17: Chapter 17 Offering Unsolicited Favors

The True Qi of the Spirit Ape Health-Preserving Technique is pure and long-lasting, capable of nourishing the Physical Body.

The physical toughness of the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique can, in turn, supplement True Qi.

The circulation between the two creates a cycle of endless vitality.

More importantly, if the agility of the Spirit Ape Fist Intent and the ferocity of the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique could be fused...

Li Changsheng stood up and practiced his fist techniques in the cramped stone house.

At first, it was the agile and elegant Spirit Ape Fist; gradually, it integrated the heavy and fierce power of the Iron Casting Body Refining Technique. Finally, the momentum of his fists shifted between light and heavy, fast and slow, unexpectedly producing the sound of wind and thunder within that tiny space!

"This punch fuses the enduring True Qi of the Spirit Ape Health-Preserving Technique, the ferocity of the Iron Casting Physical Body, and the agility of the Spirit Ape Fist Intent..."

"It shall be called 'Spirit Ape Iron Casting Power'!"

He withdrew his fists and stood still, the True Qi within his body surging like a tide.

The original Bottleneck of the seventh layer of the Houtian Realm shattered with a boom at the moment the techniques fused!

Eighth layer of the Houtian Realm!

Not only that, his physical strength had taken another step forward. His skin shimmered with a faint bronze luster under the moonlight, like tempered steel.

"It's still not enough."

Li Changsheng was not satisfied.

"The current situation is grim. The Wang Family might be planning even more desperate moves, and the Zhao Family also harbors ill intentions. I must continue to work hard."

He took out the animal hide scroll left by his father and continued to contemplate the second layer of the Spirit Ape Health-Preserving Technique.

This contemplation lasted the entire night.

At dawn, bloodshot streaks appeared in Li Changsheng's eyes, but his spirit was exceptionally excited.

The second layer of the Cultivation Technique was complete!

Early the next morning.

The brothers Zhao Feng and Zhao Lei stepped into the Li Family Camp.

The two brought only four guards and traveled light, yet the restraint and scrutiny typical of noble Family scions were fully revealed in their every gesture.

"Brother Changsheng, congratulations!"

Zhao Feng cupped his hands and smiled, his expression as warm as a spring breeze.

"In the Three-Clan Martial Arts Competition, Brother Changsheng displayed Divine Might. Now, the entire Qinghe Town is singing the praises of your prestige."

Li Changsheng walked out of the stone house, his expression calm.

"Brother Zhao overpraises me."

"I merely won a few matches by luck to fulfill my duty to the Family."

"Ah, Brother Changsheng is far too modest."

Zhao Lei chimed in; he was half a head shorter than his elder brother, and his gaze was even sharper.

"With one punch you crippled Wang Lie, and you defeated Wang Han, my elder brother, and me in succession."

"If this is luck, then there are no true Martial Artists in the world."

There was a thorn in his words, but Li Changsheng seemed not to notice.

"In the path of martial arts, victory and defeat are common occurrences."

"I am grateful for the consideration you all showed me last time."

After a few pleasantries, Li Changsheng led the Zhao brothers into the main house.

Li Changhu served tea and stood to the side, his hand always resting on his sword hilt.

This was Li Changsheng's secret instruction; the Zhao Family's visit was definitely not out of goodwill.

"Brother Changsheng, it must have been hard for you to lead the team into the mountains this time."

Zhao Feng took a sip of tea and spoke as if casually.

"Mining is a grueling task, requiring one to stay in the deep mountains and old forests for months."

"With Brother Changsheng's current cultivation and status, there is really no need to do everything personally."

The testing had begun.

Li Changsheng put down his teacup.

"Family affairs are everyone's responsibility."

"Moreover, the mine concerns the Family's lifeblood. My eldest uncle entrusted this task to me because he trusts me."

"True."

Zhao Lei took over the conversation.

"However, I heard there has been unusual activity in the mine tunnels these past few nights?"

"Strange things have also happened in our Zhao Family's mineral veins. Do you need us to send a few old miners to help take a look?"

"It was just common rock layer loosening, and I have already had the miners reinforce it. I wouldn't want to trouble Brother Zhao."

Li Changsheng's response was airtight.

Zhao Feng and Zhao Lei exchanged a look, both of their eyes flashing with suspicion.

Li Changsheng was too composed, not at all like a seventeen-year-old youth.

There were only two possibilities: either his shrewdness far exceeded those of his age, or...

He truly had something to rely on.

"Brother Changsheng,"

Zhao Feng shifted the topic and lowered his voice.

"Let's not beat around the bush."

"The Wang Family suffered a major setback this time. With Wang Lie crippled, Wang Minghao will never let this matter rest."

"My father asked me to bring a message: if the Li Family has a need, the Zhao Family is willing to provide full support."

Cooperation?

Or a trap?

Li Changsheng sneered in his heart, but his face showed an expression of gratitude.

"The Zhao Family Head is truly noble. I will certainly relay this to my eldest uncle."

"However, the Wang Family is powerful after all. This matter requires careful consideration."

"Naturally."

Zhao Feng nodded.

"But I heard that the Wang Family has already placed a bounty on the black market for Brother Changsheng's life."

Yesterday on the way here, I vaguely felt someone following us.

It's likely that Wang Family scouts have already set their sights on this place."

This was a warning, as well as pressure.

You are already in danger; you have no choice but to cooperate with my Zhao Family.

Li Changsheng's expression remained unchanged.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Feng smiled slightly and continued.

"However, within Qinghe Town, the Wang Family wouldn't dare to act openly."

"As for once you leave the town..."

"I have my own preparations."

Li Changsheng interrupted Zhao Feng's words.

Since the conversation had reached this point, the Zhao brothers knew further testing was useless.

After a bit more idle chatter, they stood up to take their leave.

After seeing off the Zhao brothers, Li Changhu leaned in and whispered.

"Brother Changsheng, they are..."

"Mixing truth with falsehood, trying to figure out our bottom line."

Li Changsheng looked in the direction where the Zhao brothers had left.

"That old fox Zhao Yuanlong is both afraid of the Wang Family gaining power and wary of us growing too strong."

"He wants to reap the benefits of our conflict but worries about the risks of being the third party."

"Then what do we do?"

"Stay still and intensify our cultivation."

Li Changsheng turned back to the house.

"Starting tonight, the mine tunnels will be closed at night. No one is allowed to enter or leave."

"Take the guard team and rotate on watch, paying special attention to the direction of the back mountain."

"The back mountain?"

"The terrain there is complex and easy for setting ambushes."

A cold light flashed in Li Changsheng's eyes.

"If the Wang Family is going to act, that would be the best location."

Li Changhu took his orders and left.

This day passed quietly while Li Changsheng focused on cultivating the Spirit Ape Health-Preserving Technique.

The mountain mine was relatively peaceful.

No obvious accidents occurred.

As night fell, the night on the mountain was exceptionally silent.

In a dense forest three miles from the mine, five men in black sat around a campfire.

The leader was a one-eyed middle-aged man with a hideous scar slashing from his temple to his jaw.

"According to the news from Ghost Hand, the target is at the Li Family Mine Camp."

The one-eyed man licked his dagger.

"Seventh layer of the Houtian Realm, suspected to have a special Cultivation Technique."

"Capture alive for a bounty of five thousand taels; a corpse is worth one thousand."

"Boss Lone Wolf, he's just at the seventh layer of the Houtian Realm."

"With us five 'Blood Fang' brothers acting together, won't he be easily caught?"

A thin, small man laughed. His fingers were long, and his fingertips shimmered with an eerie greenish-black color.

"Poison Scorpion, don't be careless."

The one-eyed Lone Wolf said in a heavy voice.

"Ghost Hand specifically reminded me that this boy could cripple Wang Lie, who had just entered the seventh layer, with one punch. His actual combat power might be close to the eighth layer."

"Furthermore, at the mine camp, the Li Family must have many guards. A head-on assault is unwise."

"Then what should we do?"

A large, fat man asked in a booming voice; he carried a giant axe as wide as a door plank on his back.

Lone Wolf took a sketch from his robe.

"I observed the terrain during the day."

"To return to Qinghe Town from the mine, one must pass through the 'First Line of Heaven' canyon."

"With steep cliffs on both sides and space for only two horses to ride abreast in the middle, it's an excellent ambush spot."

"But how do we lure him out?"

A youth with the appearance of a scholar fanned himself with a folding fan.

"If he stays at the mine for several months, we can't just wait forever."

"The Zhao Family has already gone to test him."

"Besides, they might have some ore to transport back soon."

Lone Wolf sneered.

"That old fox Zhao Yuanlong neither wants the Wang Family to succeed nor the Li Family to grow strong."

"I bet he will soon 'unintentionally' leak the Wang Family's plan to the Li Family, forcing Li Changsheng to return to the town early."

"And then we wait at the First Line of Heaven to catch the prey?"

The last person spoke, his voice raspy like a broken gong.

He was completely wrapped in a black robe, revealing only a pair of pale hands covered in bandages.

"Exactly."

Lone Wolf nodded.

"Blood Hand, what layer have you practiced your Blood Fiend Palm to?"

"The second layer."

Blood Hand's voice had no fluctuation.

"To kill a seventh-layer Houtian, three palms are enough."

"Good!"

Greed flashed in Lone Wolf's eyes.

"After the job is done, out of the five thousand taels bounty, you will each get eight hundred."

"In addition, the Cultivation Technique Secret Manual on the target will be transcribed and shared."

The five looked at each other, all revealing sinister smiles.

In the world of Loose Cultivators, the weak are prey to the strong.

For resources, killing is a common occurrence.

The night wind blew, and the campfire crackled.

In the distance, toward the mine, several points of light flickered in the darkness like lambs waiting for slaughter.