I Can Strengthen Infinitely-Chapter 60 - 55: Bai Hao Pays a Visit

Cyan Yang City is bustling today.

The weather is a bit muggy now, yet the enormous ice mountain remains unmelted beneath the sun, radiating cold air so chilly that some daring folk even go near to cool off.

In contrast, the Jiang Mansion fire incident has become a topic of widespread discussion in the streets and tea houses, particularly regarding the Jiang family massacre case.

After all, the Jiang family was one of the five noble families in Cyan Yang City, to disappear without warning is truly cause for lament.

If it weren’t for the authorities announcing at dawn that the perpetrator has been killed, the entire Cyan Yang City would have plunged into fear today.

"The yamen has made a move; they’ve hung a head on the city wall, right by the east gate. Everyone, go take a look!"

They responded as one, and soon the area outside the city gate was crowded with people, all gazing up at the suspended head with varied expressions.

Surprised, skeptical, curious...

A constable brushed on several layers of glutinous rice paste onto a notice board near the city gate, then adhered a notice to it.

"Cyan Yang City constable Shen Lang, due to secretly cultivating demonic arts, his temperament changed by Qi deviation, and he is the real mastermind behind the recent massacre in Cyan Yang City. He has now been killed, and everyone can rest easy tonight," the constable shouted as he turned around.

"That’s wonderful."

"This is indeed wonderful."

"Finally, we can have a good night’s sleep tonight."

...

Yamen.

Bai Hao sat opposite Xun Sheng.

"Who killed Shen Lang, have you found out?"

"I suspect it was Young Master Qin, because after Shen Lang left the Jiang Mansion, no constable saw him again. But judging from the traces of houses he damaged, he visited the Qin Mansion, and then inexplicably left."

"The Qin family..." Bai Hao wobbled his fingers and said, "That young man I gave the book to last time was..."

"He is the young master of the Qin family," Xun Sheng nodded, "According to the surviving constables, Young Master Qin appeared at the Jiang Mansion last night, and later lured Shen Lang away."

"With such capability, if I cannot enlist him in the Seven Star Bureau, it would be a great loss for the Great Tang." Bai Hao immediately stood up, "Come, let’s visit the Qin Mansion."

...

The extermination of the Jiang family was a shock to every family in Cyan Yang City, making them realize that no matter how large the business, when crisis strikes, it is useless.

What is meant to perish will perish.

Even being one of the five noble families like the Jiang family was not immune to such a quick and unforeseen demise.

A wave of recruitment quietly surged in Cyan Yang City; as long as you’re a martial artist, even better if externally trained, I’ll hire you at any cost.

In Cyan Yang City, ordinary martial artists mostly hold the front lines, while externally trained martial artists belong to high-end combat power; any family having a Bone Forging Realm martial artist is considered extremely formidable.

Hammer Tendon Realm, throughout Cyan Yang City, the martial artists reaching this realm do not exceed five in number.

Among them, two are government officials, one is the head of the ’Greedy Wolf Martial Arts Hall,’ and the other two are the leaders of the Fierce Tiger Gang and Flood Dragon Gang.

However, the Fierce Tiger Gang leader is now in the past, unworthy of mention.

Upon learning of the governor’s visit, Qin Feng was greatly surprised.

As the Patriarch of the Qin family, he naturally had numerous interactions with Governor Xun, but the latter, being righteous and principled, never privately contacted any forces. This visit was the first Qin Feng had encountered.

Therefore, he immediately asked the head steward to invite the distinguished guests to the Guest Hall to rest, and he followed shortly to entertain.

Inside the Guest Hall were only Xun Sheng and Bai Hao, while the accompanying servants all stood outside the hall.

Upon Qin Feng’s appearance, Xun Sheng promptly stood up and smiled, "Master Qin."

"Governor," Qin Feng replied with respect.

"This is Lord Bai from Kyoto," Xun Sheng introduced.

"I have met Lord Bai," Qin Feng saluted again, "May I know the reason for your visit today, my Lords?"

"Master Qin, there is no need for formality. We simply wish to meet your son."

"To meet Yuesheng?" Qin Feng’s expression changed, "Has that kid gotten into trouble again outside?"

"Not at all, Master Qin, no need for worry. We merely have a few words we wish to say to your son."

So, Qin Feng turned and instructed Qin Zheng, "Go and bring Young Master here."

When Qin Yuesheng entered the Guest Hall and saw Xun Sheng and Bai Hao, he politely saluted, then calmly sat opposite the two, waiting silently for them to speak first.

"Master Qin, the matter we will discuss with your son next is a court secret. Could you please leave for a while?" Xun Sheng asked.

Though phrased as a request, his tone allowed no refusal.

Qin Feng had no choice but to leave the Guest Hall with Qin Zheng.

Suddenly, only Qin Yuesheng and the other two remained in the hall.

"Young Master Qin, was Shen Lang’s head sent to the yamen by you last night?"

"Yes, it was me."

"Did you kill Shen Lang?"

"Yes."

Xun Sheng and Bai Hao exchanged a glance, and Xun Sheng asked, "Then what happened with the Ice Mountain?"

"It was a method used by Shen Lang. I don’t quite understand the specifics."

Bai Hao stroked his beard, "Anyway, we must thank Young Master Qin for lending a hand this time. Otherwise, with Shen Lang rampaging unchecked in Cyan Yang City, he would have recklessly murdered the innocent, and who knows how many more would have died."

"It was a trivial matter, you overstate it," said Qin Yuesheng.

Bai Hao hesitated for a moment, "Young Master Qin, regarding the matter I mentioned last time about joining the Seven Star Monitor, have you considered it? Do you have any intention?"

Qin Yuesheng leaned back in his chair, "Lord Bai, honestly, I’m not interested in the affairs of slaying demons and monsters. If I encounter a ghost that I can handle, I’ll get rid of it even without joining the Seven Star Monitor. But if I come across a ghost beyond my capacity, I wouldn’t dare to intervene even if I were a member of the Seven Star Monitor. So, whether or not I join wouldn’t actually make much difference, would it?"

"It’s different. By joining the Seven Star Monitor, you can access higher-level circles. Fine weaponry, rare mystical pills, martial arts manuals, Internal Cultivation Methods, master teachings, official positions—these aren’t things you can acquire while staying in this small Cyan Yang City,

young man, the world is vast. Your current perspective doesn’t yet encompass those possibilities, and joining the Seven Star Monitor is your best stepping stone. Once you join, a rise to prominence won’t be an issue."

Qin Yuesheng suddenly asked, "What did you say just now?"

Bai Hao was stunned, "I said once you join the Seven Star Monitor, a rise to prominence won’t be an issue."

"No, a few sentences before that."

"By joining the Seven Star Monitor, you can access higher-level circles. Fine weaponry, rare mystical pills, martial arts manuals, Internal Cultivation Methods, master teachings, official positions."

Qin Yuesheng’s eyes brightened, "Rare mystical pills? How do they compare to Dragon Tiger Frost Jade Dew?"

Xun Sheng was at a loss. How did the conversation suddenly jump to a bedroom supplement like Dragon Tiger Frost Jade Dew?

It seemed the rumors were true; this young master of the Qin family wasn’t exactly proper.

Bai Hao touched his nose, finding the young man’s pursuits quite peculiar and inscrutable.

"Dragon Tiger Frost Jade Dew is merely a Primordial Yang supplement secreted by an Imperial Physician in Kyoto. Though it holds a value of a hundred taels, it hardly qualifies as rare. The grade difference between the two is vast."

"If I join the Seven Star Monitor, how can I obtain these rare mystical pills?"

"Corpse Ghosts have skin, malicious ghosts have essence. You can exchange evidence of ghost slaying for them. Typically, a bottle of rare mystical pills can be exchanged for spirits with more than a hundred malicious aura points." Bai Hao said.

"What is meant by spirits with over a hundred malicious aura points?"

Bai Hao took a fist-sized iron toad from his pocket and handed it to Qin Yuesheng.

The iron toad had a crystal-clear white glass disc embedded in its back, akin to a modern clock inside, marked with one, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, five words at the edge.

"This is the Exorcism Toad, capable of detecting surrounding malicious aura. In places where ghosts appear, malicious aura will be present. Our Seven Star Monitor people usually use this to search. Spirits exceeding a hundred malicious aura points are known as spirits with over a hundred aura points."

"Oh, thank you for the guidance, my lord." Qin Yuesheng became enlightened and instinctively moved to tuck the Exorcism Toad into his pocket.

Bai Hao quickly exclaimed, "Hey, hey, why are you tucking it away? Give it back."

Qin Yuesheng was puzzled, "Weren’t you offering me this?"

"Of course not. Within the Seven Star Monitor, official ranks are distinguished by the Exorcism Toad’s material: ’gold, silver, copper, iron, wood.’ If you join the Seven Star Monitor, you can only use a wooden toad, whereas this one is iron. It’s purely for demonstration purposes."

Feeling awkward, Qin Yuesheng returned the Exorcism Toad, "You should’ve said so earlier."

Bai Hao tucked the Exorcism Toad back into his pocket, "So, now do you wish to join my Seven Star Monitor?"

Qin Yuesheng candidly nodded, "Yes."

A bottle of Dragon Tiger Frost Jade Dew could provide over 200 total essence points, and a rare mystical pill higher in grade could probably give him an instant boost of a thousand or more.

Gathering all the pill stores from the Qin and Du families barely added over two thousand points. As Bai Hao mentioned, joining the Seven Star Monitor indeed presents a stepping stone that could allow him to acquire many things unattainable in Cyan Yang City.

Moreover, the All-Purpose Essence is the basis for Qin Yuesheng’s foundation, and taking mystical pills is the fastest way to increase the All-Purpose Essence.

"Then take this badge; from now on, you are a member of the Seven Star Monitor."

It was a palm-sized iron badge, wide at both ends and narrow in the middle. The front was inscribed with the words "Seven Star," representing identity.

Qin Yuesheng extended his hand to receive it, examining it carefully.

"I advise you on one thing, if you travel the martial world and see someone with an Exorcism Toad, they are your comrades from the Seven Star Monitor. I’ve explained the distinctions between gold, silver, copper, iron, and wood,

but besides these five official ranks, there are seven special lords within the Seven Star Monitor. Each has a unique Exorcism Toad made from special materials—some are made of jade, others of agate, crystals, ultimately unique to the Seven Star Monitor."

"One day, should you be fortunate enough to encounter them, don’t mistake them for substandard goods."

"Oh." Qin Yuesheng understood.

"Now that you’ve joined the Seven Star Monitor, consider yourself one of us. I happen to have a few pressing matters on my hands that one person alone can’t handle. I’ll assign you one to earn some benefits and help you familiarize yourself with the Seven Star Monitor’s reward system."

"Is it difficult? I won’t take on anything overly dangerous."