319: Leather Armor

A long time later, the sky lightened slightly, the person outside the door left, and Xu Sanyan returned to his bed to quietly ponder.

That person stood outside his door for half the night, and he didn't know what their purpose was.

At first glance, the Wang family seemed to have no problems, but upon closer inspection, it was full of strangeness.

Especially that painting; every time he recalled it, he felt particularly uncomfortable, as if his spirit had been polluted.

“Alas…”

Xu Sanyan sighed softly, it seemed that the Wang family was not a good place after all.

He was like a delicate lamb, straying into a wolf pack's territory, his heart filled with unease.

“Thump, thump, thump~”

Footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a knock, “Bang, bang, bang~ Mr. Lin, the Grand Elder and the others are ready to depart. I’ve come to lead the way for you.”

Xu Sanyan pushed open the door, and Wang Zixuan stood smiling at the doorway, looking at him.

“Mm, let’s go.”

Xu Sanyan’s face showed no sign of abnormality, nor did he mention what happened last night, acting as if nothing had occurred.

The two walked one behind the other, passing through the long corridor and the garden, heading towards the main entrance.

Along the way, they passed a hall. Xu Sanyan's gaze swept over it; the hall was built extremely grandly, and the plaque read “Wang Clan Ancestral Hall” in four large characters.

The main door was tightly shut, with only wafts of incense and candle smoke permeating through the cracks and dispersing, the offerings continuous.

Creak—

Just then, a gap opened in the Ancestral Hall’s main door, and a person walked out. Xu Sanyan, through this gap, glanced inside, only able to see neatly arranged spirit tablets.

“Swish—”

Suddenly, a blurry shadow flashed through the door crack, and Xu Sanyan’s heart instantly tightened. Before he could look closely, the door had already closed.

That shadow just now…

It looked exactly like a tentacle, its dark red surface covered with fine fleshy particles, and swollen tumors packed one after another, making one’s heart go numb.

Unfortunately, the tentacle flashed and was gone, and he didn't have time to see more before the door closed.

The person who walked out of the Ancestral Hall was an Old Gentleman with a pale face, a neatly trimmed goatee below his jaw, and a black robe without a single wrinkle, giving him a clean and rigid impression.

Wang Zixuan also saw the Old Gentleman and immediately bowed in salute, “Greetings, Grand Elder.”

Xu Sanyan raised his eyebrows; so he was the Grand Elder?

The Old Gentleman glanced at Xu Sanyan, “Mm, the Family Head has instructed me. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Xu Sanyan followed him, and Wang Zixuan did not follow any further, watching the two depart.

The Grand Elder stood tall and stern, like a rigid Old Gentleman. He walked unhurriedly, each step precisely placed, as if measured with a ruler.

Xu Sanyan also did not speak first, merely following behind him and observing silently.

The two walked towards the outside of the Wang family mansion. At this moment, many people had already gathered in the front courtyard. They were the last to arrive, and Xu Sanyan saw the Feng Family Old Ancestor among the crowd.

“Grand Elder…”

“Greetings, Grand Elder.”

Everyone saluted, no one daring to be disrespectful, after all, the Grand Elder was a genuine He Dao Realm expert.

Some also looked at Xu Sanyan, their eyes showing curiosity, wondering who the young man accompanying the Grand Elder was.

Xu Sanyan looked around; there were thirteen people in the courtyard, the lowest cultivation among them being at the Soul Refinement Realm.

“Where have they reached?” the Grand Elder asked a middle-aged man.

“Based on the journey, they should be near White Dragon Temple.”

The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, then nodded, “Depart.”

“Yes.”

The group used their various means, flying up and swiftly soaring towards the horizon.

…

White Dragon Temple is located three thousand li south of Qianqiu City, an aerial Daoist temple built halfway up a mountain. Like the Chang family and the Feng family, it also belongs to a force affiliated with the Wang family.

The group traveled day and night, spending a full day to reach White Dragon Temple, only to find the place already reduced to ruins.

The Grand Elder’s eyes were unperturbed as he stepped into the Daoist temple.

Xu Sanyan and the others followed closely, arriving in the main hall, where they saw dozens of Daoist priests’ heads formed into a jīngguān, placed beneath the main hall.

These heads varied in age, from young to old. At the very top was the head of an aged Old Gentleman, his beard soaked crimson with blood, his eyes wide open, two lines of bloody tears flowing from the corners of his eyes, his expression filled with unwillingness.

On the high platform was enshrined a stone statue of an unfamiliar Daoist priest, over two zhang tall, presumably a Grandmaster of White Dragon Temple, holding a precious sword pointing diagonally towards the sky, a truly solemn and majestic sight.

However, at this moment, it was stained with blood, and a Daoist priest’s corpse hung from the sword blade, making it appear somewhat sinister.

Xu Sanyan frowned tightly. He didn't understand why the Gan Country people would slaughter the White Dragon Temple Disciples; weren't they here to find him?

His gaze swept around, then suddenly paused. He saw dozens of female corpses lying quietly on the ground in a room to the side of the main hall, dressed like ordinary Mortals.

Xu Sanyan leaned closer to observe. The female corpses had traces of stitching on their bodies, and their exposed necks were threaded with needles and thread, as if their heads had been cut off and then sewn back on.

“This is White Dragon Temple’s secret art, the ‘Skin Armor Technique’.”

The Grand Elder’s voice came from behind him. Xu Sanyan turned to look at him, and the Grand Elder continued to explain,

“The ‘Skin Armor Technique’ requires the body skin of the Materials to be intact, so only the head can be cut off, and the internal organs and bones removed from the neck. Then, it is refined with herbs and secret methods. Once completed, it yields excellent skin armor, which fetches a good price. White Dragon Temple makes a living from this, earning Spirit Stones.”

“Make a living? Do you mean this is a business?”

Xu Sanyan tried gently squeezing the woman’s body; her chest immediately caved in. This truly was just an empty shell; the internal organs, along with the bones, had all been hollowed out.

The Grand Elder nodded, “Indeed. Skin armor has extraordinary uses; when worn, it provides a certain defensive effect. Most importantly, it can change a person’s physique, and when combined with disguise techniques, it can almost achieve a lifelike effect.”

“However, skin armor is ultimately just Mortal skin. Even after refining, it cannot be considered a Magic Treasure. It tends to rot after prolonged use, so ‘Materials’ often need to be sought.”

Materials…

Xu Sanyan looked at the female corpses on the ground. Undoubtedly, they were the Materials, and one-time use Materials at that.

“Then why are they all women? Can’t men be used?” Xu Sanyan asked curiously.

“Men can also be used, but women yield better results.”

Xu Sanyan nodded. This “Skin Armor Technique” was undoubtedly an evil art. For every piece of skin armor made, a young girl would lose her life.

He suddenly remembered a saying: no buying, no killing.

Tsk…

They are so cruel.

The Feng Family Old Ancestor said, “White Dragon Temple frequently plunders Mortals in the Gan Country territory, so it’s not surprising that they met this calamity. The corpses are still fresh, so they probably haven’t gone far. Shall we…”

As he spoke, his gaze turned to the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder nodded slightly, “Mm, pursue them.”

Xu Sanyan looked at the row of tragically dead young girls, shaking his head with a slight sense of pity. Among these girls, several were quite attractive, exactly his type, but unfortunately…

Alas…

This White Dragon Temple truly deserves to die. How could they be so cruel to soft, sweet girls?

What a waste of heavenly resources!

If it were him,

Hehehe…