aunties continued with their dance exercises, and the old men chatted and yed chess unfazed.

    A sight of peace on one side and constant war on the other was truly astonishing.

    Lu Yao, feeling contemtive, made his way into the jungle and crossed into Hongsha Country.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The forest was misty, the soil under his feet moist and soft. Having reached a deserted spot, Lu Yao stretched his neck from side to side and then broke into a sprint.

    Having been stuck in the city for thest few days, he felt stifled and headed straight towards the hilltop where gunfire had erupted before.

    His legs pumping powerfully, creating depressions in the ground, his heart supplying blood throughout his body, Lu Yao burst forth, instantly reaching the speed of a small car!

    The strong wind brought about by his running caused branches to sway and leaves to scatter chaotically.

    Lu Yao ran exhratingly, immensely enjoying himself. He leapt over obstacles with ease, sometimes even using the tree trunks to propel himself over muddy pits.

    "With this surge in strength and my body weight at just under 100 kilograms, I''ve be even more agile and flexible!"

    The temperature was around 36 degrees, but Lu Yao ran with a sweat without feeling hot. His lungs were rapidly expelling the heated waste gases, cooling down swiftly.

    He felt his lungs were like high-pressure air pumps, rapidly exchanging gases with the outside world.

    This is also one of the benefits of Organ Refining, and what Martial Path brings is not so much increased strength as it is an overall "evolution."

    ~~~~~~~~

    "A watched pot never boils," and what seems like a short distance actually spans unknowably far.

    Lu Yao ran for nearly an hour to arrive, nced at the navigation app on his phone, and saw that his speed was 66 kilometers per hour, and that was without giving it his all.

    Lu Yao was very satisfied with the tremendous enhancement of his body, entered a focused state, and slowly approached the site of the previous firefight.

    After passing thest row of bushes, he had left the thicket, and what came into view was a small vige nestled in the mountains.

    The vige bore a distinct foreign style, with buildings supported by columns and suspended above the ground on "stilt houses," beside which were expansive paddy fields.

    At the entrance to the vige, there was a wooden sign with neatly written Simplified Chinese characters¡ªNen Vige. On the borders, many people from Hongsha Country spoke thenguage of Xia Country and used simplified characters.

    In theory, a pastoral scene should be infinitely idyllic, but the sight before him was more akin to Inferno.

    The houses all bore the marks of explosion and fire, none unscathed; throughout the vige, there were corpses everywhere, with bodies in the paddy fields bloated from soaking, and swarms of flies buzzing about in a frenzy.

    Greeting Lu Yao was a row of wooden poles at the entrance to the vige, atop which the decapitated heads of vigers were impaled.

    "Modern army massacring a vige!?"

    This ce was at most 100 kilometers from Xia Country, and Lu Yao had never imagined such a thing could happen.

    "It''s not very peaceful out there..."

    Lu Yao stepped forward and closed the eyes of several heads on the poles that clearly belonged to children.

    Then his ears twitched, and he heard the sound of a car engine in the distance; it was most likely a jeep.

    He dashed after it in a sh.

    ~~~~~~~~

    A Toyota pickup was stuck in a quagmire, with only one-third of its body visible above the ground. Two Wuling Hongguang vans were going full throttle in an attempt to drag it out.

    This was a 50-person army unit, and it seemed this was the reason for their dyed progress. Enjoy exclusive chapters from m-v l''e|-NovelBin

    The pickup bogged down in the mire was presumably the officer''s vehicle. At this moment, the officer, who was short, dark, and fat, was hopping mad, cursing furiously and waving a blood-stained, curved military saber.

    By his side, several women bound at the hands and feet begged in thenguage of Xia Country. Once taken back to the army camp, they would face a fate of being vited to death.

    Lu Yao had already arrived and saw everything clearly.

    He suddenly noticed¡ªthe enemy''s civilian car had a heavy machine gun rigged up on the roof! Judging from its appearance, it should be a Browning M2!

    One could simply understand this gun as an automatic shooting "Barrett!"

    Lu Yao moved his wrists and couldn''t help but mock himself, "It looks like I''m going to have to plunder again, even though I wanted to be a good person."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    At this moment, the camp leader "Cha Ai" was fuming with rage.

    A perfectly good road had a massive mud pit that had ensnared his beloved pickup, and no matter how hard they pulled, it just sank deeper.

    On this outing, they had only ughtered a vige and captured 5 women. Losing a vehicle would be a huge loss.

    Just then, as men and vehicle struggled, the beloved pickup suddenly stopped sinking and began slowly emerging from the mud pit.

    Cha Ai''s face brightened with joy, and as he looked at the 5 captured women, he already started fantasizing about the delights awaiting him back at the camp.

    But suddenly, with a "bang," a gust of wind blew by, and two of his men were sent flying into a tree trunk and then rebounded off, spewing chunks of their innards on the ground.

    A man from Xia Country with a backpack was seen picking up an AK, flipping the selector switch to full automatic mode!

 Chapter 90: Browning M2 Heavy Machine Gun

    Lu Yao appeared at a location that was not the best for shooting because he didn''t want to identally harm those five pitiful women with stray bullets.

    Two fully automatic AKs lifted their barrels, and in the entranced state, all the enemies turned into 0.5... No, wrong! The enemies were clearly moving slower than before! Only 0.4 times the speed!?

    Their cries were discordant, and the action of pulling the bolt looked very strange. Lu Yao even had the leisure to sigh in admiration¡ªmy Spirit Refining Stage has progressed!

    The next second, he opened fire with the AKs in both hands. With the Organ Refinement Physique and "Minute Consciousness Control," even dual-wielding, he activated the recoilless mode.

    The 7.62 bullets spun and screamed out of the barrels, easily piercing the soldiers who had just revealed faces of terror, spewing arge spray of blood and turning them into broken water bags riddled with holes.

    Normally, the spread of a full-auto AK would be the size of a coin, but now¡ªthe deviation of the bullet impact would not exceed 1 centimeter!

    Lu Yao precisely controlled his arm muscles, and the muzzle flexibly aimed at each enemy,pletely like an aimbot.

    Two guns, two magazines, a total of 60 bullets without a single miss. This 50-man army was wiped out on the spot, all within 3 seconds.

    He discarded the emptied AKs and walked unhurriedly towards the only remaining captain¡ªCha Ai.

    It was near this man that the five women were located. Lu Yao, fearing idental injury from stray bullets, did not aim and fire in their direction.

    Cha Ai''s eyeballs were nearly bulging out of their sockets, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

    His 50 battle-hardened, inhuman subordinates were all killed in three seconds!

    Several with quick reactions were even shot dead in mid-air while trying to dive for cover!

    As Lu Yao approached, Cha Ai pulled out his M1911 and aimed it at him, pulling the trigger.

    Lu Yao locked onto the target, and as soon as Cha Ai''s finger moved, his spine energized his body for a sudden sidestep to dodge the bullet!

    After Organ Refining, his physique greatly enhanced, the movements were swifter, the distance further, almost like teleportation.

    Cha Ai simply couldn''t keep up with Lu Yao''s speed, firing his bullets in vain. The handgun clicked emptily, and desperate, fearful shouts erupted from his mouth in anguage Lu Yao didn''t understand.

    Lu Yao''s spine twisted suddenly, channeling the strength of his entire body into his arm, and he punched Cha Ai squarely in the chest.

    Amid a piercing "crack," Cha Ai''s chest caved in on the spot, the broken rib stumps piercing through flesh and protruding outside the body. He flew backward, denting the door of the Wuling Hongguang car.

    All the holes in his body oozed thick red blood, and he died on the spot.

    Lu Yao now knew the consequences of him punching an ordinary person with full force.

    ~~~~~~~

    Afterward, those five women knelt before Lu Yao and kowtowed while saying, "Great hero, thank you for saving our lives."

    The cultural works of Xia Country were highly influential here, and among them, martial arts novels were the cream of the crop.

    Lu Yao helped them up and said, "No need to thank me. You better leave quickly."

    The five women thanked him profusely and then fled, supporting each other.

    Lu Yao went straight to the vehicles and began dismantling the Browning M2s mounted on them.

    The weapons of the army thatmitted mass murder were mostly old and severely damaged, except for these heavy machine guns which were extremely well-maintained. Every crevice was spotless, evenly coated with gun oil.

    Therge screws that ordinary people needed a wrench to turn, Lu Yao could unscrew with his bare hands. He dismantled all the Browning machine guns from the three vehicles and then collected all the ammunition.

    Lu Yao was very pleased; he finally had high-powered military firearms at his disposal!

    The Browning M2 machine gun can be called a legendary gun, with a total production exceeding 3 million units, and it is still in production, equipped by over 100 countries, and is a main force in the Star Alliance military.

    This machine gun has a total length of 1.7 meters, and weighs 50 kilograms. It uses the same .50 caliber bullets as the Barrett, but its power is much greater!

    Compared to it, the Barrett is like a little brother! Because the Browning M2 is not only fully automatic, but it also has a thicker and longer barrel¡ªmeasuring 115 centimeters! Barrett''s barrel is only 74 centimeters!

    The longer the barrel, the more powerful and urate the bullets fired. The longest recorded kill shot for firearms on Blue Star¡ª2286 meters¡ªwas made with the Browning M2, and it held the record for a full 35 years!

    Lu Yao scavenged around, carried nearly 300 kilograms worth of stuff, walked out ten kilometers, and returned to the Otherworld through a door in a particrly dense jungle.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao took a deep breath of the fresh air of the Otherworld and instantly felt refreshed and invigorated.

    It was early morning here, and the two sisters had already gotten up, their skin faintly reflecting the sunlight, smooth and white like freshly peeled eggs, pleasing to the eye.

    At the moment, the two women were ying a "catch" game, but they were tossing arge Stone Roller.

    Liao Ya fiercely threw the 500-kilo stone roller toward Liao Qe, and as it whooshed through the air, a strong wind hit her face, and Liao Qe caught it with a painful shout of difficulty.

    "Sister, take it easy!"

    "It''s because you''re not deflecting the force properly! How many times have I told you? You need to channel the force into the ground, not take it on with your body. You just can''t seem to learn it!"

    While the sisters were enjoying their game, they suddenly noticed Lu Yao had returned and immediately ran over with sweet smiles on their faces.

    "You''re back, and you were gone for 5 days this time."

    Lu Yao enjoyed the gaze of the two pairs of bright eyes and said with a lightugh, "There was a lot to do this time, but fortunately, everything went smoothly. Come, take a look at this!"

    With that, he revealed the three machine guns he had brought back.

    The machine guns, with their cold, hard lines, exuded an aesthetic of precision engineering and were quite imposing. The bullets on the belt were each longer and thicker than a finger! They were made specifically for engaging lightly armored targets and for anti-aircraft use, and using them on people would be exceedingly cruel.

    Although the machine guns, with ammunition, weighed a full 50 kilograms, the two young women were no ordinary people and easily lifted the guns, which were as tall as a person, as if they were picking up a box of instant noodles.

    "So thick and long!" Liao Ya, with a slightly excited face, said something that made her sister a bit embarrassed.

    Liao Qe gave her sister a strange look and picked up a machine gun to try its feel.

    If people from Blue Star saw this scene, they would be extremely surprised because the machine gun, since its design inception, was never meant to be handheld. It was designed to be fixed to positions and on vehicles.

    The gun was not only heavy but had tremendous recoil. However, in the hands of the two young women, none of these aspects posed a problem.

    They held the base of the machine gun with their right hand, pressed the trigger with their left, aimed at the sky, and fired off a few shots. The volume was rming and very low-pitched.

    Liao Qe had to use her body against the gun to control it, whereas Liao Ya didn''t need to go through so much trouble, as she could easily handle it with the strength of her hands alone.

    Lu Yao found two recently captured 4x scopes and installed them on the machine gun rails, saying, "This will make shooting long-distance targets easier for you two."

    The sisters fired a few curious shots and then turned their attention to arge backpack full of snacks that Lu Yao had brought back.

    After a scramble, they each opened a pack of Oreos and hungrily dove in, with Liao Qe devouring five pieces in one go, bulging her cheeks.

    ~~~~~~~

    After a meal of snacks, Liao Ya wiped her mouth and reverted to her gentle demeanor. Looking at the sky, she said, "The sun has set, it''s time for our medicinal bath."

    Liao Qe quickly pulled Lu Yao to get ready, while her voice sweetly rang out, "Lu Yao~ you''ve alsopleted Organ Refining, so we''ll need to modify our medicinal bath¡ªsister will bathe alone from now on, while I''ll join you."

 Chapter 91: 91. The first move is the strongest

    ```

    Happiness came so suddenly, half of my long-standing wish was actually fulfilled. Lu Yao''s mouth spread to his ears as he smiled and said, "That''s great, let''s hurry up and prepare the medicine~"

    "You look dead~" The girl''s cheeks reddened slightly, and she lightly punched him. "My sister''s cultivation progress is very slow, so let''s increase the dosage and see if it can help."

    "Isn''t the medicinal wine very effective?"

    "That''s because it was augmented with a Demon Beast Egg; the newly brewed one isn''t as effective."

    The two chatted while preparing the medicinal bath, doubling the dosage, which made the entire concoction appear even greener.

    Liao Ya of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm bathed first, and only after she was done did ite to Lu Yao and the others.

    Lu Yao was the first to get in, waving his hand to urge, "Come on,e on~"

    The pale Liao Qe hesitantly came in, pushing away Lu Yao''s roguish hand, scolding, "Be good and don''t harass me~"

    But how could one resist such a creamy body? Lu Yao sneakily pinched here and there, eliciting continuous tender rebuke from the girl.

    After fooling around for a while, he noticed a touch of gold on Liao Qe''s chest; it was the little gold pig.

    "You''ve been wearing it all along?"

    "It looks pretty, so I''ve been wearing it the whole time."

    "Take some time to ask your elder sister if she knows what kind of metal this is."

    "Mhm."

    As Liao Qe responded, she scooped up the medicinal liquid and poured it over her sleek body.

    As the two of them talked, they unwittingly sat down next to each other. Lu Yao reached out to carefully feel the exaggerated curves of the girl''s waist and hips, as well as the sexy lines of her abdomen.

    ~~~~~~~

    At that moment, with her hair still dripping wet, Liao Ya was cultivating in her room.

    Her figure was slender and exaggerated but not at all bloated, because there was not an ounce of superfluous fat on her body, all the flesh was in all the right ces. Only the word "enchanting" could describe her.

    Liao Ya furrowed her brows, using the Color Ultrasound Instrument to scan her body constantly. The progress of her cultivation had be increasingly slow after reaching the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, especially since having finished the Demon Beast Egg-infused medicinal wine, her cultivation hadpletely stalled.

    She couldn''t help but let out a long sigh andy in a spread-eagle position on the bed.

    Actually, this was not slow at all, but previously Lu Yao had helped her cheat, and her cultivation had soared like a rocket. Now that the rocket had turned into a car, Liao Ya found it difficult to adapt.

    "The supplementary medicines and medicinal baths aren''t as effective as before... To get stronger effects from the medicine, I have to join some power and work for them." Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    Just as Liao Ya was worrying, she suddenly heard her sister''s cry with a hint of weeping.

    Her face turned red, and she spat, "Damn girl! Can''t you keep quiet during a medicinal bath?"

    She decided to cover her head with the nket, trying not to listen, but curiosity was eating at her.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The next day, Liao Ya went to practice her routine in the courtyard as if it were set in stone, but she suddenly noticed that a piece of the bathtub rim had been broken off, missing a corner!!

    This was an important piece of cultivation equipment, and she was immediately furious, finding her sister and twisting her ear to interrogate, "Did you do this!"

    "Ow, it hurts~ I did it identally, Lu Yao said he would rece it with a better one~"

    "Why would you damage the bathtub?"

    ```

    Liao Qe lowered her head, embarrassedly saying, "I got excited and couldn''t control the strength in my hands, not that you''d understand."

    Her words came to an abrupt stop because Lu Yao wasing over, and it wouldn''t be appropriate to discuss secrets in front of her brother-inw.

    Lu Yao greeted them and then sat in the courtyard reading the newspaper to catch up on the events that had happened during the days he was away.

    ~~~~~~~

    The situation outside was still chaotic.

    A rising talent from the Great Vehicle Cult had died, enraging Heavenly King Hong greatly, but he didn''t have the energy to seek revenge in Yunzhou because the Imperial Court had sent a "Indestructible Golden Body Realm"mander to suppress the rebellion.

    The newspaper heaped praise on this Great Grandmaster named "Zeng Guohan" and held high hopes that he would soon quell the rebellion of the Great Vehicle Cult.

    After all, the Great Vehicle Cult had no Indestructible Golden Bodies, and Heavenly King Hong was merely at the Innate level, who could be pulverized with a single punch when up close.

    But with the Great Vehicle Cult consuming so much of the Imperial Court''s attention, the colonial powers were bing restless and harboring ulterior motives, especially the "Opiumpanies" at the various ports, which had shown frequent unusual activities recently.

    ~~~~~~

    Putting down the newspaper, Lu Yao asked, "Elder sister, is that vampire named ''William'' we metst time the head of the Opiumpany in Yunzhou?"

    Liao Ya replied, "Yes, it''s a noble from Einheit, and it has even subjugated the Hailong Gang as a vassal, possessing formidable strength."

    Lu Yao followed up with another question, "Are vampires afraid of things like silver and garlic?"

    After giving it some thought, Liao Ya answered, "They are afraid of pure silver. During the ''Menes Federation'' civil war, ''Legendary Vampire Hunter Lincoln'' collected all the silverware from the civilians to make bullets and cannonballs in order to defeat the ''Vampire Prince'', and that''s how they won."

    She instantly realized what Lu Yao was nning and eximed in surprise, "You want to kill William?"

    Lu Yao nodded decisively, "I really hate how that Western demon beast looks at you as if you were food! I''m dying to ughter that thing!"

    Liao Ya felt inexplicably happy to hear him say that, but after some thought, she still tried to stop him:

    "This is too dangerous. The leader of the Hailong Gang is a high-level expert who has fully achieved Blood-Exchange, and the vampire William who has subdued him would be even more powerful."

    Lu Yaoughed, "That''s great, we can take care of them both at once!"

    Seeing that his elder sister was still hesitant, he raised his thumb, pointing to the M2 heavy machine gun and said:

    "This thing can easily kill someone at the Blood-Exchange Realm. Let''s handle it likest time, long distance, leaving ''no evidence''."

    Liao Qe was already tempted, chiming in, "Elder sister~ strike first to be strong! They won''t spare us either and are bound to cause trouble."

    Liao Ya took a deep breath and her expression firmed up. She took hold of her sister''s and junior brother''s hands, saying:

    "Then we''ll strike first! But we can''t be rash and brute force it, let me gather some information through the National Martial Arts Association first."

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya, as a Martial Artist with "benevolence", fulfilled her duties responsibly after bing a Director of the National Martial Arts Association and did many practical things, gaining substantial reputation among the civilians and low-ranking martial artists in Yunzhou. She was bound to secure information upon inquiring.

    Meanwhile, Lu Yao was also busy, with Liao Qe helping by "feeding moves".

    In everyday life, Lu Yao often made use of the advanced technology knowledge from Blue Star, causing the girl to have quite a hard time, with cleaning the floor and washing the beddings every time.

    Now, the girl spared no effort, her fists immensely powerful, and the one howling in pain was Lu Yao.

    At that moment, the cries of the newsboy came from the street:[Extra, extra, Grandmaster Zeng was defeated by the leader of the Great Vehicle Cult, Hong Renkun, and suffered severe injuries~ He escaped by jumping into the river~]

 Chapter 92: 92. Hailong Gang

    The only thing upying the front page headlines of all major newspapers was one event:

    [Hong Renkun used sorcery to gather the followers'' willpower, "Divine Manifestation" of a thirty-foot-tallwful form in battle, utterly defeating Master Zeng]

    Below this news piece, there was also a blurry ck-and-white image: a 30-meter-tall light giant, with a single p, sent numerous Government Forces flying into the sky. Underneathy the toppled and twisted artillery position, looking like toys.

    There were also some rumors:

    [Not only was Master Zeng''s Golden Body broken, but his Divine Soul also suffered severe injuries, and he only managed to escape by jumping into the Yangtze River.]

    [Mahayana Sect devil''s Divine Thought possessed the cannonballs, "shooting through a hundred miles," resulting in heavy losses for the Government Forces.]

    [One of the four pirs protecting the nation has fallen, the foreigners may make a big move.]

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Qe flipped through the pages in disbelief and eximed, "How could a Great Grandmaster in the Indestructible Golden Body Realm... be defeated by an Innate!?"

    Blood-Exchange¡ªInnate¡ªLeakless¡ªIndestructible Golden Body, separated by two major realms, it was unimaginable how the defeat urred.

    "Didn''t the newspaper say, besides Martial Path Innate, Hong Renkun''s Spirit Refinement Realm is also ''out of body,'' and he has Divine Skills at his disposal," said Lu Yao as he put down the newspaper and rubbed his temples. Normally speaking, he was just a small fry who had justpleted Organ Refining, such significant national affairs should have nothing to do with him.

    But as long as one lives in this world, one cannot avoid the dust of the times; do not fantasize about keeping oneself clean.

    In the afternoon, Liao Ya came back with even worse news¡ªtaking advantage of the Imperial Court''s crushing defeat, Einheit and Frandi sent troops to pressure and made some outrageous demands: open the entire territory to trade; tax exemption for goods; establishing a concession in Imperial City.

    Liao Ya removed her necktie, her willow brows slightly furrowed, and said, "The Imperial Court suffered a great defeat, and the foreigners are looting a burning house. The world will be even more chaotic."

    Lu Yao asked, "Is there any news about the vampires and the Hailong Gang?"

    Liao Ya gave a bitter smile and said, "There''s no need to investigate anymore. The vampire William has already entered Yunzhou City with the Hailong Gang tantly, and is now widely issuing ''Hero Invitations,'' preparing to hold a ''Foreign Medicine Sales Conference''."

    Foreign medicine was a euphemism for opium, and Liao Ya spoke with hatred, "Before, they didn''t have the guts, but now the Imperial Court has its hands full and no longer has the energy to manage them. The Commandery Princess has reminded me multiple times to be careful of the Hailong Gang''s revenge."

    Lu Yao said with a smile, "Isn''t that a good thing? They''re all together, which makes it convenient for us to wipe them out in one fell swoop. Where is this ''Foreign Medicine Sales Conference'' taking ce?"

    "It will be held at the headquarters of the Hailong Gang on the docks, in three days at noon."

    "Good, we can also pick a good spot in advance, to give them a proper send-off."

    ~~~~~~~

    Yunzhou had one oddity at this time¡ªthere were no opium dens. This was unique throughout the Shun Dynasty!

    The entire opium industry has seen unprecedented development, with a massive scale.

    Continue your adventure with m|v-l''e -NovelBin

    The area dedicated to opium cultivation reached 19 million mu, ounting for 2% of the country''s arablend, with some Prefecture governments taking up to 75% of their agriculturalnd.

    Opium dens were too numerous to count nationwide, even outnumbering teahouses.

    Seeing that it was impossible to prohibit opium, the Imperial Court instead began to devise ways to tax it, and they found a lofty excuse¡ªcharging taxes to increase the cost of consuming opium, in order to curb the spread of the drug harm, noblybeled "ban by taxation," though they actually sought huge profits from it.

    As a trading port, Yunzhou had no idea how much opium flowed in every year, yet it did not have a single opium den, which was very strange.

    The main reason was precisely due to the Liao Family stirring up several incidents, consecutively wiping out two opium "distributors."

    One could imagine, such actions caused heavy losses to the Opiumpany and the Hailong Gang.

    The armed forces in Yunzhou were greatly weakened after the battle with the Mahayana Sect, and the Prefectural Governor''s elite troops'' captain was still lying in bed. The Imperial Court had even less capacity to care about other matters.

    The Hailong Gang suddenly found that the shackles on them were gone! So, disregarding the warrants for their arrests, they entered the city directly, widely issuing "Hero Invitations" to sell opium.

    Many responded at once, and martial artists from other ces came in droves, looking to pick up the goods.

    ~~~~~~~

    The Hailong Gang''s gang leader originally had four adopted sons, whom people in the jianghu called the "Four Dragons." Lu Yao had blown up one with a Barrett, and now only three remained.

    At this moment, among the three dragons, River Flipping Dragon looked at the sea of people before him and couldn''t stop grinning:

    "Haha! The Great Vehicle Sect actually banned opium, and now all the customers from the south areing our way! We''re going to make a fortune!"

    Ocean Overturning Dragon, rubbing his shiny bald head, was quite puzzled: "You''re telling me that the Great Vehicle Sect, a rebellious cult, got so bored they banned opium for what? Not only do they earn less but also offend the foreigners. I don''t get it."

    River Flipping Dragon said, "Naive, that''s what they are. Not only did they ban opium, but they also rejected the treaties signed with the foreigners, acting as if they were the legitimate power without having won the world yet. Let''s not bother with that, just increase the price of opium by another ten percent."

    He finished speaking, tossing his beautiful head of hair.

    Ocean Overturning Dragonined: "Why does a man like you keep such long hair!"

    River Flipping Dragon sneered: "What''s it to you? Baldie."

    "Say that again!"

    As the two were bickering, Sky Pouncing Dragon, the eldest among them, arrived and ordered, "Stop fighting, our foster father wants to see us."

    He was in charge of the gang''s punishments and naturally carried an air of authority, but his missing corner of the lip made him look somewhat odd.

    River Flipping Dragon and Ocean Overturning Dragon burst outughing:

    "What are you trying to act tough for? That ''fiery horse'' hasn''t even finished biting off your lip~"

    "Heard you got a piece bitten off down there too? Can it grow back before the Blood-Exchange?

    Sky Pouncing Dragon, who loved to dominate, had not expected to encounter such a fierce woman this time. He was caught off guard and bitten several times, and despite hiding for several days, the wounds still hadn''t healed.

    His face turned ugly as he angrily said, "Shut up! Hurry up and follow me to see our foster father. We''re going to deal with the Liao Family."

    River Flipping Dragon''s eyes lit up: "That eldest daughter of the Liao Family can be called an absolute beauty. I''d be willing to live 10 years less just to have a good time with her!"

    Ocean Overturning Dragon nodded enthusiastically, filled with anticipation.

    Sky Pouncing Dragon rolled his eyes and said, "I''d want that too, but she''s reserved for Mr. William; he only drinks the blood of virgins."

    River Flipping Dragon and Ocean Overturning Dragon showed signs of disappointment and reluctantly followed Sky Pouncing Dragon away.

    ~~~~~~~

    The three arrived at a spacious and grand training hall.

    There, already waiting, was a man with a cold expression and white temples¡ªWu Hailong, the leader of the Hailong Gang, a powerhouse that had mastered Blood-Exchange.

    His white temples were somewhat unusual, since Blood-Exchange Warriors shed their mortal body and hair, retaining ck hair until death.

    Wu Hailong had narrow eyes, and looking at his three foster sons carelessly, tossed three documents at them and said, "Take these, from now on we''re nationals of Einheit."

    The trio were overjoyed! Havingmitted numerous crimes, they were wanted by the Imperial Court and couldn''t go anywhere. Atst, they had a breakthrough.

    "Foster father, does this mean we have diplomatic immunity now?"

    "Can we go into the state city and kill and y with women as we please?"

    Wu Hailong nodded and said, "While the trade meeting has yet to start, go and take care of the Liao Family first. Remember¡ªdon''t kill them too easily; I want them to suffer excruciating pain and die in agony."

    The three hurriedly nodded in agreement.

    ~~~~~~

    After leaving the training hall, River Flipping Dragon looked around and whispered to his brothers: "Our foster father was grievously injured by Liao Qigong in his early years, with no hope of ascending to Innate. He loathes the Liao Family to the core."

    "The eldest daughter of the Liao Family will be Mr. William''s blood ve; truly, a fate worse than death."

    "Once Mr. William grows tired of her, could he reward her to us?"

    "You''re dreaming. Even if Mr. William tires of her, he''d only trade her for new vors with the ''Consul Mister'' and the like; we wouldn''t get a chance at her."

 Chapter 93: 93. Big Surprise

    ```

    In the martial arts studio, Lu Yao recalled thest vampire he killed was incredibly tenacious. To be on the safe side, he decided to prepare a "big surprise".

    He found three wine bottles and took out fifty taels of silver, asking Liao Ya, "Senior sister, can you help me turn these pieces of silver into small beans?"

    Liao Yaplied immediately, her delicate hands transforming into pincers as she shaped the already soft high-purity silver into the size of beans.

    Lu Yao gathered the now-useless small-caliber bullets, unscrewed the tops, poured the gunpowder into the wine bottles, and mixed in the silver beans, creating homemade bombs.

    Once detonated, countless silver beans would scatter and shoot out in all directions!

    The sisters understood the purpose of these devices and felt distressed, "Fifty taels of silver... you''re really willing to spend."

    Lu Yao was exceptionally proud, "Just a small sum. With these, even if the machine gun doesn''t kill it, there''s nothing to fear."

    With this preparation, nothing could go wrong.

    Lu Yao said, "Only after wiping out these treacherous viins can we practice martial arts in peace."

    Each sister picked up a homemade bomb and nodded gravely.

    Just then, they suddenly heard the sound of various musical instruments ying, growing louder as it approached the gate.

    The three exchanged nces, sensing something was off. Lu Yao immediately grabbed the machine gun, while the sisters went out to check.

    They saw a group of people tied with red cloth, carrying a sedan chair; it was a marriage proposal procession!

    But the four strong men leading the group wore cold smiles that didn''t resemble those of people here to celebrate a joyful event.

    Upon seeing each other, Liao Ya gritted her teeth, "Wu Hailong!"

    They saw a man with an icy demeanor and graying temples¡ªnone other than the Hailong Gang leader, Wu Hailong, a warrior with Blood-Exchange Mastery.

    Wu Hailong remained silent, while his three adopted sons stepped forward.

    The River Flipping Dragon, his hair reaching his shoulders, stood on one foot atop the sedan, scratching his itching groin as heughed, "Today, wee to propose marriage. All three of us brothers admire Master Liao and wish to bask in her grace, which is why we''vee together to propose."

    The Sky Pouncing Dragon and the other brother chuckled lewdly in agreement, "Why doesn''t Master Liao get into the sedan right now and join us in eternal bliss~"

    They burst into loudughter together, causing tiles around them to shake and dust to fall, clearly all in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm.

    On the other side of the wall, Lu Yao didn''t follow the sisters outside but instead manned the machine gun, pulling the huge loading mechanism to chamber the rounds.

    Just by the sound, he could clearly tell what was happening outside and was contemting¡ªwhether to mow down this group right now.

    The weapons in his hands could easily shoot through the nearly two-feet-thick courtyard wall and kill them.

    Liao Ya was in no way panicked facing enemies several times stronger than herself, because she knew she had a man behind her supporting her.

    "The foreigners'' dogs dare to bark wildly! You''re wanted by the Imperial Court for your crimes; where did you get the gall to enter the city!"

    "Ha~ Sorry, Master Liao, but we are now employees of the Opiumpany, legitimate Einheit People with diplomatic immunity."

    River Flipping Dragon reined in his lewd smile, his cold eyes glinting, "Bitch, your Liao Family has destroyed so much of our Hailong Gang''s business; did you really think we would let it go just like that? Today, we will take back everything with interest. Whether you climb into that sedan yourself or we beat you senseless and drag you in, it will happen!"

    As he spoke, the three Marrow-Cleansing Realm martial artists surrounded Liao Ya, ready to strike.

    Lu Yao,pletely focused, locked onto his targets through the wall, his finger poised on the trigger, ready to fire.

    Starting the fight at this moment would be disadvantageous; it wouldn''t have the element of surprise and was too close forfort, but he could not afford to wait any longer.

    Just as the tension was about to explode into action, a car raced in. Driving was the eunuch Zhang Jin, and the person on the car was Li Pei.

    ```

    She rushed to the rescue the moment she received the message!

    Li Pei nodded at Liao Ya and said softly, "Don''t worry, I am here."

    She then shouted at the Hailong Gang members, "You scum don''t want to live anymore!"

    Simultaneously, countless men in ck and patrol officers appeared nearby, guns aimed at the enemy; three men were also pushing a Maxim gun towards them.

    Lu Yao slightly rxed his trigger finger.

    ~~~~~~~

    Wu Hailong, who had been silent all along, slowly stepped forward and took out a cross-shaped medal, which he pinned to his chest, and said coldly,

    "I have been awarded the Einheit Knight Medal. Commandery Princess, if you are not afraid of causing a diplomatic dispute, go ahead and shoot."

    Li Pei''s pupils contracted, knowing that the Imperial Court was currently focusing on suppressing the Dacheng Sect and certainly didn''t want to give Einheit an excuse to start a war.

    But the Liao Family members were individuals whom she regarded highly as the backbone of the nation, and Lu Yao was someone she absolutely intended to take under her wing¡­

    Wu Hailong let out a sneer, then said to Liao Ya, "Your father severely injured me back then, made me watch my ship sink with my own eyes, and dashed my hopes of advancing to the Innate Realm. This vendetta must be settled. Hehe¡­ I have arranged a nice ce for you."

    Liao Yajiao retorted, "You brought it upon yourself! By relying on opium smuggling to rise to power, who knows how many people you''ve harmed. If someone like you advanced to the Innate Realm, that would truly be an injustice!"

    "Hahaha¡­" Wu Hailong suddenly burst intoughter. His face was expressionless, and his narrow eyes were filled with chilling light,ughing in an extremely creepy manner.

    "A martial artist sheds their mortal coil and is no longer a mere mortal. Yet you always constrain your thinking within the human perspective, which is a grave mistake."

    Upon hearing this, Li Pei hesitated no longer. She waved her hand, and amidst the sound of many guns being cocked, she said coldly, "Sir Wu, this is thend of the Shun Dynasty, you may leave."

    She also surged her Inner Breath, looking as if she was truly prepared for battle.

    Wu Hailong gave a cold nce around before respectfully turning towards an exceptionallyrge car in the distance, approximating a bow with his hand on his chest.

    The car slowly approached; its paint was gleaming, and its emblem looked like a bat.

    The driver was a dark-skinned man from Tianzhu. He hurriedly got out of the car, opened the door, theny on the ground for the passenger to step on him as they descended.

    The neer was none other than¡ªthe Vampire William. He was still dressed in a ck tailcoat, one hand covering his mouth with a handkerchief, but his eyes were blood-red.

    "Most esteemed and charming Commandery Princess, seeking love from an employee of mypany hasn''t vited your nation''sws, has it?"

    Li Pei coldly replied, "Miss Liao Ya is an official of our country. She has been harassed by your people. Please leave immediately."

    William calmly looked at Li Pei, then in the blink of an eye, startling everyone present, suddenly appeared behind her.

    Including Li Pei herself, no one saw how he moved there!

    William reached out and lifted her hair,menting, "You''ve been under a lot of stresstely, anxious, and your hair quality and scent have both diminished slightly¡­"

    Li Pei''s palms came together like a knife and she swung fiercely, tearing through the air with a piercing sound aimed at William, but she hit nothing.

    William somehow had already returned to his original ce and continued, "You should cherish your wonderful body, it''s God''s gift."

    Li Pei''s expression was difficult to read; her opponent''s speed was much faster than her own!

    William gracefully tipped his hat in a bow and then said, "Then~ we shall take our leave for now."

    He then looked meaningfully at Liao Ya and whispered with a hint of significance, "Perhaps we will meet again soon."

    After speaking, he turned and got into the car, leaving, and the members of the Hailong Gang also followed him in retreat.

    Wu Hailong said coldly, "I didn''t expect the Liao Family to be so highly valued by the Commandery Princess, but that doesn''t matter. Soon they''ll be too busy to care."

 Chapter 94: 94. Strafing

    After the members of Sea Dragon Gang had left, Liao Ya hastily expressed her gratitude, "Commandery Princess, thank you foring to our aid."

    Li Pei smiled and said, "Please don''t mention it, both morally and logically, this is what I should do."

    At this moment, Lu Yao also came over to pay his respects. As soon as the Commandery Princess heard that the Liao Family was in trouble, she immediately came over, and naturally, everyone was grateful.

    Li Pei sized him up and eximed in surprise, "You''ve reached Organ Refining!?"

    She remembered when she first met him five months ago, he was still in Sinew-Strengthening, but now he had unexpectedly advanced to Organ Refining!

    Lu Yao said with a lightugh, "I have gained a little, it''s not worth mentioning."

    Li Pei nodded and casually praised, "Your talent is not bad." She didn''t think much of it. The early stages of Martial Path were all aboutying the foundation, and with abundant resources, willingness to train hard, and guidance from a good teacher, it was only natural to progress rapidly.

    However, to make progress like Lu Yao within half a year was still quite impressive.

    What she didn''t know was that Lu Yao had trained from being a weakling with no strength to spare.

    Li Pei seemed to be in a hurry, her expression somewhat anxious. She took out a pocket watch to check the time and said, "I still have other matters to attend to, you all be extra careful. If there''s anything,e directly to me."

    After speaking, she nodded at the three of them and then got into her carriage and left. Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin

    Watching the carriage leave into the distance, Lu Yao quickly instructed his sisters, "Load the machine guns and ammunition into the trunk, and bring the homemade bombs too.

    This time we need crossfire, so we must split up. Hurry and try out the earphones and guns to see if there''s anything you''re not familiar with."

    The sisters replied, "Don''t worry, we''ve already practiced several times, and we''re quite proficient."

    Lu Yao nodded and said, "Good, there''s no time to dy, let''s set off!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    The ind port of Yunzhou is a precious locale, located south of the Yangtze River and ying a pivotal junction for sea and river transport.

    Shipse and go in abundance, ranging from new heavy oil-powered cargo ships, old steam-powered models, and even ancient vessels reliant on sail or human traction to dock.

    This ce has always been controlled by gangs, with Sea Dragon Gang being in control the longest, for 20 years to this date.

    The Sea Dragon Gang General Hall upies arge area, with the central main building known as the Hall of Righteousness, serving the function of a meeting hall.

    Today, guests wereing in an endless stream. The visitors, dressed invish clothing and exuding extraordinary presence, were all wealthy merchants, influential businesspeople, and high-level martial artists.

    Nearly a hundred members of the Bone Tempering Realm, under the leadership of a few Masters of Organ Refinement Hall, were greeting guests.

    "The Three Dragons" stood at the main entrance, specifically to receive important guests.

    "Lord Qi Wu has arrived, please wee him!"

    "Madame Sun, it''s an honor to have you, your presence truly graces this asion!"

    For a moment, the Hall of Righteousness was bustling with all the gathered elites greeting and mingling, alive with activity.

    Just then, the clock struck twelve times, signaling the time hade.

    Wu Hailong rose to his feet and moved to the center in front of the hall, looking at the full house of heroes with considerable pride. He fist-saluted and shouted, "I am deeply honored by the presence of all esteemed guests here with Sea Dragon Gang today!"

    This shout was heard throughout the hall by hundreds of people, and everyone respectfully fist-saluted back.

    Wu Hailong continued to shout, "Our Sea Dragon Gang''s opium is of high quality andpetitively priced, and can even be delivered directly to various prefecture governments along the river. Your visit here today will certainly not be disappointing."

    The crowd below nodded again and again, eager for this was the reason they were so eager¡ªsuch direct delivery was rare these days.

    Wu Hailong paused and then shouted, "However, I have an even bigger trade to introduce to you all!"

    Instant silence fell among the crowd below; all held their breath, waiting for Wu Hailong to continue.

    Wu Hailong took out a medal and shed it around, saying,

    "I am honored to represent The Einheit Royal National Knights and introduce to you the ''overseasbor'' trade. Any martial artist who is a virgin can participate. The great Einheit Empire will give preferential treatment to cooperating partners, not just in opium and armaments, but also the chance to be awarded medals."

    The crowd was instantly in an uproar. They were all worldly individuals and knew that the Western demon beasts favored the fresh blood of virgins; this was clearly about finding food for the vampires!

    Wu Hailong clenched his fist and burst the air, making a loud noise to quell the noise and continued to shout, "If you don''t wish to get involved, you may leave now."

    After a while, someone shouted, "We run an apothecary, we can''t be involved in such unconscionable acts, farewell!"

    "My clinic came here only to buy opium as a medicinal primer, we also dare not get involved in these matters, farewell!"

    Only a few people left, the rest remained firm as Mount Tai, excitement still evident on their faces.

    Some even teased the only female martial artist Sun Sanniang, "Sanniang, are you still a virgin?"

    Sun Sanniang, who ran a brothel, retorted vulgarly, "I''ve eaten more in porridge than you''ve eaten rice!"

    "Hahaha~"

    The crowd burst intoughter, creating a lively atmosphere.

    Those who dared to open opium dens were notorious; they were already part of the underworld, willing to dabble in any trade.

    What Wu Hailong spoke of was basically human trafficking, nothing too serious, as long as the foreigners were willing to pay the price.

    Sun Sanniang nonchntly said, "Just find those nearly starving decent girls, give them some cheap tonic, and teach them some kung fu for a couple of days. It''d be their fortune to serve the foreigners~"

    The people nodded in agreement.

    Seeing the fervent mood, Wu Hailong also secretly breathed a sigh of relief: the matter was settled!

    His own future in the martial path was doomed; the only option left was topletely side with the foreigners and strive for a vampire''s first embrace!

    ~~~~~~~

    William sat elegantly on the Taishi Chair, feeling quite satisfied with the performance of these human vassals.

    Once this was aplished, he would have an endless supply of fresh food to enjoy, which he could also exchange with others of his kind for a change of taste, or even send back home as gifts to curry favor with important people.

    Thinking of the wonderful life toe, William shuddered as if electrocuted.

    It was time for him to take the stage, using his unique appearance and status to enhance persuasiveness and gain more partners.

    William straightened his tie and slowly walked forward, a picture of noble elegance.

    Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly sensed an extreme danger and instantly moved to the side!

    But it was still a step toote, his left ribcagepletely vanished! Only then did the sound ofrge-caliber ammunition tearing through the air reach him!

    The next second, a barrage of bullets swept across the hall, turning the "Trafficking Conference" intoplete chaos!

    Human bodies, furniture, and walls exploded, while stters of blood, flesh, and debris filled the air amidst panicked screams and total mayhem.

    Sun Sanniang reacted quickly and immediately tried to escape using her movement technique. But just as she reached the doorway, she burst into a cloud of blood mist, torn apart in midair.

    The strong vitality of someone in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm allowed her to scream loudly, only adding to her immense pain.

    Wu Hailong immediately took cover behind a column as thick as his waist and bellowed, "Ambush! Get the armor!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao and his twopanions were positioned in a forest about 1 kilometer away from the "Hall of Righteousness," each climbing up arge tree nearly 30 meters high.

    They were spaced widely apart, forming a fan shape that surrounded the entire "Hall of Righteousness," creating crossing lines of fire.

    As soon as the vampire William made his appearance, Lu Yao shouted through a wireless headset seized from the Foreign Affairs Bureau:

    "Everyone''s here~ They are all in ce, let''s do this! Wu Hailong and William are the priority targets!"

    Two crisp voices responded, "Understood!"

    The three of them pulled their triggers, and amidst jackhammer-like thunderous noise, countless huge shell casings were ejected as bullets screamed out of the barrels like pouring rain!

    The doors of the "Hall of Righteousness" crumbled to countless pieces as if they were made of paper; the walls crumbled like cookies, not at all impeding the bullets'' path.

    Those in the Sinew-Strengthening and Bone-Tempering Realm ended up like crushed tomatoes, with only the bodies of those in the Marrow-Cleansing and Organ Refinement somehow remaining intact.

    Thus began the bloody carnage!

 Chapter 95: 95. Bloodbath at the "Hall of Righteousness

    Suddenly ambushed, everyone present was a seasoned yer and immediately someone tried to use their body skills to escape the ce.

    Such an exposed act was very foolish. No sooner had they left the "Loyal Hall" than they were fired upon by three "Anti-Vehicle" machine guns, and before they could run a few steps, they became chunks of flesh scattered on the ground.

    Only a handful of them with superior body skills managed to flip over the wall head, but were blown to pieces in mid-air and fell down.

    So many martial artists deployed their techniques, yet not a single one managed to escape the yard.

    Lu Yao praised in the team channel, "Well done!"

    The three had been living together for a long time and had developed perfect coordination.

    Immediately after, Lu Yaomanded in a low shout, "Lower the muzzle and sweep the house!"

    The three .50 caliber heavy machine guns immediately began to strafe the "Loyal Hall".

    The walls were instantly riddled with countless transparent holes from therge-caliber bullets, each bigger than a sea bowl, cutting down countless people who lost their limbs and screamed and roared in chaos.

    And it wasn''t over yet, after the .50 caliber bullets blew apart the walls and the interior furnishings, numerous fragments gained the kic energy of shotgun pellets and shot out in all directions.

    Countless "heroes" were turned into sieves spraying out their life force, and no one dared to stand anymore.

    ~~~~~~~

    Fan Tianlong moved along the wall like a snake, presenting a minimal target to gunfire, but in the next second, Liao Ya had him in her sights!

    The girl''s scope was an infrared sniper scope specially given by Lu Yao, with all targets clearly visible, prioritizing the key ones.

    With a slight push of the muzzle, a series of bullets whistled out, turning Fan Tianlong into a "three-piece dragon," spilling a mosaic of blood on the ground.

    A scalp with a full head of hair was blown away,nding on the forehead of his brother¡ªWu Hailong who had been knocked down.

    With an additional head of hair, Wu Hailong seemed especially ridiculous. He hurriedly tore off the disgusting thing and threw it away.

    In the next second, Liao Ya turned the muzzle and cut the man in half at the waist, finishing a double kill amidst the flesh chunks and the debris of internal organs scattered across the ground.

    The girl excitedly shouted in the team channel, "Junior brother, your long and thick gun is really awesome!"

    "Cough cough..." Lu Yao coughed dryly and shouted through the headset, "I need to reload, you two hold them off for a bit."

    He opened the cover of the Browning M2 machine gun, took a new belt of .50 caliber bullets from the metal ammunition box beside him, inserted it into the gun, closed the cover, and pulled back the huge bolt toplete the reload.

    "All set, continue!"

    ~~~~~~~

    The three kept firing at the "Hall of Righteousness," and the three boxes of ammunition each was carrying were almost used up, the ground littered with shell casings.

    These ammunition boxes designed for .50 caliber bullets contained 750 rounds each.

    With so many bullets fired, the walls of the "Hall of Righteousness" were covered inrge holes the size of bowls, with the midday sun shining through them.

    The walls were crumbling, and finally, the east wall copsed first, reaching its limit, followed closely by the other two walls, stirring up clouds of dust.

    Plus, the gate had been shredded by bullets, turning the once luxurious hall into arge "gazebo,"pletely transparent.

    Now it was good, those inside no longer had any cover and werepletely exposed under the muzzles.

    Shouts and screams mingled with the piercing whizz of bullets, and continuously people were hit, exploding into mists of blood.

    Watching their peers ripped apart and sprayed with blood and flesh, the "heroes" were close to copsing.

    In their disregard for everything, they screamed, "It''s not our fault! It''s not our fault!"

    "We won''t buy opium anymore! No more!"

    "It''s the Hailong Gang''s beasts who are doing evil, spare us! Spare our lives!"

    But the two gangs were more than a kilometer apart, they couldn''t even hear the gunfire, let alone the shouting.

    Within two seconds, they were turned into ground meat by Liao Qe operating the machine gun! All their ambitions and valor went down the drain.

    ~~~~~~

    The only remaining Sky Pouncing Dragon clung close to his adoptive father''s side, hiding behind an equatorially thick column.

    The two were receiving special attention from Liao Ya, with fragments flying all around as bullets shattered the surroundings, leaving the nanmu pirs looking as if they had been gnawed on by dogs.

    "This won''t do," Sky Pouncing Dragon shouted, "Stepfather, let''s run towards the river! Grandmaster Zeng escaped by jumping into the river!"

    Wu Hailong remained calm and collected, continuously observing the situation and said:

    "We''re surrounded by three teams, and the gap they left open is a trap! The riverbank is bare and in full view, running there would make us live targets."

    At that moment, a few ordinary gang members, aimless like headless flies, ran over carrying a suit of Steel Armor; as a volley of bullets swept through, their bodies were torn apart, missing arms and legs scattered around. Enjoy more content from m-v l''e|-NovelBin

    The Steel Armor nged to the ground, undamaged!

    Wu Hailong''s pupils shrank, with armor, many things that were previously impossible could now be attempted!

    His biceps bulged as his hands snapped up like tiger pincers and grabbed Sky Pouncing Dragon, while with a shake, he rendered his sworn sonpletely powerless to resist.

    The strike, both hard and soft, was powerful enough to demonstrate profound Kung Fu skills.

    Sky Pouncing Dragon eximed in rm, "Stepfather! I''ve been loyal and devoted to you..."

    At this point, even a biological son would be out of consideration, let alone a worthless sworn son.

    Wu Hailong''s expression remained unchanged as he flung his arms and tossed Sky Pouncing Dragon in the opposite direction of the Steel Armor. The gunman, who had been watching this spot, immediately turned Sky Pouncing Dragon into 7 or 8 unrecognizable pieces.

    Meanwhile, Wu Hailong, like a snake, slid t on the ground, lightning-fast, and made his way to the Steel Armor, slipping into it from underneath!

    ~~~~~~

    This scene was caught precisely by Lu Yao, who praised, "Now that''s the true serpentine maneuver! Gliding over the ground in a sh, so quick~"

    Liao Ya responded over them channel, "That''s the ''Eave Dragon Stake,'' a secret of the Hailong Gang. Originally unremarkable, it became a famous stance after the rise of firearms, very suitable for dodging bullets and cannonballs."

    Liao Qemented, "Wu Hailong is wearing the Steel Armor! The design of that armor is so strange; it looks like a skirt..."

    The armor Wu Hailong donned had a distinct Western style,plete with a breastte and war skirt to protect the thighs, and the chest was emzoned with the Einheit knight''s insignia.

    Moreover, wearing nearly 200 kilograms of Steel Armor didn''t slow down his movements at all.

    Wu Hailong continued his swift ground-hugging dash, heading straight for the riverbank!

    Lu Yao was about to open fire with full focus to kill him, but in the next second, two huge holes abruptly burst open in the man''s chest, propelling him forward!

    It was Liao Qe who had made the shot! The young girl cheered, "Ha, I hit him~"

    She truly had a talent for shooting.

    ~~~~~~

    While Wu Hailong had all three of them upied, a particrly grandiose vintage car with its engine at full throttle roared into the Hall of Righteousness.

    "Master, hurry, get in!"

    The Tianzhu driver, yelling frantically for his master to get in the car, was utterly oblivious to his own safety.

    William turned into a shadow and slipped into the car from his hiding spot, with thick, smoke-like substance still oozing from therge hole in his chest.

    The Tianzhu driver, screaming, floored the gas pedal, and the car shot out¡ªit was actually an armored bulletproof vehicle! He firmly believed he could rescue his master and receive a handsome reward!

    The trio from Loyal Hall immediately opened fire. The Otherworld''s carbon steel was average, failing to withstand the bullet barrage, which pierced the car from all sides.

    The car''s body was riddled with holes, and soon, the "bulletproof vintage car" disintegrated into a pile of scraps.

    William''s body was riddled with numerousrge holes as he forced himself to use his ability to turn invisible, vanishing from sight with only the slightest water ripple in the air hinting at his location.

    Lu Yao took a deep breath, focusing intensely as he locked onto the enemy and opened fire, saying, "Watch the trajectory of my bullets!"

    Every fifth round from the Browning M2 was a tracer, aiding the shooter in adjusting their aim and marking the enemy''s location.

    The sisters immediately followed suit with gunfire, forcing William to show himself; he could only protect his head, desperately using an ability resembling "Blink" to save himself.

    But under the concentrated fire of three "anti-vehicle" machine guns, the bullets rained down like a storm, leaving no ce to hide.

    William was torn to pieces, with only a small portion of his body managing to crawl into the ruins and out of sight.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 96: Human Experimentation

    At this time, the "Hall of Righteousness," which once sported flying eaves and ridge beasts, had been reduced to ruins.

    Seeing no moving objects left in the scope, Lu Yao said, "It''s about time. Let''s move in, but watch out for the vampire."

    The two sisters responded, "Understood~" as they simultaneously hugged their machine guns and leapt down from the tree.

    The three of them ran like speeding cars, arriving in just one minute.

    The entire building, including the surrounding walls, had been sted into a state resembling a sieve.

    The signboard of the "Hall of Righteousness," already full of holes and askew, chose that moment to fall, smashing to the ground and breaking into pieces.

    Thanks to the notorious reputation of the Hailong Gang, no one within ten miles dared approach, making it convenient for Lu Yao and hispanions to carry out their actions.

    ~~~~~~

    Upon arriving at the "grand pavilion," the first thing they saw was Wu Hailong, gravely injured and hiding behind a pir.

    He had two fist-sized holes in his chest and was coughing up blood. "It''s you... my Hailong Gang''s foundation of twenty years... ruined in an instant..."

    Wu Hailong''s Steel Armor was thicker than that of Li Shoucheng''s, but this also meant that after being pierced by the .50 bullets, the deformed bullets tumbled violently within his body, inflicting even more severe damage.

    As he spoke, he kept one hand on his chest where an old-fashioned metal cylinder needle was inserted, pumping medication that would soon take effect.

    Liao Ya stepped forward and said coldly, "Wu Hailong! Did you ever imagine this day woulde? Where is my father''s body?"

    "Cough cough... winners rule and losers suffer, I have nothing to say. The great Einheit won''t let you get away with this!"

    Wu Hailong suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and a ck substance began to spread along his veins from the covered area!

    His wounds instantly healed and his muscles swelled up, making him look like a hairless gori with fangs protruding out, transforming into a ck humanoid bio-monster.

    Wu Hailong''s eyes had turned into vertical pupils, emitting a sharp and terrifying howl as he lunged forward! The howl came with a sort of sonic attack that threatened to burst one''s head upon listening.

    The sisters opened fire immediately. Wu Hailong''s defense had increased substantially "after his transformation," but it still couldn''t withstand the .50 bullets.

    His body exploded with disgusting ck ooze, with bits and pieces of flesh flying everywhere. His limbs were shot off, and soon he copsed into a heap of mush on the ground.

    Wu Hailong hadpletely lost his sanity and, despite being reduced to such a state, his mouth continued to snap shut, with his fangs cking in a "kacha kacha" sound.

    After exchanging a nce, the sisters opened fire together, turning everything above his chest into powder with their machine guns, thus ending Wu Hailong and settling a longstanding vendetta.

    The continuous fire had made the machine guns extremely hot, with blue smoke curling up from the barrels.

    Liao Ya looked up at the sky and said with emotion, "Father, your daughter has aplished what you always wanted to do!"

    Liao Qe softly said, "Father must have been watching over us all this time, that''s how we met Lu Yao."

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "Such satisfying revenge. But we still have an extra task."

    As he spoke, he shot at a rtively intact corpse, which was flung aside to reveal the vampire, William, beneath it.

    Only the area above his chest remained, and yet he was still alive, now crying out in panic, "I am nobility of Einheit! You can''t kill me! You''re provoking a war between two nations!"

    Lu Yaoughed and said, "It''s well-known that Einheit will take advantage of the turmoil within Shun Dynasty to invade; what''s that got to do with you?"

    While speaking, he took out a specially made "homemade bomb" and pretended to throw it.

    Liao Ya said, "Junior brother, there''s no need to waste it. Just shoot this demon beast dead." Liao Qe also nodded repeatedly in agreement.

    Lu Yao said, "I want to see how much vampires fear silver."

    William, with his hands on the ground, tried to flee in desperation.

    Lu Yao entered a calm state, precisely tossing the bomb onto William''s path, detonating it with a single shot.

    The explosion was average in power, much like a hand grenade. However, the scattering Silver Beans turned William''s face into a pincushion.

    The moment it came in contact with the silver, it instantly began to smoke and char as if seared with a hot iron. The pain was excruciating, and it let out an unbearable wail.

    In a short while, William had transformed into a handful of flying ashes, scattered by a gust of wind.

    Even in death, it left behind a red gemstone, but it was as big as a chicken egg!

    Lu Yao picked it up casually and said, "The effect of silver isn''t bad."

    Liao Ya said helplessly, "That''s because you used too much of it, that vial contained more than ten taels of silver, who would be willing to use it like that."

    Lu Yao looked around and said, "Mission aplished, all the viins are wiped out. Let''s hurry and search for father-inw''s remains."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The "Hall of Righteousness" had already turned into arge cool pavilion, with nothing much worth searching for. The three of them split up and headed to the side chambers to continue their search.

    They only found some useless silver coins and jewelry, and a copy of "Eaves Dragon Pile" turned out to be an unexpected delight.

    Lu Yao, not giving up hope, thought, How could the headquarters of a gang not have a hidden chamber!

    He went to Wu Hailong''s living quarters, fully focused and used the barrel of a machine gun to gently probe the walls and the floor.

    As expected, he felt that the sounding from one area of the floor was not right. He called the sisters over, and without looking for a mechanism, they violently broke open the floor.

    What they saw was... a cer. It was well constructed, with bricks paving the walls and floor.

    The ce was empty, filled with torture devices and cages for imprisoning victims, apparently where Wu Hailong kept his captives.

    But Lu Yao felt something was amiss because there were also many pieces of equipment obviously used for chemical experiments¡ªbeakers, pipettes, reagents, all avable.

    Approaching the only table there, he opened a drawer to find numerous documents and photographs.

    The documents were in English, filled with symbols and diagrams of human anatomy, indecipherable for the moment;

    But the photographs were quite clear¡ªthey were filled with Shunchao People in terrifying states of death.

    They all died from various diseases, some covered in blisters, some with ulcerations all over their bodies, and others had turned into the same kind of monsters as Wu Hailong had became! The back of each photo contained detailed dates and notes.

    Lu Yao understood instantly and said coldly, "This is actually a human experimentb! Such beasts!"

    Ironically, this ce was managed by the vampire¡ªLuo Su, the one who first attacked the boxing gym.

    After its death, the Opium Company had not found a sessor, and it had been left abandoned until now.

    Liao Ya was also furious, and she clenched her teeth, "Let''s hand these photos and documents over to the major newspapers, expose them! Let the world see the true face of these foreigners!"

    For many years, the Opium Company had been conducting human experiments in the Shunchao; everyone was aware of it, and many people had witnessed the bizarre effects of the foreigners'' stimnts.

    But definitive evidence had always been missing, and suspicions could only remain suspicions.

    Now with these documents, it was different!

    Although Lu Yao didn''t think exposure would be very useful, causing trouble for the Opium Company was also quite satisfying.

    The three of them hurried back to their vehicle and headed straight for the newspaper offices.

    ~~~~~~~~

    They divided the documents and photographs into four parts, keeping one for themselves and discreetly tossing the other three through the front doors of the newspapers they passed while driving.

    The staff at the newspapers were not surprised and quickly picked them up. It wasmon for people to provide news in this manner, and it often led to explosive stories.

    But this time, when they opened them, they almost dropped the contents on the floor! They immediately ran into the editor-in-chief''s office to report it.

    After Lu Yao and the other two finished all this, they returned home to rest, but outside, a huge uproar had begun!

 Chapter 97: Temporary residence

    The very day, every newspaper in Yunzhou ran extra prints.

    The sun hadn''t even set when the explosive news had already spread everywhere¡ª[Opiumpany conducts human experiments! Researching biochemical weapons!]

    Schrs interpreted from the documents that Einheit was actually developing "Poison Gas"! This was something openly banned for its malevolence!

    Public opinion erupted in an uproar! Everyone cursed, boiling with indignation!

    "These Westerners are no better than beasts!"

    "Such beastly actions are infuriating! It''s a pity that our nation is weak and unable to avenge this affront!"

    The news spread rapidly, reaching the Prefecture governments of Jingjin, Huguang, and others.

    Other colonial powers also condemned Einheit. Of course, the main reason they did so was that¡ªin the division of global colonies, Einheit upied the most and the best.

    Lateers like Izumo and Jiade could only upy ces where not even birds would defecate. They had been eyeing Einheit with envy and took this opportunity to kick it while it was down.

    For a while, Einheit became the rat crossing the street that everyone wanted to hit, and the Opiumpany was targeted by all.

    ~~~~~~~

    One melon followed another, and as the heat around this event slightly waned, the bloody scene of the Sea Dragon Gang''s downfall was discovered on the third day.

    The "Hall of Righteousness" was a den of evil to begin with, and normal people wouldn''t dare to approach within ten miles of it. It was only because guests'' rtives couldn''t find them that they came to the door and discovered the scene.

    So, the newspapers went into extra prints again, to cope with the sudden surge in sales. The newsboys were overjoyed, seldom getting a chance to have a full meal thanks to the good business.

    The "downfall of the Sea Dragon Gang" had a significant impact on ordinary people, especially the poor who made their living around the docks.

    The Sea Dragon Gang did everything but good deeds; bullying men and tyrannizing women, collecting protection fees were just the basic operations.

    With their death, many people who previously struggled to survive heaved a sigh of relief.

    At once, the public celebrated the "downfall of the Sea Dragon Gang."

    Those in the know turned their suspicions and awe towards the Liao Family. Both the Pang Family and the Sea Dragon Gang had offended the Liao Family before being wiped out.

    And the Sea Dragon Gang''s case was truly terrifying; 200 strong Martial Artists had died a gruesome death!

    How did the Liao Family, with just three people, manage that?

    Given the limitations of the era, rumors flew everywhere in no time. Some said Young Master Lu had his own army, others imed Young Master Lu practiced sorcery... Opinions were divided!

    And the death of the vampire William seemed to go unnoticed on the surface, with no one caring.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The martial arts school returned to its peaceful routine of training.

    The two sisters were studying "Eaves Dragon Pile," nning to teach it to Lu Yao once they mastered it.

    After all, Lu Yao had been practicing martial arts for less than half a year; his foundation was still too shallow. He could understand the terms in the Secret Manual but didn''t know what they meant. It was better to wait for the beautiful girls to teach him hand in hand~

    At that moment, he was in the courtyard, wielding the "Stone Roller."

    Following Liao Ya, Lu Yao had be the second Cultivation fanatic in the household. Day after day, he devoted all of his energy to cultivation.

    There was no other reason; he simply enjoyed the feeling of bing stronger and wanted to know how powerful he could get.

    "Organ Refining Realm" wasn''t too difficult if external resources weren''tcking; tonics and medicinal baths could generate a continuous supply of vital energy for the organs;

    The organs, in turn, refined this vital energy to produce Inner Breath that nourished the body, creating a positive cycle throughout the body, growing stronger every day.

    He picked up the "Stone Roller" the sisters had been ying with and swung it. Weighing 500 pounds, it felt like a regr person moving a chair, not too strenuous.

    Casually, he threw the thing on the ground; with a "thud," the ground shook three times.

    It was time to deliver newspapers.

    Recently, Lu Yao had taken a special liking to reading newspapers, because the newspapers from Otherworld dared to write about anything and everything, and their tone was piercingly sharp, often causing bouts of uproariousughter.

    The door knocker sounded, and a skinny little newsboy came to deliver the paper. The child was covered in patches, carrying a huge shoulder bag filled with newspapers, and on his head was a tattered baseball cap.

    Lu Yao received the newspapers and casually handed him a steamed bun.

    The newsboy devoured the generous bun in an instant, bending down to the ground he called out, "Thank you, Master Lu~" and then ran off.

    These kids wouldn''t keep hold of money even if you gave it to them, so it was better to just give them food.

    Opening the newspaper, the front page headline was all about the Sea Dragon Gang General Hall riddled with bullet holes.

    [Sea Dragon Gang internal strife, more than two hundred members including the Gang leader and his sworn son wiped out]

    [Informed sources reveal that the cause of the internal conflict was the uneven distribution of spoils]

    [The Imperial Court will send a wise and capable person to manage the ind river docks]

    Lu Yao furrowed his brows¡ªwhat happened to him didn''t look like internal strife; someone was helping from the shadows.

    Given the currentwork of the Liao Family, the only one who could be of secret assistance was¡ªthat Commandery Princess?

    As he was thinking this, she had already arrived.

    ~~~~~~~

    Li Pei stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest, staring expressionlessly at Lu Yao for several minutes.

    She picked up a newspaper and, pointing at a ck-and-white photo of the Sea Dragon Gang''s ruins, said with a mock-smile,

    "Did you do this? Tsk, tsk~ not a single survivor, huh~ Did you hire ''foreign gunners''? How did you kill William? It is adept at short-range teleportation, very troublesome to deal with."

    Lu Yao shook his head emphatically, "I didn''t do it~ I know nothing~ Don''t talk nonsense."

    Li Pei, gazing intently into Lu Yao''s eyes, turned into a human lie detector, yet both remainedposed and she could discern nothing, left with nothing but a staring duel.

    And speaking of which, those watery eyes of the beautiful Commandery Princess were quite attractive.

    After a mutual stare down, Li Pei was the first to speak, "William was a noble, its death will alert the Yunzhou Consul from Einheit. That person doesn''t deal in evidence, mere suspicion is enough. The trouble you''re in is not small~"

    Li Pei watched Lu Yao closely, and seeing that he still wore no expression, continued, "If you be the captain of my guards, I will ensure your safety. How about it?"

    Lu Yao knew she would make such an offer, so he immediately wanted to use a "terminal illness" as an excuse to rebuff her.

    But Li Pei also saw through him, knowing he would still reject the offer.

    And seeing Liao Ya with a worried expression that stirred pity, Li Pei straightforwardly said, "Alright, alright, I''m happier than you about the Sea Dragon Gang and William''s deaths."

    She tossed aside the newspaper, grabbed Liao Ya''s hand and said, "Sister, pack up your things ande stay at my residence for a few days."

    Liao Qe questioned with surprise, "What does this mean...?"

    Li Pei bluntly said, "Whether or not you did it, staying at my ce for a few days will spare you a lot of trouble. Just publicly im that you have been staying at my ce the whole time without going out."

    Liao Ya nodded gently, her voice graceful, "Thank you for your concern, Commandery Princess. We will indeed impose for a while."

    Li Pei, who loved Liao Ya''s gracefulness, held her hand tightly and smiled, "Sister, there''s no need to worry. The Opiumpany got involved in human experiments, and at William''s death site, a bioboratory was discovered along with a ''mutant flesh body.'' Einheit dares not investigate openly and can only swallow this bitter pill."

    When sheughed, her eyes curved into crescents, and the teardrop mole added a bewitching charm.

    "I''ll wait for you in the car. I don''t have many friends in Yunzhou, so I''m quite happy you cane. It''s a good opportunity for us to share cultivation experiences."

    ~~~~~~~

    After Li Pei left, Liao Ya said helplessly, "Commandery Princess''s kindness is not easily declined. Let''s stay there for a few days."

    Lu Yao shrugged and said, "She means well and is worried about us. Let''s go~ put the machine gun in the trunk... and bring some Golden Elixir Brew. It''s not good to show up empty-handed."

 Chapter 98: 98. Night Talks Gold

    Li Pei¡¯s residence was located on Qingyun Street, close to Du Wen¡¯s home, where only officials lived, guarded by standard-bearers.

    The eunuch Zhang Jin was well aware that his master valued the three members of the Liao family highly and had arranged for them a private courtyard adjacent to the rockery garden, boasting a splendid view.

    Lu Yao drove the ssic car straight into the courtyard to park, then curiously surveyed the elegant and delicate garden.

    ~~~~~~~

    In the study, Zhang Jin came to report, "Commandery Princess, the Liao family has been settled in."

    "Mmm, keep an eye on them for me, we must not be impolite."

    At the moment, Li Pei was examining two bottles of Golden Elixir Brew closely, "The Liao family really isn¡¯tcking in material wealth."

    This was what Lu Yao had just given to her. The herbs used to brew this alcohol were very expensive, the cheapest being deer antler and Lingzhi mushrooms, and they were used inrge quantities.

    After all, brewing medicine only required a pinch, but soaking alcohol needed handfuls being thrown in. Take ginseng, for instance¡ªwhen brewing medicine only a few slices were needed, but soaking alcohol required an entire root.

    Thus, a bottle was quite valuable, worth ten taels of silver on the Imperial City¡¯s market.

    Zhang Jin, storing away the Golden Elixir Brew for his master,ughed, "To send two bottles of Golden Elixir Brew is indeed generous. But Young Master Lu is wealthy and it¡¯s normal for him to be generous."

    He would never forget the shocking sight when he discovered a million catties of grain stored in that remote warehouse.

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the evening, Li Pei visited the courtyard of the three from Lu Yao¡¯s group. Stay connected via m-v l|e¡¯m,p| y- r

    "Are you finding itfortable to live in? If you need anything, just let me know."

    Liao Ya said with gentle grace, "Thank you, Commandery Princess, this ce is very nice, weck for nothing."

    Li Pei nodded, sat down with an easy grace, and everyone began to exchange their experiences in cultivation.

    They first discussed the most difficult Spirit Refinement. The cultivation of Spirit Refinement was incredibly arduous, with less than 1% of martial artists at the same realm achieving it.

    It was assumed that no one had made much progress, but then Lu Yao casually mentioned, "I have entered the state of ¡¯Sitting Forgetfulness¡¯ by myself twice."

    After saying this, he even winked at Liao Qe, causing the girl¡¯s cheeks to redden with embarrassment.

    Li Pei was shocked, and immediately pressed for details, "How did you do it?"

    99% of Spirit Refiners were stuck in the stage of Focused Spirit and meditation¡ª¡¯Sitting Forgetfulness¡¯ was rare even in the Imperial City, let alone for someone as young as Lu Yao!

    Lu Yao replied earnestly, "Just rx both body and mind, free from desires and aspirations, reaching a state of selflessness, like a saintly sage."

    Li Pei appeared contemtive and said, "A State of Saintly Sage..." before thanking him formally, "Thank you for the guidance!"

    Lu Yao struggled to keep a straight face, "Not at all, not at all."

    Liao Qe gave her sweetheart a stare¡ªpartly to interrupt and partly out of curiosity¡ªand asked, "Commandery Princess, the newspapers say we are going to war with the foreigners again?"

    Li Pei sighed, "The great powers are exploiting our difficulties, and the envoy from Queen Einheit of Ennd is being especially brazen¡ªdemanding that we give up customs control over several trading ports."

    Liao Qe spoke harshly, "These detestable foreigners, they are always bullying us!"

    Lu Yao asked curiously, "Commandery Princess... with the many experts at the Imperial Court, are we still afraid of the foreigners¡¯ firearms?"

    Li Pei took out a 9mm bullet and ced it in her palm,menting,

    "An Organ Refining Expert spends twenty years cultivating, yet cannot stop such a small bullet.

    And such tiny bullets are produced continuously from factory production lines, enabling ordinary people to use them, let alone cannons.

    Moreover... the foreigners have more than just firearms. In today¡¯s world, merging cultivation with technology is the true path."

    The scene fell silent, leaving only the sounds of early summer insects. After a little while, Li Pei smiled again,

    "There¡¯s no need to worry, with a Great Grandmaster of the Indestructible Golden Body Realm overseeing things at the Imperial Court, and with schrs diligently researching techniques, our current difficulties are but temporary."

    At the mention of "Indestructible Golden Body," Liao Ya perked up, her eyes shimmering with intense longing as she gazed dreamily, "Indestructible Golden Body... to withstand cannonballs with one¡¯s flesh, what a sight that must be. We martial artists should indeed strive to reach this supreme summit!"

    Li Pei nced at Lu Yao and said meaningfully, "To ascend to this realm, you must serve the Imperial Court. You must know that the ¡¯gold¡¯ required for cultivation is extremely precious and scarce in output, so much so that no amount of money can buy it."

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe, upon hearing the word "gold," hurriedly bowed their heads to conceal the expressions on their faces.

    Curious, Liao Ya inquired, "Gold? Is that the miraculous metal that has been lost since the time of Immortal Qin?"

    Li Pei waved her hand dismissively, "It¡¯s not exactly lost, just that its yield is very low; there is simply not enough to meet the demand. The Imperial Court has deployed many experts to guard the sites. s, who knows what The First Emperor of Qin did to exhaust the country¡¯s gold reserves entirely."

    Lu Yao listened intently to every word, not daring to interject with any further questions. Unfortunately, Li Pei herself didn¡¯t know much and didn¡¯t borate further.

    Subsequently, Liao Ya began to seek advice about the practices of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm. With Li Pei as an experienced mentor, she patiently provided guidance.

    "The so-called Marrow-Cleansing is the first step in ¡¯refining immortal bones and shedding the mortal shell,¡¯ when perfected, one¡¯s marrow will be as frost with a strength of 6000 jin and a lifespan that can reach 120 years! The ¡¯Art of the Dragon yer Manual¡¯ I gave you before can greatly speed up your progress."

    ...

    After the discussion, not only did the three Liao sisters benefit greatly, Li Pei herself revisited her knowledge and made substantial gains.

    The two girls enjoyed their talk so much, they decided to sleep together that night~

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe entered their room, and the girl quickly took down the small golden pig and, patting her chest in fear, said,

    "This thing is actually meant for the cultivation of Golden Body experts... Lu Yao, if such high-level items appear in the world, they will surely lead to fierce ughter, where tens of thousands could easily perish!"

    "I hadn¡¯t expected this either..." Lu Yao was equally surprised and said,

    "With this, when we advance to the Indestructible Golden Body Realm, we won¡¯t becking resources. By then, the whole family will be able to withstand cannonballs, and we can crush anyone we choose~"

    Liao Qe, holding the small golden pig under the light, found its golden radiance even more captivating.

    She then carefully hid it away, growing ever more hopeful for the future. "Indestructible Golden Body Realm, huh... Can I achieve it too?"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Li Pei and Liao Ya¡¯s conversation was lively, topic after topic, and they even touched upon Lu Yao and Liao Qe, noting how ny-nine percent of their fellow disciples had paired off as couples.

    It was nearly midnight before they went to bed to rest. They shed their clothes, one wearing a Blue Star bra and the other in a bellyband, both equally impressive in stature, and both boasting beautiful corbones and seductive lines.

    Their fair bodies glowed even more enticingly under themp, and for a time, the two beautiespeted in allure, neither outshining the other.

    Li Pei was curious about Liao Ya¡¯s Blue Star underwear and couldn¡¯t resist touching it. "This garment is really exquisite~ It looks foreign in style, doesn¡¯t it?"

    Liao Ya suppressed her shyness and let her do as she wished, "Mmm, it¡¯s quitefortable to wear." She involuntarily hunched her shoulders and shrank back when touched by someone else.

    With a giggly smile, Li Pei fondled it a couple more times, saying, "Sister~ don¡¯t be shy. It¡¯s inconvenient for us to grow up like this; it even attracts disgusting gazes. But the more it¡¯s like this, the more we should stand tall. Besides, they¡¯re just envious through our clothes~"

    Liao Ya herself couldn¡¯t be so nonchnt, and could only offer a bitter smile.

    Then, she found an unwornrge-size bra and gifted it to Li Pei, who happily epted the present.

    After both women went to bed, just as Li Pei was about to fall asleep, she suddenly heard a woman¡¯s sobbing, as if someone was biting on something...

    Being from the court, she immediately realized what was happening and spit contemptuously. "They really can¡¯t help themselves!"

    The noise was very faint; Liao Ya couldn¡¯t hear it, but Li Pei, with her focused spirit, could just barely make it out.

    The restrained and mncholic sobbing continued until the Commandery Princess finally fell asleep in thetter half of the night.

 Chapter 99: 99. First time giving a massage to my senior female fellow student.

    The next day, Li Pei got up and tried on her new sports bra, very satisfied, "It felt a bit awkward at first, but after getting used to it, it¡¯s much morefortable than a bellyband, and it saves trouble."

    She moved her arms a couple of times and then with a fierce motion, she swung her fist and burst the air, saying, "Not bad, not bad, it doesn¡¯t hinder movement at all."

    Liao Yabed her hair while giggling softly, feeling a small sense of superiority¡ªshe possessed things that even the Commandery Princess admired, and she even had better things~

    However, Liao Ya also looked at Li Pei¡¯s skin, which was like creamy jade, full of yearning.

    This skin wasn¡¯t only white but also had a unique luster; looking good was secondary, as its toughness could resist small-caliber bullets¡ªa trait of a Blood-Exchange Realm Martial Artist.

    Noticing Liao Ya¡¯s gaze, Li Pei generously extended her arm and said, "Sister~ you can take a close look. Closely appreciating the body of a Blood-Exchange Warrior could benefit your progress."

    Liao Ya nodded and immediately started to carefully touch and observe. Having a fully realized female model to refer to and point the way could result in twice the effect with half the effort in her own cultivation.

    Seeing Liao Ya so focused and graceful, Li Pei thought: If I really had such a sister, that would be great, the bunch at home... what are they even...

    Seeing how much Liao Ya cared about her progress in the Martial Path, she suggested:

    "Last night, during our chat, I found out you still haven¡¯t tried the wonders of ¡¯Art of the Dragon yer Manual.¡¯ This massage secret technique greatly benefits cultivation and has miraculous effects.

    Now that your junior brother Lu Yao has begun Organ Refining, it¡¯s time for him to learn it. Although there is some danger, the two of us can teach him together."

    Liao Ya¡¯s eyes lit up! She had long been looking forward to this secret technique.

    Previously, she was thinking of having her sister learn it to massage her, but it¡¯s even better if Lu Yao learns it.

    For something as core as massaging the spine, trusting a Spirit Refining Expert is more reliable~

    ~~~~~~~

    Massaging the spine is not child¡¯s y; one¡¯s life hangs in the masseur¡¯s hands. If the person has malicious intent, they could easily harm someone, which is why it¡¯s typically done only between close rtives.

    As both a junior brother and brother-inw, Lu Yao was the perfect choice.

    Learning ¡¯Art of the Dragon yer Manual¡¯ also delighted him, and massaging his senior sister was, of course, his duty!

    Next, Liao Qey down, and Li Pei and Liao Ya together supervised Lu Yao¡¯s Cultivation.

    Although massaging the spine is highly beneficial, it is also extremely dangerous. The two of them working together was like having double insurance, ensuring absolute safety.

    "The significance of the human body¡¯s great dragon goes without saying, and it¡¯s also unfathomably intricate. It connects all the meridians, organs, muscles, and bones of the human body and is the most critical aspect of cultivation. Watch carefully~"

    Li Pei stretched out her hands, which were as white as jade, and gently ced them on Liao Qe¡¯s beautiful back, channeling Inner Breath while pressing down.

    Her technique was many times more skillful than Liao Ya¡¯s, able to stimte multiple Aperture Points at once.

    With this press, Liao Qe felt so good she moaned out loud, then quickly covered her mouth with a flushed face.

    Li Pei couldn¡¯t help but give her sister a white look, thinking you were yelling so happilyst night!

    Lu Yao waspletely in Focused Spirit State, seriously memorizing every step and technique.

    Li Pei instructed, "The strength and release of Inner Breath should be slow and smooth; too much can injure, too little is ineffective, and you must tailor your force and technique to each individual. But since you are in Focused Spirit and know ¡¯Subtle Sense of the Heart,¡¯ this should not be too difficult. Give it a try~"

    Lu Yao took a deep breath, ced his hands on Liao Qe¡¯s back, and with the powerful aid of "following one¡¯s body movements" and "Subtle Sense of the Heart," he replicated Li Pei¡¯s massage with 99% uracy, causing Liao Qe to hum infort.

    "Not bad at all!" Li Pei repeatedly admired, though not too surprised. After all, Spirit Refinement is marvelous, and this was why she valued Lu Yao so much.

    She took out her pocket watch and looked at it, saying, "Lu Yao, you¡¯re now ready to graduate. It seems you might even surpass me, so I should leave with my mission aplished. I¡¯m heading to the National Martial Arts Association, we¡¯ll meet tonight."

    ~~~~~~~

    Once Li Pei left, Liao Ya could hardly wait. Her progress was slow, and she had long been looking forward to the world-famous ¡¯Art of the Dragon yer Manual¡¯.

    She dragged her sister up and sent her out to practice boxing, while Liao Ya herselfy on the bed and lifted up her clothes.

    Lu Yao started pressing from the Dazhui Point at the nape of her neck.

    As usual, the elder sister¡¯s body was fair, tender, and smooth. At this moment, there wasn¡¯t much embarrassment between them. Although nominally siblings, they were actually master and disciple. Physical contact during martial arts practice was inevitable, and they had long since grown ustomed to it.

    However, as Lu Yao applied his techniques, with wless strength and Inner Breath spreading, Liao Ya couldn¡¯t help but let out an unconscious "Aah aah" from the pleasant sensation.

    She quickly closed her mouth, but the spine is the most important and mysterious part of the body, and when stimted appropriately, one can¡¯t help but react instinctively.

    Liao Ya covered her mouth, constantly making "Mmm mmm hmm" sounds, her soul-stirring voice making Lu Yao¡¯s bones go soft.

    He was currently massaging the middle section of the spine, which was the most ident-prone area and allowed no room for distraction.

    Lu Yao focused his spirit and breath as best as he could to block out his elder sister¡¯s moans, moving his hands downwards, reaching the Huiyang Point, which is at the end of the spine.

    Liao Ya let out a surprised cry and instinctively tried to get up, then realizing it was part of the ¡¯Art of the Dragon yer Manual¡¯, quicklyid back down.

    Even within close sect members, touching this area was deemed inappropriate. Liao Ya forcefully suppressed her embarrassment, her face turning beet red. Still, the massage at this awkward spot went on for too long.

    Sensing something was amiss, Liao Ya couldn¡¯t help but speak up, "Junior brother..."

    "Ah?" The alluring peach was too tempting, and Lu Yao had actually lost track of time while immersed in it.

    Only after his elder sister¡¯s reminder did he return to his senses and hastilypleted the remaining steps.

    As soon as it was over, Liao Ya quickly got up to get dressed. She wasn¡¯t fooling herself; she had already realized her junior brother had developed inappropriate feelings for her.

    She red at him, wanting to scold him, but they had been through so much together. It was a lie to say there were no feelings, and the junior brother had even helped her avenge her father¡¯s death.

    Liao Ya¡¯s mind was full of thoughts, and she just exhaled aplex sigh with her pretty face flushed.

    At this moment, Lu Yao was regting his breath after an excessive consumption of Inner Qi, his face slightly pale.

    Liao Ya ced her hand on his chest, transferring some of her Inner Qi to him, and said, "Your Inner Breath is still weak; you don¡¯t need toplete the whole set. Do as much as you¡¯re capable of."

    Lu Yao shook his head nonchntly, asking, "Elder sister~ is it effective?"

    After sensing for a while, Liao Ya eximed in admiration, "My organs, muscles, and Aperture Points all feel incredibly warm andfortable. ces that would take a day of cultivation to refine can be reached with just a simple press from you. It¡¯s truly a miraculous skill!"

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "Then I should press them for you every day."

    "No need..." Liao Ya subconsciously covered her buttocks and declined but then, realizing the technique¡¯s effectiveness, she lowered her head and whispered softly, "Once every three to five days is enough..."

    Lu Yao nodded, confident, and said, "I¡¯ve just learned it, and with more diligent practice, I¡¯ll master the skills described in the book to cause organs, muscles, and meridian points to resonate together. The effect will be even better then!"

    Liao Ya nodded, feeling somewhat mncholic, "Compared to you and the Commandery Princess, my techniques are far inferior. It seems I also need to continue working hard on Spirit Refinement. Last night, you mentioned the ¡¯Saintly Sage State¡¯..."

    Just then, Liao Qe suddenly pushed open the door, looked around outside, and stealthily whispered, "Lu Yao, shouldn¡¯t you tell sister about that thing..."

 Chapter 100: 100. "Eaves Dragon Pile" and Firearms

    Lu Yao knew that Liao Qe was referring to the matter of gold.

    After pondering for a moment, he shook his head, "Senior Sister can''t keep secrets, and she might end up sleeping with the Commandery Princess tonight. Better wait until we get back to the boxing gym to talk about it."

    Liao Qe nodded vigorously, "That''s right, it''s a matter of great importance, we absolutely can''t let any information leak."

    "What exactly is it?" Liao Ya, with eyes like autumn waters, looked somewhat puzzled.

    Liao Qe said with a smile, "Lu Yao has something good, but for now, we can''t tell you~ I''m afraid it might frighten you~"

    "How could I possibly be scared..." She ruffled her younger sister''s head and didn''t think much of it.

    It was likely something delicious, fun, or a weapon; in any case, the junior brother wouldn''t leave her out.

    She took out the "Eaves Dragon Pile" from the Hailong Gang, saying, "I''ve already mastered this technique, it''s just right to teach it to you two."

    "So soon?"

    "It''s not difficult, it''s just about imitating the way an eave dragon uses its muscles and bones to generate force."

    This is the advantage of having an "academic bully" in the same sect, there''s always someone to teach you hand-in-hand if you encounter something difficult.

    Lu Yao only needed to wait for the girl to use her delicate little hands to draw the key points of force exertion on his body, and then he could control his body with Spirit Refinement to learn.

    "Eave dragon" is actually a gecko, and "Eaves Dragon Pile" frankly is about imitating a four-legged snake.

    This Kung Fu wasn''t considered presentable in the past, because it was truly unsightly in a fight. While others stood erect with spears or proudly wielded swords, you''d be crawling and rolling on the ground, with an appeal that was negative.

    Later, when Firearms appeared, everyone suddenly realized¡ªthe ones practicing this Kung Fu were only about a foot high while lying on the ground, moving as though they were flying close to it, making it very hard for Firearms to hit them.

    Moreover, when cannonballs were iing, if you were lying down, you could also avoid the st wave and shrapnel.

    Consequently, "Eaves Dragon Pile" became a sought-after technique, with countless people wanting to acquire this Secret Manual, and the sects that already had it were desperately keeping it secret, preventing it from being leaked.

    Liao Ya advised, "In the initial phase, you can run on the ground like a four-legged snake, and once you reach a certain level of proficiency, you can move freely on walls."

    Lu Yao was the first to master it, swaying his waist and using his hands and feet together to transform into a four-legged snake, darting around the yard so fast that only streaks of shadows remained.

    "Hahaha, indeed, four legs are much faster than two~"

    Lu Yao found it very amusing as he ran, leaving afterimages all around the yard. He even asionally dashed next to Liao Qe, yfully biting her leg, causing her to scream in surprise.

    Having learned "Eaves Dragon Pile" and yed around for a while, it was already the afternoon.

    At this time, Li Pei returned by carriage.

    Seeing Lu Yao''s antics, she knew what he was up to.

    She took off her coat and called out, "Eaves Dragon Pile"? Watch this."

    Finished speaking, shey on the ground, belly up, activated "Eaves Dragon Pile", and even pulled out two Shotguns, managing to slide up the wall like that.

    "This skill can be used to move quickly while shooting."

    Lu Yao nodded in agreement, trying it out for himself, but unfortunately, without using his hands, his speed decreased significantly, and more practice was needed.

    Liao Ya approached softly and asked, "Why did Sistere back so early? Are you done with your tasks?"

    Li Pei smiled, "Today has been exceptionally leisurely. Einheit has now be the rat crossing the street, and the Imperial Court, holding onto righteousness, has finally breathed a sigh of relief. Speaking of which... we owe a big thank you to those heroes."

    The three of them smiled with reserved politeness, and Lu Yao was curious about the current situation. Before he could ask, Li Pei volunteered the information.

    "Jiade and Einheit have ongoing petty scruples over the overseas colonies, with deep-rooted conflicts between them.

    This time, having obtained evidence that Einheit developed "Poison Gas," Jiade repeatedly caused trouble in the internationalmunity, putting Einheit in a very passive position.

    The Opium Company, implicated in the matter, dared not utter a word, not even mentioning the fact that William had died."

    Li Pei took Liao Ya''s hand and said with a narrow smile, "So, this affair is considered over, and you can go home any time... However, I would still like my sister to keep mepany for one more night."

    Liao Ya had no choice but to agree, and the three of them stayed with Li Pei for an additional night before returning to the martial arts school the next day.

    ~~~~~~~

    Yunzhou Einheit Concession

    The "Opium Company" Li Pei mentioned as not daring to speak out weed two distinguished guests, a man and a woman, that day.

    The man had a slender figure and sported a full beard, dressed in an exquisite ck suit, with an Einheit Knighthood Medal pinned to his chest.

    This was the Consul of the Einheit Yunzhou Concession¡ªdimir.

    At the moment, he poked a suit of armor full of bullet holes with his cane and said,

    "The armor of the Imperial Royal Knights was torn apart like biscuits. Looking at the caliber... it appears to be some type of rapid-fire cannon."

    This armor happened to be Wu Hailong''s.

    The woman wore a ck and white striped dress with atticed veil over her face.

    Her vermilion lips parted lightly, "Mr. Consul, it looks like I''m taking over a hot mess. A reputation that couldn''t be worse, nearly copsed trade channels, and dangerous enemies."

    Consul dimir held his head high and said, "Miss Kartin, I''m afraid the danger is even greater than you imagine. Baron William died from pure silver purification, and not even his soul was preserved. This indicates that the enemy is exceptionally wealthy."

    "Are you suggesting the enemy is the Shun Country Imperial Court?"

    "I can''t guarantee that, you''ll need to investigate slowly. However, I suggest you first learn the nativenguage, which will make starting work easier."

    Miss Kartin nodded and then shook a small bell in her hand.

    A Tianzhu servant knocked and appeared at the door, bowing before bringing in a girl about 12 years old.

    The little girl was covered in patches but looked neat and clean. She curtseyed and then stood without speaking. She was there to apply for a maid position and was somewhat at a loss on her first day at work.

    Miss Kartin first praised the Tianzhu servant, "Well chosen, Mahad."

    Then she gestured for the little girl toe closer with her finger.

    The girl hesitantly walked a few steps forward, and Miss Kartin clenched her fist.

    Suddenly, the girl''s eyes widened as the blood in her body uncontrobly burst from her veins, spraying out and assembling into a slowly revolving blood orb beside Miss Kartin.

    The Tianzhu servant, unperturbed, picked up the now mummified little girl and, after bowing, retreated.

    Miss Kartin had already absorbed the blood orb and, after closing her eyes to savor it for a moment, spoke fluent Xianguage, "I have already learned the nativenguage."

    Consul dimir noticed the smell of blood and also revealed his fangs. He was clearly upset and covered his mouth with a handkerchief, saying in a muffled voice,

    "A fine ''Memory of Blood'' spell. But that was quite impolite of you, to dine in the presence of a gentleman."

    "I apologize, I am a believer of the Original Doctrine Sect."

    Miss Kartin licked the corner of her mouth, "I have always felt that keeping food like livestock is a vition of the noble vampire instinct."

    Consul dimir suppressed his instincts and retracted his fangs, shrugging, "You should have a lot inmon with those mercenaries and armed merchants."

    Miss Kartinughed, "I am the newly-appointed manager of the Opium Company; it is indeed necessary to maintain good rtions with employees and partners."

 Chapter 101: 101. Automatic Shotgun

    After returning to the boxing gym, a drizzle began to fall.

    The glossy tiles of the green-brick house seemed much cleaner and brighter in the rain threads.

    When the gloomy rain persisted, it was the perfect time for a medicinal soak. Lu Yao entered a state of sitting in oblivion atop of Liao Qe''s back in the bath barrel.

    His state at that moment was paradoxical, having to "abandon the physical form and consciousness, forgetting the body," while also needing to precisely remember this spiritual sensation.

    It was a good while before he left that state, and Lu Yao let out a sigh,

    "My Spirit Refinement has indeed improved, I can now observe my enemies in apletely focused state at 0.4 times speed. But I wonder when I will be able to sit in oblivion..."

    Without any hints or standards, and not knowing how far he had alreadye, he could only continue refining alone, no wonder it was called "Spirit Refinement."

    After musing about the difficulties of Spirit Refinement, he then repaid Liao Qe by massaging her with techniques from the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual.''

    Under the massage of Lu Yao, Liao Qe hummedfortably, feeling an iparable sense of satisfaction in her organs and bones, warmer and cozier than a medicinal soak, and eventually, she fell asleep.

    After tucking the girl into bed and covering her with the quilt, he went out into the courtyard to look for the newspaper.

    Having not returned for two days, normally, the newspaper boy would stuff the newspaper through the door slit, but Lu Yao couldn''t find it.

    At that moment, the knocking of the door knocker sounded, and upon opening it, he was greeted by the little newspaper boy.

    "Master Lu~ your newspaper. It''s going to rain, and I was afraid it might get soggy, so I''ve been carrying it with me."

    "Alright, thank you,"

    Lu Yao took the newspaper with a friendly smile. Noting the boy''s expectant look, he realized he hadn''t brought any steamed buns.

    Just as he was about to fetch some from the kitchen, Liao Ya had already brought them over.

    Standing under the eaves, the newspaper boy devoured the dry, hard buns ravenously, then bowed and was about to leave.

    Lu Yao noticed that the boy was wearing a brand-new peaked cap and casuallyplimented, "Nice hat."

    The newspaper boy grinned and said, "My sister bought it for me, she''s gone to work in the concession."

    Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelBin

    As Lu Yao flipped through the newspaper, he replied offhandedly, "Recently, the Einheit concession area has been hiring, there''s been an ad in the paper for three days straight."

    "That''s where my sister went, we''ll never go hungry again. Master Lu, I''m off~" The newspaper boy tucked the paper into his chest and ran off quickly.

    Lu Yao had finished reading the newspaper, nothing particrly new¡ªjust the usual denunciation of the foreign powers. Lately, the xenophobic sentiment among the people is extremely high, ming all their current hardships on foreigners.

    Lu Yao sighed, thought for a moment that there was nothing pressing to do here, and decided it was a good time to go back to Blue Star to resupply.

    ~~~~~~~

    It so happened that in Blue Star Hungsha Country, it had also just finished raining.

    After the rain, the scent of rotting nts in the jungle was masked, and the air was unusually fresh.

    Lu Yao took out his phone to discern his direction and began walking opposite to the border line.

    This time, his main mission was to acquire .50 caliber bullets. It was exhrating to dismantle the Hailong Gang''s buildings, but he had nearly run out of ammunition.

    The bullets shouldn''t be hard to find,st time he had wiped out a military troop that was piging a vige, just needed to locate their camp.

    Once entering the focused state, his hearing became extremely sensitive, and he quickly picked up faint sounds of gunfire in the air.

    Following the sound of gunfire, he effortlessly found the military camp. The camp housed a few thousand soldiers, with no intention to conceal their presence. They openly constructed their defenses and organized target practice for the soldiers.

    There were scouts hidden all around, and Lu Yao happened to be standing right above one d in a "Ghillie Suit."

    This soldier was hidden in the dense shrubbery, his face smothered in paint, impossible to make out his features, looking every bit the elite.

    Unaware of Lu Yao above him, the soldier kept a vignt watch over the surroundings.

    Amusingly, next to the many a book with a lengthy title, filled with block characters¡ª"When the Foolish Husband Entered into Marriage for Three Years, He Apanied His Wife to a Banquet for the First Time, Causing All the Officials There to Tremble with Fear."

    The book was clearly a pirated copy, its cover printed with pictures of some well-known courtesans from the He Kingdom.

    Lu Yao smiled and looked towards the military camp, starting to ponder whether to steal or rob.

    Suddenly, some instructions came through the earpiece of the soldier beneath him, and he bolted away in panic.

    And the people in the distant military camp, much like students rushing to the cafeteria after ss, came pouring out thunderously.

    The soldier d in a ghillie suit was running as if he lost his mind, but then, mid-run, he suddenly took off from the ground!

    Turning his head, he found himself held by the neck by a young man, lifted up like a small chicken!

    Lu Yao asked, "What happened?"

    The soldier was so frightened that he raised his gun to shoot.

    However, with a shake of his spine, courtesy of Lu Yao, the soldier abandoned all thoughts of resistance, and his hands hung limply at his sides. It was an additional benefit of practicing the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual''.

    Seizing the man''s weapon, he had mistaken it for a 556 rifle, but holding it, he realized it was the renowned AA-12, a fully automatic shotgun!

    Lu Yao happily pocketed the spoils of war. The soldier he had caught seemed very desperate, struggling, he yelled in the awkward Xianguage:

    "Let me go!! Two days ago, a rocket identally hit Xia Country territory, Xia Country''s artillery is going to remove all military facilities at the border, and this ce is within the firing range..."

    Lu Yao didn''t quite understand: "We are a good forty or fifty kilometers from the border, such a far ce..."

    He was mid-sentence when he suddenly heard an increasingly sharp "whoosh~" sounding from afar! It was the sound of cannonballs in flight!

    He tossed aside the soldier in front of him and took off running, staying close to the ground using the newly learned Eave Dragon Stake.

    Violent explosions followed right behind, with the shockwave carrying countless debris in hot pursuit.

    Fortunately, Lu Yao had already reached a safe area and climbed arge tree to watch the modern cannons ''wash the ground.''

    He saw countless cannonballs,rge as thighs, falling upon the military camp.

    Each explosion could turn everything within a 60-meter diameter into dust. Livestock, buildings, vehicles all torn asunder.

    Before long, the barrage ceased. The military camp had turned into a scorched earth pocked with craters, which, if filled with water, could serve as small ponds.

    From above, the once dense jungle suddenly had a bald patch.

    In the beginning, Lu Yao watched with great interest and admiration, saying, "This is how you wash the ground with cannons. Otherworldly cannons can only kick up dust."

    But as he saw the military camp utterly destroyed, he became devastated, "Ah~ my ammunition..."

    At that moment, Lu Yao noticed three overturned trucks at the edge of the military camp.

    He immediately leapt down from the tree and went over to try his luck.

    The trucks had been flipped countless times by the st wave; the driver''s innards had turned to liquid and oozed out, stone dead long ago.

    The first truck was full of canned goods; the second had many wooden weapon crates.

    Lu Yao opened one and saw it lined with straw, all filled with AA-12s, and countless rounds of ammunition!

    This automatic shotgun was manufactured by the Star Alliance Nation, specifically designed for use in the jungle.

    During the Vietnam War, Star Alliance Nation''s Military was often ambushed by AK-wielding ''monkeys'' who would suddenly pop out from trees, tunnels, and bushes, catching them off guard.

    Thus, the AA-12 was born! Its main purpose was¡ªwhen ambushed by ''monkeys,'' one could discharge a rapid, widespread volley, directly spraying their faces!

    ~~~~~~~

    This should have been the military-issued weapon, and now it had all fallen into the hands of Lu Yao.

    He jauntily climbed onto the third truck to check, but unfortunately, it also contained canned goods. No matter, having these automatic shotguns was good enough.

    Just as he was about to pack them up and leave, countless cars suddenly appeared in the distance, all with people of the same mindset as his,ing to scavenge the battlefield.

    Pickup trucks, Wuling Hongguang minivans, you name it; most had machine guns mounted on them, the bullet chains looking quite tempting.

 Chapter 102: 102. "Battle Armor" design completed

    At that moment, Lu Yao was trying to right a flipped truck to carry away the items he wanted.

    After these people arrived, they just started shooting without a word. Lu Yao was both shocked and furious, fearing they would damage his belongings.

    He grabbed an AA-12, crouched down, and used the "Eave Dragon Stake" technique to dash into the bushes.

    The enemy lost their target and began searching while cursing in Hongshanguage, randomly firing into the vegetation.

    Meanwhile, Lu Yao, like a gecko, had already snuck up on them through the underbrush and suddenly opened fire!

    The AA-12 used No. 12 buckshot, sting out 9 steel pellets. A flesh and blood body hit by a shot would immediately have a hole the size of a teacup and be flung away from the ground.

    And the most excessive thing was, this gun was fully automatic! It could fire 5 rounds a second.

    After emptying a magazine of 12 rounds, 12 unfortunate souls flew out covered in blood, the surrounding vegetation turned sanguine, and the field was filled with wails.

    These men were just militia-quality, not even finding where the enemy was as theirrades continuously exploded withrge holes and fell dead. Before Lu Yao could even reload, they panicked and began to flee, screaming in terror.

    "Close-range power is not bad, more flexible than a machine gun."

    Lu Yao appraised the weapon in his hand and did not bother with the fleeing enemies, hurriedly searching for .50 caliber ammunition.

    The Star Alliance Country waged wars everywhere and would sell off their equipment on-site after battles to facilitate budget approvals from their congress.

    Thus, the Southern Border Countries had a lot of Star Alliance equipment, and the Browning machine gun was one such item, making .50 caliber ammunition not hard to find.

    After a thorough search, he found a total of ten boxes, enough tost for a while.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao lifted 300 kilograms of materials onto a Wuling Hongguang van and drove towards the border.

    He also took out his mobile phone to inquire about two other matters.

    First, he called Li Lei, and the girl picked up instantly: "Lu Yao, I was just about to look for you, theboratory has started up~"

    "That was quick! You all have worked hard."

    "Yes, my old man is really dedicated... Have you gone abroad?"

    "I¡¯m busy in Hongsha Country. Please keep a close eye on theb for me, and make sure the productse out soon."

    "Ok, don¡¯t worry, the bnce and harmony of the form you provided is normal, and extraction isn¡¯t difficult. When will youe back?"

    "A month or so, I¡¯m not sure exactly."

    "Ok, I¡¯ll pick you up at the airport when the timees."

    The two chatted for a few more moments and then hung up the phone. Even without seeing her, Lu Yao could feel the girl¡¯s enthusiasm.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Next, Lu Yao called Zhao Ya to ask about the progress of his "Battle Armor" design.

    Zhao Ya answered the call and immediately reported the progress to her client "father": "Lu Yao, the design for your Battle Armor is ready. I¡¯ll send the data to you..."

    "The exterior is Composite Armor¡ªthe outermostyer is boron carbide ceramic, the secondyer is MIL46100 armor steel. Both of these materials are used for main battle tank armors; the thirdyer is Ker Bulletproof Fiber. The average armor thickness is 3 centimeters."

    "The design is fully enclosed, with some arm des, fist spikes, and other game-like designs. The total weight is 220 kilograms..."

    Lu Yao stopped the car, carefully reviewing the data sent to him.

    The design was good,bining elements from Fallout and the Warhammer series, controlled and dominating at first nce, it seemed like a killing machine.

    Lu Yao expressed his satisfaction, "Zhao sister, I¡¯m very pleased. Just one small request¡ªte the arm des and fist spikes with silver."

    "That¡¯s easy. I calcted the cost; it would be 200,000 per set, can you ept that?"

    "It¡¯s eptable, it¡¯s just for fun. Could you arrange for the factory under your department to directly manufacture three of them?"

    Lu Yao finished speaking and immediately transferred 900,000 to Zhao Ya, the extra amount being for the design fee.

    Since both sides were familiar with each other, Zhao Ya did not stand on ceremony, "You really are a generous client, unlike most who need to revise things ten or eight times."

    "Ha~ This is just a prototype; we¡¯ll have to make more in the future. Sister Zhao~, please also help me keep an eye on the follow-up matters."

    "Don¡¯t worry~ I¡¯ll make sure the factory gives you the best quality,"

    "Pleasure doing business, and say hi to Brother Li and Yi Nuo for me."

    After hanging up the phone, Lu Yao found a secluded forest and returned to the Otherworld.

    By now, he had be very skilled at opening the Dimensional Door, able to summon a green, swirling portal with a simple gesture of his hand.

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the boxing gym, Lu Yao ced the items in the storeroom and let out a long sigh of relief.

    The other items didn¡¯t matter much; they were just toys. The .50 caliber bullets were the most critical, with them there was nothing to fear.

    In the Otherworld, not having enough ammunition meant you couldn¡¯t even sleep peacefully.

    At present, it was afternoon in the Otherworld.

    Lu Yao, who hadn¡¯t slept all night, didn¡¯t feel a thing. After undergoing Organ Refining, his physical condition had dramatically improved, allowing him to stay awake for three days and nights. This was just one of the myriad little perks that came with reaching the Jin Realm.

    Liao Qe, wearing an apron, was cooking. When she saw her dear one return, she immediately threw herself into his arms, joyfully saying, "You came back so fast this time, only one day."

    "I just went to get some ammo, so it was quick."

    "The massage you gave me yesterday was sofortable, way better than my sister¡¯s technique."

    "I¡¯m more practiced, so my strength and control of Inner Breath are better. If you like it, I can massage you every day~"

    "Mm~" Liao Qe happily agreed, loving the warm feeling throughout her body whenever her beloved¡¯s fingers brushed over the key points along her spine.

    While holding the girl and chatting for a while, Liao Ya also heard noises and came over, curiously fiddling with the AA-12 she picked up from the ground.

    Lu Yao took the two girls to the courtyard for a test fire, and amid the roaring sounds, wood chips flew as the wooden stake was filled with a dense array of small steel balls.

    After firing, Liao Ya gave her opinion, "The power is mediocre. It¡¯s very lethal against ordinary people, but if it¡¯s against Martial Artists... the pration of the steel balls is too low. Anyone in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm would be able to resist it."

    She was right; Martial Artists fearedrge caliber, high-powered ammunition. As Shotgunsck rifling, their pration is generally weak, making it difficult to inflict serious damage on armored targets.

    However, Lu Yao had a special use for it. He took a "12-gauge shotgun shell," tore off the top, and poured out the steel balls inside.

    "What do you say to recing the steel balls with Silver Beads to kill Vampires? The two Vampires we¡¯ve killed before had unpredictable movements, making closebat quite tough, but with this, we wouldn¡¯t be afraid anymore."

    The Shotgun is an efficient close-range weapon, which is what it was designed for.

    The sisters were stunned upon hearing this, with Liao Qe hesitantly saying, "Isn¡¯t that just like the ¡¯homemade bombs¡¯ you made before? They work well, but they cost too much Silver."

    Liao Ya also said, "You made three before, and there are still two left."

    Lu Yao waved his hand dismissively, "As long as it works. We will definitely encounter Western Demon Beasts in the future. I need to go home and get some Silver Beads to load into these shells..."

    Unable to persuade him, the two sisters didn¡¯t press the issue any further.

    Suddenly, Liao Ya asked, "Right. At the Princess Manor, you said there was something important to tell me?"

    Lu Yao looked at Liao Qe with a smile, "Haven¡¯t you told your senior sister yet?"

    Liao Qe giggled, "No, I was afraid it would scare her~ I was waiting for you toe back so we could tell her together."

    Liao Ya grew even more curious, her eyebrows furrowing, "What¡¯s going on, exactly?"

    Liao Qe took a deep breath, reached into her neckline, and pulled out the Golden Piglet Pendant.

 Chapter 103: Yes, it is gold.

    The little golden pig was dazzling in the sunlight, exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

    Liao Ya, stunned, walked over, really touched it, and then withdrew her hand as if electrocuted.

    In her eyes was first confusion, then shock, disbelief, and finally, her whole body started trembling with excitement.

    "This... Could this be...!?"

    Lu Yao nodded: "Yes, it is gold."

    Liao Ya carefully took the pendant and gently kneaded it, as if afraid to break it.

    "This is the legendary gold... which has rarely appeared since the days of Immortal Qin, an essential for the Jin Realm ¡¯Indestructible Golden Body¡¯..."

    Liao Ya, barely breathing, stared at Lu Yao and whispered, "Junior brother, did you bring this?"

    Lu Yao nodded: "Mhm, yes."

    Liao Ya, upon hearing this, felt dizzy and disoriented from the overwhelming joy and excitement.

    This meant she had a chance to ascend to the pinnacle of the Martial Path and enjoy the most beautiful scenery in the mortal realm! It was also a long-held wish!

    Seeing Master Liao about to snatch it, Lu Yao quickly stepped forward to support her.

    "I¡¯m fine... In today¡¯s world, gold is scarce, and countless wealthy families and nobles cannot obtain it. I originally thought there was no hope..."

    Liao Ya quicklyposed herself and then attempted to remove the golden pig from her sister¡¯s neck.

    Liao Qe held it firmly, protesting, "What are you doing, this is the love token that Lu Yao gave me!"

    Liao Ya said softly, "Be good, sister will keep it for you." Her tone was like that of a parent cajoling a child with New Year¡¯s money.

    Liao Qe emphatically refused, clutching the pendant tightly, "No need~ I can keep it safe myself!"

    Liao Ya said earnestly, "This item is too precious, you absolutely cannot lose it!"

    Liao Qe made a face, "I have my ways, hiding it securely~"

    Liao Ya asked, "What can you do? This is not a joking matter..."

    Liao Qe did not wait for her sister to finish speaking and started to undo the buttons at her neckline.

    The youngdy patted her "Tanzhong Point" and said proudly, "Absolutely foolproof~"

    Liao Ya: "..."

    The "Tanzhong Point" of a woman who practices martial arts is exceptionally stic and forceful, and is also highly sensitive to touch, plus it¡¯s situated right where the body¡¯s central meridians intersect, indeed the most protected spot.

    Lu Yao found nothing unusual, as he already knew Liao Qe was hiding it there, and stepped forward, "Senior sister, don¡¯t worry, I have brought one for you as well."

    Liao Ya, tucking her hair behind her ear, nodded gently, her beautiful eyes gazing at Lu Yao, her tone was gentle and tinged with curiosity, "Thank you, junior brother. You really are amazing."

    Lu Yao smiled, "This is nothing, there will be even more amazing things. You all just wait."

    ~~~~~~~

    The news of the gold gave the three of them a strong boost, and they practiced their martial arts with even more vigor.

    Although it was an era of chaos, they had managed to carve out a brief peace with the weapons of Blue Star, allowing them to cultivate without any distractions.

    Lu Yao was now wholly focused on entering the Organ Refining ¡¯Five Organs Resonance¡¯ Realm.

    Once in this realm, the organs be more robust, providing not only more Inner Breath but also granting the martial artist tremendous explosive power!

    Liao Ya and the others had the ability to burst the air with a raise of their hands, a power of this realm. To achieve this, one needed great strength and a sudden surge of "fierceness."

    At the moment, Lu Yao was slowly executing the Liao Family Fist, specially designed for the Cultivation of the Organ Refining Realm.

    Usingplex movementsbined with a unique breathing technique, it stimted Inner Breath to train the five organs.

    Ordinary people often struggled with insufficient blood and Inner Breath during this cultivation, but Lu Yao was the exact opposite.

    He had eaten too many good things and his spiritual energy was abundant, now he only needed to consider how to refine it for his own use.

    Various tonics from the Otherworld were indispensable in martial practice, especially in the early stage where the progress with or without tonics was worlds apart.

    Back then, Liao Ya had also relied on the help of the medicine decocting machine to quickly enter the Five Organs Resonance realm.

    Lu Yao slowly finished a set of punches, drew his arms to his kidneys¡¯ side to regte his breath, and at the same time, attempted to stimte the Five Organs Resonance.

    There was a sound from within his body resembling the "starting of a car in winter," "kh-kh," it churned a few times but ultimately failed to ignite.

    Lu Yao didn¡¯t try again. "Stillcking some heat... mustn¡¯t be impatient."

    Breaking through in the Martial Path was not a matter of simply having enough experience points and hearing a "ding" sound. It was a slow process of bodily transformation that required caution and patience.

    He nced at the grandfather clock in the main hall; it was 5 p.m., time for the newspapers to be delivered.

    Indeed, within minutes the door knocker sounded.

    Lu Yao went to open the door with a steamed bun in hand, which Liao Qe had wrapped at noon, leaving arge one especially for the young paperboy.

    "Master Lu, the ¡¯Current Affairs Newspaper¡¯ was shut down for printing a joke about Master Zeng jumping into the river, so you¡¯re missing one paper," the boy said.

    "No matter, three papers are enough to read," Lu Yao replied.

    Lu Yao had subscribed to four newspapers, so he always had plenty to read and didn¡¯t pay much mind, casually handing the steamed bun to the paperboy.

    The young fellow seemed dazed and despondent, took the bun numbly, said nothing, and left as though weighed down by heavy thoughts.

    ~~~~~~~

    The newspapers today were full of news, aside from the Imperial Court¡¯s continuous big battles with the Great Vehicle Sect, upying the front page headline was:

    [The naval forces of "Izumo Country" crushed the "Rakshasa Country¡¯s" Baltic fleet]

    The small country neighboring Great Shun¡ªIzumo, had defeated one of the powerful nations, Rakshasa, officially bing one of the great powers themselves.

    This news instantly ignited public opinion. How could a small ce be a great power? What exactly was happening in the vast Great Shun?

    There was a never-ending stream of those cursing the Imperial Court and cursing the foreigners.

    But there was also good news:

    [In the near future, the "Kingdom of Jiade" will sell our country the most advanced firearms and will also send instructors to help train the new army.]

    The material goods were secondary; this indicated that the issues between Jiade and Einheit were deepening and had been brought into the open.

    The newspapers took an optimistic view of this news, suggesting that the "fight between the snipe and the m" could provide the Imperial Court with an opportunity to take advantage while the great powers were at odds.

    Lu Yao put down the newspapers and picked up the Stone Roller, swinging it around.

    Rest time was over; his own strength was the foundation!

    ~~~~~~

    After half a month of hard cultivation, with enough tonics and the daily transfer of Inner Breath by Liao Qe, Lu Yao had reached the limit of the Five Organs Resonance and was about to break through.

    This step was somewhat mystical, needing some emotional stimtion. Liao Ya had also broken through in a state of extreme indignation.

    Lu Yao had been waiting for the right opportunity. Suddenly, an idea struck him to read some infuriating news in the newspaper to spike his blood pressure, but the papers hadn¡¯t been delivered for the past two days.

    Seeing that it was already past 6 p.m. and the newspaper still hadn¡¯t arrived today, Lu Yao decided to visit the newspaper office first thing the next morning to see what was the matter.

    But just then, he suddenly heard noisymotioning from the main street, a chaotic mix of footsteps and shouting of arge group of people.

    The sisters came over as well, and the three of them curiously went out to check.

    They saw a procession of nearly 300 people on the street, all dressed in tattered clothes, with pale faces of indignation and fear.

    In front of them were the approaching constables trying to stop the procession, led by none other than the familiar figure¡ªInspector Wang Dezhi. Continue reading at m|v-l¡¯e m,p| y- r

 Chapter 104: Five Organs Resonance

    These poverty-strickenmoners at the bottom of society shrank back in the face of the armed patrol, but still plucked up their courage, gritted their teeth, and shouted:

    "We want to go to the Government Office to file aint! Let the foreigners return our children!"

    "Those who went to the Einheit Concession to apply for jobs, hardly any havee back!"

    Lu Yao turned to a well-dressed old man on the bystreet who was relishing themotion and asked, "What''s happening here?"

    This was a street where wealthy families lived and the old man, who was enjoying the scene, became impatient at being interrupted. But upon turning and seeing Lu Yao, he quickly bowed deeply with respect and said:

    "Master Lu, my respects to you. This is the situation¡ªthese people''s children went to the Einheit Concession a couple of days ago to apply for jobs as servants andborers. At first, things looked good, as the employers generously handed out a whole year''s wages. But then the people vanished and never came home again. They pooled their money to send someone to inquire in the Concession, and they were told the people had ''gone overseas to work''."

    He sighed and continued, "Among those foreigners, there are many Demon Beasts that eat humans... s... but if we don''t go, the whole family will starve to death."

    Lu Yao''s heart suddenly understood, and he clenched his fists tightly.

    At this time, Wang Dezhi, surrounded by his subordinates, shouted at the crowd:

    "Your children signed a bor contract to go abroad''! The foreigners are legally covered, even if youin to the Imperial City, it''s useless!"

    The crowd shouted back agitatedly: "Sir, we are illiterate!"

    "The contract was written in English!"

    Grinding his teeth, Wang Dezhi shouted again, "I advise you all to go back home and wait for the investigation. Don''t attack the Prefecture government!"

    With a wave of his hand, he ordered the patrol to disperse the crowd.

    "We want to see the Prefectural Governor! Corpses drained of blood have washed up ashore! Why does the Imperial Court turn a blind eye?!"

    "Right! Those bodies were witnessed by numerous people;ter, the patrol took them away and burned them, why does no one care?!"

    The crowd erupted in chaos, determined to head to the Prefectural Yamen to lodge theirints, and the scene quickly became disorderly.

    Turning around, Wang Dezhi bowed to two big men looking like martial artists and said, "Master Ji, Master Xu, I am in your debt!"

    The two martial artists nodded, each grabbing a Water Fire Stick, and with a loud shout charged into the crowd.

    Their shout was so thunderous that it left the onlookers dizzy and disoriented. The two Organ Refining Martial Artists entered the fray like tigers among sheep, leaving the crowd sprawling and in disarray.

    Lu Yao recognized these two. When Li Shoucheng hade by, they hid on the city wall, shivering and too scared toe forward. Now they were bold.

    The sh of strength was not even on the same level, and soon they had the crowd crying for mercy, scattering in all directions.

    But these two showed no sign of stopping, continuing their pursuit and attack.

    Just then, a small figure ran and dropped their t cap, stopping to pick it up.

    Master Ji swung down his stick with full force.

    Lu Yao recognized that it was the little newsboy, who in an instant reminded him that the newsboy had once said¡ªhis sister also went to the Einheit Concession to apply for jobs!

    Watching the stick about to strike, Lu Yao''s heart raced, but just at that moment, his pupils widened in surprise! A thunderous roar came from within his body!

    Air flowed through his nostrils into his lungs, fused with his blood into his heart, and as it flowed out, it carried his Inner Breath throughout his body.

    It was as if an engine had started inside Lu Yao! A muffled "hmm" sound suddenly came from his nostrils.

    Then, with a burst of power in his legs, his spine propelled his body to charge forward with great force!

    ~~~~~~

    By now, Master Ji''s stick was already swinging halfway down, and even though the target was a child, he had no intention of stopping, his face disying only cruelty and indifference.

    In his eyes, these people who couldn''t even afford a meal... might not even count as human.

    ```

    The newsboy seemed to sense something and looked up in rm. At that critical moment, a huge fist mmed into Master Ji''s face with a "bang", sending him flying sideways.

    Master Ji''s face was nearly deformed by the blow, and when he crashed into a courtyard wall, he made a loud "ng" as he punched a big hole in it, with numerous cracks spreading out from the impact.

    Finally, the broken half of the Water Fire Stick fell down,nding on his own head.

    Lu Yao helped the little newsboy to his feet and said with a smile, "Are you okay? Let''s get out of here."

    The newsboy''s ck hair was disheveled, revealing she was actually a little girl. Usually thin and small, and dressed in old clothes, it had been hard to tell.

    She quickly stuffed her hair into her hat, adjusted it properly, bowed to Lu Yao, and then ran off with the crowd.

    ~~~~~~~

    The two sisters came running over happily, their mouths full of tiny white teeth as theyughed, "Junior brother Lu Yao, have your Five Organs Resonated?"

    Lu Yao nodded, "Yes, I''ve finally caught up with Liao Qe."

    Liao Ya patted his shoulder, satisfied, "Not bad at all. Your next step is to achieve the Resonance of the Six Bowels. Don''t ck off."

    "Don''t worry, senior sister," Lu Yao responded, full of excitement from the surging power within him.

    At this point, Inspector Wang and Master Xu lifted the unconscious Master Ji, showing no intention of troubling Lu Yao. Instead, they repeatedly bowed and smiled apologetically,

    "This man couldn''t recognize a great man when he saw one. Master Lu, please don''t stoop to his level. Once he wakes up, I''ll make sure to teach him a lesson."

    Seeing Lu Yao nod, they quickly left, carrying Master Ji away.

    Only the old man who had been watching themotion was about to cry ¨C the wall with a new hole was part of his home.

    Lu Yao casually tossed him a Silver Bean and then returned home with the two sisters.

    ~~~~~~~

    In the courtyard of the boxing gym, Lu Yao forcefully swung his fist, creating a loud boom as he shattered the air.

    Then he lifted the Stone Roller and swung it around, feeling it was much lighter than before.

    After that, he coiled his legs and suddenly leaped up, reaching a height of 10 meters! Explore more at mvl

    Liao Ya exined, "Only with the Five Organs Resonance can you harness the true strength of Organ Refining. After resonating the Six Bowels, you''ll be even more formidable, with a strength of 3000 jin!"

    Unable to resist, Lu Yao jumped a few more times, enjoying the sensation of being free from gravity.

    The courtyard was full of deep footprints and scattered dirt.

    Liao Ya reminded him again, "When fighting someone, never leave the ground without good reason! Once you lose the support of the earth, you''re like water without lilies or a tree without roots ¨C a sitting duck. The opponent has countless ways to target you!"

    Lu Yao nodded repeatedly, carefully filing away his senior sister''s teachings.

    Then, whispering to Liao Qe, he said, "Now that we''re at the same level, you can''t pass your Inner Breath to me anymore."

    Liao Qe giggled behind her hand, "When you can reverse-push it back to me, that''s when I''ll stop~"

    ~~~~~~~

    Just then, the door knocker sounded. Lu Yao opened it to find the little newsboy.

    It was because of her that he''d achieved the Five Organs Resonance today. Lu Yao felt they shared a kind of destiny.

    Just as he was about to inquire about her visit, the newsboy kneeled on the ground, crying, "Master Lu~ I''m willing to sell myself into servitude, please save my sister! I''ve begged many martial arts schools, but no one is willing to help..."

    Lu Yao sighed, "Don''t cry, tell me what happened clearly."

    "The foreigners have imprisoned many boys and girls for a ''Blood Feast''."

    The newsboy sobbed, "Children from poor families all work outside, and a friend who shines shoes in the concession heard the news. My sister must be inside, please save her!"

    ```

 Chapter 105: 105. Initial Test of Battle Armor

    "Adults are never wary of children, and some of the shoeshine boys in the concession can speak foreignnguages. They overheard some information by chance..."

    The newspaper boy sniffled and said uneasily, "On the fifteenth of this month, at the full moon, on the top floor of ''Richard Hotel''... a ''Blood Feast'' that consumes humans will be held."

    Lu Yao was silent for a long time and muttered to himself, "That''s tomorrow night. Blood Feast... feast... which means there will be many vampires at the banquet."

    No one spoke, just quietly watching him.

    After a long while, Lu Yao asked the newspaper boy, "We''ve known each other for so long, yet I still don''t know your name?"

    "My name is Su Erya..." The newspaper boy shrank back, his eyes filled with a pleading look, "Master Lu, I can sign a contract with you to be at your service, to work like an ox or a horse..."

    Enjoy new stories from mvl

    "No need," Lu Yao said as he ruffled Erya''s malnourished yellowish-ck hair, "You go home. Leave the rest to me."

    "Master Lu, you promise?" Erya looked at Lu Yao with surprise and joy, tears welling up in her eyes as she wept with happiness, "I will definitely work like an ox or a horse to repay you!"

    "I said it''s not necessary. It''s gettingte, you should head home."

    "Then... I''ll go gather some more information!"

    Erya bowed and, wiping her tears, turned and ran. She had knelt at 11 martial arts schools, and finally, someone was willing to help!

    Master Lu was awesome today, he would surely rescue her sister!

    ~~~~~~~

    After the little girl left, Lu Yao spoke indifferently, "A bit rash... but if I don''t do anything about it, I''ll feel suffocated and ill at ease."

    Liao Qe grabbed her beloved''s arm and asked with a smile, "In cases like this~ if you can intervene, you should! You definitely have a n, spill it."

    Liao Ya didn''t speak, just earnestly looked at her junior brother, waiting for instructions.

    Lu Yao sped Liao Qe''s hand and said, "It''s good that you can read. Go check the newspaper and bookstores for information rted to vampires. Especially the news during the civil war in ''Menes,'' where a Vampire Prince was ughtered, right?"

    Liao Qe answered sweetly, "Hmm, leave it to me."

    Liao Ya''s beautiful eyes awaited Lu Yao''s assignment.

    After some thought, Lu Yao said, "Sister, you scout out ''Richard Hotel,'' and the rest can wait until I get back. I need to go home for my ''Battle Armor''!"

    "Battle Armor!?"

    The two sisters were thrilled, Lu Yao had mentioned bringing the armor before, and they had been looking forward to it for a long time!

    All martial artists love armor;pared to fancy dresses, the two girls preferred being armed!

    ~~~~~~

    Next, the two sisters immediately set out to carry out their tasks.

    Lu Yao returned to Blue Star after unlocking the door to the storage room of the boxing gym.

    In the jungle, he ran at full speed back to his home country while making a phone call to Zhao Fang, "Sister Zhao, is my COS Battle Armor ready?"

    [Lu Yao~ The wind is pretty strong on your end. It''s just been finished, should I send it by courier?]

    "Haha~ I''m running. Just send it to the ''573'' warehouse on the north outskirts of Qingcheng."

    [Okay, I''ll get in touch with them for you. Oh, by the way, the factory said: If you''re going to make more in the future, they can knock off 50,000 since they have the molds ready.]

    "Sure, thanks Sister Zhao."

    [Don''t mention it. A client as generous as you, I''ve got to treat well. I made a pretty goodmission on this order. Next time you''re over here, I''ll make sure you have a good time.]

    ~~~~~~~

    After exchanging pleasantries and hanging up the phone, Lu Yao continued to run and also booked the earliest flight on his phone, and bought a lot of silver online¡ª¡ª

    Silver ingots weighing 100 kilograms (2000 taels); there are also 10 kilograms of "Silver Beads" for making jewelry.

    These items were likewise delivered to his rented warehouse.

    After putting away his phone, he focused on hurrying on his way, his speed surged sharply as he borrowed force from tree trunks to leap through the forest, swiftly returning to Ruihe City via the border.

    Upon his return, he happened to see a convoy of "truck-mounted 155mm howitzers" on the highway, which must have been the artillery responsible for destroying the camp earlier.

    The sight of a single shell creating a small pond had left a deep impression on Lu Yao, and he looked at these big guns with envy,

    "I wonder if ''Subtle Sense of the Heart'' would allow me to operate modern artillery. If it could... I''d be able to kill from tens of kilometers away."

    Swallowing his saliva, he hailed a taxi to rush to the airport, needing to take care of the immediate matters first.

    ~~~~~~~

    When he got off the ne it was only 4 a.m., and he didn''t have the heart to call Li Lei to pick him up, so he took a taxi to the warehouse himself.

    After busying himself for a while, Lu Yao looked at the threerge wooden crates in the warehouse with a relieved smile.

    The battle armor was enclosed within these nailed wooden boxes, and Lu Yao, using his bare hands, tore off the boards piece by piece and, after removing countless pieces of foam stic, finally saw their true forms.

    Because of the outeryer of "Boron Carbide Ceramic," the overall hue of the battle armor was ck.

    With an appearance thatbined elements from the Fallout and Warhammer Series Power Armor, the full-body armor looked like a tin can. Despite this, it did not appear bulky, with its smooth and tailored lines, the style was coldly metallic and warrior-like, with a hint of sci-fi allure.

    The joints were reinforced, and the eye area on the helmet was made of "T"-shaped bulletproof ss, making it look exceptionally wild and mighty.

    After a brief test, Lu Yao couldn''t wait to take them back to the Otherworld.

    ~~~~~~~

    Inside the boxing gym, two girls were flipping through a stack of what looked like books.

    Upon seeing Lu Yao''s return, Liao Qe rushed to take credit excitedly, "I bought a ''newspaper clipping.'' It''s all about the civil war in Menes, and sure enough, there''s a lot of intelligence on vampires."

    "Let''s set that aside for the moment." Lu Yao called to the two women, "Come and try on the battle armor with me first."

    The two girls rushed into the storeroom and gasped in amazement at the sight of the three nearly two-meter-tall steel armors!

    Carefully touching the sleek ck shell of the armor, Liao Ya eximed in awe, "It''s so smooth, and so hard, is this steel armor?"

    "Composite armor, only the secondyer is steel. Come on, I''ll help you put it on." Lu Yao went behind the armor, opened a few slots, and the back of the armor split open with arge cross-shaped gap. "Climb in from here, you need to take your shoes off."

    He helped Liao Qe take off her shoes, holding her snowy feet to assist her into the armor.

    "Once you''re used to it, you can put it on yourself. Just twist these slots on the back."

    With a thud, Liao Qe was already up and moving in the armor, the nking footsteps sounded impressive. The feet of the armor wereyered in a covering design, enhancing both protection and stability.

    The girl swung her fist with a whoosh, excitedly eximing, "Wow~ I feel so safe... I feel invincible!"

    Liao Ya was eager to take off her shoes too, but was too shy to let her junior brother touch her feet, so she followed Liao Qe''s lead and climbed in. Lu Yao hurried over to help adjust her slots.

    Soon, Liao Ya was also thrilled, moving a few times, then with "thud thud thud" of heavy footsteps, she leaped more than a meter off the ground into the courtyard!

    The ground shook with the loud, dull thump of hernding, as though apacting machine was in use, causing the whole ground to tremble.

    The girl''s crisp and excited voice came from inside the armor, "It works so well! So agile!"

    Lu Yao was somewhat speechless, "Wearing 220 kilograms of armor, still looking like you''re ready to y basketball... the Marrow-Cleansing Realm is even more inhuman than Organ Refining."

    Liao Qe clenched her steel fist with a creaking sound, her tone filled with earnest passion, "Lu Yao, what do we do next? Dress up in this and charge into the demon beasts''ir?"

    "Pretty much..." Lu Yao pulled out a stic bag full of glittering silver beads and said, "Next, we need to make some silver bullets."

 Chapter 106: 106. Fear and Despair

    "Legendary Vampire Hunter Lincoln had collected all the nation''s silverware to make bullets and cannonballs, and only then did he defeat the vampires of the South. The firearms used by the northern army were exactly these double-barreled shotguns."

    Lu Yao flipped through the Civil War "newspaper clippings" that Liao Qe had bought, which included a ck and white photograph of human soldiers all holding "S686."

    "Silver bullets must remain inside the vampire''s body to achieve maximum effect. Vampire''s bodies are not robust, and regr bullets will pass through. However, shotgun pellets are different, as they will stay inside the vampire''s body andpletely kill them."

    Afterward, Lu Yao handed a bag of shiny silver beads to Liao Qe and said, "With the Battle Armor, defense won''t be a problem, now we need to increase our firepower. Let''s make silver bullets together!"

    The sisters nodded, and the three of them got busy. They opened up the tops of the No. 12 bullets, poured out the steel balls inside, and reced them with silver beads.

    While working, Liao Ya reported on the situation she had scoped out:

    "Richard Hotel is located by the Su River, and the banquet hall is on the top floor. Tonight it''s booked by the Opiumpany''s newly appointed manager ''Miss Kartin,'' who is entertaining guests."

    Then she added, somewhat frustrated, "That''s all I know. They wouldn''t let me in because I was not dressed properly."

    "No problem, we''ll make our way in openly in just a moment."

    Lu Yao nodded slightly, his hands continuing to work, crafting silver shotgun pellets.

    After using up all ten kilograms of silver beads, they each had about 80 rounds ready.

    By now it was evening, and Lu Yao looked up at the sky, saying, "It''s time to go. To the feast!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Richard Hotel" was a high-ss hotel built by the wealthy merchants of Einheit, luxurious and splendid beyondparison.

    With its grand, vaulted arches and majestic columns, the banquet hall on the top floor was truly extraordinary, featuring a ceiling of stained-ss that was very imposing.

    Miss Kartin, as the hostess, arrived early to check on the banquet''s arrangements.

    She wore a ck and white striped dress with a veil over her face. After making a round, she said to the Tianzhu servant, "Mahad. Is ''Holy Communion'' ready?"

    Mahad bowed and said, "There are a total of thirty pure young men and women. I will personally arrange them to be sent directly to the banquet hall using the hotel''s service elevator."

    Miss Kartin nodded in satisfaction. At that time, an elderly man holding a violin appeared in the corner of the banquet hall. His eyes were all white, seemingly blind, ying the violin as if no one else was around.

    Mahadmented, "He is blind and deaf, perfect for ying beautiful music to enhance the mood while the masters dine."

    Miss Kartin covered her mouth and giggled, "You are such a considerate servant; I am very pleased."

    Mahad bowed deeply, "Your praise is the highest honor, master!"

    Gradually, guests who had arrived early began to enter. Miss Kartin elegantly went up to greet them, raising her right hand and saying, "Mr. Guise, wee to the event."

    Guise was a tall man with long hair, with a fancy rapier at his hip.

    He lightly kissed Miss Kartin''s fingertips and said, "I''ve heard so much about your feasts. Ah, a genuine vampire banquet! By the way, any tender young boys?"

    "You''ll be satisfied, Mr. Guise."

    As the two were talking, another man dressed in a captain''s uniform arrived and also performed the hand-kissing greeting, saying:

    "Miss Kartin, I''ve been drifting at sea for half a year, and as soon as Inded, I heard about your feast¡ªa true blessing from the Lord. I''m quite eager to start."

    The man''s throat was pulsing, and his fangs were already peeking out!

    Miss Kartinughed, "No need to hurry, the guests will all be arriving shortly."

    The onesing were all important partners of the Opiumpany, including mercenaries and armed merchants.

    Although they were dressed finely in suits and appeared respectable, they all carried a strong scent of blood and death.

    At this time and age, those who journeyed to the East for "adventure" were nothing but a bunch of armed robbers. And with all of them being vampires, one could well imagine what kind of creatures they were.

    They gathered together, and the spacious banquet hall immediately became chillingly cold, like a cer. Not even the melodic strains of violin could dispel the deathly cold stillness.

    Miss Kartin, elegant and noble, seemed quite at ease interacting with these people, asionally covering her mouth to giggle softly.

    These seemingly unruly and ferocious "guests" behaved like docile kittens in front of Miss Kartin, cautious and meticulous in their demeanor, daring not to step out of line.

    They respectfully referred to Miss Kartin as "Lady Bloodfury."

    ~~~~~~~

    Soon, the time for the Blood Feast had arrived.

    Miss Kartin gently pped her hands, drawing the attention of the entire hall.

    She picked up a poster and disyed it for a moment. It depicted a vampire with fangs bared, buying fresh blood with money from a young person whose arm was attached to a blood-drawing tube.

    "Many of our kind keep their food like livestock, even stooping to trade with money¡­ tsk, tsk."

    With both hands, Miss Kartin crumpled the poster into pieces, baring her fangs as she roared, "This is a desecration of our noble ancient instincts! The terror and despair of food are the true sources of strength for our bloodline!"

    The chilling sound waves made the entire banquet hall quiver, and the wine sses on the table tinkled.

    The guests also bared their fangs and roared in response.

    Bloody ripples appeared around Miss Kartin, and her eyes turned blood red:

    "Followers of the Original Doctrine Sect, we are the truly noble bloodline! Today! I have prepared 30 of the most tendermbs!

    Let us tear apart our prey, fully indulge in the thrill of the hunt, and with endless pain and despair~ brew the sweetest of wines!"

    After she finished speaking, she gently shook the copper bell in her hand.

    The assembly of vampires, with eager and urgent looks on their faces, turned their gaze towards the elevator in the banquet hall.

    The most exciting part of the Blood Feast was about to be delivered from there.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The vintage car given by Li Pei came from the Krupp Company of the Kingdom of Jiade, presented as a gift to the royal family of the Shun Dynasty.

    The "Krupp" was an arms manufacturer, showcasing its technological prowess while expressing goodwill, aiming to securerge orders from the Imperial Court.

    The car wasrge, spacious, and powerful, filled with the style of Jiade. However, it was struggling a bit at the moment, with the engine making a huge noise, all four tires being pushed to their limits.

    The originally spacious interior became cramped because it was filled with three two-meter-tall humanoid armors.

    At eleven o''clock at night, the streets were deserted, with only an asional vintage car passing by.

    The moment the three disembarked, the entire car immediately rose half a foot.

    Liao Ya, not minding the weight of the Battle Armor, took a .50 caliber machine gun from the trunk and slung it over her back. Lu Yao and Liao Qe found it a bit heavy, so they only carried AA-12s.

    The three then made their way to the Richard Hotel''s Main Entrance with heavy steps.

    At this moment, five patrolling police officers came around the street corner, a team on the night patrol. They were dumbstruck at the sight of the three formidable Battle Armors, with the cigarettes in their mouths dropping to the ground.

    The youngest of the patrolling officers reached for the brass whistle on his chest, about to blow it. The sharp whistle would have called for reinforcements!

    But he was pped to the ground by an older colleague. "If you want to die, don''t drag us with you!"

    The officers quickly stood facing the wall, not daring to nce toward Lu Yao andpany, motionless.

    The young officer who was knocked to the ground had just stood up when a colleague grabbed his neck and pressed his face against the wall: "Don''t look!"

    Lu Yao and her sisters boldly approached the ''Richard Hotel'' Main Entrance, which sported a sign that read¡ª "We do not amodate those who are not properly dressed."

    The three of them smashed down the entire door and entered the hotel.

    The front desk manager and a few waitstaff looked on, agape, then quickly lowered their heads, pretending they hadn''t seen anything. There was no panic or screaming as Lu Yao had imagined.

    Born in troubled times, one must follow these rules to live longer¡ªdo not ask what you should not ask, do not see what you should not see, do not hear what you should not hear.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao led the way, with her sisters, towards the freight elevator that went directly to the top-floor banquet hall.

 Chapter 107: 107. Praise of Love

    Lu Yao was riding the Otherworld''s elevator for the first time. The "Richard Hotel" had a total of four floors, and this spacious elevator could go straight to the banquet hall on the top floor.

    When a banquet was held, as soon as the elevator doors opened, countless attendants carrying tters would gracefully deliver fine food and exquisite wine.

    But this time, what was to be delivered were three humanoid tanks.

    The old-fashioned elevator was slow. Lu Yao idly tapped his metallic fingers "click-ck" on his firearms while casually chatting:

    "The newspaper clipping says that Vampires are ranked by strength as prince, duke, marquis, viscount, and baron. This woman named Kartin, who believes in the cruel Original Doctrine Sect, has a liking for little girls and has caused a number of tragedies in the New World. She''s been given the nickname ''Bloodstorm''. Not favored by the Royal Family, she hasn''t been granted a title, but she possesses the strength of a Viscount Level¡­ equivalent to a Blood-Exchange Warrior."

    Lu Yao''s voice, slightly distorted, came from his battle armor:

    "Vampires of the same rank generally outperform martial artists by a wide margin because of their various bizarre methods. That''s why I made the ''Vampire Happy Eggs'', don''t hold backter, just shoot them all up!"

    No sooner had the sound of his voice faded than a "ding" signaled the arrival of the elevator.

    A faintly elegant violin melody came through, and Lu Yao sneered, "''Ode to Love''? These demon beasts really know how to enjoy themselves, eating humans while listening to music."

    ~~~~~~~

    In the midst of romantic melodies reminiscent of lovers'' entwinement, the elevator doors opened.

    Several Vampires, as if on cue, turned their heads in expectation, only for their eager expressions to freeze on their faces.

    Stepping out were three humanoid tanks moving with heavy steps!

    Within a second, three AA-12 automatic shotguns opened fire, and countless silver beads poured down like a torrential rain upon everyone present.

    Liao Qe hit a Vampire wearing a captain''s dress uniform.

    The demon beast let out an earth-shattering scream. The silver beads struck, charring the impacted flesh visibly, and amidst the sickening "sizzling", turned to ash as swiftly as ignited toilet paper.

    In that instant, dozens of Vampires met this horrific fate. The banquet hall echoed with their wails, filled with the strange smell of their scorched remains.

    ~~~~~~~

    "It''s silver bullets!" The Vampires called out as they began to fight back!

    Some flipped over the sturdy wooden tables to use as cover, taking out firearms they carried and shooting; others drew rebar-thick swords and teleported directly behind Lu Yao and hispanions.

    The battle armor''s outermostyer, made of specialized "boron carbide ceramic", was designed with enemies that fired all types and calibers of cannonballs in mind, not at all concerned with mere bullets.

    Amidst the "ding-ding and nging" sounds, the trio felt as though they were merely being bumped by flies. The bullets fired from the Vampires'' revolvers and shotguns, sparking in flight, were deflected, leaving behind only trivial scratch marks.

    The Vampire that had teleported behind them, Mr. Guise, who had arrived first on the scene, had a vicious look on his face. Holding a sword as sturdy as rebar, it produced a sharp piercing sound as it fiercely thrust towards the usual weak points of armor¡ªthe neck, thighs, and other joints.

    "Idiots! Don''t think you can do whatever you want just because of your steel armor!"

    Guise''s sword struck with precision, but was deflected! Other than causing his wrists to tingle, it had no effect¡ª the battle armor was undamaged!

    Disbelieving, he aimed for Liao Ya''s elbow, thinking there should be a gap there!

    However, Liao Ya retaliated with a punch to Guise''s chest, the ted silver fist prompting a horrific scream from him:

    "Impossible! How could such cumbersome battle armor¡­ be this agile!?"

    The ted effect was much less effective than pure silver, the charring was slower, but Liao Ya''s subsequent punch burst Guise''s head open, the excess force even punched a hole in the wall.

    After dealing with this minor nuisance, Liao Ya shook the ck ash from his hand, and turned to face enemies ahead.

    ~~~~~~

    The three continued to spray silver bullets, indiscriminately ughtering. The wooden splinters flew and stones scattered as silver bullets rained down.

    The violinist, a disabled person who neither heard nor saw the carnage in the room, continued to y absorbedly.

    Alongside the thunderous noise with the beautiful melody, the haunting tune added a tinge of mncholic longing as the three humanoid tanks trampled over spent casings, advancing slowly. The shotguns fired devastating pellet clouds, keeping their enemies pinned down.

    Indoorbat, automatic shotguns are really useful, perfectly disying their performance.

    Some vampires were d in Steel Armor, but there always were exposed spots, and upon being hit by a single Silver Bead, they would immediately lose theirbat ability.

    They would clutch their wounds, letting out agonizing howls, until they disintegrated into a pile of ash.

    Someone hid behind a solid wood table, shouting frantically, "Who are you people! Aren''t you afraid of Einheit''s revenge?"

    The next second, he saw a wine bottle flying over his head?

    Suddenly, the wine bottle exploded, numerous Silver Beans sprayed out, instantly killing one-third of the vampires on the spot, while the rest lost their will to fight and hid behind cover, not daring to show their faces.

    "I''m reloading."

    "Me too."

    The sisters had emptied their magazines and were now pulling out new ones to rece them.

    Just at that moment, a woman with a ck veil sprang out from the shadows in the corner of the room!

    Kartin, swift as a shadow, quickly approached the three, wielding two stockless Thompson submachine guns aimed directly at Lu Yao''s head for a close-range burst!

    "Ding ding dang dang," the deformed .45 cal bullets sparked countless sparks, but Lu Yao was unharmed.

    Throwing her guns aside, Kartin let out a piercing scream. The sound waves spread rapidly, it was actually an area-effect Spell!

    And there was more, Kartin stretched out a hand towards Lu Yao and clenched her fist tightly, trying to drain his blood; her other hand condensed a blood-red energy into an arrow shape and shot it towards him.

    It turned out Kartin had only fired her guns at the beginning to buy time for casting the three spells that followed! She had long realized that the Battle Armor was extremely robust; firearms were useless against it!

    Unfortunately for her, the three spells were also utterly useless!

    The sound wave only made the three of them step back half a step; the "Blood Extraction" was blocked by strange steel and earth and did not take effect; as for the corrosive blood-red arrows...

    Boron Carbide Ceramic had strong stability and excellent resistance to corrosion! The blood-red arrows exploded on Lu Yao, only scorching a few small pits into the floor, leaving the Battle Armorpletely unscathed.

    "What kind of Battle Armor is this!!! Who are you people!?"

    Kartin, having exhausted all her tricks to no avail, showed a shocked expression, then attempted to flee relying on her speed!

    She turned into a ck shadow, elerating to nearly a hundred meters per second, rushing towards the main entrance!

    The sisters couldn''t react to this speed, but thankfully Lu Yao could!

    Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he went full focus, and the enemy slowed to 0.4 times speed.

    What was too fast to see clearly became something he could keep up with. The AA-12 continuously fired silver bullets, covering all of Kartin''s possible trajectories.

    She was performing high-speed serpentine maneuvers, moving too fast to see, but the area-saturating spray of bullets left her with no option, forcing her to take several hits.

    The female vampire let out a piercing scream as she fell to the ground, her wounds cauterizing and smoking but not fatal, as her resistance to silver was much higher than the previous vampires.

    Lu Yao grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up while one-handedly reloading his AA-12.

    Kartin''s fingers turned into sharp ws, frantically trying to tear into Lu Yao''s steel arm, but other than making some noise, it caused no harm.

    "You lowly vermin! How dare you!!! How dare you hurt me! I am the daughter of the Churchill Family!"

    At this moment, her once elegant and confident demeanor was gone, her clothes disheveled, and her body covered with slowly spreading burn marks.

    Faintly, it seemed as if countless young girls gathered around, all of them unfortunate souls whose blood she had drained. The face of the girl patched up with rags was the clearest of all.

    Lu Yao had finished reloading, pointing the Shotgun''s muzzle at Kartin''s head, and said, "Mydy, I had a st at your party."

    With that, a spray of silver bullets blew off her head, a 12-gauge shell casing was ejected, ttering noisily as it hit the floor.

    The old man, both blind and deaf, was still blissfully performing, the music entering a finale withplex emotions.

 Chapter 108: 108. Someone should have taken care of it long ago.

    Outside the hotel, the patrol team that first encountered Lu Yao and hispanions was hiding in a dark corner, discussing their strategy.

    The oldest patrolman lit a cigarette and said indifferently, "We''ll just stay here and wait for the tough guys to leave before blowing the whistle. We can just deal with it perfunctorily."

    The other four had no objections. Those three ''tin cans'' obviously weren''t ordinary people, and they felt it was better not to get involved.

    The old patrolman exhaled two streams of smoke from his nostrils and sighed, "There''s bound to be big trouble, we''re going to be busy afterwards."

    As soon as he finished speaking, a cacophony of crackling and booming noises erupted from the hotel''s top floor banquet hall, which was bustling with activity.

    Soon after, a window suddenly shattered, and a foreigner with fangs leaned out and shouted, "Help!!!"

    He was shouting while trying to jump through the window, but the next second, arge hole the size of a bowl suddenly appeared in his chest. The foreigner let out a bloodcurdling scream and fell down.

    The wound was charred and smoking; when he hit the ground, he had already turned into a heap of ashes!

    The patrolmen retreated further into the shadows, and the old patrolman whispered in shock, "The people who reserved the upper floor are from the Opium Company! Were those three tough guys here to kill Western Demon Beasts?! And this is within the Concession Territory!"

    "Good riddance!" said the young patrolman who had been pped earlier.

    He looked at the banquet hall, where the light from the fire kept shing, his face flushed with excitement, "These Western Demon Beasts have beenwless for too long; someone should''ve dealt with them!"

    The old patrolman gave him a re and admonished in a low voice, "You''d better hold your tongue!"

    At that moment, the shrill sound of a whistle could be faintly heard.

    The worried young patrolman said, "The Concession Territory''s military police areing... The heroes need to retreat quickly!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Newspaper girl Su Er Ya arrived outside the hotel early on, clenching her teeth as she looked up at the top floor.

    In her eyes, Master Lu was battling a Demon Beast, and she couldn''t just stand by and watch; she had to find some way to help.

    Just then, a skinny boy with an unusuallyrge head came over, carrying a shoulder pole and whispered:

    "Little Er~ When I was delivering vegetables to the hotel, I saw lots of Tianzhu men pushing arge cage covered with ck cloth; it looked very suspicious."

    Er Ya quickly asked, "Where is it?"

    The boy pointed with the shoulder pole and replied, "It''s at the hotel''s back door, the one that leads to the kitchen."

    Upon hearing that, Er Ya immediately ran to the spot.

    She sneaked into the spacious Western-style kitchen at the back door of the hotel and saw a big cage covered with ck cloth ced at the freight elevator entrance.

    Seeing no one around, she tiptoed over, pulled off the ck cloth for a look, and indeed, the cage was filled with youthful boys and girls.

    All were under the age of thirteen, dressed in white robes, and had a triangr symbol carved onto their foreheads with a de, at the center of which was an eerie eye.

    Their limbs were bound within the cage, cramped together, and their mouths were tied, emitting anxious "muffled" cries at the sight of Su Er Ya.

    Er Ya tried to open the cage, but it was made of metal.

    Just as Er Ya was pondering how to signal Lu Yao, she heard the cries of these boys and girls be more urgent.

    Looking up, she didn''t know when, but a towering Tianzhu man had appeared behind her!

    Er Ya was only 1.3 meters tall, while the Tianzhu man was close to 1.9 meters tall¡ªone of his legs was thicker than her entire body!

    "The Master''s Holy Communion must not be disturbed!"

    This man was Kartin''s servant Mahad, and he was about to send the young boys and girls to the banquet hall through the freight elevator.

    Mahad had the strength of the Bone Tempering Realm, and he reached out with his fan-sized hand to grab her.

    But Er Ya was cunning, zigzagging between the cabs, and Mahad couldn''t catch her immediately.

    Enraged, he flipped the kitchen''s cabs and other obstacles, even hurling them at Er Ya.

    Due to the substantial physical difference between them, it only took a few minutes before Er Ya was hit by a cab and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

    Mahad grabbed Er Ya by the neck, lifted her up, and after taking a sniff, he said satisfactorily, "The Master would not mind an extra tendermb!"

    As he leaned in with his nose, Er Ya suddenly pulled out a Western-style kitchen knife she had just picked up and stabbed towards his eye!

    Although Mahad managed to dodge in time, a wound was still shed across his face.

    He threw the two-year-old girl to the ground and roared, "My face!"

    He was originally a lowlymoner of Tianzhu, who turned his life around by serving a vampire master.

    If there were scars on his face, he would be abandoned by his master! Such a consequence was uneptable to him!

    Furious, he stepped on the two-year-old''s head and started to exert pressure, aiming to crush it!

    Just then, the elevator rang with a "ding", and someone came down!

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the banquet hall, the battle had reached its end.

    The shells of the number 12 buckshot continuously dropped to the ground with traces of blue smoke, nging noisily.

    Lu Yao killed a vampire trying to escape through a window with a shot, then aimed the gun at the remaining enemies.

    These Western demon beasts had lost their will to fight, some even surrendered.

    "We surrender! ording to the internationalw of armedbat, you cannot harm us anymore!"

    "Internationalw? You''ve been eating people and still talk about that!"

    Lu Yao showed no sign of stopping, as in the midst of the melodious violin sounds, he, along with the two sisters, killed off all of these demon beasts.

    By now, the once grand banquet hall had been reduced to ruins, scattered with spent shells and building debris, the airden with the smell of gunpowder and burning.

    They casually cleaned up the battlefield, the violinist who was a human was left alone, and the three of them paid him no mind.

    Liao Qe picked up a pigeon-egg-sized ruby that Kartin had dropped and said, "Thirty vampires, but only ten gems have been found, not every one of them drops this stuff."

    Lu Yao indifferently said, "It might be rted to their strength. Those missing boys and girls are not here, let''s go down and search."

    The trio took the elevator straight to the kitchen on the lowest level. The elderly performer put down his violin and watched them with his pale eyes as they departed.

    ~~~~~~

    As soon as the elevator doors opened, they saw a Tianzhu man stepping on the two-year-old''s face.

    Upon seeing three humanoid tanks exit the elevator, Mahad''s expression went nk.

    "My master... What have you done to my mistress!!!"

    "Killed her~"

    Lu Yao''s genuine steel fist sent the man''s teeth flying, then he helped the two-year-old up and even picked up her cap and ced it back on her head.

    The two-year-old could not speak, only pointing incessantly at a cage.

    Liao Ya stepped forward, and amid the grating "screech" sound, tore open the metal cage to rescue the children inside.

    The two-year-old looked over several times, not seeing her own sister. She grabbed a familiar-looking boy and asked, "Where is my sister?"

    As soon as the boy removed the rope that had been tied around his mouth, he looked at the two-year-old with aplicated expression and said, "Your sister... She was taken away by this guy and never came back..."

    The two-year-old let go of the boy''s hand and slumped to the ground, her eyes void of any spirit.

    Lu Yao sighed, walked over to Mahad, raised his foot armored with metal leaves, and ced it on the man''s chest, slowly exerting force.

    Mahad desperately screamed and hammered with his fists, but that metal foot pressed down firmly, his chest slowly caving in, the sound of bones breaking echoed, and blood gushed from his mouth and nose.

    Just as Lu Yao was about to crush the man to death, the two-year-old stood up, approached with a kitchen knife,

    Lu Yao ceased applying force with his foot, leaving the final blow to her.

    "Aaah" the two-year-old screamed, stabbing the knife into Mahad''s eye, but the force was too weak to be fatal.

    Lu Yao hammered on the knife handle, driving it deep until even the tip pierced into the ground.

    The two-year-old let go of the knife and fell to the ground, sobbing uncontrobly while Lu Yao gently stroked her thin, small back to console her.

    Looking at these imprisoned boys and girls, he always felt the symbols on their foreheads looked familiar, but couldn''t recall where he had seen them.

 Chapter 109: 109. Star Keys Confusion

    Themotion in the banquet hall had countless people stopping to watch. They didn''t dare to approach and stood far away, pointing and gossiping about the hotel.

    Others ran up to the surrounding buildings to get a better view, finding the perspective from up high to be excellent.

    Seeing the foreigner drop and disintegrate into ash, the crowd cheered enthusiastically, treating the event as just another exciting spectacle.

    But when numerous teenagers ran out of the hotel, people exchanged uneasy nces, sensing that something was amiss...

    At this time, the shrill whistles outside the hotel were ceaseless as numerous colonial police officers with towels wrapped around their heads rushed over. They jumped off trucks and encircled the area.

    Raising their bolt-action rifles, without a word, they fired at the children who had just escaped from the monster''s grasp.

    The crowd let out cries of shock and curses, "These damn ''A'' Sans!"

    Luckily, three figures wearing full-body battle armor appeared, stepping in front!

    Even from a distance, sparks could be seen flying, the colonial police''s gunspletely ineffective. Then they operated the machine guns fixed to their trucks, which also proved useless.

    Then, one of the armored figures pulled out an evenrger, thicker, and longer gun from behind and opened fire on the police!

    Amidst the deafening sound like that of jackhammer construction, the muzzle swept from left to right.

    The bodies of the police officers burst apart, blood spraying, bing several pieces each¡ªeven the trucks they arrived in were riddled with holes and exploded into giant fireballs.

    In less than a minute, the police officers blowing their sharp copper whistles had all perished without exception.

    The ground was littered with dismembered body parts; all that remained in motion was a smoking tire on fire, rolling aimlessly away.

    ~~~~~

    The teenagers instinctively ran towards where there were most people.

    Recognizing the symbols carved into their foreheads, some more knowledgeable onlookers eximed in surprise, "Isn''t that the emblem of the Western Religion?"

    And the impoverished, in tattered clothes, recognized them straight away, "Hey! These are the children who went missing while working in the concession! One of them was from my former neighbor''s house!"

    Upon seeing familiar adults, the group of teenagers immediately started crying, "Western demon beasts are going to eat us!"

    With this cry, the crowd recognized the truth, looking at each other with an ''as we thought'' expression.

    There were also a few photographers carrying old-fashioned cameras, snapping photos of the scene non-stop. Some even took out pens and notepads to start interviewing.

    The whole affair wasn''tplicated¡ªit was just vampires, under the guise of recruitment, kidnapping some "delectable" boys and girls, nning to consume them in the most primitive way.

    Such incidents were not the first to happen! There have been cases of Western demon beasts eating people all over the country.

    The onlookers quietly discussed among themselves:

    "Those three in the battle armor were actually heroes who boldly ventured into the monster''sir to rescue people!"

    "Yes, at first I thought they were here for vengeance or something; I feel ashamed."

    "We in Yunzhou haven''t seen such individuals for many years... The older generation who practiced martial arts always talked about ''helping the distressed and serving the country.'' I thought the spirit of the people was scattered these days, but now we see there are still heroes!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya took out her .50 machine gun and sted the Tianzhu colonial police to smithereens. The three of them nonchntly made their way to a small alley where the car was hidden and drove off to escape.

    The atmosphere in the car was lighthearted; Lu Yao, while driving,ughed and said, "Sister, we were lucky you brought this. Otherwise, it would have indeed been quite troublesome to deal with them."

    Liao Ya, supporting her helmet, twisted it left and right before taking it off and said, "It was just a stroke of inspiration. Those demon beasts are too hateful, capturing so many children! We really showed them this time!"

    Liao Qe also removed her helmet to breathe and said in a delicate voice, "Lu Yao, this armor is too powerful, 30 demon beasts! I thought it would be a tough fight, but they couldn''t fight back at all."

    "I didn''t expect it to be so easy either. That Kartin was actually quite difficult to deal with, incredibly fast and with very tricky methods, but it was no match for us."

    Lu Yao patted the ce on his chest that was hit by a "Blood Arrow" and felt emotional.

    That stuff sttered on the ground and immediately burnt several small pits; it was lucky that the battle armor used a "spare no expense" design approach.

    Liao Ya spoke up, "It''s just too expensive. We shot out 16 pounds of silver, and that''s not even counting your ''homemade bomb.'' No ordinary person would be willing to squander like that."

    Liao Qe patted the not-so-abundant ammunition on her body,ughed, and said, "When I started shooting, my hands were shaking, because that''s silver spraying out! Later on, I got used to it and couldn''t stop my hands, shooting out way too much. Actually, thest few enemies could''ve been dealt with using this curved de on my arm¡ª"

    As she spoke, she triggered a switch, and the silvery arm de sprang out!

    Liao Ya also popped out her arm de and admired, "With this armor, we''re not even afraid to face Blood-Exchange Warriors head-on! We could even arm-wrestle with Innate Martial Artists!"

    At this, Lu Yao asked curiously, "Yunzhou is also a big ce, howe I haven''t seen any Innate Martial Artists?"

    Liao Qe hurried to answer, "I know this! The Imperial Court lost the war and signed a treaty, one of the terms is that at each trading port, without permission, no martial artist above the Innate Realm is allowed to enter."

    Liao Ya added, "That''s right. Top-tier forces entering someone else''s territory without permission is seen as dering war, and it''s the same all over the world."

    "I see," Lu Yao nodded in agreement.

    At that time, they were passing by a church. The church was impressive, with its pointed roof and red walls, and one could faintly hear the bell tower ringing.

    The symbol at the very top of the church was exactly the same as the one carved on the foreheads of those children¡ªa triangle with an eye in the middle.

    "A church of the Western Religion, no wonder that symbol looked familiar."

    Lu Yao said casually, "I remember reading in the newspaper that the full name of the Western Religion is ''Pantheism Church,'' and it has many adherents among Westerners and demon worshipers. They''ve also been growing their flock in the Shun Dynastytely, resulting in that Hong Renkun of the Grand Vehicle Sect... "

    As he spoke, Lu Yao suddenly braked the car with one foot, his face filled with shock.

    The two sisters quickly asked, "What''s wrong?" "What happened?"

    "It''s nothing..." After fumbling with a few words and continuing to drive, Lu Yao''s mind was anything but calm.

    He suddenly remembered why he found the symbol so familiar¡ªhis Star Key looked exactly like that before it entered his body! The Star Key was a triangle with an eye in the middle!

    [The Star Key, the Blue Star Antique that Zhang Xin obtained to harm me, is identical to the holy emblem of a religion from the Otherworld... A coincidence?]

    ~~~~~~

    Find your next read at mvl

    All the way home, Lu Yao was somewhat silent, pondering over this matter.

    Not until he got into bed to rest, with Liao Qe already mounting him, did he snap back to reality.

    The girl asked with concern, "You''re worried about something?"

    "It''s nothing, just a small question, I''ll figure it out on my own."

    Lu Yao shook his head and decided to put aside his doubts for the time being, hugged the delicate and fair body tightly in his arms, and enjoyed the bliss before him.

    The two began a Carp Stancepetition to test their waist strength, with Liao Qe''s body tensed tightly, she intermittently said, "No matter... what it is, my sister and I... will always support you."

 Chapter 110: 110. Aftermath

    "The Blood Feast incident" had made the headlines of major newspapers the very next day.

    Whether it was among the public or in political circles, even abroad, it was the subject of discussion.

    The public was indignant, full of admiration for the hero who had saved people; abroad, it was merely seen as entertainment.

    To them, devouring a few colonized natives was a moderate scandal at best, nothing to fuss over.

    But the problem was... 30 vampires had died! And one of them was a high-ranking Viscount Level Vampire!

    Moreover, the vampires, known for their speed and mysterious ways, were all wiped out, not a single one escaped!

    Countless people were shocked by the attacker''s strength, specting wildly about what kind of power the Opiumpany had offended.

    At that moment, Li Pei leaned her ample bosom on the table, her fingers tapping continuously on the "investigation report."

    Initially, she suspected that it was the doing of Lu Yao and his twopanions, but thirty vampires, including the notorious "Kartin Churchill"...

    "Even with Steel Armor, the three of them don''t have that kind of strength. Armor isn''t omnipotent... Faced with such a massive gap in realms, no external object is useful."

    "What''s more, to annihte thirty vampires without any damage, at least three... or even four Blood-Exchange Warriors would be needed. Just to deal with Kartin alone would require two Blood-Exchange Warriors."

    Li Pei mulled over it continuously.

    Although she had ruled out Lu Yao and his twopanions as suspects, she had a nagging intuition as a woman that it really was Lu Yao''s doing. But upon careful consideration, it seemed impossible.

    At this time, Zhang Jin, who was serving at her side, bowed and said, "Commandery Princess, the consuls of the foreign concessions have requested assistance from the Prefecture government in the investigation. The Prefecture government has pushed the matter onto the National Martial Arts Association. What should we do? Please instruct us."

    "What should we do?" Li Pei sneered, "It''s simple. Screen the domestic opium nters, report those with the power to mobilize three Blood-Exchange Warriors as engaged in a conflict of interests, let them fight like dogs."

    In the current Shun Dynasty opium market, domestic and imported products held their ground side by side.

    Manyrgendowners, seeing the extravagant profits from opium, began nting it en masse. Those withrge tracts ofnd were often powerful entities; the quality and quantity of the opium they grew quickly improved, resulting in fiercepetition with the Opiumpany, and the conflicts were significant.

    Some Prefecture governments almost chased imported opium out of the market!

    Li Pei had a strong distaste for this kind of "domestic industry" and took the opportunity to pin a scandal on a few entities she disliked.

    ~~~~~~~

    In the boxing gym, the two sisters were wiping their Battle Armor with silk scarves.

    Liao Ya breathed on her armor and then carefully wiped it with the scarf, leaving not a speck of dust.

    Liao Qe caressed a scratch on the armor back and forth, looking somewhat distressed.

    The Battle Armor had be the beloved item for both women; they wished they could sleep with it in their arms.

    Lu Yao had studied the "Pantheism Church" from the Otherworld but found nothing special about it; it was a typical religion that worshipped deities, very much like the one on Blue Star.

    In worlds with supernatural powers, clergy also possess divine arts but are gradually being surpassed by technology.

    Lu Yao, sensing the Star Key in his mind, felt that there was more to this matter. "When I return to Blue Star, I''ll ask Zhang Xin where he bought this."

    Right then, the sound of a door knocker echoed.

    When Lu Yao opened the door, it was indeed Su Erya. By now, he knew she was a girl, just nine years old, having lived with her sister, now left to fend for herself.

    Erya was still dressed as a newsboy and handed over a yellow paper, kneeling down and eximing, "Master Lu, this is my deed of sale. From now on, I am your servant, ready to carry out your wishes as a token of my gratitude."

    Lu Yao didn''t take it, instead, he lifted Erya up, saying, "I''ve already said that this isn''t necessary. My act of demon ying was just to clear my own mind, it had nothing to do with others."

    Erya knelt down again and handed over the deed of sale, saying respectfully, "You avenged a great wrong for me, and I must repay you!"

    Lu Yao took the brand-new deed of sale, crumpling it into a wad of paper, and said with a smile, "You''re too young. Once you''re grown up, then you can repay me, okay?"

    Erya nodded seriously and then began to work in the courtyard.

    Her small, thin body wielded a broom taller than her to sweep the entire courtyard clean.

    While Lu Yao wanted to stop her, Liao Ya held his hand and shook her head.

    It wasn''t until Erya had finished her work and respectfully bowed before leaving that they let her go.

    Liao Ya stated unequivocally, "Junior Brother, everything is about fate. This girl is fated with us, and I want to see what her heart is like."

    Liao Qe also leaned in and said, "Sister, do you want to take her as your disciple? Your standards are so high, this girl doesn''t stand much of a chance."

    "It''s up to us to make it happen, let''s just wait and see," Liao Ya, with her hands sped behind her back, said in the manner of a lofty hermit.

    ~~~~~~~

    In the following week, the three of them once again immersed themselves in deep cultivation.

    Without ack of external resources, Lu Yao and Liao Qe made rapid progress. Originally, their Inner Breath could barely circte through their bodies twice, but now they could easily do it three times.

    When it reached ten times, they could proceed to the next step, "Resonance of the Six Organs." At that time, by integrating the strength of their entire body, both their stamina and explosive power would greatly increase.

    Contrary to the two of them, Liao Ya still made slow progress. Having enjoyed the speed of cultivation that was like riding a rocket, she found it extremely hard to bear such slow advancement.

    At that moment, she saw her Junior Brother practicing his breathing exercises, each cycle taking nearly three minutes, his Inner Breath significantly thicker than before.

    Liao Ya was conflicted¡ªshe wanted her Junior Brother to use the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' to massage her.

    Knowing that her Junior Brother had feelings for her, she should have, in principle, kept her distance.

    But the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' was too important, especially for the stimtion and refining of Aperture Points. Read new chapters at mvl

    Thousands of years ago, ancestors had already discovered many special points on the human body, named "Aperture Points."

    External stimtion of these points could strengthen the body and treat diseases, but if Inner Breath was used, it could exponentially increase the speed of cultivation!

    [Forget it, I''ll remind my Junior Brother properly, and if he takes any excessive actions, I''ll scold him!]

    With this thought, Liao Ya made up her mind, "Junior Brother,e here."

    ~~~~~~~

    Inside the room, Liao Yay on the bed, her pretty face stern, "Junior Brother, you must be meticulous with the massage, don''t get distracted! Otherwise... I will have to call on the rules of our sect!"

    Don''t worry, Senior Sister. My Inner Breath has thickened quite a bit, I can try ''resonating the viscera, tendons, and Aperture Points'' now," Lu Yao replied.

    Taking a deep breath, he entered a state of calm and instantly pressed alternatingly on the various main points along Liao Ya''s smooth back.

    This technique was already close to the perfection of the ''Manual''! Liao Ya felt both the reflex area of her spleen and the tendons and bones of her spine heat up simultaneously!

    A surge of vigour and Inner Breath flooded in, instantly connecting and causing all the areas to resonate together!

    She felt nothing but rxation; and after rxation, came extremefort!

    It was as if an itch that had lingered for a long time was suddenly and thoroughly scratched!

    Liao Ya couldn''t help but let out a small cry like a kitten''s yowl, then hurriedly covered her mouth.

    But Lu Yao''s fingers did not stop, continually resonating the reflex zones connected to the entire spine, making it impossible for Liao Ya to endure; she had to bite on a towel, and eventually, she even blissfully zoned out for a moment.

    When she came back to her senses, she found that her body was warm all over, the massage was nearing its end, and her Junior Brother was tending to the ''Huiyang Point''.

    In the midst of that warm andfortable sensation, Liao Ya suddenly realized with a shock... she was sweating too much... but it seemed it was not just sweat...

    She reacted swiftly, hastily opening all her pores to sweat profusely. This way, her entire body was drenched, and it wouldn''t be obvious that certain parts were more so.

    Fortunately, her Junior Brother did not repeat his previous indiscretion and stopped the massage afterpleting the full routine.

    Suppressing her embarrassment, Liao Ya breezily dressed, nodded to express her thanks, and as soon as she stepped out the door, she dashed back to her room and started to clean up with a wash basin.

    ~~~~~~

    The massage had been very exhausting for Lu Yao; he rested and regted his breathing for a while before he could recover his strength, not having the energy to ponder further.

    Feeling something sticky and uncoordinated on his hands, he casually wiped them on his body and then pulled out a backpack filled with jewels.

    He had found quite a few jewels in the after-clean-up of annihting both the Hailong Gang and Kartin''s people.

    The Hailong Gang''s share was mostly jade items, while Kartin and his men had many tinum ornaments inset with precious stones.

    Having umted this many, it was time to return to Blue Star to sell them off.

 Chapter 111: 111. It has become a wealthy household again.

    Lu Yao packed what he needed to bring and knocked on Liao Ya''s door, wanting to say goodbye to his senior sister before leaving.

    But Liao Ya didn''t open the door and shouted from inside, "Junior brother~ Is there something you need?"

    She was squatting in a wooden basin, cleaning herself, and became even more certain that what she had felt earlier was not sweat. Ovee with shyness, her pretty face turned beet red when she suddenly heard Lu Yao knocking on the door.

    Hearing the sound of sshing water through the door, Lu Yao didn''t think much of it, and just called out, "Senior sister~ I''m going home for a bit, just wanted to let you know."

    "Okay,e back soon," said Liao Ya, knowing she was in no condition to see anyone, so she bid farewell to her junior brother through the door.

    The moment Lu Yao turned to leave, Liao Ya stopped him, "Junior brother~ Wait a moment!"

    "Huh?"

    "That... Gold... don''t forget..."

    Lu Yao chuckled inwardly but responded seriously, "Don''t worry, I won''t forget, I''ll definitely bring it for you."

    Experience more tales on mvl

    ~~~~~~~

    Blue Star.

    Lu Yao, with a single shoulder bag, strolled out of the airport terminal leisurely as the men and women around him snuck nces at him.

    A few girls whispered among themselves, "What a hunk!"

    "Such a good figure and temperament! His skin is also so fine."

    "I''m going to ask for his contact info~"

    As one bold girl smiled and approached to strike up a conversation, Li Lei already came up to meet Lu Yao, and they left together,ughing and talking.

    The girl stuck out her tongue and went back to her friends, joking around a bit, her face showing a hint of regret.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Once in the car, Lu Yao took out a piece of natural bezoar and 50 grams of musk and handed them to Li Lei.

    The youngdy casually looked at them and transferred 1 million over.

    As Lu Yao looked at the prompt for money received, he felt calm. To ordinary people, this was a lot of money, but for him, it was just something he brought along the way. The beautiful jade and gemstones in his backpack were no different.

    "Let''s go to the International Jewelry Trading Center," Lu Yao said. "Is everything going smoothly in theb?"

    "Very smoothly, the R&D is progressing well. The old man says your prescription is working much better than we expected,"

    Li Lei frequently checked Lu Yao through the rear-view mirror, feeling that he had grown more robust and had an indescribable sharpness about him. Moreover, each additional nce at him made her body heat up involuntarily...

    Lu Yao casually brought up, "I feel a bit embarrassed always troubling you, maybe I should just buy a car..."

    "No!" Li Lei interrupted him hastily, "I have a lot of free time¡­ I can be your driver anytime,"

    After finishing, she realized she had been too eager and fell silent.

    Lu Yao smiled, and they continued the ride without another word.

    Soon, they arrived at the International Jewelry Trading Center.

    Although the "International Fashion Culture Industry Expo" had alreadye to a perfect close, this was still the most influential and busiest jewelry market in Xia Country, and it was still teeming with people at that moment.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Qi Cuiya took the jangling single-shoulder bag from Lu Yao.

    Although they had partnered many times, she was still amazed at such grand jewelry trades that cleared out in a single sale.

    However, she firmly remembered the principle "mind your own business" once said by Elder Master Qi. She inquired about nothing and focused solely on running a legal business; everything else was none of her concern.

    ```

    Unzipping the backpack, Qi Cuiya''s eyes were wide with amazement because there were nearly 20 boxes inside¡­far more than ever before.

    Sheid them all out in a row, bracelets, pendants, jade hairpins, and even a "gui." There were all kinds of items... all taken from the Sea Dragon Gang General Hall, and of high quality.

    And it wasn''t just these items, there were also four gemstones, two each of blue and green! These were ornaments worn by vampires, glinting with beautiful luster.

    Qi Cuiya took a deep breath and said with a trembling voice, "Boss Lu, I can''t handle this merchandise on my own, I need to call my Great-Uncle over."

    Lu Yao had no objections.

    Qi Cuiya forgot to call her grandfather, but as soon as Elder Master Qi heard it was Lu Yao and that there were many fine items, he came extremely quickly.

    At 95 years old, he still moved briskly with the aid of a walking stick, looking around 70 at a nce.

    After arriving, he went straight for the jade artifacts on the table.

    This time even he had to use a portable microscope to examine them closely. After a long while, he picked out two pieces and set them aside.

    "Jade Gui, the ancient nobility''s dining ware. With dragon-head shaped handles and a three-legged beast-swallowing form, although it''s jade, it exudes the majestic and stately aura of bronzeware, a great testament to the craftsman''s skill. It''s also an antique, worth 5 million."

    Pointing to a pale gold, semi-translucent stone with two exquisitely carved "carps," he continued.

    "This is not jade, but amber. Crystal clear, quality and craftsmanship are both superb, and most notably¡ªI can''t figure out how the carps were carved inside! And this charm seems to be directly imprinted into one''s mind... An extremely precious item, 8 million will do."

    After speaking, the elder master picked up the item and fondly yed with it, unable to put it down.

    Lu Yao nced at it, vaguely remembering that this item was found in Wu Hailong''s room and that it was said to be carved by an Innate Grandmaster with "True Qi" in the Otherworld, where it was also considered a rare treasure.

    "The rest are just average, valued at 3 million, making a total of 16 million. Young man, these items could double in price if auctioned. You need to think carefully about how to sell them."

    Lu Yao decisively said, "No auction, I''ll sell them directly."

    The elder master nodded, "That''s fine."

    He then pointed to the four gemstones and said:

    "They could sell for at least 10 million abroad. But here in Xia Country, people generally prefer jade, and you could only get about twenty percent of that price domestically¡ªsuch a waste. I suggest you take them to an international auction; I can help contact Sotheby''s Auction House, and it won''t be a hassle."

    "Sotheby''s" is a globally renowned auction house. Although Lu Yao found it bothersome, the sudden thought of an uing n made him nod in agreement, "Then that will trouble Elder Master Qi."

    He then turned to Li Lei and said, "After selling the gemstones, transfer the money directly to theboratory ount. You can handle it. I''ll be traveling abroad soon."

    Li Lei at first was startled, then nodded solemnly, "Rest assured! Leave it to me."

    Qi Cuiya gave her close friend a deep look; this was like winning a wealthy husband! 10 million¡ªhanded over without even blinking an eye.

    And he was so handsome too¡­ what a steal for this little mare!

    ~~~~~~~

    With Elder Master Qi, a distinguished national subsidy recipient, involved, the entire transaction went smoothly.

    Lu Yao, looking at the bnce of over 25 million, silently eximed: I''ve identally be a member of the wealthy ss.

    At that moment, Shen Lin, the head of Sotheby''s Auction House, arrived.

    This was a capable woman in her fifties, who immediately came in person to handle the gemstone matter upon hearing Elder Master Qi''s summons.

    She was apanied by two jewelry appraisal experts. Besides microscopes, they also brought "gemstone refractometers," all of which are professional equipment for jewelry appraisal.

    After the experts appraised the stones, they all gave extremely high evaluations, causing Shen Lin to smile broadly:

    "We are preparing for the ''Grand Auction,'' and these gemstones have arrived just in time. I believe they will definitely fetch satisfying prices."

    Every year at this time, influential auction houses would organize their auction events, urgently in need of good inventory.

    ```

 Chapter 112: 112. Fond Memories

    Ms. Shen took out the contract that had been prepared in advance.

    Lu Yao flipped through it. The gems would be sent to the Star Alliance Country for auction, and after deducting various fees, he would get 80% of the auction proceeds¡ªa very standard contract.

    Having no objections, he grandly signed his name with a wave of his hand and after exchanging a few polite words, he hurriedly left with the girl. He had many other things to attend to.

    After they had left, Qi Cuiya said to her grandfather, "This person... he seems utterly indifferent to a business deal worth tens of millions, not even willing to spend an extra word."

    Elder Master Qi sighed, "Girl, it''s not just about the money he doesn''t care for; he didn''t even take us seriously at all."

    Touching the amber in his hand, the old master continued, "Fortunately, he is notwless. As long as we do business by the rules, it will be fine."

    It wasn''t that Lu Yao intended to be like this, it''s just that ordinary people seemed as fragile as chickens before him, and he subconsciously disyed a dismissive attitude.

    And indeed, he really was busy¡ªhe still had to go to the conste of the Star Alliance Country to apply for a business visa!

    Lu Yao nned to go to the Inca Nation to have a good talk with Zhang Xin. Having a visa for the Star Alliance Country meant he could enter Latin countries without a visa, which was more convenient.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The two arrived at the conste of the Star Alliance Country, where Lu Yao told Li Lei to wait in the car and entered by himself.

    Inside the conste, there were three visa officers present.

    Two of the officers had long queues in front of them, but one was very free. Lu Yao went up to him, sat down with a thud, and handed over his documents.

    A murmur of whispers rose around them as people disyed expressions eager to see a spectacle unfold.

    This officer was a bald-headed Caucasian known for his high refusal rate¡ªthe visa officer Lord.

    Lord scrutinized Lu Yao seriously and took out his passport to examine it. At the same time, he asked coldly, "Why do you want to go to the Star Alliance Country? I think you have the intention to immigrate. How can you assure me that you will return?"

    Lu Yao satzily in his chair, casually replied, "Everything is in the documents, take a look for yourself."

    Lord picked up the document bag, the first thing he pulled out was the official contract from Sotheby''s Auction House.

    The words "Preliminary median estimate 13 million Yuan before auction" were very conspicuous.

    Lord''s tone improved significantly, "So, you are going to auction four beautiful gems."

    Then he pulled out from the bag a bank statement¡ªan asset certification for 25,413,680 Yuan. This eight-digit figure was equally conspicuous.

    Lord didn''t waste any more words and decisively stamped the visa approval. The person before him could easily immigrate if he wanted to.

    Marked by a sea of surprised gazes, Lu Yao sauntered out of the conste leisurely.

    ~~~~~~~

    Inside the car, Li Lei meticulously reapplied her makeup, arranged her hair, adjusted her stockings, with a focus on pulling her skirt tightly upwards, right up to the top of her thighs.

    She braced herself internally: once she dropped Lu Yao off at home, she must follow him up!

    Soon, Lu Yao got into the car. "All sorted, let''s go home," he said.

    Li Lei drove smoothly as if nothing was amiss, taking Lu Yao to the building and swiftly turned off the engine and unbuckled in one fluid motion.

    Her moves were swift and natural as she followed Lu Yao upstairs, wary that he might run off likest time.

    Lu Yao nced at the girl but said nothing, until the two of them arrived inside the apartment.

    Li Lei stood pertly, her stocking-d legs quite eye-catching. The girl took off her coat and slowly moved closer to him.

    Lu Yao sighed, "What are you trying to do?"

    Without a word, Li Lei hooked her arms around his neck and leaned in for a kiss.

    Lu Yao mumbled unclearly, "I consider you a good friend, and you''re trying to seduce me?"

    Li Lei burst intoughter at his words, and yfully pummeled Lu Yao many times, saying,

    "You helped me a lot, essentially saving my life; I have nothing to repay you with, except to offer myself."

    "But I have a wife now..."

    Li Lei took off her blouse too, her face red, she red at Lu Yao and shouted, "Can''t I just have a wonderful memory! Looking at you hemming and hawing like that, are you even a man!"

    This was Li Lei''s true personality finally bursting out after pretending to be a demuredy for so long.

    Lu Yao picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

    ~~~~~~~

    The bed that Lu Yao had slept in since childhood was no longer as sturdy, squeaking and groaning for a long time,

    and the sheets that had apanied him over the years had also fulfilled their historical mission, turning into a big, patchy mess.

    He found a pack of ice cubes from the fridge, wrapped them in a towel, and handed them to Li Lei.

    The girl gave him a displeased look then epted them and applied the coldpress. She thenughed by herself and said, "I just remembered a ''Ice and Sprite'' joke, hahaha..."

    Lu Yao felt the joke was really cold. He scratched his head and apologized, "My bad, I didn''t hold back my strength."

    Li Lei took off her tattered stockings and tossed them aside,ughing, "It''s okay, at least I have a fantastic memory now. Don''t overthink it, we''re still good friends."

    Frowning with effort, the girl used the bed to support herself, stood up, and picked up her scattered clothes to get dressed.

    Lu Yao helped pick up the wrinkled dress and handed it over to her, saying, "Rest a bit more."

    "I can''t, I have to go to thepany," Li Lei replied as she straightened her clothes, her legs not quite steady as she walked to the door, turned back to say "thank you," and then left.

    "Thank you for what... I should be thanking you, really."

    Lu Yao smiled,paring the martial artist girl with the delicate girls of Blue Star, he found a different charm. The impatience in his heart also eased.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao turned on his mobile phone and booked a flight to Guad City in the Inca Nation.

    His primary task upon this return was to have a chat with Zhang Xin.

    Interestingly, the importance of "having a heart-to-heart" with him had now surpassed the need to put him down.

    Your next read awaits at mvl

    He had to ask him where he got that antique¡ªStar Key. He had a feeling that the emergence of the identical symbol in two worlds was no coincidence.

    Also, about the Battle Armor, true knowledgees from actualbat; there were some areas that needed improvement.

    He took out his phone and called Zhao Fang:

    "Sister Zhao, it''s me. I just wanted to tell you¡ªthe Battle Armor has received unanimous praise from the clients, they deeply acknowledge the advanced technology of Xia Country."

    Zhao Fang said, "Lu Yao, as long as you''re happy with the Battle Armor. Did you actually take it abroad with you?"

    "I''ve brought glory to the country; the foreigners were thrilled. By the way, Sister Zhao, there are a few small details that need tweaking."

    "You tell me, I''ll make a note."

    "The armor could be thicker, an extra 100 kilograms wouldn''t matter; add some slidable mounts for weapons on the body."

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe found the weight of the Battle Armor to be just right, but Liao Ya thought it was too light. Might as well make a thicker version.

    Zhao Fang agreed, "Okay, I''ll change the design drawing. Your call is well-timed; I was about to go on a business trip to Yukolun."

    "Sister-inw is going abroad?"

    "Our country is helping with the ''coal-to-oil'' project over there, and a few people from our department need to go; I''ve been chosen."

    "Yukolun is a member nation of the Former Steel Alliance? Just treat it like a trip for fun."

    After exchanging a few more courtesies, Lu Yao hung up the phone.

    Packing his belongings casually, he prepared to travel thousands of miles to meet the long-absent Zhang Xin.

 Chapter 113: 113. Exotic Mountains and Rivers

    Lu Yao bought a pair of sunsses and put them on, effectively shielding his eyes that shone like stars, blocking the harassment of the encroaching swarm of admirers.

    Until the nended and he exited the airport, he no longer felt the thirsty gazes of the women.

    The climate in Guad City was warm and dry, having undergone several colonial periods, the streets boasted a variety of architectural styles, with every nation that had controlled maritime supremacy leaving its mark here.

    The ce had exotic charm, making it a nice spot to visit, but the only drawback was its poor public safety.

    In the Exotic Mountains and Rivers, Lu Yao, as an Asian, stood out conspicuously.

    Enjoy new tales from mvl

    A taxi drew near proactively. Though the driver sported a messy beard and a ferocious look, seeming hardly trustworthy, Lu Yao still chose to get inside.

    Judging by appearances isn''t right; maybe despite looking fierce, the driver was actually a good person.

    Lu Yao sat quietly in the back seat, taking out his phone to search for Zhang Xin.

    But this normally very high-profile person hadn''t appeared for over half a year.

    He was nowhere to be found, neither in business news nor in entertainment news, as if he had vanished into thin air.

    It was while he was lost in thought that he suddenly realized the taxi was heading toward an uninhabited wastnd.

    Lu Yao was pleased, "Great, I came unprepared and could use someone providing me with supplies."

    The driver was indeed nning a robbery; he pulled out a handgun and without saying a word, fired straight at Lu Yao''s head.

    Here, robberies and shootings were all toomon. People couldn''t be bothered to talk and preferred to sift through the victim''s body after killing them.

    Unfortunately for him, his movements were too slow in Lu Yao''s eyes. As the trigger was pulled, Lu Yao turned his head to dodge the bullet and at the same time, reached out to snap the driver''s wrist.

    In the midst of the teeth-grinding "crack" sound, a piece of broken bone pierced through the arm, and blood gushed out as the driver screamed and fell to the ground.

    Lu Yao picked up the handgun and looked at it, "A Glock," he asked, "Do you speak Star Alliance Language?"

    The driver was shouting something in Franquian, clearly not understanding Star Alliance Language.

    Lu Yao calmly activated the real-time trantion app on his phone, and just as the driver screamed out, the phone emitted a stiff electronic voice with the trantion,

    [Don''t. Kill. Me. Please.]

    Lu Yao pulled up a photo of Zhang Xin on his phone and asked, "Where is he?"

    The trantion software converted Lu Yao''s words into Franquian and projected them from the phone.

    But upon seeing the photo of Zhang Xin, the driver started to panic and screamed.

    The trantion software interpreted his words: [White Tiger Poison King]

    "Tsk tsk~ Zhang Xin has even made a name for himself, ''Poison King,'' huh."

    By then, arge pool of blood had formed under the driver, and his lips were very pale; the bleeding from the severed arm was obviously arterial due to being pierced by the broken bone. Before Lu Yao could ask anything more, the driver sumbed to excessive blood loss and died.

    Lu Yao searched the man''s body and found a stack of banknotes, along with plenty of opium.

    Tossing the opium aside and keeping the banknotes, Lu Yao chuckled, "Ha, I forgot to exchange money, and herees a good man, giving me both a gun and cash."

    Activating the navigation, he forcefully stamped on the ground, leaving two deep footprints, and proceeded towards the city center on his own.

    Lu Yao''s speed was hardly slower than that of a car.

    ~~~~~~~~

    By the time he reached the city center, it was evening.

    A restaurant exuded the aroma of food, and unexpectedly, its sign included Chinese characters¡ªit was a restaurant opened by someone of Xia descent.

    Feeling a bit hungry after his activity, Lu Yao decided to enter.

    The boss was from Xia Yi descent, and it felt genuine and close for the two of them to converse in the samenguage, with a sincere smile on his face.

    Lu Yao ordered arge table of food softened by two styles. The food was quite tasty, and they were generous with the meat.

    Moreover, since it was veryte and there were no other customers, the boss was free to join in for a chat.

    This was a man nearing sixty, surnamed Qi, whose skin had been tanned dark by the local sun.

    Through Boss Qi''s stories, it was learned that there were no small number of Xia Yi people settled in the Inca Nation, with the count reaching 100,000st year.

    Lu Yao, curious, asked him when he had migrated, and that opened the floodgates of conversation.

    "I was scammed by a shady agent more than 20 years ago. They said this ce was wonderful, the backyard of the Star Alliance Country where one could migrate to Star Alliance Country at any time... I poured all my assets into selling four apartments in the capital''s second ring and came here, only to find it was a trash ce ruled by the gangs. Sigh..."

    Boss Qi heaved a long sigh filled with regret and resentment.

    Hearing "four apartments in the capital''s second ring," Lu Yao was speechless as well. Those four apartments might have sold for only a million in the nies, but now... they were worth at least dozens of times that, and still rising in value.

    After sighing, Boss Qi cautioned:

    "The ce is ruled by drug trafficking groups. Their equipment is even more advanced than the government army''s,plete with heavy firepower; they often make the police too scared to leave their stations. Little Lu, you''re here alone; be very careful, and head back quickly after having your fun."

    "Yeah, I''ll just have a quick look and then leave," Lu Yao said nonchntly, "The Xia Yi who''s done the best here is Zhang Xin, right? I often see news about him online, a young magnate. Really enviable."

    Upon hearing this, Boss Qi''s face instantly changed. He looked around, then whispered, "Little Lu, don''t ever mention that name here. That person... Just don''t bring it up, that''s all."

    Seeing that Boss Qi was so spooked by just the mention of a name, Lu Yao quickly changed the subject. "Have you never considered going back?"

    Gazing in the direction of his homnd, Boss Qi sighed, "Without a penny to my name, it''s humiliating. At my age, it doesn''t really matter anymore, but I hope to return to my roots before the end."

    As they were talking, a woman suddenly entered the shop. Her face was covered in poor-quality makeup, and she wore a school-style id miniskirt that revealed most of her buttocks, with a pair of white knee-high socks on her legs.

    This was the standard attire of a streetwalker, staring intently at Lu Yao, obviously here to solicit customers.

    Boss Qi stood up to expel her: "Go away, we don''t need it."

    The woman quickly yelled in strangely ented Xia Yinguage, "50 bucks, any way you like."

    She had a trace of Xia Yi ancestry in her features, and her voice was full of pleading and fright.

    Thinking of something, Boss Qi''s push turned into a pause, and then he came back, whispering:

    "Little Lu, why don''t you experience some exotic charm?"

    Lu Yao: "???"

    Boss Qi exined with a sigh, "Tomorrow is the day the gangs collect their rent. These girls in id skirts are prostitutes controlled by the gangs. If they don''t earn enough money, the rules here are strict; she will be beheaded..."

    "Beheaded for not earning enough money???" Lu Yao doubted if he was still living in modern times.

    The woman continued yelling in strangely ented Xia Yinguage, "50 bucks, any way you like."

    Lu Yao thought for a moment and said calmly, "Go find a decent hotel and get a room."

    He spoke in Xia Yinguage, which the woman clearly understood, her face lighting up with joy.

    When Lu Yao tipped Boss Qi with a hundred Star Alliance note as a tip, her joy intensified.

    ~~~~~~~

    The two arrived at a decent hotel.

    Once inside the room, Lu Yao stopped the woman from undressing and pulled out arge roll of money, while also bringing up Zhang Xin''s photo.

    "Tell me everything about this man, and all this money is yours."

 Chapter 114: 114. Executioner Perez

    The woman, upon seeing therge roll of cash Lu Yao brought out, was obviously quite tempted; it would take her half a year to earn that much!

    And upon seeing the person on Lu Yao¡¯s phone¡­ the woman shuddered, her pupils dted instantaneously, and her face showed repeated retreat in fright.

    Lu Yao took off his sunsses, and his eyes, brilliant as stars, immediately elevated his entire demeanor.

    At the same time, he spoke gently, "Don¡¯t be nervous, what¡¯s your name?"

    Perhaps it was his good looksbined with the soothing voice, or maybe the effect of therge sum of money, but the woman calmed down and softly answered, "My name is A."

    Lu Yao ced the money in her hands, saying, "A¡­ You just need to answer a few questions, and then we¡¯ll go our separate ways. I promise you won¡¯t have any trouble, and you¡¯ll get to keep this money. How does that sound?"

    A nodded, took a deep breath, and said:

    "Zhang Xin is the emperor of this city, ruling over everything here. All the gangs submit to him. He¡¯s protected by the Star Alliance Country, and the government doesn¡¯t dare provoke him; those who oppose him will contract terrible diseases and die miserably. People call him the White Tiger Poison King."

    Upon hearing "contract terrible diseases," Lu Yao immediately thought¡ªthis is just like himself.

    "So the Poison King¡¯s ¡¯poison¡¯ isn¡¯t referring to opium¡­ It seems Zhang Xin has done this more than once."

    "Where is Zhang Xin?"

    "I don¡¯t know, he hasn¡¯t appeared to survey his territory for a long time. Moreover, he has many ptial estates, it¡¯s impossible to know which one he might be in¡­"

    A clutched the money in her hands and added, "But the ¡¯Executioner,¡¯ who¡¯s in charge of managing the prostitutes, should know, he¡¯s one of Zhang Xin¡¯s subordinates."

    Lu Yao: "Where can I find the ¡¯Executioner¡¯?"

    A walked to the window, pointing at three burly, tattooed men at the street corner:

    "These three are in charge of watching over the girls on this street. Today is the end of the month; tomorrow morning, the gang will take the girls who haven¡¯t made enough money to the mountain for execution. You just need to follow them to find the ¡¯Executioner.¡¯"

    Lu Yao nodded, stood up, and said, "Well then¡­ goodbye, A. You can rest here for a while, consider it a vacation for yourself."

    A divided the money into several stacks, carefully hiding it in her underwear, and at the same time said:

    "Thank you, you¡¯re a good person. But a few of my friends haven¡¯t made enough money either, I need to go help them quickly."

    Lu Yao didn¡¯t mind, and they each busied themselves with their own matters.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The nightlife here was rich, and the service industry was particrly developed. Lu Yao arrived on the street, and asionally, prostitutes solicited business.

    Some were particrly enthusiastic but with faces full of fear¡ªthey were the women who hadn¡¯t made enough money yet and were about to be taken to the mountain for decapitation.

    Just like everywhere else in the world, the sex trade is a traditional business controlled by gangs.

    The three burly, tattooed men were patrolling back and forth. These men, aside from protecting the prostitutes, also had to exert great "workce pressure" on them, keeping them focused on attracting clients to earn money, preventing any thoughts of escape.

    Lu Yao went to a street stall and bought a celebrity mask.

    Feeling good with the mask on, Lu Yao patiently waited.

    When midnight came, the three burly men, regardless of the crying and pleading, bound the hands and feet of an old, less attractive prostitute who hadn¡¯t made enough money and dragged her into the back of a Chevrolet pickup truck.

    They did this in full view of everyone, both to eliminate the older and less attractive individuals and to deter the others.

    Lu Yao was originally standing by the roadside, and as the pickup truck passed by, he leaped into the truck bed with a burst of leg strength.

    At this moment, the woman was still struggling and screaming in terror, and the three men sitting in the truck were smoking away, paying no attention at all, and werepletely unaware that they had an extra passenger.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The car drove for nearly an hour to reach a small hill with beautiful scenery.

    Already, more than a dozen vehicles were parked here, and over thirty fierce-looking brutes brought out eight women.

    Some of these women were panicked, begging for mercy, while others had resigned themselves. Controlled by the gangs, day after day earning money with their bodies, death seemed a release from their hopeless lives.

    They pointed their shoes towards their hometown and knelt down obediently.

    In the legends of Latin America, a headless person cannot find their way home; they must use the tips of their shoes to point out the path.

    As soon as Lu Yao got out of the car, his brow furrowed deeply. The hillside, blooming with little flowers, was covered beneath with headless remains!

    There were also many wild dogs and vultures waiting in the distance, having grown ustomed to feasting here each month.

    And Lu Yao noticed that among the women about to be beheaded was A!?

    She had been beaten beyond recognition and could only lie on the ground waiting for decapitation.

    Lu Yao was still puzzled: Hadn¡¯t he given her money?

    ~~~~~~~

    "Executioner" Perez, responsible for managing the prostitutes of Guad City.

    He was massive, with extremely developed muscles, carrying arge machete as if it weighed nothing, and a huge silver revolver holstered at his waist.

    Perez came here to behead only out of personal preference. At the moment, he hummed a tune as he approached the kneeling women, ready to start his work, when suddenly he noticed a "President" walking over from where their cars were parked.

    Everyone saw this person wearing a ridiculous mask and drew their guns, cursing and shouting.

    This President of the Star Alliance had built a border wall after taking office and focused on cracking down on Inca Nation immigrants, earning a terrible reputation there. With Lu Yao donning this mask, it was quite mocking.

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    But before their eyes, everything blurred, and the "President" had vanished!

    A sharp-eyed one shouted, "On the ground! He¡¯s crawling over!"

    Lu Yao employed Eave Dragon Stake, sprinting close to the ground, while his Glock fired simultaneously, emptying the 17 bullets in the magazine within two seconds!

    Enemies were practically at the same time spurting blood, with most of them only just having disengaged the safety on their weapons when they were shot and fell to the ground.

    A few with quicker reactions did fire their guns, brandishing AKs, but with Eave Dragon Stake, Lu Yao was merely a foot tall as he skittered across the ground at high speed, and in the blink of an eye, it was unclear where he had run off to!

    In the midst of chaos and frightened cries, the gangsterspletely lost track of Lu Yao, firing wildly around them.

    Lu Yao dashed past a corpse and picked up a UMP9 submachine gun, his spine acting like a giant spring as his body, propelled by Eave Dragon Stake, circled the crowd.

    The "President" with the UMP9 fired wildly, casings flying out continuously.

    The enemies screamed loudly as new blood holes burst open in their bodies, and within seconds they were maga, leaving only Perez, the obvious one with the big machete, still standing.

    Perez, with a machete in one hand and a huge silver revolver in the other, fired repeatedly but couldn¡¯t even see where Lu Yao was, "clicking" as he ran out of bullets and tried to reload.

    In the blink of an eye, Lu Yao surged forward, grabbed the muscr man¡¯s neck, and hurled him against a pickup truck. The impact shattered the truck¡¯s window and he rebounded to the ground, where Perezy unable to move from the pain.

    At that point, only a little over two minutes had passed since Lu Yao made his appearance.

    He picked up the beautiful silver revolver, saying with satisfaction, "M500? Made for a big guy, eh?"

    This was a firearm that shot .50 Magnum rounds, capable of killing a rhinoceros with a single shot.

    Typical revolvers can hold six rounds, but because the bullets were sorge, this one could only hold five.

    Lu Yao immediately confiscated it, finding the weapon to be perfectly suited for self-defense in the Otherworld.

 Chapter 115: 115. Abnormal

    Lu Yao untied the ropes that bound the pitiful women and signalled for them to leave.

    The women ran off in utter panic, not daring to look back.

    Only A squinted through her swollen eyes and looked at the man before her, "Mister, is that you?"

    Lu Yao removed his mask, "You okay? How did you get dragged into this?"

    A forced a miserable smile, "They found out I was hiding..."

    Lu Yao said, "It¡¯s all right now, you should go. Find some money these guys carried and start a new life somewhere else."

    A nodded, then said, "The Executioner only speaks Flemish, let me trante for you."

    ~~~~~~~

    At that moment, the burly, muscr man known as "The Executioner" Perez was struggling to crawl on the ground.

    The opponent this time was not human! His body, weighing over 200 pounds, was tossed like a rabbit, flying 20 meters!!!

    As a fervent fitness enthusiast, Perez was very sensitive to strength and acutely aware of how terrifying Lu Yao was.

    Unfortunately, he had only managed to crawl less than 50 meters before his spine was stepped on.

    Lu Yao slowly applied pressure with his foot, while A squatted down to interrogate, "Where is your boss, Zhang Xin?"

    Perez iled like a girl being tormented, continuously pping at Lu Yao¡¯s leg, and bellowing out:

    "Do you have any idea who you¡¯ve crossed! Zhang Xin will throw you into caustic soda and make a ¡¯thick soup¡¯ out of you!"

    At this moment, his relentless struggles dragged a headless skeleton out of the bushes nearby, getting tangled in his hand and covered with flying dust.

    Lu Yao, not in the mood for idle talk, "crack" a sound as he directly crushed the man¡¯s ankle, then grinding it, creating a sound like twisting celery.

    Perez let out a sky-piercing howl of pain, on the verge of passing out from the excruciating pain, but Lu Yao pped his spine twice, forcing him to stay conscious.

    After all, this man was just a gang bruiser, devoid of an iron will, and under the pain strong enough to cause unconsciousness, he immediately broke down:

    "I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk... Zhang Xin has been living in the ¡¯Leon Manor¡¯ to the south, where he also meets with us... He hasn¡¯t shown his face for almost half a year, and hemunicates with us only by shouting through doors. There¡¯s a rumor he¡¯s sick... I swear that¡¯s all I know, I¡¯m just one of many gangs who threw in with him, and I only see him asionally!!"

    Lu Yao¡¯s state of constant calm was fully activated as he ced his hand on the man¡¯s body to monitor his vitals.

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    Through the heartbeat, breathing, micro-expressions on his face, and especially the changes in his pupils, he determined that the man was telling the truth.

    Not far away, a few vultures descended, and a number of wild dogs approached, all eyeing Perez.

    Lu Yao said to A, "Let¡¯s leave the final blow to these wild beasts."

    A nodded, and the two of them made their way to the parking area amid the Executioner¡¯s wails and pleas.

    The gang members¡¯ cars were loaded with a lot of cash, from which A found 300,000 Star Alliance Dors.

    Lu Yao said, "Take this money and start a new life."

    A nodded, "Alright, be careful yourself, what¡¯s happened here won¡¯t stay hidden for long!"

    Watching her drive away in one of the cars, Lu Yao waved lightly, "Farewell, if fate allows it."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    On the southern edge of Guad City, the picturesque and pleasant climate of Lake Chap had attracted many powerful figures to build their mansions there.

    Zhang Xin was no exception. His mansion, nestled amongst lush greenery, appeared ssical on the outside but was the pinnacle of luxury within.

    Circr arch windows, marble steps, expensive carpets, jade carvings¡ªeverything was the height of opulence!

    At this moment, Zhang Xin sat on a yellow pear wood sofa, specially imported from Xia Country, gently stroking his pet white tiger while watching a woman, smiling without saying a word.

    The woman had a cold expression and her figure and skin suggested she was a beauty, though the fact that she was blind in one eye greatly marred her appearance.

    Zhang Xin¡¯s vermilion lips parted to speak first, "Rose... are you from Xia Country? Is the Foreign Affairs Bureau so thoughtful to specially send apatriot to visit me?"

    The woman standing opposite him was indeed the same Foreign Affairs Bureau agent who had previously been in a sniper standoff with Lu Yao¡ªRose. The Barrett she brought had been a big help.

    Rose said coldly, "I¡¯m of mixed heritage, and as for the purpose of my visit, you should be clear in your mind."

    Zhang Xin shook his head helplessly, "You actually suspect that I have secretly stashed away the form..."

    "Originally, we did suspect you," Rose nced at Zhang Xin with her one good eye and scoffed, "Now, I don¡¯t think it was you."

    At that time, Zhang Xin¡¯s face was both pale and sallow, and although young, his whole being was pervaded by an aura of death, identical to Lu Yao¡¯s when he was ill.

    His face was caked with heavy makeup, and more oundishly, he was dressed in women¡¯s clothing¡ªa sexy, floral, tea-break long dress!

    Rose looked at his androgynous appearance and ridiculed,

    "You like to poison with radioactive materials. But with long-term exposure, even the best protection isn¡¯t foolproof, and you¡¯ve managed to contaminate yourself as well. It¡¯s my first time hearing about a man getting breast cancer, but does cancer make a person lose their mind?"

    Zhang Xin stood up boldly and turned a circle, allowing the hem of his dress to billow, "I¡¯ve juste to terms with life and death and decided to be my most authentic self."

    Rose put away her expression, "It seems... our side needs to find another partner who is mentally stable."

    Zhang Xin stopped spinning, his narrow eyes fixated on Rose, "Do you think I¡¯m not up to the task with this appearance?"

    Rose nodded, "The Foreign Affairs Bureau needs a spokesperson for international drug trafficking syndicates, not a perverse cross-dresser who only knows how to dance and apply makeup."

    Zhang Xin¡¯s face turned cold, and he spoke to his wristband, "Bring them in."

    The golden door was pushed open, and a square-faced man, followed by a group of armed personnel dressed in bulletproof vests and carrying AKs, brought in a man and a woman and threw them on the ground.

    Zhang Xin said, "A Drug Enforcement Administration agent and an Interpol officer, both had crossed the border from Star Alliance Country to scout for information. Your Foreign Affairs Bureau¡¯s investigation into the whereabouts of the form has attracted attention from the outside world; it¡¯s I who covered up your bureau¡¯s blunders!"

    Then, he whistled at the white tiger, and the huge beast let out a low growl and immediately pounced on the male DEA agent, biting through his neck in one bite and then tearing him open with its ws.

    Zhang Xin looked towards Rose, "How about it? Am I not apetent partner?"

    Thetter shrugged her shoulders, "I will report the truth to Director Andre. By the way, kill this woman as well."

    Zhang Xin licked his lips, "This woman is my entertainment for the night. We¡¯re going to have a wonderful evening."

    Rose asked, curious, "Hormone treatment for breast cancer is feminizing you, developing female characteristics. Do you still have the capacity?"

    Zhang Xin chuckled, "Would you like to give it a try? I really like women who exercise regrly like you, your bodies are exceptionally flexible, there¡¯s a great sense of conquest."

    As the two discussed unfazed, the square-faced man entered again and reported, "Boss, we have an intruder."

 Chapter 116: 116.LG-5 type 40mm sniper grenade launcher

    Lu Yao found an AK, picked up some ammunition, and hit the road in Perez''s pickup truck.

    Zhang Xin''s "Leon Manor" was quite famous, built during the era of French colonialism and having undergone multiple reconstructions and renovations, now it stood as one of the world''s most luxurious estates.

    The scenery was remarkable, backed by a beautifulke, with a natural and unpolluted verdant forest encircling it.

    So much so that Lu Yao thought he was there for a vacation, until a sudden "sensorndmine" leapt into the air and plunged him into deep thought.

    This round device didn''t need to be stepped on; it would rise into the air and explode at a height of 2 meters upon detecting someone''s presence, scattering steel balls to destroy everything within a 50-meter radius, leaving almost no safe area.

    In its dormant state, the "sensorndmine" ascended in a slow spiral.

    Lu Yao casually executed the Eave Dragon Stake, his limbs propelling him 30 meters in the blink of an eye, unharmed.

    "Worthy of a drug lord to have such a thing." The spot where he had just stood was pockmarked with vegetation and the ground torn apart by the steel balls.

    That loud noise must have been heard by the enemy. However, Lu Yao wasn''t concerned; this was never a fair fight in the first ce.

    ~~~~~~~

    A helicopter took off from the manor, heading straight for the explosion site. Below were 50 members of the private military, donned in heavy bulletproof vests, deploying and encircling the area.

    Zhang Xin said to Rose, "This could be the power that stole the ''Form'' before. It''s not a bad thing that they''vee to us, maybe we can get the Form back. At the same time, I''m curious¡ªwho wants to kill me?"

    Rose replied, "It''s indeed good that they''re willing to show themselves. I''ll inform Commander Andre immediately and request reinforcements."

    "Wait a minute," Zhang Xin stopped her, "Haven''t you always doubted my capabilities? Let me handle this myself. Taking back the Form with my own hands will be more convincing than anything!"

    Zhang Xin had confidence in his private military. They were all from the special forces of the Inca Nation, each a seasoned and battle-hardened warrior.

    "Alright. But I''ve got a personal score to settle with them myself! Hand me an LG-5."

    A cold light shed in Rose''s one eye. The personing might well be the murderer who killed her teammates and cost her an eye!

    Zhang Xinughed, "So you like it rough! This is Xia Country''s new ''Grenade Sniper''."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The first thing Lu Yao saw was the helicopter above him, and the crew spotted him as well.

    The crew immediately notified the guards to rush over.

    As the pilot saw Lu Yao aiming at him, he calmly said, "At 500 meters, that''s beyond the effective range of an AK rifle..."

    Before he could finish, several cracks appeared on the windshield from the 7.62 bullets. Had the ss not been bulletproof, the pilot would have been a goner.

    Frightened, the pilot quickly pulled the control stick, causing the aircraft to climb.

    Effective range first and foremost ensures uracy; "beyond the range" means there''s no certainty of hitting the target, but the killing power is still more than sufficient. And when any weapon was in Lu Yao''s hands, its uracy greatly increased!

    ~~~~~~~

    After driving away the helicopter, Lu Yao redirected his attention to the approaching guards.

    At a distance of over 300 meters, Lu Yao used the strength in his legs to leap onto arge tree and immediately opened fire on the enemy.

    This distance was well within his range for precision shooting!

    The guards were eagerly enclosing the enemy when blossoms of blood burst open on unprotected parts of their bodies¡ªthroat, face, groin¡ªall hit in session.

    The men, from elite special forces, immediately retreated behind cover, dragging their still-livingrades with them.

    Initially, they thought someone was close by with a silencerunching a sneak attack, but careful observation revealed that the enemy was at a considerable distance!

    "At 1 o''clock, up in the tree!"

    "At a distance of over 300 meters, how is this possible!"

    Unfortunately for them, approaching Lu Yao was as good as being dead.

    Lu Yao''s legs powered up, causing the entire tree to sway violently as he leapt forward with its aid.

    While these elites were requesting reinforcements via walkie-talkie, they''d barely spoken a few words before Lu Yao was already atop their heads, standing on a tall dense-flowered rosewood!

    The distance was so close, so close that their bulletproof vests werepletely ineffective.

    Lu Yao pulled the trigger, and the 7.62 bullets whistled out, boring into the enemies'' eyes, mouths, and throats¡ªspewing gouts of blood that added a vivid touch of bloodiness to the forest.

    The 50-man guard detail didn''t even manage to slow him down before they were all dead, leaving only increasingly desperate callsing through the walkie-talkies on their shoulders.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao continued to advance¡ªthe distant manor was now faintly visible.

    At that moment, doors and windows within the manor were slowly sealed by inch-thick steel tes, leaving only circr firing holes the size of a bowl.

    As the entire guard detail was wiped out in the blink of an eye, Zhang Xin immediately initiated an emergency response.

    The walls of this house were embedded withposite steel tes, resistant even to conventional missiles.

    At this moment, Zhang Xin yelled into his wristband, "Are you sure the enemy is alone?"

    [ording to the helicopter reports and the messages conveyed by the guards before they died, it does seem to be the case]

    "Contact Rose, ask her to call for reinforcements from the Foreign Affairs Bureau."

    [Okay, boss]

    Zhang Xin cut off themunication, and even with heavy makeup, hisplexion looked terrible. "How can there be only one¡­"

    ~~~~~~~~

    When Lu Yao arrived, what he saw was a steel fortress.

    Steel-ted defense with only a bowl-sized firing hole, attackers would have to sustain heavy casualties.

    And that wasn''t all¡ªon the rooftop was Rose, manning a "Grenade Sniper LG-5"!

    This weapon might look like an anti-materiel sniper rifle, but it fired 40mm grenades. Itbined the precision of a sniper rifle with the destructive power of a grenade.

    It didn''t matter if the shots weren''t exactly targeting Lu Yao; a grenade''s explosion had a 20-meter range¡ªenough to st a target to death.

    Right then, Lu Yao was greeted by this very weapon!

    Suddenly feeling a chill down his spine, he quickly employed the Eave Dragon Stake to dodge, just as the spot he had been standing in exploded into a shower of metal shards that pocked the ground with small craters.

    It wasn''t over; the "Grenade Sniper LG-5" was semi-automatic. The next second, another round came flying.

    It was as if thunder roared from within Lu Yao. With a snort from his nostrils, he instantly shifted over 50 meters to the side!

    Lu Yao''s Eave Dragon Stake was already known for its high mobility, and with the sudden increase in explosive power from activating Five Organs Resonance, he truly embodied the proverb of being "still as a virgin, moving like thunder", capable of instantly moving 50 meters!

    Rose, watching from the rooftop, pressed down the shock in her heart. "Is that even human?"

    But as an experienced field agent with a history of killing, she knew she couldn''t afford to be distracted by such thoughts.

    The "Grenade Sniper LG-5" she was using had a four-shot drum magazine, and it still contained two 40mm grenades!

    Rose aimed once more, her finger touching the trigger. Read new chapters at §Þ??

    She believed in her marksmanship, and she believed in this new weapon produced by Xia Country; she was sure it would leave her opponent with no body left to recover!

 Chapter 117: 117. Last Moment

    Facing the powerful LG-5 Grenade Sniper, Lu Yao stimted his Five Organs Resonance and suddenly charged forward.

    At this distance of over 500 meters, the sniper only showed a tiny bit of himself, and Lu Yao was not confident he could hit him. He had to close the distance to within 300 meters, the closer the better!

    Rose took a deep breath, braced the stock against her numb shoulder, and when she pulled the trigger, a loud bang erupted, even though she used a bipod, she was still jolted back by a foot.

    She calcted the lead andunched the grenade towards Lu Yao''s immediate front! If Lu Yao kept running like this, he would end up in the very center of the explosion!

    But Lu Yao, in a calm state of focus, kept his eyes locked on the opposite side. At 0.4 times speed, many things that were previously difficult to aplish were now possible.

    The moment the Grenade Sniper''s muzzle shed, Lu Yao pounced forward like a fierce tiger, leaping 40 meters at once, just in time to leave the exploding grenade behind him.

    Rose, drawing on years of field experience in killing, forcibly suppressed her shock and bitingly fired thest grenade.

    The grenade, with its orange-red tip, whistled out of the barrel, spinning rapidly and flying straight towards Lu Yao.

    By now, Lu Yao was only 300 meters from the enemy. Using the momentum, his legs pushed off with force and leaped up 10 meters in a single bound.

    Not only did he leave the explosion behind his back, but he also aimed mid-jump at the dumbfounded Rose.

    "This is simply not human!" Rose could no longer suppress the shock in her heart and cried out involuntarily!

    If Lu Yao''s moving speed could still be exined away with excuses like wearing an exoskeleton or being injected with military stimnts...

    But this jumping ability of leaping 10 meters high was absolutely not something a human could achieve!

    Her sniper position was on the rooftop, which was very small and difficult to target.

    With Lu Yao jumping so high, he could already see more than half of her body, and the AK in his hands immediately opened fire!

    10 rounds of 762 bullets whistled out of the barrel, instantly hitting right in front of Rose.

    Rose had also progressed; this time, she was not just wearing a JK skirt but had put on a full set of heavy-duty body armor.

    The bulletproof ceramic tes on her body shattered on the spot, the helmet sparked and acquired two deep scratches, but what was fatal was ¡ª a bullet had pierced through her neck!

    Rose futilely covered her neck, blood spurting through her fingers, she murmured "monster" before she slowly sat down on the ground and died with her eyes wide open.

    ~~~~~~~

    This scene was fully witnessed by Zhang Xin hiding within the stronghold. His face, full of disbelief, pressed against the surveince screen!

    "Who exactly is this man wearing the silly President''s mask!?"

    Zhang Xin, a schrship recipient at the California Institute of Technology, found it even harder to believe what he was seeing than Rose did.

    After operating the password lock on the wall, a 50-millimeter thick precision steel gate immediately dropped down in his room.

    Hiding behind this, Zhang Xin finally breathed a sigh of relief, "All that''s left is to wait for backup..."

    ~~~~~~~

    Steel tes fell over the doors and windows of the mansion, securely blocking them. Normally, it would take a devastating cost to breach this ce.

    As soon as Lu Yao approached, the guards immediately aimed their guns and wildly greeted the man in the President''s mask through the firing ports.

    The President of the Star Alliance, since taking office, had built border walls and focused on cracking down on immigrants from the Inca Nation, had a notorious reputation in the Inca Nation. Wearing his mask was quite the mockery.

    Lu Yao simply returned fire, urately sending bullets right through therge bowl-sized shooting holes.

    Your journey continues on §Þ??

    One after another, the enemy fell dead behind the firing ports, finally convinced of the uracy of their adversary''s marksmanship, to the point that no one dared to show their face again, allowing Lu Yao to stroll unfazed right up to the mansion.

    Looking at the immenselyvish building, he couldn''t help butment, "This bastard really knows how to enjoy life, I haven''t even managed a vi yet."

    Faint sounds of panicked footsteps and tactical nning came from inside the building; the people inside had not yet given up resistance.

    Lu Yao knocked on the wall and the steel panels on the doors and windows. Strictly speaking, this was a special alloy, imprable even to a .50 caliber machine gun.

    It would be very difficult to breach in a short period of time.

    Lu Yao thought for a moment, the person on the roof earlier had a grenadeuncher, perhaps it could st open these defenses.

    He exerted power in his limbs, gripping the protrusions on the wall, his whole body shot up to the rooftop like an agile big monkey, where he saw Rose, whose eyes were still open in death.

    Lu Yao felt this "one-eyed woman" looked somewhat familiar, and after thinking for a while, he remembered¡ªshe was the Foreign Affairs Bureau female special agent he had encountered at the drug manufacturing facility in He Kingdom.

    Back then, she had given him a Barrett, and now what she had given was¡ª

    "Ooof, I''ve seen this one before: Type LG-5 40mm sniper grenadeuncher!"

    This "grenade sniper" had be famous online for its unique design style, with many videos rted to it, and many non-military enthusiasts had heard of it.

    By then, her ammunition had run out, but there were many spare rounds on Rose''s sniping position, which Lu Yao picked up and loaded.

    Seeing these rounds, Lu Yao''s eyes suddenly lit up!

    Some were orange, the "high-explosive rounds" which, like fragmentation grenades, used explosions and metal fragments to kill enemies;

    But there were others with brass-colored heads, which were "armor-piercing rounds." ording to data leaked online, these rounds could prate 80mm thick steel tes!

    On the rooftop, there was a passage sealed with a steel panel, and Lu Yao immediately loaded 3 armor-piercing and 1 high-explosive round into the "grenade sniper''s" magazine.

    He aimed at the center of the steel panel and fired three armor-piercing grenades in quick session.

    The tip of the armor-piercing grenade was a thinyer of copper; upon detonation, thisyer of copper would instantly melt, turning into a high-temperature metal jet.

    The high-velocity jet of heat would burn and bore through the steel panel, prating it instantly.

    On the obstacle blocking his path, three holes the size of a teacup appeared. Lu Yao pulled the trigger once more,unching thest high-explosive round.

    With a loud boom, arge hole with a half-meter diameter was blown open in the steel panel.

    Lu Yao crawled through at a leisurely pace.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Zhang Xin''s guard squad was very tenacious in their will to fight, setting up a defensive position for indoor battle with Lu Yao.

    They held their guns at the corners of the stairwells and had even deployed "Broadsword Mines," terrifying weapons that could directionally spray 700 steel pellets in a fan-shaped st.

    Although Lu Yao couldn''t see them, he listened intently to every sound, which was as clear as if he could see with his ears.

    He propelled his body with the strength of his legs, running along the walls like wall running, shing past the corner in a dash.

    The enemies never expected their foe to emerge from over 3 meters up the wall, rendering the "Broadsword Mines"pletely useless as they could only hit targets up to 2 meters high.

    While the enemies were still adjusting their gun barrels, Lu Yao''s AK had already fired first.

    Under the enhancement of "Minute Consciousness Control," his muscles precisely controlled the muzzle direction toward each enemy''s head, simultaneously countering the recoil, allowing the 7.62 bullets to kill with precision.

    Blood sttered across the room like bean curd; one by one, the guard squad died, silent in their demise from the headshots, without even a hint of struggle or scream; some who had inadequate cover were also killed by Lu Yao''s wall-prating fire, these were the only ones who might emit a cry of death.

    There was only one square-faced man left, seemingly the leader, his face full of terror and disbelief, frantically shouting in Franconian while firing an AK wildly.

    Lu Yao wasn''t faster than bullets, but as long as he was faster than the shooter, he could dodge the gun''s aim by instantly shifting several meters to the side.

    A few secondster, the sound of an empty magazine clicking echoed, the bullets had run out.

    Lu Yao threw a punch with the "Iron Fist of Nation-Building," silencing the room, leaving no one to resist.

 Chapter 118: 118. Big Surprise

    At this moment, the death throes of the guards turned the marble sculptures into snow-white chips, and the expensive rosewood furniture into shards scattered across the floor.

    This luxurious Franjin Style Manor had be a disaster scene as if struck by a tornado.

    The final moment to meet with Zhang Xin had finally arrived!

    Lu Yao found a tap, washed his face, straightened his clothes and hair, and even took a white flower from a vase nearby.

    It meant nothing more than giving Zhang Xin a big surprise when he took off his hoodter!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao carried the Grenade Sniper on his back, tucked an M500 at his waist, held an AK in his hands, and a small white flower was tucked into his chest.

    With a unique style, he arrived at thergest room of the Franjin Style Manor, only to find it blocked by an even thicker steel te.

    Lu Yao knocked on it, the sound muffled, nearly 50 millimeters thick. But no matter, he had plenty of resources at hand.

    He returned to where the fight had taken ce, fetched the arranged C4 explosives.

    First, he used armor-piercing rounds from the Grenade Sniper to punch four holes in the steel te, then pped all four C4s onto them in one go.

    Lu Yao took cover around the corner and shot the pile of explosives that had been intended for him.

    With a colossal explosion, the whole building shook, and debris fell from the ceiling. Thankfully, the building didn''t copse because it was supported by steel reinforcements.

    Dusting off his clothes, he walked over with a light step to find a half-man-sized hole had been blown into the steel te.

    Lu Yao took off his mask and stepped through, finding himself face-to-face with a heavily made-up drag queen in a long dress.

    Both eximed in unison, "Who are you!?"

    "You''re Lu Yao/Zhang Xin!?"

    Lu Yao had thought that his now strong, well-built figure with a starry gaze would surely give Zhang Xin a huge fright, especially since he used to be on the brink of death, a gust of wind away from falling over.

    But what he never expected was that instead, Zhang Xin was the one who got a huge fright.

    Entering a heightened state of awareness with all senses open, Lu Yao suddenlyughed out loud, "Ha, you''ve got cancer yourself? The wicked will eventually bring about their own destruction."

    As someone who had been tormented by illness for many years, he was all too familiar with this condition, and he was certain that Zhang Xin had contracted some form of cancer.

    Zhang Xin, shocked, had a buzzing in his head, and despite previous spections about the masked man''s identity, he never considered that it would be Lu Yao¡ªthe least likely person!

    Trembling, he pointed and said, "Your cancer cells had spread throughout your body, you should''ve been dead long ago! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

    After saying this, he pulled out a cross from his cor and began to draw a cross on his chest.

    Lu Yao shrugged, "Nothing is impossible. I was bitten by a spider while lying in my hospital bed, and afterward, I gained superpowers."

    "I''ve seen Spider-Man, damn it!"

    "Oh? The drug lord has time for movies?"

    Lu Yao closed in unhurriedly, pressing Zhang Xin into a retreat until he was backed against a wall.

    "How did you be like this?"

    "I got breast cancer. Targeted medicines and hormone treatments turned me into this. Cousin, you are so powerful now, let me off the hook. Look how miserable I am¡­"

    As Zhang Xin spoke, distracting Lu Yao, he eyed a white tiger hidden in the shadow of the furniture.

    This white tiger was a Siberian Tiger, four years old. Taken by Zhang Xin before it could even open its eyes, raised since it was a cub, it never left his side.

    Flush with adequate nutrition and trained by a professional animal tamer, it was significantly stronger than its wild counterparts, weighing 400 kilograms!

    It was thest line of defense that Zhang Xin trusted the most!

    Lu Yao revealed a kind smile, saying, "Well, I could spare you as a rtive. But what''s in it for me?"

    He was also spouting nonsense, seizing the chance to ask the question he wanted to know the most.

    "I can give you money! More money than you could ever spend! There are 2 tons of cash in this room, and half a ton of gold. You can take it all! And if that''s not enough, I''ve got plenty more!"

    Zhang Xin operated an electronic screen on the wall, and the walls retracted to both sides, revealing a huge room filled with Star Alliance Country currency, enough to make four double beds.

    There were also stacks of Gold Bricks half the height of a person, dazzling under the lights, blinding to the eye!

    Lu Yao chuckled, "Keeping so much cash at home? The mothend has already universalized mobile payments."

    It was while he focused on the gold that the white tiger, lurking in the shadows, made its move!

    Felines are all born masters of ambush, and the Siberian Tiger is thergest existing feline species!

    In a single leap, the 400kg beast covered a distance of 10 meters and pounced, letting out a roar at the same time!

    It was like an out-of-control truck honking and barreling toward you, the momentum extremely fierce!

    Ordinary people or animals would be scared into losing their ability to react, and then they''d be torn apart by sharp teeth and ws.

    But Lu Yao''s face bore a mocking expression, and it was as though thunder rolled within him. Then he let out a "hmm" from his nostrils, and with a swing of his arm, he threw a punch!

    This punch burst through the air with a bang,nding fiercely on the white tiger''s huge head, beating it to the attack.

    The tiger''s head wasrger than Lu Yao''s entire torso, and after being hit by that punch, half of its face caved in.

    The white tiger let out a mournful scream and flew sideways, crashing onto the ground with a thud.

    ~~~~~~~

    Protein is a miraculous thing, itsposition and the structure of its polypeptide chains result in differing levels of strength.

    Lu Yao''s strength was nearly equal to that of the white tiger, with both exerting forces around 1.5 tons overall.

    But he only weighed a quarter of the white tiger! This meant his muscle and bone efficiency far surpassed that of his opponent, hence why he could punch with force enough to burst through the air, something the tiger couldn''t do.

    As the white tiger shook its head, attempting to stand, Lu Yao had already unleashed Carp Stance and darted to its side, and with the power of inertia, hended a knee strike right into its waist.

    The white tiger once again flew sideways and crashed into the wall, whimpering once before blood foamed from its mouth and nose, then it stopped moving.

    Lu Yao turned back to Zhang Xin, saying, "Is this your final card?"

    He found the idea of a pet that could fight for its owner quite interesting.

    Having witnessed Lu Yao''s inhuman abilities, Zhang Xin was extremely shaken, and stuttering, he eximed,

    "You... to send an 800-pound tiger flying... are you... are you even human?"

    Lu Yao replied, "I''m actually an alien. As my home faced destruction, my parents sent me, still in my swaddling clothes, to Blue Star in a spaceship. Growing up, I discovered that sunbathing could make me stronger..."

    "Enough! Stop messing with me!" Zhang Xin pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth as he coughed, taking quite some time to stop, then he looked up and said, "What do you really want to do? I have cancer now, you can''t intimidate me!"

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "Dear cousin, recount the antique scam from start to finish, and I''ll give you a chance to live."

    Zhang Xin asked, "First tell me what sort of chance to live?"

    Lu Yao pulled out his M500 revolver from his waist and said,

    "Out of respect for our family ties, I''ll give you a chance at Russian roulette. Just one round¡ªif you survive, I''ll let you go; or I could just twist off your head. Choose one."

 Chapter 119: 119. A full harvest

    Facing Lu Yao''s smirk, Zhang Xin had no other choice.

    But he hadn''t given up hope yet. He had already sent a distress signal, someone woulde to rescue him!

    Zhang Xin swallowed hard and took a deep breath, saying,

    "5 years ago, when I returned to the country to purchase cold medicine, you noticed something fishy and quit the job, and I went through hell and high water to transport it through Annan Country, suffering endlessly, so I wanted revenge."

    "Actually, I''ve been jealous of you since we were kids! Why should you get to enjoy life under the care of our parents, while I could onlyplete my education with subsistence allowances!"

    "Luckily, the heavens granted me enough knowledge! That day, I bought a bunch of antiques at a charity auction.

    I didn''t want this junk at all, but I had to spend the money for socialworking and face... Then I thought of that genius method!

    I picked out something antique and mysterious, mixed in radioactive material, and gave it to you! You really liked it~ hahaha~"

    As Zhang Xin came to thisst part, Lu Yao ced his hand on him and focused his senses, monitoring his breathing, heartbeat, organ movements, and all facial micro-expressions to confirm he was telling the truth.

    Lu Yao frowned and said, "So, you mean to say you bought that thing unintentionally, and gave it to me unintentionally... Where was this charity auction?"

    Zhang Xin said in a low voice, "I was still pursuing my Ph.D. at the time, in Los Angeles... Why do you ask this?"

    By now, he could tell that Lu Yao was very concerned about the source of the radioactive ornament he''d given, and an unbelievable guess formed in his mind.

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "I am what I am today thanks to the poison you gave me, it turned me into a Superman. Thank you so much~ my dearest cousin! You''ve shown me apletely different world."

    "That''s impossible! What are the odds! Blue Star is based on science!"

    Zhang Xin, although aware, waspletely unable to ept it emotionally! He had unwittingly be avish benefactor, handing over a "golden finger"!

    He roared, spittle flying, "I don''t believe it! It''s just an ordinary antique! How could it be a golden finger! This isn''t a novel!"

    Lu Yao shrugged his shoulders and said, "The fact is as it is, my main purpose foring here wasn''t to kill you, but to inquire about the origins of the golden finger. It''s a pity you don''t know either."

    He pulled out his M500 revolver and said, "Alright, time for Russian roulette~"

    Zhang Xin calmed himself and spoke earnestly,

    "Listen, cousin! There''s no need for this. We can coborate and make endless money together!

    The people of the Star Alliance Country are funny, they abhor drinking yet are tolerant of opium consumption, the market is enormous!

    I will give you 50 billion... no, 100 billion every year! How about that!?"

    Lu Yao patted Zhang Xin''s cheek, straightened his dress for him, and whispered,

    "During these years, when I endured torture on the bed, you looked so happy. How could I let you go?"

    Zhang Xin spoke anxiously, "If you kill me, the Foreign Affairs Bureau won''t let you go! I was recruited as a special agent when I was in school! And these years, I''ve made countless money for them!"

    Lu Yao''s smile grew warmer, "Enough, I''ll do it myself. I''m going to twist your head off and stuff it into your own ass."

    With those words, he began to pry Zhang Xin''s head off.

    "Wait a minute, wait a minute, I''ll y, okay!?" Zhang Xin hastened to say, "You said just now, only one round! If I survive, you''ll let me go!"

    Lu Yao nodded, "Yes, just one round. If you survive, I''ll let you go, word of honor."

    He emptied all of the bullets from the M500, leaving only one in the chamber, spun it rapidly, closed it, and handed the gun to Zhang Xin.

    Zhang Xin took the gun, held it against his own head, his whole body drenched in sweat, his eyes twitching without pulling the trigger for quite a while. Instead, he spoke again,

    "Just to confirm, if I survive, you''ll really let me go, right?"

    Lu Yao nodded solemnly, "I am a person who values old ties, so I''ve given you this chance. You''d better take it!"

    Zhang Xin took out a cross, prayed for a long time, and then made the sign of the cross over his chest.

    Then he picked up the M500 revolver and pressed it against his own temple, his face twisted with viciousness as he said, "A 1 in 5 chance, I don''t believe it!"

    After speaking, he gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger!

    In the booming sound, most of his head was blown away.

    "This gun really packs a punch."

    Lu Yao shrugged, picked up the M500, and reinserted it into his waistband.

    At 0.4x speed, he could easily manipte the "Russian roulette" game, it was just for teasing Zhang Xin.

    ~~~~~~~

    Next, Lu Yao tore down the curtains to start packing the 2 tons of cash and half a ton of gold.

    This time he only aplished the goal of killing Zhang Xin; since the origin of the "golden finger" was unclear, he had to settle for taking some stuff aspensation.

    He found 4 huge curtains and wrapped them into 4 big bundles, and then Lu Yao headed to the manor''s parking lot.

    Here, all Zhang Xin''s luxury cars were parked, at least twenty of them, with the keys still in the ignition, ready for their master to take them for a spin whenever he pleased.

    Lu Yao picked out a tall pickup truck with 6 wheels, bearing a red letter "B" as a logo. It was a custom vehicle, obviously capable of carrying a heavy load.

    Just as he was about to drive away, he discovered that right next to the garage was an arms cache! Many of the weapons had been removed by the guards, but what was left was exactly what Lu Yao wanted!

    There were .50 caliber machine guns, Broadsword Mines, and Grenade Snipers!

    The Grenade Snipers came in two versions, and the ones he had previously confiscated were the portable one-man version. However, those in the cache were the fixed-use heavy version, not only with longer barrels but also with a magazine capacity of 15 rounds!

    Ordinary people could only mount them on positions or vehicles, while Lu Yao could carry one around effortlessly.

    Like a busy little bee, he filled the back seat with .50 caliber ammunition and Broadsword Mines, and the passenger seat with a Grenade Sniper and its ammo ¨C these were the guarantees for a stable life in the Otherworld.

    ~~~~~~~

    After loading the weapons, Lu Yao drove the truck under the building to fetch the cash and gold when numerous Chevrolets and Ford pickups came rushing in, filled with loudly shouting armed militants.

    These were all gangs subjugated by Zhang Xin, summoned to rescue their leader, still unaware of Zhang Xin''s death.

    There was also a ck Hawk helicopter approaching in the sky.

    Upon seeing Lu Yao''s shy pickup with six wheels, the militants were already preparing to open fire.

    Fearing they would damage his prized possessions, Lu Yao grabbed a Grenade Sniper and got out of the vehicle to fight!

    The heavy version of the Grenade Sniper was twice as heavy as the lightweight version, weighing over 30 kilograms, but for Lu Yao, it was as light as nothing.

    The tremendous recoil could be countered with just the strength of his hands, and he began firing "high-explosive grenades" at the approaching gang members!

    The gun was a great stress reliever, and with one shot, an entire vehicle would explode into a fireball, those on board either killed instantly by the st or riddled with shrapnel like sieve-like water bags.

    Moreover, the Grenade Sniper had an extremely long range, and at this moment, its uracy over 1 kilometer was no less than that of a Barrett.

    Lu Yao could even shoot grenades through the car windows to explode inside the vehicles.

    The militants'' earlier mor turned into horrified screams and wails, with the few remaining cars turning tail to flee hastily.

    Lu Yao fired again and again, with egg-sized shells flying out, and the orange-red grenades howled from the muzzle, chasing after the fleeing vehicles and sneaking in through the rear windows to explode.

    The ck Hawk helicopter, initially preparing tond nonchntly, immediately climbed upon seeing the lively scene below.

    Lu Yao loaded a new magazine and with three shots blew up the ck Hawk helicopter midair into a fireball!

    The once formidable enemies were all obliterated now, the power of this Xia Country-made Grenade Sniper perfectly demonstrated!

    Lu Yao carried the four big bundles into the truck bed, leaving the manor engulfed in roaring mes behind, carrying away his abundant harvest.

 Chapter 120: Promise you gold

    Two hours after Lu Yao left, a convoy of five ck Chevrolet SUVs arrived at the estate.

    By then, the area was teeming with military police conducting a search, leading sniffer dogs through the ruins and forest.

    The dead bodies had all been removed, even those burnt to a crisp were not overlooked.

    Among them were the bodies of Zhang Xin and Rose, ced conspicuously for inspection.

    The scene was a hive of activity as a well-dressed Caucasian man stepped out of the vehicles, his hair and beard meticulously groomed, with two faint scars at the corners of his eyes.

    The busy people around him stopped their work and saluted respectfully the moment they saw him.

    This was Director West of the Foreign Affairs Bureau''s External Operations Division.

    Two subordinates, a man and a woman, hurried over to report.

    The male subordinate was Andre, responsible for liaising with Zhang Xin. He too was dressed in a sharp suit and, after taking off his sunsses, respectfully said,

    "The area within 10 kilometers of the estate has been thoroughly searched. The attackers exhibited precise marksmanship; not one of Zhang Xin''s personal guards survived. We also lost four agents. The assants set fire to the ce upon leaving¡­"

    Director West interrupted him, "Enough, I''m not interested in that. I want to know who the attackers were and whether they have any connection to the ''Form''."

    Andre was at a loss for words, but fortunately, the female subordinate stepped forward in time.

    "A satellite captured some footage."

    She took out aptop, operated it for a while, and an image appeared:

    It was a satellite overhead view. Although the resolution was not very high, one could still make out someone wearing a mask of the President, ughtering relentlessly, their corn husk-like hair extremely conspicuous.

    All three couldn''t help but find the image somewhat amusing. The footage stopped just as Lu Yao leapt to kill Rose.

    "Is there an error in the image, the attacker jumped ten meters high?"

    "The flying satellite incidentally captured it, it''s not clear enough."

    Director West said coldly, "Get the technical department to prioritize this. Even if he''s wearing a mask, I want to see every single hair on his body!"

    Both subordinates bowed and responded affirmatively.

    Director West continued, "The ''Form'' is also under the scrutiny of the Bureau Chief and Senators. Now, drop everything and focus all your energy here! You have full authorization and can call upon ''Cleaners'' stationed around the world at any time. I want results before Christmas!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the Otherworld, it was afternoon, with the fierce autumn sun zing down.

    In the courtyard, the two sisters were feeding the pets.

    Liao Qe keptunching attacks at her sister, and after an unknown length of time, she was drenched in fragrant sweat.

    Seeing Lu Yao return, she joyfully yelled and threw herself into her lover''s arms, her long legs wrapping around his waist, "You''re back! I''ve missed you so much in these 5 days~"

    "I dealt with some personal grievances, fortunately, very smoothly," Lu Yao supported the girl''s peachy buttocks, full of youthful vitality.

    "But I''ve brought back quite a lot... The storeroom might not be quite big enough."

    Standing aside, Liao Ya said with curiosity, "There''s still plenty of room in the storeroom..."

    While talking, they went to examine the storeroom, only to find it filled with ammunition and four strange "packages."

    Liao Ya''s curiosity about Lu Yao''s background was piqued again.

    Her junior brother was mysteriously able to bring back a trove of good things without a sound. Some of the good things had writing on them, suggesting he mighte from a powerful nation called "Xia Country."

    Liao Ya''s eyes, as deep as autumn water, were filled with curiosity, and she wanted to probe him then and there.

    That was when Lu Yao directly dragged out the package wrapped in gold, smiling, "Senior sister, this is the gold I promised to bring you."

    Upon opening it, instantly a small mountain of gold appeared, dazzling the room and making it hard to keep the eyes open!

    Liao Ya''s eyes went wide, mouth agape and finger pointing at the half-ton of gold, speechless...

    At that moment, besides shock, her expression included the bewilderment of shattered worldviews.

    Master Liao didn''t know who he was, where he was, and had even forgotten the direction of his life...

    Liao Qe was much better, covering her mouth and eximing in surprise before hugging her beloved''s arm, and happily said, "So much gold! Where did ite from?"

    Lu Yao rubbed his chin and said, "Robbed from an enemy. Sister, your reaction is a bit extreme..."

    Liao Qe picked up two gold bricks, shook them in front of her dazed sister, and said, "Master Liao,e back to your senses~ You always tell me to be moreposed, why can''t you do it yourself~"

    Seeing her sister still stunned, Liao Qe tapped her sister''s face gently with the gold bricks, and after a "pat pat" sound, Master Liao finally snapped back to reality.

    "No, it''s too dangerous! We mustn''t let anyone see this!"

    Liao Ya knocked twice with seriousness andmanded, "Liao Qe, go and keep watch. Show no mercy to those who approach!"

    As she spoke, she grabbed a shovel and ran back to her room, lifted her bed, and started digging.

    "Are you...digging a cer?" Lu Yao realized what his sister was doing at a nce.

    "Mhm, we must hide it well!" The normally graceful and dignified Liao Ya turned into a digging machine as she wielded her arms.

    A martial artist with the strength of 6000 jin truly was great at manualbor, and in no time had dug a two-meter-square pit in the ground.

    Liao Ya carefully ced the gold into several jars and cautiously buried them in the pit.

    After refilling the pit with soil,ying the floor tiles back, and cleaning up, she moved the bed back in ce. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, "Now I feel at ease."

    Then, noticing her sister and junior brother staring at her with inexplicable expressions, she said somewhat bashfully, "What''s the matter? This is the most secure method! Hiding it anywhere else isn''t safe, only buried under me is it truly secure..."

    Lu Yao found her nervous appearance somewhat amusing. "Sister has thought everything through. Now that the gold is hidden, let''s try the new weapon I brought back."

    He then introduced the Grenade Sniper in detail.

    Liao Ya took to it as soon as she saw it, her delicate hands moving back and forth along the gun barrel, saying, "It''s so thick!"

    The barrel of the Grenade Sniper was indeed as thick as the forearm of an average person, worthy of her praise.

    Lu Yao coughed dryly, swallowed his saliva, and said, "Let''s go to a secluded ce and fire it a couple of times another day. This thing explodes, it''s not really suitable for use in our own yard."

    The two sisters agreed, their curiosity piqued as they fiddled with the uniquely shaped Grenade Sniper, asionally peering into the distance with the optical scope.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao started flipping through the newspaper he found.

    The headline that still dominated was the "Blood Feast" event that Lu Yao and hispanions had caused.

    The repercussions of the incident had not yet subsided, with Einheit''s Yunzhou Consul expressing dissatisfaction and condemnation on several public asions, urging the Imperial Court to assist in the hunt for the culprits.

    At this moment, Su Er Yat came to deliver today''s newspaper.

    The little girl took off her cap, bowed politely, ced the newspaper down, and picked up a broom to start cleaning.

    Liao Qe, sitting next to Lu Yao, whispered, "This girles to work every day, and our sister doesn''t give her anything extra to eat. Let''s see what she''s like."

    It was hard enough for a 9-year-old to fend for herself every day, anding to work on time, Su Er Yat''s slim little figure exuded a thread of weariness.

    But Lu Yao knew this was the rule for epting disciples in the martial arts school of Otherworld. If Su Er Yat proved herself, she would be a registered disciple of the martial arts school and would be taught some basic Kung Fu.

    After further rigorous tests and bing a formal disciple, she could receive the true teachings.

    When Su Er Yat finished her work and was about to leave after bowing, she suddenly ran back with a shocked face, shouting, "Master Lu, there''s a scary blind old man outside staring at this ce..."

    Lu Yao spoke gently, "Su Er Yat, don''t be afraid, go inside."

    The sensible girl quickly ran into the house.

    Lu Yao reached for his waist and unlocked the safety on his M500; Liao Ya and Liao Qe went into the house to don their Battle Armor and picked up a .50 machine gun.

    The modest martial arts gym instantly turned into a den of dragons and tigers, where even a Blood-Exchange Warrior in Steel Armor would be reduced to minced meat on the ground!

    At that moment, a Paper Crane flew into the courtyard, pping its wings andnding on the stone table in front of Lu Yao.

 Chapter 121: 121. The Blind Taoist Priest

    The paper crane vaguely had characters on it, and upon opening it was revealed to be an invitation card.

    A formal invitation card is needed before a proper visit to let the host know the background of the visitor. The vigorous and forceful cursive on it read¡ª

    Greetings from all fellow cultivators of the Liao Family Fist.

    I am Zhou He of Wudang, who has undergone the Blood-Exchange and Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing.

    A month ago, at Richard Restaurant, I chanced upon three individuals exterminating demons and saving people, an act which I greatly admire.

    I specially visit today and I hope you will not hesitate to grant me an audience.

    ~~~~~~~~

    A few lines of casual conversation, but it is the standard invitation among martial artists, clearly stating the background, realm, and purpose of the visitor.

    Liao Ya eximed in surprise, "This Zhou He Daoist Priest, an ordained Daoist by the Imperial Court, and the Prefectural Governor''s confidant... he is actually that blind old man who yed the violin!"

    Lu Yao was also curious about the spirit refinement expert from the Otherworld, but security could not bepromised. He seriously said, "Then let''s meet him, you two stay inside ready to act."

    The sisters nodded, pulling the huge bolt of the .50 caliber machine gun, and chambering a round!

    Lu Yao opened the gate of the martial arts hall and called out loudly, "Daoist Priest Zhou, pleasee in."

    An old man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a checkered suit approached leisurely. His hair was salt-and-pepper, and his eyes were only white, making it apparent he was blind. But Lu Yao could clearly feel a wave of fluctuations sweep over his body.

    This unique appearance immediately reminded them¡ªthis was the old man who performed the violin in the banquet hall!

    "I am Zhou He, and I apologize for the presumptuous visit. I hope you will forgive me."

    "Please don''t mention it. That day in the banquet hall, none of us realized that you were such an esteemed expert. We have been disrespectful."

    Daoist Priest Zhou was very polite, and despite being blind, he carried himself with elegance and grace. Settling downfortably, he took out a book wrapped in silk from his chest and ced it on the stone table, saying gravely,

    "It''s rash of me toe like this. This is a Spirit Refining Method, my gift for this visit, please ept it with a smile."

    Lu Yao nced at the book, titled ''Spring Breeze and Drunkenness'', which turned out to be a secret manual for hypnotism! It allowed the wielder to infuse Mind Force into their speech and hypnotize those of weak will.

    The knowledge of spirit refinement has long been tightly guarded by the Imperial Court, major sects, and families, and its preciousness goes without saying.

    The value of this book far exceeds that of material wealth, making this gift extremely valuable.

    Despite receiving such a generous gift, Lu Yao remainedposed and said loudly, "Thank you, Daoist Priest, for your generous gift. But I can''t ept a reward without having done any merit. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

    Seeing that Lu Yao was unmoved, Zhou He also privately admired him, and with a cupped fist said:

    "This visit is firstly to thank you all for freeing me from the troubles of my inner demons.

    To be honest, on that day at the ''Blood Feast'', I had the same intention as the Young Master, desiring to eliminate the demons.

    But unexpectedly, there were so many of them, and there was even a Kartin not weaker than me!

    When the demons were about to feast on humans, I was terribly conflicted about whether to act... s, I am ashamed to say, I ultimately did not ovee the fear of death."

    Zhou He pointed to his own eyes and continued,

    "When I was young and impetuous studying abroad, I had already suffered at the hands of Western demon beasts, having lost my eyes, ears, and the ability to speak. Now, I can onlymunicate with others by relying on spirit refinement... A seed of fear had been nted in my heart.

    Thus, for you to have cleared the court and sweep away the horde of demons, I truly cannot thank you enough, both on behalf of themon people and for myself! Please ept my bow."

    After speaking, he stood up, bowed solemnly with a cupped fist gesture, while Lu Yao quickly stepped aside saying, "I dare not ept."

    Only after speaking at length did they realize that the old Daoist did not have a tongue and was speaking solely through the vibrations of Inner Breath to assist phonation, leaving one to wonder what he had experienced in his earlier years.

    ~~~~~~~~

    A cool breeze blew in, causing the Wutong tree in the courtyard to rustle.

    After taking his seat again, Lu Yao got straight to the point and asked, "Daoist Priest, surely there is another matter that brings you here?"

    Zhou He sighed with a wry smile, saying, "Young Master Lu has a discerning eye, so I will speak frankly¡ªI wish to purchase the ''Blood Core'' left behind after Kartin''s death."

    At this, Lu Yao also became interested. At the time of Kartin''s death, he had left behind a ruby the size of a duck egg. This object had been collected in abundance, and its purpose remained a mystery.

    "Daoist Zhou, what is the use of this ''Blood Core''?"

    Zhou He replied, "In my Divine Land, demon beasts have Demon Cores, and the Blood Core is akin to the ''Demon Core'' of Western demon beasts¡ªthe essence of their being, which can be used in alchemy."

    He took out a jade vial and poured out a red pill the size of a longan. A strange scent wafted through the air, and Lu Yao realized he felt no particr craving, suggesting it wasn''t a restorative pill.

    "This is the ''Wisdom Spirit Pill'' used to nurture spirit pets, as well as the ''Cultivating Origin Pill,'' which people can also consume. Both require a demon beast''s ''Blood Core'' to be made."

    Zhou He whistled, and though the sound wasn''t loud, it carried an odd vibration that spread far.

    Shortly after, an Immortal Crane descended from the sky andnded beside him.

    The Immortal Crane was about 1.6 meters long with a wingspan of 2.4 meters¡ªonly slightlyrger than its kin, but it appeared to be highly spiritual.

    When Zhou He reached out to touch it, impatience shed in its eyes, but it patiently allowed the touch. Then, it pecked at the elixir and swallowed it.

    It called out twice as if it still wanted more, but Zhou He showed his empty hands and shook his head. The Immortal Crane then unfolded its wings and flew away without hesitation.

    Zhou He put away the porcin vial and stroked his beard, saying, "The Daoist seeks the Blood Core in hopes of advancing his spirit pet''s level so that it can soon carry the Daoist into the sky and soar the heavens in human form! Just the thought fills one with longing."

    He watched the direction the Immortal Crane took off with a look of yearning, then solemnly said with a fist held to his chest:

    "I ask for Young Master Lu''s assistance! Whether it''s cultivation techniques, secret manuals, or recipes for elixirs, I will spare none that I have!"

    Lu Yao remembered Zhang Xin''s white tiger. To tell the truth, he was quite envious and wanted to nurture a "baby" pet of his own.

    Moreover, he wasn''tcking in restorative medicines or secret manuals. There was only one thing on this old Daoist that truly caught his interest!

    "As the saying goes, ''Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.'' How about this¡ªI present the Blood Core and add some silver, and you teach me the art of alchemy. How does that sound?"

    Zhou He was stunned on the spot. It wasmon to ask for the sky and pay back on earth, but to upend someone''s livelihoodpletely was too much.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After a long silence, Zhou He was the first to speak, "Young Master Lu, may you first restrain your divine skills? My mind force has been sending me warnings."

    "My apologies," Lu Yao said with a gesture, and the sound of bullets being unchambered could be heard faintly, as the two vignt sisters stood down.

    Zhou He finally felt more at ease. Ever since he had stepped into the boxing gym, he had been experiencing a strong sense of crisis, even more intense than when he faced thirty demon beasts during the Blood Feast.

    And still, there remained a sense of crisis lingering,ing from the young man before him whose realm was much lower than his own. No doubt he possessed some astonishing methods.

    Zhou He inwardly marveled: This small sect of merely three people was as dangerous as a dragon''s den or a tiger''sir!

    But his visit had been presumptuous, so it was normal for them to be guarded.

    After considering for a moment, he proposed, "Young Master Lu, the art of alchemy is a Wudang secret not to be imparted to outsiders.

    Instead, how about this: Within two years, whenever you require, I can use the realm of Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing to help you reflect upon yourselves, clearly showing the internal changes in your bodies. Such assistance would be like having divine aid during cultivation! How does that sound?"

    No sooner had he spoken than both sisters showed ack of interest¡ªfor it was simr to the "Color Ultrasound Instrument" that Lu Yao had brought.

    Lu Yao shook his head and said, "We already have the assistance of a master, so we do not need to trouble Daoist Zhou."

    Zhou He wasn''t particrly surprised. He had already learned¡ªLu Yao was a wealthy man of overseas derivation who donated millions of jin of food. He had fired silver bullets at vampires as if money meant nothing.

    For such a figure to seek the aid of a "Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing" master for cultivation assistance was quite normal.

    In fact, Zhou He hade with good intentions.

    He had a very favorable impression of Lu Yao, sensing that the young man had a righteous heart andpassionate nature, willing to risk venturing into air of demons for a few children. This was a rare and precious quality among today''s martial artists.

    Concerning what secret manuals or elixirs to offer in exchange, Zhou He was pondering this when Lu Yao suddenly said, "Daoist Zhou, why not consider my offer before you decide?"

 Chapter 122: 122. Appointment at White Cloud Observatory

    Upon hearing Lu Yao was willing to spend money to buy, Zhou He shook his head with a bitter smile, "Young Master Lu, it''s not that I am stingy, but the secret teachings of my school must not be leaked."

    Lu Yao didn''t speak, and without turning his head, he gestured one finger towards Liao Qe.

    After a short while, Liao Qe took off her battle armor and came over with a tray covered with a red cloth.

    She gracefully performed a full curtsy, ced the tray on the stone table, and removed the red cloth.

    In an instant, silver light shimmered; it was a thousand taels of silver.

    That amount of silver was equivalent to fifty kilograms and merely amounted to 250,000 yuan on Blue Star. But in the Otherworld, it was no trifling sum!

    An official of the Ninth Grade would have a yearly sry of only two taels of silver; even Liao Ya, who had previously received a generous stipend from the Imperial Court as a high-level talent, would earn but three to four taels after a year of hard work and risking her life.

    Zhou He picked up a silver ingot and squeezed it, his expression changing slightly. After hesitating for a while, he set it back down.

    "Young Master Lu has used several pounds of silver bullets to exorcise demons and, presumably, is not short of silver money. But as someone who has grown older by a few years, I have gained some insights, whether it be in the Martial Path or Spirit Refinement. Why not propose some other condition?"

    Lu Yao still didn''t speak, only giving Liao Qe a look.

    The two shared a mutual understanding, often embracing each other in sleep, a single nce able to convey countless pieces of information.

    Liao Qe nodded, returned to the house, and soon reappeared with another tray, once again filled with a thousand taels of silver!

    She also brought over a duck egg-sized Blood Core.

    Under the brilliance of two small mountains of silver, Zhou He''s leisurely demeanor vanished.

    "Young Master Lu is indeed immensely wealthy... I..."

    Zhou He felt a great turmoil inside. The sum of two thousand taels of silver was indeed not a small amount, one that even his own Wudang Sect could hardly assemble.

    Blue veins bulged on his temples as he seemed to struggle with a difficult decision. After a long time, he waved his hand and said,

    "So be it! I shall not hide the fact that our school is indeed in need of funds to tide over these troubled times. I shall shamelessly ept..."

    Lu Yao smiled, "It''s just some money. Please feel free to ept it, Master. Just teach me Alchemy."

    "How shameful, how shameful. Although silver is vulgar, it can resolve a myriad of woes," Zhou He said, taking out a palm-sized, thick notebook from his bosom.

    "The art of Alchemy must be supported by the Spirit Refinement Realm. Your stability is just passable. Here''s a notebook of my own experiences and collected Pill Recipes. It''s not considered leaking secret teachings... you can take an advance look. In seven days, visit my residence, and I will personally instruct you on the matters of Alchemy."

    Lu Yao bowed, "Thank you, Master."

    He took the notebook and flipped through it briefly; it was filled with dense, tiny characters, and the ink on thest few pages was still fresh, clearly just recorded.

    Zhou He picked up the duck egg-sized Blood Core and stroked his beard, pondering,

    "Since the time of Immortal Qin, Monster Beasts have gradually be extinct, and many prescriptions have also be ineffective, rendering high-level Western Demon Beast Blood Cores extremely rare.

    However, possessing such an item signifies that someone must have killed a high-ranking foreigner."

    "I have always operated in the shadows, and thanks to Young Master Lu''s blessing, this is the first time I''ve seen such a grand spectacle... Tsk, tsk, a full thirty of them.

    Although it''s satisfying, trouble is not small. The Yunzhou Consul has been making a fuss about this matter... something is not right."

    Lu Yao closed the notebook and curiously asked, "Isn''t the Yunzhou Consul also a Vampire? Shouldn''t querying into this matter be part of his duties?"

    "Young Master is unaware. Those Western Demon Beasts are divided into several factions."

    "Kartin belongs to the ''Originalist Faction,'' as you have already witnessed, they delight in torture for entertainment;

    Whereas the Yunzhou Consul belongs to the ''Secr Faction,'' who, although also notmendable, prefers to rule and enve through power and money.

    The two factions cannot see eye to eye and fighting among each other is not umon, let alone wasting efforts to inquire and investigate."

    Zhou He sighed and said, "If I''m not mistaken, Einheit must be nning something big."

    Lu Yao understood and said, "Are you referring to what the newspapers are saying, that the Westerners will invade amidst the chaos caused by the Great Vehicle Sect?"

    Zhou He nodded, "Exactly. The former Ming dynasty also perished amidst domestic and foreign troubles. And chaotic times... are also a catastrophe for themon people. I hope I''m wrong."

    ~~~~~~

    After chatting for a while, it was gettingte. As it was Zhou He''s first visit, it wouldn''t be appropriate for him to stay too long, so he stood up and took his leave:

    "The demons from the West act atrociously on thend of the Divine Land, yet today''s martial artists value their lives too much and are stingy in acting heroic.

    It''s rare to meet someone like you, young master, who harbors righteousness. It''s my pleasure to have made your acquaintance.

    I have a few friends who also cannot stand the Western demons. I will introduce them to you another day. For now, I shall take my leave."

    "You tter me, Taoist priest."

    Lu Yao quickly rose to see his visitor out, escorting the old priest to the door.

    After walking a few steps, Zhou He looked back and smiled, "Young Master Lu~ if there is another Blood Feast like thest time, open two shots less, and you can call on a few Blood-Exchange Warriors to help."

    Lu Yao also smiled, "I prefer methods that are straightforward and decisive."

    Zhou He shook his head with augh, "Silver dissipates after killing a demon beast, which is such a waste. Young Master Lu, don''t forget to visit my residence in seven days."

    "I''ve long heard of the great reputation of White Cloud Observatory, I will not miss the appointment."

    The entire Yunzhou knows about this patron living beside the Su River at the "White Cloud Observatory."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Returning to the boxing gym, the two sisters gathered around.

    Liao Ya expressed her surprise, "I did not expect that blind musician to actually be a master of Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing. Junior brother, you have a lot of nerve; alchemy is a secret art, and normally, asking for it would mean a fight to the death."

    Lu Yao shrugged, "The old Taoist is spiritually perceptive and bore no ill will, and since he sought us out, I thought I''d give it a try."

    Liao Qe pouted with concern, "All the silver you brought is gone..."

    Liao Ya said, "Spending 2,000 silver ingots on the art of alchemy and the goodwill of a Fetal Breath powerhouse is not a loss."

    "Next time, I will bring 10,000 silver ingots over," said Lu Yao as he took out a notebook and started reviewing it with the sisters.

    The notebook was thick and worn. The handwriting at the beginning was youthful, clearly written by Zhou He when he was younger.

    It exined simply what alchemy is¡ªprocessing metals and minerals, refining medicinal herbs, transforming Inner Breath into Immortal Pills!

    The processing and refining methods were not difficult, being mostly about mixing the required alchemy materials in the correct proportions and heating them up.

    It should be about the same as a chef''s standard, where "moving effortlessly" in a calm state is quite easy to achieve.

    The difficulty lied in the subsequent control of the Inner Breath, which not only required a robust Inner Breath but also great control to achieve various miraculous effects.

    But with the assistance of the Spirit Refinement Realm, it was merely a matter of extra attention.

    Closing the notebook, Lu Yao''s mind was already imagining what kind of "pet" to raise ¡ª "A tiger¡­ or a golden eagle?"

    Liao Ya, however, was enchanted by the various Immortal Pills recorded in the notebook.

    As described, these pills had powerful effects and, once refined, could be carried and consumed at any time, unlike medicinal concoctions that need to be brewed fresh.

    The only drawback was they all required a "Demon Core," or "Blood Core."

    "So many elixirs can be made just with a Blood Core. Junior brother, although we gave thergest one to Taoist Zhou, we still have many slightly smaller ones that can also be used for refinement.

    Everyone is looking forward to the visit to White Cloud Observatory in seven days.

 Chapter 123: 123. Everyone happens to be together.

    In the following days, Lu Yao devoted all his energy to ''Spring Breeze and Drunkenness,'' given to him by Zhou He.

    The essence of the book was to infuse the power of the mind into one''s voice, influencing those of weak will.

    At first nce, it seemed simr to hypnosis on Blue Star, ineffective against those with a strong will, seemingly not that impressive.

    But you could beat an enemy until they were hanging by a thread, at which point their will would no longer be firm.

    A deeper implication was to guide Spirit Refining Practitioners to explore more functions of Mind Force, to influence the material world with this intangible power, and to prepare for the ''Fetal Breath,'' and even the ''Out-of-Body'' realm.

    The book Zhou He had sent was thoughtfully chosen, making this old Taoist worthy of friendship.

    After reading for a while, Liao Qe ran over excitedly and invited her beloved to y the ''Stone Roller'' game together.

    A 500-jin stone roller, tossed back and forth between two people ten meters apart, practiced receiving blows and deflecting force.

    Liao Qe threw the heavy stone roller with all her might. Lu Yao, still unustomed to the game, was pushed back a step, his arms numbing from the impact.

    After a few tosses, the girl reminded him, "Deflect the force, don''t just brace against it with your body; let the force flow into the ground. Look at my movements."

    Upon catching the stone roller Lu Yao threw, Liao Qe slightly turned her body and stepped back, sinking into two small pits in the ground, and most of the stone''s momentum went into the earth.

    Observing her movements with ''the body following the mind,'' Lu Yao tried twice and then mastered the technique, ying the game with Liao Qe more spiritedly.

    The huge stone roller flew back and forth in the air, filling the courtyard with the terrifying whir of wind.

    Passersby in the street, on hearing the noise, hurriedly sped up to leave. The more chaotic the times, the less anyone dared to provoke those with martial power.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After the practice, both were drenched in sweat, and Liao Qe leaned in to help Lu Yao wipe it off.

    The couple embraced each other, rubbing cheeks andughing merrily.

    Liao Ya, watching this scene from her room, felt an inexplicable envy, sighing at her sister''s fortune for picking up a perfect man on the street, with a smile that never left her face.

    While Master Liao was lost in his thoughts, Su Er Ya, as usual, came to deliver the newspaper and clean the yard.

    Observing the thin, small figure, Liao Ya inwardly nodded her approval. Day in, day out, rain or shine, the young girl had been helping with chores to the best of her ability with a calm spirit.

    Admiring her temperament, in a few days'' time, she considered epting her as a nominal disciple, imparting some basic kung fu to see her subsequent progress.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao greeted Er Ya, picked up the newspaper, and flipped through it. The pages were filled withints about the worsening public safety.

    The Prefecture government, which had recently suffered from famine, saw many martial artistse to Yunzhou to make a living, leading to a clear deterioration in public order.

    Fortunately, the National Martial Arts Association had prevented any major chaos from breaking out.

    However, a news piece tucked away in a corner caught the attention of Lu Yao¡ª

    [Menes Federation''s Leite brothers test-fly "Flyer Number One"]

    The ck-and-white illustration showed a strange ne with twoyers of wings, flipped over by strong winds, but at least it circled the sky.

    Reading this news, Lu Yao realized¡ªthe first real nes in the Otherworld were about to emerge.

    "Old Zhou''s dream of soaring through the skies could be realized without having to rear an Immortal Crane... but riding a crane feels different than flying in a ne."

    He checked the date; tomorrow was the day to visit White Cloud Observatory, so he needed to make some preparations.

    Lu Yao took out two bottles of Golden Elixir Brew and set them in the trunk of his old car ahead of time, as the liquor made for an impressive gift.

    Just then, there was the sound of a car stopping outside. To his surprise, it was Li Pei who hade over.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The Commandery Princess was still apanied by a group of suited attendants, herself dressed in a suit vest with a bow tie around her neck.

    Lu Yao couldn''t help but sneak a few nces, but Li Pei hated being stared at, returning a fierce re that turned her gaze into bullets, perforating the young scamp.

    The beautiful princess took Liao Ya''s hand to greet her, then said to everyone,

    "Tomorrow morning, you will apany me to visit a senior. This seniores from a reputable family, studied abroad in their youth, and has made significant achievements in the realm of Spirit Refinement."

    This introduction to a revered figure was a clear gesture of support.

    Li Pei, somewhat proud, said, "This senior is in the ''Fetal Breath Realm'' of Spirit Refinement. A few words of advice from him could spare us a great deal of hard work. If it wasn''t for my master''s acquaintance with him, even my status as a Commandery Princess wouldn''t grant me this opportunity."

    Liao Ya bit her lower lip, her expressionplicated as she said, "Sister, are you talking about Taoist Zhou He?"

    Li Pei eximed in surprise, "Yes, it''s that venerable man, the 4th rank conferred Taoist priest. How did you...?"

    Liao Ya, somewhat embarrassed, said, "We also have been invited to visit White Cloud Observatory tomorrow, so we can all go together."

    Li Pei was taken aback. Zhou He was a high-ranking figure in the Spirit Embryo Breathing Realm, also an Alchemy Sage. Ordinary people, even the wealthy, could hardly catch his eye.

    How did the three members of the Liao Familye to have a rtionship with him!?

 Chapter 124: 124. Spirit Refining Oblivion

    Visiting an elder, by etiquette, required an early arrival.

    The next day at daybreak, Lu Yao and the three of them joined Li Pei on the journey to White Cloud Observatory.

    Li Pei boarded Lu Yao''s vehicle and sat in the back with the two sisters.

    The space inside the car was very spacious, and the threedies sat with dignified and gentle manners, obviously well-cultured.

    On the way, they spoke of Taoist Priest Zhou He, and Li Pei shared the information she knew:

    "Priest Zhou was born into a prominent family from Jingzhou, his father being a schr who had passed the imperial examinations. Before even reaching the age of 16, he had already reached the ''Oblivion'' stage of Spirit Refinement,"

    Liao Ya eximed, "Oblivion before 16?! That truly is an exceptional natural talent!"

    "Indeed," Li Pei nodded, and said:

    "Later, the Imperial Court dispatched 120 students to study abroad, and Priest Zhou was among them, heading to Menes to learn ''Manufacturing Studies.''

    It was then that he fought with a vampire from Menes while trying to save a ssmate who had been captured as a ''Blood ve''...

    The details are unknown, but he was left severely injured, bing disabled with damage to his eyes, ears, and mouth. Fortunately, there is always a way out; Priest Zhou returned to his country, joined the Wudang Sect, and his Spirit Refinement broke through to ''Fetal Breath''."

    Lu Yao, driving in front, listened and couldn''t help feeling that the old Daoist had really weathered the vicissitudes of life.

    At that moment, the grand White Cloud Observatory came into view. The Taoist temple wasrge andpactly arranged. On the stone walls of the mountain gate were carvings of flowing clouds, Immortal Cranes, flowers, and other patterns.

    Two Daoists had been awaiting their arrival at the gate to wee the four visitors to the back courtyard of the temple.

    ~~~~~~~

    The group arrived and saw Zhou He with his eyes closed, his fingers fluttering quickly as he massaged an Immortal Crane.

    The Immortal Crane seemed to be enjoying it immensely, even cooperating by lifting its wings so the old priest could massage near the base. (the base of the wings)

    The visitors waited patiently for about half an hour until the old priest finished his work.

    The Immortal Crane shook its feathers and, in a disy of pride, pped its wings a few times before flying off without looking back.

    Lu Yao really wanted to ask the old Daoist: The Immortal Crane seems quite haughty, are you sure it will let you ride it?

    Zhou He, with a contented and greatly satisfied look, watched the Immortal Crane for a while and then called out to the group:

    "It seems you all know each other, that''s good,e all together."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The group arrived at a cool pavilion, where the mountain breeze was refreshing.

    Zhou He set out the teaware and a small stove to boil water. Li Pei took the initiative to light the stove and, cing her hands near the fire, channeled her Inner Breath. The mes zed like engine exhaust, boiling the mountain spring water in an instant.

    When the water had slightly cooled, Liao Qe meticulously prepared the tea ording to the ritual.

    As they enjoyed the fragrant tea, Zhou He said to Li Pei, "How is your master? I haven''t seen her in some days."

    Li Pei replied respectfully, "She is well, practicing her swordy every day."

    Zhou He nodded, his eyes, showing only the whites, scanned over everyone.

    "Today you havee to listen to the old Daoist speak of the Dharma, but I must say this first ¡ª the path of Spirit Refinement is extremely arduous, difficult because there are no footsteps to follow.

    Everyone perceives the world differently, and the illusionary obstacles that arise from their understanding are vastly distinct.

    Some cannot prate the enigma of life and death, others cannot let go of love and attachment; the tumultuous mortal world grinds away at the heart.

    So my words can only be listened to; they must not be wholly believed ¡ª you must walk your own path; otherwise, you''ll make no progress in your lifetime!"

    Lu Yao and the others hastily nodded in agreement.

    ~~~~~~~

    Zhou He sipped his tea and started to discuss profound principles:

    "You few have entered meditation, and the next step is oblivion. Obliviones from retaining thoughts until they are attained, and from retaining thoughts until they are forgotten.

    The state of ''forgetting'' is achieved by using the mind and body to seek the true way, not a form of self-intoxication or numbness.

    Practice the way without seeing its practice. Forgetting is not necessarily bad, and remembering is not necessarily good; what suits oneself is the best."

    The young listeners all fell into deep thought after these words, each gaining some insight.

    Zhou He did not continue to speak but instead gave these young people plenty of time to think.

    When he saw that the young people''s eyes gradually became clear again, Zhou He was about to speak more, but suddenly noticed that something was very wrong with Lu Yao¡ª

    Thed was clearly sitting there, but there was no sense of his presence!

    Zhou He, blind, used the power of Mind Force to see and immediately noticed this. First, astonishment appeared on his face, and then delight.

    Li Pei and the other two women also noticed and did not dare to speak out loud, their beautiful eyes full of amazement.

    Especially Li Pei, in her heart she had an unbelievable suspicion¡ªthis young rogue was about to experience oblivion!!! How could there be such injustice! How could he enter oblivion!

    At this moment, Lu Yao felt something wonderful. He hadpletely forgotten his own existence and felt as though he was rising steadily, being carried off by the wind¡­ His perspective on things had also be third-person.

    Having heard Zhou He''s "preaching," he suddenly had an epiphany as though something in his mind had shattered, naturally entering this state.

    Now, he could clearly see the sister''s excited expressions, as well as Li Pei''s rapidly heaving chest.

    This statested for about ten seconds before it gradually faded. Lu Yao excitedly stood up and bowed his fist to Zhou He, saying, "Thank you, Taoist priest, for your guidance."

    Zhou He smiled and said, "Young friend, you were due for a breakthrough. I just happened to be there at the right time."

    "Taoist priest is too modest."

    Afterward, Lu Yao bowed to Liao Qe to express his thanks, and the girl''s pretty face turned slightly red.

    Li Pei watched, full of question marks¡­

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Congrattions to young friend on your breakthrough, for you have taken a significant step in Spirit Refinement," Zhou He stood up and bowed, then said, "I have traveled abroad in my early years and will use fresh methods to exin the state of oblivion in detail."

    Zhou He spoke at length: "The greatest characteristic¡­ or benefit of this state is that it greatly increases one''s reaction speed.

    It takes an ordinary person over 0.2 seconds to issue amand from the brain and for the body to react, even a Martial Artist needs 0.1 seconds. But in the state of oblivion, where Divine Soul integrates with the body, only 0.03 seconds are needed¡ªthree times as fast!

    Along with thises heightened senses, more precise control of the flow of qi and Inner Breath, and even the ability to precisely sense iing cannonballs and so on. The specific details you will need to experience for yourself."

    The old Taoist spoke in detail. Lu Yao kept bowing his thanks and then began excitedly and curiously to control the flow of Inner Breath in his body.

    Originally, controlling Inner Breath was like bumper cars, crashing around if not careful; now, with the super quick response time, it became like a sports car, moving exactly as intended.

    Seeing their junior brother''s breakthrough, the two sisters were exceptionally joyful; while Li Pei''s face was full of unwillingness, finding herself surpassed by this young rogue in the path of Spirit Refinement!

    But she quicklyposed herself, thinking: This person has already be extremely talented in Spirit Refining Oblivion; how can I bring him into my fold!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Seeing that the young people had no intention of listening anymore, Zhou He lightly tapped the stone table with his fingers, the "tap tap" sound instantly calming the soul, casting off impatience, and he then solemnly said:

    "People often say that Spirit Refinement greatly aids the Martial Path, but that statement is not entirely correct.

    The Martial Path and Spirit Refinement are interdependent. As the saying goes, the spirit never leaves qi, and qi never leaves the spirit.

    To achieve something significant, one must cultivate both the mind and bodypletely; neither the practice of the Martial Path nor Spirit Refinement can be neglected. Be sure to remember this!"

    The four people hurriedly made a serious bow in response: "Thank you, senior, for your guidance."

 Chapter 125: 125. Explosive Stir-Fry Alchemy

    The morning bell of the Taoist temple rang, echoing through the mountains.

    Li Pei took out his pocket watch, realizing it was time to take his leave.

    He gestured to the Liao Family Sisters and stood up, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist. I dare not disturb your practice any further. I shall take my leave."

    Zhou He nodded, "Go ahead."

    The threedies performed a deep bow and walked out. Li Pei saw that Lu Yao was still sitting still. It turned out that even by the time they had reached the gates of White Cloud Observatory, the little rogue still had note out.

    Liao Ya stepped forward and said, "Sister, let''s go ahead. Lu Yao still needs to stay for a while."

    Li Pei asked curiously, "Is he noting with us? If he has something to ask, he cane again next time."

    Liao Ya said, "No, it''s not that. Daoist Zhou wants to teach Lu Yao the art of alchemy..."

    "What!!! Alchemy!?" Li Pei was utterly astonished, with eyes and mouth wide open: "Why would Daoist Zhou teach him!?"

    Alchemy was a core secret transmission of the Wudang Sect. Among the thousands of true disciples of Wudang, only the Sect Leader and Zhou He knew this skill. Why would it be passed on to Lu Yao?

    Of course, Liao Ya could not say it was because of the 2000 silver, so she eloquently and politely said, "Perhaps he admires Lu Yao..."

    Li Pei quickly realized this was true, immediately calmed his mind, and smiled, "Then you should take my carriage and leave first. It''s rare toe out like this; we might as well have a good time. Shall we go to Four Seas Tower for a meal?"

    Leaving the original carriage for Lu Yao, the three women departed in Li Pei''s carriage.

    On the surface, Li Pei seemedposed, but his heart was creating massive waves: With the addition of Spirit Refining Oblivion and the art of alchemy, I must have this man!

    Now I only know he''s fond of women! But if I send him women, I will inevitably offend the Liao Family Sisters... Damn, what should I do!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Zhou He led Lu Yao into the alchemy room.

    The arrangement inside the alchemy room was somewhat different from what Lu Yao had imagined. In addition to shelves filled with medicinal herbs and ore, there was a conspicuousrge coal stove, upon which sat a big iron pot big enough to stew oneself in.

    Zhou He took out a dozen or so herbs and said, "Metal and stone are cooked, herbs are refined, Inner Breath transforms into Immortal Pills! The essence of alchemy is just the miraculous reaction between high temperature, Inner Breath, and various materials. Watch carefully, this is the most fundamental method for crafting Cultivating Origin Pills."

    The old Daoist opened the coal stove, heating the iron pot until it was red-hot, then he crushed the herbs with his palms on the chopping board and put them all into the iron pot to stir-fry with his hands.

    "After your Spirit Refining Oblivion, you can control the cirction of Inner Breath more precisely, which is used for refining pills. Crafting Cultivating Origin Pills should be a piece of cake for you!"

    Zhou He used both palms to stimte Inner Breath, zigzagging through the iron pot as the "ingredients" tumbled at high temperatures, with many impurities being shaken out.

    Lu Yao activated his Oblivion state, and everything around him instantly slowed to 0.3x speed, bing slower, and he firmly memorized each step and movement of Zhou He.

    About a quarter of an hourter, four fragrant pills appeared in his hand.

    Lu Yao took one and tasted it. A basic Cultivating Origin Pill had medicinal power almost like that of Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, but the advantage was that it did not need to be cooked and could be eaten right away, convenient for travel.

    Then he tried it himself.

    "High temperature, Inner Breath, the reaction between ingredients..."

    First, crush the ingredients, put them into the high-temperature iron pot, and stir-fry them with both palms as a spat; the feeling was indeed rather simr to "explosive stir-frying."

    Under the Oblivion state, one can not only sensitively perceive the temperature and control the fire but also cleverly manipte the palms to shake off impurities;

    Finally, precisely control the cirction of Inner Breath to cause incredible reactions between the herbs and ores.

    Such operations were utterly impossible for ordinary people, and only Spirit Refining Experts could perfectly grasp the instantaneous changes of materials and refine them into pills.

    ~~~~~~~

    The pills made by Lu Yao, while not very pretty in shape, were nearly on par with Zhou He''s in every other aspect.

    Zhou He tasted one, nodded with satisfaction, "Alchemy, after all, is a craft, practice makes perfect. As long as you practice more, you will surely learn moreplex Pill Recipes soon."

    Lu Yaoughed and said, "Taoist priest, actually, the elixir I am most eager to refine is the ''Wisdom Spirit Pill'' noted in your records for feeding spiritual beasts."

    "Oh? You''re interested in raising spiritual beasts too!"

    Upon hearing this, Zhou He became visibly excited, as there were too few who shared this interest.

    Raising spiritual beasts not only required a lot of effort but also cost a significant amount of money. Why not invest those resources in oneself?

    Zhou He, with unceasing enthusiasm, began to offer guidance to Lu Yao, "The best choice for spiritual beasts is avian! Snakes and insects are hard to enlighten, and mammals consume too much. It''s only avian creatures that are the best. Once you raise them to the Blood-Exchange Realm, you can ride them to soar across the skies. How wonderful would that be!"

    Lu Yaoughed and asked, "Taoist priest, where can I purchase one?"

    Zhou He replied, "You have to start raising avian creatures before they open their eyes, so that you''re the first person they see. If you want to buy one in Yunzhou, you can contact the manager of Four Seas Tower; he''s often in touch with those who deal in exotic treasures and should be able to procure one for you. Take my name card to him."

    He was about to give his name card to Lu Yao, clearly treating him as an insider.

    Lu Yao quickly responded, "I am also well-acquainted with Manager Jin of Four Seas Tower. I can just go see him myself."

    Zhou Heughed and said, "Thetter half of my notes includes information about spiritual beasts, which you can check out. We can exchange knowledge in this area, since there are so few in Yunzhou who share this interest. It''s nothing like the capital."

    "Then I shalle to bother you often."

    ~~~~~~~

    After parting with the old Taoist, Lu Yao went down the mountain.

    Li Pei and the threedies had already left. They left a servant with a message for Lu Yao, "Young Master Lu, the Commandery Princess and Master Liao have gone to Four Seas Tower."

    "That''s convenient. I was just about to go there myself."

    After thanking the message-bearing servant with a nod, Lu Yao also set off in his carriage.

    Along the way, he intermittently entered the state of oblivion, enabling him to see behind him without turning his head. He found it quite amusing and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

    Since the cities of the Otherworld didn''t have traffic congestion, Lu Yao quickly arrived at Four Seas Tower, where the three sisters were also dining.

    ~~~~~~

    Li Pei led her two sisters over, where Manager Jin was waiting on them, bowing and scraping respectfully.

    "This ce is well-known for its medicinal cuisine, which is both delicious and effective. Today, I''ll treat you, so don''t be polite."

    Li Pei pulled Liao Ya to their seats and urged the sisters to order.

    After thinking it over, Liao Ya said, "Sister, let me treat you today. You''ve always looked after me; allow me to express my thanks."

    Li Pei smiled about to refuse, but Liao Ya had already instructed Manager Jin, "The usual, please."

    Manager Jin sped his hands, "Everything is hot on the stove, and after simmering for three days, the timing is just right. I''ll serve the dishes immediately."

    With that, he went off to make the arrangements.

    In a short while, several waiters brought in dishes, singing out the names of the tiger''s elbow, bear''s paw, and eagle''s wings ¨C all part of the medicinal cuisine.

    Li Pei casually remarked, "Do youe here often, younger sister?"

    Before Liao Ya could respond, Liao Qe interjected, "Lu Yao has ordered meals here, we eat the medicinal cuisine every day."

    Li Pei was internally astonished and gained a more tangible understanding of Lu Yao''s wealth. At the same time, she worried:

    He''s in good terms with Taoist Zhou, definitely notcking in cultivation techniques or elixirs, and he doesn''tck silver, nor does he crave power and influence. Could it really be that only a beauty trap would work...

    As she was pondering this, Lu Yao had already arrived.

    "What a coincidence, you''ve alsoe to Four Seas Tower. I''m nning to raise a spiritual beast. Shall we choose one together?"

 Chapter 126: 126. Spiritual Sparrowhawk

    "Spirit Pets?" Both sisters were full of curiosity, filled with anticipation.

    Raising Spirit Pets is akin to buying a private jet, many have heard of it but don''t have a clear impression, only knowing that it''s incrediblyvish, an endeavor only the wealthy nobility can afford.

    After all, ordinary peopleck even the resources to cultivate themselves, how could they have the spare heart or money to raise a "baby"?

    Li Pei gently reminded, "Was it Taoist Master Zhou''s suggestion to raise Spirit Pets? You may notck silver, but Spirit Pets require consumingrge amounts of ''Wisdom Spirit Pills.'' You know what the main ingredient for these pills is, right?"

    "Wisdom Spirit Pills" are either refined from Demon Cores or substituted with the "Blood Core" of Western demons, and neither is easy to procure.

    Lu Yao said confidently, "Thank you for the reminder, Commandery Princess, but I am quite interested in this and would like to give it a try."

    With over a dozen Blood Cores stored at home, there was no cause for worry.

    Li Pei nodded and said no more.

    Next, Lu Yao called for Manager Jin and stated his intention, "I am looking to purchase a few Spirit Pets, does Manager have any leads?"

    Upon hearing this, Li Pei smiled wryly and shook her head.

    The supply of "exotic treasures" is the lifeline of Four Seas Tower, and any normal person daring to ask Manager Jin would surely be engaging in a bitter struggle to the death.

    However, having served meals for months, Manager Jin was well aware of Lu Yao''s wealth and power.

    He was certain that this master who dined daily on medicinal dishes wouldn''t be interested in his trivial offerings.

    Hence, he respectfully said, "Master Lu, I do know a few ''Mountain Patrollers'' who trade in exotic treasures. But they have always supplied me with ingredients, and I''m not sure if they have brought any Spirit Pets suitable for raising. Perhaps I could call them over for you to ask personally?"

    "Mountain Patrollers'''' are Martial Artists who venture into deep forests to search for Monster Beasts and Spiritual Medicine. Rarity breeds value, and while this line of work is highly lucrative, it''s also extremely dangerous.

    "Then I''ll have to trouble you, Manager Jin."

    "Not at all, not at all~ I''ll make the arrangements right away, please wait a moment."

    Manager Jin scampered off in a hurry.

    Before long, he led six people over. These folks were split into two groups, with a man and a woman leading each.

    Both leaders were covered in the wear of travel, dressed in sturdy, concise attire, the man sporting a long braid and the woman wearing numerous small braids, a typical ethnic dress.

    Li Pei said, "They are from the Manchu minority, it seems Manager Jin has always sourced his goods from the old forests to the north."

    The Manchu region, part of the Shunchao Prefecture, is located in the utmost north, bordering Rakshasa Country. It is one of the rare ces where Monster Beasts can still be seen.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Only the two leaders followed Manager Jin inside, while the rest waited outside with eager anticipation.

    The two leaders, keeping their distance, did not even nce at each other but greeted with their fists cupped in salute:

    "Marrow-Cleansing Realm¡ªNa Wei, pleased to meet everyone."

    "Organ Refining¡ªTong Jia, good to meet you!"

    The man named Na Wei was burly and imposing, though he wore a less than pleased expression.

    Initially, old Jin mentioned that "Young Master Lu who donated millions of pounds of rice" wanted to buy Spirit Pets, he was happy thinking a big deal hade his way.

    But he hadn''t expected this old bastard to bring apetitor along! This was clearly favoring the buyer, making him "fight in the arena" with his peer! A sheer outrage!

    "Mountain Patrollers" are rebellious by nature, and Na Wei wasn''t pleased at all.

    But the "master ofvish spending" Lu Yao''s reputation preceded him, and he truly couldn''t bear to let such a big sale slip away. He even hoped to establish a major client rtionship with Lu Yao.

    "Mountain Patrollers" adore the wealthy patrons who aren''t stingy with money, as it means they can offload their prized finds immediately.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The woman named Tong Jia maintained a calm demeanor, her eyes sharp and perceptive. Without making a sound, she sized up Lu Yao, the legendary overseas tycoon, and when her sight brushed past Li Pei, her pupils shrank slightly, internally marveling at Lu Yao''s reach, to be able to have a Commandery Princess in hispany!

    Lu Yao got straight to the point, "The two of you, I want to buy top-grade Spirit Pets; if the item is good, money is not an issue."

    Being the more powerful one, Na Wei spoke first, "I''ve long admired Young Master Lu''s great name. I have the finest birds of prey here¡ªSparrowhawks."

    He raised his hand, and a sparrowhawk with white feathers and ck spots flew down to perch on his forearm. Standing over a meter tall with a two-meter wingspan, it was incredibly majestic.

    Na Wei showed it off and said, "Young Master Lu, if you''re interested, this ''Oriental Green Hawk'' can be yours for just 300 pieces of silver!"

    The price was truly expensive; the luxury carriage that Li Pei had given was at most worth 30 pieces of silver.

    Owning a spirit pet was like buying a private ne on Blue Star; its price was beyond the imagination ofmon folk. Indeed, it was something only the wealthy could afford.

    Na Wei stood aside with folded hands, feeling quite pleased with himself.

    With his sparrowhawk so majestic, this wealthy young master wouldn''t be stingy in front of all his femalepanions!

    ~~~~~~~

    The Liao Family Sisters watched the imposing and beautiful sparrowhawk, their eyes shining with admiration, but they remained silent, leaving the decision to Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao did not respond but looked towards Tong Jia, the young ethnic minority woman.

    Tong Jia nodded slightly, her hair bells jingling as she spoke calmly, "Young Master Lu, a bird will be loyal only if it sees its master upon hatching. Since this fellow traveler''s merchandise is already grown, I''m afraid it won''t do."

    Na Wei sneered, "Hatch from an egg? That would waste at least a year''s time and countless efforts to raise. My ''Oriental Green Hawk'' is well-trained and mature; you can enjoy its presence right away!"

    Having said that, he told the sparrowhawk on his arm to "go."

    The bird obediently flew to the table in front of Lu Yao and perched there, allowing people to admire it without showing any sign of wildness.

    Tong Jia''s pupils contracted, and she shouted angrily, "This so-called ''falcon training'' of yours, by depriving it of sleep, has stripped the bird of its wild nature and broken its spirit. This sparrowhawk has lost the proud and free soul of an ''Oriental Green Hawk''! It doesn''t deserve the name!"

    ''Oriental Green Hawk'' implies the king of all hawks, and the one before them, with its docile and obedient gaze... indeed, did not live up to the name.

    Na Wei bowed to Lu Yao and said, "Young Master, raising a spirit pet is a tough job. As a man of wealth, you should just enjoy its splendor."

    Tong Jia took out a brocade box containing a white egg. "This is a ''Falcon Egg.'' Young Master can use his Inner Breath to help it hatch, and the resulting sparrowhawk will be naturally stronger and superior to its peers! And it''s only 50 pieces of silver."

    The crowd looked to Lu Yao for his decision.

    Lu Yao decisively said, "I''ll take the egg."

    Before Tong Jia could respond, Na Wei suddenly interjected, "Young Master Lu, I have falcon eggs too. Why don''t you take a look?"

    Two quick-witted subordinates brought over a brocade box and opened it to reveal another falcon egg.

    Lu Yao approached and brushed his fingers over both sets of eggs. His threadlike Inner Breath instantly assessed the condition of each egg¡ª

    There were faint heartbeats within each egg, but the one from Tong Jia had a stronger pulse and more vigor, and the small creature inside seemed delighted upon sensing the Inner Breath.

    Seeing his skill, the two Mountain Patrollers felt a chill; this wealthy young master was actually a Spirit Refining Expert!

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "I still choose the egg from Master Tong. I''m sorry, Na Wei."

    Na Wei''s face darkened, and he took a deep breath topose himself. With a "I won''t be outdone" attitude, he gave Lu Yao a fist salute and said, "Young Master has a discerning eye. I apologize for any inconvenience caused today. Next time, I will definitely bring something that satisfies you. I shall take my leave!"

    After saying those words, he left with his subordinates, casting a vicious nce back at Tong Jia before departing.

    ~~~~~~ Chapter Stay:

    Outside the restaurant, Na Wei scowled and angrily said,

    "Damn it, that wretched woman has messed up my ns again! I was just about to make a connection with Young Master Lu, and now I''ll surely be looked down upon!"

    His subordinates tried to console him, "Big brother, there''s always next time. And we did meet Young Master Lu this time, didn''t we?"

    "That short-haired woman must be Princess Yongping! Tsk, even the Commandery Princess keeps herpany; this young master really has incredible connections."

    Na Wei said with hatred, "That''s why I hurried over, to make an acquaintance with such a well-connected wealthy individual. But that wench Tong Jia keeps ruining my ns. Next time we go to the mountains, let''s take care of her!"

    After dropping these harsh words, he nced back at Four Seas Tower and said, "There are other top-grade spirit pets besides sparrowhawks; just watch my skills!"

 Chapter 127: 127. Hatching Falcon Egg

    ```

    Tong Jia''s face showed delight as she handed over the brocade box containing the egg with both hands, "Young Master Lu, such audacity befits the owner of a spirit pet! A flying creature can be both your eyes and your de, whereas Na Wei''s method will only earn him a pet at best."

    Lu Yao nodded slightly, epting the brocade box. He then said, "Master Tong, we need four as there are four of us. Do you have any more eggs avable?"

    In addition to himself and his two sisters, Li Pei was also present; giving her one wouldn''t be a big deal.

    Yet once he made this request, Li Pei quickly cautioned him, "Raising a spirit pet, even a flying one, is far more expensive than you can imagine! A single spirit bird consumes more resources than a person, one is enough."

    Lu Yao smiled and responded, "No matter, let''s take four. Is that possible, Master Tong?"

    "This..." Tong Jia hesitated, "Indeed, I have more, but they''ve been reserved by Young Master Xiang, and it would not be right for me to break our agreement. Could Young Master Lu wait a few days? I''ll go back and fetch them right away..."

    "Which Young Master Xiang?" Li Pei''s brows furrowed as she asked, "Is it Xiang Cheng?"

    Chapter Explore:

    Tong Jia inwardly groaned, how could she forget the idiom "a hen flying and eggs breaking"! The rtionship between this Commandery Princess and her fiance''s family... had turned sour recently.

    In Yunzhou, only one family that deals in spirit pets and bears the surname Xiang. Li Pei scoffed, "We''ll take all the falcon eggs, let Xiang Cheng wait. If he has any objections, he cane to me directly!"

    Tong Jiaughed awkwardly, feeling relieved that there were still a few days left before the delivery date. She decided to give the eggs to Lu Yao''s party first and then hurry back to fetch more.

    Consequently, she handed over the only four falcon eggs avable, and Liao Qe went to the carriage to take out 200 taels of silver to pay for them.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After receiving the silver, Tong Jia spoke softly, "Young Master Lu, may I have a word with you in private?"

    Lu Yao followed her out of the room, and the girl bowed, saying, "Young master, now that you''ve purchased the falcon eggs, do you possess the technique to tame falcons?"

    Although Lu Yao had the notes from Zhou He, he was not averse to obtaining another, more professional set of instructions. Thus, he said, "If Master Tong has them, I''d like to purchase them as well."

    Tong Jia replied, "Not only do I possess the methods to tame falcons, but my Tong family''s techniques are also renowned throughout the spirit petmunity. However, our family''s secret methods cannot be divulged lightly. If..."

    She hesitantly whispered, "If you can get me some firearms, I would be willing to gift them to you."

    "Firearms?"

    "Yes. The Imperial Court strictly controls them, but I''m in urgent need of firearms for self-defense. Young Master, the most dangerous thing in the wild forests are not the beasts, but people!"

    The "Mountain Patrollers," who spend long periods in the dangerous and chaotic wild forests, arewless.

    Tong Jia vividly remembered the look Na Wei gave her before he left. She brandished the shotgun around her waist and said,

    "Firearms and ammunition like this are both eptable. Young Master Lu''s influence reaches the heavens; surely you have a way."

    "Wait here," Lu Yao said, whispering a few words into Liao Qe''s ear. She nodded, unfolded her figure, and leaped away.

    In just a few minutes, she returned carrying arge package.

    When Tong Jia opened it, she found four M1911 pistols and countless .45 bullets inside. Delighted, she skillfully checked the slide, trigger, and firing pin of one of the guns.

    Lu Yao''s current adversaries were ruthless, and the M1911 was of little use to him. It was the perfect time to trade them for the falcon-taming technique.

    Pleased with the simple, reliable, and robustrge caliber pistols, Tong Jia happily exchanged her family''s secret taming technique.

    "Young Master Lu is most generous! Today''s transaction has been extremely smooth. In the future, if Ie across good items, I''ll seek you out first. We shall meet again!"

    Lu Yao also bowed and smiled, "We shall meet again."

    The girl cheerfully signaled her men and left, overjoyed.

    To the average martial artist, the M1911 is still quite practical, after all, those who fear bullets make up the majority.

    Not everyone is like Lu Yao, spending their days concerned with adversaries above the Blood-Exchange Realm.

    ~~~~~~~

    Inside Four Seas Tower

    Li Pei graciously epted the falcon egg,ughing, "I''ve eaten and taken from you today, iming quite the advantage from my sister~"

    Liao Ya spoke gently, "Sister, don''t say that. Compared with what you have offered us, what is this trifle?"

    ```

    Li Pei spoke again to Lu Yao, "It looks like Taoist Zhou will have a few more fellow enthusiasts."

    "Taoist Zhou will surely be overjoyed."

    "Once our falcons hatch, let''s go visit him together."

    After a fewughs, Li Pei took his leave, "I''ll be off first;e find me to chat and y when you have time."

    ~~~~~~~

    After bidding farewell to the Commandery Princess, the three of them couldn''t wait to get back home.

    The two sisters, their faces flushed with excitement and theirrge eyes sparkling, stared unblinkingly at the falcon eggs.

    These were the legendary spirit pets! Only wealthy magnates and nobility could afford such luxuries!

    Going back a year, neither sister could have imagined that they would ever be able to raise spirit pets!

    Lu Yao took out Zhou He''s notebook, which detailed alchemy in the first half and abruptly turned into a "Spirit Birds Breeding Manual" in thetter half, perfectly witnessing the ''fall'' of a great alchemy master, a sight that inspired much sighing.

    At this stage, the task was quite simple, which was to infuse Inner Breath into the eggs, just a tiny bit would do.

    Each picked an egg to infuse.

    While in a state of sitting-in-forgetfulness, Lu Yao could clearly sense through his index finger that the tiny life inside the egg was yearning for and delighted by the Inner Breath.

    Just a minuscule infusion, and the vitality within surged tremendously.

    Inner Breath was the essence of the five organs and the most basic energy of life; there was no flesh and blood life that wouldn''t like it, making it the best catalyst for incubation.

    Concentrating his mind on his eyes, Lu Yao faintly saw a small ck dot moving inside the shell, which were the eyes of the fledgling falcon.

    Like this, every three hours, he infused it once, and by evening time when he infused Inner Breath again, the three falcon eggs began trembling happily¡ªthe little lives inside had taken shape.

    ~~~~~~~

    The next morning, small cracks appeared on the surface of the three falcon eggs; they were about to hatch.

    After infusing them with Inner Breath, everything was left to nature. In his spare time, Lu Yao bought a kerosene stove andrge iron pot, preparing to craft "Wisdom Spirit Pills" in advance.

    This pill, besides enlightening spirit pets, could also enhance their physique. The pill recipe wasplex and could only be crafted by someone in the "Sitting-in-Forgetfulness Realm".

    Lu Yao lit the kerosene stove and started with a pot of the mostmon "Cultivating Origin Pills" as a warm-up.

    Being introductory pills that were easily crafted, Lu Yao finished them off in no time.

    He also guided the sisters who stood by and watched excitedly:

    "Alchemy, in essence, is the miraculous reaction that urs from high temperatures, Inner Breath, and various materials. Only a Spirit Refining Expert can grasp the instantaneous changes of materials and refine them into pill form."

    After having them taste the Cultivating Origin Pills, Lu Yao took out a small cloth bag filled with Blood Cores.

    There were a total of 12 cores; except for Baron William''s standout piece that was as big as a chicken egg, the others were only the size of quail eggs.

    Lu Yao called out, "I''m a bit nervous for the first time; assist me with your Inner Breath."

    The two sisters immediately stepped forward and ced their hands on Lu Yao''s back.

    Lu Yao added codonopsis, polygonum multiflorum, acanthopanax, paired flowers, and astragalus to the pot, letting them slowly dpose and fuse together under the high temperature and the catalysis of Inner Breath.

    Next, he added the smallest Blood Core, shouting, "Inner Breath, give it to me!

    The sisters immediately channeled their Inner Breath full force. The Blood Core had not shown any reaction to the high temperature, but as soon as the Inner Breath entered, it started to be springy like jelly.

    If it had been a few milliseconds more, the contents of the pot would turn into charcoal; a few milliseconds less, and they wouldn''t fuse.

    Just at that perfect moment, Lu Yao precisely controlled the Inner Breath, turning the whole pot of red, ''alright''-like substances into one.

    In his hand appeared ten longan-sized red pills¡ªthe "Wisdom Spirit Pills".

 Chapter 128: 128. Discovery

    ```

    Three falcon chicks hatched at dusk, wriggling amongst the soft cloth as little balls of fluff, their wet feathers covering their eyes.

    The little ones, upon emerging, did nothing but gape with hungry mouths, waiting to be fed.

    The two sisters quickly brought over the prepared raw meat, tearing it into strips to feed them.

    Lu Yao then scraped off a rice grain-sized piece of a "Wisdom Spirit Pill" and fed it to them as well. This elixir could enhance the chicks'' resistance to disease.

    After a while, the chicks'' feathers dried, and there appeared three fluffy grey balls.

    Nourished by Inner Breath in the eggs, they were much sturdier than their peers, and they had already started to nudge each other, attempting to push their siblings out of the nest.

    In the wild, this behavior serves as training and a way to get more food.

    The sisters were incredibly fond of them, their faces brimming with joyful smiles as they gently yed.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao flipped through the old Daoist''s notes, reading that in the Otherworld, wild beasts that had eaten some miraculous natural treasures or had sudden enlightenments, bing capable of cultivating on their own, were collectively referred to as Monster Beasts.

    In ancient times, these were formidable enemies of mankind, capable of destroying cities andnds, and some could even transform into human forms to wreak havoc.

    After Immortal Qin, they gradually became extinct for unknown reasons, and the chances of ordinary wild animals turning into Monster Beasts also dropped significantly.

    Now, only in the remote bordends do a few remain, and those that could destroy cities andnds, those Ancient Unique Breeds, have not been seen anymore.

    A Spirit Pet, on the other hand, is a wild beast that has been domesticated and trained by humans to cultivate.

    There is no fundamental difference between Monster Beasts and Spirit Pets; it''s just a matter of allegiance.

    Anyway, as long as they reach the Blood-Exchange Realm, they can easily carry their masters and fly in the sky, disying the grandeur of a cultivator.

    But this "grandeur"es with a hefty price.

    There are two ways for a Spirit Pet to grow quickly:

    First is to spend a lot of money¡ªfeasting on "Wisdom Spirit Pills" and various supplements. What people can eat, Spirit Pets can eat;

    Second is to spend a lot of effort¡ªtransferring Inner Breath to the Spirit Pet, massaging, and pushing acupoints.

    Zhou He focuses on thetter¡­

    Lu Yao felt that he should stick to his forte of spending money.

    ~~~~~~~

    With ample nutrition and a continuous supply of "Wisdom Spirit Pills," the three little ones opened their eyes on the third day. Their wild counterparts would need seven days to do so.

    The first thing they saw were the beaming faces of Lu Yao and the two sisters, overwhelmed with joy.

    The three falcon chicks pped their small wings and used their heads to gently nuzzle the fingers of the three people to show affection.

    Liao Qeughed heartily. "Let''s name them."

    Liao Ya wholeheartedly agreed: "Junior Brother, it''s thanks to your blessing that we can raise Spirit Pets. You should do the honors."

    Lu Yao thought for a moment and said, "Let''s call them Ji Xiang, Ru Yi, and Ping An."

    Liao Qe praised, "What auspicious names."

    Liao Ya was a bit speechless as she had envisioned names like "Star sh" or "Lightning Speed," but then she thought that in these chaotic times, living a good life is what matters most.

    So she smiled and said, "Then mine will be called Ji Xiang."

    Liao Qe cooed, "Mine is Ru Yi~ Together we are Ji Xiang Ru Yi~"

    And so, Lu Yao''s was named "Ping An."

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the days that followed, Lu Yao spent some veryfortable days.

    Practicing martial arts daily, feeding the birds, and testing the depth of his rtionship with the young women.

    Zhou He, having heard that Lu Yao had bought falcons, came to visit especially and offered many valuable tips.

    ```

    Lu Yao copied Tong Jia''s method for taming falcons and shared it with the old Daoist, exchanging knowledge.

    The three young falcons, under meticulous care, had already shed their feathers once, but still looked like grey, disheveled, bald chickens, wobbling around on the ground, a fair distance away from soaring in the sky. However, their sharp beaks and talons faintly hinted at their future majesty as birds of prey.

    The young falcons were very familiar with the three people, Lu Yao, Liao Ya, and Liao Qe; perhaps ustomed to their Inner Breath, they were not afraid of humans and often nuzzled up affectionately.

    At this moment, Lu Yao was teasing "Ping An"''s neck with his fingers, thinking that once these little ones grew up and developed some Spiritual nature, they would be able to understand simplemands.

    Moreover, being domesticated meant their physical strength would far exceed that of their counterparts. Eventually, carrying a hundred pounds of bombs like a bomber, the thought was quite amusing...

    After all, falcons possess some of the best flying techniques among raptors.

    ~~~~~~~

    While Lu Yao was lost in his yful thoughts, Liao Ya suddenly approached him, mustered her courage and said in a soft voice, "Junior Brother, let''s use the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' on each other, shall we?"

    A massage once a week was advisable, but it had been almost a month since thest time.

    Liao Ya was really too shy to ask, but the massage was too important, so she had to brazenly suggest "mutual" assistance.

    Lu Yao had no objections. Even if it wasn''t just to indulge his craving for practicing the technique, assisting his Senior Sister in her cultivation was his undeniable duty.

    The two immediately went inside. Liao Ya had carefully chosen this moment, having arranged for her sister to go out and buy diesel ahead of time.

    She first gave Lu Yao a massage, a bit bashful, she said, "My technique is far inferior to yours..."

    Due to her lower Spirit Refinement Realm, Liao Ya was barely satisfactory, far from Lu Yao''s skill level.

    As Lu Yao was carefully feeling the small, fair hands pressing over his body, he quickly said, "Not at all, it''s quitefortable. Come on, it''s my turn to massage you."

    Liao Yay on the bed and said softly, "Junior Brother, focus on massaging the Gao Huang and Xin Shu points, and don''t press the wrong spots..."

    Both of these ces were at higher locations on the back, so it wouldn''t be as embarrassing asst time.

    Lu Yao flexed his fingers confidently and said, "Don''t worry, Senior Sister. I''m now in the realm of Spirit Refining Oblivion. Every vital point will be attended to under the synchronized trembling of ''organs, sinews, and acupoints''!"

    Having said that, Lu Yao entered the Oblivion state, channeling Inner Breath through all ten fingers precisely as he pressed down.

    Back acupoints and reflex zones were stimted almost simultaneously, which caused Liao Ya to let out a high-pitched, melodious scream that frightened the three young falcons ying merrily in the yard, making them topple over.

    "Spirit Refining Oblivion" was quick to respond and precise in control, clearly monitoring Liao Ya''s body condition while adjusting the Inner Breath during the massage, perfectly utilizing the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual.''

    Liao Ya felt her blood cirction speed up by threefold, and many spots that were difficult to cultivate suddenly became clear.

    The Inner Breath easily swept through with the blood, expelling countless impurities from her body, making her feel sofortable she nearly floated away.

    By the time she regained her senses, her body was already sticky, especially around the Huiyang Point.

    And this time, Liao Ya had forgotten to open her pores to sweat...

    Lu Yao twiddled his fingers, somewhat stunned.

    Master Liao took a deep breath, forced herself to be calm, and slowly got up, sayingposedly,

    "Thank you, Junior Brother! The impurities in my marrow have been expelled, and I feel a lot looser all over. Your massage technique is good enough for you to be an elder in top sects like Wudang and Shaolin."

    "If it''s useful, that''s good."

    "I''m going into seclusion."

    Suppressing her embarrassment, Liao Ya, still carrying the demeanor of the eldest senior sister, dashed to the washroom at the highest speed possible.

    ~~~~~~~

    After washing his hands, Lu Yao remarked, "Senior Sister is also a... woman who''s rough on the bed sheets, eh."

    Ping An ran over to his master''s feet, seeking affection. Lu Yao casually passed a wisp of Inner Breath to him, making him squirm in joy.

    Just then, a Paper Crane flew over the wall!

    Lu Yao leaped up to catch it and saw it written on it: "Bring silver ande to White Cloud Observatory immediately."

    "The old Daoist wants me to bring silver to White Cloud Observatory!?"

 Chapter 129: 129. Fu Fangsheng

    Recently, the household expenses have been quite substantial; there''s only a little over 500 taels of silver left.

    Lu Yao took 500 whole taels and ced them on the cart before saying through the door to Liao Ya:

    "There''s a bit of a situation at Daoist Zhou''s ce, so I''m going to take a look. If Ie backte, you break the ''Wisdom Spirit Pill'' into pieces the size of corn kernels and feed them to the three little ones."

    Liao Ya''s muffled voice came through: "I understand, Junior Brother, go ahead."

    At the moment, she was lying on the bed, her cheeks flushed red. She deeply resented her weak body which fainted at the slightest touch, causing a great deal of embarrassment.

    Listening to the sounds of her Junior Brother driving away, Liao Ya stared at the room''s main beam, lost in thought.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao arrived at the White Cloud Observatory, and the Daoist guarding the gate, recognizing him, bowed and directly let him pass.

    When he reached the backyard, the Immortal Crane was waiting at the door, tilting its head to look at him, crying twice before flying up to the roof of an alchemy room.

    Lu Yao went straight to the alchemy room and, upon pushing open the door, saw the old Daoist rushing to save an "injury victim."

    "Young friend, you''ve arrived just in time! Did you bring silver?"

    Lu Yao handed over the coconut-sized 500 taels of silver: "Is this enough?"

    "Enough, enough!" Zhou He hurriedly took it. "Ah~ I had just sent back 2000 taels to the Sect when this person came running over. They sure know how to pick their moment."

    The man the old Daoist was saving was a pale, frail-looking fellow.

    The man was riddled with bullet holes, with substance like thick ink seeping from the wounds, spreading along his veins towards his body''s interior, making his entire frame seem as withered as a dying nt.

    At that time, the man had lost consciousness, talking nonsense: "Zhou He... if I die, you must find my sister... "

    "Quiet! Find her yourself!"

    Zhou He pinched two fingers together and pecked, extracting a deformed bullet from one of the holes ¨C a 7.7MM caliber round from a Lewis Machine Gun.

    The man had taken more than a dozen shots, but the bullets had only pierced the skin before being trapped by his bones, as tough as refined steel. This person was clearly at the Blood-Exchange Realm!

    Zhou He''s hands moved without stopping, plucking out each bullet and sticking a small piece of silver on the wound. The ck substance at the wound hissed, vanishing along with a faint wisp of blue smoke.

    Seeing what needed to be done, Lu Yao quickly stepped forward to help, taking charge of applying silver pieces to the wounds, allowing the old Daoist to concentrate on extracting the bullets.

    Coborating with each other, they soon extracted all the bullets. The wounds, purified by the silver, oozed mercury-like translucent blood.

    Zhou He breathed a sigh of relief: "This is the Westerners'' ''Withering Bullet,'' which voraciously consumes life force and is extremely vicious, but removing it solves the problem."

    By then, the man''s narrow eyes had opened, regaining consciousness.

    Wiping the sweat from his face, Zhou He introduced: "This is Fu Fangsheng from Jinmen, a fellow member of our kind. Judging by his condition, he must''ve provoked a powerful Western demon beast."

    The man named Fu Fangsheng had an unusual appearance¡ªnot only was he frail and pale, but he also looked very much like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy!

    Although martial artists of high realms aged very slowly, this was a bit of an exaggeration.

    He twisted his muscles and forcibly closed the wounds on his body, then said: "I killed the bishop in charge of the Frandi concession in Jinmen."

    He spoke in an indifferent tone as though he had mentioned something trivial, but Zhou He eximed in shock, "What!?"

    The bishop was equivalent to the Prefectural Governor of the Shun Dynasty, a regional head of the Western Religion, and now he had been killed. The nature and consequences of this action were more serious than killing a "Kartin;" the Westerners would not let this go easily.

    Fu Fangsheng''s voice was neutral with a slightly sharp edge as he casually said,

    "That demon beast recruited choir boys, and damn it, I was actually chosen when I applied! I just got myself some silver teeth, and sure enough, when the demon beast was about to bless them, I seized the moment and bit off its ''root of life'', circled around to its rear, and finished it with a ck Tiger Heart Pluck..."

    "That''s enough, that''s enough~ You don''t need to be so graphic!" Zhou He cut off the man''s vulgarnguage and turned to introduce, "This is the young friend Lu Yao, and you owe your life to his silver."

    Lu Yao bowed with his fists sped and asked curiously, "Do demon beasts still have worldly desires?"

    "More than that, they can even have children with humans!" Fu Fangshengughed as he answered, then suddenly remembered something, pped his forehead and said, "I still have something good on me!"

    He controlled the movements of his intestines and vomited a goose egg-sized "Blood Core" from his mouth, wiped it on himself, and ced it on the bedside table.

    "This is that demon beast''s; lucky I swallowed it into my stomach, or it would have been lost long ago. Damn~ The Westerners have offered three taels of gold as a reward, sending Innate Experts after my life..."

    Zhou He picked up the Blood Core and stuffed it into Lu Yao''s hands, "Young friend, keep it. We owe this timely rescue to you."

    Just as Lu Yao was about to decline, Fu Fangsheng shouted, "Stop being so modest, both of you. Once my wounds heal, I''ll just go and y another demon beast. I, Fu Fang, always repay my debts~"

    Zhou He agreed, "Young friend Lu, just ept it. I can settle my ounts with him slowly."

    Lu Yao thought of the three fledgling hawks at home and stopped being courteous, stuffing the "Blood Core" boldly into his chest.

    Fu Fangsheng, lying exhausted on the bed, told Zhou He, "I''ll hide here for a couple of days. Then... I''ll go look for my sister..."

    Before he finished speaking, he couldn''t hold on any longer and fell asleep, snoring away.

    "It seems I owe you from a previous life," Zhou He said with a wry smile as he led Lu Yao away, letting the severely injured rest.

    ~~~~~~

    The evening breeze was slightly intoxicating, the moonlight like frost.

    "Running more than 2000 miles with such serious injuries... from Jinmen to Yunzhou, old Fu has indeed had a hard time."

    Arriving in the courtyard, Zhou He sighed,

    "Old Fu appears young, but he''s actually about the same age as me. Years ago, his sister was abducted by a Western demon beast, and he has been in relentless pursuit... for twenty years now."

    Lu Yao said nothing; twenty years... in all likelihood, the person may already be dead.

    Zhou He seemed to understand what Lu Yao was thinking andmented, "Old Fu is just clinging to a hope... His sister was only five years old when abducted. Demon beasts like to feed on young blood, sometimes keeping those that are particrly to their taste until they are thirty."

    Lu Yao stared at the moon and suddenly said, "These demon beasts have brewed countless human tragedies. If given the chance, I must eradicate them all."

    "It''s difficult¡­" Zhou He heaved a long sigh, "In my youth, I thought the Imperial Court was simplycking in advanced techniques, so I diligently studied and even requested to study abroad. Yet it was only in my old age that I realized something was amiss! What weck is a kind of spirit, a spirit to forsake life and death to recreate the Divine Land! Yet martial artists focus their mighty power on themselves, engaging in the trivial struggles of the world, only for their own selfish gains..."

    As he spoke, Zhou He suddenly shook his head andughed,

    "Actually, it''s not all like that. There are still young people like you. You, the two girls from the Liao Family, and Li Pei, are all martial artists with righteous hearts andpassion. The world will change for the better when you all grow up."

    Lu Yao gave a wry smile, "The Taoist Master overpraises me. I''m just aid-back type, aiming only to live without shame."

    "That''s enough," Zhou He said with a smile, then turned and added,

    "It''s gettingte, you should head back. Be careful tomorrow. With the three taels of gold on offer from the Westerners, it won''t be easy to advance to Innate, and there will certainly be many from the Blood-Exchange Realm around."

    Lu Yao nodded, bid farewell to the old Taoist, and went home.

    The next day, just as the old Taoist had said, the streets were stered with wanted posters, and there were many more experts from the Blood-Exchange Realm.

 Chapter 130: 130.40MM armor-piercing grenade

    Fu Fangsheng''s wanted poster was sketched by a master; it was so lifelike that it hardly differed from a photograph.

    A reward of three taels of gold was offered by Jinmen''srgest foreign firm¡ªthe Frandi "Mississippi Company".

    Gold was the key material for advancing to the Indestructible Golden Body, so its value need not be overstated.

    Under this temptation, a multitude of martial artists crazily flocked into Yunzhou. And the local martial artists of Yunzhou who could still move were all mobilized, vowing to dig three feet into the ground to find Fu Fangsheng.

    But these people could never imagine that Fu Fangsheng was capable of hiding in the White Cloud Observatory, being tended to by an ordained Taoist as he healed.

    They could only search in vain in clinics, inns, and private homes, moring and fussing to no avail.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao continued to keep his door shut and live his cozy little life, but watching this hubbub, he gained a deeper understanding of the value of gold.

    Liao Ya counted on her fingers and said, "People from Bagua Gate, Xingyi Gate, and Five Tigers Gate have all arrived, and even some from Fengsha Gate in Ganzhou. These groups all have grudges between them and could start fighting among themselves. Luckily, the Commandery Princess is there to suppress them, or the streets would have already descended into chaos."

    Liao Qe stroked the downy feathers on "Ru Yi''s" neck and whispered softly, "Just three taels have caused such amotion... The amount we''ve hidden... tsk tsk..."

    Liao Ya looked half anxiously and half expectantly towards her own room, where half a ton of gold buried by her junior brothery!

    Lu Yao was busy feeding small pellets of the Wisdom Spirit Pill to three juvenile sparrowhawks. The little ones were growing quickly; in just half a month, they no longer wobbled when they walked but ran around like little chicks.

    Now they preferred to eat Inner Breath and the Wisdom Spirit Pill over meat.

    ording to the old Taoist''s records in the scriptures, they would enter a rapid growth phase after a month if they were well-nourished.

    The three juvenile sparrowhawks would thenpletely outpace their wild counterparts and transform from ordinary birds into Monster Beasts.

    Just as he was amusing the little ones, he suddenly felt he was being watched.

    Frowning, he looked over to see a man with a center-parted hairstyle standing on a vast Wutong Tree over twenty meters tall. The man was shading his eyes with his hand, scouting around with his senses heightened from being in a meditative state.

    This behavior was very rude, akin to using binocrs to tantly spy on a neighbor.

    "This has to be one of the martial artists from outside Yunzhou searching for Fu Fangsheng, an expert in the state of Spirit Refinement who has found his way here."

    Lu Yao was a bit displeased; these people were getting bolder, now visibly spying into other people''s homes.

    And this man, upon seeing the three juvenile sparrowhawks in the yard, had his pupils constrict suddenly, revealing a surge of malicious intent! Even without being in a Spirit Refining State, the greed on his face was unmistakably clear.

    Lu Yao took out his Grenade Sniper and said to Liao Qe, "Come help me out."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The martial artists searching for Fu Fangsheng, for the most part, were just trying their luck and would give up if they found nothing.

    However, many martial artists who had eagerly followed the hunt from Jinmen were burning with impatience.

    Currently, they were gathered in a courtyard provided by a local gang, discussing their next move.

    "Fu Fangsheng is seriously injured and has fled over two thousand li; he should be at hisst gasp. We''ve mobilized all manner of people from all walks of life in Yunzhou City to search for him; there can''t be absolutely no trace of him!"

    "He must have entered Yunzhou City! But where could he be hiding?"

    "If we let him escape, given his radical temperament, none of us will have a moment''s peace!"

    Many martial artists who had joined the manhunt out of greed were beginning to regret their decision...

    The martial artists present were divided into three groups, precisely the "Bagua Gate, Xingyi Gate, and Five Tigers Gate" mentioned by Liao Ya.

    The three leaders were all Blood-Exchange Warriors, not merely d in silk and satin but also wearing clothes embroidered with silver threads in various designs, the height of luxury.

    At that moment, the man with the center-parted hairstyle who had been spying from the tree leaped down directly from it, creating a significant impact from the more than twenty-meter fall and smashing a small crater in the ground below, scattering dirt and stones.

    ```

    Brushing off the dust from his body nonchntly, he noticed everyone looking at him. The manughed and said:

    "Yunzhou is bustling with prosperity, and the rich are especially abundant here, damn it, even those at the Organ Refining stage dare to keep a Spiritual Sparrowhawk. And hey, why isn''t there a single smoking house around here? I''m thinking of taking this ce as a foundation for business..."

    "Zuantian Jiao! Who''s asking you about that!"

    "Exactly, just tell us if you found that Fu fellow or not!"

    The crowd urged the man to get to the point with a mor of voices.

    The man known as Zuantian Jiao said indifferently, "Fu Fangsheng risked his life to run here, obviously he has a backup n, it won''t be that easy to find him. It''s better to think ahead like I did."

    The eldest disciple of "Xingyi Gate" fiddled with two copper spheres, gravely reminding him:

    "Zuantian Jiao, you are brazenly using the technique of entering stillness to spy on others, which is highly taboo! Be careful you don''t invite disaster!"

    Zuantian Jiao let out a heartyugh and said, "The Frandi ministers have already submitted a strongly worded statement, we are working for the foreigners, even the Imperial Court doesn''t dare to interfere! I have my eye on a wealthy family, with only one Organ Refining and one Blood-Exchange stage member, but there''s the potential for hundreds of silver. Who wants to join me on this one?"

    Some were tempted, others sneered, and yet others could only smile bitterly and helplessly.

    Zuantian Jiao was nothing but awless Blood-Exchange Realm bandit, but they still counted on his Spirit Refinement stillness technique to find people.

    As the leaders exchanged nces, about to persuade him again, they suddenly saw a look of terror on Zuantian Jiao''s face!

    He powered his legs to shatter the ground beneath, his whole body instantly transitioning from stillness to motion, covering nearly 10 meters in the blink of an eye as if evading an attack.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao drove with Liao Qe, arriving at a deserted courtyardughing and chatting. This ce was none other than the site of Pang''s Martial Arts School.

    It hadn''t been a year since Master Pang''s entire family was murdered, and for now, no one dared to live here. The walls inside the courtyard were full ofrge holes made by Barrett rifle shots from Lu Yao and his friends.

    "Liao Qe, use all your strength to push me up into the sky," said Lu Yao.

    "Alrighty~"

    The girl ced her hands at her lower abdomen, signaling for Lu Yao to step on them.

    Lu Yao took a deep breath, entering the state of forgetting, and suddenly exerted force with his feet on Liao Qe''s hands, as she too put in all her effort and pushed!

    Lu Yao soared 30 meters into the air, raising the Grenade Sniper to aim at "Zuantian Jiao" in mid-flight!

    With super quick reflexes in the state of forgetting,bined with 0.3x slow-motion, his opponent''s movements were sluggish, allowing for anticipation of all his actions.

    Lu Yao pulled the trigger, firing a 40MM armor-piercing grenade!

    ~~~~~~~

    The crowd on the ground watched "Zuantian Jiao" perform a set of fierce operations...and then precisely catch a 40MM armor-piercing grenade with his head!

    An armor-piercing grenade could prate 80mm of steel, and although Blood-Exchange Warriors were capable of blocking rifle bullets, they were evidently powerless against such a weapon.

    Amidst the pungent smell of charred metal, the high-temperature jet stream created by the armor-piercing grenade simultaneously burned and drilled through "Zuantian Jiao''s" head, leaving a fist-sized hole in his forehead.

    Zuantian Jiao died on the spot without uttering a sound, his eyes bereft of life and hanging lifelessly without the support of facial muscles.

    Someone eximed, "A firearm attack by a Spirit Refining Expert!"

    "Quick, hide!"

    Everyone immediatelyy t against the walls, and the eldest disciple of "Xingyi Gate" shouted:

    "I am Zhao Jin of Xingyi Gate, we''re not with this person! Friend, please don''t misunderstand!"

    ```

 Chapter 131: The Spirit Cat Stance

    Xingyi Gate''s eldest disciple, Zhao Jin, called out two more times.

    By now, some of the more knowledgeable people began to specte:

    "Master Zhao, stop shouting. The other party is definitely not close by. To kill a Blood-Exchange expert with one strike, it''s clearly from using a cannon. We didn''t hear anything; the attacker must be at least two miles away!"

    Everyone found this reasoning sound and, after a few minutes had passed without further attack, they gradually stood up.

    Zhao Jin spat in disgust and cursed, "That son of a bitch, I warned him long ago not to be too arrogant! Don''t think that just because you''ve mastered Spirit Refinement that you''re above thew. Well, now he''sfortable."

    Someone asked, "Without the help of a Spirit Refining Expert... what do we do next?"

    "What to do?" Zhao Jin gestured with his chin toward the corpse of Zuantian Jiao and said,

    "Sell his body to the foreigners for dissection, and we''ll divide the money. It won''t be a wasted trip. As for the rest, let it be. Let the Innate Experts figure it out."

    ~~~~~~~~

    By now, Lu Yao had arrived home with Liao Qe, chatting andughing¡ªthe entire trip taking about 10 minutes.

    Liao Ya was feeding three chick sparrowhawks, oblivious to what they had been out doing.

    Each yed with their own sparrowhawk, the evening glow casting a peaceful and content ambiance.

    At that moment, there was movement at the door¡ªit was Su Er Ya arriving.

    The young girl waved to the three chick sparrowhawks in greeting, seemingly wanting to touch them but too scared to try.

    The little creatures'' downy neck feathers stood on end, showing their hostility. They were only affectionate toward Lu Yao and the two sisters; all others were considered strangers and unwee.

    Er Ya was used to the spirit birds'' aloofness and did not mind.

    She respectfully curtsied to Lu Yao, greeted him with "Master Lu," and then picked up a broom to begin her work.

    She cleaned the entire courtyard meticulously, even the areas dirtied and messed up by the three chick sparrowhawks, like a true servant.

    Out of the blue, Liao Ya said, "Su Er Ya,e here."

    Facing the head senior sister of the martial arts hall and the nominaldy of the house, Er Ya was somewhat nervous, inching closer with hesitance, duckbill cap held against her chest.

    Though Liao Ya was gentle and dignified, her expression turned serious and she carried a bit of authority. She scrutinized the small, thin Er Ya and said,

    "You have beening here to work every day for the past month. If it is to repay a debt, you have done enough. You don''t need toe from tomorrow."

    Er Ya pursed her lips, stealing a nce at Lu Yao, and then murmured with her head bowed, "I am still young, but I will remember the kindness of every master in my heart... and I will repay it when I grow up!"

    After saying this, she prepared to leave with her newspaper bag. But just as she reached the door, she heard the stern and beautiful woman continue:

    "Meeting is a matter of fate; would you like to be a named disciple of the Liao Family Fist and learn martial arts with me?"

    Er Ya turned around in astonishment, looking incredulously toward Lu Yao, who smiled and nodded at her.

    The little girl immediately knelt and joyfully eximed, "Master above, your disciple is willing!"

    Liao Ya, with a stern face, said, "You''ll only be a named disciple. If you do anything that displeases me, I can expel you at any time. Remember that."

    "Your disciple will keep the Master''s teachings in mind!" Er Ya was very happy, showing a big grin with a few teeth missing¡ªshe was nine years old and losing her baby teeth.

    "Next, I will teach you the most basic Running Horse Stance. First, you must stand in the stance for half a year."

    Liao Ya quickly moved on to the next stage of the assessment. Standing in the stance was extremely monotonous and boring, having her do it continuously for half a year served both as a way to nourish the undernourished girl''s body and to further temper her character.

    She took out a Cultivating Origin Pill that Lu Yao had refined a few days earlier, divided one into five smaller pieces, and handed them to Su Er Ya, instructing her to take one each day.

    The young girl epted them solemnly and consumed one on the spot.

    A warm current flowed through her abdomen and into her limbs and bones, and she knew that from today onwards, she would no longer be a lowlymoner.

    In the Otherworld, ascending the social hierarchy was sometimes just that simple.

    Thinking of her deceased sister, Er Ya fought back tears and readjusted her duck-tongue cap properly.

    Lu Yao watched with interest as Master Liao trained the new disciple, with Liao Qe whispering on the side:

    "Sister is really strict. I''ve been beaten up quite a bit when I was little. Let''s see if this little girl can endure it~"

    Lu Yao felt that Er Ya was clever and sensible, with a tough character. She should have no problems.

    ~~~~~~~~

    In the following days, the courtyard, in addition to three fledgling sparrowhawks, was also home to a little girl practicing her stance every day.

    Drenched in sweat after each practice, thankfully the medicinal supplements and ample nutrition led to her physical condition improving day by day, unlike her previous frail appearance.

    The responsibility of guiding her fell onto Lu Yao''s shoulders. Spirit Refining Oblivion was the best candidate for a "transmitting elder" in any sect.

    Once in the state, the human body had no secrets from his eyes.

    Lu Yao was now the busiest person in the martial arts hall, needing to cultivate himself, take care of the sparrowhawks and the little girl, and make sure thedies werefortable at night.

    Both the sparrowhawk and the little girl were at a critical stage of building their foundations, and as a Spirit Refining Expert in the Oblivion state, Lu Yao was definitely the best support.

    Just after pointing out the mistakes in Er Ya''s stance practice for the day, a familiar paper crane flew over.

    Indeed, upon catching it, he recognized it as Zhou He''s usual method ofmunication.

    [Fu Fangsheng has recovered and is looking forward to meeting you.]

    Lu Yao yed with the paper crane, a secret method of entrusting the Mind Force within an object, and could not help but marvel at the profoundness of Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing.

    ~~~~~~~

    Upon arriving at the back courtyard of White Cloud Observatory once again, Zhou He and Fu Fangsheng were already waiting in the pavilion.

    Seeing Lu Yao arrive, the handsome young Fu Fangsheng immediately got up, cupped his fist solemnly, and said, "Brother Lu, for the great kindness you''ve shown, I cannot express enough gratitude. I, Fu Fang, will surely repay you generously!"

    Lu Yao returned the gesture with a smile, "Haha, Brother Fu, you''ve already rewarded me generously, the Blood Core you gave me is going to be very useful!"

    "Brother Lu has raised three Spiritual Sparrowhawks."

    "Three!!" Hearing Zhou He''s exnation, Fu Fangsheng eximed in surprise:

    "Zhou He, you''ve always enjoyed tempting people into raising Spirit Birds. Didn''t you tell Brother Lu how expensive those things are?! Raising three of them...!"

    "Brother Lu isn''t short of money, no need for you to worry about that."

    "Right, he casually dealt with the Withering Bullet in me with 500 taels of silver without batting an eye; he''s indeed a man of means."

    Fu Fangsheng smiled as he pulled out a piece of paper from his chest and passed it with both hands, "I don''t have anything good on me, this is all I could gather in a hurry."

    Without even looking, Lu Yao declined, "Brother Fu, there''s no need, I didn''t save you because I wanted..."

    Fu Fangsheng directly stuffed the paper into Lu Yao''s hand, "Just take it, no need to dilly-dally."

    Having said that, he went out of the pavilion and started demonstrating: "This is my secret technique, ''The Spirit Cat Stance''. It''s thanks to it that I managed to escape amidst a siege and reach Yunzhou!"

    He suddenly leaped 15 meters high but when he had nowhere to borrow force from in mid-air, he shifted three meters! "Once someone is in the air without anything to push off from, they can only just be hit. But the Spiritual Cat Stance, imitating a cat''s spinal force, can borrow force from the void and shift in the air. Once it''s used, it is truly unpredictable!"

    A cat, no matter how it falls, alwaysnds on its feet. This is due to its special spine-thrusting technique.

    ''The Spirit Cat Stance'' allows one to shift while suspended in the air, a truly top-notch stance, and its value goes without saying; this gift is indeed very generous!

 Chapter 132: 132. Dispatch troops to land

    Having been granted the Divine Skills, Lu Yao solemnly expressed his gratitude, "Much appreciated for your generous gift, Fu Xiong!"

    "There''s no need for formalities. You saved my life and even dared to y the Western demon beasts, a true hero. I''m more than willing to gift you this technique!"

    Fu Fang returned to the pavilion, his handsome face brimming with forthrightness:

    "Brother Lu, you wiped out thirty demon beasts in one go~ Admirable indeed! Do call on me if there''s another good opportunity like this!"

    Lu Yao responded with a smile.

    Fu Fang then teased Zhou He, "You were using silver bullets at that time, which I''m sure made Old Zhou ache at heart. Some demon beasts don''t leave behind a Blood Core when killed by silver."

    Only then did Lu Yao realize such a thing, no wonder after killing 30 vampires, only 10 Blood Cores were obtained.

    Zhou He poured tea for the two of them and said with a smile, "Old Fu even gave away his household skills. This Spiritual Cat Stance is a rare ''True Skill,'' which also has great use in the Innate Mirror. Young friend Lu, you must take it seriously."

    "I understand, it''s clear at first nce that this technique is extraordinary."

    "The Spirit Cat Stance" is the highest-level technique I havee across to date, not only requiring high physical standards but also necessitating the involvement of Inner Breath during its activation, with endless variations throughout.

    Lu Yao thought to himself: There''s much to practice when I get home.

    Zhou He sipped his tea and continued,

    "After Spirit Refining Oblivion, the next stage is ''Fetal Breath.'' However, to reach this level, one''s Martial Dao Realm must at least be at Bone Washing, with Blood-Exchange being even better. Therefore, your top priority is to raise your Martial Dao Realm!

    You must know, in Martial Path, the body tempers the Divine Soul and the Divine Soul nourishes the body in return; the two support andplement each other, andcking either one won''t do."

    Lu Yao took this to heart.

    After a few casual exchanges, Fu Fang spoke up, "Have you both seen the news about the Einheit sect''s leader defeating Master Zeng? That huge divine manifestation is a method of Spirit Refining ''Divine Manifestation,'' but how did he do it when he was only at the Out-of-Body stage?"

    Zhou He said, "Hong Renkun probably has understood something from the Western Religion''s doctrine that lets him transform the believers'' faith into power for his own use. Simr methods have existed since ancient times; all sorts of crooked paths."

    "The Einheit sect dares to abolish opium and isn''t afraid of the foreigners... With such exceptional means, it seems like a good idea to join them."

    "Don''t be hasty, let''s see what the Imperial Court does next."

    "Several Great Grandmasters are defiant and not heeding orders; I think the Great Shun Dynasty is finished."

    The two of them discussed the current situation, each contributing their thoughts.

    Just then, Zhou He''s Spirit Bird, the Immortal Crane, descended from the sky, clutching a newspaper in its beak.

    When Zhou He tried to take it, he couldn''t pull it free, as the Immortal Crane stubbornly clung to it without letting go.

    Left with no choice, he took out a Wisdom Spirit Pill to trade, and only then did the Immortal Crane release the paper, swallowing the pill and flying away.

    A doting smile appeared on old Zhou''s face, but as he read the newspaper, the smile gradually faded.

    After a long sigh, heid the newspaper on the table, and saw the front page headline:

    [In pretext of the sessive assassination of key figures, the nations of Einheit and Frandi dere war on our dynasty, forming Allied Forces poised at Gukou]

    [A total of 60 warships, with over ten thousand troopsbined]

    Fu Fang scoffed coldly, "The foreigners indeed took advantage of Einheit sect''s turmoil to invade! Despicable creatures!"

    Frowning, Lu Yao silently pondered: Allied Forces? It sounds very much like the Second Opium War...

    Reading further, he saw the excuses given by the two powers for the war:

    The manager of the Einheit Opium Company was murdered; the chief bishop of Frandi''s Jinmen concession was assassinated...

    Lu Yao and Fu Fang exchanged nces, both aware of the ''good deeds'' they hadmitted.

    The crimes they hadmitted were grave, having killed high-ranking individuals notorious for their evil deeds among the foreigners, now used as pretexts for the invasion.

    After a while, with a veiled look in his delicate eyes, Fu Fang stood up and dered, "This matter started because of me, I must go and assassinate the foreign officers!"

    "Calm down! You''re walking into death!" Zhou He raised his hand to press down on Fu Fang''s shoulder, forcing him back into his seat, and said irritably:

    ```

    "The foreigners have long plotted to profit from our dynasty''s internal strife, and even without this incident, they could have found other excuses! Moreover... with a total military force of only over ten thousand men, it''s clear they merely intend to extort the imperial court into signing a treaty."

    Zhou He paused, then sighed:

    "Previously, the foreigners tantly sold vast quantities of military supplies to the Great Vehicle Sect, precisely to intensify the situation and distract the imperial court''s efforts.

    This time, the imperial court will definitely not fight on two fronts and will seek peace. It''s just that I don''t know what kind of humiliating and sovereignty-surrendering terms will have to be signed."

    Fu Fang, with a stern face, went outside the pavilion and started to practice his boxing. The force of his punches kicked up the wind and sand, but still, he couldn''t vent the frustration in his heart.

    Before long, the prefectural governor sent someone to invite Zhou He to the government office for a meeting, and Lu Yao bid farewell to the two and returned home.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    As Zhou He had predicted, the development of events unfolded ordingly. Afternding and looting, the allied forces did not advance further but sent envoys to the capital for negotiations.

    Although the other major powers hadn''t sent troops, they also helped pull strings from the sidelines, pressuring the imperial court to sign a treaty, wanting to share the spoils together.

    Even though the imperial court tried its best to conceal it, the details of the treaty were still exposed by the newspapers.

    In addition to the usual stuff like indemnities, opening of trade ports, tax exemptions, one use triggered an uproar¡ª

    [The imperial court to recruit one hundred thousand young and strongborers to work overseas]

    Nothing new under the sun, the intentions of the foreigners were known to all!

    Now the public has started calling the overseasborers "piglets," knowing well that it meant feeding the Western demon beasts, a one-way road to death.

    Instantly, public outrage boiled over, and curses filled the air.

    ~~~~~~~

    "This is the imperial court offering up one hundred thousand blood meals a year! The demon beasts are truly too overbearing!"

    In the boxing gym, Liao Ya mmed the newspaper on the stone table, indignantly saying, "And it seems the imperial court is considering agreeing!?"

    Lu Yao said, "The imperial court probably wants to focus its efforts on annihting the Great Vehicle Sect and dares not engage in war with the foreigners."

    "Such a cannibalistic use should not even be up for discussion! The imperial court is truly too ipetent!"

    The Liao Family Sisters were fuming, and Su Erya, practicing stance work in the distance, was also grinding her teeth. They all had loved ones harmed by demon beasts and found this matter utterly uneptable.

    Lu Yao nced at the ammo-filled storeroom, harboring some violent thoughts...

    Looking again at the three falcon chicks whose appetites were growing, his thoughts became even keener.

    The three little ones were getting bigger by the day; initially, they ate one Wisdom Spirit Pill each day, but now they needed two, and soon they would require three.

    The store of Blood Cores would soon be depleted, so there was an urgent need to strike at some vampires, and the foreign military force was a good target.

    But the n involved great risks and required careful consideration.

    "Buy a drone on Blue Star for high-altitude reconnaissance to gather intel, then use it to conduct guerri warfare, picking off the enemy''s small units..."

    Lu Yao''s mind raced, quickly finalizing a shopping list.

    Just as he was about to make a trip back to Blue Star, an unexpected guest arrived.

    The visitor was the eunuch Zhang Jin, who bowed to Lu Yao and conveyed his reason foring: "Young Master Lu, the Commandery Princess requests your presence!"

    "Li Pei?"

    This particr formidable Commandery Princess had provided many benefits before; she deserved some respect.

    Lu Yao instructed the two sisters and boarded Zhang Jin''s carriage.

    ~~~~~~~~

    On the way, Zhang Jin said with a ttering tone: "Young Master Lu, the Commandery Princess has a favor to ask of you. As a servant, it is not my ce to say too much, and I hope you will excuse me."

    Lu Yao nodded silently. If a powerful Commandery Princess needed a favor, it definitely wouldn''t be an easy task!

    ```

 Chapter 133: 133. Buy, buy, buy!

    ```

    Arriving by carriage at Li Pei''s residence, she personally greeted me at the front door, her smile somewhat strained.

    Leading Lu Yao to the study, Li Pei sat down gracefully with her legs together and nted to one side, exuding an innate aristocratic elegance and the demeanor of the Royal Family.

    "Young Master Lu, please enjoy the tea."

    About to issue polite pleasantries and steer the conversation, Lu Yao got straight to the point, "Commandery Princess, if there''s something you need, just say it. I''ll certainly not refuse to help if I can!"

    Facing Lu Yao''s straightforward words, Li Pei coughed and then spoke up confidently,

    "Young Master Lu, I want to ask you to donate another million catties of grain, just likest time!"

    After saying this, she sped her hands together and deeply bowed. Grain was currently a strategic material; while other families were desperately hoarding it, she was asking someone else to donate it. This was an extremely rude and enormous request.

    Upon hearing her words, Lu Yao actually breathed a sigh of relief, "Is that all? No problem."

    He had thought it was some tremendous issue, but it turned out to be just a request for some grain.

    Grain was the least of Xia Country''s concerns, and he was currently carrying hundreds of millions in cash, with tens of millions more in his bank ounts. A million catties of rice, even ten million, were mere trifles to him.

    Li Pei was stunned on the spot, all the numerous benefits she had prepared to exchange, all the earnest words, stuck in her throat!

    Why had he agreed so easily? She had anticipated needing to beg repeatedly for a donation sorge as a million catties of grain, expecting to have to offer something substantial in exchange...

    She said subconsciously, "Young Master, this is a million catties of grai..."

    "I know, I''ll get it ready for you right away. Wait for my news," Lu Yao interrupted her.

    Observing his casual demeanor, Li Pei said with mixed feelings, "Many... many thanks, Young Master Lu, for your righteous generosity."

    "Alright, if there''s nothing else, I''ll go get ready," Lu Yao replied.

    As Lu Yao stood up to leave, Li Pei quickly intervened, "Wait! Young Master Lu~ I have to exin the purpose of this grain to you. It is to support the Gukou Battery Garrison!"

    "Support the Gukou Battery Garrison?"

    "That''s right," Li Pei nodded and said:

    "Foreigners are threatening us, and there is no unified opinion in the Imperial Court. Some advocate for war, while others oppose it! I am firmly in favor of war, and it just so happens that the ''Governor of Zhili, Lord Shi,'' has reported¡ªthe enemy is extremely arrogant, convinced we don''t dare to start a war, parading within the range of our fort''s guns!"

    Li Pei''s breathing grew rapid:

    "I''ve discussed with Lord Shi, we must strike first and inflict heavy damage on them! But the most important thing is¡ªto make sure thises to pass, to eliminate any possibility of negotiations, we absolutely cannot allow the Imperial Court to sign a treaty supplying the Demon Beasts with a blood food!"

    "However, the Peace Faction has already anticipated this, and they''ve cut off the front-line soldiers'' rations ahead of time. Therefore, Young Master''s rice is extremely important! With it, we can fight this battle!"

    After finishing her speech, Li Pei once again deeply bowed.

    Lu Yao quickly held her hands to support her, "Commandery Princess, there''s no need for such formalities; this is a matter of justice, and I am bound by duty to help!"

    The skin of a Blood-Exchange woman was incredibly fine to the touch, smooth and full of a surging vitality.

    Li Pei, much more conservative than her outward appearance suggested, was startled by the male touch, her whole body trembling; she quickly and discreetly withdrew her hand.

    Lu Yao said earnestly, "Commandery Princess, wait for good news from me, I''ll get going now."

    At that moment, he suddenly thought: The original n to ambush a small group of foreign troops and obtain a Blood Core was very dangerous, but if the Imperial Court''s troops took the lead, his task would be much easier¡ªthis was a mutually beneficial situation!

    ~~~~~~~

    Returning to the martial arts school, the two sisters practicing "The Spiritual Cat Stance" came over and asked in sweet voices, "What did the Commandery Princess want with you?"

    "She needs grain, just a small matter," Lu Yao replied.

    He briefly exined and then instructed, "I''ll be going back to my hometown for a bit; you two keep practicing ''The Spiritual Cat Stance'' and wait for my return. Then we can also get involved!"

    The sisters looked at each other with joy, and Liao Qe said with pride, "See, I told you Lu Yao wouldn''t just stand by."

    After speaking, she linked arms with her beloved, looking up at him with adoration.

    ```

    Liao Ya looked at this scene with a mix of envy and mncholy.

    ~~~~~~~

    Returning to Blue Star, Lu Yao was bombarded with countless messages as soon as he turned on his phone.

    First was a call from Shen Lin at Sotheby''s Auction House. The aunt''s usual sharp and efficient tone was gone, reced by something bordering on hysteria:

    "Mr. Lu, your gem sold for 15 million. We really couldn''t contact you during the auction, but you can check the auction video for details. Also, about the tax avoidance issues..."

    Shen Lin was resigned; she and her team had been run ragged by this "Grand Auction," and the gentleman himself simply tossed her the responsibility and became unreachable.

    But since he was rted to Elder Master Qi, she still had to do her best. Fortunately, everything went fairly smoothly.

    Lu Yao said, "Thank you for your trouble¡­ okay, okay¡­ goodbye!"

    It was good news right on his return¡ªan auspicious start, indeed. All this money would be invested in theboratory for drug extraction research.

    He then made a call to Li Lei, talking briefly and arranging to pick her up at the airport the next day for a proper catch-up.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao took the earliest flight back to his country. While waiting for his flight, he didn''t idle away the time and started to order various supplies online.

    That way, by the time he got back, the goods would be delivered to his door, saving time.

    First, he bought an expensive drone¡ªthe DJI Geoway.

    This drone could be used for surveying and exploration among other professional fields, priced at a hefty 120,000 with personalized delivery by the manufacturer''s salesperson to his doorstep.

    It would serve as the eyes for his ns!

    Next was the food supply requested by Li Pei.

    This time, instead of rice, he found something more convenient!

    Lu Yao casually chose a flour factory in his city and bought 500 tons of egg noodles.

    Noodles, easier to cook than rice and containing eggs and salt, provided higher calories, more satiety, and were tastier, making them perfect for an army duringbat operations.

    After all, they were going to fight the foreigners; they might as well eat better. With bulk packaging, the price was even lower at 2 yuan per half-kilogram.

    Last was the silver purchase, buying half a ton (ten thousand taels), along with countless silver beads and wires for jewelry making.

    All these misceneous items cost less than 5 million in total, barely making a dent in the 25 million-plus bnce in his ount.

    After he took care of all these matters, Lu Yao boarded his flight just in time.

    ~~~~~~~~

    By the time he breathed in his hometown air, it was already noon the next day.

    Li Lei was there to greet him, still dressed in her professional suit and stockings, clicking towards him in cheerful high heels.

    The two were well acquainted by now, and the girl came over and hugged him directly.

    "Busy man, did you have fun in the Star Alliance Country?"

    "Not bad, a long-held wish fulfilled overnight, with abundant gains." After getting into the car, Lu Yao removed his sunsses and handed over a piece of bezoar.

    This was an important item for the girl to maintain good rtions with the major pharmaceutical groups, which he always brought back with him whenever he returned.

    Looking at the man''s strong body and bright eyes in front of her, Li Lei unconsciously swallowed and clenched her legs tightly, stepping on the gas with an eager look.

    Feeling the strong pushback, Lu Yaoughed and said, "Take it slow; I''m not in a hurry."

    Li Lei felt somewhat embarrassed, but for some reason, as soon as she saw Lu Yao, a mysterious desire inside her zed up!

    It was an instinctual yearning for extraordinary gifts buried deep within her genes.

 Chapter 134: 134. There must be rich rewards.

    When they arrived at the ce, Li Lei mmed on the brakes and screeched to a stop, yanking Lu Yao eagerly upstairs.

    She kicked off her high heels with one foot, the whole person like a starving tigress! She pounced and devoured the poor littlemb on the spot.

    After a long while, the hungry tiger had her fill, and her eyes regained their rity.

    Lu Yao said mncholically, "Our friendship haspletely changed..."

    Li Lei gathered her messy hair behind her head and said,

    "With a direct rtive having a criminal record, rather than being picked over in the marriage market, it''s better to be your lover. Let''s just be ''good friends'' like this, with my looks you''re not at a loss~"

    Lu Yao said reservedly, "I think... you''re getting the bigger advantage."

    "Go to hell~" The girl punched him, stood up to dress, and at the same time reported on her work like a diligent secretary¡ª

    "Theboratory is progressing well, and we''ll soon be able to enter the actual sample phase."

    "The Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup is working better than expected," the old man says it has great market prospects, but it might require a huge investment in promotion."

    "The ount has already received the money from the auction of the gems, totaling 12 million after taxes."

    After only a few words, Li Lei yawned hugely.

    She had been busy recently and hadn''t slept well, and the ordeal now showed clear signs of weariness on her face.

    Lu Yao quietly passed a thread of Inner Breath to the girl and said, "Don''t stretch yourself too thin, get more rest."

    "It''s the rising period of my career, no time for rest~"

    Li Lei suddenly felt much more spirited, thinking it was because seeing the man in front of her lifted her mood, and didn''t think too much of it.

    She then checked her phone and said, "Look, I still need to meet with the people from the pharmaceutical group~"

    By this time, she was fully dressed.

    Seeing her stockings were dirty and torn, she simply took them off, crumpled them into a ball and threw them at Lu Yao, then giggled and ran out the door.

    Lu Yao also smiled, stood up, and headed to the warehouse to receive the goods.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The first to arrive was the drone delivery person, who not only delivered the goods but also had to personally teach Lu Yao how to use it and handle the rted documents.

    This gadget needs to be registered at the police station, and some ces require advance application to fly.

    Lu Yao only learned the operating methods; the drone would set sail in the Otherworld, where none of that is needed.

    As a Spirit Refining Expert, Lu Yao learned very quickly, impressing the delivery person who thought he had yed with one before.

    This DJI Latitude and Longitude drone, not even a meter in size, with four propellers, 4K high-definition shooting, capable of reaching a flight altitude of 5 kilometers, is dustproof and waterproof, suitable for all kinds of harsh flying conditions.

    No wonder it''s the gship model costing 120 thousand, considering ordinary drones only cost a few thousand.

    Although itcks satellite support which limits some of its functions, Lu Yao didn''t need it for professional mapping. Flying one or two kilometers high and being able to see the enemies on the ground was sufficient.

    He folded the drone up and put it into a chubby gray carrying case, waiting for the silver and noodles.

    ~~~~~~~

    "Times Flour Factory" is a township flour factory in Qingcheng, which had recently opened a corporate shop not long before.

    The factory''s noodle production line has a daily output of 30 tons, and Lu Yao''s order was also considered arge one, with the potential to be a repeat customer from the same city.

    Therefore, the factory took it very seriously, sending a dedicated person to deliver and unload the goods.

    Lu Yao no longer had to hire workers to unload the trucks; he only needed to stand by and watch.

    In the meantime, the owner of the "Lu Family Gold and Silver Factory" personally delivered the silver Lu Yao had purchased.

    Looking at the bustling crowd inside the warehouse, this was the magic of money and the advancedmodity economy of modern society.

    With just a few taps of his fingers, he could buy many materials that were considered precious in the Otherworld and turn them into nourishment for his own growth.

    Two worlds, infinite possibilities! Lu Yao suddenly felt that the initial "Blood-Exchange" goal he had set was somewhat modest. He should, like Liao Ya, always harbor the dream of climbing to the very peak to have a look.

    "With an Indestructible Golden Body able to withstand the cannons of war, plus the mobility of a martial artist, there shouldn''t be much that can threaten me on Blue Star."

    "Oh right, there''s still nuclear bombs!"

    Lu Yao randomly pondered as he opened the vortex-shaped Space-Time Gate.

    ~~~~~~~

    Otherworld, port district warehouse.

    Previously, Lu Yao had felt that this vortex-shaped Space-Time Gate resembled a teleportation array. Things go in ande out the same way, just in a different ce.

    Feeling the Star Key in his mind, Lu Yao sighed, "The technology contained in this thing far surpasses Blue Star; I have no idea where ites from. It''s a pity that the lead from Zhang Xin has been lost."

    Shaking his head to dispel the distractions, Lu Yao headed to the office of the Ship Chartering Office to use the phone.

    The warehouse was too remote; it would take a normal person nearly half an hour to get there on foot. However, with Lu Yao exerting force in his stride, he leapt and arrived in less than 5 minutes.

    Not long after he made the phone call, Li Pei arrived in disheveled clothing, sweating profusely, with a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead.

    She had clearly rushed over in a hurry, using her martial skills. The legs of a martial artist are much faster than a car.

    When she got to the warehouse and saw what was inside, Li Pei''s phoenix eyes widened into litchi-sized orbs, "Young Master Lu... is this... noodles made from refined flour?"

    Lu Yao nonchntly replied, "Yeah, it''s too troublesome to buy rice, so I just brought these instead."

    The dried noodles that Lu Yao brought, most people in Xia Country couldn''t swallow them without something to go on the side, not really considered a delicacy.

    But in the Otherworld, they were a fine food, not something even andlord''s family could afford to eat every day.

    Li Pei took a strand of noodle, chewed it in her mouth, and was shocked by Lu Yao''s extravagant spending. Her quick breathing caused her full chest to heave up and down.

    Her sweat-soaked shirt was nearly transparent, allowing Lu Yao, with his Spirit Refinement Realm, to perfectly and precisely appreciate the beautiful contours.

    Large yetpact, not at all appearing bloated or cumbersome, a unique good figure of a woman who practiced martial arts.

    Li Pei was obviously aware, clearly feeling the intense gaze on her sensitive spots but this time didn''t re back. Instead, with a fist salute to cover herself, she said solemnly,

    "Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Lu. Li Pei is deeply grateful! On behalf of tens of thousands of soldiers at the front, I thank you!"

    Lu Yaohao returned the salute with an open and easy manner, "It''s just a small amount of moneypared to the soldiers fighting against the Demon Beasts. I wish them victory in advance!"

    His magnanimous and easygoing attitude made Li Pei grow admiration, smiling as she said, "I will take your good words to heart! We owe you a lot this time, Young Master Lu. I really don''t know what we would have done without you!"

    Her smile was genuine, her eyes curved,bined with a tear mole, incredibly charming.

    Watching her truly heartfelt gratitude, Lu Yao inwardly sighed, I only lifted a finger...

    At that moment, Li Pei took out a pocket watch to check the time and said,

    "The situation has worsened in the days since you''ve been gone, with the peace faction gradually gaining the upper hand. I need to rush to Jinmen now to ambush the treaty delegation of the foreigners to buy time. We part ways here!"

    Hearing this, Lu Yao took out a roll of silver thread from his pocket and handed it to her, "Then, Commandery Princess, take this with you. It should have a miraculous effect if wrapped around your body."

    Li Pei took the 2 mm thick silver wire, used for making jewelry, without ceremony. "Young Master, Li Pei will surely repay this debt in the future!"

 Chapter 135: 135. Records of Izumo Province

    Having said goodbye to Li Pei, Lu Yao arrived at the "Daimler Car Service Factory" in the port area.

    He wanted to buy a big car not only for the long journey but also to amodate the many things he was bringing with him.

    "Daimler" is a carpany from the Kingdom of Jiade, with the familiar "Trident Star" logo, which is indeed Mercedes-Benz.

    The manager, dressed in a checkered suit and oozing shrewdness, even had a decorative handkerchief in the left breast pocket of his suit.

    From his demeanor and bearing, he could tell that Lu Yao was no ordinary person and promptly served him with great care.

    After looking around, Lu Yao took a liking to a huge vintage car with a wheelbase of 3.8 meters and three rows of seats, which looked tall and stable.

    The manager, always observant, quickly introduced:

    "What a discerning eye the young master has! This W150 model has just hit the market, it''s durable, has a fresh appearance, and is a bestseller in many countries around the world. The chassis is constructed with tubr oval-shaped structures and fixed with coil springs, equipped with non-independent suspension and a De Dion rear axle, it''s absolutely a top choice!"

    This car was a prototype of the F¨¹hrer''s personal vehicle and one that had survived to this day was auctioned for a high price of 3 million dors.

    Lu Yao asked directly, "How much?"

    The manager politely smiled and said, "Twenty silver ingots."

    "I''ll take it." Lu Yao casually tossed a silver ingot, took the keys from the manager''s hand, got in the car, and left, all in one smooth motion.

    The whole process took less than five minutes. The longest part of the procedure turned out to be the manager biting and pinching the silver to verify its authenticity.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Back at the boxing gym, three young hawks joyfully circled around to greet him, cuddling affectionately against Lu Yao''s legs with their heads.

    After a few days of absence, they had grownrger than pigeons. With their down feathers shed and new feathers grown, they looked somewhat majestic.

    All three were white, but Ji Xiang and Ru Yi had some gray spots on their backs, while Ping An was pure white.

    In the wild, their counterparts would only start learning to fly nearly two months after hatching, before leaving the nest.

    But these three little guys, with plenty of food and "Wisdom Spirit Pills" and the help of Inner Breath, were already ready to learn to fly at just one month old!

    Lu Yao gave each of them a strand of Inner Breath and then said, "This time, I''m taking them with me. These hignd spirits can''t learn to fly in a small courtyard."

    The two sisters had no objection, and the three of them began preparing for the trip together.

    They made many "homemade bombs" mixed with Silver Beads, as well as over a hundred "Vampire Delight Eggs."

    These were just precautions. If possible, it was best not to use them at all. ording to Fu Fangsheng, many low-ranking Demon Beasts would turn to dust when touched by silver, leaving no Blood Core behind.

    Lu Yao started a fire under the cauldron and refined three bottles of Cultivating Origin Pills to take with him, then turned all the small Blood Cores into "Wisdom Spirit Pills," leaving only the tworgest ones for the hawk chicks when they were ready to break through to the next level.

    Spirit Pets need to cultivate just like humans. After breaking through, their strength and size will increase dramatically, and it''s only right to use good steel where it counts the most.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The trees were lush and the autumn days were long; the three of them set out in the Mercedes Lu Yao had just bought.

    The car, with a wheelbase of 3.8 meters, was very spacious. They threw the Battle Armor and Firearms in the trunk and back seat, with Liao Qe sitting in the passenger seat and Liao Ya in the middle row.

    The three little ones seemed much happier once they left the house, nestled in the girls'' arms looking around and chirping curiously at the world around them.

    Lu Yao also didn''t drive too fast, treating the journey like a trip.

    Having headed north for half a day, the asphalt road was gone, and the road turned to dirt.

    Liao Qe initially sat up straight, chatting andughing with Lu Yao and enjoying the beautifulndscape. But as time went on, she grew tired of it.

    With no one else in sight, the youngdy leaned on her beloved''s shoulder, kicked off her shoes, and stretched her fair and delicate feet out the window, her toes resembling cloves of garlic, wiggling freely.

    Liao Ya in the back kept poking her sister, signaling her to mind her manners, but Liao Qe indolently ignored the admonishments.

    In the Otherworld, a woman''s feet are considered a very private part, not to be casually shown to others.

    But Liao Qe felt that since they were all family in the car, it was natural to do whatever wasfortable, even calling out, "Sister, you should try it too, it feels great with the wind blowing~"

    Liao Ya nced at Lu Yao and refused to do it no matter what.

    Unperturbed, Liao Qe said, "When we use the ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art'', haven''t we seen all there is to see on each other? What''s there to be embarrassed about."

    She was just speaking off the cuff, but Liao Ya quickly leaned against the seat and bowed her head, her face turning a deep shade of red.

    Lu Yao coughed dryly and said, "Did you see that rabbit to our left front? Catch it~ we need it alive~"

    Liao Qe, shading her eyes, suddenly focused her pupils and locked onto the distant rabbit, changing her stance and bursting forth with power, shooting out from the moving car''s window, closing in on the wild rabbit in the blink of an eye!

    Just as the wild rabbit was about to run, Liao Qe closed in like lightning, grabbing it in one swift move and lifted it by the ears.

    Lu Yao praised, "You haven''t cked in your training of ''The Spiritual Cat Stance'', integrating it into your movements."

    Liao Yamented, "She can''t even be considered a novice yet. This stance is too challenging, requiring the control of Inner Breath as well."

    "No rush, take your time."

    After exchanging a few words, Liao Qe returned with the rabbit.

    Lu Yao parked the car in the wilderness and let three young hawks eat the wild rabbit alive.

    "Eating some blood food to maintain their wildness is preparation for learning to fly," Lu Yao exined, tossing the rabbit before the three young ones with an encouraging look in his eyes.

    The three little ones looked at Lu Yao and then at the wild rabbit. Instinct deep in their genes made them understand what to do, and they immediately attacked the rabbit.

    Though young, they were still birds of prey, using their sharp beaks and ws, pping their wings as they beat the rabbit mercilessly, cruelly killing it before dividing and consuming the prey.

    After tasting blood, the three youngsters acquired a sharper edge to their demeanor.

    ~~~~~~~

    The family continued their journey, stopping and going. When they encountered roads that were difficult to traverse, they simply carried the car and walked.

    There was no choice. Modern-day road conditions were totally unreliable, often with terrain not even a tank could traverse.

    And surprisingly, carrying the vehicle like a sedan chair and sprinting throughplex terrains was not slow at all.

    On the third day, they had entered Ji Province and were soon to reach their destination.

    Here, they increasingly came across refugees fleeing the ravages of war. d in ragged clothes, their faces covered in dust, they dragged their families and meager possessions, escaping ind, shrinking away from the sight of the car from afar.

    Some were missing limbs, lying in carts, groaning in agony.

    From the curses andints of the surrounding crowd, it was clear: The Allied Forces had bombarded civilians on the shore!

    Lu Yao and hispanions continued to drive towards the battlefield. They were now very close and dared not be too conspicuous.

    They continued with the old method¡ªcarrying the car and running, approaching via the mountain roads.

    Liao Ya carried the heaviest part at the back, while Lu Yao and Liao Qe handled the front of the car, the three of them sprinting through the mountains. Monkeys and birds watched curiously at these strange humans.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Upon reaching the mountaintop, they could faintly see the giant warships on the sea, as well as the neatly arrayed enemy camp.

    An endless expanse of azure sea, with massive cannons perched atop steel fortress-like warships, faced off with Gukou''s gun emcements from afar.

    Lu Yao brought out a drone,mencing its first flight in the Otherworld.

    As soon as the device appeared, the two sisters widened their eyes and huddled around it, one on each side, full of curiosity.

    When the drone took to the sky, the women gasped in unison, and the three little ones also gazed at the clear blue sky, their wings fluttering with the urge to try.

 Chapter 136: 136. Soaring in the sky

    The four propellers spun rapidly, and the drone slowly ascended to a height of 1 kilometer in the sky.

    Without GPS in the Otherworld, the biggest issue was the inability to navigate with precision, deprived of the convenient function that allowed for automatic flight with just a light tap.

    It required constant manual correction of the flight attitude, or else it would fly erratically and veer off course.

    Fortunately, Lu Yao was well-practiced in Spirit Refining Oblivion; micro-managing such a task was not a challenge for him.

    The drone quickly arrived above the military camp, sending back clear 1080P footage via the most advanced image transmission system.

    It was Lu Yao''s first glimpse of the foreign military.

    Einheit and Frandi, though Allied Forces, were distinctly divided.

    On the Einheit side, there were as many as ten thousand troops. There were "knights" d in cumbersome full-body Steel Armor as well as ordinary soldiers in khaki uniforms.

    The majority were turbaned Tianzhu servant soldiers, who, under the supervision of "knights," strained to drag field cannons from transport ships while chanting in unison.

    One servant soldier carelessly pushed a "4.5-inch MK2 Howitzer" into the sea.

    A Steel Armored officer immediately came over, cursing loudly, and punched the servant, sending him flying a dozen meters away, then personally dove into the sea and lifted the 1.4-ton cannon back up.

    High-ranking officers with a vampire appearance stood in the distance, coldly looking down. They all wore face coverings, revealing only crimson eyes and pointed ears.

    Lower-rank vampires could not retract their fangs, and in the current traditions of the Western world, it was considered very rude to show one''s fangs.

    Lu Yao and the other two saw everything clearly through the tabletputer.

    Liao Qe sneered, "These Steel Armored warriors obviously have the strength from Organ Refining, and they can easily bring the cannon down themselves. Why let these ordinary people do the work?"

    Liao Ya shook her head and said, "Nothing surprising there; the Government Forces are the same. Martial Artists generally consider themselves superior and believe that physicalbor should be done by the lower sses."

    As theymented, Lu Yao maneuvered the drone over to the Frandi side.

    ~~~~~~~~

    This side was much more deste, with only about 2,000 people, seemingly just making up the numbers.

    The ordinary soldiers were dressed in blue uniforms with light green steel helmets; the officers also wore cumbersome full-body Steel Armor, with beak-like steel helmets that had only a slit for the eyes.

    The most interesting part was that they were all humans, not a single vampire among them.

    Liao Ya leaned in close to the tabletputer and said,

    "There was a great revolution in Frandi, with the vampire royalty all going to the guillotine; the civil war in Menes was also won by the Human Race. These two are among the few Western nations where humans hold power."

    Lu Yao stroked his chin and said, "Then we''ll make Einheit our main target, but they''re all gathered in the camp, so it''s not feasible for us to attack. We still need to wait for an opportunity."

    Lu Yao pondered that his noodles should be arriving soon, and the battle could break out at any time in the next few days.

    ~~~~~~~

    They didn''t idle away their waiting time, beginning the training of young falcons for flight.

    The three little ones had eaten plenty of live prey, and their wildness was slowly awakening.

    Strictly speaking, their flying didn''t require human training; it was an instinct ingrained deep in their bloodline, something they were born with.

    All Lu Yao and the others needed to do was ensure the young falcons'' safety. Because for birds learning to fly,nding was more difficult than taking off.

    At this moment, the family gathered atop a tree, the little ones pping their fully feathered wings, already capable of short-distance flight by beating their wings.

    Ping An, in particr, spread its wings adeptly to ride the rising air currents, hovering in mid-air.

    But when theynded, they still couldn''t gauge the force or maintain bnce properly, and they were prone to getting hurt. People often found such injured fledglings in the wild.

    The three little guys flew so high they even dreaded descending, only circling round and round in the sky, calling out anxiously.

    At that moment, the three parents had to catch them quickly with sharp eyes and swift hands to save the youngsters from a harsh tumble.

    After a mix of y and practice until the next day, the three falcons could take off andnd by themselves. Although it was still quite clumsy, especially when looking for a spot tond, they could be considered capable of flying.

    Lu Yao rewarded each of them with an entire "Wisdom Spirit Pill," a medicine which could not only enhance the constitution of a Spirit Pet and boost its immunity but, more importantly, increase its "spiritual" traits.

    The sisters were also very happy, opening a bottle of Golden Elixir Brew to celebrate and also bringing out the barbecue rack Lu Yao had brought along.

    Raising Spirit Pets could be quite an interesting affair, without considering the costs.

    To witness these three little creatures transform from balls of fluff to raptors that could soar through the sky was a profoundly fulfilling experience.

    The family leaned against a tree for support, clinking bottles in a hearty toast, while the three little falcons flitted through the trees, asionally letting out slightly nasal, joyful chirps.

    Liao Qe propped herself up with both hands and looked up, saying softly, "After Spirit Birds undergo Blood-Exchange, can they carry people when flying? How long will that take?"

    "Zhou He the daoist''s Immortal Crane has been invested with a vast amount of resources, and it''s only at. Organ Refining stage now, quite a distance from Blood-Exchange. It''s harder for Spirit Pets to advance in realm than for people..."

    During such a casual talk, Lu Yao''s ears suddenly twitched rapidly as he faintly heard the sound of cannon fire from the east!

    He suddenly remembered Li Pei mentioning before he left that he was going to ambush the foreign envoy''s delegation!

    Lu Yao operated the drone to take off, flying 2 kilometers above the ground towards the east.

    The multi-purpose Zen camera fitted to the belly of the drone constantly switched focus, searching in all directions, discovering traces 8 kilometers away.

    As the drone circled closer, the camera''s smart positioning identified every person in the lens, marking them with a green triangle symbol.

    Lu Yao and hispanions could see it all clearly; the most conspicuous figure was Li Pei, operating a 60mm rapid-fire cannon.

    Priest Zhou and Fu Fangsheng were also there, along with many other experts unknown to Lu Yao, ambushing the foreigners'' convoy.

    ~~~~~~~~

    A stately ssic car with six wheels slowly drove along.

    Lord Asben, the Queen''s Envoy, sat in the back seat, his fingers lightly running over the diamond-studded leather case in his hand, which contained the "Treaty of Tianjin" soon to be signed.

    Now, the great powers were acting independently, signing their "exclusive treaties" with the Shun Dynasty.

    Einheit was demanding 100,000 overseasborers; Frandi, on the other hand, insisted on "missionaries being allowed to preach and buynd unrestricted."

    "The Shun Dynasty has already submitted; the hunters each have their own spoils. This is a wonderful feast."

    Lord Asben, calm by nature, had golden eyes. Seated opposite him was his old friend, Priest Miller.

    The ssic car''s interior was as spacious as a mobile living room, allowing passengers to face each other.

    Priest Miller, holding a treaty of his own nation, made a triangle of Sacred Glow over his chest, his voice solemn, "May the soul of the Bishop of Tianjin ascend to the Divine Nation."

    A flicker of barely noticeable mockery crossed Lord Asben''s eyes, ridiculing these clerics'' trivial passion that cost them their lives.

    "However, not everyone is satisfied. Jiade and Izumo will inevitably take action for the benefit of their own countries."

    "The feast is nearing its end, and they will only be left with a few scraps."

    As the two talked, Priest Miller''s pupils suddenly lost focus, and in an instant, he kicked open the door and jumped out of the car.

    The next second, a three-kilogram cannonball blew the entire luxury car into an exploding fireball, with silver shrapnel shooting out everywhere! Faint screams could be heard amidst the chaos.

 Chapter 137: 137. Go to the theater

    "Sister Li''s shooting is so precise; the firepower of a Spirit Refining Expert is tremendously powerful!"

    Liao Ya bit into a big chunk of roasted meat, then took a sip of wine.

    Li Pei''s side, which outnumbered their opponents by several times and hadunched a surprise attack, now held aplete advantage.

    "Zhou Daoist has started ying the guzheng again, truly talented and versatile. The sound of his instrument is disrupting the enemy!"

    The three of them drank wine and ate meat while enjoying the battle, as a white falconnded curiously on their shoulders, only to quickly lose interest and start pecking at the roast.

    Liao Ya''s eyes sparkled with excitement, "Junior brother, this thing called a drone can bring things twenty miles away right before our eyes, it''s truly amazing!"

    Liao Qe chimed in, "It looks fun, let me try it sometime~"

    "I will definitely teach you, but be patient, let''s watch the battle first."

    Lu Yao was about to take a bite of meat when he realized only the skewer was left, so he flicked the forehead of his spirit pet, Ping An, on his shoulder.

    His own spirit pet had a huge appetite, far exceeding that of its wild counterparts.

    At that moment, Liao Ya suddenly cried out, "Moonshadow Sword Yu Yanmei! Junior brother, look at her!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Priest Miller had just jumped off the vehicle andnded when countless attackers rushed towards him. They shed with his escort guards, startling countless birds in the forest.

    There were also strange sounds of a guzheng ying, and the next second, the world in the priest''s eyes turned upside down, walking on his head!

    "A Spirit Cultivator from Shun Country!"

    Priest Miller let out a roar, clutched the Holy Emblem on his chest, and after a wriggling sound, four translucent tentacles emerged from his back and began to wave

    These crystal-clear tentacles had a glow circting within them, as thick as thighs and nearly 10 meters long, and possessed enormous strength, capable of gouging deep trenches in the ground with a single whip.

    A martial artist who had undergone marrow cleansing was struck, his steel armor instantly deformed, and he was flung backward, crashing into arge tree and falling to the ground without a sound.

    Priest Miller, while swinging his tentacles to deflect bullets, was about to kill Li Pei and Zhou He, the most threatening adversaries when a white-haired swordswoman suddenly appeared before him.

    She had a slender figure, wearing loose apricot-colored practice clothes, with a steel sword on her waist.

    It was difficult for even high-level warriors of the Shun Country to guess her age; she could be anywhere from 18 to 80 years old.

    Priest Miller was not the one to pity the fair sex, his four tentacles crossed andshed at her fiercely, the wind they whipped up howling.

    Facing the onught of tentacles, the woman lightly tapped her toes on the ground and in the next instant appeared behind the priest. The steel sword was already in her hand.

    Priest Miller stood rooted to the spot, eyes bulging out in confusion as to why his body wouldn''t respond.

    An evening breeze blew by, and countless faint cracks appeared on his body which then turned into chunks of flesh on the ground. The glowing tentacles on his back dispersed into the air and faded away, with a faint roar echoing in the void.

    The swordswoman proceeded to walk towards another location. She was the very Moonshadow Sword Yu Yanmei Liao Ya had been thinking of.

    ~~~~~~~~

    At this moment, Liao Ya excitedly shook Lu Yao''s arm, screaming like a little girl who had seen her idol, "Wow! Did you see that? Moon Shadow Sword Grandmaster Yu! A female warrior of the Innate Realm!"

    "She seems to be Li Pei''s master?"

    "Yes! Only she could have trained such an excellent disciple as Sister Li."

    Lu Yao tried to adjust the drone but lost sight of the swordswoman. He had to watch Li Pei unleash her might, firing cannonballs one after another, sting a vampire to the point of crying for his father and mother.

    The two had a long-standing grudge, and Li Pei certainly wasn''t going to show mercy now that she had the chance.

    Lord Asben, with his innate ability akin to teleportation, still had the capacity to dodge the silver-shrapnelden cannonballs.

    He had just caught sight of the woman firing the shots, the very Commandery Princess of the Shun Dynasty he longed for day and night.

    "This noblewoman is genteel and haughty, with an elegant temperament, and she''s a virgin! Her blood will be an exquisitely delicious treat!"

    Lord Asben''s chest swelled tremendously, and he suddenly let out a piercing scream that covered the entire field, causing many people to cover their heads and stagger in their steps.

    Thankfully, a melodious sound of a zither came at just the right moment, dispelling the malevolent influence¡ªit was the multi-talented Zhou He ying.

    But Lord Asben had already bought enough time, and with a sh, he was upon Li Pei, then his entire form burst open, transforming into a mass of blood shadow rushing toward her!

    Li Pei aimed at the blood shadow and fired a shot, but the cannonball passed through it without effect.

    The blood shadowcked a physical body and was incredibly fast, in the blink of an eye, it had enveloped Li Pei, its maniacalughter booming: "Beauty! Merge with me!"

    Before his words fell silent, Lord Asben''sughter changed in pitch, turning into a scream that shot straight into the heavens! The blood shadow emitted plumes of green smoke, apanied by the grating "sizzling" sound.

    Beneath Li Pei''s shattered cor, a glint of silver shone through! She was wrapped in the silver threads that Lu Yao had given her!

    Lord Asben bore the soul-wrenching agony and shot up into the air, heading straight for the military camp.

    In the meantime, several people including the Spirit Refining Expert tried to intercept in the air, but they could only disperse the blood shadow, which quickly reformed;

    Several silver bullets hit their mark, yet went straight through causing no significant damage¡ªthe blood shadow seemed to be immune to physical attacks!

    Just as everyone was about to give chase, Li Pei shouted, "No need to chase, our objective has already been achieved!"

    By this time, there were casualties among those who had participated in the ambush; they began to attend to theirrades.

    Li Pei gave everyone a fist salute and said, "Thank you all for your righteous assistance! The food and pay have arrived, and the Government Forces canunch an attack tomorrow. We absolutely cannot allow the Imperial Court to sign a treaty supplying Demon Beasts with blood meals!"

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao and the group were watching with glee when they suddenly noticed that mass of blood shadow flying towards them¡ªit was clearly passing by on its way to the military camp.

    "Quick, get ready to receive our guest!"

    After downing a swig of wine, the three of them hurriedly took Battle Armor from the carriage and put it on, then each wielded an AA-12 automatic shotgun filled with "vampire''s delight eggs."

    Lu Yao operated a drone, closely trailing the blood shadow, which seemed to be of very high ss, but after flying a few kilometers, it suddenlynded, morphing into a wheezing westerner kneeling on the ground.

    "Oh, it seems this trick has a time limit and it has already expired!"

    Lu Yao immediately understood; this "blood shadow metamorphosis" must be a skill like an ultimate move.

    He then called out to the two women, "Follow me, let''s ambush him mid-way!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Although Lord Asben was merely an earl, he possessed strength that came infinitely close to that of an Earl.

    At this moment, the annoyance in his heart was swallowing him more than his physical injuries:

    "I should have established great merit and been formally ennobled by the queen! Now all of this is ruined! You barbarians, I will surely drain your filthy blood!"

    Lord Asben''s fangs protruded, his eyes turned blood red, an immense exhaustion requiring immediate sustenance.

    "I need to search the nearby barbarian viges¡ªI urgently need fresh blood."

    He changed direction, heading towards a human vige marked on the map in his memory.

    Though severely wounded, Lord Asben''s movements were still incredibly swift, like a cheetah¡ªthe agility was a racial gift of vampires.

    But just as he turned, his head and chest were prated by countless .50 caliber bullets, followed by the loud noise of a jackhammer breaking through a wall.

    The assants showed no signs of stopping, continuing until they had reduced Lord Asben to a pile of minced meat.

    Lu Yao was puzzled, "Why did this Demon Beast suddenly change direction?"

    While speaking, he tossed a "homemade bomb" and detonated it.

 Chapter 138: 138. Dont overthink it.

    Lord Asben never dreamt that he would be ambushed twice within a brief fifteen minutes, earning double the pleasure.

    He forcibly cast the "Blood Ancestor''s Embrace" spell, turning into a blood shadow once more to flee for his life, though it appeared much dimmer this time.

    But just as he flew into the sky, he was pelted all over his head and face by a torrent of Silver Beads that fell like hail!

    These weren''t just a couple of beads; Lu Yao threw out three wine bottles, each filled with several handfuls of Silver Beads mixed with explosives. When they burst open, they indeed covered the sky and nketed an area of 50 meters in diameter.

    No matter how fast the blood shadow was, it couldn''t evade and Lord Asben, smoking and screaming in pain, was forced to reveal his true form, looking like a block of tofu that had not only been smashed to the ground but also stepped on.

    It was tough on him to still be alive in such a state, and even capable of speaking, "Stop! I am the Queen''s Envoy! Killing me will provoke a full-blown war between our countries!"

    Lu Yao, d in his Battle Armor, approached with heavy steps and grabbed Lord Asben''s head, lifting him up. His voice, somewhat muffled by the armor, came through,

    "You have already proposed a treaty of 100,000 blood feeds, and I think, instead of meekly waiting to be extorted, it''s better to have an all-out war to the death."

    The Battle Armor''s hands were entwined with silver threads, and the Vampire immediately began smoking and howling miserably from atop his head, "Stop! You lowly barbarian! I am a noble..."

    Lu Yao felt like he was crushing a biscuit, and amidst the creaking and crunching, the demon beast''s head slowly vanished from sight. Soon, his entire body swiftly dried, cracked apart, and dissolved into countless tiny particles that blended into the air, leaving behind only a goose-egg-sized, bright red gemstone.

    He picked it up and examined it in the sunlight, finding it crystal clear and vibrantly colored. Lu Yao nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad¡ªthe perfect start. With this, all three little ones will have a Blood Core to use when they break through their boundaries."

    The first major hurdle for a Spirit Pet is Organ Refining, which certainly requires external assistance.

    "Next, just casually get some smaller Blood Cores for their daily consumption."

    This goose-egg-sized Blood Core was like a windfall, so the trio joyfully returned to the camp.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    As the sunset cast a fiery glow on West Mountain, three energetic Spiritual Sparrowhawks practiced their flight skills, darting through the woods.

    The pet owners couldn''t ck off either and also began their Cultivation amidst the evening glow.

    Lu Yao leaped 10 meters high and, with the help of his Inner Breath, whipped his spine mid-free fall. Despite having no leverage, his body surged forward half a meter, which was quite marvelous.

    But this was still not enough¡ªFu Fangsheng could shift three meters in mid-air with ease!

    Afternding, Lu Yao smacked his lips, "''The Spiritual Cat Stance'' is quite mystical, but the total amount of Inner Breath isn''t sufficient. It''s hard to achieve the expected effect without the necessary resources."

    Liao Ya also gave it a try, only managing a small shift in mid-air, not even as good as Lu Yao. She flicked her braid back and said,

    "This stance is meant for those in the Blood-Exchange Realm or even the Innate Realm. We need to take it slow. Plus, this stance is excellent for body forging. After practicing for so many days, the blood and marrow throughout my body are denser, and it almost feels like the mighty dragon within could soar across the sky."

    Master Liao had high praise for "The Spiritual Cat Stance," but her words reminded Liao Qe. Pulling Lu Yao''s hand, she said,

    "My mighty dragon hasn''t been practicing well recently; help me loosen it up a bit."

    Liao Ya pped her sister''s ample behind, scornfully saying, "Relying on Lu Yao''s knowledge of ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual,'' you''ve been neglecting your practice of the Carp Stance. You even have love handles now~"

    Liao Qe jumped in fright, feeling around her waist and lifting her clothes to check; she still retained her beautiful curves and taut, alluring figure. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

    Sticking her tongue out at her sister, she Then dragged her beloved into the vehicle.

    Liao Qe stripped off her clothes and, lying across the seat, said with augh, "Training on my own could never be asfortable as your massages~"

    Lu Yao gathered his Inner Breath into his fingertips and, while giving the massage, tenderly advised, "Your senior sister is looking out for you. Practice the Carp Stance a bit more, I like that stance~"

    "Hmm, I''ll listen to you."

    "Organs, bones, meridian points" all trembling together, there wasn''t a spot on her body that wasn''tfortable, Liao Qe only felt a warm coziness throughout her body and couldn''t help but squint her eyes infort, enjoying the moment peacefully.

    Since the two were close sect siblings, even some sensitive acupressure points didn''t need to be avoided, and could even be seen as a kind of mood-setting.

    Unconsciously, the massage ended, and it took a while for Liao Qe toe back to her senses.

    She stretched her limbs and felt much lighter, with many impurities expelled through the pores of her skin.

    The results were superb, leaving one feeling refreshed in body and mind.

    However, Liao Qe suddenly thought: The ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art'' requires pressing from the neck all the way to the tailbone, and there are too many inappropriate areas in between.

    "Lu Yao also often massages my sister, should they be avoiding something..."

    She quickly shook her head to dismiss this absurd thought, "What am I thinking! Physical contact for the sake of cultivation is very normal among sect siblings."

    Even though she reassured herself, a thorn remained in Liao Qe''s heart.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The next day, Liao Qe woke up yawning and pestered Lu Yao to y with the drone.

    Arriving at a high spot, the girl couldn''t wait to take the controller, with Lu Yao instructing her from the side:

    "Switch to manual first... see these two joysticks? Press them inward with your thumbs, and the drone will take off."

    "The left joystick controls the altitude and direction of the drone''s nose, while the right one controls forward, backward, left, and right movement."

    "Take it slow, no need to rush!"

    Liao Qe''s drone suddenly crashed towards a tree but thankfully, its infrared collision avoidance system kicked in and it hovered just in time.

    The girl was startled and hastily operated the drone with more caution and precision.

    Being naturally talented with modern weapons and gadgets from Blue Star, it didn''t take long for Liao Qe to control the drone smoothly and adeptly.

    She yed with a joyous smile, feeling exhrated, and even used the drone to take a group photo of the three of them from up high.

    ~~~~~~

    Later, Liao Ya took over, but she wasn''t as adept, the drone zigzagging perilously in the sky.

    Lu Yao moved behind Liao Ya, reaching around to help her with the controls, patiently exining as he did.

    Gradually, the drone started flying more steadily, and Liao Ya''s pretty face lit up with a sweet and delighted smile.

    The more Liao Qe watched, the more suspicious she felt, her cheeks puffing up with dissatisfaction, feeling like when her beloved toys had been taken away by her sister in childhood.

    Just then, a rumbling thunder came from the horizon, startling numerous birds and beasts.

    As it was a clear and crisp autumn day with not a cloud in the sky, it definitely wasn''t going to rain.

    "The battle has started!"

    Lu Yao quickly took back control of the drone and flew it over for a look, only to see artillery exchanging fire with warships!

 Chapter 139: Approximately killed 2000 enemies.

    ```

    Northern Arsenal of Gukou

    "Bearing 18, deviation 43, fire!"

    Commander Shi Rongchun personally stuffed the 400 kg colossal cannonball into the cannon''s chamber and ordered to fire.

    With a dull, thunderous boom, the entire battery shuddered, the cannonball roared out of the barrel with a terrifying howl, splitting a distant ship on the sea surface into two, before detonating into a fiery ink-like explosion.

    Shi Rongchun was extremely pleased with the giant cannon before him! These were not the old and deceitful types of the past but thetest models purchased from the Kingdom of Jiade¡ª"Krupp 305MM cannon."

    Its power was immense, a single hit could obliterate any ship under 3000 tons of discement, and there were more than a hundred of them!

    Apanying them, there were also "military observers" from the Kingdom of Jiade.

    Shi Rongchun warmly said to the bearded foreigner standing in the distance, "Count Spee, the Imperial Court has seen your country''s sincerity! This ce is very dangerous, please step back."

    Count Spee nodded slightly, "Commander, there is no need to worry about me. I need to witness this battle in its entirety."

    Shi Rongchun didn''t object, simply instructing his followers, "Take good care of Count Spee," and then continued to operate the cannon.

    The discord between Jiade and Einheit was an open secret. The man represented the military of Jiade and it was natural for him to want to assess the strength of Einheit.

    Count Spee stroked his side whiskers, patiently observing the artillery duel.

    The weapons shined in the carnage, as the performance of these new cannons needed to be tested in battle.

    ~~~~~~~~

    With rolling thunderous sounds, Lu Yao and hisrades watched the live broadcast of the battle through a drone from afar. The foreigners werepletely at a disadvantage!

    The joint fleet hadn''t expected the Shun Army to dare to start a war.

    The diplomatic mission had already set off. As long as the treaty was sessfully exchanged, their objective would be considered achieved. The fleetmander, "Hebu," had already started to consider how many virgins to prepare for the victory feast.

    He still regretted not being able to disy the glory of the Empire of the Eternal Sun to Frandi and Menes.

    Each of those two countries had sent a warship to follow behind.

    "Jackals trailing the lion pride in hope of carrion!" Fleet Commander Hebu disdainfully nced behind, thinking thus.

    Then, he was greeted by a barrage of cannonballs!

    In the midst of deafening explosions, Hebu''smand ship, the "Revenge" armored cruiser, was violently shaken, with seawater seeping into themand room.

    More cannonballs came hurtling like a storm from all sides! With the fleet in grave danger, Hebu quickly contacted the army onshore via wireless to attack the battery.

    Seeing the barracks emptying out in a flood, Lu Yao cracked his neck and said, "Opportunity has arrived!"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    The invading force on shore rushed directly to the nearby Southern Shore Battery in a foolish attempt to capture it.

    But the area was a quagmire, and the Shun Army had already dug trenches in advance.

    The invaders were hit by the battery''s firepower, struggling through knee-deep mud, and also faced the sweeping fire of Maxim machine guns from the trenches. Casualties piled up in no time, especially the Tianzhu servant soldiers wrapped in towels around their heads. Hardly one in ten survived.

    The Steel Armored Knights bearing the Cloisonne Flower insignia were covered in bullet marks, and no matter what, they refused to charge, even getting into disputes with the Vampire Officers.

    A section of the Steel Armored Knights swallowed their pride and began to do theborious work they despised the most, helping to push the field guns into position.

    This scene was clearly ryed back to Lu Yao by the drone.

    At that moment, the three were d in Battle Armor, carrying .50 machine guns leisurely as they approached.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    ```

    The invasion army''s artillery position was already set up, and there even was a 9.2-inch heavy siege howitzer!

    The thing weighed a good 6 tons, and it was obvious that knights had helped push it over.

    Responsible for calibrating it was a vampire with particrlyrge eyes. It wore a green uniform,plete with a mask, and its rank was marked on its cuff, astonishingly that of a major.

    It extended its thumb, gesturing toward the direction of the battery, then adjusted the artillery''s sighting scale parameters.

    The very first cannonball struck a machine gun position with precision, prompting a round of cheers!

    The other lighter guns also opened fire one after another, beating the Shun Army in the trenches so badly they couldn''t raise their heads. The knights were once again inmed with the desire to fight and returned to the front lines.

    The big-eyed vampire then went to other guns to direct their fire, and after its adjustments, those guns were especially urate.

    Just as it was busily engaged, a blow suddenly took its head off. The headless body continued to walk forward for two steps before slowly turning to dust.

    The artillery position was incredibly noisy, with deafening booms and smoke masking the sound of the bullet''s flight.

    It took quite a while for the invasion forces to realize¡ªtheir own artillery major seemed to have died...

    [Most vampires die if their heads are destroyed.]

    Lu Yao and the two others confirmed through wireless headsets that their teammates were in position; their .50 caliber machine guns fired instantly, madly sweeping over the artillery position.

    Many soldiers who were carrying cannonballs suddenly gained several bloody holes and fell to the ground; some were hit by multiple .50 caliber bullets and were instantly torn apart into a mist of blood.

    "Enemy attack! Enemy attack! There are enemies behind us!"

    Someone on the ground blew a piercing whistle, screaming in terror at the sight of three approaching humanoid tanks.

    The knights guarding the position immediatelyunched a counterattack!

    ~~~~~~~

    Bullets rained down on Lu Yao and the other two, mostly Lee-Enfield rifle rounds that "pinged" off their battle armor, leaving just a few scratches.

    Lu Yao hefted his heavy machine gun, pulling the muzzle to turn enemy after enemy into flesh riddled with gaping holes.

    asionally some Steel Armored Knights returned fire, but were quickly torn apart by the powerful .50 caliber bullets, their steel armor functioning no better than stic without any protective effect.

    Their strength varied, some took two or three shots to defeat, others required a dozen or more. It merely meant the muzzle had to linger for an extra second or two, in no way impeding Lu Yao''s advance.

    Then, a knight d in thick steel armor, wielding two Lewis Machine Guns, opened fire on him!

    Lu Yao fired back fiercely, and the two stood their ground, exchanging fire.

    Sparks scattered off Lu Yao''s armor, the result of shattered bullet tips colliding;

    The same sparks scattered from the enemy, but because the .50 caliber bullets shredded the steel armor.

    The knight roared in anger, sustaining fifteen shots with the upper part of his torso disappearing before he fell dead.

    It seemed this person was amander; Einheit officers had their rank on their cuffs. Lu Yao didn''t recognize him, but the enemy forces beginning to copse around them indicated he was right.

    The two sisters weren''t idle, constantly firing as they pulled the trigger. Cartridges the size of fingers ejected and scattered on the ground, the evening glow reflecting off bullets streaking across the position like shooting stars.

    The main targets of the two sisters were the Vampire Officers; even if they couldn''t hit the head, they still aimed at the legs to prevent them from escaping.

    .50 caliber bullets, no matter if it was a human or a vampire hit, simply obliterated the impacted part, and the tenacious vampires could only scream miserably a little longer.

    After reloading twice, the three of them had cleared out the entire artillery position; by Lu Yao''s estimate, they had killed roughly 2,000 enemies.

    Seeing the ready artillery and ammunition on the position, Lu Yao had a brainwave and said, "You two load the cannonballs, I''ll fire the gun, and st the enemies on the front line!"

 Chapter 140: The entire army was wiped out.

    The Southern Shore Battery at Gukou was locked in fiercebat at this moment.

    The Shun Army had only 3,000 defenders, while the invading force numbered over 10,000, with overwhelmingly superior equipment.

    The Shun Army''s rifles were outdated andcked magazines; after each shot, they had to reload. The enemy was armed with Enfield rifles, which were much better in terms of performance.

    As the stalemate endured, suddenly cannonballs flew from behind the invading army and crashed down upon them!

    These massive cannonballs, weighing over 100 kilograms, were not only powerful but also incredibly precise.

    The first cannonball hit a Steel Armored Knight, turning him into a heap of mangled flesh and twisted steel; the second struck a Vampire Officer stationed at the rear, turning the demon beast into dust in the st wave.

    Reduced to such tiny particles, their formidable vitality was useless. They were bewildered, wondering how they had be exposed to direct artillery fire!

    At this moment, 5 kilometers behind the invading army, Lu Yao had taken over their artillery position and was operating a "9.2 inch siege howitzer," with the sisters loading cannonballs and him firing.

    Liao Ya pulled back the gunlock, and a smoking shell fell to the ground, which she kicked away; then Liao Qe hurriedly stuffed a new cannonball in and closed the breach.

    Lu Yao, who had already aimed, fired immediately. mes and smoke belched from the barrel as the cannonball whistled out, arcing down upon the enemy''s heads and sting them into disarray, limbs scattered in all directions.

    The "9.2 inch siege howitzer," which normally could only fire twice a minute, was firing ten times per minute due to the perfect coordination among the three operators!

    Towards the end, fearing the cannon would overheat and explode, they were forced to continuously switch guns, raining down cannonballs on the invading army like a deluge.

    Cries of agony filled the scene; some were clutching their severed limbs, wailing, while others, missing their lower halves, still cried for help, hopingrades would drag them back to cover, only to be met with a merciful bullet.

    The invading army didn''t possess the courage or the will to stand firm under artillery fire. Led by the fleeing Steel Armored Knights and Vampires, they scattered on the spot.

    The soldiers defending the battery were equally dumbfounded. Where had this artillery supporte from? Were there friendly forces nearby?

    ~~~~~~~~

    Seeing the enemy flee, Lu Yao quickly operated the drone and used its marking function to specially target the Vampires.

    Had these Vampires been solely focused on fleeing, it would indeed have been difficult to block them all, but after running a few steps, they attempted to regroup, clustering together.

    Lu Yao certainly wasn''t going to be polite, charging directly at them from the front!

    To prevent their escape, the three spread out, encircling the enemy from three directions.

    Just as a Vampire Officer had gathered the routed soldiers and attempted to regroup, a barrage of .50 bullets disrupted their ns.

    As darkness fell, bullets hot from the barrel glowed a dark red, appearing like a shower of meteorites in the night sky, reaping lives with a terrifying beauty.

    The three fired their machine guns at anything that moved.

    A formidable Vampire Officer leapt into a tree, but while he could dodge one person''s bullets, he couldn''t evade the others; soon, several gaping holes the size of bowls opened in his body, causing him to crash down.

    When a Vampire was hit, a cloud of ck mist would burst from the wound until the body reached its limit and carbonized into copse, turning into dust-like remains.

    Without silver, every Vampire still left behind a Blood Core to some extent, although some were exceedingly small, norger than a fingernail.

    At that moment, this small grove too became a bloody ughterhouse. Amidst the faint gunsmoke, limbs were strewn all over the ground.

    Activating his Spirit Refining State, Lu Yao scanned the area to confirm there were no survivors and began to clear the battlefield.

    "Including those from the artillery position earlier, there are 25 now," he said, shaking the cloth bag in his hand, which was full of Blood Cores, with thergest being the size of an egg.

    Liao Ya''s muffled voice came from within her Battle Armor, "What do we do next?"

    "Let me check." Lu Yao pulled out the controller, and the hovering drone immediately began to work.

    "The naval batteries won decisively; the foreigners'' ships are flying white gs... The garrison has alsounched an attack, let''s steer clear of them, I''m not ready to face them yet."

    Just as the three were about to leave, Liao Qe eximed in surprise, "Aren''t knights cultivated... I thought they were human. Why is their blood green?"

    She was staring intently at a knight who had been killed, he had charged at them while Liao Ya was reloading, but was killed by a steel punch that blew his head apart, leaving his body rtively intact.

    Not only was his blood green, but his body also had many huge centipede-like stitching scars, which looked very unnerving.

    After some thought, Liao Ya said, "I once heard Sister Li Pei at the National Martial Arts Association say that the Western monsters have been experimenting on living people, trying to mass-produce these ''knights.'' This one might just be a product of that."

    The three surrounded the eerie corpse, curiously discussed it for a while, but then moved on to intercept the rest of the vampires.

    And with their involvement, the whole battle took a wildly different turn.

    ~~~~~~~~

    The Gukou Battery, undistracted, focused on the exchange of fire with the fleet. The battery, originally at a higher position, already held an advantage, and with the help of thetest heavy artillery, they beat the enemy so badly they were looking everywhere for their teeth.

    At one point, the fleet even tried a deception tactic; they raised the white g but didn''t drop the anchor, nning to sneak to the side of the battery and then retract the white g and open fire.

    This was seen through by Admiral Shi and the ship was directly sunk.

    The fleetmander "Hebu" had originally hoped that the navy could hold on until the army captured the battery, then turn defeat into victory in one fell swoop! But he waited until his own gship was sunk, without ever getting the good news that the army had captured the battery.

    At this moment, the remnants of the Einheit navy were rescued by the Menes and the opportunistic "Tuoyiwang" battleship that hade to join in the fray.

    And the humiliated Hebu also quickly received the news¡ªnot only had his navy been annihted, but the army had beenpletely wiped out as well!

    Enraged, Hebu bared his fangs and his eyes turned blood-red as he roared, "Despicable savages! How dare they! This is provoking a full-scale war!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, on the battery, it was time to eat, and bowl after bowl of snow-white noodles were served up.

    The ordinary soldiers, covered in soot and ash, were very happy as they ate. Such delicacies were only avable during festivals, birthdays, and still had to be eaten sparingly along with cornbread and pancakes.

    After one bowl, they did not go for seconds, as it was generally understood that each person was allowed only one bowl. But surprisingly, the noodles were unlimited¡ªeat as much as you want!

    The soldiers ate their fill with astonishment, wondering where all these fine noodles hade from.

    Admiral Shi Rongchun ate a few bites casually and was incredibly surprised by the military report in his hands: "The invading enemy was totally annihted."

    The garrison had only 3,000 men; just holding the battery was a miracle, but topletely annihte 10,000 enemy troops?

    After daylight broke and the battlefield was cleared, seeing the bodies and the various captured materials, he waspletely convinced: They had truly won, and it was a grand victory!

    Shi Rongchun, full of joy, hastily wrote a memorial to report the victory!

    Normally, his own decision to start a battle might have been punished, but such a great victory changed everything!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Count Spee immediately sent a telegram back home, reporting what he had seen and heard:

    [The Einheit''s military vessels are outdated, their tactics obsolete; the army is worse than pigs,pletely wiped out by the antiquated equipment of the Shun Army]

    After some thought, he added a sentence: [Arrogance is stupidity''s twin, it''s time for the radiance of the Empire of the Eternal Sun to end!]

 Chapter 141: 141. Unique way of falcon taming

    The news of the Allied Forces'' disastrous defeat at Gukou stirred up an uproar.

    In Blue Star''s simr battles, the great powers suffered only 500 casualties. But in the Otherworld, Lu Yao''s intervention led to the total annihtion of the forces!

    Einheit is the current global hegemon, ruling the seas and known as the "Empire of the Eternal Sun".

    Now facing such an oue, if it weren''t for its subordinate Menes following with a single ship, even the fleetmander would have fed the fish.

    The seas of the Otherworld are filled with many terrifying sea monsters; without the irond ships, even high-ranking vampires falling in would likely face certain doom.

    Domestic elites mored to "exert severe retribution on the Shun Dynasty, burn down the Imperial City", and even incited Queen Victoria to dispatch duke-level vampire elites to make the Shun Dynasty submitpletely, thus securing their interests.

    But after just two days, the mor ceased, as they suddenly realized:pared to the Shun Dynasty, there was an even more formidable enemy - Jiade.

    The world''s colonies had beenpletely divided, and for a rising power like Jiade to make its mark, it had to challenge the established powers.

    And the use of advanced heavy artillery by the Shun Dynasty in this battle indicated that Jiade was already doing just that.

    Coincidentally, after winning at Gukou, the Imperial Court also wanted to cease hostilities and make peace, in order to focus on dealing with the Dacheng Sect.

    Thus, both sides quickly signed a new "Treaty of Tianjin" that both could ept.

    ~~~~~~~~

    [Open ports; allow missionaries to build churches in each prefecture government; indemnify 80,000 taels of silver¡­]

    The three people were on their way home, passing through the State City when they bought a newspaper and saw the news of the Imperial Court signing the treaty and negotiating peace.

    Liao Ya breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Although a treaty was still signed, thankfully the condition of ''blood food for a hundred thousand'' was removed."

    "Yes, it''s already pretty good..." Lu Yao recalled the terrible state of Blue Star at that time - the Imperial City was lost, a royal garden was vandalized and looted.

    This time, the mes of war stopped at the coast and did not spread to the Imperial City or Jinmen, invisibly saving many lives.

    "To some extent... I''ve also changed the course of history. It wasn''t a wasted trip."

    Lu Yao yed with Liao Qe''s fair feet while driving, as shefortably reclined.

    Liao Ya in the back didn''t care about her sister''s manners, crunching on a bag of chips.

    The three of them looked like they were on a trip, not at all like they had juste from a battlefield.

    At that moment, a piercing cry came from the sky.

    Lu Yao extended his arm out of the car window, and a wholly white Spiritual Sparrowhawknded on it, Ping An indeed.

    Ping An nuzzled his owner with his neck, then began preening his feathers.

    The other two Spiritual Sparrowhawks also swiftly descended, caught by the stretched arms of the sisters.

    The three little creatures had grown strong thanks to the costly investment, already full-feathered. With a sharp gaze and agile movements, they had an air of "aerial adventurers".

    In Blue Star, oil tycoons would be willing to spend millions to obtain them! Falconry is a symbol of fashion, wealth, and status in both worlds.

    Lu Yao teased Ping An a bit and said, "They''ve already learned to fly; next is training their hunting skills."

    For birds of prey, "flying" is only like a person learning to walk; real training is just beginning, as the techniques of aerialbat are of utmost importance.

    However, this wasn''t difficult. Though called training, in reality, it was only necessary to guide them to awaken the ancient instincts within their bloodline.

    Falcons are naturally superior in flight skills among their kind. Their diet mostly consists of birdsrger than themselves, which they elegantly and swiftly kill in midair using their superb flying abilities.

    At this moment, the road ahead was blocked by a caravan of camels, belonging to merchants from the north. Passing a creek, the camels couldn''t resist lowering their heads to drink, and with over a hundred of them, they blocked the roadpletely.

    The caravan leader, seeing Lu Yao''s carriage from afar, quickly drove the animals forward, not daring to offend a noble.

    Seeing this, Lu Yao decided to simply turn the carriage around: "Yuntai Mountain is just beside us. Let''s go up the mountain to train the falcons instead ofpeting with the caravan for the road."

    ~~~~~~~

    Yuntai Mountain''s highest peak rose over 600 meters, and the three climbed to the summit in just a few minutes.

    Lu Yao took out a Wisdom Spirit Pill that the babies loved most. They immediately gathered around, pecking at it, but he kept dodging, refusing to let them have it.

    The three Spiritual Sparrowhawks perched on their master''s body, frantically squawking, as Lu Yao found a roll of tape and wound the Wisdom Spirit Pill on his left arm.

    Deliberately making a round so the falcons could see, he then ran down the mountain cliff, calling them to chase as he went.

    The three Spiritual Sparrowhawks, being very spiritual, immediately realized their master was ying a game with them and pped their wings to give chase.

    Lu Yao ran faster and faster between the mountain cliffs. Rugged rocks and winding trees were quickly left behind, and his speed soon reached 80 kilometers per hour.

    But the falcons, with their perfect aerodynamics, elerated to 150 kilometers per hour in just one second!

    Birds of prey are iparable in speed to anynd-dwelling creature. They quickly caught up behind Lu Yao, almost snatching the spirit pill!

    Lu Yao snorted through his nostrils and, in a flurry of kicks, bounced off rocks and trees, not only increasing his speed drastically but also running in a zigzag pattern!

    The three Spiritual Sparrowhawks kept adjusting their flying postures using their wings and tails, nimbly maneuvering in pursuit, firmly locking onto Lu Yao''s form.

    The more Lu Yao ran, the more invigorated he felt, dodging the falcons'' attacks from time to time to prevent them from easily grabbing the pill.

    A man and three falcons chasing and fleeing; very quickly, the three falcons mastered the "dive" technique without any guidance.

    They no longer pped their wings in relentless pursuit but instead flew high into the sky, tucking in their wings like arrows before plunging sharply down!

    This diving move was the most lethal skill of the falcons, reaching speeds of 350 kilometers per hour, like lightning shing through the sky, aiming straight for Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao let out a long howl and activated the "Spiritual Cat Stance," shifting half a meter in midair, narrowly avoiding the strike.

    But the three falcons'' diving technique became more proficient with every attempt, their speed increasing steadily. They also slowly mastered the method of coordination,unching wave after wave of attacks, giving Lu Yao no chance to breathe.

    The game became thrilling. Lu Yao exerted everyst bit of his skill to dash through the mountain cliffs, his entire body like a car with the gas pedal floored, pushing his speed to the limit!

    The howling mountain wind whistled past his ears, and the tree branches in the mountains trembled in the fierce gusts. Eventually, as Lu Yao leapt to avoid a falling camphor tree, Ping An seized the moment and dove down swiftly, elegantly snatching the Wisdom Spirit Pill with its talons.

    Ji Xiang and Ru Yi hurried to snatch it away, but Ping An had already gulped it down, proudly pping its wings in triumph.

    Lu Yao gave a thumbs-up to Ping An and scratched its neck as a sign of praise.

    Though he hadn''t used the Spirit Refining State himself, it was still remarkable that the falcons, on their first training session, had forced him, an Organ Refining Martial Artist, to use all his tricks.

    Indeed, born in the high mountains and Arctic, it was no wonder that these spirits had been highly sought after since ancient times.

    Drenched in sweat, Lu Yao had run with great enjoyment, feeling an unprecedented exhration. He couldn''t help but let out a long howl, its echo wandering back and forth through the valley.

 Chapter 142: 142. Resonance of the Six Hollow Organs

    The sisters also hurried over, intrigued by this unique training method.

    Just as they were about to emte him with tape and Wisdom Spirit Pills, they saw Lu Yao let out a long howl and then freeze, something seeming a bit off.

    All of a sudden he took a deep breath, an incredibly lengthy one, each inhtion and exhtion nearing a minute. A sound like muffled thunder arose from within his body, followed by a violent shake of his chest, causing the air around him to ripple like the tremors in water!

    The next second, Lu Yao abruptly exhaled a breath as concentrated and unfaltering as an arrow!

    Liao Qe eximed in delight, "Breath as arrows! Your six organs are resonating together!"

    Lu Yao nodded with a smile, "Just now, I ran with all my might, and it felt so exhrating. Unknowingly, I achieved a breakthrough."

    Only then was his Organ Refining Realm at Great Perfection. His vitality and, most importantly, the essence of the five organs, "Inner Breath," surged massively, boosting his metabolism and digestive absorption abilities tremendously.

    Not only did it supply his body with more robust power, but it also expelled all useless impurities from his body. Once the blood and marrow throughout his body consolidated, he could formally step into the "Marrow-Cleansing Realm."

    For Lu Yao, who had ample resources, this was merely a matter of time.

    Liao Ya came forward to offer congrattions, sping her hands, "Congrattions, junior brother, on moving one step closer to ''Blood-Exchange''! Your natural and seamless breakthrough is the grand realm of Great Perfection that countless martial artists yearn for. You''re bound to have a limitless future!"

    "With a role model like you, senior sister, I naturally can''t fall behind," Lu Yao said with a grinning salute, "I also owe it to your guidance."

    Hearing this, Liao Ya replied with a gentle smile, her bright eyes and white teeth radiant, "I dare not take credit for that, junior brother. It''s your own hard training and talent that are key."

    The two exchanged smiles, understanding everything without the need to speak.

    Liao Qe watched their interaction and suddenly felt slightly annoyed. She quickly cuddled up to her beloved, whining with a coquettish voice, "What about me~"

    "Right, you''re the number one contributor~" Lu Yao hugged the girl back, her waist taut and slender, "You''ve helped me a lot with Spirit Refinement and body training~"

    Liao Qe''s cheeks were blushingly red and her skin soft as cream, yet inside she pondered: What''s wrong with me... Every time I see them talking, I just feel ufortable all over.

    ~~~~~~~

    The trio was in high spirits, taking three days on their return to Yunzhou.

    This departure not only exceeded their mission by acquiring many Blood Cores, but the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks also learned to fly, and Lu Yao had a breakthrough¡ªit was truly multiple blessings arriving at once.

    The yard was very clean, thanks to the efforts of Su Er Ya.

    The young girl still practiced her stance work daily, and after just half a month, she was already taking shape, riding as if on a horse with her body gently heaving in a manner reminiscent of ripples formed by a light breeze over water¡ªclearly, she had grasped the basics.

    Normally it would take several months to achieve such progress. Liao Ya nodded in satisfaction but didn''t utter a word of praise, still letting the girl continue her stance work, saying they would talk after half a year.

    At the moment, two bulky carriages stood in the yard, and the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks were flying around; in addition, each person was practicing their punches in their own space, making it quite crowded.

    After all, it was just a civilian residence. Initially, considering its location, it was quite suitable for recruiting students for Kung Fu sses, but now they didn''t need to teach Kung Fu to make a living, the environment was somewhat cluttered.

    Especially with one''s own noise being rather loud, the neighbors, intimidated by the martial arts gym''s reputation, dared not voice their displeasure, causing quite the inconvenience.

    "When I have time, I''ll talk to senior sister about buying arger and quieter residence," Lu Yao thought while practicing alchemy.

    ~~~~~~~

    By the time he finished processing all the small Blood Cores into Wisdom Spirit Pills, it was already evening.

    Stretchingzily as he returned to his room, Liao Qe was already sniffing fragrantly, waiting on the bed.

    The very next morning, without saying a word, Liao Ya grabbed her sister and smacked her bottom.

    Thetter struggled furiously but, being an entire realm beneath, her resistance was futile, and her bottom swiftly swelled from the spanking.

    While spanking she also chanted, "That''s forcking shame! That''s forcking shame!"

    Lu Yao hurriedly interjected, "Stop hitting her, stop hitting her. Let''s learn how to trim the sparrowhawks'' nails, beaks, and feathers."

    While speaking, he whistled to call over the three ''babies''.

    Under the gaze of their three innocent, big eyes, the two girls finally separated and attended to their respective Ji Xiang and Ru Yi.

    Feeding Spirit Pets from Otherworld is easier with Wisdom Spirit Pills which eliminate the trouble of deworming; the elixirse with deworming effects that can kill various parasites on the pets.

    But trimming nails, beaks, and feathers has to be done by oneself, which is why many martial artists consider taking care of Spirit Pets a waste of time, believing it''s a distraction from cultivation.

    For them, however, this task was no more time-consuming than smoking a few cigarettes, and Lu Yao and hispanions found joy in it.

    ~~~~~~~

    After the trimming, the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks appeared much sleeker and took off to y in the sky.

    Lu Yao invigorated his organs, exhaling a breath-arrow. Lately, he practiced this frequently to consolidate his realm, preparing to enter the "Marrow-Cleansing Realm."

    Suddenly, Liao Ya had an idea: with stronger Inner Breath following the resonance of the six organs, the "Art of the Dragon yer Manual" would definitely be more effective!

    Clearing her throat, shemanded her sister, "Liao Qe, go buy some diesel."

    Lu Yao''s interest was piqued, knowing his senior sister wanted to practice the Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art again. She always sent Liao Qe away in advance.

    But Liao Qe, who was usually very obedient, offered a "Duchess smile," "There''s still more than half left in the generator~ No rush."

    Liao Ya felt unnerved by her sister''s smile and then reasoned she hadn''t done anything wrong. Asking a fellow disciple to help with an important massage was in right!

    So, she straightforwardly stood tall and dered, "Junior brother, please help massage the ''great dragon''."

    Lu Yao saw no issue. Although he found the situation sultry, he knew its importance from the beginning and alwayspleted the task genuinely, so there was nothing for him to feel guilty about.

    They headed to the bedroom, but Liao Qe followed along.

    "Sister, I want to learn the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' from Lu Yao. Let me observe while you massage," she said.

    Liao Ya''s eyebrows shot up in difort. However, her sister''s request was perfectly reasonable, and to chide her would seem improper!

    Thus, she nodded with a stern face, "Then pay close attention. Mastering this technique is not only beneficial to others, but it will greatly enhance your understanding of Aperture Points and meridians, all to your advantage!"

    After speaking, she confidently sprawled onto the bed.

    At that moment, Lu Yao vaguely sensed something amiss but didn''t have time to dwell on it.

    With his "six organs resonating" and Inner Breath now more vigorous, he began massaging in a slightly odd atmosphere.

 Chapter 143: 143. Luxury House and New Massage Technique

    "In the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, the marrow is as frost; in the Blood-Exchange Realm, the blood is like mercury. These two realms are known as ''shedding the mortal body and refining the immortal bones,'' which are crucial steps for transforming and rebirth in Martial Dao Cultivation."

    Liao Ya suppressed the impulse to cry out in extremefort and pleasure, and used conversation to distract herself as she introduced the Marrow-Cleansing and Blood-Exchange realms.

    "Our machine gun bullets would normally blow a person apart directly, yet a martial artist in the Blood-Exchange Realm can withstand many shots! The brother disciple who ambushed the foreigners shot a high-level expert of Blood-Exchange Realm dead, and I remember he took a full 15 bullets, which just shows how formidable it is!"

    Lu Yao, while performing the massage, interjected, "''Blood-Exchange Realm'' is the first defensive realm in Martial Dao Cultivation."

    It took Liao Ya a few seconds to understand the meaning of his words. She quietly said, "That''s also correct... Once you reach the Blood-Exchange Realm, wearing steel armor, you can dominate the battlefield. Ah, ah, ah..."

    She cried out twice and quickly covered her mouth. By now, the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' had reached itster¡ªand most stimting¡ªstages.

    After "resonating the six viscera," Lu Yao''s Inner Breath became even more profound, taking care of all the acupoints and reflex zones on the back while simultaneously trembling.

    Since the spine connects the whole body, it meant that all organs, acupoints, and even tendons and bones resonated together. The benefits andfort derived from this could not be expressed in words; each vibration was worth a day of arduous cultivation, and by now, there had already been over 30 vibrations!

    Liao Ya, while struggling to keep silent, was also opening all her pores to sweat out impurities in her blood and marrow to make it as hard to distinguish as mixing fish eyes with pearls. In an instant, she was sweating profusely, soaking wet.

    After all, some physiological responses are unavoidable, and cultivation can lead to awkward moments that need to be slightly concealed.

    Just as Liao Ya was enveloped and trembling in the warmth of Inner Breath,fortably out of this world, she suddenly realized that her sister was reaching toward her lower body!

    She immediately cried out, "What are you doing!" At this moment, she was very nervous. If touched, she would be exposed, and how could she face having her brother-inw help her with a massage again!

    Liao Qe withdrew her hand nonchntly, "Nothing much, just helping you to wipe off some sweat."

    "You''re too rough with your hands, don''t touch me~," Liao Ya said sternly while getting up to dress. "You learn well and strive to master it as soon as possible."

    Having said that, she left as if fleeing.

    Completing the full set of the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' took just about ten minutes. Lu Yao felt somewhat exhausted and began to slowly regte his breath.

    Liao Qe hurriedly sent her own Inner Breath to help and thought to herself, "It seems normal... just the usual help between fellow sect members in cultivation."

    After regting his breath, Lu Yao wanted to talk to Liao Ya about changing houses, when Li Pei, whom he hadn''t seen for many days, suddenly visited.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After ambushing the foreign delegation, Li Pei ran back first thing, returning three days earlier than Lu Yao and the others who were out exploring.

    At the moment, she appeared to be in a good mood.

    Their side had achieved aplete victory, and Shi Rongchun, who originally was to be sentenced to prison, was only docked three years'' sry. Moreover, no one cared anymore about her ambushing the foreign delegates.

    "Miss Liao, I havee specifically to express my gratitude! Six thousand soldiers fought for a day and a night, and the noodles provided by Lu Yao yed a big role!"

    Li Pei bowed deeply to Lu Yao with great solemnity, "A martial artist consumes a huge amount during a battle, without food, indeed, it''s difficult to move an inch!"

    In the Otherworld, food is even more important than ammunition. The Bone Tempering Realm cannon loaders, extremely fatigued, could eat 5 kilograms of noodles in one meal!

    And not to mention those above Bone Tempering Realm¡ªPrefectural Governor Shi, worried about the war and with a loss of appetite, still ate 10 kilograms!

    So the thanks from Li Pei was heartfelt and sincere, and neither Lu Yao nor Liao Ya could stop her from bowing.

    "On behalf of the Imperial Court and... countlessmon folk, I thank Young Master Lu!"

    Li Pei took out several papers and said, "This is the ''Foot Comfort Technique,'' a massage secret of my sect, specifically for massaging the feet. Although its efficacy is not as great as the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual,'' it has the advantage of being easy to use, essible to everyone!"

    Liao Ya politely declined on behalf of Lu Yao, "Sister Li, this is too much..."

    Li Pei pushed the secret technique into Liao Ya''s hands, "Sister, don''t disdain it, my master came from poverty, so all our techniques are about massage that don''t require resources..."

    She then took out another paper and said, "This is the deed to the ''Jin Garden'' by the Bank of Su River. With three martial masters from the Liao Family Fist, living in themon market is neither convenient nor befitting of your status. This garden estate, including a dock and the hill behind it, is my gift to you."

    Another generous gift was presented¡ªa riverside estate that was difficult to buy even with money! This estate would be more than appropriate for the Prefectural Governor to reside in.

    This was the reciprocity Li Pei had racked her brains toe up with. After all, Lu Yaocked neither silver nor resources, cultivation techniques, nor did he care for power, so she couldn''t very well just give him a woman.

    Lu Yao realized that the Commandery Princess had prepared this thank-you gift seriously, and that continuously refusing it would actually be inappropriate, so he epted it graciously.

    "Many thanks to the Commandery Princess, I was indeed looking to move to arger residence."

    Li Pei smiled with satisfaction, "You can move in at any time. I''ve even had a telephone line installed inside the estate, so it will be more convenient for us to get in touch with each other in the future."

    Liao Ya joyfully took Li Pei''s hand and said, "That''s wonderful, I can now talk to my sister whenever I want."

    "Wee." The two formidabledies stood hand in hand, their posture adding untold charm.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Li Pei chatted for a few more sentences before getting up to take her leave in a carriage.

    Being royalty, she felt a significant sense of relief after giving her reciprocal gift.

    At that moment, the eunuch Zhang Jin, who was driving the carriage, suddenly said, "Commandery Princess, did you see Young Master Lu''s falcons?"

    "I did, they were quite majestic, why?"

    "All three are exceptionally majestic. The resources required must be substantial¡ªa truly grand gesture!"

    Zhang Jin paused for a moment before continuing, "Commandery Princess, forgive your servant for speaking out of turn, but this Young Master Lu is an excellent match in terms of both wealth and talent. You turned twenty this year; it''s time to consider the prospect of marriage to avert idle gossip..."

    Zhang Jin''s implication was clear. After the "Deadly Rooster" incident, the Commandery Princess was no longer a match with the Xiang Family, and she should n ahead. Fortunately, Young Master Lu was very handsome and seemed to get along well with the Commandery Princess.

    Li Pei was about to object, but then she thought of Lu Yao''s attributes: extravagant, a Spirit Refining Genius, an Alchemist, a Martial Dao Prodigy, possessing justice and kindness...

    A young hero like that would be more than a worthy match for a Commandery Princess! Indeed, it would be an excellent match!

    She couldn''t help but fall into contemtion... the more she thought about it, the better it seemed! Plus, such a man would be a tremendous asset to herself!

    ~~~~~~~

    After Li Pei left, the three of them looked through the ''Foot Comfort Technique,'' which began with some advice:

    ["Humans have feet as trees have roots; when a tree withers, the roots go first; when a person fails, the feet decline first. Initially, the effects of using one''s feet may not be apparent, but after a hundred days of practice, its potency bes immeasurable. Compared to taking medicine, its effectiveness is a hundredfold."]

    In essence, this was a foot therapy secret technique, effortless to learn, unlike the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' which required a high realm that ordinary people could not achieve.

    Nheless, it was the kind of foundational treasure that all major sects coveted!

    Because not every generation would have a Spirit Refining Expert, during times of decline, they would need these unpretentious methods to ovee difficulties.

 Chapter 144: 144. Ancient Foot Therapy

    As the one charged with Spirit Refinement in the household, Lu Yao, with his exquisite control of his body and Inner Breath, took only 10 minutes to learn the full set of "Foot Comfort Technique."

    This "Ancient Foot Therapy" had the same principles as the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual,'' both utilizing the stimtion of various Aperture Points and reflex zones on the feet to aid in cultivation.

    And it had a high error tolerance! The worst that could happen if you pressed the wrong spot on the foot was it wouldn''t work, not like the Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art which could paralyze someone with a single mistake.

    Lu Yao immediately offered to try it out on Liao Qe. As soon as he started, the girl was crying andughing, pounding on the armrests of the chair as she eximed,

    "Ahahaha~ I can''t take this anymore~~ Ah, it hurts, it hurts!"

    With just a light stimtion of her foot by Lu Yao, the girl yelled and screamed for half the day, copsing onto the chair, twitching, and finally pulling her foot back, refusing to continue.

    "You''re too tender to take it," Lu Yao shrugged, making his judgment, then turned to look at Liao Ya.

    Master Liao hesitated, knowing that aside from various supplements in martial arts, massages and physiotherapy were also essential. Although foot massages were somewhat improper, for the sake of cultivation...

    Liao Qe, not wanting her beloved to touch her sister, quickly jumped up and said, "Lu Yao still needs to stabilize his realm in preparation for Marrow-Cleansing, I''ll give you the foot massage."

    With that, she went to take off her sister''s shoes.

    Liao Ya pushed her away, reproaching, "Get away, I dare not let you do it, your strength is erratic."

    Liao Qe protested, "If you don''t trust me with Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art, surely I can massage feet~"

    "Forget it... I''m also afraid of pain," Liao Ya decisively refused her sister''s kind offer, then turned to say,

    "Lu Yao indeed needs to solidify his realm in preparation for Marrow-Cleansing, we''ve all been reaping the benefits of the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual,'' and now the one who needs massage the most is actually him."

    Liao Qe nodded vigorously, agreeing that it wasn''t right for Lu Yao to give without receiving.

    So she quickly knelt, took off Lu Yao''s shoes, and began massaging him using the ''Foot Comfort Technique.''

    Putting aside the effectiveness, having her fair little hands kneading his feet was quitefortable.

    Liao Ya shook her head from the side, "You don''t recognize Aperture Points urately, and your Inner Breath control is not good either, it''s effort wasted. Watch carefully how I do it~"

    Having said that, she also knelt down to press Lu Yao''s other foot, with the sisters starting to massage him together.

    Under her sister''s guidance, Liao Qe gradually got the hang of it, and it was no longer justfortable but began to be effective.

    Stimted by two flows of Inner Breath, Lu Yao immediately felt waves of warmth enveloping his internal organs, with his dantian burning warmly.

    The simultaneous massaging of both feet had an even more notable effect, with the warmth continuously rising to his head, making his features feel toasty.

    With his feet cradled against Master Liao''s chest, the softness and flexibility were extremelyfortable. Subconsciously moving his toes, he saw his senior sister''s face blush, and the force of her hands suddenly increased!

    Lu Yao let out a low hiss as he felt his foot nearly break, and dared not y tricks anymore.

    After enjoying itfortably for a while, he concluded,

    "With a dual approach, this secret method of foot massage has a simr effect to the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual''... But inparison, the foot massage''s effect is more gentle andsting, with a stronger role in health preservation and well-being. The Commandery Princess''s secret technique is in but precious!"

    While continuing her movements, Liao Ya said at the same time, "Of course, massage techniques are always precious. Now that our school possesses two books, our foundation has grown rich!"

    At this moment, with blood and Inner Breath flowing throughout his body, Lu Yao feltpletely revitalized.

    Closing his eyes and no longer speaking, he carefully enjoyed the dedication of the two sisters, and his body and mind were greatly rxed.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Under the attentive care of the twodies, Lu Yao''s internal organs and even his facial features underwent a grand cleansing, and his Inner Breath was just shy of prating his bones for the Marrow-Cleansing Realm. He couldn''t help but exhale a dense breath arrow that did not disperse.

    Liao Ya, familiar with this sight, softly advised, "Don''t rush, take it slowly. You must naturally enter the Marrow-Cleansing Realm."

    Breaking through in the Martial Path is not a simple matter of leveling up with a "ding" when you have enough experience: it''s a lengthy process of physical transformation and enhancement.

    Lu Yao nodded and said, "In that case, let''s move house sooner rather thanter. It''s too cramped here."

    Everyone loves a big house, so the two sisters immediately started packing.

    Everything needed for the manor had been prepared by Li Pei; all they needed to take with them were their personal belongings and important supplies.

    Liao Ya personally took charge of the Mercedes transporting the gold, while Liao Qe drove another Krupp car, setting off toward their new home.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Jin Garden was situated by the Su River and its scenic beauty need not be mentioned, boasting a dock along the river.

    The expanse of its grounds far exceeded what one might imagine, asrge as two ser fields.

    The garden, with streams of water from the Su River winding through it, featured exquisite halls and pavilions amid lush vegetation¡ªopulent yet refined.

    Lu Yao looked around and, satisfied, remarked, "This is spacious enough."

    Liao Qe gazed around with wide eyes, seeing greenery everywhere and flowers as far as the eye could see, with pavilions and towers that dazzled the beholder.

    She could not help but say, "This is way too big! One could easily get lost just walking around the yard."

    Liao Ya''s face lit up with excitement, pleased with the new training ground: "I''ve always wanted arger ce to train. It''s impossible to practice properly in a small space."

    This training ground was about 800 square meters,plete with stone rollers, stone locks, wooden targets, and even arge iron sphere¡ªall tools for physical conditioning.

    There were not just three happy individuals, but three Spiritual Sparrowhawks as well, which joyfully flew around the garden several times, enjoying the mountainside riverfront setting. They alighted on their owners'' arms, squawking eagerly for spiritual pills.

    Afterward, they picked their rooms, buried the gold again underneath Liao Ya''s bed; locked silver, medicinal ingredients, and arms in the cer, and by the time they were finished, it was already evening.

    This marked theirplete settlement; the three of them exchanged smiles, greatly relieved¡ªa beautiful garden for their new home from now on.

    Liao Qe, holding her dear one''s arm, proudly and joyfully remarked, "Such a grand estate, all thanks to Lu Yao~"

    Liao Ya also looked at her junior brother with a tender smile. Ever since this miraculous man came into their lives, her own and her sister''s lives had changed dramatically.

    Even though there were many mysterious things about their junior brother, she no longer cared.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    In the following days, the sisters devoted their energy to Lu Yao, which was the most pressing matter at hand.

    Breaking through could fail, and failure could cause irreversible damage to the body¡ªthe higher the realm, the greater the danger.

    They massaged Lu Yao''s feet daily, tending him with utmost care, afraid to be the least bit negligent.

    Su Erya was also brought over by Liao Ya. Looking at the luxurious garden before her, her mouth agape in awe, she thought to herself: One couldn''t clean this ce up even in three days and nights!

    Erya walked the grounds daily to familiarize herself with the new environment, and it wasn''t until the third day that she could ensure she wouldn''t get lost.

    The young girl showed no reluctance to hard work; after her daily stance practice, she insisted on cleaning, doing what she could.

    After being tenderly served by the two youngdies for over a week, Lu Yao finally reaped his rewards!

 Chapter 145: 145. The new Battle Armor that withstands a direct frontal shot from a 155mm howitzer

    That day, Lu Yao had his feet massaged by the two sisters before taking a medicinal bath with Liao Qe.

    After the resonance of the six fu-organs and the great achievement of Organ Refining, his qi and blood were exceedingly vigorous, carrying even more profound Inner Breath throughout his body, repeatedly flowing and scouring, refining his physique.

    Furthermore, with the aid of the medicinal bath, his Inner Breath gradually began to prate into the bones, stimting the marrow.

    Subconsciously, Lu Yao''s body began to twitch and convulse, and after shivering for a while, he finally exhaled a long breath,pleting his life''s first "Marrow-Cleansing."

    Liao Qe was startled, not bothering to dress, she leaped out of the bath barrel and called for her sister to check.

    By the time the sisters arrived, Lu Yao had already recovered. He only felt his stomach gurgling and his lower abdomen swelling.

    This was because the surging qi and blood had swept through his body, carrying away countless impurities. These impurities urgently needed to be expelled, causing him to desperately want to go to the toilet.

    Lu Yao rushed into thetrine and relieved himself mightily, sighing infort, and then smoked himself out with the stench. Most of the expelled substances were the impurities deposited in his organs, oily in appearance and exceptionally foul-smelling!

    Liao Ya said with excitement, "Junior Brother, you have taken a big step forward, but you must be careful from now on¡ªStarting today, stop all supplements and massages, clear your mind, and even more so, abstain from sexual rtions! Do not deliberately guide your Inner Breath to refine the marrow. Just maintain a normal diet, practice boxing, let your body adjust, and naturally enter the Marrow-Cleansing Realm!"

    Lu Yao nodded in response, "I understand, Senior Sister."

    He really enjoyed the feeling of the sisters kneading his body with their small hands and was immediately disappointed upon hearing there would be no more daily foot massages.

    The health benefits were secondary, what mattered most was thefort~

    ~~~~~~~~

    Feeling somewhat bored after dryly practicing boxing for two days, Lu Yao sought some diversion.

    Just as he had been teasing Ping An for a while, Su Erya earnestly brought him today''s newspaper.

    After thanking the young girl, Lu Yao picked up the newspaper and started to read.

    The headline of the day was: [The Imperial Court ns to order Irond Warships from Jiade''s "Vulcan Shipyard"]

    [Ignoring opposition from various parties, the Imperial Court and Jiade representatives have begun negotiations on rted matters]

    "The Imperial Court and the Kingdom of Jiade have grown very close recently... Jiade has sold countless advanced weapons to the Imperial Court, which is equivalent to an open provocation of Einheit."

    The two worlds were like twin brothers, with simr scripts but slight differences in detail.

    Lu Yao thought: By the looks of it, a war in the Otherworld is imminent!

    War is the best catalyst, and a historic world war brought several generations'' worth of weapon evolution.

    And since he was about to undergo Marrow-Cleansing, he should upgrade his equipment as soon as possible.

    At the moment, the twodies were ying in the garden. Under the morning breeze, with lush trees and meandering ponds, their skin glistening like jade and delicate asrd, they seemed like two fairies descended from the heavens.

    Lu Yao watched them, slightly entranced for a moment, and suddenly felt fortunate that he had sworn early on "to marry Senior Sister."

    Both sisters were his Senior Sisters, of course, he had to marry them both, not letting even one slip away!

    Lu Yao called out to them across the smallke, "I''m going to go home for a bit~"

    "Hmm, you go ahead~"

    "Come back early~"

    The twodies waved from afar, watching the only male of the household leave, and then taking each other''s hand, they continued to y, asionally bursting into sweetughter.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Blue Star

    Lu Yao walked out of the warehouse wearing sunsses, at first thinking of calling Li Lei to pick him up, but then decided against it.

    ```

    The girl, already busy with thepany and theb, was swamped with work; I figured I shouldn''t add to her troubles.

    Moreover... being in a period of abstinence, I couldn''t help this good friend relieve her physical needs.

    Taking a taxi home, I began to focus on pressing matters.

    When fighting against the foreign invaders in the Otherworld at the artillery positions, I operated cannons for a long time and fired all calibers; Lu Yao witnessed the massive power of the cannonballs and was certain the Battle Armor wouldn''t withstand it!

    Battle Armor isn''t invincible, although it can block regr bullets, it''s still not sufficient against artillery.

    Especially calibers above 150 millimeters, with kic energy reaching several giga-joules, capable of sting craters with a 5-meter diameter in the ground.

    Even if not directly hit while wearing Battle Armor, the high-pressure st and dynamic pressure from the explosion would tear it apart.

    One needs to be alive to deal damage, so the first step was to upgrade the Battle Armor.

    I dialed Zhao Ya''s number, but she hung up and then sent an invitation for a video call.

    After connecting, a family of three appeared on the phone screen, greeting Lu Yao: "Hi~ Lu Yao~ Long time no see~"

    Behind them was a city filled with exotic charm, full of Baroque-style buildings.

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "Zhao Ya, you''re in Yukolun? Your whole family went there~"

    "Ah~ don''t mention it, we were sent on a business trip and got busy only for a few days. Since then, we''ve been idle and they still won''t let us leave, so we decided toe here for fun."

    "That''s great, Yukolun was a member of the Former Steel Alliance, and it has quite nice cultural history and naturalndscapes."

    The two chatted casually for a bit. Li Jin and the little girl Li Yino also greeted Lu Yao and seemed to be having a great time.

    Zhao Ya asked, "Lu Yao~ you called me for something?"

    "Yeah, I wanted to ask you to design another set of Battle Armor for me."

    "Battle Armor? I''ve already modified yours, added thirty kilograms..."

    "No, no, no~ Zhao Ya, it''s a new model this time." Lu Yao interjected, then thought for a moment and said, "It needs to withstand a direct hit from a 155-millimeter howitzer."

    A 155mm caliber howitzer represents the best bnce of barrel weight and firepower. If it could withstand the blow of such modern artillery, then those from the era of the World Wars would probably not be a problem.

    But Zhao Ya was taken aback upon hearing this, instinctively eximing:

    "Lu Yao, that''s impossible! Just the terminal kic energy of a 155-millimeter shell is as high as 15 giga-joules, greater than the muzzle kic energy of a tank armor-piercing shell! Even with modern materials ensuring the Battle Armor stays intact, the person inside would undoubtedly be doomed..."

    "Try it for me, will you, Zhao Ya? I''m going to show this off to foreigners, to let them witness the prowess of our countrymen~"

    Upon hearing this and remembering that Lu Yao brought these products overseas for "exhibitions," and not wanting to let down her lifesaver, Zhao Ya agreed:

    "Well... I''m quite free right now, so I''ll give it a try. But I can''t promise anything, even modern tanks can''t guarantee surviving a hit from a 155-millimeter shell."

    "Thanks a lot. I''ll transfer the money to you right away~"

    "You really mean business~ Okay, I''ll get to it as soon as possible."

    ~~~~~~~

    After hanging up the video call, Lu Yao pondered over the matter of weapons again.

    Currently, I was relying on heavy machine guns for output, but they were no longer capable of taking down Knights in the Blood-Exchange Realm instantly; it was time to consider the Gatling Gun.

    But I knew it had to be strictly regted; where could I possibly buy one?

    Just then, Lu Yao suddenly thought of Zhao Ya and her family in Yukolun, this former member of the Iron Alliance that had inherited a third of its military strength!

    ```

 Chapter 146: 146. Unlucky Family

    Ukron Country was once a nation with great prospects.

    After the dissolution of the Iron Alliance, as one of the founding countries, it received a good share of assets.

    Apart from airnes, tanks, artillery, and warships, it also inherited nuclear weapons! Coupled with vast and fertilend, Ukron Country had all the potential to be a major power.

    Regrettably, it was persuaded to cripple its own military power, hastily giving up nuclear weapons in exchange for economic benefits, bing a toothless tiger.

    Over the years, the situation got worse and worse; what was once known as a breadbasket is now called a "brothel."

    What Lu Yao found appealing was¡ªthe country''s decline led to the year-round sale of military arms left from the Iron Alliance era!

    The military, in order to survive, stole and traded weapons in the ck market. As long as you have money, you can buy tanks, armored vehicles, Hind helicopters, anything!

    Just pull out your phone and search, and you''ll find news like this¡ª

    [ording to the Ukron Ministry of Defense, about fifty portable missiles "disappeared" from an independent air mobile brigade''s arms depot located not far from the Ukron and Vilnius border. These missiles wereter found in the "underground ck market" of Kiev.]

    With 2 tons of cash in hand, Lu Yao naturally wanted to take a tour in such a country with good stuff to offer, despite its decline.

    No sooner said than done, he logged onto the official website of the Ukron Embassy and processed his electronic visa.

    Just upload the "applicant''s financial statement," and with a bnce of over 20 million, he believed it would be done quickly.

    He could also wait for Zhao Ya to help design the Battle Armor, killing two birds with one stone.

    ~~~~~~~~

    While Lu Yao was busy, things at the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Star Alliance Country were also in full swing.

    The technical department worked overtime and finally restored the blurry satellite photo to high definition.

    At this moment, Director West sat upright, pulled out a pair of reading sses and put them on, and squinted as he carefully examined the tablet in his hands.

    True to hismand, the photograph now allowed every pore on the man''s face to be seen clearly.

    Subordinate Andre spoke respectfully, "Although the manmitting the act is wearing a mask, through the skin and hair, we can confirm he''s of Asian descent. I''ve already contacted the best facial recognition experts,paring against all recent entries and departures of Asians, and we should receive information very soon!"

    Director West put down the tablet, neatly stroked his immacte silver hair, and lit a cigar.

    Andre continued, "Modern facial recognition techniques can identify someone even if their face is covered, by body shape, or even the way they walk..."

    "Yes, I know," Director West exhaled a puff of smoke. "But how long will theparison take? One year or six months? Do you think... the big shots have that kind of patience?"

    Andre looked at his superior, waiting for instructions.

    Director West directly said, "Zhang Xin is from Xia Country. Prioritizeparison with travelers from Xia Country, especially those within hiswork of contacts. As long as the simrity exceeds 70%, you''re authorized to use any means necessary to arrest him. If needed, you can use the ''Cicada''."

    Some agents, like "cicadas," would lie dormant underground for years. After a long hibernation, they would emerge to undergo "transformation" and ultimatelyplete their mission.

    Andre''s eyes twitched at the mention of deploying undercover agents! This was the highest level of authority!

    "Please give me one month''s time!" he said, putting on sunsses before leaving the director''s office.

    ~~~~~~~~

    At dawn, Lu Yao reached the summit of General Mountain.

    This was an obscure mountain, rumored to be named after an ancient general who died here.

    Facing the glow of the sunrise, Lu Yao slowly started his martial arts routine.

    It was the first time he had practiced on Blue Star after all this time.

    Lu Yao moved extremely slowly, initially resembling an elderly person practicing Tai Chi for health, yet every move he made burst the air with a resounding boom.

    His speed increased progressively, the force from his punches and kicks merging into one, whipping up a wind from nothing atop the entire hill.

    The final punch mmed fiercely into the mountain wall, sending a ''thud'' echoing as rock shards flew in all directions, leaving a radiating crater in the hard rock face.

    Lu Yao pulled out his fist, brushing off the bits of rock from his hand.

    "My physique has begun to strengthen again under the scouring of blood and Inner Breath... this is the quantitative change leading to a qualitative one, the day for breaking through will be when I cleanse my marrow!"

    Checking his phone, he saw the approval notification for his visa, signaling it was time to head to Ukron.

    Lu Yao arrived at the cliff edge and leapt down, stepping and propelling off the rocks and trees, quickly descending the mountain.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Just after booking the ticket for the next day, Zhao Ya sent a barrage of messages:

    [Lu Yao, the n won''t work. Through softwareparisons, when using an 8.3kg TNT explosive column (equivalent to the charge of a 155mm artillery shell) for experiments, even if the Battle Armor is well-sealed and attenuates about 98% of the explosive force, there would still be an internal overpressure of 200kPa, which could cause fatal injuries to the upant.]

    "Sister Zhao, you could make the Battle Armor a bit thicker."

    [I''ve calcted it, if we want to reach the safety margin, the weight would definitely exceed 1 ton! Besides, the original structure would have to bepletely redesigned...]

    Lu Yao did some quick calctions¡ªthe strength post-marrow cleansing was 3000 kilograms and Blood-Exchange promised 5000! So, he decisively said:

    "No problem, 1 ton is still eptable, even a bit heavier is fine. Just go ahead and do it, but ensure authenticity! Don''t forget this is for the Westerners to see!"

    [Alright, if you don''t mind the weight, it''s actually quite simple, then this thing is just arge, decorative piece for show...]

    "Thanks a lot, Sister Zhao~ Don''t just be busy all the time, spend some time ying with Brother Li and Yi Nuo."

    After sending that message, Zhao Ya didn''t reply anymore, and Lu Yao didn''t think much of it either.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Early the next morning, just as Lu Yao was preparing to head to the airport, he suddenly received a strange call, identified in his phone''s address book as¡ªNational Foreign Affairs Ministry!?

    Upon answering, a woman''s voice said, "Mr. Lu Yao, I am an officer from the Consr Department, reminding you to please be cautious about traveling to Ukron. An armed conflict urred there yesterday. You can refer to international news for details."

    "Ah?... Okay, thank you, I''ll consider changing my itinerary."

    After hanging up, Lu Yao muttered a curse at his bad luck and took out his phone to search, only to find out that this was the Star Alliance''s doing.

    The Star Alliance was meddling in a color revolution there, turning protests into armed conflicts.

    At the moment, the Ukron government had deployed its military to suppress it, and the conflict was on the verge of escting into full-scale war.

    "The Zhao family is still there, I hope they are safe. They can''t be that unlucky. After what happened in Annan Countryst time, it would be awful if it happened again..."

    Holding his phone and hesitating whether to change his ns, Zhao Ya suddenly sent a video call request.

    When he connected, he couldn''t see any faces. The angle was odd; it seemed like the phone was hidden somewhere, the lens blocked by one-third, offering only a glimpse through a crack.

    Lu Yao''s pupils narrowed as he saw countless people with their hands on their heads, kneeling on the ground, surrounded by many armed individuals wielding AKs!

    And most dire was that there was a 155mm artillery shell suspended above the hostages'' heads!

 Chapter 147: 147. A hairs breadth away

    [From Ukron Country, it''s reported that a hostage situation has urred in Kiev. The cause was that some "Chechen soldiers" had been involved inbat for three years, and ording to the battle contract signed with the Ukron government, they were to be granted Ukron nationality]

    [However, the contract had expired, and the Ukron government had yet to provide the nationality. The promised military wages had also gone unpaid, stirring discontent among more than 20 "Chechen soldiers"]

    [They''ve taken multiple hostages at Saint Sophia Cathedral, and the Ukron government has already sent representatives to start negotiations]

    By the time the nended at Boryspil Airport, the hostage-taking incident hadpletely fermented.

    The advanced inte of modern society allowed Lu Yao to learn the full details of the incident as soon as possible, which essentially stemmed from "freeloading".

    Several states to the east of Ukron Country were in constant armed conflict, and, as the Ukron military wasx in training and severelycked weapons and equipment, it had long employed foreign "Chechen People" forbat.

    The failure to pay the promised sries led these foreign mercenaries to take drastic measures.

    "I hope it''s not toote!" Lu Yao rushed straight from the ne to the site of the incident¡ªSaint Sophia Cathedral.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~

    Saint Sophia Cathedral, built in the 11th century, is a world cultural heritage with a long history and one of thendmark buildings in Kiev, as well as being the most popr tourist attraction.

    Of course, Zhao Ya wanted to bring her husband and daughter there for a visit.

    Beyond being a church, it also serves as a museum, a souvenir shopping center for tourists, among other functions.

    At first, the three of them were quite happy, marveling at the exotic charm of a foreignnd.

    Until a group of heavily armed brutes burst in and took everyone hostage, including the priests!

    These men fired AKs into the air and ordered everyone to kneel in the center of the church, and to hand over theirmunication devices.

    Li Jin and his wife Zhao Ya exchanged frightened nces, their eyes full of disbelief, along with a sense of the absurd¡ªwhat were the chances of such bad luck striking twice!

    Since the incident in Annan, both had been extra cautious about traveling abroad, never imagining they would encounter such an event in the capital of a sovereign country!

    Moreover, Saint Sophia Cathedral was not located in some remote ce¡ªit was surrounded by Victory Square, international hotels, less than a 10-minute drive from Ukron National Bank!

    Desperately, Zhao Ya muttered, "This is the heart of a capital city! How could an armed hostage situation happen here!"

    It just goes to show that when one is unlucky, anything can happen.

    The Zhao family of three sat kneeling on the floor in fear and desperation, watched over by numerous brutes wielding AKs.

    There were 20 armed militants in total, led by a husband and wife duo, and the names of these two leaders¡ªDudayev and Amina¡ªwere known to all hostages present.

    This was because the television in the chapel''s rest area was broadcasting the news, with the photos of the two leaders prominent on the screen.

    The news briefly reported on the hostage situation, and then the spokesperson for Ukron spoke,

    ["We will not negotiate with this group of ''Chechen terrorists.'' No dignified country would do so."]

    When a reporter asked, ["What about the nearly 100 hostages, many of whom are international tourists?"]

    The spokesperson paused for a moment, emphasizing, ["Not negotiating with terrorists is an international practice. The more the government negotiates with terrorists, the more provocations there will be, and the number of victims will also increase."]

    After speaking, the spokesperson quickly left, clearly unconcerned about the fate of the hostages. Countless reporters chased after him, microphones in hand, shouting frantically.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~

    A loud bang, and the TV was ruined with arge hole through it.

    "Terrorists?" The bearded Dudayev, donning a green beret, said to his wife and numerous subordinates with a smirk, "They refer to us as¡ª''terrorists''!"

    With a wave of his hand, a few of his men dragged out five hostages from the crowd and pressed them to the ground, while his wife Amina took out her phone and started a live stream.

    Dudayev stood behind the hostages with a gun and pressed it against their heads, saying to the camera:

    "We have fought against our own people for the sake of this country, and in return, we are ndered like this! Shameless, disgusting pigs! Don''t dream that we''ll die in vain, I''ll make you pay the price!"

    After speaking, he pulled the trigger continuously, executing five hostages on the live stream!

    Dudayev roared at the camera:

    "Bring me the Minister of Defense! Otherwise, I won''t just kill all the hostages, I''ll also expose your dealings selling weapons of mass destruction to war-torn regions!"

    Radiating an aura of madness, Dudayev opened a suitcase and took out a 155mm howitzer shell!

    He unscrewed the fuse, set a collision-activated detonator, and then, with the help of Amina, used ropes and pulleys to hoist the shell to the roof of the cathedral, perfectly aligning it with the head of a divine figure in the mural.

    Sunlight shone through the cathedral''s stained-ss roof onto the shell, making it look almost like a crystal chandelier.

    The pulley system holding the shell was controlled by a steel cable; a slight pull, and the 155mm shell would drop and explode on impact, with enough force to blow the entire cathedral sky-high!

    This cable was tied to Dudayev''s own arm; the slightest movement could pull everyone to their burial together!

    If anyone dared to take him out with a sniper, it would result in the same oue. It was a setup for mutual assured destruction!

    ~~~~~~~~

    The hostages were no fools; they realized that these people were outright madmen!

    The elderly priest stood up, trying to advise with forced calm, "Child, there''s no need for this..."

    Unfortunately, their religious believes werepletely different, and before he could finish, Dudayev blew off his head with a shot.

    Some tried to make a desperate escape attempt but were quickly shot dead by these battle-hardened militants, leaving their bodies riddled with bullets on the floor.

    The remaining hostages screamed in terror, sobbing and begging for mercy, and Li Jin and his wife clutched at the muscr men, pleading with them to spare their child.

    But these men were cold and merciless, growing impatient, they aimed their guns at the crowd, scaring them into immediately crouching down, obediently huddling together with their heads covered.

    Li Jin was just a coder, trembling with fear, the stench of blood forcefully entering his nostrils, resisting the urge to vomit.

    But his wife and daughter were right beside him, and as a man, he had to stand firm no matter what!

    Li Jin ced his only hope on his spare cell phone. Obsessed with the mobile games ''Yin Yang Master'' and ''Genshin Impact'', he always carried two phones for convenient task farming, and he had only handed over one when asked earlier.

    He had quickly thought of someone to call for help. The situation had already made the news and the authorities had still not acted; now, there was only one person who could help!

    Curled up in the depths of the crowd, Li Jin used the cover of his jacket and the skills honed from years of mobile gaming to blindly operate his phone and video call Lu Yao.

    What was left was to pray to the gods for protection.

 Chapter 148: 148. Resolve gracefully

    The entire district was under traffic control, and the taxi carrying Lu Yao could no longer proceed.

    Fortunately, this city had a long history and a chaoticyout with many shortcuts avable to take.

    Lu Yao advanced by climbing over walls along alleys, and sometimes he crossed over rooftops.

    As he passed by a souvenir stall with a serious expression, something caught his eye, and he retreated back to it.

    He saw that the small stall was selling something familiar¡ªthe mask of the President of the Star Alliance!

    "This guy''s poprity is actually so explosive that it''s even here..."

    Lu Yao spoke with the stall owner in Star Alliance Language and bought the mask.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Putting on the mask in an alley, Lu Yao ran onto the rooftop terraces like a gecko, leaping between buildings, and soon arrived near Saint Sophia Cathedral.

    By then, videos of armed terrorists executing hostages had already appeared on the inte.

    And what was more worrying was the ipetence of the Yukolun authorities.

    A journalist obtained a leak from a government insider¡ªthe departments were still passing the buck!

    The police imed that the armed terrorists inside were rebels with heavy weaponry, and they dared not approach;

    The armed forces dered they could not guarantee the safety of the hostages, actually unwilling to take responsibility.

    Seeing the execution method of Dudayev using 155MM cannonballs through live broadcast, not a single department dared to make a move.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao arrived to find the police had already sealed off the area around Saint Sophia Cathedral, strictly forbidding entry.

    But they also didn''t dare approach the cathedral, all hiding behind cover, not even as close as some bold media reporters.

    The hostage-takers were not ordinary terrorists, but elite professional soldiers; the Chechen People were known for producing snipers.

    There were snipers lying in ambush on the church''s roof, and some had already suffered losses because of it.

    Lu Yao quietly arrived at the park next to the cathedral and directly initiated the Eave Dragon Stake.

    Under the cover of darkness, he rapidly approached, lying t in the bushes until he reached the edge of the green space. Beyond that was the square in front of the cathedral, with no more nt cover.

    He took a deep breath, his organs churning like engines, pumping more nutrients throughout his body.

    His muscles and bones rejoiced, and with a burst of power, he catapulted his body over 60 meters across the ground like a bolt from a crossbow, hiding in the shadow of the "Khmelnitsky" equestrian statue.

    After another burst of strength, Lu Yao silently pressed against the cathedral''s foundation, then powered up the walls like a giant gecko, quickly ascending to the dome.

    The cathedral was exquisitely decorated, with its dome not only gilded but also adorned with stained-ss windows.

    Lu Yao moved beneath a sniper hidden in a corner, leaped up, twisted the person''s neck sharply, and then quietlyid him down without making a noise.

    The sniper''s personal weapon was apact AKS74U, which Lu Yao unhesitatingly took, then moved onto the next location and duplicated the process, killing all the snipers on the roof.

    By then, he didn''t have much time left, as those snipers wouldmunicate with each other via radio every few minutes.

    Peering through the stained ss down below, he saw the hostages gathered inside the main hall, numerous fully armed men standing all around, with that 155 howitzer shell conspicuously looming overhead.

    A man wearing a green beret seemed quite agitated, scolding in anguage Lu Yao didn''t understand, then several subordinates dragged out hostages to be executed amidst cries of panic and screams.

    And among the hostages about to be executed was Li Jin!

    Lu Yao hesitated no longer, setting both of the AK74Us in his hands to single-shot mode, took a deep breath, and forcefully broke through the stained ss, leaping down!

    Everything around him slowed down to 0.3 times its normal speed.

    The shattered stained ss tumbled down, its reflection of the light beautiful and splendid; the angry shouts of the armed militants and the helpless cries of the hostages were all out of tune.

    Lu Yao initiated the "Spiritual Cat Stance" mid-air; this time, not to move through space but to spin his body in the air.

    At the same time, he raised his hands and precisely controlled the gun barrels, pulling the trigger on each enemy.

    mes erupted from the gun muzzles, and his muscles perfectly countered the recoil, allowing the bullets to pass through the enemies'' foreheads, carrying with them a spray of blood mist.

    One after another, the shell casings were ejected as the enemies fell to the ground in various motions, dead. Even the religious murals and stained ss by his side were sprayed with the sticky red of blood.

    Dudayev slowly lifted his head to look up at Lu Yao in the sky, a bullet piercing through his left eye and exiting the back of his head.

    His remaining eye was filled with intense disbelief as his body fell to the ground, lying next to his wife.

    The steel cable in his hand had been pulled, and the cannonballs began to fall!

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao spun a full circle in the air, taking out all 20 enemies with headshots.

    At this moment, the broken stained ss from the ceiling had only just started to crash to the ground.

    Lu Yao quickly adjusted his posture tond. He stretched out his left hand and, after waiting for a second, caught the falling 155MM howitzer grenade!

    All the hostages stared at him, dumbfounded, unable to utter a word of surprise!

    It was a long while before someone exhaled a big sigh of relief, and others began to cry, causing a noisy scene.

    Lu Yao waved his hand towards the main entrance, and it was only then that the hostages seemed to suddenlye to their senses and ran for their lives, dodging the bodies of the armed personnel.

    Li Jin and Zhao Ya had already confirmed the person was Lu Yao, but they did not dare to show any difference, pretending to know nothing as they followed the crowd and left.

    After they were gone, Lu Yao looked at the cannonball that had been fitted with a trigger fuse and shrugged helplessly. It was too dangerous.

    He tossed the cannonball into the sky, his legs forcefully shattering the floor tiles as he flew backward out of the window.

    Several secondster, the cannonball exploded upon impact, and in a huge roar, the entire cathedral was demolished, the dome copsing and the once magnificent building destroyed in an instant.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Li Jin and his family were unharmed and went to record their statements.

    Embassy staff from Xia Country apanied them throughout, blocking countless media reporters armed with long and short camera lenses, reducing much hassle.

    This family refused to stay abroad any longer, buying tickets to return home at the first opportunity.

    The next day, they met Lu Yao at the airport.

    Zhao Ya kept thanking him, "Thank you, Lu Yao, for arriving just in time! We''ve caused you so much trouble..."

    Lu Yao hugged each of them in turn and said, "I don''t know whether to say you were lucky or unlucky. I happened to being to Yukolun too, and I''m d I made it."

    Li Jin, still scared, said with a quivering voice, "I''ll never go abroad again! What a rotten ce this is, such a thing can happen even in the central area of the capital!"

    At that moment, he suddenly lowered his voice and said, "When giving our statements, most people said¡ªsomeone rushed in and killed all the thugs to save everyone. But since you were wearing a mask, no one knows it was you!"

    Lu Yao replied with a smile, "Yeah, it''s fine. You guys should get ready to board the ne. Let''s get together again back home."

    "Let''s get together again back home."

    "I''ll make sure to have your Battle Armor ready as soon as possible!"

 Chapter 149: 149. Three-shot bullet roulette

    The Yukolun Security Bureau responsible for investigating the incident had finished recording the testimonies, and the whole affair reeked of strangeness.

    A mysterious person had rescued the hostages, and ording to some individual testimonies¡ªthis person had spun in mid-air, opened fire, and killed twenty enemies, and even caught a 155MM howitzer cannonball weighing 50 kilograms with his bare hands!

    Such a thing was simply impossible!

    Fortunately, some hostages who didn''t see clearly spoke nonsense, and Li Jin''s family of three were deliberately vague, which led the Security Bureau to believe these hostages had experienced hallucinations due to excessive fright.

    It could only be confirmed that indeed someone had charged in, with precise shooting, but unfortunately, after the rescue, they couldn''t prevent the explosion of the cannonballs, and it was unknown whether this person was still alive.

    Moreover, the entire scene had been destroyed by the explosion, and it was impossible to verify what had happened, so the matter was dropped.

    As a result of this incident, Yukolun''s authorities lost face both internally and externally.

    Not only did a malicious hostage-taking incident ur at the heart of the capital, resulting in heavy casualties, but the renowned world cultural heritage site¡ªSaint Sophia Cathedral was also destroyed by the explosion.

    At the same time, the Chechen Mercenaries under theirmand fled in droves, causing continuous retreats on the entire eastern front.

    The domestic situation was even more turbulent and chaotic!

    ~~~~~~~~

    This incident spread online, andizens were half in doubt, but the mask worn by Lu Yao was clearly seen by the hostages, and it was definitely His Excellency, the President of the Star Alliance Country.

    As the world''s top influencer, it naturally sparked widespread discussion, and some even inquired below his Twitter¡ªwas it you?

    In all the hubbub, Lu Yao stopped paying attention to the matter, as for him, Yukolun being in chaos was actually a good thing, making it easier to buy "big toys."

    At this moment, Lu Yao was heading to the legendary "ck market" in Kiev, to see what "big toys" might be avable for purchase.

    This was an ordinary civilian area of Kiev, filled with drunkards and opium users everywhere, as well as those who indulged in both vices.

    Over the short distance of a few kilometers, Lu Yao had already tossed three would-be muggers into trash bins.

    These people, some with knives, some with guns, were rendered powerless like chicks and thrown straight into the trash bins, letting out pitiful screams.

    Fortunately, they had chosen locations without surveince and police interference for their crimes.

    Dusting off his hands, Lu Yao walked on and pondered, "I''ll have to do many big things in the future, and I will frequently use force on Blue Star. It''s impossible to stay dry if you always walk by the river, I can''t hide perfectly every time."

    "Plus, I''m about to cleanse my marrow soon, and then I''ll have the strength of 6,000 pounds on me! I''ll be like a whale in a reservoir, hard to hide, bound to be exposed sooner orter."

    "It can''t be helped. I have plenty of gold, and all I need is to endure until I reach the Indestructible Golden Body Realm, and then even if I''m exposed, I won''t be afraid."

    Martial Artists of the Indestructible Golden Body Realm are not just "tough," they possess extremely fast speeds and high concealment in human form, and as long as one does not foolishly venture into uninhabited areas, it''s difficult to be targeted on Blue Star.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Before long, Lu Yao arrived at the "ck market," situated inside an abandoned factory.

    Lu Yao had assumed such a ce would be hard to find, but to his surprise, they didn''t bother to hide at all, even running an online store which could be found easily using a smartphone.

    However, the online store only sold light weapons and opium; to buy "big toys," one had toe and see for themselves.

    Just as Lu Yao reached the entrance, he was stopped by five burly men covered in tattoos, looking like gangsters, but with a cold gaze and the demeanor of professional soldiers.

    In these war-tornnds, retired soldiers often turned to the underworld.

    The bald headed leader spoke in Star Alliance Language, "Ha~ An Asian? That''s quite rare."

    Then he turned and said something in dialect: "§ä§í§á§Ú§Ù§Õ§Ú§ê§î§ß§Ñ§ç§å§Û," causing the few men tough malevolently.

    Lu Yao pulled out a stack of Star Alliance currency and said in Star Alliance Language, "I want to buy something."

    The bald man red at him coldly and said, "Do you think this is a supermarket? If you want to get in, you need to prove your identity first!"

    Lu Yao nced at the men and asked, "How do I do that?"

    The bald brute revealed a hint of excitement, pulled out a revolver, inserted a bullet, rapidly spun the cylinder, and then snapped it shut, handing it over and saying, "It''s simple, Russian Roulette."

    At that moment, many people ran over from the ck market, curiously crowding around to watch, and a scantily ddy joined in. She actually started taking bets and was soon collecting hands full of money.

    Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lu Yao remained unfazed as he took the gun, opened the chamber, and said, "One bullet is child''s y, let''s add two more."

    A revolver holds six bullets, with three loaded, the odds of dying were one in two!

    The bald brute scratched his ear in disbelief and said, "What did you say?"

    The crowd jeered loudly, "Andre, he said he wouldn''t y child''s y, he wants two more bullets~"

    "Hurry, hurry, give them to him!"

    Their excitement was stirred up, and the mor echoed to the skies.

    The scantily d Yukolondy stepped forward, handed over two bullets, and even kissed them before passing them on.

    Lu Yao opened the chamber, loaded the bullets, spun it quickly, and then snapped it shut. He then ced the gun against his head and gently pulled the trigger, amidst the anticipatory and excited expressions of the crowd.

    A "click" sound echoed, but nothing happened.

    Cheers as tumultuous as a tidal wave erupted from the crowd as they escorted the calm-faced Lu Yao into the "ck market."

    Russian Roulette was truly child''s y for him.

    ~~~~~~~~

    This feat had thoroughly established his reputation; people along the way apuded him.

    Only the five bald brutes who had acted as gatekeepers were left with sullen expressions.

    Lu Yao surveyed the area and felt somewhat disappointed with the so-called "ck market"; it mostly sold opium, at least 15 varieties of it.

    The firearms were mere AKs and such, failing to meet his requirements.

    The scantily d Yukolondy had been following him silently all this time.

    Noticing Lu Yao''s dissatisfaction with the goods, she hurriedly approached with a hopeful expression and introduced herself:

    "Hello, I''m Sanna, I can act as a middleman, but I''ll take a 3%mission on the transaction amount."

    "I''m somewhat disappointed with this ce and I hope you can bring me a surprise. I want powerful weapons!"

    Lu Yao''s Star Alliance Language was not very standard; the sentence was somewhat long, and it took Sanna a while to understand what he meant, emphasizing with surprise, "Powerful weapons!?"

    "Yes, the real deal, not toys like AKs. For example¡ªauto-cannons!"

    This was Lu Yao''s primary target: fast-firing and powerful enough to dismantle armored vehicles, the aircraft autocannon!

    Sanna''s face went pale as she said, "Sir, Kiev''s ck market is not primarily known for arms trade. The asional items that doe are quickly snapped up by others."

    Disappointment crossed Lu Yao''s face. He nodded at her and turned to leave.

    Sanna, recalling the man''s fearless Russian Roulette with three bullets, was certain he was now-abiding citizen, definitely not an official like an Interpol agent.

    She called after him immediately, "Wait a minute! If you''re willing to wait... I can try to contact ''Marshal Tank Manufacturing Factory'' for you."

    "Marshal Tank Manufacturing Factory?"

    "Yes, I need about three days to make contact, and you''ll need to pay me $10,000 up front."

    A military factory capable of making tanks was surely going to have no trouble meeting his requirements.

    Without hesitation, Lu Yao pulled out $10,000 and handed it over, "See you in three days. If you bring good news, I''ll give you an additional $100,000."

 Chapter 150: 150. Scratch together a large sum of money

    ```

    Otherworld, Jin Garden.

    Lu Yao came back carrying tworge bags of snacks he had bought from the supermarket.

    This time, he was primarily back to get money. Yukolun, regardless of whether it was the underworld or legitimate business, preferred dealing in cash because it left no records to trace.

    Lu Yao liked this too; he still had two tons of cash with nowhere to spend it, so waiting for Sanna to do her Kung Fu was the perfect opportunity to take some.

    Another reason was to ask his senior sister for help checking his body. He felt that he was just a whisker away from cleansing his marrow¡ªalmost as if separated by a mere paper-thin barrier.

    He faintly heard some noiseing from the training ground, the sisters must be there. When he went over to look, Liao Qe was practicing her boxing, and Liao Ya was on the phone, chatting away.

    Liao Qe wiped the sweat off her brow and greeted him, "You''re back~"

    Seeing her sweat-soaked clothes, Lu Yao asked with a smile, "Working pretty hard, aren''t you?"

    The girl rolled her eyes and said, "You''re about to cleanse your marrow, I can''t be left behind~ I''ve always been at a higher realm than you~"

    As she spoke, she took the pile of snacks from him, her face breaking into a sweet smile.

    Noticing Lu Yao looking towards the phone, the girl exined, "Sister talks to the Commandery Princess on the phone every day."

    Lu Yao said with augh, "Those two really hit it off."

    By this time, Liao Ya had noticed themotion here, quickly said a few words, then hung up and ran over.

    "Sister is back. Just now, Sister Li Pei said that¡ªher master ising in a few days, and she will give us guidance on our cultivation!"

    Liao Qe eximed, "Her master? It''s ''Moonshadow Sword'' Yu Yanmei!"

    Liao Ya looked extremely excited, "An Innate Realm Grandmaster; just one piece of advice from her could save us endless hard work and help us avoid many detours!"

    Liao Qe asked curiously, "What''s Grandmaster Yuing for?"

    Liao Ya thought for a moment and whispered, "It''s probably about the issue with the Dadhi Sect. She wants toe and check on her disciple along the way."

    "The Imperial Court is going to focus on eradicating the Dadhi Sect?"

    After a bit of gossip, Liao Ya turned her attention back to Lu Yao. She took out the Color Ultrasound Instrument to help with the checkup, while also transferring Inner Breath to assist in the examination.

    After a good while, she expressed sincere joy, "Everything looks great, it won''t be long before you officially enter the Marrow-Cleansing Realm!"

    This was tremendous news! The Marrow-Cleansing Realm was a high level in any ce, and starting a military career was at least a 7th-rank martial position.

    The two sisters seemed even happier than Lu Yao himself, and they congratted him together with a fist salute, "Congrattions in advance, Lu, the Marrow-Cleansing Martial Master."

    Lu Yao returned the salute with a smile, "Thank you to both of my senior sisters for nurturing me, this junior brother will surely repay you greatly in the future~"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    After theughter and joviality, Lu Yao took advantage of a quiet moment to sit in the pavilion by theke and read the newspaper, catching up on what had happened during the days he was away.

    Internationally, tensions between Einheit and Jiade had escted sharply, with both sides fiercely contending for colonial territories and control over the seas, sparking numerous conflicts.

    And it wasn''t just these two; there were frequent shes between other great powers, as these bandits held grudges against each other.

    "Let them start fighting~"

    Lu Yao blessed them maliciously with that wish. The World War was about bandits fighting over an uneven split, and given the greedy nature of the powers, it was only a matter of time.

    Domestically, the Imperial Court was indeed preparing to deal with the Dadhi Sect.

    When the Allied Forces invaded previously, the Dadhi Sect hadn''t stayed idle either, sending troops on a "Northern Expedition."

    But for some reason, the core figures of the sect didn''t appear, and the troops were easily repelled.

    Currently, the Imperial Court was assembling its forces, but... the Great Grandmasters of the Indestructible Golden Body Realm followed their own rules and did not heed summonses.

    And with continuous indemnities, the Imperial Court''s finances were very tight; they had recently been in a frenzy of "selling official positions," where anyone could be an officer as long as they paid, with each position clearly priced.

    The newspaper published an interesting piece:

    ```

    A certain Mr. Jiang wanted to buy a position as a Magistrate but was strapped for cash. In a stroke of genius while worrying about money, he gathered four friends to pool funds for buying official posts. They even signed a contract specifying that the one who contributed the most money would be the County Magistrate, and the second most would be the Judicial Commissioner, with the rest following suit, thus forming the "Money-making Vanguard Team"¡­

    One can only imagine what sort of affairs such officials could manage.

    Lu Yao found it bothughable and tragic, and she felt sorrow for the era.

    "The Great Shun Dynasty is nearly working itself to death¡­ But even the worst order is better than no order at all, so let the Imperial Court hold on for a while longer."

    "I wonder in which direction the currents of the age will flow in the Otherworld."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Just then, a high-pitched screech sounded as Ping An flew in, pping its wings.

    Just as Lu Yao reached out to catch it, she quickly dodged when she saw what it held in its beak.

    Ping An had a half-dead rabbit in its mouth andid it on the stone table in front of Lu Yao, as if presenting him with something to eat in an appealing manner.

    "Haha, you keep it for yourself."

    After thanking Ping An for its kindness, Lu Yao rewarded it with a Wisdom Spirit Pill.

    Ping An gulped it down and pped its wings joyously. Its size grew evenrger, measuring half a meter in length with a wingspan of over a meter, looking extremely majestic in every nce.

    Lu Yao stroked the feathers on Ping An''s neck, and in return, Ping An affectionately nuzzled him twice and chirped before soaring back into the sky.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao also stood up, ready to return to Blue Star for his appointment.

    In the warehouse, two tons of neatly piled banknotes exuded a weighty presence that would have overwhelmed any ordinary person.

    Lu Yao found arge travel bag and stuffed it with over a million.

    "Yukolun is riddled with corruption from top to bottom and is also broke, this money should be more than enough to bribe the factory officials. Just let them build whatever I want on-demand!" he contemted with ambition, holding a big bag of money just as he opened the Space-Time Gate. At that moment, Ping An, which had flown away, suddenly returned with half a snake in its mouth.

    Being quite spiritual, it noticed its master didn''t eat the half rabbit, so it brought a different ''dish'' and eagerly presented it right up to his face.

    The timing couldn''t have been better, leaving Lu Yao with no choice but to take Ping An back to Blue Star with him.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Ping An seemedpletely at ease upon arriving at Blue Star, curiously looking around while perched on its master''s shoulder.

    Kiev in October was already quite cold, and it was early in the morning with the temperature at only 5 degrees.

    Ping An, a spirit born on the frigid high teaus, especially enjoyed the cold environment.

    After swallowing the snake that its master had disdained, Ping An soared gracefully into the high sky, flying about joyously.

    Watching it fly freely lifted Lu Yao''s spirits considerably, and he took some extra time to y with it until Sanna called.

    "Sanna, I hope you''re bringing me good news."

    "Yes, sir. I''ve made contact with a¡­ technician from Marshal Factory who''s ready to meet anytime."

    "Good job, let''s go meet him now."

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Sanna picked up Lu Yao in her car, and the two headed together to Marshal''s Tank Factory.

    The youngdy was still dressed provocatively, seemingly not minding the cold at all, wearing only a ck "nightclub dress" that left much of her chest exposed and her face heavily made up.

    The car she drove was also quite interesting¡ªa Geely Emgrand. Moreover, there were many of the same model along the way; this domestic car seemed to be selling quite well in Yukolun.

    Upon arriving at the tank factory, Lu Yao saw that it was dpidated and overgrown with weeds, a sight of destion and decay.

    It was nothing like the heavily guarded armament factory he had imagined. Only the T34 tank and the statue of a National Hero standing tall at the factory''s entrance testified to its once glorious past.

 Chapter 151: 151. Ping An Li Gong

    Sanna parked at the gate and began puffing on a cigarette, blowing rings of smoke.

    "This ce used to be our country''srgest munitions factory, but now it has filed for bankruptcy. However, there are still many good things here, surely enough to meet your needs."

    Before long, a man came out from inside the factorypound, squeaking the gates open and gesturing for the car to follow him.

    Once inside, the walls and buildings, unattended, were mottled and all the more deste and dpidated.

    Throughout the expansive factory grounds, many rusty T54 tanks were parked. These relics from 70 years ago were even troublesome to sell for scrap, as tanks are not easy to dismantle.

    asionally, some ragtag workers passed by, staggering as if they had drunk quite a bit.

    ~~~~~~~~

    By the time Sanna lit her second cigarette, the car stopped in front of the factory''s office building, an L-shaped structure that seemed well kept and not too shabby.

    The middle-aged man who had led the way came to meet them. He was short, with a scruffy beard and wore a pair of particrly thick ck-framed sses.

    He seemed somewhat restrained, nodded to Lu Yao, and then looked at Sanna standing beside him.

    The man frowned and quickly stepped forward, snatching the cigarette from Sanna''s mouth and extinguishing it, expressing dissatisfaction, "You dress like a prostitute!"

    Sanna sneered, "Now you remember you''re a father?"

    The two argued in the localnguage for a few sentences, then Sanna turned and introduced, "This is Semyon Svatshenko, an engineer from Marshal''s Tank Factory Vehicle Production and Assembly Workshop."

    The local name mixed withplicated Star Alliance Language words was tricky, but fortunately, Lu Yao mastered the Spirit Refining Oblivion to catch every single word clearly.

    "Mr. Svatshenko, what can you bring me?"

    "Call me Semyon. I have heard about you from Sanna," said Semyon, adjusting his sses,

    "You want to buy heavy firepower, but such things are closely watched; I dare not and do not have the capability to deal with that. So... I will introduce you to the person in charge of the factory. You can negotiate directly with the decision-maker."

    Lu Yao nodded, "That works, it makes things easier for both of us. Then lead the way."

    "Don''t rush, I''m not finished," Semyon continued,

    "Ten thousand dors, I only take responsibility for the introduction. I can''t guarantee anything else. Listen~ this is a very reasonable price. If it wasn''t for Sanna vouching so strongly for you, I''d not risk it..."

    Lu Yao pulled out a stack of cash and handed it over, cutting off his speech.

    Semyon epted the money, dumbfounded, counted it carefully, held it up to the light, and then carefully tucked it into his pocket.

    "Wait for me for 5 minutes!"

    After saying that, he entered the office building.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Sanna lit another cigarette. "He''s my father. Sries here haven''t been paid for four years."

    She exhaled a smoke ring and continued, "The person he''s going to introduce you to is Alexander Zhegkagariev, the person in charge of the factory."

    As she was speaking, Semyon had already returned. "Top floor office, you can go in now."

    Lu Yao nodded in thanks, then took a travel bag filled with money from the car behind him and handed Sanna $100,000.

    "As we agreed earlier, this is your rightfulmission."

    Sanna took the money, her pupils first constricted then immediately dted, a reaction that urs when someone is surprised to the extreme.

    The value of Yukolun''s currency is only a quarter of Xia Country''s, so the 100,000 Star Alliance coins in front of her could be called a huge sum here.

    Semyon watched with his eyes wide and mouth agape, his entire being was overwhelmed! Instantly, he felt that the 10,000 Star Alliance coins in his pocket were no longer appealing!

    ~~~~~~~~

    The top-level office had two bodyguards in suits and leather shoes standing at the door.

    One of them swept Lu Yao''s entire body with a metal detector to ensure he was unarmed; the other took his travel bag for inspection, and upon opening it, he was stunned, then quickly closed it and returned it to Lu Yao.

    Lu Yao, carrying a big bag of money, walked into the office with ease.

    It was warm inside, with wooden floors and solid wood furniture giving off a pleasant scent, a burly old man seated behind the office desk.

    "Wee, young man, I am Alexander. You must be from Xia Country, your people always have a unique aura that one can identify at a nce."

    Alexander nced nonchntly at the travel bag in Lu Yao''s hand before standing up to personally pour him a drink.

    "For decades, the Marshal Factory carried the pride of the people of Yukolun, but now the glory has be a thing of the past. I wonder what in these fallennds could be of service to you?"

    Lu Yao opened the travel bag and pushed it forward, saying, "I want heavy firepower, like the Fire God Cannon, money is not an issue."

    Nothing was more intoxicating than a bag full of money! Although he had already heard from his bodyguards about what was in the bag, Alexander still couldn''t help feeling a rush of excitement when he saw it with his own eyes.

    The edge-of-bankruptcy factory could no longer squeeze out any profits, and his heart was far less steady than his outward appearance.

    "Heavy firepower... it is a very dangerous affair, watched closely by many departments, with extremely high risk. How do you n to smuggle it across the border?"

    "You can rest assured about the safety, my channels are foolproof. All you need to do is give me the weapons, and then they will disappear from this forever," Lu Yao said casually.

    Such words were too grandiose, and Alexander hesitated. Yukolun had been selling weapons to war-torn areas for years and had been ced on the cklist by various international organizations; they were closely watched both openly and covertly.

    He really dared not sell heavy weapons to Lu Yao just like that! He was about to probe further when just at that moment, a high-pitched screech came from outside the window of the deluxe office on the top floor.

    Lu Yao opened the window, and Ping An flew in with a "night heron" in its beak.

    The prey in its mouth was as big as Ping An itself; it was a wonder how it had caught it and even offered it to Lu Yao as if to please him.

    Lu Yao smiled and declined, affectionately stroking it a couple of times before Ping An flew off to enjoy its treat.

    "Sorry, my pet can be quite clingy."

    Alexander, who had kept a straight face upon seeing the bag of money, was stunned at the sight of the Spiritual Sparrowhawk, and quickly rposed himself to tter:

    "A Spear Falcon! You truly are a man of taste."

    Alexander well knew that the price for such a creature was skyrocketing. Lu Yao''s one not only looked divine but was also pure white! It was worth at least 10 million Star Alliance coins.

    Moreover, its annual maintenance costs were also in the hundreds of thousands, a money-devouring beast unted by the oil-rich elites to showcase wealth and style, certainly not something the average person could afford.

    Being able to afford to keep such a thing was a disy of power in itself.

    Alexander put aside his probing thoughts and decisively said, "About the Fire God Cannon you just mentioned, we have the blueprints and need time to manufacture."

    Lu Yao wasn''t in a rush either, smilingly he replied, "Then please arrange for production as quickly as possible, I am a person who values efficiency."

    Alexander began to devote himself wholeheartedly to the prospect of afortable retirement, offering, "I won''t let a customer leave empty-handed. You can go to the workshop and pick out some other good items."

 Chapter 152: 152. Jin Marrow-Cleansing Realm

    Although Alexander was the head of the factory, being buried with a factory on the verge of closure essentially made him a loser in the power struggle.

    If he didn''t want to lead a miserable life in hister years, he had to seize the opportunity with high-quality clients like Lu Yao at this moment.

    So, he personally apanied Lu Yao to the workshop.

    Inside, they saw a production line continuously manufacturing AK rifles and 7.62MM ammunition.

    The workers stood on both sides of the conveyor belt, expertly inspecting the rifles and bullets before boxing them up.

    The ssic AK rifle was more useful than money in conflict zones and was in great demand.

    Gripping a cartridge with pride, Alexander said, "Bullets from a formal munitions factory are different from those made in small workshops outside, there''s absolutely no chance of a dud!"

    After finishing his speech, he picked up a freshly produced AK, loaded the magazine with bullets, and handed it to Lu Yao with an inviting gesture.

    He wanted to show off the quality control of a regr munitions factory.

    Unable to refuse the gracious offer, Lu Yao took the rifle outside and fired at a scrapped military jeep 50 meters away.

    He emptied 30 bullets in 3 seconds, all hitting the same spot, boring a finger-sized hole through the tough door of the military jeep, its edge glowing red from the heat generated by the bullet friction.

    Lu Yao sincerely praised, "The quality is not bad, very stable." The rifle really was of good quality.

    Alexander and his two bodyguards stiffened! What kind of godlike marksmanship was this!

    Moreover, Lu Yao''s shooting actions and posture clearly showed he was a seasoned gunman, definitely having killed more than a few people!

    Alexander dropped his casual demeanor and led Lu Yao to the tank and armored vehicle assembly workshop.

    There were many unfinished tanks and armored vehicles inside, which, due to ack of continued funding, were abandoned, hanging there all alone.

    Alexander keenly pitched their factory''s "Fortress" main battle tank and BTR4 armored vehicle to Lu Yao.

    "Look at that, our products are excellent in quality and reasonably priced! Our factory''s bankruptcy is only because of the idiots in the Presidential Pce! They''re bent on pleasing the Star Alliance, pouring all their money into buying weapons from the Star Alliance!"

    Lu Yao nced around with little interest; these things were too bulky and inconvenient for the time being.

    Although Alexander felt a bit regretful, he did not press further and directly presented two items¡ª

    An RPG7, a ssic rocketuncher, the most widely used "heavy" weapon in the world;

    And a GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon! An Iron Alliance era 23MM caliber aircraft gun primarily used on military nes, with bullets as big as soda bottles that can shred armored vehicles.

    "Consider these as modest gifts, as I didn''t have enough time to prepare thoroughly. I promise you will have a more satisfying selection on your next visit," Alexander said, half-truthfully. After all, it was their first meeting, and he had not brought out the best items, still wanting to assess Lu Yao''s capabilities.

    Lu Yao epted them graciously and at the same time asked, "If I want three Fire God Cannons, when can they be ready?"

    "At most one week! As for the price¡­ three cannons with 20,000 cannonballs for one million dors."

    "Good, no problem, then I''ll see you in a week," Lu Yao agreed.

    Most of that money was going to end up in Alexander''s own pocket, and he couldn''t help but warmly hug Lu Yao.

    With the weapons business finally settled, Lu Yao was in high spirits.

    He had wanted to feel the thrill of wielding a Fire God Cannon for a long time, and now he was about to achieve this minor goal.

    Next, he was just waiting for Zhao Ya toplete the Battle Armor!

    By then, wearing one ton of heavy armor, carrying hundreds of kilograms of ammunition, and lifting the Fire God Cannon, he would surely be invincible!

    ~~~~~~~~

    After returning to the Otherworld, Lu Yao called over the two sisters to test the gun.

    The two women curiously watched as Lu Yao fiddled with the huge cannon in front of him.

    Compared with the Fire God Cannon, the GSh-23''s rate of fire was far less impressive. After all, it only had two barrels, unlike the six of the Fire God Cannon.

    But 3000 rounds/minute was still terrifying!

    The GSh-23 weighed about 50 kilograms and was about 1.6 meters long; this was the version to be mounted on armored vehicles. Lu Yao had removed the mounting stand, leaving only the barrel.

    Liao Ya volunteered to try it first, and Lu Yao immediately let her.

    The girl hefted the 50-kilogram weapon, aimed at a wooden stake, and pulled the trigger!

    In the midst of the deafening noise¡ªwhich resembled that of an electric drill boring into a wall¡ªthe bullets... No, ording to international conventions, projectiles over 20MM caliber should be called "cannonballs"!

    The storm-like cannonballs roared out, turning the wooden stake targeted into splinters. The cannonballs continued on, striking the far-off back mountain, causing branches and leaves to fly and earth and stones to scatter, leaving a bald spot!

    Lu Yao was very satisfied with the power: "Not bad, much more powerful than a .50 caliber machine gun! And the firepower of the Fire God Cannon will only be fiercer than this!"

    Liao Ya covered her mouth in surprise, "This... even an Innate couldn''t withstand it!"

    Liao Qe set down the smoking cannon and, shaking the arm of her beloved, said, "Every time you bring back even more powerful weapons, it''s getting more and more exaggerated!"

    Lu Yao shrugged, "Troubled times areing; without these things, I wouldn''t be able to sleep soundly. I''ve also ordered some armor, heavier and thicker than the original ones. Just wait and see."

    The sisters exchanged a nce, letting Lu Yao do as he pleased, knowing he always nned ahead.

    ~~~~~~~

    The Master said, "Reviewing what you have learned and learning anew, you are fit to be a teacher."

    At this moment, Lu Yao was "reviewing and learning anew"¡ªgiving Su Er Ya a massage to invigorate her vitality.

    After a long observation, Liao Ya believed that Er Ya had good talent, a resilient character, and a pure heart; she was worth investing more in!

    The little girl''s biggest issue at the moment was her poor constitution due to long-term malnutrition, which could not be quickly remedied by medicine alone; massage was the bestplement.

    As a "Transmitting Elder" of Spirit Refinement in the sect, it was Lu Yao''s duty to use his Inner Breath to nourish Er Ya''s organs.

    Through his exploration with Inner Breath, he summarized and concluded his past path, gaining new insights and understandings.

    As for Su Er Ya, she benefited even more¡ªthe expert hands of Lu Yao greatly nourished her organs, and even before she started learning martial arts, she enjoyed benefitsparable to Organ Refining!

    Of course, with her current poor constitution, she could only endure a small round of massage and would need to rest for several days to absorb all the benefits.

    The little girl, struggling to stay conscious, expressed her gratitude with a formal bow, "Thank you, Master Lu!"

    "No need to thank me; go and rest."

    After getting warmed up with the massage and reflecting on his recent gains, Lu Yao gained an even deeper understanding of the organs'' role in storing vital energy.

    "The organs are the center of a person''s life activities; coupled with the cooperation of the six bowels, they connect the internal and external tissues and organs of the body, forming a unified whole!"

    Just as he came to this realization, it was as if ayer of paper inside him burst open, allowing his Inner Breath to prate his bones and cleanse his marrow¡ªhe advanced to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm!

    The whole process was silent and natural, just like water spilling over when a basin is full.

    ncing at Su Er Ya, who had walked away, Lu Yao smiled, "We really do have quite the fate."

    That evening, the sisters personally cooked arge table full of dishes and opened three bottles of Golden Elixir Brew to celebrate!

 Chapter 153: 153. Moonshadow Sword

    "Junior brother~ Congrattions on advancing to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm! This one''s for you!"

    Having said that, Liao Ya picked up a big bowl and drank it all in one go, her cheeks clearly reddening.

    Liao Qe also said, "Lu Yao, you''re amazing, advancing to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm so quickly! You''re not far from the Blood-Exchange now!"

    "It''s all thanks to the help of you two, I couldn''t have done it on my own." Lu Yao also drank the wine in his bowl, feeling a tremendous surge of emotion.

    Having just entered the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, his Inner Breath began the preliminary purification of his bone marrow, making his entire body feel as if it was electrified. The purified bone marrow made his blood and qi much stronger, providing better nourishment to his organs, and thus generating more Inner Breath.

    The perfect positive cycle greatly enhanced his physical condition, and Lu Yao felt himself growing stronger with every breath he took.

    Liao Ya instructed, "Junior brother, in Marrow-Cleansing you must purify the ''bone marrow, spinal cord, and brain marrow'' three marrows. You are currently undergoing the purification of the bone marrow, which isn''t too difficult... But the next two require painstaking effort, needing years of dedicated cultivation!"

    She paused, then added with feeling, "Human effort has its limits; the Inner Breath required for Marrow-Cleansing is simply too much... I''ve only managed to make a bit of progress thanks to your ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'', which is truly embarrassing."

    Lu Yaoughed, "No worries, senior sister, maybe in a couple of days I''ll be able to bring you an ''Immortal Pill'' to help you."

    Liao Ya looked puzzled, "What Immortal Pill?"

    Liao Qe interjected, "Lu Yao also told me that he had an Immortal Pill refined by someone."

    Lu Yao mysteriously said, "Just wait patiently. Come on~ let''s drink~"

    ~~~~~~~~

    After a substantial celebratory feast, the three of them drank a lot and went to bed early in the evening.

    Liao Qe spread out a thick mattress, eager to test the power of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm.

    The moment they put it to the test, she never imagined she would be no match at all!

    Squeeze, press, lock... No matter what technique she used, she couldn''t reverse the decline and was quickly overwhelmed!

    After taking a few more powerful moves, Liao Qe stiffened suddenly, then rxed quickly, passing a vast amount of Inner Breath to her beloved.

    Lu Yao whispered into the girl''s ear, "I''ve cleansed the marrow, so you shouldn''t give me Inner Breath anymore."

    With her face flushed and a few beads of sweat on her nose, Liao Qe murmured with her eyes closed, "You need to perform the Blood-Exchange soon..."

    "Silly girl, if you give all your Inner Breath to me, what will you do for your own cultivation?"

    Lu Yao stirred up an even more surging Inner Breath and easily pushed it back to her.

    As the vast Inner Breath flooded back into her, Liao Qe abruptly opened her eyes, clinging tightly to Lu Yao''s arm.

    Lu Yao touched the girl''s soft, delicate face, but his expression was somewhat mncholy.

    After Marrow-Cleansing, his Inner Breath had be even more robust, prating deep into the bone marrow and reaching all parts of his body, leaving no secrets within.

    This also allowed Lu Yao to realize something for the first time¡ªhis fatal illness had not been cured, just temporarily suppressed.

    His body was like a kettle being filled with water while also leaking out simultaneously.

    Fortunately, his progress on the Martial Path was extremely rapid, and his physical condition continued to skyrocket, temporarily suppressing the illness.

    But once the rate of filling could not keep up with the leakage, his body would quickly fall apart.

    "I can''t ck off then, I have to live a long and healthy life with my two beautiful senior sisters."

    ~~~~~~~

    Training Ground

    After Marrow-Cleansing, a martial artist''s body undergoes a tremendous transformation. As the eldest senior sister, Liao Ya naturally had to give her junior brother a good guidance.

    "After the Marrow-Cleansing, Inner Breath surged three times, and with more Inner Breath, I gained many more ways to use it, such as ''Dark Energy Heart Crushing''; it''s also possible to cling to the wall like a real gecko with the Eave Dragon Stake, the whole body affixed to the wall surface."

    Lu Yao''s limbs were full of Inner Breath, allowing him to effortlessly climb up the wall to the roof. He could do this in the past too, but it required gouging the wall with his fingers, which was far less convenient than now.

    Liao Ya watched from below with a smile, waving her hand in greeting.

    Lu Yao leapt down from the rooftop, and Liao Ya threw the five-hundred-pound Stone Roller over to him.

    He immediately caught it and twirled it up and down, throwing and spinning it until it dazzled, the Stone Roller in his hands no heavier than a washbasin.

    Then he set the Stone Roller down and walked over to the Mercedes, lifting it with one hand.

    "My strength is now over 2 tons! If Organ Refining is like a human-formed tiger, now I''m akin to a human-shaped elephant!"

    Protein is a miraculous thing; itsposition and the structure of its polypeptide arrangement can make its strength vary greatly.

    Liao Ya came over and said, "After the Marrow-Cleansing, the sinews and bones are much stronger; one can withstand shots from handguns just with their body. Of course, rifles are still not something one can withstand."

    Having said that, she took out a Glock handgun that Lu Yao had brought, rolled up her sleeve to reveal her lotus root-like arm, and fired a shot into it.

    In the roar of gunfire, the bullet whistled out of the barrel and was halted inside the flesh, having only prated the surface skin.

    Lu Yao rushed forward, gripping the girl''s snow-white delicate arm, and said with concern, "Senior Sister, you could have just told me, there was no need for a live demonstration."

    Liao Ya''s face turned slightly red as she said softly, "I needed to show you the change in the body clearly. It''s okay, such a small injury will heal itself in a few hours, look."

    After she squeezed out the bullet, there was just a small wound oozing blood, which stopped and scabbed over in the time it took to say a few words.

    The Marrow-Cleansing Realm also has a strong recovery ability!

    Understanding dawned within Lu Yao. A body in the Marrow-Cleansing Realm is akin to being equipped with a police bulletproof vest, able to withstand close-range shots from handguns.

    However, the more delicate areas of the body, such as the throat and eyes, could not be protected.

    At this moment, the sound of rifle fire came from another part of the training field; it was Liao Qe firing an AK into the sky, training three Spiritual Sparrowhawks for their adaptability to Firearms.

    After several bursts of fire, the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks were evidently no longer frightened and had be ustomed to the loud noise of gunfire.

    Lu Yao and Liao Ya also came over, smiling as they watched the Spiritual Sparrowhawks undergoing training.

    Just then, all three turned to look north, where suddenly a surge of "presence" arose!

    It was an odd sensation, clearly invisible, intangible, and inaudible, but it felt like a sharp de was right before their eyes, sending an extreme sharpness that made their hairs stand on end.

    Liao Ya was the first to react, eximing in surprise, "An Innate Grandmaster''s ''sword presence''! Moon Shadow Sword Grandmaster Yu has arrived!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    "Presence" is a technique exclusive to those in the Innate Realm.

    The visitor''s conspicuous use of "sword presence" was a way of announcing their arrival.

    Li Pei had mentioned several days earlier that her master woulde, and Liao Ya, who had been eagerly awaiting this, hurried to the gate to greet her.

    Her excited and thrilled demeanor resembled that of a fan meeting an idol.

    Liao Qe whispered to Lu Yao, "The Moon Shadow Sword hailed from humble beginnings and rose through the Martial Path to the Innate Realm, all with the aid of a steel sword. My sister has admired her since childhood."

    No sooner had they spoken a few words when a familiar woman approached leisurely, neither too fast nor too slow.

    She was slender, with long legs, standing at a height of 1.75 meters; her white hair was casually tied up, and she carried an unsheathed steel sword at her waist.

    Having previously seen this "Moon Shadow Sword" ambush vampires through a drone, this was the first time theyid eyes on her in person.

    The Innate Grandmaster appeared cold and aloof, wearing an air of ''keep your distance.''

 Chapter 154: 154. The Western teacher of the MahÄyÄna sect leader

    Liao Ya took a step forward, cupped her fists, and greeted, "I am Liao Ya, warmly weing Grandmaster Yu!"

    Yu Yanmei was very beautiful, yet emitted an ice-cold temperament, with an expression that kept others at bay. Fortunately, her voice was crisp and pleasant:

    "Li Pei asked me to stay here for the night and incidentally give you three some guidance on cultivation."

    "Your room has been prepared." Liao Ya wanted to make some small talk, but the sight of the other''s cold demeanor left her speechless, creating an awkward atmosphere.

    Yu Yanmei, unfazed, swept her chilly gaze over the three of them and said, "Let''s go to the training ground first."

    Liao Ya nodded and led the way ahead, guiding the guest inside.

    Lu Yao and Liao Qe trailed at the end, exchanging nces, with thetter yfully sticking out her tongue.

    ~~~~~~~

    Upon reaching the training ground, Yu Yanmei looked at the firearm on Liao Ya''s waist and said, "Lend me the Western gun."

    Liao Ya respectfully handed over the Glock.

    With the gun in hand, Yu Yanmei said in a cold voice, "Although firearms are powerful and simple to use, we martial artists must not be overly attached to them and must always temper ourselves."

    No sooner had she finished speaking than she pulled the trigger, sending a 9mm bullet whistling out of the chamber, only to be abruptly caught between two fair fingers.

    Yu Yanmei held up a deformed bullet between her fingertips, still slowly emitting smoke.

    She tossed the bullet away and continued,

    "Marrow Cleansing refines ''bone marrow, spinal cord, and brain marrow,'' with the ultimate goal being ''to transform the marrow to frost, and synthesize immortal blood.''

    Bone marrow and spinal cord are simple, no need to dwell on them. Regarding brain marrow, here''s a phrase for you to deeply contemte:

    ''All marrows belong to the brain, its tender fluidmands the body, connecting and governing the spine and the entirety of the body."

    After speaking, she stood there silently, no longer uttering a word.

    After a long while, Liao Ya raised her hand and asked, "Grandmaster Yu means to say¡ªthe cleansing of the brain marrow is crucial?"

    Yu Yanmei, expressionless, replied, "Yes. When the brain marrow is abundant and the mental energy is full, the Divine Soul thrives. It is of paramount importance for the flesh to nourish the spirit."

    This was the essence of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, and they allmitted it firmly to memory.

    Afterward, Liao Ya asked awkwardly, "I''ve been stuck on cleansing the spinal cord and can''t make any progress... "

    Yu Yanmei ced her hand on Liao Ya to examine her for a moment, then answered, "Have him give you a massage."

    She pointed at Lu Yao, "With my two massage secret techniques that Li Pei has given you, why not use a Spirit Refining Expert."

    This was indeed an optimal solution, leaving no room for argument.

    After finishing the instruction, Yu Yanmei said sinctly, "I want to rest now. Take me to my room."

    Liao Qe quickly led her there.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After sending off the Innate Grandmaster, Lu Yao said with augh, "I never imagined Li Pei''s master would be such an extraordinary woman..."

    Liao Ya admitted, "This Grandmaster is truly genuine and isn''t difficult to get along with."

    Just then, Lu Yao said earnestly, "Sister, you heard what Grandmaster Yu said just now, and I would be very happy to give you a massage."

    Liao Ya, embarrassed, said, "But... practicing ''The Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' consumes a lot of energy, and I have nothing to offer you in return. At best, I could help massage your feet. I really feel bad about it."

    Lu Yao looked at his senior sister and said softly, "I quite enjoy giving you massages, so please don''t be shy."

    Hearing this, Liao Ya looked down, fiddling with the hem of her clothes and remained silent for a while, unsure how to respond to her junior brother.

    Fortunately, at that moment, Liao Qe returned and saved her from the predicament.

    The three of them carried on as usual, practicing cultivation withughter and then going to bed to rest.

    Only this time, Liao Qe clutched her stomach and begged off, saying she needed a rest that night.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Early the next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Li Pei arrived.

    She seemed a bit anxious and immediately asked, "Where is my master?"

    "Grandmaster Yu is still resting. Liao Qe, please go invite her," Liao Ya inquired, "Sister, is something the matter?"

    After a moment''s thought, Li Pei decided that the three members of the Liao Family Fist were absolutely trustworthy and thus spoke candidly,

    "My master came here this time to ambush someone¡ªLuo Xiaoquan. His original name is Roberts, a missionary from Menes.

    But he has another identity; he is the teacher of Hong Renkun, the leader of the Supreme Sect!

    This man taught Hong Renkun the Western Religious Scriptures and also baptized him. He is highly respected within the Supreme Sect."

    Lu Yao asked with surprise, "Then why would you be ambushing him in Yunzhou?"

    Li Pei exined, "ording to the reports from our spies... Luo Xiaoquan had a fallout with Hong Renkun! He has publicly imed¡ªHong Renkun has gone mad!

    Currently pursued by the Supreme Sect, he intends to use Menes''s concession in Yunzhou to return to his country. We want to capture him to interrogate him for information."

    Lu Yao and Liao Ya exchanged looks, "That Hong Renkun who made Master Zeng jump into the river... has gone mad?"

    Li Pei took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, "It seems there really is a problem with Hong Renkun! It''s been quite a while since he showed himself in public, and all significant matters are handled by the Eastern King, Yang Qing. Moreover, all the ordained Taoists have indicated¡ªthe method of garnering the congregants'' power of will has great hidden dangers. It''s not surprising that he''s gone mad!"

    No wonder Li Pei was so agitated. Hong Renkun was the head of the Supreme Sect; if this was true, the Supreme Sect could very well copse without any external assault!

    Liao Ya asked, "Do you need our help?"

    After a moment''s thought, Li Pei shook her head, "This Westerner has received ''Divine Grace,'' possessingbat strength above the Blood-Exchange Realm. It would be too dangerous for you to get involved. Don''t worry with my master here, it will certainly be an easy capture."

    Liao Ya nodded and did not press the matter further.

    At that moment, Yu Yanmei came over, looking somewhat displeased with her hair and clothes somewhat disheveled, "I haven''t had enough sleep!"

    "Master, no time for sleep¡ªthe Westerner has abandoned his Blood ves and is focused solely on fleeing. He will pass by here soon. We''ve chosen to ambush him by the river, 20 li away."

    Li Pei stepped forward, straightened her master''s cor, and then took her hand and ran off.

    Watching the two disappear into the distance, Lu Yao took out a drone and said with interest, "Shall we go watch the excitement?"

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Operating the drone, it ascended and followed behind Li Pei''s car.

    The sisters grabbed snacks and c and sat to the side.

    They saw the master-and-apprentice duo left the car after only 5 kilometers and met with someone in a dense woond by the riverbank.

    They were old acquaintances¡ªZhou He, Fu Fangsheng.

    The tactics were exactly the same asst time. Li Pei manned the cannon, and the versatile, experienced Zhou He yed the erhu this time, while the others engaged in closebat.

    Before long, an "old Ford" car drove along the river and was blown up by Li Pei''s cannon.

    A disheveled Westerner emerged; four massive tentacles extended from his back, iling and roaring! A single strike could snap a tree as thick as a waist in half!

    This Westerner was powerful, but four against one left no suspense. The Westerner passed by Yu Yanmei, and his limbs dropped to the ground intact.

    Seeing this, Liao Ya couldn''t help but apud, "Grandmaster Yu moves so quickly! Such a swift sword! Junior brother, can you get a bit closer?"

    Lu Yao controlled the drone to move a little closer.

    ~~~~~~~

    The vampire was tenacious and only injured, not dead. Li Pei clearly intended to capture him alive.

    But just as they were about to seed, the experienced Zhou He suddenly turned to face behind them!

    Three men wearing turbans were slowly advancing upon them!

 Chapter 155 155. The strange Mahayana teachings

    The men trailing Yellow Sparrow were known to everyone present because their wanted posters were stered all over the streets, with their bounties updated in the papers daily.

    The man leading the group wore a proud smile, his face expressing a disdainful sneer; he was the Eastern King of the Great Vehicle Sect, Yang Qing, with a heavy reward of a myriad of silver on his head.

    The other two were the North King, Wei Hui, and the Yan King, Qin Gang, with countless elite soldiers d in steel armor following behind them!

    These people all had yellow scarves wrapped around their heads and ferocious faces, their fierce temperaments clear at a nce.

    "Why would the Great Vehicle Sect''s kings appear here!?"

    Li Pei instinctively nced at the foreigner who had lost his limbs. The fact that this man had the three kings of the Great Vehicle Sect on his tail suggested that the secrets he held were even bigger than she had imagined!

    She quickly loaded the 60mm rapid-fire cannon while loudly proiming, "To think that it''s the second-inmand of the Great Vehicle Sect, it seems today is the day I achieve great merit!"

    Yang Qing, staring at Li Pei''s chest, said with a smirk that was not quite a smile, "I''ve also heard much about the Commandery Princess''s ''great'' reputation, and seeing you today, indeed, your fame is well-deserved. How abouting back with me and bing a queen?" Find your adventure at empire

    Li Pei replied, unfazed, "Aren''t the thousands of maidservants in your household enough for you to enjoy?"

    The moment her words fell, she pressed the firing mechanism. With a thunderous roar, a cannonball sted towards Yang Qing.

    But Yang Qing stood still, not moving an inch. He simply sidestepped, allowing the cannonball to fly past his nose.

    "I want the Commandery Princess to know, I am an Innate Martial Artist with the Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing; I''m hardly afraid of your little cannon."

    The sound of this cannon shot was like amand, igniting a fray that erupted between the two parties like thunder and wildfire colliding!

    Yang Qing swiftly dodged again, avoiding Yu Yanmei''s steel sword attack, when suddenly a revolver appeared in his hands, and he began firing simultaneously.

    Although he was holding an R1897, the speed at which he fired gave the impression of wielding dual Uzis, creating a storm of bullets!

    The North King Wei Hui and the Yan King Qin Gang also drew their revolvers to shoot.

    Yu Yanmei, with an icy expression, had initially intended to disregard these bullets and simply sh through these three men, but the strong physique of someone in the Innate Realm allowed her to clearly see the bulletsing with her eyesight alone!

    There was something off about these bullets!

    Yu Yanmei immediately danced her sword into a flurry, sparks flying as she deflected all the bullets, with a trace of ck faintly visible.

    She quickly warned everyone, "Be careful! They''re Withering Bullets! One bearing the Fetal Breath, two with the innate ''Forgetfulness of Self'' ability!"

    Upon hearing this, Li Pei''s group all showed a change of color! Each Withering Bullet was more expensive than the guns in their hands, but what truly shocked them was the enemy''s Spirit Refining Stage!

    Spirit Refining Experts were extremely rare, and even a sect like Shaolin or Wudang would at most have only one or two such individuals!

    For the Great Vehicle Sect to casually send a few Spirit Refining Experts, the odds were simply too strange!

    And the difficulty of dealing with Spirit Refining Experts was something the group was all too aware of.

    Indeed, in the next second, the world in the eyes of Li Pei and the others turned upside down, making them feel as if they were walking on their heads with their feet in the air, an utterly disorienting experience!

    Fortunately, a mournful yet profound "Moon Reflection in Erquan" started to y from the hands of the elderly Zhou He, which not only lifted all negative states but also caused tears to stream down the faces of the enemy''s steel-armored soldiers, slowing down their machine guns.

    While the two groups were engaged in intensebat, Luo Xiaoquan, the foreigner who had been lying in the corner, suddenly made a move!

    Four transparent tentacles extended from his back and fiercely pushed off the ground, propelling him swiftly into the forest, disappearing like a shot from a cannon.

    At that moment, Yang Qing and the others were preupied with attacking Yu Yanmei, but when he saw what happened, he immediately abandoned his opponent and took off in pursuit.

    The North King Wei Hui and the Yan King Qin Gang were suddenly in deep trouble. Without Yang Qing''s presence, facing Yu Yanmei who was in the Innate Realm meant they were facing a peril close to certain death!

    ~~~~~~~~

    Luo Xiaoquan, using the tentacles on his back to sprint through the forest, knew that this was not a sustainable solution.

    Divine Grace was time-limited, and wouldn''tst much longer before it disappeared. Severely injured, the simplest method was to find some natives to devour in order to recover.

    Luo Xiaoquan headed straight for the nearest estate. The mansions of these natives often teemed with numerous servants, and with some luck, one might even savor a delicious virgin.

    Just by capturing and eating two of them, he could regrow his legs and then leave this damned country!

    Luo Xiaoquan touched the lead box in his embrace, his face revealing aplex expression of excitement, thrill, and fear.

    "I''ve seen the true face of the world! Even mortals cane so close to God! Hong Renkun definitely experienced a ''God''s Descent''!

    Such glory, why did it ur to an indigenous heretic who sphemed the gods!? Is it just because of this book?"

    Luo Xiaoquan remembered thest time he saw the cult leader Hong Renkun, looking like his student...

    That was by no means Hong Renkun, but a god wearing Hong Renkun''s skin!

    "This must be the will of the gods! Meeting Hong Renkun 20 years ago, teaching him the doctrines, baptizing him, it was all for today! I must take this book back to my country and let God''s blessing envelop..."

    Luo Xiaoquan''s thoughts were abruptly cut off as his head turned into a mist of blood.

    The headless body turned to ash in mid-air, leaving only a pile of clothes and other random things scattered on the ground, nging noisily.

    ~~~~~~~~

    "The autocannon is so powerful, Li Pei said this vampire has strength beyond Blood-Exchange? It didn''t even withstand a single shot."

    Lu Yao was standing in a big tree, having set up the autocannon and taking aim.

    From 2 kilometers away, Liao Ya operated the drone and saw everything clearly, casually saying:

    "Western demon beasts also vary in strength, I guess. The one we metst time that could turn into a blood shadow was tough to deal with."

    The trio was about to go check the items dropped by the vampire when Liao Ya suddenly shouted:

    "Wait, someone''s going over there!"

    Liao Ya maneuvered the drone, having a crystal-clear view within a 2-kilometer radius, and quickly spotted Yang Qing who was following behind.

    Controlling the drone''s camera zooming in, she eximed, "It''s Yang Qing, the Eastern King of the Greater Vehicle Sect! An Innate Expert! He was chasing that vampire here!"

    Liao Qe also came over to look, and saw Yang Qing impatiently picking up the lead box. After opening it, he took out a book, then with a face full of joy and arrogance, he let out a boisterousugh for a while.

    This book was asrge as a middle school Chinesenguage textbook, and the drone was able to clearly capture the words on it ¡ª "Sigh of the World''s Inaction Scroll."

    Yang Qing impatiently began to flip through it, afterwards his face showed an enraptured expression, and he began nodding neurotically, muttering to himself. Coupled with the veins bulging on his neck and forehead, he looked exceedingly bizarre.

    But after a few seconds of looking at the book, his eyes suddenly regained rity.

    He hastily stuffed the book into his chest and began looking around cautiously, searching for the person who killed Luo Xiaoquan.

    Lu Yao could clearly feel a wave of intense malice passing over him, as Yang Qing''s head abruptly turned in his direction, and then he bolted towards him like lightning!

    "It''s a Spirit Refining Expert! He''s discovered us!"

    Lu Yao set up the autocannon, entered the state of sitting in oblivion with all systems active, aiming in 0.3x speed at Yang Qing, who was rushing over like a truck.

    For an Innate Martial Artist, 2 kilometers was a matter of ten seconds.

    Yang Qing was already face to face with the trio!

    After seeing the pair of sisters, he startedughing joyfully, "Ha ha, what a day, another pair of sisters showed up,e back with me and enjoy..."

    Before Yang Qing could finish his sentence, apanied by the loud noise of a drill boring into a wall, he suddenly found himself overwhelmed by a wall built of cannonballs!

 Chapter 156 156. Machine Gun Battle Innate

    ```

    Yang Qing saw three little fries who weren''t even at the level of Blood-Exchange and thought they were also Li Pei''s men, so he didn''t take them seriously at all and was solely focused on kidnapping the iconic sister duo.

    "They might have some powerful firearms, but he himself is an Innate Martial Artist with a body ''cast from bronze and iron,'' which ordinary firearms couldn''t even scratch!"

    It wasn''t until a torrent of cannonballs came pouring down that the lecherous mocking smile on Yang Qing''s face suddenly froze!

    The Danger Sense of Spirit Refinement screamed warnings, but in addition to being an Innate Martial Artist, he was also versed in Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing! He also possessed abilities simr to Lu Yao''s "Bullet Time."

    Yang Qing''s legs powered up explosively, blowing up the ground beneath him as if a hand grenade had detonated out of nowhere, kicking up a small crater with flying dirt and stones as he used it to instantly sidestep almost 60 meters!

    And that wasn''t even all! Suddenly, with two revolvers in hand, he fired consecutively, the shots blending into a continuous line, actually managing to blow up the approaching machine-gun cannonballs mid-air!

    This agility and marksmanship were indeed befitting of a cultivator with the aplishments of an "Innate Martial Artist and Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing." If Lu Yao had been holding an M2 heavy machine gun, he truly would have been at a loss against him.

    The M2 heavy machine gun had a rate of fire of only 500 rounds/minute...

    But now, he was facing the GSh-23! With a firing rate of 3000/minute, and its power was beyondparison!

    Lu Yao also entered the Spirit Refining State, and in 0.3x speed, he relentlessly targeted Yang Qing with the barrel of his gun.

    The firing rate of 3000/minute turned the soda-bottle-sized cannonballs into a terrifying wave crashing towards the enemy, shredding everything in their path. Rocks, trees, nothing could impede the 23MM cannonballs'' advance as they were reduced to dust.

    If Yang Qing had been even slightly slower, that lethal "barrage" from behind would have caught up to him! He could only flee desperately, scrambling and leaping frantically, not daring to stop for a moment!

    But at this moment, the beautiful sisters he had just been eyeing made their move!

    Two .50 caliber machine guns raged with suppressive fire. Normally, Yang Qing had countless ways to deal with this, but he was in the midst of saving his own life ¡ª the additional harassing fire became the straw that broke the camel''s back.

    Yang Qing was first forced to take two hits from the .50 caliber bullets, stumbling as they struck.

    The once exceedingly effective .50 caliber bullets could only prate his outer skin, then get stuck in his muscles or be repelled.

    Yang Qing''s body disyed tiny cracks like shattered porcin. The next instant, he was struck by Lu Yao''s autocannon.

    His Innate body, which could ignore small caliber bullets and even .50 caliber bullets, couldn''t withstand the autocannon designed to take on armored vehicles.

    Yang Qing let out a miserable howl as several holes the size of teacups burst open in his body, and then he was sent flying by the huge kic energy of the cannonballs, crashing through a tree as thick as a man''s waist beforeing to a halt.

    He coughed up a mouthful of blood, cursing: "Damn it! How could three little fries who aren''t even at the Blood-Exchange level have such powerful firearms!"

    He had used the state of Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing to forcibly twist his body and avoid the vitals, yet he still sustained such severe injuries!

    Seeing that the trio was ready to shoot again, Yang Qing pulled out a book he had been carefully protecting and shouted:

    "Hold on! This is Hong Renkun''s ''Tome of Worldly Resignation,'' the secret manual of Spirit Refining Manifest Holiness! If you shoot again, you will have to be buried with me!"

    After saying that, he spread the book in front of him.

    Ever since the sect leader Hong Renkun had defeated Grandmaster Zeng, this secret manual became renowned overnight, raging like wildfire throughout Jiangnan.

    With the emergence of the body, one could utilize Divine Manifestation; some even praised it as the number one Mystical Refinement Method of Spirit Refinement!

    Seeing that Lu Yao and the others indeed held their fire, Yang Qing breathed a sigh of relief, cursing inwardly: The Mystical Refinement Methods are irresistible to anyone! If they dare toe closer, I must show them what I''m capable of!

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao and his twopanions slowly advanced, stopping once they were within a hundred meters.

    "Throw the book over here."

    "I can''t move;e and take it yourself."

    Yang Qing feigned a feeble posture as if he were truly helpless.

    But Lu Yao and hispanions resolutely refused to move forward. Yang Qing''s eyes flickered, and he said:

    ```

    "This is the Supreme Secret Technique of the Mahayana Sect~ It was by practicing it that Hong Renkun was able to defeat Grandmaster Zeng and achieve great sess! Hurry,e and take it~~~"

    The voice carried a strange rhythm, making one unable to resist the urge to kneel and believe.

    The sisters'' eyes were slightly blurred, and they subconsciously began to move forward, but Lu Yao snapped out of it after a brief moment of bewilderment.

    Before, Old Zhou had given him ''Spring Breeze and Drunkenness'', and after studious cultivation, he had developed a strong resistance to this type of trickery.

    Seeing that this man indeed wanted to lull the three of them into a trap to do harm, Lu Yao was not about to indulge him and immediately raised the machine gun without a word and pulled the trigger!

    In the great noise of an electric pick drilling into a wall, countless huge shell casings covered the ground.

    Holes after holes were blown open in Yang Qing''s body, who was knocked about, dismembered, and tumbling everywhere, crying out in shock and anger:

    "You wild brat!!! Cease fire! Don''t you want the secret manual anymore!!!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Read new chapters at empire

    Lu Yao sneered inwardly. Yang Qing wanted to deceive the three of them toe closer, but wasn''t he equally eager to approach?

    Within 100 meters, the machine gun in his own hands could aim and shoot with precision! He could simply avoid the secret manual and turn this fellow into a human stick, thus having both the person and the book!

    In the blink of an eye, Lu Yao adjusted the muzzle and broke the arm of Yang Qing, who was holding the secret manual, causing the "Tome of Worldly Resignation" to fall to the ground.

    Already severely injured and realizing his doom if this continued, Yang Qing disregarded the optimal distance and immediatelyunched his devastating move¡ªhis eyes turned into whirlpools, emitting bizarre waves.

    And Lu Yao and hispanions felt the world spin, dizzy and nauseous as if seasick. The world in their eyes turned upside down; they were on their heads and walking with their brains, an extremely peculiar sensation!

    Yang Qing swallowed a mouthful of blood, his body riddled with huge holes and having lost an arm, his wounds were extremely severe.

    Havingpletely lost the will to "turn defeat into victory," he yelled, "You three juniors, just wait! I will return today''s humiliation tenfold!"

    Picking up the secret manual with his mouth, he rushed toward the riverbank, intending to jump into the river and escape.

    Lu Yao bit the tip of his tongue, regaining a trace of rity, and forced himself to adjust the muzzle and fire!

    But as everything seemed upside down, and with Yang Qing instantly twisting his body to dodge the bullets aimed at his vitals, Lu Yao fired a dozen or so shots and only sted off his entire left leg.

    Yang Qing screamed in agony and copsed to the ground. The secret manual fell from his mouth, but unheeding, he used his remaining arm and leg to propel himself, like a cannonball, into the river and disappeared without a trace.

    ~~~~~~~~

    It took nearly a minute for the three to stop feeling the world spin and get back to normal.

    Now, Lu Yao''s entire arm was numb and almost without sensation.

    The recoil of the machine gun was simply too great; that thing was designed without consideration for being handheld, but rather to be fixed onto vehicles. Near the end, he had almost lost control, nearly getting shot into the sky.

    Especially with the continuous firing causing the recoil topound, Lu Yao''s legs were buried up to his knees in the ground.

    Looking at Yang Qing, the .50 caliber machine gun could only crack his body, while the cannon only managed to make holes the size of a teacup!

    You should know that if an ordinary person were hit by a single cannon shot, they''d be turned into dumpling filling directly!

    Moreover, high-level martial artists are not only remarkably sturdy in body but also have very strong vitality. Like insects, they can ignore injuries that would be fatal to ordinary people.

    Liao Ya eximed, "No wonder all powers stipte¡ªprohibiting Innate Realm members from entering without permission!"

    Lu Yao agreed saying, "This guy''s defensive ability is on par with an armored car... what a pity we couldn''t capture him alive."

    Liao Ya took a sharp breath, "Alive? Junior Brother~ he is an Innate martial artist of the Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing stage, we''re already inconceivable to have wounded him so severely, no one would believe it if it was told!"

    Liao Qe also said, "Yang Qing, having lost a hand and a leg, is as good as crippled. The newspapers say that there is fierce infighting in the Mahayana Sect, with several princes dying off. He won''t end well when he returns looking like this."

    The three exchanged a few words, then began to clean up the battlefield.

 Chapter 157 157. The Bizarre "Tome of Worldly Resignation

    "A blood core as big as a duck egg, that was left by the Westerner named Luo Xiaoquan."

    Liao Ya handed a ruby to the family''s alchemist.

    Lu Yao casually stuffed it in his pocket, poking the ground with a stick at the tome "Sigh of the World''s Inaction Scroll".

    This thing was originally kept in a lead box, and the strange reactions of Yang Qing while reading it had been witnessed by everyone, it was eerily abnormal.

    Liao Qe had already brought over the lead box, and Lu Yao used two sticks like chopsticks to mp the secret manual into the box.

    "Let''s go home first, we''re creating quite the scene here."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Back home, the three of them studied the sect-protecting divine skill of the widely known Guiyi Church in Jiangnan, the "Tome of Worldly Resignation".

    Lu Yao, holding a stick, said, "Let me read it, and you two protect me."

    The two sisters nodded and said in their sweet voices, "Understood!"

    Lu Yao used the stick to flip through the pages of the book, and the opening line read: All people suffer, longing for redemption.

    Following that were the normal techniques of Spirit Refining Method, starting with Focused Spirit, progressing to meditation, deep meditation, and self-forgetfulness, exined in a simple and understandable manner.

    Lu Yao benefited greatly and was so engrossed that he couldn''t help but praise, "It''s really well-written! It''s like holding someone''s hand through the process of spirit refinement. As long as one can read, they can use this book to progressively cultivate and be a Spirit Refining Expert!"

    He continued reading, and next it spoke of the "Fetal Breath" realm. The book stated: To hold the heart''s breath and return to the origin is metaphorically called the fetal breath; it is a state where the heart is not disturbed by thoughts, withouting or going, a realm of focused heart and spirit.

    Lu Yao was carefully pondering over this sentence. But just then, he faintly heard a very small voice echoing in his ear:

    [The bodies and minds of mortals are dirty and filthy, why not surrender to the embrace of God and be one with God? You are God, and God is you, no longer needing to taste the sufferings of the world nor toil in cultivation, be God in one step, and all things return to one.]

    This voice was as faint as a trembling hair or a falling strand of hair on the ground, making one believe it was their own thought...

    Moreover, it was extremely fast, speaking in just a second, yet it could transmit clearly into the depths of one''s mind.

    After listening hundreds of times, Lu Yao felt something was off and stopped reading. But the voice continued to whisper in his ear, and it was getting faster.

    The next second, Lu Yao was abruptly pushed to the ground.

    This fallpletely woke him. Turning his head, he saw it was Liao Ya and Liao Qe who had done it.

    Full of concern, Liao Qe said, "Lu Yao, are you okay? Your expression became more and more disturbing as you read, and you seemed crazed...and there were faint whispers around us. My sister and I forcefully interrupted..."

    "I''m fine, you did the right thing!" Lu Yao wiped off the cold sweat: "There''s something wrong with this book! You both heard that voice too?"

    Liao Ya replied, "We faintly heard something, but couldn''t make it out." Liao Qe also nodded in agreement.

    Lu Yao looked back at the pages, and saw that where he had just been reading, there weren''t any words at all, just densely packed symbols of "eyes within triangles"!

    The symbols were distorted as if someone had drawn them with a blood-soaked finger.

    Countless eyes seemed to move on their own, staring straight at you no matter which direction you looked from, which was quite hair-raising.

    Furthermore, Lu Yao was very familiar with these symbols; they were the emblem of the Western Religion "Pantheism Church", and also the pattern of his own golden finger!

    This item was in his own mind, ready to open the Dimensional Door to traverse between two worlds at any time!

    "We lost the trail at Zhang Xin''s ce, and I thought to investigate slowlyter, but now it seems this matter should be moved up... This thing is too sinister!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    Seeing Lu Yao deep in thought, the two women quietly didn''t disturb him, even putting the secret manual back into the lead box.

    After a while, Lu Yao suddenly took out paper and pen, and silently transcribed the content he had just read.

    ```

    After entering a state of "sitting in oblivion," as long as I saw content, I was certain to remember it. I might not understand it, but I could write it out just like a photocopier.

    After writing it down, I had Liao Ya check it, with Liao Qe acting as protector.

    This time there were no surprises. Liao Ya quickly finished reading the short text of over a thousand words and joyfully said with a look of excitement:

    "This is a systematic Spirit Refining Method that only high-ranking sects possess! Such things are never recorded in text; they are traditionally passed down verbally. In a sect, no more than three people would know of this!"

    Liao Qe also crowded over to look and cheerfully said, "Now, our Liao Family Fist has it too! Ah, it''s written in such detail. If I had seen it earlier, I wouldn''t have been stuck at the Focused Spirit stage for so long!"

    The Spirit Refining Method had long been subject to a joint blockade by the Imperial Court, Aristocratic ns, and Sectarian Groups, making it extremely precious knowledge.

    Lu Yao, rubbing his brow, said, "This ''Tome of Worldly Resignation'' is indeed a profound Spirit Refining Method, but as you read on, you are brainwashed by a very disgusting ''demonic sound.'' I was just about to learn about Fetal Breath... I can''t ept this! Let''s try again!"

    ~~~~~~~~

    The higher-level Spirit Refining Methods such as Fetal Breath, Astral Projection, and even Divine Manifestation were right in front of me, yet they were unattainable, which was truly frustrating.

    Following this, Lu Yao tried various methods with the two sisters.

    Such as reading with ears plugged, reading while singing, reading in front of a mirror... invariably, at the description of the "Fetal Breath Realm," that eerie voice could be heard.

    Once heard, one would fall into its clutches, and the more one listened, the more reasonable it seemed, as if these were one''s own deep-seated beliefs!

    "Great Mighty Dragon, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Prajna Paramita!" Lu Yao chanted resolutely to bring himself back to lucidity.

    He was determined and ustomed to struggling free on his own without external interference after a while.

    Lu Yao took a deep breath, unwilling to give up, and said, "It seems ordinary methods are useless; I need to think of other tactics!"

    Liao Ya advised, "Junior Brother, don''t be greedy. This thing is so evil, let''s think of other methods. You could ask Taoist Zhou He about the subsequent Spirit Refinement techniques."

    Liao Qe nodded in agreement repeatedly, not wishing to see her beloved take risks. "Lu Yao, you could even trade food with the Commandery Princess if you need to."

    "We must have our own trump cards and not be at the mercy of others."

    Still not giving up, Lu Yao nced at the lead box, contemting whether to return to Blue Star to get a nuclear radiation protective suit to try wearing.

    Moreover, after struggling against the voice for a while, although my spirit suffered substantial drain, it was also superbly tempered!

    Not only did the book contain precious knowledge, it was also an excellent "spiritual fitness equipment"; it was essential to make good use of it.

    Just then, a shout came from the entrance of the garden: "Friend Lu, old Taoist Zhou hase calling! Prepare the silver quickly, Old Fu has been injured again!"

    When the three of them went out to look, they saw Li Pei, Zhou He, and others, whom they had just mentioned, at the door.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Zhou He supported Fu Fangsheng, who was riddled with bullet holes andid him onto the round table.

    A substance like thick ink flowed continuously from the bullet holes, Withering Bullets again.

    Next, Zhou He extracted the bullets while Lu Yao applied silver to the wounds, another familiar and simr scene unfolding.

    Fu Fangsheng''s handsome face was filled with anger: "Damn it! Why do these bastards keep shooting at me!"

    "Who else should they shoot if not you? You''re just at the Focused Spirit stage and can''t dodge bullets," retorted Zhou He.

    Zhou He and Lu Yao worked in tacit understanding, and in no time, extracted all the Withering Bullets.

    Lu Yao inquired, "Was your ambush sessful?"

    Li Pei nodded and said, "It was a sess, we caught the rebel Yan King¡ªQin Gang."

    ```

 Chapter 158 158. Marrow-Cleansing Realms Art of the Dragon Slayer Manual

    ```

    As soon as Li Pei finished speaking, she saw Yu Yanmei''s cool figure appear at the door.

    She was holding a listless burly man in one hand and a book in the other, which was also the "Sigh of the World''s Inaction Scroll"!

    Yu Yanmei threw the burly man on the ground, and her icy, pleasant voice rose, "He''s confessed everything. Hong Renkun hasn''t been seen since he defeated Grandmaster Zeng; he''s seeing no one, which suggests there could be someplications with his Spirit Refinement."

    Hearing her master''s words, Li Pei puffed up her chest and brightened up, feeling exhrated! As long as this information was confirmed, their efforts had not been in vain.

    Yu Yanmei continued, "He also said that terrifying wails often emerge from the Heavenly King''s Mansion, and those who enter nevere out again..."

    She furrowed her brows, raising the book in her hand, "It seems rted to this book. These people came after Luo Xiaoquan for it."

    Li Pei took the book and flipped through it casually, noticing nothing unusual, she looked up and asked, "Doesn''t he already have one?"

    Yu Yanmei replied, "Hong Renkun shared the Tome of Worldly Resignation with all the high ranks of the Great Vehicle Sect, but these senior memberster found that what they learned was just... a counterfeit version with considerable hidden dangers. Luo Xiaoquan stole the genuine scroll and fled, which is why Yang Qing went after him immediately."

    Li Pei said with regret, "What a pity, this is undoubtedly a supreme Spirit Refining Method, and we didn''t have time to focus on it."

    At that moment, Zhou He, the old Taoist, finished his business, and seeing the book in Li Pei''s hands, he spoke with interest:

    "Hong Renkunbined Western Religion teachings to create the ''Sigh of the World''s Inaction Scroll'', such talent is indeed remarkable for his time. Though this one is counterfeit, it still offers a glimpse at the genuine article."

    The old Taoist took the book, flipping through it in the blink of an eye. Having lost his eyesight, he observed the world entirely by the power of his mind, enabling him to see things others couldn''t.

    It appeared as if Zhou He had grabbed a red-hot iron; he hastily threw the book away, expressing his disgust, "I had praised him, but I didn''t expect it to employ the filthy method of ''fetal spirit possession''!"

    Lu Yao asked curiously, "Fetal spirit possession?"

    "By embedding a seed in the depths of someone''s heart and mind through suggestion, once the seed sprouts, another''s divine soul can be consumed and merged into oneself."

    Zhou He pointed at the book on the ground, saying, "There is a strong suggestion within these pages, coaxing people to willingly offer themselves to Hong Renkun."

    Lu Yao picked up the book from the ground and looked at it; there was only a symbol of "a triangle with an eye" on the title page, the rest were just characters.

    The content was incredibly abstruse, and there was no "demonic resounding" effect.

    Seeing him flip through it, Zhou He quickly reminded him, "The divine soul of man isplex beyondprehension, and consuming it will only lead to madness and insanity. People have been studying this method since the Warring States period, and no one has ever ended well. It''s because of this that Hong Renkun ran into trouble."

    Lu Yao, seeing that this book was far inferior to his own, lost interest and casually put it down.

    Zhou He nodded in satisfaction, showing a look of approval on his time-worn face.

    At this time, Li Pei spoke up, "With our task aplished, let''s hasten to turn this man over to the authorities so that the Imperial Court can eradicate the Great Vehicle Sect with all their might!"

    Zhou He and Fu Fangsheng also stood up to take their leave, and the group was about to depart.

    Li Pei had a brief conversation with Liao Ya, holding her hand, then with aposed and virtuous demeanor, she courteously said to Lu Yao, "I''m sorry for troubling Young Master Lu today... "

    Before she could finish, she eximed with bulging eyes, "You''ve cleansed your marrow!!!"

    They had only met in haste before and she had not noticed properly until now.

    Lu Yao scratched his head and said, "I luckily made a breakthrough, hehe~"

    Li Pei''s chest heaved a few rapid breaths, unsure of what to say. The first time she met him, he was a sick weakling... and now he had rocketed up to the Marrow-Cleansing Realm!

    She knew all too well¡ªreaching this point required exceptional talent, supplements, guidance from a famous master, and the aid of a Spirit Refining Expert, none of which could becked.

    Zhou He stroked his beard contentedly saying, "Each generation brings forth new heroes indeed."

    Fu Fangsheng, disregarding the bandages swathed around him, came over and pped Lu Yao on the back, saying heartily, "Brother Lu''s talent is remarkable! Once you undergo the Blood-Exchange, I''ll take you to the Joyous Union Sect... Ahem!"

    He had not finished his sentence when Yu Yanmei knocked it back into his stomach with the hilt of her sword, dragging him away.

    Li Pei, after all, was a Commandery Princess. She didn''t allow her surprise to linger, quicklyposing herself, and with a bowed fist, she genuinely congratted him, "Congrattions on advancing, Young Master Lu!"

    ```

    Lu Yao also hurriedly returned the gesture.

    Liao Qe was brimming with joy as her shiny big eyes gazed at her heartthrob, filled with admiration.

    ~~~~~~~

    After leaving the garden, the group dispersed, with Li Pei walking alongside her master.

    Suddenly, she asked, "Master, what do you think of Lu Yao?"

    Yu Yanmei replied indifferently, "A rare talent."

    Then, ncing at her disciple, she asked, "Are you interested in him?"

    Li Pei nodded, "I''m considering recruiting him as my husband... He is extremely capable, and he has no ties to any family or sect, very clean."

    "Judging by the way that little girl looked at him, I doubt she will agree."

    "That''s what worries me... Sigh, actually, I do not mind if a man has multiple wives or concubines... Let''s wait and see. With my cultivation level, the marriage can still be put off for a while."

    ~~~~~~~~

    The next day, Lu Yao continued enthusiastically to tinker with the authentic ''Sigh of the World''s Inaction Scroll''~

    "I refuse to believe I can''t handle you!"

    First, he put a pile of silver on the book to see if it would exorcise the ''evil'' like it would a vampire, but there was no reaction whatsoever.

    Then he took out his phone to take pictures, going click, click, click in a spree. The pictures captured only the triangr symbols, and there was nothing unusual about them; the eyes in the middle also lost their sinister look.

    "Do I really need to face the challenge directly... Would it work if I took it back to Blue Star?"

    As Lu Yao was pondering, he suddenly heard footsteps and turned back to see Liao Ya approaching.

    Master Liao''s pretty face tried to maintainposure but was actually flushed, and she said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, could you help me perform the ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art''?"

    Then she whispered as softly as a mosquito, "My little sister has gone out shopping..."

    Lu Yao immediately put the book into the lead box, rubbing his hands together saying, "Don''t worry, elder sister, my Inner Breath is even stronger after Marrow-Cleansing, I guarantee you''ll be satisfied!"

    "It''s really embarrassing to trouble you again."

    "Don''t say that, just lie down."

    Unable to resist the temptation of the overpowered ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art,'' Liao Ya''s graceful and healthy body was revealed, her skin so white it dazzled the eyes.

    Lu Yao watched with a heart aze, feeling no matter how many times he saw it, it was never enough.

    He took a deep breath to cast aside distracting thoughts and focused on the task at hand.

    After reaching the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, his Inner Breath was already surging to the point it could permeate outside his body!

    With the light taps of Lu Yao''s fingers, Liao Ya''s body trembled violently, biting down on a towel to avoid making embarrassing noises.

    This time it wasn''t just the spine and chest that were targeted but a resonance throughout the entire body, not even sparing the fingers and toes!

    The level of refreshment andfort was indescribable as Liao Ya found herself in a trance.

    After Lu Yao meticulously finished the massage, he felt very pleased with his technique and its effectiveness. Elder sister''s blood cirction had increased by more than threefold, her whole body bursting with vitality.

    But precisely because of this, Liao Ya remained in a pleasurable state for a long time without regaining her senses, lying there in a daze with her trousers pooled around her knees, unaware.

    A wicked idea suddenly surged in Lu Yao''s heart, wanting to add some "extra services."

 Chapter 159 159. The whole family has it

    Lu Yao''s hands were filled with Inner Breath as he started from the reflective zone and Aperture Points of his senior sister''s waist, moving slowly downward... and then further down... and still further down!

    Liao Ya was enjoying it, though she felt that her junior brother''s massage was a bit long this time, she didn''t think much of it.

    Moreover, her junior brother''s hands were now on her waist and hips... Well, it''s still massaging the Aperture Points, so let it be.

    Thefort provided by the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'', executed by a Spirit Refining Expert, was so immense that Liao Ya felt groggy and didn''t want to think about anything, wishing only that she could enjoy it a little longer.

    Only when her junior brother began to massage the Huiyang Point did she involuntarily tense up, wondering if she should stop him...

    But she never expected that her junior brother would continue moving his hands downward without pausing!

    Liao Ya mped her legs together, grabbed Lu Yao''s hand, and eximed in rm, "Junior brother! What are you doing?"

    Lu Yao silentlymented the pity, wondering why his senior sister regained her senses so quickly. It seemed that his own martial prowess was still insufficient.

    But since he was already there, he might as well try it out. So he candidly said,

    "I am helping you to open up the Huiyang and Huiyin Aperture Points, to achieve the effect of storing essential energies and the intersection of Yin and Yang."

    After saying this, he continued to push his Inner Breath downwards.

    These two Aperture Points were the starting points of the Ren, Du, and Chong meridians, governing the Yin and Yang throughout the body, and the benefits of Lu Yao''s massage technique were actually immense.

    Liao Ya, however, kept eximing in rm, firmly holding onto the other''s hand, "No! You can''t do this!"

    Both being of the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, she did not have a clear advantage in strength, and her condition being not ideal, she could not stop him.

    Continue your journey with empire

    Feeling the scorching fingers filled with Inner Breath pressing closer and closer, Liao Ya pleaded in panic, "Junior brother, please don''t..."

    Lu Yao, seeing her like a frightened little deer, quickly withdrew his hand.

    Liao Ya immediately got up, straightened her clothes, a flush of red spreading from her cheeks to her neck, her eyes filled with both shame and anger, "You scoundrel!"

    She raised her hand to hit Lu Yao, but remembering all the moments they had shared, she couldn''t bring herself to do it.

    So, she pulled back her strength at thest moment, as if it merely ended up as a pat on her junior brother.

    Unable to save face, Liao Ya scolded, "I was going to help you with the ''Foot Soothing Technique'' for your feet, but forget about it now!"

    After she spoke, she flipped her twin braids and ran off as if fleeing.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Liao Ya ran back to her room, locked the door, andy on the bed without getting up for a long time.

    She closed her eyes, as if she could still feel those burning fingers approaching her.

    "That scoundrel of a junior brother! He never had the guts before... It must be because his realm has caught up with mine that he dared to do this! As long as I continue my arduous practice, once I reach the Blood-Exchange Realm, he won''t dare to do it again!"

    Liao Ya encouraged herself and was about to get up for cultivation.

    At this moment, the effects of the ''Dynamic Dragon-Subduing Art'' were still ongoing, driving the blood and Inner Breath throughout her body to refine her spinal cord, an effect equivalent to a month''s worth of her hard practice!

    Master Liao couldn''t concentrate on her practice anymore and began to daydream again: Her junior brother was nice to both sisters, and the three of them living together was quiteforting...

    Just then, the noise of her sister returning home interrupted her thoughts.

    Liao Qe had driven back with Su Er Ya, unloading many daily necessities from the car.

    Liao Qe said to Lu Yao with excitement, "The Imperial Court has ordered an irond warship from Jiade, named the ''Dingyuan''. The newspapers say, ''It ranks as a first-ss irond ship!'' Are we going to stop being bullied by the foreigners now?"

    "Let''s hope so..." Lu Yao said as he took the newspaper to look at it.

    As a newly emerging naval power, Jiade''s shipbuilding technology was not outstanding. The order was won due to the desire to stimte heavy industry and increase political influence in the Far East.

    It also provided important technological umtion for the country''s own shipbuilding technology.

    This truly was a win-win oue, though outsiders didn''t see it that way.

    The other great powers expressed serious dissatisfaction, especially Einheit and Izumo.

    It goes without saying for Einheit, which had always treated the Shun Dynasty as its own sphere of influence, and was extremely dissatisfied with Jiade''s actions.

    Moreover, Jiade was also causing frequent disturbances in other overseas colonies, continuously provoking conflicts, bringing the two nations to a point where they were irreconcble.

    As an ind nation with scarce resources and a limited market, Izumo was eager to expand abroad.

    They had already devised the so-called "strategy for the conquest of the Shun Dynasty," only to find their opponent now had irond warships! Izumo was so enraged they wanted to tear Jiade apart!

    Because of this, Einheit saw an opportunity to restrain Jiade''s power through Izumo, and so they constantly made overtures toward Izumo and signed the "Alliance Treaty," bing allies.

    The situation became increasingly murky, but the court and the public of the Shun Dynasty were joyful, believing that the infighting among the great powers was to their advantage.

    ~~~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao put down the newspaper, pulled Liao Qe into the house, and said, "Come, let''s try out the ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual'' at the Marrow-Cleansing Realm."

    "When one man attains the Tao, his poultry and dogs ascend to heaven," Lu Yao''s Inner Breath had grown even more robust after his Marrow-Cleansing, naturally taking on the responsibility as an elder transmitting skills.

    It wasn''t just the two sisters; even the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks had their share of benefits.

    Liao Qey on the bed, as an old married couple she naturally let her beloved carry out the technique.

    As a girl in the Organ Refining phase, Lu Yao''s method was slightly different, channeling his own Inner Breath, stimting her Qi, blood, and Inner Breath to continuously circte and refine her entire body.

    If Liao Qe were to do it by herself, she could at most manage two cycles of Inner Breath before running out of energy, and there were many areas she couldn''t reach.

    With Lu Yao''s assistance, shepleted an entire twenty cycles in less than fifteen minutes!

    After finishing, Lu Yao was sweating profusely, and Liao Qe, feeling pity, touched him, "I''ll call sister toe and give you a foot rub together."

    Lu Yao opened his mouth but couldn''t get the words out, and his girl had already dashed away.

    ~~~~~~

    "Sigh, your sister definitely won''te..."

    Lu Yao sighed and then massaged Su Erya some more.

    After days of standing post, coupled with ample nutrition, the young girl''splexion had improved a lot and her body had begun to grow as well.

    She could only withstand a little over a minute of refining before reaching her limit, after which she gave her respects and withdrew.

    Erya walked with a limp and a stagger, requiring several days of rest to fully absorb the benefits she had received.

    But despite the difort, she forced herself to stand in the yard and do standing stake practice, aiming to maximize these benefits.

    Lu Yao nodded in satisfaction; the girl was of excellent temperament and was already ready to undertake Sinew-Strengthening cultivation.

    ~~~~~~

    Then it was the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks'' turn. They were happily ying in the sky when Lu Yao whistled and then waved his hand.

    With their eyesight, they could clearly see prey over three kilometers away, and at their master''s call, they immediately swooped down, jostling each other to im the middle spot.

    Not being familiar with the inner anatomy of birds of prey, Lu Yao didn''t engage in any fancy techniques, simply channeling Inner Breath to bolster their Qi and blood, at most resonating with their bones.

    But for the three Spiritual Sparrowhawks, this was an incredible benefit; they cooed in contentment andfortably copsed to the ground, curling up against each other.

    Afterpleting the family''s health regimen, Lu Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

    Just then, Liao Qe came over, pulling along the sullen Liao Ya...

 Chapter 160 I forgot to bring money.

    Lu Yao didn''t expect his senior sister to actuallye... He quickly sat down properly as the two women crouched and got busy.

    "Lu Yao helped us with the big dragon, and he himself also used up a lot of energy, so we should repay him a bit~"

    While massaging the feet of her beloved, Liao Qe chatted nonstop, "With him here, it won''t be long before I can cleanse my marrow~"

    She was originally very talented, but she had used all her Inner Breath to help Lu Yao, which caused her to have the lowest cultivation level among them.

    As the girl talked, she felt that something was off in the atmosphere. Turning her head to look, she saw her sister with her head down, silent and brooding; her beloved also wore a smile that was both embarrassed and politely restrained.

    Liao Ya, without even ncing at Lu Yao, kneaded his feet with all her might as if trying to break them.

    "Hiss~" Lu Yao took in a sharp breath of cold air, his fists clenched tightly. Although it was both painful and swollen, he felt guilty inside and could only let his senior sister vent without making a scene.

    Their current state aroused suspicion in Liao Qe, who looked back and forth between the two, not understanding why they were at odds.

    After letting off some steam, Liao Ya stopped her rough treatment and started to massage earnestly.

    Under the attentive care of the two young women, a warm current rose from Lu Yao''s feet, surging continuously up to his head, warming his facial features until he couldn''t help but hum infort.

    Moreover, the sisters worked together very well, with the intensity and pacing of their touches being quite delicate; it truly benefited the sinews and blood cirction greatly.

    After the massage, Lu Yao felt thoroughly rxed, both physically and mentally healthy.

    Done with the massage, Liao Ya ran off feigning seriousness.

    Liao Qe watched her sister leave and then leaned into her beloved''s arms, asking, "What''s going on with you two?"

    Lu Yao awkwardly smiled, "Nothing much, just some disagreement about Aperture Points, senior sister doesn''t agree with my approach..."

    "?" Liao Qe didn''t quite understand the disputes among experts and cooed,

    "I''ll talk to sister for you. There should be no overnight grudges among fellow disciples... and you are Spirit Refining Oblivion, they should listen to you."

    Lu Yao changed the subject, "Hmm... I have to go home for a while. If anythinges up, just use the Fire God Cannon. When firing continuously, the recoil is really strong, so you have to be careful."

    "Oh." Liao Qe nodded, "You go ahead, I''ll go find sister."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Humming a tune and skipping along, Liao Qe came to her sister''s room, not bothering to knock before pushing the door open.

    Sunlight streamed in, reflecting the external floral walls and corridors beautifully. In the distance was a green artificial hill by theke, serene with water and stones, adorned with graceful bamboo and trees.

    A cool breeze yed with their hair as the two girls sat shoulder to shoulder.

    Liao Ya stared at the picturesque garden, speechless.

    Liao Qe spoke first, "Sister, what''s going on with you and Lu Yao?"

    Liao Ya instinctively crossed her legs and whispered, "Nothing... just some cultivation issues."

    "But Lu Yao is Spirit Refining Oblivion, you should just listen to him."

    Watching her sister flutter her big charming eyes, Liao Ya coughed and asked,

    "Sister~ living together as three, don''t you find me in the way? Should I move back to the old house?"

    Liao Qe quickly grabbed her sister, "Don''t! The three of us living together is good!"

    She stood up, pointing to the beautiful garden outside with its exquisite pavilions and lush nts, "This ce is so wonderful, why suddenly leave? I won''t let you go~ I can''t bear to part with either you or Lu Yao~"

    Liao Ya let out a sigh of relief and softly said, "Then sister won''t leave, but don''t regret it~"

    Liao Qe blinked her almond eyes in confusion, "You and Lu Yao are both acting strangely today..."

    ~~~~~~~~

    Blue Star

    Lu Yao was on his way to the Marshal Tank Manufacturing Factory to check if the Fire God Cannon was ready.

    Once this trade waspleted, both sides would have built some trust, and then they could use it as a springboard to buy even better things, like cannons, missiles, and the like.

    He had heard that the former Iron Alliance had left behind some "Tactical Nuclear Warheads" and the like, which could also be up for discussion. After all, 84 warheads had gone missing when it was disbanded~

    Lu Yao strode forward cheerfully, only to realize after a while that he seemed to have forgotten to bring something important¡­

    "All I can think about is flirting with Senior Sister, and I forgot to take money¡­"

    Despite his boldness during the massage, he was actually quite nervous. After all, it was a bold move with no preamble whatsoever.

    Just as he was about to run to a secluded ce to go back through the door, his cell phone rang.

    He took it out and saw several missed calls, all from that scantily d Yukolun girl "Sanna".

    But when he answered, it was her father''s voice that came through: [§Þ§à§ð§Õ§à§é§î§á§à§ç§Ú§ä§Ú§Ý§Ú]

    Semyon was in a panic, blurting out in his mother tongue before realizing and switching to Star Alliance Language in a frantic tone:

    [Mr. Lu, Sanna has been kidnapped! I warned her not to reveal that $100,000! I can''t find anyone to ask for help¡­ Please save her¡­]

    This father and daughter had helped him make a connection, and Lu Yao didn''t mind lending a hand, so he asked, [Where is she?]

    [Right in the ck market of Kiev! They brazenly kidnapped her! Right before my eyes!]

    ~~~~~~~~

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    The ck market was located in a deste abandoned factory in the suburbs, which made it convenient for Lu Yao to rush over.

    He first opened his phone''s navigation, then assumed the starting position of a sprinter and with a burst of energy flung his arms and dashed forward at full speed!

    Kicking up dust and stones, Lu Yao created two little pits with his feet, elerating to 100 kilometers per hour in just three seconds.

    A poor little tree, its remaining leaves knocked off by the strong wind he created, swayed its branches as if in protest.

    It wasn''t long before he arrived at the abandoned factory that had been a huge disappointment.

    Just as he reached the main gate, Semyon emerged from a corner. He was bruised and battered, his clothes torn, and his sses remained only as one lopsided, cracked lens.

    The engineer from the armored vehicle assembly workshop had clearly endured quite a bit of hardship.

    "Sanna has been hanging around here for a long time. Somehow it got out that she received payment of $100,000 and she was kidnapped by the gang controlling the ck market. The police won''t deal with ck market matters. I suggest you immediately contact Mr. Alexander to intervene¡­"

    Lu Yao casually said, "Leave it to me." And with that, he strutted inside.

    Semyon hobbled after him, a slight note of panic in his voice as he reminded, "You''re just going in like that? Without any preparation?"

    Lu Yao didn''t respond and continued straight to the factory entrance.

    The gate guards had changed sincest time but still remembered Lu Yao, who hade a few days earlier to y "Russian roulette with three bullets".

    Such a well-known person certainly didn''t need to prove his identity; five burly men hurriedly cleared the way for him to pass.

    Many of the hooligans and customers who eked out a living there recognized Lu Yao as well, murmuring amongst themselves before someone guessed he was there to stand up for Sanna.

    Then some busybody called out in oddly ented Star Alliance Language, "Hey~ Yellow man~ Sanna is in the innermost workshop~"

    Lu Yao nodded thanks to the drunken-looking man and made his way to the front of the factory.

    Several burly men were already waiting there with guns.

 Chapter 161 161. Young and beautiful nuclear physicist

    The one waiting here was none other than the bald heavyweight named Andre, who had forced Lu Yao to y roulettest time.

    Andre sized up Lu Yao contemptuously and sneered, "Yellow-Skinned Monkey, you actually had the guts toe here. Do you really think you''re a big shot just because you yed roulette once?"

    After he finished speaking, he burst into arrogantughter with his aplices, exchanging remarks in the localnguage, assuming an air of disdain.

    Lu Yao, impatient, said, "I''m in a hurry, either let them go, or go to Hell."

    Andre''s eyes shed viciously, his muscles bulged making his tattoos even more conspicuous, and he pointed a gun at Lu Yao and roared, "Yellow-Skinned Monkey~ you''ve angered me! I''m going to sell that bitch Sanna to the west to be a whore, and you will die lonely and miserable in..."

    Before he could finish his sentence, the figure of Lu Yao suddenly blurred and vanished from sight. By the time Andre reacted, he only heard a "ck" and felt intense pain in his arm.

    Lu Yao had twisted the man''s arm and instantly snatched his revolver, lifting the gun and blowing the heads off the other three with three shots, sttering blood like red bean paste all over the ground.

    The swift and realistic action was more thrilling than any action movie, leaving Semyon with his mouth agape, speechless.

    Lu Yao was already hauling the howling Andre with the broken arm into the factory and considerately shut the door behind them.

    Afterward, Semyon could only hear gunshots, wailing, various crashing noises, and muffled thumps from inside the factory¡ªlike someone was remodeling.

    Finally, a pitiful figure violently crashed out from the second floor and fell to the ground, a massive dent in his chest. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood before drawing hisst breath.

    ~~~~~~~

    By now, Andre, being held by Lu Yao, was too terrified to continue wailing.

    This Asian man would blow off someone''s head every time he fired his gun; not only was he fast and urate, but the most terrifying thing was that while holding Andre, he still moved like a tiger, pouncing forward and sending people flying!

    As Lu Yao kicked a man flying more than ten meters out of the second-floor window, the factory also fell into silence. Readtest chapters at empire

    "Listen, if you spare me, I promise I won''t appear before you again! I didn''t touch that woman..."

    Andre babbled frantically, begging for mercy, while Lu Yao kept walking and said, "I gave you a chance. People should pay the price for their choices."

    He hauled Andre to the administrative area on the second floor and violently threw him out.

    Andre flew out and crashed through a door into a room, where a barrage of gunfire turned him into a bloody, perforated mess.

    Lu Yao had long since heard people inside. After his marrow was cleansed, his physical condition had improved drastically, his senses had been enhanced, and in conjunction with the Spirit Refining Oblivion, he could instantly determine the number of people inside and what they were doing by the sounds alone, as if he had ultrasonic scanning.

    Lu Yao, powering off the wall with his legs, ran inside. He raised his hand and shot dead two enemies with AKs with two shots,nded, and then shouldered into thest man, banging him against the wall, which sent him bouncing back to the floor.

    The man bled from all seven orifices and twitched his legs a couple of times before lying still.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao approached a fortified door and shouted, "You behind the door, step back," then kicked the entire door down with one foot. Inside were four young women with their hands and feet bound, crying and with smudged makeup.

    He easily untied the ropes but didn''t find Sanna. As he was looking around, suddenly a girl hugged him tightly and said excitedly, "Mr. Lu, thank you! I thought I was done for, oh my God, thank you so much!"

    The girl was so emotional that her words were incoherent. Lu Yao looked at her several times, puzzled, and asked, "Who are you¡­ are you Sanna?"

    Without makeup and dressed in normal women''s clothes, Sanna lookedpletely reborn, pure and pretty, and very young, about 20 years old, to the extent that Lu Yao didn''t recognize her.

    "With your reward, I can say goodbye to my past and start a new life¡­ But I was targeted by these bastards!"

    Sanna gestured for the other pitiable girls to leave and continued, "I really appreciate it! Without you, I''d have been sold to those barbaric countries in the west to be a whore!"

    Lu Yao smiled and said, "No need to thank me, we people from Xia Country believe in destiny. It was only right that I saved you having met you."

    Sanna pulled out a cigarette and was about to light it when she realized where she was and spat it out. "Their money is here! Mine too!"

    She led Lu Yao to the innermost room, where opium and rolls of cash filled the space.

    Sanna''s hundred thousand dors were also there, just taken out of the bag and ready to be put through the money counter.

    She couldn''t wait to take it back and even gave it a couple of fierce kisses.

    Lu Yao, seeing so much money, instantly felt better, d he didn''t have to go back to get more. He packed all the money up, weighing over a million pounds in total.

    "Making money from business without any initial investment is quite fast, next time if I''m short on cash I''ll just rob the opium dealers. They conveniently like to keep cash at their strongholds."

    ~~~~~~~

    Semyon had only been waiting outside for 5 minutes when he saw Lu Yao emerge with his daughter.

    He hurried forward to check on them, embracing Sanna and repeatedly saying things like "thank God." Sanna, somewhat disgusted, pushed him away.

    Then, Semyon, holding on to Lu Yao with excitement said, "You''ve redeemed a father''s soul, words cannot express my gratitude, I am willing to do anything to repay you!"

    "It was nothing, no need for thanks, I should be on my way now," Lu Yao said, ready to attend to his own matters.

    Sanna quickly said, "Are you heading to Marshal''s Tank Factory? Let me drive you there, let me do at least something for you."

    With afortable car ride in the offering, Lu Yao had no objections.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Sanna was kidnapped in broad daylight right on the street; her car was being driven by Semyon and was parked right outside the ck market.

    No sooner had they left than a crowd of people began shouting and running to search the factory,pletely ignoring the recent gun battle that had taken ce inside, stripping the bodies of their clothing and even starting to fight over the spoils, creating total chaos.

    Lu Yao felt this ce was a bit like "Guad City" that he had been to before; both were so chaotic.

    Sanna bit on a cigarette but did not light it, sighing and saying:

    "This ce will soon be upied by a new gang... I was a student at Shevchenko National University before, but I had to drop out because I couldn''t afford it... Now, I can continue toplete my studies."

    Lu Yao listened silently, casually asking, "Shevchenko National University? Not bad. What major were you studying?"

    Sanna answered, "Nuclear Physics. I admired my father when I was a child, I thought he was the smartest person in the world, and I wanted to be an engineer or a schr like him."

    "Then you''ve got to work hard~"

    "I will! Mr. Lu, meeting you changed my life..." Sanna looked at Lu Yao earnestly, with meaning in her voice, she slowly said, "I am willing to do anything for you..."

    "Anything?"

    "Yes, anything!"

    Lu Yao nodded, "Then study hard for me."

    Sanna: ...

    Arriving at Marshal''s Tank Factory, Lu Yao got out of the car, waved to the girl, and was ready to leave.

    Sanna called out, "Lu Yao, will I be able to see you again in the future?"

    "If we''re destined, certainly."

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao walked into the factory, and Alexander, who had been waiting for a long time, greeted him with a bear hug.

 Chapter 162 162. Fire God Cannon and Tri-Protective Suit

    Alexander personally took Lu Yao to the workshop.

    There was a pile of items on the ground covered with canvas, which, when suddenly lifted, revealed three "Fire God Cannons" standing quietly erect.

    This Gatling Gun, made up of 6 barrels, exuded a modern and rigid beauty of machinery. Its appearance resembled a Gatling Gun magnified countless times.

    However, the size difference between the two is like that of a soda bottle and a pencil, with the Gatling Gun looking extremely petite byparison.

    Alexander patted these killing tools, proudly introducing them, "Behold these beautiful and elegant gods of ughter¡ª

    20MM caliber, an initial velocity of 1 kilometer per second, firing high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds; the firing rate is adjustable, up to 6 thousand rounds per minute;

    With the firing cycle distributed among 6 barrels, the lifespan of the machine gun has been greatly extended."

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao, after admiring them for a while, was very satisfied, especially with the initial velocity of the Fire God Cannon''s projectiles and their durability.

    Because after using a GSh-23 cannon just once, he had identified two ws¡ª

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    One, the projectile''s initial velocity was too slow, only 700 meters per second. When targeting enemies at a distance, if the enemy is as fast as Yang Qing and possesses a Spirit Refining Stage, it would be very hard to hit them.

    Two, the barrels overheated too easily. After all, just two barrels were supposed to handle a firing rate of up to 3000 rounds per minute, and they would turn red-hot in no time, running the risk of bursting.

    This was fine on an airne with airflow to help dissipate the heat, but not when held in hand.

    ~~~~~~~

    Lu Yao immediately paid, handing over hisrge backpack to Alexander''s bodyguard like tossing away a bag of trash, since he didn''t care about money that he had acquired for free.

    The bodyguard received the bag and upon opening it, found it was full of cash, certainly no less than a million. He hastily started counting with a money verifier.

    Alexander was very pleased with the quick payment, bing even keener to retain this major client so as to save enough for afortable retirement.

    After all, the former President was ranked third on the Forbes list of "Yukolon Tycoons." He too should follow this example and strive earnestly!

    Thinking this, his expression became a few degrees more sincere as he said,

    "Lu, you''re a straightforward person, and I really like that! Marshal Factory will always wee you! I''ll give you 10,000 rounds of ammunition as a token of my friendship, and from now on, all your ammunition purchases will be half-priced!"

    "Thank you," Lu Yao responded nonchntly with a nod.

    When one possesses strength, the way they view things changespletely. With his current abilities, a little money waspletely out of his consideration.

    At that moment, Lu Yao remembered his other purpose and asked, "Do you have military ''Heavy-duty NBC Suits''? I want to buy three sets."

    The "Heavy-duty NBC Suit" protects against the harm of "nuclear radiation, chemical, and biological weapons" and is essential equipment for key national facilities.

    Alexander naturally said,

    "Of course, Marshal''s Tank Factory even has an underground nuclear bunker, naturally equipped with ''Heavy-duty NBC Suits.'' Dear Lu, let me gift you three suits as a present to witness our friendship."

    After saying this, he immediately instructed his subordinates to fetch them. Nowadays, Yukolon was just a poor and insignificant country that didn''t even qualify for the use of nuclear weapons, making "Heavy-duty NBC Suits" merely ornamental.

    Lu Yao did not decline, adding, "Alright, I''ll buy some more ammunition then."

    After speaking, he handed over another bag of money. These were all ill-gotten gains from plunder, not his own money, so he didn''t mind spending it in the slightest.

    Alexander personally took the money bag, pulled out a roll, took a sniff, and excitedly said, "No problem, just give me a moment."

    He went over to the bullet production line in the workshop and shouted a few orders in the localnguage.

    The equipment that was originally producing 7.62mm bullets was adjusted by the workers, and then it started operating at full capacity producing "20MM cannon projectiles."

    Amid the "ng ng ng" of noise, the primer, casing, and projectile were all automatically produced and assembled, then flowed out along the conveyor belt, producing a thousand rounds per minute.

    This was already outdated equipment; the new machines in Xia Country not only had higher output but could also automatically sort out defective bullets and neatly pack them in boxes.

    Lu Yao watched the scene he had never seen before with great interest, suddenly feeling that it wasn''t bullets that truly restrained Martial Artists in Otherworld, but rather industrial assembly lines like this.

    Tools of ughter were ceaselessly produced, killing one''s own kind now needed but the twitch of a finger, no longer requiring the long and arduous hammering and tempering.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Meanwhile, the bodyguard fetched three sets of "Heavy-duty NBC Suits," and then tested them with considerable professionalism to ensure there were no issues.

    There were also two workshop workers cranking the "Reloader," inserting the extra cannonballs Lu Yao had purchased into the "Ammo Box."

    Having witnessed the defense of an Innate Martial Artistparable to an armored vehicle, they all purchased armor-piercing rounds.

    Each of these cannonballs was as big as a soda bottle, stored in "Ammo Boxes" that resembled travel suitcases.

    The "Ammo Boxes" were connected to the Gatling Gun via an ammunition rail, and firing couldmence with the simple pull of the trigger on the handle.

    After busying themselves for a while, they finally finished their work, and the workers carried all the equipment onto a "Mars" truck from the Iron Alliance era, which was also a friendly gift from Alexander.

    In the end, Alexander, with his subordinates, waved goodbye warmly, bidding farewell to the newly developed "big customer" until Lu Yao disappeared from sight, then they reluctantly returned.

    An old man missing an arm, wearing faded military fatigues, leaned against a rust-covered T54 tank, sipping from a bottle of strong liquorzily, as if all before him wasmonce.

    ~~~~~~~~

    After leaving the factory, Lu Yao took out his phone and called Qi Cuiya from the International Jewelry Trading Center.

    The call was quickly answered, "Mr. Lu, do you have something precious to sell again?"

    "Not this time, I''m actually asking for a favor," he said.

    Qi Cuiya had made a fair amount of money through Lu Yao and promptly said, "Just tell me what you need."

    "I remember your family is in the antique trade. Could you help me look into something? A triangle with an eye in the middle, I''ll send you the detailed design," he requested.

    "No problem, a small matter. I''ll have a look for you, and even if I can''t find anything, there''s still my great-uncle," she reassured.

    "Then I''ll leave it in your hands. If you can find a clue, I have a genuine masterpiece to offer you in gratitude," he promised.

    "Mr. Lu, you''re too polite," she replied.

    Lu Yao hung up the phone, aware that the Qi family had been in the antique trade for several generations, with extensive connections in the field; they should be able to dig up some leads... to rify what exactly was in his head and what the rtionship might be between the two worlds.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Jin Garden

    When Lu Yao arrived home, it was already deep into the night.

    Liao Qe was asleep, snoring like a pig, and it seemed that only fireworks next to her ear would wake her.

    Lu Yao wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep, not waking until the next morning.

    Upon waking and seeing her beloved next to her, Liao Qe immediately climbed on with joy.

    Lu Yao knocked her out with a st of pure Inner Breath, then massaged her with ''Art of the Dragon yer Manual.''

    By the time Liao Qe came to, her beloved was already drenched in sweat, regting his breathing.

    Even as a Spirit Refining Expert, assisting others in their cultivation was quite draining, especially when Lu Yao exerted himself with great care.

    Liao Qe felt a pang of guilt and was about to say something.

    Lu Yao spoke up first with teasing humor, "Let''s not stand on ceremony with each other. You need to catch up on your cultivation level quickly, or I''m afraid to use too much strength."

    There was arge disparity in physical constitution between the two, being at different stages of cultivation, and Lu Yao was always cautious not to harm her.

    Liao Qeughed and punched him yfully a few times, and the two got out of bed together.

    "Come on, let me show you the new Gatling Gun."

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