novelraw Chapter 358 - 333 Li, Part 1
Chapter 358 - 333 Li, Part 1
Gently, he dropped Cheng Hui’s corpse.
Zhang Rongfang glanced at the changing blood replenishment value in the attributes column.
It had increased from the previous 73 to 77.
"A propitious number, I like symmetry."
At this moment, he was already feeling that the increase in blood replenishment was becoming more difficult.
This replenishment, the later it gets, the more it requires sufficiently rare, sufficiently different gene parts.
Therefore, Cheng Hui, being merely a Three Emptiness, could provide him with a few points of replenishment value, which was quite good.
He stepped forward and searched Cheng Hui’s body for miscellaneous items.
By now, his hands had already developed thick calluses and a layer of keratin.
Ordinary poisons and poisonous waters, unless extremely potent and in large quantities, couldn’t even penetrate his skin.
After some cleaning and sorting.
Quickly, a complete Golden Roc Secret Record was placed in front of him.
Alongside were about ten small porcelain bottles, each finger-thick, containing something unknown.
A money bag, a stack of identity documents, prepared with proofs for at least a dozen individuals.
This was all of Cheng Hui’s belongings as the master of the Golden Wing Pavilion.
Zhang Rongfang opened the money bag and shook it out.
A thick roll of gold notes rolled out immediately.
Each of these gold notes was worth thousands, even tens of thousands in amount.
Roughly estimating, these gold notes amounted to about hundreds of thousands.
"...."
Even Zhang Rongfang, with his wealth, was impressed by Cheng Hui’s extravagance.
According to the exchange rate of gold for silver coins, this was over a million in silver notes...
So much money..... indeed worthy of the chief of the Golden Wing Pavilion.
With this ability to gather wealth, it truly deserved this status.
He put away the gold notes.
He stood up and clapped his hands.
"Come here."
Soon, two Daoists from the Thousand Stone Sect entered the room and bowed to him.
"Deal with it. Burn it."
Zhang Rongfang casually ordered.
"Yes." Both nodded respectfully and proceeded to handle the corpse.
They were specifically brought by Zhang Rongfang from the Thousand Stone Sect to clean up his aftermath.
They were very experienced in handling corpses.
Stepping out of the quiet room, Zhang Rongfang sighed deeply; now the whole Citong affair was finally settled.
But although Citong’s troubles were resolved, the Western Sect wouldn’t let this rest, having lost so many experts.
After Kongding and Jin Yuan fled, they didn’t return to Wanghai Temple and disappeared without a trace.
The docks’ spies saw them land ashore, sprinting frantically and leaving Citong directly.
Such godly Grandmasters, once running at full speed in a straight line, could move far faster than ordinary people could imagine, making it impossible for spies to keep up.
Zhang Rongfang returned to his study, sat down, and rested briefly.
He was already considering whether to withdraw all the main personnel from Citong.
If the Western Sect were to attack, it would certainly cause collateral damage.
Though leaving now might be suspected of being related to the disappearance of Wanghai Temple and Kongwu.
Yes, the Sea Dragon King Kongwu wasn’t dead, just lost in the depths of the mysterious ocean.
As long as no one finds the corpse, one cannot say he’s dead.
Leaving now, while potentially suspect, would certainly best ensure his and his subordinates’ safety.
"Just as this money came at the right time....." Zhang Rongfang stroked the gold notes in his pocket, feeling relieved.
No longer having Citong’s port to siphon off profits, he was worried about how to keep the Thousand Stone Sect and Rebel Sect together.
Now, it seemed there was no need for immediate concern.
It was heard that Cheng Hui had been tracking rare human breeds everywhere, so this money was probably looted and confiscated from others.
After resting for a while, Zhang Rongfang once again opened the attributes column to check his current free attribute points.
Since the last custom elixir was crafted, over half a month had passed.
The new attribute points had accumulated to 7 points.
"Enough."
He finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason for accumulating attribute points was the concern that his health would fall below 200 after taking the elixir, causing his second talent, blood replenishment, to disappear.
But now, there was no longer this worry.
Immediately, Zhang Rongfang swiftly allocated all attribute points to health.
Health values increased from a perfect 200 to 207.
A slight warmth circulated in his chest with the enhancement of life, soon disappearing.
Almost no feeling at all.
But Zhang Rongfang was unconcerned, immediately taking out a porcelain bottle from his waist pouch, opening it, and pouring out the custom elixir of Golden Toad Skill.
He stuffed it into his mouth in one quick motion.
Chewed, swallowed, and finished in one go.
Picking up a nearby water glass, he drank all the water inside.
Then sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and quietly regulated his breath.
Soon, a faint stinging sensation started to rise from his stomach.
’It’s starting....’
The sting quickly intensified, then spread throughout the body.
In the attribute panel, the health points also began to slowly decrease.
One point, two points.
Then it stopped.
The first time taking the medicine causes the greatest harm to the body.
But to Zhang Rongfang’s surprise, after just a two-point drop, this damage halted.
The duration of the physical pain was also much shorter than when he previously took the medicine.
’Is it because my flesh is restored, and my health points are extremely high?’
He speculated that it was highly likely because his vitality had now reached an unimaginable level.
Thus, his resistance to the Golden Toad Skill medicine had also strengthened.
’No rush, a complete retreat from Citong will take time. And considering where to retreat to is necessary. Retreating to a place that can withstand the Western Sect’s reckoning must be prepared beforehand.’
Right away, Zhang Rongfang settled calmly, devotedly practicing the Cultivation of Literature, every day in the Dao Palace, methodically cooperating with medicine-taking and practicing the Golden Toad Skill.
At the same time, he was also arranging for all members of the Thousand Stone Sect and Rebel Sect to scatter into various distant places.
Allowing everyone to leave Citong to avoid being captured by the Western Sect in one sweep.
The Great Spirit’s domain is vast, and the government can’t possibly oversee all areas, with plenty of wild mountains and lands untouched.
To truly hide people is actually quite easy.
Unless the Western Sect’s Grandmasters aren’t afraid of spending time, personally deploying experts for a carpet search.
But, that’s even more unlikely.
So, as long as people leave Citong and scatter into the mountains and wilderness, it will be the best way to avoid revenge from the Western Sect.
While Zhang Rongfang was taking medicine and practicing the Golden Toad Skill, and making arrangements for his subordinates’ retreat.
A group of mysterious visitors once again ascended to Agarwood Palace and quietly visited him, who was opening a furnace to practice alchemy.
*
*
*
Outside Citong, within a large manor.
In the exclusively Western-style manor, on the vast grassland, small villas, sporadic shades, creating a peacefully idyllic atmosphere.
The three from the Sensing Sect, Yan Shuang, Miaoyu, Zheng Shuyang, were currently finishing dessert after the meal, preparing to go for a swim in the sea pool at the back, relaxing with the attendants’ service.
"What to play this afternoon?" Miaoyu lazily raised her hand, letting the attendant apply sunscreen oil on her arms.
"Don’t know....." Zheng Shuyang was almost asleep, lying motionless on the chaise lounge.
"For dinner, I want a lobster as big as a head...." Yan Shuang moaned, rubbing her belly, she had eaten too much for lunch, feeling quite stuffed.
"You eat like this every day, are you not afraid of gaining weight?" Miaoyu said speechlessly, glancing at Yan Shuang’s still slim figure.
"Seafood doesn’t make you fat, no worries!" Yan Shuang dismissed it. "Anyway, the budget is ample, free to use. No use in not using it. By the way, heard James there caught a giant octopus as big as a boat. Will make octopus barbecue, surely very fresh....."
"Really? I’ve never seen such a big octopus before." Miaoyu showed a hint of anticipation.
"By the way, what’s happening at Agarwood Palace now?" Zheng Shuyang, being the only male, somewhat remembers that the three of them have tasks to complete.
They’re here to help Zhang Ying practice the Golden Toad Skill.
"Don’t know.....saw him last week, he seems to be in even better health..." Miaoyu said lazily.
"What to do then?" Yan Shuang blinked.
"Relaxed. We’re getting paid, not worrying about executing tasks everywhere; besides practicing martial arts, it’s all about enjoying life. Even the immortals wouldn’t trade such days; why rush?" Miaoyu waved her hand.
"Indeed." Yan Shuang nodded. "Don’t you find it odd? Why is his body improving more and more?"
"Maybe he quit practicing. Or....he’s got a special talent!" Zheng Shuyang responded.
"Okay....if he really has extraordinary talent, then wouldn’t those unifying factions within the sect go wild supporting him?
The Golden Toad Skill greatly enhances the body, aiding martial arts cultivation. Historically, those who reached the Chasing the Sun realm were top-notch figures. If he truly has this potential...." Yan Shuang slightly perked up.
"By the way, seems like Thousand Stone Sect people have come to Citong as well. They’re said to be a cornerstone of the unifying faction, aren’t they? What a coincidence, hahaha....." Zheng Shuyang chuckled.
Yet his laughter gradually faded towards the end.
"Is it really just a coincidence?" Miaoyu sat up, waiving everyone away with a more solemn expression.
"Practicing Golden Toad Skill, becoming more spirited. A cornerstone of the unifying faction, Thousand Stone Sect, gathering in Citong....These two points, while acceptable individually, combined...." Zheng Shuyang also grew more spirited, frowning.
"Could it be.....Thousand Stone Sect came just for Zhang Ying?!" Miaoyu suddenly had a guess flash across her mind.
Over the past two years, the three of them have been living lavishly here; with financial resources, coupled with being in the largest port of the Great Spirit, they have far more cultivation resources than in other places.
Hence, the three of them improved greatly.
Rapidly advancing two minor realms.
Everything was fine initially, but if Zhang Ying truly possesses the natural foundation for practicing the Golden Toad Skill....
Then....
The three of them exchanged glances, reading shock and astonishment in each other’s eyes.
"I think, it’s best to quickly inform our teachers and elders...." Zheng Shuyang said solemnly.
"Wanghai Temple had so many deaths in a row, the waters here are too deep, relying solely on us is not enough. It’s indeed time to notify the experts from behind the gate." Miaoyu agreed.
"Speaking of which, isn’t it about time the Snow Rainbow Pavilion dispatched dignitaries to arrive in Citong?" Yan Shuang suddenly mentioned.
"In the religious affairs of Citong, with such a major issue from the Wanghai Temple case, Zhang Ying, as the guardian, can’t be entirely without responsibility, surely arrangements would be made. We should carefully observe changes."
"You mean Zhang Ying might be reassigned away from Citong?" Miaoyu realized.
"It’s possible." Yan Shuang nodded. "Although it may not be the right time to approach Zhang Ying, we can reach out to acquaintances in the Thousand Stone Sect. If it’s verified that Zhang Ying truly can continue practicing the Golden Toad Skill, and the Thousand Stone Sect indeed came for him. Perhaps....this is an opportunity!"
Upon hearing this, the other two immediately brightened up.