Dominating Martial King

Chu Xisheng and Lu Luanyi were heading out of the city when Chu Yunyun had already arrived at the gate of Si Tong Escort Agency.

As usual, she went to find Vice Leader Lin to report.

Only after registration would the agency arrange for their escort teams.

However, when Chu Yunyun found Vice Leader Lin, this robust man with a broad stature and a face like a red date, he showed a look of difficulty.

After pondering for a moment, he called Chu Yunyun aside behind the doors of the agency, then handed her two medicine bottles and a pouch.

"This pouch contains the salary that you and your brother had deposited at the agency, totaling twelve taels of Demon Silver. Count it. The bottles contain Yanghe Powder, which I see you often use. However, starting tomorrow, neither you nor your brother need to come here anymore," he said.

Chu Yunyun was momentarily stunned, then with a puzzled look, she bowed her fists to the burly man across from her, "May I ask, Vice Leader Lin, what did my brother and I do wrong?"

"You both were very good."

Vice Leader Lin shook his head, his words filled with a hint of apology, "There's nothing more to say about you, Little Sister Chu. Your magic is excellent, and now that you have achieved the Spirit Seed, you will surely ascend to higher levels. I also admire Xisheng, even though he is young and still suffers from illness, his fast sword is indeed remarkable, and he is cautious and thorough in his ways, far better than those young lads outside.

However, it seems that you and your brother have offended the Long Family from the Inner City? They made it clear they do not want you working at the agency anymore. You know that in our line of work, maintaining good relations is key for prosperity," he added.

Upon hearing the words 'Inner City Long Family,' Chu Yunyun understood the whole matter.

Chu Xisheng had injured Long Sheng's wrist, and the next day the Long Family had hired someone to break Chu Xisheng's limbs in the Library.

—This Long Family is too aggressive!

A fierce look appeared in her eyes, and she straightforwardly took the pouch from him.

As soon as she held the pouch, Chu Yunyun felt something was off. The silver inside was heavier, probably about fifteen taels.

She raised her hand in gratitude, "Vice Leader Lin is honorable!"

"It's nothing!" Vice Leader Lin also returned the gesture, "What happened today was indeed improper on our agency's part. This modest gift is all we can offer, please forgive us, Little Sister Chu!"

Chu Yunyun shook her head slightly. When they first arrived in Xiushui City, it was the Si Tong Escort Agency that provided them with a livelihood.

Although the agency was forced to dismiss them, they compensated with added salary and gifted two bottles of medicine worth three taels of silver each; there truly was nothing improper about their actions.

Then, Vice Leader Lin hesitated and said, "By the way, where is Mr. Chu now? You should still be cautious these days, and it's best to leave Xiushui County. From what I've heard from the Long Family, it seems they are not willing to let things go.

Recently, Long Heng, the eldest son of the Long Family, has returned from the Capital City to Xiushui. This person is notoriously strong-willed and ruthless. Three days after his return, he wiped out the Iron Banner Gang at Fire Bone Cave. It's said that more than sixty members of the gang were killed, and many Medicine Gatherers were also unintentionally killed."

Chu Yunyun's heart suddenly tightened; Chu Xisheng had gone to Fire Bone Cave today.

"Thank you for the advice, Vice Leader Lin."

After thanking Vice Leader Lin, she turned and ran out of the escort agency, rushing hurriedly towards the eastern part of the city.

At this moment, she couldn't even bother to conceal her movements, her steps appearing slow but were actually fast, like smoke, like mist.

Chu Yunyun just hoped that when she arrived, Chu Xisheng would still be safe—

※※※※

The East City Gate of Xiushui County was bustling with people, lively and chaotic.

Under the city gate, people and a variety of livestock shuffled back and forth, their body odor and sweat mixing together, creating a foul smell.

Chu Xisheng had scouted several carriage shops at the city gate and quickly found a carriage going to Fire Bone Cave.

There were exactly two seats left on the carriage, and the coachman quoted a price of 100 coins, which Chu Xisheng bargained down to sixty.

The carriage was filled with a dozen or so strong young men, and their stench was indescribable.

Lu Luanyi covered her nose as she entered the carriage and placed a brocade handkerchief on the seat.

After sitting down, Lu Luanyi frowned for a moment.

She noticed that the passengers in the carriage were all staring intently at her.

If it was just staring, it might have been excusable, but their gazes were not only lewd but also filled with restless desire, like that of ravenous wolves.

Just as Lu Luanyi's expression hardened, and she gripped the talisman inside her sleeve, she heard a loud 'clang.'

It was Chu Xisheng's Hundred-refined Light Steel Saber, suddenly bursting into a dazzling white light.

Before the crowd could react, the light of the saber had already returned to its sheath.

Only then did a middle-aged burly man's smoke gun, which he had been holding in his mouth, fell to the ground.

This copper-covered smoke gun had been sliced in two in that instant by Chu Xisheng.

Initially the most unabashed, the middle-aged man's eyes had been lewdly measuring Lu Luanyi's chest and buttocks.

Now, however, the man was unsettled and palpitated with fear. It took him a long while to steady himself and then, with wide eyes, he looked toward Chu Xisheng, "Brother, your sword is very quick, but where have I offended you?"

Chu Xisheng couldn't help but burst into laughter, pointing at his own eyes, "Your behavior has offended me."

He casually sat down beside Lu Luanti, his hand resting on his saber as he swept a glance over everyone inside the carriage, "This is my family. As per the rules of Jianghu, you all understand. Mind your behavior, it's okay to look, but don't stare."

In an instant, everyone's gaze turned away, not daring to meet Chu Xisheng's eyes.

The middle-aged burly man's face was cold, his eyes flickering uncertainly. However, when his gaze fell on the saber that Chu Xisheng was pressing, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fear.

He finally snorted coldly and also turned his gaze out the window, muttering dissatisfiedly, "Like you young masters and misses should hire your own carriage, why do you have to squeeze in with us poor people? Crowded together yet you don't allow people to watch."

The complaints of the middle-aged man were soft, and Chu Xisheng acted as if he hadn't heard them.

Lu Luanti gave a slight smile and released the talisman she had been clutching in her hand.

She shifted her body closer to Chu Xisheng, using his body to block the line of sight from the other passengers.

The coachman, sensing something amiss, lifted the curtain and peered inside. Noticing nothing unusual, he spoke in a cold voice, "This carriage belongs to the Fulong Carriage Shop, and our boss is Mr. Zhang from the county government! Don't cause trouble, if you ruin my business, none of you will get off easily."

After warning them, he drove the carriage past the city gate.

Chu Xisheng too turned his gaze out the window, his eyes reflecting a complex expression.

After leaving the East City Gate, the road was lined with houses made of mud walls and thatched roofs. Then, a vast expanse of paddy fields stretched out before them through the carriage window, with villages of various sizes dotted about.

It was like an ancient painting of Jiangnan water towns unfolding slowly before his eyes.

Chu Xisheng, having traveled extensively as an escort master, had seen this scene countless times before. Initially, he was fascinated by the unpolluted air, which felt extraordinarily fresh.

But now, he found himself increasingly missing the world he had come from.

The carriage continued eastward along the road for over seventy li, and then the scenery outside the window started to change again.

Previously it was the Jiangnan water town, but now it turned into the northwestern desert. Not only did the temperature rise dramatically, making it hotter, but the ground also turned into a barren Gobi where not even grass grew.

This was the 'Fire Bone Cave,' and for about five li around, the environment was the same.

In the distance, a bustling town could be seen on a mountainside.

This place was not only the source of Yangyang Grass but also the most famous spiritual medicine production area within a hundred li of Xiushui County.

Many medicine gatherers made their livelihoods here, and it was also a gathering place for various powers from Xiushui County.

The carriage dropped everyone off about a li away from the town, and Chu Xisheng had no choice but to carry his knapsack and walk up the mountain with Lu Luanti.

As they walked, Chu Xisheng asked, "Junior Sister Lu, what spell are you going to cultivate in the Fire Bone Cave? Where do you need to go, and how long will it take? Let me make it clear in advance, I will be visiting many places here, and it will take three to five days to gather all the medicinal herbs before I leave. By the way, what exactly is the spell you need to cultivate in the Fire Bone Cave?"

"I need to cultivate the Fire Spirit Witch God Spell, which you probably haven't heard of," she replied nonchalantly.

"This spell only requires me to be within the Fire Bone Cave; it doesn't need any special environment. So wherever you go, I will follow."

Chu Xisheng suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with suspicion as he looked at Lu Luanti.

He suspected that this woman was fabricating stories, just to follow him.

He touched his face, wondering if his charm had really become so immense after his rebirth?

Lu Luanti's cheeks turned slightly red; she indeed wanted to find an excuse to follow Chu Xisheng, but she could never admit it.

With a huff, she said, "It's a kind of Summoning God Spell. Do you know the origin of the Fire Bone Cave?"

"I don't know," answered Chu Xisheng, shaking his head, uninterested.

All he knew was that the place had the Yangyang Grass he needed.

"The Fire Bone Cave was formed from the remains of an Ancient Giant God's corpse, who belonged to the same clan as our ancestor Pangu," explained Lu Luanti as her gaze shifted keenly towards the mountainside. "This giant god was originally a subordinate of the Fire God 'Yanrong,' who followed Yanrong in a heavenly conquest, ultimately perishing by the Xiushui River. After death, the bones gradually transformed into the Fire Bone Cave."

"An Ancient Giant God is buried inside this Fire Bone Cave?" Chu Xisheng expressed surprise, hearing for the first time such an origin of the Fire Bone Cave.

Ancient Giant Gods were innately divine beings of this world's ancient times, reputed to naturally possess the strength comparable to a Third Grade martial cultivator. They are also regarded as the common ancestors of the humans, Devil Gods, Giant Spirits, and Giant Witches of this world.

"Naturally, otherwise why would the Yangyang Grass be the main ingredient for the Nourishing Essence Skill's secret medicine? Yangyang Grass is derived from the residual power left by the giant god's corpses, helping to unlock the seals within our bloodlines.

With nine grades and eighteen tiers of Martial Cultivators' Primordial Skills, a total of eighteen levels of secret medicines exist, ultimately aimed at breaking the shackles in our bloodlines, freeing the seals placed by ancient deities within our bloodlines." Lu Luanti earnestly explained, "The Fire Spirit Witch God Spell I want to cultivate is to summon a trace of this giant god's residual spirit, to be of my use in the future."

Her voice faltered slightly at this moment.

The two had now approached the town, and Lu Luanti noticed that on the street at the entrance, there were over seventy wooden stakes inserted.

Every six steps, a body hung from each stake. The bodies were long dead, their skin pale and decaying, surrounded by flies, with the stakes covered in dark brown bloodstains.

Looking at these stakes, Chu Xisheng was both perplexed and somber.