143: Chapter 143 When Mad Dogs Become Hot Commodities

"Three thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, plus a bottle of 'Ziyang Medicinal Pill'."

A brocade pouch embroidered with the emblem of the Yunlan Sect's main peak was pushed to the center of the stone table, emitting a dull thud.

The spiritual light flowing across the surface of the pouch illuminated the originally dim Shafeng Cave.

The white-bearded Elder sitting opposite was all smiles. His face, which usually showed no mercy to Inner Sect Disciples, now held warmth in every wrinkle:

"Elder Gu, the Sect Master said that the Law Enforcement Hall neglected a talent in the past. While Shafeng Cave is decent, it is ultimately a harsh and cold place. As long as you nod, the 'Tingtao Pavilion' on Tianzhu Peak is ready to welcome you at any time."

Gu Yan held a piece of metal covered in verdigris, slowly wiping it with a coarse cloth. It was the remains of the soul-locking bell.

He did not look at the Spirit Stones or the Elder, focusing only on the movement of his hands. The rustling sound of metal rubbing against cloth seemed exceptionally harsh in the silent Immortal Cave.

The Elder's smile stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal, though his hand on his knee unconsciously gripped his Daoist robe.

The bell toll on the Life-Death Arena yesterday shattered not just Lin Zixuan's bones, but also the original power structure of the Yunlan Sect.

A Body Cultivator who could tear apart a Magic Treasure with bare hands—even the Sect Master had to weigh whether, if this bone were used to bite someone, it would break his own teeth.

"Tingtao Pavilion?"

Gu Yan finally stopped his movements, lifted his eyelids, and swept his gaze over the carotid artery on the Elder's neck.

The Elder subconsciously shrank his neck, feeling a chill there.

"Too noisy." Gu Yan tossed the metal fragment back onto the table with a clatter. "I prefer quiet. Shafeng Cave is quite good; the wind is strong, and I can't hear the flies buzzing."

The Elder's expression changed slightly, but he quickly understood the subtext.

Complaining about the noise meant the price wasn't enough to make the place quiet.

"Understood." The Elder stood up, not daring to take back the pouch on the table, and bowed. "I shall return to report. If Elder Gu needs anything else, please do not hesitate to ask."

With that, he fled the place that made him feel so uncomfortable.

Once the footsteps had completely faded, Gu Yan reached out to grab the pouch and weighed it.

"Tsk, the Sect Master's faction is nothing special, so stingy."

[Host, you should be content.]

The System popped up an abacus icon in his mind: [This is already the fourth wave today. Adding the herbs sent by the Pill Pavilion Elder and the refined iron sent by the Artifact Hall, our income today has already exceeded the total of your ten years in Baifeng City. This is what you call 'violent monetization'.]

Gu Yan casually tossed the pouch into his storage ring.

At this moment, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted from the depths of the Immortal Cave.

Jiang Wanrou walked out carrying a jade tray. She had changed into a clean, simple dress, her hair tied up high, revealing her slender neck.

After these few days of getting along, the arrogance that originally belonged to a proud daughter of heaven had been worn down significantly, replaced by a softness that bordered on obedience.

But this obedience was not out of fear of power, but a conversion born of admiration for strength.

After witnessing Gu Yan's demeanor like a demon god on the Life-Death Arena, she knew very well that she wasn't just clinging to a powerful backer, but a pillar that could hold up the sky.

"This is the freshly made 'Dragon-Tiger Body Forging Medicinal Pill'."

Jiang Wanrou walked to the stone table and set down the jade tray. Three dark red Medicinal Pills were neatly arranged in the tray, each with two golden patterns winding around its surface, like a coiled Dragon and Tiger.

"Using the batch of century-old blood ginseng sent by Lin Zixuan, the efficacy has increased by thirty percent more than expected."

She looked at Gu Yan, her voice filled with a hint of anticipation, seeking praise.

Gu Yan picked up a Medicinal Pill and sniffed it at the tip of his nose.

The power of Qi and blood surged like the sea; just by smelling it, the flow of blood in his body accelerated slightly.

"Not bad."

Gu Yan opened his mouth and swallowed the Medicinal Pill.

Boom!

A hot current instantly exploded in his abdomen, like magma rolling through his Meridians. His skin instantly turned red, and wisps of white smoke even rose from the top of his head.

But his expression remained unchanged; he didn't even frown. With just a slight tremor of his body, he forcibly suppressed this violent medicinal power, integrating it into every inch of his muscle fibers.

Jiang Wanrou watched, her heart pounding with fear.

This was a potent, aggressive medicine. Ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators would need to pair it with a medicinal bath to slowly dissolve it, yet he ate it like candy?

"There is one more thing."

Gu Yan exhaled a breath of turbid air and pointed at the pile of soul-locking bell fragments on the table: "Can you refine this pile of junk?"

Jiang Wanrou glanced at the scrap metal. It was the remains of a quasi-Magic Treasure; although it had lost its spirituality, the material was the extremely rare 'Star-Patterned Copper'.

"It is possible, but my current Green Lotus Fire is not strong enough. To melt and recast them would take at least seven days and seven nights," Jiang Wanrou replied truthfully. "Moreover, without an artifact blueprint, I don't know what to refine it into."

"No need for seven days."

Gu Yan stood up, walked to the cave entrance, and tore down the Restriction that had been used to block the wind.

Whoosh—!

The violent black Shafeng wind instantly poured into the Immortal Cave, blowing Jiang Wanrou's skirt until it fluttered loudly, making her almost unable to stand steady.

"Use the wind here to fuel the fire."

Gu Yan grabbed Jiang Wanrou's wrist and pulled her to the pile of fragments: "Borrow the wind's momentum to urge the fire's intensity. I want you to burn away all the Impurities in this pile of scrap metal, leaving only the hardest parts."

"As for what to refine it into..."

Gu Yan pulled a crumpled drawing from his robes, which was a rough sketch he had just made.

It was not a sword, not a saber, and not a bell.

It was a pair of brass knuckles with a ferocious appearance, covered in spikes.

"I want it to fit over my fist. When hitting someone, it shouldn't just hurt; it should also be able to hook out a person's soul."

Jiang Wanrou looked at the manuscript filled with violent aesthetics, then at Gu Yan's eyes, which appeared exceptionally deep in the firelight.

In this man's eyes, Magic Treasures seemed to come in only two types: useless trash and useful lethal weapons.

"I... will try."

Jiang Wanrou took a deep breath, and the Green Lotus Fire in her palm surged.

Under Gu Yan's guidance, the Shafeng wind outside the cave was drawn into the fire. The originally green flames were instantly stained with a layer of eerie black, and the temperature soared.

The Star-Patterned Copper fragments on the table began to soften at a rate visible to the naked eye, dripping into golden liquid.

Gu Yan stood to the side, hands behind his back, watching the focused woman in the firelight and the lethal weapon gradually taking shape.

[Host, you are really going all the way with this 'violent style'.]

The System quipped: [A perfectly good quasi-Magic Treasure, and you forced it to be changed into brass knuckles for a thug's brawl. If Lin Zixuan wakes up and sees this, he will probably faint from anger all over again.]

"What suits oneself is the best."

Gu Yan felt the power continuously rising within him, his gaze passing through the firelight to look at a certain spot in the Void Realm.

Since the Lin family sent such a big gift, it would be unreasonable not to return the favor.

The day this brass knuckle is refined will be the moment he pries open the secrets of the Lin family.