Outside the Scripture Storage Tower, about thirty feet from the main door, Master Lei Yuan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, a grim expression on his face.
Households Commander Cao seemed calm as he sat on a Taishi Chair, gazing from afar at the entrance to the Scripture Storage Tower.
He picked up the teacup brought by a subordinate and brought it to his lips, but immediately with a "ptui" sound, he spilled all the tea from the cup.
The temperature of the tea was actually quite pleasant, and fragrant.
Yet Cao Xuan could not bring himself to drink it, as his lips had somehow developed three blisters.
This made him even more irritated.
"Have you contacted Zijing Taoist? When can he get here? Has there been any response from the East State Royal Guard Ten Thousand Households Office? Where is Lord Governor?"
The Zijing Taoist he was talking about was not only an instructor at the Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall Mage Institute but also a Tributor Master at the Xiushui County Jinyi Thousand Households.
Cao Xuan was not one to put all his hopes on a boy of unknown origins.
Without a Fourth-Grade Martial Cultivator in Xiushui County, they would have to deal with magic using magic.
Zijing Taoist's cultivation in magic had reached the Sixth Grade and might be capable of handling the 6,900 Blast Flame Talismans inside the tower.
However, the Daoist had entered the mountains to gather herbs two days ago and had been unreachable till now.
The East State Royal Guard Ten Thousand Households Office was the superior institution to the Xiushui County Police Pool of Blood, overseeing all Ti Qi across the eight counties of the state.
Cao Xuan received no answers from those around him.
As his headache grew worse, a Jinyi Hundred Households officer not far away suddenly became animated and approached, "Households Commander, Chu Xisheng has replied."
Cao Xuan's eyes widened, and a hint of unusual light flashed in his pupils, "What did the brat say?"
Master Lei Yuan, Ye Zhiqiu, and Shao Lingshan, who were nearby, also turned their attention toward Cao Xuan.
"He says he can try to deal with it, but we must send in a good saber that suits him, along with a top-grade Blood Melt Pill. He also requests that when we make our move, there must be three Sixth-Grade experts who will forcibly break in from the third window starting from the east on the fourth floor. He has also asked for Coach Ye from the martial arts academy to support from under the fifth window starting from the east."
Ye Zhiqiu immediately frowned with concern and glanced at the fourth floor of the Martial Arts Academy.
Shao Lingshan heard this and sneered sarcastically.
Lei Yuan remained indifferent and noncommittal.
He would not send a disciple whose Primordial Skill had not yet reached a Rank to his death, but he would not actively stop it either.
"A top-grade Blood Melt Pill? Chu Xisheng's Nourishing Essence Skill hasn't even reached the Second Level, so this request makes sense," Cao Xuan mused as he tapped the armrest with his fingers.
"We do have a Seventh-Rank sorcerer; it wouldn't be difficult to send these two items in. But why does he want us to break in through the third window from the east?"
Blood Melt Pills were a type of elixir used internally by the Police Pool of Blood to stimulate abnormal blood power and enhance strength and True Yuan momentarily.
A top-grade Blood Melt Pill had no adverse aftereffects and could even enhance the physique of a Martial Cultivator to some extent.
"This subordinate is not clear on that. Additionally, Chu Xisheng made one more request," The Jinyi Hundred Households glanced at the surrounding people and then whispered a few words into Cao Xuan's ear.
Cao Xuan listened intently, and a playful smile gradually appeared on his face, "Interesting, you can agree to his request."
※※※※
Inside the Library, the yellow talisman paper in Chu Xisheng's hand began to change.
This talisman paper was truly miraculous.
The characters that Chu Xisheng had written in blood were slowly vanishing, both those voluntarily and involuntarily written.
Soon a new character emerged on the smooth surface of the paper.
It was the character for "consent."
At that moment, Chu Xisheng's brows lifted slightly, showing a hint of joy.
The Lily maiden observed him with a slight look of surprise, "You sure know how to take advantage of a situation to ask for benefits."
However, Chu Xisheng returned her glance with justified indignation, brimming with resentment, "Your Excellency overstepped and agreed to this life-risking task on my behalf; I can't possibly go all out with nothing in return."
The Lily maiden simply chuckled disdainfully and gently shook her head, "Who asked you to go all out? You just watch from the side and don't slow me down."
As they were speaking, a red glow suddenly shot through the window from outside and accurately hovered in front of Chu Xisheng.
It was a redwood box, about four feet in length, as thick as an arm, with fine and beautiful wood grain, and both sides carved with mysterious runes.
Chu Xisheng opened the box to discover a Yan Ling Saber inside, three feet two inches long, with a pitch-black blade but edges that emanated cold light.
Near the blade lay a blood-red elixir, the size of a pinkie, emitting a fresh herbal scent.
Chu Xisheng's expression brightened as he reached for the Yan Ling Saber. But before he could touch the hilt, the Lily maiden had already stretched her fair hand and snatched the saber away.
"Eh? It's actually a Black Cloud Flying Goose Saber from East Spring, well, with this saber supporting me, I'm even more confident," she said.
Chu Xisheng glared at her with his eyes wide with anger; the saber was something he had specifically requested from the Police Pool of Blood.
Being pragmatic, he watched the Lily maiden brandish the Yan Ling Saber with a burst of radiant cold light and wisely abandoned the idea of taking the saber back.
Fortunately, the Lily maiden did not take the Blood Melt Pill, and fearing she might change her mind, Chu Xisheng quickly took the pill and swallowed it.
The effects of the elixir were immediate, and soon Chu Xisheng felt his body heating up, the blood in his Five Internal Organs and Six Hollow Organs and in his four limbs and hundred bones becoming scalding hot, and a surge of True Yuan spontaneously growing within him.
Having timed it correctly, the Police Pool of Blood made their move just as the full effects of the Blood Melt Pill kicked in; from the third window starting from the east, a thunderous explosion erupted, and three figures of various heights burst into the window like fierce tigers and mighty dragons.
Chu Xisheng utilized his Eagle Eye dynamic vision to observe and noticed that Master Lei Yuan was among them, with the other two clad in Flying Fish uniforms, wearing Chest Armor—clearly high-level officers from the Police Pool of Blood.
The three of them exuded a fierce and overbearing momentum, leaving destruction in their wake wherever they passed; bookshelves and walls that obstructed their path were pulverized to dust in an instant.
Their strikes were especially venomous, leaving no survivors, and the four malefactors they encountered along the way were killed upon confrontation.
Together, these three were akin to a devastating tornado that rushed towards the direction of the 'sorcerer.'
Chu Xisheng glanced in that direction before quickly withdrawing his gaze, turning instead to observe the true sorcerer hidden among the crowd.
The man was extremely cautious and had started to retreat quickly at the first sign of trouble, taking refuge in the fifth room from the east, staying well away from Lei Yuan and his companions.
The moment he stepped behind the room's door, he pinched a spiritual formula with both hands, intending to cast magic.
However, in that instant, a black blade light flashed behind him, slicing swiftly and fiercely across his neck.
A look of horror and disbelief appeared on the sorcerer's face, followed by his head sliding off his neck as a copious amount of blood spurted out.
Behind him stood the lily girl with a self-satisfied smile tugging at her lips, her posture carefree as she flicked her blade.
"This is called luring the tiger out of the mountains, the so-called Blood Wind Gang is just this—"
The lily girl's words abruptly cut off.
Her expression turned stern, and she looked at the doorway with a hint of surprise.
"Fifth Grade Lower? To think Li Daogui has an expert like you under his command?"
The lily girl then casually threw her saber on the ground, and her entire body transformed into a wisp of blue smoke, swiftly rising into the sky.
At the same moment, the one-eyed young man burst in from the doorway. He glanced at the corpse of the sorcerer and let out a roar filled with fury and hate, his figure surging forward like a wolf, chasing after the floating blue smoke.
The movements of both figures were incredibly fast, covering a distance of thirty feet with each bound and fall.
It was only then that Chu Xisheng had just leaped down from the beam. He was somewhat dazed as he looked at the body before him, then flicked his toe to take hold of the Yan Ling Saber in his hand.
Perhaps because the lily girl practiced Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts, she couldn't carry a metal weapon while using magic.
Chu Xisheng, however, was quite fond of the blade and pondered keeping the 'Black Cloud Flying Goose Saber' for himself afterward.
But just as he gripped the handle, two robust figures, each brandishing a 'Flying Locust Crossbow,' burst into the room.
These two also first glanced at the body on the ground, then at the blade in Chu Xisheng's hand, their eyes revealing a blazing fury.
Sweat instantly broke out on Chu Xisheng's forehead as he realized this misunderstanding would likely be impossible to clarify.
Taking advantage of the moment before the others could react, he swiftly darted forward and jumped out the window.
"The sorcerer is dead! It was that bastard—"
"Kill him!"
The two shouted furiously, quickly positioning themselves by the window and aiming their Flying Locust Crossbows at Chu Xisheng, who was still in mid-fall.
In a flash, hundreds, perhaps thousands of tiny crossbow arrows the length of fingers barraged towards Chu Xisheng.
As he saw the swarm of arrows blotting out the sky, Chu Xisheng felt his scalp tingle, his chest pounded furiously, as if a heavy hammer was relentlessly striking at his heart, while a wave of trembling fear spread throughout his body.
Yet the more fear and despair overtook him, the more tranquil and clear-headed he became.
Without hesitation, Chu Xisheng swallowed the 'Divine Power Pill' he had hidden in his mouth and with wide-open eyes, used his Eagle Eye to track the trajectory of each arrow.
In that moment, his potential erupted to its utmost limit.
His Yan Ling Saber flickered with black blade light, slashing down the oncoming arrows, one after another, fending them off.
He threw himself into the fray, delivering twenty-seven rapid slashes in a blink.
His right arm, moving at a speed beyond its limits, throbbed with a tearing pain, as if the limb had been severed.
But still, the relentless swarm of locust-like arrows broke through his saber's defensive flurry, continuing their assault on his face.
Just as Chu Xisheng's heart grew cold as ice, a familiar woman's voice reached his ears.
"Get out of the way!"
The voice was like chiming silver bells, and to Chu Xisheng, it was as beautiful as the sound of heaven, incredibly pleasing to the ear.
Suddenly, a heavy sword beside him slashed through the air, twisting and quivering mid-flight, conjuring up fierce gales that blew all the arrows away.
It was Ye Zhiqiu, who rushed upward beside Chu Xisheng, brushing away all traces of the arrows in an instant and then, like a fierce leopard, crashed through the fourth-floor window.
Chu Xisheng safely landed on the ground, rolling adroitly to disperse the impact of the fall.
However, as he tried to stand up again, he found his legs weak and his arms trembling.
The aftereffects of his brush with death left him completely drained of strength.
At that moment, a buzzing sound filled the surroundings.
"Is the sorcerer inside dead?"
"There wasn't an explosion; none of the Blast Flame Talismans were activated."
"Was it that Chu Xisheng? He actually managed to do it?"
With these murmurs, the sounds of footsteps and clanking iron armor thunderously filled the air.
Chu Xisheng raised his head to see a large group of fully armed jinyiwei flooding into the building.
Simultaneously, he saw within his vision a large firework suddenly exploding.