31: Buying Life

Wang Gang, who usually went unnoticed, appeared rough on the outside but was extremely meticulous on the inside; truly, everyone has their own shining points.

After taking one last look at Wang Gang on the ground, Xu Sanyan got up and left, not using his small knife to extract the Qi and blood from him.

It wasn't due to reluctance, but for safety's sake; a shriveled corpse was too obvious, and if someone discovered something amiss, it would be bad. He would wait until he was prepared to start.

Returning home,

Xu Sanyan instructed Big Yellow Tooth to dispose of Wang Gang's body, then turned and went back to his room.

The Chieftain's Wife was already waiting in the room, her ten toenails painted with bright red polish, playfully wiggling. Her lips parted slightly as she said, "Fourth Master..."

...

The next morning, the golden rooster crowed in the city, its cries dispelling the night.

Xu Sanyan moved the arm pressing on him, got dressed, and after a simple tidying up, walked to the Gang.

Soon after he sat down, Big Yellow Tooth came to report, "Fourth Master, Xuan Hong, Deputy Gang Leader of the White Horse Gang, and Third Master Xuan, request an audience."

Xu Sanyan frowned, wondering what he was here for.

"Let him in."

Before long, a burly man walked in, his bare arms covered in body hair, dressed in a brown brocade robe. At a glance, he looked like an ape that hadn't fully evolved.

"Heh heh, Third Master Xuan, please sit." Xu Sanyan stood up and cupped his hands.

"Greetings, Deputy Gang Leader Xu. Oh, my apologies, look at my head, I forgot you are already the Gang Leader," Xuan Hong replied with a forced smile, returning the greeting.

Xu Sanyan's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard the contempt in Xuan Hong's words at all.

Big Yellow Tooth lowered his head, pretending not to hear. The Fourth Master was famously vindictive; if Xuan Hong dared to speak like that, once the Fourth Master found an opportunity, he might not even leave a complete corpse.

"No matter, Deputy Gang Leader Xuan, what brings you here?" Xu Sanyan asked with a smile.

"Heh heh..." Xuan Hong glanced at the several Gang members behind him and shook his head without speaking.

Xu Sanyan waved his hand at them, dismissing them, "Please speak."

Seeing that only the two of them remained, Xuan Hong no longer hid anything and stated directly, "My elder brother said that if Gang Leader Xu lacks talent for management, he can transfer some people from the White Horse Gang to help. It's just help, and the previous conditions remain the same."

Xu Sanyan lowered his head in thought upon hearing this. General Bai Wuxia's move was likely intended to sideline him, allowing him to only receive money and precious medicines monthly, while everything else would be handed over to the White Horse Gang.

This was not entirely unacceptable. Xu Sanyan precisely did not wish to manage the Gang, as long as the precious medicines were supplied monthly, he could free up time to handle other matters.

So he nodded, "Very well, please thank Gang Leader Bai on my behalf."

"Gang Leader Xu is brilliant."

Although Xuan Hong had a smile on his face, he was extremely disdainful in his heart. Just a country bumpkin, knowing nothing, completely unaware of how profitable Wangyue Tower and Yelang Society were before.

As long as they took over, within three months, the Guanshan Saber Society would belong to the Bai Family.

After seeing Xuan Hong off, Xu Sanyan went to Zhu Mansion again. As soon as he entered, he heard Zhu Yong's hearty laughter,

"Hahahaha, Mr. Xu, quick, please sit. Someone, go fetch my best tea."

Xu Sanyan cupped his hands and smiled, "How have you been, Elder Brother Zhu, recently?"

"Very well, very well..."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a moment, then Xu Sanyan got to the point, "I heard that the city's large prison has always been under your management, Elder Brother?"

Zhu Yong rubbed his shiny head and whispered, "Are you trying to get someone out, Laodi?"

Xu Sanyan shook his head, "May I ask, Elder Brother, how many prisoners are in this large prison?"

"I really don't know about that. I'll ask in a moment."

Zhu Yong summoned someone and asked, "About three hundred people, what do you mean, Laodi?"

"I'd like to ask Elder Brother to help me send a few people out of the city every day."

Zhu Yong picked up his teacup, tilted his head, and asked, "What do you want these people for?"

"To be honest, Elder Brother, I've been raising some people outside, and now I'm short-handed, so I'm trying to find some," Xu Sanyan said mysteriously.

Zhu Yong didn't care what he wanted the prisoners for; he only cared about how much money he could get. So he waved his hand, "No problem, just tell my deputy in a bit, and you can handle it as you see fit."

"Thank you, Elder Brother. I heard you have new calligraphy works recently. I'd like to buy one to admire."

"Hahahaha, no problem, no problem..."

Xu Sanyan walked out of Zhu Mansion; the matter had been settled. Thirty thousand taels of silver for over three hundred people in the large prison, with five people sent out of the city daily.

On average, one hundred taels of silver per life.

In fact, many prisoners in the jail were not on death row and might be released next year, but... who cared?

Zhu Yong didn't care, and Xu Sanyan cared even less.

...

Xu Sanyan settled down like this. Two months later.

In the forest outside the city, three soldiers escorted five prisoners. One of them said, "Gang Leader Xu, this is the last batch. There won't be any tomorrow."

Xu Sanyan pulled out a few silver notes from his Pregnant and slapped them into the soldier's hand, smiling as he said, "You've worked hard during this time. Please use this money for drinks for the brothers."

"Thank you, Gang Leader Xu."

The soldier contentedly took the silver notes, turned, and left.

Xu Sanyan, ignoring the prisoners' struggles, led the five into the depths of the forest, emerging alone a moment later.

After two months of killing and extracting blood drops, his Physical Body was incredibly strong. Although there was no outward change, his punch now likely carried ten thousand jin of force. Even those in the Tianren Realm might not possess greater strength than him.

The Chieftain's Wife was the one who felt it most deeply; her nightly pleas for mercy were so loud that Big Yellow Tooth couldn't sleep.

Xu Sanyan looked at an ancient tree as thick as a person beside him, and suddenly threw a punch. With a crisp "crack," the tree snapped in response, yet his fist wasn't even scratched.

Xu Sanyan didn't use any Inner Energy at all; he could achieve such a feat with just the strength of his Physical Body. Truly terrifying!

However, what puzzled him was how the blood mist on that Fang Family youth was activated. To this day, Xu Sanyan still hadn't figured it out.

He guessed it might be related to his state of mind?

With a thought, he brought up the panel.

["Xu Sanyan"]

["Age — 18/87"]

["Realm — Inner Energy Mid-Stage"]

["Cultivation Technique — "The Supreme Truth and Serenity Scripture of Eliminating Illusion and Attaining Reality" (Elementary Stage)"]

["Technique — "Blood Demon Corpse Refining Method" (Not Initiated)"]

["Skill — Perfect Stance (Perfection). Three Tigers Subduing Dragon Saber (Mid-Stage). Horse Appraisal Technique (Mid-Stage). Excavator Repair and Maintenance (Elementary Stage)..."]

["Qi — 20"]

His 'Qi' had accumulated twenty points!

Yesterday, General Bai Wuxia sent four precious medicines, Zhao Zhongyang sent two, Ginseng Society sent three, plus the one point that automatically increased each month, making it exactly ten points.

Accumulated for two months, a total of twenty points!

Xu Sanyan no longer hesitated. He sat cross-legged and tapped the plus sign next to 'Realm',

Elevate!

The 'Qi' on the panel instantly evaporated by fourteen points.

A large amount of Cultivation Technique insights flooded his mind. Many previously unclear aspects of the Cultivation Technique became clear, as if he had been enlightened.

The vital essence within his body surged, and the strength of his Physical Body advanced another level. Now his strength had definitely broken the ten thousand jin mark, directly rushing towards twenty thousand jin!

The Inner Energy in his Meridians also received a great replenishment. When fighting others, he no longer had to calculate Inner Energy consumption.

After a long while, Xu Sanyan let out a long breath, slowly opened his eyes, and said excitedly,

"Inner Energy Perfection!"