Chapter 341: Chapter 200: Taking the Bug for Alchemy

Inside the room.

He Shujun stared at Lu Yan’s corpse, his eyes filled with immense excitement and exhilaration. With a slightly trembling hand, he took out a Small Jade Box and placed it over the body’s heart.

But he didn’t rush to open the lid. Instead, he continued to wait.

He was waiting for the Sub-Insect to finish absorbing and refining the last of the Qi and Blood essence. It would then condense into a single drop of Blood Spirit inside its body. Then, the Mother Insect would devour it. After that, he would combine it with other medicines and consume the concoction himself!

Perhaps it was the joy of recovering something he thought lost that made his heart pound so hard at this impending breakthrough, as if it would burst from his chest.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, but the air felt thin, as if it weren’t enough to breathe.

His throat was dry, his tongue heavy and disobedient. He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice came out surprisingly hoarse. Words failed him. He had so much he wanted to unleash, yet he couldn’t get a single syllable out. His face contorted, and his hands trembled beyond his control.

Finally, his pent-up emotions burst forth in a loud cry, followed by a peal of wild, unrestrained laughter.

"AH!!!"

"HAHAHAHA~"

His voice veered from a near-screech to a low growl, each word seeming to burst from his mouth as if propelled by a spring:

"I’ve waited... for so long! Only you... you were the one who had the... the Qi and Blood Power I need... to advance to the Sixth Grade! Now... it’s finally... done!! HA, HAHAHAHA!!"

He pointed at Lu Yan, his face flushed, and continued laughing like a madman.

He had been constantly provoked and suppressed by Cheng Zongyang. He had despaired, believing the Sub-Insect was dead and his hope for a breakthrough was lost. He had just been forced to swallow his anger again because of Cheng Zongyang’s threats. Now, all of it was erupting.

In that moment, all his inner turmoil poured out of him like a bursting dam, then quickly subsided.

Slowly, He Shujun’s emotions calmed, and his complexion gradually returned to normal.

His expression now reverted to his usual refined, gentlemanly demeanor as he walked calmly toward a cabinet.

He took some prepared medicinal liquids from the cabinet and began mixing them. His movements were quiet and gentle, as if the earlier outburst had been the work of another personality entirely.

After mixing the concoction at a calm, unhurried pace, he placed a half-full bowl of dark green liquid on the table.

Next, he walked over to Lu Yan’s corpse and gently opened the lid of the box. Inside, the Mother Insect was circling the rim at a similarly unhurried pace, as if waiting for something.

「Meanwhile, at the border of the northern and eastern districts.」

Xu Yuandong, leading ten Eighth Grade Martial Artists, twenty Ninth Grade Martial Artists, and sixty Preparatory Martial Artist guards from his clan, had already stepped into the territory of North East Street, which belonged to the He Family.

"Stick to the plan. Clear every street and alley. Take anyone from the He Family alive if you can."

"Young Master, why? Wouldn’t it be better to just kill them?" a captain beside him asked.

"Heh, they’re more useful alive than dead. Once we’ve taken their territory, the He Family is bound to come looking for trouble. When they do, we’ll make them choose: their people or their land. Now, move out!"

"Yes, Young Master!" The men understood and immediately cupped their fists.

They immediately split into five squads of eighteen.

Each squad had two Eighth Grade Martial Artists, four Ninth Graders, and twelve guards, and they split up to search the streets and alleys.

Xu Yuandong’s target this time was five streets.

He wasn’t greedy; this was the exact number of streets the Xu Family could fully control. Any more, and they wouldn’t have the manpower to cover it.

Besides, this was only a third of the He Family’s territory. Using their people as bargaining chips later wouldn’t provoke a full-scale counterattack.

「Northwest City Street, Yunli Lane.」

"Brother Cheng!"

When Cheng Zongyang returned, he found Li Lu waiting for him in the living room of the front courtyard.

"Brother Li, what’s so urgent? Did something happen on South Street?"

Cheng Zongyang hadn’t given Li Lu a major role in tonight’s operation. He had only asked him to have his men monitor the other families and keep an eye on any activity in West City, to prevent anyone from making a move on it.

He had even dispatched Zhou Zhendong and the men from the Earth Branch Lineage to the main intersections in West City. If any other family tried to take advantage of the chaos and seize territory there, well, that would be just too bad for them.

The Geomagnetic Stones they carried, combined with their Eighth Grade strength, were enough to suppress anyone.

Li Lu shook his head. "No, our men are watching. They’ll signal us the moment something happens. I’m here to report that the Xu Family is moving against the He Family. Given the time, they’ve probably already started."

"The Xu Family made their move?"

Cheng Zongyang was surprised for a moment. ’But knowing Xu Tieshan,’ he thought, ’it’s unlikely he’d commit all his forces.’ He then said, "It’s fine. Ignore them. The Xu Family is probably just trying to grab a piece of the pie while there’s chaos. I have a job for one of your cleverer men."

Li Lu nodded, listening.

"Have one of your sharpest men go to Northwest City Street. Have him ’accidentally’ run into the Lu Family members who are out searching for their man. He should then vaguely mention seeing a man in black taking someone toward East Street..."

Cheng Zongyang explained the details of the plan. Although he had an agreement, its terms didn’t prevent him from leaking information.

He had drafted the agreement himself, so naturally, it favored him. He Shujun, on the other hand, didn’t trust agreements and hadn’t cared enough to scrutinize the details.

Li Lu understood immediately after hearing the plan. "You want the Lu Family and the He Family to declare all-out war on each other? To become mortal enemies?"

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly. "Something like that. The Lu Family can’t hold out without Lu Yan. But even if they’re doomed, we should maximize their value, right? At the very least, they can weaken the He Family’s forces."