Snapping out of his reverie, Lu Sheng asked, “What are the physical characteristics of this wanted fugitive?”
Clearly prepared beforehand, Xiao Hongye clapped his hands. A young lady stepped forward carrying a neat stack of drawings before placing them in his hands.
He passed them to Lu Sheng.
Lu Sheng unfurled the top sheet with care. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
The first drawing was unmistakably Li Shunxi. The sketch lacked refinement, yet it captured enough of his features that anyone could recognize him at a glance.
He continued flipping through the remaining portraits. One depicted a plump monk with oversized ears. Another two—unexpectedly—were of the Liu Family sisters, who had only recently departed from his care.
Lu Sheng gathered the drawings and slipped them away, his expression unreadable.
“I’ve actually seen these people before.” He made no attempt to conceal his connection with them. Xiao Hongye was the type who prided himself on having eyes and ears everywhere; hiding something so obvious would only make things worse.
Li Shunxi had accompanied him in and out of the Sect on multiple occasions—many had seen him. Concealment was meaningless. As for the Liu sisters, their striking looks and their temporary stay in the Golden Jade Greenhouse made them even more recognizable.
Xiao Hongye chuckled, unfazed. “Hehehe… Brother Lu is honest indeed. But it can’t be helped. They’ve crossed a line with the Manor Lord. Even I have no say in this matter.”
“I’ll take heed when I get back. If I discover them, I’ll inform you.” Lu Sheng stated calmly, making his stance clear.
In the end, both he and Xiao Hongye were merely spokesmen for the powers behind them—neither had true authority over the outcome.
“That would be for the best. I know your background, Brother, so I trust you won’t shelter the fugitives,” Xiao Hongye said with an easy smile. “Let’s drink, let’s drink.”
He raised his cup toward Lu Sheng, inviting yet another toast.
Night had already fallen by the time Lu Sheng departed from Xiao Manor. He rode home in a carriage, weighed down by a heavy heart.
While Xiao Hongye was flushed with wine, Lu Sheng used the opportunity to inquire about matters that were considered basic knowledge among Noblemen, gaining a clearer understanding of the Bind realm.
Even within the Bind realm, the degree of indestructibility varied according to one’s Vein-Count. The resilience of Single- and Double-Vein cultivators paled in comparison to those of the Three-Vein level. With only one or two veins, one remained indestructible so long as no more than thirty percent of the body was damaged, and no critical parts—such as the head or heart—were harmed.
But at the Three-Vein level, the transformation of the body was drastic. Killing a Three-Vein cultivator required destroying more than eighty percent of the body in a single strike.
The next major threshold was the Seven-Vein level, marking the second evolution of the body within the Bind realm. According to legend, even if a Seven-Vein expert were reduced entirely to pulp, he could regenerate at astonishing speed. Moreover, having reached the pinnacle of the Bind realm, he could only be truly killed by slaying him seven times, each time destroying one of his seven layers of black membrane.
‘Seven times…’ For the first time, Lu Sheng felt a heaviness settle over his heart. The number alone was terrifying, not to mention the overwhelming strength such an expert would naturally possess. In other words, unless one’s power vastly surpassed theirs—and unless one could fully prevent their escape—the wisest course when encountering a Seven-Vein expert was simply to retreat.
‘I thought that after attaining my current level, I had finally gained some ability to protect myself. But now, it seems I’m still too weak…’ Sitting in the pitch-black carriage, Lu Sheng felt true fatigue for the first time in a long while.
Yet he quickly shook it off. This world had no room for the weak. Mortals who lacked strength were nothing more than food on someone else’s table.
‘Judging from the war earlier… Divine Weapons can be seized by force. If I become strong enough, perhaps I could capture one and claim the status of a legitimate Nobleman myself…’
A spark of possibility ignited within him.
But almost immediately, he cast that notion aside.
‘What is the point of a Noble Family that demands a hundred living sacrifices every ten years?’4Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAhkatMrDy
The memory of the Xu Family massacre resurfaced—rows upon rows of cold, lifeless bodies, still vivid in his mind.
‘If I truly became a Nobleman like that someday, how would I be any different from those inhuman monsters?’ Disgusted, he crushed the thought without hesitation.
‘With the Modifier in my hands, why should I fear the Noble Families? If I gather enough powerful martial arts and accumulate more Yin Qi, I can push my arts to heights no one has ever imagined! When that day comes—Noble Families, Divine Weapons—I will cleave them all apart!’
A sudden fury flared within him. He was repulsed by this twisted world… repulsed by the Noble Families and demonic beings who fed on mortals like parasites.
‘Let me be the one to correct this deformed world!’ A dangerous aura surged from deep within.
The urge to cut down everything unjust rose in him like a rising tide.
’Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!!!’ Countless surges of murderous will and wild aggression burst open inside his chest. ‘Restore the world to its rightful path!!! Anyone who stands against me must die!!!’
Seated in the carriage, Lu Sheng’s eyes began to redden. A thin, straight line of blood emerged from the whites of his eyes, stretching from his pupils to the corners like a drawn blade.
That streak of raw crimson radiated a violent, maddening presence. A single glance would drive any man into a frenzy.
‘Eh? Not good!!!’ All at once, Lu Sheng snapped back to awareness. The Ultimate Crimson Nine Furies Skill was surging wildly inside him, operating far beyond what his body could withstand. His skin burned hot, glowing an angry red as though he might ignite at any moment.
‘This is a sign of losing myself!’ Alarmed, he forcefully gathered his thoughts, channeling his inner Qi to suppress the rampaging fury.
Fortunately, his cultivation—fortified by the Modifier—was grounded in an unshakable foundation. With effort, he pulled himself back under control and calmed his raging heart.
After some time, he emerged slowly from his meditation and exhaled a long, steady breath.
From outside the carriage, the driver’s confused voice called out, “Master? Master?”
“I’m fine. Are we there yet?” Lu Sheng asked, exhaustion lingering in his tone.
“Mm, we’ve reached,” the driver replied, his voice regaining composure after hearing Lu Sheng speak. “We’re at the entrance of Lu Manor.”
In the darkness of the carriage, Lu Sheng sat motionless for a long moment.
‘It must be because I’ve cultivated too many hard body skills… And earlier, I pushed the Yang-type Ultimate Crimson Nine Furies Skill too far. My Yang Qi has surged too high—my body’s completely out of balance. I need Yin-type mantras to counteract it…’
With the Modifier by his side, cultivating Yin-type mantras posed no difficulty. Understanding the root of the problem meant he could resolve it easily enough. Yet this incident revealed a new path for his future growth.
‘Since my many hard body skills brought me into a Yang Extreme Mode, there should theoretically be a corresponding Yin Extreme Mode. I’ll look for clues in the sect’s martial arts database.’ A sense of direction began to take shape within him.
To ascend to a higher plane of inner force mastery, achieving a state of pure Yang through the harmony of Yin and Yang appeared to be the true path—especially if done without relying solely on the Modifier.
Yang Extreme Mode, born from stacking numerous hard body skills and reinforcing them with intense Yang-type inner force, was overwhelmingly destructive. And if Yin Extreme Mode existed as its counterpart, its power would no doubt be equally formidable. The thought filled Lu Sheng with anticipation.
After returning to the Manor and resting through the night, he rose early the next morning and made his way directly to the Martial Proclamation Library of the Crimson Whale.
Behind the counter sat the old librarian, half-asleep, his eyes barely open.
“So the new sect master has come,” he murmured, lifting his gaze to Lu Sheng. His attitude toward him was unchanged from before; only the title he used had shifted.
Disciples browsing the manuals greeted Lu Sheng with deep reverence as they passed. Only the old librarian regarded him with the same indifference as ever.
“Looking at Sect Master’s condition, you must be searching for a Yin-natured inner force mantra, aren’t you? This is the list of all Yin-type inner force skills in the Martial Proclamation Library.” The old librarian pulled out a piece of paper and casually tossed it toward Lu Sheng.
Lu Sheng blinked in surprise. The man had anticipated his intention before he even spoke. Was his imbalance truly so obvious?
He regarded the old librarian with a brief, suspicious glance, then lowered his eyes to the paper.
“Jade Spring Skill, Three Yin Mantra, Aquarius Qi, Four Rings Winter Plum Skill, Spirit Stepping Pill Skill, Flying Frost Mantra.”
Six in total—all at the Strength Proficiency tier. Beneath each name was a detailed description.
With the Zhen Family gone, so were their rigid restrictions. As sect master, Lu Sheng naturally had the authority to bypass the usual contribution requirements.
He folded the list and tucked it away.
“How could you tell that I need Yin-type inner force mantras?” Lu Sheng had long suspected that the old librarian was not as simple as he appeared. Even when catastrophe befell the sect, the man kept guard over the vast library without the slightest disturbance—and not a single incident had ever occurred under his watch. That alone spoke volumes.
The old man replied calmly, “This old man can only tell that Sect Master’s Yin and Yang are out of balance. Sect Master is gifted, but your cultivation path is far too extreme. Pills and medicines can improve one’s inner force, but they should be used sparingly.”
“Many thanks for the reminder, elder librarian.” The librarian seemed to assume Lu Sheng relied on pills for cultivation. Lu Sheng did not bother correcting him. In truth, his foundation was far sturdier than any pill-dependent martial artist—his potential for growth was limitless, something those reliant on medicine could never achieve.
After studying the listed inner force skills thoroughly, Lu Sheng requested a transcription of Aquarius Qi, intending to begin cultivating it once he returned. Now that he had entered Yang Extreme Mode, perhaps the meridian capacity that once constrained him had finally expanded.
Additionally, it was time for him to seek Yin Qi personally. Since antiques yielded nothing and Zhuo Wenyu had vanished without a trace, his only remaining option was to hunt ghosts—far more efficient than relying on chance.
The Scarlet District was, naturally, off-limits. They had withdrawn and severed ties from the Crimson Whale Sect for the moment; as long as he did not provoke them, they would not interfere. But the scattered ghosts and Anomalies appearing elsewhere demanded attention.
After leaving the Martial Proclamation Library, Lu Sheng returned to the sect master’s study. Jade Lotus was buried in a mountain of documents, looking utterly miserable. The moment he saw Lu Sheng, he sprang up as though relieved from a death sentence and quickly vacated the seat.
“Sect Master, you’re finally back! Just the recent unsolved Ordinary Grade cases from the various territories number over ten. And Spirit Grade cases are at least five or six! It’s completely overwhelming,” Jade Lotus complained. Eye bags darkened his refined features—the workload had clearly stripped him of sleep.
Upon assuming leadership, Lu Sheng had reorganized all cases into Ordinary Grade, Spirit Grade, and Bind Grade. Anything beyond the Bind level was grouped under Bind anyway, since it was irrelevant to the average disciple. That system allowed them to assign cases far more efficiently.
“Where is Sect Master Chen Ying?” Lu Sheng asked as he settled into his seat.
“He’s already led a team out to handle a Spirit Grade case,” Jade Lotus replied.
“How many Bind Grade cases do we have?”
“Only one. But it’s unclear whether it truly qualifies as Bind Grade,” Jade Lotus said with a frown. “Sect Master… you mean to…”
“I mean to handle the case personally,” Lu Sheng confirmed with a nod.
He needed more Yin Qi—and the only way to obtain it was by slaying ghosts. To save time, it was far more efficient to hunt those with dense, potent Yin Qi.
With his current strength at the Three-Vein level, Lu Sheng already surpassed even the Scarlet District’s Deputy District Mistress—the umbrella girl. Handling a typical Anomaly was trivial for him, let alone an ordinary ghost. As long as he exercised caution, he could move through the entire Northern Lands almost without restraint.
“Since Sect Master has decided to handle it personally, it will surely be resolved,” Jade Lotus said with a visible sigh of relief. “When I first saw this case, I wasn’t sure which grade it should fall under.”
“Let me see.” Lu Sheng extended his hand.
Jade Lotus stepped forward, quickly locating a folded yellow sheet on the cluttered desk. He opened it carefully.
Three phrases stood boldly at the top of the page, immediately catching Lu Sheng’s eye—4Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpMM8HcND7
“Tea Sect, Pharmacist, Stained Glass Mirror.”
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