Chapter 12: Village Commotion! Mist Hunter!

"Fire poison, this black substance seems to be a kind of dreadful fire poison."

Fang Yi muttered to himself.

The more he experienced it, the more he could feel how dreadful this fire poison was.

This poison can not only be attached to blood vigor.

Moreover, it can be driven by him to permeate the air.

It is truly extraordinarily formidable.

Name: Fang Yi

【Skill: Poison Origin Technique (Perfected), Iron Poison Technique (Perfected), Corrode Bone Fist (Perfected), Eclipse Shadow Step (Perfected), Poison Shadow Magic Blade (Minor Accomplishment (90%)), Poison Killer Iron Body (Rudimentary (80%))】

【Effect: Deadly poison accumulation, soul-breaking bone corrosion, capable of killing a mid-stage third-level qi-and-blood martial artist at most.】。

"Even a mid-stage third-level qi-and-blood martial artist can be killed by my poison; this poison is truly overbearing."

Fang Yi's eyes flickered.

However, over the past three months, he also felt that his blood vigor was growing increasingly weak.

A packet of blood-replenishing soup costing two taels of silver seems hardly able to meet his energy needs anymore.

His realm seems stuck at the mid-stage of the second level.

Over the past three months, he has been consuming one packet of blood-replenishing soup each day.

Especially the past half month.

It has even reached the point of two packets per day.

Three months straight, he spent 210 taels of silver.

But the effect of this blood-replenishing soup is diminishing, and the growth of his blood vigor is becoming ever slower.

Looks like I need to purchase a stronger blood-replenishing medicine.

Fang Yi sighed inwardly.

No wonder the Hall Master Wu of the Black Tiger Gang has remained only at the peak of the first level of qi and blood all these years.

The path of martial arts is truly not something the poor can walk.

Even if one is wealthy, stepping onto this path is like entering a bottomless black hole.

Sooner or later, one's finances will run dry.

Roar!

Suddenly, a tremendously terrifying roar came from the mist outside the village, rolling and shaking, echoing in the distance.

Even separated by the endless mist, it gives people a feeling of heart-pounding awe.

It seems as if some primordial ferocious beast has been born.

Fang Yi's face slightly changed; he raised his head again and looked toward the direction the sound came from.

Something must have happened in these mountains; for the past three months, beast roars have been continuous and growing more frequent. Could some disaster be about to occur?

The depths of the mist have always represented mystery and the unknown.

Even villagers living nearby dare not approach too closely.

The inner depths of the mist and the outside world are like two different worlds.

If humans do not provoke them, they will not actively appear.

At least since Fang Yi transmigrated to now, he has yet to encounter any strange beast charging out of the mist to go on a killing spree.

Therefore, although the beast roars keep sounding, the village remains relatively peaceful.

Forget it; after a few days of rest, I'll make a trip to Azure Sun City to see if I can get a stronger supplement.

Fang Yi thought to himself.

As for him now, he still focuses on increasing his strength.

Unless absolutely necessary, he will not move into the city first.

For now, keeping a low profile and not revealing his abilities suits his requirements well.

Everyone, we are now offering a high reward for anyone willing to bring us into the mountains; if someone is willing, I can give him thirty taels of silver—listen up, it's thirty taels of silver!

Two days later, a group of people dressed as jianghu wanderers appeared in the village, each with strong builds and extraordinary bearing.

One of them, a sturdy man in a green robe, issued the reward, asking someone to lead them into the mountains.

The villagers instantly erupted in an uproar, discussing heatedly.

Thirty taels of silver? Good heavens, how long would that take to earn?

Forget it; we'll talk if we actually manage to get it—who dares to venture deep into the mist?

Exactly; those who dare to enter the depths of the mist face nine deaths to one life.

Forget it, forget it.

Many jianghu wanderers furrowed their brows.

They exchanged a glance; then the green-robed man who had just spoken showed a helpless expression and said, 'Alright, I'm now raising the reward to fifty taels—if anyone dares to lead us there, I'll immediately hand over the cash!'

Fifty taels?

We earn at most four taels a year; fifty taels would be enough to try for over ten years.

Damn it, let's go for it.

Quite a few bold villagers stepped forward, raising their hands.

We are willing to lead you into the mountains!

The villagers who stepped out were all older in age.

They were roughly in their forties, with fairly sturdy builds, feeling they could take a gamble.

Because even if they died, receiving fifty taels of silver would be enough to settle down.

"Very well, this is fifty taels of silver; count it!"

The burly man who posted the bounty smiled and casually threw out several bags of silver.

The villagers hurriedly picked up the money bags, their eyes blazing, and began to count carefully.

Not far away, Fang Yi pondered silently.

Mist Hunters!

This was actually a group of Mist Hunters from Qingyang City.

The commotion in the mountains drew them all over.

As the name suggests, Mist Hunters are those who dare to venture deep into the mist to explore, hunt exotic beasts within it, and seek treasures.

Each of them is someone who licks blood from the blade.

Their definition has always been: dangerous!

In the end, he said nothing and turned away again.

One day later.

Fang Yi once again enjoyed his day off.

More Mist Hunters gathered in the village.

They were offering high bounties, getting villagers to guide them into the mountains.

At first, some villagers hesitated.

But as other villagers agreed one after another, more and more villagers began to venture forth and apply.

However, none of this concerned Fang Yi.

He knew his own limits and his purpose well.

That morning, Fang Yi did a simple disguise and headed for Qingyang City.

The bustling city remained lively.

Stalls lined every street.

All sorts of strange and wondrous things came into view.

"Boss, do you have a stronger blood-tonifying medicine?"

Fang Yi asked at the shop he often visited, saying:

"Sir, you are a Blood Qi Realm martial artist, right?"

The shopkeeper's face was doubtful as he glanced at Fang Yi and said, "The blood-tonifying soup at two taels per packet is already the most expensive; it's enough for ordinary people, but if you have reached the Blood Qi Realm, it hardly works anymore—only Blood-Strengthening Pills are effective for Blood Qi Realm cultivators."

"Blood-Strengthening Pills?"

Fang Yi's eyes lit up.

"Yes, this is a precious pill taken by Blood Qi Realm cultivators, made from extraordinarily costly ingredients; one pill's efficacy lasts about half a day, but unfortunately, such pills are not sold in small shops."

Seeing Fang Yi's need, the shopkeeper explained.

"Then where can it be bought?"

Fang Yi inquired.

"I don't know about that."

The shopkeeper shook his head and said, "Blood-Strengthening Pills have always been controlled by upper-echelon powers; they rarely trickle down to the lower levels. Common folk learning basic martial arts is enough, and few can cultivate blood vigor."

The Blood Qi Realm, though it is the start of the martial path,

but it blocks nearly ninety-nine percent of people.

Only a tiny minority can smoothly enter the Blood Qi Realm; the rest are merely for show.

"Alright."

Fang Yi contemplated.

Troublesome.

No Blood-Strengthening Pills for sale!

Then isn't it even harder for him to advance?

He has mastered four martial techniques, with one nearing perfection; in combat skill he far surpasses his peers by an unknown amount.

Yet now there is no chance to progress further, which is truly unwilling.

"Thank you, boss."

Fang Yi still expressed his thanks to the shopkeeper.

He walked out of the pharmacy, brows furrowed, becoming troubled.

"Given my current ability, without the aid of Blood-Strengthening Pills, I would likely need at least three to five years to possibly break through again and reach the third level of the Blood Qi Realm."

Three to five years.

How many three-to-five-year spans does a lifetime have?

"However, although I cannot break through the realm, continuously training martial arts and increasing internal toxins can also indirectly enhance my strength."

Fang Yi thought to himself.

His current deadly poison could kill a third-level expert.

If he trains a few more techniques, would even a fourth-level expert be unable to withstand it?

Moreover, that gray substance inside his body is about to turn pure black.

Once it reaches pure black, what would it manifest as?

As Fang Yi walked aimlessly down the street, suddenly his eyes flashed and he looked up.

"It's him, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang!"

He actually saw the Black Tiger Gang's leader, Lin Xiaotian.

Wait!

Would the Black Tiger Gang leader have any Blood-Strengthening Pill?

Even if they don't have the Blood-Strengthening Pill, as the city's local bully, they probably know where to buy it.

(End of chapter)