347 Fifth Level Bone Pattern Realm!
Despite his indignation, Huang Qi couldn’t voice his discontent, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
“Huai’er, stay,” Wen Zonghao instructed Qin Huai.
The two of them sat on the deck of the flower boat, taking in the magnificent view of the Qingzhou River.
“Huai’er, the Blood Poison Gang will eventually be yours. There are some matters that cannot be rushed,” Wen Zonghao cautioned, his tone grave. “I am growing old and my time is limited. Though you are young, you must learn to be cunning and patient. Recklessness will get you nowhere.”
Qin Huai promptly bowed, cupping his fists together. “Foster Father, you are strong and remain a first-rate visceral prefecture realm expert in the outer city. There are countless realms and mysteries still waiting for you to uncover.”
Wen Zonghao chuckled softly, clearly amused. “Such flattery is better suited to the girls on the boat.”
Unfazed, Qin Huai expressed his determination, “I will devote myself to cultivation and assist you, Foster Father, in conquering Qingzhou in the future!”
“Alright, you may leave.” Wen Zonghao dismissed him with a wave of his hand, watching Qin Huai depart.
A peculiar glint of greed appeared in his eyes, and he licked his lips. “The scent of a genius is truly tempting, enough to make one want to consume it in a single gulp.”
Upon stepping off the boat, Qin Huai turned back, sensing Wen Zonghao’s gaze. He suspected that the latter had discovered his theft from the pharmacy.
However, the leader’s indifferent attitude was unexpected. Did he genuinely intend to relinquish his position to him? That seemed unlikely, considering Mou Jinfu’s fate.
“What is he planning?” Qin Huai wondered.
Or could it be that Huang Qiguang’s claims were true? Was this gang leader actually a Sacred Heart disciple?
Strength. Qin Huai realized he still needed more of it. His current power was insufficient, and if Wen Zonghao decided to attack, he would stand no chance. Even escape would be a luxury.
…
The anticipated war soon commenced. The Blood Poison Gang and the Thunderbolt Gang clashed in the suburbs, where dense forests met sprawling buildings.
The control of the small rivers was fiercely contested, with territory frequently changing hands. Today’s Blood Poison Gang territory might be claimed by the Thunderbolt Gang tomorrow.
Every day, news of the skirmishes spread throughout the outer city, becoming a hot topic. Meanwhile, Qin Huai capitalized on the situation, collecting all kinds of experience orbs and ensuring no pills from the Three Cauldron Elixir Dispensary were missed.
Four months quietly passed, the harsh autumn and winter giving way to early spring. The conflict between the two sects didn’t cease but gradually diminished in intensity. The area had nearly become a training ground, with seasoned veterans bolstering their experience.
The Blood Poison Gang and Thunderbolt Gang had established a tacit agreement, alternately seizing control of the profitable river channels from the smaller gangs. Those who resisted were promptly eradicated. Those who obeyed… their demise was only delayed.
Both large gangs profited immensely from this arrangement, and every time a small gang was wiped out, Qin Huai was at the forefront, reaping substantial rewards.
As for Huang Qiguang… He was akin to a venomous snake, constantly observing Qin Huai, quietly awaiting the right moment to strike. However, Qin Huai remained patient, awaiting the opportunity to ascend to the fifth-level bone pattern realm.
In his courtyard, Qin Huai consumed the last red qi tiger wolf pill.
Boom!
As the pill took effect, his face flushed, and his body resonated with a rumbling that resembled a tiger’s roar and a dragon’s cry. His eyes glowed a vivid blood-red, and the formidable aura surrounding him could intimidate any novice bone pattern realm expert.
“I’ve reached the fifth-level bone pattern realm!” Qin Huai’s voice carried an undercurrent of excitement.
As he had predicted, the four-directional tiger-wolf technique, combined with the red qi tiger wolf pills, advanced more rapidly than the nine dragons true qi technique. All the profits from the past four months, amounting to 2.4 million taels of silver, were invested in the said pills. For the final stage, each one percent increase in progress required more than two of these pills, amounting to a staggering 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver.
Fortunately, Qin Huai possessed the financial means to bear such an enormous expense. Hence, his four-directional tiger-wolf technique, which was literally forged with money, reached the fifth-level bone pattern realm first.
Nevertheless, the nine dragons true qi technique also saw considerable progress. Over four months, the technique advanced to 86% completion. With the aid of a few fourth or fifth-level bone pattern realm experts, Qin Huai could break into the fifth level.
Clenching his fists, Qin Huai hurled a punch into the air.
Boom!
The atmosphere seemed to tremble in response. As he continued to enhance his physical abilities through the boiling blood and dragon king form, his head of white hair and body exuded an aura akin to a volcanic eruption, emanating a formidable power. His physical form radiated a unique light, akin to a finely crafted treasure, dazzling and captivating.
“With my current strength, I could kill Mou Jinfu with just my physical prowess,” Qin Huai murmured.
Buzz~
Suddenly, a familiar sound echoed in his ears. This time, the noise was unmistakably the roar of a beast—a tiger’s roar, a phoenix’s cry, and a dragon’s bellow. It seemed as if a multitude of creatures were wailing in Qin Huai’s ears, causing a chill to run down his spine.
“What exactly is that strange phenomenon?” Qin Huai pondered, noticing the strange, green aura appearing before him, much clearer than during his battle with Mou Jinfu. He surmised that Mou Jinfu must have stirred this anomaly.
Qin Huai’s gaze narrowed as he noticed subtle changes in his surroundings. The courtyard seemed to be fading away, replaced by the faint outline of a new world shrouded in mist.
A colossal figure flashed past in the shadows, circling in the air before diving toward Qin Huai. Hastily, Qin Huai dissolved his dragon king form, and the massive figure vanished as suddenly as it appeared. The surreal environment collapsed, and Qin Huai found himself back in his room.
“This should be the limit of my current power,” Qin Huai murmured, sensing the peculiar boundary of power. “If I exert more than two full patterns and the king’s force… I fear I might be ensnared by this strange green gas.”
At that moment, Qin Huai could distinctly feel the constraints.