23: The court is also in a difficult situation...

Li Qi hadn't been in the Ruyi Gang for long when Huang Yuanqing returned from outside, but Gang Leader Huang's face was terrifyingly dark. The Gang members' hearts tightened; they had never seen Huang Yuanqing's face look so grim.

After Huang Yuanqing returned, he gathered everyone in the Gang and said in a cold voice.

"The Divine Might Army has entered the city. I don't think I need to elaborate on who these people are; everyone knows."

"The Divine Might Army will stay in Chuan for a while. All of you, behave yourselves and don't get into conflicts with the Divine Might Army, or I won't be able to save you."

As the backbone of the Gang, Huang Yuanqing was everyone's pillar and shouldn't have said such disheartening words, but circumstances were stronger than him, so he had no choice.

Just now, the top leaders of the various Gang forces in Chuan were all at the City Lord's Mansion and had met the Divine Might Army's commanding general. The other party, merely due to a dispute of words, publicly executed a Gang Leader from Chuan Prefecture City!

Witnessing such an event, everyone's hearts were greatly shaken.

All the Gang forces from Chuan were present, and Luo Yongnian dared to act publicly, showing utter disregard for everyone else... he was simply too arrogant!

But when everyone saw Luo Yongnian's strength, not a single person dared to react.

Peak True Qi Realm!

No one had expected Luo Yongnian to be a top-tier expert at the Peak True Qi Realm.

Fang Zhuo's strength was not weak either, with a Cultivation of Middle Stage True Qi Realm, but under this Luo Yongnian's hands... he couldn't even withstand a single move before being instantly killed.

Now, no one dared to make a sound.

Luo Yongnian was not only powerful but also tyrannical and overbearing in his actions. Furthermore, he commanded tens of thousands of elite soldiers, a completely different level of existence from their Jianghu forces.

If they angered this malevolent god... the next to suffer would be themselves!

No one dared to continue defying Luo Yongnian. If they were truly branded as rebels, they would be playing 'Nine Clans Elimination'!

After Luo Yongnian established his authority by killing, he then took the opportunity to propose some demands. He stated that he would purchase some military supplies from these Gang forces, including but not limited to grain, meat, charcoal, horses, and leather.

If it were a normal procurement, it would be fine, but the price Luo Yongnian offered... was a full 30% lower than the market price!

In Luo Yongnian's words, the imperial court was also struggling, and the imperial court had no money, so he hoped everyone would understand.

Everyone was trembling with anger.

How was this quelling a rebellion?

This was clearly extorting them!!

Heaven knows how much kickback you, Luo Yongnian, will take!!!

Seeing Luo Yongnian's posture as if he was about to discover rebel spies again, the various Gang leaders were furious but dared not speak, only able to grudgingly agree to his demands.

And Huang Yuanqing couldn't avoid this matter either; he happened to have a grain shop under his control, which also fell within Luo Yongnian's procurement scope.

Thinking of the significant loss he was about to incur, Huang Yuanqing's face grew even darker.

Seeing Huang Yuanqing's face as dark as water, the Ruyi Gang members didn't dare to ask too many questions. They all bowed and agreed to Huang Yuanqing's arrangements.

After giving his instructions, Huang Yuanqing left, and the Gang members also dispersed.

Soon, various news spread throughout Chuan Prefecture City, and Li Qi also figured out what had happened, exclaiming 'Good heavens' inwardly.

"Truly worthy of being the Divine Might Army. Acting like this... no wonder the common people fear them like tigers and wolves!"

"No wonder rebellions are breaking out everywhere!"

"The Great Han's destiny... is probably nearing its end!"

Li Qi sighed in his heart, lamenting.

But these matters had nothing to do with him. Although he was a Peak True Qi Realm expert, his public identity was merely a member of a second-rate Gang in the prefecture city, and no one would pay attention to him.

Moreover, it was Huang Yuanqing who would suffer a great loss; he would still receive his monthly salary as usual, so it had no impact on him.

"Never mind that, I'll go back and upgrade my Cultivation Technique."

Li Qi had hunted bandits for many days and collected a good amount of Potential Points.

After returning home, Li Qi summoned the System page, which displayed his gains during this period.

[Potential Points: 580]

This many Potential Points would be enough for him for a long time. He hadn't dealt with the Iron Refining Body Cultivation Technique since he got it, so now was a good time to upgrade it.

[Consume 3 Potential Points]

[Iron Refining Body has reached getting Started (Beginner)!]

[Consume 10 Potential Points]

[Iron Refining Body has reached skilled (Proficient)!]

[...]

[Consume 100 Potential Points]

[Iron Refining Body has reached Major Achievement!]

[Comprehend Special Physique... Iron Body!]

As Potential Points were continuously spent, the mastery Rank of the Iron Refining Body, a body-protecting hard Cultivation Technique, constantly increased. Li Qi's body continuously expanded, his muscles bulging, and terrifying power filled him.

And when he upgraded the Iron Refining Body to the Major Achievement stage, his entire body's skin actually took on a unique color.

A faint lead-gray color appeared on his body surface, emitting a faint metallic luster!

It was as if his Physical Body was forged from metal!

[Iron Body: A special Physique that only emerges when the Iron Refining Body, a body-protecting hard Cultivation Technique, is Cultivated to Major Achievement, reaching a state where no further progress can be made!

Those with Iron Body not only have greatly increased strength and defense, but their recovery speed for injuries and stamina also greatly increases!]

Upon seeing this special Physique, with his entire body emitting a faint metallic luster, Li Qi was overjoyed. The improvements this body-protecting hard Cultivation Technique brought him far exceeded his expectations.

It is well known that body-protecting hard Cultivation Techniques are notoriously difficult to Cultivate.

To Cultivate a body-protecting hard Cultivation Technique, one needs to spend a lot of time tempering the Physical Body. The process is excruciatingly painful, and sometimes specialized secret medicines are also needed to consolidate and enhance the Cultivation effect to achieve anything.

However, Li Qi had Cultivated this Iron Refining Body to Major Achievement in a short period, reaching its theoretical limit!

Li Qi once again felt the power of his System, which was simply Heaven-Defying, capable of turning the impossible into possible.

Li Qi drew his dragon pattern sword, pressing the tip against his palm and gradually increasing the pressure.

The sword tip quickly sank into the flesh, but only a small, fingernail-sized indentation appeared on his palm; the sword tip did not pierce the skin.

When Li Qi increased the pressure to fifty percent, the skin on his palm still wasn't pierced.

And Li Qi did not continue to press harder.

Under immense pressure, his dragon pattern sword's blade was already bent. If he continued to apply more force, the dragon pattern sword might break!

He lifted the dragon pattern sword from his palm, and the blade straightened again. Only a small white dot remained on his palm, without a trace of blood.

Under the circulation of his True Qi, even the small white dot on his palm quickly faded and disappeared.

"Such terrifying defense!"

Li Qi compared it in his mind. If he were to face Wei Biao, that Middle Stage True Qi Realm cultivator, again, his current Physical Body's defense could completely ignore the other party's attacks.

After the strengthening ended, Li Qi's body contracted, and his extremely powerful body-protecting True Qi returned to his body, while his body quickly shrank, restoring its previous appearance.

Li Qi pushed open the door and slowly said, "Let's go check out the Linglong Merchant Guild. I happen to have a good amount of money on me."