Chapter 340: Chapter 209: Overbearing and Arrogant, Black Mountain Celestial King!

Hundreds of miles away, the Qingyun County Magistrate’s Office.

The fact that the Black Mountain Rebel Army had seized Changfeng City caused chaos in the Three Counties, and Li Zhihe, along with two newly appointed holders of the Golden Order, had temporarily taken residence at the Magistrate’s Office.

"Click!"

After everyone had deliberated and settled on the strategies for the military expedition to quell the rebellion and left the hall, a wave of spiritual power emanated from Tao Xingzheng’s brow, immediately filling the hall. After sealing the information within, a touch of gloom appeared on his handsome features.

The precious jade cup engraved with birds, flowers, rivers, and the moon was crushed to powder by Tao Xingzheng, turning into a heap of dust.

"That Li Feiyu did not consume the Azure Blood Five Elements Pill... Truly ungrateful!"

A cold glint flashed in Tao Xingzheng’s eyes.

The Azure Blood Five Elements Pill, in its crafting, not only required the blood marrow of at least five Seventh-Grade Demon Beasts, but also used many precious medicinal materials like the hundred-year-old Cyan Blood Ginseng, with a single pill worth tens of thousands of silver taels.

Such a half-step Sixth Grade pill was a tantalizing temptation for any Seventh-Grade Martial Artist. Even Tao Xingzheng didn’t have many of them; yet he had directly gifted such a pill that day.

Moreover, he, a member of the prestigious Tao Family from Qingzhou, had even resorted to putting on a show before a mere Martial Artist, and with the pressure of annihilating Wang Xuantian’s Black Mountain Rebel Army, spoke in detail about the profoundness of refining one’s viscera and blood exchange at the Sixth Grade.

Furthermore, Tao Xingzheng was aware that Li Feiyu was about to undergo the Golden Order assessment and surely needed to enhance his abilities urgently.

Tao Xingzheng believed everything was meticulous with no flaws, and logically, anyone should be grateful and impatient to consume the pill to strive for the Sixth Grade, to refine viscera and achieve blood exchange sooner!

But upon seeing today, Tao Xingzheng discovered that Su Mu had taken the Azure Blood Five Elements Pill for almost two months and still hadn’t consumed it.

"How exactly did Li Feiyu manage to resist consuming the Azure Blood Five Elements Pill? Could it be he noticed something amiss... Impossible, this pill was crafted by Master Wang—how could a mere lowly Martial Artist from the Qingyun Three Counties notice anything amiss?"

Tao Xingzheng slightly narrowed his eyes, unable to fathom it despite much thought.

Put in the same position, if such a temptation were before him, he would surely be unable to refuse. Ascending to a higher realm is an irresistible enticement for any Martial Artist.

Countless Martial Artists in this world are willing to risk extinction, like moths to a flame, for a chance. Why, then, when such a rare opportunity presents itself right before him, is Li Feiyu unperturbed?

If he had truly noticed something amiss with the pill, Li Feiyu would not be so calm today; nor would he obediently heed his reassignment.

Originating from the Qingzhou Donglai Tao Family, there exists a secret technique within Tao Xingzheng’s clan that can detect fluctuations in a person’s emotions. According to the results of this probe, Tao Xingzheng can ascertain that Su Mu did not notice anything amiss with the pill; otherwise, a Jianghu rogue like Li Feiyu would not be so composed.

"I have grown somewhat fond of your talent and wished to enlist you... Since you don’t know what’s good for you, then be destroyed."

Tao Xingzheng poured himself a pot of hot tea, sipping lightly.

Nearly a year ago, an extraordinary phenomenon, the Red Tiger Roaring at the Moon, appeared over Qing and Yan states, heralding the presence of someone with great destiny. Yet, despite extensive searches by various noble families, sects, and factions, they were fruitless.

Tao Xingzheng naturally would not believe that Li Feiyu was that person with great destiny; if he were to easily find him, wouldn’t that imply those noble families and sects were all incompetent?

However, it was precisely this matter that piqued Tao Xingzheng’s attention towards Li Feiyu. After inquiries, he found Li Feiyu truly extraordinary; a commoner with no backing, yet within a few years grew from a mere Copper Order assassin to a renowned figure in the Three Counties, defeating Sixth-Grade Martial Artists.

As Li Zhihe reported Li Feiyu for the Golden Order, Tao Xingzheng impulsively planned to enlist Li Feiyu, sparing his life. But the other party defied his arrangements, and a person of such rebellious nature is no loss.

He had already given the opportunity, yet now Li Feiyu proves to be not worth Tao Xingzheng’s further efforts for nurturing.

Outside the hall, a waning moon hung high; inside, Tao Xingzheng slowly closed his indifferent eyes, a cold smile forming at his lips.

...

Deep within Shuangbai Academy, blades and swords clashed.

Cold gleams intersected.

The porch eaves collapsed amidst the duel between the two.

The Blind Swordsman and Wang Yu’s contest remained undecided, as Wang Yu consumed the Blood Burning Pill right at the start, battling with a reckless fury. Li Qiu was benevolent to Wang Yu in earlier years, and Li Qiu watched Wang Yu grow up over twenty years, their bond akin to both friends and father & son.

Today, Wang Yu fought desperately, wishing to repay with his life, striving to ensure Li Qiu’s safety, also harboring thoughts of avenging Zhang Lin.

Yet, in the next instant.

The Blind Swordsman, claiming to be the Right Protector White Shirt of the Black Mountain Rebel Army, suddenly sheathed his sword, retreating quickly by tapping the ground with his toes.

Wang Yu’s heart stirred with suspicion, thinking he had a chance to breathe, when his pupils shrank abruptly to pinhole size. By his side, he noticed a man cloaked entirely in a black robe, exuding an extremely dangerous aura.

"Not good!"

Wang Yu bit down hard on his tongue, drawing a deep breath and burning his internal Qi Blood to the extreme, the surrounding air twisted and churned.

At this moment, the two locked eyes; under the black robe, a Black Tiger Mask was revealed, beneath which were eyes as deep as ancient wells yet pure and bright. In that instant of eye contact, Wang Yu involuntarily froze.

After a momentary daze, Wang Yu swiftly regained composure, his heart trembling violently. The opponent managed to approach him unnoticed and yet did not exploit his distraction; this indicated the opponent’s extreme confidence in his power!