Chapter 70: An Old Acquaintance Seeks an Audience?

Seeing he couldn’t get any information and knowing it was unwise to linger, Zou Feng reached out and patted the man’s head.

His movement was gentle and elegant, like an Immortal bestowing a blessing.

A moment later, the man’s head burst open like a smashed watermelon.

Zou Feng then cleaned up the scene a little, collected his loot, and made a swift escape.

He had no intention of reporting the incident or exposing the Ten Directions Sect’s stronghold.

After all, having killed two Ten Directions Cultists, the enemy would have been alerted long ago. It was impossible for them to still be waiting in that farmhouse.

Besides, the Ten Directions Cultists who had fled here were by no means limited to just the group Ma Pingchuan had been in contact with.

During the meeting earlier that day, Vice Gang Leader Xiang Kang had made the situation very clear.

The remnants of the Ten Directions Sect had split into several groups, all of whom had disguised themselves and infiltrated Yuan Guang County.

It was precisely because they were scattered and hiding all over the place, running the disciples of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect ragged, that they would casually toss out benefits to buy the cooperation of local, small-fry factions in Yuan Guang County.

’But the Ten Directions Sect knows the Celestial Essence Sword Sect is hot on their trail. Don’t they plan to flee to another region?’

’Could it be that they’re continuing to hide in disguise in Yuan Guang County because they’re looking for something important? Or maybe they’re waiting for someone?’

The more Zou Feng thought about it, the more he felt something was off. His intuition, as a fellow villain, told him the Ten Directions Sect was probably cooking up something huge...

’However, that isn’t something a seriously injured Little Incense Master of the Black Flood Dragon Gang like me should be worrying about.’

’I just need to use this chaos to quietly fish for profits and make a fortune.’

’No matter how chaotic it gets out there, as long as I can advance to the Eighth Grade as soon as possible, my safety will be largely guaranteed.’

After quickly returning to his villa, Zou Feng washed his face and began to take stock of his loot.

First were the "gifts" from Ma Pingchuan.

Five silver banknotes, each worth a hundred taels; two bottles of Essence Strengthening Pills, totaling twenty pills; and a Jade Ring.

Just by touching the Jade Ring, he felt his mind clear and his thoughts calm. It made him unconsciously think of all the beautiful things in the world, filling him with a sense of ease and joy.

Zou Feng was quite surprised by this.

’A single Jade Ring with such an effect... it’s a genuine Magical Artifact!’

Although he had known that things like Magical Artifacts existed, this was the first time Zou Feng had personally come into contact with one.

Without even needing to study it carefully, he knew how incredible the effects of this Jade Ring were.

Simply put, if he’d had this thing in his previous life, he could have been the top scorer on the college entrance exams for his entire city.

And now, used for Cultivation, its enhancing effects went without saying.

No wonder Ma Pingchuan was practically floating when he left that house, looking like he was about to break into a dance.

’The Ten Directions Sect is so damn rich. They’re truly on another level compared to a small local gang, giving away a Magical Artifact just like that.’

’Then again, they might have had a plan to get it back, so they didn’t mind letting Ma Pingchuan hold onto it for a while...’

Compared to the items that "dropped" from Ma Pingchuan, the two Ten Directions Cultists disguised as farmers had far less on them.

The two of them only had a few Elixirs in a sachet.

But when Zou Feng merely held the Elixirs to his nose and took a sniff, he felt it go straight to his head.

The Ten Directions Sect was famous for its skill in refining all sorts of Evil Pills, and their reputation was clearly well-deserved!

One of the yellow pills, in particular, gave Zou Feng an immediate, intense urge to visit a brothel the moment he smelled it.

There was no doubt about it. This was the Ten Directions Sect’s signature Elixir: Celestial Immortal Joy Powder!

’With this, advancing my Chaos Finger to the Realm of Refining Fire should be no problem.’

’The problem is, I only have four of these yellow Celestial Immortal Joy Powders in total. It’s probably not enough.’

’I’ll have to keep fishing and get more remnants of the Ten Directions Sect to drop their loot.’

Besides the Celestial Immortal Joy Powder, there were also a few red and black Elixirs.

Although he didn’t know the specific effects of these two types of Elixirs, their scent was still potent. Zou Feng planned to dissolve them in his medicinal bath later to cultivate his slow-progressing Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force.

While the Ten Directions Sect was famous for its Celestial Immortal Joy Powder, the selling points of its other Elixirs could not be underestimated.

Zou Feng had long since learned why the Ten Directions Sect, despite not being established for long, had managed to develop so rapidly.

It was by relying on various Evil Pills that could overdraft a person’s potential to mass-produce Entering Grade Martial Artists.

Using Evil Pills to reach Entering Grade was even more dangerous than using an Evil Skill.

But since the Ten Directions Sect was an Evil Cult that relied on brainwashing, why would they care about the future consequences?

And the Evil Pills they refined were indeed potent. Normally, Martial Artists who were forcibly pushed into Entering Grade should have been surprisingly weak.

Yet these "artificially ripened" cultists were actually quite formidable, their strength generally surpassing that of a typical self-made Entering Grade Martial Artist.

’In any case, since these Elixirs are so effective, I’ll just go ahead and use them.’

’Besides, if any problems arise, the big brother on the list will be there to bear the consequences for me.’

After a short nap, Zou Feng got up at the crack of dawn to begin his Cultivation.

Cultivating the Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force could also be seen as taking a medicinal bath, so he didn’t have to worry about any Guards thinking his injuries had already healed.

After dissolving the red and black Elixirs in the specially prepared medicinal water, Zou Feng stripped naked and lay down in it.

The two types of Elixirs quickly dissolved in the water, sending out ripples filled with an ominous aura.

Zou Feng silently prayed for Ji Changsheng for a moment, then focused on cultivating his Skill.

He soaked for nearly half an hour, long enough that even his Steel Skin, forged by the Tribulation-Indestructible Body, began to wrinkle.

But the results were surprisingly good.

"Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force (Entering the Hall and the Room), Progress: 10%"

Such progress stunned Zou Feng.

Before this, his Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force had merely been Slightly Accomplished, at 93% progress.

With the help of the Ten Directions Sect’s Elixirs, just a single session of Cultivation had caused it to skyrocket so much...

’It seems these remnants of the Ten Directions Sect are walking treasure troves for me!’

’This is great. From now on, I’ll try to fish for a remnant of the Ten Directions Sect every night and bleed these Cultists dry.’

’Now then, it’s time to cultivate the Chaos Finger...’

Zou Feng had long had a plan for how to use the Celestial Immortal Joy Powder for his Cultivation.

First, he would take one orally.

Then, he would dissolve another pill in water, cut the tip of his middle finger, and soak it in the solution.

Of course, he would also need the help of the poison from Xiaolv’s stinger.

In no time at all, everything was ready, and Zou Feng immediately began.

But unexpectedly, just as he started, a Guard’s voice came from outside the door. "Zou Incense Master, an old acquaintance is here to see you!"

Before he began cultivating, Zou Feng had already instructed them not to disturb him unless it was something important.

But since an old acquaintance had arrived, the Guard naturally had to report it immediately.

Zou Feng felt a headache coming on.

’What old acquaintance? Couldn’t they have come earlier or later? Why did they have to show up right when I’m cultivating the Chaos Finger?’

’I’ve already taken the Celestial Immortal Joy Powder orally, and my finger is soaking in the medicinal solution. I can’t stop my Cultivation right now.’

’If I stop, I won’t be able to continue transferring the side effects produced by these Evil Pills.’

’So how am I supposed to continue cultivating while dealing with this "old acquaintance"?’

’So who could it be? It can’t be Wang Xingjian or Chen Jingsheng. If they came, they’d just kick the door in.’

’Zhao Tianhu and Liu Chun? That’s not right either. They’re my subordinates now, so they wouldn’t be called "old acquaintances."’

’Could it be my master, Luo Yong? Maybe he heard I was injured and, out of concern, asked Zhao Tianhu where I was staying so he could make a special trip to visit me?’

’But if it really is my master, I could probably handle it easily enough. Since Luo Yong isn’t a Martial Artist, he wouldn’t notice that I have to keep cultivating.’

Just as he was thinking this, a very familiar female voice came from outside the door.

"Brother Feng, it’s me, Xiaocui!"

Zou Feng froze, and a cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

’If it were really Xiaocui, that would be one thing. The problem is, Zou Feng knew perfectly well that the Xiaocui from the Yang Mansion had been replaced long ago.’

’What the hell? That Female Evil Cultivator was doing just fine lurking in the Yang Mansion. Why in the world is she looking for me at such a critical time!?’