Chapter 68: Request

[Eldest Disciple Du Wang: Generated Qi and Blood in five days, reaching the Qi Blood First Transformation.

Broke through to the Qi Blood Second Transformation in seventeen days.

Achieved the Qi Blood Third Transformation in forty-nine days.]

[Second Disciple Helinta: Generated Qi and Blood in eight days, reaching the Qi Blood First Transformation.

Broke through to the Qi Blood Second Transformation in twenty-four days.

Broke through to the Qi Blood Third Transformation in seventy-six days.]

[Third Disciple Han Yuan: Generated Qi and Blood in nine days...]

Perhaps this was to motivate everyone who joined the Shexin Sect.

It clearly recorded the time each of the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciples took to progress from the Qi Blood First Transformation to the Qi Blood Third Transformation.

Among them, Eldest Disciple Du Wang was the fastest, taking only five days.

Second Disciple Helinta was next.

As for the others on the list, Hu Qi only gave them a quick glance, his gaze ultimately landing on the times taken by Du Wang and Helinta.

’In that case, it would be best to reveal my breakthrough to the Qi Blood Second Transformation somewhere between seventeen and twenty-four days.’

This timing was perfect.

The even more talented Du Wang would still be above him. This would garner enough attention, but he wouldn’t seem too monstrously talented.

Just as Hu Qi made this decision, a cell phone suddenly began to ring in the room.

Hu Qi put down the booklet, walked over to his charging phone, and was somewhat surprised when he saw the caller’s name.

The call wasn’t from his aunt’s family, but from Song Jian.

The two hadn’t seen each other since he arrived in Anshan City, only exchanging a few simple words via paper crane.

Hu Qi had a fairly good impression of him.

After all, without the other man’s ’sponsorship’ to help him through that difficult period, he might still be worrying about money.

Thinking of this, he reached out and answered the call.

"Hey! Hu Qi, didn’t you say you were looking for an Exotic Beast? I just got one here yesterday. If you have time, you can come pick it up."

Song Jian’s voice came through the moment the call connected.

Hu Qi’s eyes lit up. ’Song Jian really is my personal God of Wealth, bringing good news the moment he calls.’

"Sure, send me the address. I’ll head over in a bit."

The two then exchanged a few pleasantries before hanging up.

However, when Hu Qi saw the address he received, a strange look crossed his face.

...

「Some twenty minutes later.」

Anshan City, Tianshu District.

As a core district of Anshan City near the government offices, this area had numerous skyscrapers, but one part of it was different.

There were no towering buildings there. In their place were all sorts of green plants, lakes, and rows of low-rise villas.

At the entrance of Tangxi Garden, a green taxi slowly pulled over. After paying the fare, Hu Qi got out of the car under the driver’s strange gaze, a black canvas Sword Bag on his back.

Standing at the entrance to the residential community, Hu Qi looked up.

An arched marble gate over twenty meters tall stood there, imposing and magnificent.

On either side of the gate were two thick Roman columns, their shafts exquisitely carved and their capitals adorned with sculptures.

Delicate lines on them depicted auspicious Divine Beasts from mythology, as well as exotic flowers and plants.

Inside a guard booth to the side of the gate stood a tall, middle-aged security guard with a buzz cut.

Judging by his muscular physique and the calluses on his knuckles, the man was clearly a trained martial artist.

Just as Hu Qi looked in his direction, the middle-aged guard seemed to notice him.

His brow furrowed slightly as his gaze swept up and down Hu Qi. After confirming he wasn’t a resident, the guard was just about to speak when a figure emerged from the iron side gate.

"Hu Qi, over here."

Seeing this, the middle-aged guard tactfully closed the mouth he had just been about to open.

"Your family lives here? Then what were you doing in Qirong City?" Hu Qi asked, his tone strange as he looked at Song Jian.

He had thought Song Jian was in Qirong City, not expecting the address to be in Anshan City.

"My family developed this community, so we kept a few units for ourselves," Song Jian explained.

"I was going to school in Qirong City before, and the competition at the Red Scale Club there isn’t as fierce as it is in Anshan City. I thought I’d have a better chance."

As he finished, his expression grew dejected, clearly still brooding over his failure.

Hu Qi was speechless, gazing at the sprawling villa district.

’If I remember correctly, when I was getting directions earlier, the app said that property here costs over two hundred thousand per square meter.’

’Poverty really does limit one’s imagination.’

"Hu Qi, you’ve already successfully cultivated your Qi and Blood, right?" Song Jian suddenly asked.

His gaze fell on the canvas bag on Hu Qi’s back. Though it was a guess, his words carried a tone of certainty.

"Mm. Are you investigating me?" The smile vanished from Hu Qi’s face. His eyes narrowed, and a powerful aura suddenly emanated from him.

Such an aura was a real phenomenon, much like the discomfort and nervousness an ordinary person feels when meeting someone of high status and power; it simply varied in intensity.

A person’s aura is not a tangible substance but a comprehensive manifestation of their inner character and Spiritual Power, reflected through their outward demeanor. It is directly related to one’s state of mind.

After reaching the Qi Blood Second Transformation, Hu Qi’s Life Level had already changed compared to that of an ordinary person. Combined with his recent killing, he had unconsciously developed a murderous aura.

When he released it now, Song Jian felt the hair-raising terror of being targeted by a ferocious beast.

It was as if he would die in the very next moment.

He couldn’t help but take a few steps back.

He looked at Hu Qi with a shocked and uncertain expression. Fearing a misunderstanding, he quickly lowered his voice to explain.

"No, Hu Qi, you’ve misunderstood. My mother was once a Disciple in the core class, and she told me some general things about it. That’s why I guessed."

Then, as if afraid Hu Qi wouldn’t believe him, Song Jian went on to explain his mother’s situation in detail.

It turned out his mother had been a student of the Shexin Sect.

But when he was ten, she suddenly disappeared. She was never seen again, and no body was ever found.

He wanted to join the Shexin Sect precisely to investigate and find a trace of his mother.

Hu Qi’s gaze flickered. ’That makes sense.’

After all, compared to information about the Black Blood Species, general details about the Schools weren’t under strict secrecy, so it was normal for Song Jian to know something.

"I see."

Hu Qi retracted his aura and fixed his gaze on Song Jian.

"You’re helping me find an Exotic Beast because you want my help in return, don’t you?"

"That’s right. As long as you help me, not only is this Exotic Beast yours for free, but you can name any other request you have."

Song Jian nodded, not denying it in the slightest.

"With my ability, it shouldn’t be hard for me to join the core class next year. Why the rush?"

Hu Qi raised an eyebrow.

"I can’t wait that long. Besides, the fact that you cultivated Qi and Blood in such a short time is proof of your potential."

He paused at this, a dejected look flashing across his face.

"Even if I did get in, I’d just be an ordinary member at best. The difficulty of investigating anything useful would be too great."

"But you’re different. You’re bound to go much further in the future, and you’ll have access to much more information."

At this, Hu Qi understood his reasoning.

After a moment’s thought, he said, "Alright. But I can’t guarantee any results."

’This arrangement was beneficial to him, with no apparent downside. The other man’s connections and financial resources were exactly what he needed.’

’As long as he had a steady supply of Exotic Beast Meat, his power could grow by leaps and bounds.’