67: Chapter 67 Loot!

The wooden box felt slightly heavy in his hand, carrying a strange, warm, and smooth sensation.

Lin Tian opened it, and a magnificent, blood-like crimson color immediately met his eyes.

The box was lined with dry, soft grass, and in the center lay a round object about the size of an egg.

At first glance, it looked like a naturally formed piece of top-grade blood agate, with light contained within, crystal clear and translucent.

But looking closely, its surface did not have the cold luster of hard Ore; instead, it carried the unique, moist sheen of a fruit, with faint, natural markings visible, resembling tiny blood vessels.

Even more strangely, an indescribable scent, mixing a fresh fruity aroma with a kind of scorching life force, quietly permeated the air as the lid opened.

Lin Tian subconsciously leaned in and took a deep breath.

"Hum—!"

It was as if an invisible warm current rushed straight into his brain along his nasal cavity, then suddenly dispersed into his limbs and bones!

His Qi and blood, which had been nearly half-depleted and felt slightly exhausted due to the intense battle and the use of the Three Element Combination Attack, were stimulated by this aura, becoming active and surging instantly, like a long-awaited rain after a severe drought!

In just a few breaths, the energy he had consumed recovered by ten or twenty percent, and his spirit was also refreshed!

"This...!" Lin Tian's pupils constricted, and he slammed the lid shut, his heart beating wildly and uncontrollably.

He stared fixedly at the wooden box in his hand, his eyes filled with unbelievable shock.

qi-blood powder, he had used many times before.

It was a precious resource for a Martial Artist to Cultivate and recover Qi and blood. A single serving of top-grade qi-blood powder was enough to allow him to quickly recover his state after high-intensity Cultivation, with the medicinal effect lasting for several days.

Yet just now, merely by smelling a trace of the aura emitted by this "blood agate," the effect was even more obvious and faster than taking a full serving of qi-blood powder!

This was just the scent; if he were to consume the whole thing...

"A Heaven And Earth Treasure that can significantly, or even rapidly, enhance Qi and blood!" A thought flashed through Lin Tian's mind like lightning.

In Dao cultivation, Qi and blood are the Foundation and the source of power. The value of a treasure that can directly and efficiently enhance Qi and blood cannot be measured by ordinary gold and silver!

This was likely the true goal for which Chief Constable Liu Heng risked great danger, betrayed the government to steal the map, and snuck into the water pool!

He immediately took out the animal skin map and compared it with the surrounding mountain terrain.

The positions of the valley and the water pool outlined by the simple lines were seven or eight parts similar to the environment he was currently in!

And the striking dark red marker on the map fell exactly near the pattern representing the water pool!

Lin Tian's heart jumped wildly, and an uncontrollable burning sensation surged in his heart.

This magical crimson fruit was in his hands right now!

According to the rules of the Imperial Guard, any stolen goods obtained while executing a mission should be turned in.

Turn it in?

Lin Tian looked at the wooden box in his hand, his eyes flickering violently.

If he turned this item in, he might be able to exchange it for some meritorious rewards, or even receive a few words of praise from his superiors.

But compared to this exotic fruit that could directly and significantly improve his own Qi and blood Foundation, which was more important?

"If I consume this fruit, my Qi and blood will skyrocket, my Foundation will deepen, and a Breakthrough to the Second Grade Middle Stage, or even an assault on the Late Stage, is very possible!

By then, my strength will greatly increase, my status in the Imperial Guard will be more stable, and the resources I can obtain and my ability to cope with risks will also be stronger... These are the real, tangible benefits!"

A voice full of temptation sounded in his heart.

The improvement of strength was the Foundation for him to establish himself and survive in this cruel world.

This fruit was undoubtedly an Opportunity from heaven.

However, another cold voice immediately sounded: "The warning from Chief Constable Liu Heng is right before my eyes!

Coveting treasures, stealing from the guard post—what was the result?

Being wanted by the whole city, fleeing for his life, and ultimately dying with his Dao extinguished!"

"If I hide it, once the matter is exposed, I will follow in his footsteps! The Imperial Guard has strict family laws, and the county magistrate will not let it go..."

The pros and cons clashed violently in his mind.

Lin Tian's brows were locked tightly, his fingers unconsciously stroking the cold wooden box.

"No..." His eyes suddenly focused, catching a difference, "Chief Constable Liu Heng was exposed because what he stole was the 'map' from the county office!

It was the action first, followed by the discovery.

The county magistrate knew what he stole and where he went, which is why he could launch a manhunt."

"But now..." Lin Tian's gaze swept over the silent, deserted mountain forest and fell onto the cold corpse of Chief Constable Liu Heng at his feet,

"The only ones who know about the existence of this fruit are me and this dead man.

Chief Constable Liu Heng found the fruit based on the map, and the map... is now in my hands too.

He entered the water pool to seize the fruit, fought with the strange fish and was injured, and was later tracked and killed by me... The whole process was not witnessed by a third person."

"As long as it is handled properly, no one will know about the existence of this fruit, and no one will suspect me.

They will only know that the fugitive Chief Constable Liu Heng stole the 'treasure map' from the county office and died during his escape, perhaps due to an uneven distribution of spoils or perhaps encountering an unexpected mishap.

As for what the 'treasure' was, and whether it had been obtained by Chief Constable Liu Heng and then lost... dead men tell no tales."

A bold and detailed plan quickly took shape in Lin Tian's mind.

The risks were certainly there, but the returns... were immeasurable!

With a decision made in his heart, Lin Tian no longer hesitated.

He acted quickly.

First, he carefully tucked the wooden box containing the crimson fruit into his inner clothing, close to his body.

This wooden box seemed to have the miraculous effect of isolating auras; after closing it, the alluring fragrance and majestic vital energy did not leak out in the slightest, which eased his mind a little.

Next, he stuffed the animal skin map, along with the scattered silver and ordinary Medicinal Pill searched from Chief Constable Liu Heng's body, back into Chief Constable Liu Heng's clothing,

and placed the heavy mountain-cutting saber beside Chief Constable Liu Heng's hand.

Then, he lifted Chief Constable Liu Heng's corpse, grabbed the mountain-cutting saber with his other hand, identified the direction, and rushed towards the water pool he had come from.

With his movement technique at Perfection, even while carrying a heavy corpse, his speed remained fast.

Before long, the deep, dark green water pool appeared before his eyes again.

At the edge of the pool, that dark red stain seemed not to have completely dissipated yet.

Lin Tian stood by the pool, held his breath, and observed carefully.

After confirming that the surroundings were still empty, he lifted Chief Constable Liu Heng's corpse and threw it forcefully towards the center of the pool.

"Splash!"

The corpse entered the water, splashing up a large spray, and slowly sank.

Just as Lin Tian was wondering whether to find a large stone to tie to it to ensure the corpse sank to the bottom, a sudden change occurred!

"Splash—!"

The originally calm water of the pool suddenly churned, and a thick, long, pale white tentacle covered in suction cups shot out from the bottom of the water like a ghost,

as fast as lightning, instantly wrapping around the sinking corpse of Chief Constable Liu Heng, and pulling it down with a violent jerk!

The force was so great that it even tore off half of the corpse's arm!

Immediately after, a shadow resembling a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth flashed and vanished under the water, carrying away the broken body of Chief Constable Liu Heng and quickly disappearing into the depths of the deep, dark green pool.

Bubbling blood foam surged to the surface, dyeing that area of the pool even darker red.

"There's another monster?" Lin Tian felt a shiver in his heart, but then he secretly let out a sigh of relief.

This was even better! The corpse was dragged away and eaten by the monster in the pool, leaving no traces, and perhaps not even bones would be left.

Anyone who saw this would think that Chief Constable Liu Heng was coveting the "treasure" in the water pool, risked entering the water, failed to defeat the guardian beast, and ended up in the belly of a fish, leaving no remains.

It was reasonable and seamless!

To be absolutely sure, Lin Tian quickly cleaned up the traces of the fight that might have been left around, especially the few drops of blood he had dripped and the spots where Chief Constable Liu Heng had spat out blood.

He carefully covered them with fallen leaves and soil, and used branches to sweep away obvious footprints.

After doing all this, he did not linger, turned and disappeared into the dense forest, and left quickly in the direction opposite to the water pool.

Over the next few days, Lin Tian continued to "diligently" patrol the northeastern region of Heifeng Ridge.

He deliberately stayed away from that valley and water pool, only seemingly searching carefully in other directions for "other traces" that Chief Constable Liu Heng might have left,

while in reality, most of his attention was fixed on the warm wooden box in his arms.

He couldn't help but take out the wooden box several times, but only carefully opened a tiny crack to take a deep breath of the strange aura emitted by the crimson fruit.

Each time, he could feel his consumed Qi and blood recovering rapidly, and his spirit becoming increasingly vigorous.

He could even clearly feel that the total amount of his own Qi and blood had experienced a slow but solid improvement under the continuous, weak "nourishment" of these few days!

And this was just the scent!

This wooden box also made him marvel.

Although it appeared to be made of ordinary sandalwood, it could seal the fruit's astonishing aura and vital energy tightly, without leaking even a bit. It was clearly made specifically for this item.

This made him feel much more at ease while carrying it.

"I wonder what the specific name of this fruit is, what taboos it has, and how it should be consumed..." Lin Tian calculated in his heart, "After I go back, I must find a way to check the classics, or... ask my Revered Master about it indirectly.

I must never swallow it rashly."

Just as he was "patrolling" and pondering how to deal with this unexpected, massive Opportunity—

"Whoosh—Pop!"

In the distant sky, a striking crimson firework suddenly rose into the air and exploded at a high altitude, turning into a special symbol that was clearly visible even in the daytime.

The Imperial Guard assembly signal!

Lin Tian's spirit was roused; he immediately collected his thoughts, suppressed the miscellaneous distractions in his heart, identified the direction, exerted force under his feet,

and unfolded his movement technique at Perfection, rushing towards the place where the signal rose.

"I wonder what this assembly is for? Is the mission deadline up, and it's a routine withdrawal?

Or... has someone discovered the abnormality by the water pool?"

Thoughts swirled in Lin Tian's mind, but his expression had already returned to calm, with only a trace of imperceptible vigilance flashing in the depths of his eyes.

He quickened his pace, his figure moving rapidly through the trees.

In any case, it is time to go back and face the possible variables.