20: Bluff

"Qiu Ya."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Get me a set of clothes?"

"I held the umbrella, Young Master, so you weren't drenched, were you?"

"I was scared by that female viper."

"Young Master... were you so scared you wet yourself?"

"Nonsense, my back was soaked."

"I thought Young Master had victory in hand."

"It's that I can only have victory in hand."

"Young Master doesn't have enough confidence."

"Of course not. A female viper who underwent Demon Transformation, her combat power is so great that even three of you might not be able to defeat her."

"But didn't Young Master say this woman would surely have a short life? And our Shen Family has a method to counter this thing."

"I lied."

"Ah?"

"The Shen Family has no solution, only a way to alleviate it. Demon Transformation is a secret art of the Yin Nether Sect, and it was once the foundation of a lineage within that Demonic Sect! The world calls it the 'Demon Transformation' lineage."

"The Yin Nether Sect that captured Chen He? Is Ruo Liuli related to the Yin Nether Sect?"

"Not necessarily. Perhaps she doesn't even know."

"I thought Young Master was so confident."

"To deal with an arrogant person, you need to be even more arrogant than her; only then can you suppress her."

"As long as you show any fear, she will bare her fangs at us."

"Understood..." After a moment, Qiu Ya continued to ask.

"But didn't Young Master say not to get involved with the Yin Nether Sect's affairs anymore? Why do you want to take over the Black Horn Gang, this den of thieves?"

Shen Li asked after changing his clothes.

"Did you forget what that Foundation Establishment True Person on the Dharma Boat said back then?"

"The demon plague? Is Young Master planning to use the Black Horn Gang to resist the demon plague?"

"Exactly. Why not use what's readily available? Black Ridge City is too weak. Currently, besides some common folk, the old, weak, women, and children, there's only you, an Innate Realm martial artist, and me, a Qi Refining First Layer Cultivator. How could we possibly withstand the demon plague?"

"But isn't there still the Formation?"

"Although the Formation is powerful, its consumption is too astonishing. We should save wherever we can. We currently have no income."

"Ah, is that so? Alright."

As they spoke, a guard slowly walked in, then held up a box and said in a deep voice.

"My lord, before the Black Horn Gang's leader left, he left this box. He said it was a generous gift for you."

Shen Li opened it curiously and found a dark brown, jelly-like substance.

Looking closely, he saw tiny, vein-like patterns inside, as if countless small worms were constantly crawling.

It looked exactly like countless tiny worms.

"This is?"

Shen Li narrowed his eyes, recalling the Heaven And Earth Treasure recorded in the Family's ancient texts. After a long time, he said with some uncertainty.

"A Flesh Ganoderma. It seems to have some Spiritual Qi, but the cuts are obvious. It's been harvested too many times and has lost its Origin Qi. It can never be promoted to the ninth-rank in this life."

Qiu Ya felt a bit regretful.

"I originally thought that the Flesh Ganoderma itself could self-repair and grow, and I even considered planting it in the Ninth Grade Spiritual Field."

Shen Li shook his head and said.

"The Ninth Grade Spiritual Field is not a third-grade spiritual field; it cannot bring the dead back to life or regrow flesh and bone."

"What a pity."

"It's for you."

Qiu Ya exclaimed in surprise.

"What is this? You're just giving it to me?"

"The Black Horn Gang brought this out; it must be extremely precious. You're just giving it to me like this?"

Shen Li said.

"This thing is meant for martial artists. Aren't you currently at the Innate Late Stage, lacking a bit of Qi and blood foundation?"

"Swallowing this thing is perfect!"

"I'll give you a month to replenish your foundation and Breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm. After that, the two of us will need to go out."

"Go out?"

"To visit a friend of a Family Elder and learn a spell."

"Understood! Qiu Ya will definitely not let Young Master down."

Watching Qiu Ya leave, Shen Li's eyes flickered.

He wrote a letter back home.

Then he called for a 'messenger'.

He then handed over Spirit Stones and treasures.

He watched the messenger fly away.

Afterward, he went about his own cultivation.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

The Black Horn Gang's stronghold.

They emerged from the stealth Formation and returned to their respective places.

In the hall, Zhou San asked.

"Leader, what should we do about this matter? Do we really have to bring our families and pledge allegiance to that Shen Family Immortal Seed?"

"That's right. Pledging allegiance to the Shen Family Immortal Seed, those Dao Foundation Immortal Clan have so many demands. Our Black Horn Gang will likely fall apart, and many brothers will definitely leave!"

"You know, we gathered together precisely for unity, not to be dictated to by others. Some don't like being suppressed or being slaves. Doing this will likely cause our morale to scatter."

Ruo Liuli was also conflicted. On one hand, it was for her future prospects; on the other, it was for these hundreds of brothers.

Even a stone develops feelings eventually, doesn't it?

After a long time, she didn't know what to do and just waved her hand.

"This matter will be discussed later. Everything else remains as usual."

Then she left on her own.

Leaving the hall, she touched her lips, as if his aura still lingered there.

Her face filled with Killing Intent, she murmured.

"You'd better truly have the ability, otherwise, even if I have to risk my life, I'll kill you!"

The people in the hall looked at each other.

Zhou Si rubbed his head, feeling annoyed, and went to find a place to drink on his own.

Zhou San began to handle the Black Horn Gang's affairs again.

Instead, it was the gloomy young man who had spoken at the earlier meeting who left the hall and exited the stealth Formation.

After confirming no one was following him, he spent half a day reaching another stronghold.

This place had a large population, about a thousand households, most of whom were men.

The martial artists guarding the periphery exuded Killing Intent!

This place was located on an ancient riverbed in a sand sea. Several enormous Dharma Boats, though having lost their power, served as dwellings for these thieves.

Everywhere in this place reeked of decay, as if Cultivators had engaged in a major battle here!

Stepping into a damaged Dharma Boat, the air was filled with a putrid smell.

The scent of rouge, Five-Flower Powder, alcohol, sweat, and body odor.

It felt incredibly nauseating.

And women, in broad daylight, were being humiliated by the men of this place.

Screams, excited shouts, and curses were endless!

But the gloomy young man looked completely unfazed.

He expertly boarded a dilapidated ship. Inside the cabin, bandits were singing and dancing, playing with women.

Some were drinking heavily and eating meat, living a carefree life.

The gloomy young man found a middle-aged man with a hooked nose and whispered something into his ear.

The middle-aged man's eyes lit up, and he then ordered.

"Is this true?"

"It's true!"

"Good, good, good! Good, good, good! That little bitch Ruo Liuli, doing business with the Righteous Path's Qingchi Mountain Shen Family is already a taboo, and now she even wants to pledge allegiance to the Shen Family to whitewash herself?"

"This is not allowed within the Luan Xiu Alliance!"

"Hahaha, last year she occupied ten percent of our Sand Sea Gang's refined iron mine. This time, not only will we make her hand over the entire refined iron mine, but we'll also ensure the entire Black Horn Gang has no burial place!"

"The ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure that wasn't handed over earlier had already caused dissatisfaction among some Elders in the Alliance, but a mysterious person forcibly suppressed it!"

"This time, it's impossible to let it go so easily!"

"Someone, take this letter and go to the Luan Xiu Alliance now. Invite our colleagues and question that Black Horn Gang thoroughly!"

"After we destroy the Black Horn Gang, I, Shabbi, will be the first to deflower Ruo Liuli. Every single one of you will have a chance!"

"I've been coveting that tall woman for a long time!"