Blood-red mist! Most of Wu Yuan’s consciousness converged on his upper dantian lobe and focused on the towering black pagoda. The once thick blood-red mist that enshrouded the pagoda had dissipated, leaving only faint traces swirling around its structure.
Exhaling deeply, Wu Yuan attempted to manipulate the blood-red mist. However, as strands detached from the pagoda and left his upper dantian lobe, they failed to integrate into his musculoskeletal system. After a single circulation, Wu Yuan felt his exhaustion vanish, leaving him in peak physical condition.
My body can no longer assimilate the blood-red mist. Wu Yuan calmed his mind down.
The origins of the blood-red mist remained a mystery to Wu Yuan. He couldn’t determine if it originated from his enemies or if it was an intrinsic property of the pagoda itself. However, this uncertainty didn’t deter Wu Yuan from utilizing the mist and experiencing its mystical effects.
My body. Wu Yuan observed the changes in his muscles, bones, skin, and blood. At first glance, everything appeared unchanged apart from a surge in vitality.
Rising to his feet, Wu Yuan retrieved a jade vial from a cabinet against the wall. Removing the stopper, a faint fragrance wafted through the air. This was the Starlight Liquid Wu Yuan had acquired from the Pleiades Guild. Compared to the Ancient Immortal Dew, the scent of Starlight Liquid was lighter, yet still invigorating.
Ten drops of Starlight Liquid, can they rival the potency of the Ancient Immortal Dew?
The Ancient Immortal Dew was undeniably effective, but its exorbitant cost made it impractical.
Placing the jade vial aside, Wu Yuan fetched a basin of drinking water.
My single-arm strength is now nearing 47,000 catties. How far can it rise this time? Wu Yuan eagerly awaited the answer.
Prior to this, his strength hovered just above 46,000 catties. In recent days, the constant merging of the blood-red mist had improved his physical constitution slightly, though it was far from significant.
Drip! Wu Yuan tilted the jade vial, carefully allowing a single drop of Starlight Liquid to fall into the basin of clear water.
Swiftly, the entire basin of water took on a pale purple hue, emitting faint rays of strange light, akin to the glow of starlight. This was what earned it the name Starlight Liquid. Wu Yuan was uncertain of the origins of these natural treasures, but he couldn’t be bothered with the specifics. As long as they were useful and could enhance his strength, that was all he needed to know.
It’s about time. Wu Yuan calmed his mind, raised the basin filled with diluted Starlight Liquid, and proceeded to consume it in voracious gulps. In a single breath, one-third of it disappeared.
The moment it entered his stomach, Wu Yuan felt pulses of peculiar energy bursting within him, rapidly permeating into every limb and bone. His body began to grow warm, accompanied by a throbbing ache!
How painful! As per the catalog, the medicinal properties of Starlight Liquid are decent, but the side effects include intense pain and potential bodily harm, hence its relatively cheap price. Wu Yuan clenched his teeth slightly.
This pain didn’t originate from his stomach, but from the process of the Starlight Liquid’s energy fusing with his body. To be precise, the energy contained in the Starlight Liquid possessed a corrosive nature that was far less gentle compared to the Ancient Immortal Dew.
The pain steadily intensified. Such torment would be enough to reduce an ordinary adult to writhing on the ground, bawling like a baby, but Wu Yuan’s expression barely wavered.
If one finds this degree of pain unbearable, how can one reach the pinnacle of martial arts? Wu Yuan’s countenance was calm.
Practicing martial arts and feeling the step-by-step enhancement of strength was a wondrous experience. But this journey was anything but smooth sailing. Loneliness, solitude, pain, all these were also part and parcel of the training process.
Without further delay, Wu Yuan began practicing the Tiger Leopard Bone Training Technique, effortlessly transitioning between postures to stimulate every fiber of his musculoskeletal framework.
In an instant, Wu Yuan’s entire being stirred like a famished beast, greedily absorbing the energy released within his muscles and bones.
As the energy surged in, his musculoskeletal system underwent a profound transformation. Wu Yuan’s bone density started to increase, rendering them sturdier and more resilient! His skin and sinews became more flexible, capable of withstanding terrifying outbursts of power. The density of his muscles also increased incessantly, resulting in amplified power!
His heart thumped with more vigor. The blood flowing throughout his body underwent a transformation in density and texture, gradually acquiring a metallic essence. His physical constitution underwent a comprehensive metamorphosis.
This enhancement transcended the effects of the medium-grade bone forging pill he had previously ingested, and the Starlight Liquid was virtually free of impurities. Only a faint trace of corrosiveness lingered in the body.
Blood-red mist. While cultivating, Wu Yuan concentrated his consciousness, guiding strands of the blood-red mist into his body.
Immediately, a majority of the intense pain that wracked his body was alleviated, and the side effects induced by the Starlight Liquid were rapidly neutralized by the blood-red mist.
It worked. Wu Yuan heaved a sigh of relief.
There was naturally a reason why he dared to redeem such a large quantity of Starlight Liquid. He was relying on the magical blood-red mist.
Continue! Deeply absorbed in his training, Wu Yuan’s physical constitution advanced rapidly, and clouds of mist rose from his body.
The sun rose and set.
Drops of Starlight Liquid were consumed one after another. Basin after basin of diluted Starlight Liquid was ingested.
Wu Yuan didn’t leave the martial chamber even once. Aside from Gu Ji, who came upstairs once to confirm he was safe, no one else disturbed him.
…
Another night descended.
Most inhabitants of Southdream City were already deep in slumber, but the southern region of the city remained lively and bustling. The clash at Moonlit Haven two days ago had sent shockwaves through the city, but as the city guard’s search yielded no results, everything gradually settled back into its normal rhythm as if nothing had happened.
On the eighth floor of the Nine-story Starcom Consortium tower, within a spacious and luxurious room on the east side …
“How goes the investigation?” A middle-aged man clad in robes interwoven with black and white sat behind a desk, sipping his tea leisurely.
“No progress thus far,” respectfully replied an elderly black-robed figure standing before him, appearing to be around 60 years old. “During the skirmish at the Moonlit Haven, he successively killed Bald Wolf Wang Xian, Sword Trickster Bai Yuxian, and even exchanged blows with Iron Tower Long Er, then vanished without a trace.”
“But Overseer, two matters are certain. First, Iron Tower Long Er refrained from pursuit as he was injured in his encounter with the mysterious saber-wielder. It wasn’t out of unwillingness on his part.”
“Second, Wang Xian and Bai Yuxian are indeed on the Pleiades Guild’s assassination list,” the elderly man in black robes solemnly continued, “Someone recently posted bounties to assassinate them.”’
“Despite our efforts to investigate the Bloodwolf Gang and the enemies of the pair, it appears that we have not provoked this mysterious saber wielder.”
“Moreover, from tracing the route this expert took to enter the Moonlit Haven, it was evident that he was heading straight for Wang Xian and the others.”
“Thus, we are 80% certain that this mysterious saber wielder is an assassin from the Pleiades Guild who accepted the mission to assassinate them,” the man in the black robe quickly stated.
“An assassin from the Pleiades Guild?” The middle-aged man tapped the armrest of his chair, puzzled, “When did the Southdream branch of the Pleiades Guild start producing such formidable assassins?”
“We find it strange too,” the elderly man in black replied, “This mysterious saber wielder, with frighteningly fast saber techniques and astonishing agility, slew Bai Yuxian in just a few moves. He seems to have mastered a secret technique from the Land Rankers.”
“His proficiency in stealth weaponry is equally fearsome. He was able to inflict serious wounds on Iron Tower Long Er, forcing him to give up on pursuit.”
“Such an expert cannot be undocumented, yet the only individual who matches his description on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings is unlikely to have been in Southdream recently,” the elderly man in black robes stated.
In summary, the man did not exist!
“Truly mysterious, are there no clues whatsoever?” the middle-aged man pondered, his brows slightly knitted, “Name, origin, lineage of their master… Do we really know nothing?”
“We have compared this expert to some others who have appeared recently but concealed their appearance. Only one clue matches,” the man in the black robe explained, “Does Overseer remember Beast Mountain Hammer Ming Lie?”
“Mm. Old Yuanhu’s treasured youngest direct disciple,” the middle-aged man casually replied, “Didn’t he just lose an arm?”
Beast Mountain Hammer Ming Lie was not on the Jiang Continent Human Rankings. Among first-rate Adepts, his strength was at the bottom. However, as a disciple of a Grandmaster, he was rather talented. As an Overseer of the Starcom Consortium, how could he not remember him?
“Indeed! Ming Lie was sighted in Li County previously, where he lost his arm. It is rumored that he was injured by a mysterious spearman,” the man in the black robe said. “However, the latest report from Yuanhu Province suggests that Ming Lie was wounded by a saber-wielder. This person had astonishingly quick saber skills and employed stealth weapons!”
“Saber-wielder? Using stealth weapons too?” The middle-aged man rose abruptly. “Are you suggesting that the mysterious spearman at Li County and the saber-wielder at the Moonlit Haven are one and the same? But their physiques don’t match!”
“I have consulted with the Intelligence Division. My suspicion is that this elusive expert has mastered the art of Transfiguration, enabling him to elude all investigations into his identity,” the cloaked figure declared solemnly. “Otherwise, we would have discovered traces of his activities.”
“Transfiguration? The Rigid Yet Supple stage?” The middle-aged man looked at the man in black robes, shocked beyond belief.
Transfiguration was similar to disguise, but not entirely the same. A disguise typically involved makeup, clothing, wigs, and such, but it couldn’t substantially alter one’s physical structure.
Transfiguration, however, entailed minute adjustments to the skeletal frame without diminishing one’s potential, allowing a return to one’s original form. Only when one attained the level of Rigid Yet Supple in bodily control could this be achieved.
The principle was simple. But in practice? Exceedingly challenging! Under normal circumstances, only a Savant expert could hope to master Transfiguration.
“Are you confident about this?” The middle-aged man asked.
“No,” the man in the black robe shook his head. He lacked evidence and was just putting forth a guess.
The middle-aged man closed his eyes, contemplating for a while.
“Submit the hypothesis that you and the Intelligence Division have come up with.” The middle-aged man instructed in a soft voice. “Assume that the spearman of Li County and this saber-wielder are the same person.”
“As for his name? Since we do not know, let’s tentatively call him Shadow Blade.”
“Very well,” the man in the black robe nodded. “And his ranking?”
“He was able to wound Iron Tower Long Er and kill Bai Yuxian in a short time. His power is top-tier even amidst first-rate Adepts,” The middle-aged man softly spoke. “Deliberate on his exact ranking and offer a recommendation.”
“Understood.” The elder in the black robe departed swiftly.
Soon, a piece of news was dispatched from the Starcom Consortium’s Southdream branch directly to its continent-level branch.
Codename Shadow Blade, true name unknown, history unclear. Proficient in the art of the saber and stealth weapons, also wields a spear. A first-rate Adept, his martial skills seem to have reached the stage of Rigid Yet Supple.
Combat record: severed the arm of first-rate Adept Ming Lie in Li City. In Southdream, he slew the first-rate Adept Bai Yuxian, and wounded the first-rate Adept Long Er.
Suggested Ranking: 130th in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings.