"Unknowingly, I've become this strong."

Bai Qi stepped forward, his muscles and bones rubbing and colliding, emitting the clanging sound of metal striking metal. Inside his body, it seemed as if a giant dragon was soaring and leaping, propelling the surging, boiling Qi blood.

He hadn't fought many people; barely any proper life-and-death battles.

If counted seriously, there was only Yang Meng at the Second Bone Training Barrier, and Zhu Shou Rang, who barely had any ability, at the First Tendon Training Barrier.

"There's no way around it; I wasn't given the kind of decisive upgrade stories like my master. Those eldest children of the thirteen trades in Yihai Prefecture, upon hearing my master's name, adapt faster than anyone, lacking the stage to play the pig to eat the tiger."

Bai Qi felt quite regretful about this. Every day, he persisted relentlessly, working hard to master all Five Grand Captures of Tongwen Hall to the Great Perfection level.

Lately, he's also focused his effort on condensing two divine seeds, [Nine Oxen and Two Tigers] and [Dragon Tactics and Tiger Strategies].

Additionally, he cultivated a top-level true skill, "Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants Prison-Suppression Skill."

With such solid groundwork, he was not in the least inferior to the true inheritance from the Upper Sect.

Yet in Black River County, there was not a single opponent to test against! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"It's like wearing fine clothes at night!"

Bai Qi sighed lightly, then his lips curved upward. Fortunately, this time, he actively teamed up with his brothers Qi Yan and Master Lv Nan to venture into the mountains for treasure hunting and finally stumbled upon such a rare chance to demonstrate his prowess.

"After this experience, I can also be considered to have promoted from 'an average county-level' to 'mid-stage Great Perfection at the county city-level,' right?"

Anyway, with [Dragon Tactics and Tiger Strategies] to test the waters, he himself wasn't afraid of capsizing in the ditch.

...

...

"Heh-heh-heh… Guan the Second, what a big mess you've made!"

Helian Hu was full of swagger, his Divine Soul condensed into the Five Demons Dharma Aspect. His thoughts surged like a tidal wave, suppressing the actions of Guan Tingqing and Tao Yun.

The four trades were in disarray, something that happens once in sixty years. Such great opportunity appearing in Celestial Water Prefecture naturally attracted all sorts of people rushing in.

Helian Hu, as the Hall Master of Pai Bang, had left Yihai Prefecture half a month earlier, wandering around and did indeed harvest several precious plants, which greatly augmented his power after consumption.

He originally thought his harvest would be limited to this, but he unexpectedly hit the jackpot, learning about the whereabouts of a treasure like Tai Sui Chen Earth.

This kind of rare treasure that can refine artifacts, forge weapons, accelerate the maturity of Spirit Rice, and nurture valuable elixirs, is not something a Jade Shop Guan Family of a county city could handle, even with several more.

He'd kill them all without hesitation!

In the path of cultivation, there's a saying that animosity hindering one's path is more profound than the hatred of killing one's father or taking one's wife.

For Superior Cultivation Techniques or Realm-Breaking Elixirs, it is common to see filthy acts of betrayal even among siblings or close kin.

"Helian Hu! You've offended both the Guan and Tao families in one go. Do you really think you won't be discovered? Someday, when the truth comes to light, you won't enjoy a good outcome!"

Guan Xingmiao's voice was weak, his mind foggy. He had fallen victim to Helian Hu's Ghost-slaying and Soul-capturing Technique, his flesh stiffening, and his spirit withering as if afflicted by a severe illness, leaving him unable to stand.

He was swaying, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to fall and extinguish at any moment!

"Haha! Hahaha! You high-born people are truly ridiculous!"

Helian Hu feigned a belly laugh, wantonly mocking:

"Guan the Second, are you related to the Eight Pillars of the Realm's nobility, or have familial ties with Dragon Court Daoist Officials or True Inheritor Immortal Masters? Back then, Ninghai Zen's fierce reputation scared you all into wetting your pants, yet he had numerous blood debts of the thirteen trades on his hands. Didn't he still live well?

Nonsense about nobility! Just spineless cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong!

Do you believe that once I break through the Fourth Realm of Dao Skill and am hopeful to ascend to Ghost Immortal, not only will your families not dare to hate me, but they'll kneel on the ground and lick my shoes!"

Guan Xingmiao was so furious his face flushed red, like anger erupting from the crown. Amid his disordered mind, a large mass of vital energy instantly emanated from his mouth and nose, swept into a sinister whirlpool.

"I've long despised you privileged spineless brats. Guan the Second, your Qi Blood and Soul at the Third Skin Refining Barrier are perfect for me to refine into Yin Soldiers!"

Seeing his verbal attack taking a significant effect, Helian Hu continued to taunt, perhaps feeling the impact wasn't enough. With a thought, a sinister wind suddenly rose, grabbing and pressing down a jagged boulder weighing several hundred pounds!

Crash!

Guan Tingqing, as the eldest child of the Guan family, was immediately crushed into a heap of pulp, without even having time to utter a scream.

"Qing'Er!"

Witnessing his nephew's tragic death, Guan Xingmiao clenched his teeth to the point of cracking.

It was precisely because of the deep affection and care usually given, that Guan Tingqing chose to inform him instead of reporting to the head of the family, who would send more people and alert the enemy.

Both shocked and furious, Guan Xingmiao's spirit slackened even further, as if the castle gates had been struck open by a giant hammer, unable to fend off the invader, leaving them to storm in unchecked.

The vital energy emitted through his breathing became more and more substantial, resembling meandering streams detaching from the flesh vessel.

Martial Artists do not hone or refine their thoughts, thus the soul remains formless and intangible, contained within the vitality of the body.

Once vitality is extinguished, the soul naturally dissipates, and not even an Immortal descending could revive them.

"It's truly a great supplement!"

Helian Hu's face displayed delight as if he had swallowed a Strength Pill, his Divine Soul suddenly expanding several folds and splitting to evolve more thoughts.

This Ghost-slaying and Soul-capturing Technique he employed was derived from Maoshan's legacy. Originally intended for refining Yin Soldiers and nurturing Altar Deities, due to its fragmented state, it had been misconstrued into a soul-draining life-taking technique.

Helian Hu was aware of this but felt no disappointment, nor did he have any intention of recovering or supplementing it through deduction.

"Maoshan orthodox practices, with their legacies and strict regulations, will never be as exhilarating as freely draining souls and capturing spirits now!"