Chapter 78

Time passed.

The whole city was abuzz with discussion.

Since Fang Yi stopped going to work, seven or eight days had passed without him noticing.

Over these seven or eight days, he has been paying attention to the city gate situation every day, while also training silently, his strength improving by leaps and bounds.

Especially the three martial arts he obtained from the City Lord's mansion.

During these seven or eight days, he has brought all three to the minor accomplishment stage.

All three martial arts have undergone mutations.

Even the Golden Poison within his body has risen another level.

This Golden Poison is even more overbearing and fierce; especially when the three attributes of deadly poison merge into one, its toxicity increases at least seven- or eightfold.

This is practically a killer's trump card!

If he ever faces the City Lord's Wife again, he will certainly not be in such a sorry state as before.

"My foundation is pretty solid; today I can attempt to break through to Supreme Golden Bone."

Fang Yi thought to himself.

Once he reaches Supreme Golden Bone, with his strength, even against Bai Wuchen he would have enough power to protect himself.

By then, even if the city gates are sealed, he will be confident he can leave.

Just then, he suddenly heard bursts of cheering and joy from outside.

"The city gates are open!"

"Great, we're finally not under lockdown anymore!"

"Everyone, quickly spread the word, the city gates are open"

Countless voices shouted outside.

The seven- or eight-day lockdown trapped many nearby farmers and hunters inside the city, unable to leave, even the city's resources were temporarily cut off, causing prices of all kinds of goods to skyrocket, making life unbearable for many.

Now that the city gates are wide open, it undoubtedly opens a path to survival.

Even Fang Yi couldn't help but brighten up, stepping out to check.

"The city gates are open? Good, once I break through to Supreme Golden Bone I'll immediately return to my village to have a look, and then leave this troubled place as soon as possible."

The words of that mysterious old Daoist still echo in his ears to this day.

He had wasted so much time at the City Lord's mansion, making it hard to guarantee what changes have occurred deep in the mist.

Leaving this place is absolutely the best choice.

Inside the City Lord's mansion.

Fan Dongyang furrowed his brows, his body having returned to its ordinary form as he paced back and forth.

"Wasn't it the Heavenly Reason Sect who killed my wife and child? Could it really be that Ouyang Feng? Ouyang Feng, Ouyang Feng, just who are you, and where are you hiding?"

A few days ago he attacked the Heavenly Reason Sect's stronghold, killing everyone and consuming most of their core members.

Only 【Jade Bright Venerable】 Bai Wuchen managed to escape.

All the others failed to escape his poisonous grasp.

From their memories he learned that on that day, when they attacked the City Lord's mansion, they never even came into contact with the City Lord's Wife.

So the murderer is still that Ouyang Feng!

"Damned thing, no matter where you hide, I will surely drag you out and tear your corpse into ten thousand pieces!"

Fan Dongyang felt a chill in his heart.

Suddenly, another idea occurred to him.

"Wait, a few days ago I recall the Wife summoned two physicians to come for a pregnancy treatment; could it have been those two physicians who did this?"

Fan Dongyang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Moreover, after they took the Wife's pulse, it's possible they already discovered that she is a white zombie.

These two cannot be left alive!

Just as he was preparing to launch a deadly strike that very night, his body suddenly halted and another thought sprang up.

"Come here!"

"City Lord!"

An old servant suddenly appeared.

"A while ago, the Wife summoned physicians to come for a pregnancy treatment, but she hasn't paid them yet, right?"

Fan Dongyang said calmly and plainly, "Take these two pills over and say they are 【Azure Wood Pill】, which can wash the marrow and purify the meridians; also take twenty taels of silver."

He took out two porcelain bottles and handed them to the old servant.

"Yes, City Lord!"

The old servant replied respectfully.

"Also, go tell Prefect Fan Zhiqiu to post another wanted notice, casually offering a bounty for someone at the Bone Exchange Realm; the reward will be a top-tier martial art!"

Fan Dongyang said coldly.

He was preparing to lure the snake out of its hole.

From the various signs of Ouyang Feng's previous attacks, this person is desperately in need of secret manuals!

The higher the tier of the secret manual, the more interested he is.

By offering a top-tier martial art as a bounty, I will surely be able to draw him out.

"Yes, City Lord!"

The old servant responded with an affirmation and withdrew.

Fan Dongyang's eyes grew gloomy, and his body began pacing back and forth again.

Ouyang Feng Ouyang Feng, I see how long you can hide.

Inside the room.

Fang Yi was drenched in hot sweat from head to toe, his insides seemed to contain a furnace, blazing fiercely, his qi and blood roaring, myriad bones transmitting a series of clanging, deafening sounds, as if struck by myriad hammers.

Hammer after hammer pounded down, scattering all impurities on his bones, retaining only the essence.

Fierce fire refines true gold!

He undergoes an intangible transformation from inside out.

The transformation lasted about two hours before finally slowing to a stop.

Fang Yi was soaked in sweat, his clothes drenched, as if he had just finished an exhilarating battle; though fatigued, a faint smile appeared on his face.

Done.

He closed his eyes and looked inward, clearly seeing the light flashing within his bones.

As if forged from gold, they all turned golden, filled with an indescribable aura and power.

Supreme Golden Bone!

The toughness and strength of his bones increased severalfold.

A light grip of his fist could feel waves of mighty strength emanating from it.

Whether defense or strength, both underwent a new transformation.

Even now, if he remains still and lets a Copper Bone Realm cultivator bombard him, the opponent cannot move him in the slightest.

Bone Exchange complete; next is Tendon Change!

Tendon Change has four steps!

Elephant Tendon! Flood Dragon Tendon! Peng Tendon! Dragon Tendon!

Each step is harder than the last.

Elephant, king of the land, possesses strength to uproot mountains.

Flood Dragon, which preys on elephants, is ferocious and unpredictable.

Peng, which feeds on Flood Dragons, can devour a hundred of them in a day!

Dragon, a legendary creature.

Four rounds of Tendon Change, each a transformation; each transformation overturns one's strength.

Above Tendon Change is Rebirth!

Rebirth occurs nine times!

After nine Rebirths are complete, one is called a Mortal Martial Saint!

By then one must blaze a new trail and study the Heretical Martial Path.

Others cultivating the Heretical Martial Path may have impure power or affected mindset, but I have the Panel's aid, so I will not be thus; though others cannot tread that road, I may yet be able!

Fang Yi thought to himself.

Moreover, he conceived the idea: if he were to study all the other Heretical Martial Paths together, what would happen?

For example, the Blood Path, Extreme Path, Lightning Path, Thunder Path, and Gu Path.

These are all Heretical Martial Paths!

When all the paths merge into one, what would that manifestation be?

Is Doctor Fang at home?

Suddenly, an aged voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

Who?

Fang Yi rose, first drying the sweat all over his body, then came to the courtyard and inquired casually.

I am the steward of the City Lord's Manor; last time the Madam sought treatment and still hasn't paid the medical fee, so the City Lord sent me to deliver it.

A voice sounded outside the door.

Medical fee?

Fang Yi felt a surge of wariness, walked over and opened the door, his heart slightly tightening.

Is it him?

Only see, standing before the gate was an old man in a gray robe, face full of wrinkles, eyes cloudy, just like an ordinary old man.

Yet Fang Yi dared not slight him in the slightest.

Because this person is exactly the one he saw on the city wall a few days ago.

This person, like the City Lord's Madam, is a monster.

This is ten taels of silver, plus an Elixir of Marrow Cleansing, a reward granted by the City Lord.

The steward said.

The City Lord is truly courteous; thank you, City Lord.

Fang Yi accepted it without changing expression.

Then I'll take my leave first; I still need to deliver payment to Doctor Shen.

The old man lightly bowed and withdrew.

Guanjia, take your leave!

Fang Yi softly replied, closed the door, re-entered the room, and poured out all the silver, even that elixir was poured out together.

Scripture Change and Marrow Cleansing?

Fang Yi pinched the elixir, his eyes narrowing.

Had he not known that the City Lord's entire family were monsters, he would have actually swallowed that elixir.

But now.

Forget it.

Fang Yi examined it carefully for a moment, then tossed the elixir back into the jade bottle.

Suddenly another idea came to him.

"Wait, the City Lord sending this elixir—could he be testing us?"

If I don't take it, that will prove I've discovered his secret, and he will surely come to silence me.

If I do take it, the elixir has likely been tampered with, and swallowing it could kill me on the spot.

"Not good!"

Fang Yi's heart tightened as he stared at the jade bottle in his hand.

This elixir cannot be kept.

Better to feed it to a wild beast; gaining even a day's delay is worthwhile.

And the same goes for Shen Huai'ren's side.

He surely received the elixir as well; I must go warn him.

Thinking of that, Fang Yi immediately packed away the elixir.

He waited at home for another half hour or so before finally leaving, heading toward the Hall of Hundred Herbs.

As expected.

Shen Huai'ren's side indeed received the elixir; like Fang Yi, he dared not take it, merely pacing back and forth in the room.

As soon as Shen Huai'ren saw Fang Yi approaching, his heart clenched.

"Fang Yi, did you receive the elixir?"

"I have, the City Lord surely suspects us now; shopkeeper, give me the elixir—I have a plan."

Fang Yi whispered.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yes."

Fang Yi immediately voiced his idea.

"Alright, let's find two wild beasts and feed it to them."

Shen Huai'ren nodded.

He handed the elixir in his hand to Fang Yi.

After pouring it out, Fang Yi examined it closely and found it identical to his own elixir.

"Fang Yi, be extremely careful on the road."

"I will."

Fang Yi nodded.

He didn't linger, left the Hall of Hundred Herbs directly, and walked outward.

However, to avoid being tailed, he deliberately made a detour through the city streets.

When he rounded the government office entrance, he instinctively glanced at the wanted poster on the wall.

Upon seeing the lead wanted notice, his pupils constricted slightly.

"Bounty for a top-tier martial art?"

He felt astonished.

When did the government office become so lavish?

However, looking at the wanted poster, it seems to have just been written.

The person with the bounty is merely a Bronze Bone realm cultivator.

"Can a Bronze Bone realm be worth a top-tier martial art? Surely this isn't meant to lure me out deliberately?"

Fang Yi's thoughts turned.

No matter what, Ouyang Feng's identity must not appear again for the time being.

Because the City Lord's wife died from deadly poison, it's easy to suspect Ouyang Feng.

Fang Yi acted as if nothing had happened, left again, and headed out of the city.

The government office was not far.

An old man in a gray robe and bamboo hat, his face icy and his aura nearly void, suddenly lifted his head and instinctively glanced in the direction Fang Yi had gone.

It was no one else!

It was precisely the steward of the City Lord's manor who had just delivered the elixir!

(End of chapter)