“He’s nice to everyone. He’s the Mr. Nice Guy in the Manor,” the elderly Officiator remarked as he set down the thigh bone in his hand. “How’s the progress on the missing dogs case I assigned to you?”
Bai Jing’s lips curled into a confident smile at the question. “I’ve discovered that the wild dogs chased Li Shunxi into a restaurant in Mountain-Edge City. None of them came out afterward.”
“Oh? A restaurant?”
“Indeed. A place called Pine Blue. Unfortunately, it’s owned by the largest underworld sect in the Northern Lands—the Crimson Whale Sect.” Bai Jing’s smile widened into a sly grin.
The Officiator’s interest sharpened. “Oh? Continue.”
Bai Jing took a few measured steps before seating himself. “I’ve yet to uncover the finer details, but one thing is certain—the Crimson Whale Sect is involved.”
The Officiator frowned, perplexed. “A mere mortal faction. How would they dare defy our Ashoka Manor?”
Bai Jing tilted his head, the smile never leaving his face. “Perhaps they think they’ve hidden their tracks well… or perhaps the Shangyang Family backing them is involved. Who can say for sure?”
The Officiator’s tone hardened with command. “Continue your investigation until you are absolutely certain who the mastermind is. If we strike, it must be swift as lightning. We must secure undeniable evidence, or others will use it against us.”
Bai Jing clasped his hands respectfully. “Rest assured, My Lord. I will not fail you. The Crimson Whale Sect’s Sect Master, Lu Sheng, is the prime suspect.”
…………
On his way back, Lu Sheng dispatched several more ghosts and unraveled a few lingering cases, gathering nearly three units of Yin Qi. A dozen days passed before he finally returned to Mountain-Edge City.
Upon arriving, he spent two more days preparing the living sacrifices required for Ashoka Manor’s Ritual Offering. On the eve of his departure, he had entrusted Jade Lotus with selecting the sacrifices. As for finding the hundred mortals, he was to visit Taoist Bai Feng for access to the prison—where prisoners on death row would serve—and to hunt down bandits roaming outside the city.
In the quiet hours between tasks, Lu Sheng devoted himself to cultivating Aquarius Qi, striving to restore balance between his Yin and Yang.
Then, one day, someone wholly unexpected knocked on his door, seeking an alliance.
“Brother Lu! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
Lu Sheng received two mysterious figures in his study within Crimson Whale. Both wore black capes and wide black veil hats that concealed their faces.
One of them lifted the veil lightly, revealing a familiar face.
“Brother Li?!” Lu Sheng’s eyes widened. “Why have you come?”
The visitor was none other than Li Shunxi, long missing and presumed in danger. Now, he seemed steadier, as though tempered by profound trials. Behind him stood a veiled woman who chose not to reveal herself, yet from her bearing and the precision of her steps, she was clearly a master—likely at the peak of Strength Proficiency.
“To tell the truth, Brother Lu, this visit is made out of no choice,” Li Shunxi replied with a bitter smile.
Lu Sheng gestured to the guards, signaling them to seal the doors tightly. These guards idolized him, handpicked for their boldness, loyalty, and lack of familial ties—men whose devotion he did not question.
“Brother Li, for you to come seeking me at such a time… what matter could be worth such a risk?” Lu Sheng asked, frowning as he offered them seats.
Watching his old friend grow ever more formidable, Li Shunxi could only sigh inwardly, helpless in the face of fate’s twists.
In the span of mere moments, Lu Sheng had risen from an ordinary sect leader to the Number One Expert of the Northern Lands. Now the Sect Master of the Crimson Whale Sect, he commanded vast forces with a single word.
Yet despite Lu Sheng’s strength, Li Shunxi’s matter was far too grave to trouble him lightly. He would never have sought help from a friend who had already aided him once—unless forced by circumstance. But because this issue would endanger many dear to him, he had come nonetheless, determined to secure the greatest possible benefit for Lu Sheng in return.
Li Shunxi eased into his seat, composed himself, and spoke. “Brother Lu, do you have ample grain and vegetable oil? To be honest, some of my friends who live secluded in the mountains can no longer buy grain or oil. Their days are growing difficult, and that is why I…”
Lu Sheng’s brow arched sharply. “Some of your friends? Don’t tell me you’ve joined a gang of mountain bandits?”
At those words, the masked woman behind Li Shunxi erupted. “How dare you!!!” In one swift motion, she began drawing her sword, ready to strike Lu Sheng down.
Lu Sheng did not move. Instead, he lifted his gaze toward her. His eyes—now carrying a weight of dominance that grew stronger by the day—met hers for an instant. That single glance froze her in place. The half-drawn sword stopped trembling in her hand, stuck between scabbard and air.
Cold sweat gathered on her pale forehead; her face flushed scarlet. Even through the veil, shock and fury were unmistakable. She stood rooted to the spot, barely able to breathe.
“Qing Mei, don’t be rash,” Li Shunxi urged quickly, stepping forward to pull her back. “Brother Lu was only making an offhand remark. He didn’t know. There’s no need to break the peace over such a small thing.”
Her pride rescued, Qing Mei let out a sharp huff, sheathed her sword, and resumed her place behind Li Shunxi.
Lu Sheng’s eyes narrowed, his tone edged with mockery. “That’s the attitude you use to seek help?”
“You!!” Qing Mei growled, surging forward again—only to be restrained firmly by Li Shunxi before the blade left its sheath.
“Alright, that’s enough! Qing Mei, go outside first. I’m fine on my own. Brother Lu, I’m begging you, don’t say anything else,” Li Shunxi said, trying to calm both sides.
The lady muttered under her breath, clearly unwilling, but allowed herself to be pushed out the door.
With her gone, the study fell quiet, the tension easing noticeably.
Li Shunxi drew a slow breath. “To be honest, Brother Lu, I’m representing others and have come to purchase a batch of rations from you. And I mean at least more than two thousand catties.”
Lu Sheng’s brows lifted. “Two thousand catties… That’s not a big problem. But Brother Li, it’s not about giving you face. This is truly a critical period. Huge stretches of farmland lie unfarmed. You’ve surely seen grain prices on the streets. Even my brothers and I in the sect have to fish daily just to make ends meet. I barely dare to eat much myself. And now you’re buying grain for your friends at a time like this… I assume you’re prepared to pay for it?”
Li Shunxi nodded earnestly. “Indeed. Gold, silver, jewelry, medicine, even weapons… you name it.”
Lu Sheng’s heart gave a faint jolt, his mind racing through possibilities. “Brother Li, tell me the truth. Who are you representing this time?”
Li Shunxi paused, thinking, then offered a helpless smile. “Brother Lu, it’s not that I don’t trust you. But I’ve given them my word—I cannot reveal their identities. However, what I can tell you is this: they lack neither gold nor silver, nor medicine, weapons, or martial arts.”
Lu Sheng’s expression shifted subtly. Anyone who dared speak so before the sect master of the greatest force in the Northern Lands clearly had formidable backing.
“Very well,” he said at last. “Several thousand catties of grain aren’t much. I can sell them. But what do you intend to exchange for it?”
Li Shunxi lowered his gaze slightly. “Anything you want, except for the real top-of-the-range Spirit Focus martial arts. But as for the price…” His voice faded into uncertainty.
“Oh? Even martial arts will do!? How about Intent Proficiency ones?” Lu Sheng’s eyes lit with surprise and barely contained excitement. This was unimaginable wealth.
An Intent Proficiency martial arts manual—especially one accompanied by complete instructions—was a treasure on the level of a family heirloom. It could raise an entire clan to prosperity. Such things were priceless; even auctions rarely saw them, and no one in their right mind would part with one.
Li Shunxi nodded, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Intent Proficiency ones… we have those as well. But they’re worth far more than ordinary manuals. Brother Lu must be mentally prepared. I can’t say we have many, but three to five of them is nothing difficult.”
Lu Sheng drew in a sharp breath. “Sssss…”
Even when the Zhen Family dominated the Northern Lands, the most they distributed were Strength Proficiency manuals. Intent Proficiency techniques were guarded closely, contributed only by the sect’s upper echelon. Without explicit approval, they were forbidden from circulating.
Ultimate Crimson Mantra, for example, was an Intent Proficiency manual. Although Crimson Whale had held it for generations, only those also belonging to Crimson Sun Sect were allowed to practice it.
Yet Li Shunxi’s backer was willing to exchange Intent Proficiency techniques… for grain.
It was like hearing someone trade gold for garbage.
Lu Sheng leaned back slightly, his gaze sharpening. “So it seems you’ve still chosen to take the risk of buying grain from me even with such wealth…” He left the sentence hanging, but the implication was clear: whoever backed Li Shunxi operated beyond the law. Otherwise, with such riches, they would simply approach merchants or auctions openly.
Li Shunxi could only nod helplessly.
“If it’s Intent Proficiency manuals you want,” he continued, “I can make the call to exchange one manual for every five thousand catties of grain.” He clearly understood that martial arts were the only thing that could move Lu Sheng.
Lu Sheng asked quietly, “Do I get to choose?”
“We’ll set a time and place,” Li Shunxi replied. “I’ll have him bring the original manuals. They’ll come complete with meditation diagrams—impossible to forge. Any modification will show immediately.”
“Even if there were alterations, as long as it’s mostly genuine, it’s already remarkable,” Lu Sheng said solemnly. “Five thousand catties for one manual… that’s simply…” He stopped himself. It was far too cheap.
Li Shunxi gave a strained, bitter smile.
“They guessed you’d be after martial arts manuals, so they had me bring a list. Everything here is available for you to choose from.”
From his chest, he withdrew a thin booklet. Its light blue cover was spotless—clearly freshly copied.
Lu Sheng opened it. Dark ink strokes filled the page, and even the written words seemed to radiate a faint, intimidating aura.
“Fine calligraphy,” he murmured, then continued reading.
The list was divided into three sections—Ordinary, Strength Proficiency, and Intent Proficiency. Lu Sheng’s eyes went straight to the last category.
The Intent Proficiency techniques were grouped at the end.
“Intent Proficiency: Thousand Trees Burning Heart Palm, Deer Heart Mantra, Clone Shadow Skill, Eight Zen Still Mind Saber.”
Four skills in total, each accompanied by a concise description.
Lu Sheng skimmed quickly, and his attention settled almost immediately on Thousand Trees Burning Heart Palm. Unlike the other skills, this one was a hard-body technique meant for tempering the physique. Judging by the introduction alone, it was an overwhelmingly potent art.
This palm technique was the very skill that had carried the Divine Prime expert Lu Wuxiang—who once roamed the Central Plains unchallenged—to fame. As a child, Lu Wuxiang had consumed a blade of Fire Grass by chance, granting him a unique constitution perfectly suited for cultivating this demanding art. Because of that, he had managed to break through Strength Proficiency and Intent Proficiency with it, reach Spirit Focus, and eventually step into the Divine Prime realm before vanishing into seclusion.
For an ordinary cultivator, however, cultivating this technique to Spirit Focus—even after decades—was considered an extraordinary feat.
After all, once a mortal expert stepped into Divine Prime, he possessed enough strength to preserve his own life. He might still be outmatched by Bind-realm ghosts and Anomalies, but at the very least, his fate would no longer be held in another’s hands.
“It’s only a few thousand catties of grain. I’ll take this Thousand Trees Burning Heart Palm. It should be compatible with my Ultimate Crimson Mantra,” Lu Sheng said, handing the booklet back to Li Shunxi.
Li Shunxi nodded. “Actually, there are other martial arts we can offer you. But these are the cheapest to cultivate. Many of the others require extremely strict conditions.” He gathered the booklet. “Since that’s settled, let’s decide on a time and place for the exchange.”
“Yes,” Lu Sheng replied with a firm nod.
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