Two days later.
To the south of Qingshi County, a trail of dust was kicked up.
A swordsman wearing a bamboo hat came riding on a horse, dressed in dark sturdy clothes with a simple and ancient broadsword at his waist, attracting many passersby to stop and watch, even the beggars begging at the entrance widened their curious eyes.
Having ridden a horse from Yulong County to Qingshi County, Zhao Kuangfeng's face was weathered by the wind, and he looked somewhat weary.
He had now reached the location to complete his mission. Next, he would kill some people, obtain the formula, capture some craftsmen, and then return to report to his lord.
"This time I should be able to exchange for another month's supply of Spirit Food from the Ge Family, and nourishing my body with Spiritual Energy, I might well attempt to break through to the Innate Grandmaster."
The ultimate goal for all martial artists is one: Innate Grandmaster.
Reaching this realm is the peak of a martial artist, a legend in the Martial Arts world!
Even… The Jade Dragon Immortal Clan, like the Ge Family, would have to treat him with respect, and while an Innate Grandmaster might not be able to confront a Qi Cultivation Great Power, slaughtering those of the Fetal Breathing Realm... would be as easy as flipping one's hand.
Thus, unless one had no attachments in their family, a Qi Refinement Immortal would not wish to easily make an enemy of an Innate Grandmaster.
He had served as a Guest of the Ge Family for many years, all for the purpose of using the Ge Family's resources to break through to this supreme martial realm.
"This should be the last time I carry out a mission for the Ge Family."
As Zhao Kuangfeng stopped, a beggar below knelt on the ground and cried out, "Hero, please give me two copper coins! I haven't eaten in three days and am about to starve to death. I beg you, hero!"
A thin little beggar was kneeling under Zhao Kuangfeng's horse and begging for alms.
Zhao Kuangfeng glanced at him and pulled out a silver coin with a smile, asking:
"Do you know where the Treasure Pavilion is?"
The little beggar's eyes lit up at the sight of the shiny silver coin, and he nodded vigorously, "I know, I know! Please follow me, hero!"
The little beggar led Zhao Kuangfeng to the Treasure Pavilion.
Upon arriving, he looked at Zhao Kuangfeng expectantly, rubbing his hands.
"Hero, the place you're looking for is here. About that silver coin…"
He wore an ingratiating smile.
"You really dare to ask for it?"
Smack!
Zhao Kuangfeng kicked the little beggar away and, shaking his sleeves, walked into the Treasure Pavilion.
Outside, a bunch of beggars emerged from the corners of the streets and surrounded the little beggar who lay on the ground, blood spewing from his nose and mouth, glaring furiously at the swordsman inside.
After spewing several mouthfuls of blood, the little beggar summoned his last breath and shakily said:
"Xiao Liu… repay… the kindness… of Yang Shanren's... meal."
A relieved smile appeared at the corners of his mouth, and he tilted his head and breathed his last.
"Where is Treasure Pavilion's Shopkeeper Liao?"
Liao Cao came from inside, feigning confusion, "Who might you be, sir? What matter brings you to seek me?"
"I am a Guest of the Jade Dragon Immortal Clan's Ge Family, holding a token from the headquarters of your Treasure Pavilion, and I am here for a person."
He flicked out a green token, and after Liao Cao compared it several times, he nodded.
"This is indeed a token from our Treasure Pavilion headquarters. Whom does sir seek? I will assist with all my might."
Smack!
Zhao Kuangfeng threw a bag of unbroken, packaged compressed biscuits.
"Take me to the person who makes these Grain Avoidance Cakes."
Liao Cao's face showed surprise, "Ah, this... Our Treasure Pavilion has always collected treasures without inquiring about their origins, I'm afraid this might be... improper."
"Your Treasure Pavilion headquarters doesn't dare to talk about 'rules' with our Ge Family, and you, a mere shopkeeper, also dare to claim suitability?"
Zhao Kuangfeng's face was defiant, and he lightly stamped his foot on the ground.
Boom, Boom, Boom!
The flagstones shattered, rocks shot out, directly damaging several pieces of merchandise on display at the Treasure Pavilion.
"A Half-step Innate expert!" Liao Cao exclaimed in shock.
"Now, do you still have any rules?"
Liao Cao was silent for a moment, then resignedly nodded.
"Since there is a token from headquarters... please follow me, sir. The man's surname is Yang, given name Hu. He moved here from another place two years ago and indeed has Mysterious Skills. They have a workshop capable of producing these Grain Avoidance Cakes."
Liao Cao led Zhao Kuangfeng toward the outskirts of the county town, cautiously advising along the way, "Our Treasure Pavilion is somewhat well-known in Jianghu. If sir intends to take action... please be discreet and don't make it difficult for me."
Zhao Kuangfeng waved his hand, "No trouble, we are all people of Jianghu. I'll give your Treasure Pavilion some respect."
He had also dealt with and bought many things from the Treasure Pavilion before and knew that the Pavilion had some influence behind it; there was no need to become completely hostile.
"Then I thank you... I have yet to ask for your esteemed name."
"Zhao Kuangfeng."
"Hiss~ Could it be the Zhao Kuangfeng who with one use of the eighth level Gale Blade Technique drove back an Innate Grandmaster?"
"Hmm~ Good eyesight," Zhao Kuangfeng's mouth curved slightly.
"Gale Blade Technique, a high-grade martial skill in the Martial Arts world, countless Martial Cultivators in Jianghu wish to be taken under the Zhao family's wing. To have the fortune to meet such a hero as yourself in this small county town truly fulfills one of my long-held wishes. Once this matter is concluded, could I persuade you to honor my humble abode with your presence for a few drinks?"
"They're just empty titles, trivial matters." Zhao Kuangfeng's smile grew even wider.
In a pleasant atmosphere, Liao Cao led Zhao Kuangfeng to a grand mansion with an imposing presence.
"This is the home of that Yang Hu. His workshop is hidden inside. I've seen them transporting Grain Avoidance Cakes from the cellar, let me open the door for you and then you can deal with the matter inside."
"Very well, Shopkeeper Liao, you know the times," Zhao Kuangfeng commended.
Liao Cao knocked on the door, and two house guards came out.
"Shopkeeper Liao? What brings you here?"
Liao Cao carried himself with an air of importance, "Your master asked me to come today to discuss the distribution of Grain Avoidance Cakes to Lin County. Where is Yang Hu?"
"Oh! The master is processing with the craftsmen in the workshop. Please wait outside for a moment, and I will go call him."
"Don't bother."
Zhao Kuangfeng kicked the servant away with both feet, sending him flying into the corner where he lost consciousness.
Liao Can hurriedly closed the main gate with caution.
"Follow me, the underground chamber is inside."
The two walked into the backyard, lifted a stone slab from the rockery, revealing the passage to the underground chamber.
A thick scent of biscuits assailed their nostrils.
Zhao Kuangfeng smiled faintly, "This is the scent."
He had no more doubts and headed straight down.
Behind him, the shopkeeper Liao shouted, "This underground workshop is Yang Hu's lifeline, full of intricate mechanisms and extremely confidential. I have never been inside either, so be careful, Great Hero Zhao."
"Hmph~ Only a master of the Innate Realm deserves my Zhao Kuangfeng's caution."
The Gale Blade Technique emphasizes one word: recklessness.
Zhao Kuangfeng went straight down the passageway, entering an antechamber lit by a single lamp, with shelves stacked with dozens of Grain Avoidance Cakes and some other strange foods.
But aside from this, there were no other passages, as if it were a dead end.
"Heh-heh~ A mere mechanism, trying to deceive me, Zhao Kuangfeng?"
He looked toward a wall to the east, lined with small holes, behind which lay barely suppressed, anxious heartbeats—clear and crisp to the ears of a half-step Innate martial artist, like the sound of insects.
I... hear your heartbeat.
Zhao Kuangfeng peered into the small holes.
He saw a transparent lens, and then... snap!
The tactical flashlight turned on.
A blinding light, brighter than the sun, shot into his eyeballs!
His brain went blank in an instant, and his eyes burned with pain.
"Ah! My eyes!"
Zhao Kuangfeng jumped back, rubbing his eyes forcefully, but upon opening them, all he saw was whiteness—unable to see anything.
Thud!
A stone door slammed down behind him, sealing his way out.
At this moment, his ears captured the sound of movements from hidden chambers on all sides.
"Thinking you can subdue me, Zhao Kuangfeng, by ambushing my eyes? You vermin! I will kill all of you!"
He drew his greatsword, his ears perked up, using the sounds to judge positions!
Even without sight, a Half-step Innate could still unleash formidable combat power.
Sizzling~
Scarlet liquid sprayed from the holes left in the walls.
Zhao Kuangfeng moved agilely around the dark chamber, but the space was too confined, and he was covered in red liquid.
The red liquid that invaded his eyes felt like thousands of needles stabbing at his eyeballs!
The pain on his face was unbearable. Worst of all, he breathed in a strong odor.
"Cough, cough, cough! It's poisonous! Cough, cough, cough!"
He attempted to hold his breath, but the first few breaths of the gas caused him to cough uncontrollably, throwing his internal Qi into disarray, unable to concentrate it.
"Ah!!!"
Zhao Kuangfeng's senses were destroyed by the high concentration of capsaicin, leaving his brain blank, unable to sense anything, feeling as if he couldn't breathe at all.
Boom, boom, boom!
He swung his greatsword wildly, causing walls to burst apart.
And at that moment, a stone door slightly lifted.
Wearing a gas mask, Hu Zi rolled out from the gap, poking Zhao Kuangfeng with an electric baton.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah~"
The high-powered electric baton, capable of subduing a grown elephant in a second, instantly made Zhao Kuangfeng lose control of his body, falling to the ground convulsing, until the electrocuted parts turned charred, his mouth foaming and his eyes rolling back, with Hu Zi finally putting down the baton.
Yang Shi emerged from another stone door, holding a nail gun to Zhao Kuangfeng's heart.
"Your time has come."
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three shots, three thick nails penetrated Zhao Kuangfeng's heart, and the Half-step Innate Swordsman, famous in Jianghu, instantly lost his breath.
Yang Shi and Hu Zi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This setup was fraught with danger, a slight miscalculation... would have made them appear less cautious.
"The Serial Plots from the Thirty-Six Stratagems."
While the two of them sat on the ground panting, the stone door leading outside suddenly opened.
Clap, clap, clap~
An old man walked in, clapping his hands.
"To have such cunning methods, indeed I did not overestimate you..."