Chapter 22

The season is already early winter.

Mangzhou northern region is now a world of ice and snow.

And the nights in the southern region finally have a hint of coldness.

Xia Daoming sat in the backyard, holding a Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pill in his hand.

Yesterday, Ji Wenyue quickly returned and gave him a package of pills.

Among them were ten Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pills, which were worth two hundred taels each on the market.

And the ones Ji Wenyue gave were the top-grade Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pills taken by Ji family descendants; if they were taken out to sell, they could probably sell for three hundred taels each.

Just this alone was worth three thousand taels.

In addition to the Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pills, there were Lingcang Pills, Nine-Bone Paste, Green Lotus Strength-Supplementing Pills, and many other pills with worse medicinal effects.

How much these pills were worth specifically, Xia Daoming found it difficult to price, but they were worth at least six thousand taels on the market.

And this was just the first batch.

"Eating soft rice is still easier and more fragrant!"

Xia Daoming muttered to himself, then threw the Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pill into his mouth like throwing a bean.

Soon, a surging medicinal power spread in his meridians.

Xia Daoming didn't open his eyes until the beginning of the Yin hour after practicing with pills.

The concise system screen appeared in his mind.

Xia Daoming—

Cultivation: Fifth-rank Wu Shi

First-level meridian strengthening progress: Sixty percent.

And the day before yesterday, the strengthening progress of the first-level meridians was still zero.

"Eating soft rice is still easier and more fragrant!"

Xia Daoming couldn't help but sigh again.

"The efficacy of this Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pill has dropped a lot; the remaining two can be kept for Liu Qiaolian to take after she breaks through to become a fourth-rank Wu Shi."

Xia Daoming took out the brocade box containing the remaining two Three-Yuan Returning Blood Pills, looked at it, and put it away.

Time passed in the blink of an eye for three months.

Xia Daoming found that he still underestimated the system's gold-swallowing ability.

The nine strengthenings of the fifth-rank realm were getting harder and harder, and the quantity of nourishing pills and meat required was also increasing.

The time was also getting longer and longer.

Xia Daoming only used four days to complete the strengthening of the first-level meridians.

And for the strengthening of the eighth-level meridians, Xia Daoming used a full twenty days, and the resources consumed were astonishing.

However, this was not only related to the improvement of the meridian strengthening level and the higher requirements for the quality of nourishing pills, but also to the fact that the efficacy of the same pill he took was constantly decreasing.

After all, the quality of the pills produced by the Ji family was limited, mainly aimed at sixth-rank Great Martial Masters and below; above the sixth-rank Great Wu Shi, the efficacy was very limited.

And Xia Daoming's meridian strengthening to the fourth level was actually comparable to a sixth-rank Great Wu Shi.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming's realm was still a fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, which allowed the Ji family's pills to still play a significant role.

But as the level got higher and higher, the degree of waste was also getting more and more serious.

It was Liu Qiaolian who, thanks to Xia Daoming, enjoyed the treatment of a direct descendant of a big force every day for these three months, and five days ago, she broke through to become a fourth-rank Wu Shi in one go.

Now Liu Qiaolian, in addition to continuing to supplement and practice diligently, had begun to take the secret medicine of Qianjiao Martial Arts Hall to condense blood and internal force—Dragon Abyss Paste—to prepare for observing the secret map and practicing dark energy.

In addition to the breakthrough in cultivation, during these three months, Liu Qiaolian tried her best to cater to Xia Daoming when playing cards, making him unable to extricate himself, almost indulging in female beauty, going astray, and abandoning his proper business.

Fortunately, Xia Daoming discovered it in time, pulled back from the brink, and set a limit on the number of times for himself and Liu Qiaolian, which put him back on the right track.

This night, late at night, Xia residence backyard.

Xia Daoming slowly opened his eyes, "looking" at the strengthening progress of the ninth-level meridians displayed on the system interface in his mind, which was only two percent, and couldn't help but furrow his brows, falling into deep thought.

"This won't work! Consuming such a large amount of resources in a short period of time, even if Ji Wenyue has great power in the family, I fear she will have to bear significant pressure.

And for the strengthening of the ninth-level meridians, the conversion rate of the medicinal power of the pills given by Ji Wenyue is lower, and the waste is too serious; to complete it all, I don't know how many pills it will take.

It seems that after a few days, after observing the secret map, I can consider going out with Xu Shixiong Zhuo for a few trips. Xu Shixiong Zhuo often travels between several big cities in the south, where I might be able to buy higher-level pills, which can alleviate Wenyue's pressure to some extent.

It just so happens that I can also see the world, increase my knowledge, and earn some money along the way. Even a mosquito is meat, and eating soft rice all the time is not a long-term solution!"

After making up his mind, Xia Daoming stopped taking pills and continued to practice.

The eight thousand taels of silver he had on hand had hardly changed in these three months, except for some daily expenses.

But to buy higher-level pills, it was estimated that he couldn't buy many, and Xia Daoming also had to prepare for the meridian strengthening of the sixth-rank realm.

Therefore, it was better not to waste the accumulated pills, but to keep them for selling for money in the future.

As for how Ji Wenyue would feel if she knew he was taking the pills she gave him to resell, Xia Daoming didn't think about it.

Wujia Fort.

Wu family clan residence, study.

An old man in gray bowed slightly, stood behind Wu Yueli, and said in a low voice: "Master, the suspicions of the six families including the Tian family and the Tiger Blade Sect have basically been ruled out; it is unlikely that they were the ones who killed Young Master Wu.

Now only Qianjiao Martial Arts Hall in the city remains. It is said that Liang Jingtang suddenly accepted a disciple half a year ago. That time period just happens to coincide with the time when Young Master Wu Changlu was killed."

"Nomination letter!" Wu Yueli's heart moved, murderous intent appearing in his eyes, but he quickly shook his head again: "It's unlikely; Changlu, this child, has some schemes, knowing that his identity is special, he usually pretends to be a playboy, and even tries to hide his cultivation as much as possible, so as not to attract outside attention.

Therefore, the outside world basically thinks he is only a third-rank Wu Shi, but they don't know that he is not only a fourth-rank Wu Shi at a young age but also secretly practiced a little dark energy.

Liang Jingtang's newly accepted disciple is at most at the fourth-rank realm, so how could he kill him without even giving him a chance to escape? Moreover, Changlu also had two followers."

"This old slave also thinks so, so I ruled out Qianjiao Martial Arts Hall very early, but now the suspicions of the other families who have grievances with our Wujia Fort have been ruled out, so only Qianjiao Martial Arts Hall remains. If it's not Qianjiao Martial Arts Hall, I fear there will be no clues," the old man in gray replied.

Wu Yueli frowned and stood up, paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back, and suddenly stopped: "Since that's the case, regardless of whether it's that person or not, find a chance to catch him first, ask clearly, and then kill him."

"What if Liang Jingtang finds out..."

"Gu Ren was seriously injured by the Shi family's trap; now Liang Jingtang has no successors, and there are not many people under him who can really fight. Even if he knows that his newly accepted disciple was killed by us, could he fight our Wujia Fort to the death for his sake?

If Wu Changlu wasn't my illegitimate son and had martial arts talent, and I secretly liked him, I wouldn't have been brooding over it for so long and refused to let it go.

However, Liang Jingtang is still quite powerful and values friendship, so it's best not to let the news leak, so you should do it yourself," Wu Yueli said.

Seeing Wu Yueli mention his illegitimate son, a hint of hatred flashed behind the old man in gray's lowered eyelids, but he respectfully replied: "Master is right!"

"Master."

In the inner courtyard hall of Qianjiao Martial Arts Hall, Xia Daoming respectfully called out to Liang Jingtang, who was lying on a chair.

"You are here; go to the practice secret room and wait for me," Liang Jingtang nodded to Xia Daoming, stood up slowly, and walked toward his bedroom.

In just three months, Liang Jingtang had become much thinner and older.

His originally tall and mighty body appeared a bit hunched, and his walking was a bit staggering and old.

Obviously, the Gu Ren incident had dealt a heavy blow to him.

Soon, Xia Daoming waited for Liang Jingtang in the practice secret room.

Liang Jingtang gave the Divine Charm Secret Map to Xia Daoming, and this time he didn't give any instructions before leaving.

This time, as soon as Xia Daoming unfolded the painting scroll, his spiritual sense triggered the divine charm in the secret map.

The spectacular and mysterious scene he saw half a year ago appeared before his eyes again.

And this time, he saw it more clearly, and his comprehension was deeper.

He was even moved by the scene and almost urged his internal force to impact the sixth meridian, but fortunately, Xia Daoming woke up in time.

Otherwise, his fifth-rank realm meridians would not have completed the nine-level strengthening, and he would have broken through directly to become a sixth-rank Great Wu Shi.

One hour later.

Liang Jingtang entered again.

This time, Xia Daoming's performance was exactly the opposite of the last time.

Last time, his face was pale, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

And this time, his expression was calm, and there was almost no change in the hour before and after.

Seeing this scene, Liang Jingtang was even more disappointed.

Because this could only show that what Xia Daoming saw the second time was no different from the first time, so there was no violent reaction.

However, Liang Jingtang didn't say anything, just silently put away the Divine Charm Secret Map and left staggeringly.

Xia Daoming sat quietly in the practice secret room for another hour, carefully pondering and thinking about the seventh and eighth layer cultivation technique operation strange phenomena he had seen clearly this time, deeply imprinting them into his brain, before standing up and leaving.

The night was deep.

Pear Blossom Alley was quiet and pitch black, with only the light faintly leaking from within the walls of the Xia residence.

Xia Daoming walked quickly to the gate of the Xia residence, just about to step forward and knock on the door, when he turned around and said to the empty street: "Since the friend has come, why hide and sneak? Why not come in and sit for a while!"

"Creak!"

The door opened from the inside, and Liu Qiaolian held a lantern, looking at Xia Daoming, who was standing with his back to the courtyard gate, with a face full of doubt.

"Lian'er, you go in first, let Xia He and the others stay in the room; I am waiting for an uninvited guest," Xia Daoming said.

"Yes, Master!" Liu Qiaolian's expression changed slightly, and she retreated to the front yard holding the lantern.

"Interesting!" In the darkness, an old man in black walked out, with obscure blood and internal force fluctuating on his body.

Xia Daoming's pupils shrank slightly, but his heart relaxed significantly.

After observing the secret map twice, Xia Daoming's insight had far exceeded his current realm.

The blood and internal force inadvertently revealed by the masked old man allowed Xia Daoming to judge his realm instantly.

A fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, and an elderly fifth-rank Great Wu Shi, was really a bit weak for him now.

"So it's an old man; if you have something to say, come into the house, so as not to disturb the neighbors," Xia Daoming said calmly.

"Fine," the masked old man said indifferently.

Xia Daoming entered the house first, stood in the front yard, with the door wide open and the lights bright.

The masked old man swept a glance through the gate, then walked into the front yard leisurely, and even closed the gate on his way.

PS: New book, please help to forward and promote, so that this book can go further, thank you.