Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 238: Chapter 140 Sharp-Fanged Blood Tiger

Zhao Honglie, who had just put down his long blade, couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless, silently complaining in his heart.

”Who in their right mind sneaks up behind someone else late at night for no apparent reason?”

Of course, he would never dare say this aloud. After all, he still needed a favor from the individual in front of him.

Zhao Honglie lowered his blade and forced a fawning smile. ”The main reason is that your concealment skill is truly extraordinary, my lord. This technique of yours would surely stand out even in a prominent place like Red Cloud Prefecture!”

Hearing this, a smug expression immediately spread across Qian Jin’s face.

”Naturally! The technique I practice is known as the Shadow Concealment Skill! It is a proper second-tier cultivation technique. Once mastered to the Perfect stage, even experts in the Marrow Refining Realm wouldn’t be able to detect it!”

”By the way, I noticed you called me back so soon after I left with that Firebird signal. That thing’s expensive; it’s not to be squandered carelessly. What’s the matter?”

Without responding verbally, Zhao Honglie silently took out another stack of silver notes and stuffed them into Qian Jin’s hands.

”I summoned you, my lord, because I have a favor to ask!”

After pocketing the silver notes, Qian Jin’s expression turned awkward. ”Your Black Sand Gang hasn’t formally joined our sect yet. If I assist you too much now, it’ll create complications later when sect members make an issue out of it.”

Seeing Qian Jin’s expression, Zhao Honglie cursed internally but immediately plastered on a flattering smile and spoke up.

”My lord, you misunderstand. This time, I’m not asking you to help me deal with Liu Yuanhu but rather with a Demon Tiger!”

After explaining the matter of the Demon Tiger in detail, Zhao Honglie waited silently, watching Qian Jin’s expression shift.

A Bone Refining Realm Demon Tiger was incredibly valuable, easily worth a fortune. If a skilled Pill Master were to refine it into elixirs, its value would increase several-fold.

It was an enticing proposition for Qian Jin.

However, he remained silent, his expression calm and revealing nothing.

Seeing that the timing was right, Zhao Honglie took the initiative to speak again.

”My lord, the Demon Tiger is formidable, and I cannot manage it alone. Therefore, I specifically request you to lead a team into the mountains to capture it. After the job is done, the profits can be split sixty-forty—with you taking sixty percent.”

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin’s expression softened. After several moments of hesitation, he finally responded with a somewhat ”reluctant” tone.

”Very well! While this may be a bit untimely, considering your sincerity toward our sect, I will help you this once.”

The matter being urgent, Zhao Honglie immediately escorted Qian Jin to the Black Sand Gang’s base of operations.

There, Niu Zidong had already gathered the team, fully equipped and ready to depart.

”Niu Zidong, this is Lord Qian. He will be accompanying you on this operation to hunt the Demon Tiger.”

Qian Jin made no effort to restrain his aura at this moment.

The oppressive energy of a Bone Refining Realm expert made Niu Zidong tremble with fear.

Surprised, Niu Zidong wondered to himself, ”When did the Gang Leader befriend such a terrifyingly powerful individual?”

Suppressing his shock, Niu Zidong respectfully saluted Qian Jin. ”I am Niu Zidong, the chief enforcer of the Black Sand Gang. Greetings to Lord Qian.”

Qian Jin gave a nod, acknowledging the greeting.

”My time is limited. Let’s get moving.”

Zhao Honglie also nodded. ”There’s no time to waste; let’s set off!”

Before parting ways, Zhao Honglie grasped Niu Zidong’s hand firmly and said with a smile, ”Listen closely to Lord Qian’s instructions during the journey, and may you all achieve a swift victory!”

After leaving, Niu Zidong opened his hand to find a fingernail-sized black stone resting in his palm.

Startled, Niu Zidong silently pocketed the black stone before leading his team toward Cang Mountain.

The Black Sand Gang had failed twice in their attempts to raid Gu’s Manor. Considering the black stone Zhao Honglie had secretly handed him, it seemed that this Qian Jin, who had appeared out of nowhere, wasn’t entirely trustworthy. Thus, Niu Zidong chose not to enter the mountain from Gu’s Manor but instead took the route through the Li family’s fortress, which was firmly under their control.

Back at Gu’s Manor

Gu Changming returned injured not long after he had departed.

Shortly after leaving the manor, he had encountered forces left behind by Wang Tiansheng. After a brief skirmish, he managed to retreat back to the manor with only minor wounds.

With no way to send messages for help, Gu’s Manor became an isolated island, forced to rely solely on their own strength.

Gu Jingang wasn’t one to resign himself to despair. He immediately organized the villagers to begin building traps and fortifications.

Once the preparations were complete, Gu Sheng gave Gu Erniu and his family a word of warning before strapping on his tempered heavy armor and picking up his Blood-Sputtering Battle Axe to head into Cang Mountain.

Although the heavy armor slowed his movements, it had been crafted with utmost care by Helian Tie Lan. It was leagues superior to the equipment made by either the Black Sand Gang or Gu’s Manor.

This set of tempered heavy armor was sturdy enough to be viable even in Bone Refining Realm combat!

Within the depths of the mountain, not only was there a Bone Refining Realm Demon Tiger, but the Black Sand Gang was unlikely to give up either. Cautiously, Gu Sheng decided to bring all his gear to be fully prepared for any eventualities.

Due to the Demon Tiger’s presence, the number of wild animals on the outskirts of Cang Mountain had significantly increased.

Previously rare beasts like black bears and common tigers had now become more frequent sightings.

Under normal circumstances, this would have delighted Gu Sheng to no end. However, now that he was in the Bone Refining Realm, these ordinary beasts provided little nutritional value. Even selling them wasn’t worth his while anymore.

After all, his current needs required sums in the thousands of taels. A common tiger, at most, would sell for seventy or eighty taels—a waste of his time.

Aside from occasionally killing wild rabbits or pheasants for food, Gu Sheng refrained from targeting ordinary animals.

And so, Gu Sheng wandered Cang Mountain for three whole days without finding any trace of the Demon Tiger.

This left him feeling increasingly irritable.

The same frustration plagued Niu Zidong’s side.

With Qian Jin’s participation, they had set out brimming with confidence. Since the Demon Tiger’s roar had been heard near Gu’s Manor, they assumed it would be easy to locate. Yet, after three days, they hadn’t even glimpsed a single hair of the Demon Tiger.