Su Mansion.

Su Yu sat in the main seat, listening to Li Da’s report on the mansion’s affairs.

"Sir, we haven’t caught the suspicious figures you told us to look out for yet. However, Commander Su Can has already strengthened the overt and covert sentries in the mansion. He’s also recruited a batch of new guards with clean backgrounds and is currently training them. The mansion’s security will become more and more complete in the future."

Su Yu nodded, then changed the subject. "Has the Jiang Family sent over any new treasured fish?"

A hint of delight appeared on Li Da’s face. "They have! The Jiang Family’s old steward personally escorted them—a full seven treasured fish! Three of them are especially rare. We had to expand the Yin-Yang Lotus Pool in the rear courtyard again just to barely accommodate these treasures."

"Good. I’ll go take a look!"

Stirred, Su Yu strode toward the rear courtyard.

...

In the rear courtyard, at the Lotus Yin-Yang Pool.

After another round of renovations, the original lotus pool had been expanded to twice its size, now occupying nearly half the courtyard.

At this moment, the Lotus Yin-Yang Pool was wreathed in a steamy mist, resembling a celestial paradise.

Seven treasured fish of various shapes and sizes swam about in the pool, each one emanating alluring fluctuations of Spiritual Qi.

Su Yu’s gaze first locked onto the Ice Perch in the Cold Pool. Its entire body was a crystalline, translucent white, and it exhaled a frosty mist, looking utterly mystical.

Next, his eyes shifted to the Yangchi.

A strange, deep purple fish, about ten feet long, was churning through the water. Its body was covered in blue, lightning-like patterns, and as it moved, faint arcs of electricity flickered around it with a crackling sound.

The Purple Lightning Demon Eel!

This type of treasured fish contained a trace of the Power of Thunder and Lightning. Not only could it temper the physical body and increase Qi and Blood, but it could also stimulate nerve responses, making it exceptionally effective for cultivating Body Techniques.

And in the Tai Chi Eye where the two pools met, a fist-sized, spherical fish covered in soft, golden spines floated silently.

The Golden-Spined Pufferfish!

This treasured fish greatly resembled the pufferfish from his past life. Although highly poisonous, if prepared with a special technique, its meat could greatly supplement one’s Qi and Blood while also being exceptionally delicious.

’Good. With so many treasured fish, combined with the Black Rock Iron-Backed Crocodile Meat I brought back, my strength is bound to soar again!’

Just as he was calculating which one to catch first for a meal, a series of urgent footsteps suddenly echoed from the front courtyard.

"Sir! Something’s happened!"

The gate guard, Li Jin, rushed in, pale and gasping for breath. "Someone from the White Ape Martial Arts Hall is here! They said Master Qin has summoned you urgently. You must go to the hall at once, without a moment’s delay!"

Su Yu frowned.

Master Qin was usually the most unruffled person he knew; even if the sky were falling, he’d take a couple of bites of chicken feet first. Such an urgent summons was completely unprecedented.

"Prepare the carriage!" Su Yu decided instantly. "To the martial arts hall!"

"Yes, Sir!"

...

At the White Ape Martial Arts Hall, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the calm before a storm.

The moment the carriage came to a stop, Su Yu sensed that something was wrong.

The front courtyard’s Martial Arts Arena, usually bustling with fiery energy, was now deathly silent.

Hundreds of apprentices stood as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe loudly. When they saw Su Yu enter, they merely bowed their heads in a hasty salute, their eyes filled with terror and unease. A heavy, oppressive gloom seemed to hang over the entire martial arts hall, making it hard to breathe.

The situation made Su Yu’s heart sink. It seemed something terrible had happened.

He hurried through the front courtyard and into the Inner Courtyard. Several of his senior brothers, who were normally laughing and joking, now had grim faces, and some even had red-rimmed eyes. Su Yu didn’t ask any questions and pushed open the door to Master Qin’s room.

"CREAK—"

Inside, the atmosphere was just as oppressive, stretched to its absolute limit.

Qin Fangqiong sat stiffly in the Grandmaster’s Chair, the usual snacks absent from his hands. His normally cloudy eyes were now shot with blood, and a terrifying, shudder-inducing aura radiated from him. He was like a ferocious White Ape suppressing a towering rage, ready to pounce and devour someone at any moment.

At his side, Qin Yu, Xu Feng, Lin Wanzhu, Jiang Liuchuan, and Chen Fan—all the Direct Disciples—stood in solemn silence, each with an expression of grief and indignation.

Only one person was missing.

Their ever-calm and steady Eldest Brother, Qi Linfeng.

Su Yu’s heart leaped into his throat. He silently moved to the side and stood in place.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Qin Fangqiong slowly raised his head. His gaze swept over his disciples, and his voice was terrifyingly hoarse. "Your Eldest Brother... was ambushed by a mysterious expert yesterday while on a mission for the Public Security Bureau outside the city."

"He is now dead."

"BOOM!"

Those few short words struck everyone like a clap of thunder.

The room fell deathly silent.

Su Yu’s pupils constricted as a ripple of shock went through him.

’Eldest Brother... is dead?!’

’Eldest Brother, who had reached Refining Flesh Realm Perfection, just one step away from the Muscle Forging Realm, hailed as the pillar of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall... he just died like that?’

"Master... Eldest Brother, he..."

Lin Wanzhu’s delicate frame trembled, her voice strained with disbelief. "Is he really... dead? Have you seen the body?"

Qin Fangqiong knew his disciples were in shock. A flash of grief crossed his eyes. "Linfeng’s body is in the morgue at the Public Security Bureau. I went to identify it myself."

"SOB SOB SOB..."

Hearing this confirmation, Qin Yu could no longer hold back and, covering her mouth, broke into painful sobs.

It was the first time this usually domineering senior sister had ever shown such a heartbroken and pained expression.

Su Yu’s heart also grew heavy. He understood Qin Yu’s feelings. Eldest Brother Qi Linfeng had joined the martial arts hall as a child. Due to his outstanding talent, he was taken in by Master Qin as a Direct Disciple. Under Master Qin’s guidance, his progress in the Martial Arts had always been far ahead of his peers. His temperament was also calm and measured, and he was deeply favored by Master Qin.

Later, he did indeed break through to the Flesh Refining Realm, becoming Master Qin’s most prized disciple.

After becoming Eldest Brother, Qi Linfeng was conscientious and responsible. It could be said that nearly every disciple of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall had received his care at some point.

Su Yu held him in high regard as well. During the Martial Examination, if Eldest Brother hadn’t stepped in to stop that Kou Xun, there was no telling what might have happened!

"Master, who did this? Are there any clues?"

Xu Feng’s eyes were bloodshot. Everyone could feel the suppressed madness radiating from him, as if he too was about to pounce and devour someone.

Qin Fangqiong suddenly snatched the teacup from the table.

"CRACK!"

The hard porcelain cup crumbled into dust in his hand. Scalding tea mixed with porcelain powder streamed down his arm, but he seemed completely unaware.

"I’ve examined Linfeng’s injuries. His sternum was shattered, his internal organs destroyed... There were remnants of Bone Shattering Force at the wound!"

"The Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall?"

Lin Wanzhu took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Eldest Brother had reached Refining Flesh Realm Perfection, and his combat power was unparalleled. The few Flesh Refining Realm disciples from the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall are no match for him. To be able to kill him, and to do so without even giving him a chance to escape... only a Muscle Forging Realm expert could have done it!"

Qin Yu’s head snapped up, her pretty face twisted with rage. "It’s Zhou Sinan! It must be him! Other than that old bastard, no one in the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall could have killed Eldest Brother!"

Zhou Sinan was the master of the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall, a veteran expert of the Muscle Forging Realm. He and Qin Fangqiong had a long-standing feud, but none of the Direct Disciples knew the specific details.

"A debt of blood... must be paid in blood!"

Qin Fangqiong’s face was expressionless, his voice icy. "I will personally avenge Linfeng!"

After saying this, he closed his eyes to suppress his emotions. "I’m telling you this as a warning to be vigilant! For the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall to dare to move against Linfeng means they’ve completely torn away all pretenses. They must have some backing and other schemes! You all must be careful during this time!"

"Furthermore, the Yuan Lantern Festival will be held in less than twenty days. Black Stone City is currently a chaotic mix of all sorts of people, with endless open and hidden struggles. The Government Office intends to use this grand event to have the various factions bring their conflicts into the arena and use martial arts to determine status. Our White Ape Martial Arts Hall’s reputation may be great, but a tall tree attracts the wind. I fear many powers will come to challenge us. Be especially wary of the ’Overseas Dragons’ who have recently arrived from Liangzhou and Jian’an Prefecture, like the increasingly famous Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall... You must all be careful then!"

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Su Yu and Chen Fan. "The matches below the Flesh Refining Realm represent the training of the younger generation and are the most important for promoting the martial arts hall’s reputation. For this Yuan Lantern Festival, you two must give it your all."

After speaking, Qin Fangqiong added, quite uncharacteristically, "If you find yourselves outmatched, prioritize your own safety. It’s not out of the question to forfeit. In the end, I will be here to uphold the hall’s reputation!"

"Yes, Master!"

...

After returning to the Su Mansion, Su Yu suppressed the many troubling thoughts in his mind.

’At a time like this, the only thing that truly matters is increasing my strength!’

For the next five days, Su Yu maintained an energy intake of one treasured fish and ten jin of Black Rock Iron-Backed Crocodile Meat per day, focusing all his efforts on improving his White Ape Fist and Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber.

On this day, after eating the last piece of roasted Iron-Backed Crocodile Meat, he finally accumulated another full Breakthrough Point.

[Breakthrough Point]: 1 (Progress: 1%)