[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars":3,"chapter-why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-177":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Why Do All These Monsters Have Health Bars?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1557574,2023,"Chapter 177 - 176: News of Yulian, the Underground Black Market","why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-177",177,"\u003Cp>Rubbing his brows, Li Jing spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Yu, I’m not particularly interested in what you’ve been doing, nor do I intend to make things difficult for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he nonchalantly said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When we conduct investigations, regardless of whether it’s humans or demons, we rely on evidence. I have no evidence to show that you’ve hurt anyone, so naturally, I won’t interfere with your life. After this, we can consider that we’ve never met.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Yulian was surprised. She asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Officer Li, even though you know I’m a Fifth Boundary Big Demon, aren’t you going to make me sign a ceasefire agreement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m just a small functionary in charge of handling cases, not a city guardian. Whether you signed a peace agreement or not has nothing to do with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing shook his head and smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A peace treaty is a mutual restraint, with both benefits and drawbacks. The advantage is that those signing it can live like ordinary people without worries, but the downside is that you are always under surveillance. Miss Yu, if you choose not to sign, you surely have your reasons. Why should I force you? Jianghai is a large place and, I presume, not just home to one ’Miss Yu’.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing such language, Yulian appeared puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could tell at a glance that Li Jing was young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For higher-level cultivators, maintaining a youthful appearance is quite easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, whether human or demon, extended life invariably leaves traces of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as one is observant, these traces can be discerned easily from actions and behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing, however, bore no such temporal marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he was very mature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was more admirable was,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his attitude towards demons, which was clearly different from ordinary people’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he only spoke a few simple words, Yulian sensed that Li Jing did not regard monsters as Alien Species, but as beings equal to humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, there are not many people who are truly friendly to demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there are, most only pay lip-service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like Li Jing, who treat demons and humans equally, offering respect even when aware of their demon identities, are few and far between.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, Yulian’s tense mental state relaxed slightly, and her enchanting eyes gazed at him intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Officer Li, you seem to be different from the other officers I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing found it a bit difficult to face her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could tolerate the hint of admiration in Yulian’s eyes, but the natural and innocent seductiveness in her gaze was truly tempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing guessed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that she, before him, might rely heavily on her enchanting allure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, even as a fox demon, her every move wouldn’t be so captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moving his eyes away from Yulian’s exquisite face, Li Jing began speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since we’re being frank, I’ll get straight to the point. My visit is related to the prisoner transport attack that occurred in North City District this afternoon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The attack on the prison transport?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulian looked surprised, her eyes slightly squinting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I saw the news in the evening, the incident was a big deal - quite a few officers died. If you, Li Jing, are in charge of the investigation and traveled all the way from North City District to East City District to find me, could it be that a Fifth Boundary Big Demon is behind it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing nodded at her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wisdom attributed to old foxes is well-deserved indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Yue Lingling and Zhou Xuan,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>while they may be sharp, their scope of thinking is limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Fifth Boundary Big Demon, Yulian was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just a casual mention from him, she understood the key point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder she was able to hide in Jianghai without signing a peace treaty, yet also create an elite media company like Tianhong Entertainment in East City District.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength is important,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but intelligence is even more crucial, especially when avoiding conflict is a priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, seeing Li Jing nod in affirmation, Miss Yu lightly bit her red lips, hesitated for a moment, and whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If this matter is confirmed to be the work of the Great Demon, I might be able to provide you, Chief Inspector Li, with some information.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing tilted his head in curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on Miss Yu’s attitude towards him, it seemed almost impossible that she was a suspect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reason for staying was that he held some expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Yu, unlike small demons such as Ji Qing who could not penetrate into the circle of the Fifth Boundary’s Big Monsters, was an \"insider\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being an \"insider\", she would naturally know some information that others didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you mentioned, Chief Inspector Li, besides me, there are many other Great Demons in Jianghai City who have not signed the peace agreement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Yu started speaking slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All of us demons have our own difficulties and challenges. We don’t seek trouble, nor are we afraid of it. For precaution, we even have alliances with each other. We abide by the rules of human society, and there are also specific rules among the Great Demons. About ten days ago, two unruly demons arrived in the West City and had conflicts with the Great Demons there. Since causing a big scene would do no good to anyone, the Western City Great Demons chose to swallow their anger and keep the peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>West City, two unruly Great Demons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resting his chin on his hand, Li Jing pondered and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What industry are these two newcomers in? Why did they conflict with other Great Demons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are not engaging in legal businesses but have instead set up an Underground Black Market dedicated to the sale of illegal goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Yu responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Initially, the several Great Demons in the West City weren’t planning to intervene. We’re all demons and there’s no need to cross each other. But they forcibly transformed ordinary creatures into lower rank demons using their own Demonic Qi and sold them to humans for huge profits. These lower rank demons, with their newly awakened Spiritual Intelligence, aren’t like human-shaped demons, who understand priorities and know what shouldn’t be done. They can’t control their animal instincts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is not a trivial matter. Once an incident occurs, all the human-shaped demons in the West City will suffer. Those two newcomers can leave at any time, but other Great Demons who have settled down in West City have good development opportunities and none of them want to abandon what they have built over such a mess. So, under the joint request from the Third and Fourth Realm demons, some Great Demons in West City tried to negotiate with them, but the talks ended in discord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long chat, Miss Yu smiled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly, if I were in their shoes, I’d freak out too. No matter how many Great Demons joined forces, they just couldn’t handle them. They’re at the Fifth Boundary. They fear nothing. After all, once a fight breaks out and causes a commotion, whether or not they have signed peace agreements, being expelled would be the only outcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening to Miss Yu’s narration, Li Jing’s expression was a bit odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running an Underground Black Market? That’s not surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not uncommon for big human or demon organizations to want a piece of the action, given the massive existing Dark Web Black Market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Name and wealth, who wouldn’t want them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these two newcomers, Fifth Boundary Big Monsters, they indeed know how to play the game...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transforming ordinary creatures into lower rank demons and then selling them to humans?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very crafty indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This situation required his immediate attention!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if these two were not the main culprits, he could still investigate the demon black market in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In doing so, he should be able to gain a lot of experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was pondering, Miss Yu continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have a good friend, a Great Demon in the western district, who participated in the negotiations. I’ve heard a lot from him complaining and grumbling. The Underground Black Market has already caused a lot of problems. A low-rank demon injured someone, and some cheap Elixirs sold there landed people in the hospital. Fortunately, these incidents didn’t escalate. Additionally, I heard from my friend that the Underground Black Market has been extorted by humans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Extortion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s a saying, ’The timid starve to death, whilst the daring die of overeating.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Yu whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Engaging in the business of selling lower rank demons, it’s hard not to attract attention. An Underground Black Market that has just opened for less than half a month, there’s simply no deterrent power. Those two Fifth Boundary Great Demons act recklessly, but they aren’t foolish enough to blatantly disclose their true identity. With nothing to intimidate, anyone with a little courage and social status would naturally try to make some profit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing did not continue the conversation, but he began to connect the dots in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only clue to the whole case at the moment was the large sums of money of unknown origin in the accounts of the two gate guard inspectors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be possible that it was extorted from the West City Underground Black Market?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pondering for a while, Li Jing took out his phone and sent a message to his main card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xiao Ai, check the vehicle traffic records at West City’s gate, roadside surveillance and surveillance of various businesses. See if those two problem inspectors have been to West City recently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it, it’s going to take a while. Wait a moment, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ai responded quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards of the Examination Institute are considered civil servants, but their reach does not extend to the level of inspection. Their authority is even lower than that of the Assistant Inspector Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are not qualified for Sky Control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To investigate the guards, one cannot use ID tracking. Instead, they would have to systematically check vehicle passage records and related surveillance records.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending a message to Xiaoai, Li Jing looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Yu, could you introduce me to your friend in West City?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulian hesitated, showing an expression of difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Inspector Li, you’re different from ordinary people, but you should know that we monsters are very sensitive to inspectors. If I play the role of this villain, I might lose a friend, so please don’t make it difficult for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, I apologize for asking too much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing nodded in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to say something, Yulian spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Inspector Li is simply interested in the Underground Black Market, I can take you there. I know where it is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Li Jing was stunned, then smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s great. I’d appreciate it if you could show me the way, Miss Yu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem. Inspector Li, you are different. Yulian wants to make a friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulian responded with a light smile, then got up and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please wait a moment, I’ll go upstairs to change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Yulian was upstairs, Li Jing felt a little restless sitting downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was going to infiltrate the underground black market immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter needed to be rushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jing was personally investigating the matter of the Fifth Boundary Big Monster, and had set off a few hours ago to visit some \"old friends\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Yulian was aware of the issue in the underground black market of West City, the other Fifth Boundary Big Monsters undoubtedly knew too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The circle of the Fifth Boundary, it was only so large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Chen Jing had already received the news first, once he got there, it might be too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they could only hope Uncle would not get the news, or get it later...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for reporting, they might as well forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporting to Chen Jing, he might not even get a sip of soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reporting to Dai Hong, Six Major Crimes Unit would take action together, and it wouldn’t be convenient to reveal his Fifth Boundary cultivation level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Yulian changing clothes, she was indeed dawdling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing had been waiting for over ten minutes, but she had not come down yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were not for his Fifth Boundary primordial spirit’s perception that could clearly confirm someone was upstairs, he would have suspected that she had fled because she was guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About twenty minutes later, noise finally came from upstairs indicating someone was coming down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the sound, Li Jing instinctively looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First to catch his eyes were a pair of long legs in black stockings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that, was an enticingly curvaceous figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing unintentionally gazed and stared straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Yulian that was coming down, indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to being wrapped in a large bathrobe, she now wore a standard OL suit—the top a floral white shirt, bottom a knee-length tight skirt—she was the epitome of \"irresistible\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her attire was conservative, but lethal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Jing’s dumbstruck expression, Yulian lifted the corners of her mouth in a confident smile and gently flicked her hair over her shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry for making you wait, Inspector Li. It took me a while to pick out clothes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing snapped back to reality upon hearing her words. He wanted to suggest, \"Why don’t you change into something more proper,\" but felt it was inappropriate to say it out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thing is, there was nothing inappropriate about Yulian’s outfit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how normal professional women dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, she could even be considered modestly dressed compared to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one last glance at Yulian, Li Jing walked out the door and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s getting late. We should get going.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the man who was just staring at her was now acting indifferent, Yulian was slightly taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Jing had guessed in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cultivation practice followed the path of Charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching the Fifth Boundary, she already has an extremely strong natural charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she didn’t deliberately try, she could easily make any man infatuated with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she did make an effort, she could enthrall an ordinary man on the spot with just a flick of her finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ability brought her a lot of convenience in the professional world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yulian deliberately dressed up before coming down, but she didn’t have any ulterior motive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that, since their meeting, Li Jing had been quite indifferent to her beauty, which made her question her own allure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even her fellow Great Demon friends would occasionally sneak glances at her and sometimes beg her to restrict her charm, saying their bodies couldn’t handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing’s indifferent demeanor was a blow to Yulian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One blow was to her long-held confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was that her cultivation was of no use in front of this man...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Yulian didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to her own beauty, the health bar of 7376 above her head was much more attractive to Li Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Jing go out of the door without looking back, Yulian quickly left her thoughts behind and followed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once outside, Yulian stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Inspector Li, I’m just a civilian, I have no Sky Control privilege in the city, could you please carry me there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Responded Li Jing, then waved his hand and summoned a door-sized special Spirit Soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the Spirit Soldier, Yulian’s pupils contracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a connoisseur and could tell at a glance that his flying sword was condensed from compressed spiritual Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing could be used as a flying sword?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After carefully examining a certain someone who had already stepped on the door-board-sized flying sword, Yulian stepped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To get from East City to West City, one would have to cross through the broadest area of North City among the four, the Earth Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yulian as a \"passenger\", Li Jing did not fly too fast. It took them about ten minutes to enter West City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Yulian’s guidance, Li Jing carried her towards the northwest and finally arrived at the old town location near the boundary of Jianghai City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called old town was basically the residual of a large-scale unfinished project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the developers had run off, the unfinished project was left unattended for a long period of time, gradually becoming a gathering place for various black industry groups and unemployed people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old town and the dark alleys of North City were essentially the same concept—neither was left unattended by the authorities, but both were extremely chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching the air above the old town, Yulian spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Inspector Li, the underground black market is located inside the old town. We should find a discreet place to land, instead of flying overhead. The old town is a mixed bag and is quite sensitive to inspectors. We should keep a low profile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jing responded, and under cover of the dark pre-dawn sky, descended into an inconspicuous corner of the old town.\u003C\u002Fp>",2837,"2026-06-06T07:41:35.216Z",1,"novelbin.me","b6adf95867a816c5781d4d2d5ae1bd7c118adafd9a421c9a99898302f4e24036","why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-178","why-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-chapter-176",719,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwhy-do-all-these-monsters-have-health-bars-cover.jpg"]