Chapter 301: Chapter 148: Great Marsh Prefecture’s Earth-Shaking Changes and the Astonishing Situation of the September Duel_3
In the streets and alleys, teahouses, restaurants, and brothels, nearly every place with Martial Cultivators buzzed with discussion.
Zhao Renxiong, the Black Tiger Gang’s second most powerful member after Liy Hongtian, had unexpectedly announced his surrender. This was despite his son having died at the hands of the Conical Hat Guest. Furthermore, he declared that from now on, he would no longer oppose the Conical Hat Guest...
"Could it be that the Conical Hat Guest is too powerful, that even Zhao Renxiong isn’t his match?" someone speculated.
Another person remarked with some emotion, "Zhao Renxiong is indeed a cunning character. Faced with a tough challenge, he chose to surrender in advance, even setting aside revenge for his son’s murder!"
"What exactly is the Conical Hat Guest’s cultivation, his Realm? For even the top Hall Master of the Great Marsh Prefecture’s leading faction, the Black Tiger Gang, to admit defeat to him!" Someone’s heart was filled with astonishment and doubt.
「In the Black Tiger Secret Realm, within the Jade Carved Cave.」
Liy Hongtian sat on the Grandmaster’s Chair, which was covered in tiger skin, his white hair flowing. "Is Zhao Renxiong crazy?" he roared. "Does the Black Tiger Gang have no regard for its honor? How dare he make such a decision on his own? Does he think I, Liy Hongtian, wouldn’t dare to kill him?"
Liy Ruoqing and Liy Ruo Ying exchanged a glance.
Liy Ruoqing cupped his hands and said, "Uncle, Brother Zhao has been loyal to the Black Tiger Gang for over thirty years, never with any disloyal thoughts. This time, he was indeed considering the Black Tiger Gang’s interests! Moreover, Brother Zhao’s strength is already incredibly close to Fifth-Layer Perfection. Although he isn’t your match, he’s the second-strongest in our Black Tiger Gang! We still need to rely on him for the Black Tiger Gang’s affairs!
"He sent me a message. He said that regarding the Conical Hat Guest, he only made this decision after thorough consideration, all to ensure that from now on, the Black Tiger Gang would no longer be harassed by that Conical Hat Guest! After all, as long as the Conical Hat Guest isn’t a fool, he won’t show up for the appointment on the eighth of September. But if the Conical Hat Guest is determined to cause trouble secretly, if he continues to be a persistent troublemaker, it will definitely cause countless losses to the Black Tiger Gang in the future. This time, Brother Zhao is willing to suffer this disgrace for the greater plans of the Black Tiger Gang!
"Brother Zhao also said that admitting defeat would only make people think the Black Tiger Gang isn’t as good as the Conical Hat Guest. As for other Martial Cultivators, they couldn’t provoke us before, and they still can’t provoke the Black Tiger Gang now!"
Liy Hongtian frowned deeply.
"If I hadn’t just advanced to the Sixth Layer and was still in the process of stabilizing my Realm, I would definitely go to Hill City myself and give Zhao Renxiong a few claw strikes! Even if he acted for the Black Tiger Gang’s good, doing so has brought far too much shame to the Black Tiger Gang!"
Liy Ruo Ying cupped his hands and said:
"For Brother Zhao to humble himself like this for our Black Tiger Gang, truly giving his all, it shows his utmost dedication. I hope you can understand, Uncle! Additionally, now that you’ve entered the Sixth Layer, stabilizing your Realm is most important. Ruoqing, Brother Zhao, and I will handle external affairs. Please rest assured! There won’t be any more issues."
Liy Hongtian pondered for a while, then sighed and waved his hand.
"Until I have sufficient ability to protect myself, I cannot easily leave the Secret Realm. You two handle external matters well. Also, try to reduce the supply of personnel and resources to Zhao Renxiong in the future! I have a feeling that this incident isn’t in his usual style; he must be hiding something from us!"
After Liy Ruoqing and Liy Ruo Ying left the Secret Realm, the two exchanged glances, both slightly frowning.
"Mr. Mu asked us to say this; I wonder if Uncle will believe it?" Liy Ruoqing said in a low voice.
Liy Ruo Ying raised his eyebrows. "Believe it or not, Uncle won’t leave the Secret Realm because of this matter!"
"But I still feel Zhao Renxiong’s sudden change of mind is very strange. And how did Mr. Mu know in advance?!"
Liy Ruoqing sighed. "Mr. Mu’s methods are extraordinary and powerful. It’s best we don’t speculate wildly. Just do as he instructs!"
「In the Black Tiger Secret Realm,」
Liy Hongtian’s figure flickered, and he appeared standing on the highest peak of the Secret Realm.
He gazed at the mountains and rivers within the Secret Realm and sighed quietly.
This Celestial Demon Bone is indeed a supreme treasure in the world. Although this Black Tiger Secret Realm is vast, ever since I merged with the Celestial Demon Bone—to prevent the Demon Bone from being seized and to ensure the Liy Family forever possesses this Secret Realm—I haven’t left the Black Tiger Secret Realm for fifty or sixty years! This Celestial Demon Bone and this Black Tiger Secret Realm have been like a cage, imprisoning me for nearly half my life... Is all of this worth it?
「In Lin Residence, Wutong Village, the backyard.」
Lin Xuankong sat leisurely in the Grandmaster’s Chair, holding a bottle containing the Top-grade Divine Protection Elixir recently refined by the Young Lady.
With this Top-grade Divine Protection Elixir, my seventh-grade Heart Thought can continue to improve! After selling some Heavy Water Spiritual Objects for funds, I’ll have twenty thousand Cultivators from the three major forces in Great Marsh Prefecture working for me. My supply of Demon Flesh will be steady and abundant. The progress in integrating the Celestial Demon Bone and the Great Reincarnation Technique will definitely accelerate! I wonder, when the Celestial Demon Bone is nurtured to a higher stage, will the Great Reincarnation Technique undergo other changes? The Ba Mountain Secret Realm is so vast and constantly expanding. How should I transform it? Perhaps gather some commoners? Establishing a nation within a nation—actually, that wouldn’t be a bad idea! Additionally, with sufficient resources, I should be able to reach Sixth-Layer Perfection in two to three months. By then, I’ll definitely need to use the Thick Earth Spiritual Object. I can’t wait until then to search for it! After all, unlike other Sixth-Layer cultivators who might take decades or even centuries to reach Perfection, my cultivation speed is excessively fast. I should start preparing and gathering information in advance now...