63: Enter the black market, Master Qingshui

One month later.

Inside Chen Cuo’s private Cultivation chamber.

He was continuously performing a series of punches, looking like a madman, throwing wild punches with vicious force. The Internal Energy he unleashed gave off a terrifyingly eerie feeling.

"'Mad Demon Fist' proficiency +15, Minor Achievement 213/1500."

Chen Cuo stopped his movements and a peculiar, uncomfortable sensation arose in his heart, but the Undying Source Candle in his Soul Sea flickered slightly, and this discomfort immediately vanished.

However, as Chen Cuo’s Internal Energy circulated throughout his Physical Body, a slight incoordination appeared somewhere in his body, as if he had lost a bit of vitality and activity. But after he circulated his Internal Energy two more times, this feeling also disappeared.

"Indeed, I currently only have pseudo-immortality. Using 'Mad Demon Fist' not only reduces the lifespan carried by my True Spirit, but also my Soul memories and the vitality of my Physical Body. Only when all three—Soul, True Spirit, and Physical Body—are Indestructible and Eternal can it be true immortality."

When using Mad Demon Fist, Chen Cuo, with his Innate abilities, was like a rampaging tiger, incredibly powerful. His Internal Energy release also had the effect of breaking one's will, comparable to He Yuanren's outburst at the time. Despite being only at the Acquired Initial Stage, he possessed a hint of Innate might; it was truly a forbidden technique.

He had initiated the Cultivation of his other Cultivation Techniques, one by one, waiting for them to slowly reach Perfection, and then he would integrate them with his Hunyuan Inner Force.

After his daily routine of carrying stone weights on his back, Chen Cuo stretched his body, feeling much more relaxed.

"That's enough for today. I'll go see the old man."

His current seclusion wasn't a pure one; every one or two days, he would go out to take the old man's pulse. For this, he had specially sought out several medical texts to study, and along the way, he had Awakened several talents in medicine. Now, his medical skill was comparable to that of a seasoned Great Master of medicine.

Stepping out of the courtyard, there were many servants waiting outside who had already prepared a carriage for Chen Cuo. In Wei City, he was now the true boss; at his command, no one dared to disobey.

The benefits that the old man had previously conceded, the government had already respectfully returned. Chen Cuo also used the government's channels to acquire some precious medicinal herbs to treat the old man's injuries.

After his routine check-up on Fan Wufeng, the latter remained in a coma, like a vegetative state. However, Chen Cuo was certain that the old man's vitality was slowly recovering and that there was a definite possibility of him waking up, so he wasn't too worried.

He took the opportunity to stroll around Wei City and found that business in the city was quite good. Currently, the Gang’s main source of income, besides collecting monthly fees from shops, also included the medicinal meals, body-tempering medicated baths, and various pills he sold.

All kinds of products were displayed in his own shops, deeply loved by the Martial Artists of Wei City. Other types of exquisite products also sold very well. The silver in the warehouse had now reached eight hundred thousand taels of silver, and this was only after one month.

However, although a lot of money was earned, a lot was also spent. Supporting the entire Gang’s manpower incurred significant expenses. Chen Cuo never cut corners on various expenditures, ensuring the Gang was united, and many messy affairs were greatly reduced, leaving the entire Wei City clear and peaceful.

There were many Gang affairs, but fortunately, he didn't have to personally handle some trivial matters, otherwise, he would have been exhausted to death, and there would be no time for Cultivation. It was quite enjoyable for him to be a hands-off boss, but this was tough on his subordinates. Gu Pang, Hong Feng, and Ding Xiang were busy every day, their feet barely touching the ground.

The Great Masters of the other halls originally only needed to collect the monthly fees, but Chen Cuo, to focus on Cultivation, also adopted Lian Chen's method, decentralizing the power of the entire Gang and clearly defining the functions of each hall.

The various Great Masters were also kept busy daily, but they enjoyed it, after all, their income also increased!

The entire Gang was managed in an orderly manner, with nothing for him to worry about. He was truly a hands-off boss, only needing to lie back and count money.

After some leisure, at noon the next day, Chen Cuo rode in a carriage, slowly making his way to the black market. The carriage bore the insignia of the Vajra Sect. Now that the Vajra Sect had unified Wei City, the surrounding Martial Artists were all filled with awe, and no one dared to provoke his carriage. He soon arrived safely at the black market.

It was already winter, and the Lunar New Year was less than a month away. The black market was quite lively, already starting to hang red lanterns.

Although it wasn't the time for the annual grand market, during the festive season, it was much livelier than when Chen Cuo first visited.

He strolled around, looking for interesting trinkets. Now that he had money, he always couldn't help but spend, which might be a habit carried over from his previous life.

"Liu's Blacksmith Shop, is this where Great Master Qing Shui resides?" He murmured softly, looking at the rather humble-looking blacksmith shop in front of him.

His Chain Blade was damaged, and he originally wanted to find the previous forging Great Master to re-forge one, and he had already re-prepared the entire design concept and materials.

He had originally intended to ask the old master who had forged his Chain Blade on Changshun Street last time to re-forge a blade, but he hadn't expected that old master to have already died. His apprentices were also useless, only recommending him to come here to find Great Master Qing Shui.