Chapter 109: Taking Action

After less than the time it takes for incense to burn halfway, only groups of cavalry and constables dared to roam the city; the common folk had vanished without a trace. The government office was clearly guarded by formidable experts. Ling Chi couldn’t unleash his full power in a fight, so this group had clearly grown wiser. Seeing no chance to strike, he quietly withdrew.

“When my cultivation improves, I’ll stroll through Wei County again,” Ling Chi thought to himself as he glanced back at the city. “First, I’ll spy a little. If that bastard Qu Zhang isn’t around, I’ll launch a full assault and turn everything upside down.”

Qu Zhang had once escaped with his life from Cao Huba, aided by a demonic corpse. Now, Ling Chi, bearing the name Song Jiang, could not summon his thunder techniques at full strength. It was safer to be cautious.

Concealing himself, Ling Chi sped through the forest, heading straight for Dahe Village. When taking action, one must be decisive; hesitation accomplishes nothing.

It was noon, the winter sun hung high but gave no warmth. All around was a deathly silence.

Dahe Village was quiet; no villagers were seen, nor even a dog’s bark heard.

Only a faint medicinal scent lingered, carried by the cold breeze.

A thought arose in his mind: “Could it be that Wei Ming has炼 (extracted) the villagers here?”

Even rabbits don’t eat the grass by their own burrows—has Wei Ming gone mad?

Even if he kept villagers around for outsiders to see, it would at least signal peace.

Slipping into a farmhouse, Ling Chi saw a crude meal overturned on the square table. The ancestral altar’s plaques lay fallen on the floor. The room was in disarray, with scuff marks on the ground.

“This place was raided and the people forcibly taken,” Ling Chi analyzed silently.

Judging by the traces, the abduction happened no more than two days ago.

Ling Chi wasn’t here to rescue anyone; he wanted to use the scene to gauge the enemy’s strength.

Capturing a few ordinary villagers who struggled meant it was probably done by low-level lackeys.

He expanded his spiritual awareness to the maximum, scanning above and below ground until near the eastern edge of the village, close to the back mountain, he detected movement.

The back mountain had been hollowed out, with a raised platform built inside.

Some Wei family youths were sorting and refining medicinal herbs; others poured buckets of potion into a blood pool. Some ragged, filthy refugees were being bled to death with a single cut.

Fresh blood flowed through bamboo tubes as thick as an arm, gathering in a blood pool half full.

In iron cages atop the platform were many pale-faced warriors, all bearing bloody wounds; some had bled out and died.

Among them were several naked young men with Daoist sideburns, their bodies and faces marked with whip scars, lying in the cages, their fates unknown.

An elderly figure, leaning on a cane, stood outside a cavern above. Behind him stood a large black coffin.

Ling Chi had seen his portrait in the Jing’an Division; this old man was Qu Zhang. Though he looked as if buried in yellow earth up to his neck, his aura of murderous energy was fierce beyond measure.

Behind Qu Zhang stood a young man in a blue robe, standing quietly and respectfully.

“Master, the blood pool is nearly full. When do you plan to act?” the young man asked respectfully.

“Wei Ming, patience is a virtue. Wait until it’s about eighty percent full before moving,” Qu Zhang answered.

“Go call Lin Xiao out. Hasn’t that little Daoist had enough fun?” Qu Zhang said as he tilted his head.

“Yes, Master. I’ll call him out to prepare immediately,” Wei Ming replied, then turned and entered a nearby cave.

“So you’re Wei Ming. Fate brings us together,” Ling Chi thought.

Seeing Qu Zhang present, Ling Chi already felt the urge to retreat. He hadn’t expected Fu Master Lin Xiao to be here as well.

“Wait a bit longer, see what they’re planning. If there’s a chance, we can’t waste their goodwill in choosing this place,” Ling Chi pondered carefully, a faint gleam flickering in his eyes.

“Old man Qu, I’m having a good time. Are you ready to make your move?” A young man with a wild look, holding a whip and bloodstained face, followed Wei Ming out, mumbling discontentedly.

Qu Zhang didn’t even turn his head and said, “Hmph, you’ve been given treasures to use. Have you forgotten who helped you catch those little Daoists? Stay focused. If you mess up, I’ll discipline you.”

Wei Ming also glanced at Lin Xiao with displeasure. Lin Xiao, seeing Qu Zhang’s stern expression, dared not argue. He pulled out several talismans and began preparations.

“As agreed, I will concentrate on refining the blood fiend without distraction. Wei Ming will assist with the potion, and you, Lin Xiao, will be the protector.”

“If this blood fiend is successfully refined, it will possess at least peak Qi Sea realm power, perhaps even approaching half-step Spirit Pearl realm. That will mean we’ve completed the general’s task,” Qu Zhang said to Lin Xiao.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it quickly. I still have to continue concocting my senior brother!” Lin Xiao said casually.

Outside, Ling Chi furrowed his brows upon hearing their conversation.

“One Qu Zhang at Qi Sea eightfold, one Wei Ming at Qi Sea fivefold, a third-rank talisman master Lin Xiao whose skills I haven’t seen yet, and that demonic corpse inside the coffin.”

“This will be a tough fight.”

“And now there’s some general appearing out of nowhere, never-ending trouble. If he succeeds in refining it, who knows how big the problem will be.”

He felt caught between a rock and a hard place—neither leaving nor staying seemed right.

But the situation left no time for hesitation. Qu Zhang gathered towering blood-red murderous energy with both hands, fully displaying his Qi Sea eightfold cultivation.

Below, Wei family lackeys had filled a three-zhang square blood pool, discarding corpses nearby.

The blood-colored murderous energy thickened, pouring into the blood pool. The pool churned violently, revealing a strong figure emerging within.

“Uncle, you must strive to become the strongest among the fiend corpses. Did you ever imagine this day when you humiliated me back then? Ha ha ha!” Wei Ming laughed loudly while throwing some powder into the blood-colored energy.

That robust figure was actually Wei Xuan’s father. Ling Chi clicked his tongue with interest.

“Wayward apprentice, focus and be quiet!” Qu Zhang shouted. Wei Ming immediately fell silent.

Outside, Ling Chi had made up his mind. Regardless of everything, he would strike decisively.

His pupils turned a dazzling crimson, surrounded by intense yang energy. His Zhan Ma blade also glowed bright red.

He took a deep breath.

[Eight Extremes Earthquake Kick.]

The heavy, powerful kick sent rocks tumbling down the mountain, revealing a large hole, which he immediately sealed after entering. Not a single one inside would escape today.

“Scoundrels, your grandpa is here!”

Ling Chi raised the hilt of his blade, tip pointing down.

“Ha!”

With a mighty shout, his muscular arms tensed, and the blade plunged into the ground.

The intense yang energy exploded outward from him in all directions as a fierce yang energy wave.

The blood-colored murderous energy was instantly dissolved, like snowflakes meeting magma.

Along with it, the group of lackeys was burned to ash, while hundreds of strands of thunder spirit energy returned to him.

“Lin Xiao, stop him! Wei Ming, speed up! Be ready to support at any moment!” Qu Zhang roared in anger at the sudden assault.

Before Qu Zhang could call out, the crimson blade swung fiercely toward Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao’s hand released a white spiritual talisman that shone brilliantly, shielding himself.