Skin

After nearly two days of observation, Li Tan indeed discovered some discrepancies.

He found that Li Yasi often had close interactions with an ordinary merchant.

Normally, an ordinary merchant without Cultivation would certainly not be qualified to interact with someone like Li Yasi.

Li Tan therefore concluded that there must be a master behind the merchant, and Li Yasi must have an unclear connection with that person, or even be a big fish.

In his observation, the merchant's attitude was very submissive, and his behavior was constrained and even timid; when facing Li Yasi's questioning, he lowered his head even further and remained silent.

It seemed that this merchant was merely a tool for conveying messages between the two parties.

Li Tan knew that if he acted rashly, he might get caught in a power struggle, but Li Tan still decided to take a risk.

He had already wasted more than a week, and if he dragged it on any longer, he would truly be a great fool.

At this moment, Li Tan already had a plan in mind: if the situation changed, he would immediately give up on Li Yasi!

He decided to first 'skin' that merchant, and if there was an opportunity, he could also gather intelligence from the merchant, but he only had about two days.

If the merchant died and he couldn't contact Li Yasi in time, then he would be attacked from both sides!

Li Yasi and the merchant only spoke for a moment before both hurried away, fearing that staying longer would arouse suspicion.

Li Tan knew it was time to act; after putting on his mask, he followed the merchant all the way.

Although Li Tan only had a Cultivation of the first level of Qi Condensation, he was definitely not someone a Mortal could discover.

......

It wasn't until he walked into a secluded and desolate alley that the merchant stopped and questioned, "Your Excellency, who are you? Why are you following me?"

Perhaps this merchant truly had a trump card, or perhaps he was just pretending to be calm, as his words were full of confidence!

There was no hint of panic or fear!

For a moment, Li Tan was genuinely startled; thoughts raced through his mind, and he was very puzzled.

"Could it be that this merchant is a master? Just hiding his Cultivation?"

"Or is someone ambushing nearby? Or does he have a powerful Talisman and isn't afraid of him?"

One question after another flashed through Li Tan's mind, and he couldn't help but imagine various possible sudden situations.

Although Li Tan thought of many possible scenarios, only a flash of time passed in the outside world.

Li Tan decided not to hide, appearing before the merchant and smiling as he said, "Sir, you must be joking. I'm just here to convey a message on behalf of Young Master Yasi."

"I was just afraid of being discovered by villains, so I quietly followed behind you. Please forgive my rashness, Sir."

The merchant secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but remained silent on the surface.

The next moment, an expression of anger surged onto the merchant's face: "Didn't I tell you? Tomorrow, at the usual place, I will convey the third matter for you! I am just a messenger; negotiating with me is useless."

"Please forgive me, Sir. I am here to discuss another private matter," Li Tan said respectfully, with no hint of unnaturalness on his face.

When the merchant heard that Li Tan was there to discuss a private matter, the emotion on his face eased somewhat, and he asked on the surface, "What instructions does Young Master Yasi have?"

Inwardly, he remained highly wary of Li Tan, believing that this person had ill intentions and might have leaked some information to kill and seize treasures.

"I wonder if Sir has any methods for Cultivating and breathing exercises?"

"Young Master Yasi has been collecting breathing methods through various channels recently. If Sir possesses any, I am willing to purchase them at a high price," Li Tan said slowly, neither humble nor arrogant.

At this moment, the merchant was also extremely conflicted: "This person is so malicious! First, he used the excuse of conveying a message to test if I had an ambush, and now he's using a secret method to probe my background and insight."

"After all, insight is a symbol of power and deep background. How could an ordinary Mortal possess precious Cultivation and breathing methods without powerful background forces?"

"Without enough power, how could one trade breathing methods?"

"This is a fatal question. If I say I don't have them or won't trade, the person in front of me will likely erupt and kill me!"

"But if I say I do, I'll have to trade with him, and if I can't produce them, I still won't escape death."

Forced by the situation, the merchant had no choice but to bite the bullet and answer Li Tan: "I truly do not possess Cultivation and breathing methods."

"But I do have many powerful Talismans. I wonder if this Young Brother would like to buy some?"

Li Tan couldn't help but sneer twice. If the other party were a Cultivator, he would have to give up on this difficult problem; continuing to chat would only expose him.

But the person opposite was merely a Mortal! The choice was his!

Li Tan showed surprise and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "I observe that Sir has no Cultivation, so how would you activate Talismans with Spiritual Qi?"

This naturally hit the merchant's blind spot, and his expression changed slightly.

This subtle change clearly fell into Li Tan's eyes.

The next moment, the other party suddenly erupted! The merchant could already guess his fate.

......

Li Tan mockingly shook his hand. In fact, Talismans didn't require Spiritual Qi to activate; ordinary people could also use them, but this merchant would never have the chance to know that in this lifetime.

Although Li Tan didn't manage to extract any useful information, he did learn of a negotiation location, which gave him the qualification and reason to meet Li Yasi.

Li Tan dragged the merchant's dead body slowly towards the depths of the alley, not afraid of being discovered. If any Mortals stumbled upon them, he would simply kill them too.

As for Cultivators? It was even more impossible for them to come to this barren and desolate alley in the commoner's district.

"I'm sorry. If you must blame something, blame this man-eating Immortal Realm."

"I hope you reincarnate into a world without Cultivators in your next life."

At this moment, Li Tan's eyes were cold and cruel. Whether it was an illusion or not, his pupils seemed to darken a few shades, casting out all emotions of compassion and pity from his heart.

He constantly warned himself in his heart that to survive, he had to be sufficiently cold and ruthless.

Finally, Li Tan found an extremely secluded and dilapidated house, where a dim light flickered...

The young man's figure danced wildly in the dim house.

Spiritual Qi clung to his form; each movement was accompanied by the blooming of blood, blood splattering around the house, like the exquisitely elegant Lycoris Radiata in Hell....

Li Tan's lips curved into a cold arc. He knew that his meeting with Li Yasi was getting closer.

Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came!

Li Tan instantly became alert, the blackness in his eyes deepening, like an unknown abyss.

A little girl appeared in his field of vision, looking at Li Tan and the bloody scene around her in horror.

Li Tan frowned slightly, originally intending to raise his hand to deal with this unexpected person.

But the little girl spoke first, her voice trembling, "Big Brother, you're clearly a Cultivator, why are you so cruel?"

"Father lied. Father clearly said that Cultivator adults are kind and compassionate."

The adorable little girl in front of him had tears welling up in her eyes, looking very pitiful.

"You and I are both wild beasts trapped in a fight; only the victor can see the next opponent."

"Of course, now you've been eliminated...."

The room was filled with a strong smell of blood, and Li Tan no longer remembered whose blood stained his hands.

"How foul."

Without hesitation, he took out the charcoal from his storage ring, placing it around the room, preparing to begin his first 'skin change'.

The charcoal burned, flickering with reddish 'starlight'.

Li Tan took out a knife and carefully, lightly cut, afraid of tearing the merchant's skin. He removed the entire face, but unfortunately, the skin on the body was cut.

But it didn't matter; Li Tan only intended to change his facial skin anyway. As for the body skin, it was just for practice.

He found a mirror, looked at his own face, and then, without any hesitation, he literally cut off his own facial skin!

Fortunately, Li Tan was very fast, and the hemostatic pills he had prepared were not needed.

Looking at his monstrous appearance, Li Tan felt no extra emotion in his heart, merely a calm smile....

"Beauty is a double-edged sword, where fortune and misfortune coexist; it is not as wonderful as imagined....

Those who are good at manipulating it will find it a great asset, while for those who do not know how to use it, it is 'tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard'."

As Li Tan applied the merchant's facial skin to his own face, the surrounding temperature gradually rose.

He only felt as if his face was being scorched by a raging fire, and intense pain stimulated his nerves.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the burning sensation on Li Tan's face gradually faded. Aside from his height, he was practically the person himself.

However, that was easily resolved; adding some cloth to his shoes would suffice.

Li Tan looked at himself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

"Li Yasi, wait for me."

"Hehehehehe...."