182: Meat-selling scandal

Three days later.

Deep in the Great Wilderness.

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged on a several-foot-square bone skull, his body's Qi and Blood surging, his skin turning crimson and radiating astonishing heat.

Roar—

He punched out, and the powerful Qi and Blood transformed into nine fierce tiger shadows, causing the Void Realm to tremble and roar.

"Nine fierce tiger shadows, nearly ten thousand catties of strength.

Roughly comparable to Foundation Building Realm Body Refining... acceptable."

As he devoured more and more Strange Beast power, the Bloodline within his body grew increasingly potent.

Tigers grew wings, flying tigers became fierce tigers.

At this moment, Gu Changsheng's muscles were full and his lines smooth, every punch and kick possessing immense power, a far cry from his previous emaciated appearance.

And this was after only three days.

"Hmm?" Gu Changsheng gazed at the Qi and Blood phantom, his brow slightly furrowed: "This body has encountered a Qi and Blood Bottleneck, and it's unable to condense as one... it seems to lack a unique Blood Condensing method to achieve a Breakthrough."

With his means, creating such a method was not difficult.

However, the internal structure of the Ghoul Human Race and the Human Race differed, so to perfectly create a Qi and Blood Breakthrough method, at least a hundred test subjects would be needed.

"There should be similar methods in the city; it's a good opportunity to go into the city and investigate, using them as a reference..."

Half a day later.

Gu Changsheng dragged a thirty-foot-long Strange Beast Fanged Python, walking step by step towards the inner city.

The Fanged Python weighed over ten thousand catties, its bone-white venomous fangs protruding, each snake scale the size of a palm, reflecting a metallic sheen in the sunlight.

The massive snake body dragged across the ground, leaving a long, narrow, and clear trail.

Along the way, every Ghoul Human showed astonishment.

"This is... Su Mu... three days apart, he's like a completely different person."

"Such strong Qi and Blood, he can even hunt a Fanged Python, his strength is at least comparable to the patrol adults in the city..."

"Good heavens, with this strength, no wonder he dared to return after killing the Living Yama..."

The Living Yama was the villainous foreman who was pierced through the throat by Gu Changsheng's arrow three days prior.

In a corner, several burly, well-built men showed malice in their eyes, looking at Gu Changsheng's retreating figure with apprehension.

They wore black linen clothes, holding long whips soaked in saltwater; although their attire wasn't luxurious, it was much better than the impoverished people along the way.

Like the deceased villain, they were all foremen responsible for corvée labor.

"Fanged Python... this kind of Strange Beast is very valuable..."

A fat foreman revealed a greedy gaze.

"Fatty Liucha, what, aren't you afraid of death either... a being capable of killing a Fanged Python is not someone you or I can provoke.

Or are you saying you want to avenge that dead ghost?"

"A word of warning, keep your eyes open.

If you want to die, don't drag me down."

The oldest strong man among the foremen cracked his long whip, making a loud snap on the ground, stopping their conversation.

With a few dry laughs, their gazes shifted, no longer paying attention.

'I thought there would be some complications, but they're all just cowards...'

Gu Changsheng scoffed with disdain.

Indeed, as long as you have strength, even if you commit a heinous crime, others will pretend not to see it.

Upon reaching the inner city, the black-armored guards, who in his memory would extort entry fees, dared not obstruct him in the slightest, all looking at the massive Fanged Python with astonishment and envy.

This was the benefit that strength brought.

Gu Changsheng felt that the obsession in his Soul Sea seemed to have loosened.

Before long, he arrived in front of a beast shop.

Various kinds of Strange Beast fresh meat hung inside.

According to Su Mu's lingering memories.

This beast shop sold various kinds of beast meat and also purchased beast meat.

The original owner had once entered the city to sell a Ghost-Head Deer, and the memory was particularly vivid.

"Butcher You, will you buy this big snake...?"

Gu Changsheng abruptly threw down the Fanged Python, its huge python head smashing onto the ground with a loud thud.

Butcher You, who was cutting meat with a cleaver, quickly walked out of the shop, his face instantly filled with astonishment.

"Su... Young Master Su... did you hunt this big snake?"

"Why waste words?" Gu Changsheng raised a hand, and a fierce tiger shadow shot towards the horizon, roaring and causing a strong gust of wind that almost tore down the entire beast shop.

"Qi and Blood transforming into a beast..." Butcher You's eyes lit up, and he quickly said: "Buy, I'll buy it! One hundred Strange Beast big coins, how about it?"

Gu Changsheng's brow furrowed; in his memory, Su Mu had never seen big coins, usually only using fragmented small coins.

Approximately one thousand small coins were equivalent to one big coin.

"Good."

Gu Changsheng agreed.

This amount should be enough to buy a common Blood Condensing method.

"Wait."

Just as the transaction was about to be completed, a team of black-armored patrol guards emerged.

The scar-faced black-armored man leading them stepped forward and said with a smile: "Young brother, I am Haer Can, the City Lord's personal guard commander.

Would you be willing to sell this Fanged Python to the City Lord's Mansion?

For the price, I'm willing to pay an additional thirty percent."

"An additional thirty percent..."

Gu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

There was no such thing as a free lunch.

This principle applied no matter which world it was.

Something was amiss!

"The commander is willing to pay an additional thirty percent for no reason, so I presume there's a requirement..."

"Haha, young brother is indeed straightforward.

It's simple, as long as young brother joins my City Lord's guard team and protects our Luan Shi City.

Moreover, by becoming a City Lord's personal guard, you can obtain the Black Fiend Blood Condensing Method, and you'll also receive a monthly salary of one hundred big coins."

Haer Can had a keen eye and immediately saw that Gu Changsheng's Qi and Blood were on the verge of a Breakthrough.

Coupled with his simple, coarse clothing, he likely came from the countryside and lacked a Blood Condensing Breakthrough method.

'Black Fiend Blood Condensing Method... it sounds like it's not a common item... unfortunately, my original Dao of Painting didn't come with me, otherwise, why would it be so troublesome.'

Just as Gu Changsheng was pondering, a middle-aged man in luxurious clothes with a handlebar mustache approached.

"Young brother, your Qi and Blood are strong, making you a rare warrior in the city.

If you can join my Fang Family, all the conditions this commander offered, my Fang Family will triple."

As soon as these words were spoken, Haer Can's expression changed abruptly, and he angrily said: "Steward Fang, you've overstepped..."

"To each his own..." Steward Fang said with a fake smile.

Gu Changsheng keenly sensed the animosity between the two.

No, to be precise, it was a conflict between the forces behind them.

It seemed Luan Shi City was not a united front.

"May I ask Steward Fang, does the Fang Family have a method for Blood Condensing Breakthrough?"

"Haha, of course.

My Fang Family is the largest family in Luan Shi City, with over a hundred methods in our collection.

Among them, there are more than ten that are superior to the Black Fiend Blood Condensing Method."

"Is that so..." A glimmer of light flashed in Gu Changsheng's eyes, and he turned to take the money bag from Butcher You, saying: "Su has always been accustomed to being a free spirit, and I still prefer to return outside the city to make a living.

This beast will be sold to the beast shop then."

He wouldn't get involved.

"Young brother, you must think carefully, lest you regret it..."

Steward Fang threatened coldly.

Gu Changsheng looked back, his face expressionless, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes and then disappearing.

'This person's words carry a hint of murderous intent... Heh heh, it seems he's truly accustomed to being arrogant.'

Gu Changsheng searched along the street and found that methods for condensing Qi and Blood were contraband; one could not obtain them unless they joined one of the major aristocratic families in the city or the City Lord's Mansion.

"It seems I'll have to test the Fang Family's depth tonight..."

He walked into a clothing store, bought a clean blue robe, and then took out ten big coins to inquire about the Fang Family.

He learned that the Fang Family only had one Third-Rank Old Ancestor, roughly comparable to a Peak True Core Realm Cultivator.

At most, his strength was a bit more enduring, but he was no threat at all.

Leaving the clothing store, Gu Changsheng entered a restaurant, ordered a table full of fine wine and dishes, and thoroughly enjoyed a meal from the Strange Beast World.

At night, as the moon hung above the willow branches, Gu Changsheng turned and vanished into the darkness.